Out for Awhile

This is Gail, Tim’s wife.  Tim wanted to let everyone know that he is out of town in Revival and does not have access to the internet.  He will try and catch up with comments when he returns at the end of the week.

Round-Table 2 At Cornerstone Baptist Church

Well, it is here folks.

I just wanted to show you some images of the Round-Table 2 taking place this week-end at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Texas. Many people are attending, I believe the registration number is 600.

It is a great turn-out, but we have a problem. Dr. Bart Barber and Rev. Robin Foster cannot be found. After Dr. Barber’s session on Saturday, there began an uprising from some. They could not take the piercing truth of the word and began unleashing their pent up fury. Notice the pictures of what is left of Arlington.

As you can see, this is the side wall and we can find no one that can tell us where Dr. Barber is located.

We were told that he was seen over by the interstate and we have word from a reliable source that he and Rev. Foster moved over to Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary’s campus to seek refuge.

All of this came about just after Dr. Ben Cole convened his part of the conference. Where could they be?

We have found a couple that claim attendance at this conference.  They are from Alabama and he is a Pastor/blogger/Alabama Pastor’s Conference Officer. She usually does not allow for her picture to be taken and has been known to blow-up some that disagree.  However, she did agree to this photo just prior to the disappearance of the two conference presenters.  He is known as the silent type that stalks his prey with the skills of a Mountain Lion.  Before you know what has happened he has the goods and pounces, thus lending credibility to any cause he joins.  To reveal his openness to diversity, he has been known to hang out with another blogger that wears a pink hat.

This couple could not remember much, but they do recall observing Dr. Cole following the two missing presenters over to Pecan Manor. Dr. Cole is not revealing his location, though he is in communication with a news organization from Dallas along with the accrediting agencies for SWBTS.

Following a thorough search of the area, Pecan Manor cannot be found.  These rescuers can only find this lone survivor from Pecan Manor.

Some have speculated this disappearance of the two presenters is proof that the Rapture occurred.  Of course, if this is the case, Dr. Barber’s eschatology is now in order and he and blogger Les Puryear now know that this humble blogger was right all of the time.  Certainly, you must know that these words were written before the conference, thus the absence of this blogger is due to the Rapture.  What about the above couple?  Well, they have a mid-trib view and our Loving Father is allowing them the first 31\2 years then He will rapture them.

When asked about the conference, anyone found that would comment, stated without a doubt it was a powerful move of God.

For all that are at Arlington, lighten up. I do pray that you enjoy the conference. I do believe God will move in the hearts of all present.

Southern Baptist and Baptist–Is there a Difference?

I ran across an interesting article the other day on another bloggers blog that made me begin thinking about this subject. Dr. Tony Cartledge, current editor of the Biblical Recorder, pointed to a term we use here in North Carolina. That term is NC Baptist. Many times you will hear a debate on the convention floor and in that debate this term will make its way into the debate in a phrase like; “As North Carolina Baptist we…” Dr. Carteledge argues that there are more Baptist and using this term narrows the field considerably. It gives the appearance that if you are not part of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina (BSCNC) then you are not truly Baptist. No one that I know believes that using this term draws out an elitist Baptist position. From what I can remember, the first time I remember this term being used it was by Dr. Gene Puckett, Editor Emeritus of the Biblical Recorder. Dr. Puckett, a historian in his own right, made the point as editor that the BSCNC was in existence before the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) therefore NC Baptist were different than Southern Baptist. In other words, you could be a NC Baptist without being a Southern Baptist. This reasoning added to the schism that was generated through the Conservative Resurgence and came into our State.

I want to now view this on the national level. This week there is a conference going on at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas. This conference is billed as “The Conference on the Holy Spirit”. There are many scholarly speakers and wonderful men of God speaking at this conference. An interesting side note. Many of those who are leading this conference have taken public stands against Dr. Paige Patterson’s belief that women are not supposed to be teaching men theology. However, there is not one woman delivering a scholarly address concerning this subject. The only women speaking are addressing other women. Of course I digress, and need to get back to the subject matter of the post.

Many have viewed this as a conference where Southern Baptist iron out their differences concerning the doctrinal role of the Holy Spirit. Most of the people I know on the agenda are known across the convention as Southern Baptist. For example Rev. Wade Burleson has a rich Southern Baptist heritage. His Southern Baptist roots run deep by being a 4th or 5th generation Southern Baptist preacher. One may disagree with his assessment of many things, but one cannot get past his heritage and must give ear because of it. As a matter of interest one he has referred to as a jr. pastor is now pastoring in the Burleson, Tx. area. the city of Burleson is named after Rev. Wade Burleson’s Grandfather, or Great-Grandfather, I am not certain which. Rev. Burleson was educated at Baylor University. Dr. Dwight McKissic, received his M-Div from SWBTS and began Cornerstone Baptist Church while being mentored by a pastor of a Southern Baptist Church. I am not certain, but I believe, he also received his D-Min from SWBTS also. Dr. Bart Barber was educated at Baylor and received his M-Div and PhD. from SWBTS. He pastors a church that is affiliated with SBTC and the Southern Baptist Convention. Which brings me to one that stands out like a Senior Adult Ladies Sunday School Teacher at a Tatoo and Body Peircing convention.

Dr. Sam Storms is a scholar. There is no questioning his credentials when it comes to academia. My questions center more around his credentials when it comes to being described as a Southern Baptist. Please do not misunderstand. I have never met Dr. Storms but believe him to be a humble scholar that truly desires to find truth. I am certain his walk with Christ is above reproach as is all who have been invited to speak at this conference. I am merely questioning the approach that places Dr. Storms as speaking for Southern Baptist as to the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. According to Dr. Storms biographry found here, he has not been educated in a Southern Baptist context. His only admission to being exposed to Southern Baptist was when he was being raised in Texas. According to his bio his only pastoral experience was in a Presbyterian Church and a Non-denominational church. His teaching experiences are not in Southern Baptist Seminaries, neither in State Baptist universities. While at Wheaton he became affiliated with an Anglican church in order to better minister to some of the students that were attending Wheaton. An admirable gesture. However, the only Southern Baptist experience he reveals is when he was growing up and attending a SB church with his family. I understand that while working on his ThM at Dallas Seminary he was a member at FBC Dallas, but that was while he served at Interim pastor at a Presbyterian Church, so it appears he never really was able to attend FBC. Dr. Storms, however, is now Pastor at Large for Theological Development at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Enid. This is a position he entered back in the fall of 2006. Dr. Storms still lives in Kansas City, some 300 miles away and his membership is in Enid, OK. I realize one of SB’s well known sons lives in Asheville, NC and has membership in FBC Dallas, Tx. However, two wrongs still does not make it right. Besides, I never have heard of a time that Dr. Billy Graham was scheduled to give the opinion of where Southern Baptist stand on a doctrine. Also, some of those leading this conference have been pushing regenerate church membership. In this push some have spoken specifically about those church members that never attend. What is the difference in having a person listed on the church roll that lives 5 miles from the church and possibly attends another fellowship, and having someone living 500 miles away and attends another fellowship?

Let me conclude. Dr. Storms appears to be baptistic in his beliefs but let’s set the record straight. Dr. Storms does not speak for the SBC as to how we are to view the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. Dr. Storms is a great man of God that deserves to be heard on this subject. However, Dr. Storms is not one that should be accentuated as speaking for Southern Baptist on this matter. Just because one is Baptist, it does not make them Southern Baptist.

The Media is not always Negative!

In our time it seems that everything the News Media does is focus attention on things negative. While death and tragedy are part of life, it does seem that the News Media focuses on just the tragedies and glamorizes some of the issues. It appeared the first thing the Media did was inform the President of Virginia Tech that some were calling for his resignation. How tragic!

Well, when they do something right I certainly would like to point it out. One of our news channel has lost a weather person. Today Melissa Greer lost her battle with cancer. What is amazing about this is that Ms. Greer just gave birth to a little boy. According to news reports she was progressing in her treatments. However, last evening she took a turn for the worst.

What is good about how the News Media is covering this? Melissa was a Believer. Read one of her blog entry’s here. I listened to Maureen O’Boyle speak about the Faith that Melissa exhibited through out her battle. Also, one of the other weather personalities spoke of his Faith and how there is hope beyond this life.

I want to Praise God for the life of Melissa Greer. I never got a chance to know her, but I have eternity in front of me where I can. I am praying for her husband as he tackles the hard job of being a single Dad. I ask that you take time to pray for this family. If you would like you can find the coverage from our local CBS affiliate here and read this story for yourself. Then send a email to rememberingmelissa@wbtv.com to encourage her family.

What does it Mean to Cooperate within the Association?

I want you to read the following which is taken from an association’s Bylaws to define cooperation within the churches of that association

c. Cooperation as defined by this body means: (1) participation in various activities of _____________ Baptist Association, Inc. (2) regular and systematic financial support of __________ Baptist Association, Inc. (each church is encouraged to give 3% of undesignated receipts to Association Missions and 1% of undesignated receipts to ____________ Retreat Center, and (3) sharing with ________________ Baptist Association, Inc. reports of the work of the church by means of the annual church profile. (Section I c)

 

If you had to guess, what fundamentalist association would these Bylaws govern? While you may not realize that conventions maintain little control over the autonomy of the local church, associations hold stricter standards.

Where is this rogue out of step association that requires their churches to report through the ACP? Would you believe that this is not some out of step association? This association is within a stone’s throw of one of our Seminaries.

Before I reveal the association let me give you some other information. What if a member of the Executive Committee openly confessed he was in violation of the standards of the association. Would the other churches in the association be concerned? What if, in the association that you served, there was a pastor that openly stated he did not agree with something that the association said was essential to be in membership? Would you be concerned?

Well, let me stop the cloak and dagger routine. You can find the association here. You can find their parameters of membership here. (I wonder if the Credentials Committee has followed through with their duties according to paragraph 2?) You can find the statement by the pastor that serves on the Executive Committee of that association here.

It is not every day that I find a flaw like this, especially with this pastor. I just want to say that those who call for consistency should make certain they are living within the parameters also.

I am not questioning your motives, my precious Brother, I am calling on you to be consistent, Bless your Heart. :>)

How does one Respond?

Many times you are left asking; why?

Today’s headlines says it all; here and here. Some call it Heinous and others call it a College Columbine. Regardless of what you call it, it brings about a question in my mind. Where can we assign blame? Certainly we need to blame someone or something. It seems that by blaming we can then continue living in our own little world of peace. It is through the blame-game that we rationalize how it could never happen to us. Let me ask; what more innocent thing could you be doing than attending class in a Engineering Department?

My heart aches for the families. I have a 9 year-old Daughter and just today I read of a father whose twenty-something daughter became engaged. In reading that piece I could see the absolute innocent pride of a father for a daughter. As you read the comment stream the daughter responds and that was it, I decided to go and purchase the Steve Martin movie, Father of the Bride. I wanted to write a comment, but felt I would be infringing on something of a sacred moment. It is an absolute beautiful and tender read.

Lying in the floors of those buildings on the Virginia Tech campus are ladies that will never marry or experience motherhood and never know the joy of being a grandmother. Those ladies, whose lives ended way too soon, will never know the peace of hearing that special man that she has given herself to encourage her to spread her wings and fly. Those precious ladies will never experience the sweetness of holding a new born baby and feel the pride and joy it brings. There are men lying there that will never experience the tender love of a wife that looks at you with a longing to help you be all that God has called you to be. Those men will never experience the joy of having a little girl wrap her arms around their neck and her legs around their waste and exclaim; “you are the best Dad in the world”. Those men will not know the pride and joy of seeing their little boy hit a t-ball off of the stand and then run down the third base line. Those men will never experience what it is like to see a job they have accomplished and know that it is complete.

There are mothers and fathers that now have to bury their children. It seems very unnatural for a parent to make funeral arrangements for their children. Children, it seems, are supposed to be the ones that plan funerals for their parents. In these floors lay the bodies of children that held promise for making the world a better place to live. There may be parents that have to bury their only child. This one child in the family had all of the dreams and grandeur of that family resting in that child. Now, that family name will cease. What a tragedy this act of violence has come to be for many.

Within this college community there are now survivors that have lived through Columbine, 9/11, and Virginia Tech. What will they do to make this world different? How will they respond? Will they hide in the dark corners of their homes gripped with fear? Will they become gun control activists? Will they become activists that insist on we Americans losing more rights in order to make everyone safe?

I do not know what will happen, but I do know one thing about this senseless act of violence. It brings our attention to the life we have been given. It seems a very wise man penned some words many years ago that will call our attention to today’s violence, not only in America, but around the world.

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing. Whether good or evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

I pray that God will be exalted in this situation. I pray for comfort and peace in the families that have lost their precious jewels.

I ask all who read this post to stop now and pray for these families.

A Motion I Plan to Ammend!

If the author of this article goes through with this motion, I plan to present this amendment. First, you see the motion for which I have provided the above link. Second, you see the amendment.

“That the Southern Baptist Convention request that the boards of trustees serving each convention agency, seminary, commission, and entity collaborate to establish uniform policies governing all employee uses of convention resources for the purposes of procuring, performing, and disclosing the revenue generated through all supplemental ministry assignments not considered to be official convention business; and that such uniform policies regulate the means whereby convention employees receive honoraria and expense reimbursements for all voluntary supplemental ministry assignments.”

I plan to amend this motion as follows:

“That the Southern Baptist Convention request that the boards of trustees serving each convention agency, seminary, commission, and entity collaborate to establish uniform policies governing all employee and trustee uses of convention resources for the purposes of procuring, performing, and disclosing the revenue generated through all supplemental ministry assignments not considered to be official convention business; and that such uniform policies regulate the means whereby convention employees and trustees receive honoraria and expense reimbursements for all voluntary supplemental convention ministry assignments. That this committee also establishes uniform policies that will include, but not be limited to, confidentiality of trustee material; public behavior of employees and trustees; and the process of reconciliation for various trustees to work through their personal differences without creating a media storm or involving the convention at large.”

The purpose for this amendment deals directly with autonomy. The convention will not tell my church what we are to pay someone. We are autonomous and that is our business. It also will set boundaries for the trustees concerning confidential material along with establishing guidelines concerning the public actions and responses of trustees and the administration.

I personally do not believe this motion is needed. However, if it is presented let’s plainly state who we are as autonomous churches and agencies. It is within the purview of the agency to set honorarium for employees and even reimbursements for the trustees of said agency when they are assigned duties outside their job descriptions. However, no agency will tell my church what I will reimburse their President to come hold a series of meetings for me during time the agency has alloted for outside speaking engagements. If said President is coming to my church as a representative of said agency, then it is the agencies responsibility to reimburse for expenses and speaking engagements. With this in mind, I believe the BoT at NAMB need to reassess their policy. It violates local church autonomy.

What do you think?

Blessings,

Tim

Just For Fun!

Brother Marty Duren is reporting that he is taking some time in our nations capital (here & here) . When I first read this article I wondered why he would take off and go to Washington, DC when other Baptist are preparing to go to Arlington, Texas. I thought after seeing his pictures that he may have gotten mixed up about Arlington, but then it hit me. This is an election year and the White House is wide open. Well I began ferreting around and from my sources I have found out that Marty is making this trip–as a kind of testing of the waters–to see if he is electable.

From my sources I found out that he has already formed his cabinet in the event he has to go into warp speed in order to win the election. He has already found the backing he needs in funding, from the royalties that Micah Fries receives from promoting all of the books on his blog. That should be enough to get him established in the campaign trail. With funding being tight to begin with, Marty has been in contact with Jerry Grace And Thom Rainer to get a deal on his presidential portrait. Some have asked why Marty would want to run for the White House and his response is simply, “If a Yankee Mormon and an Arkansas trailer park living Baptist preaching former governor can run for President so can a southern high-tech redneck.” He plans to run on the platform “Can’t we all just get along?” (As long as you get along with me). From his illustrious colleagues Marty Duren has chosen his cabinet. In the vein of not duplicating work he plans to combine many of the positions.

Marty has picked Kevin Bussey to be his running mate because with that hockey stick in his eye, Kevin is a walking billboard for his platform. In his cabinet appointments, Marty will combine the Department of Agriculture and Interior into one office with Volfan as the Director. Just hang out with Volfan and you will know he is a natural for this position. He also plans to combine Justice and Commerce Departments into one with none other than Ben Cole as that Director. Ben has the tenacity it takes to control this office. Besides, with Ben’s knowledge of J. Edgar Hoover, this is a perfect fit. Marty looks to keep the Department of Labor by itself with Dorcas Hawker being that Director. He needed a Lawyer and a Woman and you know how Marty is about keeping a tight reign on money. Besides, by keeping the Dept. of Labor by itself no one can accuse Marty of discriminating against a woman. The Defense, Homeland Security, and the Department of Veterans Affairs will be combined and CB Scott will direct that monster. This choice is a no-brainer. With CB being from Alabama, he knows that a Country Boy can survive. I know that I will sleep better at night. The Department of Education and the Department of State will be combined with Wade Burleson directing this illustrious office. With Wade’s contacts and his ability to get people to hear him, you can expect to see things moving in his direction very quickly. The Departments of Energy and Transportation will be combined along with the Department of Health and Human Resources with Art Rogers taking that helm. Art’s ability to get press credentials when no one knew you could do such a thing along with his ability to find things no one else knows is there (we need to find a way to get oil) makes him a shoe-in for moving items around the country and making sure everyone has a fair shot. Since many desire to watch and assess how Paige Patterson spends money Marty is placing him at the helm in the Department of the Treasury. This way Ben will not have to direct his allegations about spending habits toward anyone else. The Department of Housing and Urban Development is reserved for Dwight McKissic. He is well qualified for this position seeing he certainly knows the housing situation and the best places to stay in out of the way locations like Liberty, NC. :>) (That is an inside joke between Dwight and me.) Marty has chosen for his Chief of Staff, Bill Curtis. He noticed how Bill overcame all of the odds to be elected Chairman at NAMB. Therefore, he knows Bill will make certain Marty gets only the information he needs. Karen Scott will head up the Office of Management and Budget. She is well qualified for this position and besides, anyone that can direct CB Scott knows how to direct budgets. The US Trade Representative will be Wes Kenney. Anyone that can carry on a congenial conversation with Wade Burleson and then carry on the same congenial conversation with Jerry Corbaley certainly is able to hammer out Trade Agreements. With this Wes at the helm, I’ll bet we see a Trade agreement worked out between Mexico and Los Angeles. Marty has appointed Les Puryear to the office of the Environmental Protection Agency. He did this for two reasons. Les is an actor and certainly has to hang out with some of those tree huggers. Second, and the main reason, Les just looks like he should be there. The Office of National Drug Policy will be a Co-Director appointment. Bart Barber and Nathan Finn will head this office. These two historians will be able to overcome the drug trade in no time, due to their historical acumen regarding which policies failed in the past and which ones worked. Their advice to Marty will be valuable because, well, just because. Of course if they call in CB Scott he will tell them exactly how to get rid of the drugs. Something about the devil taking the hindmost.?! The Surgeon General post will go to Al Mohler. It seems that his expertise in the identification of the gene pool will enable us to address much of the problems facing out nation. Besides, as I understand it, Al Mohler is planning to appoint Tom Ascol as his Associate Director. With these two assessing the gene pool, we will have a nation of 5-pointers running around in no time at all.

Well, there you have it. And we all thought Marty was just taking in the sights of DC.