THE WONDER OF ISRAEL AND HER RELATIONSHIP TO AFRICA THE AFRICAN-ISRAELI CONNECTION by William Dwight McKissic, Sr. “Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only does wondrous things.” (Psalm 72:18) “To Him who alone does great wonders, For His mercy endures forever;” (Psalm 136:4) “Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.” (Psalm 68:31) “From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My worshipers, The daughter of My dispersed ones, Shall bring My offering.” (Zephaniah 3:10) Israel is a wonder of God’s creation. Jerusalem is the only … [Read more...] about The Wonder of Israel and Her Relationship to Africa (by Wm Dwight McKissic, Sr.)
Memo From SBC Headquarters
We've all heard it hundreds of times—SBC Headquarters is the local church and not some denominational agency. If this line is nothing more than a misleading notion humbly tossed out under the pretense of sounding spiritual, then we should stop saying things we do not really mean. However, if it is indeed true, since I represent one and only one such local church, I am compelled to submit this memo from my SBC Headquarters Branch to every Southern Baptist institution in general and to the ERLC in particular. It is our policy here at headquarters to extend great latitude toward our entity … [Read more...] about Memo From SBC Headquarters
Not Just a Black Holiday
Every year in January, government offices, the USPS, and many schools close in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday. In my area, several schools with a majority white population are remaining open today. The rationale? “It’s not OUR holiday, so why should we celebrate it?” In my conversations with white friends, and my experience in majority white communities, I see a reluctance by many to observe the day on the grounds that MLK day is a “black” holiday. As a white Christian, I could not disagree more. Martin Luther King day is MY day, it’s OUR day. Dr. King’s vision of … [Read more...] about Not Just a Black Holiday
From King to Obama: A Fulfillment of Jewish Prophecy? (by Wm. Dwight McKissic, Sr.)
In Celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr., Holiday January 20, 2014 FROM KING TO OBAMA A FULFILLMENT OF JEWISH PROPHECY? Psalm 68:31 “Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.” Does the Hebrew Scripture predict descendants of Africa occupying seats of worldwide political influence and power before the Lord returns? Was the election of Barack Hussein Obama a fulfillment of biblical prophecy? Does a study of Noah’s descendants throughout the Bible demonstrate a pattern of how God has operated in the history of mankind? Did Martin Luther King, Jr. … [Read more...] about From King to Obama: A Fulfillment of Jewish Prophecy? (by Wm. Dwight McKissic, Sr.)
Be Awake, Be Ready: A Personal Journey
This is the edited text for my message today at Southern Hills Baptist Church in Sioux City, IA. It would be hard for the Bible to be clearer about anything than this fact: no one knows when Jesus is going to come back. There is a lot about the Second Coming that remains shrouded in mystery, but God has made it clear that this mystery will not be revealed until the moment the trumpet sounds. In spite of the unequivocal and adamant assertions of Jesus that no one knows the day or the hour of his return, people continue to be fooled by those who announce that they have either received some … [Read more...] about Be Awake, Be Ready: A Personal Journey
Eschatology and Religious Liberty
Q. What is the one thing that is not present in heaven (or in the millennium, or in the New Jerusalem, depending on your take on eschatology) that we can be thankful is still present with us here today on earth? A. Religious liberty. “[The woman] gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne.” (Rev. 12:5) “And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, ‘Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown … [Read more...] about Eschatology and Religious Liberty
The Significance of Church History
Church History is a common course in almost every undergraduate and graduate level degree in Theology, Bible, ministry, etc. However, I have begun to think we have lost the purpose or thrust behind the need for studying the historical roots of the church. In a day when the newest, latest, and most innovative ideas take center stage, it may be that we need to take a step back and look into the past. So why study the history of the church? I wish I could take all the credit for these ideas, but I can’t. This is the culmination of many individuals before me, some of which taught me. 1. … [Read more...] about The Significance of Church History
A Bad Taste
I am having some medical tests, and my normally prolific staff of writers has badly failed me, so here is one from the archives - published at my personal site "Word Processing" about a hundred years ago. Today, it meets a need for me, if no one else gets anything from it. I sucked my thumb. There, I said it. My deep, dark secret is now out. I loved that thumb. It gave me security and pleasure. But my mother had a different opinion. She knew that my thumb-sucking needed to stop. So, she put “Thum” on my thumb. Thum tasted bad. Really bad. It wasn’t poison, but it tasted like it. Every time … [Read more...] about A Bad Taste
Practical Advice for Seminary Students (by Kevin Schaub)
Kevin is the Director of Family and Youth Ministry at FBC Durham, and this post originally appeared at that church's website. As a young pastor, I would like to write a simple word of encouragement and advice to young, developing future leaders. Perhaps you are an under-30-something seminary student, and you’re excited and can’t wait to be a pastor. What practical advice might help you? The following are six things that have come to my mind over the years as I have aspired to be a pastor—nothing really groundbreaking, just helpful reminders. 1. Don’t rush it There is nothing … [Read more...] about Practical Advice for Seminary Students (by Kevin Schaub)
A Plea to the Critics about Criticism
I may be stepping into a great big pile of...well...trouble. The SBC has a lot of critics, from those who love the SBC but have a few small areas of critique to those who think the denomination is dying, even some who seem to think that would be a boon to the Kingdom! Some have been productive and measured in their criticisms. Others, in my opinion, have been overly harsh, heaping condemnation on our convention. But what I would like to do today is to give some criticism to the critics. More to the point, I want to challenge critics of the SBC to filter their criticism through a biblical … [Read more...] about A Plea to the Critics about Criticism