From Law to Grace » Entries tagged with "CP"
The New NAMB: Bad Precedents & UnAnswered Questions
Coming through this Easter season, I strongly encouraged our congregation to give sacrificially to the Annie Armstrong Offering for North American Missions. While a few of our church leaders know my reservations about the direction and vision of the new NAMB, I did not express that concern with the members at large. With new changes announced at NAMB on an almost weekly basis, I knew that there would be time to ask the hard questions that need to be asked regarding our church’s continued investment and partnership with the new NAMB, but this Annie Armstrong season was not the time. Having met our church goal of $7,500, our Missions Development Committee agreed to add an additional $5,000 to the Easter offering as we have done the past four years. Having received a letter a few weeks … Read entire article »
Filed under: Cooperative Program, Great Commission Resurgence, Religion, Southern Baptist Convention
Re-Framing the Debate About the Future of SBC
“He didn’t say it, but I think that traditionalists feel as if we are committing denominational suicide by promoting to prominence those who do not have much denominational loyalty or commitment. We are hiring entity heads who showed little commitment to the denomination in their pastorates. The podium at our conferences and conventions are largely filled with people whose Cooperative Program giving and denominational commitment are either minimal or non-existent. Are we turning our denomination over to people who don’t care about the future of our denomination?” (From “It’s Deja Vu All Over Again — The Contemporary/Traditional Battle Flares Again!) Give that man a gold star! In one succinct paragraph, Dave Miller, commenting at SBCVoices on a recent article by Brad Whitt, “Young, Southern Baptist . . . and Irrelevant,” has summed … Read entire article »
Filed under: Great Commission Resurgence, Religion, Southern Baptist Convention
Budgets & CP & Lottie Moon, Oh My!
With three boys in our home – ages 11, 9 & 5 – there is one question that continually gets asked this time of year. If you have young children or grandchildren — or if you remember when you were a kid — you know what that question is: “When is Christmas?” Christmas always arrives on December 25. When I was my boys’ age, it seemed like it would never get here. As I have grown older, Christmas (and the end of another year) comes much more quickly. It was just last year that I spent my first holiday season in New Mexico. Actually, it was three years ago — time flies when you’re having fun! As a pastor, the holiday season also offers the mores: more busyness, more stress, and more food! From Christmas musicals to … Read entire article »
Filed under: Missions, Religion, Southern Baptist Convention
Baptist Press: A Case of Curious Headlines
“A good blog headline is often the only factor that determines whether or not an article on your blog will be read. The idea that content is king is true, but some people miss out on reading that great content because there is nothing interesting in the headline that represents it.” (Headline Writing Techniques That Just Work) Don’t I know it! With 89 blog posts and 89 headlines since beginning From Law to Grace in July, I am often painfully aware of the weak and otherwise poor headlines that I have chosen for some of my posts. While I hope that people will read my posts regardless of the headline, the reality is that most will not bother to even read the first paragraph of what I have written unless they are first … Read entire article »
Filed under: Cooperative Program, Great Commission Resurgence, Southern Baptist Convention
Small is Big in the SBC!
“Whatever size of church that you serve in, may I encourage you to be faithful. I do not believe that the size of one’s congregation is ever a focus in any New Testament passage. The way I understand my Bible, every church is precious to our Lord as we collectively make up His church.” Dr. Joseph Bunce, Executive Director of the Baptist Convention of New Mexico Common sense wisdom from a common sense Southern Baptist leader. It seems that common sense, whether at airports or churches, is in short supply these days. Going against the grain of American culture and Southern Baptist culture, Dr. Joe (as we call him here in NM), as only he can, shines a questioning light on the oft-heard mantra, “Bigger is always better!” From your friendly local … Read entire article »
Filed under: Baptist Convention of New Mexico, Cooperative Program, Southern Baptist Convention