SBC Voices

(Micah Fries, pastor of Frederick Boulevard Baptist Church in St. Joseph, MO, blogs at MicahFries.com.) Osama Bin Laden is dead. After a decade of reining as the most well known face of terror and depravity, Bin Laden will no longer have the privilege of presiding over a culture of terror. As a result of his death, American’s have filled the streets of their respective cities, setting off fireworks and jubilant celebrations. As I think through the implications of Bin Laden’s death, particularly as I thought through how to explain it to my daughters this morning who never lived through 9/11, I … [Read more...] about Let us not dance on his grave (by Micah Fries)

On August 29, 2005 Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast and laid waste to the area.  In 2006, 2007 and 2008, I went on mission trips to the area with my church and its youth group.  We went to Pascagoula, MS; Bay St. Louis, MS; and then to New Orleans itself.   In 2007, I had to fly in and out of New Orleans for the Bay St. Louis trip.  At the end of the week, I was dropped off in the New Orleans airport for the flight home and I noticed something interesting.    The airport was filled with small (and some fairly large) groups of young people in matching t-shirts.  It was youth groups from all … [Read more...] about The Church Shines Brightest in the Darkest Night

A while ago, I published a challenge that we help CB Scott and the people of Westmont Baptist Church.  Bob Cleveland, who blogs at Eagle's Rest and is a frequent imparter of wisdom here at SBC Voices, got the ball rolling.  I saw his post, which I am reprinting here (with his permission) and then contacted CB.  Here is Bob's post describing some of what is going on. From Bob Cleveland: It started with a text message: "I have very limited phone service. We are OK. NO power. This area would make a great partnership ministry between Westmont and 1st Pelham. We are feeding all we can, but … [Read more...] about “Church, Behaving Like Church” (by Bob Cleveland)

Mostly, bloggers talk.  We analyse, criticize and examine what is going on in this SBC and the larger Christian world.  Today, we can take the next step.  We can do something important.   In a time of crisis, of great need, can we come together and make a difference.  We have an opportunity to help people whose lives have been devastated in recent days.  One of our own, a fellow-blogger named CB Scott is at ground zero of this tragedy and is trying to minister in the name of Christ.  You and I can help him. I talked to CB tonight.   He is the pastor of Westmont Baptist Church in Birmingham, … [Read more...] about “BloggerAID”: We Can Help Alabama Tornado Victims

I've been introduced to something new in the last couple of months, something called "spoken word" poetry.  It's not sappy rhymes like you find on greeting cards and funeral programs, but gritty observations about life set in a lyrical form.  You can find a lot of it on Youtube and Vimeo.  Much of it, of course, is pretty vulgar. I found out about spoken word poetry because my daughter was introduced to it in her Creative Writing class and has become a devotee.  She has started participating in "poetry slams"  - essentially poetry battles.  She won one and has finished second and third at … [Read more...] about The Spoken WORD: “Hypochristians” by Karness

We’ve got the perfect opportunity for you to teach your children about urban church planting while making a kingdom impact in a strategic city! As you may know, one of Lifeway’s VBS themes this year is “Big Apple Adventure”. Please consider connecting your VBS to the Gallery Church in New York City by: 1)    Designating your VBS Missions offering to us at the Gallery Church, and 2)    Energizing your VBS by using Missions Moment videos we’ve created for you! We’re getting great feedback on the videos and trust they will energize your VBS! The Gallery Church is an SBC church plant that … [Read more...] about The Big Apple Adventure (from Freddy Wyatt)

For the second time I am reading Ed Stetzer’s landmark book Breaking the Missional Code. I agree with most if it. But one thing I am having a hard time with is this statement and the implications that come out of it: “Our growing cultural diversity requires a church within the reach of every people group, population segment, and cultural environment if we are to be faithful to the Great Commission”. The implication here is that if you live in an area that has lots of “cowboys” then perhaps a cowboy church would help reach people with the gospel. Or maybe you live around a bunch of … [Read more...] about Still Trying to Understand Cowboy Church

This was originally posted on my blog on June 15, 2010: John 15:15, Jesus: “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” The pastor at the church I visited this past Sunday made a good point: “It’s said that friends are people who accept you just the way you are.  Well, the guy at the drive-thru accepts you just the way you are because he really doesn’t care about your life.  A friend is the person who challenges you to do better in … [Read more...] about The Worth of Friends

Les Puryear posted this today, and I thought some of you would like to see it.  It was posted on SBC View.  Since a couple of you posted in response to Les' earlier comments (and those of another blogger), I thought you might like to see his latest response.  I appreciate Les' humility in issuing this apology.  I think this spirit of grace is exactly what we need as we try to work together in the future. An Apology to SBC Reformed Pastors  (from Les Puryear) On April 15, I wrote a post which concluded that Reformed Baptists should leave the SBC. After much prayer and pondering, I have … [Read more...] about Les Puryear’s Post: “An Apology to SBC Reformed Pastors”