Archive for January, 2006
Poll Results — Week of 1/21 - 1/27
January 28th, 2006 | No Comments | Posted in » Polls
Results are in from the first weekly poll here at toward-the-goal.net. I’d like to say participation was phenomenal, but hey… the site’s only been running for about three months and I’m not sure how much of a regular readership we have.
Anyway, the question was, “As of right now, are you planning on attending the SBC annual meeting in Greensboro?”
With nine respondents, we had nearly equal spread in answers:
- Absolutlely! (2 respondents, 22%)
- I’d like to, but am not yet sure I can make it. (3 respondents, 33%)
- I’d like to, but can’t. (2 respondents, 22%)
- No. (2 respondents, 22%)
- I’m not a Baptist, why would I go? (0 respondents, 0%)
Anyway, next week’s question (about site readership) has been posted. As some of our democratic friends would say, “Vote early and vote often!” 
Just When I Thought….
January 25th, 2006 | 2 Comments | Posted in » Baptist Issues
Just when I thought I’d wrapped up posting praises of Wade’s handling of this difficult situation, he posts yet another heartfelt writing which demonstrates a Christlikeness so many of us can only dream about.
Check out the three points he makes prior to announcing winners in his advice contest…
A Excellent Summary of the Issues…
January 25th, 2006 | No Comments | Posted in » Baptist Issues
In case you’re not already familiar with the issues causing so much turmoil in the SBC right now, Micah has posted an excellent synopsis (complete with links to news articles covering the major events) on his blog, micahfries.com
Highly recommended reading for a summary of the issues if you’re new to this discussion.
Is it Worth It?
January 24th, 2006 | 1 Comment | Posted in » Baptist Issues
In case you’re wondering where my last post (“A Foolish and Stupid Argument?”) came from, here’s a couple links exemplifying instances where the debate over recent SBC issues has almost gotten out of hand.
First, from Fide-O… a post by Jason Robertson entitled “Wade-ing In”. In response to Jason’s post, we have a post from Steve McCoy in his Missional Baptist Blog, entitled “Dog Breath”. (BTW, Jason, Steve… I don’t intend to pick on you guys at all here, just that what’s happening on your respective blogs illustrates the division this issue has brought.)
Now, I’m all for good healthy debate and theological correctness, but take a look at these posts (and comments on each) and notice how quickly feathers get ruffled and brothers and sisters in Christ start sniping at each other.
I have to ask, is it worth it?
A Foolish and Stupid Argument?
January 23rd, 2006 | 1 Comment | Posted in » Baptist Issues, Devotions / Bible Studies
With all the discussion surrounding the IMB and Wade Burleson going on right now amongst Southern Baptists, I can’t help but wonder if everyone is searching the scriptures for guidance (I certainly hope so).
I wonder if the following passage from 2 Timothy is applicable.
2 Timothy 2:22-26
22Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 24And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
I guess I have a few questions for everyone to think about and respond to:
1. Is the debate / discussion going on basically a “foolish and stupid argument”? Why or why not?
2. People on both sides of the issue obviously believe with equal fervor that they are correct. Has one side fallen into “the trap of the devil”? Why do you answer as you do?
3. Given that both sides believe they are correct, how will we find resolution? What can each of us do to facilitate such?
What are your thoughts?
What Would You Do?
January 23rd, 2006 | 2 Comments | Posted in » Baptist Issues
So… you’ve followed the IMB trustee issue, and you’re aware that there is a movement by other trustees to remove Wade Burleson. Here’s your chance to offer him some advice.
Check out his blog, and let him know what you would do if you were in his shoes.
Personally? I’m proud of how Wade is handling things, and can’t come up with much of anything he could do differently. Commenters on his blog, however, have come up with some pretty good things, some quite entertaining! Again, check it out.
In Case You Want to Contact Me…
January 23rd, 2006 | No Comments | Posted in » Site News...
I don’t know why I didn’t think of this until now, but it dawned on me that this blog doesn’t tell readers anywhere how they can contact me.
My e-mail address has been added as a new link in the left sidebar. Why don’t you drop me a line sometime and let me know what you think about the site?
God bless…
Weekly Poll…
January 21st, 2006 | 1 Comment | Posted in » Site News...
I thought it would be interesting to do some totally non-scientific polling here on the site, so I found a plugin that provides that functionality (courtesy of Andrew Sutherland).
As with the site activity plugin, this may cause some site problems. Let me know if things don’t look right (comment here or e-mail me from the link in the left sidebar).
I’ll try to have the polls start each Saturday, and end on Friday (no promises though), and I will post results afterwards in blog entries.
Site Activity Plugin
January 21st, 2006 | No Comments | Posted in » Site News...
Note: I added a “site activity” plugin to the blog last night. You should see this above the calendar in the left sidebar. It lists the last six posts commented upon, total comments on each post, and who commented (with links to all of the above). Commenter names are shaded differently according to how old the comment is (brighter is newer). The comment plugin is publicly available for Wordpress blogs, and comes courtesy of Brien Meidell.
If things don’t look right as you’re viewing the blog, please let me know (comment here or e-mail me from the link in the left sidebar)! It looks right on my PC, but I’m not an expert in stylesheets by any means, so I may have messed something up that makes the layout look odd on other systems.
Don’t “Major in the Minors”…
January 20th, 2006 | 3 Comments | Posted in » Baptist Issues, Devotions / Bible Studies
Most mornings, as I drive to work, I listen to radio broadcasts of sermons by Pastor Bob Coy (of Calvary Chapel, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida), on his radio program “The Active Word”. He’s a very entertaining preacher, Biblically sound, and has an awesome testimony. Anyway, his messages almost always touch my heart somehow.
This morning’s sermon seemed particularly appropriate given the state of things in the SBC right now. It was on fellowship, (entitled “How to Fellowship”), and emphasized our need for unity as Christians, even when we don’t agree on core issues of Christianity. One phrase from the sermon really stuck out… “major in the minors”… basically, letting little details become big problems.
While every word of the Bible is significant, it is critically important that we do not “major in the minors”… that we do not let differing opinions on non-central matters of the Christian faith ruin our fellowship and our ability to cooperate. We Baptists MUST keep this in mind in our current turmoil.
You can find a link to the audio sermon listed here.
