Well, I haven't watched the news to see what the media was saying but from all I witnessed it was a good convention. At least a very interesting convention. We have converted our convention to a reception for young church start pastors. "You can build it, if you will come." Not that I have a problem with that completely. We better tap into the 30 somethings that are getting it done, but don't put all your eggs in one basket. The vast majority of Southern Baptist churches (and the best givers) are graying churches of less than 500. The majority less than 200. If you ignore that and put all your emphasis on the 3% that are huge and the even less that our new and not committed to the Cooperative Program, you may throw the baby out with the bathwater. These are interesting and trying days. We did get some things right though: the emphasis was on evangelism, planting churches, and stopping the slide in the Cooperative Program. There was a lot of talk about reaching minorities and making sure they are in leadership positions proportionately. And whether good or bad, there is a lot of newness in leadership among our entities- a lot of newness.
The greatest thing about Baptist life is that next week I will go back to First Baptist and preach on the same Lord, we will follow the goals that God has for us (not the convention) and we work until Jesus comes as He leads us (not as we are told by Nashville). It is great to be a Baptist.
Wednesday afternoon we left Phoenix and went to Montezuma Castle, a cool Indian fortress built into a side of a cliff, and then on to the Red Rock of Sedona. Not only is that area beautiful, it is pure-T therapeutic. It is gorgeous. Easy to spend a week there looking at rocks. No kidding. On to the Grand Canyon today.
You have to love Elijah. There are so many lessons in today's passages from I Kings 17-19 that I think we might camp out there soon and just enjoy the truths from his life. Today what hit me more than anything was the widow with the flour and the oil. No matter how much she had, she needed to first give it to the Lord or to His Work (Elijah), then God would provide her every need. And Elijah said to her- Do not fear, go and do as you have said. But first make a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son. -I Kings 17:13 What a thought! If we would follow that principle and the trusting, spending, and the giving principles in the Bible then the government would not be writing IOUs for their debts and individuals and families would honor the Lord first and then spend the rest in a way that would be pleasing to Him. Give to the Lord first and He will provide it. As for the Federal Govt, seek the Lord first and His Guidance, His Principles, and the lessons of His Word and watch Him pull America out of such a hole. I read an article this morning about the debt ceiling that has got me stirred. There is only so much we can do about Washington, but there is a lot we can do about trusting God with all we have at the house. Let's keep on trusting Him at the house and if you haven't, let's start trusting Him at the house.
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