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?
Why I Can’t Be He-Man
Sometimes, I wish I was He-Man. Nine words. That’s all he needs. Nine words…and a magic sword to hold aloft. By the Power of Grayskull, I HAVE THE POWER. And with those words an effeminate looking dude becomes the most powerful man in the universe. Not only is he changed but so is his cowering pet, Cringer. Changed into the mighty battle cat. Magic words. I wish I had them. I’ve got junk in my own life of which I wish I could just hold aloft a sword and shout some gibberish and then all would be well. Besetting sins would disappear as quickly as Prince Adam’s pretty … [Read more...] about Why I Can’t Be He-Man
SBC Voices Contributors: Fire When Ready
I'm going off grid for about a little more than a week. I'm leaving first thing in the morning for a BCI Pastors' Tour to the Holy Land, with a group of (wait for it) BCI Pastors and their wives. Jenni is traveling with me this time - I promised her last year after I got to go to Israel that I would take her. Anyway, the blog is wide open. Normally, I publish the posts according to a schedule. But for the next 9 days, it is "fire when ready." If you have a post ready to go, put it up. You are on your own for a week, fellas. A Few Guidelines 1) Be ye kind and considerate of the … [Read more...] about SBC Voices Contributors: Fire When Ready
9 Ways to Preach Like a Chicken
In 2 Timothy 1:5-14, Paul exhorts Timothy to be bold in the gospel and guard this good deposit entrusted to him. In the middle of this passage it is as if Paul sets before his protégé two options. One option is to fan into flame the gift given to him even if it leads to suffering. The other option is to let this gift grow cold and just kind of get by. Such an option will lead to less outward suffering but I’m convinced that it’d wreak havoc on Timothy’s soul. You can’t hold such a fire within your bones. As I thought through Paul’s exhortation to Timothy I applied his exhortation to my … [Read more...] about 9 Ways to Preach Like a Chicken
I Like Simple Weddings (And I Cannot Lie!)
(Okay, I apologize for that title.) I'm preparing for a BCI Pastor's trip to Israel next week, but I saw this infographic that buttressed something I've been saying for about 267 years, and I thought I would write a few brief thoughts for you to discuss. I don't really have time for this, and this will likely be my last post (unless its not) until after I return on October 29th. Here's my thesis. I like simple weddings. More than that, I think they are healthier, better, and maybe even more honoring to God than expensive, complex weddings. I know that it is very easy to … [Read more...] about I Like Simple Weddings (And I Cannot Lie!)