SBC=>ENCOUNTERS

According to Russia's Pravda, America's Suffering Has Only Begun

Communism knows communism.  And communism in the Soviet Union buried Christianity beneath a bed of aggressive suppression and brutal consequences.  The declaration coming from Russia is hardly a wake-up call.  Many have been saying these things for years.  Joe Miller reemphasizes the obvious once again:

"In an extraordinary column last week, Russia’s de facto government press arm declared that the era of “Miss American Pie” was over in the U.S. Citing Obama’s reelection, Pravda stated that the “Communists have won in America…”

Why? Because the US is “an illiterate society” that continues to buy off on Obama’s “lies of less taxes while he raises them.” The US educational system is also held responsible, with Pravda stating that it was “conquered by the Communists long ago and history was revised thus paving the way for their Communist presidents.”

Our educational system is described as one that has been taken over long ago by communists.  Reminds me of when Nikita Kruschev banged his shoe on the podium denouncing the United States and saying they would take over America without firing a shot.  Slowly, like termites hidden in the bowels of an oak fortress, communists and socialism has made its way into the minds of people and the agendas of government.  I dare say the only threat to communism may be the rise of Islam.  It doesn't seem to be Christianity anymore.

Chrisitianity is not only under attack, many who profess faith are surrendering with white flags as they do not stand in the gap for folks who are being oppressed.  Oh, yes.  We all know that some of we Christians are just hysterical zealots and right-wing nut-jobs.  How do we know?  The godless thinking communist-pushing leaders in our society are telling us so.  We are just alarmists.  There's no "war on Christmas".  There's no war against religion, freedom of speech, or right to bear arms and protect ourselves from a tyrannical government.  No.  And as Christians battle Christians and eat their own, the world continues to move to silence us all.  Ah, but there is hope.  After all, it only took Russia 75 years to break free of the tyrannical rule of communism that sought to silence the voices in the desert, the highways and the hedges by torture, murder, and oppression.  I hear the warnings, do you?

"Russia lost its’ civil war with the Reds and millions suffered torture and death for almost 75 years under the tyranny of the United Soviet Socialist Republic. Russians survived with a new and stronger faith in God and ever growing Christian Church. The question is how long will the once “Land of the Free” remain the United Socialist States of America? Their suffering has only begun."

The question for us to answer is "will we survive?"  As children's poems are censored from simply telling their grandparents believed in God, and more of our churches rename their churches "fellowships" rather than churches, and more Christians water down the ordinances of God upon true Believers, and greater tolerance for sinful living, I do ask myself, will we indeed survive?  I truly wonder.

At my age, it is doubtful I will see the complete takeover of the United States of America.  However, I have never been a frog in a kettle.  I am not an ostrich, I do not have my head buried in the sand.  I see the lines being drawn in the sand as less and less support is given to Israel.  As our present administration seeks to broaden the radical Muslim Brotherhood in nations which once supported American policies. Until our communication services are rendered useless, I have an obligation to at least mention what the rest of the world thinks will happen to America if we do not "humble ourselves, seek God's face, beg forgiveness, and turn from our wicked ways."  Joe Miller brings us his take on what Russia thinks with his article entitled: Russia's Pravda Declares "Communism Won in America with Obama; U.S. Suffering has only Begun"/link.  It begs the questions:

Why should God heal our land?  Why should He be expected to protect us when we murder 3700 babies every day? Why should He acknowledge us when we disavow Him and condone the sin He calls sin and buy into the nicknames of illness, disease, disorders, and addictions?  Why should He hear from heaven, when we don't hear from the pulpits?  Why should He grant us health when we allow government agencies to demand that Christians pay for abortion and the murder of innocent babies in the womb?  Why should God change our world when we keep changing His message to the world?  Why?

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FACING the REAL Problems of the SBC

It's not an easy thing to do.  The older I get the less I want to look in the mirror.  The person staring back at me does not seem to fit the knowledge and understanding of my mind, the depth and breadth of my heart, nor the hope of my youth.  Years of trial, struggle and grief have left its marks.  Regrets may be the tiny red veins now lacing their way across my nose.  Wrinkles reveal evidence of decades filled with mixed emotions: worry, joy, victory, disappointment and sorrow.  Gray hair salts the black with time I spent learning from experience, growing through mistakes, and achieving goals.  Vision is dimmed by years of seeing what should be done, what could be done, yet, somehow, never realized.  When I look at myself in the mirror, I know that the person I stare at is me...I am all I have been but still am yet to be.

The SBC is who she is but is not all that she can be.

She could be more.  I truly believe for her to become all she can be, it behooves me to be more than what I am.  If you are Southern Baptist, you, also, must be more than you are.  We need to pray more for our brethren, ourselves and the lost in this world.  We need to pray we do not grow weary in well-doing, but remember the doctrines of faith we first learned.  We need to pray that we and our brethren do not fall into temptation.  We need others to pray for us.  We need to pray for God's power, glory and majesty be made manifest in all we do and say.  Then we need to trust God and rest in Him.

We have not, because we ask not.  God does not do many miracles because we lack faith.  We have often left much of the armor of God lying on the floor of our secret closets.  We have walked about in our communities without proper equipment.  We have been like the Levite and walked on by the beaten and dying.  We have busied ourselves with much conversation and fellowship with one another while ignoring the Savior who dwells within us.  Our thoughts are more focused on our thoughts, views and opinions than the thoughts of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  We have lost the joy of His salvation and failed to comprehend the expediency of "today is the day of salvation" and "the kingdom of God is at hand."  Our plans mean more to us than His plans for us; His presents more than His presence.  Woe are we who profess the name of Jesus and trust in horses and chariots instead of the Most High God to empower us for HIS glory and not ours.  Do we truly want to give honor and glory to God?  Or are we like those who shall cry out "Lord, Lord, but I have labored in your name"?

Perhaps I am too harsh.  Perhaps too introspective.  Perhaps we just need another program, another task force, another survey, another poll, another emphasis, another system of theology or more reforming.  Perhaps another network. Perhaps more giving and sacrificial offerings. Then again...

Perhaps we need to turn from our wicked ways--our bickering and complaining.  Perhaps we need to humble ourselves and acknowledge we do not have the answers.  Perhaps we need to confess our sin of pride and seek God's face.  Perhaps we need to ask Almighty God to forgive us our sin and give Him the honor and glory due HIS name--not ours.  Perhaps it is not our name we need to change; we simply need to change our ways.  selahV

VOICES IN THE GRASSLANDS...of the SBC, No.2

I've been wallowing a situation around in my head for a few days now.  Didn't give it a lot of thought at the time it all occurred. In fact, when an innocuous little comment I made was deleted at a blogsite I'd contributed to with complete harmonious accord for years, it kinda stuck in my craw. (That means, it was like one of those popcorn kernel covers that gets stuck back in your throat and you just can't seem to get it out.)  You drink some water.  You swallow some bread.  Then finally it occurs to you that the thing that is sticking tighter than a full-blown blood-sucking tick to a dog's ear bursts inside your mouth and you know...

...inadvertently, I had drawn first blood.  Inadvertently, I had been "predestined", I suppose, to think a thought, see a post I don't normally look at, and consider the point of the post in the first place.  So, I just offer my own little red flag in the sea of voices which rarely pay any attention to me anyway.  I write "I'm not interested".  Can you imagine what it would be like if I had been interested and published a comment?  stimulated dialogue?  entered debate?  spoke on substance?  read the entire post instead of the lead in?  Hmmmmmn, wonder what woulda happened then?  Well...maybe what everyone is running around the internet trying to squash...attention to some unappetizing tidbits within the ACTS-29 Network, and the schooling of the President himself.  Don't know.  Just don't know.

I do know, though...

that suddenly, my name is everywhere.  I thought, what in the world?  Who am I that anyone would care?  And what caused my little blog to quadruple in readership overnight?  And why are folks reading every snatch of info in all my posts?  Digging deep into the archives all of a sudden?  And what in the world has that silly post about the Dragon Lady conjured up?  Why the personal attacks?  Why the nasty remarks and the finger-pointing?  What was hidden in that little comment I made on a post that only garnered 4 comments, and was quickly buried out of sight with multiple postings from the editor and contributors?  All these questions were rolling around in my brain...along with the facts.  The facts.  The evidence of things we see, hear, read, and know for certain.

"Dots."  That's what Howell Scott calls them.  That's what some lurking lady named lydia calls them.  "Dots."  Dots that connect all this stuff together to give answers to one's questions.  At least a few.

Well...I belabor this post no longer...below is a fresh voice off the internet press.  Lady Lydia from Lurkland.  She's quite a busy lady.  I'm so busy going to the doctor, playing with my grandchildren, teaching them finer points of work ethics, reading Pinterest, and trying to keep up with the insanity of our POTUS and my weekly newspaper column, that I just can't be running all over blog-land looking for fires in the forest.  Bless Lydia's volunteer fire-fighter heart.  She may have stumbled upon the reason my nothing-comment, which I almost didn't post, has caused such a furor.  I don't know...you be the judge: 

 "Just reading around the meta and eureka, connected dots. Here is just one link http://phoenixpreacher.net/?p=11670), but there are plenty in the comments. Why the big deal on Harriet's simple comment at SBCV concerning the W. European Acts 29 guy? Setzer commeting so much over there to affirm Daves policies? Why the sudden "coincidental" "blog comment moderating" focus from other blogs around the NC/Reformed meta? Why?

Mark Driscoll. Since Petry, the former fired Elder/former lawyer, story came out-- some Acts 29 churches are not happy. Some are even leaving the network. Ergo, it is quickly being swtiched to Chandler. All to stop the possible bleeding of members or churches leaving the network. They want the blogosphere quiet about this and the post interviewing the W. Europe Acts 29 guy could have become a bit embarassing if any uncomfortable questions [were] asked.

Of course it is being spun that Driscoll leaving was planned all along but that would not explain Mark's announcement a month or so ago he had to come back to Acts 29 in a hands on way and get things in line there. But now, he is leaving a few weeks later to focus on ministry at MH? A bit flighty. Driscoll is stepping away to stop the bleeding.

Seems the guy who was running Acts 29, Scott Thomas, was one of the point guys for taking Petry down. There is documentation with him using Acts 29 resources to communicate with Petry. So, that involves Acts 29 in the spiritual abuse. So, now suddenly, Thomas is "going into another ministry" and not going to Texas to work for Chandler. Sojourn in Louisville has a letter on it's site saying it is leaving Acts 29 to become church planters dated March 28. Of course, they still love Acts 29. Will no one out in celebrity Christian land be Driscoll's Nathan? Must we all pretend this is not rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic?" "Lady" Lydia at FromLaw2Grace

When Ministers Weep and Grace Abounds

Ever feel led to pray for someone in the middle of the night?  You are sleeping, dreaming, and then you are wakened.  A name comes to mind and you begin to pray.  You haven't prayed for them in a while.  You are not even sure if the problem weeks ago is still a problem. You just know you are to pray.  That happened to me a few days ago.  It was not enough to lift my friend in prayer.  I turned on my computer and wrote:  "am praying for you tonite.  May God bring great blessings into your life today.  I pray you see the doorway He has opened for you.  May grace abound.  May peace and comfort fill your heart.  Believing "God will perfect that which concerns you." Ps. 138:8

A church decides to terminate a minister. They meet to vote on the matter.  No Biblical or moral grounds, nothing unethical, nor illegal.  Supporters are silenced when Matthew 18 is rejected as a means to reconcile, because no sin has been committed.  The church constitution and by-laws is totally ignored--people are told it will not be adhered to and would be changed.  Someone states, the church just wants to move on.  A standing ovation occurs and the minister leaves.

He knows no good will come of allowing injustice to take root in his heart and fester.  God led him to use this time to teach His principles of grace, sovereignty, and steadfastness.  He felt sorry for those who wronged him.  He knows God does not condone injustice--nor will He honor it.  What does he do as a result of his dismissal?  With his permission I share what he wrote: 

"The first Sunday away, I led my family through passages of 2 Peter, Matthew 5, Hebrews 11-12. We took time to express hurts, to forgive those who hurt us, to choose to love them, pray for them and to bless them. We took time to express our total dependence on Christ and to avoid becoming bitter. We took time to express our love for Christ, His church and each other.  I believe God as ministered grace to us and we are in a good place.  Again, thank you for your prayers, as of now we are just looking for what is next."

He has no pulpit from which another committee can come hear him preach.  He has an interview for a job in the public marketplace and knows he may have to provide for his family through secular means until the Lord provides something else.  He could be bitter.  Instead, he turns to God.  Completely relying on His grace, he guides his wife and children in how to be forgiving.  And what does he ask of God?  That whatever employer he gets will allow him time off to do missions that he is involved in. Completely relying on God's grace, he guides his wife and children in how to be forgiving.  He writes, "We have learned last year about the tremendous impact of forgiveness.  And God has given us an opportunity to practice it (James 1).  We are overwhelmed by His grace."

 

His words touched my soul and heart.  This trial he is going through is not new; it happens to many ministers who find themselves unwelcome for whatever whim or reason a congregation has.  It happens at the accusations, and attacks of others whose only desire is to see a minister fall.  It happens when lies are spread, or man sets himself up as judge.  Ministers need as much inspiration and courage to walk the faith they have been teaching, as folks in the pew.  So often, so many think ministers weep for themselves in these hours of darkness.  Few realize the tears they weep at the behavior of their sheep.  I've met ministers of the Gospel who've been so brow-beaten and discouraged that they leave the ministry.  Car salesmen.  Insurance salesmen.  Bankers and administrators.  It is not easy to stand in the midst of persecution from fellow Christians we never dreamed possible.  But when grace is found and mined into pure gold of God's refinement--we know grace is greater than all our sin and the sin of others.  The greater the difficulty, the more vile the persecution, the greater grace abounds.  The sweeter is its sound to our ears, the more comforting is its peace to our hearts.

 

Perhaps you'd like to pray for him.  For his family.  For future people who will be ministered unto by a man seeking the face of God?  When I was wakened to pray for my friend, I was reminded again, that God does not sleep, nor slumber.  His Spirit carried my prayer straight to the Father.  Though I was wakened to pray for another, God returned to me a sweet expression of His grace.  I thought of so many ministers and Christians today--for those who need our prayer.  Will you pray for the minister you find offensive to you?  Will you pray for the people who are maligning his character?  Will you pray for the minister you have heard vile accusations about?  Will you pray for his attackers?  Will you follow the example of this minister I mention here?  Will you pray God uses all these things to bring about a refining of a soul?  If you do, you'll find when ministers weep, grace does indeed abound.

 

My friend emailed back that circumstances had not changed, but he had.  So have I.  Will you?

Sometimes I Wonder About the SBC

Well, truthfully, I wonder about the cyber SBC.  I wonder why so few bloggers I encounter in the SBC circles share the same view on faith, ministry and missions.  Even when they claim to hold the same doctrinal views, they heatedly debate those doctrines and how they should be applied and implemented within the church body.

I wonder why I can write a positive post about positive things going on in the lives of others, and when I solicit similar stories, I get slammed with all the negativity in another's church problems.  Does God not work in the lives of the churches?  Can we not smell the fragrance of the rose?  Must we always focus on the thorn pricks when we gather the bouquet?  The World-Wide-Web is a big mission field.  Can they see the gospel from our blogs and writing?  I wonder.

I wonder about the young seminarians and young tech savvy minsters in churches, who surf, twitter and friend one another. Do they have any mentors?  I wonder.

My husband pastored for 23 years in Kentucky.  There were many difficulties we dealt with in ministry.  However, the blessings and progress far outweighed the trials and blockades.  Through the difficulties and mistakes we made, we gained an insight akin to the grandfathers of everyday life today.  People like to mow grampa's lawn, stuff themselves with grama's Sunday dinner.  But they have no need to inquire or solicit their 6 to 7 decades of wisdom.  Just like the adolescent teenager who rebels against a parent who just don't understand, they go their own way.

There are so many God-led, wise ministers who have weathered the difficulties of ministry--have learned from mistakes. Do the young and struggling ministers seek wisdom from these God-called, seasoned ministers?  Or are they content to have their ears tickled, teased, and taught by their peers who are young and struggling and, toying with making church relevant.  Many of whom have not even finished seminary, let alone served more than a couple of years in a church.  Do any of the young ministers have older, wiser mentors as Paul was to Timothy?  I'm not talking about someone ten or fifteen years older.  I'm talking about men who have been in ministry for 20 or 30 years.  So much wisdom.  So little tapping into it.

I wonder why most conversations deal with what is relevant.  Never mind making church "relevant", worship "relevant", Bible study "relevant".  Who makes Jesus relevant?  Where are all the posts on Jesus?  Where are all the discussions of how marvelous and mind-altering the words of Christ were to the pharisees?  Where is the encouragement?  How has Jesus manifested His presence in your life this week?  Last week?  Today.  Where is the love?  What are you doing others know you are Christians by the love you show the brethren?  Where is the grace so many write about yet fail to reveal in words or attitude when conversing?  I just wonder sometimes.  Do you?  selahV

CHANGES I'VE SEEN IN BAPTIST CHURCHES, by David Brumbelow

1. Men standing just outside the front door smoking.

2. Every family either having roast or homemade fried chicken when they get home from church. Hence the old joke that if the preacher preached too long, the roasts in the ovens would burn.

3. At least one family inviting the visiting preacher to join them at home for lunch.

4. Guitars not allowed in worship. “That’s what they play in night clubs.”

5. No kitchen in the church building. “Do you not have houses to eat and drink in?”

6. An outhouse behind the church building. The fancy churches had two outhouses.

7. No cards, dominoes, dice, or pool tables in the church. “We don’t gamble around here.”

8. A Gideon speaker once a year.

9. A TANE speaker once a year. (Texas Alcohol & Narcotics Education)

10. Pastor would never think of not wearing a coat, tie, and white dress shirt Sunday morning.

11. No mixed swimming ever, at a church function.

12. BYPU (Baptist Young People’s Training Union).

13. Spring and Fall Revivals.

14. Broadman Hymnal. “Turn over in your hymnal to page 323.”

15. Women would never think of wearing pants to church.

16. You can’t see the preacher because of the lady’s hat in front of you.

17. Mimeograph machine, stencils, stylus, and manual typewriter in the cutting-edge church office.

18. Beginners, Primaries, Juniors, Intermediates, Sunbeams.

19. Bible Drills. “Attention, Draw Swords, Nahum 1:3, Nahum 1:3, Charge!”

20. All the young preachers trying to preach like Billy Graham, R. G. Lee, W. A. Criswell, Vance Havner, Lester Roloff, or J. Harold Smith.

21. Flannel graph and filmstrip Bible Stories.

22. Roman Road, Tract Evangelism, Evangelism Explosion, Continuous Witness Training, Witness Involvement Now, Friendship Evangelism, Four Spiritual Laws, Steps to Peace With God, Concentric Circles of Concern, FAITH, Share Your Faith Without Fear. I like ‘em all.

23. Shared Leadership, Multiply by Dividing, Million More in ‘54 (a little before my time), Flake’s Formula, Every Baptist a Tither, Global-Local, Equipping Modules, Study Course Credit.

24. Foreign Mission Board, Home Mission Board, Annuity Board, Baptist Book Store.

25. Shout “Amen” (with a long “A”), “Praise the Lord,” “Glory;” but never clap your hands!

26. An old saint of God imploring the Lord to “lead, guide, and direct us,” and to “bless the gift and the giver.”

27. “When They Ring Those Golden Bells” and “My Saviour First Of All” sang at most every funeral; and none of that “canned music.”

Point being - change does happen, has happened, will continue to happen. Be patient, your change very likely will occur. Alas, before you know it, your innovative change will be left behind in the dust of other changes.  The old, old story of Jesus and His love, however, will continue to be proclaimed.

-David R. Brumbelow, April 13, AD 2009