Blog Archives

LIFE SUPPORT

2/27/2017

The folks over at www.Bible.org have posted an illustration that hits a little too close to home. Titled “If You Want to Kill the Church”, it reads as follows…

Never go to your church or meetings held there,
If you do go, be late, it's no one's affair.
If the weather is bad, either too hot or snowing,
Just stay home and rest, for there'll be others going.

But should you attend, be sure and remember
To find fault with the work, each official and member.
Be sure to hold back on your offerings and tithes,
The bills will be paid by the rest of the guys.

And never take office if offered the post,
But eagerly criticize work of the host.
If not on a committee you're placed, be sore!
If you find that you are, don't attend any more.

When asked your opinion on this thing or that,
Have nothing to say, just turn 'em down flat.
Then after the meeting, shine out like the sun
By telling the folks how it should have been done.

Don't do any more than you possibly can,
Leave the work for some other woman or man.
And when you see faithful ones work themselves sick,
Then stand up and holler, "It's run by a clique!"

It is likely that we all know people who have either behaved like this or else made such claims. Hopefully, few of us have been the ones behaving this way or else making these claims. And yet, if you think about it, it is really not all that hard to kill a local church, or at least to diminish its ministry effectiveness.

All that really needs to happen is to have enough people do four or five basic things. Among them:

1) Become Indifferent About Embracing Her Purpose; 2) Become Indignant Over Loving Her Members; 3) Become Infrequent In Attending Her Services; and 4) Become Insensitive To Supporting Her Needs.

Trust me… if enough people do these things, and do them long enough, then the local church is in trouble. I say the local church because the church universal, what the Bible calls the Bride of Christ, will not be prevailed against, even by the gates of Hell itself.

For, as Jesus Himself once told the Apostle Peter (in the New Testament Gospel of Matthew, chapter 16, verse 18): “…I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

You see, my friend, countless local congregations may have come and gone over the last two thousand years; but the church herself has never faltered. She never will! That being said, I still do not want to see any congregation of which I am a part to cease to be effective in her time.

In the Old Testament book of First Samuel, chapter four, we see the glory of the Lord departing from the famed Tabernacle in Shiloh due to the sinfulness of the children of Israel and of the priests in particular.

Later in the Old Testament book of Ezekiel, chapter ten, we see the glory of the Lord also departing the famous Temple built by King Solomon. To be sure, both of these places, the earlier Tabernacle (or portable Tent of Meeting) and the later (permanent) Temple in Jerusalem, were built for the express purpose of glorifying God.

Yet, after a time, His glory eventually departed both. The question is why? And the answer is that the people of God in each of these generations had grown slack in their support of His house.

It is for this reason that I recognize that given local congregations can rise and fall even as the church universal marches on. It is also for this reason that I recognize that I do not want to do anything that will prompt the Lord to withdraw His glory from any local church of which I am a part.

In effect, I have no desire to aid in killing the church! I trust the same is true for you. And I trust that you will join with me in working to keep her, the local church of which you are affiliated, alive and well!

For while you and I may not can control what happened in Old Testament times, or New Testament times, or over the course of the last two thousand years of Christian history, we can certainly have some impact on what happens today. As can all Christians.

In light of this, may we all be found faithful in this, our generation! The life of the local church depends upon it!

SOURCE: https://bible.org/illustration/if-you-want-kill-church.

“LITTER GO!”

2/22/2017

As a pastor, I find myself on a never-ending quest to find appropriate illustrations with which to communicate the message of the Gospel. For this reason, I have learned to look for illustrations in virtually every aspect of life.

These may include daily life experiences. Indeed, personal experiences, I have concluded, truly are the best source for illustrating points within messages.

But there are many other sources for illustrations as well. These may include books, web pages, movies, television, music, and/or radio shows. And they often include stories in the news. And this past week, I came across two such stories that serve this purpose quite well.

The first had to do with a raccoon that inadvertently hitched a ride on a garbage truck in Rosslyn, Virginia. After the little critter was spotted ensconced on the back of the truck, help was soon on the way. This was on February 17. A similar story involving a ride along inside a garbage truck appeared some six days earlier. Only this one was a bit more troubling.

On February 9, rescuers at the Scottsdale, Arizona Fire Department were notified that a man was trapped inside a garbage truck. Apparently, the man had been asleep inside a dumpster when it had earlier been emptied into the truck. Some ten miles later, the driver heard him screaming and notified authorities, who rescued the poor man.

It appears that both the man and then the raccoon a few days later turned out okay, each a bit ruffled but otherwise not too seriously injured as a result of their respective experiences. For that I am thankful.

Now, I have no way of knowing what the particular circumstances were that led to either being where they originally were or ending up as they did. Everyone is free to speculate. But the two incidents together, occurring as they did barely six days apart, certainly serve to underscore the importance of letting go of what needs to be discarded.

We live in a world where hoarding behavior has been recognized and declared a sickness. Entire television programs have been devoted to the phenomenon. There certainly comes a time when all of us must let go of things. To overly cling to them can prove to be disadvantageous at best and harmful at worst.

But my suspicion is that neither the man nor the animal above was where they were when their adventures began simply because they did not want to let go of anything. More likely, the former was squatting for the night and the latter was dumpster diving for supper.

Perhaps a better truth to take away from these two similar stories is that everything in this world is simply passing away. Literally, the material “stuff” of this world is here today and then gone tomorrow. And if we choose to have too big of a connection to it, we will inevitably be born along with it - likely to our own demise.

Perhaps it was for this reason that Jesus, in His famed “sermon on the Mount” (in the New Testament Gospel of Matthew, chapter 6, verses 19-21) admonished all who would hear as follows:

19“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

In truth, compared to the splendor of Heaven, even the very best this world has to offer is mere rubbish, destined to be destroyed amidst the vermin who gnaw at it. For, one day, it will go the way of all garbage.

Be careful, then, not to get swept along with, no matter how enticing it may seem. Tarry too long at it, or venture too close to it, and you may just find yourself taken for a ride! And this ride may well take you some place you never really wanted to go!

NEWS STORY SOURCES:

https://www.aol.com/article/news/2017/02/17/chill-raccoon-hitches-a-ride-on-a-garbage-truck-steals-some-hea/21716576/

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/02/09/firefighters-man-trapped-inside-garbage-truck-for-over-10-miles.html

SCRIPTURE SOURCE:

http://biblehub.com/niv/matthew/6.htm

TWO STEPS FOREWORD, ONE STEP BACK

2/20/2017

I have written before of my great love for all the various movies, televisions, and radio programs bequeathed to us by Jack Webb. (See my earlier blog posts titled “FACING THE FACTS” from 01/07/2016 and “HITCHIN’ A RIDE!” from 12/15/2016.)

Webb originally created the character of Sergeant Joe Friday of the Los Angeles Police Department for the DRAGNET radio show, a police procedural drama which ran for a total of 382 episodes (298 without reruns) on NBC radio from 1949 to 1957.

The huge success of the radio series led to the creation of a television series of the same name, also starring Jack Webb, along with a company of actors he had assembled for his new “Mark VII Limited” productions. This black and white series ran for 276 episodes over eight seasons from 1951-1959. The DRAGNET media franchise was now operating under full steam.

Three years later, in 1954, the tireless and ever enterprising Jack Webb produced a feature length movie also bearing the title of DRAGNET. A remake of this film was later shot in 1966. This latter version was made for TV and used to help that kick off the second DRAGNET television series - this time filmed in color. This latter incarnation of DRAGNET co-starred Harry Morgan (of later M*A*S*H fame) as Officer Bill Gannon. It ran for 98 episodes from 1967-1970.

But Jack Webb was just getting warmed up. The 1967 DRAGNET television series spun off another very popular police television program titled ADAM-12. This series featured uniformed officers as opposed to detectives (as had been the case with DRAGNET). Officers Pete Malloy and Jim Reed starred in 174 episodes over 7 seasons, from 1968-1975.

ADAM-12 in turned spun off another Jack Webb production in 1972 titled EMERGENCY. This time, the lead characters were John Gage and Roy DeSoto, two specially trained firefighters, who formed “Squad 51”, part of what was then the innovative field of paramedics. Emergency ran for 129 episodes over six seasons, from 1972-1977 inclusive. Along the way, six EMERGENCY movies were also made for television.

Jack Webb was preparing a third incarnation of DRAGNET in 1982 when he died suddenly of a heart attack. One can only wonder what all the future may have held for television had he lived.

And yet, as successful as Webb was, having created, produced, directed, written and starred in eleven different radio shows, ten different television shows, and seventeen separate films for over fifty years, not everything he undertook succeeded.

For instance, DRAGNET spawned ADAM-12, which in turn spawned EMERGENCY; and all three shows were undeniably successful. But along the way, Webb also attempted to use these programs to spawn additional shows which did not succeed. Among these was an ADAM-12 episode about Los Angeles County assistant district attorneys starring Frank Sinatra Jr. and Sharon Gless. Another was an episode of EMERGENCY about Los Angeles animal control officers starring Albert Popwell and Mark Harmon.

Both of these episodes were obviously shot with the intention of spawning whole new series. Neither succeeded, although the various guest stars went on to fame via other avenues.

In fact, Webb had a number of what might be termed "flops". These include: NOAH'S ARK, 1956-1957, THE D.A.'S MAN, 1959, PETE KELLY’S BLUES, 1959, GE TRUE (1962-1963), THE D.A., 1971-1972, O'HARA, U.S. TREASURY, 1971-1972, HEC RAMSEY, 1972-1974, ESCAPE, 1973, CHASE, 1973-1974, SIERRA, 1974, MOBILE ONE, 1975, LITTLE MO, 1978, PROJECT U.F.O., 1978-1979, and SAM, 1978.

Thus, despite his having earned just about every award the industry has to offer, and even becoming a household name, Jack Webb saw fourteen of his Mark VII Limited productions cancelled after two years or less on the air, with several of these being after only a portion of a season. And yet, ironically, perhaps herein is to found the secret to his success.

You see, time and again, Webb may have offered up a production that was rejected. Despite this, the man simply would not accept defeat. He just kept on offering up new ideas until one eventually succeeded.

And even when one of his ideas for a show succeeded beyond his wildest expectations, as several did, he did not quit as a result and then rest on his laurels. Rather, he still kept on looking to the future. He kept on trying new things. He kept on offering up new ideas for shows. And because of this, he kept on succeeding in life!

Curly Stooge, of the famous Three Stooges comedy team, once offered a keen insight into personal success: “If at first you don’t succeed, keep on suckin’ till you do succeed! Nyuck! Nyuck! Nyuck!” Jack Webb instinctively understood this principle. Most all successful people do! The question, of course, is: “Do you?”

Do you have a dream? Do you have a vision? If so, how willing are you to stick with it until you actually succeed in seeing it come to pass?

In an 1890 interview with Harper’s Magazine, Thomas Edison once stated: "I speak without exaggeration when I say that I have constructed three thousand different theories in connection with the electric light, each one of them reasonable and apparently to be true. Yet only in two cases did my experiments prove the truth of my theory. My chief difficulty, as perhaps you know, was in constructing the carbon filament, the incandescence of which is the source of the light."

How many filaments are you willing to try before you successfully construct your light bulb? Apparently, Mr. Edison averaged 1500 failures for every success. But he finally succeeded. And it is highly likely that so will you and I if we just keep on trying!

Don't believe it? Just ask Thomas Edison. He will help you to see the light. Or else switch on either the radio or the television and ask Jack Webb. He will surely get you all the facts!

SOURCES:
EDISON QUOTE: https://www.quora.com/How-many-times-did-Thomas-Alva-Edison-fail-exactly.
DRAGNET (“JUST THE”) FACTS courtesy of www.wikipedia.com. All DRAGNET Radio Shows and a few of the television shows are available online in their entirety. As are many of the Mark VII Limited shows that did not succeed. Of course, those shows that did succeed are also available; only they must be purchased via reputable distributors worldwide.

SEEING RED

2/17/2017

As I write this blog post, my oldest son and his wife are in the process of building a new home together. Literally! For the last three weeks now, they have been busily working to clear the land they recently acquired of trees and undergrowth in anticipation of breaking ground on their dream home.

To their credit, they are not afraid of hard work. They have now cut down, sawn up, and completely removed well over forty trees in less than a month. And in order to save even more money, they even went out and purchased a small "bobcat" loader in order to do all of this work for themselves.

My son in particular has made it a point to do as much of the felling of these trees by hand as possible. In the process, he has also made certain to utilize as many as possible of the tools that once belonged to his forebears. These tools have included such things as chain saws, cross cut saws, tractors, logging booms, chains, irons, and dogs, etc…, most all of which belonged either to my son himself, to myself, or, in most cases, to my father-in-law.

Recently, as we were busying ourselves with the ongoing process of dragging felled and sawn logs, it dawned on me that I had a collection of tools which once belonged to my father that my son had never seen. A couple of days later, when time permitted, I dragged these old tools out and showed then to my son. To my delight, my son was utterly fascinated with this find.

Now granted, they were not really much to look at. Each of them – a hoe, a set of post hole diggers, a set of logging dogs, a swing blade, an ax, a crowbar, a machete, a pickaxe, an awl, a sledge hammer, and many more such similar items - were all covered in rust and dried mud, caked on decades ago. I doubt seriously if any one of them would bring more than a few dollars, if that much, in a yard sale this very day.

But to my son, they were instantly of inestimable value. Why? Because they had once belonged to his father, to his grandfather, and in some cases, to his great-grandfather, before him!

As he went through each tool in turn, around ten or fifteen altogether, he made note of how he intended to use each of them, first one and then another, to work on his own place. It was obvious that this was his way of having an ongoing connection with his heritage.

I can only hope that the day will come when he will pass these same tools on to his own children. If that day does come, my suspicion is that they will eventually hold them in the same esteem as he now does.

But these tools all have one other bit of significance attached to them. And I was privileged to have been there to witness how they received it.

In the mid 1970’s, a man in the community where I grew up passed away. He had been a mechanic who had lots of tools. When this man’s widow put his tools up for sale, my father talked it over with my mother and then went and purchased all of this man’s wrenches and other mechanic tools "en masse".

Perhaps because he suddenly had such a large collection of tools, my father decided to mark all of them, whether they be ones intended for the mechanic or the farmer, with a dab of red paint. It was his way of saying to everyone that these tools were his, because he had bought and paid for them. What is more, it was my job, as his one and only son, to go piece by piece and dab each and every one of them with a spot of red paint!

And it was while examining this collection of rusty old tools still in my possession that my own son noticed the small red mark on each tool he picked up. The inevitable question and the resultant explanation ensued. In the process, these rusty old tools, already valuable in his eyes, were instantaneously imbued with even more significance.

All of this serves to remind me of what the Bible has to say in the New Testament book of Hebrews, chapter 9, verses 18-22:

18…The first covenant was not put into effect without blood. 19When Moses had proclaimed every command of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people. 20He said, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.” 21In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. 22In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

The point here is that, in the Old Testament, the priest of God would sprinkle the altar and other items within the Tabernacle with the blood of a sacrificial animal, for God had decreed that there had to be some form of vicarious (or substitutionary) death in order to atone for the sins of men and women, since He (God) had previously decreed death as the penalty for mankind's sin (in Genesis, chapter 3.)

But the writer of Hebrews goes on to proclaim that the problem with this system is that it was temporary at best. It always had to be repeated. And thus, there came a day when Jesus Christ, the perfect Lamb of God, sacrificed Himself once and for all for the sins of men and women (Hebrews 9:27-28). And to this very day, all those who are sprinkled by and with the blood of Jesus, the one and only Son of God, are truly and forever marked for redemption.

For they, and they alone, bear the one true mark of having been bought and paid for by the God Who desired to possess them forever! And that, my friends, gives them value in the eyes of all who behold them.

For my part, I am glad to have been sprinkled in with the blood of Jesus. And I sincerely hope that the mark of His blood is so evident upon me that all who behold it will know beyond all doubt that I am His and He is mine! I trust you share the same testimony! If not, I hope you soon will.

Stephen Crane once wrote of "The Red Badge of Courage". Far more important is the red spot of redemption! For it, and it alone, has eternal consequences! Remember, "...without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness!"

SCRIPTURE SOURCE: http://biblehub.com/niv/hebrews/9.htm.

LET ME COUNT THE WAYS

2/14/2017

Brett Blair is a gifted communicator who has chosen to devote his life to help others more effectively communicate the gospel. For this reason, he founded and runs a couple of really good websites for pastors, teachers, and writers who frequently share the message of the good news. These include: http://www.sermons.com and http://www.sermonillustrations.com.

On this latter website, one can find numerous illustrative items that help those charged with the business of communicating on a regular basis do so more effectively.

Given that today is Valentine’s Day, 2017, I share one such piece with you. Undated, it appears to have been taken from some prior issue of a magazine known as Family Matters. It offers…

“21 Great Inexpensive Ways to Tell the Love of Your Life Just how Much You Care”

Looking for a gift or just a unique way to say "I love you?" What do you give when his dresser is full of cologne and you're both on diets? When she thinks flowers die too soon, and you've already spent next month's paycheck? Here are 21 great inexpensive ways to tell the love of your life just how much you care.

1. Make a homemade card with a picture of the two of you on the cover. Get ideas for a verse by spending a few minutes browsing through a card shop.

2. Write a poem. It doesn't have to rhyme.

3. Send a love letter listing the reasons "Why I love you so much."

4. Pledge your love for a lifetime. Write it on calligraphy or design it on a desktop computer and print it out on parchment paper and have it framed.

5. Plan a surprise lunch, complete with picnic basket, sparkling grape juice and goblets.

6. Bake a giant cookie and write "I love you" with heart shaped redhots or frosting. (Don't worry about the calories, it's not for eating!)

7. Make a coupon book and include coupons for a back rub, a compromise when about to lose an argument, a listening ear when needed, and doing the dishes when the other cooks.

8. Kidnap the car for a thorough washing and detailing.

9. Design your personal crest combining symbols that are meaningful to both of you.

10. Compose a love song.

11. Arrange for someone to sing a favorite love song to you and your love when you're together.

12. Call a radio station and have them announce a love message from you and make sure your love is listening at the right time.

13. Make a big sign such as: "I Love You, Kristi. Love, Joe" and put it in front of your house or her apartment complex for the world to see.

14. Buy favorite fruits that aren't in season, like a basket of strawberries or blueberries.

15. Hide little love notes in the car, a coat pocket, or desk.

16. Place a love message in the "personal" section of the classified ads in your local paper.

17. Florist flowers aren't the only way to say "I love you." Pluck a single flower and write a message about how its beauty reminds you of your love. For greater impact, have it delivered at work.

18. Prepare a surprise candle light gourmet low-calorie dinner for two.

19. Write the story of the growth of your relationship from your perspective, sharing your emotions and your joys. What a treasure!

20. Make a paperweight from a smooth stone, paint it, and write a special love message on it.

21. Promise to change a habit that your love has been wanting you to change.

SOURCE: http://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/m/marriage.htm.
NOTE: Brett Blair’s website is here: https://brettblair.com/.

A FALLEN GIANT

2/9/2017

A few weeks ago, I had lunch with a young local pastor who called and said he wanted to "pick my brain". He specifically wanted input from me, as an older and more experienced minister, about ways in which he could become better at pastoral leadership.

Suffice it to say that we had a far ranging conversation, lasting nearly two hours. Our time together culminated with me recommending the best book on leadership that I personally know of, at least for pastors. That relatively short book was written by Paul W. Powell, a long time pastor and denominational leader among Southern Baptists.

Dr. Powell wrote a total of 36 books over his long and illustrious career. As president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Annuity Board, he would prepare books and then give them away at denominational convention meetings as way of getting young pastors to come by the Annuity Board booth and inquire about retirement planning.

One of these was a book he wrote titled Taking the Stew Out Of Stewardship. Needless to say, it addressed a touchy subject for a great many churches, and thus, all too often for the ministers who serve them.

In any event, after a certain speaking engagement, Dr. Powell was approached and challenged to write a similar work on leadership. The result was his book titled Getting the Lead Out Of Leadership.

As a young pastor, I chanced upon this book and simply devoured it, gobbling up and digesting its various principles, and then putting them into practice at every church I have served. I have also consistently recommended it to others down through the years.

(In fact, these days, on a regular basis, I teach a short course at our church which we call “Leadership 101”. This course is designed to help develop young men who have leadership potential within our church family, preparing them to serve in such areas of lay leadership as Stewardship, Personnel, and Property Teams, as well as on the Deacon Body.)

Sadly, after a long and productive career, Dr. Paul W. Powell recently passed away. When I first read of his passing, I thought about the words of the Old Testament prophet, Zechariah, who in his eponymous Biblical book (chapter 11, verse 2) stated: “Wail, O cypress, for the great cedar tree has fallen, because the glorious trees have been destroyed; Wail, O oaks of Bashan, for the impenetrable forest has come down.”

What an apt image. For surely a mighty oak has now fallen. You see, as results in the felling a giant oak tree, Dr. Powell’s passing leaves a gaping hole in the canopy of the hearts and lives of untold numbers of younger ministers such as myself!

I would be remiss this day if I did not take the opportunity to state how beholding I am to this tremendous servant of the Lord. His faithfulness to serve the Lord as he was directed had a powerful impact upon me and my ministry.

I can only hope that I somehow both honor Dr. Powell and glorify the same God he served by following the example this man gave. I also hope that, in the process, I can perhaps inspire others to do the same.

If you care to read more about Dr. Powell and all that he accomplished in the 83 years God gave him in this world, please visit his obituary at: https://www.baylor.edu/mediacommunications/news.php?action=story&story=17
6068.

You can also read more about his life and ministry at:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Powell_(minister).

Perhaps the greatest legacy he left was his body of work, which can be accessed online at Baylor University’s web site. You can access each of his 36 books directly through the previous link at Wikipedia.

Specifically, Dr. Powell’s book Getting the Lead Out of Leadership can be found here: http://www.baylor.edu/content/services/document.php?id=146512.

SOWING SEEDS

2/6/2017

Sadly, all did not go well for my beloved Atlanta Falcons this past Sunday. Alas! Two Super Bowl appearances now, and only two losses to show for it all. Oh well, as we Falcons fans are accustomed to saying, “There’s always next year!”

But then again, win or lose, life goes on! And mine has; for Super Bowl Sunday quickly gave way to Seminary Monday. You see, our church hosts the East Tennessee Extension Center of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, where I also serve as the Director. This was the first week of spring semester classes and of preparing for the future for a number of ministerial students enrolled in our program.

Every so often, I am asked the question that I was asked last Wednesday evening by a church member: “What is it like to attend seminary?” And the answer is: “It’s hard to say.” Seminary is part Graduate School and part Sunday School. The classes offered can be quite rigorous, having been designed for duly qualified college graduates seeking a Master’s Degree in some standard theological discipline. But they are also intended to enhance one’s spiritual walk as a means of augmenting one’s academic education.

The end result of a seminary education can include the awarding of two-year degrees such as the Master of Arts Degree (MA), the Master of Theology (ThM), the Master of Religious Education (MRe), and the Master of Worship, to name but a few. By far, the most commonly sought seminary degree is the Master of Divinity Degree (MDiv). It differs from the MA in that it is a three-year degree, and customarily includes the study of the Biblical Languages of Hebrew and Greek, and sometimes Latin.

Master of Divinity programs can vary widely by institution; but most consist of classes spread over several essential disciplines – among them, Biblical Studies (including languages), Theology, Church History, Church Polity (church government), Worship Leadership, Proclamation (Preaching), Practical Theology, meaning the theory and practice of ministry, and the like.

Along the way, a student can take classes in other disciplines, such as religious education, worship arts, pastoral care, chaplaincy, student ministry, children’s ministry, church administration, missions, evangelism, and many other additional topics.

Seminaries also offer Doctoral Degrees for those students wishing to further their studies beyond the Master’s Degree. The standard professional Doctoral Degree is that of the Doctor of Ministry (or DMin). This degree is largely designed to prepare students for Pastoral and/or Denominational Leadership positions. In many respects, among larger churches and denominations, the DMin has supplanted the MDiv as the foundational degree for ministry.

Seminaries also offer academic Doctoral Degrees, designed to prepare students for academic careers within the church at large. Degrees such as the Doctor of Philosophy (or PhD), the Doctor of Theology (ThD), or specialized degrees such as the Doctor of Missiology (DMiss), are designed to prepare students for teaching in Colleges, Universities, and/or Seminaries. (NOTE: European Theology Schools offer what are termed DPhil and DTheol degrees, designed to serve the same purpose.)

As is the case with all higher education, the quality of theological education can vary greatly from institution to institution. The Southern Baptist convention owns and operates six denominational seminaries. Of these, the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, being the oldest, is generally considered the flagship school. (One can find a link below to all of these schools below.) All of them are fully accredited by appropriate regional accrediting agencies (such as the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools), as well as the Association of Theological Schools in North America (known as ATS).

In addition, dozens of other colleges and universities across America affiliate with the Southern Baptist Convention. Many of these own and operate their own Divinity Schools, or Seminaries. Examples include the Beeson Divinity School on the campus of Alabama’s Samford University (an institution of higher learning historically affiliated with the Alabama Baptist Convention) and the Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary of Liberty University in Virginia.

But returning to the question at hand, I would suggest that a good start toward finding an answer about what it is like to attend seminary is to define the word “seminary” itself. The standard dictionary definition reads thus:

sem•i•nar•y /ˈseməˌnerē/ noun: “a college that prepares students to be pastors, ministers, priests, or rabbis”.
synonyms: theological college, divinity school, rabbinical college, Bible school/college
Origin = late Middle English (denoting a seed plot): from Latin seminarium ‘seed plot,’ neuter of seminaries ‘of seed,’ from semen ‘seed.’

Pay attention to the Latin term “seminarium”, meaning “seed plot”; for here, in my estimation, is an excellent reason for why all would-be ministers need to attend seminary. In the three to four years it takes to gain a solid theological education, one will invariably have planted several seeds which will come to fruition later in professional ministry, eventually enhancing their ability to carry out the ministry to which they have been called.

What is more, the lack of having sown these seeds will have an equally significant impact - only in this case, it will be on the negative side. Simply put, my seminary experience forced me to plant seeds that I regularly harvest fruit from to this very day - the more obvious things being Biblical Studies, Theology, Preaching, Administration, etc…

But I also find that seminary taught me many other things that have proven useful in every day ministry. For instance, I learned good study habits, which I still use regularly for preaching and teaching preparation.

Personal discipline and accountability were also instilled within me. Such skills, learned early on, have helped me to produce my twice weekly blogs to this very day. I also learned time management skills, which help me to this day to accomplish the many tasks of ministry in a timely fashion. All of this is to say nothing of people skills instilled within me, which are far more important. In truth, this list could go on and on.

And so, my admonition to young seminary students is two-fold. First, as the Apostle Paul told young Timothy (in 2 Timothy 2:25 KJV): “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” The key word here is the word “study”. Other translations term this “work hard” (NLT), “make every effort” (Berean), “be diligent” (NASB), and “do your best” (ESV).

The original Koine Greek term here is “spou-dason”, which means “to hasten, to be eager, to be diligent”. It comes from a root word “spoo-day”, meaning “speed, haste, diligence, earnestness, enthusiasm”. This latter term comes from a principal verb , “pseudo”, meaning “to hasten, to speed, to urge on”. (Yes, SPEEDO swim wear label comes from this very term.)

The picture here is of a young Timothy working swiftly and diligently to accomplish preparation for the task of ministry to which he has been called. This is an apt metaphor for young ministers working hard in seminary to prepare for the work to ministry to which they have each been called.

But the seminary experience should involve more than just studying hard – much more. Another relevant passage of Scripture for seminary studies can be in found in Matthew’s Gospel (11:28-30 KJV):

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Focus on the key words “learn of me”. Most all other English translations follow the KJV translation. The NLT is an exception, stating “let me teach you”. The original Koine Greek term is “mathete”, meaning “to learn, but to do so with reflection and application”. It is based on the root word “mathetes”, which is translated as “disciple”. Thus, Jesus is essentially saying, “Become My disciple!”

So, seminary education is a wonderful time to study hard, and to put in the work and the due diligence needed to get oneself an education! But it is also a time to sow seeds that will be needed for harvest later on. For this reason, I encourage all seminary students to do the work! To plow the ground! To plant the seeds! For what they plant and nurture here and now will reap vast rewards for them out there in the future one day!

To do otherwise will be to cheat themselves, as well as those whom they will one day serve and minister unto. Even worse, it will be to sin against God who has called them into the ministry to begin with. As (Saint) Augustine wrote in his Confessions (Book One): “But we sinned in that we read and wrote and studied less than was required of us!” Simply put, any and all seminary students who do not diligently apply themselves to their studies while in seminary will eventually be sorry that they did not!

But an even greater danger for the average seminary student is to treat seminary as merely Graduate School and not as Sunday School. One must never merely study and learn theological disciplines at the expense of becoming an authentic disciple of Jesus Christ!

So, while I encourage all seminary students to work hard and learn their share of Theology, Biblical Studies, Greek, Hebrew, Church History, Church Polity, etc…, I also admonish them not to let the learning of these subjects become a substitute for learning “of Jesus” – for sitting at the feet of the Master and becoming His authentic disciple!

Those who do this are ultimately cheating themselves more than if they did not study at all. For they will develop a lifelong habit of letting weekly sermon preparation substitute for personal daily devotion!

And the result of this will likely be a faith and a testimony that is as straight as a gun barrel theologically, but also as cold as one spiritually! Such a minister will likely do little to grow the Kingdom of God!

Please pray for our seminary extension center. For that matter, please pray for all Christian seminaries everywhere, as well as the ministers they regularly help to educate. For in the process of equipping these young ministers, theological seminaries have an impact upon all those others whom these ministers will one day touch for Christ. And any way you look at it, that is one tremendous responsibility!

SOURCES:
CLICK HERE TO FIND THE SIX SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION (SBC) SEMINARIES: http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/entities/seminaries.asp
CLICK HER FOR THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY (SBTS) HOMEPAGE: http://www.sbts.edu/
CLICK HERE FOR THE SBTS EAST TENNESSEE EXTENSION CENTER: http://www.sbts.edu/extension/centers/east-tennessee/
SCRIPTURE SOURCE: www.biblehub.com

FLYING HIGH!

2/2/2017

The most watched sporting event on the planet will unfold in only three days: Super Bowl LI. Suffice it to say that people are passionate about this annual sporting ritual. Perhaps you have heard this well-travelled story that serves to illustrate my point…

A guy named Bob receives a free ticket to the Super Bowl from his company. Unfortunately, when Bob arrives at the stadium he realizes the seat is in the last row in the corner of the stadium - he's closer to the Goodyear blimp than the field.

About halfway through the first quarter, Bob notices an empty seat 10 rows off the field, right on the 50 yard line. He decides to take a chance and makes his way through the stadium and around the security guards to the empty seat. As he sits down, he asks the gentleman sitting next to him, "Excuse me, is anyone sitting here?" The man says no.

Now, very excited to be in such a great seat for the game, Bob again inquires of the man next to him, "This is incredible! Who in their right mind would have a seat like this at the Super Bowl and not use it?"

The man replies, "Well, actually, the seat belongs to me, I was supposed to come with my wife, but she passed away. This is the first Super Bowl we haven't been together at since we got married in 1967."

"Well, that's really sad," says Bob, "but still, couldn't you find someone to take the seat? A relative or close friend?" "No," the man replies, "they're all at the funeral."

We snicker, but people can indeed get carried away with the Super Bowl. I like the way one anonymous pundit has put it:

Imagine another world looking down at 60,000 people who pay $900,000 to sit in a stadium that cost $45 million to watch 22 men being paid $7 million a year dispute the possession of a ball that costs $16.95.

For my part, I will not be attending the Super Bowl. But, having been brought up in Georgia, I will likely watch the game because, miraculously, the Atlanta Falcons are playing in it! The Falcons entered the National Football League the same year the first Super Bowl was played; and only once in their fifty-one years have they been there before. That was Super Bowl XXXIII in the 1998 season, where they lost to the Denver Broncos 34–19.

I was five years old when they played their first game. I grew up watching them play, both on television and in person. And I have followed them faithfully even after I moved form my home state, in spite of their miserable record of 350–449–6 (only 341–437–6 in the regular season and only 9–12 in the playoffs).

In short, I was a Falcon fan when being a Falcon fan wasn't cool! It was so uncool that, in some years, bumper stickers would crop up on vehicles down home reading: “Go Falcons! And take the Braves with you!”

Alas! Like so many Falcons fans, I have spent decades armchair quarterbacking! Along the way, I have second and third guessed just about every other play ever called, and vented my frustrations year in and year out at the television screen.

But also, like most Falcons fans, I have always failed to give up, doggedly persisting in my hope each fall that “this could be the year”! And now, lo and behold, it is! The Atlanta Falcons are flying about high as they ever have! And they are soaring straight into NRG Stadium, (formerly Reliant Stadium) in Houston, Texas!

For despite their unimpressive first fifty years, they have managed to make it to the Big One in this, their fifty-first year! Of course, they are not the odds on favorite to win. Their opponents, the New England Patriots, appearing in their record-setting ninth Super Bowl appearance, enjoy that expectation.

And yet, none of this appears to be lost on the Falcons, a young team with a young coach and big dreams! The odds-makers not withstanding, the birds believe in themselves and their destiny! And who knows? A whole new champion may just be appearing on the horizon!

After all, it has happened before. The Old Testament Book of 1st Samuel (chapter seventeen) records a time when another underdog rose up to challenge an established champion. That underdog was a young Israelite named David and that daunting champion was Philistine from Gath named Goliath! A little lad versus a giant warrior! A flea versus an elephant!

But the little lad had someone on his team that the Philistine did not. For David had God on his side! And, in the words of the Apostle Paul in his New Testament Letter to the Romans (chapter 8, verse 31): “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

I cannot say for certain if the Falcons will win Super Bowl LI. But I can say for certain that David won his victory! With a single smooth stone and a sling, and with God guiding his hands, he felled the giant and won the day!

And I know that whatever I face in this world, I can be victorious too. Because I serve the same God David did. And the Word of this God (penned via the hand of the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Philippians, chapter 4, verse 13 HCSB) tells me that “I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

As Paul puts it in his New Testament Letter to the Corinthians (chapter 15, verse 57): “Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

JOKE SOURCE: http://www.jokes4us.com/winnersjokes/superbowljoke.html.
SCRIPTURE SOURCE: http://biblehub.com.