SBC Voices

Just Barely Hanging On

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Part One of this can be read here. Donald sits at the kitchen table in silence, blankly gazing at the back yard. The wisteria are getting a little ragged, and need to be trimmed.  The open window to his left allows in a few bugs.  Hummingbirds rob the feeders and robins snatch up the seed Donald scattered on the flat river rocks at 4;30 that morning.  Iris had a rough night, so he gave up on sleep after 4:00. Silence.  Sip of coffee.  A glance at the worn study Bible in front of him. He wasn’t always a believer.  The late 60’s were filled with skepticism, and it wasn’t until a late … [Read more...] about Just Barely Hanging On

God’s Happy Little Trees

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I love watching Bob Ross paint his happy little trees.  However, on occasion Bob will do something that really bothers me emotionally.  What almost killed me was that Ross would paint a very intricate and beautiful mountain, or a bunch of happy little trees on a mountain ridge and then…I’m getting all worked up remember it…he would practically destroy the thing by putting a big fat tree that covers almost everything he just painted.  For a solid 10 minutes I’d sit there shocked and quivering and not able to enjoy my Fruit Loops while I watched this afro-wearin’ painter make something … [Read more...] about God’s Happy Little Trees

Missionary Axioms

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Mrs. Samita was one my least favorite teachers of all-time. She taught algebra, geometry and necromancy. I suspected her of having bizarre hobbies, like beating puppies with kittens and quietly following along behind paranoid schizophrenics in her car with the headlights off. All that aside, she taught me the meaning of the concept of axiom. An axiom is something that is so true it does not require proof. Gravity, for example, would be axiomatic. Arrogance in the NY Yankees would qualify as well. So with that definition in mind, I invite you to peruse this list of missionary axioms, aspects … [Read more...] about Missionary Axioms

Christian Social Engagement in a Post-Christian America: Maybe We Should Change Our Tune?

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I write this with some trepidation, because I am well aware of the all-too-common tendency among us to misread, misinterpret, misunderstand and misapply. So, let me be clear about what I am NOT going to say in this post before I try to make my point. I am NOT saying that Christians should retreat from engagement in the social and political arena. I do not believe that the church’s task is political, but spiritual – we are here to introduce sinners to Christ who is their only hope of salvation and to teach the full truth of God’s Word through which the Spirit works to transform us to be … [Read more...] about Christian Social Engagement in a Post-Christian America: Maybe We Should Change Our Tune?

Maybe Our Worship Needs to be More “Organic”

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Francis Chan in a video session of Crazy Love brings up an idea that I’ve been kicking around in my head for a while—what would happen if we took the Gospel to a group of people, devoid of our cultural traditions about church, and they had nothing to build a church by except the Bible in their hands?  Would their church look much like our churches in America do today?  Probably not. A couple of weeks back, Dave Miller wrote about the idea of our culture dictating our worship “styles” and asked whether or not we were harming the God-intended cross-cultural unity of the church by demanding … [Read more...] about Maybe Our Worship Needs to be More “Organic”

The Flock

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A shepherd was put in charge of an average size flock of sheep, and he took too his task with joy and enthusiasm.  The shepherd was responsible, diligently and worked hard. He kept watch over his flock and rejoiced as the flock continued to increase. From a distance things looked great but there was a problem. The shepherd was extremely near sited and didn't see what was really going on. In the flock, there was a number of wolves disguised as sheep. They would take sheep, but as the sheep disappeared, wolves took their place. The growth in the flock was not sheep, but the enemy coming in.  … [Read more...] about The Flock

Merry Christmas To All!

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Galatians 4:1-7 (ESV) 1 I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave,though he is the owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. 3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principlesof the world. 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, … [Read more...] about Merry Christmas To All!

Helping Those Who Help in Tragedy

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I contacted Southbury Baptist Church, which Baptist Press said was on the front lines of our efforts to minister to the Newtown Community. It is, I believe, the closest Southern Baptist church to Sandy Hook. I received a letter from John Rowe a few days later (I'm guessing they are inundated) and I would share this letter with the Voices community. There are some prayer requests and information on more tangible help. Here is John's letter: ___________________________________ Mr. Miller My name is John Rowe and I am heading up the response to the contacts that we are receiving. Forgive … [Read more...] about Helping Those Who Help in Tragedy

Who’s to Blame?

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I've decided to remove my post because I believe I was careless with my words and unintentionally derided Christian homeschooling and Christian private schools. That is not my intention and I myself am quite happy with the education and influence of many Christians who homeschool, have been homeschooled, enroll their children in private Christian schools, and attend private Christian schools. I'm going to think about this over my own Christmas vacation and try to formulate something that is both edifying to other believers and focused on the need for greater Christian influence in the public … [Read more...] about Who’s to Blame?