Category Archives: Uncategorized

by | September 16, 2010 · 12:38 pm

Local Bus Driver Injured, and You Won’t Hear About It

The Average School Bus

It is dangerous being a school bus driver these days.

For the last two days, in the Hixson, Tn area, there has been a driver that has had to put up with fights on his bus.  This morning he was actually injured.  The students that caused his injuries were students who have been written up for past offenses, but were still riding that route.  Actions are being taken to try to get another driver and another bus to service that particular stop, but the students, or at least the students not arrested (if any of them were, I don’t know), will still be receiving transportation.

There are so many reasons for why all this is going on.  One reason is the fact that the students that are causing trouble are from families that have no control over their children, nor accept responsibility.  Another reason is that the children have no respect for authority, no fear of consequences, and respect for themselves.  The real immediate problem, however, is the inability of the bus drivers to discipline students in any way, nor put these dangerous, anti-social students OFF the bus.  Literally, the driver’s hands are tied  – tied, that is, to the steering wheel.  The only thing they can do is defend themselves when attacked, but even that is subject to legal issues.

There are many people, if not most, that think it is a right to ride a school bus.  It is NOT a right; it is a PRIVILEGE!  Children are required by law to attend school (or home school), but students are not guaranteed the right to ride a bus, especially if they are making life miserable for everyone else, disobeying rules, or hurting people.  Sadly, certain groups of people have a problem with thinking that they are “owed” certain rights based on their economic status, location, or ethnicity.  The fact is that buses in Hamilton County are owned by a company, not the county, and drivers work for this company, not the tax payer.  As a company, it reserves the right to decide who it will, and won’t allow to ride it’s buses.  Now, the contract between the company and the county may make certain exceptions, based on law, but no student is above the law, nor has the right to ride regardless of his actions.

Another problem that exists in Hamilton County is that bus drivers are required to handle everything that goes on on their buses and still drive.  What is a driver supposed to do when he is driving in the dark hours of the morning with 60-80 kids?  How is he/she expected to deal with trouble starting and try to drive at the same time.  It is hard, believe me.  Other states require that another person ride with the driver so that the driver can do his job of keeping the bus on the road.  That is not the case here; only with special needs (small bus)  routes.

I think that there should be an outcry on behalf of those that literally put their lives on the line to transport the most valuable cargo in the world – our children.

As school bus drivers, we should be able to protect and defend ourselves without fear of law suites, but we should also be able to defend and protect the students put in our trust.  When we are not allowed to do anything other than talk to and warn kids, or write them up, many more drivers and students are going to get hurt by gang members, hoodlums, and spoiled rich kids.  Sadly, again, it is the law that protects those who are causing so much trouble.  What’s the answer?  Get the laws changed and allow the brave men and women who transport our children to have more say-so in who is allowed to ride.  That would be a start, at least.

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by | September 14, 2010 · 10:34 pm

You Don’t Have to be Perfect to be Used

So, a Pharisee and a Publican walk into…let’s just say…a  search comittee meeting…

You know the story of the Pharisee and the Publican, don’t you? Jesus told the story, as recorded in Luke 18:10-11

“Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.”

Imagine that instead of the temple, they walked into a search committee meeting.   A meeting of people designated with the task of finding, let’s say, a new pastor for a church (at least that’s the way we do it in the Baptist denomination).   They walk in, introduce themselves, compare resumes, and one gets the job.  Which one?  The one that fits the picture of what every Christian fit for service should be – perfect.

Sunday night I shared with my congregation that God doesn’t just use perfect people, but people who have made mistakes, REAL people.  But sadly, within the church today, there are many men and women who have felt inferior and useless because of  sinful and broken pasts.  They are the people who sit on the pews, week after week, doing all they can to be faithful in life, but are forbidden to hold positions in the church.  They are much like the Publican, men and women who know they have failed before, but want to be forgiven and start new.  They are not the ones that look down on others for mistakes they’ve made.  They’re not Pharisees.

Have you ever considered how dysfunctional the characters of Genesis were?

I read through the book of Genesis last week in a couple of sittings.  Reading a book of the Bible that way, especially in a different translation, can help you see the story from a new perspective.  This time I was just astounded at how messed up these people really were!  There was so much “stuff” going on that if it were today, it would make an episode of Jerry Springer, or TrueTV look tame!  Consider, if nothing else, the sad story of Jacob, Leah, and Rachel.  This was a seriously messed up family with real marital problems.  At one point, Leah and Rachel get into a jealous argument over a son’s mandrakes.  Just imagine you were a marriage counselor and listened in to the following story…

Reuben went out during the wheat harvest and found some mandrakes in the field.  When he brought them to his mother, Leah, Rachel asked, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.”  But Leah replied to her, Isn’t it enough that you have taken my husband?  Now you also want my son’s mandrakes?”

“Well,” Rachel said, “you can sleep with him tonight in exchange for your son’s mandrakes.”  When Jacob came in from the field that evening, Leah went out to meet him and said, “You must come with me, for I have hired you with my son’s mandrakes.”  So Jacob slept with her that night. – Geneses 30:14:16 HCSB

Twice Abraham told other people that his wife, Sarah, was his sister so that he would not be harmed.  Joseph’s brothers hated him and sold him to traveling salesmen.  Jacob and Esau were seriously at odds.  Leah, poor thing, kept trying to have children so that her husband, Jacob would love her.  Jacob’s father-in-law, Laban, got him drunk on his wedding night and gave him the wrong wife – on purpose.  The son’s of Jacob (founders of ten of the tribes of Israel) lied to a bunch of men about making a covenant, then proceeded to slaughter all of them after they had convinced them to be circumsized.  It just goes on and on.  Messed up, I am telling you!

Nevertheless,

God told Abraham in Genesis 12:2-3  “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”  How is this even possible?  If God can use Abraham and his family with all their problems to bless the nations, then He can SURELY use ANYBODY!

Check in next time, and I will continue my thoughts on this subject.  I will be addressing the legalistic applications of 1 Timothy 3, the portion of Scripture most likely used to keep the Pharisees in the pulpit, and the Publicans in the pews.

Here’s a teaser: should divorce keep one from serving as deacon or pastor?

Tell me what YOU think.


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by | September 11, 2010 · 1:22 pm

Heaping Coals, Instead of Burning Korans

Being that it is in the news everywhere, I couldn’t help but weigh in on this story.

Has anyone ever stopped to ask, “Why are we so worried about what Pastor Terry Jones does?”  Sure, there have been many, from Franklin Graham to President Obama, who have stated their opinions.  People in the news all the world over have commented about it saying, “Nothing good can come of this…” and all that.  The main reason that is stated by Christians is that this Florida pastor, by burning Korans, will not only incite violence, but turn people away from Christ.  The “Christians” say that this pastor is not acting according to Scripture.  Maybe.

I would like to submit that the real reason that most people are against this pastor burning Korans in public, which he has a right to do, is because they are AFRAID!  Did you read what I just said? People are AFRAID of what Muslims, the “peaceful” people, will do.  Now, would someone tell me, prior to 9/11, would this have been an issue?

It seems to me that terrorism is winning, and winning big!

Why is it that Terry Jones is/was wanting to burn the Koran?  The reason probably rests in the desire to see some resolution to the inequity in the world.  Just recently I showed to my congregation the video, Obsession – Radical Islam’s War Against the West, in which there were multiple scenes of Muslims burning American flags, crosses, etc., and speaking publicly of how Christians, Jews, and anyone else that differs with them are just “cattle.” In one of the scenes there was an Islamic group standing in New York City, speaking English, proving their loyalty to the Qua-ran and Islam by walking on an American flag and saying, “Allah Akbar!”  Not one person did a thing to stop them.  But could you even imagine the opposite happening?  Death and mayhem would take place, not just on the streets of New York, but all over the world.  So it’s ok to burn a Bible, but not a Koran.  RIIIGHT!

Protesting in Afghanistan

Protests have taken place all over the world over the POTENTIAL burning of Korans at the Florida church.  Nothing had even happened, yet people were rioting, burning stuff, threatening to kill.  Where are the protests, the riots, the murders, the fires of destruction when crucifixes were dipped in urine (see picture at left) by Andres Surrano and called art?  Did Catholics march through Rome burning American flags?  Did Baptists burn art studios?  When Christians did speak out in this country over the funding of such art with tax dollars, the media accused the Christians of being bigoted and incapable of “understanding true art.”  What happens when a cartoonist just draws a picture of Mohammed? Oh, well, cutting his head off is the only logicgal thing for “peace-loving” people to do.  Just doesn’t seem too fair, does it?

So, you see, Pastor Terry Jones is feeling the frustration that comes with seeing others do things that offend you, but never being allowed to speak out.  If everything was fair, Christians should be able to burn Korans just as easily as Jihadists can cut of the heads of people they don’t agree with (Kaafir).

But let me be fair, there are, supposedly, Muslims who do not believe in what the so-called “radicals” are doing.  The don’t believe in terrorism.  They hate what happened on 9/11.  They say that the Koran is being misused in order to justify killing.  For example, here are some verses from the Koran:

(Qur’an 60:7-8):

“It may be that God will grant love (and friendship) between you and those whom ye (now) hold as enemies. For God has power (over all things), and God is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

God does not forbid you, with regard to those who fight you not for (your) faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them: for God loves those who are just.”

(I don’t want to sound like a pessimist, but really, does not the Muslim world consider us as those who “DO fight you for your faith, and DO fight you for your homes?“)

The fact is that most of the world runs in fear at the thought of offending a Muslim, but Christians can be made fun of at every turn.  Islam is on the rise, and it is primarily because FEAR that they are able to grow.  Even if there are “peaceful” Muslims around us, their sympathies still lie with their brethren, and few will stand up and condemn groups such as Hamas, the PLO, etc.  The average Muslim, whether he likes it or not, is benefiting from terrorism in its purest form.  The world, including America, is changing its habits, beliefs, and customs, not to mention the Constitution, in order to placate a TERRORIST religion.

Well, back to Terry Jones.  Does he have the right to burn the Koran? Yes, he does.  Should he?  I don’t think so.  The reason for not doing it should not be based in fear, though.  The reason for not doing it should be based on the Bible.  Not a Bible of milk-toast, wimpy, cowering Christianity; but a Bible filled with the courage of Christ.  Jesus was the MOST offended of all people.  He came to love and to save the lost, but they mocked and crucified Him.  He, of all people, could have poured out unspeakable horrors upon the earth in a matter of seconds, calling ten thousand angels to His defense.  However, He did not.  He knew that His purpose had to be completed, to die for sinful man, so that those who “know not what they do” could be saved.

Even though we have the right to be angry and demand justice, we should show Biblical love.

Ephesians 5:1-2 tells us to “be imitators of God, as dearly loved children. And walk in love, as Christ also loved us and gave Himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.”   And as verse 15 says, we should “pay careful attention” to how we walk, “because the days are evil.”  Fact is, people of the world, including Muslims, are watching us.  Even though Satan would blind their eyes to the Truth of the Gospel, they can still see the love of Christ when it is expressed through the life of a Christian.  Admittedly, giving up our right to respond to injustice, as with burning the Koran, might seem unfair, but doing such things, just to make the other side angry, defeats the command of Romans 12:14, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.”  Further more, verse 17 says, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil.”

Burning the Koran is either an act of revenge, or an attempt at justice.

I would say to all of those like Pastor Jones that I understand your frustration and pain, not to mention your anger at obvious inequities in what is considered fair and just.  But to intentionally provoke, knowing the consequences, would be stirring up unnecessary strife in an already troubled world.  There may come a time when one can no longer “turn the other cheek,” but Romans 12:18 tells us, “whenever it is possible, live at peace with all men…”  What is the reason for this?  Because as verse 19 says, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.”   The best thing that we can do in this world to reach the lost, including the Muslim, is to love them.  Granted, that may be easier said than done.  On the other hand, consider God knows what He is doing, and He makes a promise that is found both in Proverbs and in Romans 12:20-21:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him.  If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in doing so you will be heaping fiery coals on his head.  Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.”

Maybe, instead of burning Korans, we should be “heaping coals.”


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by | September 1, 2010 · 11:55 am

“What do these stones mean?”

While driving my school bus just the other day, I happened to ask a couple of teenagers about their knowledge of the battle of Lookout Mountain during the Civil War. They had no knowledge that there ever WAS a battle on that mountain! I was completely dumbfounded. Every day we drive across the foot of Lookout Mt., right past monuments and markers, right beneath the cannon placements above, and yet they never even knew there was a battle there! Unbelievable!As I see it, somewhere there was a breakdown in the education these children were given. How is it even possible that teenagers could graduate from schools in Chattanooga and never know that one of the key battles of the Civil War, the very war that liberated their ancestors from slavery (they were African-American), was fought in their own back yard?

Was this information not considered important enough to teach in public school?

The Battle of Lookout Mountain

When I took just a few minutes to share some facts about what happened in and around Lookout Mountain and Chattanooga, making them look out the windows up to the low-hanging clouds that covered the bluffs, they began to understand some things. When I related how desperate the Union troops were, the seemingly invincible fortress that was Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, and then used the clouds right in front of them to explain the “miracle” that took place, history came alive. I asked them to imagine how scary it was to a guy that may have walked all the way down from New York, just to look straight up that mountain and know that he was going to have to go up it with just a rifle and a bayonet.

Most American young people do not care about history because they have never been led to make a connection with the past. When it becomes personal, either by making it relevant or intriguing, they take ownership. We can’t just sit around and blame our children, or other’s, for not knowing what we do not teach them.  The very same thing can be said about our faith and what we believe. Consider the following Scripture:

Joshua 4:4-7 Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man: and Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of Jehovah your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take you up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel; that this may be a sign among you, that, when your children ask in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones? then ye shall say unto them, Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of Jehovah; when it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.

What can we learn from these verses?  What principles can we see that could help our youth better understand our Faith, not to mention our history?  Here are just a few observations.

  1. “When your children ask in time to come…”  If our children are not asking questions, they need to be.  We need to lead them to places and discussions that would cause them to ask the right questions that lead them to discover truth.
  2. “These stones…”  There needs to be stones of remembrance, monuments, memorials in each Christian’s life that cause others to ask “the reason of the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15).
  3. “Then ye shall say unto them…”   Do we know what to say when they do ask?  We had better!  What a loss and a missed opportunity when a child, even an adult, asks “what does this mean,” and we have nothing to say.
  4. “Your children…”   It is our responsibility to teach our children, not the state, nor a stranger.  Ultimately, we will be held accountable for what they learn, and from whom.

I can’t be held responsible for all the children of America, but I will be held responsible for mine (that’s one BIG reason we homeschool).  You will have to answer for yours.  And when it comes to the others that ride our buses, or mow our lawns, or stand in line, or or sit in our Sunday School classes, or whatever, don’t waste an opportunity to explain the reason for the “stones,” even if it’s a big mountain.

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by | August 12, 2010 · 6:52 am

Why I Hate Traffic Cameras

So, you’re just doing your own thing, minding your own business, when all of a sudden it seems like a cameraman with a huge flash took a picture of your car. You look around and see nobody, but someone is looking, alright. In a few days you receive a ticket in the mail. Some flash, while others do not, but these traffic cameras are always watching, always ready to snitch on the least little infraction.

I was wondering just recently why it is that I cannot stand these cameras. Supposedly, they are instrumental in saving lives by causing people to drive slower and safer. Maybe. I haven’t seen the statistics. But if they are good at saving lives, then why do I abhor those electronic tattle-tales?

The reason these cameras make me so angry is that they are insulting. Quite frankly, they are un-American (seriously). They insult every one who has earned the right to be trusted to act mature. They imply that I am no more responsible than the teenager who can’t be trusted with his parent’s car.

Every year more laws are added to the books by people who seem to feel that if they don’t write laws, then they won’t get re-elected. We don’t need more laws! We also don’t need spying, tattle-telling, big-brother eyes everywhere. Every day that passes brings us closer to a day when this society will crawl in diapers, drink from government-issued bottles, and never think or make decisions for themselves.

The basis for our laws, I believe, is the Ten Commandments. The beauty of our government, as originally intended, however, is that it was to govern a people who were moral, having the law of God written on the heart (Ps 37:32; Jer 31:33). Maturity has a lot to do with it, also. A moral, mature, self-sufficient people don’t need to be monitored at every curve. It’s a lot like grace.

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by | July 29, 2010 · 9:45 pm

Happy Birthday to Haley!

Ten years ago, yesterday, our little Haley Brianna Baker was born.  Born in Hopkinsville, KY, she is a true Kentucky Wildcat.  Well, being from Tennessee, I know very little about what a “true” wildcat from KY should act like, but if Haley is any clue, they’re nothing to mess with.

Tomorrow is the big party.  We are really going to take advantage of living next to a church gym.  The party is going to be science themed, with all kind of experiments (cool ones, of course) that the kids will be able to do.  One of them will actually involve making ice cream in freezer bags!

Ten years ago, my daughter was born, but I really didn’t know what to think.  You should have seen her!  You know how everybody always says, “All babies are beautiful?”  Well, to be completely honest, I shocked the nurse beside me when I said, “I don’t think she is mine.”  Who could have blamed me?  Do you know who she looked like? FRED SANFORD!  You know, from the tv show “Sanford and Son?”  White, Baptist preachers should not be having babies that look like old, black comedians!  You should have seen you look on the nurses face.  “Don’t say that,” she replied in a strong whisper which my wife was not supposed to hear.

Just a couple of days later, my wife carried Haley into the sanctuary of Hillcrest Baptist Church.  I can still see her carrying that little bundle in her arms.  The proud look on her face was beaming, as mine must have been, also. It was more than just the pride of having a new baby to show off, however.  What most people can’t understand is that it was also a sense of pride that we were able to take our little girl to her first church service in her life, the first one after the day she was born, and dedicate her to God.

Psalm 127 compares children to arrows in a quiver, and verse five says that a man is happy whose quiver is full of them.  Sadly, we can’t have any more children.  Haley will be the last, naturally.  She was our last home-made arrow, but we are happy with what we have.  I just pray that God will continue to give us the grace to rear our children in such a way that, as arrows, they will stay sharp, straight and fly true when they are released to pursue their God-ordained target.

Why were Valerie and I so proud?  I don’t really know for sure.  But one thing I do know is this: it was really cool to think that we were responsible for bringing into this world one more weapon that would be destined to put some hurt on the Devil.  Happy birthday to our littlest “Arrowhead!’All three "Arrows"

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by | September 7, 2009 · 4:51 pm

The Doctrine of Separation Examined

There are so many destructive teachings that are simply corruptions of actual truth.  One of those is the doctrine of separation.  Practiced within the more independent and fundamental sects of Christianity, this doctrine is mainly derived from 2 Corinthians 6:17, ” Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you…” The idea is that if one group does not agree with another in all areas, then association is considered sinful, or at least liberal.

I personally believe that this has been taken way too far within the body of Christ.

A few Sundays ago I was at a church where a missionary was speaking.  I really enjoyed hearing what he had to say.  What disappointed me was what was on his prayer card.  Listed on the back, in his statement of beliefs, was the “doctrine of separation.”  However, during the message that he preached, he spoke of how it was good to be able to talk to a Charistmatic believer in Mongolia.  He spoke of how it was good, in a land that so few missionaries frequented, to find anyone to talk to that was a Christian.  But when it came to working together, that was a different story.

Years ago, in 1992, I was given the opportunity to travel to Romania for a month.  Long story short, in order to do some first-time evangelical work in a small village, two other young guys and myself were priviledged to hire a young interpreter to help us.  Actually, he was helping a Pentecostal church group rebuilding grain silos during the day.  Because he was free in the evening, he helped us.  He even helped us make friends with the Pentecostal group.  We didn’t have services together, but we did get to have friendly contact.  Ultimately, because of this unplanned cooperation (the Church of God folk paid the interpreter for us) around 80 souls came to accept Christ as their Saviour in one week.

When I got back to the U.S., thoughts crossed my mind about how Baptist missionaries could develope ways to work together with other Christian missionaries in third-world countries, especially where the work was great.  Pooling local resources and manpower for mutual benefit seemed something totally logical to me; but not to BIMI, the mission agency with which I had traveled.  Unlike Southern Baptist missionaries, independent Baptist missionaries have to raise their own funds to reach the field and to stay there.  To me it seemed that being able to work with other Christians to accomplish like goals was a no-brainer, but not according to the doctrine of separation which BIMI held true to, as do most independent Baptists with which I have been aquainted.

The belief that Christians cannot work together, worship together, or evangelize together to reach a common desired goal is crazy.  There are areas that make Baptists (of which I am) different from other denominations, and rightfully so.  These differences, however, are more often than not of little eternal significance.  Baptists believe in baptism by submersion, for instance, while Presbyterians normally do not.  Is that worth saying that when it comes to winning the lost for Christ that we must remain separate in all things?  Even if a friend of mine is a five-point Calvinist, does that mean that I can’t walk down a street with him as we both preach salvation through Jesus alone?  I like what article XIV of the 2000 edition of theBaptist Faith and Message has to say on the subject:

“Members of New Testament churches should cooperate with one another in carrying forward the missionary, educational, and benevolent ministries for the extention of Christ’s Kingdom.  Christian unity in the New Testament sense is spiritual harmony and voluntary cooperation for common ends by various groups of Christ’s people.  Cooperation is desirable between the various Christian denominations, when the end to be attained is itself justified, and when such cooperation involves no violation of conscience or compromise of loyalty to Christ and His Word as revealed in the New Testament.”

When it comes to the legalists and the Pharisaical crowd that promotes separation to the extent of mutual exclusion, finger pointing and self-glorification (i.e., “I am right with God and you are not, because you don’t believe the same as me.”), maybe isolation isn’t that bad.  More people than not, I truly believe, think that working together for the greater good of the Kingdom is biblical.  Only a small minority of so-called “fundamentalists” within the Christian faith feel otherwise.  However, the problem is not so much that we believe that working together is good as long as there is no compromise, it’s getting us to actually DO it.  Let the “separatists” stay separate if they wish, but let the rest of us unite where possible to form a true Nation of Christians, the body of Christ.

Say what you will about the “herd mentality,” but it is the loners that the lions and wolves look for first.  There truly is strength in unity.

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by | September 7, 2009 · 11:54 am

Please check out the tabs

If you are new to this blog, or if you are returning, please take a look at the new tabs up top.  They are there to help keep things simple, for one.  Secondly, they are there to take you to the specific area of discussion which may interest you the most.  If you have a comment or a question, please write it.  Your comments can help lead to further discussion and deeper content.

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by | August 27, 2009 · 9:44 pm

Hello world!

I have decided to share my thoughts with the world. As a pastor of a small Southern Baptist church in Chattanooga, TN, and a former (recovering) legalist, my comments might be found useful to some, encouraging to others, and downright enraging to a few. As time goes on, and I figure out the blog life, I hope to here from a lot of other people trying to recover from the burden of legalism.

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