I just received an email from the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego inviting me to purchase tickets for “A Night of Hope” with Pastors Joel and Victoria Osteen: “A Night of Hope” with Joel and Victoria Osteen is an outreach of Joel Osteen Ministries and is an exciting time of praise and worship where attendees will hear an inspirational message from Joel and Victoria along with the electrifying music of Dove Award winning Cindy Cruse Ratcliff, Steve Crawford, Da’dra Greathouse, and the Lakewood Band and Ensemble. Joel and Victoria Osteen are pastors for a new generation. Referred to … [Read more...] about Joel Osteen, King Ahab & Delusional Celebrations
The Relationship Between the Old Testament & the New Testament
I’m going to try and “cut to the chase” in this post. I want to talk about the relationship between the Old and New Testaments, but let us first begin with talking about the exciting topic of bricks. At the Billy Graham library there are individual bricks that folks walk on which have been brought together in such a way that they form a big cross (when looked at as a whole). In other words, the particular bricks have been joined together under the unifying theme of the cross. Now, when we look at the O.T., we see many individual verses. These verses are like the bricks at the Billy … [Read more...] about The Relationship Between the Old Testament & the New Testament
Working Things Out For Good
Yesterday Haylee, six, asked to make some sugar cookies. Being the doting grama that I am, I waddled out to the kitchen to find a recipe. Haylee pulled up a stool to the counter. Soon Kinsey, four, decided to "help" make cookies, too, and dragged a stool of her own to the counter. They were so close to me, I couldn't get the mixer out of the cupboard. After some adjustments, collecting untensils, and gathering ingredients, we set about making our confectionary delights. Haylee got to measure 2 and 3/4 cups flour into a bowl. Then I showed her how to level off a half-teaspoon of baking … [Read more...] about Working Things Out For Good
Alvin Reid’s NAMB Perspective
Alvin Reid is a blogger worth reading. Dr. Reid is Professor of Evangelism and Student Ministry at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a frequent conference speaker. He has written an article called "Some Thoughts on NAMB Changes & President Kevin Ezell." It is a well-written analysis of recent NAMB changes and the work of Kevin Ezell. I have expressed reservations about what is going on at NAMB, as well as some angst about the demeanor and style of Kevin Ezell. Some of the commenters here have been very critical of Ezell and NAMB and some of the actions taken. Others, of … [Read more...] about Alvin Reid’s NAMB Perspective
NAMB Changes: Are We Courting Disaster for SBC Disaster Relief?
I just read the article from Baptist Press regarding the new changes at NAMB. I am cautiously optimistic about the impact that this will have. We have transitioned through a "regionalized" restructuring here in the Dakota Baptist Convention and it has been a positive overall. It was certainly cause for apprehension as we started the process a few years ago, but we found over time that it helped our state staff be more accessible and more able to respond at a personal level over the older model of a centralized office. So hear me when I say that I think the regional aspect of the new … [Read more...] about NAMB Changes: Are We Courting Disaster for SBC Disaster Relief?
Why Call it Brokenness?
By Thom Hunter – www.thomhunter.com "I cannot stress this enough to you, but I'll still say it: I'll never be Christian. I think your Bible is nothing more than a piece of literature. I don't believe in your God, and never will. But I will criticize you when you use your God to "fix" homosexuality, as if it were something to be fixed." -- An anonymous young friend I have broken only two bones in my lifetime. A wrist and a rib. The result of each was an increase in pain, a decrease in mobility and a denied sense of helplessness during a time of adjustment and healing. I still have the … [Read more...] about Why Call it Brokenness?
Christians and the Environment
As I sit in the middle of near-zero temperatures with over a foot of snow on the ground, a particular topic comes to mind that produces strong opinions in religion, politics, nightly news, etc…how should Christians think in regards to environmentalism, global warming, earth’s resources and so forth? In other words: what should our role be in relation to the environment? Sometimes it seems if you mention the words “environmentalism” or worse “global warming” it tends to conjure up pictures of left-wing zealots with political agendas who hug trees and try to scare little children with stories … [Read more...] about Christians and the Environment
I Need Help!
I know. Insert your joke here... Seriously, I am looking for people who want to write for SBC Voices. I can offer you the same money I get (if you are good, I will double your salary!). But the main thing I can offer you is an audience. We have that at SBC Voices. This is a very active website (less so in the last few days since I haven't been posting anything, of course). People will read what you write. They will, of course, comment as well. Our comment streams tend to get lively at times, out of control at other times. I try to exert some measure of control, but the SBC … [Read more...] about I Need Help!
Incontrovertible Proof of a Conspiracy to Silence Bloggers
I was shocked this week when I found evidence of an underground, black-ops effort to silence Baptist bloggers who criticize the SBC in any way. We got our new "Yellow Book" phone book this week. For years, Southern Hills Baptist Church has been listed under "Churches: Baptist" and "Churches: Southern Baptist." But now, this year, a few months after I become the editor of SBC Voices, this ad appears in the 2011 Yellow Book. That's right, folks. Powerful forces have hacked into the secure systems of Yellow Book and secretly kicked my church out of the SBC and into the African … [Read more...] about Incontrovertible Proof of a Conspiracy to Silence Bloggers
“Snowmageddon” and Why Your Theology Matters!
On April 14, I will have been a pastor in Iowa for twenty years. I spent 14 1/2 years in Cedar Rapids and now have been in Sioux City for (you could probably do the math yourself) nearly 5 1/2 years. Iowa has some pretty unpleasant winters (though Jeff Musgrave can probably tell stories that will make me feel like a Floridian). This morning when I drove my daughter to school, it was 11 degrees below zero - actual temps, not windchills. We had a pretty brutal storm on Monday, which dumped several inches of snow on us, which blew sideways in blizzard conditions. The snow let up during … [Read more...] about “Snowmageddon” and Why Your Theology Matters!