SBC Voices

Joel Rainey is the Director of Missions at Mid-Maryland Baptist Association, an adjunct professor at Capital Bible Seminary and blogs at Themelios (Twitter - @joelrainey).  These are exciting days for Maryland Baptists for many reasons, but next week marks one of those reasons as we welcome our larger Southern Baptist family to our state’s largest and most influential city.  We hope you enjoy Baltimore! But several weeks ago, our excitement grew exponentially here in the “free state” when we learned that one of our own—Dr. Dennis Manpoong Kim—would be nominated for SBC President.  Many of … [Read more...] about What Maryland Baptists Would Say about Dr. Dennis Kim (by Joel Rainey)

The Baptists are coming- Don’t be scared The Baptists are coming- I hope you’re prepared The Baptists are coming- We won’t stay long The Baptists are coming- You better hold on! You’ve heard a lot about us, but now you get to see The chicken fryin’, gospel cryin’, SBC Led at the head by a man named Luter He’s a fast preachin’ , people reachin’ Real straight shooter. Who we are and what we do Might come as a big surprise to you. We don’t handle snakes, we don’t hate people Our women wear pants & we count them equal. We believe in the Scripture and the … [Read more...] about The Baptists are Coming

The local church is changing, just like everything else in this country.  The shift is seen all across our towns and cities.  It began with how we shop.  First, it was the local grocer in a small shop., It then it became the Supermarket which has given way to the Mega, Super-centers which have everything.  The days of the mom and pop local store are fading and they are closing up shop.  What the all in one stores didn't destroy, the mega specialty chain franchises have causes major problems.  There are a handful of small shops where I live that I use constantly, they are so hard to find these … [Read more...] about My Concern For Health of Church Community

The State of Texas has done it again. Highly credible internet sources (duh!) report that Texas resident Andrew Chifari ordered the most expensive Starbucks drink in history, a $54.75 monstrosity containing 60 shots of espresso, chocolate syrup, protein powder, and apparently gold leaf. That's right: the state that gave the nation Ross Perot, Gary Busey, and the Cadillac Ranch managed to produce someone with both the imagination and the cardiac fortitude to create and consume a 128-ounce caffeinated beverage, all on a free-drink coupon.  The teeming masses of our grateful and quite … [Read more...] about Judging Another Man’s Coffee

I know a group of cows is called a herd. If it's lions, it's a pride. Birds form a flock, but geese a gaggle. Fish never learn to read but together they are a school. So, what do you call a group of Baptist Bloggers who get together? I can think of no better name than a "Bluster of Bloggers." So, I'm trying to organize a Bluster of Bloggers in Baltimore next week. I've talked to my local contact and he tells me that there is a Cheesecake Factory near the convention center. Alas, there is no Beignet-bearing Cafe Du Monde anywhere, but cheesecake might be a good consolation prize. Now, … [Read more...] about A Bluster of Bloggers in Baltimore: A Real-Life Gathering

How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! Psalm 133:1 When it comes to the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting, “unity” may not be the first word that comes to mind. Especially if you spend a lot of time on the SBC blogosphere, you might think that unity is an unachievable goal. Yet, I believe it is not only achievable, but within our grasp. Most of us are not power-brokers in the convention. We will not attend the meeting with any kind of clout (though maybe a few of you might have some name recognition among the faithful blog readers). We come as messengers, … [Read more...] about My personal plan to strive for unity in Baltimore

One of my favorite movies is the classic musical “Fiddler on the Roof.” Earlier this year, my wife and I took a few days off in Minneapolis and went up to Chanhassen Dinner Theatre to see the Broadway version. Fiddler, if there are any who do not know the story, is a struggle of the traditionalist Tevye in a rapidly changing world, and focuses on his three daughters’ marriages. The first daughter, Tzeitel, is matched to an old, widowed butcher, but is in love with the poor tailor Motel. At first, Tevye is outraged, but he gives the matter some thought. “On the one hand.” “On the other … [Read more...] about There Is No Other Hand

Adam Blosser is the pastor of Drakes Branch Baptist Church, in Drakes Branch, Virginia, and blogs at One True Joy.  As you have probably heard by now, Glenn Beck preached a Mormon sermon  (on the campus of Liberty University during a recent convocation service.  I wasn't initially going to write about this as I have no desire to appoint myself as the leader of a new one of those dreaded "discernment ministries."  However, I feel it important that this situation receive the same level of attention that other recent "scandals" have received. It should be noted that I do not approach this … [Read more...] about Reflections on Glenn Beck’s “Sermon” at Liberty (by Adam Blosser)

I bought some shorts last October off the clearance rack in Kohl's. Pretty standard things: plaid-printed shorts with too many pockets.  They were the sort of clothing you'd see in a Sunday circular, modeled by semi-muscular white men surrounded by strategically-placed men of varied ethnic origin.  I suppose a certain obligation existed for me to go full monty and purchase a matching polo shirt and boat shoes, but according to my mother I've inherited my father's non-compliant streak.  Besides, the only polo shirt on clearance was white and had embroidery of what appeared to be two … [Read more...] about The Last Happy Day