SBC Voices

Darkness of the Soul: A Pastor’s Struggle with Despair

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I was tempted to post this as an anonymous guest blogger, but I figured I'd put it out there under my own name.  I was inspired by the comment made by Eddie on Saturday night on the "Golden Age of NAMB" post.  You can find it.  It cut me to the heart, for two reasons.  First, a brother in Christ is in pain, hurting, in despair.  Second, it brought back some memories of where I was last fall, when I felt everything Eddie said. I've never really contemplated suicide, but I've gone through times when I would have welcomed death.  I wish that feeling came from a place of noble passion like … [Read more...] about Darkness of the Soul: A Pastor’s Struggle with Despair

Peacefully in my sleep

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The old story goes that once upon a time in a Sunday School class, the children were talking about how they wanted to die. (Scary Sunday School class, I know.) One child expressed his feelings quite clearly: "I want to die peacefully in my sleep, just like my grandpa did." "Oh, really, Timmy?" "Oh yes, peacefully in my sleep. Not screaming in terror like the 4 people riding with him." Now, you may think that's an absolutely horrible story. If so, I'd recommend you not listen to me teach classes. I'm not that bad when I preach, but I get that corny on Wednesday nights … [Read more...] about Peacefully in my sleep

Here’s to the Golden Age of NAMB

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SBC Voices has discussed Kevin Ezell in great detail.  Perhaps ad nauseum. The last thing we need is one more opinion.  But that has never stopped me before.  As I have responded to comments today, I decided I want to sum up my perspective, for what it is worth. I make you one promise:  this is the LAST Ezell-related post for a while (unless I change my mind, of course). We seem to fall into about 3 general categories in our attitudes toward him. Ezellanators:  People who think he hung the moon, walks on water and heals the sick with his hands. Ezellahaters:  People who think he … [Read more...] about Here’s to the Golden Age of NAMB

Ezell’s Interview with Al Mohler

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Someone put a link to this interview in the comments on Howell's post. And I thought it was worth hearing from Dr. Ezell's own words how things are going at NAMB. I found myself a little more sympathetic to Ezell - he's had a rough job.  I sure wouldn't want it.  It's an interesting and seemingly forthright discussion. 1)  I was surprised at the forceful description of the inadequacy of the way NAMB was functioning prior to his coming.  At about 16:30, he says that NAMB was "pathetic."  He describes NAMB as the Montreal Expos (badly managed and facing extinction) and said that NAMB needed … [Read more...] about Ezell’s Interview with Al Mohler

The New NAMB: 7 Years Sure Goes By Fast!

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Originally published at From Law to Grace on March 30, 2011. I've never visited Alpharetta, Georgia, the home of the former North American Mission Board and the newly reinvented NAMB.  However, it appears that there must be some glitch in the time-space continuum that causes not only months, but years, to accelerate at an astronomical rate.  How else to explain how 90 days turned into two weeks or, more recently, how seven years suddenly became 10 months. There must be some logical explanation for the time warp that the new NAMB appears to be stuck in.  When Dr. Kevin Ezell was elected … [Read more...] about The New NAMB: 7 Years Sure Goes By Fast!

The Blessed Affliction of a Conflicted Heart

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What if the lines in the sand just keep shifting? What if the boundaries we set up keep slipping? What if the truth we’ve been seeking keeps drifting? What if we don’t make it through all of this sifting?   What if our reach leaves us grasping at air? What if our longing finds no one there to share? What if our damage seems too much to repair? What if we outrun those still willing to care?   But, what if we make our way into the clearing? And what if we reject all the lies we’ve been hearing? What if we surrender the things we’ve been fearing? And, what if we let someone … [Read more...] about The Blessed Affliction of a Conflicted Heart

The parable of the preservationist

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No, I'm not making this up like the Fire Department Story. This is one of the parables of the Lord Jesus Christ. He tells us this during the last week of His earthly, pre-Resurrection life. (Side note: it's hard to label the Lord Jesus Christ with time: "last week of His life" is not accurate, kind of like calling Him "young" isn't. He's eternal, so He's never really been young, even if His incarnate body was. He's eternal, so He hasn't, and never will have, a "last week." So, last week of earthly, pre-Resurrection life is the best I can do.) Why don't you see the Parable of the … [Read more...] about The parable of the preservationist

Stop Doing That!

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It seems that with almost any child, ‘no’ becomes one of the first words learned.  After all, they hear it quite frequently.  Most of us Christians probably have at least mild familiarity with the criticism that we are more well known for what we stand against than what we stand for.  Any reading of the sacred Scripture undoubtedly shows that lists of “do not’s” and “avoid this” indeed exist.  As his children, God does tell us “No!” and there are certain things we must stand against. But, generally speaking, should the path of spiritual growth in the Christian life be coated with “no” or is … [Read more...] about Stop Doing That!