Recently I read the biography of John and Betty Stam. It was a short, powerful work.
John and Betty Stam were missionaries to the villages of an Asian country in the early 20th century during a Communist takeover of that country. They had a 7 month old daughter, Helen, and a fruitful work there in Asia.
The Communists had begun their “glorious revolution.” One of their first tactics was to eliminate those who opposed them. On December … [Read More]

Our flesh and our enemy takes even the very best things in our lives and uses them against us.  Doctrinal knowledge, for example, is a very good thing.  Knowledge is how we grow in our understanding of who God is and what His plan is.  We should study diligently to show ourselves approved in it. But Paul warns that our enemy takes that very knowledge and uses it to puff up our pride.
I’ve noticed recently … [Read More]

By Ed Stetzer and Philip Nation

Part 5 – What’s Next?
In the previous parts of this series we looked at some of the issues we must address if younger leaders are to be included in a Great Commission Resurgence among the churches in the SBC. It will require established leaders to understand younger leaders and invest in relationships with them. Established leaders will see younger leaders thrive when they do encourage them, do not alienate … [Read More]

“A holy man of God is an awesome weapon in His hand.” McCheyne
In Part One I wrote about the need for men, not BANs. Looking at I Timothy 6 I noted first that men of God are runners, who flee certain things and pursue others. But there is more:
2. Men Are FIGHTERS “Fight the good fight of faith,” Paul says (v. 12). The Greek term is to “agonize.” Men of God are those who fight … [Read More]

By Ed Stetzer and Philip Nation
Part 4 – Getting to Know Your Sons and Daughters: What Are They Really Like?
The year was 1977. High school graduates likely listened to the Bee Gees, The Eagles and Stevie Wonder on eight-track tapes (try Google images if your are clueless here). The president was Jimmy Carter and cable television was coming of age. Elvis Presley died, Star Wars was a hit movie, and the mini-series Roots premiered on … [Read More]

I had a good talk with Bryant Wright last week. We talked social media and I shared a few thoughts.
Bryant is working hard to connect with SBC pastors using multiple means. Here you can connect with his Twitter and you can find the video here.
And, if Bryant heeds my advice, soon we will be able to embed the actual video and share its texts– but until then, this Web 1.0 version is a … [Read More]

(Note: this comes from a chapel message I preached at SEBTS 10-28-2010. I encourage you to watch Darrin Patrick’s video here before reading further).
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs … [Read More]

“If you want to make enemies, try to change something.”  Woodrow Wilson
“There is nothing wrong with change, if it is in the right direction.” Churchill
Change. That word frightens many. Some things do not change. A “C Major” chord sounds the same anywhere on the globe. Water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit at sea level in Hong Kong or Wake Forest. If you, no matter your level of athletic ability, jump out of a plane at … [Read More]