Author Archives: Anthony Baker

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About Anthony Baker

Husband, dad, pastor, artist, and musician. Time Magazine's Person of the Year in 2006 (no joke!). Loves coffee (big time), good movies, and sarcastic humor. Holds a Doctorate in Ministry. Most importantly, a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. All glory belongs to Him! Matthew 5:16
by | January 11, 2016 · 7:00 am

Time to Refocus

Tick Tock

chronograph-pocket-watch-largeIt feels like the year is already flying by and not enough has been accomplished. Too much needs to be done, and I need to be focused. This is no time to be spinning my wheels and going nowhere.

Therefore, in this post I am going to share with you something very intimate. The following is a list of my personal ministry objectives…personal goals for which I feel I’m called to strive. I would appreciate your prayers for my family and me as I remind myself of what’s important – and what’s at stake.

I’ve gotten distracted, unfortunately. Now’s the time to refocus.

My Personal Ministry Objectives

I.    To bring glory to the name of Jesus Christ in all that I do (Psa. 19:14) and go through (1 Pet. 1:7).

II.   To “give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine” (1 Tim. 4:13) and “to prayer, and to the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4).

III. To be known as a humble and consistent husband and father whose household serves the Lord (Josh. 24:15; 1 Cor. 15:58); a forgiven sinner who understands grace (1 Tim. 1:15); and a fearless soldier of the Cross (Mark 8:34) who never compromises the truth (1 Tim. 4:16).

IV. To affect future generations yet to come as children are grounded, parents are strengthened, singles are emboldened, and the aged get a second wind (Josh. 4:21-24; Pro. 22:6).

V.  To promote the preaching and teaching of the Gospel in every part of the world (Acts 1:8) through discipleship and missions.

Do you have any objectives? What are they?

 

Scriptures Referenced:

  • Psalm 19:14 – “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”
  • 1 Peter 1:7 – “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”
  • 1 Timothy 4:13 – “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.”
  • Acts 6:4 – “But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.”
  • Joshua 24:15 – “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that [were] on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
  • 1 Corinthians 15:58 – “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
  • 1 Timothy 1:15 – “This [is] a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”
  • Mark 8:34 – “And when he had called the people [unto him] with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
  • 1 Timothy 4:16 – “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.”
  • Joshua 4:21-24 – “And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What [mean] these stones? Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land. For the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over: That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it [is] mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever.”
  • Proverbs 22:6 – “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
  • Acts 1:8 – “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

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by | January 10, 2016 · 8:00 am

“Sinner’s Prayer” Controversy: My Response

What better to post on a Sunday than something having to do with salvation? 

As much as I love monkey videos and sarcastic responses to political idiocy, those things have little relevance if they never point people to Jesus Christ, the Author and Finisher of our faith.

I am writing this on Saturday morning and scheduling it to be posted on Sunday. The reason I am writing it is because I was just notified of a “like” to a comment I made EXACTLY a year ago today (Saturday) on another blog, The River Walk.

Subject: The “Sinner’s Prayer.” Is it biblical or unbiblical? Should it be encouraged or banned? Can it be effective, or is it as David Platt called it, “superstitious” and “damning”?

The following was and is my response:

Where do I start? Where do I end? I’m a Baptist. I’m a Baptist pastor. I prayed the “prayer” as a child. I am born again. I have given altar calls. I have invited others to pray the “prayer” during invitations. There’s no way I can know who was born again…or not; only God knows. However, I can tell you about fruit.

No, the prayer doesn’t save; Jesus does. But what I see so often today is an attempt by many to belittle, malign, berate, and denigrate something that is precious and effective if presented in context with the true gospel message. I have seen it so many times: young, intellectual, up-and-coming theologians stirring up strife within the body of Christ, all the while holding on to the banner of grace, attempting to change, as if change itself was something divine. Why not accept the “sinners prayer” with a little more grace and along with it teach the fundamental doctrines on which it depends to be effective?

We ARE commanded to call upon the name of the Lord to be saved (Rom. 10:13). Is it not a “sinner’s prayer” when a sinner prays for salvation? Yes, I believe that there have been many false conversions brought about by head-hunting preachers and evangelists leading silent, congregational “sinner’s prayers.” That is why when I give an invitation I always explain that true salvation will result in public confession (Matt. 10:32-33). In other words, I never say “Pray with me…” and then ask people to come forward. I say that if one is truly repentant, truly understands his need of new birth, truly finds himself humbled at the foot of the cross, then he will have no problem coming to an altar, making a public profession, and then being baptized.

So, to sum this up…sorry for the length…I was saved at the age of 6 (I’m 47) when I realized that I was a sinner, was going to hell, and that the only way to heaven was to accept God’s gift of forgiveness through Jesus Christ. I wouldn’t have been able to recite the Apostle’s Creed, the Baptist Faith and Message, or even the Ten Commandments, but I knew I was lost. My dad led me to a little Sunday school room where we knelt at a little table, and it was there that my dad, a humble, former moonshiner, led me in the “sinner’s prayer,” because I didn’t know any better way to say what was in my little heart. That was the day I was saved, and I thank God my dad prayed with me.

That’s my 2 cents.

Do you disagree? That’s fine; it was only 2 cents. I am His, and He is mine, and that’s what matters.

bible

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by | January 9, 2016 · 10:16 am

The Sun Parade

A Dream

Last night (or this morning, rather) I was awoken from my sleep by a crazy dream. It’s not that dreams are usually sane, it’s just that this dream was a little more strange than normal.

First of all, I was back in college, which wouldn’t be completely unthinkable, but in a dorm room…I never stayed in a dorm….trying to decide what kind of sheets to put on the upper bunk where I was to sleep. If the first strange thing was that I was in a dorm, the second strange thing would be that without my wife I was fretting over thread counts and patterns.

The third and final strange thing about this dream was that a man walked into my room, presumably a professor, did something to the heater on the wall (adjusted the temperature, I suppose), and spoke to me as I was putting sheet on the bunk. Well, now that I think about it, every bit of that last sentence was strange. But anyway, he looked up at me and said:

“Anthony, I read your blog, but I need to let you know that there are a lot of people protesting your post on the sun parade.”

What? They are protesting? What post? I don’t remember ever writing a post about a parade, especially one celebrating the sun. So, I woke up, rolled over in bed, grabbed my phone, clicked on my WordPress app, and searched my post history. …Nothing.

Time to Google

What do I do if I can’t find something I need? Something that is supposed to be tucked away in my memory or stored in the files of some app? I Google it.

Come to find out, there are no sun parades, at least none that I can find. The only thing that came up on a Google search was a band out of Northampton, Massachusetts called The Sun Parade.

I guess it’s time to write about them. Time to start a protest.

“My Heart’s Out”

Why did I have a dream about a sun parade? Maybe it was because I needed to. Maybe it was because I need to expose this group for something horrible, like violent, bloody videos depicting a crazy vixen eating a guy’s heart. Who knows?

Well, when I Googled the parade and found the band, I logged onto their webpage and watched an interesting, well-produced music video. Would you believe it’s full of heart-cutting, heart-chasing, heart-eating drama? Yep, it does.

Seriously, The Sun Parade is a pretty cool sounding secular band with folk-rock sound and Beatle-esque harmonies. Let’s put it this way: their sound doesn’t hurt my hears. And being a pastor and all that, that alone might be protest-worthy, you think?

Here’s the thing, people will rip out your heart, step on it, cut it, break it, throw it away, and even – perish the thought – bite it…eeewww! People can be that way. But I’d rather have a heart that’s breakable than a cold heart, or no heart at all.

For the record, I gave my heart to Christ, and His life has made me new. It sure makes it easier to love those who take advantage of us when our “heart’s out.”

 

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by | January 8, 2016 · 7:00 am

Please, Daddy! Just try it!

Fish

I like tuna fish (mostly). I like it when it comes out of a can or when it is dolled up with a little Tuna Helper.

I like catfish, just as long as I can find all the bones and not choke.

I like whatever kind of fish my black brethren fry up in big pots. Honestly, it wasn’t until about three years ago that I attended my first “fish fry.” It was fantastic! One of my daughters and I were the only white people there and we didn’t have any idea what to expect, so when we were asked if we wanted mustard, hot sauce, and slaw on our white bread, what else could we say but, “Of course!” Heavenly, I tell you. Heavenly.

I like perch, brim, and bass caught fresh and pan fried on the shore. Oh…my…goodness!

I even like fish and chips.

But I DO NOT LIKE SUSHI!

Yellow Tail

Yesterday I went out to lunch with someone who picked up the bill. Since I didn’t have to pay, I chose not to be picky when it came to where we ate.

“Do you know where (a certain Japanese restaurant) is?” he asked. “I think so,” I replied. “Great! I’ll meet you there at 11:30.”

When my daughter, Katie, found out where we were going to eat she insisted I try one particular item – the “Yellow Fin” (as in raw, uncooked Yellow Tail tuna).

I did. Here’s the proof. I took a picture.

photo

Why I Don’t Like Sushi

It’s raw. Raw is good for things like vegetables and language, but not meat.

It’s cold. Cold fish is just wrong…unless it’s tuna on lettuce.

It’s sticky. I like sticky rice. I like sticky candy. I don’t like sticky meat.

It’s practically flavorless. By “practically” I mean it has a little flavor, but not much. The flavor it does have is that of raw, cold, sticky, dead, fish market. If you have to eat it with ginger and wasabi to make it edible, it ain’t.

I’m an American. What we catch and kill we cook before we eat it. At least that’s the kind of American I am; all others are sushi-sissies.

and lastly,

I could take a laxative and have the same effect. Do I need to explain? At least the meeting went well.

YOUR THOUGHTS?

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by | January 7, 2016 · 8:07 pm

Comments on Copeland

Time to Offend

If you don’t know who Kenneth Copeland and Jessie Duplantis are, then I’m glad. Maybe it should stay that way. But if you keep reading, and if you watch the attached video, then your innocence will be destroyed.

I don’t talk much about men like Kenneth Copeland and Jessie Duplantis. One reason is that I don’t want to waste my time. Another reason is that I try to avoid offending some of my readers who I know listen to and watch these guys.

But today is going to be different; I may have to offend.

What I Think

I am going to be very honest with you, if you don’t mind. And what I am about to say will not be couched in any sarcasm or humor. The fact is that I can’t stand Kenneth Copeland. I think he is a crook, a wolf in sheep’s clothing, demonically inspired, and nothing remotely close to a genuine man of God. His teachings are destructive, unbiblical, heretical, and more than likely leading people to hell (and, yes, I believe there’s a hell).

What got me wanting to write something about how I feel was a video that recently hit the news. If you haven’t already seen it, just watch it below.

Plane Truth

I don’t doubt that there are people and ministries that legitimately need private aircraft, and I’m not one of them. However, these guys are full of mud.

I love how they say they are in the “soul-saving business,” yet think of a passenger airliner as a long tube full of demons that could possibly hinder the anointing.

Gag. Me. With. A. Spoon!

My Suggestions

Hey, if you’re dying to give your money away to ministries that have nothing to do with your local church, why not give to missionaries? You could always donate to the SBC International Mission Board. Or, I could recommend some individual local and overseas ministries desperately in need of funds. Seriously.

Whatever you do, don’t trust these guys or send them your money. Don’t watch them on TV or buy their books. Should you give to them you will be contributing to the furtherance of damnable heresy and blasphemy.

If you need a pastor, find one that has given his life to reach the people on the plane. Find one that can pray anywhere. Find one that preaches the soul-saving, life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ, not the prosperity-promising, money-grabbing false doctrines of the jet-setting “anointed.”

That’s all I’m going to say about these charlatans at this time. Should there be any interest, there are plenty of sources detailing the heretical teachings of Copeland, Duplantis, Hinn, and the like. Just Google them.

I’m just amazed people still take them seriously.

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by | January 7, 2016 · 7:00 am

Why Complain About Lemons?

Why is it that people say, “When life gives you lemons…”? What is wrong with lemons?

Why not cherries? Or grapes? Why not suggest what to do when life gives us avocados? I hate avocados!

What if life gave you tomatoes for your iced tea? You’d be wishing you had some lemons, I bet.

No, it’s always the poor lemon. It’s like everyone is prejujuiced. What’s wrong with a little sourness every once in a while? Why did “tart” have to become linked to women with questionable moral standards?

The fact is that God doesn’t just allow lemons, He sends them as a gift! Unfortunately, most people never take the time to recognize the benefits of a little acidity.

So, the next time when life gives you lemons instead of strawberries, don’t be so negative; you might have been spared an allergic reaction from hell without knowing it.

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:18

If nothing else, add the lemon to your tea.

If nothing else, add the lemon to your tea.

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by | January 6, 2016 · 11:10 am

In Response To Our Glorious Leader

It Is Written

By now most of you have already watched or listened to President Obama’s tearful speech announcing his new executive mandates regarding guns and background checks.

Since he specifically mentioned the “gun lobby” and “the lies” they supposedly tell, I thought it fair to post this video, not just on Facebook and other social media, but on my blog as well.

On Paper?

In his speech Mr. Obama said that he understood we have certain rights because they are written down “on paper.” Interesting, especially coming from a self-acclaimed Constitutional professor, don’t you think?

Our rights are not written on “paper,” but on parchment – and it’s called the Constitution of the United States.

I feel sorry for those who took his classes; they probably didn’t learn much.

 

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by | January 5, 2016 · 7:02 pm

11 Characteristics of the Self-Righteous

Self-righteousness and legalism go hand-in-hand. That is why I am happy to be able to reblog this post by Pastor Casey Lewis at ChristianityMatters.com.

Dr. Casey Lewis's avatarChristianity Matters

Self-righteousness is rampant in our churches. Pews are packed every week with Pharisees, who think they are doing everything right. Scripture, however, paints a woefully different picture. Far from thinking we have arrived, or that we are superior to others, we should see ourselves as needing and depending on the righteousness of Christ.

Instead of raising our spiritual noses at those struggling with sin, we should humbly bow before the Savior knowing we too are sinners saved by God’s grace. So instead of thinking of ourselves as self-righteous, we should thank and praise God for sending His Son to die for our transgressions.

Even though we should humble ourselves before our Savior, we often don’t. Instead, we continue to act as if we have made ourselves righteous through our own efforts, not Christ’s. We often do that – act self-righteous – without even knowing it. So in an effort to create awareness here are…

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by | January 5, 2016 · 6:30 am

Random Advice for Preachers

The fact that I am still preaching after all these years is a miracle and a testament to God’s grace and mercy…grace in that He called me and continues to use me; mercy in that He hasn’t zapped me with lightning.

Therefore, before I do something totally stupid and end up being forced to take an early flaming chariot ride beyond the clouds, you might want to pay attention.

You may not be a preacher or a pastor, but if you are, or know someone who is, I want here are seven (7) random, unsolicited, out-of-the-blue words of advice. Take them for what they are worth while I am still around to offer them.

  1. Take the time to learn how to pronounce the names of ancient places and people before you stand up to read your text or selected Scripture. This even applies to extra-biblical names. Not only will you appear more intelligent, but you will avoid the risk of pronouncing something not meant to be uttered from the pulpit.
  2. Always make sure your wireless mic is turned off before you kneel at the altar to pray with someone. The congregation doesn’t need to hear someone confess something over the main speakers.
  3. For heaven’s sake, turn off your wireless mic BEFORE you make a last minute trip to the men’s room before the service or during the choir special.
  4. Never assume sugar plums are a safe illustration during a Christmas sermon when you have in your congregation elderly people who have a penchant to talk loud enough to be heard…and like to point out there were other “things” sugar was added to in order to make children latch on.
  5. Never confess from the pulpit that you are yourself and may never be “another Billy Graham.” Someone will ALWAYS say, “Amen!”
  6. Never use your wife in a sermon illustration unless you want to become an illustration for what not to do in a sermon.
  7. Never make ministry about success, wealth, health, the good life, or yourself; preach Christ crucified. You may come across as a fool to some, but the message of the cross is the power and wisdom of God to those who will believe (1 Cor. 1:23-31).

There’s more I could tell you, but what are your thoughts? Do you have any words of advice for up-and-coming preachers?

Gratuitous Cute Pet Photo

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by | January 4, 2016 · 11:35 am

First Video of the Year – But No Monkeys

Regularity

Even though I plan on consuming more fiber, that’s not what I’m talking about when I say “regularity.” No, I am going to endeavor to post more regularly this year (2016).

If I can manage a post of some kind every day, that will nearly triple my average. However, that means not all of my posts will be super-spiritual, in-depth, near-canon-quality essays capable of lifting your soul to heavenly heights.

Some will be short, stupid, or simply for fun. Something for everyone.

Something for Somebody

So, for the first Monday of the year here is a video. It’s not for everybody, I understand. It’s violent, messy, and childish.

On the other hand, it is creative, cathartic, and…well…childish. Don’t we all need to act a little childish sometimes?

This video is specifically for all of you out there who love explosives, creating things only to destroy them, and plastic toy soldiers. It’s also a video for all of you who just need to get a little frustration out of your system.

My daughter and I made a styrofoam “concrete” building, painted it, put plastic army men in it, invited some friends over on New Year’s Eve, and fired off 144 bottle rockets.

Enjoy!

 

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