Gore serious, and funny

Former Vice President Al Gore, during a luncheon today on protecting the earth from climate change, was passionate and serious.
He was also funny.
Since I am science-challenged, you can read the serious stuff elsewhere.
But here are a few of his good one-liners:
"I'm Al Gore. I used to be the next president of the United States."
"I'm a recovering politician now, on about step nine."
"I don't get into that (the age of the earth); we had a trial in my home state."
For the history-challenged, he was referring to the 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial in Dayton, Tenn.

Bill Leonard on Celebration's significance

Church historian Bill Leonard, dean of the Wake Forest Divinity School, just gave me his perspective on the historical significance of this Baptist Celebration.
"It is the largest gathering of Anglo- and African-American Baptists in this country ever," said Leonard.
And he believes many of those coming together for this unprecedented event are aware of the history they are helping to make.
Last night's opening session, with messages by National Baptist leader Dr. William Shaw and former President Jimmy Carter, raised that awareness he added.
"It was a tangible illustration of the historic nature of this meeting," said Leonard, describing his personal participation as "a wonderful gift."
Leonard said it is important to understand what the gathering is not about, as well, namely:
1. The Southern Baptist Convention which has insulated itself from other Baptists groups.
2. Partisan politics, though many might think so because "religion has become such a divisive issue in American politics" and the event falls in the heat of the election season.
"But to see last night was to illustrate we couldn't wait another year," said Leonard. "So what if it's in the middle of the election year?"
3. Starting a new organization. "The last thing we need in America is a new convention," he said.
Leonard said this historic and significant occasion also helps former Southern Baptists, like himself, to continue moving forward with new possibilities.
"It is a sense that I don't have to go back to that," he said. "You just let it go and channel your energies into something like this."
Most significantly, Leonard said, Baptists who have been divided by race and other distinctions are able to listen to one another.
"We've not even been with each other to hear each other, let alone to do ministry together."
The New Baptist Covenant allows for growing relationships and new cooperative ministry, he said, without creating a "new organic union," that is a new denominational body.
Such is a gift, indeed.

Classic Campolo

Only Tony Campolo, the constant burr under the evangelical saddle for decades, would tell a Baptist gathering: "Rise up you suckers and go out and do the work of Jesus!"
Only Campolo would tell former President Jimmy Carter, sitting on the front row, that he admires him but: "Your mother beat you cold (by going overseas with the Peace Corp at age 68)."
Only Campolo would describe the church as "the only club in the world that exists for the benefits of non-members."
And he did, saying these things and more as only Campolo can.

Political motive questions still being asked

A large number of reporters from various religion and secular news outlets participated in an opening media conference this afternoon (Jan.30) moderated by former President Jimmy Carter. He and other organizers of the Celebration of a New Baptist Covenant discussed the origins, purpose and plans for the big gathering.
The question — answered repeatedly since the event was announced, but one that keeps coming up — is whether the event has a secret secular political purpose.
Suspicion is accelerated by the hot political climate leading into the Super Tuesday primaries and the presence of some politicians in and around the meeting.
For example, at a gathering of the four major National Baptist conventions, meeting prior to and in the same facilities as the Celebration, Democratic presidential candidates Sen. Barack Obama (via video) and Sen. Hillary Clinton (in person) addressed the historic gathering of Black Baptist leaders.
Dr. William Shaw, president of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., said all presidential candidates from both parties were invited to speak at the "Joint Winter Board Meeting of the National Baptist Conventions in America."
That separate meeting was scheduled to precede the Celebration in hopes of attracting more National Baptists to the larger gathering.
During the press conference, Dr. Shaw said, again: "This time was set without any reference to political calendars whatsoever."
Mercer University President Bill Underwood, who along with Pres. Carter conceived the idea for the Celebration, added: "We found a date, on late notice, when this facility was available."
But don't think for a minute that the political motive question will not be asked again, and again, and again, and again.

Sen. Graham drops out of Baptist celebration to politic for McCain

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C, made a late withdrawal from the Celebration of a New Baptist Covenant. Graham, one of two Republican senators on the program, had been enlisted to address the challenge of immigration.
A spokesperson for the diverse Baptist gathering in Atlanta, Jan. 30 - Feb.1, said Sen. Graham, a Baptist layman, felt a need to politic on behalf of fellow Sen. John McCain's presidential efforts leading into the Super Tuesday primaries.
A replacement speaker for the Friday morning plenary session has yet to be announced.
As scheduled, Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, will speak on "Public Policy and Feeding a Hungry World" during that same session.

Media take note of SBC's absence

Most advance news stories from secular media give considerable attention to the fact that the largest Baptist body in the U.S., the Southern Baptist Convention, is not participating with other Baptists in Atlanta this week.
It is valid news, but not something those most deeply involved in the historic Celebration of a New Baptist Covenant, that begins tomorrow, are focused on.
Others Baptists don't really expect cooperation of any kind from the SBC leadership. Just a few years ago, they watched the pouting, whining and childish withdrawal of the SBC from the world-wide fellowship of the Baptist World Alliance. So the Baptists in Atlanta this week are rallying around a shared passion for proclaiming the Gospel and ministering to those in need — and aren't waiting on the SBC to join in.
These other Baptist groups aren't paying much attention to what Southern Baptists — who were invited to participate — have to say about this unprecedented gathering. But reporters are.
For example, an article in the Nashville newspaper, The Tennessean, gave considerable space to remarks by SBC President Frank Page, who earlier condemned the gathering as having a "smoke-screen left-wing liberal agenda."
More recently, according to the article, Page has said he will not attend the meeting but will pray for its success.
He should have stopped there. But Page went on to say: "...I urge this meeting to seek to find practical ways that the Gospel might be applied in ministry to precious persons across our nation and world."
That is exactly what organizers have planned from the outset. There is something typically Southern Baptist about a non-participating critic "urging" other Baptists to do something — even if it is a good something already planned.
Indeed, the diverse Baptists gathering in Atlanta will focus on the call of Christ to share the good news and minister to those who suffer. It is that urging that brings them together.

A most dissected message

Former President Bill Clinton will speak this Friday evening during the closing session of the Celebration of a New Baptist Covenant. He is one of those lightning-rod personalities who seems to draw either love or disdain.
Pastors across the nation, who have promoted the historic gathering to their congregations, can testify to that fact. Some church members have overreacted so negatively to Clinton's participation that they have dismissed the whole conference as having no a valid purpose.
Bruce Prescott of Norman, Okla., who maintains the unofficial New Baptist Covenant blog site, posted an excellent piece last week about how the former president's address will come at a time when the political stakes are so high for his wife, Sen. Hillary Clinton.
Bruce told how impressed he was after hearing Pres. Clinton speak at the press conference last April promoting the Baptist celebration. He passionately and clearly talked about his own faith, the biblical mandate to care for the poor, and the treasured principles of religious liberty.
I heard the same things and was impressed as well. Pres. Clinton's biblically grounded message was brief, but superb. He out-preached some big-time preachers that day.
But as Bruce notes in his recent blog: "Last April, however, no one suspected that an African American would be the chief rival standing between Bill Clinton's wife and the presidency. Then, no one suspected that the African-American community would be severely divided about who they would support for president."
So on the Friday night before Super Tuesday, a day that may well determine the Democratic nominee for president, the husband of one vying for the office will have a platform.
Thousands of Baptists will be present, including many African Americans headed to the ballot box next Tuesday.
Like Bruce, I hope the message is similar to the one heard at the press conference in April. But the political temptation will be great.
Just how that address will go, nobody knows yet. But one thing is certain, it will be the most dissected message given at the historic Baptist gathering.
And, likely, not everyone will hear the same things. What one hears is often determined by what one is listening for.
Over 80 media representatives have been credentialed. Hundreds of others who write, blog or speak will be listening in. I can hear the pencils being sharpened now.

Obama likely to outdraw me, others

In Macon, Ga., today, Chuck Poole is guest preacher in the pulpit he once filled regularly at the First Baptist Church of Christ. I'm preaching at historic Mt. Zion Baptist Church for morning worship.
Jim Dant of Highland Hills and Bill Hardee of Vineville Baptist are expected in their regular places of preaching.
However, someone named Barack Obama is scheduled to be at Harvest Cathedral this morning.
Early predictions suggest he could outdraw the rest of us by a two to one margin.

Blogging at the Celebration

The late Cajun chef Justin Wilson, before explaining one his famous spicy recipes, used to say: "Let me tell ya what I'm gonna did."
What Baptists Today is "gonna did" next week, is give significant attention to the historic gathering of rather-diverse Baptists in Atlanta under the banner of "A Celebration of a New Baptist Covenant."
To that end, I will be joined by contributing editor Tony Cartlege, online editor Bruce Gourley and blogging talent Aaron "Big Daddy" Weaver in providing live, multiple reports at www.baptiststoday.org.
The celebration is significant in terms of scope, controversy and potential historical impact. Never has such a diverse group of Baptist leaders cooperatively planned an event that will include such prominent Baptist speakers.
Many of us are looking beyond the politic persuasion of individual speakers and seeing a rich, unprecedented, interracial opportunity for worship, fellowship and cooperative ministry that crossing geographical and convention lines.
Baptists Today looks forward to being present and to providing timely reports. Bruce and Aaron will do live blogging as events unfurl. Think of them as doing “play-by-play” reporting of the action.
Tony and I will do the “color commentary,” seeking to give interpretation and analysis of the various addresses.
Also, we will post or link to video coverage, a photo gallery, numerous news stories coming out of the meeting and a special discussion forum at www.baptistlife.com.
So we invite you to keep up with the historic gathering of Baptists Jan. 30 – Feb. 1 at www.baptiststoday.org.
Bruce has designed a special Baptists Today web page for this event. The page with our pre-event posts will be up on Monday. The Celebration will be held Wednesday-Friday of next week.
We’ll be there whether you can make it or not. It is going to be a much talked about event. I "gar-ron-tee."
(Photo: David Goatley of the Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Missions Convention is president of the North American Baptist Fellowship, a regional fellowship of Baptist groups coordinating the Celebration.)

The fine art of sleeping in church

The video of former President Bill Clinton nodding off in church is all over the Internet and morning news shows today. The Sunday service honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was held at Convent Avenue Baptist Church in Harlem, N.Y.
I come to his defense with both empathy and advice. It has happened to everyone except maybe some pagan who has never experienced a long service in a warm sanctuary with padded chairs or pews.
Plus, Marty King III was speaking. Sadly, he didn't get the oratory skills of his late father. Those went to little sister Bernice.
Though a longtime Baptist, Bro. Clinton seems to have forgotten the trusted three-step plan for sleeping in church.
Instead, he tried unsuccessfully to hide behind the wide preacher. But the wide lens caught him.
For such situations in the future, I offer this advice to both former presidents who sit on stages during significant services and ordinary pew riders like many of us.
Step one: Place your hands together with fingertips to your nose. This provides both support of the head and the appearance of praying.
Step two: Upon closing your eyes, move your lips a little so people will think you are praying and therefore more spiritual than sleepy.
Step three: Each time you awaken, nod in affirmation and hope that the preacher just said something with which you should agree. The former president did this step well. But his omission of the first two made the nodding unconvincing.
However, there will be many opportunities in the future for him to work on more refined ways to catch a few Zs in church. It is amazing that after all these years so few have perfected it completely.
Oh, there is one more word of advice: Unless you attend a loud Pentecostal or contemporary service, keep your chin up enough so that you don't snore.

The Gospel According to Albert

The rain did not turn to snow in Macon, Ga., this weekend as forecast, much to my younger daughter's disappointment. But knowing the precipitation in some form was certain, I picked up a DVD of "Fat Albert" on Friday afternoon for wet-weather entertainment.
My family had enjoyed the Bill Cosby movie when it came to theaters a few years back (as I had the TV cartoon version long ago).
Here's the story: Big-hearted (in fact, big everything) Albert has deep compassion for broken-hearted Doris, a young girl who feels unwanted, unloved and rejected.
To express his love, he leaves the comfort of his heavenly world (in this case, an animated North Philly junkyard) to enter her world — in the flesh — in order to show her love and acceptance.
"I'm going to help her," Fat Albert said, upon seeing her pain. "I have no choice."
He has a committed, but at times bumbling, group of followers. Not Peter, James and John, but Bucky, Dumb Donald, Old Weird Harold and Mushmouth.
Not everyone accepts his message of love. Some ridicule Albert and his followers. They are not of this self-centered world.
But his message does mend the broken heart of Doris. Albert assures her: "I'll be here to cheer you on."
Hey, hey, hey. Sounds kinda familiar.

Efficiency and hot dogs

The Bridges family of Kings Mountain, N.C., visits us between Christmas and New Year’s. It’s a tradition all of us enjoy, and one that counters the usual post-Christmas downer.
Moms and the younger ones go shopping. Dads and older offspring take a day-long excursion within an hour or two of Macon, Ga.
This year I took my friend John and his two collegians, Thomas (UNC senior) and Elizabeth (Gardner-Webb freshman) to Plains. The students had never been to the little town that birthed a U.S. president.
They particularly enjoyed the restored Carter family farm in the Archery community. En route we stopped at the National POW Museum in Andersonville, the small airport where Charles Lindbergh made his first solo flight, the Habitat for Humanity birthplace and Americus’ old Windsor Hotel.
It is amazing how much significant history can be found within rural Sumter, County, Ga.
One highlight of the day was our lunchtime visit to Monroe’s Hot Dogs and Billiards in downtown Americus between the beautifully restored Rylander Theatre and the Habitat headquarters.
Entering the restaurant, we could sense its popularity immediately. About 30 people were ahead of us in line.
Patience is not my top virtue. But we were in no hurry and I wanted my friends to enjoy the local flavor.
To my delight, however, patience was not required. Within 10 minutes of arrival, we had been through the line and our food was before us.
The efficiency and overall customer service were rare and appreciated.
Here’s how they did it. Two lines with competent order takers. Limited menu with the food prepared the moment the order is spoken.
One size fries and drinks. Low, rounded prices like my choice: a combo dog with slaw and chili for one dollar. And a sign that should be required at the sales counters of all businesses: “If you are talking on a cell phone we will not take your order.”
My friend John lamented however that he spent only $13 to overfeed his threesome and then $24 for the two T-shirts the students wanted with the wonderful Monroe’s slogan: “Best dog ever bitten by man.”
However, my appreciation for efficiency goes beyond getting good hot dogs quickly. Overall time management is a good discipline, even a matter of stewardship.
For some of us (me, me, me) the challenge is learning to slow down and not looking at the next to-do list so quickly. But using time well comes from seeing each hour and every day as a sacred gift.
The discipline of time requires careful attention to planning. What we schedule to do and schedule not to do are important.
Multi-tasking is not always the best approach, but it is hard not to try. In an effort at being a good steward of time and budget, I often pack my travels so full that I return exhausted. A little slower pace would allow for more energy upon return, especially when a writing deadline awaits.
Of course, there is not one approach to using time most wisely that fits every person in every situation. It tends to be an individualized approach.
But one truth is undeniable. How we spend our time is one of the clearest indicators of what is really important to us. It reflects our true values, whether we admit to them or not.
(I wonder if it would be good use of my time to make a two-hour round-trip drive for lunch today? The dogs are calling.)

Good stuff from LifeWay Research

As a frequent critic of the leadership of the Southern Baptist Convention, I am sometimes asked if I ever say anything nice about those who now control the ever-narrowing denominational body. Not often, but I will when praise is deserved.
LifeWay Research deserves such praise.
Directed by missiologist and researcher Ed Stetzer, LifeWay Research provides a clear, unbiased picture of opinions on subjects that relate to church and denominational ministry.
For the last few years there has been ongoing debate over the rise of Calvinism in the SBC. The inaugural research project by LifeWay gave data to inform the conversation.
The research verified what many perceived: that SBC pastors, by an overwhelming majority, do not consider themselves to be five-point Calvinists. But the number is rising due to the teaching of Calvinism at some SBC seminaries, especially Southern Baptist Theological Seminary where Al Mohler is president.
The research revealed that while 10 percent of SBC pastors overall consider themselves five-point Calvinists, more recent grads do so nearly three times (29 percent) more.
In a more recent study, LifeWay Research verified that an overwhelming majority (72 percent) of Americans believe in God, yet many don't go to church. The reasons: The same percentage (72) said the "church is full of hypocrites" and 44 percent affirmed that "Christians get on my nerves."
(Had I been interviewed, I would want the option for church-going believers to also affirm that often "Christians get on my nerves" too.)
The good news, as Stetzer noted on CNN and through other news outlets interested in the data, is that 78 percent of those surveyed said they would be open to talking with someone about their Christian beliefs — presumably if we can do it without getting on their nerves.
Good solid data helps churches and individuals make the needed changes to be more effective in a changing world. That's good stuff.
With all the spin that comes from the SBC public relations machine (including and especially Baptist Press), the kind of honest information from LifeWay Research is even more significant and appreciated.

Can Evangelicals be Democrats?

Nine evangelical Christian leaders sent a letter last week urging pollsters to ask Democratic voters — not just Republicans — if they consider themselves to be evangelical believers.
According to Religion News Service, the signees were: Jim Wallis of Sojourners, David Neff of Christianity Today, Joel Hunter, Randy Brinson, Randall Balmer, Glen Stassen, Paul Corts, David Gushee and Brian McClaren.
Gushee, Stassen and Corts, at least, are Baptists who signed the letter asking the National Election Pool (that provides data to major news outlets) to broaden their questioning to both parties.
According to the article, these Christian leaders claimed recent polls "have pigeonholed evangelicals, reinforcing the false stereotype that we are beholden to one political party."
Of course, the challenge beyond polling practices is the difficult task of defining an evangelical. Many within the Religious Right would discount some or all of the signees of this letter because they are not fundamentalists.
However, it would be interesting to see the bigger picture of voting patterns throughout the presidential election process, especially during this early stage with such an oddly-religious collection of candidates.
These letter-writing leaders are right to point out that not asking voters in both parties to self-identify as evangelical Christians has "prevented the public from seeing the full picture of how the bipartisan courtship of evangelical voters affected the outcome of the first contest of the 2008 campaign and perpetuated the misperception that all evangelical Christians are Republicans."

Grisham brings intrigue to celebration

The list of speakers for the upcoming Celebration of a New Baptist Covenant is simply remarkable: two former U.S. presidents (Carter and Clinton), two Nobel Prize winners (Carter and Gore), two U.S. senators (Grassley and Graham), compelling social activists (Edleman, Campolo) and a variety of well-known pulpiteers (Forbes, Shaw, Gregory, Adams, Pennington-Russell, et al).
And they are all Baptists, including the latest addition to the program: best-selling author John Grisham.
Grisham is widely known for his gripping novels often made into movies.
Lesser known is his Baptist identity although faith and missions show up to varying degrees in his writings.
So Grisham brings a special intrigue to the gathering (open to the public) set for Jan. 30-Feb. 1 at the Georgia World Congress Center in downtown Atlanta. (Grisham will speak on "respecting diversity" in the Thursday evening session.)
My plans are to take in as much of this historic and unprecedented event as possible. But if forced to choose only one plenary session speaker to hear, it would be Grisham.
I am intrigued.

Lessons from the swamp

A recent article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution revealed the surprise results birdwatchers found on a trip to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.
Last spring, wildfires consumed 115,000 of the South Georgia swamp's 438,000 acres. The ensuing summer drought worsened the condition of the swamp which is a natural habitat for many species of wildlife.
Despite the sweeping fires, the worst in decades, and the rainfall shortage, the birdwatchers spotted more sandhill cranes, wood ducks and woodpeckers than recorded the previous year. They were surprised by the beauty and life of the swamp.
A naturalist explained that, in fact, the fire had been beneficial to some plant life that is beneficial to some wildlife.
The bird-counting writer of the article, Charles Seabrook, surmised: "Droughts and wildfires, of course, are part of the natural cycle, and over the many millennial, the Okefenokee's flora and fauna have learned to adapt..."
As we often say: That'll preach.

Wisdom from Warren

The holidays created more television time than usual. While channel-surfing often left me in the cold, I did pick up a few jewels along the way.
For example, I caught part of a CNBC report on gazillionaire Warren Buffett, whose annual income usually trails only Bill Gates among Americans.
The chairman of Berkshire Hathaway is well beyond retirement age and means, but stays active.
Getting philosophical toward the end of the interview, he talked about how he reads something of interest every day and seeks out conversations with wise people.
He concluded: "You should finish the day a little smarter than you started the day."
There may be some wisdom for other areas of life, including discipleship, in those words.
What if our daily pursuits of truth and insight (through reading and personal contacts) led us to finish our days more loving, generous, caring or wiser than they began?

Not all 'reality' deserves public viewing

On Jan. 1, Court TV became truTV. The network specializes in video recordings of real-life law enforcement and rescue activities.
A few episodes of "COPS" or similar shows can make me believe my late father was right when he told me as a teen and young adult that "no one but hoodlums stay out past midnight."
In their new tag line, however, the renamed network distinguishes between the "actuality" they broadcast and the so-called "reality" shows offered by MTV and others.
"Reality" television has come to mean showing irresponsible behavior by untrained, yet willing actors who (unlike the criminals on "COPS") welcome the public exposure of their misdeeds.
Joel McHale, the wiry and witty host of E!'s "The Soup" has noted three things are required for success on a "reality television" show: (1.) a desire to embarrass parents (2.) a very low self-esteem, and (3.) an ability to cry at even the most mundane matters.
A third attribute, it seems, is needed as well: the complete absence of any sense of shame.
There is some debate over whether "reality TV" is "real." Wrong question.
The better one is whether all "real behavior" deserves public exposure.

A day for hangin' out

New Year's Day is the ultimate "hangin' out" time. Family, friends, food and football top the loose agenda.
I'll do my best to repress all thoughts of Baptists issues and a fast approaching publishing deadline. And I'll leave the buzz over presidential politics to the Iowans today.
Sigmund Freud is my inspiration for this first day of 2008. This life-size statue of the famed psychoanalyst by Czech sculptor David Cerny is titled "Man hanging out."
I took the photo while walking the lovely streets of Prague this summer.
When Cerny brought his art to Chicago, it created some alarm.