In a most passionate way, Dr. Ronnie Floyd is convening Southern Baptists to seek the Lord for revival and spiritual awakening. The urgency of the hour is evident to anyone who cares about life and liberty. The entire agenda of the SBC Annual Meeting is new. We cannot do business as usual. While there is business to do, the need of the hour is what happens starting Tuesday evening when Dr. Floyd and several other key leaders call God’s people to repentance and prayer. Authentic revival … [Read more...]
Perspective Lenses
I was born with a special condition shared by many men (like 1 out of 100). It is technically called green-red dichromatic vision or color blindness. My parents were somewhat familiar with the condition because of my mom's brothers. However, very early in my preschool days, I would bring home from church my own Crayon landscape pictures that celebrated God's creation. I was so proud of my artistic abilities and mom would affirm my accomplishments by displaying them in the kitchen. Only … [Read more...]
The problem of too many pastors-less churches
“Dr. Yeats, I have 237 pastors-less churches on my list.” As I rode down the elevator, the administrative assistant for MBC’s pastoral ministries shared with me this disheartening news. It broke my heart to hear that one out of eight Baptist churches in the heartland are without a shepherd to lead the congregation. I thought, “That is too many pastors-less churches.” As I reflected on the number, the thought of these men of God, who experienced forced termination or resigned out of … [Read more...]
What goes around, comes around
All a man’s ways seem right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the motives. Proverbs 16:2 HCSV On more than one occasion, I have participated in a purge of my library. There are just some books I can’t afford to keep around anymore. From my perspective, they aren’t classics and the information is attainable online. In that process, I came across several books that were published over 40 years ago by Broadman Press, the publishing arm of the Baptist Sunday School Board (now LifeWay). … [Read more...]
HIS Opportunity
Looking for a summer mission project? It is not too late to jump on board with the HIS project this summer in Fargo, ND, June 19-22. You could join the HIS ride! The Baptist Bikers and their friends are starting at Midwestern Seminary with a BBQ. If you are biking, you need to register at mobaptist.org. As they go north, they are stopping in several I-29 cities to pray, to witness and distribute Bibles. Remember, you don’t have to have a bike to make the ride. I am personally planning … [Read more...]
Immensely Blessed
This week I came across a striking observation. As citizens of the United States, we are recipients of the amazing blessing of the Lord. Prior generational leaders, while not always copacetic with church leaders, were for the most part people of faith who understood the value of righteous behavior and the need to order one’s life according to biblical principles. Historically, our nation’s birth and prosperity demonstrated to the world the importance of freedom of conscience and personal … [Read more...]
On having lost the fear of the Lord
“The Lord favors those who fear Him, those who wait for His lovingkindness.” Psalm 147:11 What does the fear of the Lord mean? When you consider the awesomeness and wonder of God, fearing the Lord is a normal response. It is an attitude of respect that acknowledges God’s identity as the Maker and Master Architect of life and history. A note in Zondervan’s NIV 2002 Study Bible says the fear of the Lord is “a loving reverence for God that includes submission to His lordship in all things and … [Read more...]
Time to push ‘Pause’
What will it take for American Christians to stop doing what we are doing and stand up for God’s righteousness in such a fashion that the enemy quivers in fear? I fear it will take more than the media images showing the barbaric practices of zealots who have no qualms about killing men, women and children for being followers of the Lord Jesus. One of the reasons we won’t stop is because the demanding nature of the pace of life. We are so busy it inhibits our capacity to make good value … [Read more...]
Cultivating financial faithfulness
As a preparation for a meeting in Nashville next week with the SBC Executive Committee, I was reminded about the need to train generations with faithful giving patterns. The sustainability of Southern Baptist ministries throughout this nation and the world depend significantly on our passion to make fully devoted followers of Christ who understand the importance of Jesus being Lord of all, including our finances. A couple of years ago, I wrote the following article to accentuate the … [Read more...]
Seven keys to keeping clean
Health departments are serious about people washing their hands. It is not uncommon for Sharon and I to be away from home speaking at churches and sharing with Missouri Baptists. Every place we go, the facilities are marked with signs that encourage washing hands. Washing our hands is good hygiene. As followers of Christ, we also need to experience the washing of our hearts. Life is filled with plenty of moral distractions and intellectual traps that lure us away from a pure heart. Even … [Read more...]
Speechless to the spectacular
Once a month the MBC team leaders get together for prayer, reports, recommendations and presentations relating to ministry initiatives that impact our cooperative work with churches in making disciples, multiplying churches and developing next generational leaders. If you have been around Baptists very long, you know we participate in a lot of meetings. This month’s meeting was rather eventful and worthy of sharing a peek with you. First, I shared some of the ramifications regarding the … [Read more...]
The year that was
When I look back over my shoulder at the past 12 months, I don’t want to ever repeat the year but at the same time I am so grateful to the Lord for the experience. While it was a year of amazing opportunity, it was also a journey through a dark valley of uncertainty and disappointment. The opportunities stretched and pushed our faith like an athlete working out with weights to prepare for an event. Personally, Sharon and I joined a legion of other families walking through the dynamics of … [Read more...]
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