Baptist & Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

FIVE REFLECTIONS IN 2015 ABOUT OUR CONVENTION

By Ronnie Floyd
President, Southern Baptist Convention

Ronnie Floyd

Ronnie Floyd

In my final article in 2015 to our Southern Baptist family, I want to share five reflections.

(1) We are a cross-generational convention. One of our unique strengths is that we are a cross-generational convention of churches. I was so encouraged to see more younger pastors and leaders at our annual meeting last June in Columbus, Ohio. I am convinced the more we focus on reaching our nation and world with the gospel of Jesus Christ, the more we will continue to be a cross-generational convention. The more cross-generational our churches are, the stronger our churches will be internally and externally. [Read more…]

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WHEN IT LOOKS BLEAK, REMEMBER WHO WINS

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Lonnie Wilkey

Lonnie Wilkey

In 2015, the issue of same-sex marriage took center stage. I doubt any of us will forget June 26, the day that the United States Supreme Court ruled that same-sex marriage is protected under the Constitution and is now legal in all 50 states.

Christians prayed for a different outcome but I think many of us felt that the Supreme Court ultimately would make the wrong call and redefine marriage as it has been known since the beginning of time. After all, it already was legal in several states.

The same-sex marriage snowball had been rolling down a mountain unhindered for many years, so the avalanche was not surprising when it happened. Disappointing, yes? The Supreme Court ruling just confirmed what we, as Christians, have known for years —- our nation has drifted away, not only from God, but morals in general. [Read more…]

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DO YOU NEED A MULLIGAN IN 2016?

By Randy C. Davis
TBC Executive Director

Randy C. Davis

Randy C. Davis

If you’ve ever played golf you are familiar with a golfer’s best friend: the mulligan. A mulligan is an extra stroke allowed after a poor shot, not counted on the scorecard. Usually all the players have agreed before the round that a mulligan is allowed. No, a mulligan is not professionally acceptable, but it has kept many an amateur from blowing an otherwise decent round with a single wayward shot. How about you? Could you use a life mulligan? I know many people who feel their 2015 ended on a low note and that “failure” is carrying over to start the new year. If that’s you, take a mulligan and start fresh. Here are three key ideas to keep in mind as you “tee it back up” in 2016. [Read more…]

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MERRY CHRISTMAS!

By Roc Collins
President, Tennessee Baptist Convention

151224christmas1Christmas is here!! In just a few days we will celebrate Christmas. It is one of my favorite times. Surely the songwriter had it right when he penned, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” What makes it so wonderful? Some will say it is the gifts and decorations, the shopping and parties, the food and fun, among other things that make Christmas enjoyable. Yes, Christmas can be enjoyable because of these things but they are not what makes Christmas wonderful. Christmas is wonderful because of Christ! You know you can’t spell Christmas without Christ so you surely can’t celebrate and understand Christmas without knowing Christ. [Read more…]

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WHY IS THERE EVIL IN THE WORLD TODAY?

By Mike Kemper
Director of Missions, Lawrence County Assoc. of Baptists

sunset, birds, tree, grief, nature, sufferingMany are asking why things are as they are in America and in the world today. Why is there evil? Why does God allow evil, pain, and suffering? Here are my thoughts.

God did create everything. Nothing was made that was not made by God. And, God saw that it was all good!

God created man in His own image. Thus, man got much of His qualities, His character, and His nature. Of course there are many who would reject that analogy, but it is what it is! Different from all the rest of His creation, man received a “will,” the ability to make choices.
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5 NEW CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS FOR YOUR FAMILY

By Carolyn Tomlin
Contributing Columnist, B&R

family, Christmas, dinner, tradition, culture, eating, dining, dinner, celebration, grandfatherShops overflow with holiday gifts. Carols ring out from every street corner. Bell ringers collect monetary contributions for needy families. For Christians, this season reminds us of the real meaning of Christmas — to focus on the birth of the Christ Child born in a manager over 2,000 years ago. If you’re like many families at Christmas, you continue the same traditions handed down by parents and grandparents. Could your clan honor their history while starting a few new customs? Perhaps these suggestions will work for you.

•    Collect small Christmas tree ornaments from other countries. As family members travel outside the U.S., ask them to purchase a locally made ornament to hang on the tree. Inexpensive and requiring minimum luggage space, they will be symbolic of your vacation or mission trip. During a holiday get-together, share something about the country you visited and the people you met. [Read more…]

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TAKE A LOOK AT YEAR-END TAX OPTIONS

By Chris Kelly
Exec. VP/General Counsel, Tennessee Baptist Foundation

Chris Kelly

Chris Kelly

At this time of year, you are probably consumed with visions of sugar plums or trying to find a bath robe suitable for a shepherd in this year’s Christmas play, but in just a couple short weeks, year 2015 will be in the books and so will the opportunity to make tax deductible gifts for this year. Though it’s definitely more fun to enjoy all that the Christmas season brings, it is worth taking a few minutes between bites of fruitcake to consider the following ideas for your year-end contributions to your church, association, or other Baptist cause.

(1) Consider a special offering to your church. It is the time of year for giving. What better organization to include on your list than your church? There may be a specially-designated fund at your church that could use a little extra this time of year, and if not, there is always the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. It is a great way to honor the local work of your church in making a Kingdom impact. [Read more…]

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PRIORITIZING THE 2015 LMCO

By Eric Atkins
Pastor, New Friendship Baptist Church, Cleveland

Eric Atkins

Eric Atkins

Several months ago our church received a certificate and letter from the International Mission Board congratulating us on reaching one of the four Lottie Moon Challenge Levels. New Friendship has received these certificates before so I wasn’t surprised to receive another one. This year, however, it is starting to feel much different. In the weeks since, news about the IMB’s Voluntary Retirement Incentive was released. Missionaries that are close to our church have faced the challenging decision of staying on, or retiring from the field. The immediate questions of “Pastor, what can we do?” sent us to our knees in prayer and God began to move our church to do even more in the area of giving. [Read more…]

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MINISTERS’ WIVES: SURVIVING THE HOLIDAYS

By Barney Self
Pastoral Counseling Minister, Forest Hills Baptist Church, Nashville

Barney Self

Barney Self

A minister’s wife lives in a fishbowl. She is viewed from every angle and in every way. Pressures are brought to bear on her that others can barely imagine. The daily life struggle is to maintain an appearance that is acceptable including make-up, clothing, and hair style. Next, the children have to be presentable and dressed “appropriately” as well and their actions must conform to a standard that is above the rest of the population. Her house must be ready for House and Garden inspection at any point. She must relate to everyone as her best friend even if others are hurtful to her or her husband. She must be willing to pick up any task in the church when there is a need even if it is not in her gifting because she is considered part of the paid staff because her husband is the pastor.  If these stressors and pressures were not enough, the Holidays arrive. [Read more…]

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HOW TO CHOOSE LIFE: ‘MAX THE DASH’

By Johnnie Godwin
Contributing Columnist, B&R

Johnnie Godwin

Johnnie Godwin

A friend of mine heard the only thing that matters between birth and death dates is the “dash.” So he challenged himself with a motto on his cell phone: namely, “Max the dash!” A baby named Lottie Moon was born on Dec. 12, 1840 and died Dec. 24, 1912 at age 72. But, oh, how she maxed the dash! You may not hear the SBC mission goal for 2015 in her name is $175 million. But that’s just money. Her dash was cause and effect! I’m writing about that.

Why? and How? Greats from Nietzsche to Frankl have said, “If a person has a ‘why,’ almost any ‘how’ will do.” Today, we look at chaotic effects over all the cosmos and ask, “Why?” Other than writing off all senselessness to sin, we don’t know why people do the evil they do. Cause and effect are elusive and puzzling. But for Lottie Moon, her ‘Why?’ was Christ; and her answer was yes — to give her life to follow her ‘Why?’ It was Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 9:23. [Read more…]

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