peterlumpkins.com

Yes, I'm still here...Made it thru the New Year...Planning to be back on schedule soon...

All, I've had an incredible time off during these last several weeks. Being with the family during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years remains a refreshing experience to both body and soul. How grateful to our Lord I am I can hardly express! >>> Aside from the much needed time with family, I've done lots of thinking about both the history of my literary musings at SBC Tomorrow as well as the future. I'm putting together some conclusions I've come to embrace, conclusions a summary of which I'll share later. Suffice... Read more →

Yes, I'm still here...

I trust our Lord blessed you wonderfully with a hearty Thanksgiving season... This may be the longest gap between posts since I began blogging in 2006. I plan to be back soon. I do not say this often enough: I remain appreciative of the readership SBC Tomorrow has accumulated the last several years. Even by the most modest standards, we've not been perfect in our analysis of issues facing Southern Baptists nor in our interpretation of Holy Scripture I must unhappily admit. Nonetheless we have attempted to be as fair... Read more →

Headed to the Georgia Baptist Convention today

After taking care of some loose ends, I'm headed to the Georgia Baptist Convention held this year in Warner Robins at the Second Baptist Church where Jim Perdue serves as the senior pastor. Recalling last year's convention, my hunny asked me if I was taking my camera. I said, "Sure! It's a matter of principle." Her response--"Principle my foot!" After almost 40 years of marriage--a beautiful marriage I might add--she probably knows me fairly well, I'd say (smile). "To take or not to take: that is the question..." Perhaps I'll... Read more →

Too early too think about Christmas gifts? Don't think so...

It's never too early to think about Christmas gifts. And, a great gift is a slice of orignial art. My daughter's website might interest you if you or the person for which you may be shopping appreciates art inspired by legendary southern folk artist, the late Howard Finster >>> Check out Kimberly's website--www.kimradfordart.com. By the way, she ships anywhere in the US of A. Here are a few of Kim's originals: Read more →

Good to be in Tennessee again

It's always good to be in Tennessee. I love my Volunteer roots but am not so emotionally fond of this particular visit. One of my nieces suddenly passed away. She was barely 40 years old. I'm attending her memorial tomorrow. Lord bless her children with your peace and presence... Read more →

One of our family's enjoyable pleasures...

Kathy and I have enjoyed water features since the earliest days of our marriage. When we lived in our loft in downtown Atlanta, we awakened to the sound of a six foot waterfall every morning. Friends who visited us said they felt like they were on vacation... Each fall, Kathy and I anticipate going to Home Depot and checking out their annual clearance sale on their fountains which are generally 60-75% off the original price. Below is one we picked up last year and recently setup in the front yard.... Read more →

Taking a couple days off...be back soon...by Peter Lumpkins

All, I do appreciate your readership. Just taking a few days off. Be back soon. Grace. With that, I am... Peter Read more →

Vanity of Vanities: Passing the 1 million mark by Peter Lumpkins

Says the ancient Preacher in the King's English: "Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? (Ec 1:2-3; KJV) An interesting and much looser translation comes from The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language: Smoke, nothing but smoke. [That’s what the Quester says.]; There’s nothing to anything—it’s all smoke. What’s there to show for a lifetime of work, a lifetime of working your fingers to the bone? So what does it... Read more →

Killer Tip for Christmas Shopping by Peter Lumpkins

Don't ever buy another small kitchen appliance from any other retailer: Williams-Sonoma is the ultimate pleaser in customer satisfaction. Here's why >>> In 2003, Kathy and I entertained frequently at our downtown Atlanta loft. Hence, we invested in an espresso machine. We started out with a small Francis Francis which makes a delightful espresso but it just took much too long to keep the guests' cup filled. I ended up being a full-time barista leaving all the hosting to Kathy (secretly, I kinda enjoyed that because Kathy shines in the... Read more →

Saturday Sunrise at Destin, Florida November 26, 2011

Monday Morning Adrenaline Rush! by Peter Lumpkins

Begin the work week with a cool cat, adrenaline rush... >>> With that, I am... Peter Read more →

What's the matter, cat got ya tongue? by Peter Lumpkins

No, the cat doesn't have my tongue. In fact, our cats won't come around me much when Kathy's not here. I think they're afraid I might not be as nice to them or something when she's not around... The truth is, I've been absolutely swamped. I have an important deadline to meet. Oh, I've been snooping around alright...talking to a few folks in between, among other things. And, I'll get back asap. In the meantime, enjoy the little inspiration below. If this guy was closer, I might consider membership in... Read more →

Worship is...Natural? by Peter Lumpkins

Here's a look at worship from the natural perspective...Enjoy! With that, I am... Peter Read more →

Justin Taylor on Critiquing Someone’s Theology by Peter Lumpkins

Critique—done well—is a gift to the one being criticized. We should welcome the opportunity to have our thinking corrected and clarified. We see through a glass dimly, and God has gifted the church with teachers who often see things more clearly than we do at present. In God’s providence and through the gift of common grace he may also use unbelievers to critique our views, showing our logical mistakes or lack of clarity. via thegospelcoalition.org Justin Taylor has a helpful, succinct guide to remember when offering up critiques. Three basic... Read more →

Baptist Blogging at its Best by Peter Lumpkins

Here's an example of the best in Baptist blogging. Enjoy... With that, I am... Peter Read more →

Monday Morning Laugh (Tuesday Morning Laugh also!)

Here's a laugh to brighten up your Monday morning blues... Read more →

Prayer Concern for Adam Dooley and family

Dr. Adam Dooley is Senior Pastor at Dauphin Way Baptist Church in Mobile, Alabama. Just recently, Dr. Dooley and his wife, Heather, learned their 4 year old son, Carson, was diagnosed with leukemia >>> Presently, the Dooleys are in Memphis, Tennessee at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, where Carson is receiving the best care modern medicine can offer. We all are much aware, however, modern medicine is but a human patch which cannot substitute for the Great Physician's sovereign grace in healing this precious little boy. Hence, we pray...long and... Read more →

Question for Lifeway: Who Says the Fifties are Irrelevant? by Peter Lumpkins

Below is a rare video depicting the cutting-edge, high-tech mindset of the 1950s. LifeWay Research should learn humility... With that, I am... Peter Read more →

A Mom's Love is Never Done by Peter Lumpkins

Hariette Petersen (most know her as "SelahV") has a penetrating testimony of a mother who never stops loving her son. In her piece entitled, "When the Inconceivable Falls on Mother's Day," she confesses: "I wondered how I'd feel today. It's been six years since Mother's Day exploded on May 8th. Each year, I've had a bit of a respite from that horrific anniversary of my 33 year-old son's death and Mother's Day celebration. The past few years I took some solace in the fact that this day sanctified as the... Read more →

Everything I Learned About Logic I Hope I Didn't Learn from Jamin Hubner by Peter Lumpkins

Jamin Hubner, a close affiliate with Calvinist* James White and Alpha & Omega Ministries, recently posted a piece entitled, “Lessons in Logic and Argumentation: Structures and Forms of Arguments – I.” It appears on both RealApologetics.org and the A&O website. My interest lies not in Hubner’s fondness for formal logic**; rather my interest is in Hubner’s logical guinea pig—me>>> I must say while I’m entirely flattered Hubner would choose yours truly as a public example of “bad argument” I’m a tad confused why he chose the post he did to... Read more →

Too Much to Say, Too Little Time to Say by Peter Lumpkins

Lots of stuff happening in the SBC (or affecting the SBC) draw my attention. However, I'm pinched for any real time presently to offer a little bit o' perspective from my side of the street. Perhaps next week (or more likely the next) we can put'er in gear and burn some rubber. I really appreciate the readership of SBC Tomorrow. Lord bless, and... Have a great weekend. With that, I am... Peter Read more →

Christmas Season Again by Peter Lumpkins

Can't help getting a kick out of this every year I get it out of the box. Just how anyone could so easily part with an incredible slice of nostalgia I cannot figure. I picked this up at Salvation Army a few years ago for about a buck. My grandies now enjoy. So..... Enjoy! just a little toy... With that, I am... Peter Read more →

Who's Reading SBC Tomorrow? by Peter Lumpkins

Alexa is a web research information site which collects data on domains. Below is the "snapshot" of the readership alexa gives of SBC Tomorrow. Enlightening to say the least: "Based on internet averages, peterlumpkins.typepad.com is visited more frequently by males who are in the age range 35-44, have children, are graduate school educated and browse this site from home" In light of the above, I thought I'd do a little survey of my own. Take a minute and consider the poll below: I appreciate the readership SBC Tomorrow has accumulated... Read more →

Awesome Time-Lapse Montage by Peter Lumpkins

Check out the awesome time-lapse montage below. Timelapse Montage from Mike Flores on Vimeo. With that, I am... Peter Read more →

Just Keep Goin On by The Reverend Dan Smith

Below is one of my favorite artists of all time--The Rev. Dan Smith. His inspiration is contagious, and his simple-faith authenticity cannot be matched. He was pushing 90 years of age when he recorded this live session with contemporary Christian artist, Bryan Duncan, in 1992. Enjoy it. I do. With that, I am... Peter Read more →

Reading Minds the Future of Fighting Crime? by Peter Lumpkins

Actor, Tom Cruise starred in a 2002 film entitled "Minority Report," a futuristic flick where technology was wed with "gifted" brainy people resulting in catching criminals before they commit their crime. Sound unthinkable? Time Magazine reports of a study by researchers at Chicago's Northwestern University and published in a journal entitled "Psychophysiology," a report which appears to reveal a fairly accurate measure of predicting violent crimes. Using what is called, P300, brain waves are measured to determine crimes being planned. In one test, for example, researchers were able to identify... Read more →

Is it Possible to be Too Focused? by Peter Lumpkins

A decade ago, a team of psychologists argued an hypothesis which suggested just how oblivious we are to things around us when we intently focus on a single task. They made a video to test their theory. In the study, viewers were asked to count how many times a ball was passed around between several people. Unknown to the viewers, the psychologists staged a man in a gorilla suit to walk freely in the midst of the people passing the ball, randomly weaving in and out. When the tallies were... Read more →

I Know What I Want for Father's Day by Peter Lumpkins

I hope some of my progeny are watching. With that, I am... Peter Read more →

Barely Alive by Peter Lumpkins

Yes, I am alive. But barely... With that, I am... Peter Read more →

Does Southern Cooking Produce the Worst Obesity? by Peter Lumpkins

We southerners often get dubbed as lard-belly fat boys because of our unhealthy obsession with southern fried chicken, hog jowls, salt pork, ham-n-biscuits, sweet potato pie, buttery cornbread, and three-pound BBQ sandwiches. I mean, come on. Can we not enjoy any of the pleasures of life as Christians? Well now all us southern, middle-aged tubbies can say a hearty ‘in-yo-face’ to those who have wrongly discriminated against us for our greasy spoons. I’m referring to the latest Gallup findings which list the 10 most obese metropolitan areas in the country.... Read more →

Ever seen a Dog Smile? by Peter Lumpkins

Dogs are incredible creatures but I've never seen one smile. At least not like this. Have you? With that, I am... Peter Read more →

An Old Story About My Wife & Me by Peter Lumpkins

I was searching for something else when I stumbled across this old story written about my wife and me when we transformed ourselves from the beautiful suburbs south of Atlanta to living on the railroad tracks in downtown Atlanta. And, yes, when the train came through, the glasses jingled, the floors vibrated, and, if we were in the courtyard, we simply stopped talking til the train went by. Life for us in the loft for 5 1/2 years. If you'd be interested in reading the story, here's the link. With... Read more →

Helpful Study Links by Peter Lumpkins

Below are some helpful study links....Maybe... Be warned, however. The content on these sites is for serious readers only. No blogger dumbing down the messy details. Nor are all papers biblically or baptistically sound. Also, some are conservative, some on the extreme theological left. Yet most represent scholarly presentations nonetheless (NOTE: some journals are now defunct but contents are still available. Also, some have only partial availability). Save them in your bookmarks or download the papers to searchable pdf files. And, the best part???............................ All content is free! Journal of... Read more →

Having a Creepy Monday by Peter Lumpkins

A new species of spider has been discovered in Israel by a team of biologists from the University of Haifa-Oranim. Since the spiders like it hot, hot , hot, praise the Lord no chance of this breed with a leg-span of a full half foot migrating to West Georgia! On a more serious reflection, our simple, finite minds will not--indeed cannot--exhaust our beloved Sovereign Creator's handiwork. Selah. Read the full story at LiveScience (//link). With that, I am... Peter Read more →

Enjoy Christmas Goodies by Peter Lumpkins

I put together a little video to encourage SBC Tomorrow readers to savor all the Christmas goodies over the next couple weeks. Enjoy! With that, I am... Peter Read more →

Our Deepest Sympathy to Dr. John Floyd by Peter Lumpkins

We express our deepest, heartfelt sympathy to Dr. John Floyd whose wife, Helen, recently passed on to be with the Lord. Dr. Floyd is Professor, Department of Missions, at the Mid America Baptist Theological Seminary in Cordova, Tennessee (//link). Professor Floyd also served a term as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the International Missions Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, beginning in May, 2006. May our Lord grant, through His gracious Holy Spirit, immeasurable comfort to the Floyd family in their time of grief. Read more →

Who's Coming Over for Breakfast? by Peter Lumpkins

When's the last time you had a crowd like this for breakfast? Enjoy... With that, I am... Peter p.s. all hunters keep guns holstered please! Read more →

Dr. James Galyon: Stirring Hornets or Mixing Mud? by Peter Lumpkins

James Galyon is sure he's stirred up a hornet's nest with apparently Mr. Bob Ross and me as the bothered bees looking to battle. He writes: "It seems I have stirred the proverbial hornets’ nest recently with several posts related to regeneration... ." Afterward, he quotes from both me and Ross (//link). For the most part, James and I carry on irenic conversation. One gets the impression, however, he'd just as soon be stung by real hornets than attempt to converse in any meaningful sense with Mr. Ross. That's too... Read more →

The Ultimate Muscle Machine: "The Goat" & Siblings Will Soon Be Gone

The 1964 Pontiac GTO was one flame on wheels. I was fortunate to have driven one of these screamers as a juvenile delinquent. I was also fortunate I wasn't killed nor anyone else! Though unsaved at the time, my Lord surely left merciful fingerprints all over my rebel life. Alas, Pontiac will soon be but a memory, as is now "The Goat." Sad. With that, I am... Peter Read more →

What is Your Price? by Luke Liechty, Guest Contributor

What is your price? Do you have a price? You protest that you could NEVER be bought. Me thinks thou protesteth too much. I might add that I too would like to protest that I could NEVER be bought. But I know what I am about to write and so I do not protest...as much. What does it mean to be bought, at least in the sense that I am asking the question? To be bought means at what price would you be willing to compromise your calling, forsake your... Read more →

Finally Back: by Peter Lumpkins

with that, I am... Peter Read more →

Is This Why You're Fat?

My son sent me a link to this site and said I might enjoy tracking it. Being a SBpk he well recalls our annual conventions where attending pudgy preacher physiques out number attending puny preacher physiques, at minimum, 10 to 1. This picture may clue us in to part of the reason why. If you like, visit the site, This is why you're fat, and look at its entire photo album (be prepared to gag at some of the selections). Or, you can just watch one I borrow pop up... Read more →

10 Most Powerful Women of the Modern World

Hillary Rodham Clinton gave her rousing speech last evening at the Democratic National Convention. Swooning Obama supporters, she uttered what, to them, were words on golden plates descended from heaven and translated by Joseph Smith descendants: "Barack Obama is my candidate and he must be our president." Many believe the failed candidate in her impressive run for the White House--a run which no other female has accomplished, at least without embarrassment--demonstrates her status as one of the most powerful women in the world. Not so according to LiveScience.com. In their... Read more →

One More River to Cross

I had almost forgotten about this CD I bought several years ago, a fading genre of Gospel Blues. A great piece by Shack of Peasants. Unfortunately, on the video, I put "Peasant Shack". I suppose my old age continues to haunt me. Enjoy... Read more →

Cleaning The Closet: Contemplating the Future for SBC Tomorrow

I'm going to do a bit of house cleaning on my site. Further, I am contemplating the future of SBC Tomorrow >>> I want to say upfront, that for two solid years, I have been amazed how this site has developed. From the beginning, it seemed a corpus of faithful readers, though small, developed. And, the corpus has done nothing but swell. I also believe this site has been, at least in a small way, instrumental in offering for a much-ridiculed group of believers (traditionally minded Christians) a much-needed voice... Read more →

Charlton Heston: A Hollywood Legend

One of the great stars of film is dead. The following scene is classic: With that, I am... Peter Read more →

It Ain't That Bad Being Baptist

I have a new post close. I hope all are well today and have had a great week. There appears always a deafening silence before the gathering storm... Grace. With that, I am... Peter Read more →

The Garden Tomb: A Time to Reflect

Wow. I'm back in the states and what a trip! I must apologize for not posting pictures as I intended. The connection was simply not compatible with quick uploading of massive files. I'll post pics on another site and give you a link to it on the home page. With that, I am... Peter Read more →

Dr. Tom Ascol: Is Courage Anonymous?

It's no surprise to my readers when I have disagreements with Founders Ministries and some of the views embraced and taught there. When one can agree, it should be so stated >>> SBC Outpost presently has a letter allegedly penned by a current Professor at one of our seminaries. The letter evidently originated at Dr. Boyd Luter's site. Of course, the charges are typical of what Outpost has printed since its inception immediately after the June 07 SBC in San Antonio, TX. The letter mainly is an anonymous rant against... Read more →

Joe Donahue: Evangelist for Real

Alright. I now have to make it up to Joe since I not only posted his silly side at which the world may gawk, but I have to do it out of raw, unmitigated, selfish fear: he has threatened to contaminate my pristine java-bean stash for daily brew with a can of poisonous, Kroger coffee. I hope this suffices. Youth Specialties may be the premier resource for Youth Ministry today. It's focus is regularly cutting edge and some of the top experts in Teen culture are affiliated with them. You... Read more →