For we know the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now… ~ Romans 8:22 Oklahoma is sort of a “stomping grounds” for me. Though I was born, raised, and presently live in Missouri, I graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2003 with a degree in Meteorology. People see me going around all over the place with an OU hat and they immediately think, “Football.” Yes, that’s part of it, but before I became a student there I didn’t grow up with an affinity for a crimson-clad football team. For me it was all about the weather. I have had a passion for … [Read more...] about Pray for Oklahoma
So, Pastor, I Won the Lottery and I Want to Give
What would you do? This weekend, some unnamed person in Zephyrhills, Florida, became an instant megamillionaire, winning $590 million (nearly 377 million one-time payout), in the Powerball lottery. What if this person was a member of your church? It would not be the first time that a church member won the lottery. What if this person came to you in a few weeks with a check for $37.7 million (let's just make him a good Baptist tither for record)? What would you do? Would you take the check and get started with the plans for the new building project? Would you tell him to keep his … [Read more...] about So, Pastor, I Won the Lottery and I Want to Give
One Mark of a Truly Spiritual Church
“We don’t have bulletins”, said the pastor quite proudly. “Why not?”, inquires a sheepish visitor. The pastor confidently answers, “We want to give the Spirit freedom to work and move in our worship services. We do not want to be shackled and confined by some order of service”. -- That is a real conversation I overheard in a church that I was visiting. At the time I was giving the pastor a thumbs up. I grew up in a Baptist church where the only time you shouted or raised your hands was if somebody elbowed you in the kidney when you nodded off during the pastors sermon. Therefore, … [Read more...] about One Mark of a Truly Spiritual Church
We Are All Doing Theology All The Time (by Alan Cross)
Alan Cross blogs at Downshore Drift. Preaching on the Ministry of the Spirit this Sunday for Pentecost and I picked up the massive and exhaustive God's Empowering Presence: The Holy Spirit in the Letters of Paul by Gordon D. Fee. He talks about a "Theology of the Spirit" and makes a great observation about how Paul did theology and how we are to similarly do theology each and every day in all circumstances. Sometimes, when we think about "theology" we think of learned academicians sitting in a dusty study pouring over obscure works and pontificating on things that do not really have relevance … [Read more...] about We Are All Doing Theology All The Time (by Alan Cross)
For the Propagation of the Gospel
At its formation in 1845, the Southern Baptist Convention was consecrated to the cause of "the propagation of the gospel." The convention existed to enable local churches to expand their common reach in the tasks of calling sinners to repentance and organizing new congregations of disciples. "We can do more together than we can do separately" is not just a Southern Baptist slogan; it is the Southern Baptist raison d'être. Dare I suggest that the health and value of the Southern Baptist Convention must be calculated along these same lines? Dare I opine further that the Southern Baptist … [Read more...] about For the Propagation of the Gospel
Embarrassing Moments in Ministry
I've been in fulltime Christian ministry for over 30 years. I've had some good times. I've also had some moments when I stood there looking like a complete idiot. I've done some dumb things. I will bet that you have as well, if you are willing to admit it. So, tell us your story. What was your most embarrassing moment as a minister? Rules: 1) It has to be true. 2) It has to be embarrassing to you. Don't tell stories that will embarrass another. This is confession time, guys. 3) Try to maintain some small measure of good taste. I will start the ball rolling with two stories - … [Read more...] about Embarrassing Moments in Ministry
Tribalism and the SBC
A link came across my Facebook page today to a scathing article written by one of the Reformed watchbloggers lambasting Mark Driscoll for a video he did at his "Resurgence" conference this year. So, I watched the 21 minute video. It was typical Driscoll - everything some love and others hate about him. He made a lot of sense and his tone was often cloying at the same time. I will put a link to the video below, so you can watch it if you wish. WARNING: I'm talking about Driscoll just to set up the post today. This is NOT about him and comments that are made about him - pro or con - will be put … [Read more...] about Tribalism and the SBC
The Little Church that Cried Wolf
This is the last straw! Did you hear that the Obama Administration is trying to pass legislation to prevent Christians from owning a Bible without also owning a Quran? It’s true. I saw it on Facebook. On the same page I saw proof that President Obama is really a Muslim terrorist. Guys we really need to take back our government from these liberal nuts. We need God back in the White House. So write your senator today and tell them “Quran? We don’t need no stinkin’ Quran!” --- The above snippet has never actually appeared on Facebook, but it might as well have. Every week there is … [Read more...] about The Little Church that Cried Wolf
Salvation Isn’t Easy
I have been a life long Southern Baptist, and have heard my whole life about how simple and easy Salvation is. A decision, a quick prayer and the deed is done. You get dunked later on and you get to eat the cracker and drink grape juice from a little thimble looking cup. It's easy and simple, yet as I look at the words of Jesus, I see some things that scare me, some things that make me think we are doing things the wrong way. In Luke 9, Jesus shares the cost of being a follower, He said that "no one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God" (vs 62). Jesus … [Read more...] about Salvation Isn’t Easy
Blogging Wisdom From My Wife
A couple years ago I was dealing with a bout of deep discouragement. Actually that’s the sanitized wording for it. The more accurate description would be “wounded pride”. I had been working my tail off in blogging and writing and I was still barely getting traffic. I whined to my wife. “I don’t think anybody is even reading my stuff. Is it even worth my time and effort?” Those are good questions to ask. But my wife knows me and she knows my passion for writing. She knew that this was not a reasoned assessment of whether or not my time was being wasted on writing. She was able to see … [Read more...] about Blogging Wisdom From My Wife