Japan Disaster Relief Response

The following is from Dr. Rick Lance, Executive Director of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions concerning how Alabama Baptists can initially respond to the devastating disaster in Japan.  This is from his blog. http://www.ricklance.com/

All of us are shocked by the enormous impact of the earthquake in Japan. The aftershocks, now in the multiple hundreds, are seismically strong enough to be considered earthquakes in most places. The Japanese people have been hard hit by this history-making disaster.

As if an earthquake of historic proportions is not enough to shake the country, the tsunami adds to the disastrous affects near the coastline of the island nation. Waves, in some places 30 feet high, have made cities and villages into mud piles. The shortage of power and water create an array of other problems that complicate relief efforts.

The aura of a nuclear meltdown is so foreboding. I have trouble digesting the arcane information offered by scientists and other specialists who are seeking to inform the general public. My mind is easily boggled by such discussions and the implications are far reaching in terms of other nations utilizing nuclear power.

People in this country, especially Southern Baptists and Alabama Baptists, want to be of help. As we view the images on the Internet and on television, we feel helpless. That is a natural response to such a huge disaster we experience vicariously through the media. We simply wonder, "What can we do to help?"

My initial reply may sound a bit hollow or trite, but it is heartfelt. We need to pray like never before. The Japanese people need our prayers now more than ever, and we must focus our intentional praying upon them. Prayer, desperate praying, has incalculable power to help people, even in the worst of circumstances. Additionally, praying for the people places us alongside them spiritually.

Pray for the families who have lost loved ones and who now find themselves stunned by unbelievable and unimaginable grief. The thought of parents having children lost in the enormous waves of the tsunami leads us to tears. It also ought to cause us to pray fervently for those so affected by this loss. When we pray, we share their grief and weep for them.

Pray for the Japanese leaders as they seek to make the right decisions for their people in the aftermath of this disaster. We can pray for them to have wisdom in seeking to assist their nation in the long-term recovery period before them. Although Japan is a well developed country, with a sophisticated economy, no nation has faced this kind of situation since World War II. Imagine how we would handle such a disaster.

Pray for the relief workers who are there presently and who will be coming in the future. Among those doing rescue and recovery are our American military personnel. The USS Ronald Reagan and other vessels are there helping with food distribution and medical assistance.

Non-military people are in Japan, and many others will follow, once approval by officials is given. Alabama Baptists, along with numerous other well-trained disaster relief people, stand ready to assist when called upon by those on the ground in Japan. A disaster of this magnitude will mean that the strategy will be different than most situations we have encountered in the past, and it will be difficult, but certainly doable.

The second way we can be of help is to give to disaster relief ministries of Alabama Baptists and Southern Baptists. On our web site at http://www.alsbom.org/japan you can find information which will be helpful in making the right decisions about where to give. Like Hurricane Katrina (August 2005), the tsunami in Indonesia (December 2004) and the earthquake in Haiti (January 2010), we will devote the funds given to support disaster relief needs identified by our partners in this ministry.

Third, we can look forward to potential opportunities to do other kinds of missions work in Japan. The Japanese people need the Gospel like all others in our world. As a history buff, I can remember reading about General Douglas MacArthur's appeal to send missionaries to Japan, following World War II. Interestingly, a high-ranking general was the one who reportedly saw the need then, and it will be a colossal challenge for us in the future. Right now, our Lord may be giving us a second opportunity to be a people of hope. We can offer the good news of Christ to those shaken by an earthquake, washed over by a tsunami and frightened by a nuclear meltdown.

Pray, give and go are the three verbs which describe our missions strategy in so-called normal times. It is certainly the call we have in times of catastrophic circumstances. Pray for the people in Japan. They need it desperately. Give to help them in this time of disaster. If the opportunity permits, go -- or help someone else go -- to be the compassion of Christ in person for the people shaken, frightened and disoriented by this unprecedented disaster.

Sunday, Sports, and the Super Bowl: A Christian's Dilemma

Something every parent should read.  Written by Robert Wayne at CrossWalk.com

This Sunday brings the annual advent of the Super Bowl, when friends and family gather to watch the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers try to prove they deserve to be NFL champions.  Sunday also is the day thousands of children involved in youth sports will lace up their basketball shoes, soccer cleats and hockey skates for a day of athletic activity.

Something else happens on Sunday, too. What's it called again? Oh yes, church.

The proliferation of youth and adult sports leagues that play on Sundays creates a conflict of choice between heading to the game and heading to church. Increasingly, sports win that decision.

"It's a big issue, but the problem often is like the frog in the kettle," said John Tolson, a Christian author, speaker and teacher who also serves as the Dallas Cowboys' team chaplain. "You have a cool pot of water on the stove and at first it's fine, but you slowly turn up the heat and the frog gets fried. It's like that with (youth sports). After a while we begin to acquiesce and give in to the culture."

The conflict often leads to cries among secular society that church leaders are simply too legalistic in their approach. Tolson, however, thinks the root of the matter goes deeper than legalism.

Read whole article here.

When a Nation Grieves.

Came across this blog by Jonathan Falwell speaking to how we as Christians should respond to a crisis such as the shooting in Arizona.  He is right on in his thoughts. 

Certainly no one in our nation has been left untouched by last week’s dreadful shootings in Tucson that left six dead and 14, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, wounded.



During times such as these, our hearts cry out for those whose lives were cut short, for those whose lives have been forever altered, and for the families affected by the senseless tragedy.


As Christians, we mourn because it is a natural thing to do.


R.C. Sproul, writing in “The Dark Night of the Soul,” stated, “We are told that it is perfectly legitimate for believers to suffer grief. Our Lord Himself was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Though grief may reach to the roots of our souls, it must not result in bitterness. Grief is a legitimate emotion, at times even a virtue, but there must be no place in the soul for bitterness.”


We have seen some bitter words in the media and on the Internet following the Arizona shooting. People tend to want to blame those with whom they disagree politically or socially for being a root cause of the violence. But as R. C. Sproul notes, Christians have no business operating in resentment.


So then, what is to replace any bitter thoughts that may creep into our hearts?


Quite simply: prayer.


But what can we pray for at a time like this?


There are several things on which we can focus our prayers. Let’s take a look at some of them.


1. Pray for godly comfort to those who have needlessly suffered in Tucson. If anyone knows about suffering, it is Jesus. We need to pray that the comfort of heaven will touch those who continue to hurt.


2. Pray that many people in our nation will see their need for Almighty God in their lives because of this tragedy. During wars, natural disasters and even pointless shootings, people tend to think about their own mortality and what lies beyond this life. Christians should pray that God provides them genuine opportunities to speak for Him to those who have been troubled by the Tucson killing spree.


3. Pray that our nation will collectively see its need for God. During the Revolutionary War, the Civil War and in other historic times of calamity, people in our nation understood the need for America to be on its knees before God. Sadly, our culture has become much more secularized in the past half-century. That’s why it behooves God’s people to be constant adherents of II Chronicles 7:14: “If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (NKJV).


4. Finally, pray for wisdom. With attacks flying left and right, Christians need to reflect the wisdom of their Savior at all times. As I noted, people often seek answers at times like these. We, as followers of Jesus Christ, cannot afford to be immersed in hypocrisy, anger or blame-throwing which leaves a sour taste in people’s mouths. I urge all of my readers to constantly seek God in your life so that you are a walking testament to what God can do in the life of one who follows Him.


Please join me in prayer regarding these four important items. God is perpetually calling out to His people to offer His hope to a hurting world. As we continue to live out the maxim, “Not I, but Christ,” we must be ever vigilant, ever prepared to obediently speak out for Jesus Christ to those who are searching for answers.

10 Spiritual Goals for 2011

At the beginning of a new year many people make resolutions in hopes to change or improve something about their lives.  Most people will make resolutions concerning finances (I want to get out of debt) or health (I want to lose 20 pounds).  But what about spiritual goals?  How many people take time to think through how they want to grow spiritually in the year?  Here are some good spiritual goals to consider for 2011.

1. Desire Christ Above All Else.
1 Corinthians 2:2 “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.”
Psalm 119:2 “Blessed are those who... seek him with their whole heart.”

2. Commitment to Christ Above All Else.
Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

3. Be a People Person
Matthew 20:28 “the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.”

4. Be a Bible Person.
Psalm 1:1-2 Blessed is the man [whose] ... delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.”

5. Be a Prayer Person
1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”

6. Attend Worship Regularly
Hebrews 10:24-25 “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another.”

Ps 29:2 “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.”

Ps 132:7 “Let us go to his dwelling place; let us worship at his footstool!”

7. Be a Blessing to your Pastor and Church Staff
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 “We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work.”

8. Find a Place of Ministry
1 Peter 4:10 “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”

9. Seek Opportunities to Witness to Others
Acts 1:8 “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

10. Faithfully Tithe Trusting God to Provide for You.
Malachi 3:10 “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.”

Philippians 4:19 “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

Revised from “New Year, New goals: 12 Spiritual Goals to Make 2011 Best Year Yet” by Judy Woodward, The Alabama Baptist, Dec 23, 2010.

Why I Believe the Virgin Birth to be True

The Virgin birth of Christ has always been fundamental to our Christian faith. It has been foundational that the deity of Jesus Christ rested squarely on the historical fact that a virgin named Mary did conceive and give birth without any contribution on the part of any man.

In 385 A.D. the Apostles Creed took its final shape. Although Baptists do not cite the Apostles Creed because of our own church tradition, most Christians around the world recite the Apostles Creed every Sunday of the Christian year with few exceptions. Millions have stated for 1600 years that Jesus Christ was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. It did not occur to any orthodox Christian to even question that until the mid 19th century when, on the campus of a liberal university, the question was raised, "How can anyone believe that in a modern scientific age?"

It is obvious that the virgin birth can neither be proved nor disproved by normal historical methodology. I mean by that, there is no way to go back and to observe what actually happened. At the bottom line it comes back to the same place that every question of Christian belief ultimately stands or falls: "What do you think of the Bible?" For the Word of God says the conception of Jesus was a supernatural act of God through the Holy Spirit in Mary’s life.

Three reasons why I believe the virgin birth to be a factual historical event.

I. It is the Affirmation of Scripture.
Luke stresses this three times in his gospel. In Luke 1:27 he writes "To a virgin pledged to be married." and "The virgin's name was Mary." In verse 34 Mary says, "I am a virgin."  It's the word in Greek which has one explicit meaning; she was one who had never known a man physically.

Luke, in the opening words of the gospel told us how he wrote it; “it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus” (Luke 1:3).  How did Luke investigate this? I believe that while Paul was imprisoned at Caesarea, Luke, who was traveling with Paul, took advantage of his presence there to find the aging mother of Jesus to talk with Mary about the birth of her Son.  Luke was obviously meticulous in his research for he said, “having followed all things closely for some time past,..” (Luke 1:3).

The virgin birth writes a label over Bethlehem which says, Not made by man.  Joseph couldn't have produced it. Mary left to herself could not have produced it.  Humankind could not have produced it.  There are only three options concerning the birth of Jesus Christ. One is that Joseph is the natural father of Jesus Christ by an act of physical union with Mary. The second is Jesus was the product of a physical union by Mary and another man. That was the Jewish viewpoint. They even gave him a name Panthera, a Roman soldier. The final option is that the birth of Jesus Christ was the coming together of the Holy Spirit upon Mary’s life and that embryo that was formed was a direct miraculous intervention of God.

Consider the options. First, if Jesus Christ was the natural son of Joseph and Mary, then what we hold in Luke 1 and 2 and in Matthew 1 is: a bold faced lie.  Therefore, when we gather to worship we worship a lie.

Second, If Jesus was born of Mary and another man, then again, a shadow is cast over the Christian faith. Deuteronomy 22 tells us that one who is betrothed to another, if she were unfaithful, was subject to death by stoning. If this were not an act of God, you can be sure that Joseph, a faithful Jew, would not have married her because she officially belonged to another man. Once again a shadow is cast over the Christian faith.

The only other option is what the Word of God says. By a direct intervention of the Holy Spirit, Mary was with child. That is the witness of Luke's Gospel, which was written by a highly educated practicing physician. It is also complimented by Matthew's witness.

“Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:18-20).

Luke was written in one time somewhere in the Roman empire. Matthew was written at another time somewhere else in the Roman empire. Luke was written from Mary's perspective while Matthew was written from Joseph's perspective. Both gospels confirm that Jesus was born of a virgin.

The deity of Jesus Christ rests squarely on the intervention of God in a super-natural way in the virgin birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The virgin birth is not only the affirmation of Scripture.  It is also...

II. The Expectation of Prophecy.
“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us)” (Matthew 1:22-23). The prophet Isaiah, 700 years before the coming of Christ, foretold of the virgin birth of Jesus Christ. There are other prophesies as well that came to pass. Malachi foretold that Jesus would be preceded by a forerunner which is fulfilled by John the Baptist. In Genesis is the prophecy that Jesus would be a descendant of Abraham. He was. In Numbers 24 it was foretold that Jesus would be from the line of Jacob. He was. In Genesis chapter 49 it was foretold that Jesus would be from the tribe of Judah. He was. Micah foretold that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem. He was.. The Psalmist said that Jesus would be declared the Son of God. He was.

His Galilean Ministry, that He would speak in Parables, that he would be rejected by His own people, that He would be accused by a false witness, that He would be spat on and struck and hated without reason, crucified, pierced through his hands and feet, no bones would be broken, His side would be pierced, that he would be buried with the rich, the fact of his resurrection, and the fact of His ascension; all of these were prophesied in the Old Testament, hundreds of years before the birth of Christ. And every one of them occurred in the Life of Jesus Christ just as they were foretold by Old Testament men of God. The virgin birth is the prophecy of Scripture.  The virgin birth is also...

III. The Confirmation of Tradition

We read that Mary was betrothed or pledged. That was more than our engagement and less than our marriage. Betrothal took place sometime between the 12th and the 13th year of a Hebrew girls life in first century Palestine. Mary would have been a very young teenage girl according to custom. Betrothal was begun with a contract that was signed by both families. That contract included a dowry given by the young lady and a bond that was posted by her husband to be. It was called the ketuba. The ketuba bond said that if he in any way defaulted, that is, if he died or if he were unfaithful, she would receive the money in order to sustain her in that society.

During that betrothal year the girl lived with friends. Very significant is that unfaithfulness during this period was punishable by death, usually by stoning. The confirmation of tradition is that Mary would have risked a horrible death itself to have been found in the condition which she found herself.

The Baptist Faith and Message states: "Christ is the eternal Son of God. In His incarnation as Jesus Christ He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary."  This I believe.

Christmas Songs

I love to listen to Christmas music.  I start listening to Christmas music on Thanksgiving Day and that's pretty much all I listen to through Christmas Day.  I thought I would list some of my favorite Christmas songs and albums just for fun.  Let me know what some of your favorites are.

Here are my top favorite Christmas albums:

At our house, it just wouldn't seem like Christmas if we didn't hear Neil Diamond singing Christmas songs.  My family and I have been listening to this album for many years and it still ranks as one of my favorite Christmas albums.  His Christmas Album Volume II is also excellent.

Eric Horner's Christmas album "He Is Born" is excellent.  Eric is a friend of mine and has sung at First Baptist a couple of times.  He has a special heart for our men and women in service.  I really enjoy listening to him sing on this album.

Casting Crowns' "Peace on Earth" is absolutely wonderful.  It ranks at the very top of my favorite Christmas albums.  The music and the message of this album will bless any one who listens to it.

The Carpenters' "Christmas Portrait" is a Christmas tradition.  Karen Carpenter, in my humble opinion, is one of the best female vocalists of all time.

Chicago 25 is one of Chicago's best albums.  Chicago has a sound that is unquely theirs.  They bring that sound to this Christmas album.  I love the harmonies and the sounds of the brass instruments in this album.

I love anything by Kenny G.  I sit many hours reading with his music playing in the background.  Kenny G "Miracles" and Kenny G "Wishes" are two of my top favorite Christmas albums.










Here's a list of some of my favorite music. Let me know what your favorites are ...

Top Christmas Carols
1) O Holy Night
2) Silent Night
3) Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
4) Joy to the Word
5) I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
6) The Birthday of the King
7) O Come All Ye Faithful
8) The First Noel
9) Go, Tell It on the Mountain
10) Angels, from the Realms of Glory

Top Christmas Classics (or soon to become classics)
1) I’ll Be Home for Christmas
2) It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
3) White Christmas
4) Frosty the Snow Man
5) Tennessee Christmas
6) The Christmas Shoes
7) It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
8) Sleigh Ride
9) Silver Bells
10) Do You Hear What I Hear?

Pray for the 2010 Alabama Baptist Convention

ALABAMA BAPTIST STATE CONVENTION

November 16-17, 2010
Hunter Street Baptist Church, Hoover, Alabama

THEME: Let the Redeemed of the Lord Say So

TUESDAY MORNING
8:45 Call to Order Jimmy Jackson
GREETINGS
   Birmingham Baptist Association Mike McLemore
   Hunter Street Baptist Church, Hoover Buddy Gray
Congregational Music Joe Hopkins
Invocation Harold Sellers
8:55 Enrollment of Messengers Mary Sue Bennett
9:00 Committee on Order of Business Charles Carter
9:05 Committee Appointments Jimmy Jackson
9:10 Memorial Service Harold Hancock
9:20 Alabama Baptist Ministers Benefit Society Paul Moore
9:25 Introduction of Resolutions Henry Cox
9:30 Congregational Music Joe Hopkins
9:35 Miscellaneous Business
9:50 RECOGNITIONS
Worship
10:05 Across Alabama Testimony Sammy Gilbreath
REPORTS ON CHRISTIAN HIGHER EDUCATION
10:30 Education Commission Melba Brown
10:40 Board of Aid for Students in Church Related Vocations Raymond Hutchison
10:50 Judson College David Potts
11:00 University of Mobile Mark Foley
11:10 Samford University Andrew Westmoreland
11:20 Presentation of Convention President Rick Lance
11:25 Special Music Joe Hopkins
11:30 President's Address Jimmy Jackson
11:55 Benediction Terry Herald

TUESDAY AFTERNOON
1:30 Presession Music Alabama Singing Women & Alabama Singing Men
1:45 Congregational Music Jeff Stith
Invocation Charles Autery
1:50 Special Music Alabama Singing Women &  Alabama Singing Men
1:55 Across Alabama Testimony Sammy Gilbreath
REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF MISSIONS
2:15 Report of Executive Director Rick Lance
2:30 State Board of Missions Travis Coleman
Cooperative Program Recognitions Jim Swedenburg
Report of Inter-Baptist Fellowship Committee Edwin Velez
Recognition of Volunteer of the Year Reggie Quimby
3:30 Miscellaneous Business
3:40 ALCAP Report Joe Godfrey
REPORTS OF CONVENTION COMMITTEES
3:50 Audit Committee Melissa Sahagun
3:55 Insurance Committee Reyn Norman
4:00 Resolutions Committee Henry Cox
4:10 Committee on Boards and Commissions Bill Hart
4:20 Committee on Committees Sammie Reid
4:30 Time, Place, and Preacher Committee Sid Nichols
4:40 Benediction Kevin C. Wilburn

TUESDAY EVENING
6:40 p.m. Presession Music……………………………………Hunter Street Orchestra
6:45 Invocation
Special Music………………………………… Hunter Street Featured Choir
Message………………………………… Rick Lance

WEDNESDAY MORNING
8:30 Presession Music Paula Kornegay-music director, FBC Pelham
8:45 Congregational Music Keith Hibbs
Invocation Carlos Gomez
REPORTS OF CONVENTION ENTITIES – PART I
8:50 Alabama Baptist Christian Life Commission Mitzi Holladay
9:00 Shocco Springs Baptist Conference Center Buster Taylor
9:10 Woman’s Missionary Union, Auxiliary Candace McIntosh
9:20 The Baptist Foundation of Alabama Barry Bledsoe
9:30 Election of Officers
REPORTS OF CONVENTION ENTITIES – PART II
9:45 The Alabama Baptist Bob Terry
9:55 Alabama Baptist Children's Homes & Family Ministries Paul Miller
10:05 Alabama Baptist Retirement Centers William H. Austin
10:15 Alabama Baptist Historical Commission Lonette Berg
10:25 Resolutions Committee Report Henry Cox
10:35 Previously Scheduled Business/Election of Officers (if needed)
WORSHIP
10:45 Congregational Music Keith Hibbs
10:50 Introduction of Convention Preacher Jimmy Jackson
Special Music Brent Coleman, member, FBC Prattville
Scripture Mike Shaw
11:05 Convention Sermon Travis Coleman
11:30 Introduction of Convention Officers Rick Lance
11:35 Benediction - Adjournment Dennis Smith