A Shepherd's Heart

During a recent meeting of a concerned group of BBC members with David Coombs and three other staff members, one of the things the members stressed was that Steve Gaines does not seem to demonstrate that he has a shepherd's heart nor does he seem to demonstrate love to the members in general.

David Coombs asked what the pastor could do to demonstrate love. The members' answer was that there is no magic formula, that love demonstrates itself from a heart filled with the love of God.

So let's help Steve Gaines and David Coombs. What are we looking for in a pastor?

Thanks to "aslansown" for this topic idea.

Twisted Scripture

These two billboards have recently gone up along I-40 near Bellevue Baptist Church.

This one is next to the seminary and faces west:

That's a nice sentiment, but it's only part of the verse. This is the verse in its entirety.

"Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited." Romans 12:16 NIV

Read the verse in context here.

This one is adjacent to the ball fields and faces east:

"Pray for one another." There's certainly nothing wrong with that. But is that what James 5:9 really says? Let's take a look.

"Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!" James 5:9 NIV

Read the verse in context here. The verse on the billboard is a snippet from James 5:16 NASB. So why doesn't the sign say "James 5:16"? Is this just another "mistake of the mind"?

And now we have word of a third billboard, this one on Summer Avenue near Mendenhall.

Here is that verse in its entirety:

"Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:25 NIV

I've heard there are more of these billboards around town. Anyone who knows the location of others (photos would be nice), please let me know. I'm sure these aren't the only hidden nuggets just waiting for the "dissenters" to find. Think of it as a sheep-beaters treasure hunt!

What is Idolatry?

I came across this interesting blog today. There are even photos of the "Donna Gaines" display from Bellevue!

When I think of the idols described in the Old Testament, I can't help but be reminded of the "Statue of Liberation," the 72-foot-tall "altered" replica of the Statue of Liberty that was erected in front of a church on Winchester Road and Kirby Parkway in southeast Memphis. According to this article, this statue was "inspired by a Memphis church that has three giant crosses." Hmmm... I wonder which church that could be?

I'm not saying all of these displays are bad. (Some border on tacky but aren't necessarily bad.) They are what they are -- symbols. It's just important to be careful not to make symbols into more than they are.

4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. Exodus 20:4-6

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Southern Baptist Convention 2007

Information about the 2007 SBC Annual Meeting, including resolutions, photos, and links to the live internet feed, can be found here.

The associated blog is here.

Wade Burleson's motion regarding a study (what's there to study?) about the feasibility of the SBC maintaining a list of sexual predator ministers from within its ranks:

Preventing Child Abuse Is A Calling For Us All

At the San Antonio Convention this Tuesday morning, at 8:40 a.m., I [Wade Burleson] plan to introduce the following motion:

“I move that the Southern Baptist Convention requests the Executive Committee to conduct a feasibility study concerning the development of a database of Southern Baptist ministers who have been credibly accused of, personally confessed to, or legally been convicted of sexual harrassment or abuse, and that such a database be accessible to Southern Baptist churches in order to assist in preventing any future sexual abuse or harrassment.”

Important Interview

On Monday, June 4th at 9:00 a.m., there will be an interview with our own David Brown on Live at 9 on WREG Channel 3. Anna Whalley of the Shelby County Crime Victim's Center is scheduled to be interviewed with him. The interview is to focus on the importance of reporting even suspected abuse to the proper authorities immediately and the services available to victims of childhood sexual abuse. David has asked for our prayers for him and for victims to have the courage to seek assistance.

If you're not in the Memphis area or not near a TV when it airs live, you should be able to watch it online here later.

The Commercial Appeal may do an interview later.

Related stories:

Rape of Faith

America's Largest Protestant Denomination Under Fire

Victim's rights group calls for action by Church

Bellevue investigation yields sharp criticism

EthicsDaily.com