Check out Conference photos

Thanks to the good work of our Tract Council photographers and our webmaster, Linda Lawton, we're able to share many pictures of General Conference 2010 being held at Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri.

On the front page of our website, you can't miss the link for the photos. Or click here for a direct link. The Lord is blessing us mightily at Conference-- wish you were all able to be here!

We are in Springfield

All of the SDB executives (and our webmaster) are already in Springfield, Missouri, in anticipation of next week's General Conference session at Evangel University.

We've actually been here since Monday, attending CLT (Coordinating Leadership Team) and General Council meetings. At General Council, we just heard from two members of the "Ad Hoc 2" committee, learning more of what they will be presenting next week concerning the Conference restructuring proposals.

As Conference begins on Sunday, you will be hearing very little from us (on the blog) until August. We do hope to post pictures each day as the Conference week progresses so check the front page of our website.

Please keep us in your prayers. Everyone made it here safely, SCSC evaluations went well, registration activity is brisk, and the Youth and Young Adult Pre-Cons are underway. Bring on the Conference!!

How God sees the Gulf

Jim Denison is president of the Center for Informed Faith and theologian-in-residence for the Baptist General Convention of Texas. He provided this opinion piece (condensed below) to the Associated Baptist Press.

A few weeks ago, my wife and I were flying over the Gulf of Mexico. The pilot came over the intercom, suggesting that we look through the windows on the left side of the airplane. We could see a group of ships circled on the ocean below. The pilot informed us that we were looking at the flotilla surrounding the BP Deepwater Horizon site.

From 33,000 feet above the Gulf, its waters looked tranquil. There was no evidence visible to us of the disaster continuing to unfold 5,000 feet below the surface. As many as 2.5 million gallons of oil gush into the ocean from the damaged well each day.

How does God view this ongoing tragedy?

First, He continues to grieve with the families of 11 workers killed at the beginning of the disaster, when the drilling rig exploded on April 20.

Second, He is personally concerned for the millions of people who are being affected by this disaster. Fishermen and those they support, residents along the Gulf Coast, entire towns and economies -- the list of innocent victims goes on.

Third, He holds us accountable for our management of his creation.

There is good news even in this tragedy, however. One way God would redeem this disaster is by calling His people into intercession. Have you prayed today for the families grieving those who died when the rig exploded? Have you asked God to grant His wisdom and perseverance to those trying to stop the oil spill and deal with its consequences? Have you prayed that those affected by this tragedy would turn to Him in faith?

Another way God would redeem this tragedy is to use it in exposing the fallacy of self-sufficiency. Our culture congratulates the self-dependent -- get up earlier, stay up later, try harder and you can solve your problem. The ongoing disaster in the Gulf shows us the folly of such self-reliance. What crisis is calling you to God today?

Flying above the Gulf, I could not see the oil spilling into its depths. Neither can I see the pain, grief, or worry you are hiding from the world today. But your omniscient Father can. Why not trust your secret problem to His redeeming grace?

Offering to go to COM

This year's entire Conference Offering has been designated to go to the SDB Center on Ministry. The COM has a larger-than-usual number of seminary students--praise the Lord--and we need to support their valuable education.

When your local church takes up its annual Conference offering (most churches will collect it on July 31), please use these bulletin inserts to spread the word about where the funds will be going. You'll be helping to support our future pastors and leaders! Thank you.

Our 500th post!

Ever since mid-January, “hits” to this blog have taken off. Why then? SDBs were concerned with providing relief following the devastating earthquake in Haiti.

Since then, other popular posts have included the listing of this year’s Summer Christian Service Corps teams and where they were headed; the Sabbath/Sunday debate aired on the “Iron Sharpens Iron” radio program in April; the flooding in North Loup, Nebraska; and the findings and recommendations of “Ad Hoc 2” concerning Conference reorganization.

We hope to keep providing current information and inspiration as you read this blog. If you would like to be notified of new posts by e-mail, please contact our webmaster here. Or, become a Facebook friend of “Sabbath Recorder” and you’ll hear about the latest postings.

Baptist Historian Comments on Modern Baptist 'Transitions'

At a recent retreat for Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) officials, Dr. Bill Leonard, long-time Dean at the Wake Forest University School of Divinity, gave a presentation on the state of current Baptist life, including summaries of the long-time strengths of Baptist ideology and the subsequent challenges for Baptists today.

Seventh Day Baptists have long been a part of the Baptist community, from our earliest days in England to the present, and the strengths and challenges Dr. Leonard suggests may face us as well. In any case, the series of two articles gives us plenty to think about.

In summarizing his remarks, Leonard gives us an encouraging look forward, noting:

Baptists must confront their history -- good and bad -- while claiming the best of their traditions as rooted in a believers’ church, their sacraments/ordinances, local-church identity/autonomy, freedom of conscience, countercultural dissent, religious liberty and the witness of the minority. Given their history, Baptists should lead the way toward a renewed Christocentrism (Christ-centeredness) amid radical religious pluralism. It is our best hope of remaining a viable gospel people amid the transitions ahead.

You can find the full text of the article here.

Registration / Travel updates

Pre-Registering for Conference? Gotta do it by snail-mail or e-mail now; the on-line registration process is closed.
(If you are still planning to pre-register by mail, you need to get the forms to Linda by July 16-- that's when we're heading to Springfield!) Forms are in the May Sabbath Recorder or on-line here.

If you miss the deadline, you can still register at Conference-- but you might have to wait in line for awhile.

Also, if you need RIDES to/from the Springfield-Branson airport, you NEED to sign up NOW! E-mail your itinerary to Marian Anderson at mariananderson@charter.net.

THANKS for giving to the SR

I am thankful every time I look at the growing stack of ivory and green reply cards in my office.

In early June, we sent out our annual letter asking readers to support the ongoing ministry of The Sabbath Recorder. The Recorder has been the main vehicle connecting Seventh Day Baptists for over 166 years.

We are so grateful for your donations. Some of the larger “Page Sponsor” gifts arrived in time to be listed in the July-August issue. Many more names will appear in upcoming months.

Thank you for your faithful support, and may God bless you!