Insights For Living

Computer Cowards?

2009-01-30T07:46:00.000-08:00

On March 12, 1998, I became a parent! Yes, I am the father of Thomas Ericson Hodge. The most special little boy in my universe(he's not so little anymore). God has given me the responsibility to do my BEST for my son. I am responsible for him...not you. No one else will answer to God for the raising of Thomas except for me and Regina.

The best thing I can do for Thomas is to live my life for Jesus openly in front of Him. And I'm not talking about playing spiritual games. Thomas needs to see a living, breathing, real-life relationship in his father. He needs to see a real faith at home and not just at church in the pulpit. He needs to see a real faith when the clerk at Wal-Mart short-changes me some money and when I'm on the softball field representing God & Mt. Olive Church.

Another 'best' thing I can do for Thomas is to love his mother. When a mother and father love each other, and model that before their children, it does so much for those kids! Hopefully Thomas is already somehow, someway understanding what real love is between a man and a woman....and how he should love his wife one day.

The last thing I need to do for Thomas is protect him; protect him from many things in this world. One area that is as important in protecting Thomas as any other concerns the area of the 'internet'! Maybe you read about this story...
In November 2008, a Los Angeles jury found Lori Drew guilty of three misdemeanor computer crimes and sentenced her a maximum of three years in prison. She is the "MySpace mom" who created a fake MySpace account under the pseudonym "Josh Evans" to lure a thirteen yr. old Missouri girl into an online relationship. This was part of a hoax orchestrated by Drew, her own thirteen yr. old daughter(who was friends with the Missouri girl), and an employer of Drew's. After developing a relationship with the girl through "Josh," Drew wrote in a message to the girl "The world would be a better place without you." Soon after, the Missouri girl committed suicide.
That was a terrible tragedy. But internet sites are being created today to intentionally spread gossip. One site provides a virtual bathroom wall for 500 college campuses. Users anonymously can post gossip, slander, racial slurs, and sexually explicit comments about any person on their campus without any fear of legal recourse. Another site lets a person pinpoint their neighbor on a map and post comments about their barking dogs and alleged domestic violence, or whatever they want. Pictures of the neighbor's house are provided through 'Google maps.'

That stuff and much more is why one of the BEST things I can do for Thomas is protect him from that smut. It's my responsibility. No one else's.
Are you protecting your child on the internet? Statistics tell us this...

34% of teens have seen illicit material online they did not want to see.
71% of teens have reported receiving messages online from people
they do not know.
14% of teens have met someone in person with whom they first
communicated online.
33% of teens say their parents know "very little" or "nothing" about
what they do on the internet.

Well...there are great lessons in all that for us. And the lessons? There are many, but the main lesson is that we have a responsibility to guide, teach, and protect our kids. Period. No excuses. And I don't care what society is doing. We're called by God to be different! Be in the world? Yes. But be of the world? No way.
What can we do to protect our kids from the internet? Here are a few things...

1. Do not allow internet access in the kid's bedroom. Make no
exceptions. It's a foolish choice to allow this.
2. Put internet access on a computer in a common family area
where all can see. Keep the computer screen facing the family.
3. Have you ever tried to limit TV for the kids? Then limit time
spent on the internet(internet surfing is like teens just driving around
town. Often we find trouble even if we're not looking for it – idle time
can be dangerous).
4. By all means, put adult content blockers on your computer. Let
the wife of the house set the PASSWORDS! Regina sets ours. Don't
give the devil a foothold.
5. Delete all e-mail from someone you don't know.
6. And most of all...stop talking that trash about not wanting to
'violate' your child's privacy! The things of this world can
destroy them. Quit being a computer coward(or a coward in general)
and take some stands and remind your child who's in control.
* And yes we want to trust our kids...but temptation is temptation to
all of us. Satan can get anyone if they don't take precautions.

Let's be God's people at all times, in all areas, and especially with our children. We're gonna answer for them, folks. Especially during their early years. Let's do our best with them.
God bless each of you.

Bro. Eric

"LOW...I Am With You!!"

2009-01-17T14:43:00.000-08:00

We've all heard, read, and seen the videos and pictures of the plane crash in the Hudson River several days ago.

I guess that's one reason I really don't enjoy "flying the friendly skies" any longer! And it's not really the flying that scares me...it's the crashing into the ground that scares me.

All 155 or so people made it off the plane alive. That's a miracle. That the pilot could land the thing safely is the real miracle. Praise God that this incident ended in such a positive way.

I've had my own few scares while flying...but nothing like having to ditch in the water, etc. I had one spooky experience with turbulence on a flight home from Montana in Summer 2003 after a church mission trip.

Talk about a cheap flight! I was flying from Montana to Arkansas after the mission trip. But come on! The itinerary went something like this; Billings to Denver, Denver to Dallas, Dallas to Miami, Miami to London, London to Milwaukee, Milwaukee to San Fran, San Fran to Tallahassee, and finally into Little Rock. Well, of course, I'm kidding. The truth is, the last leg was from Dallas on into Little Rock. But it did seem about that long, with about that many stops. Boy, was I glad when I finally got home that evening.

There is more to the story though. The flight from Dallas to Little Rock got much more interesting. We were told by the pilot when we left Dallas that there were storms all around Little Rock and that the flight could get a bit bumpy. "Oh, great," I thought to myself. "That's all I need. Turbulence!" Having experienced several other "bumpy" flights in the past, the T-word didn't bring me a great deal of in-flight joy. You see, I 'm not scared of flying, and I'm not scared of heights, I'm just scared of flying into a really large mountain or free-falling from thirty thousand feet. So I reached over and pulled my seatbelt a little tighter, though we all know the only thing a seatbelt does is keep us from bouncing all over the cabin and breaking something before the plane crashes into the ground. I glanced around at the other passengers. Everyone just kept right on doing what they were doing; reading, talking, typing on their laptops, or drinking!! As a Southern Baptist Pastor, I don't drink. I suddenly realized that I was in trouble. How could I get through air turbulence without alcohol? I wasn't sure...but I had no other choice. I was going to have to try.

It was at this time I also noticed that everyone had someone sitting next to them except me. I suddenly felt lonely. But I dismissed that as the chance to be left alone. That way if the plane went down I could die in peace.

Well, sure enough, as promised, about 15 minutes out of Little Rock, our little 40 passenger plane hit the turbulent air, or the turbulent air hit us, I'm not sure which...and I don't think it really matters. The Stewardess had just handed me my complimentary APPLE JUICE at that exact moment. People were yelling and a few were actually screaming(I'm not speaking ministerially here). Several couples around me were even holding hands. I suddenly felt really bad being I had no one next to me to hold hands with!

The stewardess decided that she would try and help us all be calm and relax. She yelled to all of us on the plane, "Folks, just try and remain calm. There's nothing to be worried about. Air turbulence is just like going over a speed bump in your car...except that we're in the air!" I sat for a moment and then thought, "Nope, that's not gonna work for me! " That's not gonna do it for this preacher whose faith just got thrown to the back of the plane. That woman needed to find some better pat answers. All I knew was that after going over a speed bump in my car, I've never fallen 30,000 feet to the ground in a ball of flames.

Now please understand, this was real life turbulence. I mean, that little plane was flopping all over the sky and I was flopping all over the sky with it. I really didn't know what to do. But I wanted to make sure I was in the right position for crashing, at least. So I grabbed the chair in front of me with my left hand, held my tremendously valuable apple juice(I wasn't going down on that plane thirsty!) with my left hand, and since I had no one sitting next to me, I put my right foot against the plane's wall...and rode that puppy out! For a minute there, I felt like I was on the professional bull rider's circuit.

But through the whole ordeal, I think I am most proud of one thing - I never once spilt a drop of my apple juice!!!!!

Well, I average flying about once a year. Gonna do my best to keep it that way. For God didn't say 'HIGH I will be with you'...but 'Lo I will be with you." I'm going to trust His Word!!!

Hang in there!

Bro. Eric

2009-01-14T10:02:00.000-08:00

"For I know the plans I have for you..."
Jeremiah 29:11

The New Year is here as we all are well aware of. Maybe 2008 was the BEST you've ever experienced, then maybe not. Do you have HUGE plans for 2009? I've never been much of a 'resolution guy,' but I do have a few goals of my own...

* I would love to be able to train our new lab, 'Musket', to
respond to the command "to come here." (he mostly ignores me)
* I would love to lose about 25 pounds. (I hide the extra well)
* I would love to be in the Bahamas next week to scuba dive.
(maybe I'll get a church position down there as "Director of Scuba Ministries!!")
* I would love to retire next year.

All good goals I guess...but the truth is that I find that my prayers really aren't quite that specific this time of year. The fact is, we really don't know what God has in store for us in 2009. We have our goals and dreams, but what we must accept is the truth that it's ultimately up to God what doors He opens and which ones He leaves closed. I've got to learn to trust Him in that. He's in control of my life. In the end, we have very little control over very few things.
How can we hang on to trust in God this New Year?

1. Remember that God sees the big picture. Yes that new job or promotion with the big salary, company car, and the new DELL laptop seems to be exactly what you need. But God might slam that door shut because He can see so much more and so much farther down the road than we can. Most of all, God created us and therefore He knows our heart and what's best for us. My scope of life and MY life is so limited. He simply knows that at times we don't need THAT job. He's got something else for us that's better. Just remember that it may not always include a company car and DELL laptop.

2. God must plan your plans. Make the commitment now that you want only what God wants for you. And if you don't know what that is at this time, then keep praying, keep listening, and keep waiting on God(be patient). God always answers and He always works, even if we can't see it at every moment. Read Proverbs 19:21. God will show us in time His plans and way for us.

3. Don't listen to the world. The world thinks it's got the plan for you. But believe me it doesn't. God's thoughts, ways, and will have nothing to do with the world, except that we are to go into the world and represent Christ and point the world to Him. I think a huge portion of Christian's struggle is related to who they listen to. Always listen to God and His Word. You will never go wrong there.

4. Don't settle for second best. Anything other than God's plans for us is settling for second best in our lives. Why would we reach out and choose a rock instead of a diamond? That is kind of what we do when we choose anything other than what God wants for us. It's just not worth it. It might sparkle and look really good at first, but in the end there will be regret.

So this year, my basic plan will be to seek God and His plan for my life. And I will try and obey Him...even if my dog won't obey me.

God bless you,

Bro. Eric

What Are You Votin For?

2008-12-02T11:15:00.000-08:00

November 30, 2008

Wow! "Election Day 08" has come and gone in our country, and our church is a voting location and the voters were out the door and down the sidewalk when I showed up to vote. What most people(especially God's people) know and understand is that there was a huge amount at stake in this election. And we all know there are many that will never see or understand the real issues at stake in 2008. And I'm not talking about gas prices, war in Iraq, or the economy and $700 billion bailouts.
I'm talking about the really IMPORTANT issues. We call them moral issues. Things like abortion, marriage, and sexuality(and all three seem to have a connection to each other). Some folks just don't understand that there are things more important than the economy(believe it or not).
As I stood for about 30 minutes and waited my turn to punch the screen to vote, and as I smiled at each face in line, there were some questions that I wish I could have asked each and every person in the room without starting an all out brawl...

Q #1 – What are you really voting for?
Are you voting for or against a black man? Are you voting for or against a white man? Neither of those reasons are good enough! What's really driving your vote? High gas prices? Listen, I hate as much as anybody that gas prices are high, but gas prices don't determine anyone's salvation. What about gambling? Gambling can and will have something to do with the moral state of our state, town, and society. The state of the economy won't determine whether a person goes to heaven or hell. But babies being aborted or not aborted are pretty good reasons to cast a vote and speak for God on the issue. Men and women marrying people of the same sex is another great reason to get out and vote and say NO to that lifestyle!

Q #2 – Are you simply voting for a party?
I'm afraid that there are some folks simply voting for a party - meaning Republican or Democrat. In other words, some folks step to the voting booth and simply vote for a Republican or Democrat because that's the way they voted for the last 50 years! That's what they've always done. Geez...is about all I can say to that.
Is that really good enough in today's world? A little risky, don't you think? Maybe you could tow the party line 50 years ago, but you just can't do that today. As I've already said, there's just too much at stake spiritually. I mean, so you've always voted for one certain party, but what about the candidate's beliefs, morals, and faith for crying out loud? As a Child of God, can you simply & honestly vote for a certain candidate along party lines even though he or she is opposed to the things of God? What if they are for abortion? Homosexual rights? What do they believe about same sex marriage? Voting along party lines because that's the way you've always done it doesn't speak much about your heart. Where's your conviction? Where's your courage? And most of all, where's your guts? We must vote for the man in today's world that we best feel will honor God...not just for some party.

Q #3 – Who do you ultimately trust in?
Yes, I will practice my God-given privilege and step up and cast my vote. Sometimes there's not a perfect choice or candidate. But regardless, I don't put my trust in the President of the United States or the Vice President of the United States. I put my trust in the God of Heaven, the maker of heaven and earth. I put my total faith in Jesus Christ who died on the cross for me, and His Holy Spirit that lives in my heart. And though I really was thankful for the 'stimulus check' we received this summer, I don't put my hope and faith in money.
I appreciate that Barak Obama if the first black president, I really do. I believe that race relations can be POTENTIALLY HELPED during his Presidency. But I'm not putting my faith & trust in Barak Obama or any other candidate for that matter. It seemed that Obama was being worshipped the night he was elected. I've never felt that with any other candidate in my lifetime. There's been excitement that a certain man was elected. But I've never felt before what I felt on election night. There was just something that I sensed...and I didn't like the feeling. I just don't think that this choice will help the climate of our country spiritually one bit in the years to come.

The old saying says, "I don't know what the future holds...but I know who holds the future." And this is what I know...It's not Barak Obama or John McCain!
It's our God in Jesus Christ.

"Dying of Thirst?"

2008-06-25T12:16:00.000-07:00

There are many things that are a must in our Christian life and walk with God. Then there are a few things that may not be quite as important, but still need to be dwelled on in our walk. Some things must exist and be present if we are to experience God fully and in the way He desires.
Do you remember that wonderful verse in Psalm 42:1? Read the words closely once again:

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.”

One of the things that are most important for God’s people is a THIRSTING! We must have a ‘thirsting’ for God and the things of God in our lives. As a pastor, I am sensing a dwindling thirst for God among His people. Don’t misunderstand me...I‘m not saying that God’s people are no longer thirsty, I'm just not sure we’re that thirsty for God. We’re just trying to satisfy our thirst with many other things. Mostly the things of this world. All the while, we are trying to slip God just enough into our lives to keep God happy and His benefits still coming to us!! Of course the problem for us is that the things of this world will never satisfy or quench the thirst we have inside of us.

We thirst for so many things. What are some of the things we find ourselves thirsting for that are not of God? Things like money(or just being rich for the sake of being rich...and we probably wouldn’t share one dime with someone else), personal glory or recognition, immoral sexual practices, revenge on those that have wounded us, and other things that bring a self-sufficiency into our lives that causes us not to need God at all.

The fact is we need God at all times. We need to desire God or thirst for Him each day of life because of who He is and what He does for us and in us. Also, times will come when situations & circumstances will bring periods of spiritual dryness causing us to thirst for God maybe like we never have before. In 1986 two brothers who live in a kibbutz or settlement near the Sea of Galilee made an incredible discovery. As these two Israeli fishermen monitored their equipment on the beaches of Gennesaret, they noticed something they'd not seen before. Something covered with mud glistened in the sun. Upon examination, archeologists determined that what the brothers had discovered was a fishing boat dating from the time of Jesus. The only reason the artifact was discovered was because of a three-year drought, resulting in unusually low water in the lake.

The Bible tells us that in times of spiritual dryness, God may uncover something of fabulous value within us--his presence. That’s what we thirst for...God’s closeness.
I hope in all of our lives that there will always be a thirsting for several things:

1. God’s Will
I hope we will always desire to find, understand, practice, and stay in God’s will!
There’s no where else we need to be but in that place. My wife and I have always said, "We won't nothing more or less than to be in the center of God's Will."

2. God’s Word
The desire to always have a steady diet of God’s Word is a must. Without a thirst for the Word, we will be malnourished children of God.

3. Prayer
The thirst to daily pour our hearts out to God. To communicate with Him what we often can’t tell anyone else.

4. The Preached Word
The thirst to sit under the preached Word of God. God’s truth sometimes hurts. But God’s people must be under the anointing of God’s hand from His preached Word.

5. Saying NO to sin
As there is a thirst for God in our lives, there must be a thirst to say no to sin. As we draw closer to God, we will draw closer to that place where we will actually hate sin.

6. God’s Church
I want to thirst to be in God’s house. Vs.2 of Psalm 42 finds the Psalmist asking ‘where he can go and meet with God.’ One place is God’s church. As each Sunday dawns, do we thirst to be in God’s house?

7. Regina & Thomas
I pray that I will always thirst for the presence of my precious wife and little partner. Without them I am absolutely nothing. With the divorce rate so high these days, it seems men and women are only thirsting for new mates, new families, and new lives.

God’s people not thirsting for Him is like a college baseball team in the NCAA World Series that doesn’t really care whether they hoist the National Championship trophy or not. Wouldn’t that be sad? Are our churches like that today? Are God’s people like that? Do we really care that we’re not real close to God and His church...as maybe we once were?
Are God's people thirsting for God during these days?
I guess we’ll find out this coming Sunday.

Blessings!

Bro. Eric

It Starts At Home

2007-12-12T07:54:00.000-08:00

There seems to be a new trend(though I’m not sure really how new it is) for folks to blame somebody else or everyone else for their shortcomings and even their sins. And that trend seems to spill over into their children’s lives as well. Even when it comes to our children’s lives, their mistakes are always somebody else’s fault.

Any time our children’s character, integrity, and/or personality show a small crack or two, instead of dealing with it and trying our best to correct it, we just blame somebody else for it. Who do we blame? Oh, the list can be long...

* We love to blame the school house (Principal, teachers, sometimes even the custodial staff gets blamed. Maybe even a cafeteria menu or two).

* We love to blame the government (President Bush all the way down to our little local Mayors get the blame).

* We love to blame the other children and families who are associated with our children (influence is a big deal. Our kids are always negatively influenced...but they NEVER influence others in a negative way).

* We even love to blame the church (that Preacher, Youth Minister, staff, etc. up at the church just aren’t doing the job they should be doing or my kid wouldn’t be struggling?!?)

In no way am I saying that government, schools, other families, and even our churches are perfect...because they are not. But somehow I doubt very seriously that your pastor or that President Bush have anything to do with your child’s negative behavior in school or their sorry attitude in life. How does the fact that there is a family who lives 100 miles from me and is on welfare have anything to do with my child’s rebellious behavior?

I have seen over and over again as youth minister and now as pastor, parents that drive up to the church house doors on Sundays and kick their kids out of the car...and then drive on back to the house to do whatever it is they do on Sunday mornings. And when those parent’s children misbehave in church, they pull them out of the church and blame who? Yea, you guessed it! They blame the church for their kid’s shortcomings.
(those same parents are going to wonder one day why their children no longer
want to be in church)

And YES...the church does exist to help families guide and help raise their kids. But the church is not called to raise anyone's children for them. And if a father & mother are worth they weight in salt, they wouldn’t want anyone to raise their children for them to begin with.
So where does family health begin? It starts at home! It starts at home with Mom & Dad! It starts with a mom and dad that positive, moral, responsible behavior. And hopefully even Godly, Spiritual Christian behavior and lifestyles. It starts with parents that PRACTICE what they PREACH.

Listen to this parents, do you want your children to...

* be individuals of integrity & character? Then you have to be people
of integrity and character FIRST!
* be honest? Then you have to be honest FIRST!
* be young people that have godly ually morals? Then you have to have
godly ual morals FIRST!
* be young men & women that respect ALL people regardless of race, ,
creed, or religion? Then you have to respect ALL people FIRST!

It all starts at home. I’m convinced of that. And most of the problems we face as God’s people have more to do with satan than with my wonderful President or my son’s 4th grade teacher!
My son Thomas’ attitudes, actions, and lifestyle begin with Regina and me. And the more I understand and accept that reality the better life will go for the entire Hodge household.

One day I’m going to stand eye ball-to-eye ball with the Maker of heaven and earth...and on that day there will be no one else to blame for my life and the life of my son. I am the one that will be accountable. Me and only me. Everyone somehow, someway will get what they deserve from their choices and actions. The good news is that you won’t have to answer for my life and my son’s life. And I won’t have to answer for your life.

It starts with me at 135 Olive Street. And I willingly say “Thank you, Lord” for the privilege & responsibility.

God bless each of you. Until then,

Bro. E

Can God Use A Woman?

2007-02-27T13:42:00.000-08:00

I've never heard of a female professor being denied tenure just because she was a woman. I'm sure there's been female professors denied tenure because they were rebellious, wouldn't submit to basic authority(who her bosses were), could not show up for work on time, some sort of sexual misconduct, and maybe for smearing the name of the institution she works for. I don't know, but I've never heard of it for just being a female.

But I have now as of January 17th. And I am so unbelievably proud that it's happened at one of our Southern Baptist Seminaries! Southwestern Seminary President Paige Patterson denied Sheri Klouda tenure because of her gender. Of course the decision was based on the scripture in 1 Timothy 2:12. The passage simply says that a woman can't have any authority over a man, or in other words, a woman can't teach a man. But should that passage be applied even to our seminaries? Even for women professors who are just teaching our biblical languages? A woman is not allowed to teach a man how to learn and read the Hebrew language? Good night nurse. I've heard it all now. I sure wish Southern Baptist would take the scriptures literally!!

* This situation causes me to ask a few questions...

1. What about the historical context of 1 Timothy 2:12?
In the 1st century culture, woman had not been given the privilege of reading or learning or being educated. Isn't that sad? Women were so far down the totem pole of life. They were just objects. Today, there's no greater joy than to be able to read and learn! But women didn't have that option in Paul's day.

So when in this passage Paul says, "A woman should learn in quietness and full submission," he was giving them the new opportunity to in fact, read and learn and grow. So if there was a reason Paul didn't want Ephesian women teaching it was because they had not yet gained the experience or learning needed. And it's a fact that these women were often susceptible to being led astray by false doctrine and teaching.

So is this passage based on being absolutely literal, or is it based on the culture of the day in which Paul wrote these words? I don't believe it can be both, not in its biblical truth & meaning for us today. Now, I've seen this issue at work first hand. In 1984, I was one of 25 Louisiana BSU students that went to Zimbabwe, Africa for the Summer. As I visited African homes with my two partners, the wives never spoke a word to us. In fact, they sat on a stool in the corner of the room(living room). When a snack & tea was served(which it always was), the woman of the house got off of her stool and approached us on her knees with a small basin of water so that we could wash our hands. And of course, after we washed our hands she waddled back to her stool on her knees.

Now the question is this...was what we witnessed from that African woman scripture or were we watching African culture? I believe it was the culture. How can we ignore that fact? Also, what about women covering their heads during worship in 1 Cor. 11:1-16? We sure don't take that scripture literally. We ALWAYS chalk that one up as culture. I've never seen a Southern Baptist woman cover her head to come into worship, except with maybe a pretty hat at Easter! And I dare any husband to go home today and tell your wife to sit on her stool in the corner and keep her mouth shut. It won't go well for you I'm sure.

2. What about expertise?
I can't believe that a female professor who has sacrificed the blood, sweat, and tears to study, master, and learn the Hebrew language isn't able to teach a man. We're talking about the Hebrew language...not filling the pulpit as a Pastor of a church! 1 Tim.2:12 in my opinion, in no way applies to the teaching of Greek & Hebrew in our Southern Baptist Seminaries. If she's the expert with her PhD, then she can teach me any time! Gender for our professors should have no place at our seminaries. What about the female professors that teach children & preschool courses? I bet their allowed to teach!

If your qualified...then your qualified, male or female...it doesn't matter. End of discussion.

3. What about the Holy Spirit?
I think one thing we're saying when we say that a woman can't have any authority over a man is that the Holy Spirit can't & won't work through a woman. Are we saying that the Holy Spirit works through a woman in all situations except when a man's around...and then God's Holy Spirit heads for the hills? I can't find that truth taught in any form in God's scripture. God's Holy Spirit can work though anyone He chooses to. Male or female. The only thing that God and His Spirit needs is...willingness to be used.

This issue sure carries with it the vibes of male ego. A bunch of men with low self-esteem who believe that women are less important than men are(they'll never admit that), and that a woman can't teach them anything at all. And there's no truth to that whatsoever.

I hope and pray that some of our interpretations are not wrong. It takes much spiritual strength and discipline to make sure we don't interpret(or bend) our views and beliefs to our own selfish desires and preconceived ideas.

Can God honestly honor us and the convention with the current trends of judging others, causing division, and closed mindedness that are now among our ranks? With the confirmation I consistently receive from the Holy Spirit, I seriously doubt it.

God bless each of you. Until then...
Bro. E

Meanest People in Town!

2007-01-15T19:15:00.000-08:00

Southern Baptist are at it again! What are they at you ask? Oh, just being offensive...and I'm not talking football here. It seems that as each month goes by, the big-wig Southern Baptist leaders offend more and more people. How can that be? If we're a people that believes the Bible as much as we say we do, how can that be?

On abpnews.com there's an article concerning the teaming of former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton to develop a new Baptist covenant to promote unity among the nation's Baptist Christians. This covenant will be an "agenda of compassionate ministry to help put aside social and theological differences and promote love & mercy." There will be a gathering set for January 2008.

Our "loving" denomination is really struggling! We seem to be having a huge problem relating to other Christians more than the common lost man. Many Southern Baptist will hold their arms out in compassion and sacrifice to the lost...then we'll turn and cut our brothers and sisters in Christ to shreds. How can that be? When will we learn that mean words don't necessarily make a man!

Some of our folks definitely are not for Carter's & Cliniton's actions for mercy and unity. Yet, we show no problem or hesitation toward disharmony and hatred in our words and often with our actions. It's no wonder that...

church membership has plauteaued baptisms have been on the decline cooperative giving has declined from 10% per church to 6% per church

Is it any wonder that we're beginning to be the laughing stock of the denominational world not by 'what we believe,' but by 'how we act!' We've got some SBC people that couldn't get along with a brick wall. And that's just sad.

* It seems that the SBC today --

expects eveyone to be exactly the same in every way! And not just in theology either. According to the Southern Baptist Convention we must sound alike, use the exact same words and terminology, use the same version of the bible, and I guess wear the same brand of neck ties. Some of us might be comfortable with this new cookie-cutter Christianity, but not me. There's no challenge there. I can't stand little pat answers and being spoon fed. That's SLAP boring. And it doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand that.
Doesn't like people to doing things they didn't think of first! If it wasn't our idea, we want no part, brother. Man, how shallow can you get? If we didn't dream it up we're taking our toys and going home. That's like saying if we don't own the Bus Line, we're not riding the Bus.

(Why can't the SBC respectfully & lovingly decline to be involved in something without being the "DONKEYS" of denominational life. Contrary to popular action today, God can help us say something positive without being phoney and without being a part of the program if we don't feel led in that direction.)

Southern Baptists need to learn from the "Bambi Factor 2007" which says, "If you can't say something nice, then JUST KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT!"

Sometimes I think I would rather hang out with the filthiest, vilest, most rude, arroagant, lost man...than with these fundamentalist Southern Baptist that only have the courage to lash out, judge, and tear others down.

When will we learn that most folks get to a point where they don't even want to be around the meanest people in town...much less listen to their message.

May God help us.

Until then,

Bro. E

Are We Doing Enough?

2007-01-15T18:45:00.000-08:00

There are so many things that pastors and staff must be about in the church. Administration & office work, calendar planning, studying, visiting, the many miles of hospital runs(depending on where you are serving), funerals, the many folks who just want to drink coffee with us, and of course dealing with people’s personal desires, wants, and preferences. That adds up to a lot of stuff. And to be honest, there’s never a day where I don’t feel simply overwhelmed by all I didn’t get done during that day.

Each and every day brings me more on my plate than I can possibly accomplish. But I try! We all try! The work of the ministry never ends, does it?

As I think through all of the things I mentioned above(and more), I realize that most of that stuff isn’t what we are to be about anyway. Not ultimately.

What are we to be about? What are our top goals & priorities? Asked more plainly, what does God want us to be striving for; what should we be accomplishing(I’m talking here about all of God’s people – paid & volunteer)?

In Matthew 28 & the Great Commission, Jesus simply stated that we should be about making disciples & all that entails. Things like winning folks to Jesus, teaching, discipling new believers, guiding them in sacrifice & obedience, baptizing folks, and growing God’s people closer to Him. Now please don’t misunderstand me…there’s nothing wrong with softball, gospel concerts, 5th Sunday Singings, and potlucks. But there is a problem with those activities if that’s ALL we’re doing, especially if we allow ourselves to come to believe that those types of programs should be our top priorities.

For years, I have been struggling with the growing reality that we’re not doing enough with God’s people when we have them at church. What makes me say something like that? Well, it’s things like…

• Our Christian marriages are dropping like flies(with many teetering on the edge)
• ography is invading a high percentage of Christian homes
• Tithing is a dying practice...slipping away from our young families and young people
• We have to beg & plead for folks to serve and sacrifice these days
• Faith is a foreign word...there's no dreaming, no vision, we're notshooting for anything.

I could mention many other things that you all could also think of. Our effort at church no longer seems to be making a difference in the lives of God's people like we hope to see and want to see. We have got to be doing more with God's people when we have them at the church house. We have got to get our people back to the place we're their relationship with God really makes a difference in their lives.

* A few things to think about...Doing more with God's people is a must...and a tough job in 2006, with the attitudes of society and this world. And helping God's people make a difference doesn't have anything to do with doing MORE! There is a very real attitude which says that packing more and more onto our church calendars makes God's people more spiritual. The only thing I have to say about that is, "Who says so?" There's no truth to that in any kind of way. The church calendar rut & rat race has eaten many a preacher and church members' lunch. In fact, so often we preach about the family and spending time together, yet, it's the church and its activities that most often separate families from one another.Like you, I'm coming to the place where I'm deciding that the LESS we do the better. Our churches are full of activities that not only don't win people to God, but don't grow the saved any closer to Jesus either. I mean...we all have had to endure activities & traditions that had ceased being effective years ago.

I'm currently reading the book, "The Simple Church." The book points out that the fastest growing and most evangelistic churches in America are churches that have adopted very simple processes for doing church and making disciples. These churches don't get bogged down with a bunch of useless activities that changes no one's heart. They're even simple down to the wording of their purpose statement. As I read this book, I get a thrill and excitement in my heart and spirit. I believe this is the direction we need to go in and get serious about. We live in such a busy society, we are busy people, and it's not going to get any better as time goes forward.I'm an advocate of reexamining church membership. We don't need to be afraid to be very straight forward about the expectations of those that come to Christ & our Church. In scripture, Jesus is very plain about the COST and SACRIFICE required to follow Him. It seems these days...the only requirements for folks in our churches are that they must be able to cook, sing, and fix something. We need to require more of folks who call themselves Christian.Let's do our best to start making the decisions and changes needed to really make disciples. Let's let go of all the things that don't matter. Making disciples is all that really matters anyway.Let's get simple...like just praying for a change.God bless each of you.

Until then...Bro. E

Those Crazy Adjectives!

2007-01-15T18:40:00.000-08:00

There's a new trend in Southern Baptist Life...ADJECTIVES, ADJECTIVES, ADJECTIVES!

It seems these days that there's quite a bit of pressure to tack the right adjectives on the front end when we speak of and describe God's Word. Most of you know what I'm talking about(and if you don't you should feel lucky!). Words like "inerrant" or "infallible" seem to have become rather crucial to others ideas, thoughts, and understanding concerning what they think I believe about God's Word.

When describing God's Word, you can no longer just simply say God's 'HOLY' Word. You can no longer just say 'INSPIRED' Word. That's no longer good enough now during the post-takeover era in the SBC. You have to use those two(2) words(inerrant, infallible) at all times when talking of and about God's Word. I can't say, "I love God's perfect Word." I have to say the exact words, "I love God's perfect, inerrant, infallible, Word of God." If I don't use those two words then I am automatically assumed to not believe the Bible, I'm black-listed in the state convention, and removed from elegibility to preach at the Annual Baptist Associational Meeting!!

I've made my mind up that I will never use the word 'inerrant' when describing God's Word. I'm not going to do it. No way, never! And I don't care what the consequence might be. Not because I don't agree with the definition of inerrant, but because the word has become a battle word. "Inerrant" is now a word of manipulation & division. Fundamentalists try and corner and trap those they believe do not believe that like they do or are not on their side or in their club. I'm against any attitude, action, word(ing), maneuvering, or anything else that divides people. And especially God's people. Oh, I know. They say we've got to weed out all those Christians that "don't believe God's Word." Jesus told us in Matthew 12:25+ that "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand." Most "adjective" people ignore that particular 'inerrant' scripture! They probably also overlook Paul's words in Romans 16:17 when he says, "I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions..." But what most Christians forget is that you can use every positive adjective known to man to describe the Bible, but that doesn't necessarily mean that you will live God's Word & allow Jesus to translate out in your daily life.

I know there are many pastors that harp about the "inerrant" Word and then walk out of their church and hate black people. They preach about the "infallible" Word and then go home and cheat on their taxes. They throw around the "inerrant" Word in sermons while constantly treating their wives like second class citizens. And if they rant & rave about certain adjectives and then go out and live in those ways...then it's my belief that those folks don't believe God's "inerrant" Word near as much as they think they do!

So someone might ask the question, "Then what's the point to all of this?" My answer is that it's certainly not about adjectives!! And it's not whether everyone is in total agreement about the Word of God. The key is "INTERPRETATION." I sat at the Southern Baptist Convention this past June in Greensboro, NC and looked around that coliseum wondering if there were actually folks that traveled all that way to the SBC Convention that honestly did not believe God's Word. And I've got to honestly say that I dont' believe there were any. But I do think that there were probably many, many differences of interpretation among the Baptists present. That's really the key. It's not that some believe the Bible while others don't. But it is about there being different interpretations among Southern Baptists. Not everyone is going to believe and interpret the same thing in the same way. And if there are those that allow their beliefs & convictions to drift way outside the perimeters of SBC doctrine and theology...there's not much I can do about it. But God never said it was ok for me to get out of fellowship with my brothers and sisters in Christ! Especially over differences in adjectives that we use.

When I was pastoring in the Louisiana Baptist convention several years ago, every few weeks or so I would recieve the newsletter from the state's Baptist Inerrancy Group and I would throw it in the trashcan. It never failed though, a few days later I would always receive the state's Baptist Moderate newsletter. Do you know what I would do with that publication? That's right. I always threw it into 'file 13' also.

I wouldn't then, and I'm not going to start now...wasting my time, energy, and effort to read or support these group's publications who have nothing better to do then bash, bad-mouth, and rebash one another over what they say and think they believe about God's perfect Word. When you honestly believe and trust the "inerrant & infallible" Word of God, it changes all of your life...even how you treat other people who may not believe exactly like you do.

These days, "Inerrancy" is about men who want to climb the SBC social & political ladder so that they can raise themselves up above everyone else. So they can control how everyone else lives, believes, and thinks. But I'll just have to say "NO THANKS" to all that. I'll just keep letting the Lord Jesus control my life. That's good enough for me.

I believe the entire Word of God(oops I didn't use any adjectives!). I believe it from the front cover to the back cover. If I can't believe some of it, how can I believe all of it? Yet, I personally will not allow my personal beliefs to be brought under the control of others opinions of me based on certain adjectives. I simply do not trust the motivation & heart of those that can't simply trust my heart and words.

I was just thinking the other day that some things are worth fighting for and some things are not. And one thing that's NOT worth fighting for are certain ADJECTIVES! I was never that good in english anyway.God bless each of you.

Until then...Bro.E