"For the love of money is the root of all evil." (1 Tim. 6:10a) Ergo... follow the money.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Trouble Clef
"Trouble Clef," avideo on Facebook by Jonathan Cordell starring Jim Whitmire. Duplicated here only because there are still people in the world who don't have Facebook pages.
Title of the book the guy was reading... Your Best Life Now by Joel Osteen.
Mac asks, "What's goin' owwwn?"
One detail of note: I think using a characterization and the words of Jesus in a satirical context like they did at the end was unnecessary and detracted from an otherwise funny video.
I thought that was hilarious!!! I didn't analyze anything. I just thought Jim falling apart like that over some of the things he used to "point out" to us in choir was funny! Apparently...Jim's still got it:) The only thing that didn't fit for me was looking to Mac for what to do. I guess that was part of the humor. Cute video!
I wasn't watching it with the intent to "analyze" it either, but just as you observed Mac didn't "fit" for you (or for me either if I stopped to think about it), that one thing at the end didn't "fit" for me and didn't add anything. Still, very funny, especially for anyone who ever sang in a choir under JW.
Are y'all reading the Wartburg blog...I probably already forgot the name of it with my memory issues but Nass will correct me hopefully. At the very least if SG isn't hurt that his actions hurt so many people ...he should at least be embarrassed. Try as he may to create another "legacy" for himself (why does a minister need a legacy other than living a godly life anyway??)...teaching the church how to pray, how to worship,the marketing program of "loving Memphis"...I think those links ... particularly the definition/explanation of what BBC is...will always over shadow whatever he comes up with. Especially as long as he leaves all his "wounded" scattered everywhere. (JMO)
Hundreds of congregants have left a pioneering megachurch in Florida to form their own congregation because they were unhappy with leadership at the church that's seen as a bedrock of the religious right.
The action by the unhappy members at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church was the culmination of a feud between loyalists to an evangelical luminary, the Rev. D. James Kennedy, and his replacement as pastor, the Rev. Tullian Tchividjian, a grandson of the Rev. Billy Graham.
Because it was on someone's Facebook page and his name was in the credits, I just assumed the video was produced by individuals on their own time using their own equipment. I noticed it began with "A First Baptist Church picture," but it didn't have the FBC Jax logo or indicate that it was produced or endorsed by the church.
I have now been informed that it was most likely produced using church video and editing equipment which puts it in a whole new light, and other than being much more professionally produced, really makes it not much different from the BBC intern videos other than with the exception of the "cringe" moment at the end, it wasn't disrespectful (IMO). We got to see a side of JW many people never see, and I found the story line funny and thought others might, too.
The FBC Jax Watchdog blog will probably have more information on this in the days to come.
Many pastors today need to learn some lessons from the Good Shepherd. When a man is called to shepherd a flock, he is to do just that - shepherd them. Phillip Keller wrote an excellent book some years ago: "A Shepherd and His Sheep". If a shepherd wanders off from the flock, the wolves and other predators will attack. If a sheep is cast down, it needs the shepeherd's help to get back on its feet. If a sheep is caught in a thicket, it's the shepherd who needs to come to its rescue. None of this will happen if the shepherd is not around enough to be aware of his sheep that are in trouble. I am constantly amazed at how many "shepherds" do not seem to have their flock as their primary objective. I'm sure going on mission trips, speaking at other churches, etc. is more exciting than the day to day grind of the tedious job of ministering to the people God has placed in their care.
"P.T. Cruzers (Seniors age 55+) Monday, October 19 Dr. Steve Gaines is known as a man of prayer and a preacher of God’s Word. He has pastored churches in Texas, Tennessee, and Alabama before coming to Bellevue Baptist Church in 2005. He will be playing guitar and singing with his daughters; Allison, a sophomore at Union University and Bethany, a junior at ECS.
If you are 55 or older and would like to be a part of this fun-loving group, call Dixie at xxx-xxxx. We meet the third Monday of each month at 5:30pm for a delicious meal and wonderful entertainment.
OCT MENU: Pork Tenderloin, flavored rice, English peas, chef salad, rolls, chocolate cake"
now pastor Steve Gaines is an entertainer, who would have known?
Martin Luther Of course preachers want to be entertainers, I remember a Wednesday night about thirty years ago, 32yrs probably remembers it too, when Dr. Rogers got up and said, “I make $20,000 a year and I can’t make ends meet.” Bob Sorrell got up and said, “I make $10,000 a year and I can’t make ends meet. Then we all looked to Jim Whitmire wondering what he would say. Jim somberly stepped to the microphone and said, “I make $500,000 a year,” breaking immediately into song, “There’s no business like show business like no business I know………”
I'm wondering where exactly SG is known as the preacher of prayer???? I know he told BBC he was going to teach them to pray but is that and getting Ms.Higgie to write those awful children prayers enough to "make him known" for prayer??
A friend who attended the SBC convention only heard other ministers refer to him as "Financial Gaines".
I'm over SG personally...but I think the marketing is interesting.
Entertainer or speaker doesn't matter, it's just not safe anymore to have Steve Gaines as a guest in your church. It's like rolling in the Trojan Horse .
Enough time has now passed, that I can, hopefully, make a clearer, less emotional assessment of what not only happened at BBC, but also to many other churches in our area - and elsewhere. The churches that are floundering the most seem to be the churches which were once traditional, and then came under new leadership that believed change to contemporary was the way to go. In contrast, I've observed that churches which from their conception were contemporary, seem to continue to grow. Admittedly there is a market for those who want a casual/contemporary church experience, but there also are many (of all ages) who thrive best spiritually in a more traditional worship service.
It is my belief that until leadership learns that you cannot force something that is unappealing on people or yank away something precious to them and expect them to be happy about it, the once traditional churches will continue to struggle. Maybe after a few more years of this chaos, the message will finally get thru to those in charge who stubbornly seek change for change's sake without regard for the people whom they lead. The church is not a democracy but neither is it to be a dictatorship. Instead it is a body of believers with Christ as the head, and those He has placed as spiritual authorities are not to rule with a heavy hand, but to lead with His love and by His grace. "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight of it, not by constraint but willingly; not for filthy lucre but of a ready mind. Neither being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock." (I Peter 5:2-3)
From the "Mid-South Memories" section of today's Commercial Appeal:
75 years ago: 1934
A group of Negro spiritual singers will be on the program, at the all-day meeting of the Woman’s Missionary Union to be held this week at the Bellevue Baptist Church. The topic of the meeting, which will be presided over by Mrs. T.B. Lamb, will be, “Our Brothers in Black, Here and There.”
Mrs. W.T. McLain will conduct the devotions and talks will be made by Mrs. J.W. Jackson, Mrs. Howell Long and Mrs. Clinton Woods.
Camp Cordova has a new owner, a new name and a broader mission.
But the property is staying in the family.
The Mid-South Baptist Association, which 60 years ago bought the property at 849 Rocky Point Road for about $30,000, has sold the Cordova Retreat and Conference Center to association member Faith Baptist Church in Bartlett for about $2 million.
The site covers 75.5 acres, has a 5-acre lake and 59 buildings. The grounds now will be known as The Grove at Red Oak Lake -- A Ministry of Faith Baptist Church.
"They offered some interest-free financing, which brought the net down," said Kevin Womack, director of finance and development for Faith Baptist.
Womack said the purchase of the property was made possible through "a lot of small gifts and a few large ones," adding that offerings toward the purchase of the camp had exceeded $700,000.
The camp had been dormant for two years.
"I believe there are opportunities to use it more than ever," said Neal Pflibsen, the new director of The Grove at Red Oak Lake. "Memphis, in my mind, needs to be a hot spot to bring a mission team to impact the community.
"We'd like to match up these ministries with resources and the need in Memphis. I'd love to wake 'em up, feed 'em breakfast, give 'em a box lunch and send them out to give their labor and love in the Memphis area."
Mike Day, director of missions at the Mid-South Association, said the decision to sell was "a matter of priorities."
Day said the association wanted to focus more energy on starting churches, sustaining churches and providing resources for specific churches' ministries.
"We found ourselves in a dilemma of owning a camp only about 25 percent of our churches used as a resource over the last six years," said Day, noting the association has 159 members. "We basically had to make a decision about where we would spend our money.
"From the perspective of the association, I can only describe (Faith Baptist becoming the owner) as the best-case scenario. The camping ministry will be preserved."
One local church still meets at the property, but will be finding a new location. Pflibsen said the camp's gate is often open to the public and "people fish at the lake every day."
But there is much work to be done, including having to update the necessary licenses to use the Palmer Center dining hall over the Christmas holidays.
"The grounds have been well-kept," Pflibsen said, "but some of the buildings need repair and some need to be gutted or taken down."
Womack said the church will be making annual payments over the next 10 years; long-term, Pflibsen aims to make the camp self-sustaining.
Pflibsen envisions the camp as a great place for local churches to bring youth and other groups for retreats, but also a destination for out-of-town ministry and missions teams.
He intends to be pro-active.
"It's a whole lot more than having a camp and sitting here waiting for the phone to ring," he said.
Please refrain from using the anonymous identity as it becomes confusing distinguishing one anonymous commenter from another. Either register with Blogger (you can do this anonymously) and log in or select a unique screen name.
Title of the book the guy was reading... Your Best Life Now by Joel Osteen.
ReplyDeleteMac asks, "What's goin' owwwn?"
One detail of note: I think using a characterization and the words of Jesus in a satirical context like they did at the end was unnecessary and detracted from an otherwise funny video.
I thought that was hilarious!!! I didn't analyze anything. I just thought Jim falling apart like that over some of the things he used to "point out" to us in choir was funny! Apparently...Jim's still got it:)
ReplyDeleteThe only thing that didn't fit for me was looking to Mac for what to do. I guess that was part of the humor. Cute video!
I wasn't watching it with the intent to "analyze" it either, but just as you observed Mac didn't "fit" for you (or for me either if I stopped to think about it), that one thing at the end didn't "fit" for me and didn't add anything. Still, very funny, especially for anyone who ever sang in a choir under JW.
ReplyDeleteAre y'all reading the Wartburg blog...I probably already forgot the name of it with my memory issues but Nass will correct me hopefully.
ReplyDeleteAt the very least if SG isn't hurt that his actions hurt so many people ...he should at least be embarrassed.
Try as he may to create another "legacy" for himself (why does a minister need a legacy other than living a godly life anyway??)...teaching the church how to pray, how to worship,the marketing program of "loving Memphis"...I think those links ...
particularly the definition/explanation of what BBC is...will always over shadow whatever he comes up with. Especially as long as he leaves all his "wounded" scattered everywhere. (JMO)
You gotta love the contemporary worship style. ;)
ReplyDeleteI loved JW's hair. Who knew it could stand up like that?
ReplyDeleteWow, "retirement" must be grand!
ReplyDeleteThey have him wearing a do-rag to bed?
ReplyDeleteMore time and money spent amusing ourselves to death at church.
Hundreds leave pioneering Fla. megachurch
ReplyDeleteHundreds of congregants have left a pioneering megachurch in Florida to form their own congregation because they were unhappy with leadership at the church that's seen as a bedrock of the religious right.
The action by the unhappy members at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church was the culmination of a feud between loyalists to an evangelical luminary, the Rev. D. James Kennedy, and his replacement as pastor, the Rev. Tullian Tchividjian, a grandson of the Rev. Billy Graham.
Because it was on someone's Facebook page and his name was in the credits, I just assumed the video was produced by individuals on their own time using their own equipment. I noticed it began with "A First Baptist Church picture," but it didn't have the FBC Jax logo or indicate that it was produced or endorsed by the church.
ReplyDeleteI have now been informed that it was most likely produced using church video and editing equipment which puts it in a whole new light, and other than being much more professionally produced, really makes it not much different from the BBC intern videos other than with the exception of the "cringe" moment at the end, it wasn't disrespectful (IMO). We got to see a side of JW many people never see, and I found the story line funny and thought others might, too.
The FBC Jax Watchdog blog will probably have more information on this in the days to come.
Thank you for sharing the video! I miss the level of class that JW and AR had. Church has changed so much since they left BBC...
ReplyDeleteI think it's getting gloriously dark.
Dr Steve Gaines will be back in the pulpit at Bellevue after a 5 day "revival (fund raising)" trip to Alabama.
ReplyDeleteAt least for this Sunday, Bellevue won't have to pay a stand in preacher to fill the pulpit.
But don't worry Steve has more plans to be away from his paid Job here in Memphis.
Is it any wonder there is no monies to put on the smallest event.
"Family Fun Festival Moves to the Neighborhoods"
Next month will be "Bellevue's Love Offering Sunday" , watch for the build up.
-
Now you can hear Steve Gaines "say"
ReplyDelete"now is the time"
"this is the place"
"we don't have any other assignment"
that is after Steve Gaines travels around the country as if Bellevue Baptist Church and Memphis, TN is a part time job.
Now Steve is going to tell us they need more money .
-
And these:
ReplyDeleteTennessee Baptist Convention
Israel Trip
Cruise to the Bahamas
Southern Baptist Convention
Many pastors today need to learn some lessons from the Good Shepherd. When a man is called to shepherd a flock, he is to do just that - shepherd them. Phillip Keller wrote an excellent book some years ago: "A Shepherd and His Sheep". If a shepherd wanders off from the flock, the wolves and other predators will attack. If a sheep is cast down, it needs the shepeherd's help to get back on its feet. If a sheep is caught in a thicket, it's the shepherd who needs to come to its rescue. None of this will happen if the shepherd is not around enough to be aware of his sheep that are in trouble. I am constantly amazed at how many "shepherds" do not seem to have their flock as their primary objective. I'm sure going on mission trips, speaking at other churches, etc. is more exciting than the day to day grind of the tedious job of ministering to the people God has placed in their care.
ReplyDeleteFor all you Senior Assembly of God folks out there, nows your chance to catch Steve Gaines at
ReplyDelete"First Assembly of God"
"P.T. Cruzers (Seniors age 55+)
Monday, October 19
Dr. Steve Gaines is known as a man of
prayer and a preacher of God’s Word. He has pastored churches in Texas, Tennessee, and Alabama before coming to Bellevue Baptist Church in 2005. He will be playing guitar and singing with his daughters; Allison, a sophomore at Union University and Bethany, a junior at ECS.
If you are 55 or older and would like to be a part of this fun-loving group, call Dixie at xxx-xxxx. We meet the third Monday of each month at 5:30pm for a delicious meal and wonderful entertainment.
OCT MENU: Pork Tenderloin, flavored rice, English peas, chef salad, rolls, chocolate cake"
now pastor Steve Gaines is an entertainer, who would have known?
-
Martin Luther
ReplyDeleteOf course preachers want to be entertainers, I remember a Wednesday night about thirty years ago, 32yrs probably remembers it too, when Dr. Rogers got up and said, “I make $20,000 a year and I can’t make ends meet.” Bob Sorrell got up and said, “I make $10,000 a year and I can’t make ends meet. Then we all looked to Jim Whitmire wondering what he would say. Jim somberly stepped to the microphone and said, “I make $500,000 a year,” breaking immediately into song, “There’s no business like show business like no business I know………”
I'm wondering where exactly SG is known as the preacher of prayer???? I know he told BBC he was going to teach them to pray but is that and getting Ms.Higgie to write those awful children prayers enough to "make him known" for prayer??
ReplyDeleteA friend who attended the SBC convention only heard other ministers refer to him as "Financial Gaines".
I'm over SG personally...but I think the marketing is interesting.
gmommy,
ReplyDeleteIt's all in the packaging, isn't it?
Entertainer or speaker doesn't matter, it's just not safe anymore to have Steve Gaines as a guest in your church. It's like rolling in the Trojan Horse .
ReplyDelete-
Enough time has now passed, that I can, hopefully, make a clearer, less emotional assessment of what not only happened at BBC, but also to many other churches in our area - and elsewhere. The churches that are floundering the most seem to be the churches which were once traditional, and then came under new leadership that believed change to contemporary was the way to go. In contrast, I've observed that churches which from their conception were contemporary, seem to continue to grow. Admittedly there is a market for those who want a casual/contemporary church experience, but there also are many (of all ages) who thrive best spiritually in a more traditional worship service.
ReplyDeleteIt is my belief that until leadership learns that you cannot force something that is unappealing on people or yank away something precious to them and expect them to be happy about it, the once traditional churches will continue to struggle. Maybe after a few more years of this chaos, the message will finally get thru to those in charge who stubbornly seek change for change's sake without regard for the people whom they lead. The church is not a democracy but neither is it to be a dictatorship. Instead it is a body of believers with Christ as the head, and those He has placed as spiritual authorities are not to
rule with a heavy hand, but to lead with His love and by His grace.
"Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight of it, not by constraint but willingly; not for filthy lucre but of a ready mind. Neither being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock."
(I Peter 5:2-3)
From the "Mid-South Memories" section of today's Commercial Appeal:
ReplyDelete75 years ago: 1934
A group of Negro spiritual singers will be on the program, at the all-day meeting of the Woman’s Missionary Union to be held this week at the Bellevue Baptist Church. The topic of the meeting, which will be presided over by Mrs. T.B. Lamb, will be, “Our Brothers in Black, Here and There.”
Mrs. W.T. McLain will conduct the devotions and talks will be made by Mrs. J.W. Jackson, Mrs. Howell Long and Mrs. Clinton Woods.
Also from today's Commercial Appeal:
ReplyDeleteCamp Cordova: Longtime Baptist retreat has new owner, new name
Camp Cordova has a new owner, a new name and a broader mission.
But the property is staying in the family.
The Mid-South Baptist Association, which 60 years ago bought the property at 849 Rocky Point Road for about $30,000, has sold the Cordova Retreat and Conference Center to association member Faith Baptist Church in Bartlett for about $2 million.
The site covers 75.5 acres, has a 5-acre lake and 59 buildings. The grounds now will be known as The Grove at Red Oak Lake -- A Ministry of Faith Baptist Church.
"They offered some interest-free financing, which brought the net down," said Kevin Womack, director of finance and development for Faith Baptist.
Womack said the purchase of the property was made possible through "a lot of small gifts and a few large ones," adding that offerings toward the purchase of the camp had exceeded $700,000.
The camp had been dormant for two years.
"I believe there are opportunities to use it more than ever," said Neal Pflibsen, the new director of The Grove at Red Oak Lake. "Memphis, in my mind, needs to be a hot spot to bring a mission team to impact the community.
"We'd like to match up these ministries with resources and the need in Memphis. I'd love to wake 'em up, feed 'em breakfast, give 'em a box lunch and send them out to give their labor and love in the Memphis area."
Mike Day, director of missions at the Mid-South Association, said the decision to sell was "a matter of priorities."
Day said the association wanted to focus more energy on starting churches, sustaining churches and providing resources for specific churches' ministries.
"We found ourselves in a dilemma of owning a camp only about 25 percent of our churches used as a resource over the last six years," said Day, noting the association has 159 members. "We basically had to make a decision about where we would spend our money.
"From the perspective of the association, I can only describe (Faith Baptist becoming the owner) as the best-case scenario. The camping ministry will be preserved."
One local church still meets at the property, but will be finding a new location. Pflibsen said the camp's gate is often open to the public and "people fish at the lake every day."
But there is much work to be done, including having to update the necessary licenses to use the Palmer Center dining hall over the Christmas holidays.
"The grounds have been well-kept," Pflibsen said, "but some of the buildings need repair and some need to be gutted or taken down."
Womack said the church will be making annual payments over the next 10 years; long-term, Pflibsen aims to make the camp self-sustaining.
Pflibsen envisions the camp as a great place for local churches to bring youth and other groups for retreats, but also a destination for out-of-town ministry and missions teams.
He intends to be pro-active.
"It's a whole lot more than having a camp and sitting here waiting for the phone to ring," he said.
-- Don Wade: 529-2358
New BBC Open Forum said...
ReplyDeleteThe topic of the meeting, which will be presided over by Mrs. T.B. Lamb, will be, “Our Brothers in Black, Here and There.”
Hmmmm...I thought that "Bellevue ♥'s Memphis" was a new thing...