Here’s the quote of the day, from Thom Rainer, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s LifeWay Christian Resources, recounting the words of a Houston restaurant server as the SBC has its annual convention in Houston this week: “I told my fellow employees at the restaurant to get ready for small tips, lots of gospel tracts to go with the cheap tips, and plenty of people ordering desserts.” I would hope that’s not the case. I have been to conferences where before the lunch break, attendees have been asked to ‘tip generously’ so that the reputation of the host...

NBC News has compiled a list of twelve technologies that should be totally gone from society… but for one reason or another live on. Here’s the list: 1. Dial-up internet 2. Pagers 3. Dot matrix printers 4. PDA’s 5. Pay phones 6. VHS and cassette tapes 7. Landline phones 8. CRT televisions 9. Film cameras 10. Windows 98 and 2000 11. Fax machines 12. Vinyl records I’m wondering… what ‘obsolete’ things is your church holding on to? You know… things that people still use because they’re used to it, or will resort to it in a pinch… but really...

I found this over at Stuff Fundies Like. Check out this job description.  It HAS to be worse than your situation: The church needs a man to come and back up the pastor in both the activities of the church as well as the keeping of the grounds. This is a nonpaying position but housing is available. This assistant should be a King James only, independent Baptist who is the husband of one wife with some Bible college education. A degree in Christian Ministries or Theology is preferred. If you feel that God would have you be the #2 man for our church, please send your resume to… What do you think? Would...

In his book, Southern Baptist Consensus and Renewal, author David Dockery lists seven different groups of conservative Southern Baptists: Fundamentalists: hard-lined people who often have more in common with “independent” Baptists than with the SBC heritage. Revivalists: true heirs of the Sandy Creek tradition, including their suspicion of education. Traditionalists: heirs of the Sandy Creek theology, including the strong commitment to evangelism and revivalism, but affirming of education. Orthodox Evangelicals: an irenic group that looked to Carl F. H. Henry and Billy Graham as models. This...

This is a video from… I don’t know… it has to be the mid-to-late seventies (judging from the betamax). But the portrait it paints is this: 1.  Sin is somehow either new, or more rampant or more decadent than ever. 2.  It’s all because we just don’t care. Take a watch: Your thoughts on this video?  Is it merely a cultural timestamp on what many Christians were thinking at the time?  Is that worldview still valid? And what type of mindset or video being produced in 2013 will look this ‘out of it’ in 2050? I’d love your input. HT:  Christian...

It appears that Jesus has broken his political silence, and has finally officially endorsed a candidate… a mayoral candidate, Anna Pierre, from North Miami, FL.  Don’t believe me?  Check out her newspaper ad:   OK… this got me wondering. If Jesus was in the endorsement business, would he, could he endorse your church? If Jesus was to give a revelation-style paragraph on your church, what would he say. Be honest. And after you pick yourself up off the floor, you have two choices:  go back to bed, or get to work. (You probably should get back to work). Oh… and vote for...

John D. Witvliet thinks so: Hymnals are especially well suited to good group singing of many kinds of songs (though not all). Hymnals are portable. Hymnals are splendid for home piano or keyboard devotional playing. Hymnals are an efficient one-stop worship planning resource. Hymnals make it relatively easy to stumble on and fall in love with good music you never thought you would like. Well-designed hymnals offer a vision of a balanced thematic diet. Hymnals help connect songs with elements of worship. Hymnals give people access to a “cultural memory bank” that many desperately want. Hymnals can...

Just in case you were wondering about any of these three things today… Ray has the definitive answer on each from his ‘ask Ray Comfort forum: “Ray, why did God give me an appendix? Why are my wind and food pipes too close together to avoid choking easily? Why do women have to go through such severe childbirth in order for our pelvis’ to be shaped in such a way we can walk upright?” – Patricia B. The appendix is said to be vestigial. But it’s not. Duke University released an article, “Appendix Isn’t Useless at All: It’s a Safe House for Bacteria,” by Duke Medicine News and...

I learned a lot about Vatican City in this short video.  I think you will too: Interesting… but confusing.  :) Found here. Todd

This post at Eatocracy lists several ‘religiously themed’ beers… Gouden Carolus Easter – The Gouden Carolus brewery traces its roots back to 15th century Belgium when Christian women were responsible for brewing beer and lived in communal settings known as Beguines. This beer, released once a year around Easter, is deep red in color and tastes of plums and licorice. Saint Arnold Divine Reserve 13 – The Saint Arnold Brewery out of Houston, Texas, is named after the famous saint who is credited with saying two of my favorite beer quotes: “From man’s sweat and God’s...