Great thoughts...

I suppose most of my blog readers know that among the roles I feel so blessed to fill is that of an editor with 21st Century Christian. Earlier this week I got a piece from my friend Dr. Bill Bagents, VP of Academic Affairs at Heritage Christian University. One of the paragraphs is among the best I've read in years. It is worth your time to spend a minute devouring it. Enjoy:

"God’s ways have always been mysterious. Who but God would select one childless couple to begin His chosen nation or allow His own Son to be born in poverty and live infancy as a refugee? Who but God would let the denier preach on Pentecost or call the persecutor to preach? Who but God would allow His lead evangelist to work and write from prison? Part of God’s ongoing mystery story is His amazing ability to use the most unlikely people in the most unlikely settings to accomplish His will. Prison bars may limit mobility, but they cannot limit service. They may limit freedom, but they cannot limit faith. God can work over, through, and around every circumstance."

And He waits to use you to highlight His power in your weaknesses, excuses, and inabilities. How blessed you are! Just wait to see the surprises He has in store if you will be clay in His hand.

GLOBAL WARMING...Seems strange

Yes, I agree pretty much with the assessment of a preacher I heard not long ago who said Christians ought to be on the band wagon and big leaders of protecting the environment responsibly. But we must also not be associated with the "manicism" that seems to characterize the extreme left movement that dominates media and pop culture.

Does it seem strange to you that the very people who preach "survival of the fittest" and evolution are also the ones who are bemoaning and shoving down our throats global warming? If one buys into the concept of evolution then what is...is. And if the human race makes the world unfit for our survival we will either adapt or go the way of the dodo bird and some other species that could survive will dominate.

While I do believe (as said above) we should be responsible and I have tried to take notice and even change some habits to help in that regard. I also keep in mind that this ole earth is headed to a preordained end and however the Lord has determined that end will come, our using less plastics or more plastics will not affect that date a smiggin.

Acts 17:30-31 "The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead."

2 Peter 3:10-12 "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?"

I figure HE'S got it all in control!

Ongoing...

I'm sure I'll find out that at least one of you is passionate on this subject I'll deal with today and will be shocked (and sorely disappointed) that I am not :). So, in advance and anticipation, sorry.

I've listened in on and studied for years the "raging" debate of what happens when one dies. Do they go straight to heaven (aka Gus Nichols teaching I believe) or to a waiting place (aka Guy N. Woods). Frankly both positions make some good points with various scriptures and both make some arguments I can poke some holes in. So, frankly, I don't care. It's not because I haven't had anyone die who was significant to me, I've had several. "I don't care" may sound a little strong but I mean it. I see it this way, when I die if I go to a waiting place I'm willing to wait but if I go straight to heaven I won't protest and ask to be removed. I just don't want to feel any heat - that's my only objection to cremation :).

That said I heard an interesting thought today that I've never really related to this subject before. Christ told His disciples "I go to prepare a place for you." The obvious reference is to Heaven. Now, I suppose it's possible that some of the place was already ready to "move in" but I don't get that from the text. So if one goes straight to heaven at death - what about those who died before Christ - or as it's been called the Christian age?

There are many good arguments on both sides of this discussion. And this does not trump some of what I've heard it's just another thought.

Who is Dale Jenkins?

I was writing the letter for our middle Tennessee ministry luncheon this morning and looking for a bio of our speaker - I hated to disturb him so I googled him. The info I found was pretty neat from a site called ZoomInfo.

But as I looked at his info, I knew that it was dated. He's worked with three congregations since the one that was posted. So I wondered if my info was on there and what it might look like.

Wow - when I typed Dale Jenkins into the info box it found 65 of me - now that's spooky! Six of them were really me - Editor at 21st Century, Preacher at Granny White, Mustang Radio personality, Speaker at CYC in 2004, board member at HCU, a couple of sites that list some of my sermons. But then there's the Dale Jenkins you don't know - and I don't either. I (he, they) am (is, are) the Vice-President of Kiwanis International, Player of the Year in '07 for the Albany Creek Crushers (a Rugby team in Queensland), CEO of a Medical insurance group (that oughta help the ole' self-insuring issue), a used car salesman (Maybe I can get the SKY), principal of a school in Japan, a college track star, a member of the board of trustees for the Cinicinnati Music Theater (yeah, sure), a patrol officer in Middleton (I guess I can arrest myself for impersonating anyone who knows anything about music), a lawyer in Dallas, TX (so I can defend myself for that unlawful arrest), and am presently employed at the Smithsonian. I have served in most every branch of the military, am listed as a minister in five different religious bodies and finished number 270 as a woman in the RiverBank Run 10K. No wonder I'm tired and confused :).

For those of you wondering: This site scourers internet sites for anytime a name is mentioned and creates a profile on any usage.

Truthfully in our fast-paced, consumer driven, needs incumbent society there are a lot of folks who really aren't sure who they are anymore.

Dale Jenkins - who is he really? He is a child of God's by His mercy and grace. He is a terribly flawed human (too big of an ego, too often talking more than listening, too many times guilty of acting without thinking and then just being flat out embarrassed) who could only define himself positively through Jesus Christ. He is a blessed husband who "out-kicked his coverage" and wonders how with what he was looking for he got so much more than he sought! He has two sons who love the Lord, and all he can figure, is he owes it to God and a good wife. He is a part of an extended family that has given him that which is "to be chosen above great riches". He gets paid more than he is worth to do something he loves with a passion. He is working with a group of People who are exceptional in a place that is a minister's dream. He has been given opportunities beyond anything he deserves and imagined he ever would. He gets to spend time with godly men who influence him to do right. He is blessed, thankful, amazed and looking forward to the future - whether here or THERE. That's who Dale Jenkins is.

Now, who are you?

PS - If you "Zoominfo" yourself share the fun results :)

Off the reservation...

Get 3000 or so preachers together, mix in a couple of hundred lectures and a few thousand ideas, backgrounds, approaches and opinions, along with a culture that encourages radical individualism, and it is really quite amazing that there is not constant bickering and fighting. About once every 5 years or so someone will go totally off the reservation but when you consider all the elements involved the unity, love and peace that exists is much more sensational than the occasional differences. Today, from what I could tell someone had to be pulled back in but I can't remember the last time such happened. Our congratulations to those who put is all together, select topics and speakers and who love the church enough not to be constantly striving to cause an uproar, but serious and challenging study or scripture and approached to the Lord's Work.

Open...what?

Open Forum, Open Feud, Open Fire...
It's either the blight of the lectureship that makes one determine to never return or the highlight of the day but few people are ambivalent on the forum who have been to it. For the uninitiated a brief description and history. The Open Forum has gone on for many, many years. I'm figuring perhaps 50 years - I've been able to trace it back to at least 1969 (http://www.therestorationmovement.com/audio/index.htm). For a number of years I understand that Gus Nichols of Alabama conducted the forum but it was made most famous by Guy N. Woods who people seemed to revere greatly or revile. He was encyclopedic and unemotional in his answers. He could be a tad temperamental if he thought he had already dealt with a question sufficiently or the seeker had not studied for the answer on their own. Alan Highers followed Brother Woods and then for a few years the "forum" was "passed around" until Ralph Gilmore took it over about 10 years ago.
The forum is quite simple in it's approach. At 3:30 each afternoon Monday-Thursday the moderator answers all questions on any subject of a biblical nature. Questions are submitted throughout the year or handed to Ralph or some other lectureship committee member during the week. That's the easy part. The OPEN part is where it gets complicated. There are several microphones scattered throughout the auditorium and anyone can go to a mic at any point and be recognized to ask a question. This is often where the fireworks are set off. In roughly 30 years of attending the forum I've learned you never know what to expect. This year one brother called upon Brother Gilmore to repent...that happened last year too. That when someone disagreed with an answer the Ralph gave. Now, Ralph is very funny and that is a tad disarming since some don't realize the intellect of this scholar (one friend says he could bend the universe with his mind). Some think they are dealing with a "lightweight" but they mistake his youthful and fun spirit as simple, not as a deep and studied Bible student.
Most often the aforementioned "fireworks" are the result of one of two things. Either a misunderstanding of what the forum is. It is not a place where brotherhood positions are established - we have no such place in a brotherhood that would commit to autonomy between us and a commitment to the scriptures as our guide. Many folks have a hard time understanding that and believe that the forum moderator is giving either the church's official view or the school's. They also fail to remember that Ralph reserves the right to be human (therefore, wrong at times). The second item that leads to "fireworks" is when we take ourselves too seriously. While we can never take the scriptures too seriously, we can take our opinion or even our own private interpretation of them as such. Hey, you could be wrong - ever considered that?
At times the forum has been bad. Very bad. 1985 was a bad and sad year in which many misbehaved and deeper damage was done than can be expressed in this column. I've seen years when some it seemed tried to break fellowship or divide the church of the Lord over the forum - isn't that a little radical. Go home, take your Prozac, pray, reload and come back next year with a gentler spirit and love. We be brethren. The forum, love it or hate it, it's hard to ignore.

GREET ONE ANOTHER WITH...

GREET ONE ANOTHER WITH…

When you see a few thousand people most of whom you see only once a year and some who are pretty important in your overall life...people who are dear to you...some who are not real dear but you like a lot - and many who when you see them for this one time a year it is walking through display aisles or down a hallway. So here's the official FHU Lectureship lines (You can hear them anytime).

Fine (or some other one word answer to "How are you doing?")

Great (answer to how the work is going if you are either very happy or really miserable but don't want someone who might be looking for a preacher to think you are a malcontent and would be unhappy should they want to talk to you about working there).

Yes (or no) I'm still at ...

Yes, I'd be willing to talk to them about possibly moving...

No, I hadn't heard ________.

They did what?

HEY Brother (when you absolutely, positively can't remember their name!)

Let's talk later.

One of my uncles here (oh, I only have one here) suggested you could even have a tape recorder with three tracks on it and just hit the appropriate one.

48 and counting...

TUESDAY THOUGHTS…

48 official offerings on this day: It is impossible to hear everyone you want to, to visit with everyone you would like to. I've had to miss dear friends because two were speaking at the same time. I've had to miss family members because two were speaking at the same time. I had to miss favorite speakers because of obligations to hear another. I know there have been many who have done that for me.

Then there is an excellent youth minister's track. I profited from two of these today. One was Nick Jones. Nick listed all the technology tools and tips at www.ikeepbookmarks.com and type in Nick Jones. If tech is your desire you might check out this http://dalejenkins.blogspot.com/2008/01/wired-for-ministry-notes-and-stuff.html

Then there are all of these dinner's. There's a fund raising program for every meal - breakfast, lunch and supper. And there are some great lessons delivered at these too.

More later tonight on "Open Forum", Today's lectures and greeting at the lectureships.

The Student Lectures...

LECTURE 2: CHAPEL - David Sargent, Mobile, Alabama:

THE STUDENT LECTURESHIPS:

The FHU Lectureships started back in the 20’s to help young preachers who could not afford the time or money for college. Originally the program lasted for a month and was in January. In the 60’s it was moved to the first week of February. At one time it was known as “the student lectures”. To this day those who plan the program take great care to make sure the program emphasizes things for the students. Daily chapel is required for all students at the school but lectureship week seems to take it up a notch. For more excellent notes on the history of the lectures go to: http://web.fhu.edu/Lectureship/Lectureship+Archives/

David is minister of a congregation that has provided hundreds of thousands of man hours in relief for those who were affected by hurricane Katrina.

One of the reasons that folks come that I didn’t list earlier is to find jokes. Yes, jokes, good clean, jokes. Christians love to laugh in a pure way, not a vulgar, hurtful, at someone else’s expense way. David told the best joke I heard on the day: About the boss who didn’t think he was getting the respect he deserved. He had a sign professionally made that read in bold letters: THE BOSS. He went to lunch, when he got back there someone had attached a note under it that said “Your wife called and wants her sign back.”

David spent his time on the ministry of John the Baptist and stressed humility for modern day “voices crying” into our wilderness for the second coming of the Lord. What a grand lesson.

MORE MONDAY:

As I listened to my old friend Dorian Flynn speaking on “Bearing Fruit”, to David Pharr preaching on “I am the Good Shepherd” and Ralph Gilmore deal with issues at Open Forum I was struck by how thoroughly immersed these guys are in God’s Word and with the fervor with which they deliver their messages.

Dorian spoke with passion of the desire that so many of his fellow Christians have to share the message of Christ with others. He listed the Lord’s action plan: 1. Respond with the right perspective, 2. Connect with people, 3. Serve others.

Dorian quotes:

“Christians are to love people who seem to be our enemies.”

“A faith that proclaims that our life is much more than a Sunday stroll with God!”

“I am not interested in winning a battle, I am interested in winning a soul to Jesus Christ.”

Brother Pharr, a man who has served with the same congregation for 35 years and who has raised a family that certifies his faith, spoke on one of the seven “I am’s” of Christ in the book of John. He talked about the difference in “a good shepherd and THE good shepherd.” Any good shepherd will sacrifice and take risks for his sheep, THE GOOD Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. No one would expect a shepherd to give his life for a sheep! The Shepherd of John becomes the Lamb in the book of Revelation. The wolf in John 10 is purposed to deceitfully destroy the sheep. The hirelings in the text are in complicity with the wolf. Brother Pharr dealt masterfully with verse 16 of this text. He emphasized how there are the same number of folds as there are shepherds. No one gets in the fold by accident.

We will have a more complete report on “Open Forum” later.

The night session featured Steve Baggett. Steve is the excellent preacher for the Walnut Street church in Dickson, TN. Here are some of my favorite quotes from his excellent lesson: “A compassionate heart doesn’t begin with actions, it begins with attitudes. It begins with the heart.” “Our Lord was a man of compassion then and he will be one today and His people must be.” We must do more than just talk about helping others we must have the attitude that says “I will do what I can to alleviate you pain. Compassion requires deeds, not just words.” “It’s easy to preach that the church must be a people of compassion and then go home and forget about it. Compassion must begin at home.”

It was a good day. And ended with milkshakes late at Steak and Shake!

No Tie Tuesday...

For those of you keeping score - today is "No Tie Tuesday". Unless you speak, are over age 70, are a Bible major, a school of preaching student or professor, are having lunch with the President, or are the President (either of them), you don't wear a tie today. Van will be happy!

BLOGGING THE LECTURES - DAY ONE, PART 1

From Freed-Hardeman (7:38 pm).
When I accepted this exciting challenge I did not consider when I would actually do my postings. I’ve written all day (and quite honestly) attended more actual lectures this one day than I normally do in a whole week of lectures J. Frankly I’m writing this post as I listen to my good friend Steve Baggett deliver the evening keynote lecture (I’m sure Steve can handle it while I multi-task).
It’s been a pretty amazing day. At 8:00 this morning I went by the book display (I’m always tempted to say “the tent” but it hasn’t been in a tent in probably 20 years now). It’s now in Bader gym – must better than the old tent or the basement of the Gardner Center). It’s sort of lectureship central. If you’re looking for someone among the thousands here they’ve probably been through there in the last 2 hours or so and will be back shortly. I think some guys actually move in during the lectureships. The energy is palpable during this week. It is a place of hugs and reunions.
I’m trying to figure out the best way to do this. I think I’ll post a series of shorter updates rather than really long ones.
The lectures are big on suits. There’s even a guy there who sells them, presumably in case you left yours at home and realize you’re the only one without one on. And get this, the guy who sales them, his name is “Coats” – yep, for real. Now, special announcement: For those of you who didn’t get the news – Monday is “Suit Monday!” You wear a suit on MONDAY so everyone knows you still have one and then the rest of the week you don’t have to be so formal J.
LECTURE 1: Dave Phillips, Memphis, Tennessee:
My first lecture this year was hearing Dave Phillips as I listened to Dave, the longtime and effective preacher for the Germantown congregation speak from John 20 on “That You May Believe” I was struck by several things about his presentation and by several things he said. Dave had prepared meticulously. He spoke from the “Book” to the heart! His message was both real and relevant as he challenged the students to “make their parents faith their own”. Brother Phillips did not shy away from those who have brought challenging threats to “our faith”. He quoted from A.J. Jacobs “The Year of Living Biblically” from the more serious Christopher Hitchens “god is not Great” and the more vicious attacks of Robert Brandon “A Guide to Universal Truth”. To those who cast the term “homophobic” at Christians Dave said: “I am a sinaphobic, I’m afraid of sin.” Then he turned to those who believe that compromising with world religions is an acceptable course to chart as he stated: “Christianity is exclusive”
A few other good quotes from Dave:
“I can’t see how God forgives sin, but I believe He does, I can’t see how God answers my prayers, but I believe He does. If you can see it, it’s not faith. These signs (in John) are given to us that we might have faith.”
“Some say ‘you can have Jesus without the Bible’. Really? You wouldn’t even know He existed with the Bible.”
As he closed he challenged the faith of the ministers and elders present: “Do you believe that Jesus is the son of God?” It is belief that leads to life.
God has a vested interest in us! He loves us. You see 400 students go across the line in graduation and you really don’t see any of them until your grandchild’s name is called. Your child brings home their class picture and you only see your child. There’s a school play and you are on the front row. Why? You have a vested interest in that person. God has a vested interest in us.

Why I go...a top ten list

(BLOGGING FROM THE LECTURES, series)

Around Tennessee this time of year just say "I'm heading to the lectures" and most any preacher will know what you're talking about. I did a quick poll a few days ago on why people go to Freed-Hardeman Lectureships. Here's what I found out:

1. Some preachers go to look for a job. Want a job, there are elders here, want a preacher, you can find a few hundred who'll talk to you!

2. Ideals: What's the lastest, hottest, bestest new program that will invigorate, energize and ignite their congregation. Funny how quickly most of those play out.

3. Sermons: It's a sermon stealer's paradise: Peek in a few lectures, some you'll get whole series out of, some just some excellent points. And if that doesn't work, there are a couple of thousand real live preachers who are just dieing to tell you about what they preached last Sunday or are planning for this Sunday. I like to stop by the audio recording sales booth and ask what the "hot sellers" are, I pick those up if they sound intriguing and if they're really good Spring Meadows might hear them within a matter of weeks :).

4. Some go for gossip (I didn't say that out loud, did I?) Who's moving where, who's done what, who's in, who's out, what's the latest issue and who stands where on it.

5. Some go for the display section: They must, that is the only place I see them. One even said to me one time, it is as spiritual for ME to be in the display area seeing folks as it is sitting in a lecture. Ah, the display area. Here you'll find more books than you can afford, the latest material, and a few hundred "parachurch organizations" willing to help you part" with any money you have left after you've visited the book displays. They are ready to tell you why their program, school, product is the best and only one really worthy of your support (I suppose I overstate it). Seriously, you can really learn a lot about many good works there. Some go to learn about these works.

6. Some go to eat: Jack's Creek on Monday lunch, Brooksie's Barn (where I want to be buried) on Tuesday night, Bell's on Wednesday, a couple of visits to the Associates' Kitchen and all the "sponsored meals" - yum.

7. Some go to debate: The Open Forum (or Open Feud as one friend calls it) is one of a kind (we'll say more about that in a later post), but it gives new meaning to that phrase "Take it outside"...people do, in fact a whole lot more debate the "issues" of the day with various degrees of vigor after the "forum" than during it. I personally like Balcony D where, we are so far away from "Ralph" that we conduct our own little forum :)

8. One fellow blogger (Jonathan Jones: http://hopeevidence.blogspot.com/) said: "I go to lectureships to be spiritually uplifted. Preachers need to be spiritually charged, too. It can be draining to study, study study, teach, teach, teach. Sometimes we need to instructed and taught to and lectureships often fill this need." Amen.

9. Most at least listed the wonderful fellowship that is there. Hugh Fulford says, "I enjoy seeing who I can see."

10. Oh, and there are actual lectures that are going on too :). So some come just to deliver a speech, others to hear their favorite speakers. One guy said "I attend because I believe they are sound and helpful and because of the wonderful fellowship with brethren." The speakers are expected to be men who know, respect and love the word of God and the church. Some who don't hear the speakers get the CD's and "THE BOOK" (what a resource that becomes). My experience is that the speakers are guys you can trust.

Why I go: It is a reunion of a few thousand of my closest friends. I love preachers and their hearts and the energy they bring to life and the impact they so deeply desire to have on others, so this is sorta Mecca to me! I long for the time with these guys and it's never enough. I love these men of God. I go because I get to see family. Sons, my dad, brother, sister, nephews, uncle and aunts, cousins, the gangs all here. I go for Open Forum, to hear some specific lectures each year, I go to hear the student speak in chapel, I go for practical advice and spiritual insight and, yes, I go for Brooksie's on Tuesday night. It's not perfect but it is a special time for me in my life each year. It's a spiritual feast for me in every good way.

I'm sure I left out a truck load of possible reasons, so go ahead, if you attend, post yours.

Progress!!!

Great news. The building structure, form arrived today. Here are some pictures of it being unloaded and of it sitting and doing what we all are getting better at than we wish...waiting for the fire marshal :). As this process continues to work toward completion you need to know that all involved believe there is a light at the end of the tunnel! We hope this beams will be rising toward the heavens before too long. Keep on praying.
P.S. You'll want to trust me on the pics and not go out there - because of the good rains we've had lately - it's a mess!!!!