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State Missionary Rick Lance is executive director of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions.

Other Recent Blog Entries:

A Sincere and Respectful Call for A Great Commandment Renewal
Thursday, June 24, 2010
As I have said earlier, I will do my best not to let disagreements define our relationships. I am praying that The Great Commandment Renewal will begin in me!

VBS Is a Blessing!
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
As a pastor, I always felt that VBS was to be a major commitment on my part. I wanted to be in town, involved and engaged in the efforts of impacting the lives of children, youth and adults. It was not a chore for me, but rather it was a joy!

Taking the 'Stew' Out of Stewardship
Thursday, May 27, 2010
At first, I thought I had hurt his feelings. I mean this was a serious project, and maybe I was being a little too cute for my own good.

Rick Lance's blog

July 2010

Do you believe in "teachable moments"?

The panel was being featured one afternoon on Fox News Channel. I had just arrived home for a quick meal. The panel of four political pundits from across the ideological spectrum was having a heated discussion related to health care reform or financial reform or the pervasive problem of budget deficits and the national debt.

To be honest with you, I cannot exactly remember which subject was being discussed on this particular day. What I do recall is a comment made by the provocative yet profound political columnist Charles Krauthammer. In the midst of the stimulating debate involving Juan Williams, Bill Kristol, Mara Liasson and Charles Krauthammer. The host asked Krauthammer, "Charles, do you believe in teachable moments"?

Apparently, that phrase had been used to describe how there had been an adjustment in policy and one of the other panelist said, "This is a teachable moment.” Charles Krauthammer is known for his precise use of language and sarcastic sense of humor. With a tongue-in-cheek kind of smile, Krauthammer quickly exclaimed, "I don't believe in teachable moments.”

I do not have the faintest idea what was said after that comment. I was stuck on the statement. It was ringing in my ears and rolling around in my mind for the next few minutes. Later in the week, I returned to that exchange and gave the "teachable moment" comment more consideration.

The word "disciple" kept coming to my mind. Disciples are "learners" and followers of Christ who are called to be life long learners from the Master Teacher, the Lord Jesus Christ. With this worldview, Christians are to see life as filled with teachable moments.

All of us could catalogue a list of teachable moments we have experienced in this pilgrimage with Christ. When we became believers, we were made aware by the convicting power of God's Holy Spirit that we are sinners, lost and condemned without Christ. That awareness was the consummate teachable moment for the new believer.

When I was called to preach and to give my life to Christ in full-time Christian service, it was a teachable moment indeed. I cannot fully explain the calling experience, I just know that the Lord's claim on my life was and is real. Nothing can convince me otherwise.

During my ministry, I have been stopped in my tracks by the amazing realization of how the Lord was getting my attention and teaching me something very important. There are too many of these "teachable moments" to name and to describe. But that is not necessary for me to do for you, because you have you own "teachable moments" in your life.

Charles Krauthammer is a very intelligent man. He is often so profound in his observations and insights concerning current events. However, even the wisest and most intelligent person can be wrong or can speak without really thinking through comments. Perhaps Charles Krauthammer has had a "teachable moment" as a result of his statement about "teachable moments.” I pray that people everywhere will experience the biggest "teachable moment" in life. That is the moment when Jesus Christ becomes real to them as Lord and Savior.

June 2010

A Sincere and Respectful Call for A Great Commandment Renewal

The Orlando meeting of Southern Baptists is now history, and it made history in numerous ways. Affirming the task force report was of course the most noteworthy action taken by convention messengers. Months before the convention, there was a huge buildup of momentum toward receiving this report with vigorous debate but in the end a resounding approval. Although I have never tried to be a predictor of events, this vote was pretty close to what I anticipated.

When I talked to several of the task force members, they of course seemed joyfully relieved with the acceptance of the report by the messengers at the SBC. They also could not say exactly how this vision for change would be implemented in the future. They viewed their task as casting the vision and then the various boards have now been given the rather daunting challenge of implementation of the recommendations.

As we approach this period of implementation, I am calling on all involved to pray for A Great Commandment Renewal in Southern Baptist life. "Love one another" is what Jesus said to His disciples of old. I left the convention hall Wednesday night convinced that our Lord is challenging us to live by the Great Commandment as we seek to fulfill the Great Commission. Without love and respect for each other as partners, we can lose focus on the mission of the Great Commission. To be truthful: It’s vital that Christ-exemplified love be personified in each of us in the days to come, else we will spend more time accusing each other of not being “Great Commission enough” to be realistically effective.

In that spirit, I pledge to pray for our new SBC president, Bryant Wright. I’ve never met him personally, but I look forward to doing so in the near future. Additionally, I am truly remembering Frank Page in prayer as he assumes the helm of leadership at the SBC Executive Committee. Furthermore, I will be in continual prayer for the search teams at IMB and NAMB. Now more than ever, we need godly leaders of vision and discernment -- men who have a sense of what partnership in Baptist life really means.

I am going to renew my efforts to speak "the truth in love," which was Paul's application of the Great Commandment in personal relationships. As I have said earlier, I will do my best not to let disagreements define our relationships. I am praying that The Great Commandment Renewal will begin in me!

VBS Is a Blessing!

VBS is a blessing! You have read before how much I appreciate the ministry of outreach realized every year through Vacation Bible School. It is arguably the single most important evangelistic and discipleship experience available to churches during the course of a given year.

Think about it. How many times a year do you have this many people involved in a Christ-centered effort of reaching people and teaching them? That in itself is a major undertaking with enormous potential for life-changing experiences, not only for children but for adults too.

As a pastor, I always felt that VBS was to be a major commitment on my part. I wanted to be in town, involved and engaged in the efforts of impacting the lives of children, youth and adults. It was not a chore for me, but rather it was a joy!

My wife has been engaged with VBS at our church. I watched her prepare for the experience pouring hours of time into the preparation for leadership. I have enjoyed hearing her describe how her class, about 18 in number, has responded to the western theme and the Christ-centered teaching.

Other reports are coming to me about the exciting results being realized in local churches all across the state. This is a blessing to hear, because VBS is a blessing. I thank God for it and praise Him for the labor of love given by so many in Alabama Baptist life, so that others might know the love of Jesus Christ. That is an eternal blessing!