SBC Voices

It’s One Week to the Caucus and I’m Still Confused

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Iowa has few marks of distinction - we grow a lot of corn, beef and pork.  We have a lot of high-tech industries and an advanced public education system.  But for one brief shining moment every four years the eyes of the nation are upon the cities and towns of this state.  Our caucuses (a sort of dysfunctional town-hall meeting) are the first stage in the nomination process for president of the United States. Last time around, Iowa Democrats shocked the nation by choosing Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton (who actually dropped to third behind John Edwards) and sending the current president on … [Read more...] about It’s One Week to the Caucus and I’m Still Confused

Calvinist Identity Issues: What is a Calvinist?

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I write this in deep fear that I'm going to get a poke in the nose from Rick Patrick. Actually, his light-hearted complaint about being labeled a Calvinist made me think about a problem with the whole debate.  I left a comment on that post, but thought I would expand the concept as a separate post and ask the question I think we need to answer. What do you mean when you call someone a Calvinist? As I watch the sometimes intense discussion of Calvinism here and elsewhere, I can't help but think that one root of the problem is often the definition of the term.  I mean one thing when I use … [Read more...] about Calvinist Identity Issues: What is a Calvinist?

A Bowl Game and NFL Playoffs Playground

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From all evidence, Baptists love them some football.  So, here's a place to talk about the pigskin explosion that will take place in the next couple of weeks.  I think there 327 bowl games to be played.  Plus, we approaching week 17 of the NFL season and the playoffs will be set. So, here's a forum for that discussion.  CB will be the unofficial traffic cop and chief smack-talker for this forum. And, please, we don't need any sanctimonious, "football is idolatry" comments. Two things we all agree on. 1)  The rematch for the BCS championship is a sham and an abomination.  LSU ought … [Read more...] about A Bowl Game and NFL Playoffs Playground

A Frivolous Forum: Great Movie Moments

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This is a "kicking-back" week for me.  I'm not on vacation, but I'm not really working either.  It's a kind of stress detox after the Christmas season.  It'll be time to watch a few movies and I thought some of you might enjoy a little movie moment discussion. When I finally got home from church yesterday, my home-from-Cedarville daughter was watching the last 20 minutes or so of "A Few Good Men."  I made this statement, and surprisingly, she didn't really disagree.  "That may be the best 20 minutes of cinema ever!" "I want the truth." "You can't handle the truth." And this one:  Col. … [Read more...] about A Frivolous Forum: Great Movie Moments

Family Struggles Between Protection and Engagement

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Every Christian family worries about placing their impressionable family members in secular environments where immoral standards endanger upright lifestyles and godly testimonies.  Within the Christian community, there is little consensus as to whether protectionist policies are better than active engagement, or if withdrawal from the world amounts to cowardice. The issue even divides families. Stan, a 67 year-old retired pastor and minister, works at WalMart to make ends meet.  He usually works the front zones as a greeter, but Eric the day manager has been thinking about reassigning … [Read more...] about Family Struggles Between Protection and Engagement

Predestined to Punch

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I know it's the Christmas season, but recently having read once again the claim that all Baptists are Calvinists, I must now draw this line in the sand and, of my own free will, form a covenant with my Calvinist brothers that I will "slap upside the head" the next person who tells me I'm a Calvinist! Of course, God already possesses the foreknowledge that I will do this thing.  He has given me free will, a functioning right arm and a right hand fully capable of an open-faced slap.  I will not make a fist.  I will not break any bones.  I will probably not miss you unless you duck.  Your skin … [Read more...] about Predestined to Punch

Jesus and Tim Tebow, Part 3

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Our guest blogger today is again Wade Phillips, who blogs at “A Good Infection“.  He’s a TV news anchor in MS and a husband/father/deacon/SS Teacher combo!  Thank you for sharing this series with us.  This is the third part in a series on life and faith, that was triggered by a segment I recently did on Tim Tebow at WMOX radio. You can read part 1 here and part 2 here. I am Tim Tebow. And you are Tim Tebow. We are all Tim Tebow. No, most of us will never set foot on an NFL football field for any reason; much less lead a game winning drive, (or a bunch of them, for that matter.) But there … [Read more...] about Jesus and Tim Tebow, Part 3

Jesus and Tim Tebow, Part 2

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Our guest blogger today is again Wade Phillips, who blogs at “A Good Infection“.  He’s a TV news anchor in MS and a husband/father/deacon/SS Teacher combo! This is the second part of a series on life and faith, that was triggered by a recent segment I did on WMOX Radio about Tim Tebow. See part 1 here.    One of the questions that inevitably comes up in any discussion of public faith is this: why do people get offended when someone puts their faith on display? Why should it bother others that someone is unashamed about their faith? Why should others want him to shut up? Why do they … [Read more...] about Jesus and Tim Tebow, Part 2