…a Baptist pastor established the first form of governance in America that provided complete religious freedom for all
ROGER WILLIAMS

…the first Baptist missionaries from America were not Baptists when they set sail for the mission field but became Baptists on the way to the mission field
ADONIRAM AND ANN HASSELTINE JUDSON

…the first Baptist pastor on English soil was imprisoned by King James I (of King James Bible fame) for insisting that all persons should have freedom to worship
THOMAS HELWYS

…the first elected president of the Republic of Texas became an outstanding Texas Baptist layman
SAM HOUSTON

…some of the earliest Baptists practiced baptism by pouring and not by immersion but soon determined that the Bible taught immersion is the correct way to baptize
EARLY GENERAL BAPTISTS

…some early Baptists in America were publicly whipped for including singing in a worship service because such singing was viewed as unspiritual and unbiblical.
BAPTISTS IN COLONIAL AMERICA

…the first Baptist missionary from the United States to another country was an African-American who had been a slave
GEORGE LEILE

…a Baptist pastor from Texas preached a sermon from the steps of the United States Capitol in Washington D. C. on religious liberty
GEORGE W. TRUETT

…A Baptist pastor in Virginia met with James Madison to encourage an amendment to the Constitution of the United States guaranteeing freedom of religion
JOHN LELAND

…the best known evangelist in the world is a Baptist whose church membership is in Texas
BILLY GRAHAM

…that the first person baptized in the Gulf of Mexico as a Baptist when Texas was still an independent nation founded a major milk company
GAIL BORDEN JR.

...that a former President of the United States of America and a Nobel Prize recipient is a Baptist layman Sunday School teacherJ
IMMY CARTER

…that a generous Baptist businessman was the first to develop an effective process for pasteurizing cheese.
JAMES L. KRAFT

…that the author of the widely used devotional book My Utmost for His Highest was a Baptist from a devout Baptist family, his father and brother being Baptist pastors
OSWALD CHAMBERS

Cowboy Roundup pt1

Before I can post a Sunday wrap up I need to give a Sunday Wrap up from the SBTC Cowboy Church Planters Conference. In truth, can’t post all that I experienced in one post. Overall it was the most encouraging and equipping conference to training I think I have ever been to. Jim Gatliff, SBTC shared ministry strategist, Bro. Curtis and his Church, Branded by Christ Cowboy Church, 5592 Highway 110 North, in Rusk (yes, that is a plug for them) were great hosts and really put on a great conference. And this is not just to brag about their swinging bank of the great BBQ (It came from Lufkin BBQ which is just down the road from Diboll, Praise the Lord!)

Better planters and pastors from the cowboy church movement could not have been chosen

When was the last time you saw a pastor in the pulpit with at knife strapped to his side that was easily a foot from end to end

These men did not have an alphabet soup of seminary degrees but they taught with equal authority and passion to any professor that I have had. And I had I have had some of the Best.

Every pastor/planter there is a great mentor which is something that is lacking in ministry. I wished one of these men was close by to be a mentor to me!

I would safely put these men up against some of the nation’s conference speakers. Hands down they are the real deal.

Almost every planter/pastor volunteered themselves and their church of help you with the ministry God was starting. They we willing to come and put on play days and rodeo for you to show you how and model them for your church. This goes way beyond the typical work book discipleship and equipping that happens in the traditional church.

Not only did I get cowboy church training, I got great resources, an idea for a Christmas sermon for something a planter said (Born in a Barn), had the epiphany for two church plant names (Christ Providence Church and Vaquero Baptist Church)

More to come – I was greatly inspired and encouraged by this conference. I took a great deal of note and wrote down even more of my own unique thoughts.

round 'm up

Tomorrow I am traveling to Rusk, TX to attend a Cowboy Church planting conference. I had planned to take one of the young men from my Sunday School class with me but he is vomiting. I know what you are thinking, "Chris, what are you doing going to a Cowboy Church planting conference?" My thoughts are the same. Yet, still i trek of to see, to learn, to understand and to come back and be a better pastor to the flock that i have the privilege of shepherding.

To counter balance this, i will be going to the Acts 29 Spiritual Formations conference At the Village in Highland Park on Tuesday. From one extreme to the other.

But Most Importantly

In Christianity Today, Barack Obama is quotes as saying

I am a Christian, and I am a devout Christian. I believe in the redemptive death and esurrection of Jesus Christ. I believe that that faith gives me a path to be cleansed of sin and have eternal life. But most importantly, I believe in the example that Jesus set by feeding the hungry and healing the sick and always prioritizing the least of these over the powerful.

So is he saying that feeding the poor and healing is more important that the Redemption provided by the rich red blood of Jesus. in referring to this he just said that salvific act of grace bestowed upon a devious and spiritually derelict mankind is great, But Most importantly, are these other social actions of compassion and ministry.

Big Ideas

We don't have the impact God has planned for us when we're pursuing impact;
we have it when we're pursuing God.

Phil Vischer, Creater of Veggietales and Big Idea Media

English Pt 2 (by Phil Baker)

Phil is killing me with his subtle yet hilarious observation of the language we speak.

English Pt 2 (by Phil Baker)

We take English for granted.But if we explore its paradoxes,We find that quicksand can work slowly,Boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea, nor is it a pig.And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing,Grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham? Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends,But not one amend?If you have a bunch of odds and ends And get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it?If teachers taught,Why didn't preachers praught?If a vegetarian eats vegetables,What does a humanitarian eat?

Tzedakah Ministries

A handful of year a ago the SBC waged war against the Satan and vowed to rescue the perishing souls of Jews from the clutches of Satan. they have since abandoned this as have failed to honor their alleged call to do so. So what happens to all these pre-Christians??? Well this is where Tzedakah Ministries comes into play and their new blog, Mystery Solved with Messiah Jesus. Tzedakah Ministries picks up where others have dropped the dreidel. Their work is high quality and sacrificial. Amy Downey of Tzedakah Ministries has Ministered at Pine Grove Baptist Church of Diboll, TX several times and we gladly endorse this ministry. Actually it is more like we are honored to be able to support this ministry. This ministry is targeting a huge population that is over looked by many and unfortunately disregarded by to many. It seems in a day when we see less people coming to Christ, a lack of Biblical knowledge in those we are trying to win make it difficult to converse, the onslaught of radical atheism and militant Islam that to win our Jewish neighbors to Christ would be a God idea.

Here are seven good reason although there are countless more.

1. It fulfills Scripture - aways a good idea
2. It honors Christ - another novel concept eh?
3. They know the Old Testament - so the concepts and lingo are there to work from
4. They add great culture to the Church - it will be no longer boring and generic
5. They need Jesus because they are sinners too. - just like you and me, they need the Savior
6. They are here and around the world - you fulfill Acts 1:8
7. God promised - you don't want to make a liar out of Him do you?

In the future i plan to post a tract that Tzedakah Ministries has produced to share the Good News of the Messiah Jesus with Israel. With Permission of course

English by Phil Baker

On English Pt 1. (by Phil Baker)

Well begin with a box, and the plural is boxes;But the plural of ox became oxen not oxes.One fowl is a goose, but two are called geese,Yet the plural of moose should never be meese.You may find a lone mouse or a nest full of mice;Yet the plural of house is houses, not hice.If the plural of man is always called men,Why shouldnt the plural of pan be called pen?If I spoke of my foot and show you my feet,And I give you a boot, would a pair be called beet?If one is a tooth and a whole set are teeth,Why shouldnt the plural of booth be called beeth?Then one may be that, and three would be those,Yet hat in the plural would never be hose,And the plural of cat is cats, not cose.We speak of a brother and also of brethren,But though we say mother, we never say methren.Then the masculine pronouns are he, his and him,But imagine the feminine, she, shis and shim.Via

Has it come down to this?

May be it has. In some areas this might be a good idea? In others it is a target on your back -think Islamic areas. I guess this makes it easier for the visiting pastor to keep from being confused for a mormon missionary and a Jehovah's Witnesss

or is it the honor of Greyskull?

1 Chronicles 7:24 His daughter was Sheerah, who built Lower and Upper Beth Horon as well as Uzzen Sheerah.

By the Power of Greyskull???

1 Chronicles 6:33 Here are the men who served, together with their sons: From the Kohathites: Heman, the musician, the son of Joel, the son of Samuel,

truth hurts

Can u maintain'a wat u've obtain'a

Steven Furtick is the pastor of Elevation Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. He posted a power post (or atleast to me) entitled Can you maintain what you’ve obtained? on January 8th, 2008.

One of my mentors taught me this valuable lesson. I’d like to pass it on to you: The key to experiencing the blessing of God all the days of your life is learning to maintain what you’ve obtained.

That’s good stuff right there. And it will do us good to unpack it with
a couple of examples.

Example #1: A young man who thinks he is called to preach gets called on by his senior pastor to fill in for him one Wednesday night in March. He has 3 months to prepare, so by the time his big moment comes, he knocks it out of the park! All the senior adults tell him he’ll be the next Billy Graham, and a small group of single adults swear that his preaching is better than the Preacher Bob’s. Don’t stick your chest out yet, big boy. Who cares if you hit a home run one time? What’s your batting average going to looklike over the course of your ministry? Can you bring the goods and serve up a fresh Word from God 40 or more Sundays a year?You obtained success with one sermon … Can you maintain a ministry of impact for a lifetime?

Example #2: A couple spends $35,000 and 7 months of intensive (and for the guy, grueling) planning to have the perfect wedding. The bridesmaids’ dresses were stunning. And the filet mignon at the reception was killer. Good for them. So you obtained the perfect wedding…Can you maintain a healthy marriage? After she’s many sizes beyond ever fitting into that $2000 wedding dress again, can he love her for what’s inside? If his career trajectory takes a turn for the worse with the economy, are her hopes and dreams still on solid ground?

You get the point.I close with a quote that summarizes the principle. I heard an older pastor say it to a younger pastor after he’d really rocked the house at a youth crusade: Ability will put a microphone in your hand. Integrity will keep it there. hat will you do to maintain what you’ve obtained?

Preach! Bro. Preach. Those are true life lessons for all you TLC watches.

Disturbing

Francis Drake prayed…


"Disturb us, Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves. When our dreams have come true because we dreamed too little. When we arrive safely because we have sailed too close to the shore. Disturb us, Lord."

That's just how we roll

This weekend we are taking a few of our youth out bowling. we are trying to kick off a youth ministry at our Church (well really it is Christ's) with this. Afterwards we will take them to get some pizza at a local buffett. Sort of a Bowl and Binge. Our young people are undisciplined in spiritual matters as they have never really had anything. So this weekend, thier pastror, turns into thier youth pastor too. Really, it is just being thier pastor in general. For our started Bible study I think we are going with this.

2 Timothy 2:22 Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

After all this how we are supposed to roles a Christ Followers. I will work into it a bowling bowl illustation with gutterballs and pins being disractions and sins. Pray for the youth and for me. I really want this to take off and I desperately want to see these yound people grow in Christ. I am in hopes of taking a couple of pre-Christians with us.

GODMEN PRAYER

Father of the heavens and the night; stretch forth Your almighty arms to strengthen and protect us. Even as You gave Saint Michael, Your Angelic warrior, power to do spiritual battle in the heavens, so give us power to command the darkened skies.

Guide and direct us in the advancement of the Gospel. Give us the courage to face all obstacles that might keep us from finishing our race. Send Your holy Angels to protect the men around this country; those called to fight this spiritual battle. Sustain us in the hour of danger with knowledge of Your mercy.

Watch over our families when we cannot. May Your presence give them comfort, and Your love lend them the courage to face each day, confident in the knowledge that You will never leave them or forsake them. Protect them with Your unfailing mercy and grace.

Grant that wherever we serve, we may be loyal to Christ. Make us to choose the harder right over the easier wrong, and never to be content with a half truth when the whole can be won. May we ever embody the principles upon which the GODMEN are founded and serve proudly with the memory of those who have gone before. Give us the courage to fight, to win and the faith to die rather than quit,

AND ALL THE GODMEN SAID
AMEN!

A Church on Every Corner

Back in Sept of '07 Step Child of Missions Misunderstood wrote this about the current church planting status as when should understand it. Great words that need to be headed. Even the comments left on his site are worth reading.

I recently read an interesting thing about Wal-Mart. It seems that in cities across the country, Wal-Mart stores are up-sizing from their regular old large retail centers to shiny new extra-large "Super Centers." In many cases, these new stores are right next door or across the street from the old stores.

The problem is that the distinctively Wal-Martian building design and layout (you know, gray and blue big-box warehouse with two main entrances and a chain-link fenced-in "garden center" on one side) makes it difficult for any other retailer to use the old buildings. So the old stores are sitting empty.

Some communities are now requiring that new Wal-Mart stores be built with future use in mind, with store designs that are more easily subdivided for varied uses should the current Super Center ever vacate to build, I don't know, what's bigger than a Super Center?

For some reason, this reminds me of church buildings.

Western Europe is home to thousands of church buildings. Cathedrals, basilicas, chapels, and temples that were once full of devout religious people now sit empty in every part of the continent. In the U.K., Some have been converted to pubs. In Italy, many are used a museums. At least European church buildings are pretty to look at.

In one hundred years, what will have become of your church building?

Whenever I try to encourage Americans to be church planters, they almost invariably say something like, "There's already a church on every corner." The problem, of course, is that these people are mistaking "church building" for "body of believers."

We certainly don't need more church buildings.

I guess this is me?

Gap Planting Vs. Roseanne Planting

If you keep up with church planting you might have noticed there is a trend to plant young hip Churches where the iPhones and the Starbucks reign supreme. After returning from Glorieta my family caught an old episode of The Cosby Show. My 8 year old daughter loves it! At the conclusion of the episode I figured that another episode would come on as this channel normally runs two show blocks. Instead Roseanne came on. As I watched this dysfunction unroll before me, I began to wonder about the Churches that I watch and those that people flock to the conferences of. Just exactly who is there target audience? The people that they show and that they seem to be reaching are the Pretty Gap people. Those with trendy haircuts and fashionable duds and sporty cars. This lead me to ask, “Who is reaching the Roseanna Conner Families? Who if finding the dysfunctional demographic that is low class and low brow? Why is not God calling someone to reach the ugly and the obese?” I know that God must be calling people to plant these churches and reach these people. Right? Unfortunately they don’t make the cover page and are not used in the ads. Yet God loves them too.

Glorietta - Part 1

The day after Christmas, when others were returning gifts or trying to find batteries for their electronics. we were getting in our vehicles to make the trip to Glorietta, NM for skiing, snow and the Sword of truth (had to have another "S"). Our first leg was from Diboll to New Harmony Baptist just outside of Lindale. Our friend Melody from Crockett, TX had come up the might before to spend the night to make the trek with us.

We got to Lindale and the rest of my crew - Melody, Denise (my wife), and Remington (my daughter) left me with Grady McDonald the youth pastor at New Harmony. They went on to Amarillo where they would spend the night in a nice comfy bed at a motel. This was great because we discussed theology, church growth, vented our frustrations, traded great ideas, got to tell corny joke, ragged on each other and discussed hot topic Scriptures. We probably did some important things, but i can't remember them! oh yeah, bought a key changer as the worship pastor had to decline, got the spin360 tracks and PowerPoint's ready, packed some gear, picked and fueled vans for the 55 person trip.

Some time around midnight we got the whole crew on the road and found every gas station and restroom starting in Lindale, TX and ending in Glorietta, NM. This was a wild ride. lots of unique things happened on our way to the summit!