Church leaders can steer congregations in a healthy direction by honestly facing conflict instead of running from it or turning a dispute into a personal battle, Ken Schmitt insists.   Too many church members treat the biblical mandate of reconciliation as an opportunity to argue their case, said Schmitt, a former pastor who spoke at a recent Kentucky Baptist Convention gathering. Church leaders can steer congregations in a healthy direction by honestly facing conflict instead of running from it or turning a dispute into a personal battle, Ken Schmitt insists.   Too many church members treat the biblical mandate of reconciliation as an opportunity to argue their case, said Schmitt, a former pastor who spoke at a recent Kentucky Baptist Convention gathering.   Many people misunderstand Jesus’ process on resolving conflicts in Matthew 18:15-17, Schmitt said. The passage calls for private reproof, then intervention by a small group and then taking the matter before the whole congregation - as a last resort.   "We see this as one-two-three strikes, and you’re out," Schmitt said. "(Instead) We are to work toward reconciliation for the common good."   Instead, Schmitt … [Read more...]

Re: "The Baptist Scene" brief on "Free Bibles" - Baptist Message, April 5 Re: "The Baptist Scene" brief on "Free Bibles" - Baptist Message, April 5   Comment: Just what we need ... another translation. And none of them have improved on the King James Version.   T.J. Ozbun Duplessis … [Read more...]

Re: "Absorbing Gambling" letter to the editor in March 22, 2001, issue.   My name is David Fortenberry, and I am the president of Outdoor Evangelism Association. The Apostle Paul told us to "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of building up, that it may minister grace unto the hearers" (Ephesians 4:29). Re: "Absorbing Gambling" letter to the editor in March 22, 2001, issue.   My name is David Fortenberry, and I am the president of Outdoor Evangelism Association. The Apostle Paul told us to "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of building up, that it may minister grace unto the hearers" (Ephesians 4:29). It really grieves me that the writer of the article associated my ministry with the gambling industry. This is based on his own lack of understanding as to what gambling is. The writer said there are three elements to gambling: (1) an element of chance (like your retirement plans?); (2) a prize to be won (read I Corinthians 9:24; Paul and I hope to win that prize); and (3) a consideration of value (yes, I consider the 1,500 souls our ministry has changed for Christ a real value!). The … [Read more...]

As the need for gospel ministry continues to grow, Louisiana Baptist women recently were reminded that God can do unbelievable things through ordinary, faithful lives   The troubled state of affairs in Louisiana is "beyond belief" - but that is no reason for Louisiana Baptist women to be discouraged in their work, Nelda Seal insisted recently. As the need for gospel ministry continues to grow, Louisiana Baptist women recently were reminded that God can do unbelievable things through ordinary, faithful lives   The troubled state of affairs in Louisiana is "beyond belief" - but that is no reason for Louisiana Baptist women to be discouraged in their work, Nelda Seal insisted recently.   And this surely is no time to falter in that work, added Seal, Louisiana Baptist women’s missions and ministry director.   "What are our possibilities?" Seal asked women attending the recent Louisiana Baptist Woman’s Missionary Union annual meeting at Broadmoor Baptist Church in Shreveport.   "It is beyond belief what we can do through trust in God. ... We are to walk by faith and believe in the impossible."   Trusting God to work through one’s life was a … [Read more...]

For the week of April 19, 2001 Potpourri •ALEXANDRIA — Horseshoe Drive Church: Legacy Five in concert; April 27, 7 p.m.; Don Arbuckle, minister of music; Aubrey Whitlock, pastor.   •BAKER - First church: annual spring keyboard concert; April 29, 6 p.m.; Kathy Overfield, Rita Williams, Michael Sharp and Robin Thomas, pianists and organists; Ralph G. Parks, minister of music; B. K. Miller, Jr., pastor.   •CLARKS - Old Bethel church: Caldwell Association Bible drills; April 29, 6:30 p.m.; Jimmy Goodman, pastor.   •FOREST HILL - Calvary church: Marvin Morrow in concert; April 20, 7 p.m.; Joel McMicken, pastor.   •JONESVILLE - First church: Delta, LaSalle and Ouachita Association Children’s Workshop; April 28, 9 a.m. - 12 noon; Carroll Green, speaker; James Carson, pastor.   •OLLA - First church: LaSalle Association evangelism rally; April 29, 6 p.m.; Milton Wilson, pastor.   •PINEVILLE - Carmel church: Blackwood Voices in concert; April 29, 11 a.m.; dinner to follow; afternoon concert, 2 p.m.; John Everett, pastor.   •RIDGECREST - Ridgecrest church: King’s Messengers in concert; April 29, 6 p.m.; Bobby Cruse, pastor.   •RUBY - Pine … [Read more...]

Aquartet of lawsuits allege the U.S. Navy has engaged in systematic discrimination against evangelical chaplains, including Southern Baptists.   Five current or former chaplains endorsed by the Southern Baptist Convention are among 17 plaintiffs in one class action suit. In all, 27 chaplains are involved in the four suits filed in the past 14 months. Aquartet of lawsuits allege the U.S. Navy has engaged in systematic discrimination against evangelical chaplains, including Southern Baptists.   Five current or former chaplains endorsed by the Southern Baptist Convention are among 17 plaintiffs in one class action suit. In all, 27 chaplains are involved in the four suits filed in the past 14 months.   Simply put, the suits claim the Navy is violating the First Amendment by failing to guarantee personnel free exercise of religion, asserted Art Schulcz, who represents parties in three of the cases.   For example, 12 percent of Navy personnel are members of denominations classified as "Protestant Liturgical," a designation that encompasses Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist and Presbyterian churches.   However, those denominations hold 35 percent of Navy … [Read more...]

C. Lacy Thompson LBM Associate Editor   Someone once opened a discussion of civility by looking back on the advent of the railroad into American life.   At the time, there were concerns about how persons would behave as they shared crowded railroad car space with others on long trips. There were discussions about what rules would be necessary.   However, surprisingly, behavior was not the problem some feared. Apparently, the sometimes crowded, inconvenienced passengers understood a simple truth - they were all in journey together. Someone once opened a discussion of civility by looking back on the advent of the railroad into American life.   At the time, there were concerns about how persons would behave as they shared crowded railroad car space with others on long trips. There were discussions about what rules would be necessary.   However, surprisingly, behavior was not the problem some feared. Apparently, the sometimes crowded, inconvenienced passengers understood a simple truth - they were all in journey together.   In other words, it made sense for persons to make the trip as pleasant as possibile - for others and themselves.   The … [Read more...]

By Lynn P. Clayton Editor   At the beginning of his 40th year as pastor of First Baptist Church, Zachary, Wayne Barnes did what most people who know him well thought he would never do - he retired.   Barnes’ commitment to ministering to people as a pastor, and the lengths to which he would go to fulfill that commitment, are legendary among his congregation and friends. It seems wherever the church family of Zachary First Baptist were in need, even a day’s drive away, Barnes would usually find his way to their sides. By Lynn P. Clayton Editor   At the beginning of his 40th year as pastor of First Baptist Church, Zachary, Wayne Barnes did what most people who know him well thought he would never do - he retired.   Barnes’ commitment to ministering to people as a pastor, and the lengths to which he would go to fulfill that commitment, are legendary among his congregation and friends. It seems wherever the church family of Zachary First Baptist were in need, even a day’s drive away, Barnes would usually find his way to their sides.   Few people can imagine him not expressing that commitment in ministry and they are probably right. While Barnes has retired as … [Read more...]

This stuff sure sticks. Man, does it stick.   The gift is not a major investment of money.   Hey, I bought it. Maybe my tightness is not as monumental as Jack Benny’s (except if you ask my kids), but neither am I Elvis (who gave away Cadillacs). This stuff sure sticks. Man, does it stick.   The gift is not a major investment of money.   Hey, I bought it. Maybe my tightness is not as monumental as Jack Benny’s (except if you ask my kids), but neither am I Elvis (who gave away Cadillacs).   It is the thought that counts, and the thought is in three relatively small pieces rather than its original one. Two blades of the Dutch windmill have broken free during their journey from there to here. The choices are three: Give it to my friend in its present three pieces, showing that I did think of her; try gluing them back together and acting as though nothing has happened; trash it. Paragraph two explains why I chose option two.   Sitting at the desk in my home office, the super glue stuff is carefully opened. The pieces are arranged within reach. The tube is squeezed ever so slightly and glue shoots out over the thumb, index finger and middle finger of both … [Read more...]

This year’s Baptist General Convention of Texas budget was supposed to redirect vast dollars away from Southern Baptist Convention seminaries and to Texas schools and ministries.   However, so far, churches in the state have been slow to embrace the new plan. This year’s Baptist General Convention of Texas budget was supposed to redirect vast dollars away from Southern Baptist Convention seminaries and to Texas schools and ministries.   However, so far, churches in the state have been slow to embrace the new plan.   The budget called for reducing funding to the six Southern Baptist seminaries by $4.3 million and to the SBC Executive Committee and Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission by another $1.1 million.   However, churches are not required to give through that particular budget but may choose from various options.   As a result, through the first quarter of the giving year, more than half of contributing churches (51 percent) designated their gifts for distribution under the old approach that retains 67 percent of gifts within the state and sends 33 percent to the national convention for distribution.   Just 16 percent of churches gave through … [Read more...]