There is a movement out there calling on pastors to endorse candidates for political office from the pulpit. I sympathize with the aims of this group. They are trying to make a statement to the government and to the IRS that the pulpit should remain free from government intrusion. The IRS, after getting spanked a few times recently for politically-motivated actions against conservatives, is refusing to take the bait. They have not stepped up enforcement against any of those pastors who have made this act of protest. It makes no difference to me. I have never endorsed a candidate for public … [Read more...] about Why I Don’t Endorse Candidates from the Pulpit
Being Gospel-Centered Is A Bloody Mess
I still remember my white-knuckled pew grabbing. When I really wanted to go forward at service and give my life to Christ. Maybe it was a rededication—maybe it was coming to Christ for the first time. I don’t know, but I know that at that time the gospel seemed so beautiful. But I was counting the cost and it seemed so huge. During that time in my life I wrote this rather choppy line: Standing on holy ground With one shoe Caught between a life of me And one devoted to you I deeply wanted to listen and follow the voice calling from the burning bush but I wanted to at least keep a … [Read more...] about Being Gospel-Centered Is A Bloody Mess
George Whitefield, Slavery, and Southern Seminary: Growing Baptist Recognition
Last week, (Oct. 21-22), Southern Baptist Theological Seminary held the 8th Annual Andrew Fuller Center for Baptist Studies Conference on Whitefield and the Great Awakening. This year celebrates the 300th anniversary of Whitefield's birth. Like many Evangelicals, Whitefield (1714-1770) has been a hero of mine as a leader of the First Great Awakening in the 1700s. In my seminary days at Golden Gate, I studied him for an independent study class on evangelism and compared/contrasted the Great Awakening and the Enlightenment and have been familiar with his life, ministry, and influence ever … [Read more...] about George Whitefield, Slavery, and Southern Seminary: Growing Baptist Recognition
GUESS WHAT DAY IT IS!
It's hump day! Also, it's the day that our wandering Aramean has come home to the USA. But I can still just publish something without your review, right Dave? … [Read more...] about GUESS WHAT DAY IT IS!
There’s Always A Harold (by Tony Jones)
This post is authored by Tony Jones. Tony is pastor of the First Baptist Church of Rich Hill, MO. He blogs at http://thespiritualwoodshed.com/. He lived next door to the church, just a few feet away from the front door. He bought his house before the church building was even built, and he had seen pastors come and go. He even told me this story about a pastor they had to fire back in the 70’s who broke out the window in his office because they had locked him out of the church. He and his wife were charter members of the church. He had done most of the electrical work for the church, … [Read more...] about There’s Always A Harold (by Tony Jones)
When the Devil Preaches the Gospel
If you are a believer in Jesus you’ve likely experienced seasons of accusation. Those are the terrible times when it feels as if we are cursed and gone astray. We feel condemned, wrecked, ruined, and that we have no hope of gaining salvation. I’ve had terrible seasons like this in my own life. This is why one of my favorite songs isEmbracing Accusation by Shane and Shane. In this song they take on these seasons of Satanic accusation and invite us to embrace them. The song ends with this great lyric: Oh the devil’s singing over me An age old song That I am cursed and gone astray Singing … [Read more...] about When the Devil Preaches the Gospel
Death by Poverty
Kent Brantly: Recovered Nancy Writebol: Recovered Rick Sacra: Recovered Anonymous WHO Doctor: Recovered Ashoka Mukpo: Recovered Thomas Eric Duncan: Died Nina Pham: Recovered Amber Vinson: Recovered Craig Spencer: Ongoing Case Fatality Rate for African Ebola patients 70% Case Fatality Rate for American Ebola patients 11% The lone American fatality, Thomas Eric Duncan, was sent home from the hospital when he first sought treatment. Thus, the case fatality rate for American Ebola patients who receive prompt treatment is, so far, 0%. Ebola … [Read more...] about Death by Poverty
What to do when the doctors say, “It is terminal . . .”
What to do when the doctors say, “It is terminal . . .” This sentence has been on my mind for the last week or so since I learned of the terminal diagnosis of a 52 year old friend of mine from Fort Worth. She and her husband were incredibly kind and compassionate to me while I was a seminary student at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary from 1997-2001. We were church members together, I played softball with her husband, and their kids were in my wife’s children’s choir. They are very bold in their faith and are pillars of our church in Fort Worth, Texas. Our paths crossed again last … [Read more...] about What to do when the doctors say, “It is terminal . . .”
Why Are People Religious? Can Evolution Provide an Answer?
People are religious. Not "SOME people are religious." People are religious. In every nook and cranny of this planet, among every race and in every tongue, in every culture and climate, there is prayer, there is ritual, there is religion. So pervasive is the religiosity of people that unbelieving scientist Jesse Bering has said, "I've always said that I don't believe in God, but I don't really believe in atheists either." Read that whole article, because it is very intriguing. Bering can't affirm that there's a God, but he thinks that deep down inside everyone, himself included, has a … [Read more...] about Why Are People Religious? Can Evolution Provide an Answer?
Whom Should Seminaries Educate?
This week, while I was away at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary attending our Fall Trustee Meeting, one of my church members received an important email from the seminary. Decades ago, when she was fresh out of college, she had served as a Journeyman to Brazil. She still remembers quite a bit of her Portuguese. She still advocates for missions in our church because of that experience. She drove all the way to Houston and stayed in a hotel at her own expense just to serve as a volunteer in the IMB booth at the SBC 2012 Annual Meeting (where our church had been invited because of our … [Read more...] about Whom Should Seminaries Educate?