2011 in review
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
The Louvre Museum has 8.5 million visitors per year. This blog was viewed about 87,000 times in 2011. If it were an exhibit at the Louvre Museum, it would take about 4 days for that many people to see it.
Epiphany, A Great Way to Start a New Year
The lectionary study for this week gives the one leading worship a lot of options. Many of the family of faith celebrate Epiphany this coming Sunday. The Old Testament passage is the Great Light passage of Isaiah 60. There is also a New Year’s passage: Ecclesiastes 3. We are going to combine the two.
In the worship room there will be white candles in front of the baptistery, the communion table, and the pulpit. The Christ candle from our Christmas service will sit on the communion table next to a Bible open to the Isaiah passage. The songs and readings will deal with the passage of time and God’s providence within time. The sermon will be based on the Ecclesiastes passage. I look forward to this time of worship and celebration.
Time does seem like a flowing motion, a current, taking us on a journey. The last ten years have been stormy and hard. The current filled with concealed reefs of deceptions and the tempests of lies, cover-ups and compromises made it hard to hope. However, the worst is now behind us. The path to be now taken will move us away from the coming shipwreck that most certainly awaits those who still are anchored to a self-serving crew and chart made by those whose only vision was their own power and prosperity.
Epiphany, like a lighthouse, shows a different path. Light reveals the perfect, the promise, and a path toward a community bound by communion. Perhaps the true priesthood is a submission with accountability and support. It is certainly preferable to a non-written creed of a corrupt culture that does not have a clue why it is in decline but demands one to kowtow or face exclusion.
Epiphany, what a great way to continue the year which began with Advent and now intersects the changing of the calendar year. It feels good to have hope and to share hope as one’s primary purpose again.
The opinions on this blog are my own or those of individuals who have submitted comments and do not represent the opinions of any other individuals or entities I am affiliated with.
No, I Cannot Remember either, But Some Do!
Rick Davis posted the following on his blog Aintsobad:
David Hardage, Beware!
David, apparently you are a compatriot of Satan. I had not noticed.
According to some you spent a great deal of time sitting with David Currie, voting the party line at TBC meetings. I did not see you at any of those meetings, though I was at most of the them for the longest time. Or, perhaps you suddenly grew closer to the machine after I left. Either way, beware.
According to at least one commenter you once voted for the BGCT to leave the SBC, or at least spoke for it, or perhaps thought about it really loudly. Either way, beware.
You could end up leading the group like Charles Wade, who wanted us (I was one of you then) to be well armed but obsequious. Or, you could be like Currie’s group, who wanted us to be poorly armed but abrasive. Either way, you could end up doing what both of those fellows did; make enemies out of friends and neutrals.
Beware, David Hardage, beware.
Opinions expressed here are mine alone.
I posted the following comment:
I don’t remember seeing him either. However, that does not mean a thing.
Still the silence on this issue is deafening!
The question is: Does it really matter?
What?
The issue about David Hardage and the SBC.
Who?
David Hardage, the next director of the TBC/BGCT.
Oh.
The opinions on this blog are my own or those of individuals who have submitted comments and do not represent the opinions of any other individuals or entities I am affiliated with.
A Shito-Ryu Christmas Gift
In an effort to get the class to focus more on the basics, I decided to give an award to the student who lasted longest in an exercise we call “the pivot drill”.
The winner of the drill would get a karate snowman Christmas tree ornament.
I have a 6 year old in the class who is a real karate kid. He is a beginning student but already has developed skill superior to students twice his age. He is intensely competitive. He was determined he was going to win one of the snowmen. He did his best, but just was not able to beat some of the more advanced students. He wasn’t going to cry in class, but I could see he was fighting back the tears.
Another student, who has been studying with me for two years and has obtained the rank of green belt, was also determined to win one of the snowmen. He put forth his best effort and won.
When this young man (the green belt) came to me he had one goal, to get back at some other kids who had hurt him badly when he was younger. I accepted him as a student only because of the pleas of his grandmother and with the understanding if he started a fight or lost his temper I would no longer teach him.
This young man worked hard. He eats, breaths and probably dreams karate. His skills have become impressive. He has been very successful in competition and has place in every tournament he has competed in. He no longer desires to get vengeance and is understanding he can hold his own against any like opponent he would face now. About a year ago, he made the decision to become a follower of Jesus. His growth has been one of the joys in my current place of service. He comes from a poor family and does odd jobs to pay for his tournament fees and belt tests.
At the end of class, without any prompting, the greenbelt gave the snowman he had won to the six year old. The younger boys face lit up with joy. He was so happy.
The next week the mother of the six year old came up to me and told me her son had been saving his allowance. He ask her if he could pay for the older boy’s next belt test.
It is for times like this a sensei lives.
In order to be merciful one must become strong.
The opinions on this blog are my own or those of individuals who have submitted comments and do not represent the opinions of any other individuals or entities I am affiliated with.
Do I Really Think It Matters……….?
Prayer meetings (serious prayer meetings) can bring about reflection. Tonight was such a time for me.
What would have happened………..
1) If I had never brought up what was going on in the Valley with the “churches” started by Otto?
2) If I had not brought up the special treatment and payments made to John Becker because of Charles Wade’s influence?
3) If I had not gone against the Texas Baptist Committed machine and nominated Dr. Rick Davis for president?
Another question(s), “Would it have been better………
1) If I had not brought up that the person Charles Wade first asked to “investigate” ValleyGate was a person friend of his family?
2) If I had not leaked the emails showing the behind the scenes manipulation of David Currie and Texas Baptist Committed?
3) If this blog did not reveal the Texas Baptist Committed cover up of the violence in the Texas Baptist Committed office or of David Currie’s DWI arrest?
4) Not revealed the salaries of those who have made a lot of money off cooperative program giving?
And then some other questions and answers……..
Do I really care who the TBC/BGCT (I like this combination better than BGCT/TBC) gets as Executive Director? No.
Do I really care how many “hits” this blog gets? No (I publish the hit count for the sake of those who do care how many hits it gets.)
Do I think this blog has an effect on the BGCT? Of course it does. It has helped leaders inform their churches how money has and still is wasted on the TBC/BGCT.
Do I really think this blog matters? Only for the above purpose.
OK, so what?
This blog is not the blog of the church I serve. It is a blog I started for the purpose of writing on spiritual formation from an eastern perspective, thus the name Spiritual Samurai. It became alternative to the Baptist building when Building became a place of corruption, cover up, and self interest. It started when I still believed in the TBC/BGCT. To say I no longer believe it it (or trust it in any manner) would be an understatement.
This blog stays up for the sake of those who want more than cheerleaders and propagandists and it will continue to do so. Soon, however, (for my part) it is going to go back to the purpose for which it was created. So, if you come for the “dirt” you will have to wade (excuse the pun) through those things I am most interested in. As the last convention revealed, the TBC/BGCT doesn’t matter anymore and it is not worth the time to keep up with what it does.
I will always be glad to post information for those who cannot because of their position or career, but this will not be my focus. When a comment comes in that needs attention, attention it will get.
Some of you reading this know I have been planning to go this direction for some time. I believe now is the time.
The opinions on this blog are my own or those of individuals who have submitted comments and do not represent the opinions of any other individuals or entities I am affiliated with.
David Hardage and the SBC
A comment to this blog indicated that David Hardage was in favor of having the BGCT/TBC leave the SBC. If the comment is true, then why did the committee pick someone like this to be the next Executive Director?
Who?
David Hardage, the person the search committee is recommending.
Oh.
Was Hardage ever questioned about this?
The opinions expressed in this blog are my own and do not represent the opinions of any individuals or entities I am affiliated with.
Is the BGCT Getting another Everett?
The comments that came in over the weekend concerning David Hardage are very interesting.
Who?
David Hardage, the yet to be crowned new Executive Director of the BGCT/TBC.
Oh.
Is David Hardage a closet, left of center, Texas Baptist Committed wannabee who has been able to wiggle his way into the post?
Remember the warning we were given by JD not all that long ago: SBT will continue to grow in the coming days as the BGCT Exec. Director search committee calls a new exec. who has been a TBC man over the past 10 years. The numbers have narrowed and the finalist have emerged….not conservatives or friends of SBC in the mix according to those who are serving on the committee.
I have talked with a former support of the TBC who told me Hardage was never “officially” a member, but this person left TBC some 8 years ago. I did find a document he signed in 2002 that was also signed by several closet TBC’ers ( http://www.baptiststandard.com/2002/7_1/pages/concerned5_20.pdf)
*Note: the previously linked ad may not have been paid for by TBC. I did not claim it was. I just indicated that it was signed by folks who were affiliated with TBC (one of which would never have the courage to admit to anything-I was surprised to see his name there but since his church was in debt to FBC Weatherford, I guess he had to take this chance).
Anyway, it does not really matter what the readers of this blog think. The deal is done. Hardage will get the position and the perks, the salary and probably take interims like Everett. Samurai predicts the convention will continue its effort to become the number 2 Baptist convention in Texas.
Read the comments about Hardage.
Who?
David Hardage, the next ED of the BGCT/TBC.
Oh.
The opinions expressed in this blog are my own and do not represent the opinions of any individuals or entities I am affiliated with.
Give Him a Chance
I have been exhorted to give David Hardage a chance.
Who?
David Hardage, the nominee for ED of the BGCT/TBC.
Oh!
I am for the underdog (this has gotten me into trouble more than once) and as far as being effective as the new Executive Director of the Titanic BGCT/TBC he is an underdog.
Add to this, it has come out that he was passed over in favor of Everett. Of course he needs a chance.
Passed over in favor of Everett? (The following is a comment from Rick Davis’ Blog by Dan Wooldridge: To be honest, David was on the list last time, but for whatever reason his name got very limited traction. Could it be that the fact that he has never been one to engage in politics have kept him from name recognition.)
I also understand he was a member of the now defunct State Missions Commission. I hope he was not one of the members who approved all those church starts by E.B. Brooks and Otto. If this were so, he does not need a chance, he is part of the reason the BGCT/TBC is in the mess it is in.
Also, there was his competition for the job. Do you know the names of the other two candidates he beat out? I do. One was Kyle Henderson. If he would have got the position the convention could have become funny, very, very funny. And then there was Jerry Carlisle.
One wonders if Jerry Carlisle is competing with Richard Land as the Baptist who tried hardest to get a different position. I understand he has put his resume into every six-figure position that has come open in Baptist life. Keep trying Jerry. Who knows, maybe David Hardage will turn out to be like Everett.
Who?
David Hardage, the next ED.
Oh!
The opinions expressed in this blog are my own and do not represent the opinions of any individuals or entities I am affiliated with.
New Executive Director Has Been Picked
Spiritual Samurai has been told that new Executive Director will be named in the next two days HAS BEEN PICKED.
Samurai has been told when the name is announced people will be respond with the question
Who?
And they name will be said again and many (unless you have been tapped by recently by a fundraiser for Truett) will ask, “And who is he?”
He is the compromise. A nicer, safer (to the existing staff), less greedy version of Randel Everett who has the ability to rise to the level of Charles Wade. Oh how exciting.
What is is name again?
David Hardage……
OH.
Who?
So now what? Nothing. Everything will continue just as it did before except now a fundraiser runs (is a figurehead) for the thing.
The opinions expressed in this blog are my own and do not represent the opinions of any individuals or entities I am affiliated with.
The BGCT/TBC posts in the Black for November
Interesting………
Finally, after 10 months receiving less than the year before, the BGCT/TBC actually had an increase in giving for the month of November.
November, 2011 YTD
Actual BGCT CP $30,127,786
YTD Budget $29,913,210
YTD Last Year $30,036,303
(If you are going to report the negative, you should also post the positive when the information is there.)
The opinions expressed in this blog are my own and do not represent the opinions of any individuals or entities I am affiliated with.
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