I’m back from the convention, partially because of church tonight and partially because it was a very discouraging experience for me.
My 1st Convention Experience
I won’t air my criticisms here, at least not until I’ve had more time to pray. But I am freshly convicted of the priority of godliness, humility and no-spin-truth-telling in my own life.
I think the best summation of what I observed at the convention was written by Dr. Donal Whitney. On his website is an article titled THE ALMOST INEVITABLE RUIN OF EVERY MINISTER . . . AND HOW TO AVOID IT. This afternoon I printed this article and spend about and hour reading and praying through its message.
I would encourage you to do the same. Whatever your feelings about the SBC, this article was a good antidote for several dangers in your heart (and very much in mine).
Thank You
I want to say things to everyone who introduced themselves to me in Indy. It was a little awkward for me, since I don’t consider myself someone “out there” in denominational life. But it was nice to hear how SBC Voices is helping connect Southern Baptists through their blogs.
yeah. i’m sitting in the airport, waiting for my flight home.
the convention was enlightening and disappointing. be of good cheer. tom ascol’s motion carrying was proof that the convention can be moved.
the goal, starting today… is to move 2009 in the right direction.
let’s turn the course of the conference, for the cause of the cross.
Brother Tony,
I appreciate your wonderful website that connects all of the SBC blogs on the SBCBloggosphere together! 😛
May the Lord continue to use you to inform Southern Baptists via your website!!
Blessings,
chadwick
chadwick’s last blog post..SBCINDYAlert™: Tuesday Highlights You Won’t See Anywhere Else!
My brother, I too am grateful for your gathering of blogs in one place. It has become one of my favorite places to go and hang out.
Convention-wise…I was very pleased with Sunday night and Monday morning. It was one of the best combinations of worship and heart-felt preaching that I have experienced in my dozen or so trips to the annual SBC. It’s true that expository preaching was lacking but I was pleased to hear the call to prayer and brokenness. We did the right thing with the church membership resolution. I’m not especially fond of the negative resolutions (planned parenthood, California Supreme Court, etc.) because I think that it continues that sterotype that Baptists are against everything. I much prefer positive expressions (life, marriage,etc). It is frustrating to me that not very much of substance occurs in the way of motions and resolutions. The SBC has protected herself from change by disallowing almost all attempts to reform. Almost everything of substance will be referred to an entity or committee for consideration.
I will continue to promote the concept of online voting by corresponding with the SBC Executive Board over the next year. I don’t expect much to happen however.
I skipped the Wednesday night session to help some friends load up a display in the exhibit hall. Circumstances moved in such a way that I was able to spend a great deal of time conversing with a new friend who is living in a homosexual relationship. I found it ironic that while the convention was debating whether or not to call for California Baptists to remove their kids from the public schools because of the homosexual influence, I was riding in a rented u-haul discussing Jesus with a young man struggling to find his identity. Thank you Jesus, that I now know what my purpose was in coming to Indy…
Tony, it was a pleasure meeting you at the convention. Thanks for maintaining this site. I hope things continue to go well for you. If I can ever be of assistance to you, I hope you will contact me.
Terry
About this time of year I experience the unhealthy optimism, highs & lows, disappointments and discouragement akin to what one goes through every 4 years in November when he expects to bring in the kingdom of God through the kingdom of Uncle Sam.
All that to say, it’s a convoluted thing, our afffectionate discontent toward the SBC.
GUNNY HARTMAN’s last blog post..Your dad could sell a ketchup popsicle to a woman in white gloves.
Gunny: I do tend to agree with you.
Tony: I would be curious to know the reasons this was a discouraging experience for you.