Category Archives: Uncategorized

by Anthony Baker | October 31, 2019 · 7:45 pm

To Be With Him…

I went to my “reader” with the intention to look for something to reblog on my site. Well, the first one I clicked on was this one by my friend IB. There was an immediate connection with my spirit.

You see, I’m trying to do a lot of things, maybe too much (according to a couple of deacons who want me to be careful and not burn myself out), and all of it NEEDS to be done. Yet, just this morning I was having coffee with a fellow preacher and I shared my self-diagnosed need to spend more time with the Lord in prayer…not in a legalistic way, but in a quality way.

In other words, I need to spend time with the One who has sent me, otherwise whatever I’m doing for Him will be nothing more than wood, hay, and stubble.

Thanks, IB, for the reminder – and confirmation.

See, there's this thing called biology...

I love this saying, “Jesus calls us to be with Him, not to work for Him.”

That bothers me, I have a bazillion objections already. Like, “faith without works is dead!” But there is stuff that needs to get done! Nobody else is going to do it! What am I supposed to do, just sit here and do nothing?

Jesus calls us to be with Him. We people tend to be all about fixing stuff, doing stuff, producing stuff, as if we now get to show how much good work we do for the Lord, how invaluable we are. Chuckling here, and I shall spare you all the links, but those busy trying to prove how virtuous and good they are, are all over twitter and FB, and they’re downright ugly. Ugly, I tell ya! U-g-l-y.

That’s because our own works are always based on scarcity and fear. I do…

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by Anthony Baker | October 29, 2019 · 5:20 pm

The Inconvenient Jesus

You may hear me preach something very kin to this post some day. I could almost hear a whack on the pulpit and feel the spit flying through the air as I caught a glimpse of a waving handkerchief. Preach it, brother!

Kingdom Pastor

Being “in the country” means sometimes you have to go the distance to find what you are looking for. Now, understand that I model the example of buying locally as much as possible. But sometimes . . . you have to go the distance. We frequently have to go north of here to see some of our doctors, and most importantly, to go see Dad. In one of these paths I inevitably have to stop at this particular convenience store; “have to” being the operative word.

You see, I have an enormous love for coffee, and I have to take a little “fluid pill” prescribed by my doctor to help with my blood pressure. Well, if you love coffee and have to take one of those demon pills–then you understand why I “have to” stop there. And out of respect for that business owner, I do purchase something for the…

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Reprove the Reprovable

Just a thought from Proverbs. Tonight we are studying chapter 9 at church (Wednesday night). My prayer is that I will always be teachable, but also able to distinguish between those who are and those who aren’t. Time is too valuable to waste it on the foolish who don’t even care.

Proverbial Thought

Proverbs 9:8

“Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.”

A Little Irony

In one way it seems counter-intuitive to be told not to reprove someone, but that is exactly what Solomon is saying. Some people refuse to be corrected.

It not only seems counter-intuitive, but ironic. Why would the “wise man” need to be rebuked? Shouldn’t we be rebuking the fool? It’s almost crazy, isn’t it? Don’t correct the fool, but do correct the wise: maybe we should dig into this a little further.

The Scorner

Let’s think about the scorner for a moment. Gesenius described the scorner as one who derides and mocks, maybe even by “imitating [the reprover’s] voice in sport.” In other words, the scorner could be thought of as someone who, when corrected, comes back with a “nah nah nah nah boo boo, I can’t…

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by Anthony Baker | October 4, 2019 · 12:31 pm

Knowledge Looks Good On You

The first entry for Proverbial Thought was published on April 1st, 2012. It took 2 years, writing every day, to go through the whole book of Proverbs. However, due to various reasons, a few posts were missed. Even worse, several have been lost in the black hole of the digital universe. But today – yes, today! – I wrote a brand new commentary to fill in the space left by an entry that went missing.

I hope you find it to be a blessing.

Proverbial Thought

Proverbs 14:18

“The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.”

Making a Deal

When I was young, there was a very popular game show on television called Let’s Make a Deal. One of the most popular aspects of that show was the opportunity given to contestants to choose their prize. They could choose between what they were initially given, or take a risk and exchange it for something else…usually behind “curtain number 1.”

More often than not, the contestants would choose to take the risk – and it was a risk – and surrender what was in hand (even though they may have not know what that was, either) for whatever was hidden behind one of several curtains.

And, more often than not, as far as I can remember, the contestants usually ended up with something pretty silly, like a lifetime supply of toothpicks. On the…

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by Anthony Baker | October 3, 2019 · 11:34 am

Wherever the Good News is spoken …

Learning From God's Word

“Wherever the Good News is spoken in the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her” (Mark 14:9).
The Good News tells us about Christ’s love for us. It tells us about what Christ has done for us. It also calls for our response to His love, our response to what he has done for us.

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by Anthony Baker | October 1, 2019 · 7:00 am

Observations from a Middle-Georgia Pastorate: the Gnat Line

GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO

Gnats

I had never heard of such things growing up in Tennessee. And when living in Kentucky, there was nothing like it in the blue grass. But down here in middle Georgia there are these critters called eye gnats, or simply “gnats.”

You see, where we are is where the soil is just right for a particular kind of pest that will quite near make a non-native preacher cuss. These things will fly (no disrespect intended) into your eyes, your nose, your ears, and even your mouth. They’re dreadfully-annoying flying flecks of near demonic frustration.

But however annoying these little critters can be (and one just flew by my computer screen), at least they are not flies. Annoying is one thing, but at lest they’re not disgusting and deadly.

Believe it or not, the average fly is much worse than a hundred of these ear-buzzing hellions.

Flies

I don’t want to gross you out with all the stuff that flies do, but I could.

The worst part is that in order to eat they have to regurgitate stomach acid onto their food source (your food), dissolve it, then suck it back up. In the process, whatever was left in the gut of the fly from its last meal (road-kill or doggie poop) just got puked onto your burger or ice cream.

Now THAT is DISGUSTING!

Because flies are so nasty, annoying, and ever-present, the writer of Ecclesiastes chose to use them (not gnats) in an illustration. He said,

“Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savor: [so doth] a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom [and] honor“ (Ecclesiastes 10:1).

What does that mean?

Well, an apothecary was someone who made perfume, or a medicinal ointment. Some of these ointments could take a long time to create, not to mention use a lot of costly ingredients in the making. If left uncovered, the sweet smell would attract flies. Only one fly landing in the ointment could cause it to spoil and create a foul odor.

Losing its beautiful smell, the ointment was no longer capable of doing what it was designed to do.

Like the ointment of the perfume maker, our reputations (testimonies) are hard to come by, but easy to ruin. All it takes is just one little mistake, misstep, or sin to cause a big stink. So, watch out for the little sins that can ruin your hard-earned reputation.

Keep the lids on and the screens closed.

“The Fly Song” (Dead Flies)

A few years ago, in a moment of creativity, I stayed up late one night putting a song together on my 8-track Tascam. A while later, my friend (Roy Cavender) came and laid down the lead guitar track.

I’m going to let you listen to it, but you need an open mind and a sense of humor. Maybe one day I will have the time and money to take it to the studio and do it up right, along with some other works recorded late at night when I should have been asleep.

Click the link below to listen! Then, by all means, be thankful if all you have buzzing around are middle-Georgia gnats 🙂

Dead Flies

Being Judgmental of Angels

So often, when people do crazy stuff and have their actions questioned by a believer in Christ, they respond with the creme de la creme of rebuttals: “Christians aren’t supposed to judge.”

It matters not they usually have no earthly idea what they are talking about, or where they even get that phrase; they simply respond with a pious sneer and proudly shut down any criticism from those concerned enough to say anything.

Sadly, many Christians don’t even understand what Jesus meant when He said, “Judge not, that ye be not judged” (Matthew 7:1). Therefore, as so often is the case, unbelievers, who only know enough about Jesus to use Him as an excuse, intimidate Christians into silence.

But what is really sad is when Christians REALLY do what we’re accused of (make assumptions from which we cast judgment).

It happens all the time… like when we see someone on the side of the road with a sign that says, “Will work for food,” or, when you are sitting in your car and a woman walks up and taps on the window, only to ask if you have some spare change.

Who are we to say that they are lying? Is it possible they really do need money for a fan belt, a gallon of milk, or a bus ticket home? Is it just possible the scruffy-looking, unkempt fellow or madam you’re looking at is, in actuality, a heavenly messenger? An angel?

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. – Hbr 13:2 KJV

During this time of world chaos and financial uncertainty, it is far more likely that the “bum” on the side of the road is actually homeless or out of work. Who knows for what reason he/she is there? Are we to pass judgment upon them?

Maybe we should just love them and do what we can to help when we are confronted – or before. In one of the same chapters that talk about not judging another unjustly are found the following verses:

Give what you have to anyone who asks you for it; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. Do for others as you would like them to do for you. – Luke 6:30-31 NLT

By not giving that dollar or two to the one who asks, are we not, in actuality, disobeying a direct command of Jesus?

Really, by not giving, are we not committing two sins? One would be that we did not give when asked; the other that we judged them unworthy. It would seem to me that it would be the better part of wisdom, not to mention a display of our faith in action, to entertain the “stranger.”

Who knows, he may actually be taking notes for his Boss in heaven.

God will be the Judge. Just be faithful.

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Gallery

Useless Information

I don’t reblog enough, but since I won’t have a good post for Grandparents Day until after Sunday morning’s church service (because I want to include the outline from which I preach, but I don’t want to give anything way), this is a great and worthless post to share for now.

Make sure you click on the link to see the whole thing, because you need to see the pictures!
Thanks, Mitch 🙂

Mitch Teemley

You’ll Thank Me Later. Really.

(Click on any picture to enlarge it, or to start slide show)

Special Bonus: Useless (but fun) Advice

“Don’t be sad, because sad is just das spelled backwards.” ~Found online (and, dude, it completely changed my life)

“Marriage is 5% love, 5% compromise, and 90% knowing you’ve already lost the argument so you should just shut up and fold the laundry, Ted…”

“The quickest way to resolve a marital disagreement is to argue naked.”

“If you love someone let them go. If you hate someone let them go. In fact, basically, just let everyone go. People are stupid.”

“People will stop asking you questions if you answer in interpretive dance.”

“When life gives you lemons, freeze them and throw them at people.”

“Having a two-year-old is like having a blender with no lid.” ~Jerry Seinfeld

“If you don’t like where you are now, move. You’re…

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by Anthony Baker | September 7, 2019 · 10:43 pm

by Anthony Baker | August 27, 2019 · 9:59 pm

Hello world! (My 1st Post)

From August 27, 2009

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 hear from a lot of other people trying to recover from the burden of legalism.

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Quote

“Holy Heartburn”

I don’t know why I can’t “reblog” from the app on my phone, but I really wanted to share the following post by Jill the Irish lady (I think she’s Irish). She’s the one over at Mustard Seed.

Anyway, please click on the link below and read what she wrote. I was moved by it.

via “Holy Heartburn”