Archive for October, 2007
He’s Back!
October 20th, 2007 | Comments Off | Posted in » In the News..., KC Chiefs
Yes, I know it’s late Saturday evening, a time I normally reserve for last-minute preparations for Sunday School tomorrow… but I decided to jump over to ESPN and check out the results of today’s college football action before calling it a night. The headline that caught my eye, though, involved the Chiefs…
I can barely contain my excitement… this is just incredible! Out of action for two years due to a freaky neck injury… deciding to return almost on a whim… after over three months of workouts, and now just one week of practice? Priest Holmes is back on the active roster for the Chiefs!
Simply unbelievable!
Here’s hoping Priest sees action in tomorrow’s game, and that he gives Larry Johnson a bit of motivation to get back to top form.
It Could be a Long Season… Episode 6.
October 14th, 2007 | Comments Off | Posted in » In the News..., KC Chiefs
Victory!
The Bengals came to Kansas City today and got mauled by my beloved Chiefs. The defense looked pretty good, consistently getting good pressure on Carson Palmer, with obviously positive results… only 1/11 on third down, with the one conversion coming against weak prevent defense late in the fourth quarter… two interceptions… holding their explosive offense to 20 points. I certainly question why Gunther and Herm abandoned the blitz late, as the Bengals moved the ball at will against the prevent defense (Palmer had WAY too much time to pick us apart)… but the game was pretty much decided at that point, so I can’t fault them TOO much.
As for the offense? Well… what can you say about Tony Gonzalez? Two touchdowns, breaking the NFL record for tight ends… he’s been a mainstay of the Chiefs offense for years, and no doubt will one day be a Hall of Fame member. Huard looked like his normal self… decent, but not spectacular. And Larry Johnson? Well… he finally broke loose with a few big runs, but tempered those with several boneheaded plays, the biggest of which, his failure to protect the ball on a sure TD run in the second quarter. Stripped at the one yard line and turning the ball over to the Bengals, the play could have really killed the Chiefs. Throw in a dumb delay of game penalty with 4:00 left in the fourth and the Bengals clinging to faint hopes, stopping the clock and forcing us to punt from deep in our own end zone… well, again… it could have cost us dearly. Blocking continues to be one of his weak points, as a missed block on a blitz nearly resulted in Huard’s beheading.
Anyway, we’re now 3-3 on the year… tied in the win column for the division lead. With Oakland (yes, Oakland), leading the division by a half game (due to the bye week), next week’s game looms large.
Who knows what could happen yet this year? The Chiefs look spectacular at times, and horrific at others. Two things are for certain… the defense will keep us in a lot of games… and the running game still needs help. It’s a recipe for uncertainty… and a long season.
MBLA Endorses Candidates… or Not.
October 12th, 2007 | 2 Comments | Posted in » Baptist Issues, In the News...
I hate to take up more space on this site about MBC politics, but the saga has taken another turn this evening. There was incorrect information passed on previously here, and it must be corrected.
Remember a few days back, when I posted news from David Krueger (originating on the Missouri Baptist list) about a new set of candidates for Missouri Baptist Convention officers? Well, supposedly, they were endorsed by the Missouri Baptist Layman’s Association (MBLA).
This evening, David informed the list that his “sources” were in error. Although the candidates he announced were spot on, the endorsement didn’t actually happen. David conveyed that, per a conversation he’d had with Kerry Messer (MBLA president), that MBLA has not met, that they did not endorse the candidates, and that they have no plans to do so.
Given the deluge of debate and argument on the list over endorsements for candidates since the announcment on Monday (there have been so many messages, I can’t hardly keep up with reading them all), the sudden news that these endorsements didn’t really happen is certainly interesting, to say the least. It raises quite a few questions in my mind, but to vocalize these publicly and imply that there was anything other than misunderstanding involved in this wouldn’t extend a bit of the grace to David and his “source” that I would hope for were I in their shoes.
(BTW, Rodney? You’ll probably want to correct your post, or create a new one clarifying the matter.)
Twilight
October 12th, 2007 | 1 Comment | Posted in » Pictures, Song of the Day
Here’s a change for ya… a Friday photo and song of the day, all in one.
First… the photo (taken a couple years back)… twilight.
Next up, the song… “Twilight”, by Shaun Groves.
Like the sky before the dawn
While the night is holding on
Sun and moon together in the gray
So my soul is shared by two
The worst of me, the best of You
Saint and sinner mingle in my veins
And I pray You’ll end this twilightTwilight, twilight
I’m torn inside my soul tonight
The dawning Day, the dying night
Oh rid my soul of twilight
Oh rid my soul of twilightGood I love but evil’s done
Good intentions come undone
Good to know I know the One
Who saves me from myself andTwilight, twilight
I’m torn inside my soul tonight
The dawning Day, the dying night
Oh rid my soul of twilight
Oh rid my soul of twilightOh Lord, paint my heart a solid hue
The shade of You
Oh Lord, break this dreadful in between
inside of me
Oh let it be morningTwilight, twilight
I’m torn inside my soul tonight
The dawning Day, the dying night
Oh rid my soul of twilight
Oh rid my soul of twilightI know the sun is coming up
Oh, the sun is coming up
Yes, the sun is coming up
In me, in me.
Pressing On…
October 11th, 2007 | 2 Comments | Posted in » Christian Living, Devotions / Bible Studies, My Life / Family
This evening, I found myself taking a bit of time reflecting on “Toward the Goal”… this blog… this site… the Scripture from which it derives its namesake… the verse that I believe really kind of encapsulates my life.
I found myself wondering… if “forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead”… “press[ing] on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” is what my life is about… why then do I seem to be spinning my wheels of faith so often?
Why has it been so difficult to pray recently? Why is opening God’s word and devouring it in eager expectation of being fed such a struggle? Why has it been so hard to stay positive about my church’s future? Why has envy (and maybe even a hint of bitterness) been creeping into my thoughts about the excitement building at Micah’s new church? Why have my thoughts about Missouri Baptists and their conflicts been filled with cynicism? Why do I feel so frustrated with my seeming lack of faith?
Answers are hard to come by.
In looking at the surrounding text in Philippians, I see Paul in chains for the gospel… writing about the joy he has in knowing that the gospel progresses despite his imprisonment. I see him urging believers to conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. I see him urging believers to look past selfish interests and to focus on the interests of others. I see him commanding believers to do everything without complaining or arguing. I see him expressing the magnitude of his hope in Jesus… that he considers everything loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ. I see him urging believers to follow his example, focusing on our heavenly citizenship. And yes… I see him pressing on toward the goal… to follow Jesus wholeheartedly, that God might be honored and glorified.
I wonder how he did it.
You see, to me, Paul seems like such an amazing believer (and no doubt, he was). He went when God told him to go. He spoke when God told him to speak. He expressed joy when pain was ever present.
He practiced Christianity the way God intended.
I wonder… where does that kind of fervent faith come from? Why is it so hard to emulate? Does anyone REALLY have that kind of faith?
Again, I don’t have much in the way of answers. I do wonder, however… is my mind set on earthly things, as Paul writes in Philippians 3:19? Am I simply a casual Christian? Am I too, a practical atheist? Or am I expecting too much of myself?
I honestly don’t know what to think sometimes, but I do know this… I’m tired of the struggle. If I’m going to profess that Philippians 3:13-14 is my life’s theme, well… it’s time to put up or shut up.
Anyone feel the same way?
More Missouri Baptist Nominations…
October 8th, 2007 | 2 Comments | Posted in » Baptist Issues, In the News...
This seems to be the week for MBC announcements. This evening, e-mail on the Missouri Baptist list from David Krueger (reprinted here as it’s of interest to all Missouri Baptists) announced the following:
A number of fellow Missouri Baptists have announced that they will be nominated as officers for the Missouri Baptist Convention at the annual meeting in Tan-Tar-a. They include:
- Mike Green, for a second term as President. Mike is the DOM of the Twin Rivers Association.
- Jay Scribner, for 1st Vice President. Jay was a long-time pastor of FBC, Branson and is now retired.
- Roger Moran, for 2nd Vice President. Roger is a layman and a member of FBC, Troy.
- Jerry Williams, for Recording Secretary. Jerry is the DOM of the Barry Baptist Association.
All four have received the endorsement of the Missouri Baptist Layman’s Association.
Obviously, the same things I wrote about the “Save Our Convention” nominees apply here as well… I hope Missouri Baptists will prayerfully consider each of these, and vote as God leads.
I do hope, given the announcements of the last few days of candidates endorsed by each group, that the convention doesn’t decay into a political battle, with SOC on one side and MBLA on the other. Fireworks will accomplish nothing aside from further fracturing of the MBC, and we know who that will benefit… no one.
Reprinted… an Open Letter from David Baker
October 8th, 2007 | Comments Off | Posted in » Baptist Issues, In the News...
There was an interesting submission to the Missouri Baptist Mailing List today… an open letter from David Baker, pastor of Heartland Church. Given that it’s an open letter, and that it may be of interest to Missouri Baptists, it’s reproduced in its entirety below.
Save Our Convention?
Baptist are, after all, an intriguing lot. Bible believing, strongly conservative, Missouri Baptists struggled for years to reclaim the Missouri Baptist Convention from those who no longer emphasized the inerrancy and infallibility of Holy Scripture. Many good Pastors and Laymen suffered isolation, rejection, and marginalization because they aligned themselves with others of like conviction to challenge the status quo and bring about meaningful change. Many of us felt that real change would not occur, but it did.
Through God’s grace and prevenient mercy, these strong conservative folks ware able to bring genuine revolution and revitalization to Baptist life, even throughout the Southern Baptist Convention. In Missouri, we were the first state convention of Baptists to reclaim our executive board and staff. The price tag high; there were many wounded; and five of our state institutions were stolen before conservatives could gain access to boards of trustees. In asking the civil courts to determine who actually owns these entities, we have become embroiled in lengthy and expensive litigation.
We also demonstrated a lack of wisdom by bringing leaders into our state who had good intentions, but did not fully comprehend the history and inner dynamics of the situation. I do believe these men had good intentions but were overwhelmed by the complexities of a very fragile, as well as loose knit, coalition of conservative leadership.
The results have been regrettable. I feel badly for Dr. David Clippard and others who have paid the price for our lack of wisdom. Even though I am aware that they are fully responsible for what ultimately took place, I also believe that such an outcome may have been inevitable no matter who would have been put Into positions of leadership. Remember, the Liberal/Moderate group left us with a mess.In 2002,I was put on the Missouri Baptist Convention Executive Board to serve out an unexpired term, My election to the board sent shock-waves throughout our state. Within days of the first meeting I attended, nine Liberal/Moderate members of the board resigned. One of them commented to me, “If you are now a member of this board, the battle for the convention is over.” In just a short time later, a search committee brought a recommendation to a special called meeting of the board to hire a new executive director. The board voted to call David Clippard. Many of us were uneasy with the timing and the process, but we had no apparent reason not to move ahead. In retrospect, I wish I had been more vocal about my own concerns.
Within days we were faced with a real crisis. While our books showed significant cash reserves, in reality, we did not have the money to move our new Executive Director onto the field. Through a series of convention and board actions, previous convention leadership had made a series of loans, transfers, and expenditures which literally stripped the convention of its reserves. It Is my own belief that these leaders were attempting to prevent the convention from asking for a legal judgment on ownership of the five renegade agencies. Certainly, we were left in a precarious financial situation. We had no Idea how were going to fund any legal action.
The next year, I was placed on the MBC Executive Board Administrative Committee. In the spring of 2006,I served on an annual review committee to evaluate our Executive Director. Convention by-laws call for an annual evaluation of all staff. An appointed Executive Board committee evaluates the Executive Director each year. In these positions, I had access to the developing conflict which arose between David Clippard, Roger Moran and some members of the Executive Board. From that vantage point, I want to comment on the “Save Our Convention” movement new afoot among some Missouri Baptist Convention.
First, there is no need to ‘save’ the Missouri Baptist Convention. There is no secretive ‘good ole’ boy’ network that controls Missouri Baptist life. Baptists are notoriously independent. Getting conservative Baptists even to agree on anything is like herding cats.
Second, I do not know of any Executive Board member who has been overtly influenced to do anything. When I served on the board, people from all across our state called me and offered their opinions on a wide variety of issues. Virtually all of them wanted to tell me what they though I should do. I have the same experience as a Pastor. I listened to each one and tried to be kind. Then I did exactly what I had prayerfully determined to do.
Third, every member of the executive Board, at least while I serve, seemed thoughtful and sought to be well informed. None walked in lock-step with any particular group. I believe they were mature and prayerful Christians who sought to do the right thing. I sometimes questioned their judgment, but never their integrity.
Forth, Roger Moran is not the devil. Roger is a good man with a heart to do the right thing. He is also a gifted researcher, organizer, and advocate. Roger and I have not always agreed. But I have a deep respect for this good man. We own him much for helping the conservative movement. We should not turn on him because we fear his influence.
Fifth, we need to love and trust each other. The liberal/Moderate brethren are rejoicing in our division. They are convinced that those of us who are conservative in our theology will ultimately turn on each other and destroy our own movement. We must prove them wrong.Finally, we should be aware of false teaching in our midst. Conservatives are not immune from the influence of fad Christianity. We must hold to the old truths of our faith rooted in solid biblical exposition. We must also hold ourselves to a higher standard morally and ethically. We must strive for genuine righteousness combined with compassionate service. We must proclaim the Gospel to the lost with great intensity. And in the midst of it all, we must be kindly affectionate towards one another.
Dear friend, let us have a great Missouri Baptist Convention annual meeting in Tan-Tar-A on October 29-31. Let us lift up every local church in love and commit ourselves to live humbly at the foot of the cross.
God Bless You,
David Baker
Pastor, Heartland Baptist Church
Most of you know I haven’t been a believer for as long as troubles amongst Baptists in Missouri have been going on… but I’ve been around long enough to know that the fighting between “liberal/moderate” Baptists and “conservative” Baptists here has left a LOT of people on both sides damaged and scarred, and has left those amongst the public who have been paying attention to our squabbles with a somewhat less than favorable impression of Missouri Baptists.
My simple hope, as a member of an MBC church, is that peace returns to the MBC, and that the two resultant groups from the past few years of conflict (the BGCM and MBC) can each move on and go about furthering God’s Kingdom in their own ways. God knows that neither group is perfect, but I’m fairly certain He’s big enough to use both for His glory… assuming we’ll let Him.