Greetings!
It’s cold outside. Scary weather is all around us, with differing reports on how it should affect the OKC metro this weekend, and other regions of the country are getting hit hard with snow.
This means it’s a great time to stay inside and read the latest edition of Doyle’s Half Dozen. Here’s my take on six timely topics. Enjoy!
- The Dress
Good grief people! Who cares? Seriously? I had no idea 20+ million people were obsessing over the color of a dress in a photo.
My first awareness of this social media frenzy was last night, while getting ready to watch the Thunder-Suns game (I don’t want to talk about it). I thought it was a dress that my cousin’s daughter owned because she was my only exposure to it, at the time. I concluded the dress was white and gold, and I moved on.
Then at halftime, I take a further screening on Facebook and, to my utter amazement, I could not believe the level of attention that was given to this dress. The morning talk shows are fixated on this dress and the number of people all over the world who are discussing it.
Isn’t it amazing? Yes, it’s ridiculous, but the high level of communication about a dress in Scotland (I think?) going around the world as the current most popular social media topic in less than a day is astounding.
Dear Christians, we should be challenged on how to make the Gospel span a similar course. I think we would agree the greatest message ever given to mankind deserves an even greater influence than that of the fascination of debating the color of a dress. May God enlighten and equip us to make it happen… and soon!
- Adrian Peterson, the Vikings and the NFL should reconcile
One of my favorite words is reconciliation. I love what it means and its results. The feeling of being reconciled is awesome. It is an extreme relief of a heavy burden.
But it’s not easy to occur. It takes a process over time – sometimes years, for others a lifetime, to experience reconciliation.
I usually emphasize reconciliation around Christmas time, as my favorite Christmas carol “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” mentions it – “God and sinners reconciled” … even now I’m pumped thinking about that lyric.
Now that the court has ruled in favor of Adrian Peterson, allowing for the running back to be reinstated to play in the NFL, I believe the best result in all of this is for all parties to reconcile. Peterson is sorry for what he did. The Vikings have said they would welcome him back. The NFL appears miffed by this decision, but I believe it would be best for the commissioner to reprieve Peterson.
Move on, bury the hatchet, let bygones be bygones.
Yes, there will be critics. Yes, there are those who will make an emphasis on the concerns of child abuse, which is a serious matter and not to be taken lightly or remised. Peterson admitted he went beyond what was appropriate in the handling of his son, and I think he has been duly penalized. Many will disagree.
But I don’t want to see someone punished because of the overbearing influence of public opinion that is ignited by bitterness and a vindictive spirit. Instead, I desire reconciliation. It’s one of the best reflections of the Gospel.
- SBC Annual Meeting getting a new look
The Southern Baptist Convention is in need of a resurgence. Chris Forbes addressed his concerns about the SBC last summer in his piece “What happened to the Southern Baptist Convention?”
It appears current SBC President Ronnie Floyd is taking the concerns seriously that Forbes and others have voiced and making numerous appeals to Southern Baptists to attend this year’s annual meeting in Columbus, Ohio, June 16-17. According to Denny Burk, Floyd also is revamping the meeting’s program to make it more attractive and is including panel discussions of pertinent issues.
I plan to attend the SBC meeting this year. I will be curious to see if Floyd and other SBC leaders will be successful in impacting the largest Evangelical Christian religious denomination.
- Russell Moore speaks on Reparative Therapy
As part of the new look at the SBC Annual Meeting in June, a panel discussion will be featured titled “The Supreme Court and Same-Sex Marriage: Preparing Our Churches for the Future.” One of the panelists will be Russell Moore, who is the president of SBC’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC).
If you are not familiar with Dr. Moore, I believe he is the one of the best communicators of our time in addressing social issues from a Biblical perspective. His calm, respectful, objective delivery is excellent, and he is well equipped to discuss matters that are challenging the Church today.
I had the privilege of hearing Moore at the ERLC Conference last fall. Of the many topics he tackled, one that seems to be hot right now is on Reparative Therapy. Go to this link and listen to Moore masterfully articulate his perspective on this concerning issue.
- Be watching for War Room
If you are a fan of the movies Facing the Giants, Fireproof and Courageous, then you will be excited to know the creators of those Christian films have another one coming out in August called War Room.
These movies have always impressed me. Some may not consider them to be of the level of Hollywood’s box office hits, but their entertainment value sticks and can make a difference that would surpass all Oscar-winning shows.
Those of you in Oklahoma, I am aware of some special screenings happening in April. I will tell more in weeks to come. In the meantime, go to the official site of War Room to learn more about the movie.
- Macyn’s Marvelous Manuscript
I end this week’s DHD with a shout out to Macyn Neuschaefer. This third grader wrote an essay titled “Color Blind Friends” about her friendship with Gabrielle. She was recognized at a recent Thunder game and received a trophy for being a “Thunder Black History Month Hero.”
Her essay is powerful. I read it multiple times and was inspired every time. And I also liked it because Macyn said she and Gabrielle have birthdays close together, and mine is pretty close to theirs!
Here’s a video recapping her experience, but pause it to read her essay. I hope it inspires you too.