Part I of II “It is the disposition of God’s children, after they have tasted the sweet mercy and comfort and love of God, to break forth into the praising of God and to thanksgiving.” ---Richard Sibbes (Exposition of 2 Cor. Chapter 1) Sibbes’ exposition on this passage may be second to none! He describes the mercy, comfort, and love experienced from God to the individual during the time of suffering. Notice the resulting actions by the individual, “praising of God and thanksgiving.” What a sweet idea for us as God’s children to gather in the midst of our trying times. There has been … [Read more...] about What do I do with my suffering? (By Andy Hynes)
TWO THINGS I HOPE DO NOT HAPPEN AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION IN HOUSTON, 2013 (by Louis)
Louis has been a part of the blogging community for a long time. This is Part 1. Part 2 will come later. I plan to attend the annual meeting of the SBC in Houston, Texas next week. I am looking forward to the meeting. I enjoy the reports from the SBC entities. I enjoy hearing about our cooperative efforts to share the Gospel and disciple believers around the world. I also enjoy the fellowship that I have with many people in the SBC. I know people in the SBC from all over the country. The annual meeting brings us all together for fellowship and business. There are two things … [Read more...] about TWO THINGS I HOPE DO NOT HAPPEN AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION IN HOUSTON, 2013 (by Louis)
How I Talk About Sex: A Response to Dan Barnes
Recently, Dan Barnes contributed an article regarding how Christians ought to address the matter of sex. Namely, he asked how Christians are protecting their families from a culture that is increasingly blasé about sexual matters. I looked forward to the discussion because sexuality and purity are quite important to Stacy and I. We came of age in a time when our parents were unaware of the degree to which adult magazines, bootleg porn films, and crude sexual jokes were making the rounds. The Talk was, if it happened those days at all, a short awkward discussion in which parents spent most … [Read more...] about How I Talk About Sex: A Response to Dan Barnes
Resolution: On the Mormon Church – Mormonism is Not Evangelical (by Dwight McKissic and Tim Rogers)
The following resolution will be offered by Pastors Dwight McKissic and Tim Rogers in Houston. It certainly has my support, for what it's worth. WHEREAS, Historically, Southern Baptists have embraced Christian brotherhood and cooperation with other evangelicals and WHEREAS, We have witnessed in recent years the portrayal of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints as Christian and termed an evangelical group and WHEREAS, We have witnessed in recent years an increased call of denominations as barriers to be overcome on the road to unity and WHEREAS, our convention along … [Read more...] about Resolution: On the Mormon Church – Mormonism is Not Evangelical (by Dwight McKissic and Tim Rogers)
My Perspective on Foreknowledge, Predestination, Election and Freewill (by Jerry Corbaley)
Jerry Corbaley blogs at "Think the Thoughts." I am not a Calvinist. I am not an Arminian. I am not of Cephas, or Apollos or Spurgeon. I want to be of Christ. The rest of them are dead white European males. God is their judge, not me. They may all be greater than me at the judgment. I can learn from any of them. Frankly, all of them can also learn from all of you. I am not going to write Bible Study notes. I’m going to “dumb-this-down” so I can proof-read it. Most of you will see where I am coming from and will know what passages I am referring to. My confidence is in the Bible. If you want … [Read more...] about My Perspective on Foreknowledge, Predestination, Election and Freewill (by Jerry Corbaley)
In Enemy Territory
I'm in Boston, surrounded by fans of the Boston Red Evils. I have limited time and no laptop. This old guy finds typing on an iPad to be cumbersome. I will try to keep an eye on the place, process comments, etc. You guys behave. Oh, and I've discovered something interesting visiting family in the vortex of sporting evil (housing the Red Evils, Celtics and the Patriot - perhaps the Bruins if hockey were a real sport). Boston is weird, strange, different, but it is kinda cool. Historic, Maybe there is a spiritual lesson in there somewhere. If a Yankee fan can enjoy Boston, maybe a 5-pointer … [Read more...] about In Enemy Territory
The Calvinism Committee Report
I am flying out today to Boston for a little vacation/grandkid time, so I can only put this out for your discussion. Frank Page's study group has issued its report, and it is well worth the read. While the results are hardly surprising, they do form the basis for a way forward for the SBC through the Calvinism quagmire that has bogged us down in recent years. Here is a link to the full report. The introductory paragraphs the discussion well. Southern Baptists are Great Commission people. We are also a doctrinal people, and those doctrinal convictions undergird our Great Commission vision … [Read more...] about The Calvinism Committee Report
Why Russell Moore at the ERLC is an Important Move (by Alan Cross)
Alan Cross blogs at Downshore Drift. The public face of the SBC just changed in a significant way, in my opinion. Putting away the old "culture warrior" Religious Right views often articulated by Russell Moore's predecessor at the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, Richard Land, the SBC has now chosen a head of its public policy entity who has the ability to mark out an ethic in the public square influenced more clearly by the Gospel of the Kingdom. Moore, former Dean of Theology at Southern Baptist Seminary, in his book, The Kingdom of Christ (2004) says, "As with the fundamentalist … [Read more...] about Why Russell Moore at the ERLC is an Important Move (by Alan Cross)
Unity, Bad Theology and the SBC: The Heart of the Problem
Let's face it, folks, the unity movement can get a pretty bad rap. I remember a Christian comedian from 30 years ago saying, "Let's forget all this doctrine and just love Jesus." What a perfectly terrible idea! I was warned from childhood about the specter of the "ecumenical movement" that was going to unite the world into a dogma-free one-world-church. When I, or someone else, calls Southern Baptists to tone down the hostility and rhetoric over theological issues of the SBC, especially those related to Calvinism, an assumption is often made that either a) I don't care about theology or b) I … [Read more...] about Unity, Bad Theology and the SBC: The Heart of the Problem
Let’s Talk about Sex
Yes, I said it. Sex. It's all over the place, in the music, on tv, in video games, all over the internet, on billboards, at the store, it's all over. As I get older, my concern moves to my kids, my daughters and my boys. They are growing up, they are still young but they are hearing about sex at school from friends. It seems like everyone is talking about sex, are we? Sure, the church talks about sex, we have Ed and spouse sleeping on the roof, we have Mark Driscoll writing a book that is full on controversy, but are we addressing the issues? I was simply told that sex was bad until I was … [Read more...] about Let’s Talk about Sex