The job of the evangelist is not done until the evangelized becomes the evangelist.
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For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
John 3:16-17 KJVR

Evangelism is nothing more than one beggar telling another beggar where to find food.

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Thursday, August 23, 2007

For Christ's sake, stop!

Posted on Aug 22, 2007 | by Frank Page
EDITORS' NOTE: A statement by International Mission Board President Jerry Rankin follows this article by Southern Baptist Convention President Frank Page.


TAYLORS, S.C. (BP)--Do we love one another? Do we love our pastors? Do we genuinely care one for another? Do we care for the lost? Obviously, the list could go on and on, but the question remains, "do we love and care for one another?"

I have been greatly burdened in recent days. Our lost world, our lost continent, hurting churches and hurting pastors are crying out. A few days ago I had the opportunity to share Christ with a young man on an airplane. At that very moment, I had to decide whether to continue writing this article or talk to this young man. Obviously, I put the writing material down and spoke with this young man who is in desperate need of Christ. He, like our world, is looking for authenticity and for love. I point this out because I believe we often are making the wrong choice.

Our witness is being diluted and energies expended on other activities, especially on internecine conflict.

Church conflict is rampant. Seldom does a day go by that I do not receive a call for help from either a church, a pastor or staff member. Recently I received three in one day. And, there seems to be a new way to deal with church conflict. These days, increasing numbers of church members launch websites detailing allegations, accusations and complaints. I ask church members this question: Do you think lost people see this? When newspaper reporters are called and church conflict becomes known in the newspaper, either locally or nationally, what do you think this does when lost people read it? For Christ's sake, for the sake of the lost, stop!

Personal attacks are on the rise. I recently removed my endorsement (as did David Dockery, Thom Rainer and others) when a hoped-for and needed place for dialogue on the Internet degenerated quickly into a place of personal attack against denominational leaders as well as those who are advocating reform. For Christ's sake, stop!

Phone calls, e-mails, and hallway conversations continue to take place with the bottom line being character assassination. For Christ's sake, stop!

Yes, as you can tell, I am sick and tired of all of this. But guess what? What I think or feel matters little, if at all. However, what does matter is what our Lord Jesus thinks. He states his heart in John 17:21, where he prays, "May they all be one, as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You. May they also be one in Us, so the world may believe You sent Me." He also states in Galatians 5:20 that the works of the flesh are "strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions and factions.

What must we do?

1) We must beg God for forgiveness. We have spoken ill of brothers and sisters of Christ in ways that should never occur.

2) We must pledge to avoid personal attacks in the future and not to support an activity or conversation in which this occurs. By the way, there is an individual in our convention with whom I have disagreed and have done so publicly. I personally think that is fine. However, I will not be a part of a personal attack of any brother of sister in our convention.

3) We must learn to disagree using the biblical mandates in Matthew 18, Ephesians 4:15, etc. Most church problems and convention problems could have been overcome if we would have followed these biblical mandates.

4) We must learn to listen to one another. This applies to all of us. It is time for leaders, trustees, pastors and people in the pew to listen to the concerns of others, even those with whom we have serious disagreement. The pattern of totally ignoring others with whom we disagree has led to a stone walling and given many the encouragement to become extreme.

5) We must learn to talk to each other, not just about each other. I challenge you to do this. I also promise to you that you will find new friends in so doing.

What is at stake? Certainly I am concerned about the future of our convention, its great mission work, and the educational work in which we are involved. However, even more importantly, I am concerned about lost souls and new believers. Lost people are seeing the deep division and sometimes hatred that is flowing forth among churches and among those who are involved in convention discussions. For Christ's sake, stop!
--30--

Grace & respect
needed in dialogue
By Jerry Rankin


RICHMOND, Va. (BP)--Within the diversity of the Southern Baptist Convention, we desperately need dialogue to take place in which we can listen and learn from each other, even to the extent of respecting differing viewpoints. However, the Bible gives us clear instruction of how we are to deal with disagreements with others.

As a leader of a Southern Baptist entity, I find there is no lack of those who have disagreements with the work of the International Mission Board and issues with me personally or my leadership.

I welcome direct communication that is intended to result in understanding or corrective actions. But discussion of such issues publicly without making every effort to deal with me or the individual involved is inappropriate and unbiblical. There can never be justification for communicating, even areas of serious concern, without grace, respect and a Christ-like spirit.

I regret that SBCOutpost.com, which I and others earlier endorsed, has not fulfilled its intended purpose. This had the potential of being a forum for an objective interchange of ideas and opinions that would contribute in a constructive way to the Southern Baptist Convention. While I continue to endorse and advocate the value of open communication and understanding that comes from a free exchange of ideas, I am retracting my endorsement of SBCOutpost as the place for that to happen.

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Prayer Requests, August 12th, 2007, Archive

August 12th, 2007

Prayers for the Faith program and the participants and those who will hear God's Word.

Prayers for Trey and Kitty; If anyone hears from them, please let us know.

Prayers for Rich's friend, David Bower and family. David's mother has suffered a serious injury related to family concerns and developments. Peace, healing and God's guidance.

Please pray that Carol and Clark's son will get a job soon.

Welcome to Troy and Mei Rachael Hill and their children visiting the Bible Study Class.

Please pray for Mei's mother, Sioelan, who is suffering from bronchitis and a heart condition. Pray that the mother's son, Leo, can/will stop smoking in the home, since the smoke aggravates the mother's health condition. God's healing, peace and guidance.

Pray for the brother of Dan's friend who suffered a several story fall and injuries, perhaps somewhere back east. Dan, the brother and friends had an immediate prayer session on their job site. Praises that the man seems to have come out of it with minimal injuries and has had a miraculous recovery such that he will be going back to work this next week.
Praise the Lord and thank you, Jesus, for answered prayer.

Pray for repentance for Debbie's daughter, Jessica.

Prayers for Joyce Jones and the family in the accidental injury and death of husband Floyd.
Continued prayers for Nora and the family, the Stones and all of their family, Mary and Jerry Foster, Kitty and Trey Smith and all of their families.

John & Lisa - that their final home study would go well so their adoption could continue to go forward.

Crystal & Tammy- That all would go as planned with their baptism next Sunday night.

Tanner - traveling mercies as he travels to Texas with family to visit family.

Passage for Aug 19th, 2007

Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD. Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the LORD of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house. (Haggai 1:7-9)

Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him, and the people did fear before the LORD. Then spake Haggai the LORD'S messenger in the LORD'S message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the LORD. And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the LORD of hosts, their God, In the four and twentieth day of the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king. (Haggai 1:12-15)


And now, I pray you, consider from this day and upward, from before a stone was laid upon a stone in the temple of the LORD: Since those days were, when one came to an heap of twenty measures, there were but ten: when one came to the pressfat for to draw out fifty vessels out of the press, there were but twenty. I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail in all the labours of your hands; yet ye turned not to me, saith the LORD. Consider now from this day and upward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, even from the day that the foundation of the LORD'S temple was laid, consider it. Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought forth: from this day will I bless you. (Haggai 2:15-19)

Background Passage: Haggai 1:1 - 2:23

Lesson Passages: Haggai 1:7-9, 12-15; 2:15-19

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Prayer Requests - 8/5/2007 - Archive

August 5th, 2007
Prayers for the Faith program and the participants and those who will hear God's Word.
Pray for Alex & Nick and all of the children as they begin their new school years.
Pray for healing for Alex's hand and God's will for Jessica.
Healing for Dan and others: flu and other symptoms.
Prayers for Maxi as he and Tammi work through his medications.
Praises for the activities and results of the Game Wagon sessions.
Continued prayers for Nora and the family, the Stones and all of their family, Mary and Jerry Foster, Kitty and Trey Smith and all of their families.
John & Lisa - that their final home study would go well so their adoption could continue to go forward.Crystal - That she would be able to come and be in the new baptism class next week.Tanner - traveling mercies as he travels to Texas with family to visit family.

Passage for August 12th, 2007

"At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are complacent, those who say in their hearts, 'The LORD will not do good, nor will he do ill.' Their goods shall be plundered, and their houses laid waste. Though they build houses, they shall not inhabit them; though they plant vineyards, they shall not drink wine from them." The great day of the LORD is near, near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the LORD is bitter; the mighty man cries aloud there. A day of wrath is that day, a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness..." (Zep. 1:12-15)Gather together, yes, gather, O shameless nation, before the decree takes effect --before the day passes away like chaff-- before there comes upon you the burning anger of the LORD, before there comes upon you the day of the anger of the LORD. Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the LORD. (Zep. 2:1-3)"On that day you shall not be put to shame because of the deeds by which you have rebelled against me; for then I will remove from your midst your proudly exultant ones, and you shall no longer be haughty in my holy mountain. But I will leave in your midst a people humble and lowly. They shall seek refuge in the name of the LORD..." (Zep. 3:11-12)Background Passage: Zephaniah 1:1 - 3:20Lesson Passages: Zephaniah 1:12-15; 2:1-3; 3:11-12

Monday, August 6, 2007

Passage for Aug 5th, 2007

The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet saw. O LORD, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? Or cry to you "Violence!" and you will not save? Why do you make me see iniquity, and why do you idly look at wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise. (Hab 1:1-3)

"Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told. For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, who march through the breadth of the earth, to seize dwellings not their own. (Hab 1:5-6)

You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong, why do you idly look at traitors and are silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he? (Hab 1:13)

And the LORD answered me: "Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end--it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. "Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith. (Hab 2:2-4)

I hear, and my body trembles; my lips quiver at the sound; rottenness enters into my bones; my legs tremble beneath me. Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble to come upon people who invade us. Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places. To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. (Hab 3:16-19)

Background Passage: Habakkuk 1:1 - 3:19

Lesson Passages: Habakkuk 1:2-3, 5-6, 13; 2:2-4; 3:16-19

Thursday, August 2, 2007

Alexander Hamilton

Alexander Hamilton (Federalist No. 29, 10 January 1788)

"If a well-regulated militia be the most natural defense of a free country, it ought certainly to be under the regulation and at the disposal of that body which is constituted the guardian of the national security. If standing armies are dangerous to liberty, an efficacious power over the militia in the same body ought, as far as possible, to take away the inducement and the pretext to such unfriendly institutions. If the federal government can command the aid of the militia in those emergencies which call for the military arm in support of the civil magistrate, it can the better dispense with the employment of a different kind of force. If it cannot avail itself of the former, it will be obliged to recur to the latter. To render an army unnecessary will be a more certain method of preventing its existence than a thousand prohibitions upon paper." -- Alexander Hamilton (Federalist No. 29, 10 January 1788)

Alexander Hamilton (Federalist No. 34, 4 January 1788)

"Constitutions of civil government are not to be framed upon a calculation of existing exigencies, but upon a combination of these with the probable exigencies of ages, according to the natural and tried course of human affairs. Nothing, therefore, can be more fallacious than to infer the extent of any power, proper to be lodged in the national government, from an estimate of its immediate necessities."

Alexander Hamilton (Federalist No. 70, 14 March 1788)

"The ingredients which constitute energy in the Executive are, first, unity; secondly, duration; thirdly, an adequate provision for its support; fourthly, competent powers. ... The ingredients which constitute safety in the republican sense are, first, a due dependence on the people, secondly, a due responsibility."-- Alexander Hamilton (Federalist No. 70, 14 March 1788)

Alexander Hamilton (Report on Manufactures, 1790)

"The tendency of a national bank is to increase public and private credit. The former gives power to the state, for the protection of its rights and interests: and the latter facilitates and extends the operations of commerce among individuals. Industry is increased, commodities are multiplied, agriculture and manufacturers flourish: and herein consists the true wealth and prosperity of a state."

Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin (Motion for Prayers in the Constitutional Convention, 28 June 1787)

"And have we now forgotten that powerful Friend? or do we imagine we no longer need its assistance? I have lived, Sir, a long time; and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this Truth, that God governs in the Affairs of Men. And if a Sparrow cannot fall to the Ground without his Notice, is it probable that an Empire can rise without his Aid?"

Benjamin Franklin (Motion for Prayers in the Constitutional Convention, 28 June 1787)

"I have lived, Sir, a long time; and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this Truth, that God governs in the Affairs of Men. And if a Sparrow cannot fall to the Ground without his Notice, is it probable that an Empire can rise without his Aid?" -- Benjamin Franklin (Motion for Prayers in the Constitutional Convention, 28 June 1787)

Wednesday, August 1, 2007

VBS - Game 4 & 5

The weekend got crazy and I didn't finish my updates on VBS. Thursday went very well and during the service, 40 or 50 kids came forward to either pray, be baptized or answer the call to some sort of ministry. My son, Tanner, was among them. I am always proud of him when he makes that kind of bold decision without wanting my "permission". God is slowly shaping him into the man He wants him to be.

Game 5, Friday, was the most exciting. After a long week, lack of sleep, body aches and everything else that goes with this kind of work, I was feeling a little down that I hadn't seen more fruit from our labors. (note my selfish focus) Well, when we got to the service at the end of the night, I knew there were going to be a couple of baptisms, but when they announced that there were going to be
41 I was floored!! Being privileged to see 41 people get baptized made every thing else worth the price that had been paid. I especially got overwhelmed when Tanner was announced and was cheered for by most of those in attendance. Then his friend that came with us the whole week was baptized and I just gave up trying not to cry tears of joy.

So, was all the work worth it? Absolutely!!

I am looking forward to next years VBS already!!

Praise be to God!!