Pictures of the New Building
I'm attaching a few new pictures of the new building here. Let me know what you think of them!
Hardy Street View:
View from the South (the new main entrance):
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January 18, 2008
January 10, 2008
Yet Another Reason I Don't Like Christians (or, The Funniest Thing I've Read this Week)
OK. So, are the Christian loonies coming out of the woodwork? Props to David Sellers for sending me this article that makes me laugh, cry, and laugh some more. The Georgia Baptist Convention has come out against blogging. No Kidding.
Here's the full article (click here).
Evidently, there's been some stinging criticism of Baptist policies and organization brought by a certain set of bloggers. Here's what the resolution says:
“the messengers of this convention oppose blogging when it is used to cause division and disharmony among the members of our Southern Baptist family…. All personal attacks should cease immediately … [we] call upon bloggers to cease the critical second-guessing of these elected leaders; and be it further resolved that all Georgia Baptists respectfully request and expect that individuals who disrupt the fellowship through blogging repent and immediately cease this activity and no longer cause disharmony for the advancement of their own personal opinions and agendas.”
Now, I agree that if bloggers are attacking people personally OR are blogging just to create disharmony, then there should be a bigger discussion. BUT, if the blogs are advancing the conversation, then, blog on. Those being criticized need to decide how they will respond to the criticisms or IF they will respond. Not responding is an option. I'd like to think that there are prophets out there somewhere in the blogosphere--calling the faithful followers of Jesus to think and rethink where they're going and what they're doing. If Isaiah and Jeremiah were around today I guarantee you they'd be doing more than standing on the street corner preaching, they'd use the mediums available to them. They did 2500 years ago.
Sometimes criticism stings. But you put your big boy/big girl pants on and deal with it. You don't kill off the messenger.
So, Baptist bloggers, blog on! There's at least one Methodist glad you're doing what you're doing.
January 4, 2008
Another Reason I Sometimes Don't Like Christians
I'll let you in on a little secret. Whenever I'm out and about and I find a stack of Christian "tracts," I pick them all up. I keep one or two and throw the rest in the nearest trash can. I feel like Christians have enough to overcome without having to deal with poorly thought-out apologetic material and cheesy cartoon stories about Hell.
I find most of the tracts I come across in bathrooms. Really. Why do the people who pay for them and put them out think that this is a good place for the tracts?? Usually they're on the floor or tucked in by the back of the toilet. But I digress.
Last Sunday I was in Cracker Barrel having dinner with the family. I went to the restroom only to find a tract entitled, "Dear Santa, please read this letter." I did my usual and removed the tracts from the premises and took one to read. This is the letter to Santa (found on the website of Bible Baptist Church publications):
Dear Santa
Letter Size Tract, Tri-fold
Copyright © 2005 James L. Melton
Suggested Donation: 10 cents each
Dear Santa,
This year for Christmas I just want the truth;
Come clean, if you will, and stop deceiving our youth!
Isn’t it true that only Jesus knows
When we’ve been good or bad, Santa, isn’t it so?
And all of that hype about presents for everyone,
You know the greatest gift is God’s beloved Son!
And, Santa, are you really coming in the sky,
Or will it be Jesus in the twinkling of an eye?
And that home in the north of which you tell,
Why, it’s really God’s throne, and your home is Hell!
That’s right, Santa, you’re Satan in disguise;
Folks could see it in your name if they’d open their eyes!
So, come on, Santa, let’s have the real story,
Just rip off your mask and give God the glory!
A child of Jesus
And Christians wonder why non-Christians dislike us??? Should we tell the guy (SPOILER ALERT:: DON'T READ ANYMORE IF YOU STILL BELIEVE IN SANTA) that Santa doesn't really exist?
Just wanted to share my pain.