Category Archive

In my opinion, it has been a long time coming for Baptists, a predominant denomination in America, to stand up for some social issued and begin to bring about change. Many of the issues discussed at the New Baptist Covenant Celebration are aspects of life that many churches apparently view as “too impolite” to discuss amongst themselves.
Whatever your opinion of former President Jimmy Carter and former President Bill Clinton, points they made in their addresses to the NBC attendees need to be echoed in churches across the nation and around the world. As yet another democrat (Barack Obama) said, “We don’t have to agree on everything to come together to bring about change.”
No matter what our differences, Christians can respond to criticism and need with love. 
No matter what our differences, Christians can be unified to end social injustices.
The person caught in sex trade, extreme poverty, repeat incarceration and in need of help do not care if you are a Conservative Baptist, Moderate Baptist, Methodist, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Catholic or Church of Christ - they just need help. What we should care about is when we help; they see Christ’s love for them.

A friend of mine sent a link to an Ethics Daily article on a new program at a Baptist seminary if Fort Worth. I honestly thought it was some kind of joke. What got me wasn’t so much the fact that they have this program, but Paige Patterson’s comments about it and why.

Completely unbelievable. More on BaptistBlog (he’s mentioned in the article).

The name Mohammed is set to become Britain’s most popular boy name by the end of 2008 according to news sources. Just so you know, through the limited research I did online, Mohammed doesn’t even appear in the top 20 for boy names in the USA.

Eleven of the top 20 names for baby boys born in the USA come from Biblical characters: Jacob, Michael, Joshua, Matthew, Daniel, Andrew, Joseph, David, Noah, James and John.

The rise in the Mohammed’s popularity is due to the continued growth of the Islam. Britain apparently has a large and growing Muslim population. With this growth, are evangelical Christians “losing the battle of witnessing” to the Islamic religion?

A major contributor to the rise of Islam is the way many Muslims live out their faith in the midst of and in spite of society.

Researchers have compared the new portrait of mosques with a similar study in 1994. Some key findings:

• The number of mosques has increased 25%, from 962 in 1994 to 1,209 in 2000.

• Average mosque attendance at Friday prayers has nearly doubled, up 94% from 150 to 292.

• Most have an ethnic diversity unmatched in Christian and Jewish congregations, with 90% of mosques reporting a mix of South Asian, African-American, Arab and other groups born in the USA and abroad worshiping together.

• There may be more than 6 million Muslims in America today, researchers calculate, based on 2 million people who are formally affiliated with mosques, up from 500,000. They attribute the growth primarily to immigration.

But the most newsworthy finding is the determination of Muslims to make mosques “the platform for full participation in American life,” says Ihsan Bagby, co-chairman of the research committee. “The Muslim community is maturing and coming into its own.”

“Mosques today are not only centers for spirituality, they are also bases for political and social mobilization, focal points for Muslim life in a way they may not have been in more traditional Islamic societies,” says Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, one of the study sponsors with Hartford, the Islamic Society of North America and the Muslim American Society.

“Muslims believe that by involvement with the larger society, they can do service to America,” Awad says, citing last year, when mosques conducted their biggest and most visible voter registration drive.

The above information came from an older survey posted on Islam for Today.

This is something Christians could learn from Muslims. God calls us to be in but not of the world. Many times Christians aren’t “in” the world enough setting an example in environmental stewardship, financial stewardship and flat out good examples. Are all Christians good examples, no. I’m not, yet I strive to be.

I deserve a raise. I deserve to have a good job. I deserve to have a good family. I deserve to speed ahead and swerve back into traffic right before the lane ends. I don’t deserve the results of my bad decisions.

We as humans feel that we are entitled to benefits because of who we are. The thing is, as sinners there is only one thing that we deserve.

Feeling entitled can manifest itself when bad things happen to us. When they do, have you ever asked, “Why did this happen to me?” or said, “I don’t deserve this.”? Often God is thrown into this line of questioning. “Why did God let this happen to me?” What’s terrible is that the typical religious or non-religious answer is, “That’s just God’s will.”

While on the surface it provides a sense of comfort that God is in control, and God always is. By carelessly blaming God for an incident isn’t accurate and can ascribe false attributes to God. One of my favorite books, The Will of God, addresses this and how the term, “the Will of God” is thrown around carelessly.

An example of what I’m talking about….*(in the part below, this example is carried out)

When a young child dies of cancer and in comforting the parents, they are told, “it must have been God’s Will” – what does that tell the parents? Does it say that God killed their child? It is inside God’s Will only that God set the laws of nature and physics in motion but God did not cause that child to die. Man’s sin caused that child to die. Not the sin of their parents, but the natural sin of mankind. Cancer didn’t exist in God’s intended world. Sin was brought about by Adam and Eve. Yes, God allowed it.

Therefore, Dr. Weatherhead in The Will of God, suggests three “Wills of God.”

1. The Intended Will of God – this is what God intends. God created man to commune with Him. Some choose not to. God intended Jesus to come to earth and be accepted.

*Children aren’t supposed to die; disease isn’t supposed to exist.

1. The Circumstantial Will of God – this is God’s will inside the sinful earth. This is God allows us to make choices. Acceptance of Jesus without a choice isn’t acceptance. Since there is sin, this is what will happen. Jesus came to earth and was crucified.

*Disease was introduced after the fall of man

1. The Ultimate Will of God – this cannot be thwarted. God’s purpose for Jesus on earth was to provide atonement for sins so we could go to Heaven. That happened.

*We have the opportunity to commune and live with God.

Tonight is the first time, since the birth of our son over 8 months ago, that we are without him in our house. We leave for a short vacation tomorrow morning and he went to his grandparents a little early so we don’t have to wake him at 0500. It’s a little strange not having him around. Frankly, I miss him already. The true test will come tomorrow night as we are out of the state and hours away from him. I’ve traveled with work since his birth, but my wife hasn’t. We’ll see how this goes tomorrow.
Through this I can’t help but think of how our Heavenly Father longs for contact with us - constant contact - prayer without ceasing.

One aspect of my personality that I need to work on is my self-restraint. At times, I just go on out there and say things I shouldn’t; do things I shouldn’t. Not really out of anger, but out of frustration. I can handle anger; but frustration – not being able to fix/correct something – really, well, frustrates me.

As we have just “celebrated” Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and anticipate Easter, self-restraint tops my mind every year. The self-restraint it took Jesus, both God and man, to not simply command the mockery, the torture, the pain to end is amazing. This act is the most powerful expression of love.

I continued reading The Jesus I Never Knew by Phillip Yancey this morning I looked at my son who was eating from his bottle and looking up at me. “I have marveled at, and sometimes openly questioned, the self-restraint God has shown throughout history, allowing the Genghis Khans and the Hitlers and the Stalins to have their way. But nothing - nothing - compares to the self-restraint shown that dark Friday in Jerusalem. With every lash of the whip, every fibrous crunch of fist against flesh, Jesus must have mentally replayed the Temptation in the wilderness and in Gethsemane. Legions of angels awaited his command. One word, and the ordeal would end.”  For me as a father to not stop the torture of my son – unimaginable. As much as I care for and love other people – no one would get away with torturing my son even with my limited power and even if it meant others would die in his place.

Imagine going through Good Friday and Saturday without knowing what happened on Easter morning. We read the story in light of the outcome – not as how people lived it. Your friend, your Lord, mocked, tortured, crucified, dead. Your thoughts, your actions, your life would be impacted on a greater scale not knowing that you will see Him again on Sunday morning.

Saturday I went on a local mission emphasis, Hands of Christ, with my church and had a great time. It was the first time I went with this group, but it won’t be the last. (By local I mean, it’s actually in the city in which I live, but a part of the city I never knew existed.) This group goes to people’s houses and does construction for those who are unable to do the work or pay for the work to be done. Hands of Christ secured the building permit and arranged for trash pick up with the city.

Hands of Christ doesn’t just go clean up and paint. This weekend we started reconstructing the house’s foundation and building a wheelchair ramp for one of the residents to be able to come and go.

While talking with the family, their appreciation was beyond words. During this time, the power of the name, Hands of Christ, actually hit me.

Below are a few pictures from our efforts.

Every time I hear about people winning money or about wealthy people (I recently received my issue of Forbes magazine which listed the worlds top billionaires) I wonder what I’d do with that much money.

My first thought is always, well I would have less worries. But honestly, I don’t think I would – they just may be different worries.

Second, ashamedly, is about buying stuff – probably stuff I don’t need and wouldn’t really use.

Third – giving some away. I don’t know how much I’d give away. Of course some to church, some toSamford
University and some to missions emphases I like. But then what? Touching people the way this Japanese millionaire did for native Hawaiians is great. He’s helping people who can’t afford to live in their native land because other nations are driving up home ownership.

http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=2951718&page=2

Well, this basically a continuation of the thoughts in John Eldridge’s book “Wild at Heart.” There are some accurate aspects to it, some are carried a little far. I don’t think it is a “feminizing” of men, but more of the political correctness taking over. We aren’t as bold in some aspects as others. I’m not. Probably because we are taught to “play nice” and not upset the waters too much. On the other hand, if I didn’t curb myself in some aspects, I wouldn’t be too much fun to be around and would get rid of friends and fire people too easily.
Yes, we need to stand up and make statements as Christians and not worry about what others think and “will we lose churches” but it needs to be done as Christian men, not just as men in search of power. Bottom line is I don’t think a church being “feminized” has anything to do with women taking leadership roles. I think he is addressing how men are reigning in their “jalapeno factor” (as he put it).If we aren’t “nice” in some ways, no one will follow. Eldridge and this guy are correct in some ways, but people like “Rand the Conqueror” just aren’t needed in society – at least in the way we think of conqueror. His point about porn is interesting too – Eldridge’s theory is that men are attracted to porn because it is “safe” as in no interaction with a wife. 
I could go on…Men do need to act like men but that doesn’t mean being a obnoxious or angry – just strong.

We have a bedtime ritual already established with our 7-month-old son. First, we read a couple of books, then sing a couple of songs (which could range from “Jesus Loves Me” to “The Itsy-bitsy Spider” to “How Great Thou Art”) then we say a short prayer as we lay him down into his crib. Most nights, he does great and just falls right to sleep.
On rare occasions, he isn’t so happy to sleep – he wants to crawl around and get into more things that we haven’t put up yet. He has also learned to stand in his crib and scream. After this short protest, he always grows tired, quiet, lies down and falls asleep.
Perhaps the best occasion as a parent is waking up your baby in the morning. When either my wife or I go in to wake him he is usually asleep or just waking. Once he hears us or sees us, he gets a grin on his face, sits up giggles joyfully and awaits being lifted out of the crib, cuddled and fed. Joy comes in the morning.

I’ve received questions asking, “What is a ‘moderate Christian?’” First, let me separate the two words because it is not moderately being a Christian, but being a Christian who has a moderate or middle of the road or sitting on fences world view.

We hear so much from the “Christian Right” (which by the way is neither in my opinion) and how they are judging, excluding and overlooking the very people Christians are to serve as evidenced in Jesus’ life on earth. We hear so much from them because they are trying to take over the political system to further their power and beliefs. I’m all for sharing my beliefs, but not forcing them. “Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary, use words,” St Francis of Assisi.

Now, what it means – according to me. I grew up Baptist and still hold Baptist beliefs (while attending a Methodist church because that is where my wife and I feel God wants us to be). Many of the following thoughts are traditional, unchanged Baptist doctrine – not the creeds some want to sign and enforce.

Jesus Christ – born of a virgin, died, rose and lives.

Priesthood of the Believer – I believe that every person has a connection with God through prayer. Jesus and the Holy Spirit enable this link.

The Bible – God’s revelation of Himself to us. God used divinely inspired men to write it.

Meeting human needs – we are called to minister to those who need help.

Sanctity of human life – I am for life. I also think the government shouldn’t tell people what to do on a personal level.

Creationism - How God did it be it through big bang, evolution, whatever doesn’t matter. Interesting discussion and learning about science but that initial spark, the action that set it all in motion came from God.

Environmentalism – God created the world. We are earth’s stewards and must take care of what God has given us responsibly.

Life – there are so many applications here that it could fill pages. Wine and alcoholic beverages - drink them if you want to, just don’t get drunk or lose control of yourself.

Freedom of religion – the government shall make no law prohibiting or enforcing a religion.

Worship – worshipping God can happen anywhere at anytime. You don’t have to be in a specific location, just a specific state of mind.

Love – God loves all his creations more than we can imagine.

Grace – God’s grace is freely available to all who ask through Jesus.

The above post also now appears under the “defined” link above.

I just listened to a speech/sermon by the executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas., Dr. Charles Wade. I know there are some negative things circulating about Baptists, but let me tell you something - this group of people want to be Jesus’ representatives here on earth. They want to meet peoples’ needs - hunger, rights, poverty, environment. These are the people Baptists should be seen as, not those in the “new conservatives” who now run the Southern Baptist Convention and exclude the very people they should be reaching.