Seeking writers with positive stories, anecdotes, essays, announcements, posts and experiences involving the SBC. WHAT'S GOD UP TO IN YOUR CHURCH? YOUR SCHOOL? YOUR VOCATION? YOUR MISSION FIELD?
Pastor David Brumbelow, a friend who has supported me through many difficult times of health & life struggles, shared the following post with me. While I do not know all the specific details of these memorial windows, it seems Bro.David does.
The entire incident reminds me of how people are tearing down statues around America to remove history and the way ISIS destroyed churches and artifacts in the Middle East to wipe out historical evidence of Christian presence.
Maybe taking down the Patterson windows has nothing to do with wiping out the memory of him being there. Even though I recall several calls for such in the blogs when they were condemning him. All the more reason, I suppose, for Pastor David Brumbelow’s post:
In my sabbatical from most all things controversial in the SBC, I've happened across a few blogpost titles about Dr. Patterson allowing a Muslim to enroll at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. I had not once considered reading them until yesterday. Planned on doing that today, but still had not gotten around to it.
I've really tired of the beating and finger-pointing and posturing and simply had no desire to peek into the pages of the latest attack on Paige Patterson. I've even kinda adopted the same feelings as he shared a few years ago when he was asked to be part of another controversial SBC matter.
When I first read the flying reports about the man I affectionately refer to as Dr. P., I sat back and scratched my head a bit. However, knowing what little I know about Dr. P., I deeply trusted that he must have an eternal purpose in mind for the situation. Lord knows the hoary headed old fella is tired of the battles in the convention; he's said so himself when he was dealing with all those young and restless yuppies (my descriptor), wanting to change the name of the convention to Great Commission Baptists/link. (Irony of ironies that the same who wanted to be known as "Great Commission Baptists" now seek to block a non-believer from hearing indepth teaching about the commission itself, isn't it?)
Until reading Peter Lumpkins' post today I didn't know that it be "the man from Enid" who had his knickers in a knot over the situation. For me, given the source of what Peter describes as "the dumbfounding outrage against Patterson himself for desiring to practice what God knows we all need to practice more—connecting one-on-one evangelistically", I am not surprised there is yet one more attempt to take down the old man in Dallas. I do wonder if the man north of me enjoys stirring the waters of controversy regarding the honorable Dr. Patterson, though. I wonder if he has never quite been able to free himself from the chains of ire he has held for Dr. P for nigh onto a decade of my life.
More than the fact that a president of one of our seminaries has dared to allow a professing unbeliever in the midst of we baptized, white-robed and righteous Baptists, it makes me wonder if perhaps doctrine is more an issue with the naysayers than the actual audacity of the white-haired saint in Texas. After all, Dr. P believes we should share the gospel message to all, believing that whosoever believes on the name of Jesus, confesses his sin and turns from his wicked ways will actually receive eternal life provided by the shed blood offering for all who trust in Him. Jesus. The cross. The blood. The propitiation. The justification. The sanctification. And eventually, the glorification.
Is Dr. P's critic more inclined to believe it's already a done deal? that this Muslim has already been predestined to his lot in life and therefore his presence at our holy of holy seminaries puts both in jeopardy? That the Word he studies will just come back void, anyway? Could this Muslim possibly taint the propriety of our seminary's campus? Could he defile the seats upon which he sits in various classrooms? Could the air he expels in class somehow infect the masses of good men studying how to share the gospel in its wholeness and entirety? Is SWBTS in jeopardy of being destroyed because we've allowed some "Trojan Horse" into the camp?
I don't think so. It's no more sinful to allow this unbeliever to study the depths of faith in God than it is to invite a Muslim to our churches to hear the gospel preached and the Bible taught in our Bible studies each week. I well remember the day I assured a Muslim lady it would be perfectly okay to bring her little Muslim boy to our VBS and equally as proper for her to sit with him in class to help interpret what the teachers were telling him about Jesus each day. Was I wrong, too? God knows.
[Another writer weighs in on Paige Patterson's decision to allow Muslim to attend a Christian seminary...HERE]
Recently there has been a bit of conversation, on and off the social media circuit. I've also encountered some within the blogging community of we Southern Baptists concerning our dwindling baptism numbers. I even added a quip or two concerning the situation, here and here. This a.m., I read a
little thought from Max Lucado (of all people), and this is what he referenced and
said:
"Proverbs 16:18 reminds us as humility goes before honor, “pride
goes before a fall.”
"Ever wonder why churches are powerful in
one generation but empty the next? The Bible says, the Lord will tear
down the house of the proud. God hates arrogance. He hates it because we
haven’t done anything to be arrogant about. Is there a Pulitzer for
ink? Can you imagine a scalpel growing smug after a successful heart
transplant? Of course not. They are only tools. So are we. We may be
the canvas, the paper, or the scalpel, but we are not the one who
deserve the applause.
David declares who does in Psalm 23, “He
makes me, He leads me, He restores my soul… for His name's sake." For
His name's sake! No other name. This is all done for God’s glory. He
takes the credit, not because He needs it, but because He knows we
cannot handle it!"
Maybe it's just me, but I found this rather interesting in light of Convention discussions floating around the internet and within the halls of churches. HOW ABOUT YOU? ~selahV
Are you a man of God? Do you even know what it is to be a man of God? A truly, completely, unconditionally, sold-out man of God? The video below is one from Dr. Harold Hunter. His poignant Spirit-driven words cut quickly, and deeply and give clear understanding of what a "man of God" is. We are so in need of true men of God in our world right now, but most especially in the pulpits of every Southern Baptist church in America.
Yes, every SBC church ought to have a billboard on their property and this is one of the signs they ought to post for all the world to see.
Another sign they may consider posting is one that gives honor and respect to marriage and family. A picture is worth a thousand words. And we have been long on rhetoric. And for every pregnant gal we ought to have a sign that says, "Let the little children come unto me" with a photo of Jesus opening his hands to pregnant gals. We need to be a sanctuary of hope and help and promise.
I know. I was there. My fifteen year old grand-daughter was among them. And it filled my spiritual cup to the brim to watch it all from behind the scenes as candidates for baptism gathered with family and friends to get instructions on baptism. From 5th graders, to teenagers, to adults.
On the heels of reading the blogpost announcing the SBC has recorded the lowest number of baptisms since 1948, I have to tell ya, this church gave me hope. Great hope.
What are they doing right?
Let's see. The Gideon speaker was there and the pastor heartily encouraged folks to give to their ministry of giving out free Bibles around the world. And the Gideon speaker said they ministered to over 3,000 inmates and the Wichita Falls corrections last year and 356 were saved. Gideons. Have you had a Gideon speaker in lately to help encourage that ministry?
Then Senior Pastor Bob McCartney shared a wonderful message on Grace and salvation. And I took a bunch of notes. Kinda liked what he had to say. Wonder if they have his sermons online. Hmmn, have to check that out.
Here's part of what FBC Wichita believes is needed among tons of ministry outreach and opportunities:
"1.) Decisions - We want to see people make life and eternity changing
decisions for Christ by accepting Him as their Savior. To that end you
will find both our staff and members ready to share how to become a
Christian.
2.) Development - Once a person has accepted Christ we want to help them
grow as a Christian through a variety of opportunities including LIFE
Groups, Family Night at First, Special Bible Studies for various
interests and more.
3.) Deployment - We believe that a Christian, and the church, should
help others so we want to help everyone find a place of service where
they may use their skills, talents and abilities to help others come to
know Christ and grow in their faith.
Ultimately the purpose of the church is to lead people to become
obedient and reproducing disciples of Jesus Christ, as He commanded in
Matthew 28:18-20." (copied from FBC Wichita Falls site/link)
I'm grateful my granddaughters are a part of this exciting church. As I watched person after person being baptized behind the scenes in the baptismal area, many of the witnesses were crying tears of joy. Shouts of celebration could be heard from the congregation as children of God rose up from the baptismal pool.
Not sure what this church is really doing right, but they sure are a friendly group of folks. And they seem quite happy to be worshipping God. From the outside, looking in, I'd say they have a lot to offer their community and the body of Christ for sure. Thought it rather telling that they believe in discipling believers to share their faith, too. Key to getting baptisms, wouldn't you say? selahV
Yep, that's what they say. And one
blogger wants to know why we haven't been blowing up the blogosphere with
posts about it. If you ask me, that is part of the problem. It's not
the blogsophere that is going to change the baptisms... it is the young preacher
men and leaders getting out there and beating the bushes and visiting
the sick and ministering to grieving families and working with young
people and doing one on one evangelism. AND FIRST AND FOREMOST, IT IS
PRAYER. No, it's not the twitter feeds and facebook statuses and
blogposts and fingers feverishly pounding out rhetoric that we need to
be concerned about. "...It is feet shod with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace."
"Set our souls afire Lord, set our souls afire" Send a great revival to our souls, send a great revival to our souls...let Your Holy Spirit come and take control, send a great revival to our souls. selahV
Called the "Best combination of a scholar and country preacher in the Southern Baptist Convention", Jerry Vines is honored. Amazing to know this book is being published with a collection of essays on expostional preaching.
Called the "Best combination of a scholar and country preacher in the Southern Baptist Convention", Jerry Vines is honored. Amazing to know this book is being published of collection of essays on expostional preaching.
I received my copy of this daily-devotional book in yesterday's mail. How exciting that this book arrived just in time for me to begin it on the first day of the new year. How appropriate that the first devotion for January 1st be entitled: "In the beginning God".
There is nothing we need more than God to begin our new year. Nothing and no one.
ALL THE DAYS is a simple title. It's a reminder of my need to seek God in all the days of my life. I am certain this book will lead me to focus on that truth and take me further along the path of knowing God as I walk with Him this year. As I read the first, very short devotion that Dr. Vines penned, every sentence proved to provoke deeper thoughts, fresh questions. I was hungry for more. When I finished the first devotion, I wanted to read the second. However, I plan to stay on track and read these individually for each day of the New Year. I don't want to get ahead of the wisdom that God plans for me in each day. You see...
I have a tendency to run ahead of God. I get these grand ideas and think that I am inspired, or led, to do a particular thing, to take a particular road, to move in a particular direction. I know this about myself, I get in too much of a hurry. Ever do that? God has revealed this weakness in me over and over since I became a Christian. This year, I resolve to restrain my emotions. I resolve to give God more than a passing thought for the day as I begin each day. ALL THE DAYS appears to be a book I can depend upon to lead me in that resolve. It is more than a quick-fix for the day or a period in a sentence. It's more like a comma or a semi-colon. It's meant to remind me of God's presence in my life and the reason for His presence. Yeah, I got that out of the first devotional reading.
I love devotional books; I love to write devotionals. As I read about Dr. Vines' devotional, I found that he had a specific purpose with each and every devotion, and a theme for each and every month. He seeks, to not only give thoughts for us, but provide a bit more (link to see his purpose), to emphasize more than one verse out of context. As a pastor's wife, it whet my appetite and made me want to refresh my memory on the beginning of things through God's Word.
"In the beginning God", spotlights and emphasizes the first chapter of Genesis and how our Creator planned our world by creating it and filling it. Dr. Vines summarizes with the statement that "scientists have come to understand the anthropic principle. It is now recognized that the whole creation was specially designed for people." People. You and me. We were so important to God that He created an entire world of goodness and grace in which we could thrive and enjoy and worship Him. As I consider that thought, I cannot help but be grateful for this new day in this new year. Despite the challenges that this world presents me, the inevitable evil that this world will produce in coming days, I am comforted that the Sovereign Creator designed this world so I could live in it and find His protective hand in every detail.
Dr. Jerry Vines is a native of Carrollton, Georgia. He pastored First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida for 24 years. He served two terms as President of the Southern Baptist Convention and is revered by many Baptists today.
To get your copy of his devotional book designed for busy believers CLICK HERE.
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