John Bunyan is one of the most famous Baptists in history, though I suspect he’s less well-known today than at any other time in the last 50 to 100 years. Google would seem to agree. In case the name is unfamiliar to you, Bunyan is famous for writing Pilgrim’s Progress. This is a beloved Christian allegory first published in 1678. It has been translated into over 200 languages. (By comparison, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone has been translated into just shy of 90.) I’ve read Pilgrim’s Progress a few times, and it’s widely available in modern and children’s editions that update … [Read more...] about Bunyan’s Badman: Why buy the cow when the milk is cheap?
The independent Sex Abuse Task Force: Questions and observations [unusually long, but read it anyway].
The Sex Abuse Task Force authorized by convention motion in June is living and active and has a website with updates. On June 16, 2021 the Southern Baptist Convention in Nashville, TN overwhelming passed the following motion: “I move that the Southern Baptist Convention, meeting June 15-16, 2021, in Nashville, TN, ask the newly elected president of the SBC to appoint a task force within 30 days of the date of this Convention that shall be comprised of members of Baptist churches cooperating with this Convention and experts in sexual abuse and the handling of sexual abuse-related … [Read more...] about The independent Sex Abuse Task Force: Questions and observations [unusually long, but read it anyway].
Time Keeps Ticking Away: 8 Steps to Time Management in Youth Ministry
While deployed as an Army Chaplain on Operation Enduring Freedom in Europe, God taught me some lessons about time management. While my unit was not in a combat area, the deployment made me think about the brevity of my life and how I had spent my time up until that point. I grieved over time I wasted and committed that I would seek to try to make the most of each day, seeing each day as a stewardship God gave me with which to make Kingdom investments. I vowed that I would not waste my time. Scripture communicates the importance of managing our time well due to the brevity of our lives and the … [Read more...] about Time Keeps Ticking Away: 8 Steps to Time Management in Youth Ministry
Obituaries and news reports in the COVID-19 era
A well-known Southern Baptist evangelist died yesterday of pneumonia and COVID-19. While I wasn't acquainted with the 51-year old man, the Baptist Press report of his death quoted a couple of pastors local to me. It was a tragic death that is being mourned all over the SBC. I join those who pray for comfort and peace for his family and friends. Notable in the Baptist Press article was this sentence: "Baptist Press was unable to confirm whether he had received the COVID-19 vaccine." Vaccination, I have been reminded, sometimes brusquely, is a personal choice and a private matter. I don't … [Read more...] about Obituaries and news reports in the COVID-19 era
Preaching Effectively to Generation Z
In practice, too many youth leaders portray a subtle skepticism about the power of the Word of God to change lives. I’m still shocked that I continue to receive invitations from youth pastors to preach to their students. I’m convicted that I have nothing to offer students to whom I preach but the hope of the gospel and the truth of the Scriptures. I don’t share a lot of stories. I’m definitely not trendy or cool in their eyes. I am simply a messenger who God has tasked to carry a message to parents, adult leaders, and teenagers who desperately need to hear it — the message of the … [Read more...] about Preaching Effectively to Generation Z
Most SBCers, naturally, live in SEC country
The SEC ventures west of the Mississippi to poach the University of Texas and Oklahoma University from the Big 12. The Big 12 was mostly the Big 1 and Eleven Others. Whatever, the SEC was already the dominant college athletic conference and adding Oklahoma, four college playoff appearances, enhanced that. Maybe Texas being in the SEC will motivate them to find a way to join the top tier in ways other than big hat talk. Credit to the Longhorns for beating Georgia in a less meaningful non-playoff bowl a few years ago. A win is a win and this Dawg fan doesn't make excuses for his team's losing, … [Read more...] about Most SBCers, naturally, live in SEC country
Social Media: 7 Tips for Christians
Last night I experienced a first on social media. A person claiming to follow Jesus Christ questioned my salvation. This individual did not know me nor anything about my beliefs — other than the fact that I differed with him regarding a political issue. A third person who also commented on the Facebook thread said they left evangelical Christianity because of the type of comments my critic used in the exchange. It doesn’t bother me that someone who doesn’t know me would make such a ridiculous claim regarding my faith. The incident, however, did make me think of how many times Christians have … [Read more...] about Social Media: 7 Tips for Christians
Youth Ministry Networks: 3 Reasons I Like Them
Leadership is a lonely place. Youth ministry leadership can be especially lonely, as youth ministers shepherd students who are facing challenges and issues unprecedented in previous generations. They sometimes serve in churches whose members resist their efforts to contextualize the gospel to reach students and find themselves in the role of trying to help these members, and even their pastors, to understand the importance of such contextualization. Youth leaders work long hours in ministry, often with little praise or recognition from members of their congregations. They fight the … [Read more...] about Youth Ministry Networks: 3 Reasons I Like Them
Are SBC Annual Meeting resolutions more harmful than helpful?
Answer: Absolutely...sometimes. Recent history makes this longtime SBC observer wonder if we would not be better off to find another approach to issues of note. What would that approach look like? I'm not sure but if the current system is a net negative then smart SBC people should find the more positive alternative. For some years I've taken the more radical position that we should eliminate resolutions entirely as an agenda item for the annual meeting. We've had, supposedly, the smartest people around to lead and populate the Committee on Resolutions, a committee that is directly … [Read more...] about Are SBC Annual Meeting resolutions more harmful than helpful?
I’m all vaxxed up. What to do as the delta variant revs up?
My wife and I went to our small town farmers market last Saturday. It was located behind the court house and there were a dozen or so vendors, hobbyists, veggie and fruit sellers. As soon as we had we walked into the area, I spotted a young guy headed for me. "Man," I thought, "this is some aggressive squash seller." Turns out he was with the health department which had a tent giving free COVID vaccines. "I'm all vaxxed up." I told him. "Have been since March." I'm pleased that local health people are semi-aggressive in promoting vaccinations. Frankly, it's a drop dead easy … [Read more...] about I’m all vaxxed up. What to do as the delta variant revs up?