news from the sbc

For my SBC friends who opted to opt out of the craziness also known as "The GCR Task Force", I don't want you to feel left out so I have come to rescue you with my tidbits of information:

Let me preface this with saying,
1. I was not the smartest one in the room....and I am okay with that.
2. I did not understand what the BIG deal was and I am okay with that, too because I really think a lot of those in attendance felt the same way.

Okay, my report on the first day of business:

This morning was boring with the exception of the crazy man who EVERY stinkin year brings forth the motion that we should adopt some new-type flag as the Christian flag. He obviously owns the patent of this new-fangled one, and doesn't seem to get that people are laughing....AT HIM! It's no longer amusing, it's just sad.

The Minister's Wives Luncheon was fine. The speaker, Jackie Kendall, was great! She was funny and engaging, she just didn't have enough time to speak. I plan to purchase a DVD so I can get the full effect. I want to share her! I really want to be her BFF, she is so funny. I think we'd be great together. We always get a bag of loot, but this year's loot wasn't as good as years past. However, we women love anything free (and Jackie raised money to purchase a book for everyone in attendance) so I took my bag and was proud to have it! The food? Not so much...for me, but I am really picky about textures of food so I am not a good judge of that. For $10, it's a great deal. Honestly, I'd pay that just to hear the speaker.

The afternoon session....here's where the excitement started. The place was packed...almost 11,000 messengers. Morris Chapman (he retired, ya know) spanked the GCR task force for what he considered a job NOT well done. I won't go into all of it, but suffice it to say...I don't think he'll ever be asked back to speak...and I think he's okay with that! The discussion about their report lasted way too long. I mean, do we really need to argue about the Great Commission? BORING! The report passed.....about 60%-40%, which means that we've created a divide. I hope it's worth it.
The thing that drives me crazy about the task force is that I don't really think megachurch pastors and their relatives truly understand the problems things like this cause for smaller church pastors. But, that is another post for another day b/c I can seriously get on a rant about that...and I will, but not right now!

Dr. Bryant Wright from Atlanta was voted in as president of the SBC. That's who I voted for...although I think the "powers that be" wanted that Traylor guy....I wouldn't have cared about that except that he annoyed me on Sunday night when he spoke of witnessing to an "African American" boy on an airplane. What difference did it make that the boy was black? Did that make witnessing to him special? All races and colors need Jesus. So, for that reason alone, I gave my vote to Wright. I know, I know, I shouldn't be so easily annoyed. I can't stand it when people brag about what they do instead of giving God the credit for what He does. He simply uses us, we are His vessels, and I honestly don't think bragging about it is included in the Great Commission.

So, in a serious nutshell, but really giving you more than you wanted to know....that was our day!

heat

I'm still on vacay...and loving it, but just had to post about his darned heat. We are in Orlando right now and spent a couple of days in St. Augustine over the weekend. Can't wait to show the pics from there! That place is great!

However, I akin the state of Florida to the country of Africa. I've always asked God to never, ever send me here to live. You just think it's hot where you are....ha! Try being here where the heat is so oppressive you can't walk outside for fear of melting into a puddle. I don't even understand people who come down here during the summer to go to the theme parks. How can that possibly be fun??

We are here for the Southern Baptist Convention, and honestly, I think there may be a little heat of another kind once the business starts tomorrow. If you are SB, then you've heard about the Great Commission Task Force. Now, that name begs the question.....Do we really need a task force to tell us what the Bible meant by Great Commission? I doubt it. But, that's a different post for a different day....about the arrogance of it all. God is probably shaking His head in utter disappointment.

Anyway, stay cool....however you can.....totally jealous, Janet, of that pool :0)

the preacher's wife

Over at The Preacher's Wife, there is a giveaway for her new book,

You can win a copy if you answer the question, "Are you on time for church?" That's a pretty simple one, right?

Anyway, I have read several books by or about preachers wives, and typically they are not so good. One in particular explained, in detail, how a good preacher's wife had several china tea sets and would have the ladies in the church over for tea. To that I say, yea right! I don't know of ANY pastor's wives who have the time for that or who are pretentious enough to do that.

I don't know Lisa McKay, the author of this book, but I do read her blog. Here's my hope, though. I hope that she doesn't become what so many of the pastor's wives whom I have encountered at the SBC turn in to. They think they are better than the little people. That annoys me every year when we go to the convention. The elitist attitude....like we are not all suppose to be working toward a common goal. This is not politics, people, this is salvation......the kingdom. What they say is good, but their actions speak so much louder than their words. Their husbands aren't much better (or really, they're worse!) but, seriously, what makes them think they can offer anything to me? They've led a charmed ministry life. Seriously, walk in my shoes, and then tell me something!

Please, don't misunderstand, not all are like that. I have thoroughly enjoyed listening to some of them speak about their ministry or just teach the Bible during those times when all of the minister's wives get together. And, that is my prayer for her. She seems so genuine on her blog. I'd like to meet her, I bet we'd be friends...we seem a lot alike. I just hope that her book is all that I want it to be. Practical, sensible, heart-felt advice or suggestions or encouragement---not platitudes or know-it-all foolishness.