Lessons from the Field

Here is one last post on the Thailand mission trip. I did not get the slide show up yet due to the length of time it takes to upload but it will be up soon. The TV and radio interviews should be up soon as well. We all made it home safely and happily. Five out of the nine of us ended up with some pretty tough stomach ailments, that number is on the rise by the way, but for the most part we are all in good shape and happy to be back in Webster/Choctaw county. I wanted to leave you with five general observations I made during our time there. Each of the five are worth our consideration and I had chance to speak to them in the worship service this morning. They are as follows:

1. The only reason international missions matter is that they are local missions somewhere.
2. The closer I got to America the more lost the people seemed to be.
3. It’s not resources that we need, we need the Spirit of God.
4. The God of Asia is the God of America.
5. The devil knows now geographical boundaries.

Much more should be said to elaborate on these but time and space will not permit. Thanks to all who followed us through the website. I hope you will continue to follow Historically Baptist and feel free to comment on the upcoming posts here. I'll do my best to keep them coming.

Thanks again,
Wade

From Chiang Mai to Bangkok

Well we are on the second stage of our return home. We are about to eat lunch in Chiang Mai and then hit the airport headed for Bangkok. We have a big meal planned for tonight at the Outback Steakhouse and we are staying in a very nice hotel, for those of you who have been here it is the Majestic Grande. This is one of the most luxurious legs of the trip for sure. we are all ready to see our wives and children. Mr. Robert is ready to see his grand baby. There are no pictures this time, but as soon as I have enough Internet access to do it I have a copy of the news program that aired about our team and a slide show of the entire trip. Look for these posts; they are very good. We have Adrian to thank for her work in compiling the slide show. Pray for us, see ya soon.

wade

Update

Hey guys,

We posted two videos yesterday, or at least Luke did. Mark is working us to death so I didn't have time to post. He added the videos to the previous day's post so don't overlook it. Yesterday was fantastic. I got a chance to join Mark and Bahndit for a live radio interview and later for a recorded television interview. The young people we worked with were great. Most of the kids you see in the video (if not all) are Compassion International sponsored kids. I know that a few people from our church sponsor compassion kids so you'll be encouraged to see firsthand your dollars at work to the glory of God. I am going to include a link to the Compassion International website under the Places to Hang Out heading to the left. We've been at church all day at Rong Fong and we are exhausted. Mark is picking up pizzas as we speak. Hallelujah!! I am gonna be doing the welcome and invocation for Mathiston from Phrae at 10 tonight, or this morning, depending on where you are, so I'm looking forward to addressing the congregation. continue to pray for us, cant wait to see you again.

Wade

Thai Food

Well, we survived our first in home Thai food meal. I am posting some pictures so that you can appreciate the significance of such an amazing feat. Don't get me wrong, the food is great, it just doesn't sit well on the American stomach. Yesterday was an amazing day of ministry. We prayer walked the city walls of Phrae before doing 3 minute English on the streets. In the afternoon we found a group of Thai boys playing basketball near the area where we were doing 3 minute English. They were excited to challenge the "farang" to a game and show off their skills. We made hundreds of contacts yesterday through tracts and personal testimonies.

Sorry for the brevity of the posts, I only have a few minutes each day and the internet is slow.

Phrae City

Well, we are finally here. We made about a 3 hour drive this morning to the city of Phrae where we will be working for the next week. We had an extended orientation session for the next week's work at the Patenaude's home. It was neat to be at their home. In Mississippi you hardly feel like you know someone until you've been in their home. All in all things are well. The food is no better this year than it was the last but we are surviving. We appreciate all the prayers and encouragements; keep it up!

We're Still on the Way...

Two days later we are finally in Bangkok. We got here about 12 midnight on Tuesday night, or 12 noon Tuesday afternoon Mississippi time. Everyone managed to keep up with their bags with one exception; Brent Crowley. Poor Brent. We will be here in Bangkok until the morning when we fly to Chiang Mai where we will spend the night before leaving the next morning for Phrae.

We're Off!

Well, it's time to go. We have had a wonderful day of worship. The Mike Speck family and the choir were absolutely amazing. I hope that each of you were as blessed as I was. Our first flight leaves at 6:15 a.m. Pray for safe travel all the way and a restful flight from Detroit to Japan.

Thailand 2009!

On Monday morning, the 2nd of three short-term missions will take off for Northern Thailand from Jackson International Airport. Nine members of First Baptist Church Mathiston will be taking part in gospel work for the glory of Christ in what is truly the uttermost part of the world. As the date for departure draws near reality is setting in. Two weeks away from my wife and boys seems like an eternity. The comparatively insignificant sacrifices made by those who will go seem so small in light of the sacrifices made by those who have made gospel proclamation among unreached peoples a way of life. As you pray for those taking part in this momentary mission I hope that you will be reminded to pray for those who have given their lives for the gospel. Remember those missionaries we will be working alongside and even those unknown to us.

We will use this site to update and share with family, friends, and those churches within our missions network. I'll do my best to update along the way. My goal is to update at the close of each day and as possible when travelling. Below is a travel itinerary for those keeping up with along the way:

NW2203 20JUL Jackson Memphis 625A 729A
NW 282 20JUL Memphis Detroit 830A 1125A
NW 25 20JUL Detroit Bangkok 320P 1150P

NW 26 31JUL Bangkok Detroit 535A 145P
NW2835 31JUL Detroit Jackson 310P 440P

The in country flight and our schedule while there is of course not posted but we'll keep you updated. Remember to pray for those who are going as well as the missionaries we are working alongside, and of course the Northern Thai people. Pray that God will break the hearts a an entire nation, that they would be arrested by the Spirit of God, and that the gospel would be received with joy.

Feel free to leave us comments by clicking on the comment icon and let us know your following along.

wade
John 10:16 "I have sheep that are not of this fold"

Happy Birthday John Calvin!

A Splendid and Accessible Look at the Life of Jonathan Edwards

If you are, as I am, stimulated by the stories of God's graces through the ages and the lives of the recipients of such grace you will find the following links incredibly useful. In 2003, John Piper very graciously put together a conference titled A God Entranced Vision of all Things which focused on the life of Jonathan Edwards three hundred years after his birth. I came across the lectures from the conference for the second or third time last week and have been devouring them since. Jim Packer, Mark Dever, Sam Storms, Noel Piper, Iaian Murray, Donald Whitney, and John Piper each give a remarkably insightful message on the life and ministry of the man who was at the center of the First Great Awakening, scholar among scholars, author of numerous works of monumental importance, missionary to Native American Indians, and for a brief moment in time the president of Princeton. Most of the lectures are available in video format and all are available in audio. I hope you enjoy as much as I have these studies.

A God Entranced Vision of all Things

2009 SBC Report

Well, I am fresh off a tonsillectomy and a trip to the 2009 Southern Baptist Convention. While the tonsillectomy was dreadful, the convention was somewhat refreshing. Here is a very brief outline of a few noteworthy observations at this years convention to be followed by a more thorough explanation.

1. Johnny Hunt appears to have been somewhat successful in reinvigorating young leadership within the convention. I saw more young pastors and their families than at previous conventions.

2. The Great Commission Resurgence is well on its way. The call issued by the document to restructuring and belt-tightening on the part of State Baptist Conventions was well received and seems to answer the cries of grass roots Southern Baptists.

3. Calvinism is back in a big way in the SBC. Executive Committee President Morris Chapman scorched Calvinists in his address on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Dr.'s Akin and Mohler blasted Chapman's statements at a Baptist21 gathering, during which Akin apologized for Chapman's statements and Mohler suggested recovery treatment for those who were subjected to hearing the speech.

4. Not surprisingly, a lot of SB's are less than pleased with the apparent alliance between Mark Driscoll and some SBC entities. Driscoll is to speak at Southeastern Seminary in the coming months and his association with Lifeway's own Ed Stetzer is well documented. Driscoll was once known as the "cussing preacher" and recently came under fire from Baptist Press for inappropriate sexually explicit language. Several motions were made regarding Dricoll's participation in SBC life; all of which sought to bring an end to Driscoll's influence in SBC life.

5. Don't miss this one. The IMB is short of funds. Not only do we have God called men and women who will not be sent out we have 400 returning short-term missionaries who will not be replaced. This will be the driving force in the restructuring of our state conventions and mission sending entities.

The entirety of the convention can be viewed at SBC.net.

Is America a Christian Nation?

Much has been made of President Barrack Obama's recent statements in the nation of Turkey where he stated, "We do not condider ourselves a Christian nation," which in fairness went on to exclude almost every faith system or non-faith system as possible descriptions of the religious makeup of America. What do you think? Is America a Christian nation? Is it even appropriate to think of nations in terms of Christian or non-Christian?

True enough, there is a sense in which no nation is Christian. After all, nations are not Christian; people are. However, implicit in the statement is something that means to suggest far more than the presence or lack of consensus when it comes to Christianity. Much of the attention has been given to Obama's statements concerning what we are not in his eyes, but the focus might better be placed on who he actually said we are. Obama stated, "We are a nation of citizens bound by ideals and a set of values." Where do those values and ideals come from Mr. President. This has and will be the battle cry of political, social, and religious liberals. The President and those who share his views put forward the idea that all value systems are equal, in fact, most if not all, are superior to Judeo-Christian values. The President's statements picture America as a nation with a bent toward secularism. This has of course never been the case. However, if the President and others who share his views have their way we will be forced to aquaint ourselves with a new America, an America with no moral anchor, an America best known for its godlessness than for its motto, "In God we Trust."

Listen to J. Randy Forbes refutation of Obama's statement on the House floor.

Historically, who are Baptists?

Since we are a blogspot concerned with Baptist history, and we are 2/3's of the way through a study of the Baptist Faith and Message 2000, here are a few Baptist confessions previous to the 2000 Statement of Faith.

1858 Abstract of Principles

1833 New Hampshire Confession

1742 Philadelphia Confession

1689 2nd London Confession

Why this may not be a total waste of time...

"A recent study by the Barna Group found that 45 million Americans are "going digital" to acquire sermons and teaching content. In all, one out of every 4 adults (23%) said they downloaded a church podcast in the last week. another surprising finding was the fact that sermon pod casts cut across generational lines with older adults just as likely as younger adults to listen in." (Rev! magazine, November/December 2008) Wow! I'm impressed. 23% of all Americans are going online to access some form of Christian teaching. I have to admit that I am less than optimistic that much of what is being accessed is the kind of teaching/preaching it should be, but we have to acknowledge the fact that the Internet is quickly becoming America's new Main Street. From politics to spiritual issues, the Internet is the 21st century platform for such discussion.

I personally receive email announcements and updates from a half-dozen or so web-based organizations that I find stimulating. Perhaps the same could be true of our own site. The obvious goal is to provide a platform for stimulating and intellectual discussion of theology, church issues, and other matters of import to our church family and others.

Feel free to comment, but always with tact and gentleness. This may not be a total waste of time after all.

Bro. Wade