Posted: 10/19/07
Texas Baptist Forum
Spirit & pastor searches
After reading Roger Olson’s 2nd Opinion column on the pastor-search process (Oct. 1), I find it difficult to agree. Yes, I believe pastors as well as church members are led by a call of the Holy Spirit daily. I would hope his church’s pastor-search committee didn’t browbeat or bribe a pastor or member to join his church. We do not need to look to help-wanted ads of pastors wanting to leave a difficult situation.
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 “I believe there is a universal God. I believe the God that the Muslim prays to is the same God that I pray to. After all, we all came from Abraham. I believe in that universality.” George W. Bush U.S. president, (Al Arabiya television/The Washington Times/RNS) “When we started talking about the Holy Spirit, people said: ‘Oh, that’s kind of dangerous. You don’t know what may happen.’ I’m kind of hoping something unexpected does happen.” “Torture undermines victim and torturer alike. It corrodes the society that permits it. It overthrows the rule of law and then destroys the tyrannies that it spawns. Corrupting the soul, it eventually corrupts everything in its path. Torture is itself the ticking bomb.” |
Our church lost our pastor 18 months ago. Even though my heart cried, I could still praise God that he will continue to minister through that young man. I hope my church’s search committee is looking for someone who is going through the door that the Holy Spirit opens, not the door that is listed “Exit.” Praise God for pastor-search committees that bathe their work in prayer and listen to the Holy Spirit’s leadership.
Robert Dillard
San Angelo
Global warming
Exploitation of the one degree/100 years global warming (Oct. 1) was frightening. Not because of the minuscule temperature change but because of the wild assumption that humans could cause a temperature change.
Our sun gives us heat. Solar variations with spots and flares cause greater temperature differences than we could possibly accomplish with atom bombs, forest fires, coal fires or any carbon dioxide source.
The imagination of your Christian “environmental experts” is frightening. They would best serve the poor by promoting the decontamination of drinking water.
Harold Flynn
Houston
Art in church
I was encouraged to read about how congregations are using art and symbolism in the designs of their houses of worship (Oct. 15).
Growing up a Baptist and an artist, I was frustrated to learn of the God of creation and yet worship in sanctuaries void of creativity, beauty and art. What we create should be a reflection of the beauty of the message we teach and share.
Ken Parks
Mansfield
Model for ministry
The article about Red Springs Baptist Church (Sept. 17) was very interesting. I have been a member of First Baptist Church in Seymour since 1933 and have known most of the pastors of the Red Springs church. The earliest Red Springs pastor I remember was a good friend, Bob Barker, who was a student at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Red Springs pastor in the mid 1930s.
Years later, I asked Bob why the Red Springs pastors were so successful as missionaries, pastors, college presidents, etc. He said they used the laymen of the Red Springs church as an example and tried to be as good a man as they were. The result was the fine leaders mentioned in the article.
Thank the Lord for the fine people of Red Springs.
Jack Jones
Wichita Falls
‘Greatest strength’
The article on Bob Ray’s retirement included this quote: “Bob’s greatest strengths as I have observed are his steady and unwavering commitment to serve everyone. No one and no ministry is unimportant to Bob Ray” (Sept. 3).
Bob Ray’s greatest strength is how he has loved his wife and three boys. He has often said his greatest achievement and joy was leading his three boys to Jesus Christ. Bob Ray’s greatest strength is loving his family unconditionally.
Richard Ray
Wink
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