from the hills and hollers

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.