tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81968658624664091972024-03-05T15:24:01.174-08:00FBC Alamo Forum for Accountability and IntegrityA forum for the discussion of accountability, transparency and integrity among the pastor, among the deacons, among the church staff and among the membership of First Baptist Church in Alamo, Tennessee.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196865862466409197.post-23578218988279235902011-12-07T12:57:00.000-08:002011-12-07T13:31:05.467-08:00God Instructs Church To MOVE Instead Of Win Souls<span class="Apple-style-span">From the church web site: </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>"Almost 10 years ago we started asking ourselves the question, 'God what do you want us to do here at First Baptist Alamo?'” </i></span><br /></b></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i><b><br /></b></i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><b>"The decision to relocate the church was the biggest challenge by far."</b></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">Evidently the answer to the question was God wanted the church <b>to assume a multi-million dollar debt.</b> Evidently God did not want to save the dozens of people who live within walking distance of First Baptist Church. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Evidently the "decision to relocate" was easier than the "decision to win souls." Softball for Jesus seems to have a <b>higher priority</b> than saving lost people from going to Hell. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">Did the staff of FBC Alamo already win every soul in town to the Lord? Is that why God allegedly led them "to relocate the church" outside the city limits? How many lost people live within walking distance of the church now?<br /><br />As a Sunday School teacher, <b>how many</b> people have you personally brought to the Lord in the past six months? As a church staff member, <b>how many</b> homes did you visit within walking distance of the church building you just left? Did you disciple them into First Baptist? Did you ever visit them at all?<br /><br /><b>Is softball really more important than introducing lost people to Jesus?</b></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196865862466409197.post-54623812974314388132011-12-05T23:06:00.000-08:002011-12-07T13:29:57.033-08:00"Stolen Domain Name & Web Site Redirect"<span class="Apple-style-span"><b>It's pretty low when an alleged "man of God" tells half truths and lies. But why should we be surprised?<br /></b><br />There are more than one set of commandments in the scriptures. But the command not to bear false witness appears in all of them. It is sad when leaders feel it necessary to lie and mislead others because they refuse to win souls as Jesus himself commanded. If it were important, I would do more about it.<br /><br />Here are some issues:<br /><br /><b>1)</b> Misleading accusations such as "Stolen domain name..." are simply lies. There is no other way to describe it. It is a lie.<br /><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>2)</b> There was no "unanimous decision to relocate several years ago." There was no actual congregational vote as one would expect when asking a multi-year commitment of several million dollars. There was the bully vote, a broad query of asking everyone to stand to support something, always followed by mass movement. It's called the heard instinct, one a few move, the rest follow along. A unanimous vote was impossible to know since there was no accurate vote ever taken. Amazing that plenty of church members were certainly vocal against the move. Yet it is still being presented as a "unanimous decision" which was far from the truth.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /><b>NOTE: </b>Unfortunately it is typical in situations where leadership is pushing an agenda to omit a formal vote and instead, simply get the folks stirred up emotionally, to gear excitement towards the planned agenda as opposed to honestly asking for a decision. Emotions often win over logic. Entire sessions are designed to get railroad in the response needed, not to seek the truth. For example, the plan will be presented over a period of weeks or months. Then when the deadline comes, instead of having a legitimate vote, there will be a "cheer-leading" session followed by the question. Instead of "If you are for this decision please stand, all opposed remain seated" or something like that, the question is usually stated similar to "If you want God to continue to lead us on to greater things, then STAND UP!" or something like that. Rarely is there the chance given for the opposition to do the same.<br /><br /><b>3) </b> My father was never for the move in any way but it was presented as though he "was in favor" of it. Not at all. But my father knew it was going to happen, like several church members did. There are organizations whose business model and services are designed to systematically present the leader's or his committee's personal agenda as God's will and to convince the congregation of that. My father was a good man and provided products and services to the church during the planning like he always did. If they had a need, he helped out. But that was in no way an endorsement of this unnecessary move, providing activity rather than actually winning souls. There were long-time members against the move. Some have passed on, some are still there and some have moved on, as one staff member told me to do if I didn't like it. Oh the love of Jesus...how it is forgotten when we want to get out agenda pushed through.<br /><br /><b>THE TRUTH??</b> When asked about the church move, my father's verbal response was that they better fill all those empty pews before worrying about moving to a new location. Like many, my father was aware that the pastor at FBC Alamo is on a career track. Ten years is about their limit there. Most are ready to move to greener pastures...unless they get their way.<br /><br />This forum is for Accountability and Integrity regarding First Baptist, Alamo. It is clear that this blog should be <b>taken more seriously now</b> even than when it began.<br /><br /><b>FINALLY: </b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />I resent being called a thief publicly, slandered and accused of something that was neither necessary to do nor of my nature.<br /><br />I resent having lies told about my dead father who in four weeks leading to his death received only two church visits that I know of.<br /><br />But I am not surprised anymore when men use "God" to push their personal agenda. I've noticed it for 40 years in ministry. The ministry is a great career for many who have no other employable skills. Just stop lying about others and slandering people in the name of Jesus. At least TRY to have a little integrity.<br /><br /><br /></span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196865862466409197.post-72339857046131939362011-08-22T11:34:00.000-07:002011-08-22T13:09:41.993-07:00Church Signs of the Times<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJxu3woF1S-rVjfdcByyweS8Nv6iSmW7BDXu6HddhZYLTnVgkPYS9gvZWpVC40ynvgeS9851Wk4kCXxlHps2A_-J_mtoaGkp2R2LGYtptRCZqmFf2D5jyFQj4_d5DLjbcqWe0ZJ1Zoeeo/s1600/fbc+Sign+48+to+win+one.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 288px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJxu3woF1S-rVjfdcByyweS8Nv6iSmW7BDXu6HddhZYLTnVgkPYS9gvZWpVC40ynvgeS9851Wk4kCXxlHps2A_-J_mtoaGkp2R2LGYtptRCZqmFf2D5jyFQj4_d5DLjbcqWe0ZJ1Zoeeo/s320/fbc+Sign+48+to+win+one.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643763802754765506" border="0" /></a>Southern Baptists have the fewest baptisms since the 1950s and are losing members. It's time to build a new building to celebrate our total refusal to win souls to Christ.
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<br />First Baptist averages ONE HUNDRED FEWER MEMBERS on Sunday morning than they averaged thirty years ago.
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<br />So we need a new church sign descriptive of what is happening. Since the newspaper is so excited to print publicity shots for the abandonment of the historic building on the most strategic corner in the county, let's see how the church sign will look for the first few Sundays of the grand abandonment of the city of Alamo. Let those lost people fend for themselves. We have a new building, new seats, new P.A. system, new band, new parking lots, new softball fields and plenty of space to grow to 200 on Sunday.
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<br />Amazingly First Baptist Church used to have well over 300 people every Sunday <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-P3aNs0XBZoi_oL0RDCrakNDziiF1vPqH9lL5zWGbA0L2yJXtwqDKYmu0sq566ASfJgLr7N616HBqfbcOXvgz-gLjJRzOA6qy8MgN87F5oPYjz2hmE3qPIEszRDYxOMv9BhabRKKC8YM/s1600/FBC+Sign+happy+clappy.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 288px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-P3aNs0XBZoi_oL0RDCrakNDziiF1vPqH9lL5zWGbA0L2yJXtwqDKYmu0sq566ASfJgLr7N616HBqfbcOXvgz-gLjJRzOA6qy8MgN87F5oPYjz2hmE3qPIEszRDYxOMv9BhabRKKC8YM/s320/FBC+Sign+happy+clappy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643754546944595106" border="0" /></a>with less room and few complaints. But if you are not going to reach people for the Lord and win new souls to Christ, at least you can have new carpet and new seats and a new lighting system. Busy-work always gives the illusion that God if moving, when it's really nothing more than a few tractors moving dirt and a few guys playing softball for Jesus.
<br /><p>So it looks like the lost people in Alamo who do not attend church anywhere will never be asked to attend First Baptist Church. At this point, has anyone even tried to lead a single person to the Lord who lives within walking distance of the church building? I don't think so, but I could be wrong. </p><p>While there are far more Southern Baptist churches now than in the 1950s and 1960s, observers say baptisms have essentially plateaued since 1950. In 2010 there was one baptism for every 48 members of a Southern Baptist church. Sixty years ago the ratio was 1:19. In other words, it takes FORTY-EIGHT members of First Baptist Alamo to win ONE person to Christ. It takes 48 people to win one soul from hell?? Does NOBODY ever witness anymore? Do no church member or staff member EVER try to lead anyone to eternal life in Jesus? Who are you kidding? And you think you need a new building? In order for First Baptist to thrive as the living body of Christ, we need a lot less consumers and more co-laborers, people who are sharing the love of Christ with their neighbors, people who lead other people to Christ. Whatever you are doing now is killing the church. There are actually more new churches and fewer members overall.
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<br />So instead of winning lost people to Christ, good ole First Baptist will finally become the newest country-club on the highway. When you can't win souls to Christ, when you REFUSE to win souls to Christ, you just build a new building. Churches everywhere are doing it. Let the local folks just go to hell. We have a new club house and a huge debt to pay-off down at the bank.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBmkifbnBs40nHpQxY7weY0RsLKASY2Cgu71_yWKjm1f7gSO6WVkvOcBeIXrD6MYIBFd9Onf0YQfqUJMFfeqmBt0fBRRvt7M0aIBTistFp2MexHcSSRxqPLFIn1fZtwkekIrABJ-7ErdY/s1600/FBC+sign+new+everything.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 288px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBmkifbnBs40nHpQxY7weY0RsLKASY2Cgu71_yWKjm1f7gSO6WVkvOcBeIXrD6MYIBFd9Onf0YQfqUJMFfeqmBt0fBRRvt7M0aIBTistFp2MexHcSSRxqPLFIn1fZtwkekIrABJ-7ErdY/s320/FBC+sign+new+everything.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643764275392216994" border="0" /></a>
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjffpkmY0USpIHt2p3c5exq8RsI75CUjkYk6mZ72vTQSrdNoQ8GGKnWrhXMXgnEC5o5w5udYaNI6f1ZakAIcQAwAifoq_C8IsTto2nyU2hmkkeuvQTo5rpFXDEYBnZgVtbXRjAy_GI31nM/s1600/FBC+sign+new+everything.jpg">
<br /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196865862466409197.post-73382087554017026362010-05-17T08:26:00.000-07:002010-05-17T08:49:51.597-07:00Newsflash: 279 in Sunday School at Alamo First Baptist<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;font-size:13px;"><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Isn't this great news. <b>First Baptist Alamo has 279 in Sunday School...in May, 1975</b>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Same buildings, plenty of room for classes. </div><div><br /></div><div>Smaller parking lot, plenty of parking space. </div><div><br /></div><div>May 2010, 179 in Sunday School. </div><div><br /></div><div>Thirty-five years later, same buildings, <b>one-hundred fewer people.</b> "We need more space!" </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Let's go into debt (un-scriptural) and build softball fields for Jesus for 100 fewer people. </b></div><div><br /></div><div><b></b>Let's leave the crossroads of the county, Hwy 88 and Hwy 54, and move to the country. Lets forget about our un-churched Alamo neighbors and rip out members from other churches.</div><div><br /></div><div>We practice that long-time Baptist pattern that <b>it is easier to give money than to personally become involved</b> in the lives of others. We demonstrate that <b>it is easier to give money than to personally win people to the Lord one-on-one</b>. </div><div><br /></div><div>It is easier to build a building than to <b>win souls.</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Let our historic church property deteriorate so we can sell it to some other sucker...er...to some other church and let them take care of the problems that we purposely neglected in the name of Jesus. Glory to God! </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Softball for Jesus beats soul-winning any day. </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Going into debt $$$ beats personal evangelism any day! </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>"<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: 500; color: rgb(0, 19, 32); line-height: 21px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus" Col.3:17</span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: 500; color: rgb(0, 19, 32); line-height: 21px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:14px;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: 500; color: rgb(0, 19, 32); line-height: 21px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"Whatever debt you go into, go into debt in the name of the Lord Jesus."</span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: 500; color: rgb(0, 19, 32); line-height: 21px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:14px;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: 500; color: rgb(0, 19, 32); line-height: 21px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"Whatever classroom ceiling you allow to deteriorate, allow it to deteriorate in the name of the Lord Jesus."</span></b></div></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196865862466409197.post-34795691051128483352010-04-29T19:58:00.000-07:002010-04-29T20:46:49.401-07:00$228 per Family Each Month<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman';font-size:medium;"><b>Ten thousand dollars each month. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman';font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman';font-size:medium;">With the average of 175 people in church every week, each person in church would be required to donate $57.15 per month just to service that debt. Every baby in the nursery would have to give $57.15 a month. Every seventh grader and fifth grader would need to give $57.15 a month to service that debt.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman';font-size:medium;">A family of four would need to give $228+ each month just to service the debt. Then you still have to give regular donations to keep the doors open. And last I heard, the stained glass windows are not even going to be moved. Those are the windows paid for by the founding families of the church, the families and individuals whose names are on the windows.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Here is the<b> irony</b> of the situation: </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br />1) People who have NO MONEY voted FOR the new building! </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">2) Young people who have NO MONEY voted FOR a <b>$10,000/month debt!. </b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">(They have NO MONEY!) </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">3) <b>People who have NEVER REACHED EVEN ONE SOUL FOR CHRIST voted FOR the building. </b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; font-family:'times new roman';font-size:medium;">Let, me ask you a question. Will a modernist "auditorium" that feels and looks more like a sports arena than a place of worship reach lost people in Alamo? Will softball fields and video screens help reach those people in Alamo who now live close to the church but do not attend? What has happened to a traditional sense of place (in terms of church buildings) in the Southern Baptist Convention that has characterized the South? <b>Why has building replaced soul winning?</b> Why has "new and improved" replaced preservation and conservation of our heritage? This constant treadmill of building new buildings with all the fund raising and dislocation that goes with it is hardly conducive of a settled sense of continuity that develops a spiritual community. This entire enterprise has been a fiasco. </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; font-family:'times new roman';font-size:medium;">Yes, I understand that church buildings are only tools. But when the current "tools" sit half empty on any given Sunday morning, what makes you think that moving the building out of town will reach more lost people in town, as was once stated as the purpose, to reach lost people? If the church buildings are only tools, why aren't you using the tools you have now? Like I said in an earlier post, <b>if you aren't reaching lost people now, you certainly will not reach lost people when you move.</b> Sure, you will draw some families <b>from other churches</b> (People are always drawn to new paint), but that is <b>not</b> evangelism!!</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; font-family:'times new roman';font-size:medium;">There is much to be gained to see and feel the presence of one’s parents and their parents in the same place in which one is baptized, sings in the choir, stands before the altar in marriage, sits in the pew for weekly services. There is much to be lost as one sits in a building with no links to the past. That is especially true of modern buildings that were designed to be austere, arid, depersonalized, detached, and ahistorical. </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; font-size:medium;"><br /><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; font-family:'times new roman';font-size:medium;">Even though I am not currently a member of FBC Alamo, that does not mean that we cannot see things going on that should be addressed. Ideas and observations have power. The discussion of ideas produces a sifting process in which the truth can emerge. That is why forums such as this are incredibly valuable. I would hope others can read these posts and discuss what is happening at FBC Alamo. </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; font-family:'times new roman';font-size:medium;"><b>1) Membership is stagnant.</b></span><b><br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; font-family:'times new roman';font-size:medium;"><b>2) Virtually no lost people are actually being reached for Christ.</b></span><b><br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; font-family:'times new roman';font-size:medium;"><b>3) Moving the church will put the congregation in a terrible debt.</b></span><b><br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; font-family:'times new roman';font-size:medium;"><b>4) Ministry that is non-existent today will be non-existent after the move.</b></span><b><br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; font-family:'times new roman';font-size:medium;"><b>5) Every person attending church will need to pay $57.15 per month just to pay down the debt.</b></span><b><br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; font-family:'times new roman';font-size:medium;">With truths such as that, who has time to reach lost people?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196865862466409197.post-76606962831209835152010-04-05T17:48:00.000-07:002010-04-05T18:05:56.955-07:00Time For A Decision<div>What is happening in your life? What is happening in the life of those who live across the street from the church? What is happening in the life of those who live within two blocks of the church building? Do you know who lives within a block of First Baptist Church? Are those local citizens in your Sunday School Class on Sunday morning? If not, where are they at that time? <b>Why aren't they at FBC?</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Who visits the sick folks in town during the week? Who gives comfort to a family when someone is dying in the hospital? My Dad was a member of First Baptist Church for around sixty years. However, when my Dad was dying,<b> there was not a church member or church leader in sight, nor had there been for several days!</b> </div><div><br /></div><div>Do you think <b>THAT</b> is ministry? <b>Do you call that representing Jesus? </b> </div><div><br /></div><div>Is softball still more important to you than actually knocking on doors and inviting lost people to church? Do you ask for real ministry from the leadership or are you satisfied with the status quo?</div><div><br /></div><div>What about plans for the future? The "new club-house" building program was put on hold because God forgot to tell the congregation and the church leaders about His planned mini-recession for the economy. So what's gonna happen in Alamo now? First Baptist has been a nice, little neighborhood club for many years, a little religious club with weekly activities and a stagnant membership. How long will it remain a club, for members only, making very little, if any, impact on Alamo or Crockett County? </div><div><br /></div><div><b>When will First Baptist actually reach out to the individuals in the local community, one on one? </b></div><div><br /></div><div>When will First Baptist move from an idle, fruitless "we all together should..." style of ministry programs to a powerful, effectual "I, personally, will..." style of individual ministry? To have an impact on the community, it must happen. To have a positive, active spiritual influence on Alamo, members of First Baptist <b>must each convert </b>from the passive "we" idea to the active "I" idea of actually talking to individuals, one on one, and reaching them personally. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>When you personally reach individuals, then the community receives the results. </b></div><div><br /></div><div>First Baptist can remain just another, basically ineffective church, just another one of several in the community, as it has been for so many years. Or the individual church members can demand active ministry, positive, people-reaching ministry, life-changing ministry to individuals in Alamo. </div><div><br /></div><div>Will First Baptist remain just another religious club, coasting along, serving up the status quo week after week? <b>Or will each individual church member become genuinely involved in reaching an individual in Alamo, personally impacting the life of a citizen of Alamo, acting out the great commission of Jesus...one on one?</b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196865862466409197.post-81868468577515010712009-04-03T15:37:00.000-07:002009-04-03T15:53:59.940-07:00FLASH! Economy Affects Spiritual Radar - Folks Unable To Discern God's Actual Will<strong>ECONOMY AFFECTS GOD SPEAKING TO CHURCHES</strong><br /><br />Yes, it seems to be true. God has been speaking to Christians, telling them to go into debt (never mind the Bible) and build new buildings. It is happening all over the country. One church had drawings prominently displayed on the wall. They also had a scale model of the new Christian retirement center God already told them to build.<br /><br />The economy got bad and suddenly God changed his mind. So they moved the church five miles away instead, abandoning the drawings, abandoning the property and abandoning the people who live there. WHAT??? What happened to God speaking? Did God change his mind? Is God so fickle that he doesn't know what he wants?<br /><br />God told another church to go into ELEVEN MILLION DOLLARS of debt to build a new building. Today, three years after the building was finished, they still owe several million bucks on that fiasco and the new pastor is trying to convince the deacons that they need a NEW sanctuary to reach new people.<br /><br />Isn't it amazing (and convenient) that "God's will" usually follows the economy. It's a miracle and it saved our reputation as representatives of Christ. And so, with no evangelism to speak of, resulting in stagnant church membership, and no professional people in the church (with big bucks), and in a depressed economy, isn't it convenient that God has personally "put a hold" on the new building.<br /><br />I wonder to whom God spoke first about waiting? Did God tell one of the deacons or the pastor first? Or did God tell one of the little old ladies that perhaps we should wait awhile?<br /><br /><strong>Often we hear that God speaks through circumstances.</strong> When we say that, what we really mean is, we will "go with the flow" but we use spiritual sounding platitudes to rationalize our decision and make it sound like we are actually HEARING FROM GOD. Again, how convenient.<br /><br /><strong>People say, "We missed God's timing" or something just as evasive, and phony.</strong> How can you claim to hear God speak so clearly about going into millions of dollars of debt, then claim to "miss God's timing" when the plans fall apart?<br /><br />Someone is lying. Either "you" or God. Or perhaps God just can't make up his mind.<br /><br />I need to visit and talk again to those folks who told me they had prayed about building a new church building and it WAS, without a doubt, God's will. I want to ask them what God told them about the multi-year delay in his plan from the time he originally told them personally it was "God's will" to move from a historic and prime location out to the edge of town, away from the very people to whom the congregation is allegedly trying to minister.<br /><br />How convenient this recession really is. Perhaps now the church folk can actually DO the work of the church, the work of actually making disciples and teaching them to make more disciples...to reproduce. Then maybe one day, in the future, there might actually be a need for more room.<br /><br />Or maybe the status quo will be maintained and the new FBC Clubhouse out in the country will have to wait awhile. If only we REALLY knew God's will! If only...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196865862466409197.post-4827085002035315032008-11-08T08:05:00.000-08:002008-11-08T08:09:53.057-08:00Accountability and IntegrityACCOUNTABILITY:<br />responsibility, answerability, blameworthiness, liability<br /><br />INTEGRITY:<br />honor, uprightness, candor, forthrightness, goodness, honestness, honorableness, incorruptibility, incorruption, principle, righteousness, sincerity, straightforwardness, virtue<br /><br />--------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />I know of a church that used to have over 2000 people in Sunday School. Culture changed, the neighborhood changed, the church split, etc. A few years ago, they had a pastor who did not get along with many in the congregation, so many more left that church and went to other churches.<br /><br />Three years ago, the church hired a new pastor. He is a nice guy, good preacher, but he does not actively practice spiritual reproduction. So the church is drifting, slowly dieing. A handful of members have worshipped together for over thirty years. But the "young people" have drifted away, and I can't blame them. You see, this church is in a large city and people have more options than they do in Alamo. A handful of "long-time" churchmen have their hands on the controls. The pastor preaches well and doesn't rock the boat. So they keep plugging along and member keep drifting away.<br /><br />Even now, trouble is brewing. They are having to dip into the savings to keep the church programs going. Some say the church is dieing. But others will keep hanging on and hanging on, doing the same thing, yet expecting different results. Status quo wins and the people don't.<br /><br />First Baptist Church of Alamo used to have no competition. But today, folks will drive to Jackson or to CrossRoads or to other churches in the area. They don't "need" FBCA. And they are flocking elsewhere.<br /><br />When church leaders railroad their personal agenda (in the name of Christ) on a congregation, unless true accountability is asked, a man with a strong personality can get away with murder...murdering a congregation.<br /><br />My father died a few months ago. My family has been members of First Baptist Church of Alamo since the late 1940s. I still call FBCA my church home. Yet in the ten long weeks of his illness, I only recall one visit by a staff member of the church. I was only there half the time so perhaps there were more visits. But considering what "ministry" is supposed to be, I think long-time church members have been on the losing end of ministry at FBCA over the past few years.<br /><br />The church was packed, wall-to-wall, at his funeral. But why aren't those folks in church there every Sunday? Where do they go? I personally know many of them do not regularly attend church anywhere. So why does FBCA not have "wall-to-wall" attendance every Sunday?<br /><br />Integrity and Accountability may be part of the problem. How would you feel if your dieing parent only received one or two visits from his church leaders in two months? What would that tell you about the integrity of the church leaders? Is anyone accountable for this non-ministerial behavior. Have other church members noticed this? Yes they have. They have told me about it several years ago, long before my Father became ill.<br /><br />Is it any wonder that long-time church members have been disrespected and alienated by a handful of leaders at FBCA? Is it any wonder that church leadership allows a historic building to collapse "in the name of Jesus?" Is it any wonder that a building program is promoted while church growth is non-existent?<br /><br /><strong>Where is the accountability among the businessmen of First Baptist Alamo? Where is the integrity among the staff. </strong>Is FBCA going to slip even more into the "non-effective" category where it now sits on the edge?<br /><br /><strong>Is anyone honorable at FBCA? </strong>Is anyone worried about true, Biblical ministry? Or is the idea of new pews and softball-for-Jesus now the priority, masquerading as ministry?<br /><br />Has any of the church leadership visited the former, long-time deacons, the men of God who led that church for a generation? Or have you just let them go, ignoring them, hoping they will die soon, like my Dad, so you will not be required to show genuine compassion?<br /><br />Is anyone aware of the lost people who are NOT being reached by First Baptist staff and members? Five years from now, will FBCA still run 175 or so in Sunday School and still claim God is telling them to go into debt for a new FBCA Country-Club outside the city limits?<br /><br />Who still claims it is "God's Will" to build that new church while others in the city are allowed to go to hell!!! Does anyone still claim "God's Will?"<br /><br /><strong>When my Dad, a long-time ACTIVE member of FBCA, was very ill, softball-for-Jesus meant nothing to him. Is anyone at FBCA accountable for anything?<br /></strong><br /><strong>Anyone?<br /></strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196865862466409197.post-41484618640949681242008-08-28T20:59:00.000-07:002008-08-28T21:38:45.594-07:00Letting The Building Fall Apart In Jesus's Name<strong>Why Don't You Repair The Building? It looks terrible.</strong><br /><br />There is a Biblical principle that I discovered many Christians either do not know, or just ignore. It simply states:<br /><br /><blockquote>And whatever you do, whether by speech or action, do everything in the name<br />of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.<br />Colossians 3:17<br /></blockquote><br />Let's say there are some maintenance issues with the building. Normally, you would REPAIR the building. Most Christians would want to do the right thing. After all, whatever you do OR DON'T DO is supposed to be <strong>in the name of Jesus. </strong><br /><strong></strong><br />If you want to convince the congregation that the the building is falling apart, you just IGNORE issues until they become impossible to repair. After, the ends justifies the means...right?<br /><br /><strong>TWENTY YEARS AGO...a solution was given to the church. At least two members, including a professional builder, told you to put a slant on the roof and that would take care of the leaks! </strong><br /><br />It is SO SIMPLE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT <strong>in the name of Jesus!</strong><br /><br />Instead, you just let the roof leak, refuse to correct it with a slanted roof as church members said would work twenty years ago, allow the leaky roof to discolor the walls in the auditorium so you can then look at the congregation and say, "See, the building is falling apart like I told you."<br /><br /><strong>Yes, the ends justifies the means. It is Baptist tradition.</strong> I was at the Southern Baptist Convention when some of that rationalization was happening over 20 years ago in order to elect the right people. I sat at restaurant table over 26 years ago when the architects of the SBC "take over" were plotting their moves. Although they used highly unethical tactics to begin electing conservative presidents, to them, the ends justified the means.<br /><br />And that lack of integrity has seeped down to the local level, where church leaders simply LIE to the congregation to get a building program going. And worse, they say "GOD TOLD ME THIS IS OUR VISION" or some other trite falsehood.<br /><br />So it is with First Baptist allowing the building to rot in the name of Jesus when there is such a simple solution, a solution they have ignored for twenty years.<br /><br /><strong>Why don't you repair the building in the name of Jesus?</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Because if you FIX THE BUILDING, then you can't justify buying that land on the Bells highway.</strong><br /><br />Lying in the name of Jesus. Allowing the building to fall apart in the name of Jesus. Deceiving the congregation in the name of Jesus. Is there any wonder that people stay away on Sunday morning? Is there any wonder that membership has stagnated for the most part?<br /><br />What is it about lying to the congregation in the name of Jesus that attracts one to First Baptist Church? What is it about allowing the building to fall apart in the name of Jesus that gives your message integrity?<br /><br /><strong>REPAIR THE ROOF! It looks terrible. Is THAT what you want?</strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196865862466409197.post-87456832468231121032008-05-31T22:16:00.000-07:002008-05-31T22:35:44.789-07:00Did Ya Hear About The New Preacher?Did ya hear about the new preacher?<br /><br />A new preacher came to town. The first Sunday, he preached a wonderful sermon. It was exciting, it was Biblical, it was emotional, it was with conviction. The congregation loved it.<br /><br />The second Sunday, the preacher preached the same sermon. It was still exciting and motivating and preached with as much conviction as the first Sunday. The folks just kind of overlooked it as a repeat, since the preacher was new at this church. Perhaps he forgot. <br /><br />The third Sunday was met with more anticipation. However, the new preacher preached EXACTLY the SAME sermon as the first Sunday. Members of the congregation were beginning to get worried. Three Sundays in a row with the same sermon.<br /><br />The fourth Sunday, the new preacher preached the SAME sermon AGAIN, the same as the first Sunday. So the deacons decided to meet with the preacher to see if there was a miscommunication or problem. Why was the preacher continuing to preach ONE and only ONE sermon Sunday after Sunday?<br /><br />-------------<br /><br />You will notice I have not posted much in the past couple of months. That's because, the message here has been "preached" so to speak, from the beginning. When you (or someone) actually DOES the Great Commission, then we can move on. When people begin to GO and begin to MAKE DISCIPLES, then we can move on. <br /><br />I can talk about the pastor, I can talk about the staff members, we can even talk about the 15,000 people who live in Crockett County and what they are NOT doing for the Lord. But the message has been laid out for you. If YOU do not DO the message, then everything else is irrelevant!<br /><br />Ya see, when the deacons confronted the new pastor about preaching the same sermon four weeks in a row, the young preacher looked at them and said, "When you begin winning people to the Lord as was preached in that sermon, then we can worry about new sermons. When you begin DOING about which that sermon speaks, then we can move on ahead...together.<br /><br />Currently, there is virtually no evangelism at FBCA. There is lots of activity, lots of busywork, lots of religious-sounding noise being made, but virtually NO EVANGELISM at all, even on Sunday morning. Currently, church members are being systematically ignored from the "in crowd" and excluded from the loop. Currently, nobody is confronting the issue of long-term debt or why a building is necessary. When you do those things spoken of in the past few months in these posts, then we can worry about new issues.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196865862466409197.post-82970894584279223252008-03-24T22:37:00.000-07:002008-03-25T08:19:55.119-07:00Too Critical or Expecting Accountability?Some folks have accused me of being too critical. I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">apologize</span> for giving that <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">appearance</span>. So let me ask you a question. If someone asks you to be accountable, to be honest, to do the job right the first time, why is that being critical?<br /><br />Our intentions are not to be critical, but <strong>to expect Christian Morality and Integrity</strong> when dealing with thousands of dollars given by the congregation.<br /><br />I quote the church web page which says: <blockquote>"It is the responsibility of each believer to endeavor to live in fellowship with<br />each member of the congregation." </blockquote><br /><br /><strong>If only that were true.</strong> If only that were true for the staff as well as each believer. When the staff purposely ignores church members, that is not a good sign. And it is happening.<br /><br />Again, I quote from the church web page: <blockquote>"It is further the responsibility of each member to bring all gossiping and<br />backbiting to an end."</blockquote><br />Gossiping and backbiting? Yes, that should not be happening in a congregation. Healthy discourse and challenging of hidden agendas by church leadership? Sir, that is not gossip. That is not backbiting. <strong>That is exposure</strong>. <strong>And some things should be exposed to the congregation.</strong> When facts and other things are hidden from church members who seek information, that is not gossip, nor is it backbiting. It is shining a light.<br /><br />I know basically our church leaders are probably good folks, overall. <strong>But honesty has taken a back-seat to personal agendas</strong> over the past six years or so. Long-time church members have been insulted pushed aside while others attempt to "have their day" and override common sense. Things have grown to a slow crawl.<br /><br />It is amazing how, at this point, it seems "God" must have changed his mind, or at least postponed his plans. <strong>It is amazing how we as Christians can spin a financial crunch into spiritual words by putting a "God Overlay" on top of common financial (or otherwise) setbacks and making it look like we know what God is allegedly doing with the situation we screwed up. </strong>So we spin it a few times, then talk the deacons into buying our <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">spiel</span>, then we present it and try to sell it to the congregation.<br /><br />Me, too critical? Is it too critical to expect honesty? Is it too critical to expect <strong>serious accountability and integrity? </strong>Is it being too critical to expect Christians to actually be like Jesus instead of just talking about him?<br />------------------------------------------------Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196865862466409197.post-37769377892429934292008-03-07T07:51:00.000-08:002008-03-07T08:24:48.910-08:00Centrally Located For Residents of Alamo! Why Not?<strong>If you are a member of First Baptist Alamo, why aren't you reaching lost people now?<br /></strong><br />Several years ago the Southern Baptist Convention got this idea for Baptist churches to become "regional churches" serving a region, as opposed to local or neighborhood churches. Pastors who wanted to move up the corporate ladder and pastors who envisioned evangelical starhood hooked on to that little publicity stunt as a way to reach their carnal dreams.<br /><br />Some pastors move up the ladder with graduate degrees and books. Some do it with building programs.<br /><br />One of the members of First Baptist Alamo accurately pegged the idea of a regional church as what it really is...a <strong>"Walmart church"</strong> for the way they evangelize. A Walmart Church simply steals members from other churches and rarely does any actual evangelism.<br /><br />Several studies in church growth have already demonstrated this error in the church growth movement by discovering that church growth was more church member movement than evangelism. The vast majority of those flooding the mega-churches or regional churches were NOT new converts, but had actually just moved from the church down the road. First Baptist Alamo recently held a cattle-car evangelixtic rally and followed it up with a cattle-car baptism Sunday, just sign-up and be baptized or re-baptized as is popular with some folks feeling guilty about not living right or something. The web site even promoted people leaving their home church to come join this regional church. That is <strong>Walmart Evangelism.<br /></strong><br />The whole "building program" is driven by this "regional church" idea and nothing more. The web site proclaimed it as a way "to reach lost people" yet nobody realized at the time that nobody was reaching lost people where they were sitting now. So that error was removed from the web site.<br /><br />So WHAT does the web site say to give away the REAL MOTIVE for moving the church, the "regional church" motive for moving? That is easy to spot. On the "location" page:<br /><br /><strong>"We are centrally located for residents of Crockett, Gibson, Haywood and Madison Counties. "</strong><br /><br />1) Why would anyone who lives in Humboldt want to drive to church at Alamo?<br />2) Why would anyone in Brownsville want to drive to Alamo to go to church?<br />3) Why doesn't the pastor and staff of FBCA reach lost people IN ALAMO first?<br />4) Why doesn't the web page say something like <strong>"We are centrally located for residents of Alamo and Crockett County"</strong> and promote the church that way?<br /><br /><strong>Why?</strong> Because the pastor is not interested in reaching the people of Alamo. He hasn't done it so far. Because the pastor wants to build a regional church at a more "regional" location.<br /><br /><strong>Why?</strong> Because the staff and members of FBCAlamo are not interested in actually reaching lost people in Alamo. Alamo...where the church is located.<br /><br /><strong>Why? </strong>Because even with pastors and church staff and, unfortunately with church members, <strong>bragging rights come with big Sunday Morning Numbers.</strong> Bragging rights come with offers from other churches offering more money to "come to our church and do what you did there." So, when you don't live the <strong>"great commission" lifestyle</strong>, when you don't reach lost people (for whatever reason,) then you must justify your salary by "APPEARING" to do spiritual things. Thus, the idea to build a new church "to reach lost people."<br /><br /><strong>If you are a member of First Baptist Alamo, why aren't you reaching lost people now?</strong> If you are a member of First Baptist Alamo, why are you trying to justify a move to the country under a false motive of "reaching lost people" when you are not doing that already?<br /><br />Inquiring minds want to know why you are not reaching lost people now?!?<br /><br />----------------------------------------------------------------------------Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196865862466409197.post-90700657290341076642008-03-04T10:50:00.000-08:002008-03-06T07:43:29.300-08:00Sweet People Who Believe Their Own PublicityFirst Baptist Church of Alamo has some really sweet church members. FBCA has some folks who really do want to do the right thing. I have known many of those sweet people for several decades and through the ministries of several pastors and several church building programs.<br />I read recently about a singer who was very popular in the 1970s. He was featured on some website. At the end of his interview, he gave a quote that I thought was something we should all remember:<br /><br /><blockquote>"Don't Believe Your Own Publicity"</blockquote><br />Another quote by Demosthenes from an earlier post on this blog was similar:<br /><br /><blockquote><strong>"A man is his own easiest dupe, for what he wishes to be true he generally believes to be true."</strong></blockquote><br />Every time someone talks about the new building, I expect to hear their concern about and desires of "reaching lost people" since that's how the church website promoted the new church building. I was surprised and disappointed when, instead of talking about evangelism, I hear church members say things like like:<br /><br /><blockquote><p>"...this building is 80 years old"<br />"...this building is falling apart"<br />"...we need more room"<br />"...we need more parking"<br /></p></blockquote><br />To this day, <strong>I have NEVER heard even ONE person tell me:</strong><br /><br /><blockquote><strong>"We need the new building to reach lost people."</strong><br /></blockquote><br />Never! Not even one time! Not from the pastor. Not from any person on the church staff. Not from even a single church member. Not one time.<br /><br />Several years ago, someone (and I know who) began a publicity campaign (their own publicity) claiming the building is old, claiming the building is falling apart, claiming we need more parking and claiming the ONLY solution is to move away and build a new building. The publicity campaign seems to have convinced many non-critical thinking members, who believed the stories and half truths instead of looking more objective as to the motive behind the campaign.<br /><br />Thomas Paine once said:<br /><br /><blockquote><strong>"It is error only, and not truth, that shrinks from inquiry."</strong></blockquote><br />So why have so many sweet church members stopped investigating other solutions? Why have so many sweet church members decided to believe that publicity campaign instead of the truth? Why have so many sweet church members decided to go along with the "herd mentality" instead of walking the streets, knocking on doors and actually reaching lost people?<br /><br />I agree 100% with Susan B. Anthony who said:<br /><br /><blockquote><strong>"I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires."</strong></blockquote>Unfortunately, the person with the strongest desires is often the one who can convince the most people to follow his ideas. It is often the person with the most passion who can convince the most people that HIS DESIRES are actually "GOD'S WILL" apart from truth that proves otherwise. That person convinces the people to follow his ideas not based upon the truth of the situation, not based upon facts, but based upon their own <strong>passion</strong> on an issue.<br /><br />Facts be ignored and truth be tossed away or split in half.<br /><br />You can can see how it works in a presidential race. You can see how it works in a church building program. Passion wins over truth almost every time. That's why there is MORE PROMOTION of the building fund than of reaching lost people. That's why there is more talk from the pulpit about raising money for the building than talk from the pulpit about personally reaching lost people for Christ.<br /><br />The banners in front of the church tell how much money we have raised, don't they. <strong>The banners in front of the church DO NOT TELL HOW MANY LOST PEOPLE HAVE BEEN REACHED</strong>, do they? Do you believe the publicity? Do you believe two to four million dollars are needed "to reach lost people?"<br /><br />Do you believe it will take two million dollars "to reach lost people?" Can you say FBCA will NOT "reach lost people" without spending $2,000,000 to $4,000,000?? Do you believe that? Do you REALLY believe that?<br /><br /><p></p><blockquote></blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196865862466409197.post-45721255411431050432008-02-29T07:45:00.000-08:002008-03-07T07:48:23.866-08:00First Baptist Alamo Club - Simplistic Dreams and Non-BelieversSeveral things are clear:<br /><ol><li><strong>It would be nice to have a new church building in the country.</strong></li><li><strong>We don't really believe in Hell.</strong></li><li><strong>We don't really believe anyone is going to Hell.</strong></li></ol>Let's take the first one, "It would be nice to have a new church." Yes, younger folk tend to think history only began on their date of birth. Anything before the day they were born is not history, it is ANCIENT HISTORY. That's why the allow the "old" building to fall apart, then say <strong>"See, the building is falling apart."</strong> The BIBLE makes it clear that everything we do should be done in the name of Jesus who loved us and gave himself for us. <strong>So why don't you fix the church building and stop using it as an excuse to justify your own personal motive for LUSTING after a new building? </strong><br /><br /><strong>FIX THE CHURCH BUILDING! FIX GOD'S BUILDING AND STOP LYING TO THE CONGREGATION!</strong><br /><br />Let's take point two and point three, since point two justifies the third.<br /><br /><strong>THE PEOPLE AT FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH DON'T REALLY BELIEVE IN HELL. </strong>Because they don't believe in Hell, they don't really believe anyone is going to Hell.<br /><br /><strong>THE PASTOR AND THE CHURCH STAFF EVIDENTLY DO NOT BELIEVE IN HELL. </strong><br /><br />How do I know that? Tell me, how many people have the church staff members personally won to the Lord in the past month? How many people has any single church staff member won to the Lord in the past six months?<br /><br />It is an "IF/THEN" statement or conclusion. "If" one thing, "Then" another. If you are standing in the rain, then you will get wet. If you put you hand in the fire, then you will get burned.<br /><br />If/Then. It is really very simple.<br /><br />IF the pastor and staff of FBCAlamo believed people were going to Hell, THEN they would be knocking on doors, trying to stop people from going to Hell.<br /><br />IF the pastor and staff of FBCAlamo believed people were going to Hell, <strong>THEN they would be reaching people</strong> and they would be repairing the building for the people and would have no time <strong>or need</strong> to try and justify a new building.<br /><br />IF FBCAlamo were a church where love indeed did shine, THEN the pastor would not alienate church members as he has. IF FBCAlamo were a church where love did indeed shine as proclaimed on the web page, THEN the church staff would not feel so threatened when they read this blog.<br /><br />Based upon the NON-ACTIONS of the pastor and staff to reach lost people directly, based upon the substituting of cattle-car pseudo-evangelism and cattle-car baptism-days, I think it is safe to say that the pastor and staff of FBCAlamo do not really believe in Hell and do not really believe that people are going to Hell. <strong>As a result of their lack of passion about the dangers of Hell, the people at FBCAlamo do not believe in Hell or that people are going to hell.</strong><br /><br />The result of years of this kind of charade is a <strong>"club"</strong> (church) of people who have simplistic dreams of a <strong>new club-house</strong> out on the highway. That beautiful new club-house will be filled with a group of club-members who don't believe all those people left behind are headed for Hell.<br /><br />If you disagree, please say so. If you disagree, then go out and win someone to the Lord. Anyone can honk.<br /><br />-------------------------------------------------Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196865862466409197.post-27368941396142661982008-02-20T07:20:00.000-08:002008-02-20T07:38:38.568-08:00Sixty-Four Residences Within Walking Distance<strong>Let's take a count !</strong><br /><br />Several people have told me there were not that many people who live within walking distance of the church. So I asked them <strong>"How many people are necessary before you try to reach them one-on-one?"</strong><br /><br />They had no answer. They got mad at me for asking. Now I am the enemy. I could not force them to "reach lost people" like the web site said they would do. But they weren't doing it now. And it looks to me like they weren't going to do it. <br /><br />So where do <strong>you </strong>stand on this? Are you reaching lost people now? Or are you just <strong>TALKING ABOUT reaching lost people?</strong> Here's an excercise for you:<br /><br /><ol><li>Go stand in front of the church facing north.</li><li>Look to the west down Church Street</li><li>Walk to the west and count the houses on the right side of the street and the front doors on the left side of the street where the apartments are.</li><li>Contunue walking west to North Branch Street</li><li>Turn South (left) on Branch Street.</li><li>Continue counting the front doors on both sides of the street</li><li>Turn East (left) on Main Street and continue counting.</li><li>Include all the "front doors" of all the apartments.</li><li>Turn North (left) on Locust Street and continue to the church.</li></ol><br />Now answer these questions:<br /><br /><ol><li>How many residences (front doors) did you count?</li><li>How many of those front doors have you ever personally visited?</li><li>Who do you know who lives behind even one of those front doors?</li><li>Do you CARE who lives behind those front door?</li><li>Do those people know the Lord?</li><li>Why do those people not walk to FBCAlamo every Sunday morning?</li></ol><br />MY CHALLENGE TO YOU IS:<br /><br />Are you just gonna bitch and moan or are you gonna take action?<br />Are you going to let those people go to Hell or are you going to take action?<br />Are you going to wait for a non-motivated church staff or are you going to take action?<br /><br />Since it is clear the church staff doesn't care, what are you going to do about it? Jesus said "Go and make disciples." How long are you going to wait?<br /><br />Are you going to do it or are you going to complain?<br /><br />---------------------------------------------------Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196865862466409197.post-88003387775827313742008-02-17T21:22:00.000-08:002008-02-17T22:44:52.092-08:00Nothing is so easy to fake as the inner vision.<strong>We prayed about it and God told us to move to the country! </strong><br /><br /><br /><p></p>Sure, <strong>God told some people</strong> that they would suddenly become evangelical, but not until they move to the country, away from the people. Until then, it's status quo except for Cattle-Car Sunday.<br /><br /><br /><br /><blockquote>"The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie -- deliberate,<br />contrived and dishonest -- but the myth -- persistent, persuasive and<br />unrealistic."<br />-- John F Kennedy<br /></blockquote><br />Yep, just bend the truth a bit and it becomes a myth as opposed to a lie. If the roof leaks, don't fix it but tell the folks it is because the building is old. Then just let the roof fall in so you can publicly announce, "See, the roof is falling down and we need to move."<br /><br /><blockquote><p>A man is his own easiest dupe, for what he wishes to be true he generally<br />believes to be true.<br />-- Demosthenes<br /></p></blockquote><br />We wish to be evangelical. We even tell folks we are. But we really don't reach lost people. We claim to be evangelical. But we are not evangelical enough to reach lost people who live within walking distance of the church. So we tell folks we need to <strong>MOVE AWAY FROM THE PEOPLE</strong> in order "to reach lost people." How illogical is that?? We aren't reaching lost people now, but if we repeat that myth over and over, perhaps the folks will stop thinking how illogical that is and just accept it as truth.<br /><br />We WISH we had a new building. So we tell folks we need it "to reach lost people." We don't reach lost people now, but we tell folks we do. Then we repeat it over and over.<br /><br /><blockquote>In matters of religion it is very easy to deceive a man, and very hard to<br />undeceive him.<br />-- Pierre Bayle </blockquote><br />Repeat it long enough and often enough and enough folks will soon believe it. Now, many have said "we need to move," "we need a new building," etc. Some have said "we have prayed about it" and "it is God's will." Yet nobody has given a legitimate reason why. When I give arguments, they just keep repeating the myth, over and over, trying to convince me...or trying to convince themselves that the myth is true.<br /><br />It is "God's will"..."to reach lost people"<br /><br /><blockquote><br />Nothing is so easy to fake as the inner vision.<br />-- Robertson Davies<br /></blockquote><br /><strong>"Inner Vision."</strong> I suppose that is the biggest myth. God somehow miraculously spoke to some members of FBCAlamo but <strong>God forgot to speak to ALL the people</strong> of FBCAlamo. Some think GOD told them to move away from the people and they would instantly become evangelical. Some others know the truth.<br /><br />The Holy Spirit is telling some to move and telling some to stay.<br /><br />Did God somehow speak to you? Did God tell you to move to the country? Did God tell you to reach lost people? Did God tell you to <strong>WAIT until you move</strong> to the country until you begin to REACH LOST PEOPLE or did God tell you to <strong>reach lost people now</strong>? Which was it that God told you?<br /><br />Like I said in the very first post, if you aren't reaching lost people now, what makes you think you are going to reach lost people later?<br /><br />Guess what?<br /><br />If you aren't reaching lost people now, you won't reach them later. Not a prediction of doom. Just the truth.<br />------------------------------------------------------Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196865862466409197.post-77762974180805985592008-02-12T10:36:00.000-08:002008-02-12T11:23:02.578-08:00Microsoft and FBC Alamo - Not Much Difference ?The bully computer giant Microsoft is attempting to takeover Yahoo in a hostile David/Goliath tale. According to the Associated Press,<br /><br /><br /><blockquote>Microsoft also emphasized it's prepared to "pursue all necessary steps" to<br />get the deal done, raising the prospect that it could take the bid directly to<br />Yahoo shareholders with a so-called "exchange offer" or escalate the acrimony<br />even further by trying to oust Yahoo's 10-member board later this year.<br /></blockquote><br />Does that sound familiar to you? Microsoft has an agenda and is prepared to "pursue all necessary steps" to build a new church...er...to takeover Yahoo.<br /><br />"Pursue all necessary steps"<br /><br />The only difference is, Microsoft never claimed it is "God's will" to takeover Yahoo. In that way, <strong>Microsoft is far more honest than many Christians</strong> when a takeover is imminent. If Yahoo won't sell, you <strong>oust the 10-member board</strong>. Nevermind that half the stock-holders don't want to sell. Ignore them. Wear them down. Shout them down. Work behind the scenes and replace the 10-member board. It's a business decision. The bully is gonna win,<br /><br />If the people won't support your move to the country, you <strong>get new deacons</strong>. If church members think it is a bad move, then you <strong>shout them down</strong> or <strong>ignore them</strong> or <strong>rebuke them publicly</strong> from the pulpit. Or as as one church staff member said, <strong>"get on board or get off. Those are the two options you have."</strong> It's a business decision. The bully is gonna win.<br /><br />Shout 'em down, that's what Jesus would do. Might makes right or might makes "the will of God."<br /><br /><strong>"God's will" has nothing to do with it. It is simply a business deal.</strong> That's why Microsoft is more honest than some of the Christians that we all know and love. Imagine that, Microsoft more homest than Christians!<br /><br />Imagine that!<br />-----------------------------------------------------------------Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196865862466409197.post-91322950807707849722008-02-07T06:47:00.000-08:002008-02-07T07:18:56.934-08:00Cattle-Call Baptism Day...A Passive EffortThe big day is coming up. Well, at least it's an effort, albeit misguided. Amazing how people equate <strong>Physical</strong> Action with <strong>Spiritual </strong>Movement. They are NOT the same thing!<br /><br />When you <strong>can't win souls</strong>, you build a building. (Illusion)<br /><br />When you <strong>don't lead people to the Lord</strong>, you do Cattle-Call Baptisms. (Illusion)<br /><br />When you <strong>refuse to go one-on-one to reach lost people</strong>, you have a Cattle-Call Evangelism Sunday and snatch members from other churches. (Illusion)<br /><br />None of the above are bad per se, but cattle-call baptisms do not replace <strong>The Great Commission.</strong> How long will the people of FBCAlamo forsake the simplicity of <strong>The Great Commission? </strong> Remember the "Instant Evangelism" post? Perhaps you should re-read it and tell us what has changed in one year. How many "lost people" have been "reached" in one year? Is that tiny number with going into debt $2,000,000 to $4,000,000 for a new Baptist Country Club? What about <strong>The Great Commission? </strong>What about <strong>ACTUALLY reaching lost people NOW?</strong><br /><br />Are the people of FBCAlamo working <strong>The Great Commission?</strong> Are the staff members of FBCAlamo working <strong>The Great Commision?</strong><br /><br />Is there any wonder why people are satisfied with the passive actions of a <strong>Cattle-Call Baptism Sunday!</strong><br /><br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196865862466409197.post-72839397317903848792008-02-02T17:47:00.000-08:002008-02-02T18:44:46.909-08:00Softball for Jesus or Soul Winner? Which Will It Be?<strong>"A dissenter is every human being at those moments of his life when he resigns momentarily from the herd and thinks for himself." </strong><br />-- Archibald MacLeish, poet and librarian (1892-1982)<br /><br />Do you think for yourself? Do you question things? I question things. I try to look at things in a different way. I don't buy everything I am told. So I have been called a dissenter by those who think I am trying to stir up trouble. Are you also a dissenter?<br /><br /><strong>"It is error only, and not truth, that shrinks from inquiry." </strong><br />-- Thomas Paine, philosopher and writer (1737-1809)<br /><br />To paraphrase, <strong>"Error shrinks from inquiry, truth never does."</strong><br /><br />So what is the truth? Is FBCAlamo interested in "reaching lost people" or in building a new country-club for worhip? Ask yourself what is the truth. Then ask the pastor why you are not individually reaching lost people. Ask the church staff why they are not individually reaching lost people. Ask your Sunday School leaders why they are not individually reaching lost people.<br /><br /><strong>"Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored."</strong><br />- Aldous Huxley, novelist (1894-1963)<br /><br />The facts are, the building is not falling down, it is being systematically ignored and allowed to deteriorate.<br /><br />Facts are that the truth is being hidden or twisted in the name of Christ.<br /><br />Facts are that nobody is doing personal evangelism.<br /><br />Facts are that mass baptisms and "church member swapping" is being substituted for the Great Commission.<br /><br />Facts are that some folks at FBC would rather have a new building on the highway than reach lost people.<br /><br />Facts are that softball and pretty chairs are more important than reaching lost people one-on-one.<br /><br />Don't ignore the facts.<br /><br /><strong>"I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires."</strong><br />-Susan B Anthony, reformer and suffragist (1820-1906)<br /><br />God wants us to move and let the building and the people around it go to Hell. God said to do it. It is God's vision. It is God's will. Nevermind what Jesus said about going and making disciples, it is God's will to abandon our prime location in the geographical center of the county. It is God's will for us to abandon the people who live within walking distance of the church. It is God's will for us to say we are going to sell this building to another church while claiming we must move out because of bees and asbestos and parking. Yes, we know what God wants us to do. God wants new pews and audio/video. But especially, <strong>God wants</strong> <strong>softball for Jesus.</strong><br /><br /><strong>We prayed about it. </strong><strong>Yes, God told us that's what he wants.</strong><br /><br />We even said so in the <em>Crockett Times</em> newspaper.<br /><br /><strong>"True religion is the life we lead, not the creed we profess."</strong><br />-- Louis Nizer, lawyer (1902-1994)<br /><br />To paraphrase, <strong>"True Christianity is the life you lead, not the creed you profess."</strong><br /><br />Talk is cheap. Truth is heavy. Why run from truth? Why not confront error? Why stay silent against error? Why not confront those who say one thing yet obviously practice something else?<br /><br /><strong>"The high minded man must care more for the truth than for what people think." </strong><br />-- Aristotle, philosopher (384-322 BCE)<br /><br />So, are you looking for truth? Or are you going to be satisfied with the status quo at FBCAlamo? Are you going to embrace the truth about the situation or are you going to whine "They voted for it" which is itself only a half-truth?<br /><br /><strong>Truth or error?</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Dissenter or status quo?</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Facts or myths?</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Soul Winner or Softball for Jesus?</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Are you going to speak up or let error become pseudo-reality?</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>???</strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196865862466409197.post-72169187426600945492008-01-24T22:14:00.000-08:002008-01-24T22:56:38.931-08:00Lost People and Hell<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisCaS5pOWBVfW6qySRQkxejGIpwFDzYs1QX4QrMTpf0u61d0lZ8oWU1jmI1aZXaTOE7Sg7XyplBcEXIE9lcBdjuTgu20zR-Ph3bfbaLk67h3r9pmxxUEPDV08DqpUVT6YS_ZY7oEzIR5w/s1600-h/fbcview1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5159295139978684546" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisCaS5pOWBVfW6qySRQkxejGIpwFDzYs1QX4QrMTpf0u61d0lZ8oWU1jmI1aZXaTOE7Sg7XyplBcEXIE9lcBdjuTgu20zR-Ph3bfbaLk67h3r9pmxxUEPDV08DqpUVT6YS_ZY7oEzIR5w/s320/fbcview1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Do you believe the Bible?<br /><br />Do you believe in Hell?<br /><br />Do you believe in the Lake of Fire?<br /><br />Do you think lost people burn for eternity in Hell?<br />Look at these houses in this photo to the right. Do you think the people who live in these houses will go to Hell without Christ? If you look closely, you will notice they live across the street from the church.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWvUg0PlI38QXzZEx-bQoMfDxKBv8PCpKqE7mbGI9D499rjGlx2lBoOR4AAiyyTlX8MAczYoSdq2cX410t4SLymcgpcx2R-qa_G65CQdKvVicJ5SVDL1pwMPmbJEdYSyQ0R5kwhSGi8Q4/s1600-h/FBCview2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5159295659669727378" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWvUg0PlI38QXzZEx-bQoMfDxKBv8PCpKqE7mbGI9D499rjGlx2lBoOR4AAiyyTlX8MAczYoSdq2cX410t4SLymcgpcx2R-qa_G65CQdKvVicJ5SVDL1pwMPmbJEdYSyQ0R5kwhSGi8Q4/s320/FBCview2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />If you stand at the West side of the church, just under the pastor's office, you can look closely through the trees and see dozens of apartments and homes within walking distance of the church. And each home is filled with human beings created in the image of God.<br /><br />Do those people go to church at First Baptist Church? Do those people go to church anywhere?<br /><br /><strong>Now let's look just a little bit deeper!</strong><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6BU3kTg7s5aKd3F2GWUTvQMstHLgDhwPDivLlV7QpgxT-3pUhXry9Ap4dxZKVn2xX0jlfekmtJNw58K5Zsn2vgdA2Pa0ncf6O_9afzeBe26Odtg7h0Zsh5YkD6heV0BJ1X1H_ri1vov4/s1600-h/fbcview3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5159297029764294818" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6BU3kTg7s5aKd3F2GWUTvQMstHLgDhwPDivLlV7QpgxT-3pUhXry9Ap4dxZKVn2xX0jlfekmtJNw58K5Zsn2vgdA2Pa0ncf6O_9afzeBe26Odtg7h0Zsh5YkD6heV0BJ1X1H_ri1vov4/s320/fbcview3.jpg" border="0" /></a>Stand in the West parking lot under the window of the Pastor's office and look just a little more to the left, to the South, you will see EVEN MORE HOMES where people live, daddys and mothers and little children.<br /><br />Does anyone in that church know anything about those people? Does the pastor know if they are going to Heaven or Hell?<br /><br />Does anyone even care?<br /><strong><br /></strong><strong><p>"TO REACH LOST PEOPLE"</strong></p>has been the theme proclaimed on the church web page. Well, what are you doing to reach THESE lost people? <strong>What are YOU personally doing to reach these lost people?</strong><br /><br />Some folks are all excited about building a new building. In fact, most of the sermons talk more about the new building than about reaching lost people.<br /><br /><strong>Does anyone really care? </strong>Does anyone really care about lost people? Or is it just another talking point for raising money? Are those folks who are so excited about moving away from these people willing to practice what the preach?<br /><br />What about you? Do you care about the people who live within walking distance of the church? Or do you just want to get out of town so we can play softball?<br /><br /><p></p><strong>Is the phrase "To Reach Lost People" meaningless at First Baptist? </strong><br /><strong></strong><br />Is the phrase <strong>"To Reach Lost People" </strong>just a sales pitch?<br /><br />What do <strong>YOU </strong>believe about Hell? Do you think it matters?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196865862466409197.post-19638621076756214142008-01-23T07:51:00.000-08:002008-01-23T08:07:47.439-08:00WalMart Evangelism and Deceptive FiguresSo nine new folks joined during the recent pseudo-evangelism effort called "Committment Day." Please answer the following questions:<br /><br /><strong>How many</strong> transferred membership from another church?<br /><br /><strong>How many</strong> had already been attending there for several years?<br /><br /><strong>How many</strong> <strong>lost people</strong> were actually <strong>reached</strong> for the Lord by the pastor, a staff person or member of FBC?<br /><br />Give me the numbers. Let's see how many folks were actually led to the Lord as opposed to the people simply moving their membership from Bells or from another local church. (WALMART EVANGELISM)<br /><br />What do the figures say? Can you answer that one? Is it enough to finance the new showcase on the highway?<br /><br />NOW, ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION:<br /><br /><strong>How many </strong>new folks joined January 20th? <strong>How many</strong> folks came to the Lord and became a member of the fellowship on January 20th?<br /><br />Inquiring minds want to know.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196865862466409197.post-52189246132185589942008-01-20T06:19:00.000-08:002008-01-20T07:19:00.774-08:00Thinking And Investigating Are Absolutely Out Of The QuestionConsider the following quote. It is from a letter entitled<br /><strong>"The Comfort and Security of Knowing That You Are Right"</strong><br />This post was a response to an article about Rev. Mike Huckaby whom I have known for well over 25 years. Here is the original letter:<br /><a href="http://letters.salon.com/opinion/conason/2008/01/18/huckabee/view/?show=ec" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://letters.salon.com/opinion/conason/2008/01/18/huckabee/view/?show=ec</a><br /><br />And here is the quote:<br /><blockquote>"Thus the sweet and calming appeal of faith based religion? It is a truly<br />astounding experience to be in a room with about 100 people and realize that<br />thinking and investigating are absolutely out of thequestion.<br /><p>Questioning or challenging authority is unacceptable."<br /></p><br /></blockquote><br /><p>It is amazing how we believe anything we are fed. It is amazing how gullible most Christians are time and time again. It is amazing how quickly we accept the words of the leaders who present the plan as though they have a hotline to Heaven. It is amazing how we act as though we are unable to think for ourselves or investigate the truth ourselves.</p><p>It is even worse when those who accept the message deride their own Christian brothers and sisters who disagree, who have a different opinion. It is interesting how we attack the persons who have considered the facts and come to a different, yet completely viable conclusion.<br /><br />It is bad when a church member is confronted with facts, and instead of responding with empathy regarding the issues, quickly attacks the messenger with words such as:</p><p><strong>"QUIT STIRRING UP TROUBLE"</strong> </p><p>(His emphasis, not mine)</p><p><strong>"trying to sway the opinion of others is simply wrong" </strong></p><p>(...when he himself is unaware of his own being manipulated and his own manipulation of the facts)</p><p><strong>"get on board or get off. Those are the two options you have."</strong></p><p>As I said before, what an ARROGANT attitude from an alleged "spiritual" leader.</p>You can read the above quotes at:<br /><br /><a onclick="" href="http://fbcalamoforum.blogspot.com/2007_02_01_archive.html" rel="nofollow">http://fbcalamoforum.blogspot.com/2007_02_01_archive.html</a><br /><br />When I mentioned the seemingly non-evangelical nature of First Baptist Church, I was originally reminded of the October 2006 "revival" in which:<br /><br /><p></p><p></p><blockquote>"45 people were saved and several families joined our church. That tells me that<br />GOD IS WORKING IN OUR CHURCH!"</blockquote><p>Notice that the average Sunday attendance did not increase by 45 people, or even five people. What happened to those "45 people" who were saved? Where are those "several families" who joined First Baptist Church? Show us the numbers!</p><p>Recently, there was one other evangelical push resulting in 9 to 12 additions and thefts from other church rolls. Where are they now?</p><p>Eighteen months ago FBC Alamo ran around 170 in Sunday School weekly. Since then, according to a church staff member and recent reports, around 55 people "and several families joined our church." </p><p>Where are they now? Check the average Sunday School attendance next week and compare it to eighteen months ago, before those "45 people" were saved, before those "several families joined our church" and before the 9 to 12 were added last week. Check the average Sunday School attendance for the month of February and find those "several families." Where are the parents? Where are their kids?<br /><blockquote>"It is a truly astounding experience to be in a room with about 100 people and realize that thinking and investigating are absolutely out of thequestion.<br />Questioning or challenging authority is unacceptable."</blockquote><br />Some of you have attacked me. Few of you have investigated what I have posted here. Check the numbers for yourself! Look at the results.<br /><br /><strong>True Biblical evangelism is a lifestyle.</strong> True Biblical evangelism is NOT a Spring or Fall revival. True Biblical evangelism is not an emotionally charged tent meeting. Biblical evangelism is a DAILY necessity if there is going to be TRUE spiritual reproduction, not simply an emotionally-driven cheerleading session.<br /><br />Check the numbers and get back with me. Better yet, check the numbers and ask the folks in charge "Where are those people?"Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196865862466409197.post-16323123040661139882008-01-19T22:20:00.000-08:002008-01-19T23:10:47.243-08:00Attacking the Messenger, Ignoring the Message<p><strong>Constructive Criticism or mindless attacks?</strong></p><p>You have heard the phrase, "Attacking the messenger, ignoring the message?"<br /><br />What often happens when someone offers an opinion or reveals an ignored truth? Usually two things:<br />1) The messenger is attacked, put-down, criticized or slandered.<br />2) The message is ignored, belittled, minimized or downplayed.<br /><br />And so it is with this blog. I have been called a liar. Yet to this point, not a single person has shown me any lies in what I wrote. I have been called contentious, mean, angry, spreading rumors and called a troublemaker. It is interesting that the persons who said those things <strong>NEVER actually responded</strong> to ANY of the points made in this blog, they only attacked me personally instead.<br /><br /><strong>Don't attack me. Respond to the points made in each post.</strong> Don't attack the messenger, respond to the message, deal with the issues. If you don't like what the post says, then <strong>click the "respond" link</strong> at the end of each post and do just that. Respond! The issues will never be resolved if you do not respond.<br /><br />Show where any single point in this blog is incorrect. Show where I am wrong. I have asked that repeatedly yet nobody has bothered respond. I know for a fact that you are talking behind my back. (Gossip) Rather than break the commandment against gossip, just respond to the issues.<br /><br />I haven't spoken to everyone in the church regarding this issue. But I have spoken to many "paid-up" church members over the past five years or so about this. Here is an interesting bit of information for you.<br /><br />Of the people supporting the move, <strong>NOT A SINGLE PERSON mentioned reaching lost people !!!</strong><br />NOBODY!<br />Zero!<br />Zilch!<br />Nada!<br /><br />When I say "not a single person, " that includes the church staff! In fact, the church staff only mentioned the age of the building, not reaching lost people.<br /><br />A few others mentioned the condition of the 80 year old building, speaking in unison with the church staff, always in the most negative terms and with the most defeated attitude, as if there is NO HOPE for this historic building. <strong>It is very telling</strong> that all who mentioned the age of the building or the physical problems with the building <strong>used EXACTLY THE SAME PHRASES</strong> as though they had been taught those phrases or as though they had heard them over and over and over again, including the church staff member who responded! They repeated these phrases without thinking what they were actually saying.<strong> They ALL repeated the same exact phrases! </strong>It was like listening to the rhetoric repeated mindlessly by the supporters of one political party or another.<br /></p><p>Of the people NOT SUPPORTING this move, almost every person said these same points:</p><p>1) There is <strong>NO reason</strong> to move or build a new building<br />2) There is virtually <strong>NO NET GAIN </strong>in our church, certainly not enough to support a new building. (folks going out the back as fast as others coming in the front)<br />3) We sit in a <strong>half empty building </strong>every Sunday as it is.<br />4) There is <strong>NOTHING wrong</strong> with our buildings that cannot be repaired if they would just do it right the first time.<br />5) <strong>[The Church Leaders]</strong> are<strong> ignoring basic maintainance</strong>, then falsly blaiming the poor condition of the building on age. </p><p>I don't care what you say about me, especially if you do not deal with the points that have been written here in this blog. Just deal with the issues presented in this blog. </p><p><strong>Drop</strong> the rhetoric.<br /><strong>Drop</strong> the platitudes.<br /><strong>Stop </strong>attacking me, the messenger.<br /><strong>Answer</strong> the message, deal with the issues.<br /></p><p><strong>DEAL WITH THE ISSUES!</strong></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196865862466409197.post-74711679773830430812008-01-11T22:17:00.000-08:002008-01-12T07:04:34.238-08:00The Charade...Reaching People For Jesus...Not Reality.<strong>Let's end this little charade. </strong><br /><br />I'm tired of repeating myself. The idea that" ...the membership believes that this represents both the will of God and our best opportunity to reach lost people" is a fantasy. It's a dream.<br /><br />Folks, HERE is REALITY...<br /><br />The reality is...<strong>that idea is not a dream, it is a LIE.</strong><br /><br /><strong>If </strong>the pastor of First Baptist Church of Alamo wanted "to reach lost people," he would have done so within the last five years. Stagnant church growth reveals the truth. Empty seats reveal the truth. Yelling and screaming and berating believers does not take the place of personal evangelism.<br /><br />Instead of having a "Commitment Day" on January 13, <strong>why don't you have "Commitment Day" EVERY SUNDAY?</strong><br /><strong></strong><br />Instead of <strong>stealing members</strong> "of a sister church," <strong>why don't you WIN LOST PEOPLE TO CHRIST as you claimed was the goal for a four million dollar building program?</strong><br /><br /><strong>If </strong>the minister of music/youth wanted "to reach lost people," he would have done it already. Instead of a "worship leading choir" <strong>why don't we have a SOUL WINNING CHOIR?!?</strong><br /><br /><strong>If </strong>the church staff and the Sunday School Teachers wanted "to reach lost people," they would do it apart from a new building.<br /><br /><strong>If </strong>the deacons wanted "to reach lost people," they would get out of those silly deacons meetings and go win some lost souls to Jesus. But the pastor, church staff and deacons are far more comfortable in their ivory tower directing church traffic than they are walking on the streets to those 64 homes within one block of the church building.<br /><br />The REALITY is...<strong>none of these people actually want "to reach lost people."</strong> The REALITY is...they all enjoy <strong>talking about it</strong> and <strong>posting it</strong> on the church web site. They do not enjoy actually <strong>DOING</strong> it.<br /><br /><strong>Prove me wrong if I am.</strong><br /><br /><ul><li>Deacons meetings are more important than reaching lost people. </li><li>Planting the flowers on the church lawn is more important than reaching lost people. </li><li>Ripping up sidewalks is more important than reaching lost people.</li><li>Blueprints are more important than reaching lost people. </li><li>Sound systems are more important than reaching lost people.</li><li>Commitment Day once a year is more important than commitment day every week.</li><li>Joking about softball is more important than reaching lost people.</li><li>An emotionally driven "worship leading choir" is more important than a soul-winning choir.</li></ul>HERE'S A SUGGESTION:<br /><br /><ul><li>GO to the left side of this page.</li><li></li><li>Then LOOK at "Archived Posts" </li><li></li><li>Then CLICK on "February" for last year, 2007</li></ul><br />There you can read the first posts of this blog that shine light on some important issues. Soon after the first post was up, one of the staff members responded. A few hours later, he removed his post. I suppose removing his post was more important than reaching lost people.<br /><br /><strong>So are you guys gonna continue to PLAY CHURCH</strong> or are you going to actually DO WHAT YOU SAY is the reason for moving the church building? Are you going to babysit Christians and maintain the status quo, or are you going to reach lost people as the web site claims?<br /><br />Are you going to REACH LOST PEOPLE or will you continue to PLAY CHURCH as you have for the past 5+ years? Will First Baptist Church remain its position as a Christian Country Club or will you actually START REACHING PEOPLE for the Lord?<br /><br />First Baptist Church pays its two primary staff members well. They make a comfortable living by maintaining the status quo. I wonder how much their income would increase if they would actually "reach lost people" as the web site said was the purpose for the new building? I wonder how much their income would increase if they would reach enough people for Christ that the average church attendance would increase by 80 or 100 people per week? That kind of increase would be a glorious thing. <br /><br />The book of Revelation says there is a special place in the Lake Of Fire for liars. Only time will tell. Stop lying to the congregation. Stop lying to each other. <strong>Reach lost people now </strong>and you will not worry about any new buildings.<br /><br />Stop lying and start practicing what you preach.<br /><br />Finally, read Matthew 23:23-28 then read Colossians 3:1-17.<br /><br /><strong>Practice what you preach</strong>.<br /><strong></strong><br />-----------------------------Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196865862466409197.post-40003202953880652582008-01-11T07:56:00.000-08:002008-01-11T23:18:56.099-08:00Softball For JesusOK, the land is paid for. Now what purpose has that served in the whole scheme of things?<br /><br /><ul><li><strong>How many people have been led to the Lord</strong> from this "vision" to date? </li><li>How many new Christians are at First Baptist because the church bought new land? </li><li>How many people have been led to the Lord as a direct result of buying new land?</li><li>How many people have been led to the Lord because of the softball field?</li></ul><p>The Church Staff asks for money EVERY SUNDAY! There are ugly, tall, color-filled charts in the auditorium marking how much money has been collected. The congregation deserves to know what are the results of giving these THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS while asking for millions! </p><p>Will the pastor step up to the plate and tell exactly what has happened so far? Will the Sunday School Leaders tell how their classes have grown from the results of this "will of God" in leading people to the Lord?</p><p><strong>Where are the people this alleged "vision" was supposed to reach?</strong></p><p>WHERE ARE THEY? </p><p>Where are the numbers? </p><p><strong>Where are those new Christians? </strong></p><p>Inquiring minds want to know.</p><p>WKB</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0