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"A Perspective on Senseless Tragedy - Thoughts about Heroism"

Kirby Martin - Building Superintendent - Arkansas Baptist State Convention

Our Arkansas Baptist State Convention building and staff made the headlines last week in connection with a tragic event in downtown Little Rock. To help deal with this senseless tragedy, I am privileged to share the following from the website of our state convention (www.absc.org). These are the thoughts of Emil Turner, our executive director.

Dr. Turner wrote the following last week on August 15, 2008.

I have met a few heroes. Selflessness sets them apart. Most of them, when explaining their heroic action say something to the effect of "I did not think about it, I just did it." And all of us who know them thank God for them.

Meet Kirby Martin. While I have always appreciated and liked him, I now know that he is a hero. Kirby has served the Arkansas Baptist State Convention for more than 15 years. As building superintendent he takes care of our physical plant, supervises our print room, reception area and telephone system. Those of us who work with him have profited from his "going the extra mile" by helping us with home repair projects, automobile problems, airport pickups and a host of other things that he does without complaint. Kirby is a hero.

On August 13, Timothy Dale Johnson shot and killed a state political leader seven blocks from our offices. Johnson then drove to our building, reloaded one of his guns and, for reasons unknown to us, began to walk our halls with gun in hand. None of our staff knew he had already shot and killed someone, but several recognized him as distraught and offered assistance. When our receptionist noticed Johnson, she called Kirby, using a special code to indicate there was an emergency. Kirby came to our lobby as Johnson went into a stairwell on his way to our second floor. There they came face to face and Johnson put a gun to Kirby's head and cocked it. Kirby then turned his back on Johnson, went to the receptionist and instructed her to call 911. Johnson continued upstairs and began to walk our halls, again with gun in hand.

By acting instinctively and by calling the police Kirby already had proven to be a hero. But it was not enough. Knowing that Johnson was upstairs, that he had a gun and that he had already been threatened by Johnson, Kirby went back upstairs to confront Johnson again. Meeting him near the elevator, Kirby opened the door and motioned Johnson to join him in the elevator. They rode down the elevator together and Kirby ushered Johnson from the building. As police began to arrive, Kirby directed them to Johnson and his escape route. What followed was a lengthy chase and Johnson's death in a shootout.

We are grieved by the death of Johnson's victim and by his own death. Families and communities are brokenhearted by these events. But we are awed by Kirby Martin's selflessness. The first encounter with Johnson was no doubt instinctual. But the second was calculated self-sacrifice. Kirby placed himself at risk, knowing the probable consequences, and acted to protect the rest of us. Arkansas Baptists are served by a hero. Pray for our staff, for Kirby, for the grieving families and join us in thanking God that He spared us.

"Greater love has no man than this that he lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13).

May God's grace comfort the people Dr. Turner mentions.

This is just one pastor's perspective.

“A PERSPECTIVE ON SUMMERTIME ACTIVITIES - THOUGHTS ON GETTING READY TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL”

Although the calendar says that summer ends officially on September 21, kids know that it really ends the day school starts. (And so do educators, which leads me to the point of this column.)

On Sunday night, August 24, at 6:00 p.m., England First Baptist Church will host our second annual “Skool Daze” Celebration honoring all area educators (administrators, faculty, staff, and board members).

As a former public school teacher, I deeply appreciate the commitment of all educators ... public, private, and home. I respect the choice of all parents to decide the best way to educate their children. My wife (a math teacher) and I decided long ago to ask the public schools to help us teach our children the secular “3 R’s” (readin’, writin’, and ‘rithmetic) and our church to help us teach them the sacred “3 R’s” (reverence for God, respect for others, and reward for so doing). If you are a parent, I hope whatever choice you make about educating your children includes a local church. If you are an educator, I hope that you, too, are involved in a church. If you are a student, see the third to the last paragraph below. (You remember “paragraphs” from English class, don’t you?)

A special note to all area educators: Our “party” on August 24 is but one way for us to say, “Thank you.” I hope you can attend. We’ll have door prizes from area merchants, finger foods, and a special gift for those who RSVP me by my cell phone at 501-842-4933. Look for a special invitation from our church in your mailbox soon.

A special note to all students: Our church has activities for children and teens every Sunday at 5:45 and every Wednesday at 6:30. If you don’t go to church anywhere, come join us.

May our educators, our students, and all of us have a safe and successful school year.

This is just one pastor’s (and former school teacher’s) perspective.

“A PERSPECTIVE ON SUMMERTIME ACTIVITIES - THOUGHTS ABOUT CHURCH CAMP”

Pictured above: Some of the three hundred 4th, 5th, and 6th Graders at the Greene County Baptist Association Children's Week at Cedar Glade Baptist Camp near Imboden, Arkansas.

Summer usually means vacation time and pastors are no exception. Usually, we pastors get several kinds of “vacations” in the summertime - “leisure” vacations (we spent the week in Alabama this summer sightseeing) and “working” vacations (we spent several days at a denominational meeting in Indiana and I spent part of last week at a church camp in northeast Arkansas).

I love church camp - especially children’s camp. I never got to go to church camp as a child since my family didn’t attend church and no one invited me to go. I attended my first camp at age fifteen at Ravenden Springs in northeastern Arkansas. I served as pastor of a children’s camp for the first time in 1984 at Arkansas Baptist Assembly near Siloam Springs. Since 1984, I have been all over the state and many different locations serving as children’s camp pastor / preacher at least once each summer ... sometimes twice, and, for a few years back when I was younger, three times in a summer.

I’ve passed on my love for church camp to our children. Our daughter and son began attending church camps with us as toddlers. They (and usually some of their friends) would accompany me to various camps when they were in the fourth, fifth, and sixth grades. Our son, a seminary student, has served as youth pastor, Bible teacher, staffer, and video technician at various youth camps for the past six summers. (He’s lived at church camps almost a year and a half of his life!)

Why is church camp so dear to me? Yes, I have fun. Yes, I enjoy preaching (or, more accurately, telling Bible stories) to children. Yes, I love to play “Wheel of Faith” with them. (It’s a Bible learning game that I have adapted from “Wheel of Fortune.”) But, most importantly, I take great satisfaction in knowing that one week of my life has impacted the lives of many children for eternity. And, there’s always that warm feeling of being idolized by some children that come from vastly different kinds of homes ... broken homes, dysfunctional homes, and (thankfully) healthy homes.

What do I teach at children’s camp? It’s usually “Be the Light of the World” (Matthew 5:14). Some good friends of mine over the years have given me traffic lights and traffic signs to illustrate to the kids how important it is for others to see how to become a Christian and how to behave as a Christian. Sometimes it’s “Journeying with Jesus” as we visit places that were important in the life of Jesus and in our own lives. Sometimes it’s “Known By My Name” as we learn how important the titles of Christ and the title of Christian is. Whatever I attempt to teach children, it somehow works. I have run into young (and not so young) adults who years later remember their time with me at children’s camp and the Bible truths they learned. Once in McCain Mall in North Little Rock, a twenty-something yelled “Hi, Fat Haystack” across the food court. She remembered me from her week at children’s camp long ago and the Bible teaching game we played. (The “Wheel of Faith” I mentioned above. I’m the host “Fat Haystack” - sort of like “Pat Sajak” is the host of “Wheel of Fortune” on TV.)

Send a kid to church camp next summer. If you don’t have one at home, call our church or any area church and volunteer to be a donor. You may change one kid’s life for eternity.

This is just one pastor’s (and one happy camper’s) perspective.

(For more camp photos and to listen to camp games and worship times, go to http://www.englandfbc.org/ and click on the "Haystack" logo.)

“A PERSPECTIVE ON SUMMERTIME ACTIVITIES - MORE THOUGHTS ABOUT VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL AND SKITTLES”

As I type these words, we are in the midst of our annual Vacation Bible School. As you read this, we will be just about through, but let me invite you to the Thursday night Family Celebration at 7:00. Our theme this year is a Hawaiian adventure. You’ll get to hear a lot of fun songs, hear how much the kids have learned as they play our exciting “Wheel of Faith” game (I’m the host “Fat Haystack” assisted by our lovely letter turner “Banana White”), and get a packet of free “Skittles” candy. You’ll even see me in a grass skirt over my blue jeans. (Real men in the islands wear them. Maybe it will start a fad here. Maybe not.) I’ll do just about anything to have fun with the kids. I’m just a kid at heart. Always have been ... always hope to be.

Let me explain about the “Skittles” candy. I have some Gospel visual aids that I use at Vacation Bible School every year. (And at children’s church camps, too, for over twenty-five years now ... but that’s another column.) A friend of mine gave me a traffic light, another friend wired it up to blink sequentially or individually, and another friend gave me an old-fashioned bubble gum / candy machine. (Raymond O’Neal, Andy Anderson, and Don Walsh of Malvern ... thanks again, guys.)

During Vacation Bible School, I use the traffic light and the candy machine to teach what many churches call the “A-B-C’s of Being a Christian.”

“A” - “Admit” that you are not perfect (a sinner) and need God.
“B” - “Believe” that Jesus is God’s Son and can save you from your sins.
“C” - “Confess” that Jesus is the Savior and let Him be Lord of your Life.

The traffic light is to remind the kids (and the adults) of the “Christian A-B-C’s.” Red light: Stop and “Admit” your sins. Yellow light: Be sure and “Believe” that Jesus can save you. Green light - Go and “Confess” to everyone that Jesus is your Lord.

The candy machine dispenses a handful of red, yellow, and green Skittles. But, these are not just plain old regular Skittles that you buy in the store ... these are prayed-over and blessed “Scriptural” Skittles that the kids are to share with someone and use them to tell the “Christian A-B-C’s” similar to the red, yellow, and green of the traffic light. (Don't worry ... I supply the coins and you get enough “Scriptural” Skittles to share and have some left over to eat.)

Come to our Vacation Bible School program Thursday night at 7:00. Everyone present will get a free pack of Skittles and you can even visit the candy machine and feel like a kid again. England First Baptist Church is located at 201 E. Haywood Street, one block east of the Post Office.

And next time you see a traffic light or eat some Skittles ... think of the “A-B-Cs” of being a Christian and the importance of Vacation Bible School is teaching the Good News of Jesus.

This is just one pastor’s (and one really big kid’s) perspective.

“A PERSPECTIVE ON SUMMERTIME ACTIVITIES - THOUGHTS ABOUT VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL”

Summer is a busy, busy time. I’ve been so busy that I didn’t write last week. As I tell preacher friends of mine who say they don’t have time to do this or that, a person makes time for the things they consider important. So, I’m making time to write this week.

Summer is hard on most churches ... attendance and giving suffers while many are away on vacations and outings and some stay home with friends and family visiting. However, there’s one summer church activity that brings folks to the church house ... Vacation Bible School.

How about a history lesson from wikipedia.com about Vacation Bible School (VBS). The origin of VBS can be traced back to Hopedale, Illinois in 1894. Sunday School teacher D. T. Miles, who also was a public school teacher, felt she was limited by time constraints in teaching the Bible to children. So, she started a daily Bible school to teach children during the summer. The first Bible school enrolled forty students and lasted four weeks. A local school was used for classes while an adjoining park was used for recess. In 1898, Eliza Hawes, director of the children's department at Epiphany Baptist Church in New York City, started an "Everyday Bible School" for slum children at a rented beer parlor in New York's East Side. (My personal note: What a great use for a tavern!) Hawes continued her efforts for seven years. Dr. Robert Boville of the Baptist Mission Society became aware of the Hawes' summer program and recommended it to other Baptist churches. Boville established a handful of summer schools which were taught by students at the Union Theological Seminary. During one summer, one thousand students were enrolled in five different schools. In 1922, he founded the World Association of Daily Vacation Bible School.

Today, most churches of all denominations have a week-long Vacation Bible School every summer .. just check out the newspaper each week and take your pick. Many kids “make the rounds” and attend several during the summer. Our Vacation Bible School at England First Baptist Church starts Sunday night, July 13, at 5:30 and will end with a special “Parents Night” on Thursday, July 17. Our theme is “Outrigger Island - Living God’s Unshakable Truth.” (It’s a Hawaiian “Survivor” kind of theme. See the logo pictured above.) Your children are welcomed no matter what church you do or don’t attend. If they need a ride, call us at 842-2688.

VBS - it’s a summertime activity of faith that is fun!

This is just one pastor's perspective (who never experienced the fun of VBS as a child but has great fun with the kids our VBS).

“A Perspective on the Serious and the Sublime - Thoughts about Making Faith Fun"

Some of us in our town take our most of our meetings seriously, some of our meetings just for fun, and some are both. There’s a meeting coming up that mixes faith with fun, the serious with the sublime. Let me explain.

Do you remember the episode of “The Andy Griffith Show” (episode #89, 3/25/63, “Andy’s English Valet”) when Malcolm Merriweather from England (the one across the Atlantic Ocean, not the one across from the Arkansas River) stopped in Mayberry while on his bicycle tour of America? After causing a minor traffic accident, Malcolm agrees to work for Andy to pay off the damages on the other vehicle. Andy soon finds out that Malcolm is best suited for “inside” house work rather than “outside.” One night at dinner time, Barney Fife shows up unexpectedly. He’s dressed very casually while Andy and Opie have on coats and ties because of Malcolm’s insistence that they “dress for dinner.” Upon realizing that Andy and Opie are dressed up and that he is dressed very casually, Barney thinks that he must have the nights mixed up and it’s Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting at the church. Of course, it isn’t - so Andy invites Barney to stay for supper. Barney, realizing his unkempt appearance, awkwardly excuses himself. The “Message from Mayberry” for that episode is: Do you go to “Prayer Meeting?” How about Sunday School and Worship? Andy, Opie, Aunt Bee, and Barney did. You and I should, too.

Speaking of church meetings, let me invite you to a special one this coming Sunday afternoon. Our local chapter of "The Andy Griffith Show Rerun Watchers Club" ("TAGSRWC") will meet this coming Sunday, June 29, at 3:00 in the Fellowship Hall of our church (England First Baptist Church, 201 E. Haywood, two blocks east of the Post Office). (That’s the England just across from the Arkansas River, not the England across the Atlantic Ocean where Malcolm Merriweather lives.)

You're invited for some fellowship of fun and faith.

We'll begin the meeting by watching the pilot episode that has rarely been shown on TV since 1960 when it first aired as an episode of the old Danny Thomas comedy, “Make Room for Daddy.” It's a little different from the regular series - there's no Don Knotts and "Barney Fife" and Frances Bauvier doesn't play "Aunt Bee" but another character named "Henrietta." "Opie" is only five years old (he was seven when the show premiered). It's one of the funniest of the entire series. We'll enjoy free popcorn and "pop" (the Mayberry term for soda) during the afternoon.

After the episode, I'll share a brief devotion based on the episode followed by round twelve of our the ladies vs. the gentlemen "Andy" Trivia Game. It's a group game so no one person is put on the spot. The ladies currently lead in the competition by a score of six rounds to five with one tie. And, the ladies currently have possession of our "A Feud Is A Feud" Trophy (Episode #18, the Carters versus the Wakefields), complete with a Mayberry sheriff's badge crowing it at the top.

Hope to see you there. And, if you can't make the meeting, think of us when you come upon and "Andy" episode while flipping through the channels. Stop and sit a spell. Spend some time in Mayberry. Appreciate the good things in life.

This is just one pastor’s tongue-in-cheek perspective. Or, as Andy would say, “That’s g-o-o-o-d. I appreciate it!”

"A PERSPECTIVE OF FATHER'S DAY - THOUGHTS ABOUT SONS AND DAUGHTERS"

I celebrated Father's Day this past Sunday children-less but not alone. Our daughter Carrie now lives in Minnesota and our son Jonathan lives in Texas. Carrie is a mechanical engineer and is married to our son-in-law Jason Boggs who teaches high school chemistry. Jonathan, a ministerial student at Truett Seminary of Baylor University in Waco, is serving as pastor/preacher to high school and junior high students at LifeWay MFuge Camp in Mobile, Alabama this summer. We also have an "unofficial" daughter, Arin Shuffield, who teaches high school at Trumann, Arkansas. We count all four as our family.

All four are graduates of Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. All are active in their respective churches. All are leading godly lives.

I could go on and on and on and on about our children, but I'll simply let the Bible speak for me: "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth" 3 John 1:4. I hope your children are, too.

There are many ways to help children learn how to "walk in the truth" just like there are many ways to be a dad ... biological, adoptive, foster, and/or being a role model for the kids that live next door and down the street. As one wise person once said, "Any man can be a father ... but it takes a special man to be a dad." Fathers care because they must. Dads love because they choose.

This is one proud father's (and hopefully, dad's) perspective.

PS: And, oh - by the way ... the credit for raising such godly children goes not to me, but to their mother, my wonderful wife: "Her children stand and bless her; so does her husband. He praises her with these words" Proverbs 31:28, The Living Bible.

"A PERSEPECTIVE ON THE FAMILY OF GOD - THOUGHTS ABOUT SOUTHERN BAPTISTS (AND OTHER CHRISTIAN GROUPS)"

Through the miracle of modern technology, I am writing these words on a laptop computer through wireless internet in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, as we travel to Indianapolis, Indiana, and the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). (The logo above is the official symbol of the SBC. It represents Southern Baptists commitment to sharing the Good News of Christ as recorded in the Bible with the world.)

Through the miracle of biblical teaching, I am writing these words on the place of Southern Baptists in God's family as we anticipate attending the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention.

The Southern Baptist Convention was organized in 1845 at the First Baptist Church of Augusta, Georgia, by folks from various Baptist churches across the South. Prior to 1845, Baptists in the South were part of the Triennial Baptist Convention, consisting of Baptist churches throughout what was then the United States. From turbulent beginnings to today, the SBC has become the second largest Christian group in the world and the largest evangelical Christian group.

Although the SBC does many wonderful spiritual and humanitarian services from training missionaries to feeding the poor, the SBC was formed and continues to exist for one reason: to enable local Southern Baptist churches that cooperate together to do missions (the sharing of the Good News of Jesus Christ). Yes, there are doctrinal and practical differences between us and other Christian groups, but I hope that when you think of Southern Baptists, you think not of the things that differentiate us, but of the one thing that all Christians can have in common if they so believe: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). I learned a long time ago that if Christians are going to share the Good News of Christ with everyone everywhere, it's going to take Southern Baptists as well as every other Christian group.

If you'd like to learn more about Southern Baptists, you can contact us or visit the website of the Southern Baptist Convention - www.sbc.net.

This is just one Southern Baptist pastor's perspective.

"A PERSPECTIVE ON THE MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY WEEKEND - THOUGHTS ABOUT CELEBRATING WHILE FORGETTING TO REMEMBER"

This past Monday we observed Memorial Day. I used to say "celebrate," but after reading the following comments by noted Christian author Henry Blackaby, I now think that it's a day that we should "observe" rather than "celebrate."

Blackaby notes that "Memorial Day was first observed as Decoration Day on May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Civil War soldiers. Following World War I, the observance was set aside to honor the fallen heroes of all American wars. In 1971, the National Holidays Act passed by Congress took effect, making Memorial Day into a three-day weekend. I am saddened to see, however, that through the years that have followed it has become somewhat less a day of remembrance and more a day of holiday and celebration. Like Christmas, many have forgotten the history and true meaning of the day."

I agree. Of all of the "holidays weekends" on the calendar, the Sunday of the Memorial Day weekend should be one of the highest church attendances of the year for people to gather to thank God for the men and women who died in order that we might live. Instead, studies show that Memorial Day weekend always has one of the lowest church attendance of the year. Television, radio, and newspapers advertise Memorial Day weekend as the start of the summer season and many citizens celebrate it that way to the extent of ignoring the observance and remembrance of those who died to protect that celebration.

How do we, as Blackaby said, remember "the history and true meaning of the day?" Here are the stories of two heroes that I shared at our church Sunday that may help remind of us.

Audie Murphy, who became one of Hollywood's film starts in the 1950's, became the most decorated U.S. combat soldier of all time. In 27 months of combat action in World War II, Murphy received the Medal of Honor (the U.S. military's highest award for valor) along with 32 additional U.S. medals, five medals from France, and one from Belgium.

The official U.S. Army citation for Audie Murphy's Medal of Honor reads:

Second Lt. Murphy commanded Company B, which was attacked by six tanks and waves of infantry. 2d Lt. Murphy ordered his men to withdraw to a prepared position in a woods, while he remained forward at his command post and continued to give fire directions to the artillery by telephone. Behind him, to his right, one of our tank destroyers received a direct hit and began to burn. Its crew withdrew to the woods. 2d Lt. Murphy continued to direct artillery fire, which killed large numbers of the advancing enemy infantry.

With the enemy tanks abreast of his position, 2d Lt. Murphy climbed on the burning tank destroyer, which was in danger of blowing up at any moment, and employed its .50 caliber machine gun against the enemy. He was alone and exposed to German fire from three sides, but his deadly fire killed dozens of Germans and caused their infantry attack to waver. The enemy tanks, losing infantry support, began to fall back. For an hour the Germans tried every available weapon to eliminate 2d Lt. Murphy, but he continued to hold his position and wiped out a squad that was trying to creep up unnoticed on his right flank. Germans reached as close as 10 yards, only to be mowed down by his fire.

He received a leg wound, but ignored it and continued his single-handed fight until his ammunition was exhausted. He then made his way back to his company, refused medical attention, and organized the company in a counterattack, which forced the Germans to withdraw.

His directing of artillery fire wiped out many of the enemy; he killed or wounded about 50. 2d Lt. Murphy's indomitable courage and his refusal to give an inch of ground saved his company from possible encirclement and destruction, and enabled it to hold the woods which had been the enemy's objective. (End of citation.)

Murphy, like many other military men and women, returned home. Some returned to full lives, some returned wounded physically and emotionally. Some fell in battle. All should be remembered and never forgotten.

Take a moment now to think of someone close to you who served in the military and no longer alive. Perhaps that person died on the battlefield. Perhaps that person returned home. The person I am thinking of served in the Philippines in WW II.

Thankfully, he did return home and lived a full life. In 1953, I was born as his seventh child. In 1987, he was buried with a 21 gun salute as "Taps" played. One of the men in the honor guard handed me several of the spent casings and told me to be sure and give them to my children as a reminder of the military service of their grandfather. The flag that draped his casket is now displayed in a case on a bookshelf in our home. I hope you have some remembrance of one like my father in your life. If you do, take a moment to thank God for that person's willingness to risk health and life so that you now remain free. I know these heroes would want us to celebrate and enjoy life, but try to remember next year to "observe" Memorial Day and not just "celebrate" it as a long holiday weekend.

This is just one grateful citizen's, pastor's, and son's perspective.