DID YOU HEAR THE NEWS?

     Did you hear the news?  Southern Baptists took an historic step in June at the Southern Baptist annual convention held in New Orleans, Louisiana.  For the first time in our history, messengers elected a black convention president.  Fred Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, New Orleans, ran unopposed at the SBC annual meeting.   Luter, a former street preacher, brought his mostly black New Orleans congregation back from near annihilation after Hurricane Kutrina in 2005.  About 7,000 messengers stood to their feet, cheered, and shouted, "Halelujah," after he was elected.
     Racism is something Southern Baptists have tried to live down for a long time.  Baptists were split during the Civil War era between the Northern (now American) Baptists and Southern Baptists.  Southern Baptists represented the culture and mores of the South.  In our early days we Nevadans were known as "Southern" sympathizers because we were always "bushwhacking" the federal (Union) troops.  That's why the troops from Ft. Scott burned our town and our church!  That is why we have the annual Bushwhacker Days.
     Several years ago Southern Baptists passed  a resolution sent to the National Baptist Convention (Blacks) to apologize for the racism in our history.  The President of the National Baptist Convention basically said, "Thanks, but no thanks!"  Too little; too late.  There were suspicions among those in the black Baptist Convention  that the SBC has been trying to reach upward mobile black families in the cities.  For the past five years, the SBC has seen a decline in membership.
     And then there is the name-- Southern.  I mean-- the Methodists dealt with the name change years ago.  They converted from "Southern" Methodists to "United" Methodists.  Northern and Southern Baptists could never get together.  But can we at least change our name?  Well, this year the messengers approved an "alternate" name.  Our alternate name is now Great Commission Baptists.
     Of course a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.  Or a  Baptist by any other name can be just as racist.  Or not.

THE HANGING OF JUDGE SMITH

     Last Thursday I attended the "unveiling of the portrait" for Federal Judge Ortrie Dale Smith in the Federal Court House in Kansas City.  After serving several years on the bench, judges are promoted to senior status and get their mug shots hung in the court house.  In typical humorous fashion, he referred to it as the "hanging of Ortrie Smith."
     Pastoral care memories emerge.  I was with Ortrie when B. J. (Brittany Jane) was born and he almost lost Kris in child birth.  I experienced the anxiety with Dr. Greenlund, Dr. Thompson, and Ortrie.  Thankfully, Kris lived and B. J. joined the other three, Mikki, Casey, and Angie.  Casey is also an attorney and B. J. is in her third year of law school.
     Fun memories emerge.  Ortrie was the one who got me into jogging in the early 80s.  We jogged with guys who were called the "Southside Jogging and Debate Society":  Chris Hoberock, Fred Seewoester, Jerry McBeth, and Howard Carter.  The initial jogging was in preparation for snow skiing.  Neither of us had done it but Marie and I and Ortrie and Kris (and later our families) took several Colorado trips together.
     Encouragement memories emerge.  Once during a sermon, I mentioned I was empty.  I felt like a milk shake and everyone had a straw in me.  While I was greeting people as they left, Ortrie handed me a giant milk shake.  He had sneaked out early!
     Leadership memories emerge.  Ortrie touched about everything in the community that needed leadership.  At a time of inertia at FBC, he became chair of a feasibility committee to determine how to proceed.  The proposal to re-locate had been defeated by a narrow margin.  He came into my office and asked, "So what do you want to do?"  I replied, "We need to stay together as much as possible and move forward!"  Both of us were propoents of re-location but he surmised, "You may not like how it turns out."  I answered, "I know."  But here we are today.
     People who know him will smile.  People who did not know him will ask, "Why would anyone ever name a baby Ortrie?"

President Obama's Justifies Same-Sex Marriage With Scripture

     Familiar to many people, even those who are not Christians, is the passage in Matthew's Gospel chapter 7, verse 12.  It has been called the "Golden Rule."  There are several different phrasings of the verse but the NRSV has it:  "In everything do good to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets."
     More recently President Obama referenced the Golden Rule in his support of same-sex marriage.  Citing his faith, he told ABC, "In the end, the values that I care most deeply about, and she (Michelle Obama) cares most deeply about is how we treat people.  We're both practicing Christians and obviously this position may be considered to put us at odds with views of others but when we think about our faith the thing at root that we think about is not only Christ sacrificing himself on our behalf but it's also the golden rule--  treat others the way you'd want to be treated."
     While it is good a president references both Christ's sacrifice and our Lord's words about treating others with love, it does not follow that his interpretation as applied to same sex marriage is an accurate one.  The Golden rule cannot be meant to indicate that "anything goes."  On the contrary, our Lord never compromised on values even though his forgiveness could touch the worst of sinners.  He was very forgiving and loving toward a woman who had committed adultery several times.  However, that did not mean that he condoned her sins.  Tolerating her sinful behavior would have been no help to her at all.
     "Hate the sin but love the sinner."  Both actions are a challenge. We can end up hating sinners whose behavior we do not approve.  That is a tragic mistake.  However, in "loving the sinner" we can also forget to "hate the sin."  God is love.  But God hates sin.  And so should we.  It is self-destructive and  corrosive for a society.  It was our sin that necessitated the crucifixion to which our President referred.
     He got it wrong on this one.

ANGELS UNAWARE

     On occasion people slip into one of our worship services unnoticed.  During the "shaking of the hands" with the preacher, I realize they are present.  The writer of Hebrews put it this way, "do not neglect to show hospitalilty to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it!"   Reference here may be to Abraham and Sarah who welcomed a foreigner into their camp and found out it was an angelic figure.  But we never know for sure who we might be welcoming!
     He doesn't have wings but a few weeks ago, George ("Dub") Steincross, attended worship as he was on his way to Oklahoma to visit relatives. "Dub" served as pastor in our state-- his last place of service was Second Baptist Church, Liberty, MO.  Dub grew up in out area and his fatheer was a banker and both parents were involved in the life of what was then the Nevada Baptist Association (now Osage River Baptist Association).
     Don Gundy does not have angelic wings either, but I did shake his hand last Sunday after worship.  He was just passing through. Don is from Vernon County and served as a pastor in several places in the state before heading up church-staff relationships in the Missouri Baptist Convention until the political winds were no longer in his favor.  He and his wife are great folks and it is always good to see them.
     Don grew up in the Walker area and his brother, Doug, was a former, local basketball star.  Their mother, Nell Gundy, was a member of our church family and I led in her memorial sesrvice in 2000.  Don's wife's grandmother, Emma Trower, was a member of our church.
     It was good to see old friends.  Don even pronounced a blessing.  Under questions and comments on the communication card he wrote:  "Impressive early service.  Keep up the good work!"  Thanks, Don.  We are doing our best!

Cox Cousins visit FBC, Nevada

     I have often referred to my roots in Miller County near the Lake of the Ozarks.  I have sometimes referred to myself as a "hillbilly from Miller County."  Aunts and uncles, several counsins and distant relatives live in and around central Missouri.  It all started when my great-grandmother, Elizabeth Cox, Bentley, Roark moved my grandfather and his two brothers to Miller County after my great grandfather, William Jesse Cox, died on Christmas day, 1900.  Elizabeth out lived three husbands.
    One of my aunts, Treda Brewer Schupp earlier in her life was a type-cast for granny on the Beverly Hillbillies.  I love that gal and have stayed in touch with her at age 95!  Treda is a sister to my mother, Dessie Brewer Cox.  Aunt Evelyn Cox Forrester, 92, is still living in Eldon, MO, and she is a sister to my father, Charles Cox.  The youngest among Dad's siblings, Elizabeth Cox Carrol, died this past month.
     Proof of some of my roots will emerge this coming Sunday, September 18.  I have three cousins that will be driving up from Spraaaaangfield, MO, to attend 9:45 worship and Sunday School at 11:00.  After that, Marie and I will take them out to eat for a visit.  My mother's brother, Williard Brewer, had three girls:  Thelma, Mary, and Eula.  Mary and Eula will be coming our way along with James Lee Bunch, husband of Eula.   James and Eula served as missionaries through the SBC International Mission Board.
     Eula and Mary are my first cousins.  Let me see--  Eula married James Lee Bunch.  I am related to the Bunches of Miller County and so James Lee also has to be a cousin.  His father was James Frederick  Bunch whose father was John William Bunch.  John Willliam was the father of James Fredrick and my grandmother, Anna Josephene (with an "e") Bunch Cox.  So, how is that?  James Lee was a cousin to my Dad.  So James would be my second cousin?  Or is it third cousin? 
     Anyway, all three are cousins whom I welcome this weekend!

Does Hell Exist?

     In recent days the subject of hell has made religious news because Pastor Rob Bell of Mars Hill Bible Church published a book entitled, LOVE WINS:  A BOOK ABOUT HEAVEN, HELL, AND THE FATE OF EVERYONE WHO EVER LIVED.  As a popular writer and speaker, Bell has influence among the Chistian community.  Evangelical preacher, John Piper, has bascially said Pastor Bell has departed from the truth. President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Al Mohler, has called the book "disastrous."  One pastor in North Carolina was dismissed  from his position because he endorsed the book. 
      Pastor Bell said it all started when someone saw an exhibit in his church that quoted Mohandas Gandhi.  A visitor said, "Gandhi is in hell."  "Really?" bell was thinking.  "Gandi's in hell?  He is? We have confirmation of this?  Somebody knows this?  Without a doubt?  And that somebody decided to take on the responsibility for the rest of us to know?" 
     I am going to address this subject on Sunday, September 11, in worship at First Baptist Church, Nevada.  Here are some scritpures to check out ahead of time:  Joshua 24:15, John 3:18, Revelation 22:17, John 16:8-11, John 5:39-40, John  8:21-30.   Look up other scriptures in the Bible on the subject of hell.  And send me your thoughts and questions at billcox@fbchurch.net. 
     The subject of hell was on the cover of TIME magazine in April of this year.  The question was asked, "No hell?"  Let's explore this important subject together.

RASNICS: LONGEVITY IN A CHURCH

     In our society, relationships are thrown away about as quickly as trash in a dumpster.  The number of marital relationships that are short-lived seems ever to increase.  And personal and family relationships with churches also seem short-lived.  Some of this has been referred to as "church-hopping" in which persons skip from one church to another always looking for a better deal.
     No doubt sometimes changing churches can be a positive move.  Afterall, pastors sometimes change churches because they are led by God.  Lay persons can also be led by God to other churches.  Others change because of geographical moves or other considerations.  In fact, if persons move from one location to another it is hoped they would find another church family instead of dropping out of church.
     I became aware of the importance of longeity in church relationships as I attended a reception for Jack and Robena Rasnic who have been members of First Baptist Church for over 60 years.  Rev. James Dinkins was the pastor and Robena was in what was called the "Bride's Class" with former member, Ruth Frazier.  It was in First Baptist Church they found places of service and a foundation for the faith of their children who grew up in First Baptist Church.
     Jack worked on the railroad in the days when the railroad was a major employer in Nevada.  Robena was active in missions and in the sympathy committee.   The sympathy committee provides meals for family members of those who have lost loved ones.  Robena organized-- and I mean "organized" the meals.  When she stepped aside from the leadership position, she handed in a book that recorded every meal, the family name, the menu, and the date for every funeral dinner through the years.  How thorough can one get?  Bill and Ciny Wynn would not miss the Rasnic reception because Jack always came over to their daughter's wheel chair to talk with Kelly.
     Jack and Roben have seen many changes in the world, the community, and in First Baptist Church through the years.  Like many people, I am sure there are times when they were not in agreement or disappointed with First Baptist Church.  I don't think they were enthused about moving to our new location at Highland.  The old location at Main and Hunter was familiar to them.  However, they eventually came right along.
     This says something about the Rasnics.  Through thick and thin, they have made FBC their church home.  They celebrate a long-term marriage.  They also celebrate a long-time relationship with a church.  To do that people have to adapt, to change, and to grow.  They have to work through problems instead of running from them.  More of that kind of fidelity would make a big difference in our day.