In lieu of yesterday’s post I wish to clarify a couple of issues (before anyone asks).
1. I am Southern Baptist. While I did not grow up in the SBC I have been a member of SBC churches since 2000. I was ordained as a deacon in 2002 and as a minister in 2004. My wife and I served full time on the mission field (stateside) for nine years, 2003 to 2012. I graduated from a Baptist college, attended BSU as a student, taught in a private Baptist school, and led BCM for seven years. The Master’s Table is listed in SBC Voices, a directory of Southern Baptist blogs. This very week my wife and I are teaching 5th and 6th graders during Colossal Coaster World and I’m driving the church bus to VBS. While I may not always agree with everything the organization does as a whole, I am certainly still a part of it. The reason I can say so much about the SBC’s response to the Boy Scouts issue is that’s the denomination I know the most about. Continue reading →
UPDATE:Resolution 6 has been passed by the messengers in Houston. This post is based on my expectations, please read this post for more details on the actual resolution that passed on June 12.
I was optimistic when I read this article at Baptist Press; I am certainly not alone in my convictions. But the further I read the more I realized while not alone those of us that are Southern Baptist and believe in supporting the Scouts are certainly a minority. The first portion (can’t say half) of the article relates A.J. Smith’s defense of the Boy Scout’s policy change, and explains how sponsoring organizations, churches in particular, can outline behavioral rules and expectations of members. He talks about fishers of men and how we much engage in the society, mirroring some of my own ideas. Continue reading →
John the Baptist sent his own disciples to Jesus, asking if he was the one promised or should they wait for another. Jesus responded “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.” (Luke 7:22) Have you heard the Good News? And if so, who told you? Continue reading →
RBC Ministries (the publishers of Our Daily Bread) are doing their first ever live webinar event “Prayer: What It Is, What It Isn’t, and Why It Matters.” The event will feature James Banks; check out James Banks .org for background and go here for more details and registration.
It’s a short list, but I wanted to go ahead and share. Pay particular attention to the second entry.
Christians sometimes need to be careful when using our own lexicon of “Christianese” words that outsiders should not be expected to understand. Tim Challies warns us not to over-simply our vocabulary, pointing out the value in learning new terms. We are expected to grow, and that growth includes knowledge of God.
Mikey Weinstein is the founder of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation. He equates the sharing of the Gospel to spiritual rape and wants to see military chaplains court martialed for sharing it. Thanks to Loopy Loo for writing this article at Army of God. This article suggests any soldier, including chaplains, may be court martialed for sharing his faith.
I listened to Bill Rieser speak this morning at a local prayer breakfast. Abandoned by his father at an early age, basketball became his life in east Harlem. Known in the neighborhood as “White Jesus” he knew nothing of the actual savior. While recovering from an injury and rehabilitating at Eastern Kentucky University he fell in love with a nice church girl. Despite natural talent, NBA stardom never happened for Bill due to his own attitude and a long series of bad decisions. While his story has elements of abandonment, sexual abuse, drug abuse and organized crime, it’s really a story of God’s love.
Bill Rieser has written two books, They Called Me White Jesus and Vertical Leap. In the video below he describes the premise of White Jesus, there are links beneath.
I’m posting this now so I can get up early. The Rome Area Prayer Breakfast is at 7 a.m. (that’s Rome, GA). New to me this year is an event to surround our local hospital with prayer. The goal is 500 believers. If you can’t find an organized event in your area, any place from which God can hear you will do.
The one who goes before me, the one who stands behind is a reference to God leading Israel out of Egypt and through the wilderness. He fought their battles for them; He defeated their enemies. God took a group of slaves without weapons or resources and made them a nation, in much the same way as Christians in 1 Peter. The one who reigns forever, he is a friend of mine should not be taken tritely. The maker of heaven and earth, the creator God that has ordained the events of history and in whose image we are made has called us his friends. Jesus told the disciples he was more than their master; they were his brothers in the faith and ultimately his friends.
Whom shall I fear? What is there to be afraid of? The people we worry about offending are created in the image of God but remain under his judgement unless they hear the Gospel and repent. “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” (Rom 10:14) Sometimes people respond with arguments as if there is a debate to be won. We don’t have to win the debate. Arguing with the umpire about where the strike zone is will not change his call. The rules of the game were decided before hand and are not being made up as the it goes along. So it is with life. Heaven and hell are real places and God has decreed the standard or admittance. What are we afraid of? “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matt 10:28)
God created the heavens and the earth, and all that lives on it. He establishes kings and kingdoms; Jesus told Pilate he would have no authority at all unless it was given to him by his Father. Noah, Moses, Joshua, Rahab, Gideon, Mary, Simon Peter etc. were not super saints with some extraordinary ability. Each person in the Bible that did anything for God was a mortal man or woman that acted in faith and God used. When God asked who he could send Isaiah responded “Here I am, send me.” We should say the same thing each day. The fields are white unto harvest; send me. There are hungry children starving in Africa; send me. There are hungry children and elderly Americans starving right here; send me. All around us people are hurting, searching, working themselves to death to obtain junk that will turn to dust, empty in their souls and ignorant of the Gospel. Send me, send my family, send my church.
Imagine being hired by a couple to babysit. You do not answer to the children you are caring for, but to the parents when they return. In a general sense all people everywhere are God’s children. Are they being cared for? We have an advocate with the Father. He will be with us to the end of the Age. The Holy Spirit dwells in the heart of every believer. He is a friend of mine. Let me ask once more; whom shall I fear?
Some of Jesus’ teachings were meant for multitudes of followers, while at other times he taught only his disciples. There are some occasions we cannot be sure who he was talking to, nor if he meant the present time or prophesied of future events. Did you know that sometimes the Apostles wondered about the same things?
Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?” And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Luke 12:41-43 Continue reading →
In lieu of yesterday’s post I wish to clarify a couple of issues (before anyone asks).
The Master's Table 