A Sobering Reminder

My dear friend Bill Barker is director of Appalachian Regional Ministries. ARM is a ministry of the Southern Baptist Convention's North American Mission Board. Bill is a West Virginia native who has a heart for God, and for making Him known to the people throughout the mountains and hills of the Appalachian region of our nation, which runs from parts of New York to northern Georgia.

Bill posted the following article on Facebook this morning, and I felt compelled to share it with our readers. The context of the scriptures cited here is, of course, surrounding the dedication of Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem. It is written to the people of Israel and regards that special house of worship and prayer that had been constructed to God's specifications. God warns His people, Israel that He stands ready to protect and provide for them, but that He will withdraw His blessings from those who fail to respond to Him in obedience and love.

Even though that unique situation was very different from what we face today, I believe we can draw a correlation to the spiritual situation of God's people today in our region. Our culture has basically forgotten God and His commandments. Houses of worship all around us are closed, locked, mildewed and rotting. Small remnants try to keep other buildings open, and our convention spends money time and other resources on planting new churches. What we need is true revival among God's people. It is a sad commentary on our complacency, our priorities, and our lack of zeal in fulfilling His Great Commission. Here is Bill's article. May God use Bill's post to be a compelling challenge to each of us today!

For the past six days, I have been traveling and working in the coalfields of Appalachia, driving through towns that once brimmed with people and affluence; driving pass churches that once were filled to capacity every Lord’s Day. I paused as I passed a church were over 650 people once gathered to worship and today a dozen or so people struggle to keep the doors open.

I drove by another church that in its heyday was one of the ten largest churches in their denomination and today is just an empty shell of a building.

I drove pass churches with For Sale signs on them, pass others that showed years of neglect, and pass others that were boarded up. Yet, there was one thing in common at each site; men and women, teenagers, boys and girls desperately needing of being reached with the gospel of Christ surrounded the abandoned or nearly empty church buildings.

This reminded me of the store with a “Going out of business” sign on the front window under which someone had scribbled, “we forgot what business we were in.”

While frequently, we quote 2 Chronicles 7:14, we seldom read on to verses 19-22. "But if you turn away and forsake My statutes and My commandments which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods, and worship them, then I will uproot them from My land which I have given them; and this house which I have sanctified for My name I will cast out of My sight, and will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples. And as for this house, which is exalted, everyone who passes by it will be astonished and say, 'Why has the LORD done thus to this land and this house?' Then they will answer, 'Because they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and embraced other gods, and worshiped them and served them; therefore He has brought all this calamity on them'" (NKJV).

That same truth applies to the church today; accordingly, I pray with the sons of Korah, “Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?”(Psalm 85:6).

Of Buzzards, Bats, and Bumblebees

I had seen this illustration before, but it has been some time ago. Recently someone sent it to me in an email, and I thought it was something I should share with you. Keep in mind that this is not original with me, and the author is unknown.

The Buzzard-

If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 feet by 8 feet and is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a
flight from the ground with a run of 10 – 12 feet. Without space to run, as is its habit, the buzzard will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top.

The Bat –

The ordinary bat that flies
around at night is a remarkably nimble creature in the air. Yet it cannot take off from a level
place. If it is placed on the floor or
flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt,
painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw
itself into the air. Then at once, it takes off like a flash.

The Bumblebee -

A Bumblebee, if dropped into an open jar, will be there until it dies, or until it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the open top of the jar, but persists in trying to find some way out through the side or bottom. It will seek a way out where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.

People -

In many ways, we are like the buzzard, the bat, and the bumblebee. We struggle about with all our problems and frustrations, never realizing that all we have to do is look up! That is the
answer. The escape route and the solution to any problem is to look up.
When the problems of life arise. When there seems to be no way out. Look up to the God who has said, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you”.

The old saying goes, “Sorrow looks back… Worry looks around… but faith looks up!

Preach, Die, and Be Forgotten

Nicolaus Zinzendorf, 1700-1760, theologian and Bishop of the Moravian Church has been quoted as saying, "Preach the Gospel, die, and be forgotten".

Pretty powerful words! Words that go against the main stream of popular thought.

33 years ago in an interview for a secular job, the Human Resources Manager asked my what my goal was if I should be selected for the position. I told him I wanted to "make a good living to support my family, to serve my community well, and to be remembered for having made a difference".

Sounds pretty noble, huh?

Three decades later, those are similar words that might be spoken by nearly anyone. We live in a time where we would like to feel that we have made a difference in the world. Some speak of leaving a legacy, and that is a very human desire. Presidents save all of their papers, photos, and memorabilia for their presidential libraries. As they serve, we often hear about how they want to be remembered by historians. That is fine and proper, but it's really nothing new. Many today are seeking celebrity status. Some of us are looking for what Andy Warhol called our "15 minutes of fame". Everyone seems to want to be remembered when they are gone. This desire manifests itself in great projects endeavored and monuments left behind.

But again, that is nothing new. Human nature really hasn't changed much in millennia.

The first four verses of Genesis 11 records the following:

"Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” (ESV)

When I was a child, my understanding of this text was more along the lines of the idea that people wanted to build a tower so high that they could get up to Heaven. This is far from the message of this passage! Notice in that fourth verse they said, "... let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth". The idea was that they wanted to "make a name for themselves" and to leave a monument to their achievements.

Aren't we all like that to some extent?

Christians in general, and those of us in the ministry in particular, should be very careful not to allow ourselves to be forced into that mold! Great care should be taken, because we are NOT immune to that temptation. A cursory look around us will reveal that there are numerous "ministries" and monuments around us to mark the work of various pastors and evangelists.

God help those of us in the ministry to take heed to the advice given by Zinzendorf to Moravian Missionaries in the mid 1700's:

“The missionary must seek nothing for himself: no seat of honour, no report of fame. Like the cab-horses in London, the Count said, he must wear blinkers and be blind to every danger and to every snare and conceit. He must be content to suffer, to die and be forgotten.”

Such teachings of Zinzendorf had great influence on John and Charles Wesley, and William Carey. It should also have the same effect on us.

John the Baptist gives us one of the great Biblical examples of such a philosophy as recorded in John 3:30 " He must increase, but I must decrease.”

Oh! That we might remember that our task is to lift up Jesus and not ourselves!

May we be quick like the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 2 to lay aside opinion, philosophy, politics, personalities, partisanship and earthly wisdom to take on this attitude:

"And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God."

Our challenge is today as it has always been - "Preach the Gospel, die, and be forgotten". God has a record of our service. His reward will be much greater than any monument we may leave here.

Buzzy's Mom

This afternoon at 5:30 PM, at the Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, IL (near Chicago) it will be my privilege to unite Jim "Buz" Salyer and Debby Thomas in marriage. That's Buzzy and his mother, Anna Lee Salyer pictured here to the left.

I've known Buzzy since about 1957 or so. His family lived on Midvale Drive, up the hill from the house where I grew up on Gallaher Street. He was one year younger than me, and trailed me by one school year all the way through Gallaher Elementary, Beverly Hills Junior High, and Huntington East High School. We were't close friends through school, but mostly just a couple of guys who grew up in the same neighborhood, and had a number of mutual friends. After I graduated in 1968 I lost track of Buz for a decade.

Our paths crossed again in the late 70's as Providence brought us to the same employer at an automobile dealership in Ashland, KY. From that point on, a close friendship developed that has lasted for three and a half decades. After our time together at Steenbergen Oldsmobile, his work in banking and finance eventually led him to the Chicago area, and I opened an insurance agency in Ashland. I continued to work in Bi-vocational ministry as a business man and a pastor until called to the full time pastorate in 2012.

Buz and his late wife, Amy, who also grew up in our old neighborhood, were not only my insurance clients while they lived in Kentucky, but were great friends to Linda and I. They were also great benefactors of our Philippine Mission work and the ministry of Westmoreland Baptist Church. There was a genuine love between our families - even though we were eventually separated by many miles and different career paths.

What a joy it was last night to meet Debby who will now share her life with my old friend, and to be reunited at the rehearsal and dinner with Buz and his family. His twin son and daughter Jamie and Jacqui and their children are a precious family. It was great to see Buzzy's younger sister, Jennifer and meet her husband as well. However, one of the best treats of the evening was to be able to spend some quality time with Buzzy's mother, Anna Lee Salyer.

During the 1967-1968 school year, Mrs. Salyer (that is all I will ever be able to call her) was my Senior English teacher at Huntington East High School. I had not seen Mrs. Salyer since that hot night in early June, 1968 at my graduation ceremony at Veterans Memorial Field House in Huntington. All that was on my mind that evening was celebration, a date with my girl friend, and an upcoming trip out of town with one of my buddies. In hindsight, I wish I had taken time to seek out Mrs. Salyer and one other particular teacher that evening just to tell them "Thanks". However, as teenagers are wont to do, I failed to take that opportunity. Last night, forty four years later, I had the opportunity again, and seized the moment.

By my best count, in my twelve years as a student in Cabell County public schools, I had upwards of 50 teachers. Two of them were bad - really, really bad (that's all I'll say about that). One tried hard, but was outside of his calling. Most of them were excellent professionals, from whom I learned a great deal. Seven of them helped change my life.

Buzzy's mom was one of the "Magnificent Seven".

Mrs. Donaldson, a dear Christian lady, started it off right in first grade. Beside teaching us "Jolly Numbers" and reading with the adventures of Dick, Jane, and Sally ("See Spot. See Spot run. Run Spot. Run!") Mrs. Donaldson actually interspersed our secular lessons with Christian values. The first song I ever learned in school was "Tell Me The Story of Jesus". Imagine that!

Gertrude Stone, my fifth grade teacher, challenged me to work hard and never settle for mediocrity. That challenge lay dormant for two years in High School, but the seeds Mrs. Stone planted eventually bore fruit. Susie Jimison taught us music and life lessons. She dared us to be different and inspired us to think for ourselves and not to just follow the crowd.

In Junior High Miss Harold stoked my interests in learning about the world around me. Her passion for Geography and World History fanned the flame that Mrs. Stone had ignited in me during the fifth grade. Linda Giles' 9th grade English class deepened my love for literature and poetry, and infected me with the joy and satisfaction that comes from creative writing.

My first two years of High School were unremarkable to say the least. I coasted. I declined. My school work was average, at best, and poor on occasion. I had feelings of inferiority and began to doubt my self worth. Then came my senior year with Catherine Cummings' Speech class and Anna Salyer's English. These two ladies were a godsend to me.

Mrs. Cummings brought me out of my funk and out of my shell. She inspired me to think creatively and to communicate. Over the years, I had "locked up" when forced to get up in front of the class and and speak. Whether it was "Show and Tell" in grade school, or oral book reports in Jr. High, the fear of public speaking was debilitating. Mrs. Cummings forced me to abandon my fear of speaking before a crowd. She helped us understand that we each did have something of value to say, and coached us as to how to say it.

That all kind of comes in handy for what I do today!

Mrs. Salyer embodied all of the above qualities. She was a consummate teacher. She loved her students and it showed. She wasn't "easy" quite thee contrary, but she made learning fun. She was passionate about literature and it was infectious. She even made grammar lessons interesting. I may not have completely mastered its finest points (as evidenced my writings even today) but I understood it much better due to her efforts. She not only taught us English, but she taught us lessons in life. Her class was the best hour of the day, and I looked forward to it each school day.

Most of all, I think Mrs. Salyer saw potential in each of her students. She was tough when necessary, and compassionate at all times. She told me last night about a boy (whom I remember well) who was thrown out of his original English class. The former teacher said she would not allow him back in her class, and Mrs. Salyer was asked to take on this "problem student". She agreed, and it didn't take long for her to see that this guy was gifted in writing. His spelling was atrocious, and all the other teacher had done was mark up his papers for spelling until it looked like a chicken had bled to death on the page. Mrs. Salyer told me, "I read his work, and it was outstanding. He just couldn't spell." The previous teacher had no patience with him, and had constantly berated him over his poor spelling. "Apparently she had never taken time to read what he had written" Mrs. Salyer said. "I began to work with him on his spelling. Soon he was carrying a dictionary with him on a regular basis. His spelling improved and his work was excellent." She further said that she had lost touch with the young man after high school, but happened across his mother many years later. When asked about where her son was and what he was doing, the mother related that he was now a college English professor!

That is the kind of story that makes it all worthwhile for a teacher.

The common traits of my "top seven" - and other great teachers - are a genuine love for their profession and for the many and varied lives they touch. They often answer questions with another question. They challenge the student to think! They challenge the student to look inside themselves, and to work hard to reach their potential. They help mold and change lives.

Buzzy's mom was one of the best.

I'm sorry it took so long to be able to tell her face to face, but I am so glad I had that opportunity last night.

Thanks Mrs. Salyer! You are loved and appreciated.

Riding The Rails

As I write this, Linda and I are on the Amtrak “Cardinal” somewhere in Indiana. The land is as flat as a skillet, and we are passing rows and rows of seemingly endless cornfields. The sky is milky blue above the scattered white farmhouses, barns, other outbuildings and silos.

I am quite accustomed to loud train whistles near my home, but from our seats aboard the coach, the horn sounds strangely distant as it blows at each crossing.

It’s our first train ride together and her first, ever – if you don’t count the Cass Senic Rail Road that climbs Bald Knob back in Pocahontas County, West Virginia.

We are headed to Chicago, where tomorrow I will officiate at the wedding ceremony of a lifelong friend, and former co-worker.

The familiar swaying of the train brings back pleasant memories from my childhood days, but the rails are bumpier than I remembered – or had expected. The Conductor has just announced that from our next stop in Crawfordville through Lafayette, that the train will be full. I have been a bit surprised by the number of folks who are taking this means of transportation. The Cardinal even added two cars to the train at our early morning stop in Indianapolis.

It’s been a multi ethnic and multi cultural experience as well. In our car there are several folks speaking Spanish. The young Hispanic mother sitting across the aisle from us has two beautiful children, and a lady sitting two rows back, who appears to possibly be her sister also has three little ones. The kids are having a great time playing with each other as the miles roll by.

There are two couples and a family who (from the native dress of the ladies) appear to be from India. There are Caucasians and African Americans of all ages, and at least five Amish people have walked by us on their way to the dining car. The Conductors and other staff members are friendly and helpful, and it has made for a pleasant experience.

As someone who flies several times a year, I have been impressed with the wide comfortable seats on this train, and tremendous leg room between them. The seats are markedly larger than the coach seats of most planes, and they recline much further. The seats also have a small leg rest that can be extended, and there are foot rests and electrical outlets for each passenger’s use. The aisles are wide, and the two restrooms in each coach are a good bit larger and somewhat more comfortable than the tiny lavatories in the airliners.

The Amtrak fares are also very reasonable. Linda and I are both traveling round trip for roughly half of what one plane ticket would have cost for me, alone.

The drawbacks of rail travel, of course, do exist as well. For example, this particular route does not have daily service. The three times per week regimen makes travel scheduling more of a challenge. Obviously the trip by rail takes much longer than a flight to the same destination. There are several stops along the way, and (much the same as with the airlines) there can be unexpected delays. Our train was scheduled to leave Ashland, KY at 10:08 PM on Wednesday evening, but it did not arrive until much later. We actually got underway at 12:45 AM on Thursday morning!

When delays happen, being stuck in an airport situation can be much more comfortable than in many Amtrak venues. No one really likes spending long hours waiting in an airport terminal, but in contrast to the Amtrak “station” in Ashland, KY (which consists of two benches under a small shelter that look like a school bus stop) it makes an airport waiting area feel like a creature comfort center!

All in all, it has been a pleasant experience thus far. If your town has access to rail travel I would encourage you to try it some time. With the clattering of the wheels, the sound of the whistle, the swaying of the cars, and the passing scenery, there is just something traditionally “American” about the train experience.

I’ve been humming “train songs” to myself all morning!

“And the sons of pullman porters

And the sons of engineers

Ride their father's magic carpets made of steel.

Mothers with their babes asleep,

Are rockin' to the gentle beat

And the rhythm of the rails is all they feel.”

Persecution and Suffering

Follower's of Jesus Christ in America had better be prepared.

Persecution is coming.

It's nothing new for the follower of Christ.

Just read the Book of Acts in the New Testament, and you will begin to get an appreciation for what early Christ Followers endured.

Believers in this country should spend some time in Foxes Book of Martyrs and let the sobering reality of persecution begin to sink in to their "spoiled by our religious freedoms in the USA" minds.

Educate yourself as to the dire straits that Christians are in TODAY around the world in places like Indonesia, China, Iran, and Nigeria.

For far too long we have been the spiritual equivalent of an ostrich, sticking our heads in the sand of OUR Bill of Rights. Blessed to have been born in this wonderful country, most of us are oblivious to the plight of Christ Followers around the world, but the inconvenient truth of the matter is that persecution exists, and it is coming here, faster than most people realize.

I am thankful to be an American. I cherish our Constitution and our Bill of Rights. As a citizen, I expect to have those rights protected. Yet I would be a fool to believe that this will last forever. Look at one of the heroes (and human authors) of the New Testament - a fellow named Saul of Tarsus. You might know him better as Paul the Apostle. Paul was a Roman Citizen. He did not earn that citizenship nor purchase it at a price. Like many of us American Christians, he was simply born a citizen of Rome, and expected to enjoy the privileges and perks that came with it. Yet listen to his testimony regarding the persecution and suffering that he endured for his faithfulness to Christ:

"Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure." (2 Corinthians 11:22-27)

He even counseled his young Greek protege, Timothy, that he (and all other Christians) could and should expect more of the same:

"You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived." (2 Timothy 3:12)

That's not exactly what we would put on a recruiting poster, is it? ("Hey! Come to Jesus and get persecuted!") Yet the warning is there for every believer to see, "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus WILL be persecuted..."

Why can't we just go along our merry way, and live a life in Christ that will cause everybody to love and adore us? Why is the entertainment industry so brutal to Christians? Why are those who preach "tolerance" so loudly, so intolerant of those who follow Christ? Why is it becoming more and more unpopular to be a real Christian in 21st Century America?

Because!

Here is what Jesus, Himself, said about the subject:

"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. " (John 15:18-21)

So, there you go, my friend. Better get use to it.

This is one pastor who is tired of hearing American Christians whine about being mocked and treated with intolerance. It's time to put your big boy britches on and be prepared, because it is only going to get worse. We ain't seen nothing yet!

But here is the good news from Jesus, regarding the suffering and persecution that we will one day surely face:

"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

Markers All Around Us

In Bible times, when God did a wonderful thing for His people, often an altar would be built on the site and the place was given a special name to commemorate the event. Even in today's culture there are historic markers along highways and byways throughout our country, marking the sites of famous battles, early settlements, or historic events that have taken place there. There are spiritual markers also in our lives where we can point back to the the place and time that God saved us, or situations when He has proven Himself to be Jehovah-Jireh (The LORD Provides), or Jehova-Rophe (The LORD Heals) in our lives.

The two little boys pictured in this post are special markers in my life. They are Grandsons #3 (Canon, in the Cub Scout Uniform) and #4 (Asher, in the All Star cap). Each time I see them, I am reminded anew of the tremendous miracle that God has done in my life.

These boys were born six months and 1,000 miles apart - one in New Orleans, LA and the other in Ashland, KY during one of the darkest times in my life.

Canon was born on the Monday after Thanksgiving, 2004, the very week, a large malignant mass was found in my colon. Up to that point, I had no idea that I had cancer. The only symptoms I had experienced were general physical weakness and dizziness from time to time. Routine blood work by my family doctor showed that my hemoglobin level was just under 7 (normal range would be 12). So, while Michelle and newborn Canon were still in Oshner Medical Center in New Orleans, I was admitted to Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital in Ashland for tests to determine the cause of my blood loss. A colonoscopy on the second day of testing revealed a large mass in my right ascending colon. Surgery was scheduled for the following Monday.

During the surgery to remove three feet of my intestines, it was obvious to the surgeon that the tumor had escaped the colon. While I was "open" the surgeon also removed my appendix, several lymph nodes, and did a biopsy on my liver. The biopsy revealed that the cancer had metastasized to my lymph nodes and the liver. Consequent CT scans and MRI's showed that the tumors were "spread throughout my liver like someone had sown grass seed". The cancer was also in the lymph nodes that the surgeon had removed.

The diagnosis was simple and shocking. Metastatic Colon Cancer - Stage Four. The prognosis was stark. "incurable, but hopefully manageable with chemotherapy". Average survival time 18-22 months!

The next few weeks and months were a flurry of activity. There was a Christmas week visit to see our family in New Orleans, and a week later, a previously scheduled two week mission trip to the Philippines. Upon return from the Philippines, exhausted, I had surgery to implant a Medi-Port in my chest to enable chemotherapy infusions without the aggravation and complications of having to deal with a "pic-line". A six month course of chemotherapy commenced the next week. Every other week I visited the Ashland Bellefonte Cancer Center for treatments on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. The treatments included the standard 5-FU, along with a newer drug called Oxaliplatin and a drug called Avastin (which had some very dangerous side effects in one out of 30 patients). In addition to the in office infusions, which took up to 5 hours on Wednesday, 3 hours on Thursday, and 1 1/2 hours on Friday, I also wore a chemo pump, overnight on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

It was in the 4th month of my chemotherapy regimen that Asher was born at King's Daughters Medical Center here in Ashland. I was on my way to a chemo treatment that very day, and Leigh Anne was kind enough to deliver the little guy early that morning, in time that I could be there for the big event, and still make my treatment on time!

Well, this coming November will be 8 years since my cancer was found and diagnosed. With the prognosis, I felt that it would be unlikely that I would ever really get to know these two new grandsons, nor would they ever have any memories of me. However, a Sovereign God had other plans. My medical doctors and oncologists are astounded that I am still here. Only 15% of cancer patients with my situation ever survive for five years. By God's grace, I will soon reach the 8th anniversary.

It has been a long road these past 8 years or so, but God has been with me all the way. I still see the oncologist on a regular basis, and have my port flushed and blood work done each month. I am scheduled for another series of scans in the next few weeks, and the specter of the cancer returning is always out there. However, when I had opportunity to go to Canon's Cub Scout meeting with him this spring, and have enjoyed watching Asher play his first season of Little League Baseball, I have been reminded anew of how good God has been to this old preacher. Even their names have a special significance to me. "Canon", reminds me of the promises that are mine in God's Holy Word, and "Asher", Hebrew for "Happy", speaks of the joy that God has given me through a very difficult time.

Every time I see their beautiful faces, hear their names, and marvel at how much they have grown, it's another marker along the way to remind me that Jehovah-Rophe is still in business!

Safe and Secure

A couple of weeks ago my grandsons were at the house, and while surfing the channels they came across a live event that glued our attention to the TV screen for the next 30 minutes. A man named Nick Wallenda (of the famous daredevil circus performing Wallendas) accomplished one of the most daring feats ever accomplished by man. I sat fascinated as he walked a tightrope from New York to Canada high above the great Horseshoe Falls of the Niagra River. As he placed one foot in front of the other, carrying a 40 pound pole for balance, he accomplished something that no man had ever done before.

Wallenda had put lots of planning into this event, He had a plan, special shoes, electronic communication equipment, a ground team on each end of the cable, appropriate clothing and eye protection…20 foot balance pole, etc. But perhaps the most important piece of equipment he had was the safety line that tethered him to the cable.

This safety line allowed him to concentrate on the dangerous walk before him, without worrying about falling to his death.

If you and I will ever accomplish any great work for Christ, we need to be able to focus on the task at hand, instead of worrying about falling. This type of fear and doubt cripples us and prevents us from enjoying the fullness of life as a believer in Christ.

This fear also prevents some folks from ever being saved.

Note with me a text from the teaching of Jesus as recorded in John 10: 27-29

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.”

Next to the assurance of Salvation, the greatest blessing we have as believers is knowing at we are eternally secure in the hands of the Savior!

If you have truly trusted Jesus as your Savior and Lord, do not let the fear of falling paralyze you in your work. Move ahead, one step at a time, looking unto Jesus, who is holding you safe in His powerful hands.

Christian Boot Camp

I spent the Summer of 1973 doing “Basic Military Training” at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, and more technical trainingfor my chosen military career path at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi. This basic training helped prepare me for the tasks that would lie ahead during my time of U.S. Air Force active duty, and the years that would follow in the West Virginia Air National Guard and the U.S. Army Reserve. Of course there was further training I picked up along the way to help further prepare me for service, but the “Basic Training” taught us just that – the basics of what we needed to know to be effective in our service to our country.

Christ Followers need much of the same, as we seek to follow the Lord in every aspect of our lives.
The Word of God tells us so. Consider how the scriptures implore us to prepare ourselves for service to God through the learning of His Word, for:

·
* Christian Growth

1 Peter 2:2-3 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation-- if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

2 Peter 3:17-18 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

* Mediation and Teaching

Deuteronomy 6: 6-7 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way,and when you lie down, and when you rise.

2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

·
* Guidance

2 Timothy 3:14-17 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

* Facing persecution

1 Peter 3:14-15 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being
prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

For these (and other reasons) I am preparing and preaching a series of messages on Sunday mornings this Summer in “Basic Doctrines for Christian Growth and Service”. We will be looking at topics such as “Assurance of Salvation”, “Eternal Security”, “Repentance and Restoration”, “Dealing With Temptation”, “Fellowship”, “Christian Maturity”, “The Spirit Filled Life”,“Knowing the Will of God”, etc.

I hope you will join us in worship as we explore these and other basic Christian doctrines in Christian Boot Camp (no pushups or running required!)

The Power Of A Personal Testimony

It's 12:30 AM and I am crying like a baby. The tears are tears of joy and thanksgiving to our Father in Heaven, and believe it or not, it is from something I've just seen on The Tonight Show!

As I sometimes do in the evenings, by 10:00 or so, I had fallen asleep in my recliner. Linda has learned that when I do such things it is futile to try to wake me. She knows I will eventually regain consciousness and make the climb up the stairs to my comfortable bed. So, she makes sure the doors are locked and all the lights are out, and leaves me in la la land with the flickering light of the television on until I snap back to reality.

Well, I did... and the Tonight Show was in its last few minutes. The beautiful Catherine Zeta-Jones was sitting to Jay Leno's far right, and a little bent man with a red baseball cap, and blue jacket was in the chair next to Leno's desk. He appeared to be in his 90's, and was in the process of recounting his World War II prisoner of war experience. With him being a member of my Dad's "Greatest Generation" I immediately took note of what he was saying.

His name was Louis Zamperini. He was a native of Torrance, California, where he was a juvenile delinquent in his younger years. However, he had been given a wonderful gift of athletic ability which led him to world fame as a track star. He had even competed for the USA in the 1936 Olympic games in Berlin. After World War II broke out, Zamperini joined the Army Air Corps and became a bombardier on a B-29.

As I roused from my slumber Zamperini was telling about the events that followed the crashing of his plane in the Pacific Ocean on May 27. 1943. He told about how he and the badly injured pilot and one other crew member were the sole survivors of the eleven man crew. The story that followed was absolutely fascinating. He told of how the three or them survived for 47 days on the raft, badly injured and surrounded by sharks. The one plane they saw during the ordeal, turned out to be an enemy aircraft. It made two passes at them firing machine guns at the three airmen. Miraculously, no one was hit, and he allowed that as they "played dead", the enemy pilot must have been low on fuel and returned to their base or aircraft carrier.

As the story went, Zamperini and the other survivors eventually washed ashore in the Japanese controlled Marshall Islands. When captured, Zamperini weighed only 67 pounds (he had lost 100 pounds during the 47 days as a castaway). The three Americans were taken as prisoners of war, where Zamperini was tortured for more than two years. Much of that time was at the hand of a cruel Japanese prison camp guard, known to the prisoners as "The Bird". The guard made Zamperini his personal project, but in over a year of his torturous treatment, the young American refused to break. The story is told in a book by Laura Hildenbrand, entitled "Unbroken". I'll be ordering that book from Amazon in the morning!

As riveting as Zamperini's story was, I wasn't prepared for what came next, and that was what brought the tears to my eyes.

Leno mentioned, "I understand that you have gone back to Japan, and that you have forgiven your captors, including "The Bird" who had nearly killed you with his torture".

The old man smiled as he told the rest of the story. "They didn't know what it was called back then, but we know now it is called post traumatic stress disorder" he recounted. He told about the nightmares he suffered for years after his freedom. He drank heavily, tortured by the demons of his memory. Each night in his dreams he dreamed of strangling the life out of "The Bird". Eventually, he said, he "met the girl of his dreams and married her". After his marriage he began to cut back on the drinking but the nightmares continued to haunt him. His wife urged him to seek help, but he maintained he could handle it on his own.

One night, while choking "The Bird" in his dreams, Zamperini awoke to realize he had his wife by the throat, choking the life out of her. Terrified and injured, she told him she had come to the end of her rope and that she would file for divorce. Needless to say, he was devastated.

Then, he said, Billy Graham came to town. Zamperini's wife had gone to the Crusade one night and had given her life to Christ. She came home that evening a new woman, telling her husband that she was not going through with the divorce, but was committing her life to Christ and trusting Him to take care of the situation. She encouraged Zamperini to attend the Crusade, which he did, but he "left the meeting angry and terribly under conviction". However, he went back the next night, and after hearing Graham say, "When you get to the end of your rope, and you have no where else to go, turn to God", he knew what he had to do.

Zamperini's mind went back to his 47 day ordeal at sea, and the two and a half years in captivity, and to how he had promised God that if He would spare his life, that he would live for Him and serve him faithfully. "I realized that night, that God had kept his promises to me, but I had not kept mine to Him. The next thing I knew" he said, "I had come forward, and was in the prayer room, committing my life to Christ. I told Him I was sorry and I asked Him to come into my heart and I would live for Him."

Zamperini said, from that moment on he had never had another drink of alcohol, and that the nightmares ended forever. He was able to forgive those who had treated him so horribly, and had opportunity to visit Japan and meet some of his captors, showing them the love of Christ.

The audience erupted in applause, and Zeta-Jones was noticeably moved. Jay Leno stood and shook his hand and simply said, "God bless you".

Obviously God already has done just that!

Now that is far from what one would normally see and hear on late night television, but what a blessing to hear that little bent man, a war hero from another generation, tell that young studio audience (as well as the millions watching on television) about the saving, life changing power of the Lord Jesus Christ. It was powerful, and terribly effective. I was reminded of the words from John Newton's immortal song, "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found. Was blind but now I see." People can argue about churches, denominations, and doctrinal differences, but no one can argue with the reality of a changed life!

There is nothing stronger than the power of a personal testimony of what Christ has done in an individual's life. May we be as quick as Louis Zamperini to share the Good News at every opportunity.

The Blessing Of Sports Ministry

On Monday evening 80 children and their families gathered in the sanctuary of Westmoreland Baptist Church to celebrate the completion of our Upward Soccer season.

The 8 week season had just wrapped up the previous Saturday and by all accounts it was a great experience for the children, parents, grandparents, coaches and other volunteers. Our Soccer Commissioner, Kim McFann once again had done a wonderful job in overseeing this annual ministry. In the Award Celebration, each child received a new Upward soccer ball, and a gospel DVD entitled, "The Big Story", for their families to have and to view at their leisure.

Upward is a sports ministry more than 25 years old, founded by Caz McCazlin at First Baptist Church of Spartanburg, SC. It has grown in its scope and now Upward Basketball, Cheer leading, Soccer, Flag Football, and Sports Camps can be found, sponsored by evangelical churches around the world! It has been a wonderful asset to our Children's Ministry here at WBC. Some of the children who participate are from families that are actively involved in other churches, and that is fine. However, many of the kids come from families that have no church affiliation, and little spiritual influence in their lives. Upward is not nearly as intensively competitive as other youth sports league - and that is by design. In our busy world, time is at a premium, and families are often short changed in quality time together. Upward has one hour of practice per week, and one game per week on Saturday. Every child learns a Bible verse per week. Each practice has a devotional Bible lesson, as does half time on game day. When children have completed a season of Upward, they have been coached and taught by Christian volunteers, and they have been presented with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. No other youth sports program can say that!

Some say that Upward is not competitive. Well, tell that to the kids who participate! The beauty of Upward is the three fold purpose that says "Every Child Plays... Every Child Learns... Every Child Wins". Parents who are looking for a hard nosed, win at all cost youth sports program will not be impressed with Upward. There will be plenty of opportunities in the lives of these children to compete in games and in life. Upward is not a youths sports league, Upward is a ministry, and we make no bones about it.

As part of the Award Celebration program, we ask for parent/guardian feedback. We ask them to rate their Upward experience on a 1 to 4 scale, with the four choices being "Great", "Good", "Satisfactory", and "Less than Satisfactory". Only two forms rated the experience as low as "Satisfactory", 87% rated it "Great" with the rest falling under the category "Good". There were no forms that listed an "unsatisfactory" rating. We also gave the parents an opportunity to give us verbal feedback as well. The two that rated it "Satisfactory" gave us constructive remarks that we will use next season to try to enhance the ministry.

Here are some representative comments from the feedback form:

"Aidan had a great season!'

"We had a lot of fun this year. I hope to have my son in the program again next year."

"The coaches were great... they were knowledgeable about soccer fundamentals. They were fun, caring, and all around super people."

"This was our first year of Upward and it will not be our last! These coaches taught my children so much. Thanks to all the coaches and staff of Upward."

"This was my son's second year. He loved it and we look forward to next season."

"As a grandparent, it was a wonderful experience. We love it than everyone gets equal playing time."

"This was exactly what my 9 year old daughter needed. Thank you!"

Upward is a lot of work, from pre registration activities, to registration, evaluations, team selection, recruiting volunteers, scheduling practice times and games, and the time involved to practice and coach the games. One might ask, "Is it worth it?" Well, on Sunday morning we will be baptizing two children who have both participated in Upward Sports this year. I think we can agree it is worth every minute of time and effort.

We'll take a short break, and then begin preparations for Upward Basketball and Cheer leading to fire up this fall!

The Anonymous Letter

I received an anonymous letter in the mail at church last week. It came in a plain white envelope with no return address. It was addressed, simply, to the Pastor. Inside was a neatly typed, well written unsigned half page communication. From what had been written, I could only gather that it was from a church member, presumably a lady.

Over the last four decades, I have received several unsigned letters. Having served on my local Board of Education, the city Board of Zoning Adjustment, a Seminary Board of Trustees, a Little League Board of Directors, a State Baptist Convention officer, and with four decades of pastoral ministry, sometimes anonymous letters just go with the territory. Generally these letters have been angry in tone, accusatory, and down right mean. Some were unsigned because the writers "feared for their jobs" (perhaps a valid concern in some cases). Others were unsigned, simply because the poison pen authors were simply too cowardly to sign their names. A former School Board colleague once told me, "If they won't do me the courtesy of identifying themselves, I won't waste my time reading their letter. It goes straight into the trash."

I've read every anonymous letter I have ever received. Some raised valid concerns, but most were quite deserving of the "round file" that sits in the floor beside my desk.

This letter was different.

It made me sad.

The person who wrote it, was either a member of our church or someone who at least has attended for a while. From the content of the letter, one could assume the author was a woman, based on what seems to be her perspective in the writing. However, a reading of the letter also indicated that she may have been more peripheral in her church relationship, and not very familiar with church polity, or past practice.

This dear lady apparently had an idea that she had shared with someone else before the service last Sunday morning. She thought her suggestion might be benefit the work of the church. As she shared her idea, with another person she was told, "The men will never allow it!" As she explained what she saw as the merit of her idea, she got the same response, "The men will never allow it."

Now, I don't know the identity of either party in the conversation, but I can tell you this. The one who kept repeating "The men will never allow it" either spoke out of ignorance of the facts, or with the intent to upset the lady who had made the suggestion. If their intention was the latter, they certainly succeeded. This lady was hurt, and it came through in her writing. It caused her to wonder "why her opinion meant nothing, and her voice could not be heard". She further wondered if she "had been attending the wrong church for all these years".

This letter was heartbreaking. Here was a person who is at least attached to our congregation, and may even be a member. Yet she seems to be unaware of how the church operates. We operate under the model of congregational church polity. There is no select group (Elders, Deacons, etc) that makes policy or sets direction for the church. As a congregation of believers and followers of Christ, we have adopted a church constitution that sets out who we are, why we are here, and how we are organized for ministry and mission. Furthermore, we have a policy and procedure manual that has been compiled and revised over the years, by action of the church body. These policies and procedures are to provide clarity as to how we operate as an "organization". A copy of the manual is kept in the church office and is available to any person who would like to peruse it.

Our congregation holds regular quarterly business meetings, to hear reports, ask questions, set policies, and consider all important business that is necessary for our church to handle. Every member of the church (age sixteen and above) has a vote on every issue considered in each meeting. Every one's opinion means something, and every voice has the right to be heard.

Sadly, this dear lady does not seem to understand this. But even more sad is the fact that she was given bad information by someone else - and just took it for the truth. I don't know the identity nor the motives of the person who dispensed the bad information to this lady, but whether it be due to ignorance of the facts, or out of some type of malice, it was harmful. Harmful to the feelings of the letter writer, and in a larger sense, harmful to the unity and harmony of our church.

The letter writer seems to have access to a computer, since it appears to have been typed in some type of word program. I pray that she may read this blog post. If she is reading this, I urge her to contact me. Give me a call, drop me an email, or preferably, come by the office and let's talk about your suggestion. Your voice is important, and open communication can answer many questions, and head off many potential problems.

You close your letter by saying, "I am not signing this letter because I do not want to be identified as a trouble maker...". Believe me when I tell you that I have read a number of anonymous letters over the years - and your letter was not that of a trouble maker. Every member is important to this body, and it breaks my heart to think that someone may think that they are not! I hope to hear from you, and I will keep your identity in confidence.

Today's prayer: Lord help us to be understanding of others. May your Spirit bear the fruit in our lives of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. May our communications and actions reflect those qualities. May you rebuke the Enemy, who would use his wiles to cause us to focus on the things that take our eyes off the mission! Thank you for loving us. Thank you for your Church and for the people who make up your body. Amen

The Cool Shepherd?

I hear it from fellow pastors all the time.

"Why do we lose so many of our young people, once they 'graduate' from the youth group?"

It seems to be a widespread problem among evangelical churches. Most of us put a good bit of time and effort into our children's and student ministries in the church. Yet we often lose many of our youth once they "age out". Why is that?

Do they no longer need discipleship training?

Are they no longer interested in connecting with friends?

Are spiritual matters no longer an issue with them?

Is it because the church is no longer relevant?

The answer to all of the above is, "Of course not!"

So, why do they seem to disappear in droves?

Perhaps the answers can be found by studying those who DO NOT leave the church, after their youth group years are over.

I read a very interesting article by Jon Nielson on my BlackBerry recently, while sitting in a hospital waiting room. The post is entitled, "Three Common Traits Of Youth Who Do Not Leave The Church". The entire article can be found here...
http://www.churchleaders.com/youth/youth-leaders-articles/159175-3-common-traits-of-youth-who-don-t-leave-the-church.html?p=3

Nielson writes that there are three common traits that can be found in the young people who stay involved in the church. Interestingly, his findings have nothing to do with music, worship styles, dress standards, or the "cool factor" of the pastor or the congregation. According to Nielson, the three common traits of youth who do not leave the church are these:

1. They are Converted
2. They have been Equipped - not Entertained
3. Their parents have "Preached the Gospel to them"

Does that make sense? If these factors are valid, and I believe they are, It should be a wake up call to all of us, and a reason to re-evaluate our respective youth ministries.

The first and foremost things our kids need is Jesus! Not just a head knowledge about who Jesus was, where He went, what He did, or even what He said. Students, like adults, need to KNOW Jesus. To know Him as their Savior and Lord. They need a personal relationship with Him. The message of John 3:16 and John 14:6 is just as important to young people as it is to 30, 40, and 50 something folks. Our youth activities need to be built around Evangelism!

Secondly, as young disciples, students need to be equipped - not entertained. Many churches and youth workers seem to feel that we "have to keep them entertained or we'll lose them". Now, I understand that there does need to be activities that add fun and fellowship to our student ministry activities. But entertainment is not what its all about. It is very possible to plan enough entertainment and activities to keep kids coming out, but without conversion and a focus on building up and discipling these young folks, they will be gone as soon as the fun is over.

Just as important is the need for parents to model their faith before their kids. No youth pastor, no matter how talented, gifted, or imaginative they may be, can take the place of the parent in laying the foundation of the Gospel in the lives of their children. Parents must take on their God given responsibilities. Don't just send the kids to youth group. Don't just expect the "youth guy" to accomplish in a few hours a month, what you can and must do in the home.

At Westmoreland Baptist Church, these are the things we are going to focus on in our "Beneath the Surface" student ministry. Will Youth Pastor, Bub Amis, and his helpers have some fun activities planned for the kids? Sure. But we make a commitment to you as parents that in all of our activities, our goal will be to win these kids to Christ. It won't be all about activities and fun and games. We will seek to build them up as strong disciplined followers of Christ - to be young people who will not only have a rock solid faith in Christ, but will be growing in Him, and will be a witness to their friend as fellow students as well.

We ask the parents to back us in this, and above all to do your part. Teach them in your home. Model your faith in your life, so your kids will realize that their greatest role models are genuine in their beliefs and practices.

Kids need a shepherd the same as adults do.

We are going to commit that our efforts will be to model the Good Shepherd, rather than focus on being the Cool Shepherd. I'm convinced it will be of eternal value to the kids!

This N That

I've been blogging for several years now. Info about me and my reason for blogging is located on the panel to the right side of the screen - so there is no need for me to go into my motivation or an explanation of the blog in this post.

When it comes to the blogosphere, "For What It's Worth" is basically small potatoes. Next week I should pass the 45,000 mark in page views. In the vast scheme of things, that doesn't compare to the huge numbers of which some popular blogs can boast. But on the other hand it's rather amazing to me that there have been than many visits to this site.

The stats that Blogger keeps reveal some interesting data regarding "For What It's Worth". It has recorded somewhat regular readership from the following countries, listed in order of readership volume:

United States
United Kingdom
Philippines
India
United Arab Emirates
Canada
Pakistan
China
Germany
Finland

It is somewhat interesting to me, to realize that the ruminations of a rather obscure 61 year old Baptist pastor from West Virginia has had regular readership among folks on several continents. (although I seem to be coming up way short in the Southern Hemisphere!)

The stats page also reveals how the readers have come to find this blog:

Google.com is far and away the highest number of referrals to this blog.

Facebook.com is next, followed by Bing.com and Yahoo.com. The stats list numerous other referring sites and URL's but those listed above are the most common.

Even the percentage of the various browsers used, as well as the operating systems are listed.

Pageviews by Browsers

Internet Explorer (42%)
Firefox (19%)
Chrome (14%)
Safari (13%)
Mobile Safari (9%)
Instapaper (1%)
Opera (1%)
Mobile (1%)
chromeframe (1%)


Pageviews by Operating Systems:

Windows (68%)
Macintosh (10%)
Android (9%)
iPhone (5%)
Linux (2%)
iPad (1%)
BlackBerry (1%)

It's been fun blogging. I hope to continue for as long as possible. There have been times when it lay dormant for a while, but that happens due to several circumstances - ranging from heavy schedule, ministry responsibilities, travel, family issues with our aged parents, or just plain old writer's block. I've had opportunity to vent when angry, brag on grandchildren, comment on the passing scene, talk some politics, discuss some scripture, share some poetry, spin some yarns, pass along a funny story of photo, and comment on doctrinal issues in the Southern Baptist Convention - all "For What It's Worth".

However you may have happened to find this blog, I'm glad you stopped by. I hope you save it on your "favorites" and visit often. Some of you are regular readers. Many have left comments, both positive and negative. Hopefully it hasn't offended many, but I know it has some... Either way, I appreciate your readership, and welcome your input. Some times you may agree with me, sometimes you may not. Perhaps it will provoke thought, and hopefully it will point folks to my Lord and Savior.

Stop by and visit when you can.

It's Up To Us - And We Have A Helper!

This story from an unknown author comes to me most recentlyin an email forwarded by Linda. I have seen it before, and perhaps some of you have as well, but the message isimportant enough that it merits repeating.

Law of the Garbage Truck

“One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the
airport. We were driving in the right
lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of
us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car byjust inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly. So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!'

This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.'
He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you. Don'ttake it personally.

Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets. The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so
Love the people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who don't.”

*****
How do we, as Christians react when we are treated poorly or unfairly? How do we respond? The Bible gives us plain direction. Here are but three passages to consider:

Pro 15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

In Matt 5:39 Jesus said, “But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”

Paul writes in Rom 12:14-21 “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends
on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the
wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Sound Biblical advice, don't you think? Is it ever easy to do this? Of course not! Yet throught the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, we should all put into practice! As Paul tells us in Romans 12, it's up to us in how we react to "getting dumped on... Aren't you thankful we have a helper?

E Pluribus Unum (Christ's Church)

This morning, untold numbers of Evangelical pastors will step into the pulpit to proclaim God's Word.

Many will have extensive theological education - some even with terminal degrees. Others have will have less formal education, yet have felt the call of God on their lives. They have sought to do their very best to study the Bible, and employ the best tools available to help them "rightly divide the word of truth". All of them face the dual challenge of proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ to the lost, as well as feeding the flock of God, so they may become better disciples.

They will be affiliated with various evangelical denominations and conventions, and some will even be "independent". Some will be in full time ministry while others are Bi-vocational, laboring in a secular job to support their families.

Some will preach in great sanctuaries of imposing buildings. Some will work in little white churches by the side of the road. Some in storefront missions. Some in house churches. Some in rented theater buildings, hotel meeting rooms, or school gymnasiums, or even in an outdoor setting.

Some will dress in sharp business suits, others in less expensive outfits, yet the best they can afford. Some will dress casual - and some will wear torn jeans and black T shirts.

Some will stand behind a huge pulpit, or some type of lectern. Others will sit on a stool, behind a microphone, or pace the platform like a caged tiger. Some will have great oratorical skills. Some, not so much. Some will raise their voices, as well as a sweat. Some will speak in more conversational tones. Some will actually read their message from a manuscript. Others will preach with the aid of notes. Still others may be note free - and a few may even speak extemporaneously.

Robed choirs singing powerful anthems will back some of the pastors. Praise teams may lead worship in some services. In some churches there will be orchestras or smaller ensembles, providing sacred music. Powerful old hymns will emanate from great organs in some auditoriums. Other congregations will simply be happy to have someone in the crowd who can play the old upright piano. In some churches praise bands will provide electronically amplified music to a beat from a talented drummer. In other churches a single acoustic guitar may be the only instrumental music available. In some congregations, there will be solos and trios and quartets, singing Southern Gospel music. In others there will be only congregational singing - some perhaps, without accompaniment at all.

Some of the congregations will be of only one ethnicity. Others will have people present from differing races. Some congregations will be strikingly older in their makeup. Others may be made up primarily of college students and young adults. Still others will have a healthy mixture of all ages. In some churches many children will be present. In others, not so many.

Some pastors will differ from others in their view of church polity. There will be secondary and tertiary doctrinal differences between them. There will be Calvinists, Arminians, and Molinists - Premillenialists and Amillenialists. Some pastors, even within the same denominations or conventions, may differ sharply on internal denominational issues.

We could go on and on chronicling the difference one may find in worship styles today in evangelical churches of all sizes, around the country and around the world.

One thing, however, unites us, in spite of all our differences, preferences, and idiosyncrasies. It is the Great Commission. The marching orders that Christ has left us are clear. We may take slightly different directions as to how we seek to accomplish it, but we are one in the Spirit - one in the Lord.

Today's prayer: "Lord, use us today for Your glory, and for Your Kingdom. Use us in spite of our differences, and our shortcomings. Make us an instrument of Your grace and peace, and may we be a channel of blessing to the believer, as well as those who have not yet come to You."

Devil Anse Hatfield

As a young boy, I remember my parents taking me to the grave site of Captain Anderson "Devil Anse" Hatfield, patriarch of the Hatfield half of the legendary Hatfield-McCoy Feud. To reach the grave, located near Barnabus and Sarah Ann on Main Island Creek in Logan County, WV, I remember us leaving the car on the shoulder of the two lane road, and making a tough climb up the side of the hill. There on the overgrown hillside stood the life sized Italian marble statue of the Confederate Army officer, turned feud patriarch, turned preacher.

There he stood, the stern bearded figure, gazing out across the hills of West Virginia, that had been his home and refuge for years, and which he loved dearly. I didn't know much about the feud at that time, but I was fascinated that such a beautiful monument could be found in such a remote place. However, that was exactly the type of rugged terrain that had been his family's home territory for generations.

Hatfield was born in 1839 and died in 1921. When he was baptized late in life by Uncle Dyke Garrett in Logan, the crowd that showed up to witness the event numbered in the hundreds. And why not? This was Old Devil Anse, himself! Patriarch of the Mingo County West Virginia clan that went to war for nearly 20 years with the McCoy clan, who resided across the Tug River in neighboring Pike County, Kentucky.

Although there are numerous stories as to how the feud started (ie. a Romeo and Juliet like romance between a Hatfield boy and a McCoy girl, or a dispute over a pig) the roots of the feud included a combination of property disputes, romantic entanglements, electioneering, and family conflicts going all the way back to the Civil War. The dispute between the families of Hatfield and Randolph McCoy, eventually grew to the point that the Governors of West Virginia and Kentucky got involved.

A number of factors led up to the feud, but violence actually broke out after an election day fight in the border town of Matewan, WV in 1882. Tolbert McCoy (son of Randolph McCoy) and Ellison Hatfield. After a day of drinking and electioneering, three of the McCoy brothers (Pharmer, Tolbert, and Randolph, Jr) stabbed Ellison Hatfield to death. In retaliation, the Hatfield clan, soon captured the three McCoy brothers, tied them to a Paw Paw bush along the banks of Blackberry Creek, and proceeded to dispatch them into eternity via gunshots. A historical marker stands today to mark the spot, just down the road from my wife's old home place.

Although I am not related to either clan, our family (like many others from the coalfield counties of Mingo and Logan in West Virginia, and Pike in Kentucky) have connections to them. I remember meeting Willis Hatfield back in the 1960's. Willis was one of the youngest sons of Devil Anse, and in the 40's and 50's he was a foreman at the Dehue Coal Mine where my Dad worked for him. Mr. Hatfield died in 1978, but his daughter still resides in the Huntington, WV area. On the other side, my mother in law was related to the McCoy family. One of her cousins, Jimmy Woolford, became a noted historian of the feud, and has written books, articles, and produced recordings which disseminated much information about the hostilities.

I have seen that the History Channel will be presenting "The Hatfields and McCoys", a three part series starring Kevin Costner as Devil Anse, beginning May 28th. I look forward to viewing it. It is a fascinating episode here in the mountains. Hopefully the series will be historically accurate, and will acquaint many viewers with the details of a most interesting (and violent) segment of nearly forgotten American history.

A Milestone In Ministry

This week marks a milestone in my ministry here at Westmoreland Baptist Church. This week of my tenure here puts me past Rev. Ralph Webb, as the longest serving pastor in WBC's 97 year history. It hardly seems possible!

I have never stopped thanking my Heavenly Father, for bringing me and this special congregation together nearly 10 years ago. I answered the call of the church with an unprecedented 99% of the vote on that Sunday morning in November 2002. I have no idea what the vote would be if taken again today, but I would like to think that I still enjoy a good measure of support from the congregation.

We've had good times together, and we've had some challenges. The first two years were a period when I focused on ministry to people who were bearing hurts from years past. The next two years, the church rallied around me and Linda as they ministered to us during my battle with Stage 4 "Incurable" Cancer. God used my illness for blessings in many ways. One of those results was a spirit of unity and love at about the time a new pastor's "honeymoon" would normally be over.

One of the buzzwords today in SBC circles is the term "Missional". Westmoreland Baptist has been a missional church since its birth in 1915. It was, itself, the product of a church planting vision. The work on the corner of Hughes and Court Streets in the most westerly neighborhood of Huntington was planted by the Washington Avenue Baptist Church. Washington Avenue Baptist later became Jefferson Avenue Baptist, and just a few years ago that congregation merged with Eastwood Baptist Church on East Pea Ridge between Barboursville and Huntington.

Over the years this congregation has begun missions all around the state of West Virginia. Some of the church plant attempts only survived for a few years. Our most recent church planting effort was in our county seat of Wayne. Not all of our church plant attempts might be called "successful" but only eternity will reveal what God accomplished through those efforts. However, there are several thriving healthy churches today in Huntington (Altizer neighborhood), Elkins, Logan, and Point Pleasant that were all church plants by WBC. At least one of those churches has also planted a successful church in Lincoln County.

Many of our members have served as missionaries - both vocational as well as volunteer. Cynthia Perdue Mikhail (who recently passed away in Ramallah) spent most of her adult life as a missionary to Palestinians and Jews in the West Bank territory of Israel. Steve Howerton spent time as an IMB Journeyman in the Caribbean, and it was there where he met his future wife, Cathy, who was there doing mission work herself. Jim Fugate and Kevin Howerton also served as BSU Campus Ministers. Randy Spurgeon gave up his position here as Associate Pastor of Music and Youth several years ago to serve as one of our State Convention Missionaries as well.

Many of our members have taken part in short term missions both at home and abroad, and we continue to do so. Recent trips have included ongoing work in the Philippines with native Southern Baptist Church planters there, as well as trips to Russia, Europe, India, and Haiti. Our youth do mission work around the country each summer, and a number of our people have served in SBC Disaster Relief work for years. I am proud that many of our people have the desire to Go personally. I am also thankful that they back up their missionary spirit through giving.

Beside numerous non budgeted gifts we give to various mission causes (ranging from the Huntington City Mission to several independent missionaries, and Gideons International) the church body has committed to return 13% of all undesignated receipts to Southern Baptist Mission causes. The breakdown of our mission giving includes:

• The SBC Cooperative Program (since 1925, one of the most successful mission sending vehicles ever created. Cooperative Program giving helps fund International and Home Missionaries, including our own West Virginia Convention work, as well as the six SBC Seminaries, and the SBC Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission)
• SBC International Mission Board direct giving to help bring the Gospel to the Kekchi People Group of Belize in Central America. This people group has been identified by the IMB as one of 3,800 unreached and unengaged people groups on the planet.
• Direct support for Filipino Church Planters of the Negros Southern Baptist Association of Churches (Visayan Baptist Convention SBC) in the Philippines. We have helped fund, construct, and furnish three new church buildings, and financially support one of the pastors and his family
• The Greater Huntington Baptist Association. We have reorganized and simplified the structure and ministry scope of our local association during this last year of transition, and we look forward to the coming year making a greater missions impact our our area than ever before.

It is also an area of pride to know that this church has produced many other individuals who have, and are currently serving as pastors and staff members in churches in West Virginia, and around the nation.

These last nine and a half years has been a real time of transition for Westmoreland Baptist. I have officiated 108 Funeral services since I have been here (not counting those done by other staff members during the same period). God is bringing new families in to replace the old, and the challenge before us is to make strong mature disciples, who can replicate themselves in other people through evangelism and discipleship.

Are we a "dead church" as someone once charged? Absolutely not! Are we dying? I think not. Are we as healthy and vibrant as we could be? Sadly the answer is no. We are not reaching our area for Christ as effectively as we could and should. We want to see more people saved and following our Lord in believer's Baptism. That will come as we focus on our three fold mission in this community and in the world. "Magnify God... Make Disciples... Minister to People".

A Sovereign God brought me to this place nearly 10 years ago. He matched us up as shepherd and flock, and I have no doubt it was of His doing. My prayer is today the same as it was then. "Lord, help me love them and lead them. And Lord, please do not let me do any thing to mess up your work here!

The best years are still ahead for Westmoreland Baptist Church. I pray that I can be a part of it as the His "undershepherd" here, until my ministry is concluded, or God calls me home.