Liberty Baptist Seminary and "Building Bridges"

Liberty Baptist Seminary and “Building Bridges”
Press Release 12/18/2007
GOING BACK TO THE OLD SCHOOL WITH A NEW MISSION:LIBERTY SEMINARY RESTATES ITS BAPTIST HERITAGE AND NAME
In an era when denominational identification is anathema, the Liberty Theological Seminary has retrofitted its name to the Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. The irony is the man who lead the seminary to take Baptist out of the name is also the one who lobbied to reinsert it, the President of the Seminary, Dr. Ergun Mehmet Caner. Last week, Chancellor Jerry Falwell Jr. agreed, and the announcement was made during the Seminary Christmas Banquet on Friday, December 14, 2007. The following is taken from Dr. Caner’s address:“When I became President of the seminary at Liberty University three years ago, I was compelled by Dr. Jerry Falwell to shake things up. With enrollment on the mountain approaching 10,000 resident students, the seminary was the smallest of the eight schools of the university. The name change served notice to the larger Christian community that we were willing to do anything for the sake of the mission, short of changing our doctrine. We did not change our doctrine one whit. In fact we redoubled our commitment to the vision of the Seminary’s founding in 1973- soul winning, church planting and cultural confrontation with the Gospel. Changing the name was just one small component in our overall strategy. It obviously worked. We have had three straight years of growth and have doubled our residential enrollment to over 400 in the seminary.“However, since 2004, much as changed, both here at Liberty University and in the Southern Baptist Convention. Too many schools have Baptist in their name but not in their doctrine. Some have drifted into liberalism and cultural relativism; still others remain orthodox, but have drifted toward non-Baptist reformed doctrine and cultural isolationism. For us, this was our line in the sand. We want to build bridges to a lost world without burning the bridges of our doctrinal heritage. We are putting Baptist back in our name, and taking back a term that has been misused.“We want to train students from across the evangelical spectrum, in the classic Baptistic stance of our Anabaptist tradition and Sandy Creek revivalistic heritage. These doctrines include:• The inerrancy of Scripture• General atonement• Free church polity and pastoral authority• Missions obsession• Imminent return of ChristIt just made sense, following the vision of our founder and the new chancellor, to proudly state that we are Baptist with a capital “B.” Since 1525, the word Baptist has meant something and it still does at Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.”
Posted: December 19th, 2007

Insight for Today - Selfless Dedication

SELFLESS DEDICATION
by Charles R. Swindoll
Read Exodus 2:15—25

Moses, the Prince of Egypt, alias Prince Charming, watering animals? Why? Because Moses had just choked down the biggest wedge of humble pie you can imagine. By now, the man was ready to do anything. Isn't it interesting, though, that in this incident Moses was allowed to be a deliverer on an immensely smaller scale? Earlier, he had thought he was going to deliver a nation. He had grand dreams and mighty schemes. But this time God said, "You want a job as deliverer? Then stand up and do it, son. Start here. There are seven women here in Midian who need a champion at this moment."

Moses could have shrugged it off. He could have said, "Aw forget it. I'm out of the delivery business. Let someone else do the job." But he didn't. It was here Moses took his first steps in becoming a man of selfless dedication. The young women would later tell their father, "An Egyptian delivered us from the hand of the shepherds, and what is more, he even drew the water for us and watered the flock" (v 19).

That thought moves me. If you can't do the good you would, do the good you can. You may have had big-time plans in your life---major league dreams that haven't panned out. You were going to write a best-selling book, but the opportunities just haven't come along. Are you willing to write for your church newsletter?

Maybe you wanted to teach in seminary or Bible school, but the pressures of life forced you in a different direction. Are you willing to teach a fourth-grade Sunday school class? Are you up for leading a small group Bible study? Is it really the teaching that draws your heart, or is it the prestige that goes along with the position?

Failure, you see, teaches us a servant's attitude. And what does a servant do? He does "the next task." She does what is available and ready for her to do. Those without such an attitude resist getting their hands dirty. They never want to get involved in the messy part of working with people. They always want the polished part, the popular part. But the tough stuff behind the scenes? Well, give that to someone else.

God, however, will use our failures and setbacks to cultivate within us a servant's heart. That's step one. It's all part of the process.

Great-Grandma Polly’s Brownies

Great-Grandma Polly’s Brownies

6 TBSP Cocoa
2 sticks Margarine, softened
4 Eggs, beaten
1 cup Flour
2 cups Sugar
2 tsp Vanilla
Nuts, if desired

Mix all ingredients well
Bake in well greased 13 x 9 inch pan at 350 degrees for approximately 22 minutes.
Ice, if desired


Icing:

½ stick Margarine
2 TBSP Cocoa
2 TBSP Milk
1 tsp Vanilla
2 cups Powdered Sugar

Melt Margarine and Cocoa together.
Mix with Milk, Vanilla, and Powdered Sugar.
Pour on brownies while hot.

In Memory of Polly Henderson

There Is No Need To Wait For Hope And Change

David Burchett
Author and Speaker
There Is No Need To Wait For Hope And Change

Because the presidential nominees are still in doubt we Texans get a rare “treat” this primary season. We get political commercials from now until March 4th. Whoopee.

And we get political rallies as a part of our new status as a key state in the delegate process. This week a packed arena in Dallas hosted Barak Obama. The atmosphere was more like a revival than a rally. A lot of people are into the Obama “Hope and Change” tour. I always hesitate when I write about politics because nothing brings out the thin-skinned loonies quicker than a perceived slight of their man or woman. So please understand that this post is not about critiquing a candidate. These thoughts are about our culture in America and, in particular, the Christian demographic.

The electric atmosphere at the Dallas Barak Obama rally and hearing his recurrent message got me to thinking and that is always a dangerous thing. I was thinking that God must have a real sense of déjà vu as He watches the people clamor for a human leader to give them hope and change. Then I got sidetracked as I wondered if an omnipotent God can even experience déjà vu? That gave me tired head so I decided to move on.

Would God look at that rally and think of another group who had hope at their disposal but then chose to reject it? God wanted to bless His nation Israel. But they wanted a king who they believed would give them everything they wanted. Remember the story in Samuel?
Finally, all the elders of Israel met at Ramah to discuss the matter with Samuel. “Look,” they told him, “you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have.”

Samuel was displeased with their request and went to the Lord for guidance. “Do everything they say to you,” the Lord replied, “for it is me they are rejecting, not you. They don’t want me to be their king any longer. Ever since I brought them from Egypt they have continually abandoned me and followed other gods. And now they are giving you the same treatment. Do as they ask, but solemnly warn them about the way a king will reign over them.” (I Samuel 8, NLT)

God gave Samuel a warning to give to His people that this might not be the best idea. God warned them that the king would take a tenth of their crops and flocks. Actually I would think about clamoring for a leader that would only take a tenth. But I digress. God warned them about other consequences of putting their faith in an earthly king. Their response was typical.
But the people refused to listen to Samuel’s warning. “Even so, we still want a king,” they said. “We want to be like the nations around us. Our king will judge us and lead us into battle.”

I see so many parallels in our culture to that story. We know that it did not work out like the nation of Israel dreamed that it would. I see many Christians in America falling into the same trap that Samuel warned about so long ago.

We think that hope lies in a leader or a political party. We believe that change will come because of kindred politicians or better laws or lawsuits that establish justice as we see it. We think that the right leader will help educate every child no matter their circumstance. We hope that this political savior will provide healthcare for every person at no cost to them. This leader will help the poor find jobs and realize their every dream. And I picture God looking at His millions of followers with a broken heart. Because He has blessed this country with so much in money and resources. So much of what we now demand our government to do could be accomplished if God’s people read, trusted and followed His Word.

Here is some research from a very annoying and convicting organization called empty tomb, inc. They are also a very important ministry that God has raised up to be a Nathan to our comfortable and consumer Christianity. Here is how America spends some of it’s resources.

In 2003 American consumers spent $53.6 billion buying jewelry and watches, a 5.1% increase over previous year. U.S. Consumers spent more than $24.3 billion on candy (2002) and, on average, consumers made $84.34 worth of candy purchases. We spent $64 billion on soft drinks in 2003. In 2000 Americans spent $13 billion a year on chocolate in all its forms (I know…it just got personal for many of you). In 2000 American toy sales reached $23 billion. How about $38 billion spent on state lotteries? Americans spend 600 million on teeth whitening each year. We spend over 300 million on Botox to reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
God help us to see the needs of our society with His heart. The good news? We can make a real difference. And the time to start is now. Again, according to empty tomb, inc we have the potential to literally change the world in the name of Jesus. Here is the analysis of the empty tomb organization.

As described in our research, church member giving is declining as a portion of income, and is currently around 2.59%. That, my brothers and sisters, is pathetic. Most of us have so much compared to the rest of the world and we choose to spend it on cars, houses and junk that will rust and be thrown away. Or we may get all excited because we recover five cents on the dollar at a garage sale.

If Americans who identify with the historically Christian church increased their giving to an average of 10% of income, there could be an additional $156 billion given to the church. If 60% of this amount were made available to expand overseas missions activity, that number would mean an additional $94 billion available for overseas missions.

One source estimates that $70-$80 billion would impact the worst of world poverty and $5 billion could end most of the 11 million global, annual deaths of children under the age of five. Also, $7 billion would be sufficient for global primary education for all children.

You should be aware, that there could also be $31.22 billion more a year for domestic outreach. And this all on top of our current church activities.

I can’t help but think that God has given us, the church, just about everything we need to make a huge difference in meeting the needs that we expect Washington to address. And that would give hope and change to people that obviously are looking for those elusive words in odd places.
What makes me most sad is that so many people really seem to be placing their hope for happiness on a political candidate. I do believe that leaders make a difference. I care deeply about making an informed and prayerful choice. But I never place my hope or desire for change on a politician. The word hope is used about 80 times in the New Testament. The first appearance of the word in the NIV translation pretty much lays out my belief.

“In his name (Jesus) the nations will put their hope." (Matthew 12, NIV)
Paul wrote about the hope that I have in his letter to the Romans.
I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
In Colossians we read this praise from Paul as he relates how hope based on the eternal God should make a difference.

For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people, which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News. This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace.

That is a hope that I know will not disappoint. As for change, I would be pleasantly surprised if our leaders in Washington would work together for us. But I will not be surprised if they do not. The important change for me has already happened.

When I placed my trust in Jesus a change happened in me. I wrote this a few days ago but it fits well here.

I was a sinner saved by grace and faith alone. But what I am now beginning to understand is who I am in Christ. That is transforming my life. I have referenced the book TrueFaced as an incredible volume of practical theology.

God is not interested in changing the Christian. He has already changed us when we believed in Jesus for salvation. At that point our spiritual DNA was rewritten and we became a new person in Christ. God wants us to believe that He has already changed us so that He can get on with the process of maturing us.

Grace changes our life focus from struggling with sin issues to trusting who God says I already am. I am a saint who occasionally sins, not a sinner who is striving to become a saint.
I have hope that is real. I am changed because of Christ. Because of those two facts I can deal with the rest of life. I believe that no matter what happens in March and in November I know the following statement is true.

God is in control.

Dave Burchett is an Emmy Award winning television sports director, author, and Christian speaker. He is the author of When Bad Christians Happen to Good People and Bring'em Back Alive: A Healing Plan for those Wounded by the Church. You can reply by linking through daveburchett.com.

'Union' speaks truth in its name

'Union' speaks truth in its name
By Brittany Howerton
Feb 21, 2008

JACKSON, Tenn. (BP)--I sat for hours thinking about what to write. After an experience like the tornado that hit Union University, a thousand things could be said.

I began innumerable times with my finger always finding its way to the delete key. "How do I put this into words?" I wondered. "How do I encompass what students have felt and what I've experienced?"

When we think destruction, we think of 9/11, Hurricane Katrina and the Oklahoma City bombing. We recall watching the news and hearing the radio reports. However, I do not think many of us ever considered this kind of devastation hitting our homes, wrecking our lives and forever changing our world. Nevertheless, Feb. 5 came and, with it, tears and heartaches flowed.

Tragedy. Tornado. Destruction. Devastation. These words have echoed in my ears over the past two weeks.

We wonder how to deal with what we've experienced, and how to relate our feelings to an outside world that is speculating about what we will do. We talk about life-changing events and "end-of-the-world" headlines.

For Union University, this was it. We have experienced the change, the devastation and the life transformation this destruction has brought.

"In shambles," "Night of terror," "Storms devastate Union": These are a few of the headlines we have seen on the front pages of our newspapers these past few weeks.

The "Union" that we have known is a thing of the past; nevertheless, there are many things in which we can find hope. "Union," as defined by the Oxford American Dictionary, means "the action or fact of joining or being joined."

We are Union. We are joined, not just by our nearly 3,300 students, but during this time by families, community members and thousands of supporters, literally, all across the globe.

We have come through a time that has been less than fortunate for most us; nevertheless, we must look forward to what is to come, understanding a new time is ahead.

One of the four core values Union upholds is being "future-directed." In being such, we claim, "All of our resources and efforts must, by God's grace, be maximized to fulfill our common mission."

This has certainly been a time that our resources and efforts have been maximized.

We have seen schools, churches and individuals across the world come to Union's aid. What's more, we have seen God's name proclaimed in thousands of homes and cities pronouncing His sovereignty that no lives were lost and few were injured.

God will receive His due glory. At no other time would Union students have been in their respective homes talking about God's sufficiency and providence over our lives. Thus, in the midst of the devastation, God is most glorified. There could be no better grand finale to our tragic story.
--30--
Brittany Howerton is a senior public relations student at Union University and managing editor of the Cardinal & Cream student newspaper.


Copyright (c) 2008 Southern Baptist Convention, Baptist Press
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Nashville, TN 37203
Tel: 615.244.2355
Fax: 615.782.8736
email: bpress@sbc.net

Our Daily Bread, February 20, 2008

February 20, 2008
Threats And Warnings
READ: Deuteronomy 4:32-40

Keep His statutes and His commandments . . . that it may go well with you and with your children after you. —Deuteronomy 4:40

“God never threatens; the devil never warns,” declared Oswald Chambers. We sometimes use the words threat and warning interchangeably, but Chambers saw a principle that suggests a distinction. Threats are used to get people to do what is in our best interest. Warnings are issued to get people to do what is in their best interest. In other words, threats seek to preserve power, whereas warnings serve to protect people from danger.

Satan wants us to think of God’s loving warnings as mean-spirited threats, but he is wrong. According to Chambers, “A warning is a great arresting statement of God’s, inspired by His love and patience.” The evidence of this is found in the many commands that are coupled with phrases like “that it may go well with you” (Deut. 4:40; 12:28).

In loving relationships, people warn one another of the inevitable consequences of foolish behavior. In unhealthy relationships, people threaten one another with punishment if they fail to live up to unreasonable demands.

As we interact with others, it’s good to consider the nature of our counsel and commands. Do we use ultimatums to preserve our own well-being? Or do we lovingly warn others to keep them from harm? — Julie Ackerman Link

FOR FURTHER STUDYHow can we take comfort from the love of God if we don’t feel loved? Read How Has God Loved Us? on the Web at www.discoveryseries.org/q0102

Warnings are an expression of love; threats are an expression of control.

For similar resources, search these topics:
Relationships > Relating to God > Love For
Bible in One Year: Leviticus 16–18; Proverbs 18:1-12

Why don't Pastors Preach from the Old Testament?

Why don't Pastors Preach from the Old Testament?

Ray Pritchard
Keep Believing Ministries

"Why don't pastors preach from the Old Testament?"
The question came from the chairman of the pulpit committee of a large and growing church. In their search for a new pastor, they had interviewed the top tier of candidates, only to discover a disconcerting fact. "None of them preach from the Old Testament," the chairman said. "So far we have interviewed fifteen men and none of them preach from the Old Testament. Why is that?" he wondered.

I was a bit baffled by the question, and after considering it, I concluded that the fifteen men meant that they never preach an extended series from the Old Testament. It's hard for me to believe that a pastor would decide to skip over 75% of the Bible. Perhaps the sample was askew. I have no idea who the fifteen men were, or what age they were, or where they were trained. And I confess that I had never heard of a church asking a prospective candidate, "Do you preach from the Old Testament?"

But it does raise other questions. Is it true that evangelical pastors ignore the Old Testament in their preaching? If so, is this a recent trend? And more to the point, if it is true, why don't pastors preach from the Old Testament?

Here are the thoughts that came to me:

1. Many pastors feel more comfortable with Greek than with Hebrew.
   
2. Most biblical training focuses on New Testament interpretation.
   
3. For some there may be theological reasons why they don't preach from the Old Testament. Perhaps they view everything before Matthew as "preparation" (which in a sense it is) and therefore not worthy of extended attention from the pulpit (a sad mistake, in my opinion).
   
4. But my primary thought was that most seminaries specialize in teaching pastors how to preach the epistles. Our methods work best with Romans, Ephesians and the other Pauline epistles. We feel more comfortable with material that is presented logically and in a point-by-point fashion. Therefore our graduates gravitate more to Colossians than to Hosea.
   
5. The flip side is that we aren't so comfortable with the prophets--major or minor. Or with Job. What do you do with Job? Do you preach four or five sermons and move on? Ecclesiastes is a challenge. So is Song of Solomon in a different sense. Then you've got books like Leviticus, which most of us never touch. Or Deuteronomy, where we cherry-pick a passage here and there.
   
6. And how should we preach the great stories of the Bible? I personally have profited greatly from preaching through the lives of Abraham, Jacob, Samson, Elijah, the book of Daniel, and David’s early years. But I confess that preaching biblical narratives challenges and stretches the way many of us were taught in seminary.
   

I assume that the Christian pastor will spend the majority of his time preaching from the New Testament. That's understandable. But to ignore 75 percent of the Bible is to rob your congregation of the riches of God's Word.


In the end, I don't know if this is an aberration or an actual trend. If it's true that our pastors don't preach the Old Testament, it can't be a good thing.

Is it true that pastors today don’t preach from the Old Testament? If so, why?

You can reach the author at ray@keepbelieving.com. Click here to sign up for the free weekly email sermon.

Dr. Ray Pritchard is the president of Keep Believing Ministries and author of And When You Pray. He has ministered extensively overseas and is a frequent conference speaker and guest on Christian radio and television talk shows. He has authored over 27 books, including Credo, The Healing Power of Forgiveness, An Anchor for the Soul, and Why Did This Happen to Me?

Russ Breimeier, ChristianityToday.com, Boxes

Keeping You in Tune with Today's Music
Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Boxes

We sure have a lot of "boxes" in Christian music—a lot of different styles represented. But that's always been the beautiful part for me. It's a unique genre that's not defined as much by style as it is by our inspiration.

That's precisely what first drew me to Christian music years ago. I loved discovering a genre of music that could expose me to pop, rock, gospel, folk, and hip-hop all under one umbrella. Not since the days of Top 40 radio could you listen to artists as diverse as dc Talk, newsboys, Phil Keaggy, and Rich Mullins on one station.

Of course, that was 15 years ago, and the music industry is a much bigger and broader place. Today, boxes are used in an attempt to narrow the focus … and sometimes too much so.

It troubles me, for example, that some consider an artist like Israel Houghton too pop for gospel, while others say he's too gospel for pop. (Even more disheartening, I've actually heard from people who say he's "too black" for pop and "not black enough" for gospel. Sad.) Yet look at the career of Kirk Franklin. He's a gospel artist that successfully gained attention among pop fans with the God's Property single "Stomp." And though gospel purists continue to embrace him, his music has not remained purely gospel.

Derek Webb faces a similar problem. Today, some people say his music is too folksy and country to gain exposure in Christian music. Yet ten years ago, people across the board embraced the Caedmon's Call hit, "Thankful," which has a very country bent. And besides, Webb is more rock nowadays. The problem seems more that his rock is not the right kind of rock, and his challenging lyrics aren't the right kind of Christian lyrics.

I know it's hard to believe, but I've even heard from some who consider Sara Groves too pop for Inspirational radio and too light for Christian Adult Contemporary. Comments like that force me to look back on why I originally got into Christian music. Where would diverse bands like dc Talk and Jars of Clay be today?

I, too, use boxes everyday out of necessity, but I try to use them to describe rather than to define—like using colors, shades, and textures to explain the visual medium. Not to pat ourselves on the back, but most readers praise Christian Music Today for our attempts to be comprehensive and inclusive with the genre. (Even my editor noted that we're like the Baskin Robbins of Christian music—lots of flavors, but all ice cream.) I also appreciate online radio stations that allow listeners to shape their playlists and make them as broad as their tastes will allow. And thankfully the Gospel Music Association and Gospel Music Channel both do their part to celebrate diversity within Christian music, rather than to limit it by category.

Suffice it to say, our collective understanding of Christian music today is much narrower than it was 10 years ago. Much of that comes from the specialization of radio. And I understand that things change with time, yet I can't shake this nagging feeling that the industry today is less interested in reflecting the diversity of Christ's Kingdom than it is in promoting the niches within the niche. But can we ever go back to the old way, and more importantly, do people actually want to?

Check out the of Dove nominees announced last week if you want to look at a fairly comprehensive list of what Christian music has to offer—it's certainly not everything, but it's a start.

Our new interview this week is with Natalie Grant, who talks about singing, songwriting, touring, ministering, and becoming a new mother of twins. No wonder her new album is called Relentless!

As for new albums, February 26 is a big release date. So big, that we offer you six reviews of projects that actually release next week. Classic pop singer Michael English is back with his second comeback, while Avalon offers their versions of Christian pop classics. Worship leader Jaime Jamgochian and chick-rock band Inhabited return to the scene. And check out the strong recommendations for two new artists: rock band After Edmund and pop duo Cadia. Plus, an indie spotlight for the folk-pop of Lynne Clark.

Grace and peace,

Russ Breimeier
ChristianityToday.com

To reply to this newsletter: music@christianitytoday.com

Daily Treasures - A Cheerful Countenance

A Cheerful Countenance February 19, 2008

Proverbs 15:13 says, "A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken."

What’s another word for a cheerful countenance? It’s a smile. Someone said the following and I think it is incredible:

It costs nothing, but creates much good. It enriches those who receive it without impoverishing those who give it away. It happens in a flash, but the memory of it can last forever. No one is so rich that he can get along without it. No one is too poor to feel rich when receiving it. It creates happiness in the home, fosters good will in business and is the counter sign of friends. It is rest to the weary, daylight to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad and nature’s best anecdote for trouble. Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed or stolen. It is something of no earthly good to anyone until it is given away willingly.

I love that. When you dress up in the morning, don’t forget to put on a smile and don’t be ashamed of your sense of humor! Why not try it right now even if you're all by yourself. Now, don't you feel better?

Adrian Rogers

Care Group Leaders Lunch

Don't forget the Care Group leaders Lunch Sunday, Feb. 24th, after the 10:30 service. I hope I got the date right.

The Power of Whimsy, NY Times article on Sandra Boynton

The title of this article caught my eye. The enduring principles Ms. Boynton embraces in her work and life are the opposite of whimsy. Click on the above link to read the full article.

SANDRA BOYNTON’S studio, in a converted barn next to her Connecticut home, bears the milestones of her singular career: a long rack of greeting cards featuring quirkily drawn animals; a room full of small, sturdy children’s books, with names like “Snuggle Puppy!” and “Barnyard Dance!”; and, upstairs, where she does much of her work, old-time radios and jukeboxes representing her more recent foray into music CDs for children.

Russ Breimeier, ChristianityToday.com, Grammys & Gospel article

Keeping You in Tune with Today's Music
Wednesday, February 13, 2008

The Grammys Get Gospel Right

This just wouldn't be much of a music newsletter if I didn't take the opportunity to spotlight music's biggest night last Sunday: the 50th annual Grammy awards.

I have no overarching insight to this year's big event. I was really expecting to be disappointed, since I had no strong feelings for the majority of nominees. And yet the show was more entertaining than usual. In the last five years, the Grammys have gradually emphasized performance over presentation. This year's ceremony was no exception, featuring a wide array of talent and artistic collaborations on stage. And the production quality was as good as I've ever seen—the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) pulled out all the stops.

Say what you will about who won or who didn't, but there were three things that made my night that I thought I'd share with you:

1) We've previously complained over NARAS voters usually getting it wrong when it comes to gospel music. So it's only fair to note when they finally get it right, particularly for heaping praise on Fred Hammond, Israel & New Breed, and three awards for The Clark Sisters—all projects we reviewed very favorably last year.

I particularly got a kick out of Ashley Cleveland scoring Best [Gospel] Rock Album for Before the Daylight's Shot. Consider that we were one of the few to review the independent project back in 2006 and named it one of the Best Christian Albums that year. The album started to receive more attention in the months after that and finally scored some national distribution in 2007. Granted, Cleveland's won the Best Rock Grammy twice before … but we can't help but wonder if we didn't play some small part in drawing attention to that one.

2) Did you hear Vince Gill's acceptance speech for Best Country Album? "I just got an award given to me by a Beatle!" That was the third-best quote of the night, upon receiving his Grammy from co-presenter Ringo Starr. Then came the second-best quote—"Have you had that happen yet, Kanye?"—jokingly responding to hip-hop superstar Kanye West's egotistical acceptance speech from earlier that night. Gutsy, all in good fun, and awesome.

3) The best quote of the night? That would be Miss Miley Cyrus, and most of you probably missed it … unless you happened to catch the pre-show interviews on the red carpet (yes, I missed it too—thanks to my friend Stacie for pointing it out). After some inane chatter about fashion, the host asks Miley about Valentine's Day and dating. She responds that she's not ready to date right now … and that the three guys she loves the most are, "Jesus, my brothers, and my dad." A small mention with little consequence? I say not bad for a 15-year-old girl who currently happens to be the most popular pop star on the planet.

The Gospel Music Award nominees are announced later this week, and I can only hope it'll lead to an even more entertaining and meaningful event in April. One thing's for certain: the potential Dove nominees for next year are looking most promising. We already have some early favorites from late 2007, such as Sara Groves and Kirk Franklin. This week, we offer three more album reviews scoring 4.5 or 5 stars! Natalie Grant returns to the scene with Relentless, an album every bit as good as her Awaken. Sanctus Real returns to their more rocking, anthemic roots while showing some new musical maturity on We Need Each Other. And say hello to NewWorldSon, one of the most fun new bands I've heard in Christian music for quite a while.

Rounding out this week's review coverage is WoW Gospel 2008 and the debut from pop-gospel worship leader Ken Reynolds. You'll also find a new Glimpse of God feature for the alt-folk album The Shepherd's Dog by Iron & Wine, and an interview with 19-year-old newlywed Leeland Mooring of the worship band Leeland.

Stay tuned for those Dove nominees on Thursday the 14th, and Happy Valentine's Day.


Russ Breimeier
ChristianityToday.com

To reply to this newsletter: music@christianitytoday.com

Ray Waddle on Chesterton's "Orthodoxy"

Book's exuberant truths still impact readers a century later
By RAY WADDLE • February 16, 2008

A century ago, a new book about belief was unleashed, and its zany impact still reverberates.

For Lent, I've been reading it. Orthodoxy, by G.K. Chesterton, seems too entertaining for Lent's sober purposes. But it's just like Chesterton to be funny in a dead-serious way.


These days his quotes flood the Internet:

• "The whole modern world has divided itself into Conservatives and Progressives. The business of Progressives is to go on making mistakes. The business of the Conservatives is to prevent the mistakes from being corrected."

• "He is a (sane) man who can have tragedy in his heart and comedy in his head.''

• "Customs are generally unselfish. Habits are nearly always selfish.''

British journalist Chesterton did everything with gusto, if not excess. He wrote incessantly.

He weighed nearly 400 pounds. His debating rivals admitted he was a man of vigor, surprise and mirth.

His writing inspired C.S. Lewis' turn to Christianity.

Today, Chesterton Societies everywhere pay homage to his spirit. He thought Christian belief a matter of joy and sanity. Yet the world still nervously evades his sort of religious exuberance.

In Orthodoxy, he declares: "Tradition means giving votes to the most obscure of all classes, our ancestors. It is the democracy of the dead. Tradition refuses to submit to the small and arrogant oligarchy of those who merely happen to be walking about."

He was irreverently anti-modern. He found modernity's solemn secularism hilarious. He thought it far more liberal and free-thinking to be free to believe in miracles than to be straitjacketed in rationalistic doctrines that deny life's every mystery.

Chesterton hated concentrations of money and power. He blamed them on modern life's self-defeating denial of the obvious — sin. Society would be better armed against human evils if it acknowledged the fact of sin.

In Orthodoxy he warns that rationalism without humor, charity or poetry leads to madness and oppression. Religion is saner; it's truer to life's strangeness. The world's meaning is found outside the world: Life has an Author.

Chesterton had flaws. He conceded little to modern progress or religious pluralism. At times he idealized the Christianized Middle Ages, a futile dream that made him look anti-Jewish.

After Hitler appeared, Chesterton became a stronger defender of Jews.

He died in 1936. He didn't witness World War II, the Holocaust, nuclear weapons, or terrorism's latest moral bankruptcy. Perhaps these would disillusion him, the way millions are disillusioned.

But I doubt it. Existence itself was always a shocking wonder to him. It made him grateful for creation, where nothing is trivial because everything holds clues to divine revelation.

His religious witness offered a rare mix — intellectual dazzle and humility. We could use both just now.

Columnist Ray Waddle, a former Tennessean religion editor, can be reached at
ray@raywaddle.com.

Happy V-day

Hope everyone is having a great Valentine's Day.

Disaster Relief Update

Click on the link above for the Feb. 13th update from the First Baptist website

Middle TN disaster relief info

Click on the above link to get help details and contact information

Or, Mail a Check
Send your check, made payable to the Tennessee Baptist Convention, to:

TN Baptist Disaster Relief
PO Box 728
Brentwood, TN 37024

Write on your check the nature of your designation (Tennessee Tornados - February 2008). Any checks received that do not have a designation will be used for General Disaster Relief.

To give online via the Southern Baptist Convention, go to: http://www.sbc.net/redirect.asp?url=http://www.tnbaptist.org/

National Weather Service Storm tracks and photo links

National Weather Service coverage http://www.geo-jobe.com/blog/2008/02/09/nws-tn-tornado-coverage/

Official site for recovery information at Union University

Give to the Disaster Relief Fund online or by mailing donations to:
Union University Disaster Relief Fund
1050 Union University Drive
Jackson, TN 38305

Foundation for a Better Life quote of the day

In consideration of last night's storms, this is a well-timed quote of the day:

“We're here for a reason. I believe a bit of the reason is to throw little torches out to lead people through the dark.”
—Whoopi Goldberg (b. 1955), actress, radio host, author, comedian

This message is one of a daily newsletter from The Foundation for a Better Life bringing you a new inspiring quote every day. The Foundation for a Better Life is a non-profit organization dedicated to sharing the values that make a difference in our communities.This week we are featuring quotes related to cooperation. We hope you enjoy this daily quote, and if you feel inspired, please Pass it On.

Raised Waffles

While I consider Martha White's Southern Traditions cookbook to be the Bible of comfort food, the Raised Waffles recipe looks like a winner. :) Kent

Raised waffles: Recipe is a keeper
Once in a while, a recipe comes along that changes your life.
This recipe, from the 1896 Fannie Farmer Cookbook, is like that. It produces light, crisp waffles and was recently reprinted in Marion Cunningham's Lost Recipes (Knopf, $22).
In her note about it, she writes, "The Raised Waffle recipe alone could have sold a million copies. Don't make the mistake of thinking this is just another waffle; it isn't. It has won more accolades than any recipe I know, and it deserves them all."
It may be the only waffle recipe you'll ever really need.
Makes 8 waffles.
½ cup warm water
1 package active dry yeast
2 cups milk, warmed
½ cup (1 stick) butter, melted
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 eggs
¼ teaspoon baking soda
1. Use a rather large mixing bowl — the batter will rise to double its original volume. Put the water in the mixing bowl and sprinkle in the yeast. Let stand for 5 minutes to dissolve. Add milk, melted butter, salt, sugar and flour to the yeast mixture and beat until smooth and well blended. (Cunningham wrote that she often uses a hand rotary beater to get rid of all the lumps.) Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let stand overnight at room temperature.
2. Just before cooking the waffles, beat in the eggs, add the baking soda, and stir until well mixed. The batter will be very thin. Pour ½ to ¾ cup batter into a very hot waffle iron for the first waffle, bake until golden and crisp and repeat until batter is used up. Or, store remaining batter in refrigerator for several days.

Political issues dominate Baptist meeting

...The Southern Baptist Convention, considered to be theologically and politically conservative, is not officially participating in the celebration,...