Recently Baptist Press reported the decrease in baptisms in 2005 based on the latest statistics from the Annual Church Profiles that Southern Baptist churches are encouraged to report. The Florida Baptist Witness gave a similar report on churches within our state. Anyone who knows how to read between the…
Reading John Owen at 34,000 feet provokes some interesting thoughts. On my way to Charlotte, NC today I reread Owen’s Mortification of Sin. It is such a helpful, theologically insightful and pastoral book. I was struck by how contemporary Owen sounds. Granted, “contemporary” is not a word that you…
A commenter named David Rich left the following note on my blog today: Tom,Thank you for the information. I am new to the blog thing..but wanted to update the Johnny Hunt for SBC president blog. I am a member at FBCW and at the close of Sunday’s sermon Dr….
For years the anonymous publishers of the website, baptistfire.com have hidden in the shadows and spewed forth venom, lies, distortions and half-truths against people, churches and organizations who do not espouse their particular brand of Fundamentalism. They especially hate historic Southern Baptist theology, or the doctrines of grace. Sadly,…
These are interesting times. Rabbi Eric Yoffie, President of the Union for Reform Judaism, spoke today a Liberty University’s Convocation. In his speech Yoffie downplayed the significant differences that serious Christians of all stripes–especially those to whom he was speaking–have with his own movement’s views on abortion and legally…
This is the way a local church advertized a special worship service this past weekend. According to a newspaper article, some of the songs that “attendees along to” were “Eight Days a Week,” “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away” and “Let it Be.” The pastor is quoted…
So much of what I write about here deals with principles and “big picture” issues that it is easy to neglect calling appropriate attention to matters that are personal and local. Yet, life is always lived personally and locally. Today I want to let you know about a situation…
When the Baptist Faith and Message Study Committee recommended their changes to the 2000 Southern Baptist Convention, included was a change in article 8 that effectively reduced confessional commitments to the Lord’s Day. They made this change without any stated reasons. Even when asked, committee members did not give…
I submitted a slightly edited version of the resolution on integrity in membership numbers to the Resolutions Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention for consideration at the 2006 annual meeting in Greensboro. It is entitled, “Integrity in Church Membership.” It is now up to the discretion of the committee…
I announced earlier that Founders Ministries will sponsor an Alaskan Cruise in September. Today Mike O’Fallon, the dear friend and brother whose travel company is organizing this cruise, alerted me to a special deal that has made with the Holland of America cruise line. Though I don’t understand all…