Southwest Baptist University trustees are displaying wisdom. Their hiring of a world-class executive search firm like CarterBaldwin to assist in the search for the school’s 26th president is a smart move. Missouri Baptists should have great confidence in the trustees and ex officio members of the Presidential Search Committee. CarterBaldwin will greatly assist in what will be a nation-wide search. The firm’s experience in dealing with evangelical institutions will be invaluable. In … [Read more...]
‘My life flashed before my eyes’
“My life flashed before my eyes.” I don’t guess I’ve ever been in such mortal danger that I’ve been able to say that sentence in a legit way. But I have to admit, parts of me would be interested in watching my life-flash movie. At least the blooper reel. I’d watch that. I wonder. If my life ever does flash before my eyes, are we all in agreement that it would probably be a sitcom? Whatever movie genre, I like to force myself now and again to look at the plot of my life story. Like, what … [Read more...]
Alphabet soup: Deciphering the senior care options
The plethora of acronyms used by senior care providers can be intimidating at best and perilous at worst. Helping seniors, families and churches navigate the various levels of senior care is one of the services provided by the Baptist Homes. The principal levels of residential care are identified by the abbreviations IL, ALF, ICF and SNF. Independent Living (IL) communities are often designated as residential homes or neighborhoods. IL is the perfect option for the person or couple who … [Read more...]
Run toward, don’t cancel
Every month and again at the end of each year, the Yeats household reconciles its finances with the bank and credit union we do business with. As a matter of stewardship, we need to know what’s going out, where is it going and how does it fit with our family mission. Then we want our numbers to match with the institution’s numbers. It’s called reconciling. New devices and apps assist us with that process. We are grateful for the partnerships our family has forged with the professionals who … [Read more...]
Taking the vaccine is safe, with a clear conscience
Coronavirus activity in Missouri has declined steadily for the past two months and average number of daily cases remains the second-lowest in the United States, trailing only Hawaii. COVID-19 hospitalizations fell below 1,000 for the first time since September and have dropped by 64 percent since the first week of January. Deaths are rapidly declining as vaccines become more available, especially to those 65 years of age and older. Three vaccines have now been approved and are being … [Read more...]
We need a restored focus on the Great Commission
The propagation of the gospel has long been the vision of the Southern Baptist Convention. For over 175 years, we have extended this call to churches to rally and direct our energies to this one shared vision: The propagation of the gospel. The call to cooperation went to a new level in 1925 when the Cooperative Program was proposed and established. There was a deep belief that financial cooperation between our churches would provide a new and greater commitment to the fulfillment of the … [Read more...]
‘God holds tomorrow’
I really like Silver Dollar City. It is a regional amusement park just outside of Branson. For many years, it was my privilege to serve a great church in the area, and thus, I found myself at the park quite often. As you know, the word “amusement” is based on the word “muse” or to think. Often times an “a” in front of a word reverses its meaning. So, an amusement park is a place where you go “not to think.” As a pastor, sometimes we need to go to places where we don’t think—just to visit, … [Read more...]
Every Christian needs biblical counseling
Much in life requires regular help from others. For instance, every year people go to the doctor for an annual check-up. Even without a physical ailment, there’s wisdom in being regularly examined. Similarly, people take automobiles to the mechanic for preventative maintenance. Since everything eventually deteriorates, there’s wisdom in having someone regularly care for your vehicle. Yet when it comes to soul care, many people in churches are disinterested. Thinking that counseling is for … [Read more...]
Will we believe God for the impossible?
February sees winter roaring into Missouri and across middle America. Historic multiple days of cold and frozen precipitation, coupled with COVID-19 cautions, are like a perfectly planted gut punch in a boxing match for many of our churches. Missouri Baptist pastors, like their colleagues in many other states, have worked diligently and faithfully to help their churches stay on mission. Many of our churches are reporting upswings in baptisms and budgets. Yet, there are too many struggling … [Read more...]
The REST of it
Ever get to that “I need to peel a roll of cookie dough and eat it like a banana” state of stressed? Cookie dough. So good, but so bad. But I’m talking about a shaky-hand kind of stress that goes beyond even the “I have to pour liquid into a small-necked container” level of stress. I confess, I can be bad at guessing the timing of rest—and how much I need it. I usually under-rest-imate. So I want you to know, I get it. I live mostly in an “immediately if not sooner” life space. It’s a … [Read more...]
Blessed to be part of God’s work among Missouri Baptists
I came to Missouri because God called me here. I felt God wanted to do something great in Missouri, and He invited me to join in. It has been 19 years, and I do not regret one second of the time I have spent serving the Lord in Missouri. It has not always been easy, but such is to be expected in a fallen world. When you start a newspaper with zero readers, it is a God-sized project. Given the continuing battle over the Bible between conservatives and moderates as well as legal control of … [Read more...]
Being Distinctively Christian
As a benevolent healthcare ministry of the Missouri Baptist Convention, the Baptist Homes campuses in Arcadia Valley, Ashland, Chillicothe and Ozark adhere to seven core values that distinguish these continuum of care senior communities from other healthcare providers in the industry. Common to each core value is our commitment to be a distinctively Christian ministry. What does this mean for the residents, staff and churches we serve? First, it means that our leadership are born-again … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 28
- 29
- 30
- 31
- 32
- …
- 123
- Next Page »