from the hills and hollers

SBC Today

2010-02-02T14:43:00.002-06:00

To all of you who read my blog, I'm joining forces with SBC Today. I will be one of their contributors from now on. I wont be writing on this blog anymore. So, I want to invite yall to come on over and visit with me and the gang at SBC Today. The address over there is WWW.SBCToday.com.

Look for me over there. I'll be looking for ya.

David

Dr. Phil Allison, Seminary Professor, Baptist Preacher, Great Man

2010-02-01T11:53:00.002-06:00

I just heard of the death of a great man of God, Dr. Phil Allison. Dr. Phil, as we all called him, was an excellent preacher and teacher of God's Word. He taught at Mid America Baptist Seminary in Memphis, TN for years. His brother, Dr. Gray Allison, was the President. Dr. Phil could preach, and he had a gentle way about him that was endearing. He was a tall fella, and I guess you could say that he was a big fella. But, he was a gentle giant, and a giant of the faith. He will be missed down here on this Earth. May God give his family extra grace and comfort during this time.

"To all the world for Jesus' sake; where bodies hurt, and sad hearts ache. Lift high the cross. His love proclaim. Mid America bear His name. His Kingdom is coming; oh loud let it ring. His kingdom is coming. Be joyful and sing. Lift high the cross. His love proclaim. Mid America bear His name."

Thank you, Dr. Phil, for being an inspiration to my life.

Freedom of Speech? Freedom of Thought? in the USA?

2010-01-17T07:12:00.010-06:00

I'm becoming more and more convinced that freedom of speech is coming under attack in our great USA. I'm becoming more and more convinced that freedom of thought is also something that some people would like to squash. As USA citizens, we'd better wake up. One day, we may wake up and find ourselves suffering persecution of some sort if we preach the Bible, or teach in a university, or write a book, etc. and believe THE WORD OF GOD.

Two things have happened to me lately that have driven this truth home to me. I've always known these things, and knew that our country could to this. Of course, I never thought I'd see it in my lifetime. Our country loves freedom too much. Our country is a good country that welcomes freedom, and those people, who love freedom. But, it's happening very fast. The change is coming like a freight train. I'm very concerned that Bible believing people, who really stand on the truths of God's Word, are about to face more persecution than just being ridiculed and shunned and such.

One thing that happened was a Facebook conversation that I had with a childhood friend of mine, who prides himself on being liberal. He made a statement about gay marriage. Well, I was trying to stay away from any controversy with this friend of mine, since we haven't had much of a friendship since we were children. So, I would only talk to him about non-controversial things, and I wouldn't answer his liberal statements. I just would not comment on them. But, this time, it just went over the top. So, I prayed, and I answered as politely as I possibly could. But, I told the truth about homosexuality being a sin against God, and how it weakens a nation to accept such a thing as ok. Well, what happened after that was my old friend, and all of his liberal friends who joined in the "discussion," called me everything from a moron, to an idiot, to a bigot, to gay basher, to a meanie. I was told that I was stupid, and I was told that my kind of talk leads to gay bashing, even to gay people being murdered. I was told that preaching such things as homosexual sex as being a sin against God was leading to gays being abused and murdered. And then came the shocker. Here were all of these so-called champions of tolerance and freedom of speech and thought, as liberals like to pride themselves as being, saying that I should be shut up. That people like me had no business saying what I was saying. They were no longer tolerant. They were no longer for freedom of speech and the exchange of ideas. They were angry and attacking me. They didn't like that I was a Pastor, and they thought that someone like me should not be allowed to be a Pastor. The tolerance was gone. Freedom of speech was out the door. The free exchange of ideas was tossed aside like underwear that's been worn for 3 days by a homeless man.

Now, the entire time, I kept my cool. I prayed for God to help me give them a soft answer, which turns away wrath. And, I assured them that I didn't hate gay people. I was not scared of homosexuality. I was simply telling them what the Bible taught about the subject, and why I'd be against making gay marriage legal in the USA. At times, I would just quote Scripture. But, to no avail. More of his liberal friends just kept chiming in with insults and angry name calling, and calls to hush me up.

Now, the second thing that happened that made me think hard on this subject, was that I saw the movie, "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed." This movie is very eye opening for all of yall, who have never spent time in a secular university. And, it's an excellent movie on the lack of tolerance on the behalf of the liberal crowd. It's basically a well done documentary on the bias and lack of freedom of speech and thought in liberal universities, especially in the area of intelligent design, or ID, as it's called. ID is the belief that an intelligent being of some sort had some part in creating the universe. It's a belief that there has to be an intelligent being, who designed the world. Now, a lot of these ID scientists and profs are not Christians. They do not hold to the Biblical account of creation. But, they do belief that there's no way in this green Earth that everything just evolved into being.

Well, in his quest to investigate why profs in universities, who hold to ID, were being fired for this belief; this view, if you will. He found that liberals like to talk a lot about tolerance and freedom of speech and thought, but when you don't agree with them; then you get fired from universities. You get left out from seminars and think tanks and such. They will not tolerate anyone not believing in Darwinian evolution. And, if you have the audacity to be a Christian, who believes the creation account of the Bible, then you're worse than an idiot in the eyes of these champions of "freedom of speech and thought," of "tolerance." In fact, he found profs from all over this country, who were fired for their ID view. And, when he interviewed some of the other profs and university officials, who had been instrumental in getting these ID profs fired, you can just see the hatred and anger and scorn in these "tolerant" liberals.

One thing that really caught my attention was that Baylor University, of all places, was one of the universities in this movie that had fired someone for their ID beliefs. Baylor! That Baptist school south of the Red River, and west of the Mississippi River.

Folks, these two situations, along with everything else I have read, seen, heard, and know about are all telling me that times are about to get really hard for the true child of God in our country. Unless God does a mighty work of awakening in our land, we're heading for some bad times. At least, for those Believers, who really try to live for Jesus and obey His Word. I can just sense that more severe persecution is coming for Believers in our country. I could be wrong. I could be off base. I'm no prophet, nor the son of a prophet; but I can see the handwriting on the wall.

Also, let me just say this. We can make it and live thru whatever this old, mean, sin darkened world throws at us. Thru the power of the Holy Spirit, we can endure. With the hope of Heaven waiting on us, we can persevere. Live for Jesus.

Our Climate of Death Leads Us to This

2010-01-11T07:29:00.002-06:00

In our day of abortion(murder of innocent babies), we see this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOC7a2Tw_8o

For more on this story, read this:

http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=32000&ref=BPNews-RSSFeed0107

How long will God be patient with our nation? How long will the Lord hold back His hand of judgment on the USA? And, sadly, we have people in places of power and authority, who are for abortion, who are for death. They fight for the right for a woman to murder a baby in what's supposed to be the safest place in all the world...it's own mother's womb.

God have mercy on us. May God be patient with us.

Great Article on the SBC and Dortian Calvinism and Founding Fathers

2010-01-09T10:41:00.002-06:00

I want to take this space to encourage you to go to Peter Lumpkin's blog and check out his posts on "Calvinistic, but Not Calvinists." There are 2 posts by him that you all need to read. I agree with him wholeheartedly. I think he hits the nail on the head. I hope you'll go to his place and read these two posts.

http://peterlumpkins.typepad.com/

Strangest Church Conflict?

2010-01-05T09:14:00.002-06:00

I would be interested to hear what are some of the strangest things that you know of that has caused conflict in a Church? These things could be things that you have heard about, or things that you personally have experienced. So, what are some of the silliest, or strangest, or craziest things you know of that has caused conflict in a Church?

This should be very interesting.

Charismatic, Pentecostal Practices in the SBC?

2009-12-26T14:59:00.002-06:00

How many Churches in the SBC do you know that practice charismatic type things? Pentecostal type things? I'm talking about things like speaking in tongues; or prayer languages; or healing services; or slaying in the spirit; etc.? If you do know of some, are they causing division in the local association?

Christmas Greetings

2009-12-22T08:59:00.003-06:00

Merry Christmas to everyone. Here's a little something to bless your heart.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4ZXpfkrzKQ

Legalism and Old Wive's Tales

2009-12-18T12:22:00.002-06:00

What legalistic things have yall had to deal with in your Church? What old wive's tales have you heard, and maybe had to correct? How did the people take it when you dealt with it?

Here's one. I was working at a company while attending seminary. I was telling a funny story about a dog we had, and the story took place in the house; because it lived in the house with us. And, one of the fellas I worked with said,"It's a sin to have a dog in the house." When I asked him where in the Bible it said that, he said,"Well, it's in there." When I asked him to show it to me, because I'd never seen that verse in all my years of studying the Bible; he looked at me very angrily and said,"Well, all your more well known preachers know about." lol

Also, from the pulpit, one time, I was talking about the verses in 1 Corinthians that talk about our bodies being a temple of the Holy Spirit. I told them that this did not mean physical fitness, and I'd heard this passage taken out of context many times. I've heard people use that passage to call everything from smoking cigarettes to eating red meat to eating Southern, fried food to not exercising enough a sin. That's just not right. This passage is about keeping sin out of your heart and life, because our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit. It's not about not drinking tea, coffee, and coke...as the Mormons would say. Now, I personally would encourage anyone out there to not use tobacco products because they are unhealthy and a total waste of God's money. But, it's not a sin to smoke a cigar, as Spurgeon used to like to do. Well, in some people's minds, you'd have thought that I just told the Church to go out and live in gross sin! I had some really get upset with me. Good grief, Charlie Brown!

What's some of your stories?

Baptist Identity, Landmark Baptist...What do You Think Of?

2009-12-11T13:18:00.002-06:00

First of all, are there any Landmark Baptist out there anymore? Secondly, if there are some Landmark Baptists still out there, what do you think when you hear the name? Also, when you hear the term Baptist Identity, what do you think? What comes to your mind? Of course, Baptist Identity is a term that's been given to a group of people, who believe that Baptist distinctives are Biblical and worth hanging onto in this day and age of everything goes in the evangelical world. So, let's hear what you think?

The Real National Championship Game is On...The SEC

2009-12-05T15:13:00.002-06:00

The real national championship game is being played on tv right now. Alabama vs. Florida. The SEC championship game is the real championship game. That other game that's played after this one is just for fun....to placate the fans from other conferences. Well, I'm gonna watch this game and see who the national champion is.

Acts 29 and 9Marks...What do You Think of?

2009-11-26T17:22:00.002-06:00

When you hear the phrase "ACTS 29," what comes to your mind? When you hear the phrase "9Marks," what comes to your mind? I would be interested in hearing your thoughts about this. I was talking on Peter Lumpkins blog, and I told a blogger that the first thing that came to my mind when I heard "Acts 29" was booze; cussing and vulgar speech in the pulpit; and young, obsessed, 5 point Calvinists. I dont necessarily want this to be what comes into my mind, but it does. Again, when I hear the phrase "9Marks," I think of young, five point Calvinists. That's about all I think of, when I hear "9Marks."

What comes to your mind when you hear these two "networks" mentioned?

Getting Big Crowds

2009-11-08T09:23:00.004-06:00

So, I heard this morning that a Church in Chicago, I believe, is drawing huge crowds, packing the Church out, by giving away....are you ready for this? ...money. That's right. They have a box hanging from the ceiling that contains money. And, some lucky person wins the money in the box every Sunday. One person won $500 one Sunday! It's like winning the lottery, Church style. And, the Pastor said that the people have just been pouring in. Attendance has never been so high! Well, I guess not. But, do we need to ask about the motives of those people, who are attending so regularly? When the money runs out, do yall think that people will still pack the pews, or seats, or whatever they have in this Church? Is this not the most base thing, playing on people's greed, to get them to come to Church?

I remember a story that was told to me about E.V. Hill and his Church in the Watts area of Los Angeles. I was told that EV Hill said that he walked out to the pulpit on a Wednesday one time, and the place was packed. E.V. Hill began to wonder what was going on? Was there some attempt to get rid of him, and he didn't know about it? Why in the world were so many people at Church on a Wednesday night? at prayer meeting? He had never seen such a crowd on a Wednesday night before.

Well, he said that after the service, he had(and I wont use the word that he used) black folks in alligator boots coming up to him, asking him, "Where's the cheese?" He said that he had "black folks," who were driving Cadillacs, coming up to him, asking, "Where's the cheese?" Brother Hill said that he didn't know what in the world was going on, until he researched the problem, and found out that the government commodity hand out of cheese advertisement was placed just above his Churches advertisement in the newspaper. And, the people thought that the cheese was going to be handed out at his Church on Wednesday night. The Church was encouraging people to come on Wednesday nights for some special teaching that E.V. Hill was doing. lol. EV Hill sarcastically, laughingly said, "If I'd known that giving cheese away would fill this Church, why, I would've started giving away cheese a long time ago." lol

Well, I'm thinking about having a contest at my Church, and the winner gets a brand new Corvette. You know, you get so many points for attending. More points for bringing your Bible. More points if you bring someone with you. More points if you sing a special, etc. At the end of what? three months? six months? I mean, I don't want it to be too long, because people just cant stay committed for a long time. Alright, 2 months...after 2 months, the "lucky," hard worker will get the Corvette, and hopefully, some of those people, who were coming to just win the Corvette, will continue to come. They might even get saved!!!! You think?

Folks, I'm afraid that the Church is going to be seen as a joke before too long. We have clowns in the pulpits, and we have casino style Churches going up, with the dazzling lights, and the slick entertainment. We attract the crowds with gimmicks and tricks. We have so much going on in the Churches today that rubs up against ridiculous that it's concerning. And, I'm not talking about dealing with children, here. I'm talking about dealing with adults.

How can the world look upon as having something serious to say; as having a life changing message; as having something of the utmost importance; whenever we're playing Church and promoting gadgets and fads? We don't have to sell Jesus, folks! We don't have to talk anyone into believing! We need to preach the bloody cross! We need to preach the Gospel! We need to preach Jesus, and trust the Lord to grow His Church. Amen? or, oh me?

Video of Me Preaching Thru 1 Corinthians on Sunday Morning

2009-11-04T11:13:00.009-06:00

Some of you have never heard me preach, so I thought I would put a video of me preaching on a Sunday morning a few Sunday's ago. I am preaching thru 1 Corinthians at the moment. This sermon is from 1 Corinthians 1. I pray that this is a blessing to you.

Devotional Gleanings

2009-10-27T08:49:00.001-06:00

If you have not read Romans 12 in a while, let me encourage you to read this chapter again. I know that most people, and preachers, dwell on the first two verses of this passage; but I want you to especially pay attention from verse 3 on. I especially want you to read and meditate on verses 9-21. I was reading Romans 12 during my devotion time on the morning that I was writing this post, and the Lord really spoke to me from this passage. There are some incredible exhortations from the Apostle Paul in these verses. For example, verse 11, “Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.” Think about this verse as you think about your job. Christians are supposed to work hard at their place of business, and not be lazy. Christians are supposed to work fervently at their job, according to this verse. We are supposed to work as unto the Lord. As unto the Lord!!!! Do you work at your place of business “as unto the Lord?” Wow! Just think about the witness you would be at the office, or at the factory, or out in the fields and highways; if every Christian would take this verse to heart?

Also, verse 14 is one of those verses that should be practiced more and more and more by the people of God. It says, “Bless them who persecute you; bless and curse not.” How many times in a day do you have to deal with people who treat you bad? Who act ugly to you? Who say mean things to you, or about you? And, our first reaction is to cuss them out, or hit them in the mouth. Our first inclination may be to give those people the evil eye, or to store away the hurtful event, and treat those people coldly, or even meanly, in the future. But, what does the Bible teach us? In spite of our feelings, we should bless those people. We should bless those who treat us bad. Wow!

There is more in this passage of Scripture that I really want yall to read and think on. The Lord really spoke to my heart this morning from this passage, and I wanted to pass this blessing on to all of you.

Leaves are Turning in Tennessee

2009-10-23T15:04:00.002-06:00

Now is a very good time to travel in Tennessee. The leaves are changing into a sea of colors. It's absolutely beautiful this time of year. I love fall. I love spring, too. I just kind of make it thru the winter and summer. But, I love fall like an old man looking fondly at his classic car. If yall can make it to Tennessee right now, do it! The mountains will be especially amazing.

God is an Artist.

A Passage of Scripture that Every Preacher Needs to Keep in Mind

2009-10-18T09:22:00.002-06:00

Ezekiel 2:1-7 (English Standard Version)

1And he said to me, "Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you." 2And as he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. 3And he said to me, "Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. 4The descendants also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD.' 5And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them. 6And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions. Be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house. 7And you shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house.

In this day and age of "trying to fit in," and be "hip and with-it," and "trying to save the denomination;" we would do well to remember this admonition to a Man of God...given a long time ago.

Must See Prophetic Cartoon From 1948

2009-10-13T04:59:00.002-06:00

This video is something that every American should watch, especially in our day and time. In fact, every school child in America should watch this one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVh75ylAUXY

Where Cultural Relevancy Leads Us?

2009-10-08T10:29:00.002-06:00

Even though this video is extremely funny, it's sadly where some people and Churches are at already, and some others are heading that way. Is this where our quest to be culturally relevant is going to take us? I hope not. Watch this video, and share your comments on this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLGLBVSpBzY

God's Power is Amazing

2009-10-06T10:01:00.002-06:00

Watch this video from a Memphis news station about a woman, who lived very close to where I live. It's incredible.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDmp967UMds

We are living in a Corinthian World

2009-10-01T08:30:00.003-06:00

When I read the books of 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians, it reminds me so much of the Church today. Our Churches are full of baby Christians, who live by the flesh,and have too much of the world still in them. They want their way about things. They are finicky and fickle. They want to be entertained. They want to be served, but don't want to serve. Many of them want to hear "Oprah, Joel, Dr. Phil type sermons," rather than study the Bible. The Bible and doctrine are too boring for them. And, if the music is not a certain way, then they are throwing a fit, or they are gonna shop around for a new Church. If the Church takes a stand on some sin that they are living in, then they go and find a Church with a spineless Pastor, who will pat them on the back. Some good time Charlie who will tell them that it's ok, and they are ok, and we don't get caught up with all that around here. It's a sad and pathetic state that many Churches have gotten into.

And, the real shame of it all, is that so many Pastors are just like the congregation. They look to fads to dictate the way they do Church. They get wrapped up in gadgets and fluff, rather than doing the best. They settle for tickling people's ears, rather than expounding the Word of God. They act and behave as babyish as the bottle suckers in the pews, or padded chairs I should say in this day and time. We have Pastors out there today who are just as self absorbed and looking to new cars and living the high life as the babies in the "padded chairs" in their Churches. It's the loudest and pushiest baby leading the other babies. And, they strut around in their diapers and pretend to be big boys. They stick out their lips and pout about things not being like they like it. They crawl on the floors trying to be big shots....while all the time thinking that they are.

It's a sad state that we find ourselves in today. Oh, there's a lot of good going on in many of our Churches today as well. Yes sir. Thank God! But, I'm hearing so much stuff going on in the Churches across this country today that it really reminds me of the Corinthians. Sexual sins. People divided over personalities, and following this system of believing, or that one. I follow after Professor Have It All Figured Out; or I like Pastor Good Looking. He makes me feel good when he preaches. Or, I follow after Dr. Funny. He teaches good. He's funny when he speaks, and he has the Bible all set up in a certain pattern that helps me figure God out completely. Thus, we're more spiritual and intelligent than everyone else in Christendom.

Folks, we have people in our Churches wanting their own way. Not willing to sacrifice. Not willing to give of themselves. Not willing to solve problems, but very willing to complain and gripe and whine. People letting the latest polls and surveys dictate ministry, rather than trusting in the power of the Holy Spirit. People looking to fads to build a Church, rather than trusting God to use His Word and simple, pure, worship and service. People willing to set aside doctrine in order to get along and be accepted. Men pleasers. People who don't really care about doctrine, but had rather have a "feel good," self help seminar. We have people and Pastors out there who care more about the style of music than they do about worshipping the Living God. And, commitment? Forget it. They don't want to be committed to things anymore. They want to be free to roam, and flow to the next big party; when they hear that a certain Church has the latest and newest fad going. Thus, they don't want commitment, and how dare you even suggest such a thing.

So, a lot of Pastors and para Church people and denominational workers rock these babies. They give them a bottle when they cry for it. They burp them. They pat them on the back. They sing the latest lullabies to them. They put them to sleep, so they can rest comfortably while the world spirals down into Hell. But, don't wake the baby. Be quiet. Let the babies sleep. They cant be bothered with the souls of people. They cant be bothered with the needs of the world around them. We must not upset them with sound doctrine. Let them sleep. Let them have a good time playing. Let them have dry bottoms and full tummies, while the world starves for a lack of the Gospel.

So, what do we do? Well, we take a poll. We find out that people don't want to hear expository sermons. So, rock those babies to sleep with "8 Steps to a New You," or with a sermon on "Lessons We Can Learn from Peyton Manning and the Colts." And, let's be sure to have a lot of studies from Sister Inspiration for the women. After all, they need a good cry every now and then. But, stay away from expository preaching, because that's too deep for these folks. It might be too boring to them. They are used to watching Oprah and Paula White. And, if you try to help them grow deeper in their faith, then they will migrate to Churches that "feel" better to them. And, then, you wont be the Pastor of the fastest growing Church in your city. You will be known as the guy, who is not as hip as Pastor Goat T. Flipflop. And, you might not get invited to speak at the Starbucks Invitational Seminar on doing Church in an all new, exciting, flashy way.

We need Churches that worship the Lord in spirit and in truth. We need Churches that are full of people willing to sacrifice and give and go. We need Churches full of people who pray. We need Churches that have Pastors that are committed to preaching God's Word...all of it, and who preach with the fire of God on them. We need Pastors who are willing to work, and who trust God to use their service. We need Pastors, who are more concerned about their souls, than they are about their hair. We need Pastors and Professors, who are more concerned about the Gospel being preached, than they are about cultural relevance. We need Pastors with backbone, who will stand against sin, who will keep fighting the good fight of faith; rather than trying to compromise enough to "fit in" with the lost crowd.

Amen?

What Baptisms Would You Accept?

2009-09-23T08:30:00.002-06:00

I would like to hear from yall concerning the baptisms that you would accept, and those you would not accept. Tell me what baptisms would you and your Church accept as valid baptisms? What baptisms would you definitely reject as a valid baptism? And, please tell me why? Give your reasons.

Personally, I would accept any baptism that was believers baptism by immersion, where the Church that does the baptism believes in salvation by grace thru faith, and that baptism is a symbolic act of obedience. Anything less than this would not be a valid baptism, IMHO. Now, the Church that I pastor goes further than this. They will only accept a Southern Baptist baptism only. If someone comes from a Church of another denomination, then they must be baptised in order to be a member. I go along with this, even though it's not my own view. I respect the view of this Church in this matter. And, I must say that my Church is full of former Methodists and Church of Christ people and Presbyterians, etc. They all were willing to get baptised in the proper way in order to be a member of our Church.

What do yall think?

Yankee Congressman Nails It and Hits It Out of the Park

2009-09-09T12:22:00.001-06:00

Watch this.....I'm actually proud of a Yankee now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G44NCvNDLfc

A Great Testimony that will Bless You

2009-09-03T09:20:00.002-06:00

This is the testimony of a man that lives near to where I live. It really blessed me to read it. I hope that you will take the time to read it. It will bless you, too, if you do. The man's name is Larry, and he lives in Northwest TN. His wife's name is Connie. Here is his story in his own words.

Let me tell you what God has done for me. I believe that I am living proof that prayer works. I have Stage IV esophageal cancer that has spread to my liver and lymph nodes. Currently there is no medical cure for my type of cancer, so please continue to pray for me. Your prayers are keeping me alive. Luke 1:37 says: “For nothing is impossible with God”.

Let me relate my cancer experience to you. On Friday March 13th I looked at the lab results from my physical just two weeks earlier. The report said “All labs are fine.” Later that day I bent over and my mouth filled with blood. Connie then rushed me to the emergency room at Western Baptist Hospital in Paducah.

After waiting in the E.R. For several hours, the doctor said that the x-rays showed no cause for the bleeding and an endoscope was scheduled for Tuesday morning. I asked the doctor, “If you do not know the cause and you cannot do anything for me, don’t you think I would be just as well off at home as lying here in a hospital bed.” He agreed and dismissed me. My internal bleeding had stopped and I thought everything would be OK.

The next day, Saturday, went fine until late afternoon. We were having a belated birthday get-together with Johnny and other family members. Toward late afternoon, we were outside when my mouth again filled with blood. This time however the bleeding occurred several times. Later that evening I lay down in the floor of the living room to rest but was unable to get up. Connie called my brother, Steve, and her parents, but for some reason, I could not get off the floor. Against my objections, she called 911. When the paramedic and EMTs arrived I was very stubborn and belligerent. I told them to just get me up and into the van and Connie could take me back to the hospital. The ambulance attendants knew how to handle me. They said we will get you up, then when you sign this release form, we will leave. They helped to lift me to my feet but as soon as they let me go, I fell like a rock. I knew at that point that I was in trouble. They started fluids and took me to Parkway Regional where it was determined that I had lost at least three units of blood. More fluids were given at Parkway and the ambulance crew began to prepare me for a ride to Paducah. When I arrived at Western Baptist, one of the attendants told me that if I had ridden from the house to the hospital in the van, I would have gone to sleep and that would have been the end of me. I was then rolled back to the E.R. For a couple of hours. Later in the night, I was moved to the Intensive Care Unit. I was fortunate that one of the doctors on call that weekend was a Dr., who was a gastro-intestinal specialist. On Sunday morning he performed an endoscope. Later that morning he came in to see me. He asked if I had any family members at the hospital. I answered “No” and he stumbled for words. I thought that I was a tough guy and I also figured that he was going to tell me that I had stomach ulcers so I said “Go ahead Doc., I can take it.” He proceeded to tell me that in his opinion I had esophageal cancer for which there was no medical cure and that it looked like it had spread. He went on to say that the lab reports would be back on Monday and then he would know more. Well let me tell you about this tough guy. I began to cry like a baby. I was sobbing uncontrollably. Later Connie stated that Brother David and some elders from the Church were in the waiting room. At first I thought that I was too upset to see them but I began to realize that prayer would help so I asked for Bro. David. He was in the I.C.U. Talking to me when I heard a voice in my head say “You are not dead yet“My skeptical mind asked “What? What?” Again I heard the voice say, clear as a bell, “You are not dead yet.” At that moment I felt at peace and immediately stopped crying. Now I know that this sounds like a Hollywood moment but I heard that voice as clearly as you are hearing me now.

The next day the Dr. arrived with my lab results. He said that as he had suspected the cancer was moderately aggressive and that it had spread. I asked the doctor for his opinion. He described the possible options, but stated that when I went home, I should get my affairs in order. The Dr. stated that he would send an oncologist to talk to me. I was terribly upset again until Bro. David came into the room and started praying for me. Once more, I felt a sense of peace as his words had a calming effect on me.

After four days, I was moved to a regular room then the cancer ward. On my first morning there, a nurse came in the room and took my blood pressure. I asked what it was. She stated 70 over 45. I knew that I had always had good blood pressure reading so I stated “70 over 45, I must be about gone.” She stated “Yeah” and left the room. After about an hour another nurse took my blood pressure and said that it was fine.

After talking to an oncologist and a radiologist, I decided to try to fight this thing. My initial treatments consisted of eleven straight days of chemo, 24 hours per day, coupled with eight days of radiation treatments. I took the treatments and grew increasingly weaker and more nauseated.

Finally after 18 days in the hospital, I was dismissed on a Monday. I had the mistaken impression that each day at home would mean steady improvement. Instead the opposite happened. I think I developed every possible side effect to chemotherapy. I was nauseated around the clock. Half of my throat swelled shut. I had sores in my mouth and on my lips. I had no appetite. All food tasted terrible. I had stomach cramps and diarrhea. I lost most of my hair and beard. I had unimaginable weakness. I felt totally exhausted. At the time, I did not understand what was going on. Now I realize that I was having a chemo crash after eleven days of steroids and very little sleep. By Tuesday my family practically begged me to eat or drink something. This seemed nearly impossible to me. I felt so bad. By Wednesday, I was too weak to get out of bed. I kept drifting from consciousness to unconsciousness without control. I heard Connie say that she was calling the ambulance but I was too weak to argue. This time I was taken back to Parkway Regional where I was given an IV commonly referred to as a chemo cocktail. I began to feel better and returned home late that afternoon.

Unfortunately this, too, was short lived as I felt terrible on Saturday morning. It was at this point that Connie noticed that my left arm was nearly twice as large as my right arm. After several phone calls, it was determined that I should return to the emergency room at Western Baptist. Connie and Steve took me in the car where I lay down in the back seat and was too weak to sit up until I was moved into a wheelchair outside the E.R.

A vascular specialist scanned my arm and said that my arm was clotting from top to bottom due to a port that had been surgically implanted in my chest. I asked if I was going to have a stroke. She scanned my chest and said that the clots were heading toward my heart and I would likely have cardiac arrest before I had a stroke. I saw this as a gift from God. Instead or having to suffer the long painful cancer death, I thought I was about to die of a heart attack. I was then moved from the E.R. to the cardiac care unit. At this point, I just knew that I would be in Heaven by morning. I told my family goodbye and that I would always love them. After several tearful hours, they left to go home and I began to pray to die. All night long, I prayed Dear God; please take me to Heaven tonight so that I will not have to suffer any longer. The next morning when I awakened in my hospital room, I could not understand. I had a few visitors that day, and I thought I was probably at my lowest point. However, that night was worse. My stomach was racked with cramping pain. I was too weak to get out of bed unassisted. Connie stayed with me that night and heard me praying aloud for a quick end.

The next morning (Monday) a Dr., the oncologist, and his assistant, Mark, came into my room. I unloaded my emotions on them. I said that I did not want any more chemotherapy. I said just throw me in a corner somewhere and let me die. The Dr. said, “OK, but I cannot push the button.” I replied, “Yeah, but you can give me enough pain killers that I will go to sleep and never know the difference.”

The Dr. said “I know you feel terrible and feel like dying but if you will let me doctor you today and tomorrow, I guarantee, you will feel better by Wednesday. I considered this for a few minutes and said, “If you promise that you can make me feel better, then go ahead.” New IV’s began and with the exception of a couple of days, I have felt better every day since.

Eight days later, I was dismissed from the hospital and have continued to improve. Currently I take a six hour treatment every other Monday and wear a pump that provides chemo 24 hours a day Monday through Friday during treatment week. One of the first things I requested when I returned home from the hospital was inspired by James 5: 13 - 16. “Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the person well; the Lord will raise him up.” Brother David, Brother James and Carolyn, as well as the church elders came to our house and faithfully prayed over me and anointed me with oil. That time with them and with our Lord was humbling and very special to me and my family.

You might ask what are the advantages of having cancer? I have to say “None.” There are no advantages to this. However, I must say that I am closer to God now than I have ever been. Connie and I have a closer relationship than we have ever had. Connie has really stepped up to the plate concerning my medical needs. If I had not made her leave the hospital at night, she would have spent every night with me. I have come to appreciate every day that I feel like getting out of the house and seeing people. I gained a new appreciation for my family, my in-laws, my Church, and my friends who have supported me during this entire ordeal.

Second Corinthians 1: 3-4 says: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”

Hebrews 3:13 says “Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today.”

During this entire ordeal, I have never asked “Why me?” With cancer being as common as it is, I tend to ask, “Why not me?” After all, my late Mother fought cancer for 25 years, two of her sisters, her brother and her father all died with cancer. My family saw my mother suffer greatly at times, but she kept the faith and was an inspiration to many people.

Three months ago the Dr. told me “Statistically you have six months to live.” One month ago he told me “You may live six months or six years. We don’t know what God’s schedule is.” The last time that I saw the Dr., he gave me some excellent advice. He said “Worry about tomorrow, tomorrow. Enjoy today, today, and go to Church on Sunday and praise the Lord for every good day that you have.” For my part, I praise the Lord daily for every good day. Please continue to pray for me as I need a miracle to survive.

Earlier I said, “Let me tell you what God has done for me.” Four months ago when I came home from the hospital, I was too weak to step over the edge of the bathtub without help. I was too weak to stand for a shower. When I came to church, I had to sit in the back in a padded armchair and I needed help to get up after the service.

Now four months later, I have regained strength, gained 23 pounds of weight and I am able to stand here and talk to you. This looks like a miracle in the works to me.

Matthew 21:22 says “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” I don’t know what God has planned for me. If he calls me home this afternoon I am ready. If I can be an example or an inspiration for others sharing a similar circumstance, I will gladly serve. May God bless you all. Thank you.

Humorous but True Videos

2009-08-28T12:05:00.005-06:00

Tim Hawkins has nailed it on these two videos.

Watch this one on the government.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO2eh6f5Go0

And then, this one about drinking beer is absolutely hilarious, and yet, very, very true.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4a6I1bJtBg

Grace....Captured by it

2009-08-27T07:50:00.003-06:00

I have been reading David Jeremiah's book, "Captured by Grace." It's an excellent book. It has blessed me. I would like to share with yall some of the things that have been laid upon my heart afresh and anew about grace from the book. These are some things that I've gleaned from reading this book, and that I was pleasantly reminded of as I read it.

Grace is the Father seeing the rebellious, prodigal son coming home, because he was watching for his son. And, the Father being willing to throw dignity to the wind and run to his son; and then embracing his son in his dirty, filthy, ragged clothes; with the smell of hogs and unwashed body; with a long, dirty beard and uncut, long, shaggy hair; and even with his history of rebellion and waste of the family fortune. Grace is the Father grabbing that son, and putting a bear hug on him, and releasing him from the shame and the humiliation of his rebellious, wasteful, sinful past. Grace is the Father giving him the best clothes to replace his rags; shoes to put on his bare feet; giving him fresh, clean water to wash the stains of dirty, filthy living off his body; and feeding him the best beef that he could possibly find on his farm; to fill his empty belly and give strength to his weak, thin body. That’s grace, folks.

And, that’s exactly what God the Father did for us when we got saved. He ran to us, and He embraced us in our filthy, worn out, dirty condition. God the Father came to us, and He cleaned us up, washing away all the dirt and filth and stains of our sins; replaced our rags with the robe of purity and love and hope; and He fed us, putting life into our bodies that were so tired and worn out from sinful living with all of it’s guilt and shame. That’s grace.

But, the legalistic Pharisees of our world do not understand grace, nor do they like it. They want to be good enough, and they want to condemn those who aren’t quite as good as they see themselves. They’d rather complain and nitpick about everything, and also judge all those sinners out there. They’d rather find every little jot and tittle that’s not crossed, and make sure that everyone follows all the rules. They would like to bawl out those dirty, filthy sinners. They don’t like grace, nor do they understand grace. They like the law and legalism. They are like the older son in the parable of the Prodigal Son. They don’t rejoice in sinners being saved. They want harshness, and justice, and they’d rather scold people, and get onto people; than to love them into the Kingdom of God. Grace? No way.

My prayer is that we will have Churches that are ruled by grace, rather than legalism. By grace, rather than law. By love, rather than condemnation. That our Churches will be known as places where grace is something that’s not just sung in a hymn, but it’s actually practiced. A dirty, filthy world needs grace. We all need grace.

What Really Ails the Church? And, What's Really the Solution?

2009-08-19T08:32:00.002-06:00

I was over at Ed Stetzer's place, and saw that he had written about studying the lost in order to know how to reach the lost. Also, it wasnt too long ago that the TBC asked a bunch of lost people what was the best way to reach lost people. So, with these two things in mind, plus other studies, and articles, and posts, and comments about becoming like the world to reach the world idea; came this thought from me. You read what I said at Ed's blog, and I'd appreciate your comments about it.

I said,"We are letting the lost tell us how to reach the lost? lol. What are we coming to? The Early Church preached the Gospel. They stood out in their culture. They were counter-cultural. They offered people something different than the world offered. And, they turned the world upside down.
Today, many Churches try so hard to be like the culture, and try so hard to not offend anyone, and try extra hard to please people; that they are nothing more than religious, Oprah Winfrey, Dr. Phil shows that meet on Sunday mornings.
We need the Holy Spirit to blow a fresh wind across the SBC and across the other Churches in our land. We need fire from Heaven to fall on us afresh and anew. We need to sincerely worship and seek after God, and have a fire in our hearts for the things of God. And then, we wont have to worry about fitting in with the culture, nor instituting programs to reach people, nor study the best ways to get young people to come to Church. When the people of God are excited about the things of God, and have a close relationship with the Lord, then we'll see lost people get hungry and thirsty for the Gospel.
We keep putting band aids on the problem with most Churches, instead of curing what ails us."

David

Revival Meetings

2009-08-18T07:13:00.003-06:00

We start revival meetings at my Church this Sunday. Phil Winningham, who is the Asst. State Evangelism Director for the Alabama Baptist Convention, will be preaching for us. Please pray that the Lord will give us revival....true revival....not just a bunch of meetings. Pray that the Lord will do something supernatural and glorious in my Church. Pray that the Holy Spirit will blow a fresh wind across my people...including me, and that His holy fire will fall from Heaven upon us. Pray that a revival will start at Bethel that will spread from our Church out to the other Churches, and then across our nation....that it will lead to a Great Awakening in our nation. Will you pray for this...for my Church?

BWA...Another Reason that I'm Glad that the SBC is not a Part of it

2009-08-13T09:23:00.002-06:00

When you read this, then I feel that you will echo my sentiment about the SBC not being a part of the BWA anymore. It was the right thing to do, and we dont need to consider joining back with them.

http://www.abpnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4311&Itemid=53

The true Church must continue to preach and teach the Scriptures accurately and boldly, for the glory of God, no matter what the world thinks.

What a Great Message in this Song!

2009-08-12T05:40:00.001-06:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCg994AA-ug

A Testimony of Grace

2009-08-11T08:56:00.003-06:00

I just want to rejoice and praise the Lord for my salvation. I was a lost, Church member, who had joined a liberal, Methodist Church as a child. My family left that Church, due to it's liberalism, and we joined the Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, TN while Dr. Adrian Rogers was the Pastor. I got baptised there. I said the answers that they expected, and got dunked. As a teenager, I began to chase after sinful pleasures. I was a hedonist. I lived for fun. I plunged into sin headfirst, and the decent into sin and depravity began.

When I was 19 years old, under deep conviction, I went out and partied with my friends, as I always did. I was so drunk on Jack Daniels that I couldn't stand up. And, there, on the parking lot of a local cafe in Bolivar, TN, the Lord, who had been chasing after me, caught me. And, He saved me. I looked up into the night sky, laying there flat on my back, and I cried out to God to forgive me. I surrendered my heart to Him that night. And, the Lord saved me and sobered me up and changed my life forever that night. He gave me life. Me, a low down, rotten, unworthy, lowlife, good for nothing sinner like me. He saved me, and He graciously gave me life.

I rejoice today, and I want to praise Him.

Real Revival Needed in Our Churches

2009-07-28T09:54:00.001-06:00

Folks, revival is more than just a bunch of meetings. I believe yall know that. Revival is when God’s people, Christians, get revived. They love the Lord more, obey God more, hate sin more, fight the Devil more, worship the Lord from their hearts more, love the Word of God more, love each other more, share their faith more; and they become more concerned with God’s glory than with their own, selfish, self centered thoughts and feelings. Revival is when God’s people repent of sins, even secret sins, private sins…that no one but the person and God know about. Revival is when people gain a fresh fire in their soul. It’s when people have a fresh wind blow over their hearts. It’s when God does a cleansing, filling work in the hearts of His people.

God, Father, give us revival in our Churches. Let it begin in the Pastors. May it sweep like a wildfire over the congregation. May it spread out from the walls of ours building to all the area and the surrounding communites. O, Lord, we need Your fresh wind and fire to sweep over us. There is so much worldliness and fleshly living going on. There is so much sin abounding in and outside of the Church. O, Lord, let your fire fall! May Your precious Holy Spirit do His amazing, penetrating work in the hearts and souls of Your people. And, Father, give us souls! In the name of Jesus, we pray….amen.

The Quest for Relevance

2009-07-24T13:26:00.003-06:00

Maybe this is where the quest for relevance will lead the SBC to go, one day, in the future. Some want to be relevant at almost any costs, or just about wherever it may take us. I sure hope we never go the way that's shown in the link.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article6723911.ece

Payday Someday...Dr. Robert G. Lee

2009-07-23T14:16:00.002-06:00

Here's a little gem that will bless you. Listen to the famous old Pastor of the Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, TN. Watch him in his famous, trademark, white suit preach a great message. Just click on the link below.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNoMuCspTKE

You will be glad that you listened and watched this.

Another Message to Warm Your Heart and Soul

2009-07-21T19:21:00.004-06:00

Listen....let this sink in deeply... click on the link below...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxBtF-U0DJ4

May God light the fires in our hearts....

Great Message!!!

2009-07-20T08:55:00.002-06:00

Everyone really, really, really needs to hear this message.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6A6lWl_XzKA

This one really says it like it is.

Kate and Jon...An Indicator of the Heart of Man

2009-07-19T08:17:00.003-06:00

Our world seems to be excited over something that we should all be saddened over. My heart grieves when I hear about people going thru a divorce. My heart aches over the troubles that this is going to cause the two people going thru the divorce, and for what it's going to put all the people who know and love them thru. My heart really aches over the children that may be involved.

So, why does the world seem to be enthralled over the divorce of celebs? Why do they love to see it and read about it? Why do they seem excited to take sides, as this link: http://www.popeater.com/television/article/jon-gosselin-engaged/572526?icid=mainhp-desktopdl7link4http%3A%2F%2Fwww.popeater.com%2Ftelevision%2Farticle%2Fjon-gosselin-engaged%2F572526 ...shows that they are being encouraged to do? I believe it just shows us the sinful heart of man. Once again, we are given a real life example of the darkness of the human heart that has not had the light of Jesus to shine into it. They love darkness. They love sin. They love to see others hurting. They even make a game out of it.

Does this disturb you, as it does me? We should be praying for Jon and Kate, instead of taking sides. We should be concerned over the welfare of those precious children, rather than be taking polls about it. This is sad.

Dr. Robert G. Lee on Liquor

2009-07-15T14:10:00.000-06:00

Robert G. Lee, that great, former Pastor of the Bellevue Baptist Church of Memphis, was on an airplane one time. The stewardess asked him if he would like some liquor to drink. Dr. Lee looked at the young lady and said,”Ma’am, do I look like a fool to you?” The stewardess replied,”Why, no sir, you don’t.” To which, Dr. Lee said,”Then why would you offer me liquor to drink?”

lol.

God give us more Dr. R. G. Lee’s.

Does Our World Value Human Life? Look at the Children...

2009-07-13T08:53:00.003-06:00

Does our world value human life? For the most part, I don't believe that it does. I was given some facts from Compassion, a group that seeks to help raise children from poverty. I'm not advocating Compassion here. I don't know much about them, and my Church gives to help with world hunger thru the SBC. Also, my Church supports the Tennessee Baptist Children's Homes. We also collect people's loose, pocket change in a big water jug in order to give to SB missionaries to build wells so that people can have clean water. So, I'm definitely not promoting the group "Compassion" here. SB's have much going on to help the poor and needy of the world, and thus help children; doing all of it in such a way as to promote the true Gospel. But, Compassion has collected some facts about children around the world that should concern all of us, and I believe it shows that a lot of people in our world today do not value human life.

Compassion states that 300 million children worldwide are subjected to violence, exploitation, and abuse.

More than 2 million children have died as a direct result of armed conflict in the 1990's. More than three times that many have been permanently disabled, or seriously injured. And, more than 1 million children have been orphaned or separated from their families.

An estimated 130 million of the world's 15-24 year olds cannot read, nor write.

Malaria kills approximately 1 million children per year.

One person in seven goes to bed hungry every day.

Each night more than 300 million children go to bed hungry.

Every day, 12,000 children die from hunger-related causes.

More than 4.4 million children die from malnutrition each year.

More than 10 million children under the age of 5 die each year. Two-thirds of these deaths- more than 6 million deaths every year-are preventable.

An estimated 246 million children are engaged in child labor.

About 211 million children between ages 5-11 can be found working.

Globally, one in six children work.

Worldwide, 126 million children work in hazardous conditions.

Every year more than 1 million children get pulled into the sex trade.

An estimated 8.4 million children work under horrific circumstances: forced into debt bondage or other forms of slavery, prostitution, pornography, armed conflict or other illicit activities.

Have you heard enough? Cant stand to hear anymore? Please read on. You must read on!

Diarrhea kills an estimated 1.6 million each year, caused mainly by unsafe water and poor sanitation.

Every 14 seconds a child is orphaned by AIDS.

About 2.6 million people in the world do not have access to adequate sanitation.

Roughly one-sixth of the world's population, or 1.1 billion people, do not have access to safe water.

Water-related disease is the second biggest killer of children worldwide, after acute respiratory infections such as tuberculosis.

Have you read enough? Does your heart ache? Are the tears flowing? Do you feel like crying out to God?

I dare say that our world does not have compassion, and it does not value human life. With all that you have just read that children have to go thru, along with all the abortions that are done each year, along with all the murders that take place in our world, shows me that the world does not value human life. Oh, they may talk about it a little bit. But, do they really value human life like God expects us to value human life? No. That's the answer. No. They don't.

Thank God for all of you out there who give to help children. Thank God for all of you who adopt children from the USA and from other parts of the world. Thank God for all the people who work at places like the TN Baptist Children's Homes, who deal with abused and neglected children every day. And, sometimes it's abuse that nightmares are made of. Thank God for all of you and all that you do to help the children. Thank God for all of you faithful parents who take care of their children, and who give them love.

Thank You, Father, for being the Heavenly Father that You are...for loving Your children like you do...for caring for the children of the world...for inspiring us to make a difference in this sin infected world that depravity has done so much damage to. Help us, Father, to make more of a difference.

Amen?

Perspective Makes All the Difference in the World

2009-07-08T08:12:00.001-06:00

I was reading Max Lucado’s book this morning “The Cure for a Common Life,” and he said something that got me to thinking. He said that stats show that one third of all Americans HATE their jobs; two thirds believe that they are in the wrong job; even “successful” people are not satisfied with their jobs; a large percentage of suicides happen on Sunday nights; and a large percentage of heart attacks happen on Monday mornings. He went on to talk about how Christians should look upon their jobs with a different attitude.

You see, a Christian should work at his job as unto the Lord. We should do what we do as service to our King. You should look upon your job as your calling in life. The place that the Lord has put you…to use you there. You should type those forms for the glory of God. You should change those diapers in obedience to the Savior. You should look at the desk as your station for serving the Lord Jesus. You should handle that press at the factory as if the Lord Jesus were your manager….because He is. You should wash those dishes as if you were doing sacred service, because you are….when it’s done unto the Lord…for His glory. You should see those tables that you’re waiting on as fulfilling the call of God upon your life…because it is. That’s where the Lord has you. Shine in your place of service to Christ. Grow and bloom in the place where the Lord has planted you. “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men, knowing that of the Lord you shall receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.” Colossians 3:23-24

Kings?

2009-07-07T08:59:00.003-06:00

With all the talk of the King of Pop being laid to rest today, and with all the comparisons of him with the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis, and whoever else our world might be calling a king; I just want to remind everyone out there that the Lord Jesus is the King of kings. The Lord Jesus is the only One worthy to be praised as well...but, our world still wants to praise men. And, while the bodies of these so-called kings are laying in graves, the body of the King of kings is not in a grave. He is risen in all of His glory.

Hallelujah! Lord, open the eyes of the lost crowd to see your glory.

This was too good to not show yall

2009-07-02T14:02:00.000-06:00

My Concerns with what the GCR Could Lead Us To

2009-07-02T10:57:00.003-06:00

First of all, I voted for the task force to study the SBC. I am not agaisnst the GCR. I am very much for a true GCR. But, I have had some people ask me what my concern with the GCR is? Why am I concerned about a document such as this? What do you think that it will do…that’s so bad? Or, what it could lead to?

Well, my concern is that the GCR could lead to us joining with certain groups to start Churches and do missions that I could never feel good about. I do not want to start Churches that have Pastors preaching on “The 6 Different Positions of Satisfying Sex,” and then telling their people that on their way out the door that each couple will receive the video by Darryl “Boom Boom” Fannah called “Darryl’s Illustrative How To’s of Enjoyable Sex.” And, then they are also told that sex toys will be available in the lobby for them to purchase.I also don’t want to start Churches with Pastors who get into the pulpit and say,”Well, Da_ _ it, I’m mad as h_ll at the Devil, and I’m tired of his sh_t!” I don’t want to start Churches, nor support missionaries, who are drinking a Bud Lite while preaching. I don’t want to support missionaries and start Churches with people who start off their worship services with AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell,” or with Foreigners “It Feels Like the First Time.”

Those are my concerns. And, just in case you think that I’m overstating my argument here…that I’m exaggerating..well, I’m not. These types of scenarios are already playing out amongst a certain set of people, and many SBC Pastors are backing them up! Things very similar to what I just said above are already happening in some unwise, fleshly Churches, and we have some SB Pastors and other Ministers backing this kind of thing up...saying that we should just look past some of this kind of stuff...that we should turn a blind eye to it. I don't think so.

I'm starting to believe that we have some Pastors and other Ministers out in SBC land that are semi-Antinomian. They are not truly Antinomian, but they are close to it. They call themselves conservative, Bible believing Christians, but they want to be hedonistic...yet, not too hedonistic. They don't want anyone to call them Antinomian, nor hedonistic; but they want to live as hedonistic as they can, or at least, be able to tell their people that they can be hedonistic. And, they are this way for many reasons, but one of the main reasons...seems to me...is to somehow be relevant to the culture. To fit in. To somehow reach the lost crowd by drinking with them, and by cussing with them, and by telling dirty jokes with them, etc. That seems to be the battle cry of the hedonistic crowd. They want to be looked upon as sound, Bible preaching Christians; yet to fit in with culture, they want to drink alcohol for pleasure; cuss in and out of the pulpit; deny the leadership of the husband in the home; accept women elders, or pastors; and there's a host of other things that we're told that we must believe and practice if...if....if we don't want to become irrelevant. If, if, if we want to reach the masses.

Well, I just believe that we should counter-cultural as Christians. We should be salt and light to this dark world that has many, many wounds. We should be gloriously, wonderfully different than the lost, heathen crowd. We should let them see people who are different and separate from the worldly bunch. We need to be something that they can flee to....to escape the depravity of the world...not become just like the worldy, lost crowd. When you look at the Christians in the book of Acts, they were different. They were gloriously changed. They stood out; not fit in. And, they turned the world upside down.

Now, I'm not talking about styles of music. I love praise choruses. I like Casting Crowns and Toby Mac. And, I'm not talking about starting Churches where the Pastor wears jeans and a t-shirt. I hate wearing ties, and I wear one as little as I can...as much as I can get away with in the "culture" that I'm living in at the moment. I'm not talking about hairstyles being different, or about having pews, or chairs, or any other thing that would be a matter of preference, or personal conviction. I'm talking about Pastors and other Ministers telling us that we have to get down and dirty in hedonism in order to reach a certain kind of crowd...namely the young people of today. Oh really? How does this square up with Scripture? It doesn't. I mean, are they telling us that we have to accept drinking alcohol, and women pastors, and egalitarianism in order to reach the young people. They are saying that we have to accept things like the gay agenda...to a certain point, and we have to accept the rants of Al Gore on the environment, and we have to cuss and tell dirty jokes in order to reach the young people. Really? Do we have to do all of this to stay relevant? to reach lost people? to grow our Churches? Really?

Funny me, I thought all along that we should preach the Gospel and trust the Holy Spirit to save people...even young people. I thought that holiness and the Lordship of Christ was important in us living lives that are pleasing to God. I thought that purity was important to God. I didn't know that all I had to do was cuss and tell dirty jokes in the pulpit and around town, and then the masses would adore me and join my Church. I didn't realize that all the young people out there were just waiting on me to drink with them at the local pub, and let their wife be the Assistant Pastor. And then, they would come pouring into my Church. I just didn't realize that I needed to have a little "Captain" in me, and drink liquor while I was worshipping, in order to grow a Church in these days.

Lord, help us.

Tired of SBC Bad Mouthing

2009-06-30T08:44:00.003-06:00

You know, I grow a little weary and just a little bit tired of all the bad mouthing of the SBC by some bloggers, and by some people in the SBC who will quote stats and polls, and then run down the SBC. I'm frankly tired of being spanked at conferences and seminars by the experts, who tell us that we aint baptising enough, and our Churches aint growing fast enough, and such as that. Are you?

I mean, when you look at the SBC...down thru out it's history...right up til this present day...has any other Church, or denomination, done more for spreading the Gospel to the world than we have? Has not the SBC sent more missionaries to North America and out to the world, than any other Church, or denomination, in the history of Christianity? And, even right now, do we not have more missionaries out there than any other Church or denomination? even telling some of our people who feel called to go to the world to hold on...we don't have enough money to send you all, yet? Is that not true?

So, why all the bad mouthing? Why do some people feel the need to run down the SBC?

The GCR and Blogging

2009-06-28T14:26:00.002-06:00

I made a statement at some of the other blogs that I read from time to time. At one of the blogs, I was told that I was being a smart aleck for saying such a thing. What do yall think? Does this sound like a smart aleck statement?

I said,"The Great Commission was started a lot longer ago than with Dr. Akin, or anyone else. I believe that it was started by the Lord Jesus. Southern Baptists have been trying to carry out this commission for a long, long time. More missionaries have come out of Southern Baptist Churches than any other denomination ever. Would that not be a fair statement to make?

After saying all of that…I truly hope that the GCR will result in us doing more for missions…to win more lost souls for Christ… to lead to more Churches being started for the glory of God…to advance the Kingdom of God even more…to see more people go to Heaven than what would have gone! That’s really what the Great Commission, and any resurgence in the Great Commission is/should be all about…to get more people saved."

What is so wrong with what I said? Can yall help me to understand this?
David

SBC...The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

2009-06-25T06:00:00.004-06:00

Well, the 2009 SBC is finally over. Overall, it was a very good meeting, and I'm glad that I attended it. I wanted to take this time to just give you all a little insight into it from my perspective.

THE GOOD:

Being with my family. My Mother went with my wife and me to the SBC this year. What a joy to spend so much time with her, and she had a blast! Also, my oldest son feels called into the ministry, and he's on part time staff at a Church near where I live. He came to the SBC with his Pastor. He also had a blast! BTW, don't tell the "Doom and Gloom" guys, but they are both young men...my son is 23 yrs old. They had a big time. It was his Pastor's first time to attend a SBC meeting, because this is the first Church that he's been a Pastor of that could afford to send him.

Seeing good friends and others was good...very good. I got to hang out with people like Peter, Wes, both Tim's(Rogers and Guthrie), Robin, Bart, Dr. Malcolm Yarnell, Dr. Emir Caner, Scott Gordon, Matt Brady, CB Scott, Nathan Lino, and others from the blog world. In fact, I also talked with people like Dr. Ergun Caner, Dwight McKissic, Chris Wilson, DR Randle, Tom Ascol, David Brumbelow, Steve Gaines, and others. I also had the great joy of meeting Steve Grose....that's right...the man from down under was at the SBC! Also, I saw Chadwick Ivester from a distance, but was unable to talk to him....I regret that. I also saw Wade Burleson from a distance.

I met Dr. Jerry Vines at the book signing thing at Lifeway's big booth. To my shock and surprise, when I said,"Hi, Dr. Vines, I just wanted to say hi and shake your hand. My name is David Worley." He said, "David Worley, Volfan007. I read your blog and comments." I like to have fell off of my feet. Dr. Vines reads what I write, and he was smiling!

Also, in the lobby of my hotel, I was talking to Nathan Lino's father....David Lino....and a man was standing beside him. I was checking out to go home, so I had my jeans and my Tennessee Volunteer shirt on... a very pretty orange pullover, polo type shirt with a huge, white, power T on it. The man standing next to David Lino commented on the great shirt, and then he introduced himself. He was Alan Duncan!!!!! Alan Duncan, who used to kick for the TN Vols a long time ago...well, not that long ago. But, it was Alan Duncan!!! I shook his hand several times...thanked him for all the field goals he kicked for the Vols. Then, I thought how jealous my Dad was gonna be when I told him that I met Alan Duncan.

There was some good preaching at the SBC...not all of it was really good, but some of it was. David Platt brought it on Wednesday morning. I enjoyed hearing Francis Chan and Fred Luter and some others. I miss the days of Dr. Criswell preaching on things like the atonement, or Dr. Rogers preaching on the Second Coming. I guess what I'm about to say should go in the bad, but I really don't like to hear sermons on "H0w to Grow Your Church," or "Here's my Thoughts and Feelings on the Church, or on the SBC" type of stuff. You know, some guy standing up there giving us his feelings and quoting stats about the SBC, or about "Five Ways to Make Your People Feel Welcome," shallow type stuff. I would love to hear people preach the Bible and lift up Jesus at our Pastor Conferences and SBC meetings.

We went to the Creation Museum. Tremendous. Any time you are going anywhere near Cincinnati, Ohio...go to the Creation Museum. It's worth every penny and the time it takes. What a blessing! But, watch out for the Adam and Eve scenes....they are a little racy. :) Not Driscoll racy, but normal racy! :)

It was great to see all the young people at the SBC this year. I'll bet that 30% to40% of the crowd was under 40, and I saw many, many people under 30 there as well. That was great.

The registered messenger total went over 8,700. I didn't get the exact figure, but this was a good crowd considering everything like Johnny Hunt was a shoo in for a second term; nothing very controversial was coming up; and the economy.

The food here was ok. It wasn't the greatest. Sorry Louisville.

THE BAD:

The clear agenda that was going on thru the Pastor's Conference and thru out the SBC of trying to persuade people to get behind the GRC. It was talked about by almost every preacher, and it was mentioned often at every turn in the bend. I voted for the GRC...reluctantly, and I say reluctantly because I don't know where they're going with this...what the particulars are. If they mean by the GCR to streamline and find things to tweak and change that will help us get more money and people to the mission field, then I'm all for it. But, if they mean things like joining with the Acts 29 network, or with the Assembly of God folks, or with paedobaptism types, then I will be voting against what the task force comes back with. If the task force group comes back with good changes and streamlining and such, then I will happily vote for it. But, after saying all of that....I really wish that the SBC had not turned into a propaganda movement to persuade the masses to go along with the GRC. I would have like to have heard just good ole, Bible preaching and teaching, instead.

Getting out late from the meetings and having to fight the crowds to try to get somewhere to eat lunch or supper, and then try to get back to the Expo Center before you miss important voting times. They try to put too much into one day, and they expect us to fight with big crowds and eat and get back in too short of a time. Not all of us can walk to our hotels, or to waiting lunch's and dinners inside of the Expo Center. We have to actually wait in lines....long lines...to catch shuttle buses, or to get out of the parking lot, or be put on waiting lists at the Cracker Barrel. And, the vendors inside the Expo Center...well, the lines were long. So, it's not as easy for all of us peons to go somewhere...eat...and get back. Give us more time...please. Don't show so many videos, and make people cut down on their reports; and give us more time.

THE UGLY:

Bart Barbar's nomination to be on the board of SWBTS was challenged from the floor. This was not only shameful, it was embarrassing. Thankfully, it was soundly defeated...probably by a 4 or 5 to 1 margin.

Well, there's my thoughts from the SBC. There is much, much more that I could write, and that I might write sometime; but this is enough for now. I just got home, and I'm really tired.

Salvation

2009-06-21T09:35:00.002-06:00

Every person is lost and in need of a Savior...the Savior. Every person is born with a sin nature. In fact, people are born dead in their sins. We are sinners by nature and by choice.

Romans 3:10
Romans 3:23

Our sins have separated us from God, and the end result of our sinfulness will be punishment in Hell forever.

Isaiah 59:2
Romans 6:23a

But, God loved us so much that He made a way for us to be saved! He worked it out so that we could be saved from our sins and from Hell, and be saved to know Him in a personal way...to be saved and go to Heaven when we die....to live forever.

John 3:16
Romans 5:8

Salvation is a gift of God. No man deserves it. No man can earn it. Being good enough wont get you saved. Being baptised wont get you saved. Joining a Church wont get you saved. Being a good, little Sunday School boy, or girl wont get you to Heaven. Salvation is a gift from God.

Ephesians 2:8-9
Romans 6:23b

So, how do we receive this wonderful gift from God? How can we be saved? By calling on the Lord in faith...with the humility of a child...to save us! We are saved by putting our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ...that He died in our place on the cross...and, that He rose again from the grave. We put our faith in Jesus in such a way that we surrender to the Lord Jesus as our Lord, our Master, our Boss. This is saving faith.

Romans 10:9-10
Acts 20:20-21

Hallelujah, what a Savior!

If you have never surrendered your heart and life to the Lord Jesus in faith, then do so today! Right now! Turn to Jesus with all your heart, and turn from your sins, and put your trust completely in Jesus to forgive your sins and take you to Heaven. Turn to the Lord Jesus today!

The SBC Draweth Nigh

2009-06-16T07:28:00.004-06:00

Well, it's almost time for the SBC in Louisville. It always makes us Southerners a little nervous when we travel out of the country, and go up into Yankee land. But, Louisville's not so bad. They're nearly in the South.

Well, what do yall expect to happen in the SBC this year? Any surprises coming? Here's a few things that I expect....

1. The "younger crowd" wont turn out to well. They never have, so why should we expect them to now?

2. We will hear that the "younger crowd" is leaving the SBC at least 1,004 times.

3. We will hear that we've got to leave the "1950's model of doing Church" at least 848 times.

4. We will hear some smart aleck remark from some yay hoo who thinks that he's really cute and funny about all the fat preachers at the SBC. And, some joke about all the chickens who gave their lives for the SBC, or something else like that.

5. Out in the halls, someone will be moaning and groaning about the "legalistic, landmarkist, fundamentalists" who are trying to take over the SBC. Wiley Drake's name will be mentioned as well.

6. The GCR will be talked about....a lot, and it will be debated. It will end up in a committee to study it..

7. Wes Kenney's car will break down somewhere near Louisville...not in Louisville, but somewhere outside of Louisville.

8. Bart Barbers's children will ask, "Are we there, yet?" 56 times on the way to Louisville.

9. A group of alcohol drinking Pastors will bring in a 6 pack and drink it in the food court just to put this issue in your face...up close and personal...to dare anyone to say anything about drinking so they can call you a legalistic semi-Pelagian.

10. Broadway Baptist out of Texas will be put out of the SBC amidst shouts of "This aint Baptist. This goes against the autonomy of the Church. This goes against the Priesthood of the Believer. This is mean spirited, etc."

11. The Founders will meet for their annual breakfast. The food will be terrible, the A/C wont work, a baby will be screaming and crying in the distance and wont shut up, and someone will be heard saying as they're leaving, "Well, Thank God that's finally over."

Decline in the SBC? What's Really Going On....

2009-06-13T07:06:00.011-06:00

I'd like to ask yall to read these articles and comment on them.

http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=30656&ref=BPNews-RSSFeed0610

http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=30662&ref=BPNews-RSSFeed0611

Let's discuss these articles. These articles say what I've been suspecting for a long time.

David

Classic Bluegrass Song from my Homeland

2009-06-10T17:43:00.005-06:00

Here's a song that yall need to hear. It'll hit your funny bone, and you'll be tapping your foot before it's done.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbIdJDrbpmQ

I hoped you liked it.

David

Pastor, or Chaplain? Pastor, or Counselor? What are People Thinking?

2009-06-10T09:04:00.003-06:00

I want to ask all of you a question. I would really like to hear what yall think about this? It's something that I've been thinking about for many years, but moreso in the last few years. So, I would really appreciate all of your input.

Well, here goes. Do people in most Churches today have a warped, skewed view of what a Pastor is and what he should be doing? I mean, what I'm picking up from conversations about Pastors from other Churches from their members while out around town, and what I hear people saying in Bible study groups when the topic of a Pastor comes up, and from hearing people talk about former Pastors of the Churches that I have pastored; I'm hearing things that just sound foreign to me about being a Biblical Pastor.

From the things I've heard, it seems that a lot of people want an Oprah Winfrey, chaplain type of Pastor, who has oratory skills. They want somebody who will visit the hospitals and funeral homes. And, on Sunday, he should be able to soothe their hurts and ease their troubled minds with a sermon that calms them down, or else it will help them have a better marriage, or it will help them make friends and be able to keep them. Their idea is that a Pastor ought to be nice, friendly grandfather type, who never gets angry. He should always be tolerant to the nth degree of everything and everybody. And, he shouldn't be yelling at ballgames, nor should he ever get upset that his food is cold at a restaurant. He should be listening to hymns on his car radio....never should he be listening to country music, or jamming with Lynyrd Skynyrd. He should just be this mild mannered, well dressed, professional acting, soft spoken, helpful, calm man.

On the other hand, we also have some people out there, in some other Churches, who seem to have the idea that the Pastor should be a CEO running the business. He should be a motivator and innovator to get the Church going. To them, getting the Church going means that they are growing numerically and financially. So, he should be able to run the ship, as well as some of the other things that I mentioned in the paragraph above. And, if the Church is not growing numerically, or if it's not expanding, then somethings wrong with this guy. We need to get rid of this CEO and get a new one.

But, are these views really what a Pastor ought to be according to the Bible? Is a true, Scriptural Pastor a completely foreign idea to the Churches of today? especially in the USA? especially in the South? What do yall think?

Church: A Place Where a Cold Beer Can Provide Relief From the Heat

2009-06-08T08:12:00.003-06:00

Is this where some of the "young, emerging, Southern Baptists" want the SBC to go? Is this the direction that will save the SBC from growing old and dying...as the battle cry from ecumenical, evangelical crowd often uses? Read this post from Kevin Bussey and maybe you'll be scratching your head like I am mine.

In this post, we're told that the people who attend can have a cold beer while the preacher is speaking. Wouldn't that be a grand sight? Seeing your congregation lifting a Bud Lite...we don't want to get too heavy...while singing "More Love, More Power?" Wouldn't that be an uplifting, inspiring thing to see barely legal Church members showing their ID cards...so that they can buy a Miller Lite before the worship gets started? And, will the bartender cut them off when they've had too much? I mean, God forbid that they should drive home under the influence? Oh, what if they got pulled over by the cops for DUI on their way home from Church? Egads!

I think that some people in the SBC are losing their minds just a little bit.

Here's the link:

http://kevinbussey.com/2009/06/08/brew-pub-hosts-church/

Well, I'm not putting in a bar, nor opening a still, in my Church foyer any time soon. You?

Say Something Nice or Tell the Truth?

2009-06-06T07:34:00.004-06:00

There's some talk going on about a South Carolina Baptist Church having a "Say Something Nice Sunday." Some people are just thrilled about this. They think that it's a great idea, and that it could solve the problems of marital problems, conflicts, and world peace; or something close to that. So, they are joining in.

Other people have a problem with this. The problem they have with it, is the way this "Nice Sunday" is worded. It almost comes across as saying that things like sin, judgement, hell, and anything else that could be perceived as being negative should not be talked about on this Sunday. There are some people that have a big problem with this kind of thinking. They feel that this flies in the face of preaching like the Lord would want a good, sound, Bible preacher to do.

First of all, why do we need a "Say Something Nice" Sunday? What's the point? Be nice one day a year! This almost makes these Churches who participate sound like this is the only day that they will be nice. And, this almost makes these participating Churches look like an Oprah Winfrey, Joel Osteen, beauty pageant place. I mean, be nice? What about being holy? truthful? pure? loving? Please don't misunderstand. I'm a big fan of being nice. I do believe that Christians should always speak the truth in love. Our speech should be seasoned with grace. We should treat others like we would want to be treated. And, this ought to be every day of the year....not just for one Sunday. And, this goes beyond being nice. It means being godly and holy and loving.

Secondly, I know that I got saved because I felt guilty over my sins. I knew that I was a sinner, who was guilty before a holy God. It wasn't because of anyone being "nice" to me. I came under conviction because of my sins...because I knew that I was a sinner. That's something negative. This negative thing led me to salvation.

So, in some pulpits across Southern Baptist land on a certain Sunday, only "nice" things will be talked about. Maybe they will preach on the beauty of a sunrise. Maybe they will be preaching on "I'm Ok. You're Ok. And, Papa Loves Everyone." Maybe they will be preaching on being positive in a negative world. They can call Joel Osteen for a copy of his notes for this one.

So, I will not be participating in this "Say Something Nice Sunday." I try to say something nice everyday, for one thing. Also, I plan on preaching the truth of God's Word on that Sunday, and I will preach whatever needs to be said...whether positive or negative. I also plan on preaching the Gospel on that Sunday. I always try to mention the Gospel in some way during a sermon, or at the end of a sermon. The Gospel ain't "nice." It's true. Also, I'm more concerned with people coming under conviction of sin, than I am with them being "nice."

Yall have a nice day, now....ya hear?

Everyone Needs to Read This New Post by John Mann

2009-06-03T07:51:00.001-06:00

This is an excellent post on what is happening in the SBC. I hope that you will read it, and feel free to comment here on this post. I dont know if John will come here to respond, or not, but I will respond as much as I can. Here's the link:

http://sbctoday.com/

Heart Problems...The Root Cause of What Ails Most Churches

2009-05-29T10:04:00.002-06:00

Sometimes we preachers think about things like, why don’t more people attend Church more? And, I’m talking about people who claim to be Christians and members of your Church. Why is Church attendance so low on their list of priorities for the week? And, why do so many Church members not serve the Lord in His Church? Why do more not talk about Jesus out there in the world? Why don’t they witness more? Why don’t more people, who claim to be Christians and members of Bethel, not come to Sunday School? DT? I ponder these things from time to time.

Well, several conversations and an article in the TN Baptist state paper, The Baptist and Reflector, reminded me of the “why?” They helped to reinforce in my mind that it’s a problem of the heart. It’s a heart problem. When a person loves the Lord, then they will want to come to Church as much as they possibly can. If they don’t hardly ever want to come to Church, or barely make it on Sunday mornings, then it shows that their love for Jesus has grown cold. If a person that’s a Christian doesn’t want to serve the Lord, then they must have a heart problem. Christians, who are in love with Jesus, will want to work for their Lord. And, they will talk about Jesus out in the world, when they’re in love with Jesus as they ought to be.

And, the solution to this heart problem is not dead, dry legalism. You know, where you try to make people come to Sunday School thru guilt and shame, or by hounding them to do something that they just really don’t want to do. I’m talking about those people, who think that they can make people come to Church more. Well, that doesn’t do a whole lot of good anyway. But, there are some people out there, who think that you can force people to come to Church, or to Sunday School, or to DT. That somehow, we can make people do things for God. But, what good is that? That’s no solution to a heart problem. All that does is lead to self-righteousness and pride and an overly critical spirit. This was the spirit of the Pharisees.

And, some people think that we have to have new, exciting programs and events, in order to lure people in. They think that Madison Ave., advertising techniques and Hollywood flash will make people like Church. Yea, that’ll get them to come to Church, Sunday School, etc. If we just have newer, shinier, better, more attractive programs, or events, or whatever. But, this is not a solution to a heart problem. No dog and pony show will solve it.

No, the solution to the heart problem is for people to get their hearts right with God. Fall in love with Jesus. Live for Jesus. And, the rest will take care of itself. Are you walking with God? Do you love Jesus? Does it show in your lifestyle? In your Church attendance? In your witness? In your service for God?

We all need a squirrel every now and then....

2009-05-27T08:13:00.001-06:00

http://travisab1.multiply.com/video/item/73/The_Mississippi_Squirrel_Revival.flv

David

Always Remember...

2009-05-25T07:59:00.001-06:00

On this Memorial Day, I give you this.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEjz-wAQLSA

Giving or Going?

2009-05-21T08:31:00.001-06:00

You know, I heard something that truly saddened my heart the other day. I know some of yall keep saying that we shouldn't emphasize giving to missions, but that we should go...BUT, what about the career missionaries who are out there serving, who are depending on us? I just heard of a family that were doing the 2 years thing, with the option of going career at the end of that two years. The man quit a good paying job. They sold their house. They went to the mission field with every intention of becoming career missionaries after the 2 year deal. They are being called home now, after just one year on the field, due to the economy. Here, we have a family quitting their job...selling their house....and going. But now, they will have to come home due to the economy.
Also, here in my state, we have the TN Baptist Children's Homes. They had to lay off 14 people not too long ago...due to the economy. 14 people who were committed to working with neglected and abused children! And, the Children's Home had to back off of their plans to expand into the NE corner of TN as well. Had to back off of ministering to more abused and neglected children. If I'm not mistaken, I believe they have 125 children on a waiting list...children who need to come to the Children's Home...but they cant come.....due to the economy and the lack of giving of the Churches.
This is sad. This is what happens when Churches don't give to the CP, and they don't give to Lottie Moon Offering, Annie, etc. I mean, yes, more people from the Churches should go to the mission field. But, should we neglect the career missionaries, who are staying on the field for years, rather than just one or two weeks a year? Should we neglect the people, who are committed to working with troubled children, in order to go on a mission trip once or twice a year...for a week? When they are devoting their lives to the mission field?
I hope that this trend to lower CP giving and giving to the mission offerings will stop. Career missionaries and committed workers for the Lord are suffering from it.

SB Average Joe's and Rednecks Slogans

2009-05-21T08:06:00.003-06:00

Joe White has inspired me to add some theme slogans to the agenda of the SBAJAR's(Southern Baptist Average Joe's and Rednecks) concerning environmental issues. Here they are:

1) SB's need to emphasize planting Churches over planting trees.

2) The Lord has commanded us to fish, not clean the fishbowl.

Can yall help me add to this list of slogans?

Resolution on the Environment and Climate Change

2009-05-20T12:40:00.009-06:00

Whereas the Lord Jesus Christ will return one day and do away with sin; and
Whereas the Lord Jesus will make the climate just right after He returns and makes this Earth new; and
Whereas the Lord Jesus will cause the lion to lay down with the lamb, and the animals will live in a perfect environment after the Lord makes all things new; and
Whereas in Heaven we will need no cars, nor airplanes, nor factories and will not have to deal with pollution of any sort; and
Whereas in Heaven we will have plenty of food to eat, and really don't even need food; and
Whereas the lost will experience real climate change, real global warming in the most extreme degree;

be it therefore resolved that we should emphasize Church planting over tree planting; finding good cuts of meat over saving the whales; winning souls to keep them from the real global warming, rather than wasting time trying to get the temperature down on the Earth;

be it further resolved that we depend on the Bible's teachings on the end times where the Earth is still here; people are still living as they always have; and that the Lord will straighten it all out in the Day of the Lord;

and be it further resolved that we don't want any cooperative program dollars going to environmental and climate change issues.

Could this be next on the SB Environmetalists hitlist?

2009-05-19T07:11:00.001-06:00

No way...no how....but, this may be where SB environmentalists want us to go...take a look...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2kAYIjR1q0

David

Calvinist and Arminian Witnessing Displayed

2009-05-15T06:58:00.004-06:00

First of all, here's the Calvinist witnessing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1ckoCBtXvU

Secondly, here's the Arminian witnessing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFG19iMkrVs

Enjoy,

David

Southern Baptist Environmentalists Initiate New Worship Training

2009-05-13T07:55:00.009-06:00

Below is a link reported to be a worship training session that SB Environmentalists want us to start implementing in our Churches right away. They say that it's important that we do this in order to a)reach the younger crowd; b)fit into the culture of our day; and c)to be more Earth friendly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElJFYwRtrH4

:)

The Sneak Attack

2009-05-13T07:43:00.003-06:00

The Sneak Attack
Jude 3-4

Now, there’s no doubt that apostates are destructive, and they tear up churches, and schools, and denominations. In fact, out of the first one hundred colleges that were founded in America, eighty-eight of them were started to help spread the Gospel. I mean, they were truly Christian institutions. It’s like with Harvard University. It was founded in 1636; and back then, they had three basic rules for their students.

One was that everyone was to consider it the main end of his studies to know God and eternal life through Jesus Christ. The second one was that every student should seek wisdom from God through prayer since God gave wisdom. And thirdly, everyone was to so exercise himself in the reading of the Scriptures, twice a day, so as to be able to give an answer for his faith.
So, the aim of Harvard, back then, was to lead its students to Christ, and to lead them to be spiritually mature people.

Also, the first President of Princeton once said, “Cursed be all learning that is contrary to the cross of Christ.” But, do you think that the Presidents of these two, fine, liberal universities would say that today? Not likely! Could you find many secular universities that would have these three basic rules? What has happened to these schools, and to some of the Churches and denominations of our day, which have lost their spiritual minds, and have no heart for the Lord? Well, let’s look at how the sneak attacks of the Devil have got them, and how we can fight them off.

I. The Importance of Fighting for the Faith, (Jude 3).

Now, Jude said that he had wanted to write to the Churches about the salvation that we all share in. I mean, it would’ve been nice, and assuring, and comforting for him to have written about our great salvation that God gave to us all. He would have liked that.

But, it was needful for him to write to the Churches about the apostasy that was already slipping into the Churches, and that would come in later. Now, this word “needful” in the Greek means “necessity,” and it carries with it the idea of a compulsion. So, God laid it strongly on Jude’s heart to write about apostasy. In other words, it was very important to God that this message get out to the Church.

In fact, it was so important for the Church of God to know about apostasy that Jude exhorted them to contend for the faith. And, this word “exhort” is what a leader does to encourage people to follow him. It’s what soldiers do to urge each other on in the heat of battle. And, it’s the word that describes what a Captain might do in trying to get his timid and hesitant sailors to fight with courage and confidence. So, Jude was urging and beseeching the Church to contend for the faith.

Now, what did he exhort them to do? What was so important for the Church to do? What? To contend for the faith; to earnestly contend for the faith. This word “contend” in the Greek mean to “struggle for,” or “ to exercise great effort and exertion for something.” It’s a word that you would think of when the Tennessee Volunteers are playing the Alabama Crimson Tide on the third Saturday in October. And, the Big Orange rolls on the Tide. Amen? But anyway, Jude urged them to struggle hard of for the faith.

And, the faith that we’re exhorted to struggle to reserve is not our faith. That’s not what James said. Listen, our faith in Jesus is secure, once we’re truly saved. But instead, it was the faith that we’re told to fight hard to keep, and the faith is the Gospel, and all the clear teachings and truths of the New Testament, which was given to the Apostles. In other words, Jude was saying that we should hold to the teachings which the Apostles gave to us in the books of the New Testament.

So, our Churches are to be Churches that fit the New Testament, and our lives should line up with the New Testament as well. Listen, the New Testament is our standard and guide for what our Churches should be, and for what should be taught and preached from the pulpits. Our Churches are to be New Testament Churches, and we should strive to keep it that way.

But also, notice that Jude said that these truths were given to the Apostles once, and this word “once” means “once and for all.” So, there can’t be anymore added to it, or taken away. Folks, we have God’s Word and God’s will for the Church given to us here in our New Testaments.

So, we don’t need Joseph Smith’s book of Mormon; and we don’t need the Jehovah’s Witnesses Watchtower; and we don’t need the Pope speaking extra revelation from God; and we don’t even need some of these so-called prophets on T.V. telling us that God told them this, and God told them to tell us that. My friends, we have God’s Word right here, given by God to the Apostles, once and for all.

Now then, let me just say that there are people out there, even some well meaning, Christian people, who say that the Church shouldn’t be so concerned about doctrines, and what’s true, and what’s not; but instead, we ought to just love each other and be tolerant of other’s views. And, there are some people, who say that God is not really concerned about what you believe about the virgin birth; or about whether the resurrection of Jesus was a real, physical resurrection, or just a spiritual rising of the soul up to God. They say that these doctrinal things are not what’s important. Also, there are some people out there, who claim that it’s alright to not believe some parts of the Bible, and it’s okay to believe other parts that you do like and agree with.

But, God said that He wants us to contend with lies, and half-truths, and unsound doctrines. He wants us to stand for the truth, and contend for the faith.

You know, when I was a boy, my brother and I would build large, tall, toy buildings out of blocks. I mean, we’d build it like it was some sort of a temple, or something; and we would build it as tall as we could get it. Then, after it was all built, we’d start taking out the foundational blocks, the bottom ones, one by one; and we’d see how long the tower would stand. But, you know what? It wouldn’t take long before that big ole tower of a building would come crashing down, destroyed.

And, it’s the same way with Christianity. If we let someone take away a foundational truth like the virgin birth, and then we let someone else take away the fact that Jesus is the only way to Heaven, or if any one of the foundational truths of Christianity are taken away; then all of it will fall to the ground. And then, it’s nothing more than an empty religion, which is just what a lot of liberal Churches have; dead, dry religion. Folks, that’s why it’s so important to God for us to contend for the faith.

Therefore, if it’s that important to God, then it needs to be that important to us. I mean, boldly fighting for the faith with a loving heart, and with a humble spirit, is what God wants us to do. He wants us to take a stand on the foundational truths of the Gospel, and He wants us to hold on like a pit bulldog to the clear, black and white teachings of the Bible. And, as God’s people, people who know the truth, and who have been set free by it; we need to cling to the teachings of this holy book, which God gave to us through the Apostles. Folks, it’s important to fight for the faith, because it’s God Word to us on how to get saved, and on how to live a blessed life.

II. The Reason Why We have to Fight, (Jude 4).

Now, ever since the beginning of the Church, the Devil has tried to sneak unsaved people into the Church, who try to distort and twist God’s message. And really, if you want to go way back, in the Garden of Eden, this all began when the Devil said to Eve, “Did God really say…” Even in the Old Testament days of Israel; false prophets would arise from time to time, trying to lead the people astray. They would speak falsehoods.

But, these false Christians always want to be just Christian enough to be accepted by the Church, yet they depart drastically from the sound teachings of the Bible. Folks, they creep in, or slip into the Churches, and pretend to be one of us; when in reality, they’re lost and have very wrong, distorted views about the Bible.

In fact, these apostates were written about a long time ago in the Bible, and it warns us to watch out for these men and women who are condemned by God as lost and on their way to Hell. And, the Bible has warned God’s people throughout history to watch out for these heretics, who try to lead others to Hell with them.

Now, first of all, these apostates, or false teachers, were ungodly people, who would live in sin, while claiming to be a Christian; sometimes even a Christian teacher and Church leader. And, it says here that they would change the grace of god into lasciviousness, or unbridled living. In other words, they lived ungodly lives, and arrogantly explained it away as being alright. I mean, they taught things like: since we’re saved by grace, then our spirits can’t sin, but our bodies do. Therefore, it causes more of God’s grace to be upon us, as our body’s sin; because that way it takes more grace. Or else, they would teach that it’s alright to feed the body its evil desires, because the spirit cant sin; and they would spread such trash as that in the Church. And listen, we have some people around today, who get off into such hellish beliefs, and they always seem to want others to live in sin along with them. They sound very familiar to the apostates of old.

But also, secondly, these false teachers deny that Jesus is the one and only, true God. Now, if you ever want to measure whether a Bible teacher, or a Church, or a denomination is sound, or apostate; then this is the test to run to find out. Because, the Apostates deny that Jesus is God, and they deny that He is the Lord. They don’t teach loving faith and obedience to Jesus, the God of glory.

So you see, these ungodly people, who sneak into the Churches, need to be exposed by those of us that know the truth. After we’ve talked to them about it; and giving them a chance to repent; then we should expose them as false, if they insist on clinging to false teaching.

Now, this shouldn’t be a witch-hunt, where you brand everybody that disagrees with all of your legalistic views and your own, personal convictions as a liberal, or a heretic. I mean, there are many things that are unclear in the Bible, and left to the persons, or the Churches, own, personal convictions and preferences. Listen, there are many things that are unclear in the Bible that we can disagree on all day long, and still worship the Lord together, and serve God together; because it’s our own, personal preferences, rather than clear-cut teachings of Scripture. But, we do need to fight for the faith; to keep it pure; because the Devil is sure trying his best to destroy it from within. And, his sneak attacks are through spies that he sends into the Church to tear it apart; and most of the time, these spies don’t even know that they’re being used by the Devil. But God hates apostasy, and He condemns apostates for their sin.

In fact, do you want to see some verses that say a lot about this? That shows God’s heart and mind concerning these apostates? Well, look at Matthew 7:15, which says,” Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” And then, feast your eyeballs on this one in Galatians 1:8, “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” Galatians 2:4,” And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage…” Also, look at 2 Timothy 4:3-4,” For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” And then, one more, look at Titus 1:16, “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”

You know, when you have liberals in your seminaries, who say that believing in the literal, physical resurrection of Jesus is a stupid position to take; then we have to fight for the faith, as Southern Baptists did back in the Conservative Resurgence. Or, whenever we have a woman teaching men theology, and she calls God a woman, and believes in ordaining women as Pastors; then it’s time to fight for the faith, as Southern Baptists did in removing a woman like this from one of our seminaries in 1994.

And also, whey you have Mormons out there claiming that Jesus and the Devil are brothers, and that Adam is God the Father; then it’s time to contend for the faith. When you have Jehovah’s Witnesses out there claiming that Jesus is just a high-ranking angel, and is a created being; and that you have to work your way to Heaven; and they change the bible to fit their own way of thinking; then it’s time to fight for the faith. And folks, when you have the Benny Hinn’s, and the Paula White’s, and the Robert Tilton’s, and all the other health and wealth boys and gals out there claiming that God is a doctor and a Santa Claus, who will do our every wish and whim like an errand boy; then it’s time to contend for the faith.
Listen to me, folks, how many more people are going to die and split Hell wide open, all because they’re deceived by these false teachers, and in reality, by Satan, himself? How many are going to die and go to Hell under these destructive lies, until we wake up and realize that they need to see the truth? Because listen, they are not going to Heaven on a Satanic lie.

My friends, we have to fight for the faith, or else people will go to Hell. They will die, misled by the Devil, and plunge into Hell for all eternity; unless we help them see the truth.

And, also, we must fight for the faith, or else Satan will rob Christians of their joy and assurance, as they get off on some of these lies from the Devil. Because, these lies will take it all away from us, and leave us struggling in our Christian lives. Therefore, stand up for the truth. Folks, strive to know the truth and to promote it. The reason why we have to fight for the faith is because of the Devil’s sneak attacks, with ungodly people, upon the Church.

Dr. O.S. Hawkins, President of our SBC Guidestone, says that the way to defend the faith is to first of all, realize that it’s a command of God upon our lives to earnestly contend for the faith. Secondly, we must love the faith. Folks, to defend it, you’ve got to love it; and only saved people will really love it. Thirdly, Dr. Hawkins says that we should learn the faith. I mean, it’s hard to defend something that we know little, or nothing about; right? Amen? Fourthly, we should live by faith. Folks, our actions really do speak louder than our words. And then, fifthly, we should loose the faith, according to Dr. Hawkins. In other words, we should give it away to others. And that’s the way to defend the faith against the Devil.

There’s a story that is told about Dr. R.L. Scarborough, who was the second President of Southwestern Baptist Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. He wrote a book in 1922 that described the visit that he had with the founding President of the seminary, the great Dr. B.H. Carroll. Now, it seems that Dr. Carroll was on his deathbed, and =Dr. Scarborough went to see him. He said that Dr. Carroll looked forty feet tall as he raised himself up in the bed, and looked into Dr. Scarborough’s face, and he said, ”My boy, on this seminary hill, orthodoxy, the old truth, is making one of it’s last stands. I want to deliver to you a charge, and I do it in the blood of Jesus Christ. You will be elected the President of the seminary. I want you, if there ever comes heresy in your faculty, to take it to your faculty. If they don’t hear you, take it to the trustees. If they don’t hear you, take it to the convention that appointed them. If they won’t hear you, take it to the common Baptist. They will hear you.” And then, he concluded,” I charge you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to keep it lashed to the old Gospel of Jesus Christ.” Dr. Scarborough said that he replied, “As long as I have influence in that institution, by the grace of God, I will stand by the old book.”

And my friends, I stand by the old book! How about you?

With All the Charges of Legalism Being Thrown Around Today, We Need To Remember a Good Word

2009-05-06T08:26:00.005-06:00

Jude 3-4

3 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Jude 16-19

16 These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.

17 But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 18 They said to you,"In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions." 19 It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.

English Standard Version

Platform of the SBAJAR's Announced!

2009-05-05T08:11:00.002-06:00

The new platform for the Southern Baptist Average Joe's and Redneck's(SBAJAR) is being announced today. Here's the platform that all average Joe's and Redneck's in the Southern Baptist Convention will stand for.

1. Weapons are not immoral. They are not moral, either. They are amoral. It's what people do with them that make them moral, or immoral. If the Govt. wants to take away my shotgun, then they'll have to pry it out of my cold, dead fingers. If someone breaks into my house, late at night, then they'd better be ready to meet Mr. 12 Gauge. And, thankfully, Ronald Reagan had the sense to have more and better nuclear weapons than the USSR...remember them? And, due to that fact, we beat the USSR, and won the Cold War, and destroyed Communism in that part of the world. There are fruitcakes out there right now, who are in charge of nations, who would bomb us. We must be ready.

2. We are against Big Govt. and high taxes. We want govt. to stay out of our business. Less govt. the better. Less taxes the better. We want govt. to leave us alone, and let us earn a living without the govt. messing things up. And, we sure do want the sticky fingers of Uncle Sam to stay out of our wallets.

3. Global Warming is a myth. If you don't believe that, then just spend a winter in TN. It got cold. In fact, just 3 weeks ago, I sat watching a high school baseball game and got pelted by sleet two, or three different times!!!! Besides, I read my Bible. I've seen the end of the Book. The planet is still here, and there's lots of people still around when Jesus comes back. This planet wont be fixed until He fixes it.

4. We believe that the planet was put here for God's glory, and for man to use. Thus, killing a cow to grill a ribeye steak for supper is A-OK. Wearing fur to help keep humans warm is alright, too. And, hunting and fishing is great. There's nothing mean and nasty about it. It's a wonderful experience for those who are big into hunting and fishing.

There will be more to this platform later. But, this is a great start. And, I know that I speak for all average Joe's and Rednecks, because I am the national spokesperson for the SBAJAR.

David Worley, National Spokeperson
Southern Baptist Average Joe's and Rednecks

New Spokesperson for Southern Baptist Average Joe's and Rednecks Announced

2009-05-02T21:33:00.005-06:00

I have noticed that some people are giving themselves titles that were never voted on by the SBC. Jonathan Merritt is calling himself the Spokesperson for Southern Baptist Environment and Climate Initiative. When was that voted on by the SBC? I don't remember it.

So, I have decided to give myself a title, and I am now the official spokesperson for all Southern Baptist Average Joe's and Rednecks. I will now speak out on behalf of all Average Joe's and Rednecks across the convention. Stay tuned for more later.

David Worley, Spokesperson
Southern Baptist Average Joe's and Rednecks

Pastors and Deacons...Men Only

2009-04-24T16:44:00.007-06:00

With all the people in our day and time who want to leave clear teachings on the subject of the qualifications of the Pastor/Bishop/Elder and Deacons, I decided to give everyone a refresher course. For hundreds of years, Bible scholars mostly agreed that you had to be a man to be a Pastor, or a Deacon. But, since the radical feminist movement began in our country, all of a sudden, we have women desiring to be Pastors and Deacons, and we have some Pastors and theologians agreeing with them, sadly. But, the Word of God is clear on this matter, more clear than the liberals and the feminists want it to be.

First of all, let's deal with Junia, who was mentioned in the book of Romans. Junia's name pops up often in the debates and discussions on the issue of women in the ministry. Typically, someone tries to use Junia as an example of a woman being an Apostle. Romans 16:7 says,"Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles and who also were in Christ before me." Now, for someone to base their "women should be in ministry argument" on this verse is very faulty exegesis.

For one thing, there is some debate on whether Junia is a man's name, or a woman's. There are some people, who say that it's unclear. That we just cant be sure one way, or the other. I don't know, but if there's any uncertainty, then why hang your hat on something this flimsy to base your opinion?

Secondly, even if it is a woman's name, there is much debate over what this verse means. Does it mean that Junia was an apostle? Or, that she and Andronicus were people that the Apostles took notice of, as being wonderful, Christian people? This verse could go either way on this one. So, how can you rest yourself in this chair when a wooodpecker's been working on the legs? Personally, I think that it means that these two people were especially known of the Apostles as being great Christian people, who really lived for the Lord. I think that this is the best explanation of this verse and Junia. But anyways, let's look further.

Thirdly, David Rogers and others make a good point that the word apostle had two meanings. It could mean the 12 Apostles, as it does when talking about the 12 and Paul. But, it can also just mean a missionary. So, we have the 12 Apostles, or those men, who were called out to lead the Church, and teach the Church, and give us the NT under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. And, we have the apostles with a little "a" that are mentioned in the NT, who were missionaries. And, for those people, who have a hard time believing that a Greek word could have two meanings, you only need to look at the word "Angel" to see how a Greek word could mean different things, depending on the context. Now, "angel" can mean a heavenly being, who does God's bidding, including bringing messages to people from God. Or, it can simply mean a messenger, like a Pastor. IOW, it could mean a human being that God uses to get His message out to the Church, or to the world. It all depends on the context which way it's interpreted. So, "apostle" could also mean two, different things, just like "angel" does. And, the Greek word, "Apostle," could mean one of the 12, or it could simply mean a missionary.

But, one things for sure, all the 12 Apostles were men. There was not a single woman picked to be one of the 12. And, all the NT was written by men; not one woman was picked by God to write a NT book, not one. Also, every Pastor/Elder/Bishop that we know about in the Early Church was a man. I know of no women that were Pastors back then. So, those, who want women to be Pastors, should take a hard, long look at these facts, and back off of the Junia argument. It's as shaky as an old man on a cane walking down a long, slick, outdoor staircase on a rainy night.

Of course, there are other women that people try to use to justify women preachers. We may deal with some of them in later posts. But, Philip's virgin daughters prophesying is not Pastoring, and they were not teaching the Church God's Word. They were prophesying. They were telling the Church things that God wanted them to know about the future. Possibly about things like persecution is coming, or a heretic is about to infiltrate the Church, etc. Also, Phoebe was no Pastor, nor was Lydia. The Churches just met in their homes, and they were women who served the Lord in His Church. There is nothing to suggest that they were Pastors; nothing.

But, the greatest evidence of all that women should not be Pastors, nor Deacons, is found in I Timothy 3 and Titus 1. A Pastor/Elder/Bishop should be the husband of one wife. Now, if you can tell me how a woman can be the husband of one wife, without it violating the Scripture's commands against homosexuality, then I'll believe in women Pastors. Also, it talks about the Pastor being one that rules his own house well. For a woman to be a Pastor would go against the Bible's teachings on the home and marriage. The husband should be the head of his home. So, for a woman to be a Pastor and the head of her house would clearly violate Scripture.

Also, for a Deacon, it gives the qualifications for a Deacon, and then it gives the qualifications for the wife of a Deacon. Once again, how can a woman have a wife without going against the clear teachings of Scripture on homosexuality? A Deacon should be the husband of one wife. This clearly eliminates the possibility of a woman being a Deacon.

So, a Pastor and a Deacon should be the husband of one wife. They should rule their homes well. And, their wives should meet certain qualifications as well. Thus, there's no way that a woman could meet the qualifications of Pastor, nor a Deacon. To have women in the role of a Pastor, or a Deacon, is to go against the clear teachings of the Bible. This is a view that may not be real popular in our day and time where many Churches and Pastors seem to be more concerned with fitting into culture, instead of standing out for the Lord; but it's still the plain, simple truth. I encourage all of yall to read this post, then read 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, and accept the truth of God in this matter; even if it's not PC to the world.

Galatians 1:10...We would do well to remember this.

2009-04-22T07:31:00.002-06:00

I came across this verse during my devotion time this morning. I do hope that we Southern Baptists will keep this verse in mind.

Galatians 1:10..."For do I now seek the favor of men, or of God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ."

Thank You, Miss California for Not Being Like Some Spineless Preachers!

2009-04-21T07:29:00.004-06:00

Miss California, you should have won the Miss USA pageant. You are not only beautiful, but you are also a woman of faith and courage and integrity. You stood for truth as a Christian, young lady; and it cost you the crown. But, young lady, the crown you will receive from the Lord Jesus will be far greater. Your Lord, and my Lord, was well pleased with you; not only on that night that you stood for truth and lost an earthly crown, but also on the national news. The media and the gay community and the lost crowd out there may be coming down on you, but the Lord is pleased with you. Thank you for standing out for God and His truth.

You can see that here:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,517137,00.html

And then, you need to really see this article about her appearance on the Today Show afterwards:

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/30322005/

Also, you didn't apologize for saying that marriage should be for a man and a woman. Thank you. You didn't back peddle and apologize like a famous Pastor in California, who is very famous for writing books about being a Purpose Driven Church. Thank you for having backbone.

You can see this here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYIWSyMrhRA

Miss California, you didn't get on national tv and hem and haw, and try to soft peddle and play up to the lost crowd. You didn't try to be politically correct like a certain Pastor in Texas, who smiles a lot and tries to just talk about positive things. This Mega Church Pastor lost his backbone, and he back peddled, and spinned big time.

You can see that here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3d38AQdSlpQ

Also, thank you, Miss California, for standing strong. You are truly an inspiration whenever we have young, Southern Baptist Pastors saying things like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYIWSyMrhRA

We are truly in an age where Pastors are so into Evangelical Ecumenism, and trying to have big crowds, and trying to get big names(which they believe equals success); that we have Pastors dancing all around the Lordship of Jesus. They truly do not want to offend people, and they will talk softly and dance around the truth, all in the name of not offending...not turning anyone off. So, a young lady from California steps up, at a beauty pageant, and shows up all of these big, bad, popular Pastors. How ironic is that?

Again, thank you, Miss California, Carrie Prejean. You are one of my hero's now.

Do Some People Equate Emotions with God?

2009-04-15T07:21:00.003-06:00

That's the question I would like for yall to comment on. Do people equate emotions with God? Or, put in another way, do people think that God is just an emotion? Or, is it more of a "If I feel strong emotions then it's from God" idea? What do you think?

What made me think of this was a new movie that's out about a homeless man, who can really play a cello; I believe it is. And, during one of the advertising clips of this movie, a woman tells the man that she can feel God in his music; when he plays that instrument. It just seemed to me that she was equating feeling good from his music with feeling God.

Also, back in my seminary days, I worked for a re-upholsterer and interior decorator. I was the fella, who picked up the furniture to be refinished or reupholstered, and who brought it back. I had a partner, who travelled with me. He claimed to be a Christian, yet he drank alcohol, cussed frequently, and talked about having sex with women. I would share with him the Gospel, and I would question his salvation due to his lifestyle. His answer was a standard "I go to Church sometimes, and I'm a very spiritual person, because I feel God in my worship experience at Church. And, I love babies and dogs, and I feel strongly about the women I date, etc., etc., etc." Also, he was talking about marrying a woman one time, and I asked him if the girl was a Christian. He said that she had to be, because she had such strong emotions and was in tune with her feelings, and she was willing to show them and express them. So, she didn't love the Lord, and obeyed God, and went to Church, and served Jesus. No, not at all. But, she showed strong emotional feelings about life in general. So, I'm certain that he equated feeling good, strong emotions with God. It didn't matter that he and the girl were having sex outside of marriage, thus living in sin. It didn't matter that he cussed out other drivers on the road, and threatened to kick their a_ _ on a regular basis. I mean, in his mind, all was well between him and God, as long as he could feel love for a woman, and felt good in his shouting, swaying, emotional Church.

Also, I believe I have met many Pentecostal types like this...who equate God, or being right with God, based on emotions they feel; rather than on a relationship with God. Instead of looking to truth, sound doctrine, faith, obedience, and fruit being produced in one's life as an evidence of salvation; it's all about feeling good. If I feel good, then I know God. If I can sing and sway to the music, and I love my family; then I am right with God. If I speak in tongues, and feel an emotional high; then I am right with God. It doesn't matter if you're beating your wife every week, or getting drunk every weekend, or living in adultery. The main thing to this kind of crowd is feeling. It's emotion.

Now, please don't misunderstand what I'm saying. I feel the presence of God in my life. The Holy Spirit fills my heart, and I get high on Jesus on a regular basis. I shout in the worship services, and I lift my hands to Heaven at times while we're singing praise songs. But, I don't equate feeling with God. I don't say that emotions are God. And, I certainly don't base my assurance of salvation on emotions and feelings. I do believe that God can give you and me great emotions...high feelings...glorious, mountaintop experiences. Yes. And, thank God for them. Thank God for the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Ain't it good to walk in the Spirit? Hallelujah! But, just because I love my wife does not make me a spiritual person. Or, just because I got holy goosebumps last Sunday as the choir sang does not make me a spiritual person. And, just because you cried when ole Yeller died doesn't make you a spiritual person.

Do yall agree? What's your thoughts?

Thank you, Lord Jesus!

2009-04-12T09:25:00.002-06:00

Thank you, Lord Jesus! How can we ever thank You enough?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBAhvI0TRDs

And then, hallelujah! Glory to God! How can we ever praise You enough?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IM6x-udOF84

He is risen.

David

The Prince of Seeker Friendly Churches Refuses to Speak Out Against Hmosexuality

2009-04-09T07:56:00.002-06:00

No big surprise here, but it is an interesting read. Joel Osteen went on Larry King with "Co-Pastorette" Victoria Osteen, Joel's wife. They once again went on national tv and showed how weak and spineless they are, and how devoid of Biblical soundness they are. I saw them on Larry King a few years back, where they refused to say that Muslims and Jews didn't make it to Heaven. Joel also squirmed in his seat on being questioned about Hell, and said he really didn't know if there was a Hell, or not; and he wasn't concerned about who was going to go and who wasn't. He just wanted to emphasize on the positive. He didn't like to think about negative things. Besides, big crowds might not show up on Sunday's if you talk about things like Hell, and sin, and homosexuality being a sin against God, and Jesus being the only way to Heaven. Why, that might hurt attendance. And, attendance is the almighty indication of success in the ministry...is it not. Oh, that and how much money comes in. Let's not forget mammon.

Anyway, here's the article for those who would like to read it further.

http://news.aol.com/article/osteens-impressed-by-obama/419606?icid=mainhp-desktopdl5link4http%3A%2F%2Fnews.aol.com%2Farticle%2Fosteens-impressed-by-obama%2F419606

Love Yall,

David

A Video for Congress and Obama

2009-04-07T14:05:00.002-06:00

Here's a video that I wish that Obama and Congress would hear and heed.

http://susie1114.com/10percentisgoodenough.html

This is sung by one of my favorite singers....Ray Stevens.

A Great Post that Needs to be Read by Everyone

2009-04-03T09:46:00.002-06:00

Here is a post by my friend, Tim Rogers, which he wrote at SBC Today. I give you the link here, and give you an opportunity to comment on what he wrote.

http://sbctoday.com/2009/04/03/are-you-hearing-these-questions/#more-784

David

Christians and Judgement

2009-03-31T10:46:00.000-06:00

2 Corinthians 5:10 says “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he has done, whether it be good or bad.”

As Christians, our sins are forgiven forever. There’s no question about that. We are forgiven right now, and we forever shall be forgiven. We will not answer to God for sins in the judgment. Our sins have already been accounted for by the cross of Christ.

But, we will answer to God one day for the works that we did down here on this Earth as Christian people. Were the works good works, or were they bad works? Did you do the good works of God, as a Christian? Or, did you do a lot of bad works? Because, we will be judged for our works, and we will be rewarded accordingly. Of Course, some Christians will have to answer for the bad works they’ve done. Rewards will be lacking for them. They didn’t serve the Lord in His Church. They didn’t give to God’s Church and to His work like they should have. They didn’t minister to the people that God brought into their path. They didn’t share the Gospel with the lost. They didn’t provide for the truly needy of our world. And, they will not be rewarded. They will be ashamed at the judgment. Maybe that’s why the Bible says that God will wipe away every tear in the book of Revelation, so that we can enter into eternity with joy. Maybe the Lord will have to wipe away the tears of shame and regret for the lack of good works done.

My friends, I want to enter into Heaven with the Lord saying, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy…” I really don’t want to enter Heaven like the verse in 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 says,” Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” Folks, I don’t want to enter Heaven as if I was swinging on a rope over the fires of Hell, and made it to Heaven, yes; but made it with singed clothes and smoke blackened fingers and toes. I want to enter Heaven with lots of good works following me. I want to please my Lord. How about you?

Inauguration of a President and Rain

2009-03-27T21:51:00.004-06:00

My wife and I just returned home from the northeast corner of Georgia today. For those who don't know about Northeast Georgia, it is mountains. Our trip was made for two reasons. One, we went for a little vacation, hopefully to see beautiful scenery in the mountains. Secondly, it was good to see Dr. Emir Caner be inaugurated as the 8th President of Truett-McConnell College in Cleveland, Georgia.

Well, first of all, it rained every day that we were gone from home. At times it was a gully washer rain. And, the clouds sat down on the mountains big time. Thus, we could see no magnificent scenery. Although, one time, when I was going around all the 90 degree curves on the top of some mountain, and there was at least a hundred of them, and I could only see ten feet in front of me due to the fog; I began to hallucinate and saw bears, and Toto, and Dorothy, and Wes Kenney riding on a bicycle. It was eerie. But, we finally made it over the mountain, and into a quaint, little town called Helen, Georgia. This is where we lodged for the entire time.

Secondly, I saw some friends, and made some new friends at the inauguration. I saw Tim Rogers there. He drove some kind of a monster truck. I believe it was a Chevy S-10 that was jacked up so high that you had a climb a commando rope to get into it. It was cool. I also ran into Dr. Yarnell. He was dressed as a Catholic Priest. I was astonished to see this, but he assured me that he had not converted. I met a lot of other people there as well, and it was a blessing to talk with Bill Harrell, and Dr. Patterson, and Dr. Phil Roberts, and many other, wonderful people, who were attending this inauguration.

Thirdly, the inauguration was incredible. My wife and I were honored to be there to witness it. The entire event was a blessing, from the inaugural dinner to the inauguration to the luncheon after the inauguration. Also, Dr. Caner, if you read this, the food was good. Thanks. Also, Dr. Caner will make that school a fine President, and I look forward to seeing how God uses him there in Truett-McConnell in the years ahead. I'm looking for some great things to happen there in the future. If some of you young people out there are looking for a good, sound school that has a heart for the Lord, and is nestled in the Appalachian Mountains(beautiful); then you should check this school out. Also, every person we met at this school, and in this town(Cleveland), were incredibly friendly. I mean, everybody that we met was friendly. I loved it.

Fourthly, a situation happened during the inauguration that I have to tell you about. At one point, all the Pastors were asked to stand. Tim and I stood, and this woman, who was sitting in front of me, stood up. She was dressed in a black pants suit, and she had her hair cut short. Tim and I looked at each other with a look of astonishment. Thankfully, she was the only woman standing in the entire crowd. But, how ironic, right? That in all that crowd at the inauguration, the only woman Pastor in the entire building was sitting directly in front of me!

Fifthly, I had boiled peanuts for the first time in my life. I don't like them.

Another Reason to Thank God for the Conservative Resurgence and to Keep Watch over the SBC

2009-03-16T12:03:00.003-06:00

Have yall read the ABPnews lately? It seems that a Professor from Duke University was speaking at a gathering for Baptists, and he was saying that women should be ordained. You will find the article here...

http://www.abpnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3933&Itemid=53

Of course, he cant give you and me Scripture to back up his claim. In fact, he violates many Scriptures with his teaching. And yet, there's a radical feminist crowd out there that just eats this stuff up, and there's a bunch of scared, Mr. Milquetoast men out there who go along with it. It's sad. It's pathetic. And, it's another great reason to rejoice and praise our God, who stirred men's hearts to lead the CR. And, it's another reason to watch out...be aware...be looking for those who would try to lead us down the long, dusty, dry, liberal road once again.

Me? I'd rather sit under the shade of the Word of God, and sip the sweet tea of truth, than to run down that long, hot, dry, dusty road that leads to nowhere. I'd rather wave at all those Mr. Milquetoast men as they run down it. I'd probably call out to them and say,"Don't go that way, but you do what you want to do. I'm all for people doing what they make up their minds to do. But, if you were me, I'd not run that way." To all those women, who want to run the show and act like men, I'd probably hand them a pair of pants and say, "Put them on. You want to wear'em anyways. But, why don't you just try being a woman for a change? Stop listening to Joyce Meyers and to that good lookin' blonde-haired girl on the tv that hollers a lot, and start listening to God's Word. But, you do what you want to do. It's your life." Yep, I reckon that's what I'd tell'em.

You know what? I'm convinced that it's always better to do things God's way, than to listen to the culture of the day. Listen, Jesus picked out 12 men to be the Apostles. The first Deacons were all men. Every NT book was written by men. All the NT Pastors of Churches that we know about were all men. The qualifications of a Pastor and a Deacon, as given to us in Timothy and Titus, all clearly talk about men being the ones who should take on these roles.

Now, women are just as valuable as men. Women are just as saved as men. Women are just as important as men. Women can go to God, pray, and fellowship with God just as men can. Nobody is saying here that women are second class citizens in God's Kingdom. But, if you haven't noticed....men and women are different. And, viva la differance!!

But, God has given us different roles in life. God has made us different, and He has made us to do different things. I cant have a baby, and a woman shouldn't be a Pastor of a Church.

Maybe one day, men will grow a spine once again, and women will want to be the softer, more tender helpmates that God created them to be.

Separation of Church and State?...about to end?

2009-03-10T07:28:00.002-06:00

What do yall think? I'm sure by now that yall have heard about the state of Connecticut trying to pass into law that a Church should have a governing board that decides how the Church is gonna spend their money. This was all brought about due to the misuse of money at a Catholic Church in Connecticut, where the homosexual priest was stealing the Churches money...lots of it.... to spend on him and his boyfriend. I'm sorry that this happened to this Church, but it does not welcome the govt. stampeding into Church business.

I really see this as a serious intrusion of the state into the Church. Again, I ask, what do yall think?

Prayers Needed for First Baptist Maryville, Illinois

2009-03-08T14:35:00.003-06:00

Apparently, a gunman charged into the Church before the worship started and shot the Pastor of this Church. They need our prayers. Here's the story...

http://news.aol.com/article/illinois-church-shooting/374149

Misconceptions about BI Guys

2009-03-04T11:02:00.003-06:00

1. BI guys do not necessarily like wearing ties and suits. Some do. I think that some of them may even wear a suit and tie to bed at night. Personally, I only wear suits to preach funerals. And, this one may knock you down. I wear a black robe to perform wedding ceremonies. Yea, that's right. A black robe...like a Judge wears. But, I don't wear a tie on Sunday night to the worship service, nor on Wednesday night to preach. I don't ever wear a tie thru the week. I hate wearing ties, and I hate wearing suits. Now, if you ask me to preach a revival meeting, or something, and you tell me that it would be best to wear a coat and tie....then I'd wear one. But, I wouldn't like it.

2. BI guys do not believe that Sunday night service is the 12th commandment. I don't know where that one got started. Is somebody making this stuff up?

3. BI guys are not Landmarkists. Boy, where do these people get this stuff?

4. BI guys don't necessarily have weekly visitation, and they do other things to reach out to the community. My Church does not have weekly visitation. I believe that well fed sheep will reproduce. And, just like with a good restaurant, you wont have to advertise when you have satisfied customers. They will advertise for you. Also, we do our evangelism thru encouragement from the pulpit. I often tell my people to share the Gosepel and tell people about Jesus thru the week. And, we use events like wildgame suppers, VBS, revival meetings, Easter and Christmas programs, and other things to reach out to the lost. Why, when I was a Pastor in Mississippi, we even went around door to door giving our neighbors a package of light bulbs as a little, happy gift from our Church. And, we had the verse about Jesus being the light of the world taped to it.

5. BI guys are for helping out people, and even joining with Churches of different denominations to do humanitarian aid. My own Church helps support Agape House...an independent organization that works with pregnant ladies...to encourage them to not have abortions. My Church supports our local food pantry/clothes closet/pay people's electric bill ministry; and it's an independent organization supported by Churches of all types. Also, my Church gets into the Christmas Shoe Box by Franklin Graham big time. We sent over 400 shoeboxes this past year. That aint bad for a Church that averages 170 people on Sunday morning! So, where this rumor about BI guys aren't for digging wells for villages in Uganda, or somewhere got started...I don't know.

6. All BI guys don't wear overalls. They should all wear overalls, but some just won't do it. I mean, Robin looks natural wearing overalls. Wes just doesn't look very natural wearing overalls. He looks more natural in a coat with a bow tie. Bart looks too much like Gomer Pyle when he wears overalls, so it's just not good for him to wear them. Now, Tim Rogers...well, he can wear them just fine. They look natural on him. But, Dr. Yarnell should never wear overalls. I mean, he'd be like Mike Huckabee wearing overalls. It just wouldn't look good. And, Dr. Emir Caner....well, overalls aint his bag, either. Although, being the new President of Truett-McConnell in NE Georgia, it might go over good to see him sporting some Osh Gosh, bib overalls every now and then. Now, Peter and me...well, we're Tennessee boys. Overalls fit us well.

You know, it wouldn't surprise me if rumors got out that the BI guys were for throwing liberals to the sharks off the coast of Florida. Or, that the BI guys were the driving force behind the Saddam Hussein regime. Or, that the BI guys are the ones who were on the grassy knoll when Kennedy got shot. Or, the BI guys condemn anyone that drinks Pepsi products.

Where in the world do all these rumors get started? And, why? Why do they get started?

Dr. Frankenstein?

2009-03-03T08:35:00.004-06:00

Are we close to having Dr. Frankenstein's in our country? Have yall heard about the Dr.'s that can now make your baby to order? They are trying to get the ok to give you the blond-haired, blue-eyed, tall, handsome, baby boy that every mother wants. And, the price tag would be $20,000. So, all the rich people will have the next Mickey Mantle's and Michael Jordan's and the supermodel women, because they'll be able to afford to genetically put their children together like they want to. Poor people will still be born with flaws, and without good looks, and with not much athletic ability. Of course, maybe the poor can count on Obama making this a part of the national healthcare package.

I never thought that the Dr. Frankenstein movie would be true. What's next? Werewolves? Mummies? Creatures from the Black Lagoon? Or worse, soylent green!!!!!!!!!!

What "BI" Guys Are For....

2009-02-27T15:15:00.002-06:00

1. Jesus. BI guys are for Jesus. They put Him first and foremost in all they do and say. He is the center of attention. He is the main attraction. They live to lift Him up.

2. The Gospel. BI guys are for preaching the Gospel. The Gospel and the Great Commission are what they're all about. Getting the Gospel out to the world is extremely important to these fellas, and it shows in their preaching and in their ministries.

3. Lordship of Christ. This is why doctrine is important to BI guys. That's why sound theology is so vital to BI guys. They really want to obey the Lord. The Lordship of Christ is extremely important to them, so sound doctrine is extremely important to them. They want to believe and live in obedience to the Lord Jesus.

4. Unity. True unity. Unity around not only the essentials of the faith, but also around the clear, Biblical teachings that make us the Baptist kind of Christians. Like, baptism by immersion only of Believers only. Congregational ruled. Autonomy of the local Church. Priesthood of the Believers. The Bible as the infallible, inerrant, Word of God. Baptism and the Lord's Supper being Church ordinances. Real unity comes when Christians are committed to rallying around Jesus and the Word of God. It's hard to join with people who have a low view of Scripture, or who blatantly disobey the clear teachings of the Bible. Even though we may call them our Brothers and Sisters in the Lord, we would be unable to join with Christians who are clearly violating sound teaching.

5. The SBC. They love the SBC. They want it to be all that it can be...all that God wants it to be.

6. Sound, Biblical Church Growth. They are for growing Churches in the right way. They would not be for serving liquor, nor for handing out whiskey, shot glasses, nor for having dancing bears in order to just get a crowd. Joel Osteen gets crowds with his watered down, heretical preaching. Whatever happened to a faithful Pastor preaching and teaching the Bible and praying and ministering and letting God grow His Church?

7. Fried Chicken. It's good.

8. Family. I should have put this before fried chicken. Oh well.

9. Good, worshipful praise and singing....whatever style it may be. The important thing is that it lifts up Jesus, and a person can worship from it. I also should have put this one before fried chicken. Oh well, again.

10. Pro-life. I also should have put this one before.....oh well, you know.

Moderate Alcohol Drinking Killing Women

2009-02-25T09:09:00.002-06:00

NBC news has reported that even drinking alcohol moderately is leading to women getting all kinds of cancer. Once again, we see the clear teachings of the Bible holding true. In Proverbs, the Bible teaches that to drink fermented, undiluted wine, or strong drink, is foolish. And, in Ephesians, the Bible teaches that to get drunk, or high, on fermented, undiluted wine is sinful. And, the Bible teaches that all sin has bad consequences. So, once again, we see that foolish living and sinful living leads to bad things.

Now, what about all of those women ought there, who have Pastors, who told them drinking in moderation was ok? Even though, if they're pregnant and don't know it yet could give the unborn child FAS? Even though it leads to them having all kinds of cancer? Not to mention all the other horrible things that fermented wine leads to....abuse, drunk driving, sexual sins, bankruptcy, etc.

What will you Pastors preach now about fermented, undiluted wine? Will you change your minds about your weak view on drinking? Will this help you to not bend the Scriptures to modern day culture?

Does this trouble yall?

2009-02-23T14:22:00.003-06:00

Mark 9:35... "And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, 'If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.'"

John 3:30...."He must increase, but I must decrease."

And, there are hundreds of verses about being a servant. Now, watch this video featured on Associated Baptist News(abpnews.com), which is the moderate/liberal news agency, and it's also the CBF news agency.

Does this trouble yall like it did me? Is this what Churches should be teaching children? Is this supposed to take the place of Awana, or VBS?

What do yall think?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpY4777V2XI

David

SBC, Pragmatism, and the Danger....Part III

2009-02-23T11:00:00.002-06:00

This is probably the best video of the three. This is one that you need to take the time to listen to, and let it digest into your system. It's very good and very enlightening. There's a very good message for the SBC in what Dr. John McArthur says in this last part of his three part series on pragmatism.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubqL-ynIRP4

David

President Obama and Some of the SBC Pastors...Alike?

2009-02-21T00:25:00.002-06:00

I've been noticing here lately that President Obama has been saying crisis a lot, and he's whining about how bad everything is. I also noticed that some SBC Pastors are all the time talking about how bad things are in the SBC. Here's a new theme song for this crowd...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TDqvD34hEA

David

What the SBC Louisville Should Look Like.....

2009-02-17T09:26:00.003-06:00

1. Matt Papa should lead the worship and praise times, even at the Pastor's Conference.

2. Jeremy Camp and Casting Crowns should do all the special music....even at the Pastor's Conference.

3. Dr. Russell Moore, Dr. Greg Thornbury, and Vance Pittman should preach.

4. All reports should be short and to the point, and they should be interesting...not boring.

5. Wes Kenney should pray the closing prayer of the SBC.

These are my thoughts. Do you have any other ideas?

What Percentage of the SBC Needs to Repent of....

2009-02-16T11:58:00.002-06:00

Pragmatism? Take a look at John McArthur's second part of the pragmatism series, and tell me if this fits many, many Pastors in the SBC? And, is this something that many in the SBC should repent of?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_GTAkJmbo0

David

Check out this blog highlighting rural route Pastors

2009-02-13T23:17:00.002-06:00

I want to encourage all of you to take a look at this blog by Mike Waddey. The first Pastor that Mike Waddey highlights is one of my best friends in all the world. Take a look. You'll be blessed by it.

http://ruralchurch.wordpress.com

David

So, You wanna see a Wii Mii of Volfan007?

2009-02-12T21:26:00.000-06:00

check this out.

http://chadwickivester.com/

David :)

Pragmatism...in the SBC?

2009-02-11T14:58:00.001-06:00

I got the idea for this post from my good friend, Chadwick Ivester.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvialpgl9Jg

Moral Relativsm in the SBC

2009-02-06T08:44:00.002-06:00

Moral relativism....ethical relativism...is it abounding in the SBC? Or, is it just the philosophy/theology of a few? When you hear things being said like...I'm a complementarian, but it's ok for women to be ordained as Pastors/Elders/Bishops and Deacons. Is that moral relativism at work? Is that a "Well, it's not ok for me, but it's ok for you" type of thing? Or, when you hear things like...it's ok to drink alcohol, but it's wrong to be drunk. And, the definition for "drunk" is dependent on the drinker. Is that moral relativism working it's way into SBC life? When bloggers can accuse and allege all sorts of things, and point out the errors and mistakes of someone to the Nth degree, almost like they're on a crusade against an individual; and it's considered ok by the SBC crowd who frequents those blogs as ok. After all, it's alright to attack and malign and call people names if they're not aligned with your point of view. But, let someone just question the blogger, or the crowd, and due to their questioning, they're called names by the blogger and the blogging crowd; and, they're looked upon as mean, nasty, legalistic, and non-irenic. Let someone call this crowd out for their constant attacks and insinuations and mean statements, and then you're the mean, nasty, overly strict, idiotic, stupid jerk who is in need of psychiatric help; and people are volunteering to stir up division and strife in your Church to try to stop the mouth's of these meanies....these excluders....these idiots...these Southern, redneck, mouthbreathers. Is this not moral, ethical relativism at work in our SBC?

You tell me.

Give Me Your Honest Opinion on This...

2009-01-30T22:20:00.002-06:00

What do yall think about the witnessing method as described in the Way of the Master? Have you heard of this, or do you know about this? If not, click on the link below and listen; and then please share with me what you think of this evangelistic tool.

www.wayofthemaster.com

David

Thanks Scott Gordon

2009-01-28T22:59:00.000-06:00

Check out what Scott Gordon did for me.

Vol Bond Pic.jpg

Did you Vote for Death(Obama)?

2009-01-25T08:55:00.003-06:00

Obama hasn't been in office for a week, and he's already signing death orders. He has already repealed orders from the Bush administration that banned federal money going to international family planning groups. He has opened the door, with one swipe of the pen, for hundreds of thousands of more abortions. He has just signed an Executive Order death warrant for thousands of babies. And, the sad thing is that it appears that he will do more to allow babies to be murdered. And, he made this a top priority of his administration by making it one of the first things he did when coming into power.

It's a shame that the USA put this man into office. What's a bigger shame is that so many Christians, and even Christian leaders supported him. There were some Christian leaders out there who thought that our economy and the environment was more important than the murdered babies of America. They thought that saving a whale and protecting bald eagles was more important than saving human life! They thought that it was more important to break the glass ceiling of race in America...in the President's office....than to save the unborn. They thought that it was more important to develop alternative fuel for our cars and trucks, than to deter the gay agenda. They thought that it was better to be cool by electing a hip, young man that can shoot a three point jump shot into the White House, than to stop the gay agenda and save innocent, little babies from the knife and the suction hose. And, all that talk from Christian people about Obama wanting to limit abortions done in this country ought to be ashamed for buying into that lie. And, that's all it was...a lie. Obama wasn't even in the White House for a week before he was signing more abortions into being. It's sad when Christian people will be so deceived...willingly deceived, either to be cool, or to fit in with the environmental crowd, or because of finances, or whatever reason. It's sad.

Now, I'm not one of those Southern Baptist's that's sold out to the Republican party either. I'm an independent. I vote for the person and how they stand on the issues that I believe are crucial and important. So, don't come in here with the "y'all are just sold out to the Republican party" argument, because I'm not.

What do you think?

Five Things that Makes a Nation Decline

2009-01-20T13:40:00.002-06:00

1. The undermining of the dignity and sanctity of the home, which is the basis for human society.

2. Higher and higher taxes: the spending of public money for free bread and circuses for the populace.

3. The mad craze for pleasure; sports becoming every year more exciting, more brutal, more immoral.

4. The building of great armaments, when the real enemy was within-the decay of individual responsibility.

5. The decay of religion; faith fading into mere form, losing touch with life, losing power to guide the people.

Did this make you think of the USA? Well, it does apply to us; doesn't it? But, this was not written about the USA, nor was it written by me. We can certainly learn from history, cant we, Bart? Now, who said this? And, why did he say it? or, what was the country/civilization that he was talking about?

A Must See Video...especially for Teens

2009-01-20T08:56:00.001-06:00

Get out the kleenex, and get ready to be inspired.

http://www.maniacworld.com/are-you-going-to-finish-strong.html

This is one that your teenage children need to watch.

Taking My Church to New Heights in Cultural Relevance

2009-01-15T11:42:00.003-06:00

In an attempt to make my Church more relevant, my worship leader is leading our Sr. Adult Choir to new heights in cultural relevance. I hope that this will help us reach more young people.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1kjkUAA9VM

I'm fat, and I don't feel guilty about it

2009-01-15T09:07:00.003-06:00

I'm fat. I'm overweight. I'm 6'2" and weigh 385 lbs. I'm trying to be more disciplined about my eating, and I have been trying this for 10 years. I've lost 15 lbs. in that ten years. I used to weigh 400 lbs. I have many big people in my family, and in my ancestral heritage. Most of them lived relatively healthy lives and lived a long time. I'm 47 years old, and I've never spent the night in a hospital as a patient.

So, why should I feel guilty for being a chubby person, as some people across the SBC seem to want us to feel? I'm not a glutton. I admit that I eat a double quarter pounder with cheese when I go to McDonald's. But, that's not a sin. I load my plate up with fried taters and pork chops and butter beans and corn on the cob and cornbread when my wife cooks such a delicious, Southern meal. I also swig it all down with sweet tea. I thank God for my meal, and I enjoy it immensely. What's wrong with that?

Also, just because I don't fit some insurance companies weight scale, and because I'm not a part of the nations obsession with thin people, why should I feel guilty? I don't.

Would you like to conversate with me about this?