SBC Voices

I was a soccer player before soccer was cool (in high school and college in the 70s).  But I can't stand watching it on TV now.  This is why. And women's tennis (men's too) has become almost unwatchable because of all the grunting. I used to be a pretty proficient tennis player. I might have whined about bad calls, but I never thought it necessary to grunt - not once. I love a good dunk. I dunked a basketball once. Once. The rim might have been an inch low. I could get my wrist to the rim, but had trouble holding onto a basketball enough to "throw down." But I love a good … [Read more...] about An Old Fogey Rants about Sports

Wiley Drake made headlines over the last year, not just in national news when he announced that he was praying for the death of the president of the United States.  He claimed biblical authority for his prayers, based on David’s imprecatory psalms. “If he (Obama) does not turn to God and does not turn his life around, I am asking God to enforce imprecatory prayers that are throughout the Scripture that would cause him death, that's correct." “Imprecatory prayer is agreeing with God, and if people don't like that, they need to talk to God. God said it, I didn't. I was just agreeing with … [Read more...] about Wiley Drake, Imprecatory Prayers and President Obama

Two excellent articles which take varying sides of this debate have been written by card-carrying members of the SBC Voices family.  It is interesting that intelligent and cogent arguments can be made on both sides of this. I am greatly relieved to find out that Howell Scott was sick during the convention.  I thought he was just avoiding me as I tried to find him.  Glad he's better and writing good articles (even if he continues to be the counterpoint to some of my points).  Go to "From Law to Grace" to find his article "Southern Baptists & the Homosexual Culture." Earlier today, … [Read more...] about The Mohler/Homosexuality Debate Continues…

I have been sharing with you my thoughts on Theology in a system I call "Woven Theology".  The thoughts aren't new, I am sure that they have been thought and spoken before, my goal is to place them all into order and structure.  I have found that the existing theological systems have become so clouded they have stopped conveying a clear idea.  There are varying degrees of Calvinism and Armenianism where those systems have stopped having meaning.  You can't tell someone's theology by the word "Protestant" or "Calvinist" or even "Baptist".  My aim is to communicate my theology clearly, … [Read more...] about God’s Temporal Nature takes flesh- Woven Incarnation

Since we left Phoenix last week, the buzz has been about the Peter Lumpkins question and Al Mohler's response.  We have dissected the exchange, analyzed them, autopsied them and elevated it to legendary status.  However, if Peter had not gone to the microphone during the SBTS report, we might have spent this time talking about the resolution on immigration, which was the most pointed discussion we had at the convention. Here is the Resolution in full for you to read, and I will have some comments below. ON IMMIGRATION AND THE GOSPEL June 2011 WHEREAS, The Kingdom of God is made … [Read more...] about “Immigration and the Gospel” – the SBC’s Real Controversy

On Sunday, during the prayer time at my church (Harvest Baptist in NW Indiana), I shared a report of my participation in the SBC annual meeting and offered prayer for our cooperative missions efforts. Later, I was graciously asked by one of my church members why I talked so much about the SBC and was so loyal to a denomination. Here is my response... _____ Dear XXXXX, I love the SBC precisely because of its "community of churches collaboration." The word "denomination" is an unfortunate label that does not accurately describe Harvest's relationship with the SBC. Rather, we … [Read more...] about Why so much emphasis on being SBC?

(Note: I just attended the Exodus Freedom Conference in Asheville, North Carolina and the Southern Baptist Convention in Phoenix, Arizona. Both meetings gave me great reasons to be encouraged that the church is embracing the idea of extending grace towards people who struggle with sexual brokenness, in the hope of healing and restoration.  During this time, Rep. Anthony Weiner's story unfolded on the national scene. It prompted me to share this excerpt from my book Surviving Sexual Brokenness: What Grace Can Do.) Not what my hands have done can save my guilty soul; Not what my toiling … [Read more...] about Reclaiming Tattered Integrity

I began attending the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in 1999 in Atlanta. That first year, I was a newly appointed church planter with virtually no money. My wife graciously said I could attend…if I could do it for $100. So, between the free luncheons, gracious older pastors who chose to feed me, and three nights in the International Youth Hostel, I made my way to Atlanta to my first Convention. Since that time, I have missed only two meetings due to a seminary deadline and the birth of my third child. I have found attendance at the annual meeting to be an important part of … [Read more...] about Reflections on SBC 2011 – One more SBC Voice