Integrity and Preachers

I was greatly upset by a story in recent days on Baptist Press. A pastor in Florida lied about his education credentials, and when the truth came to light he had to resign after less than two months in the pulpit. The following story on BP deals with accreditation more than the story in Florida, but it will give you an idea of the issues.

http://www.bpnews.org/bpnews.asp?ID=24242

What is up with the lying on one's resume? From Notre Dame to Radio Shack to West Palm Beach, Florida. By the way, once you lose your integrity it is awfully hard to get it back.

Celebration!

Part of the grand celebration in St. Louis. The improbable has been done! Thank you for a great October!

That's A Winner!

The long wait for Cardinals fans is over. I've been waiting for 24 years--the year I got married, for a repeat performance. Now from the most unlikely of teams, we have it---a World Series champion. The Cards, who no one thought would win, did win game 5 to take the Series from the Detroit Tigers. It was awesome to see the celebration in the new Busch Stadium. Now the monkey is finally off the back--Cards fans can breathe and smile! Now when I think of the Cardinals it won't be just about Gibson, Brock, Ozzie, Sutter, and McGee; I will also think about Albert, Carpenter, Suppan, Weaver, and Eckstein. By the way, Jeff Weaver will never have to pick up the tab in St. Louis the rest of his life!

This takes the sting away from an terrible childhood memory. In 1968, South Elementary School in Kennett gathered as one in the lunch room in front of a small B/W T.V. to watch Bob Gibson toe the rubber for Game 7 against the Tigers. The cheering of exuberant elementary kids turned to tears as we watched our beloved Cards lose that one. The sting of '68 has always been there. Thankfully it is gone! I saw a sign in the stands last night--"Retaliate for '68"--it has been done! One South school alum is glad.

Fall in SC

We're enjoying fall in SC. It is going to be cold tonight--hovering around the freezing mark. It's not Texas!

Bellevue

I've been wondering for several years what would happen to the super-churches when their pastor retires, leaves, or dies. Look no further than Bellevue in Memphis.

http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=24193

Inspirational Dad

I was greatly moved by Rick Reilly's article in this week's Sport's Illustrated. Riley wrote about an inspirational Dad and his son. Patrick Henry Hughes was born with a rare genetic disorder that left him without eyes, and with arms and legs that won't straighten. He has not, however, allowed these challenges to defeat him. He is a gifted musician who plays the trumpet in the University of Louisville marching band. He is able to do so because his Dad, Patrick John Hughes, pushes the wheelchair his son is in.

Dad also pushes his son to classes, sits with him and whispers anything written on the blackboard. Then there is band practice and Dad still has to go to work at 11pm. He gets off at 5am, gets a little sleep, then goes to classes and band with his son.

Dad is quoted as saying: "We still say, Why us? But now it's Why us--how'd we get so lucky?"

That my friend is unconditional love!

I'd urge you to read Reilly's article in the Oct 16 edition of SI.

Students Fighting Back

As I read Saturday's The Greenville News, I was surprised to see a by-line from Burleson, Texas, our former home. It seems high school teachers and students are being taught to fight back if some maniac comes into the classroom intending harm. Apparently amajor in the British Army Reserve has done the training, the first of its kind in America.

Of course, there will be some who will criticize the training. Surely, they say, some child will be killed. But isn't it at least possible that many more children would be saved if they know what to do? Bravo Burleson! Perhaps it is time to turn the tables on the wackos.

Women in Ministry Report

I've finally gotten around to reading a report on women in ministry and Baptist churches. It is just as I surmised--some Baptists loudly proclaim that women should serve as senior pastors, but they are not willing to call them when their pulpits are vacant. The report can be accessed at:

http://www.bwim.info/index.php/html/main/welcome.html

Witherington on the Amish Tragedy

Ben Witherington has written a powerful entry on his blog concerning the Amish tragedy. It is a must read.

http://benwitherington.blogspot.com/

I too have been greatly moved by the spirit of forgiveness shown by the Amish, who no doubt are greatly devestated by what took place. Although they are crushed they are not defeated. May their type of Christianity increase.

Battle of the Bulge and Iraq

I don't get into politics too much on the blog, but a thought hit me recently. I wonder what today's reporters would have said if they had had been looking at the events during the Battle of the Bulge in WWII. You recall that the Germans made one final push in December 1944 to salvage victory in Europe. There were many casualities and for a while it didn't look good for the Allies. The news media of today would have been whining as now, I'm sure. However, we did win that one as I recall.

The same is true in Iraq at the moment. The violence has escalated as the enemy attempts to salvage victory. The media is whining about how badly things are going. I have confidence we're going to win this one too!

Facing the Giants

We got to see "Facing the Giants" over the weekend in Spartanburg. It was a well done picture that sends the message that with God all thing are possible. I was a bit worried at the beginning; the movie starts a bit slow and the acting is sub-par. But as the movie progresses, the actors step up and do a more than decent job. The primary characters are believable and their faith journey inspiring. I left the theatre encouraged and thankful how God is working through the film. By the way, I've been to only one other movie this year where there were as many people in the theatre--"The Ballad of Ricky Bobby." If y0u have a chance to see the movie, by all means do it--you'll be glad you did.

Case of the Missing Remote

Have you ever lost something, and you would not rest until that something was found? It happened to us this weekend when we lost our TiVo remote. It was lost sometime on Saturday afternoon. We looked high and low. We looked under and above. We completely gutted the living room--no remote. We all went to sleep on Saturday night with one question: Where is the remote? All day Sunday. No remote. Sunday night. No remote.

Finally, just after 1am this morning--Lesa found it. It was caught inside her recliner. We had looked. We had put our hands down the filthy back and sides of the recliner [isn't it disgusting how bad those get?] . She didn't find it until early this morning, exhausted from the search, she leaned far enough back in the recliner to feel something strange. She back down on her hands and knees and reached deeply into the leaning recliner--there it was!

How did it get there? Who put it there? I'm blaming the dog. But no matter--the case of the missing remote is solved. All is right in our world. We can surf our channels without getting out of the chair again. PTL!

Vines on Islam

I thought you'd like this from Jerry Vines, who has had lots of experience in dealing with criticism of Islam. I think he can sypathize with the Pope.

POPE "OFFENDS" MUSLIMS

So what else is new?
Pat Robertson tells the truth about Islam and muslims are "outraged."

Franklin Graham tells the truth about Islam and muslims are "irate."

Jerry Falwell tells the truth about Islam and muslims are "angry."

I tell the truth about Islam's founder and muslims are "offended."

Now, the Pope has "offended" the muslims yet again. Pope Benedict XVI, in a speech last week a Germany's Regensburg University, said that the only thing Muhammad brought that was new was "only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." Keep in mind Islam has a standard procedure when they are "offended." They riot in the streets, burn churches, and kill people.

Sister Leonella, a 65-year-old nun was ambushed and shot just days after the Pope's remarks. Their reaction actually proved the point of the quotation the Pope cited. The Pope is trying to distance himself from his remark. He says he was quoting someone else and is "deeply sorry for the reactions in some countries a few passages of my address were considered offensive." (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 9-18)

If a cartoon "offends" them, they riot, burn churches and kill people. The pattern is always the same.

Now, here is the question - were the Pope's statements true? And those of Jerry Falwell, Franklin Graham, Pat Robertson and myself? Any fair-minded reader of Islam's tenets and anyone familiar with Islam's history will have to say, yes. But, we must not "offend" the muslims by telling the truth.

"Facing the Giants"

"Facing the Giants," a film completely produced by a church in Albany, GA, has opened. I hope to see it this week in Spartanburg. I find it interesting that the movie rated PG for its outspoken Christian message. It is unbelievable but true. If it is in your area--go see it.

Germantown Pastor

For some time we 've been splitting churches over music, then it was Calvinism, now it is elder-led vs. congregational led churches. Here's the latest on a Memphis area pastor who recently split his church over the issue and now isn't even Southern Baptist.

http://www.commercialappeal.com


Are you tired of all this? I am.