Graduation 08 Again

Greer High Graduation 2008 at the Bi-Lo Center in Greenville. Steph's big day!!

Graduaton 08

Graduate Stephanie getting ready for her big moment! Congrats!!

Pastors and Politics

We've had another example in recent days of why it is a bad idea for pastors to delve too deeply into politics and align themselves with a particular candidate. You probably know that John McCain has rejected the endorsements of John Hagee and Rod Parsley. An portion of one of Hagee's sermons recently surfaced about God, Hitler, and Holocaust. McCain called Hagge's comments 'crazy and unacceptable.' Parsley has made similar statements.

Although I'm neither a Hagee nor Parsley enthusiast, I understand what they've said. Many others do as well, including Rabbi Aryeh Scheinberg of San Antonio who recently defended Hagee. He said, "The Pastor interpreted a biblical verse in a way not very different from several legitimate Jewish authorities. Viewing Hitler as acting completely out of God's plan is to suggest that God was powerless to stop the Holocaust, a postion quite unacceptable to any religious Jew or Christian."

So Hagee's comments are neither crazy nor unacceptable. Comments like those in his sermons are bound to be misunderstood by the world. In a super-charged political environment seasoned with political-correctness, they are made public, hurting Hagee and McCain by extension.

I don't see the real benefit of pastors coming out publicly for political candidates. In the end, it winds up hurting our witness and lessening our influence. I think we should preach the Word, stand for truth, and label sin as sin. But I also think we should keep particular personalities out of the discussion. May the latest flap over pastoral endorsements serve as a warning to all of us. Stay above the political fray and stay away from personal endorsements.

Lesa's Favorite

There is no question in anyone's mind who Lesa's favorite is in the family. It's Yogi hands down!

Mothers Day 08

Mother's Day 08 was a great day for Lesa. She and Steph always wear one of her mother's hats to remember her. Andrew refused to wear one!

FBC Charleston

Lesa and I were recently in Charleston. One place we visited was First Baptist Church. It is the oldest Baptist congregation in the South.

Billy Graham Library

Lesa and I enjoyed a trip to the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte the other day, along with a group of seniors from our church. I was greatly impressed by the simple but powerful displays. The library is a metaphor for the preaching of the great evangelist. What other library includes an invitation at the end?

Broadway Baptist

The pastor of Broadway Baptist in Ft Worth resigned recently. The issues that led to his resignation primarily deal with how the church handles homosexuality. Read the following link for more info.

http://www.townhall.com/news/religion/2008/04/18/broadway_baptist_pastor_resigning

This is what happens to a church that goes "moderate." Is that the right term?

Building Survey

Well we continue to get surveys that show what the unchurched like and don't like. The latest seems to be the worst. What kind of church buildings do unchurched people like and respond to the best.

http://www.baptistcourier.com/2407.article

I suppose we'll ask the unchurched next what kind of lunch churches should serve that would cause them to attend fellowships. It seems to me people will determine their answer in this kind of survey by the kind of church building they've seen or been in the most. There are very few non-traditional church buildings around here [Greer, SC], although ours is an exception. Thus it is likely that if an unchurched person from our area would be asked what a church would look like, there would probably be some kind of traditional response.

Let's stop surveying the unchurched, form relationships with them, and share the old old story that Jesus saves!!

The Work of Preaching

I came across this quote from the great preacher John Chrysostom. He knew what it was like to labor in preaching: "My work is like that of a man who is trying to clean a piece of ground into which a muddy stream is constantly flowing."

Even the great Golden Mouth became discouraged when people didn't listen. He didn't give up, however, and neither should you. You seldom know immediately what people are getting in a sermon. The fruit may not be seen for a long time. Keep preaching!

Theologian Pastor

Here is an interesting blog entry that should give you food for thought. There is a real need in pulpits for the theologian pastor, but there is a need in academia for the pastor-theologian. The following blog entry also has some interesting insights on the Obama/Rev. Wright issue.


http://consumedblog.blogspot.com/2008/04/one-thing-jeremiah-wright-has-right.html

School Lawsuit

A California student has sued the school district he attends for a teacher's anti-Christian comments. Here is the link.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,345274,00.html

All I can say is if this teacher had said anything close to these remarks about an ethnic group or another religion, he would have been fired on the spot.

Play Ball!

George Will reminds us that there is something more important than politics, wars, etc. It is baseball!

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/GeorgeWill/2008/03/30/springtime_means_baseball

Go Cardinals!

Church Graveyards

Russell Moore has written a fine article on church graveyards. You might want to read it.

http://www.baptistpress.org/BPFirstPerson.asp?ID=27690

I served two churches with graveyards. One of them on two sides of our church building! I always thought it was good reminder to us that we are here today and gone tomorrow!

One More from the Meeting

We had a lot of help during the WMU meeting. The folks standing were our Faiview committee chairs. They did an excellent job!!

WMU Recognition

Lesa is being congratulated by Evelyn Blount on the great job she did coordinating our church's efforts. We had almost 700 registered for the meeting.

Fort

We were fortunate to reaquaint with Gordon Fort, VP of Overseas Operations at the International Mission Board. Gordon spoke on both Friday and Saturday and especially challenged our hearts.

Hammond

Among the several great speakers during the meeting was Geoffrey Hammond, president of the North American Mission Board.

WMU State Meeting #1

Last weekend Fairview hosted the South Carolina WMU State Meeting. Lesa put it together and did a great job. Here she is with Evelyn Blount, State WMU Executive Director. Evelyn is retiring and was honored several times during the meeting.

Gay Marriage

The New York Times is reporting that gay couples are pushing hard for "marriage,' not being satisfied with the term 'civil unions.'

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/17/nyregion/17samesex.html?_r=4&ref=todayspaper&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

The Times reports concerning a Connecticut case: "The case turns on whether same-sex couples should be treated as a “suspect class” — groups like minorities and women that have experienced discrimination — which could lead to heightened legal scrutiny of the decision to offer separate institutions. In oral arguments before a Supreme Court panel, the assistant attorney general said the number of “prominent politicians who are openly gay and lesbian” proves that homosexuals are not “politically powerless,” one of the requirements of a suspect class; that caused one justice to quip, “If it were true political power,” they would have already won the right to marry."

Watch this one as the battle over the definition of marriage continues.