Much has been written, discussed, debated and prayed for concerning the West Africa region of the International Mission Board over the past year. One of my greatest concerns over the past few months has been that the controversy surrounding the WA region would somehow impede the progress of the gospel. I should know better! I am always amazed at the ability of God to work and continue working, even as we consistently disagree and fumble through our approach to His ministry.

I spoke this evening to my sister, who is a missionary in West Africa and she shared with me some of what God is doing in the region, and I praise God for His movement. One of the greatest things that she shared with me was that during their annual regional meeting in Togo this past week, the missionaries collected their annual Lottie Moon offering. They do this once a year when they all gather. Praise the Lord that during this time, these underpaid, overworked, often forgotten missionaries gathered together and gave over $73,000 to overseas missions work. That averages out to aproximately $450 per person. When you realize that most of those giving are married couples, that means they gave, on average, almost $1,000 apiece.

Praise the Lord for these faithful missionaries and their commitment to the propogation of the gospel among all peoples. Let’s pray that their genuine love for the Lord and love for the West African peoples motivates us to partner with them.

A priest, a Pentecostal preacher, and a rabbi get together twice a week for
coffee to talk shop.

One day, someone made the comment that preaching to people isn't really all
that hard. A real challenge would be to preach to a bear.

One thing led to another and they decided to do an experiment. They would
all go out into the woods, find a bear, preach to it, and attempt to convert
it.

Seven days later, they're all together to discuss the experience.

Father Flannery, who has his arm in a sling, is on crutches, and has various
bandages on his body and limbs, goes first. "Well," he says, "I went into
the woods to find me a bear. And when I found him I began to read to him
from the Catechism. Well, that bear wanted nothing to do with me and began
to slap me around. So I quickly grabbed my holy water, sprinkled him and,
Holy Mary, Mother of God, he became as gentle a lamb. The bishop is coming
out next week to give him first communion and confirmation."

Reverend Billy Bob spoke next. He was in a wheelchair, with an arm and both
legs in casts, and an IV drip. In his best fire and brimstone oratory he
claimed, "WELL brothers, you KNOW that we don't sprinkle! I went out and I
FOUND me a bear. And then I began to read to my bear from God's HOLY WORD!
But that bear wanted nothing to do with me. So I took HOLD of him and we
began to wrestle. We wrestled down one hill, UP another and DOWN another
until we came to a creek. So I quickly DUNKED him and BAPTIZED his hairy
soul. And just as you said, he became as gentle as a lamb. We spent the rest
of the day praising Jesus."

They both looked down at Rabbi Goldberg, who was lying in a hospital bed. He
was in a body cast and traction with IV's and monitors running in and out of
him. He was in bad shape. The rabbi looks up and says, "Looking back on it,
circumcision may not have been the best way to start."

When An Attack Is Different from the Truth

Dr. Bruce Leafblad: “God is the first priority of the church. Not people. Not ministry. Not growth. Not success. God and God alone occupies the place of ultimate and absolute priority in the church.”

I have recently begun struggling with evangelicalism and our responsibility in reference to the political realm as well as our approach to poltical parties, particularly in relationship to how we handle our responsibilities to expanding the kingdom of God.

As I’ve thought about these things I’ve become more and more convinced that too many right wing conservatives have become more committed to the Republican party than they are to the kingdom of God. Now, don’t hear me bashing Republicans. Sure I have some issues with them, but I am a registered Republican. I’m not opposed to them, or to Christians being involved in politics. What I’m struggling with, however, is two-fold. First, I struggle with our political affiliations and aspirations outgrowing our commitment to our pursuit of faith and the expansion of God’s kingdom. Secondly, though, I fear this movement that appears to be occuring within evangelicalism that seems to necessarily affiliate evangelicals with Republicans. It has become so strong that I often see conservative believers backing away from important issues in order to stay aligned with the Republican party.

In light of this, I found these comments by David Dockery (President of Union University), as well as others in evangelical life, to be particularly insightful. (They are taken from http://bloomberg.com)

‘Beltway Fever’

In remarks after winning the first contested election of the convention in several decades, Page said everyone has known for a long time what conservative Christians are against. “It’s time to say, ‘Please let us tell you what we’re for.”’ Even [Ralph] Reed, as he licks his wounds, might say Amen to that.

HT: Ben Cole

In addition, I’ve just begun reading a book by Greg Boyd that I would encourage you to take a look at. “The Myth of a Christian Nation” deals with many of these same topics. I’m not a fan, at all, of Boyd’s decision to embrace Open Theism, but his take on America, Conservative Christians and Politics in reference to the kingdom of God, is particularly interesting.

Ok, I’ll say it, if you prefer any other conference for collegiate atheltics than the SEC, you are settling for (at best) second best. There is nothing in the world that can compete with the spectical, the athletic dominance, that is the SEC

There is no tougher conference (on a consistent basis) and there is no more athletic, talented conference than the SEC.

As such, I am pumped about the return of SEC football! Gators v. Vols, Gators v. Dawgs, Gators v. Tigers (both Auburn & LSU), and not to mention Gators v. Seminloes! Oh, man, it’s gonna be fun!!!

For additional insight you should check out the most recent article on ESPN.com from Gene Wojciechowski. It’s a fantastic look at the hype surrounding the SEC.

Am I a liberal or am I a conservative? That’s good question. I’m sure that many who read this blog have determined in their mind that I am one or the other. I’ve even claimed, at one time, to be in one camp. However, I have developed some problems with these labels recently.

When I was growing up, it was so easy. Liberals = bad, Conservatives = good. I was loud and proud of my conservative heritage. However, as I grew up and began to serve I met a lot of folks who, initially at least, I wasn’t sure of when it came to theological persuasion. As I grew with them, I learned that they believed what I did about God’s word, social problems, and many others things, and yet I found out that many of them were being called liberals. I wondered how I could spend time, along with my family, with men who were some of the greatest of our conservative leaders, and be considered “one of us” and yet my friends, with identical beliefs, could be considered liberals. Then I began to meet and get to know those who are decidedly conservative. In my interaction with them I found many to be abrasive, arrogant, and often legalistic. This wasn’t the conservatism that I knew.

As I have developed it has occured to me that we like labels. They make it easy for us to decide who we will endorse, and who we won’t. The problem with labels, I’ve found, is that no one really knows what they mean. See, growing up I thought it was easy. Conservative meant an innerantist, but then I met innerantists who were called liberals. Then I met conservatives who explained to me that there were a variety of new (to me) stipulations that I needed in order to be conservative. I heard everything from, “You’ve got to use the KJV” to “You can’t let your kids go to public school” to “You’ve got to wear a suit and tie to church.” All of this has left me confused, and at times frustrated.

So, with that in mind, I’ve decided I’m not a liberal or a conservative….I’m biblical. I know some of my conservative companions will decided that I’m a liberal now because of that, and you know what, that’s ok. If you feel the need to do so, I guess you’ll have to ease your conscience that way. As for me, I’m going to be happy to simply read and study scripture, be convinced in my mind of its truths, and adhere to those truths and partner with those who do the same thing. I believe that will be good enough for me, I hope it’s good enough for you. I’m going to work hard to remain faithful to God’s teaching about the gospel, social situations (abortion, homosexuality, racism, etc.) church polity, and so on.

I’ve had it with the namby-pamby theology of those who fail to follow God’s word. Just as equally, I’ve had it with the arrogant “correctness” and legalistic interpretations of too many conservatives. So, please, hear me today make this stand. I will no longer judge myself or my companions and/or partners by the liberal/conservative label. From today forward my questions will be in reference to biblical positions, and that alone.

Here’s hoping that this doesn’t get me crucified.

I have said some things that have been rather critical of James Smith, Editor of the Florida Baptist Witness, here on my blog. In keeping with fair, and respectful journalism, it is only fair that I give him credit where it is due.

First of all, Smith is the only state Baptist newspaper editor that I know of that has requested a blogger to respond, in writing, to the claims made by others against bloggers. Smith did so and the resulting article appeared last week in the Witness. Thank you, to Mr. Smith, for his desire to promote balanced reporting.

Beyond that, however, I am personally encouraged by his editorial that was posted online today concerning Frank Page’s presidency. His call for Southern Baptist’s to attempt to appreciate and follow Page’s leadership is much needed. In addition, his call for those who would present an opposition candidate next year at the annual meeting to “stand down” is much needed. It is my hope that many would hear, and heed, his cautious, thoughtful and accurate words.