Bible Q&A: Could Jesus appear in the clouds at any moment?
We sometimes want to have our cake and eat it too. On the one hand, we want to proclaim that Jesus could come again at any moment. On the other hand, we like to point to predictions/prophecy that must be fulfilled before Jesus can return. So, which is it? The place to begin is the Olivet Discourse (Mark 13:5-13). Having left the temple after a combative exchange with the religious leaders, Jesus looked back on the temple mount in all...
5 ways to build a Christian brotherhood
Men need teammates to encourage them, push them and to call them out when necessary. I was blessed with the opportunity to play college football at the University of Oklahoma. BOOMER SOONER! On top of that I was blessed to play o-line (offensive line), the best and most important position on the field. No other position works as closely and in tandem as the o-line. They rely on each other nearly every play for communication of...
COOPERATIVE PROGRAM: Sandlots, whirlpools & CP
RICHLAND, Wash. (BP) — What do sandlots and whirlpools have to do with the Cooperative Program? When I was young, we would spend seemingly endless summers at either one of two places: the baseball diamond or a neighborhood swimming pool. While there were certainly organized sports teams, most of my baseball career was spent playing pickup games at the sandlot in the middle of our neighborhood. Those were “glory days”...
Clearing paths to Jesus
Clearing a path takes work! It’s time-consuming, inconvenient and sometimes costly, but the Baptist women of Oklahoma aren’t easily deterred. In just a few short weeks, thousands of women from all over Oklahoma and beyond will meet at Falls Creek Baptist Conference Center for the annual Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma Women’s Retreat. As registration wraps up, our office has been inundated with phone calls and emails, not only...
Bible Q&A: Is there anything Jesus didn’t know?
One of the most difficult sayings of Jesus to understand comes during His address to His disciples on Tuesday of Passion Week, often called the Olivet Discourse. Having left the temple after a contentious exchange with the religious leaders, Jesus looked back on the temple mount in all its glory and said to his disciples, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left upon another—all will be thrown down” (Mark 13:2;...
I want to change the world
At the age of 30, I left a good secular job to be the pastor of a small Native American congregation in California. More than 90 percent of my people were without Christ, and I was determined to change this situation. In my zeal, I have been trained (and trained others) in various evangelism methods, including my own contextualized models. I have taught evangelism to young pastors in seminary. Now I have been in ministry for more...
