brosmith

I came across something new today (at least it is new to me): an independent Baptist church becoming chartered to have Boys Scouts and Cub Scouts as a ministry of their church. I also found out that an independent Baptist preacher wrote a book promoting this concept (it is available as a free download). What do you all think? By the way, what would you think if an independent Baptist church rejected King's Kids in favor of adopting Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts? (Yes, it has happened!)

Dear Friends,

Our home school, Sonlight Christian Academy, would like to introduce to you Sonlight Christian Radio. We are starting this online radio station as both an experiment and a ministry. Our goal is to be a blessing to God's people. We will be broadcasting Monday through Friday from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM (Central Time). Eventually I hope to broadcast longer hours but for now we are only doing it for 2 hours each weekday.

The web address is the www.pioneerbaptist.org

To be able to hear the broadcast, the web page must be open and the built-in media player must be running. The web page works best with Internet Explorer. I have not yet encoded the page to facilitate a stand-alone media player. Please pray for us as we attempt this endeavor for the glory of God.

Sincerely,
Bro Steve Smith

It is obvious that some have reacted rather negatively (and violently) to my comments about interracial marriage. There are others that see it as it is: a local church issue and nothing more. I thank those who have come to my defense.

I read the Fox News article about the Kentucky church changing its position in the matter. It would appear that the church rescinded its vote in the matter due to denominational pressure and public outcry. I would like to say that I have been against interracial marriage for many years and, as a pastor, I personally refuse to bow the knee to public opinion.

The subject of Moses and the Ethiopian woman has been brought up as "proof" that God accepts interracial marriage. Let's see: The children of Israel were in Egypt for hundreds of years. Moses was born in Egypt and raised as an Egyptian. Both Ethiopia and Egypt are in Africa. Both obviously could rightly be called Africans. So where is the interracial marriage?

Why did Miriam and Aaron speak out against Moses? It was because they were jealous of his leadership position. They were guilty of fault finding and nitpicking. God defended Moses on the basis that he was chosen by God to be the leader of the nation of Israel. By the way, is it not possible that the Ethiopian woman was a descendant of migrants and that her ancestory was actually of middle eastern descent (which would make her a Shemite)? I think it would be good to look into that possibility.

Oh, by the way, Bro. Smith, I'm a Bro. Smith too!

Nice to meet you Bro Smith!

I am going to take an unpopular stand but I, as a pastor, would not perform an interracial marriage nor would I permit interracial couples to publicly minister in the church. The Bible speaks of "the bounds of their habitation" (Acts 17:26). Yes, we are of all one blood and one race (the human race that is) but God did not intend for mankind to be united as one (read Genesis 11 - The Tower of Babel). As a pastor, I would not have allowed this mixed couple to sing in church the first time. But you know what? As a pastor, that is my perrogative. Each pastor and each church will give an account to God for their position.

Romans 14:4 - "Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand." You want to call me a racist? Go ahead, I don't really care.

Even if I took my main hard drive out of my old computer, hooked it to this new one by USB, I still would not be able to open windows thus getting being able to get files that are on it, is that correct?

No, it is not correct. If a USB drive has a bootable operating system on it then you could set the BIOS of the new computer to boot from the USB drive. Otherwise, you would use the USB drive as an ordinary hard drive and transfer whatever files you need to transfer to a different hard drive.

I am thankful that I survived another Black Friday at Walmart! (Come on, you want to laugh with me!)

This year we bought something that we have been needing for a long time: a chest freezer ($159 - 7.0 cu ft). God is good (all the time)! Praise God! Praise God!

If the hard drive(s) is/are not corrupted then a simple solution is to buy the cheapest usb enclosure you can find and make external drives out of them. Just make sure the enclosure works with the interface of the drive(s) (ide or sata depending on the drive). If there is data corruption then you may have a difficult time retrieving all of your data.

It's not control - it's maintaining the standards and testimony of the church. As far as the 'trust and fellowship', I dare say that if a church is in close enough fellowship with the bride & groom, they won't need to check the music. And if there wasn't that familiarity - well, it's not a matter of trust so much as it is allowing for the fact that people outside the church family, no matter how sincere, may not understand the specifics of the church's standards.

I know that this is an old thread but I need to make a comment here. My take on the ministry is this: never assume that somebody is going to do the right thing in a given situation. Talking about standrards and convictions does not guarantee that a person or a church has any. It is not a standard or conviction unless the life of the individual or the practice of the church bears witness to it. There are many hypocrites and deceivers in this world and God warns us to mark them and avoid them.

This is taken from the June/July 2011 issue of Reader's Digest:

"My now ex-girlfriend and I were in my room one day, and the internet was particularly slow. After I complained, she suggested that I untangle my ethernet cord so that more internet could get through."

1. The usage of contemporary christian music.
2. The usage of jazz music.
3. The usage of music from an unsaved jazz musician (Kenny G).
4. The usage of such music while a pastor is praying is very nauseating.
5. Instead of God being the center of the ceremony, the music was.

Should a pastor allow wickedness to be played from the sound system and shown on the screen just because somebody wants it that way? Not if he's following Christ!

Amen and Amen! But then I have been called "judgmental" and "unloving" dozens of times for saying stuff like that.

The particular pastor that I was referring to has repeatedly compromised in the area of music as well as other areas. The recent wedding at this church included music by "Kenny G" (a modern jazz musician). If the pastor would listen to what I have to say I would tell him one thing: REPENT OF THIS THY WICKEDNESS!

There was a wedding recently in the church where I used to be the associate pastor. We left the church last summer over several issues including music. My family did not attend the wedding (although my wife and daughter were formally invited). I thought it wise not to allow them to go. My caution was based upon the type of music that was used while we were attending there.

Several days after the wedding we were given a CD of the service. I was somewhat dumbfounded but not altogether surprised by the use of worldly music. In the year and a half that we were a part of this church, the pastor illustrated over and over again that he is a compromiser and that he does not know the meaning of Biblical separation. This is just another example of his chosen path of apostasy.

Here are the 3 music selections that were used in the wedding:
(links are included so that you can play the recording of the actual service):

Note: The links that were provided have been removed
because the files are no longer accessible on the internet.

The m3u files will play the mp3 files without having to download them.

I had this trojan a few months ago. I tried everything including Malwarebyte's Antimalware program. I finally just restored my hard drive from a disc image backup.

My drive C only has Windows, installed programs, documents, and emails. Everything else is on the other drives. Over the last 4 years I have made disc image backups of drive C and updated them about every 3 months. I had just updated my backup about a week before I got hit with this trojan. The only thing I lost was a few emails. Having a disc image backup was really a life saver.

By the way, I use Seagate DiscWizard to backup my hard drive. The program is a free download and can be used with any brand hard drive. I also have Easeus Todo Backup but I like DiscWizard better.

Dear Friends,

Thank you for your prayers on our behalf. We will indeed be able to stay in our present home but it is only on a month-to-month basis. What this means is that until the house is sold we can stay put and we will be paying the same amount of rent as before! And we did not have to pay new a security deposit plus we are only being charged for half the month of June (praise God!). We have been busy getting our stuff back out of storage and unboxing everything. It is better than moving long distance or even moving across town since we already have an idea where everything goes. Thanks again for all of your prayers.

Sincerely,
Bro Steve Smith

I have one laptop left to sell. It is brand new in the sealed box with the same specifications as listed above. I am willing to sell it for $275 with free shipping to anywhere in the continental U.S. I will accept payment by PayPal or money order. Send email if interested.

Bro Steve Smith
brosmith@pioneerbaptist.org

Still praying for you daily. What about the move to S.D.?

Our move to South Dakota has been put on the back burner for now.

Dear Friends,

Here is another update of our situation:

The foreclosure sale occured on Wed June 1st and the property has been "sold" back to the bank (Fannie Mae). Until today it looked like our situation was hopeless. We have not as yet found a place to move into but there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel. Technically, we should have moved out 2 days ago.

A miracle happened today. Our landlord came by and refunded our security deposit in cash (amen and praise the Lord). Usually in foreclosures the tenant has to sue the landlord in small claims court. But God intervened and the landlord gave us the money without argument.

We also found out that we may be able to continue renting our house from Fannie Mae! A local real estate company has agreed to manage the property for them and the agent stopped by to give us a list of options. We may be able to sign a new 1 year lease with Fannie Mae. Please pray with us about this matter. We will find out tomorrow whether we can stay in our house or not and what the particulars of the lease will be. We definitely need your prayers.

I will also say that this has been a tremendous test of our faith. About a week and a half ago we rented a storage unit and most of our earthly possessions are stored away. We are glad that God is proving himself faithful (although I am not looking forward to unpacking all of those boxes).

Sincerely,
Bro Steve Smith

I am not sure where this topic is going but I would like to add my 2 cents worth and I will use just one verse of scripture:

2 Peter 1:12 - "Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth."

Every once in a while all of us need to be reminded about certain truths even though we may be grounded in the word of God. There are those that will take the word of God to heart and make proper application to their lives. Then there are those that will use every means imaginable to prove (in their own minds) that "thus saith the Lord" doesn't always mean "thus saith the Lord."

Thought I should give you all an update on our situation.

We spent a couple of days in Hoven, SD looking for a house and came away empty. We are also looking here in North Platte, NE but have not as yet found anything that suits our needs. We have 10 days to find a house or we will find ourselves homeless. Right now we are praying for wisdom. We have adequate funds to relocate. We have been looking to rent but are open to buying on contract. Please continue to pray about this matter with us.

Sincerely,
Bro Steve Smith

... the greater blessings of God are for those who give what they have not.

That statement cannot be backed up by scripture nor by common sense. It is the lie that keeps God's people in bondage to the "Faith Promise" system. It is deceitful and wicked to tell God's people that they will receive "the greater blessings of God" when they promise to give something that they do not already have.

Consider this: If I have $100 to my name and the Lord lays it upon my heart to give $20 to missions then God expects me to take it out of the $100 that I already have, which leaves me with $80. "Faith Promise" teaches me to look to God to supply the $20 (in some miraculous way) and then after he gives me the $20 then I give that to missions.

God does love the cheerful giver. But it is the one who willingly and sacrificially gives out of what he already has and then depends upon God to supply his needs. This is true faith giving and is what brings God's greatest blessings.

There is nothing wrong, unspiritual, unorthodox, unscriptural, etc. about "Faith Promise" giving for missions. You get alone with God (not the members of this board). Then ask God what He would have you give for missions AND ask God to provide that ammount for you to give during the year.

Here is one verse that speaks loud and clear against "Faith Promise":

2 Corinthians 8:12 - "For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not."

Every example of giving in the Bible tells us that people gave out of what they already had and not out of what they were expecting to receive. "Faith Promise" is another con game that independent Baptists have been duped to believe in. It is totally unscriptural and it is not built on faith. "Faith Promise" is built on deceit and wishful thinking.

Pretty much any time there is a missions conference somebody mentions the "10/40 Window". I have heard that term for years without really understanding it. It is my belief that focusing upon the "10/40 Window" is a waste of time, money, and resources. We as independent Baptists have been sold a bill of goods that has no lasting eternal value. Let me explain what I mean and hopefully you will come away with a better understanding of the fallacy of focusing upon the "10/40 Window".

What is missions?

Is it feeding the poor?
Is it building hospitals?
Is it building orphanages?
Is it staffing schools?
Is it clothing people?

The answer to all of these questions is "no" and yet that becomes the focus of those who focus upon the 10/40 Window.

So what is missions? It is taking the gospel to a lost and dying world. How can we fulfill the great commission on a daily basis? By reaching the "world" that encompasses our personal lives. Everytime we venture out into "our world" we have a responsibility to take the gospel to the lost and dying people around us. So tell me, would you give $25 so that your "world" can be reached with the gospel? Why not? Many people are moved to tears when they see the "hopeless" condition of those living in the "10/40 Window" and are more than willing to give to such "missionary" efforts. Are we moved to tears when we see the "hopeless" condition of our neighbors and are we willing to financially support a missionary effort in our own back yard?

Let's follow the example of the apostles:

Acts 5:42 - "And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ."

Thank you (and Im sorry I said you implied i was going to hell) I wish you had replied to my first post in this manner instead of picking at my choice of word and ignoring the question I was trying to ask. ... Again I appologize If I said anything wrong. I really don't want to argue just learn. Please be patient with me and I will try my best not to undermine the forum.

I accept your apologies. I know my initial responses did not explain the issues and you are right, I should have replied in a better manner the first time around. It wasn't my intention to blow you out of the water (so to speak), I was trying to get you to think about what you said.

Sincerely,
Bro Steve Smith

David DID dance before the Lord. Was he wrong for doing so? Just because Paul never danced doesn't mean its wrong in every instance. There have been good movies produce that are not evil in nature and believe it or not some even come close to glorifying God. I know we are to Flee the very appearance of evil. And I admitted in my last post that alot of movies and dancing is just that or I was trying to. Is it wrong for a husband to dance with his wife? If it is explain to me how it is wrong based on the scriptures you so freely shared. Dancing with your wife won't lead to adultery or fornication, she is your wife. How then does it make you less holy or less perfect. Please explain it to me without implying that I am blind and bound for hell.

Here are some things to consider in order to open your eyes (I never implied that you were bound for hell):

#1 - The Biblical usage of the word "dance" does not refer to any of the secular, religious, or cultural dances that exist today. It refers to a leap of joy or twirling about because of a happy spirit. Biblically speaking a "dance" is an overflowing of joy that causes the person to jump about or run around. A modern comparison would be when someone shouts "Amen", or waves their Bible in the air, or anything else that expresses joy of heart.

#2 - You asked the question - "Is it wrong for a husband to dance with his wife?" You then make the statement - "Dancing with your wife won't lead to adultery or fornication, she is your wife." This leads me to believe that you know that the modern idea of dancing is sensual in nature and leads to sexual thoughts. I have been married for 28 years and the only kind of "dancing" my wife and I ever do is in the bedroom behind closed doors (and those things are private and never discussed in an open forum). Hebrews 13:4 - "Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge."

#3 - There are many good reasons for not going to a movie theater, however I can't think of one good reason to even visit the place (even out of curiousity). It is cheaper to rent or buy the movies and you can have full control over content if you play them at home. On top of that, you don't have to expose your family to the ungodly atmosphere that is found in the dens of iniquity called "movie theaters".

#4 - If you enjoy watching movies (and/or TV programs) that contain very violent scenes, profanity, and/or nudity without being convicted by the Holy Spirit then there is something wrong with your spiritual condition. I would not question your salvation but I would question your spirituality.

Sincerely,
Bro Steve Smith