SBC Voices

Racially Insensitive Jokes ARE Racist! (Duh!)

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Sergio Garcia and Tiger Woods are golfers who don't like each other very much. It's not hard to see why. Tiger is hyper-competitive and arrogant. I cheer for him, but have often been a little bothered by or even ashamed of his behavior. Sergio Garcia is, by most accounts, a whiner. He gets easily distracted and complains about what goes on around him. The tension that has been growing between the two of them over the years has exploded in recent days. They went head to head in the Players Championship a couple of weeks back. The crowd following Tiger made noise that distracted Sergio and he … [Read more...] about Racially Insensitive Jokes ARE Racist! (Duh!)

For the Propagation of the Gospel – Southern Baptist Missions

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Bart Barber has posted two installments of his excellent series, "For the Propagation of the Gospel," about the work of the Southern Baptist Convention. Part 1. Part 2. He graciously asked if I might like to participate, and I offer this as a third installment in the series.  They say that confession is good for the soul, so here is mine. There was a time when I was flirting with leaving Southern Baptists and finding another denominational home. My years at Dallas Seminary had made me aware that though I was a lifelong Southern Baptist there was a great big evangelical world out there for me … [Read more...] about For the Propagation of the Gospel – Southern Baptist Missions

Is There a Nathan in the Land? A Response to President Obama’s Morehouse College Speech (by Wm Dwight McKissic, Sr)

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Is There A Nathan In The Land? Are We Going To Allow One Man To Redefine The Family For Black America? A Response To President Obama’s Speech At Morehouse College By William Dwight McKissic, Sr. May 21, 2013   President Obama spoke with heartfelt identification regarding the plight, promise and responsibilities of young educated Black men; at the all-male Morehouse College 2013 graduation ceremony. He challenged them to: Utilize their training and talents to serve underserved communities and people. Not just be concerned about the good they can buy, but the good they can … [Read more...] about Is There a Nathan in the Land? A Response to President Obama’s Morehouse College Speech (by Wm Dwight McKissic, Sr)

How Would You Spend $100 on Pastoral Ministry Resources?

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I’m a new pastor. I’ve got about $100 and not much of any library. I want hard copies—non of that e-reader stuff. When I was ordained last week a former professor bought me 5 books from your preaching list. Now I need to focus on building a few resources to help me with pastoral ministry. What do you suggest? Here is my answer: Dangerous Calling by Paul Tripp for $12 The Reformed Pastor by Richard Baxter $8 9 Marks of a Healthy Church by Mark Dever $11 The Conviction to Lead by Albert Mohler $15 Brothers We Are Not Professionals by John Piper $10 Instruments in the Redeemers … [Read more...] about How Would You Spend $100 on Pastoral Ministry Resources?

For the Propagation of the Gospel, Part 2

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This is the next installment of my previous post, For the Propagation of the Gospel. I had initially planned to give more than one item in this post, but my reasons for changing my plans will be obvious to you, I hope. Items 1 and 2 appeared in the prior post. I give you: The Southern Baptist Convention Helps People in Disasters As No One Else Does. Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers are in Oklahoma. They have been working in Granbury, TX, and in West, TX. When a disaster shows up, the yellow caps will not be far behind. How well do you know SBC Disaster Relief? SBC … [Read more...] about For the Propagation of the Gospel, Part 2

Pray for Oklahoma

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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

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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

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“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