Do you millenials know what is meant by a clock “ticking” anyway? Heres the countdown clock for the SBC annual meeting in Birmingham. Don’t worry, it’s digital. Wouldn’t want to stump the whippersnappers with an analog clock.
Go ahead and get a copy of SBC FAQs: A Ready Reference by Keith Harper and Amy Whitfield. You will have a chance of knowing what you are talking about concerning convention business if you have this and read it.
When all of J. D. Greear’s appointments are considered as a whole, there will be no SBC president who has ever appointed a more diverse group – laypeople, women, minorities. The SBC president gets to act by fiat in composing these committees: Committee on Committees, Committee on Resolutions, Credentials Committee, tellers, and convention parliamentarians. These committees show Greear’s interest in expanding participation in our convention. Good work.
NAMB was sued by a former state convention executive. SBC This Week tweeted the federal court decision to dismiss the suit for lack of jurisdiction. This is good news, though long in coming and probably with some legal expense to NAMB. I’m not linking anything because the last thing that needs to be done here is to give the sorry matter more exposure but the dismissal is good news for Southern Baptists.
And…how did anyone connected with our privately run Pastor’s Conference think it was a good idea to invite James MacDonald as a headline speaker for this year’s event? He has since withdrawn. Can we please fall out of love with religious celebrities and exercise more discernment? The PC didn’t do anything until JM got too hot to handle. Bad leadership.
Our venerable International Mission Board has dealt with many obstacles over their 164 year history but a current one, pornography, has to be among the most formidable. Check the article, How Porn is Sidelining Missionaries. I haven’t seen data but am aware that considerable numbers of IMB missionary candidates are disqualified because of viewing pornography. It’s a pervasive issue.
Our new Executive Committee leader, Ronnie Floyd, is spearheading a campaign to get folks to Birmingham for the convention: 50 Reasons to Come to #SBC19. I’m already committed but am happy to find out why. Among the 50 reasons are worshipping together and being together as a family. I think the plan is to dribble the reasons out as we approach the date. Hey Ronnie! Don’t wait too long to give a list of the top bbq places.
I will admit to not watching, ever, an entire episode of “The Office.” Can’t quite see what the big deal is about that.
If SWBTS is looking for a home for any of the stained glass windows, ship one to me. I can redo it and make a nice bird feeder out of it. We will entertain alternative uses for the windows here. Suggest something.
I’ll challenge any of my colleagues to come up with a harder job than I had while attending seminary. I worked for a guy who retrofitted homes with storm windows and insulation. The summer I did this in sultry Memphis, a record was set for consecutive days over 100 degrees. But, hey, it paid bills and I was young and energetic. And I hear that fiberglass insulation has been improved so that it doesn’t get on you and itch. Yeah, right.
Maybe the Pastor’s Conference could be put back in the hands of the 99 percenters. It would be a good move.
I’ve been rereading several books on the Bounty mutiny and Pitcairn’s island. It is one of history’s most interesting stories. The movies? Nah, not so hot although Charles Laughton did a good job making William Bligh into the monster he wasn’t.
I think the Pastor’s Conference should schedule a session at the Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark in Birmingham. It’s a preserved iron blast furnace and I’ve been there. When I toured the place a few years ago, I was literally the lone tourist on the property. It was fascinating. Hell is hot, so this would be a good place to get some illustrations. Or just go to Memphis for a summer.