Raised in what is now Big Twelve country, my football allegiance is to a certain burnt orange team currently rebuilding. However, when Oklahoma wins a football game or Kansas wins a basketball game, it frankly has never occurred to me to start chanting "Big Twelve! Big Twelve! Big Twelve!" Because we are part of the same conference organization, our interests often overlap, but I normally do not celebrate the victories of other teams within the Big Twelve as if their victory had anything to do with mine, at least not in the same way SEC teams often do. Of course, everyone doesn't do … [Read more...] about Why Don’t We Chant SBC?
Mark Driscoll “Sees Things” – I See the Rise of SES* in the SBC (*Supernaturalism Embarrassment Syndrome)
Let me begin with two admissions: 1) Mark Driscoll's "I See Things" video is a little outside of my comfort zone. I've "heard God's Voice." I've discerned the presence of demons. I've had some insights into the future and into people's lives that I can't describe any other way than God's Spirit. But I've never seen people's lives on a screen in front of me. The extent of Driscoll's "visions" and the way he describes them are beyond my experience - uncomfortably so. 2) If Benny Hinn or some other "charismaniac" said the same things, I'd probably be more likely to join into the … [Read more...] about Mark Driscoll “Sees Things” – I See the Rise of SES* in the SBC (*Supernaturalism Embarrassment Syndrome)
Things That Drive Me Crazy About Christmas
So this time of year is full of joy and slight annoyances. I wanted to share my list of humbugs with you as we are all joyus and grouchy. 1. X-Mas. It drives me crazy when Christians make a big deal about X-Mas (you heard me). X=Greek for Christ. WE STARTED THIS, we wrote x-mas when we understood what it meant. Pagan's don't want to take Christ out of Christmas, they are oblivious, they don't care. We did it, forgot we did it and then got ticked off. 2. Happy Holidays. Holiday means "Holy Days". It's not much different that Christmas, it means days that God set apart as Holy. STOP … [Read more...] about Things That Drive Me Crazy About Christmas
If Skip Bayless came to SBC Voices
Have you caught the fever yet? … [Read more...] about If Skip Bayless came to SBC Voices
SBC Voices 2011 “Top Ten” Baptist Blogging Issues and Events
Ed Stetzer released a post today called "Top Religion Stories of 2011 according to Huffpo." According to the Huffington Post, the top 11 stories of the year in the world of religion are: The Muslim Spring The Dalai Lama Steps Down Mormons in Politics The Muslims Are Coming, The Muslims Are Coming The End of the World Presbyterians Acknowledge Gays and Lesbians Can Be Ministers The Struggle for the Soul of Yoga A Jewish American-Israeli Rift? Occupy Faith The New Mass Interfaith Secularists While there are still two and a half weeks left in the year, and there is … [Read more...] about SBC Voices 2011 “Top Ten” Baptist Blogging Issues and Events
Bad News Good
“I have some bad news”. I have come to loathe those words. It’s not so much the actual bad news that I disdain as much as the infinitesimal pause before the bomb drops. In that second, which seems to last a millennium, my mind races to predict what darkness—once hidden in the unknown—will now be birthed into light. This time the “bad news” was about our hopes of being able to feel a little more settled. My wife and I had been given great hope that we would be able to look for a house and live in something we could call “ours” for less money than we are currently throwing away in our … [Read more...] about Bad News Good
Ten Commandments for Christmas (by David Brumbelow)
But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. -Galatians 4:4-5 10 Commandments For Christmas I. Thou shalt not leave "Christ" out of "Christmas" nor refuse to use the word Christmas during this season. II. Thou shalt demonstrate joy to the world, for the Lord is come. III. Thou shalt not let Santa Claus take the place of the reality of the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem. IV. Thou shalt remember that the value of gifts we give … [Read more...] about Ten Commandments for Christmas (by David Brumbelow)
Christmas on a Sunday? What to do?
I thought I would bring this up to let the whole lot of us discuss what your church's specific plans are and why. This year, Christmas falls on the 25th. The 25th also falls on a Sunday. So, who is changing their church schedule because a normal Sunday schedule and Christmas Day do not seem to mix? For us in Duckland: Christmas Eve Service the night before at 630 PM. Christmas Day: Sunday Morning at 10 AM instead of 11, no Sunday School, and no evening service. We did this because: 1. I like Christmas Eve services. I like them any year Christmas Eve is on a … [Read more...] about Christmas on a Sunday? What to do?
Wait for the Whisper
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. -- Isaiah 40:30-31 The man slept. Finally. His body had pleaded; his mind had relented; his spirit was depleted and his heart had retreated, so he slept. It was restless, not restful, and the dreams were not sweet, but instead added to the eventual misery of awakening, leaving him already tired upon rising. The few things he did not constantly replay while … [Read more...] about Wait for the Whisper
Don’t Forget to Send Out Your Christmas Cards
By some accounts, Christmas cards account for, well, a lot of money. That’s a less than honest way of saying I was too lazy to do the research because I’m already past deadline to get this column to Dave Miller. Anyway, it’s a lot. And so is postage. This is a topic that we need to talk about. I’m feeling particularly soap-boxy today, so let’s get right to it. The first Christmas cards were sent by the ancient Babylonians…OK, again, not really, but look, I’ve got at least 400 more words to get to Dave, so bear with me, this may get better. I do wonder about the origin of Christmas … [Read more...] about Don’t Forget to Send Out Your Christmas Cards