Ken Lewis|W|P|Well done, Mr. President. I suppose we are all due an occassional black-out of judgement and common sense, but there is a price to pay in terms of credibility when that happens. Guird your loins and prepare to do battle with the evil forces of liberalism. You have an army of conservatives beside you, ready to follow your lead (oh, and please don't say 'just trust me' or ensinuate that we're against women to justify a boneheaded move...actions speak louder than words and after the Miers nom, you need to rebuild the confidence of your base).It's been a rough few months, but things are looking up and it's time to put the Dems back on the defensive. Look closely, and you'll see that the Dems still don't have an original idea or agenda, except to poopoo every Republican idea or pile on when the President creates an opening through a self-inflicted wound. Not much of a national strategy for the Democratic Party, but it's all they seem to be able to muster.
Sunday evenings, I'm prone to a bit of melancholy randomness. Here are some examples...
So I read today, that Prince Charles intends to lecture President Bush about the virtues of Islam and that it is really a "religion of peace." Speaking as an American whose ancestors fought a certain war to make sure we don't have to pay any attention to the King (or future "King") of England, I could not possibly care less what the equivalent of Britain's national "pet" thinks. Maybe he should take his views to some of the families of the British citizens that were blown to kingdom come on London's mass transportation system last July.
Considering the shellacking the Carolina Panthers gave the Minnesota Vikings this afternoon, does anyone else think that maybe the Vikings might want to lay off their boat trips and maybe concentrate on....say.....FOOTBALL for a change?
Senate MINORITY Leader Harry Reid thinks the President and the Vice-President should apologize to the nation because "Scooter" Libby got indicted. If I were the President, I'd offer an apology that goes something like this, "My fellow Americans, I'm sorry that apparently the Democrats have a fixation on apologies that makes them believe that every problem can be solved with a quiver of the lip, a tear in the eye and Clintonesque look into the camera while uttering "I AM SOOOOOOO Sorry. While it didn't work for Jimmy Swaggart, maybe it will work for them." I'm uncertain as to the guilt or innocence of Mr. Libby. I am pretty sure, however, that Harry Reid is a full-blown political idiot.
Why is it that the day after daylight savings time ends I feel like I'm an hour late to EVERYTHING?
Well, I have more, but I think that's probably more than enough for this evening.
For the last 6 weeks, we have offered over 30 home Bible studies across the Charlotte metropolitan area using a series I developed called "Living Beyond Reality." As the first wave reaches completion, we are seeing a second wave of groups beginning as folks take the study and use them in new studies, other churches and on their own. We will be offering this course in our church in January as part of our "Powerwalk" ministry. We are pleased to be able to offer you this series now through the Cross Connections Online Bookstore.
This is the COMPLETE KIT for the Living Beyond Reality Group Studies. In this kit, you receive sample student manual, teacher's manual, 6 DVD lessons all in a manual with instructions. You may email us for a downloadable copy of the Living Beyond Reality student manual to duplicate on your own and/or to make adjustments if you are using it in a local church setting. You can do the six lessons individually, as a home Bible study, small class study, group study or whatever format you find convenient. The six lessons cover six topics based on "Reality" TV Shows. The lessons are: The Apprentice - How to Keep Work from Controlling Your Life; The Surreal Life - Building a relationship with a God You Cannot See; Nanny 9-1-1 - Raising Your Kid without Killing them First; The Amazing Race - Staying Married for a Lifetime; Extreme Makeover -- Rebuilding Your Life from the Inside Out and Big Brother -- Living Like God is Watching. These six lessons are FILLED with practical applications, sound Bible teaching, humor, wit and wisdom. Intended for a 1 hour format which includes introductions and review, a 20 minute DVD lesson and 20 minutes of discussion and application. COMING SOON - For pastors -- Six Sermons to go alongside of the Living Beyond Reality Series available on DVD or as Sermon Notes.
The series was primarily developed to introduce non-believers or the unchurched to an understanding of the depth of God's Word and it's impact on life, but many believers have given testimony of the impact these lessons have had on their lives as well.
The Living Beyond Reality Series may be purchased here.
If you'd like to take a look at the videos or the sermons, they are currently on our church website . Feel free to email me at dburrell@northsidebapt.org if you have any questions on how this video series might be used.|W|P|113054008239486881|W|P|Living Beyond Reality Series Now Available for Purchase|W|P|jdpettus@gmail.com Ken Lewis|W|P|Nicely done, my friend! You called it and, thank you God, it came to pass. It will now be interesting to see if GWB gets it and comes out fighting with a strong, conservative Supreme Court nominee. You've been given a second opportunity, Mr. President; use it wisely for yourself and those who put you in the White House. Robert|W|P|Scott Fitzgerald wrote that "there are no second acts in American lives." Hopefully the President will make the most of his. I am very concerned that he's going to just turn around and slam us again to get even for losing out on Miers. If he throws Gonzales up there, this spilt is going to get even deeper and last even longer.PS Full props to you for calling the withdrawal. I didn't think it would happen.
I've entered the world of e-commerce by setting up my own on-line bookstore. I have featured a couple of my books and will be putting other books, sermons series, videos, DVD's and more on this site in the coming days. Visit my store at Cross Connections Christian Bookstore. You will receive a discount of at least 15% over what you would pay at Lifeway and other retailers and proceeds from this store go to our family foundation that funds scholarships for kids wanting a Christian education.
If you are interested in setting up your own online Christian bookstore, email me at dburrell@northsidebapt.org.|W|P|113038070012127348|W|P|Order Christian Books through my Online Store!|W|P|jdpettus@gmail.com Videos by Professor Howdy|W|P|This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
News came earlier this week that civil rights icon, Rosa Parks had passed into eternity. At 92 years of age, she embodied as few others could, the struggle African-Americans fought in order to be treated as respected citizens created in the image of God. As a relatively young woman in her early 40's, she refused to give up her bus seat to a white man as was the requirement in those days. Her refusal to be treated with such disrespect and inhumanity for the "sin" of having dark skin galvanized a movement and put a human face on those who suffered under an atrocious system that segregated people based on ethnicity.
As with any other revolution, some of the leaders of the Civil Rights for Blacks Movement have been (or are) demagogues and scoundrels at various levels. At the same time, those who have tried to justify their bigotry by twisting science, religion, culture and custom are even more worthy of condemnation and dismissal. Rosa Parks, however, was not a demagogue or a ruffian. She did not shy from the public limelight, nor did she exploit it to promote herself. She simply remained seated and she convicted a nation as she did so. While many desire to be known for "what they stand for" -- Rosa Parks was know for what she "sat for."
Growing up in a small-town environment in the Midwest where the vestiges of segregation and bigotry were at least tolerated if not embraced, I've personally observed discrimination practiced publicly and privately by people who considered themselves otherwise decent citizens. For years, it has been the practice of evangelical churches in the Midwest and South to permit a sort of "cultural racism" that implies, "We care about your soul, but not about you." I've watched churches debate such issues such as whether or not blacks should be baptized in the church, how many should be allowed to attend on Sunday School buses and what do we do if (gasp) a mixed-race couple should want to become members or attend the church. Too often, churches have cowered before the prevailing culture rather than taking on the unBiblical attitudes which have made Sunday morning services the most segregated hour of the week in much of the country.
Indeed, I have written on this blog before of the latent stain of racism which still remains within many orthodox and evangelical congregations and how difficult it is to even have a conversation about the problem, let alone resolve it.
Many times, I've heard white Christians use the moral sins or political affiliations of Martin Luther King, Jr. to dismiss the wickedness of segregation and bigotry as if two wrongs would make a right. Surely, few people can raise the presence of latent racism than the likes of over-the-top charlatans like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton and some will use that as justification for cruel and unChristian attitudes and remarks.
But let us be clear...There is no excuse for assigning worth based on the color of one's skin. Churches should be open and affirming and welcoming places where people of every race and color can come and worship without sideways looks. People who feel a sense of inferiority or superiority due to their race need to cut it out and see every man and woman as a marvel of the creative touch of an all-knowing God.
Rosa Parks became the symbol for every person insulted, reviled and rejected for being the "wrong" color. She represented millions of anonymous and wonderful people who had shared the experience of being told "your kind isn't welcome here", of stares and glares cast their way when they entered the room, of conversations gone suddenly silent except for the occasional snicker or guffaw from some crude oaf in the back corner. She was the public face of little boys and girls who were called names and picked last and weren't allowed to go to white schools. She WAS the tired black mother who sank wearily into a seat after a long day's work only to be reminded with a stare and a nod that some strapping white male wanted her spot.
As she is remembered this week, it should be the challenge of those who would claim the identity of Christ to examine our hearts and ask the Lord to drive out any remaining vestiges of bigotry and racism.
And should we ever be on a bus in our seats and see a black lady of any age come walking down the aisle, may every white man jump to his feet and say, "Please....Take MY seat."|W|P|113035424319871412|W|P|Rosa Parks and What She Sat For|W|P|jdpettus@gmail.com
A couple of years ago, Thom Rainer, president of Church Central Associates, released his Top Ten Predictions for the church by the year 2010. I always enjoy reading prognostications and I found many of Thom’s prophecies interesting at the time. Perhaps the most interesting one to me was that fifty thousand churches will close in the next seven years. Fifty Thousand! That’s a lot.
At first, I was horrified at the thought. I have a passion for starting churches, not closing them. But as I thought through this statistic, I realized that this may not be all bad.
It’s quite possible that sometimes, we hang on to things out of a sense of tradition or stubbornness that really need to be let go. On multiple occasions, I’ve stumbled into a church where a tiny handful was going through the motions of being a church, but 99% of their efforts were being spent on keeping the doors open, not upon fulfilling the purposes of a church. It was quite honestly, a social club meeting in a church building and hanging on to its name. Nothing more. The significance of closing the doors to churches like that is minimal, if significant at all in my opinion.
Some churches are dying because they are more devoted to tradition than they are to a Biblical mission. They won’t adjust their methods to keep people exposed to the message of the gospel. As a result, the congregation ages, shrinks and then dies off. Their children and grandchildren go to a different church that doesn’t have their history, but which communicates the Scripture to them in ways that they can understand and which welcomes them with enthusiasm and appreciation.
Quite honestly, some churches are dying because today’s culture is, for a while at least, chasing the illusion of spirituality that exists at religious “shows” in many of the faddish churches that emphasize style over substance. I think (hope) this trend is peaking, personally, and I look for there to be a renewed interest in expository preaching and teaching in churches that have maintained a strong commitment to keeping the Word of God central in what they do and teach. Many of those who were introduced to Christ in the seeker churches will grow up in Christ in a more orthodox ministry.
I remain frustrated with a mentality in many established churches that sees every effort at relevancy or even effective communication as some sort of subversion of the Gospel message. Many of these churches have fossilized and are so out of touch with the issues that exist in the "culture out there" that they have zero impact on the Kingdom as a result. They have become museums of what once was and poor ones at that.
Sadly, many of the churches that are closing are in the inner cities of some of the larger urban areas of our country. As whites and upper-income residents have fled for the suburbs, traditional congregations have struggled to stay alive in decaying neighborhoods rife with poverty and problems. Drive through the inner cities of Baltimore, Detroit, St. Louis, Atlanta and look at all the empty church buildings that once contained vibrant communities of believers.
So if Mr. Rainer is correct, what should church leaders be doing today? I think there are several things that should be done.
First, let those churches that deserve to die, go ahead and close. Churches that have ceased to preach the gospel, stand for truth and fulfill Christ’s purpose for the church should lock their doors. There’s no sense in breathing wasted breath into something that is already a corpse anyway.
Next, let vibrant growing churches repossess those abandoned facilities and birth new congregations. That means some c0ngregations should re-invade the inner city with churches that minister specifically to troubled neighborhoods. This may require some outside support and leadership from the larger, mother church, but the best hope of the inner city problems in this country is not another government program, but spiritual revival.
Finally, while some churches will certainly close, don’t forget that many churches will expand. If each of these growing churches committed to starting one new congregation every five years, we’d be experiencing a growth in the number of churches, not a decline and the new churches would be healthier and more vibrant.
Some people get discouraged when they hear of the battles facing churches today. Not me, I’m encouraged. Whenever darkness seems to be settling in, there is a greater need for real Light. Those who know Christ as their Savior and who trust His Word have a gift that the rest of the world needs more than they know. Now, more than ever, we have an opportunity to make a difference that will last for eternity if only we’ll put our hands to the plow and our faith in our Father.|W|P|113027107353669870|W|P|Shrinkage and Growth -- A Matter of Perspective|W|P|jdpettus@gmail.com pilgrim|W|P|"First, let those churches that deserve to die, go ahead and close. Churches that have ceased to preach the gospel, stand for truth and fulfill Christ’s purpose for the church should lock their doors. There’s no sense in breathing wasted breath into something that is already a corpse anyway.Next, let vibrant growing churches repossess those abandoned facilities and birth new congregations. That means some c0ngregations should re-invade the inner city with churches that minister specifically to troubled neighborhoods. This may require some outside support and leadership from the larger, mother church, but the best hope of the inner city problems in this country is not another government program, but spiritual revival."
That's it in a nut shell, isn't it.
It's happening in some places, but needs to happen in more.
Of course if the "suburban" non central church is not strong, it won't be much help--so it all works hand in hand. And God's church, in a sense, reproduces itself.
pilgrim|W|P|This comment has been removed by a blog administrator. Aarron & Cristine Pina|W|P|Dan,I didn't get to read all the way, but in skimming, it looks like we're again sharing the same perspective on reaching the "unreached". I just blogged about this tonight.
I also mentioned a link to an article that talks about some of the most influential churches in the nation. My home church was number three. That was pretty exciting, but one of the reasons why we were voted number three has clearly grown to become two seemingly opposed philosophies 1. A "radically inclusive" attitude toward the unreached and 2. a tendency to "kick people out who don't pitch in". The latter is not in a literal sense, but I have heard our pastors politely ask from the pulpit: "if you're not serving, could you please, please consider going somewhere else to make room for someone who wants to serve.
On top of that, we've never been concerned with attendance. The only number we've ever heard mentioned by staff members is how many people were recently connected, or are connected overall, in community groups. (Or "small groups", which are 6 to 8 men / 6 to 8 women / 5-6 couples who meet weekly for Bible study, accountability, and prayer.)
Active participation versus passive spectating is stressed. The Bible is preached for life change rather than just knowledge.
Interesting.
I'll get back to you more this weekend.
Grace and peace,
Aarron
I'm not prone to make predictions due to the fact that I am not a prophet, nor am I the son of a prophet. However, I'm an tenuously going to don by Carnac hat and make a prediction today in "Whirled Views".
I believe that within the next 10 days, Harriet Miers will withdraw her name (at the private request of the White House) from being a candidate for Justice on the Supreme Court.
No one...and I mean, no one...apart from an obviously wearily stubborn President Bush and a few of his closest lackeys (see Bob Byer's outstanding assessment of Bush's stubbornness read this.") is making any real case for her confirmation. The arguments, since day one (as in "trust me" and "she's an evangelical" and "you're an elitist/sexist" and "she's a woman" and "trust me again" and "if the Republican's don't get in line with the President on this his clout and legacy will be severely damaged") have been pathetically unconvincing and trivial.
In the meat-grinder that is Washington politics, Mrs. Miers is already minced meat and how many of us out there really like a big ol' helping of mincemeat pie?
There will be multiple winners and losers (and already are) due to this lapse of discernment that receives a perfect 10 rating on the "What Were You People Thinking" scale.
The winners -- True-blue conservatives and grass root conservatives who roared from day 1 that this was a colossal mistake and betrayal. Liberals and Democrats who wisely have followed the political adage "when your enemy is in the process of defeating himself, stay out of the way." Whomever gets nominated next.
The losers -- James Dobson and the other religious right conservatives who, having become Washington "insiders" looked like political parrots (or worse -- political whores) and demanded of their "troops" to trust me because I trust Bush. It didn't work -- their footmen have brains and they saw problems from Day 1. The entire White House machine -- they've gone from the midas touch to the manure touch. These folks look like Mike Tyson 120 seconds into his last boxing match. Harriet Miers - sadly, I'm guessing she's a really sweet Christian lady whose a hard worker and a loyal friend. Now she's always be one of Bush's biggest blunders. Ed Gillespie is definitely a loser. The RNC Chair offended every thinking Republican who had questions about Miers when he first tried the whole "elitism/sexism" defense. Finally, whomever gets nominated next. If the next nominee thinks it's going to be a cakewalk, he/she has something else coming for them. These are high stakes and the battle's just begun. The Dems have kept their powder dry and aren't nearly as "spent" right now as the Republicans and the conservatives (not to be confused as one and the same.)
Bush will now have an important choice to make -- Will he return to his conservative base and select a nominee worthy of the battle or will he try expediency once again and go with Gonzales? Right now, I'm giving Gonzales the odds and hoping I'm wrong on this one.
Of course, opinions are like noses -- we've all got one. Feel free to argue.|W|P|113017340354403013|W|P|My Prediction regarding Harriet Miers|W|P|jdpettus@gmail.com
|W|P|There seems to be alot of support from fundamentalists such as Dr. Land, and many others that I wont list. I think maybe we should stop bickering about what might be and start praying for what God can do through the decisions that have been made so far. I think that the old serpent does a good job in taking people that should be walking together in support of each other and praying for them if they made or make a mistake and use that to get us to divide and conquer us. I for one am not an politician and never will be but we prayed and fought for the president that we got and now as soon as something doesnt go the way we want we are against him and back talk about what he's done. You may be right in the future maybe this will be a mistake, but i know that Jesus is in control and will not allow anything to come against us that he hasnt already gave us the victory over. Maybe Harriet Meiers is a good pick, maybe a bad one. but I havent heard anything to make me think shes a bad one yet. no more so than any other nomination i've seen as of late. My main point that i'm trying to make is it sure is easy to get us "CHRISTIANS" to divide and fight amongst ourselves. God Bless |W|P|Excellent thoughts from anonymous. I really can see both sides of the issue. Let's agree to pray God's will be done! |W|P|You really seem to have it in for President Bush.I am surprised.
Dan Burrell|W|P|Thought on comment on the several anonymous comments...First, disagreeing over items of principle is not an ignoble thing to do whether or not one is a Christian. To accept unGodly, foolish, unBiblical, unsound, irresponsible (or any other negative category) decisions for the sake of "getting along" is not only unScriptural, it is a formula for compromise and disaster.
Questionning the Miers decision is not unChristian, unpatriotic or unreasonable. I've pretty much made my case as to why I don't think she's a good nominee in previous posts. To be silent in the face of an unwise appointment for the sake of appearing to be "unified" or because the President and/or Mrs. Miers might be a Christian is ludicrous.
These are elected officials who serve at the will of the people. If they don't represent us, then we should challenge them -- not blindly follow without so much as a bleat from the Evangelical sheep.
I do not doubt that God is in control -- but we are also His agents for Truth and Righteousness and discernment. To suggest that because we prayed to see President Bush get elected or that we should support him in times when he is acting foolishly is an abdication of our responsibility to hold people accountable to the truth.
President Bush PROMISED us Supreme Court nominees in the mold of Scalia and Thomas. Miers has not been compared by ANYONE of being in their mold. I just want the President to keep his promise.
I don't "have it in" for President Bush. I do believe that, as an American citizen, a journalist of some degree and the spiritual leader of several thousand people -- I have the responsibility to educate those who value my opinion as to why I think the way I do. It's not personal -- it's based on principle. To suggest something less trivializes the whole concept of public political debate.
Should Christians pray that God's will be done? Absolutely. Does that mean we must be silent when good people make bad decisions while in an elected political office? Hardly. That's what got us in this spiral of moral decline in the first place. The Evangelical philosophy of withdrawal that dominated the Christian subculture in the 1940's-70's led to a dramatic shift. It was only when the Moral Majority came to life in the late 1980's that we started seeing the religious conservatives being represented. Now those politicians which benefited from our support are betraying us while in office. To insinuate that we must be loyal in the face of that betrayal does not hold up to sound reason.
Robert|W|P|You are a prophet! I did not expect this--hoped for it, but didn't expect it. I hope Bush listens this time!
Yesterday afternoon, I had the privilege of being part of something that, for me, renews and reminds me for the real work of the ministry. We held an ordination council and service for one of our young men, Justin Facenda. There are few things that I enjoy more than seeing young people in our church grow up and receive God's call to take on spiritual ministry.
Justin was a high school upper classman when I moved to Charlotte nearly 6 years ago. Today, he is a graduate of Piedmont Baptist College, married to a beautiful young woman (Carrie), serving as the Youth Pastor for Northpoint Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, NC. I was pleased to served as the council chair, along with members of our board of deacons, pastoral staff, Pastor Skip Furrow from Northpoint and his chairman of the board of deacons and a professor from Piedmont Baptist College.
For three hours, we grilled him on every facet of his life, doctrine, his conversion and call and a variety of practical ministry issues. Justin, whom I've never seen at an emotional extreme of any kind, swatted and connected at the best we could throw at him and never broke a sweat. He is humble and earnest and it was our privilege to lay hands on him and ordain him at a service last night.
You know, any pastor will tell you that the ministry is filled with insipidly mundane and vacuous tasks that really have nothing to do with Kingdom Building. But it's for these moments -- where you can see the hand of God on a young person's life and realize you had a tiny part in it -- that we live and work. It refocuses us, rejuvenates us and encourages us.
Congratulations, Justin. I look forward to watching my peer in the ministry pour himself into the next generation of young people.|W|P|113016600324744301|W|P|A Reminder of What Ministry is About|W|P|jdpettus@gmail.com
Every so often, something happens to me which makes me think that I'm an old man trapped in a middle-aged man's body. Part of it is because from the moment of my birth, I've always been a little too....shall we say "earnest". (Or as my assistant tells me, "An old fuddy-duddy.") Today, I was challenged by a couple of remarkable younger men, who are impacting their culture in a way that is thought-provoking and even convicting.
Members of my church probably get tired of hearing me say that one of my core values as a pastor is that we should "Accept people where they are and love them to where they need to be." But as with too many of our finely-quoted cliches, that makes good preaching, but living it can be a chore.
This morning, I had coffee at the Carribou Coffee House in the Dilworth section of Charlotte with the "co-pastors" of a fledgling church known as "Watershed". No there's so much in the previous sentence that "isn't" me I've just got to stop and explain. I almost never drink coffee and when I do, it's "sissy" coffee (or as my fellow blogger Pecadillo might call it -- "fancy boy" coffee). This morning it was white chocolate mocha swirl something or the other. I felt like a metrosexual just holding it, but the absence of carbonated diet drinks at the place, forced me onto the coffee wagon. Next, I never go to Dilworth. It's in the South End of the city where the high-ended, yuppie, career-oriented, intellectual hang out. I'm located in the University City section that is a middle-class, family-oriented mess. I'm nothing short of amazed at the entire concept of "co-pastoring" with one's best friend. I'm sure that it would ruin any relationship I might ever have to try such an experiment. Finally, coming from a church background that practiced the peculiar habit of trying to put all of one's major doctrinal distinctives in the title of the church (as in Bible Baptist Church -- Independent, Fundamental, Premillenial Missionary -- and no, I'm NOT exagerrating), a one-word name for a church -- Watershed -- is both intriguing and foreign to me.
Now with all that said, I've been in contact periodically with Matt and now, Scott since they moved to Charlotte for the sole purpose of planting a church to people who are totally "unchurched" or "de-churched". The people that Matt and Scott are building relationships with are "movers and shakers", generally single and career oriented, many times looking for connections and relationships and slowly but surely starting to ask the "God" questions of life.
Both Matt and Scott are older than they look. They have cool haircuts, are physically fit, have young families and are very relationonal (In other words, the exact opposite of me.) They speak in terms that often sound like whistles and clicks to me. I kept having to stop them and ask them for definitions to words that were familiar to me, but were being used in a context that was foreign to me. Words like "community", "connectivity", "journey" and "talks". Briefly, I thought these might be secret "code" words and so I quizzed them on the view of things like "Emergent" churches and so on to see if that's what they meant. (It wasn't.) Even their church bulletin isn't a church "bulletin" -- it's called "Frank." (If you heard them explain it, it would make sense why.) I don't know when I've ever felt more "uncool" in my life and I have two teenage kids -- so uncool is a way of life for me.
They held their first formal service in September with a whopping 200+ in attendance. Even now, a month later, they are still in the 150's. They don't own property. They have a band. They are setting up "blocs" (small group fellowships) around shared interests, service and study. And they are reaching people that I don't know that I would ever be able to communicate to in a billion years. That's the cool part.
Whereas, I might look at the residents of that part of our city as "out there" in terms of their culture and priorities and ambitions, Matt and Scott are going to the culture out there with the good news of Jesus Christ! They've studied their "world", they've made deep connections into their community, they speak their language and they are sharing in their lives. It hasn't required them to compromise their values, but instead, it has strengthened their values in that they are sharing their faith journey with folks who are as likely to go into a church like the one I pastor as I am to pop in to the local mosque for a time of praise and worship. THAT'S Evangelism!
Too many of us fall into the trap of thinking that we must practice "group think" in how we take the message of the Gospel to every culture and sub-culture. For years, American missionaries have wasted millions of dollars trying to turn third-world country villages into "little America's" when what they needed to do was learn their culture and language and customs and show them the Gospel where they live. Cultures and customs are not limited to nations. They exist within generations, ethnic groupings, socio-economic strata, educational levels and hundreds of other mini-communities around the globe and in our own backyards.
There was a time in my life when I would sniff at those who were approaching ministry with such innovation and creativity. No, let me be honest. I would have criticized them.
Today, I am challenged by them. Am I wired to be as cutting edge as Matt and Scott? -- Probably not. I don't have a "cool" bone in my 44-year old body. But I'm sure thankful that there are men like these two (with their wives and kids) who have looked across the street and remembered that the only hope any culture, any group, any generation has is in Jesus Christ.
My time had drawn to a close and I needed to leave for another appointment. As I excused myself, Matt mentioned that he had someplace to go as well and they began shutting down their laptop and cleaning off the table. As I was heading toward the door, a tall, distinguished looking man who had just picked up a tall cup of coffee looked over behind me and saw Matt and Scott. It was obvious they had met before as he gave them a "shout out." A few years older than I am, this guy had the "look" of a college professor or a well-read artist. "Got time for a debate?" he called out obviously relishing an exchange beyond one that had taken place previously before today. I heard one of the reply, "We've got time for a discussion." As I looked back over my shoulder, the tall man with the cup of coffee was headed over to the table I had just left as the co-pastors of Watershed settled back into their chairs. To me, I had just visited an "out there" culture. For them, they were taking one more step in reaching the "culture out there."
I was challenged.|W|P|112983761966937822|W|P|The Culture Out There vs. The Out There Culture|W|P|jdpettus@gmail.com Aarron & Cristine Pina|W|P|Dan,It's always fun to see your ability to "turn a phrase". I am encouraged by the encouragement you received in your encounter with Matt and Scott. It is clear that you understand them to be gifted in areas where you are not and important to emphasize that you are gifted in areas in which they are not. In my pastor's words "only do what only you can do." and in the words of John Maxwell "You are most valuable where you bring the most value."
Therefore, keep doing what you are doing and with the fervor with which you are doing it, or more. These guys are simply using the principle I mentioned regarding Acts 17:24-34 where Paul used the "Culture Out There" to witness to the Out There Culture.
Jarrett Stevens recently spoke to a group of us about the fine line between being a slave to culture vs. being a stranger to culture. Hence, my warning in the Steven Moseley comment (q.v. your Halloween post):
[We have become] "a 'peculiar people' set at odd angles to the world rather than being an attractive light illuminating it. As a result, our morality calls out rather feebly. It whines from the corner of a sanctuary; it awkwardly interrupts pleasures; it mumbles excuses at parties; it shuffles along out of step and slightly behind the times...[emphasis mine]"
The challenge that you may be feeling is closely tied to your own desire to "Accept people where they are and love them to where they need to be." You'll just be likely to do it in a different way, unique to your gift and skill sets and the interests of your target audience. Or, as my professors used to say "know your audience, and write to them, not at them."
Such encouragement may well have you on the right track.
I still would like to discuss more your concern about it being unwise for "believers to hang out with the hookers and johns at the Temple of Diana". It seems like if we are to "go" and make disciples, we need to leave where we are and actually "go" to those who need the Lord. If we are to accept people where they are, we need to first be where they are. I'm not saying go into the temple and partake of their rituals, but we can discuss that further some other time.
I am inspired by this. Perhaps I'll have to post on Halloween as well. Thank you for what you do.
And another thing...
The use of a blog is one more excellent example of you reaching out to the culture to accept them where they are and love them to where they need to be, using what is "temporary" to communicate what is "timeless". Kudos. Your congregation needs to read this, sir. You're right on track. (Why haven't they commented on this?)
in Him,
Aarron
Kim|W|P|I've been reading your blogs for some time now, as I have been challenged to start writing them myself. This one is good. You entered the world that Jeff and I were introduced to 2 1/2 years ago after being totally absorbed in African culture. It's quite a different specimen, isn't it?? Thanks for opening yourself up to the emerging culture of our today's singles. Good to hear about this church outreach, too! God is so fully capable of using us to our fullest potential if we are satisfied to let Him do so! |W|P|Hey Dan,I'm glad that you wrote this posting. I've been on both sides of the isle. I attended a chruch that was so eager to be relevant and reach folks that they never challenged anybody to be more than a good person. Anything more and they were afraid that they would lose their audience. I've also pulled my hair out over churches that focued on hair length and music, while shunning anybody that didn't fit in. I long for the day when churches effectively reach todays people and not water down Jesus or the cross he suffered for us. Sometimes it seems like it will be a very long wait, but I hope not.
Brad Borders|W|P|This comment has been removed by a blog administrator. Brad Borders|W|P|Sorry I deleted my last comment! Typos!I just wanted you to know that I've known Matt for over 15 years. We both recieved the Grace of Jesus at the same time. Matt and I both immediately went into ministry andhe has been doing his thing ever since, both overseas and here in the USA. I joined the Army and became a Chaplain. He's a wonderful friend and a man of God. I'm so pleased you have gotten to know him. You are both building the Kingdom. I thank God for both of you. Be challenged but be encouraged sir! The gates of hell cannot overcome!
Sometimes, I wonder how many people who claim to be Christians really aren’t. As I look across the hundreds of people in my own congregation from week to week, I wonder how many are genuinely members of the Family of God?
I often wonder if evangelicals and fundamentalists haven't sufficiently cheapened grace that we have invited heresy. Make no mistake, I believe with all my heart that salvation is a work of grace and has no part in works other than the finished work of Christ which was accomplished on Calvary. All the combined good works of the noblest man or woman could not purchase a millisecond of celestial air from heaven’s atmosphere and Ephesians 2:8 and 9 are God’s declaration of that fact.
BUT, neither is salvation the result of some hocus-pocus utterance of inconsequential words. It is not a mere proclamation from the lips, but the product of a devotion borne of the heart according to Romans 10:9 and 10.
I guess what alarms me in my role as a pastor is that I see many people claim to make a “decision” for Christ, an “acceptance” of Him as Savior, repeat a prayer of commitment, but I see far fewer demonstrations of a conversion in the life of the individual.
When one looks at the examples of Scripture, when one encountered Christ and accepted His authority and gift in their life, they were NEVER the same again. They were changed, converted --- even transformed. Saul, the Christian-murdering member of the Sanhedrin became the Apostle Paul – bold preacher of the gospel. Zaccheus, tax collector, thief and cheat, immediately demonstrated his conversion by repaying his victims four-fold. Peter left his fishing nets. Luke left his medical practice. Andrew walked away from his boat. It was only those who rejected Christ that stayed the same. People like the rich, young ruler, Pilate, Herod Agrippa and the nine men healed of their leprosy.
Works will not produce salvation, but surely the whole of the New Testament emphasizes that salvation produces changed works. It’s part of the consequences of salvation and evidence of the New Birth. Faith without works is dead. Salvation makes a difference!
Today many give verbal ascent to the Lordship of Christ and their own need of a Savior. Quite frankly, I believe that many who sit in our church pews on a typical Sunday know all the right answers. But I also believe that many of them still don’t know the Savior. Otherwise, there would be some evidence of conversion.
Making decisions leads to making changes. When I fell in love with my wife, a LOT of things changed in my life. I quit dating other women. I spent more time with her than anyone. Communication with her was a priority. I craved being in her presence. If something was amiss between us, I wanted to deal with it. The relationship changed me from the inside out. And it was a great change, by the way.
Had those changes not be present, I would question whether or not it was love and devotion. It certainly couldn’t have survived through some of the difficult days I’ve experienced since the first time I met my wife.
The same is true of a real relationship with Christ. When we fall in love with Christ, a lot of changes just naturally occur. We quit pursuing those things that would come between Him and us. We should desire to spend time with Him more than anyone else. Communication to Him through prayer and from Him through Scripture should be a priority. We should crave being in His presence. If something is disturbing our fellowship with Him, we should feel an urgency to deal with it. As a result, we should be changed from the inside out.|W|P|112976080369159552|W|P|Whatever Happened to Real Conversion?|W|P|jdpettus@gmail.com |W|P|Wow, Dan. I'm growing to love you more as I observe in you a sincere, passionate fire for Christ! Thanks a lot for this post, especially that last paragraph! You've got it Brother and I'm excited about growing closer to God with you and others in God's church.You know, it's so easy to go through the christian motions. But why is it so peripheral to most people? How do you insert in the believers that "passion" that drives them to serve Christ - not because they fear Him, but because they love Him! Perhaps we have put God in a box - so we can comprehend Him I guess. We've got to get over our control mentality where we convince ourselves that we have enough God in our lives and that we are doing enough for Him. Wrong perspective!
He has done it ALL for us, and continues to do for us.
We've got to realize that He is <<<<<<<< G o d >>>>>>>>>>> - the creater of all that we know, and a whole lot more. He is worthy of all worship and praise! We belong to Him, and He calls us His own children. What a priviledge, what a glorious gift!
How is it that we have forgotten to fear Him in reverance and awe. How is it that have reached a point where we take Him, His gifts, His protection, His grace for granted?
You know what would be neat? How about a bible class called "For Serious Christians Only" where deep spiritual truths are mined. It would have to be a 2 hour class, start at 6:00 Sunday morning if necessary. A class where every member digs deep from week to week and brings back to the class a page or two of notes and scripture references to back them up. No more of this "empty mind", "it's too early", "I need my coffee" attitude. I'm talking about a gluttany at the table of God's Word where you leave so full of faith and the Spirit, you just can't keep your light from shining all around!
I love you, Dan. I am so glad to see you so hard at it. I suspect you read a tremendous amount if scripture. Thanks for telling it like it is!
pilgrim|W|P|I wonder myself as well. I try to give people the benefit of the doubt--but that can be hard. I do find however that first impressions can be off. When you get to know those you worship with you may be surprised that the person you thought may not really be converted has a deep passion--it's just not up front. And they understand the gospel and live it.But I'd agree with your assessment.
Let me give you a quiz… What is the second most popular holiday in American culture in terms of money spent? Christmas is obviously the MOST popular, but what is number two? Would you guess Valentine’s Day with it’s theme of romance and love? How about Thanksgiving with tables groaning under the weight of the feast? There’s always the Fourth of July with it’s picnics, parades and pyrotechnics. Well, you may be surprised that the second most popular holiday in America is HALLOWEEN.
Growing up in small town middle America, Halloween was a fairly innocuous event. School kids were allowed to dress up in costumes for the annual parade through the neighborhood followed by a costume judging contest. Many, if not most, churches held Halloween parties replete with hayrides through cemeteries and along dark country roads. It was just the atmosphere to encourage that schoolyard sweetheart to snuggle up close to you midst the dusty smell of hay and the cool autumn air. Most families went trick-or-treating – though mostly to the houses of friends and neighbors. Jack-o-lanterns were a favorite, though most people weren’t aware of their history. The most naughty expression of the evening would be the annual draping of toilet paper on the local principal’s house or an unpopular teacher that would be punctuated with the occasional egg-throwing.
But that was a long time ago…things have changed, our culture has declined and Halloween is big business with unsettling themes.
USA Today has reported that over 75% of American families decorate their homes for the Halloween holiday. Large bands of grotesquely-attired youth roam streets in sometimes threatening numbers. The general theme of costumes has moved well-away from Casper and Wendy the “Friendly Ghosts” and well-into the ax-murderer-cyclops-blood-n-gore-evil-looking-enough-to-cause-nightmares genre. Years ago I ventured out with a couple of my children on Halloween without thinking about the fact that there would be gruesome creatures running everywhere. Within moments, I had two, traumatized toddlers with their arms wrapped around my neck in death grips. I nearly fainted before I got them to loosen their hold and practically needed family therapy in order to recover.
I hate to be a curmudgeon about so many things, but I have re-thought my own position on Halloween over the years. I find nothing in it that is worthy of a Christian’s participation. While I know some will call me “narrow” or a “legalist”, I have just reached the conclusion that it violates some fundamental principles of the Christian’s walk. Certainly it falls outside of the admonition we received in the book of Philippians to think on those things which are “lovely, pure, good and honest”.
Is it Biblical to find amusement in gore, violence, mysticism, magic, devils, goblins, ghouls and ghosts? Should the believer want to identify with that which is dark, forbidden, damned and evil? While some would suggest that it is all in fun, should we find glorifying the grotesque and wicked as a “good time?”
Having formerly lived in South Florida for nearly two decades, I was well acquainted with the island nation of Haiti, which was just a few hours off of our coast. I had many Haitian immigrants in my congregation in the Palm Beaches. They told me of the history and culture of their nation which is dedicated to spiritualism, voodoo, witchcraft and demonology. They even have a national holiday dedicated to a Satanic celebration. It should come as no surprise that they are the Western Hemisphere’s poorest and most destitute nation in spite of the fact that they have more Christian missionaries per capita than any other Western nation. God won’t bless a culture that loves darkness more than it loves light.
Christians should really reconsider participating in most Halloween festivities. It may be cliché, but perhaps we should ask “What Would Jesus Do?” Somehow, I can’t envision him endorsing a holiday that delights in darkness and death when He offers eternal life and light. For the Christian, I believe Halloween has become a holiday worth forgetting.|W|P|112965237643827106|W|P|A Holiday Worth Forgetting|W|P|jdpettus@gmail.com Aarron & Cristine Pina|W|P|Dan,I understand the concern, but I disagree with outright non-participation. John Ortberg recently quoted Steven Mosley as calling many Christians as "a 'peculiar people' set at odd angles to the world rather than being an attreactive light illuminating it. As a result, our morality calls out rather feebly. It whines from the corner of a sanctuary; it awkwardly interrupts pleasures; it mumbles excuses at parties; it shuffles along out of step and slightly behind the times..."
What if we did participate, not as the iconic and demonic as you mentioned in Paul's righteous opposition, but as perhaps current superheroes or mockeries of popular culture with a clever and relevent bent - Martha Stewart with a designer prison outfit, Osama Bin Laden with a "kick me" sign? We don't need to compromise our values or commitment to honor God. But, what if we used appropriate, popular culture to witness to people like Paul himself did in Acts 17.24-34, explaining the one, true, living God to the Romans using their culture, their poetry, their philosophy ? Why not use what is temporary to explain what is timeless, leveraging cultural references to witness for God?
Aarron & Cristine Pina|W|P|This comment has been removed by a blog administrator. Dan Burrell|W|P|Mission...I understand your point and I do believe there are times when believers can and should "illuminate" Biblical values by engaging or interacting with the culture. However, as with all things, our bent toward pragmatism can lead us into dangerous areas or unBiblical alliances if we don't use the Scripture as the higher standard. For example, I don't think it would have been wise in the days of Paul for believers to hang out with the hookers and johns at the Temple of Diana for the purpose of using their "culture, poetry and philosophy" to witness.I know churches who do use Halloween as an opportunity for evangelism in a variety of ways ranging from Halloween "alternatives" (something which we have done in the past at our church), to "Hell Houses", to costume/masquerade/harvest parties and the like. I'm not criticizing those things even if I wouldn't sponsor or care to attend them -- I'm really quite ambivalent.
I'm talking about an "observance" of Halloween wherein we "join in" the "celebration", attending the parties, dressing the part, participating in the "rituals", etc... connected to this holiday that is specifically dedicated to the dark, demonic and deadly. It is not a merely innocuous day -- it originated and is dedicated to the anti-thesis of the Christian message and values of Scripture.
Sometimes our refusal to participate on principle will send a surer and clearer message than to "go along to get along" but without resorting to a costume that involves an axe sticking out of our head.
Just my opinion as always....
Dan
CLC|W|P|Isn’t it just like Satan to hide his darkness in the seemingly innocuous practices associated with this holiday? Sometimes Christians fail to see the dangers, because they do not take Satan all that seriously. Unfortunately, it often begins in early Sunday school years when we teach our children that horrible verse to I have the joy in my heart “And if the devil doesn’t like it he can sit on a tack” as they gleefully screech “Ouch!” I am fully aware of the cliché, “Satan is mighty strong, but God is Almighty strong.” Yet, I believe that Scripture warns us time and again to be wary of this wily foe. As the great deceiver, Satan likes nothing more to dupe believers and unbelievers into denigrating his power and influence. One example is the widespread celebration of Halloween, even among believers. This lack of discernment has weakened the power and influence of the Church.
However, this holiday, that should be disregarded, is only a tip of the iceberg. Young people and children have at their disposal any number of books in which their peers are confronted by scary and needy ghosts or find themselves thriving on pure gore. Many of these predate the ever popular series about the boy wizard. The lure of the darker side of life is inviting, and I believe subtle messages are being sent to our children and young people that the occult is dangerous, but has a certain jolt of excitement and can fulfill basic needs within their hearts. We are facing a formidable foe who is working overtime, because he knows his time is short and that his doom is sure. Christians need to steer clear of direct involvement in this holiday, particularly knowing its history.
While I’m on my soap box, let me insert my rant about the Christian alternatives of judgment houses, etc. I would not presume to question the genuineness of decisions made, but it seems to me that such decisions are more about fire insurance than true faith. People are herded through the doors; some repeat a prayer and sign on the dotted line, but how many of them go back to their old ways within a few years or months? Forgive me if I show lack of vision, but I am beginning to believe that the Church, if she is to be effective, must first of all be pure. Purity begins by refusing to associate oneself with practices bred in darkness no matter how culturally acceptable they have become.
Most of us in the ministry know that every so often you must just get away and re-charge your batteries. I'm not whining when I explain this, but ministry leadership is draining in different ways than leadership in other areas. Every morning when I get up, I know that sometime during the day, I will need the Lord to provide over $25,000 just so we can meet our budget and obligations. Every day, I will receive 80-120 emails containing requests, needs, complaints, blessings and burdens. Each week, I must prepare 3-8 sermons, lessons, studies or other speeches. Intermittently, I will have a huge emotional swing that may range from dedicating a baby to conducting a funeral, cheering on a ball team to meeting with parents who just found out their teenager has strayed dramatically, congratulating a newly-engaged young couple to holding the hand of someone who is hours from death. This is the stuff of ministry -- and over time, it makes sufficient withdrawals of strength, passion, compassion, energy and wisdom that we just need to withdraw and let God be God to us as well.
Someone once flippantly said to me, "I don't take days off and I don't need retreats -- I'd rather burn out than rust out!" Well, that person is no longer in the ministry and in my way of viewing things, whether you "burn out" or "rust out" -- out is still out.
That's why last year, we decided to purchase a modest retreat located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains between Charlotte and Ashville and Hendersonville. We don't get to visit it too often, but every once in a while, we escape to the mountains and enjoy hikes and leisurely drives and some time to read or watch a movie together as a family.
We took twenty-four hours this week-end and headed for an annual trek to pick apples and enjoy the fall. I love the Piedmont area of North Carolina and I love the fall. We took the kids and drove to Flat Rock near Hendersonville and went to Sky Top Orchard (free plug here for anyone in the areas) where you can roam through their acres and acres of all kinds of apple trees located on the top of a majestic mountain with spectacular views. There's cider and hayrides and a petting zoo and you can tote your own wagon and baskets to pick apples until your heart is content. We picked two full bushels over the course of a couple of hours and "sampled" enough to give all of us some regrets.
As we drove back to the retreat, we rolled down the windows. Josh was singing the old negro spiritual "That Gospel Train's A Comin'" at the top of his lungs (over and over and OVER again.) I was listening to bluegrass on my XM ready receiver. We'd pass the occasional BBQ Pit restaurant and smell hickory smoke along the way. The leaves were just beginning to turn and as we traveled winding mountain roads, every turn was a fresh snapshot of God's beautiful creation.
As we drove back that night, refreshed and rejuvenated personal and as a family, ready for a busy day of ministry the next day, I remarked at how a brief retreat can refocus the soul and heart. Sadly, we often wait until our "gauges" are on empty before we visit God's "refilling" station. You'd think we learn.
I got a little melancholy as I drove back wondering if this would be the last time we'd do the apple-picking thing with all six of us. Nathan graduates next spring and I'll no longer be inclined to "force him" to join us for these family excursions. I wonder at how quickly the time passes and I regret that moments squandered on pointless projects and worry will never be recaptured again to be enjoyed with my kids.
Sometimes the future gets a little uncertain and the winding road weaves an unknown path before us. But knowing that God is Sovereign and Gracious allows us to anticipate that each turn, we'll get a fresh and refreshing snapshot of His Hand on our lives.|W|P|112958159495157227|W|P|Clearing One's Head in God's Country|W|P|jdpettus@gmail.com |W|P|You are absolutely right about how fast the time passes. It literally feels like yesterday that my children were running around the house and yard. Yet my daughter is 32 and living in Oregon, and my son is 26 and stationed in Hawaii with the USAF. I don't get to see either one of them often enough. Reading this post and listening to your family stories on Sunday and Wednesday reminds me even more how much I miss them and how fast the time pasted. And yes, the regret at all that was missed or ignored.
I picked up on a news article this morning regarding a Christian school in Florida that has been taken to the Florida State Supreme Court (a notoriously liberal court, I might add.)
Jupiter Christian School in Jupiter, Florida is as fine a Christian school as I have ever visited. When I lived in South Florida and served as the President of the Florida Association of Christian Schools, I had multiple occasions to visit on the campus, serve on evaluation and accreditation teams and become very familiar with the administration, faculty and student body. In 2003, this Christian school first made national headlines because they expelled a high school senior who confided in a faculty member that he was a homosexual.
This has caused a substantial uproar in the local community and several national wire services and websites have featured this story. Of course, not surprisingly, most have tried to paint the school as some sort of bastion of extremism, militant fundamentalism or narrow-minded bigotry – all of which are so false that it is laughable to even suggest that. What Jupiter Christian School is guilty of is trying to maintain the Christian distinctives that make a Christian school Christian.
In our age of tolerance and entitlement wherein we flip out phrases like inclusion and pluralism and community as code words for “embrace my liberal values or we’ll call you racist/sexist/homophobic bigots”, we have forgotten that one of the benefits of a free society is that we have every right to assemble (or not assemble) with whomever we please. Christian schools are not public schools. Most do not accept any form of government funding or support (and those that do are just asking for trouble.) They are exclusionary by their very definition and designed to provide a free-enterprise option for education to those who want the Christian values and principles they embrace taught to their children.
Today’s Christian schools are facing an uphill battle that is made all the more difficult by money-grubbing lawyers, muck-raking journalists and litigious parents who mistakenly think that private education is a right and not a privilege. This battle involves maintaining an atmosphere that encourages and promotes positive Christian values and conduct and which, by its very nature, is willing to dismiss or discipline students who violate or ignore those values and standards of conduct.
As the President of a large Christian school, I can personally attest to the fact that virtually anytime we suspend or dismiss a student for conduct ranging from drug or alcohol usage to sexual immorality to cheating to rebellion, we brace ourselves for a lecture from a parent (sometimes with a lawyer in tow) demanding a reversal of the decision, questioning our Christianity, accusing us of inconsistency and threatening retaliation. My very favorite tactic is when they call us “unchristian” and then threaten to sue us. They never quite seem to catch the irony.
As nicely and politely as I can, I try to remind parents that attendance at a private Christian school is a privilege and not a right and we work very hard to communicate to all our prospective students and parents what our expectations for the conduct of students is on and off campus before they enroll in our school. Those students who won’t or don’t want to keep those standards are certainly welcome to attend the local public schools or other good private or even Christian schools which see things differently than we do. But please don’t expect us to change who we are just so that your student can attend our school.
What I’d like to add, (and generally don’t) is the fact that many parents are paying thousands of dollars each year to keep their children away from student bodies where the kind of behavior your student has exhibited is routine and not subject to discipline.
It’s hard to maintain standards of personal behavior and Biblical holiness in today’s culture. That doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t try to do so. Christian schools are not churches and to view them as one and the same will only cause confusion and disillusionment. Christian schools are training institutions and extensions of families who want a protective environment for their kids and strong values taught and supported. Kudos to every Christian school which maintains high standards of environment, behavior and agenda. More than ever before, we need ministries that will stand for right regardless of political correctness and societal pressure. America is a land of choices and some of us choose to put our kids where values are taught and enforced.|W|P|112921827404327195|W|P|Keeping Christian Schools Christian|W|P|jdpettus@gmail.com |W|P|If you wouldn't have added it, I would have.Yes, I do pay a lot of dollars to be sure my two children are attending a school where kids are disciplined well, and thrown out when necessary.
I am glad the school is exclusionary, I want it that way. And no one can complain that "there's just a bunch a spoiled rich kids there". Sorry, not the case. I'm not rich and my kids aren't spoiled, not yet anyway. I'll keep trying though.
I am so appreciative of Northside Christian Academy. It is the only private school I have found anywhere in the Charlotte area that's not afraid to publish true biblical values and firm discipline procedures in its student handbook. I knew it was the place for my children and me. In my 4th year of experience there, I am more convinced now than ever.
Thanks Dr. Burrell to you, the staff, and to all the parents of the kids at NCA who make it such a wonderful place to be.
Dan Burrell|W|P|Wow! You know how to make a fella' feel good! Thanks for your kind comment. I have no idea who you are, but you gave me a blessing.Dan
|W|P|We as well are appreciative of NCA. We are in our first year. So far it has been a true Blessing to our family. My wife and I knew after meeting with the admin. during the enrollment process after praying we had peace about our daughter attending. I thank God that there is a Christian school that place’s a Godly education First. In today’s pop culture our children definitely need a very positive influence and role model’s in their education. We have had to make some tough choices and sacrifices for our daughter to attend and we would do it 10X over again. WE thank God each and everyday for the blessing NCA & NSBC is in our lives. I also appreciate a Pastor that will tell the truth and not sugar coat and water the word down as well. After moving to the area we had a hard time finding a home church for that reason. Thanks Dr. Burrell, NCA & NSBC
CLC|W|P|I totally agree with you. Unfortunately, in many Christian schools, a consumer mindset has been adopted. It goes something like this: "They are paying customers, so we'd better keep them happy." It is usually adopted when someone wants a special concession or to be coddled despite an unbiblical lifestyle. Never mind the vast majority who also pay to have Biblical values instilled in their children and to have their children shielded from ungodly cultural "norms". The bottom line is that students attending a Christian school are ultimately not paying customers, but a sacred trust given to their respective schools by the Chief Shepherd. His approval will weigh far more in time and eternity than the approval of an increasingly godless society.
I keep saying I'm not going to comment any further on President Bush's nomination of Harriet Miers, but I keep finding things that demand a response of some sort. This morning, the President and First Lady gave an interview to TV Personality (not to be confused with legitimate journalist) Matt Lauer for the NBC Today Show. During this interview, both the President and the Mrs. Bush demonstrated how clueless they really are in terms of why true conservatives are upset about the Miers nomination.
First, the President mentioned that he felt like conservatives were upset because Miers hadn't been selected from within the "judiciary monestary." He is alluding, of course, to the fact that Miers has not served on a court of any kind, let alone a federal court. Perhaps he's getting his briefing from RNC Chairman Ed Gillespie who declared that he was sniffing a hint of "elitism" in the room when meeting with a group of high-profile senior movement conservatives last week. (It didn't go over well then and it isn't going over well now.)
The President couldn't be more wrong. This isn't about whether or not she attended an Ivy-League Law School. The grassroots conservatives aren't impressed with Harvard degrees. We view them as fundamentally liberal on so many levels that it might, for some, even been a negative for them to have only been educated at the snobbishly elite schools of the great Northeast. In fact, in accusing upset conservatives of such a disposition, HE ends up sounding like an elitist (as in those mere plebes can't understand how things work) and not as the "man of the people" he's tried to portray. We're not talking about the mere absence of judicial history here, we are talking about the total absence of ANY history at all which would give concerned conservatives assurance that this major appointment has been made correctly after thorough vetting and convincing evidence.
Then the lovely Laura Bush opines that she suspects "sexism". Oh, please! Who's coaching her? Jesse Jackson? Give us a break! I have one word for her in terms of such an invalid suggestion -- CONDALEEZA. (The Secretary of State who just happens to be both a woman AND black could more than likely become the next Republican Presidential nominee or at least VP nominee if she would so desire.) For making such an absurd and thoughtless suggestion, I ban Mrs. Bush back to the elementary library where she must read Dr. Suess stories to kindergartners for 8 hours or until she comes to her senses.
Seriously, if THIS is what they are thinking, then no wonder the White House is drifting so totally.
Karl Rove -- Are you out there? Quit reading the press reports of your imminent indictment and get back to work. Pick up the phone and call your list of heartland conservatives. Not Dobson, not Gillespie, not the state chairmen -- call some Pastor's, some precinct captains, some soccer mom's and dads. I think you'll be surprised at how ticked off they are.
Perhaps the stupidest commentary I've heard all week was offered by non other than Fox News' John Gibson. In his commentary, he speculated that the reason for this ill-conceived nomination was because President Bush was "tired" of fighting the battles for the conservatives. Excuse me while I get out a hanky and wipe the tears from my sympathetic eyes. Gibson explains that the poor President is exhausted from the battle over Social Security (was there really a battle -- I only remember a little saber-rattling), the Iraq War (let's talk WMD's), the No-Child-Left-Behind Bill (I thought Ted Kennedy did most of the work on this) and other "battles" during his firts fiveyears. Now, apparently, the poor man is exhausted and as a result, he chose an easy and anonymous crony for his nominee.
This is the equivalent of excusing Brett Farve for not having the energy for the final two-minute drill in the fourth quarter of a game in which they are losing by 2 points because he worked out too hard during the warm ups! This is the event for which Conservatives have been waiting for over a dozen years! This is the Super Bowl! How rare is this opportunity to seat someone on the Supreme Court with a lifetime appointment and John Gibson thinks Bush muffed it because he's TIRED? Come on!
It this is the state of Conservative commentary, communication and decision making, then all hope is truly lost. Someone in the White House needs to wake up and smell the coffee. Even if Bush wins this nomination battle, he might well have demoralized the troops so thoroughly that the war will be lost in 2006 and 2008.|W|P|112905011300345292|W|P|The White House Still Doesn't "Get It"|W|P|jdpettus@gmail.com |W|P|As a grass roots conservative I am alarmed, upset, aggitated, etc. etc. at Mr. Bush. For the most part I support our President, but I do believe he has missed a tremendous opportunity here, a once in a generation opportunity; an opportunity that we have awaited for decades. Mr. Bush's father wanted us to trust him and he gave us a liberal. That makes it difficult to trust a man, one man. I can now only hope and pray. I hope Mr. Bush is right, I hope Ms. Miers is a true conservative, I hope Mr. Bush will withdraw her nomination, I hope..., I hope..., and I pray that God's will be done and that His ways prevail.
We must not give up on the principles of conservatism. Many may be demoralized, but we must continue to write, to vote right, to pray, to call, to influence where we can.
I think Mr. Bush is to stubborn to withdraw her. One of his good qualities is that he makes a decision and sticks to it. I believe he will stick to this one. Again, I pray that this is the best and right choice!
Real grace and cheap grace are often sadly confused in many churches today who have lost their discernment and whom have a greater commitment to "relevance" than orthodoxy. One of my biggest criticisms of today's "Church Growth Movement" is a lack of commitment to the time-consuming and vital process of discipleship. 
In addition, few churches engage in Biblical church discipline in which they confront known instances of unbiblical behavior which results in a dilution of the church's testimony, infectious behavior and attitudes among the body and a lack of repentance over sin. Whether this absence of church discipline is due to recalcitrance, political correctness, ignorance or as an over-response to legalism, it's consequences are still the same -- sin is allowed to fester and ferment and it ends up affecting the whole body.
Like the church at Corinth cited in I Corinthians 5, many churches today are so concerned with appearing to be tolerant, that they are compromising their own stand on sin. Pastors and churches are facing increasing controversy for taking strong positions on issues of right and wrong and often there are accused of being graceless, legalistic or intolerant in the process. Let me give you some examples from my own files and experiences. A pastor is accused of a lack of compassion because he refused to marry a couple who were living in sin.
A pastor is criticized for refusing to marry a person who was born-again to someone who made no profession of faith in Jesus Christ.
A church member felt that the church dealt too harshly with a church member who was caught committing a crime and refused to repent when it voted to remove him from the church roll as an act of church discipline and changed churches over it.
An extravagant church-wide baby shower was given to an unmarried and promiscuous young woman who became pregnant. The shower was equal to that given to young ladies who had remained virgin until married and had a child after marriage. One person justified the shower by stating, “at least she didn’t abort the baby.”
A Christian school was sued for the unchristian act of expelling a child who had arranged a drug deal in the parking lot.
When a man fell into sin and destroyed his family, people in the church went out of their way to patronize his business to prove their “Christian love” even though he had given no sign of repentance or made no effort to seek reconciliation.
When a church did not provide cash to someone whose car payment was due and who had spent his funds on alcohol and lost his job due to alcohol, it was accused of being “unchristian.”
When the benevolence committee refused to assist a man with his bills who had not applied for a single job in over 2 weeks, again the church was accused of being uncaring.
When the pastor of a church refused to allow a young couple who had conceived a child a full-church wedding, the family left the church for a more caring and accepting church.
When the pastor of a church preached against homosexuality, he was accused of creating an atmosphere of hate against those who were gay and lesbian.
When a pastor refused to marry two people who had divorced their original spouses for unscriptural reasons, they left the church in search of a more “tolerant” church. Others took up their offenses and complained to the church board. Churches (and churches are merely “clumps” of Christians) are losing their stand against sin. In the name of unbiblical “tolerance”, they ignore sin, passively approve of unbiblical behavior and muddy the lines of separation and absolute truths. The Apostle Paul asks a question in I Corinthians 5 and then he answers it. He wrote, “Know ye not that a little leaven leaventh the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened.” Certainly the church should be a place of grace, healing and restoration. But it should also not be a safe refuge for unbiblical behavior – whether it is popular or not or whether or not the people involved are powerful and influential. Right is right and wrong is wrong and of all places, the church should be the place where the line is clear and evident.
Sometimes, we undercut the efforts of the pastor or elders or other church leadership by circumventing their authority whenever we don't agree or understand a decision. An example I've often seen is when someone is turned down for financial assistance due to a legitimate and Biblical reason that is known privately to the church authority, but not to the congregation, they receive "assistance" from sympathetic (if not misguided) church members who personally designate a gift to them, take up a special offering in a class or home Bible group or simply reduce their tithes and give them the gift personally. This kind of enabling activity does no good for the person in need and is typical of a selfish type of giving that wants to be a "hero" or "popular" with an individual. Sometimes, it is just a matter of a weak person who is afraid to say "no" or to trust the leadership of their local church.
The next time your pastor or church leadership takes a stand for what is right (and often difficult), praise the Lord for their courage and stand with them. Right things are seldom easy and easy things are seldom right. It is possible to stand for right and still be compassionate if we’ll just speak the truth in love.
|W|P|112897647442001406|W|P|Loving Sinners without Sacrificing Principles|W|P|jdpettus@gmail.com |W|P|I agree with alot of your examples in this article except for two of them. The one about the baby shower and the one about the couple with child getting married. In the for instance of the baby shower, while the girl's actions should not be condoned in any way, shape or form, it is the church's responsibility to reach out to the unborn child, if there is need. The child is an innocent party that was involved without any consent. However, the girl should be made aware that she is in need of repentence.
In the example of the couple getting married with a child on the way, if they are repentent of their sins, they should be allowed to marry in the church, as long as they are marrying for life, not just because of the pregnancy. Why? Because a Justice of the Peace marriage is not legitimate in the eyes of God. It is merely a governmental contract, not a covanent made between three parties: the bride, the groom, and God. God was the originator of marriage. It is a sacred covenant to be made in His Church, preferably in the first Christian church, the Catholic Church. You do not go to a government leader of some sort to baptize you (which is a covenant/sacrament), so why would you do that with the holy institution of marriage. And with repentence, the couple should be welcomed into all of the full rights of the church, which includes marriage.
I have to admit that I'm not very techno-savy...I just fake it. My kids are light years ahead of me. We have two IPods in our house...neither of which are mine. However, I see them hanging out of the ears of many of our younger members. So, we are expanding our media offerings at our church website and at danburrell.com to include Podcasts of our weekly services for those who want to download my weekly 10:30 a.m. service and sermon. You can get the connection directly from this blog entry by clicking here.
In the next year or so, we hope to be able to offer live-streaming of our services via the internet.
I'm also working today for you to be able to link to a video stream of my sermon I preached at the Southwide Baptist Fellowship entitled "He's Better Than This!". I'll update the blog when it is read for viewing.|W|P|112896943332089178|W|P|Cross Connections Now Available as a Podcast|W|P|jdpettus@gmail.com
I don’t know how else to lodge my complete dissatisfaction with the collapse of this administration’s discipline and even the pretense that they care about a conservative agenda. In my opinion, this nomination is the equivalent of Bush the Elder’s breaking of his “read my lips, no new taxes” fiasco. It has destroyed the credibility, the support and the enthusiasm for the administration of George W. Bush. As for today's Republican leadership, maybe it's time for them to hear us as in "Read my lips" and for the record, we mean what we say and we say what we believe.
Why should we continue to pour our energy, our finances, our organizational network and any other resources into a party which can’t be trusted any longer than it takes for them to get into office? Look at the dismissal record of this administration – a $200 billion war based on WMD that did not exist, illegal immigration that is totally out of control, record-breaking spending and now a condescending “trust me” in the most important Supreme Court nomination in over 15 years.
To top it off, in a meeting touted as being designed to hear the frustrations of conservative leaders, RNC Chairman Ed Gillespie accuses REAL conservatives of having an “elitist” or even a “sexist” bias which is behind the lack of rolling over like well-trained pups to the Miers nomination. Could we have a finer example of the outrageously tin ear that this party has developed toward people who know and understand truly conservative issues? As offensive as the remark was, it provides an enlightening perspective on the blindness which endangers the legacy of this President and even the whole of the conservative movement.
Here’s what Bush should do: find a reason to withdraw Mier’s nomination either directly or by convincing her to do so herself. Then he should go on a whirlwind effort to salvage whatever remains of his discouraged and dispirited base. Finally, he should nominate a REAL conservative to the bench – someone who is the intellectual equivalent of Robert Bjork and whose very nomination would start the political equivalent of World War III. It may be the only way to get his base back on board. Short of some very dramatic actions of the nature described above, I can’t begin to envision that his base of religious conservatives, libertarian conservatives and fiscal conservatives is going to be there while he continues to tromp on the values that we thought was shared with him.
Why for the sake of common sense, people like James Dobson are falling into line and saying “trust the President” in light of this dismal record and this absurd nomination defies explanation. It smacks of blind loyalty or worse yet, political prostitution. I’m not interested in selling out my values to have a place at anyone’s table.
Maybe it’s finally time for a group of real conservative to start a coalition of influence. I’m generally for a two-party system for a variety of reasons, but I’m becoming more convinced that more pressure is going to be needed by real conservatives if we want to be any more than lapdogs to the elitist Rockefeller Republicans who have given us much lip service and very little change in the last quarter century. If the Republicans don’t want real conservatives in their party, then maybe its time for a new party.
Stop and think about it, abortion is just as legal as it was in Reagan’s first term. We’re still seeing outright and militant hostility directed toward each and every expression of Christian religion in the public arena. Homosexuality is more accepted and protected today than it is has ever been. Divorce is still at epidemic proportions. The list can go on and on. Is this what we have been fighting for since the days of malaise that led to the Reagan Revolution? Well, not me.
I hope some credible Republican conservative will take this opportunity to start some action that will lead to some real heart-searching and substantive change in the conservative movement. If the Republicans want to continue to use us and take us for granted, then maybe it’s time to go elsewhere or start all over. Continuing to be pawns to those who sell out their base ought not to be an option. At least its not going to be one for me.
And for the record, the RNC can take my name of their prospective donor list.|W|P|112882007394807649|W|P|Hey Republicans! "Read My Lips!"|W|P|jdpettus@gmail.com CLC|W|P|OK, so I agree with your basic premise. The Republican Party has adopted a stance of convenience by trying to be all things to all people. Think about some of national prayer times, when all religions were included and by their presence, their false beliefs were venerated, to a degree. In becoming all things to all people, we have lost our cutting edge. We tiptoe around the beliefs of others covertly concealing truth as we know it, lest anyone should be offended. You said it well:“Stop and think about it, abortion is just as legal as it was in Reagan’s first term. We’re still seeing outright and militant hostility directed toward each and every expression of Christian religion in the public arena. Homosexuality is more accepted and protected today than it is has ever been. Divorce is still at epidemic proportions. The list can go on and on.”
In truth, though, the problem does not ultimately lie with the President or with the RNC, who admittedly have duped the Christian Right into “following like well-trained puppy dogs.” I believe the problem lies with true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. We have copped out by saying that we are citizens of a heavenly kingdom and that conditions are only going to get worse and worse (Phil 3:20 and 2Tim 3:13). This roll over and play dead stance has been costly. It puts me in mind of the story of Elisha and the school of the prophets in 2 Kings 6, where the ax handle fell into the brook and it had to be recovered. I believe that I am exegetically correct when I make the application that we have kept swinging our ax handles while we have lost our cutting edge. We have opted for a religion of convenience rather than consecration. While sin reaches pandemic proportions across our great nation, Christians are either playing their proverbial fiddles or are being lulled to sleep. However, Scripture implores us to act differently In Romans 13:15, “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.” The imminent return of the Lord Jesus is not an excuse to withdraw from the political arena, but a mandate to let our lights shine more brightly than ever before (Philippians 2:15). May we ask God to cleanse our hearts from pride and other actions and attitudes that grieve and quench His Spirit. Then, may we seek to impact our decaying nation through prayer and Spirit-led involvement.
Well, I'm in Orlando where I'm speaking at the annual educator's convention for the Florida Association of Christian Colleges and Schools. I served as the President of this association during the 1990's and have attended 21 of their last 23 conferences and spoken at 20 of the last 23. I am giving 3 workshops and will be doing the closing keynote address tomorrow morning. FACCS is the largest state association of Christian schools of its kind in the country with over 66,000 students and faculty in their member schools. My good friend, Dino Pedrone is the President and I'm honored to be invited back for a keynote with the only other President, Dr. Al Janney. It's been great seeing old friends and making new ones.
Earlier this week, I was privileged to speak at the Southwide Baptist Fellowship annual meeting in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Lord blessed my time in the pulpit and I appreciate those of you from Northside who emailed me to let me know that they were praying for me. The spirit was sweet and there were some tremendous preachers there including my personal favorite, Johnny Pope; Fred Luter -- a tremendous African-American pastor from New Orleans, (his 7,000 member church was under 8 feet of water as well as his home, but he preached up a storm of a different kind.), Rudy Holland from North Carolina, Danny Lovett the new President of Tennessee Temple University and several other outstanding preachers. The highlight of the conference was the choir from Southside Baptist Church from Warner-Robbins, GA. They were just fantastic! Jerry Walls, a great thinker among Independent Baptists is the pastor there and they are testament to his ministry.
It will be good to get back home for a busy week-end and then I'll be playing catch-up all week.
Here are a few miscellaneous comments on some headline issues --
Looks like Bush messed up big with his nomination of Harriet Myers. Everyone I talk to (grassroots conservative Republicans) is LIVID. If he was running for re-election right now, he couldn't get 40% of the vote. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Republicans lose the House and the Senate in 2006 if he doesn't pull a very large conservative rabbit out of his hat in the near future.
I don't want to be cynical, but it seems rather "convenient" that we had a press conference this afternoon to warn us of reported threats to the New York transporation system. Did anyone see the movie "Wag the Dog"?
Did you read about the New Orleans evacuee who won all the money gambling? Question -- if she's homeless, destitute, unemployed, etc... what in the world is she doing GAMBLING with my tax dollars? Oh, Goody....she won a bunch of money....How many other yokels on public assistance didn't win while they are betting with borrowed dollars. I'm not bitter that I didn't win...I don't gamble. I've just watch dozens of people on public assistance over the years in line at gas stations to buy lottery tickets on payday and meanwhile, I'm trying to save a little bit for my kid's college funds and for retirement. Then once I have some money put away, they'll tell me that I have too much money in savings to qualify for scholarships or aid for my kids and they'll cut my Social Security benefits so that the people who have been buying lottery tickets and didn't win can get more. No, I'm not bitter...... well, maybe a little.
OK...enough for today's rant.
Signing off from Orlando!|W|P|112864782046304873|W|P|An Update from Orlando|W|P|jdpettus@gmail.com Robert|W|P|"Trust me" says Dick Cheney. "Trust me" says George Bush."Why?" asks a frustrated conservative majority. "What has it gotten us so far?"
Remember Lincoln's words to George McClellan "If you're not going to use the army, I should like to borrow it for a while." Isn't it time, with 55 Republicans in the Senate, for the battle to be joined for a real, proven, tested and known conservative?
Ken Lewis|W|P|Bush is embattled and under attack from all sides. There are the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. There's a natural disaster in LA that brought out high profile democratic race baters intent on sticking the knife in old wounds that should be nutured to heal, not reopened to fester. The Federal government has expanded at unprecendented levels under W's watch. While I support my President, I am disappointed that he cowered in fear of a fight and nominated an unproven, unknown (to us) non-judge. This is easily one of the 2 or 3 most important legacies of his 8 year presidency and he's left it to chance. George, you've let me and a lot of your core supporters down. And, this is not a case of "trust me", we're talking about the direction of US social policy for the next 20 years. And by the way, several recent appointments to the current court were also thought to be conservative and look at how they turned out.
The traffic jams around the Washington Beltway hadn't even reached their peak this morning when President Bush was announcing that he was nominating Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court to replace retiring justice, Sandra Day O'Conner.
For me, this is about the final straw in my support for President Bush in particular and Republicans in general. No one I've spoken to, heard from, read or watched can say with any certainity what kind of Justice Harriet Miers would make. At best, White House officials and Republican leaders are saying "Trust the President" on this one.
Well, you know, we've been asked to "trust the President" an awful lot these last 5 years and it hasn't gone really well.
Someone suggested that the President has done his homework on Miers and as a result, is confident that she will be a strict constructionist conservative if confirmed to the Court. Let's just hope that he did a better job on his research with Miers than he did with the Weapons of Mass Destruction research he used to lead us to a $200 billion war.
This President has presided over an indefensibly vulgar rate of spending and debt, he hasn't used his veto stamp even once, he's expanded government at a hideous rate and when it came time to appoint Justices to the most important court in the land, he gave us question marks, not assured conservatives.
Bush ran for office promising Supreme Court nominees cut from the mold of Scalia and Thomas. What he has delivered are vague stealth candidates that no one seems to know well enough to say they'll be true-blooded conservatives.
Did Clinton look for "consensus and stealthy" candidates when he nominated Ginsberg and Bryer? Hardly. He couldn't have found two, more committed, liberal activists to nominate and he did so without apology and they were both overwhelmingly confirmed.
Fast forward an administration and we have a President with an even more substantial majority in the Senate than Clinton ever had while in office and he whimps out and gives us mushy mystery candidates.
Some might accuse me of being too rigid or partison, but I'll tell you this -- I didn't support and encourage others to support a President who send nominees to the Supreme Court that wrote checks to Al Gore's Presidential Campaign and who enjoy happy accolades from likes of Harry Reid. Does anybody remember when one of the major news magazines wondered on their cover if George Bush (the first) could over come the "whimp factor"? Well, apparently it is genetic. Bush II just showed us the latest version of mamby-pamby Republicanism which chokes when it is time to show leadership.
There were MULTIPLE highly qualified, much younger, intellectually brilliant conservatives judges and judicial candidates whom he could have nominated and simultaneously made a statement that he wouldn't be intimidated by Chucky Schumer and Barbara Boxer. Instead, he sold out like a fat girl on prom night who compromises so she'll be liked. It's just pathetic.
Why is it that Republicans talk so big and deliver so little and Democrats don't back off, aren't ashamed to use their power and actually perform in office like they actually believe what they say.
I predict this -- If Miers turns out to be another Souter (and I pray that she won't) and/or if she votes to continue the pro-abortion policies and decisions linked to Roe v. Wade, legions of faith-based conservatives are going to walk away from politics, Republicans and the whole Washington mess. And maybe that wouldn't be such a bad idea -- this country isn't going to be changed at the Ballot Box. It will only be changed when there is a true, spiritual revival in the hearts of the citizenry.
Call me cynical, skeptical or just cranky on a Monday, but Bush muffed this one big time and you can count me as one disillusioned member of the "religious right."|W|P|112836532163741404|W|P|Did Bush II Just Give us Souter II?|W|P|jdpettus@gmail.com