This is part of a series that I want to do, both on what I like and what I dislike about the SBC (The Southern Baptist Convention).  I am writing these because:

1. There was an annual SBC meeting recently, and I feel that is my responsibility as a Southern Baptist to speak my mind about certain things that will arose at the meeting.
   
2. I want people to understand my opinion when it comes to the SBC.
3. I feel that, as someone who has been a Southern Baptist for my whole life (saved in a Southern Baptist church), it’s important for me to discuss the health of the SBC from my perspective.

What I Dislike About the SBC

-I dislike the fact that a lot of traditional churches in the SBC are too disconnected from the culture to make an effect.

-I dislike the fact that many churches in the SBC treat Church as a place to escape from the world, and not a place where church members are not encouraged to reach out to the lost outside of the church walls.

-I dislike the fact that there are traces of legalism in SBC churches, among pastors, members, and deacons alike.

-I dislike the fact that many churches in the SBC function like country clubs.

-I dislike the fact that some churches in the SBC are more concerned with debating and pushing right-wing politics and legalism on unbelievers and believers rather than reaching non-christians with the gospel.

-I dislike the fact that some people in the churches of the SBC are more worried about meaningless issues rather than more important ones.

-I dislike the fact that there are people in a few churches I’ve been at who feel that Christianity is simply a list of do’s and don’ts, and their are probably more people in other churches in the SBC who are like this.

-I dislike the fact that many churches in the SBC, especially traditional FBC churches, are turned off to new ideas because they are stuck in their simple, naive way of doing things.

-I dislike the fact that this post was easier to write than my post about what I like about the SBC.

I hope I’m not coming off as someone who is just critical for the sake of being critical, but I am saying things that aren’t only true with my experiences in the churches of the SBC.  Look for my blog post on What I like about the SBC to see why I am a part of the SBC.

I got:

-A new job working here!  Thank you Dylan, you’re the man.  I’m stoked, pretty excited to see what new things will come of this.

-Check out Freedom 4-24, a cause that lets you pay to give 24 hours of freedom to a prostitute in Thailand.  It’s awesome what they do, check it out.

-So I move into a new house in a week, and I’m wondering if I need to buy anything that I haven’t bought before for a house.  I lived in an apartment and got by well, do I need anything specifically for a house?

-I’ve been wearing out some Christmas music.  Nothing like Christmas in the summer. Seriously.  Listen to some Christmas music and try to NOT be in a good mood after you listen to it.

-I’ll put up the blog posts about the SBC in the next few days.  I’m actually interested to see what people think about it.

-Ok, so let me get this straight, first Ed McMahon dies, then Farrah Fawcet, then Michael Jackson, and then Billy Mays?  Celebrity death week for sure.  Really makes me sit back and realize that people really cared a whole lot about celebrities than I thought.

-And finally, iPhone MMS fail.

Manic Monday:

-I’m coming down with a cold today.  That sucks.  Who get’s a cold when it’s hot outside?  Something I’ll never understand.

-So this past weekend, the iPhone 3GS came out.  I didn’t get, but others did.  Who got it?

-I wrote a blog post last week on reality, check it.  And let me know what you think.

-I’m also working on a blog series titled “Why I like/dislike the SBC” in light of this week’s Southern Baptist Convention in Louisville, KY.

-I updated the design of my blog post.  What do you think?  Do you like it?

-If you want to follow the conflict in Iran, you can follow real time updates from Twitter using Twitter Search or Tweettabs and typing #iranelection.  Very helpful, as Twitter seems to be the only means of communication in Iran.

-My final interview is tomorrow at 2:00.  Once I get it, I’ll let you know what I’ll be doing.  I think it will be a nice change from what I’ve been doing.

-This is, I think, my first summer since 9th grade that I haven’t gone with a youth group to Summer Camp.  Everyone who is going on a Summer Camp or Trip, have fun!

-And finally, for those of you who haven’t check out IamSecond, do it.  Video’s of average joe’s and celebrities telling their testimonies of how they came to put themselves second and Jesus first.

As reality sets in, I realized that I have am blessed beyond what I can count.

It took place at the corner of an intersection.  All day today, I had been living in luxury compared to the rest of the world.

I went to lunch today at the mall, and had the option of what to eat, unlike many, who don’t have the option of what to eat, much less food to eat.

I went to see a movie, which many, especially in these tough times, can’t even get around to doing because of finances. 

I used my iPhone to access facebook and twitter, and then reality set in.  At the corner of the intersection was a woman who had a sign with her, which was written along the lines of,

I am homeless, and I have three children.  Please help me by donating whatever you can.

Well, I didn’t have any money, only a credit card, so I prayed for her and then drove off.

Too many times, we (and I speak to myself in the same sense) tend to look to much at something so appealing to the eyes, so appealing to our body, that we miss what is really going on in life.

I don’t want to come down hard on anyone, because I am so guilty of this all the time, but take time today to notice the little things in life.  And appreciate the great things that you are given.  It may be your last day here on earth.  You never know!  So, hopefully for you, reality has set in, and there is something larger out there for you.  Remember, in your busy life, that you have purpose, and pray to God that you can have the faith it takes to accomplish much for the Kingdom.