SBC Voices

I felt myself slipping a couple years ago. I wasn’t close to denying inerrancy or the sufficiency of Scripture—at least not with my lips. But there was a subtle shift that had been taking place in my heart. I started wondering if things like inerrancy and sufficiency and stuff was such a big deal. I think my John Newton like love for peace was drowning out the prophetic Spurgeon-like voice inside me. God graciously redirected and rejuvenated my heart on this in 2014. Here are five books that he has used to help strengthen my confidence in the Scriptures. 1. Truth Matters by … [Read more...] about 5 Books Which Have Helped Strengthen My Confidence in the Scriptures

While spokespersons in the State Department and the Obama administration assert that ISIS recruits join the jihad for lack of economic opportunities, the obvious appears glaringly different.  We are literally seeing hundreds of middle-class young adults from the West travel great distances for the glory of fighting and dying in the dessert as soldiers of Islam. Disallowing this tribal connection with the revival of medieval Islam leaves the impression the deniers are living in some alternative universe and Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is some interdimensional being. When will the deniers snap … [Read more...] about Snap Out of it! ISIS is Islamic Reality (By Ron F. Hale)

A DEFINING MOMENT FOR THE NATION AND THE NATIONAL BAPTIST CONVENTION Ten Reasons Why American Baptist College President Forrest Harris Should Rescind Lesbian Bishop Yvette Flunder's, Garnett-Nabrit Lecture Invitation By William Dwight McKissic, Sr. Discussions, deliberations and decisions, regarding the legality and morality of same-sex marriage—have wound their way through courts of justice, halls of Congress, city councils and county governments, local school districts, voting booths and the office of the President of the United States. These discussions have been a part of American … [Read more...] about A Defining Moment for the Nation and the National Baptist Convention (Wm Dwight McKissic, Sr)

“He who has been in the dark dungeon knows the way to the bread and the water.” –Charles Spurgeon I’ve been in the dark dungeon. I’ve battled depression and anxiety for years. A few years ago I finally acknowledged this and began the road to recovery. I haven’t arrived by any means but I think I’ve at least found the bread and the water Spurgeon is referring to. Here is the path that I’ve found to get the bread and water of mental health. In the Dungeon When I become aware of my anxiety/depression (or dearly loved ones point out my melancholy) my first step is to assess the … [Read more...] about Where To Find Bread and Water in the Dungeon of Depression

PRESS RELEASE: LESBIAN BISHOP AND TWO PRO SAME-SEX MARRIAGE PASTORS TO LECTURE AT THE AMERICAN BAPTIST COLLEGE IN NASHVILLE, TN The National Baptist Fellowship of Concerned Pastors is an informal fellowship of pastors with an affinity to the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. (NBC) who are deeply concerned about the state of our nation, our families, our churches, and our schools. We have mobilized to address these issues because of our grave concern over our collective, downward drift morally as a nation. Therefore, we declare our support to the NBC 's efforts that addresses these … [Read more...] about National Baptist Fellowship of Concerned Pastors – Press Release (Dwight McKissic)

Dustin Lair describes himself as a "husband, father of 7, small church pastor, retired church softball player and occasional pickup basketball superstar." Dustin sent this to me, and frankly, with the tendency of the interwebs toward the negative, I thought it was helpful. Thank you sharing this, Dustin.  Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things. This my friends is one of … [Read more...] about Thoughts Gone Wild (Dustin Lair)

The Lord's Supper always frightened me. My childhood Lord's Supper memories remained deeply ingrained.  We had fancy metal serving trays with real glass cups.  C.B. Klinner led the church through several mournful hymns, highlighted by "There Is a Fountain" sung at a quarter of its intended pace.  We never slumbered, though, out of fear of "...partaking in the cup in a manner unworthy..." No other admonition prompted such soul-searching.  I could lie to my parents, cheat on my homework, and battle my teachers, but before the Lord's Supper I repented gladly and tearfully.  I locked Bob … [Read more...] about Proclaiming His Death in the Lord’s Supper and Beyond

Best thing I can do sometimes is just get out of the way and let my wife write.  Enjoy. Sometimes life is all about seasons. I spent years as a full-time church planter, long enough that it became my area of relative expertise. But that was a season and like all seasons it ended. And now there's a new season. I am longer a full-time church planter. Instead, my husband and I work to develop partnerships with U.S. churches, getting them involved in international missions.  The work has been rewarding, a new challenge that forces me to grow and stretch. Even so, the changing of … [Read more...] about Seasons

I started watching him as a joke. And then my spirit was grieved. I watched the angry preacher berating his congregation and laughed at some of the ridiculous things he was saying. Things that one can only truly appreciate if you spent any time in one of these angry little churches. I appreciated the humor of his angry tirade about men peeing while sitting down. And I rolled my eyes at his passionate defense of the King James Bible. And then I thought about his congregation. And then my own. At one point in his frothing at the mouth he said to his congregation, “You’re not … [Read more...] about Dear Angry Preacher Dude