Monthly Archives:

January 2010

Haiti

Haiti Hits Home

The destruction in Haiti continues to sadden and compel people to give.  Over $50 million has been given from “text giving” and tens of millions of dollars continue to flow into relief agencies.  The Haiti earthquake had a personal connection for me and for the people of our church.  One of our members, Jude Pierre, was serving on a mission trip in Haiti when the earthquake struck.  The mission trip team was about 50 miles away from Port-au-Prince, but still felt the earthquake.  Jude and his team return safely a few days later and their return was reported on by NBC13 here in Albany:

Click for video

It was an incredible turn of events and this Sunday morning, Jude will recount his experiences during the 10:15 a.m. worship service at FBC Ballston Spa.   Jude will have pictures and information about his mission trip.  We hope you will join us.

In addition, FBC Ballston spa has given over $1500 to fund Haiti relief efforts through International Ministries of the American Baptist Churches U.S.A.  The American Baptist Women’s group aka “G-Unit” group at FBC also made medical kits with donated supplies that is being sent to Haiti.  Thanks be to God for the generous giving from the good people at FBC Ballston spa.  Also, our denomination has quickly responded to relief efforts.

Here is a summary of what the ABC has done:

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church membership, mission

The Mission of the Mission Statement

Mission statements are used by individuals, non-profits, companies, and even government.  Mission statements are supposed to focus or clarify an organization’s purpose or outcome.  It is easy for a mission statement to be confusing, too wordy, and just too long.  Instead of mission statements empowering people, mission statements can be used as corporate propaganda to make investors feel like the company is working hard.  Here are some examples of confusing mission statements:

“We have committed to synergistically fashion high-quality products so that we may collaboratively provide access to inexpensive leadership skills in order to solve business problems”

“It is our business to quickly maintain competitive sources while continuing to globally simplify virtual services.”

“We strive to globally provide access to multimedia based intellectual capital and efficiently simplify effective sources to stay competitive in tomorrow’s world.”

“Our mission is to collaboratively leverage existing high standards in content while promoting personal employee growth.”

What the heck does all that mean?  Catch phases like globally, leverage, competitive… Katie Irons at Blogcritics.org offers some insight to mission statements:

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blog

Top 10 Posts of 2009

I know I’m a little late with my 2009 review, but better late than never.  Last year, 2009 was the first year of On the Bema in Ballston, often just shorten to On the Bema. This blog received over 13,000 hits in 2009 and the blog continues to grow in readership.  Thank you for making this blog so successful!  So, what out further adieu, the top 10 most popular posts of 2009:

10. Why You Should be Upset with John Piper John Piper’s statements about the tornado that hit during a Lutheran conference voting on homosexual policies.

9. Does My Church Look Like a Warehouse? One of my first posts on mega churches that yielded some surprising results.

8. What You Don’t Know About Generation Y A post on a hidden segment of our population.

7. Are You a Mega Church Drop Out? Includes statistics on mega church departures.

6. Churches Use Wine to Fight Swine Flu Swine flu is going to wipe out the world!  Or, so some thought.  Churches started to worry.

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Waiting

Weddings, Wine, and Waiting

There is a story that we pastors often tell stressed couples before weddings to make them laugh:

During the wedding rehearsal, the groom  approached the priest with an unusual offer.

“Look, I’ll give you $100 if you’ll change the wedding vows. When you get to the part where I’m to promise to ‘love, honor, and obey’ and ‘forsaking all others, be faithful to her forever,’ I’d appreciate it if you’d just leave that part out.”

He slipped the priest the cash and walked away. The wedding day arrived.

When it came time for the groom’s vows, the priest looked the young man in the eye and said,

” Will you promise to prostrate yourself before her, obey her every command and wish, serve her breakfast in bed every morning of your life and swear eternally before God and your lovely wife that you will not ever even look at another woman, as long as you both shall live?”

The groom gulped and looked around and then said in a tiny voice, “I do.”

After the ceremony, the groom pulled the priest aside and yelled,

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forgive

3 Lessons Learned from Tiger Woods & Mark McGwire

We have heard so much recently about the “sins” or “mistakes” of Tiger Wood’s and Mark McGwire.  Tiger Woods got caught up in a media mess that started as a story about a car accident.  After many days of avoiding the media and fans, Tiger released this statement:

As you all know, I had a single-car accident earlier this week, and sustained some injuries. I have some cuts, bruising and right now I’m pretty sore…This is a private matter and I want to keep it that way. Although I understand there is curiosity, the many false, unfounded and malicious rumors that are currently circulating about my family and me are irresponsible.

After several days of speculation, the story quickly turned into a public nightmare for Woods and his wife:

I am deeply aware of the disappointment and hurt that my infidelity has caused to so many people, most of all my wife and children. I want to say again to everyone that I am profoundly sorry and that I ask forgiveness. It may not be possible to repair the damage I’ve done, but I want to do my best to try.

Most of us should not be surprised that Mark McGwire revealed that he did use steroids.  Several creditable witnesses admitted to either giving him steroids or saw McGwire take steroids.  After years of speculation, McGwire finally admitted to the truth:

I wish I had never touched steroids. It was foolish and it was a mistake. I truly apologize. Looking back, I wish I had never played during the steroid era… I never knew when, but I always knew this day would come. It’s time for me to talk about the past and to confirm what people have suspected.

Wow, it is about time the truth came out.  Lies, tears, hearings, interviews… all the pain and deception.  It could have all been prevented.

Here are 3 lessons learned from Tiger Woods’ and Mark McGwire’s lives:

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Baptism

Called Into The Water

Baptism is a deeply profound and spiritual moment in the life of a Christian.  I was baptized as a young child, about 10 or 11 years old.  I truly believed as a child that Christ died for my sins, was my Savior, and was resurrected.  And, as an adult, I still believe it. My child-like faith was centered on God’s love and grace for me. Some people have asked me if I regret getting baptized at a young age.  Every time, my answer is the same: “No, not at all.  God was present in my childhood, even before I knew it, and my baptism was a confirmation of my faith in Christ.”  I took my baptism seriously as a child.  It was a moment in time where I was welcomed as a member of the Body of Christ.

However, as seen in this video, sometimes there can be some light moments as well:

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Epiphany

An Airport Epiphany

I recently experienced an epiphany after an airport security line incident.  I was traveling with my wife and my two young children to Baltimore.  The Transportation Security Administration allows you to bring larger quantities of liquid for children through the security line.  We brought juice for our son to have on the plane.  My wife and I thought it would be cheaper to bring juice.  However, you have to go through addition screening.  I proceed to go through the metal detector and into that glass enclosed waiting area to be searched.

A TSA agent came over with two cloths to wipe my hands.  Gee, I didn’t know they were going to clean my hands!  Nope.  They swiped my hands for evidence of bomb making materials.  I watched as the TSA agent went over to a machine to analyze  the samples.  I heard the machine make some beeps, which didn’t good, and finally print out a report.

The TSA agent walked over and said, “Sir, do you take any medications?”

“Ah, well, not really.  Just some creams.  Maybe some over the counter stuff.”

“Sir, we found nitrates on you.” The TSA agent said sternly.  What the heck!  Nitrates!  The stuff that blows stuff up?  I looked over and saw two other TSA agents rifling through my bag.  Oh great!  I’m done for.  They are going to lock me away in a room without windows and question me for hours.  I’m going to miss my flight.

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New Year

New Year: 2010

Okay, so I know that I have not posted since before Christmas.  I have been traveling visiting family.  However, you can look forward to (in the next week or two):

  • On the Bema “Year in Review” of 2009
  • A book review of  Jim Wallis’ new book (pre-released for On the Bema)
  • Looking into 2010 and what it means
  • Look for a weekly audio sermon post

What do you want to hear about in 2010 from On the Bema?

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