This Is A Sad Story

Over the years in which I served as a Kentucky Baptist Pastor, the two churches I served in Boyd County and the city of Ashland were faithful supporters of what was then known as the Kentucky Baptist Homes for Children. website located here .
We supported KBHC through our Cooperative Program giving, and through the annual KBJC offering.  One year, we at Ashland Baptist also participated in the "Mile of Pennies" drive, hundreds of dollars were given to the home in the pennies we collected all over Kentucky.  We could barely lift the big plastic water cooler bottles in which the pennies were collected.  Also, Community Trust Bank officials nearly croaked when Tandy Kemper's body shop crew and this pastor wheeled those pennies into the big bank lobby on dollies to make our deposit!

We were happy to support this ministry, and why not?  This great ministry, a long time entity of the Kentucky Baptist Convention, has impacted the lives of thousands of children by providing wonderful homes, educational opportunities, and instilling Godly values. Over the years they have added other campuses and have grown tremendously in the number of children served. Over the years, they have also become more and more dependent on Federal dollars to be able to operate and expand the work.

A year or so before I was called to pastor Westmoreland Baptist Church in the neighboring state of West Virginia, KHBC (Sunrise) was hit with a major crisis.  Through a series of events the administration learned that a staff member was living in a same sex relationship while employed by Sunrise.  Since the lifestyle of the employee was unscriptural and in direct conflict with the values being taught by KBHC, the employee was terminated.  As one might guess, a lawsuit was brought against Sunrise, its director, Bill Smithwick, and the Kentucky Baptist Convention.claiming that the plaintiff had been unfairly terminated. The ripple effects of this issue has gone on and on.  The history of all this is easily found on Google and the Western Recorder (KBC official Newspaper) and I will not go into that in this blog.

Baptist Press and other media outlets are now reporting that Sunrise is presently considering changing its hiring policies, doing a 180 degree turn and allowing for the hiring of homosexual persons to staff positions with the agency.  The Baptist Press story is located here.

When I read this story, the first thing that popped into my mind is how after the lawsuit had been filed, Bill Smithwick (The Director of Sunrise) made a tour of the state, meeting with pastors and leaders of the local associations of Baptist Churches.  I remember, well how he stood before a good number of us gathered at Oakland Avenue Baptist Church in Catlettsburg, and told us, "We will never give in and change our employment standards. We will never agree even if it means the loss of federal funding."

Churches and associations rallied around Smithwick, bathing him in prayer and recommitting themselves to the support of Smithwick and the KBHC.

Well, it appears Mr. Smithwick has changed his mind, to the dismay of state Convention leadership, and, I am sure, the vast majority of Baptists across the Bluegrass State.

Now hear me on this.  I am not trying to generate a bunch of comments and debate.  Facebook is not the place for that.  Please do not post any inflammatory comments here.  I hope you hear my heart on this.

I have ceased to be a "Cultural Warrior" several years ago.

I am not  homophobic.  I seek to minister to those who are dealing with this issue in their lives. They are welcome at Westmoreland Baptist Church,  We want to show them the love of Christ, but we would never knowingly place a practicing homosexual person in a teaching or leadership position in the church .

I am no longer a pastor in the KBC, (so I don't have "a dog in that fight") but I do still live in the northeastern corner of the Commonwealth and have many dear Baptist friends from the mountains to the Mississippi, and my heart is breaking for what is happening here.

This situation is exactly what I have been trumpeting for some time now. The Church is increasingly having to learn that we are a spiritual people in a secular world.  We are not in the majority.  If we faithfully practice the tenants of our faith (and I am not talking about "legalism" here) we will find that we are increasingly going to be considered "out of the mainstream".  American Christians have been spoiled over the past 300 years of freedoms and guarantees from our government that millions of Christ Followers around the globe have never had.  We have never tasted the government intrusion, persecution, and even martyrdom that many of them have faced. Many of us just don't get it.

The American church is at a cross roads.  Decisions must be made as to with whom we will partner financially for the furtherance of our ministries and programs.  Are our would be benefactors motivated by the same love for Christ and for lost people as are we?  Are we unequally yoked?  If so, will the end justify the means?

Can we expect a secular pagan government to continue to smile kindly upon those whose belief in an alleged resurrected Messiah, will eventually come to be in direct conflict with governmental decrees?  Ask Daniel and his three Hebrew friends in the Old Testament about that.

If our ministries and entities receive Federal funds and depend on them for their existence, they must then abide by their secular guidelines.  Sunrise is in that position now, and they must make some difficult decisions. (the BP article explains both sides well).

Will you join me in praying for Bill Smithwick?
Pray for boldness, wisdom, and the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

Will you pray for the Kentucky Baptist Convention?
For the people in the pews that have faithfully prayed for and supported the ministry,  And that Executive Director Paul Chitwood and the churches across Kentucky will display wisdom and Grace, and that they would seek the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

Will you pray for the Sunrise Children's Ministries, and the hundreds of lives they impact for Christ?
That they might have a quiet and peaceable life, and exalt the Savior, even if it means a scaling back the scope of the ministry.

May God grant wisdom to all involved, and may His Will be done!

Happy Reformation Day!

Although not a legal holiday here, as it is in Slovenia, and though not as widely celebrated by Baptists as by Lutherans, Presbyterians, and others, today is Reformation Day - a day that should be fondly remembered by all who believe in Salvation by Grace, through Faith in Jesus Christ.

As a German Monk and ordained Roman Catholic Priest, Martin Luther had become disenchanted with many of the teachings and customs of the Church. The most important issue for Luther was the doctrine of Justification – God's act of declaring a sinner righteous – by faith alone through God's grace. He began to teach that salvation is a gift of God's grace, attainable only through faith in Jesus.  He was particularly put off by the sale of "indulgences" (The teaching that justification could be obtained by donating money to the church).  He was also put off by the wealth of the Pope and by the great wealth of the Church and the building of the opulent St. Peter's Basilica on the backs of its poor members.  When a papal envoy came to Germany selling indulgences in 1516 it pushed Luther over the edge.

It was on October 31, 1517 (496 years ago today) that he sent a letter to his bishop, protesting, not only the sale of indulgences, but many other grievances with false doctrine and actions of the Pope.  The letter contained what has come to be known as the "Ninety - Five Theses", a document that provided the fuel for the Protestant Reformation.

Luther wrote and traveled extensively lecturing on the Psalms, Romans, Galatians and other books of the Bible that plainly taught Justification by Grace through faith in Christ alone.  He was eventually excommunicated by the Catholic Church.  Perhaps one of Luther's most important contributions was his translation of the Bible from Latin into the language of the common man.  Luther also wrote many hymns, including "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God".

Luther, and the other reformers left us the rich legacy of the "Five Solas", which articulated five fundamental beliefs of the Protestant Reformation, pillars which the Reformers believed to be essentials of the Christian life and practice.

• Sola Scriptura - "By Scripture Alone"
• Sola Fide - "By Faith Alone"
• Sola Gratia - "By Grace Alone"
• Sola Christus - "Through Christ Alone"
• Sola Deo Gloria - "Glory to God Alone"

If you, like many of us, hold to these powerful doctrines of Grace, may I wish you a Happy Reformation Day!

True Commitment

If there is one thing the church needs in America today it is COMMITMENT to Christ.  Not Lip service.  Not “Cheap Easy Believism”.  Not fussing over preferred worship styles. Not a “my way or the highway” or a “let somebody else do it” attitude.   A deep abiding commitment to Follow Christ, no matter what the cost.  Believers here have been spoiled by and have become accustomed to our freedoms and have developed an entitlement mentality that we are free to worship under our Constitution.  However, these freedoms are quickly slipping away from us.  This is contrary to everything Jesus taught about those who would follow Him.  We should take the example of the commitment to Christ seen in believers in areas of the earth where severe persecution is a reality. 

 

The following is alleged to be a letter found in the pocket of a Kenyan Believer after his murder for following Christ.  I don't know if those circumstances are true or not, as I have read this somewhere before.  But whether from a martyered believer or not, it is a great picture of true discipleship!  Take a moment to read this and see what real commitment to Christ looks like.

How do we measure up to this?  May we be challenged and convicted by the Holy Spirit as we digest these words.

“I’m part of the fellowship of the unashamed, the die has been cast, I have stepped over the line, the decision has been made—I’m a disciple of Jesus Christ—I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure---I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals.

My pace is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is tough, my companions are few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear.  I won’t give up, shut up, let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up for the cause of Jesus Christ.

I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till everyone knows, work till He stops me and when He comes for His own, He will have no trouble recognizing me because my banner will have been clear.”

90,000 Views!

Today we are blessed to have reached 90,000 views of "For What It's Worth". 

That number is "small potatoes" for many blogs, but I am humbled that folks have cared enough to visit.  I certainly haven't posted much in the past few months - several reasons - many excuses - but I am truly thankful that we have had so many visits from so many people from countries all around the world.

Recent visitors have come from the US, Canada, China, The Philippines, Germany, Poland, Sweeden, France, India and the United Kingdom.  Wow!  Who'd a thunk it?

Hopefully our posts have brought a chuckle to some of you, or may have provoked a thought or two, or honored our Savior, and that it may have been a blessing in some way to a number of folks.

I am writing this post today to say thanks for visiting.  I also thought it would be nice to get off the rather unpleasant number of posts I was stuck on (666)!   Hopefully I will be able to post a little more often than I have been able to do for the past few months.

As we said when we began this blog, this is not a political site - although sometimes I will deal with political issues.  It is not a deep theological site - although I do hope to "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints".  I may sometimes blog about my family - which could prove quite boring to those who do not share my connections with, and affinity for the Adkins, Stidham, Bowling, Clanton, and Slater folks.  I may also drive you nuts going on about five particular young men who are the apples of my eye.  But that's the beauty of a blog. It's mine, and I can follow my whims, and post my opinion on just about anything - "For What It's Worth).  Follow it, or visit from time to time, or just move along to something else.  It's your choice.

At any rate, thanks for being here. Hope to have you visit again soon, and would ask you to share the site with your friends who might be so inclined to visit.

Are You Prepared?

The long time motto of the Boy Scouts of America is “Be Prepared”.  My question today is, “Are we prepared?”  Are we prepared individually, and are we prepared collectively as the Body of Christ for the days ahead? 

Friends, we are living in the last days.

That phrase sometimes has a hollow ring to it, since preachers have been proclaiming such for centuries.  In fact, it has almost become a punch line to many folks.  However, this pastor believes with all his heart that we ARE indeed living in the last days, and we had better be prepared.

In the second half of the first century in 2 Timothy, Paul the Apostle wrote to his young protégé’, Timothy.  This is the Apostle’s last known letter.

“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty”. - 2 Tim. 3:1 (ESV)

In this letter he recounts times of persecution he had endured for the sake of the Name.  In fact, Paul is imprisoned at the time of this writing, and is awaiting his execution. Yet he reminds his readers that in spite of the persecutions, Christ had “brought him through it all.”  He then gives young Timothy (and us) these sobering words:

 “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 Tim. 3:12-13

The fact is that true Christ followers WILL suffer persecution!  This is not something new that Paul had come up with.  Jesus, Himself, had told His disciples:

“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. – John 15:18-20 

Folks, we need to realize that following Christ puts a “mark” on us, and a target on our backs for the Evil one.  Do not be deceived into thinking that being a Christian has anything to do with popularity.  It does not.  Study church history… read Foxe’s Book of Martyrs… read the daily headlines, and you will become increasingly aware of the persecuted church.  Two recent examples at very different parts of the planet speak to this truth. 

The first example, was overt violence toward Christians.  It took place recently in Pakistan, with 81 Christians murdered by Muslim suicide bombers, and 130 injured as they gathered for worship in the city of Peshwar.  Read the full story here  A Baptist Missionary, whose name cannot be mentioned for security reasons, said this of the attack in Peshwar:

"This is not the first attack on a church, or on other places of worship, but it is the highest casualty count to date.  The Christian response has been one of frustration and [it] adds to the sense that this is not a country where Christians or other minorities can survive."

We know from other secular news accounts that similar stories of death, destruction, and imprisonment of Christians abound in places like China, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, etc.

The second example, much less violent, and much more subtle, yet very real persecution in itself is the firing of FOX Sports commentator, Craig James, after only one sportscast.  James says the reason for his firing was because of his Biblical views on marriage.  This is most disturbing, since his views were not expressed in his work environment, but had been expressed months before in the course of running for political office in Texas.  When contacted for a response by “The Dallas Morning News”, an unnamed FOX spokesman said:  "We just asked ourselves how Craig's statements would play in our human resources department. He couldn't say those things here."  Read the full story here.

Now, does the treatment of Craig James reach the level of assassinations, and physical torment?  Of course not, but it is indicative of the subtle (for now) persecution that is taking place toward Christians right her in the good old USA.  It is going on around us, and in the face of constitutional prohibitions.  I say this just to remind us all that true, full blown persecution of Christ followers is coming – even here in America.

The question is “Are you prepared?”  We have been warned.  We should expect no less.

To be prepared, it will require a close walk with the Father.  It will require the fullness of His Holy Spirit and the boldness of the Apostles.  It will require a regular diet of His word and dependence upon it.  Paul spelled that out for young Timothy in the following verses:

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 complete, equipped for every good work.”  2 Tim. 3:14-17

 
This is serious business, folks.  If you are a true follower of Christ, Be Prepared!

Out Of The Habit?

Recently, there have been a few long time (but inactive) members of our church who have returned to Sunday morning worship. When told they had been sorely missed they confessed that they had missed the fellowship and corporate worship here at the church as well. Asked why they have been away for so long, the answers were similar.

 “We just got out of the habit.”

 You know, that’s very easy to do. A psychologist told a small sales group I was with many years ago that it takes an average of 21 days to form a habit. Good habits or bad habits. The example he used was asking us to take off our jackets and put them back on. As we began to put the jackets back on, he stopped us.

 “Now” he said, “Notice which arm you start with. Take it off and put it on again, starting with the other arm.” We did that, and to a person we all felt very uncomfortable using the other arm. The Dr. then challenged us to spend the next 21 days using the other arm first in getting dressed. At first it was awkward and downright difficult. It required conscious effort and thought. But as the time progressed, it became less awkward, and within three weeks it had become the normal way I put on a shirt or jacket.

 We are creatures of habit. In everything we do. It runs the gamut from how we dress, our daily routines, and our spiritual lives as well. If you are in a habit of quiet time with God in His Word and in prayerful communication with Him, you will do those things automatically. You simply appropriate the time needed. If you are not in that habit, it is difficult to get into that routine. It requires some effort at first. By the same token, if one allows other things to pull us away on a recurring basis, it is very easy to “get out of the habit”. In fact, we are forming a new habit.

 Same thing goes with being an active member of the local church. Now understand that I am not saying that serving God in the local church should ever be “routine” or “just a habit”. We should first be motivated by a changed life in Christ, the leadership of the Holy Spirit, and a sense of love and duty to the Lord and His Church. Our service to Him does become “second nature” and corporate worship and fellowship with other believers are just two of the sweet benefits.

 But sometimes, even with the best intentions, we allow conflicting things to “get out of the habit” of being an active part of the local church. The Devil will use anything, sometimes even those we love, to draw us away from our focus on Christ and our service to Him and His church.

Well, as you know, I could go on and on, but let me draw this to a close. Sunday, September 15^th has been designated as “National Back To Church Sunday”. It is an interdenominational effort to encourage folks who may have “gotten out of the habit” to reconnect with the local church. It is at the church where we can come together and worship our Lord with like minded believers. It is at the church where we can build close personal relationships around the Word of God. It is through the church where we can do world wide missions through our personal participation and our financial support. It is through the church we can impact our family, our city, our region, and the world for Christ.

If you have been “out of the habit” and are physically able (as I know some of our precious readers are not) won’t you make an effort to come back to church? Start today to work on creating a new habit, one as simple, yet important as being in your place and doing your part. Bring your family. God’s church is for every age group. When we gather for worship, it should look like the Body of Christ, multi racial, little ones, teens, young adults, middle agers and “keen agers”!

 I hope to see you on Sunday, September 15^th. Bible Study in small groups begins at 9:45. Worship service begins at 10:45 sharp. Bring your Bible. Bring your family. Bring your tithes and offerings to the Father. Bring a friend.

 And to our dear members who are homebound and unable to come, you can be a tremendous help by uniting with us in prayer. Pray that God will bring true revival among our people. Back to Church Sunday would be a great place to start!

A Testimony To The Saving Power of Jesus Christ

Pictured here is Brother Harry Tang. 

Harry Tang is the embodiment of 2 Corinthians 5:17  " Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

Harry was born in Viet Nam in 1951to Chinese parents. For the first half of his life he lived in Viet Nam and Taiwan, and a short time in Hong Kong.  He came to the Greater Toronto Area about 30 years ago.

Harry is typical of many of the multiplied thousands of Asians who have immigrated to our northern neighboring country of Canada.  He is polite, hard working, respectful, raising his family and "minding his own business".  He was not a deeply religious man but he lived his life by a high moral code.  A few years ago, Harry's wife passed away leaving him with two sons to raise.  He was what we would call a "good man", but yet there was something missing in his life.  He was searching for something that had eluded him for nearly six decades.

Seven months ago, Harry's life changed forever.  It was then that he had been confronted with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, through the efforts of Pastor Jolly Ampong and the members of the All Nations Baptist Church plant in North York, Ontario in the Greater Toronto Area.  North York is a large city within itself and it is heavily occupied by Asians in general, Filipinos in particular, and Orthodox Jews. 

God had brought Pastor Jolly and his wife, Mary Jane, to this place from their native island of Mindanao in the Republic of the Philippines.  Jolly had earlier planted a Southern Baptist Church in Manjuyod in the province of Negros Oriental.  It was only natural that he would feel the same calling for church planting, although he was in a very different place from his native tropical land.  In October, 2013, ANBC Toronto will celebrate their second anniversary.  I have been invited to bring the message at their anniversary service and I hope to be able to do so.

Like all church plants - anywhere - ANBC Toronto has faced challenges, as they seek to fulfill the Great Commission, and plant a vibrant Southern Baptist Church made up of folks from different people groups.  Thus far, it is primarily and ethnic Filipino community of believers, but Brother Harry is an example of how they are seeking to reach out to all of the ethnic groups in thier city.  It is a huge challenge, but Jolly and Mary Jane are people of great faith.  Their training by SBC missionaries in the Southern Baptist Seminary in Davao, Mindanao, and thier love for the Lord and for lost people, have prepared them for the task.

This past Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, along with four other members of Westmoreland Baptist Church, I was privileged to spend time with this young but growing congregation of believers.  Brother Harry Tang shared his testimony with us and I was once again moved by the simple yet profound testimony of one who had been spiritually dead, but had found abundant life in Jesus Christ.  Harry now tells of witnessing to his two grown sons, and other Chinese friends of his.  His demeanor is one of joy and love and new found grace through faith in Jesus.  In just a few weeks he will be married to the church secretary, and they will begin their lives together, as members of this young, "Purpose Driven" church, telling others of the abundant life they have found in Jesus Christ.

I am thankful to be the pastor of a church who has chosen to support the work of ANBC Toronto, through our financial giving, through prayer, and through personal participation.  We are in the beginning stages of planning a church wide mission trip to Toronto in the coming months.

The Greater Toronto Area consists of more than 6 million people.  It is the fourth largest metropolitan area in North America and has very few evangelical churches. 

I encourage all readers of this blog who know the Lord, to pray for Jolly and Mary Jane Ampong, ANBC Toronto, for Pastor and Mrs. David P. Smith and the Vine Church in Mississauga, Ontario (whom we also spent time with last week) and the work that they and other SBC church planters are doing in that great metropolis.  Toronto is a big place.  Pray big for the Lord's work there!