SBC Voices

We are blessed to have three candidates running for the presidency of the SBC, and I'm glad that all three are running. I have already opinined as to why I am glad that Ronnie Floyd is running. On this blog I mentioned that I am glad that Jared Moore is running, because it is a demonstration of the strength of our convention that anyone from any member church of any size or circumstance can seek any office in our convention (Yes, when some of you were clamoring for me to run, I declared it impractical for a small-church pastor to preside over the convention. I still believe that. But just … [Read more...] about On the Qualifications of SBC Presidents

“It’s time to go to bed, sweetheart,” I say with an optimism that forgets I am raising a sinner. In my mind the little munchkin will say with a refined British accent, “Why, yes, good sir, you are correct. The dawn is upon us and I must head to my quarters.” And with that she’ll march her little tail into bed, close her precious eyes and go to sleep. I’m shocked that my kind request is met with rebellion. “No! I don’t want to go to bed! I want to play with my dolls more!” I change my tone a bit to let this little princess know who bought those little dolls. I’m still calm and kind but at … [Read more...] about Conversation Over

Suppose I say to the wicked: ‘Wicked people, you will surely die,’ but you don’t speak to warn the wicked to stop doing evil. Then they will die because they were sinners, but I will punish you for their deaths. Ezekiel 33:8 This summer marks the end of our time as church planters in South America among the Deaf.  Between us, the wife and I have labored in one form or another in 7 different beautiful countries on the continent.  Languages learned and forgotten.  Beaches and mountains.  Jungles and dust fields. Not everything worked.  We've tried probably 573 different strategies and … [Read more...] about Ezekiel’s Watchman: Did I Blow the Trumpet?

Alan Cross blogs at Downshore Drift where this post originally appeared.  It has been 5 years since the Great Commission Resurgence (GCR) Task Force was appointed by then-SBC President Johnny Hunt in 2009. The GCR Task Force, chaired by Ronnie Floyd, gave its Report/Recommendations at the SBC Annual Meeting the following year. The Task Force had 22 people on it, including one Asian, one Hispanic, and one African American. Almost all of the participants were from the Deep South. Did this overall lack of ethnic diversity on the Task Force lead to the GCR Report basically ignoring the issue … [Read more...] about Fred Luter, the GCR Task Force, and the Continued Need for Ethnic/Cultural Diversity In SBC Leadership (by Alan Cross)

Two Key Men 2 of 2 Charlemagne As I mentioned in the previous post, the Middle Ages gave us some key figures in the History of Christianity. We may disagree with them on some levels, but we are indebted to their furtherance of Christianity. While we may not like to think about the direct link we possess to them, they do serve as the ancestors that we look back upon. I mentioned in the last post about Gregory “The Great.” He was elected Bishop of Rome in 590 and had significant contributions. Many of them weren’t ecclesiastical, but political. Under the direction of the ordaining work of … [Read more...] about Charlemagne

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 tells us that all things have their proper time and place. For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 2  a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 3  a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4  a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5  a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6  a time to seek, and a time to … [Read more...] about A Time to Marginalize: Some People Need to Be Ignored

“Pornography satisfies every one of the prerequisites for neuroplastic change...” psychiatrist Norman Doidge, in The Brain That Changes Itself (2006) I've got this buddy, a counselor for a Christian organization.  I got him really caffeinated one day - enough espressos will befuddle anyone save Juan Valdez - and starting prying.  "Longest shower you ever took after a counseling session?  Biggest loser you ever counseled?  Hardest thing for people to grasp?" "Oh, hardest thing to understand?  That's an easy one: Romans 12:1-2.  Cognitive or mental transformation is a real thing.  It happens … [Read more...] about Pornography, Cerebral Plasticity, and Transformation

A group of guys are sitting at a table arguing about who won the 1984 World Series MVP. If the year was 1994 then the argument would go on until somebody got home and looked up in their copy of Sports Almanac. Today the argument will last only as long as it takes for someone to grab their iPhone and consult the mighty Google machine. Willie Hernandez. Argument over. You want to know something, then you Google it. It’s your God-given right to have this information and it is at your finger tips. We are an information-saturated culture. I’d almost argue that many of us are addicted to … [Read more...] about A Thirst For Knowledge, A Thirst For Porn

The following might be a familiar scenario: After noticing a new addition to your Christian friend’s arm, you couldn’t help but ask what inspired him to pay money to a stranger to stain his skin with a tool forged in the pits of Mordor. (Can you tell I hate needles?) The response might have gone something like this, “I got this tattoo to share the gospel with other people that have tattoos.” It’s important to state that not every believer that gets a tattoo does so for this reason, but many do. And some believers do other things in order to “share the gospel,” like attend certain parties, … [Read more...] about I Got this Tattoo to Share the Gospel

Guest Post by: Job Dalomba Each week at Emmanuel Church, we observe the Lord’s Supper near the end of our corporate worship service and personally speaking, it is an emotional event. I am reminded of the forgiveness of my sins and reflect upon the specific sins in which I have been convicted of during this worship service. Coming to the table is an act of faith because we are acknowledging our helplessness to atone for our sins. The body and blood of Christ are set before us and there we face works based righteousness or righteousness found only in Christ. Is my righteousness enough for … [Read more...] about Family Faithfulness & The Lord’s Supper (by Job Dalomba)