When people ask me what my hobbies are, I usually feel quite lost. I’m not sure exactly what to say because I don’t naturally gravitate toward activities that seem hobby worthy (getting pedicures just doesn’t count does it?). But, there…
The serpent-and-the-dove thing
By Alan Bean Here’s an uncomfortable reality. Moderates will ignore an issue, no matter how pressing, if a clear majority stands in opposition, or there is considerable support on both sides. If a proposal can’t generate at least an 85…
Mr. Irrelevant
Anyone who spends time with me eventually learns that I love football. I don’t like football. I love it. One of my favorite things about football is the NFL draft. For football players, the draft is the culmination of years…
Should ministers mess with social media?
Social media is not going anywhere, at least not anytime soon. And more importantly, social media represents something much bigger regarding communication shifts. I recently received and responded to an email from a pastor regarding his social media concerns: Dear…
Ordination a personal and churchly calling
By Bill Leonard The London Confession (1644), a creatively Calvinist Baptist statement of faith, contains this passage on ministerial ordination: “That also such to whom God hath given gifts, being tried in the Church, may and ought by the appointment…
White to black — or black to white
A lady called some weeks ago saying that her church was in deep trouble. No surprise here — many churches are “in deep trouble” for various reasons. She said the pastor decided to fire the part-time music director who had…
Don’t worry, gay Scouts, Southern Baptists still ‘love’ you
By Thomas Whitley At last week’s annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention, messengers from SBC churches around the country voted on and approved a resolution concerning the recent change in membership policy by the Boy Scouts of America, which…
Don’t worry, gay Scouts, Southern Baptists still ‘love’ you
By Thomas Whitley At last week’s annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention, messengers from SBC churches around the country voted on and approved a resolution concerning the recent change in membership policy by the Boy Scouts of America, which…
A recipe for blended worship
By Bob Burroughs I prefer to call the “worship wars” by another name: “worship preferences.” This, to me, better describes the situation in the vast majority of churches in our country today. We are really not at “war” over worship…