aintsobad

Texas Baptist Committed in Dire Straits, Reportedly

   In a week of reporting mostly good news, I also got a fund raising letter from TBC, a group with which I once had a meaningful relationship. That is, I sent them money, attended meetings and supported candidates with calls and conversations.

   I publicly broke with the group during my time at BGCT and afterward.

   The latest letter indicated TBC forced to borrow money recently for operating expenses and that the director had taken no salary since March. That would be the loss of three months income now from that source of income for him if the condition is still as he indicated. Left unsaid was where TBC borrowed the money or just how long the revenue stream has been drying up.

   I repeatedly cautioned TBC leadership that some of the group's actions were moving it beyond its original intent. I indicated there might soon come a time when TBC sounded a call to arms and received little or no response. I fear that time may be upon us.

   There will be those who shake their heads grimly at the seeming stress under which TBC now reports itself. Others will rub their hands, smiling with glee. Many will simply not care.

   Here are my concerns:

   Love them or hate them or try to ignore them, TBC filled a leadership vacancy that had emerged in Texas baptist life as workers in the central authority tried deperately to maintain cordial relationships with all their cooperating churches (as clearly they should have done; central authorities ought not to be looking for reasons to break ties with cooperating churches, or what is a convention for?). If TBC is absent, or is so ineffective, or has so alienated its own base it cannot raise operating expenses, who steps up to fill that void?

  Nature abhors a vacuum I am told and political entities with massive influence and stores of cash (like the BGCT, for instance) will always present giant targets of opportunity. TBC has defended BGCT in ways it could not defend itself. It is not the fault of TBC if the BGCT has haphazardly transferred vast influence to TBC and its controversial leader. Most of this happened during the bumptious reign of the previous administration. The current ED seems to want to run his own shop and extend a welcoming hand to any who will not bight off a finger.

   No, BGCT has not set its ship on the right course just yet but when there are dangers on the surface and just below the water on all sides and just ahead, the captain must proceed cautiously, adjusting by degrees the only thing he can control, i.e., the rate of change.

   Yes, the blood letting of the recent past  is too fresh on the hearts of many to just "move on." Battle fatigue saps the energy after awhile, though, and more battles loom. 

   So, who leads? Never waste a good crisis, I always say. This may be a chance for TBC to recenter itself or for other leadership to emerge. The people get to decide. I don't think many who once paid attention to TBC are doing so now, for whatever reason. If you are one of those, you might take a look again and see if you want to support the group or you would do so with certain modifications of policy. If so, they might be ready to listen today.

   If you are not willing to support TBC, please start the thinking process of what needs to happen to enhance Texas baptist life. If TBC is no more, who does the work now? If TBC is ineffective because of its own excesses or battle fatigue or whatever, after you shake your head or rub your hands, ask yourself, "Who steps up to the plate now?"

   Happy Lord's Day. I hope to return to writing Monday. I will post Saturday or Sunday only if given an urgent reason  to post. Godspeed you on your way.

  

Good Morning and Good News from the BGCT: Do Not Get Too Used To My Sunny Disposition

   A contact from the highest level of the BGCT informs me that lagging Cooperative Program giving for Texas causes may be easing. As of June 30, CP giving for Texas causes is up to 97.69% of 2008 giving, January-June.

   That is, in plain English, for every dollar taken in January-June, 2008, nearly 98 cents have been taken in during the same period in 2009. This represents an ingathering of nearly 90% of budget needs, year to date.

   According to this high-ranking BGCT source, the upswing in giving reflects increased giving from the churches. The source cited stronger numbers across the board over the last two months.

 

The Southern Baptists of Texas Convention

   While I am being happy and nice (sans medication) let me say a word about the SBT group. My church home is BGCT and wishes not to be bothered about relationship matters ever again. I am only too happy to oblige.

   A friend told me about some materials available to churches through the SBTC. They are called "The Inheritance." He urged me to look at the materials. I called the SBTC and asked if an"outside" could get them. The dear lady who answered the phone immediately requested the materials  for me and I got them the next day. This, though I made it clear I was not in an SBTC related church. I have had two follow up calls to make sure I got the material and if there were other things I needed to advance the Kingdom work.

   I remember sitting with my staff colleagues years ago at Midlothian, as we were on the verge of exciting growth in numbers, and they were asking me for my vision of what we should do. I remember telling them, "I want something of quality for every age group every time the doors are open here, regardless of who produces the materials we decide to use; baptist or not."

   We held to that standard. I admire excellence wherever I find it. The non-customer service I got from the SBTC office was absolutely outstanding. No one told me their department did not serve this way  or have this material or tell me the responsible personnel were not available.

   It was a good experience for me.

Let Us Have a Bit of Intellectual Exercise

   This is a tough seven days for celebrities. In the last week (or so) we have learned of the deaths of Steve McNair (athlete), Michael Jackson (pop icon), Farrah Fawcett (actress), Karl Malden (actor), Ed McMahan, entertainer and now Robert McNamara, Defense Secretary under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson

   In order of importance or interest to you, how would you rate the lives/influence of these persons? I do not for one moment deny or deprecate the value of their lives to their families and friends. Each of them attained a certain status on the world stage. How would you rank them?

   For those of my generation (touched by each of these persons), I would have to rank former Secretary McNamara as the most significant. I do not call him the architect of the Viet Nam war as many have said, for he only enabled the policies of the men for whom he worked. However, McNamara considered himself responsible for many of the mistaken ideas (his term) that led to the deaths of more than three million Viet Namese nationals and more than 58,000 Americans.

   In fact, McNamara was influential in the incendiary bombings of Japan during WWII wherein hundreds of thousands of Japanese civilians were burned to death. In his words he agreed with General Curtis LeMay, for whom he worked during the war, when LeMay said, "If America had lost the war, we would have been tried as war criminals."

   I heard these words from Mr. McNamara's testimony in a documentary done about him. His compelling honesty shook me to my roots. How terrible to walk the halls of power even in defense of good.

   I was the last draft lottery class to get a number. It was the only lottery I have ever "won." My number was so low, I would most certainly have gone to the service if it had been drawn two years before it was drawn. I have many good reasons to remember Robert McNamara, who never seemed really to recover from his experiences during the '60's.

   How would you rate the influence of these famous persons to you?

Here is my list.

1. McNamara
2. Karl Malden-An actor's actor, who could steal a scene with a shrug.
3. Steve McNair-He came out of a small college to become one of the toughest players in the NFL

4. Ed McMahan-I am a noted insomniac and watched the Tonight Show before cable and kids. He seemed a gentle bear of a man.

5. Farrah Fawcett-No, I did not have the "poster," but her battle with cancer was courageous.
6. Michael Jackson-I was no fan of the music and the allegations against him with children give me pause.

Writer's Note: I abhor typos. I truly appreciate those who will come to my aid, as did one alert reader, who noted I had invited persons to an intellectual exercise in the title of this blog and then had added an extra "c" to exercise. I reread some other posts Monday and found typos from more than a year ago.

   I invite you to send me gmails or comments correcting my typos. I lack fear, guilt does not work on me any longer and it is difficult to embarrass me. I have very little egotism left.

I Promise to Quickly Lose My Sunny Disposition

   I promise to quickly lose my sunny disposition.

Dallas Baptist University: Another BGCT Success Story

   I mentioned DBU last week as an educational institution affiliated with the BGCT and as one of the BGCT success stories. In the 21 years Dr. Gary Cook has served as president of DBU, the onerous debt has been retired, beautiful new buildings have been constructed, a world class faculty has been assembled and the enrolment has exceeded 5,000 students from all over the world.

   In addition, DBU has awarded six degrees (three bachelor's and three master's degrees) to members of my family (who earned them, by the way). I love DBU.

   Oh, and they even have a competitive basketball program now. You know how I feel about basketball if you read here at all.

   Take a look at DBU.

I am having a snuffly moment...

...because today, Monday, July 6, 2009, a lot of you got together and almost, nearly, sort of, kind of, restored my sagging confidence in human nature.

   My hits today almost doubled over last Monday, though today's blog was just an unsolicited, unremunerated testimonial to the World Hunger Offering of the BGCT's CLC. This, even though I actually posted it late last evening. If you count the hits from last night and today the number is more than double what I got last Monday.

   For a moment the scales left my eyes. I had a snuffly moment. In your honor, I am posting a check tomorrow to the World Hunger Offering through my church. It is enough to make me shake off my sack cloth, wash my face and go to a banquet.

   Almost.

Baptist General Convention of Texas: A Real Success Story

   The Christian Life Commission of the BGCT promotes an annual offering to relieve poverty and hunger in the world. The World Hunger Offering is the one uniquely Texas Baptist Special Offering. It helps power 94 feeding stations around the state of Texas and relief projects around the world.

   The World Hunger Offering is up 39%, January-April of 2009, when compared to a similar period in 2008. This is no nostrum; the offering was also up last year, 2008 over the previous year.

   I recently asked Carolyn Strickland, BGCT 1st VP, why this offering is doing so well in a major recession. She graciously granted me an electronic interview. I asked Carolyn because she is traveling the state with CLC Hunger Specialist Joyce Gilbreath to promote the offering and raise up advocates who will make hunger relief a  life-long mission.

   When asked why the WHO is prospering in a time of recession, Carolyn pointed to the emphasis on World Hunger causes advanced from the Executive Director's Office through the Advocacy Center led by Suzii Paynter. She emphasized how committed BGCT leadership is to the offering.

   Then, she told me that what she and Joyce are doing in their travels together is to recruit advocates for hunger and poverty relief. They try on each trip to enlist someone to advocate for the offering within their respective churches. She is looking for people who will make hunger relief a life-long mission. Together they have recruited some 150 advocates around the state and hope to double that number within a year.

   "I am amazed," she added, "at the energy of people when they get their heads wrapped around the problem of hunger in their own city. They have amazing ideas and interest. Joyce and I just stand back and listen."

   When I asked about major growth potential for the offering, Carolyn noted the interest of younger people to address the hunger/poverty issue. There was already a fair segment of older adults around the state trying to meet the need but now a whole new generation is starting to see what its members can do to combat hunger.

   We should remember that Carolyn's husband, the late Phil Strickland, actually started the WHO. As Carolyn recalls, Phil believed the world could feed its population if justice were done. Persons who believe in a loving ethic immediately grasp it is their responsibility to feed the hunger and lift persons out of poverty so that hunger does not get passed down from generation to generation.

   You can help. You can become an advocate for the World Hunger Offering in your church. You do not have to be a baptist or even a Texan to help. You can send a contribution or invite a speaker to your church to raise hunger awareness.

To help, contact Joyce Gilbreath at the Baptist Building, 333 North Washington, Dallas, TX 75246.You can call Joyce at 214-828-5172 or by email at joyce.gilbreath@bgct.org.

  

Service Interrupted: A Political Memoir-The Link

   To read my political memoir, use the link below.

Service Interrupted: A Political Memoir

God Bless the United States of America

   Really. I mean it.