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.

Byron Nelson

I was sadded to learn of the death yesterday of the great golfer, Bryon Nelson. Lord Byron will be remembered for his accomplishments as a golfer, but many more will remember him for the Christian life that he led. Every time I heard him interviewed, I was impressed with his character. For more on his life:

http://www.wfaa.com


I'm sure he has heard a "Well done" from the Lord.

Founder's Day

Today was Founders Day at NGU. It is the day that the history of the university is celebrated. It was my first official/formal function at the university as the faculty dressed in academic regalia. It was a bit trying to find my place in the recession, but I finally found the person I was to stand behind and all went well. The speaker was Dan Cathy, president/CEO of Chick-fil-A. He did an excellent job, and I was impressed by his company's Christian commitment. As you know part of that commitment is that they are closed on Sunday. I've done my part today--I had chicken for lunch and dinner!

Fairview

Well we finally joined a church last Sunday. We have been visiting churches through the summer, but we finally settled on Fairview Baptist in Greer. Dr. Steve Crouse, campus minister at NGU is the interim. If you'd like to check the place out the web address is:

http://www.fairviewgreer.net/index.php

Insults with Style

You'll like this from "Preaching Now"....

Insults with style

"He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire." (Winston Churchill)

"A modest little person, with much to be modest about." (Winston Churchill)

"I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure." (Clarence Darrow)

"He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary." (William Faulkner, about Ernest Hemingway)

"Poor Faulkner. Does he really think big emotions come from big words?" (Ernest Hemingway, about William Faulkner)

"Thank you for sending me a copy of your book; I'll waste no time reading it." (Moses Hadas)

"He can compress the most words into the smallest idea of any man I know." (Abraham Lincoln)

"I've had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn't it." (Groucho Marx)

"I didn't attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it." (Mark Twain)

"He has no enemies, but is intensely disliked by his friends." (Oscar Wilde)

"I am enclosing two tickets to the first night of my new play. Bring a friend . . . if you have one." (George Bernard Shaw to Winston Churchill)

"Cannot possibly attend first night. Will attend second . . . if there is one." (Winston Churchill, in reply)

Preaching to Felt Needs

Here is an insightful blog post on the danger to preaching to felt needs.

http://www.albertmohler.com/blog_read.php?id=773

IMB Commissioning Service

My family and I had the privilege of attending an International Mission Board Commissioning Service last night at North Spartanburg First Baptist Church. To say that it was inspiring is an understatement. The service from start to finish was a true worship experience. It was gratifying to see one of my former Southwestern students and his wife commissioned. If you have never been to a commissioning service, by all means go to the next one close to you. You really won't be the same.

I was sad that Gordon Fort was not able to attend. He was on the program but was not there. Gordon's wife, Leann, grew up at my last church--Riverside in Ft. Worth. I was hoping to touch base with him but of course was not able to do so. Other than that, it was great night.

Tongues & Baptists

The recent flap over the Dwight McKissic sermon at Southwestern again brings to the forefront the subject of Baptists and tongues, or the politically correct term "private prayer language." That's the term Baptists like to use to make sure they are not getting mixed up with the tongue speakers in Pentecostal/charismatic groups. In essence, that is still what we're talking about. McKissic was highly critical of the International Mission Board of Trustees over its decision to not appoint missionaries who claim to speak in tongues. Are they right in doing so?

The idea of a private prayer language comes from 1 Corinthians 14 where Paul attempts to set in some kind of order the confusion brought out by the use tongues in worship. In 14:2 Paul wrote: "For the person who speaks in [another] language is not speaking to men but to God, since no one understands him; however, he speaks mysteries in the Spirit." In 1 Cor 14:14 Paul writes: "For if I pray in [another] language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful" [HCSB]. The term translated "another language" in the HCSB is "tongue." Do these verses demand the idea of a private prayer language. In both cases the answer is no. In v. 2 all Paul is saying is that when one speaks in tongues only God can understand him/her [if an interpreter is not present]. In v. 14 the apostle seems to only be saying that when one prays in tongues he/she cannot understand what is being said. Neither of these verses require the idea of a private prayer language.

Clearly in 1 Cor 12-14 tongues are seen by Paul as a spiritual gift. In chapters 12 and 14 he is clear that tongues are to be used to glorify God and build up the church. Spiritual gifts are not individual-centered but corporate-centered. In other words, they are not for the building up of the individual [although they do that] but for the building up of the church. Spiritual gifts are not a "private" matter but a "corporate" matter.

All of our experiences must be examined in light of Scripture. Is there such a thing then as a "private" prayer language? I would like to see an example of it in Scripture to be convinced. I don't find that example. Although I at first was critical of the IMB position, I believe now that the trustees were correct.

Osteen

You'll likely be interested in this report about Joel Osteen's recent Boston visit.

http://www.albertmohler.com/blog_read.php?id=766

This reminds me of his appearance on Larry King in which he danced around the reality of hell.

Preaching and Technology

One of the things mentioned in Al Mohler's take on contemporary preaching [posted recently here] was his concern that the preacher is becoming too enamored with technology. I agree. Based on my experience this summer of being in several different churches for worship, I would say that preachers have become "PowerPoint crazy." It is almost overwhelming when almost everything the preacher says is projected on the screen. People are not as tuned into the preacher when that happens and are more worried about what is going up next. Besides, when too much is projected, you feel like you're in a classroom lecture. I don't want to feel like I'm in school when I'm at church. Also, when too much of the sermon is on PowerPoint, the preacher may feel enslaved to the presentation and not go "off script" should the Spirit demand it.

Not every point and subpoint needs to be projected on the screen. You don't need a lot of animation. I have reminded my preaching class that "less is more." Use technology but don't become a slave to it. Remember the best preaching is still done verbally!

FBC Marietta

I had my first preaching opportunity since coming to South Carolina on Sunday at Marietta First Baptist Church. Lesa and I had a great time in the two morning services. The church has a sweet spirit, and it is obvious that God is blessing that congregation. The church is a bit unusual in that it has a bigger congregation for the earlier service than in the second one. It is also unusual in that both service have the same order of worship. Thanks to Pastor Bennie Durham for giving me the opportunity to fellowship with his great church!

State of Preaching Today

Al Mohler has written a commentary entitled, "The State of Preaching Today." It is well worth the read.

http://www.albertmohler.com/commentary_read.php?cdate=2006-08-28