Editor’s note: Plans are for “Dooley Noted” to become a regular column on the website at baptistandreflector.org. Columns also will be published in the print issue as space is available.

Dooley

Do you trust me? That was the question I heard from one of my sons as he, through a sly grin, begged me to sit down. Because he was unaware that I saw him slip the Whoopi Cushion beneath me, his efforts to persuade his dad were even more entertaining to me than what was about to happen would be to him. 

Perhaps you’ve heard a similar insistence from someone you love. Whether it’s lighter moments or more serious matters, we frequently reassure the people that we love in both word and deed that we are trustworthy. The counsel parents offer their children, for example, is rooted in trust.

• When the right decision is painful, a father reminds his son — trust me.

• When the high road is costly, a mother might plead — trust me.

• When future outcomes seem uncertain, parents reassure with the words — trust us.

Ultimately, who we choose to trust will determine both the course and quality of our lives. These instances, though, reveal an important lesson about trustworthiness. Who we trust depends largely upon a person’s character and their perceived motive.  [Read more…]

Marion

Our church sends mission teams to Ridgecrest Conference Center every year to serve students attending Fuge Camps. It’s a wonderful service opportunity, and one I recommend churches consider. Our mission teams perform a variety of tasks such as doing laundry, working in the kitchen, serving in the coffee shop, cleaning the cafeteria; you know, all the mundane tasks Jesus would do. 

This year’s trip in June began like all the others. Our church staff received pictures and videos of the mission team laughing and showing us the “proper” way to fold a fitted sheet. I was away from the office and with my daughter for college orientation but enjoying the good natured humor from afar. 

But around 5 p.m., all that stopped. 

That’s when I received a call from one of the team members frantically crying that Nick was dying!  [Read more…]

Lonnie Wilkey

For more than a decade I have observed as some, not all, presidents/CEOS of Southern Baptist Convention entities distance themselves from those “who foot the bill” — Southern Baptists in the pew. 

Some leaders have been curt (a polite way of saying “rude”) to messengers who have dared asked tough questions from the floor of the SBC annual meetings. 

Lifeway Christian Resources took a great deal of criticism last week over a decision to discontinue its lifewayworship.com website. 

This upset state convention worship and music specialists including our own Scott Shepherd of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board as well as church worship leaders and pastors.  [Read more…]

Tennessee Baptists will have an opportunity to celebrate the 188-year history of their Baptist newspaper on Sunday, Aug. 20, which is recognized as B&R Day on the Tennessee Baptist Convention calendar. 

Every issue of the Baptist and Reflector shares stories of how Tennessee Baptists are impacting spiritual lostness and advancing God’s Kingdom. 

As an editorial staff, we are doing what Tennessee Baptists have indicated they wanted. We are telling your stories — stories of how your church is making an impact for the Kingdom, stories people probably won’t read anywhere else.  [Read more…]

The world today seems to be increasingly messed up. When it comes to younger generations, it is easy sometimes to give up or just give in to apathy or complacency. As Baptists we are really not doing them any favors and actually may be doing great damage to both their future and our own students.

Here are four things that we tell ourselves that really are not helpful. We could do better.

“I am just glad that they go to church.” It is a great thing if college students go to church when they go away to school, but that doesn’t make them a Christian nor does it mean that they are really following Christ. They could just be going because of a habit you instilled in them as a child. Churches have plenty of cultural Christians. 

Ask your student about his or her involvement in the life of the church — Bible study and mission. Look for evidence of them seeking after God rather than attending a service. There are three areas that you can encourage them in. All believers need to be a part of a small group that studies the Word together, prays together and serves on mission together. Are they investing in the church? [Read more…]

I must confess that I am a terrible online shopper. I find something that looks like a quality product only to realize later that it wasn’t, or that it didn’t work, or that I should have read more reviews. 

I call it “click regret.” It’s that dreadful moment when I realize that the cloak of buyer remorse has fallen over my bank account like a sad blanket. Why did I buy that? What was I thinking? My wife is a lot better than I am at ordering what she needs, so I just try to avoid Amazon all together because, to me it’s just another museum of bad ideas. 

Yes, I have regretted many purchases, but one thing I’ve never regretted is the money I gave away. 

Scientists are now saying that generosity actually changes your brain, and that generous people are happier people.  [Read more…]

Messengers and guests fill the concourse
at the New Orleans Convention Center during the 2023 SBC annual meeting. — Photo by Robin Cornetet / Baptist Press

It’s always a great day to be a Tennessee Baptist, but there were many moments during the recent Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting when I was also proud to be a Southern Baptist. 

Here’s a sampling of some of those moments:  [Read more…]