SBC Voices

I am headed to Taiwan on Thursday.  I've got a couple of posts set up for tomorrow, but I won't likely be writing. I am continuing to ADD items to my to-do list quicker than I cross them off. SBC Voices will be in the hands of our writing staff during the next two weeks.  Barring unforeseen circumstances, I will be back into the USA on July 26, and probably back to blogging a couple of days later. If I get a moment, I may write a post or two in the next two weeks, but I will not be around much.  You will just have to survice without me. Hugs and Kisses. … [Read more...] about Miller-OUT!

I wrote awhile back of what it is like when the lights go out in my fragile mind.  I had a pretty intense period of darkness that finally seems to have lifted yesterday (Praise God!).  One of the things that really helped me in the midst of darkness was John Piper’s When the Darkness Will Not Lift.  I wanted to mention two points of counsel that really helped my soul.  They may be surprising. Start with Despair It is really difficult being a pastor that struggles with depression.  I feel a ton of added pressure to kick this depression thing.  You never want your darkness to negatively … [Read more...] about How John Piper Helped Me in the Midst of Darkness

Alan Cross blogs at Downshore Drift.  Last month(June 19-20, 2012), I submitted a resolution in New Orleans at the Southern Baptist Convention affirming human needs ministry. I initially called it "holistic" ministry, meaning that true gospel ministry addressed the whole person - spirit, soul, and body, as well as social, economic, and political structures.  Part of my thinking here is that can be easy for Southern Baptists to focus only on preaching the Word and to neglect the whole person and society. Or, it can be easy to just focus on helping people and never get around to actually … [Read more...] about Resolution 8: Affirming Human Needs Ministry (SBC), Part 1 (by Alan Cross)

What is truth?  (John 18:38) In life, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish what is true from what is false. I mean, who wants to base their judgments and decisions upon faulty information? If only we could measure the plausibility of truth claims and sort through the cluttered deception of worldly fabrications. May I suggest, free of charge, that we adopt “the Aniston Principle” for the systematic processing of information by the otherwise gullible? Mr. Joshua Garlathy dodged child support payments for over a decade, owing $32,000 in back payments. Hiding in Hawaii, he was unwilling to … [Read more...] about The Aniston Principle

I'm heading on a mission trip on Thursday, to Taiwan. I recounted the provision of God in a blog post yesterday.  It was amazing. But some have pointed out how expensive mission trips are. We will spend between $15,000 to $18,000 on this trip.  I will preach around 15 times in 9 days, and our team will lead youth group ministries, lead worship and do other tasks at a missionary conference. It's a lot of money for the ministry we are doing.  Is it valuable?  Is it worth it? It is cost-effective in terms of ministry? Tough questions. Some say that mission trips are a waste of time and … [Read more...] about Overseas Mission Trips: Do They Serve a Legitimate Purpose?

On Thursday, I am leaving for a mission trip to Taiwan.  When God does something amazing, it is incumbent on the recipients of that amazing work to recount the goodness of God. I want to share what has happened and how this has all come together. Our primary work this time will be serving at the Taiwan Missionary Fellowship, a gathering of evangelical missionaries from all over Taiwan.  We will be leading the youth ministry for the week.  Ben and Deserai (my son and daughter-in-law) will also be leading the music and worship time at the morning sessions for the adults and I will be teaching … [Read more...] about Declaring the Glory of God: How God Provided for My Trip to Taiwan

Editor: Saw this interesting discussion-starter on William Thornton's site, SBC Plodder. He agreed I could repost it here.  From what I hear, churches that aren't belt tightening and cutting back a little are more the exception than the rule. One of the things about visiting different churches each week, my worship plan for the past seven months or so, is that there is almost invariably a financial statement available in the foyer. I've been known to sneak one out for more careful review at my leisure. To tell the truth, when I scrutinize another church's financial statement I get a … [Read more...] about How’s Your Church Doing Financially? (by William Thornton)

It was my second concussion that was the most embarrassing.  It was a rainy Friday afternoon, when I finally had the opportunity to play football with the big boys.  (Of course, I’m not really sure that it was rainy—I was concussed, remember—but it sounds good anyways). Here I was 4’8, 12 years old, and finally playing football with my dad and his friends on lunch break.  Being the short kid all through elementary school (and even now in adult life) I know that I’m going to be underestimated until I prove myself.  In football I would never get a pass thrown my way until I could show my … [Read more...] about Proverbs for Christian Blogging: The Necessity of Fixed Eyes and Guarded Hearts

Editor's Note: the "save as pending" and the "publish" button are pretty close in our set-up, and this got published this morning, by accident. I'm republishing it tonight to give you another chance to read it - not compressed around other posts. Last night a handful of folks from church went to a nursing home to stage a little surprise birthday party for a woman who turns 95 this week. It was a simple affair with a small cake and the sounds of “Happy Birthday” filling the corridor as she was wheeled towards us. We hit the gentle crescendo right on cue as she saw our faces and put it all … [Read more...] about How to Prepare for your 95th Birthday

Were you are amazed as I was watching Nik Wallenda cross Niagara Falls on a tightrope?   In addition to listening to his constant stream of praise to our Savior, just the magnitude (or, perhaps idiocy) of what he was doing was shocking. He walked across Niagara Falls on a cable.  The pictures and video were nothing short of astonishing. But, during that entire walk, he was never in danger. He was tethered to a safety line. If he had fallen, he'd have only been embarrassed, not dead. The stunt was still incredible - my heart was beating rapidly as I watched - but Nik Wallenda … [Read more...] about Walking the Tightrope: Balancing Love for Sinners with Acceptance of Sin