Whirled Views with Dan Burrell

I am continuing the series on Civility in discourse written by Dr. Charles Wood. To learn more about Dr. Wood, read my post from 2 days ago. DLB

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In my post yesterday I dealt with the subject: of the decline of courtesy in American life in general and its parallel decline among Christians, especially the fundamentalists variety of Christians. The following is a continuation of that article.

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Having been writing and publishing a newsletter for more than 25 years (The Woodchuck’s Den is a reworking of my previous A Pastoral Epistle), I have had my share of experience with the “decline of courtesy.” The vast majority of responses I have received to my writing over the years have been positive or have expressed disagreement in polite and courteous terms. There have been more than enough, however, that were quite otherwise.

Old Harry Truman said, “If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen,” and there have been more than a few times I headed for the door only to have the Lord stop me and send me back to the table to scribble some more.

Several times I have been chided for not being more specific, for not naming names. Those criticisms I have taken as compliments because I have tried to avoid getting involved in names and personalities. Although I have not been perfect on this (or anything else for that matter), I have tried to separate issues from individuals and problems from personalities.

Yes, there have been times when it was inevitable that the content of a story or article would leave little doubt about the person(s) involved, but I have studiously tried to keep things as impersonal as possible. The vast majority of the people with whom I disagree I consider to be good people. I have no interest whatever in trashing them or dragging their names through the mud. I am primarily interested in stimulating thought and dealing with issues. It is a rare situation were naming a name would contribute substantively to that purpose.

Along the same line, I have little patience with those who find it necessary to call others names simply because they happen to be in disagreement with the name-caller. When we are dealing with brothers and sisters in Christ, it would seem both Biblical and prudent to lay off the name calling and stick to the issues at hand.

Closely related to the last paragraph is the tendency to explore and assail the motives of others. I have been accused of writing out of spite, anger, frustration, hatred, bitterness, desire for vengeance, a sense of intellectual arrogance, etc. Actually, other than my wife (who knows exactly why I write) and three or four trusted friends with whom I have talked at length, no one on earth has even a clue as to why I write what I do and as I do.

There is a bit more here, however, than a mere, “You don’t know what I am thinking.” A careful exegesis of Matthew 7:1 (”Judge not that ye be not judged.”) appears to condemn seeking to determine or declare the motives of others. We are sometimes very short on Biblically-required discernment and very long on Biblically-condemned judgment. I have no problem with criticism of what I write or how I write, but why I write appears to be off limits. Romans 14:4 says, “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.” Again, exegesis of the passage brings me to the conclusion that Paul is adding his condemnation to what Jesus has already said, “Leave other people’s motives alone.”

On another subject: much of what I write is an expression of my own personal opinion. I try to use that “in my opinion” and similar phrases frequently in my writing, but the fact that I may have forgotten to use it in a particular place doesn’t change the fact that what I am writing is probably opinion. In the “game of opinions,” all men are equal (that is, your opinion is as good as mine, and my opinion is as good as yours).

The real problem appears to me to lie in the fact that some men are unable to distinguish between their opinions and the very voice of God speaking through them. I hold my opinions pretty strongly, but I am also quite sure God doesn’t share at least a few of them (if I knew which ones, I wouldn’t express them or even hold them). Just because you or I think it - or even are convinced of it - doesn’t necessarily make it so.

We still hold truth in vessels of clay, and those vessels sometimes muddy the waters. You have a right to express your opinions, but I also do, and I have gone to the trouble of building a mailing list, etc. as a vehicle for that freedom. [A side bar: many of the opinions expressed in response to my opinions leave me somewhat cold. They are often the very arguments, viewpoints, etc., that I expressed twenty years ago and have since abandoned because they didn’t satisfy or were not subject to sufficient Biblical support as to make me comfortable with them. Remember, I was once in the very place now occupied by many of my critics.]

Then there is the matter of my purpose in writing, which is to stimulate thought and engender careful Biblical study of positions. I try to be up-front and honest about where I am and what I believe. I started out a traditional fundamentalist (I have never held the KJO position or accepted secondary separation, and the music wars had not yet begun back then).

At 39 years of age (well old enough to know better). I allowed myself to be drawn into what I now consider a very extreme form of fundamentalism. I fully accepted it and was immersed in it for the next 18 years. When I was 59, the whole thing began to unravel, and I sensed I was not where I should have been. I began studying the Scriptures on my own rather than allowing someone - or thing (like a school) - else to do so for me. The conclusions I reached from that study started me on the path that has led to where I am now by the grace of God.

My purpose is to share some of the questions, reservations, etc., that led me to conclude I was on the wrong path. You are under no obligation to answer me, to defend your position to me or to try and convince me of how wrong I am Just think about what I have written. If it is piffle, ignore it. If it drives you to hold your differing position more strongly, I have still accomplished my purpose in making you think it through. If it undermines something you hold, take the time to study it out on your own. I don’t want to change your opinion nearly as much as I want to encourage you to think it through and support it Biblically.

In my opinion, many of the positions held by modern-day fundamentalism have only the most shaky Biblical support.

[Another side bar: I am not interested in being the moderator of a debating society. One of the reasons I shied away from doing a blog was to avoid that very thing. I read extensively in a wide variety of forms (books, blogs, web-sites, magazines, newspapers, etc.). I probably run into well more than a dozen things a day that I strongly disagree with. I rarely ever respond to those things, however. I simply make mental note of them and keep moving on. Even in retirement, I simply don’t have time to respond to everything.]

Don’t feel obligated to waste precious time answering an old man that you think is crocked anyway. It isn’t worth it. Invest the time saved in active ministry while you have the strength (and before you are limited by the passing years and the infirmities that accompany such).

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Tomorrow, I will post Dr. Wood’s final chapter on this topic. DLB

If you have not read my previous post explaining my relationship with Dr. Charles Wood and my own journey on the topic he addresses as a guest blogger today, please read my post from August 24, 2006.

Several recent articles on the internet and in the print media have dealt with the same subject: the decline of courtesy in American life. From the guy who cuts in front of you at the checkout lane, to the kid who makes an obscene gesture as he drives by you, to the overheard conversation of young people, through the angry toot of the horn a split second after the light changes, to the driver who shakes his fist at you as he passes, to the incident of road rage and on and on it goes throughout our lives. Probably one of the practical out-workings of the relativism of post-modernism, we see it about us on all sides.

Unfortunately, however, the Bible-believing community hardly seems immune. Not long before his home-going, Jim Singleton and I talked at length about the state of courtesy and decency among God’s people, and he was passionate in his concern that we were in trouble in this regard. I suppose it is at least somewhat motivated by the passion of my late friend, but - at the risk of becoming a moving target - I have decided to venture into the subject and offer some opinions regarding the phenomenon of declining courtesy, decency and respect.

For more than twenty-five years I have been publishing a newsletter (A Pastoral Epistle was the original publication, and it has morphed into this current missive) so I speak from a bit of experience. Most of the responses to my writing over the years has been surprisingly positive. I have been amazed at the number who have written to express agreement and appreciation for what I have written. There has been, however, a scattering of disagreement and challenging correspondence. Even most of that has been courteous and thoughtful. Unfortunately, there has been enough that missed that mark to make me very aware of the “declension of courtesy.” Here are a number of thoughts (and opinions) on the subject.

Recently there have been a few emails that were angry, rude and discourteous in tone (if my own adult children had spoken to me the way some correspondents did, I would slap their mouths, even though the youngest of them is forty). I am now 74 years old and have been in ministry for 50 plus years. I don’t think age and experience count for too much, but I am aware of the fact that the Bible speaks to this situation. Paul says, “Rebuke not an elder but entreat him as a father.” Evidently in the minds of some that verse has a conditional factor that is not in the text. Some seem to think it reads, “Rebuke not an elder but entreat him as a father…unless he disagrees with you, and then it is open season,’ and you can say anything you want in any way you want.” .In fairness, a couple of individuals, when confronted with this verse, have written gracious notes of apology and sought forgiveness; others have defended their right to be rude, etc., on the basis of the fact that I disagree with them. Wow! And we criticize the left-of-center evangelical crowd for re-writing Scripture to suit their purposes!Dr. Warren Van Hetloo is a friend with whom I have correspondence. He is a very young 80. We don’t always agree (if we did, there would be no need for one of us), but no matter how deep or intense the disagreement, I would never speak to him in the tone some have spoken to me. After all, he is older than I (if only by six years), and I believe the Bible speaks directly to that. You may think me a total idiot without the ability to reason intelligently, but I still qualify as an “elder” (in the sense of older man), and the Bible commands entreaty rather than rebuke.

Then there is the issue of courtesy in general. Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how to answer every man.” If that isn’t a call to courtesy, I don’t know what it is. We ought to be able to differ with courtesy and grace instead of with accusation and derogation. The fact that someone disagrees with you doesn’t make them less than human or place them outside the kingdom. We must agree on the essentials such as the atonement, salvation by grace through faith, the inspiration, authority and innerancy of Scripture, etc., but there are many other areas in which there are vast, allowable disagreements. Is it really necessary - or Biblical - to use debasing, degrading language and derogatory names to describe people who disagree on matters that all would agree are not absolutely essential. Do my musical preferences really make me a “heretic” or “a tool of Satan?” because they differ from yours?

J. Gresham Machen was largely responsible for the removal of novelist Pearl Buck from the mission field because of her liberalism, but he did so in such a way that - according to knowledgeable sources - she requested and was granted the privilege of delivering a eulogy at his funeral. I’m sure I wouldn’t attain to that lofty honor, but it certainly seems a worthy goal toward which to strive - to have those we differ with and even oppose be so impressed with our spirit and manner that they would want to pay tribute to us at our demise.

Then there is the matter of the revocation of a timeless truth. I was raised to believe that two wrongs don’t make a right, but I find that position is no longer valid among fundamentalists. It seems that the equation has been changed to read that one wrong is enough to make another wrong legitimate. My worst critics think I am always wrong; my best supporters think I am almost always right. The truth doubtlessly lies somewhere in between the two extremes. I am sometimes wrong, but I don’t believe that gives anyone else the right to be nasty, accusatory, rude, etc., just because I have been wrong. Certainly it ought to be possible to express disagreement without violating Biblical teaching in the process. This problem is almost endemic, and I find myself falling into it at times. The fact that someone else has done wrong (or said something wrong) does not give me the privilege of doing wrong (or speaking improperly) in response. Let’s get back to the old days!

Dr. Charles Wood is the Pastor Emeritus of the Grace Baptist Church in South Bend, Indiana. If you wish to contact him or request to be on the mailing list for “The Woodchuck’s Den”, contact him at Lorchuck@aol.com.

My father died when I was only 23. Throughout my life, I have had a sense of loss that is more than whatwe typically think one experiences when his dad is no longer there. It is, in some ways, a more profound loss. It’s the loss of an older, wiser man who knows me well and has the privilege of “getting in my face” if I need it by virtue of our relationship. Many a man’s first decade or two into adulthoodismarked by a swagger, an impetuousness, perhaps an absence of patience that can be the impetus behind rash statements, stupid decisions and unwise choices. From my perspective, a wise and godly father is the perfect antidote to some of the excesses of youth because, no doubt, he can remember his own days of envelope pushing.

Thankfully, age, experience and a few hard knocks tend to mellow us over the years and with the passing of time, one earns a special perspective which teaches us that not every hill is one on which we need to die. A toned-down graciousness often replaces an undisciplined pattern of retort. Careful and prayerful consideration takes the place of instantaneous and impulsive rabbit pursuits.

For the last fifteen years, the Lord has provided a special counselor in my life who has sharpened me, challenged me, provoked me (positively) and been patient with me. He is a prolific writer which is what first caught my attention, but at the same time, he has the patient and warm demeanor of one who has learned from his journey, but won’t force those lessons on others. Additionally, for those of us who invite him to do so, he is more than willing to give us his thoughts and share his heart in a way that is, at times, painfully (for him, I’m sure) personal and transparent. And in those moments, I have learned great truths.

He first introduced me to Doug MacLaughlin’s classic work, “Reclaiming Authentic Fundamentalism” which helped rescue me from the initial philosophical and theological confusion which clouded my head upon rejecting the radical fringes of fundamentalism by which I had too long been indoctrinated. His monthly “Pastoral Epistles” were at the top of my “must read” list of periodicals for years. He allowed me to ask rude questions, debate and argue, pour out frustration and vent to him in long emails and the too-rare personal conversations we would have from time to time. A word of affirmation or encouragement from him would bear positive fruit in my spirit for weeks afterward.

While I would never be so presumptuous as to intrude on his own personal family with declarations of a personal relationship that is greater than it should be (he has two incredible sons who are both very successful pastors), in my heart he is definitely a “father-figure” who has filled a void in my own spiritual journey and which has been a major impact on my life.

The man to whom I am refering is Dr. Charles Wood of South Bend, Indiana. For many years, he was the Senior Pastor of the Grace Baptist Church where his eldest son, Rickis now the Senior Pastor and his younger son, Brent also ministers. Today, he writes, teaches, mentors and travels and he is having a great impact on pastors everywhere who appreciate his wisdom and intellect. Many of whom, like me, are breaking free from the group think, controlling authoritarianism and theological shallowness of the extreme branches of fundamental Christianity and who cravedialogue and repparte with balanced and mature leadership.

Earlier this year, I found myself embroiled in a frustrating circle of expressing my thoughts followed by whithering criticism. This would lead to another round of expressing more thoughts, but in a less-gracious way which would again be met with more criticism. Eventually, it lead to a point where my spirit and the way I communicated my thoughts were no longer reflecting my heart, but had become marred by ill-chosen words and sharply-worded retorts. Finally, I just decided to lay down my pen and do some reflection for a few weeks.

I will honestly tell you that I enjoy a sharply-worded and unambiguous sentence the way other people enjoy great art or fine cuisine. Maybe I spent too much time in South Florida hanging out with my Northeastern friends who could verbally slice-and-dice their best friends in one minute and be laughing and joking with them the next. My pals from New Jersey and Long Island considered verbal punches to be either great sport or simple, plain-spoken honesty — but either way, it wasn’t a problem. But I’m in the South, I’m a believer and I’m a pastor — graciousness in response and conduct should be a part of my character. I vowed to turn over a new leaf.

Then last week, I heard from a nemesis with whom I had waged a verbal war late last spring. Indeed, I devoted an entire blog article to replying to something he had written and another had published. About the time I thought I would never hear from him again, he responded. In a matter of three or four pages, he “repunched” every button he had previously pushed with me. His tone, in all honesty, was condescending and manipulative intending to appear gracious and reasonable while being less than that in reality. I felt the bile return to the back of my throat. He had declared that he would no longer respond to me additionally, apparently thinking that would earn for him the “last word.” “Oh, no“, I thought. “He’ll receive no such satisfaction. I’ll answer him line for line. Perhaps I’ll publish both his reply and my next volley.” In my heart and mind, I almost instantaneously reverted to where I left off before I took my break.

Then my computer chirped “You’ve got mail” and there in my inbox was a daily little essay by my fatherly friend, Charles Wood. (He calls his missives, “The Woodchuck’s Den” and you can get them too if you’ll drop him a note at LORCHUCK@aol.com and ask to be put on his distribution list. You’ll never regret it unless you’re afraid to think.)

What should happen to be the topic of that day’s article? The loss of civility in how Christians disagree. OUCH! To add insult to injury, for three consecutive days, Dr. Wood wrote on the topic. Well, let’s just say that the message was received loudly and clearly. I put my poisoned pen down and took a breath. Oh, don’t think me noble, I’d still like toshow off what I can do with a keyboard and a fouled temper. But I’mnot going to do it this time. If I can’t respond civilly, than I will just not respond at all and my nemesis can think he “won” for all I care. Perhaps that was what the Lord was trying to teach me all along. I don’t HAVE to have the last word. I’m no more likely to change his mind than he is likely to change mine. The only thing I would accomplish is to give in to my flesh and I don’t want to do that.

Someone once said to me, “Don’t ever wrestle a pig in the mud. You’ll get filthy and the pig will like it.” Well, I don’t know if I’m the wrestler or the pig, but either way, I’m climbing out of the slop.

That doesn’t mean that I’ll never be intemperate again. Declaring that would only set me up for an embarrassing series of future retractions, I’m sure. But I do plan on being more careful. I still feel extremely passionately about a lot of things and I have every intention of using this blog to share my opinions for what they are worth. But I now have a bigger challenge, which successfully undertaken, will hopefully raise my craft to a better level. That is to speak the truth with clarity and accuracy, but also carefully and graciously. At least that will be my goal.

I’ve droned on too long in this post. But over the next several days, I intend to reprint (he has already granted me permission), the articles that Charles Wood wrote on this topic of the Civility of Discourse among believers. I think you’ll be challenged as I have been. Please come back regularly for the next few daysand read Dr. Wood’s words carefully. He says what a lot of us need to hear. Again.

Well, when I came out of my July hiatus, one of my new vows was to make sure that I “owned” my blog and that my blog didn’t “own” me. I guess I’ve proven that I took that seriously over the last ten days by failing to post. Actually, it’s been a whirlwind of activity that has kept me off the blog in recent days. I’ll do a little bit of catching up with you today….

First….Nate is safe and sound at Liberty University. I took him up a week ago Saturday. Josh (age 9) went with big bro and dad to keep dad company on the long drive back (if you can consider a 9-year-old sitting in the back of the SUV watching Starwars on the DVD player with headphones “company.“) I’m so impressed with the way Liberty is organized. On Sunday, much of the freshman class of 3,800+ students was moving into the dorm and there was very little confusion, teams of friendly students to help carry stuff, rapid check-ins, a spirit of energy and excitement everywhere you turned.

We visited the new facilities of Thomas Road Baptist Church for their 11:00 service on Sunday morning. I don’t think they were expecting so many people to show up as parking was a challenge, but once you got inside, you forgot all about that. They did a masterful job of turning an Ericson plant into very comfortable church facilities. The technology was sharp, the gathering places warm and inviting, the flow in the buildings was convenient. The 6,000 seat auditorium is very comfortable and was nearly full with many visiting families there to drop off their kids. I heard a bit of Ergun Caner’s SS class in the auditorium and he was right on target. The worship music was tremendous and the new Director of the LU Center for Worship lead a team in a fantastic song that had the whole crowd joining in. I don’t remember her name, but she’s an African-American lady who can simply draw you into singing and clapping and joining the choir. It was Jerry Falwell’s 73rd Birthday and the recognized him briefly in the service. I don’t “critique” churches or church services, but I did enjoy my visit there.

Because of Liberty’s organizational preparation, we got Nathan moved into his room and set up in less than three hours. High speed internet access, fridge, microwave, TV, private sink in the room, carpeting on the floor, individual desks — he has no idea how spoiled he is! How well I remember the stark existence in a dorm with 8 smelly guys in it my first day on campus. We were barely allowed a radio, let alone any additional creature comforts.

Several of us Northside families joined together for dinner — the Joyners and Lawings and Burrell’s enjoyed one of the steak places where you can pitch the peanuts on the floor. We met the Whitecotton’s and the Hicks there as well. It made for a nice end of the day.

Monday was hard on dad (not nearly so much for Nate who had an appointment with a basketball on one of the many basketball courts on campus). I won’t lie — the first three or four days were tough — like a death. I really didn’t expect it to be that way. I guess it’s just one of those “first-time” things that sneak up on you and catch you by surprise. But by the time Nathan got around to calling us on the video phone via internet (a GREAT invention), we’d all settled down and as long as he calls us from time to time, we feel connected.

We have 16 students from our church and school at Liberty and it makes a great support network for them and for us. We’ve already had someone make a cookie delivery for us. (Thanks Cindy Lewis!)

Meanwhile, back at the ranch….we had a busy week getting ready for school. Julie, still wheelchair bound, manages to do just about anything you can imagine from her chair. The other day I found her mopping the floor. I run the errands and she keeps the homefront organized and it hasn’t been nearly as big a problem as I initially thought it would be. She’s been wheelchair bound for 5 weeks and a week from today, we go back to the orthopedist — hopefully so she can be fitted with a boot! Then I leave the next day for our Senior High Camp.

I’ve been working hard on a series we are doing this fall at Northside entitled “Get in the Game“. It begins on “Game Day” which is Northside’s 52nd Homecoming (and the first day of formal services for our new daughter church in Denver, NC – Providence Church). There will be seven additional weeks of emphasis throughout the fall and we’ll have a lot of fun built around a base of clear Bible preaching and teaching on the Christian Life. For a preview of the series, click on the referee on the church home page.

Today is my first day of classes with the Liberty University’s distance program. I’m the facilitating professor for three classes covering two administrative courses. I’ve been working LATE hours getting ready for the course and am excited to begin interacting with these students on these important and practical seminary courses.

Just a note on that topic…I had sometimes viewed the distance learning program as something “less” academically strenuous than “live” coursework, but I believe I’ve been largely mistaken. These courses are academically and practically strenuous. I don’t envy the students — they will have to stay on the ball to complete all the work and to do it on time. Again, Liberty is extremely organized with all of this and by using the Blackboard on-line learning system, the interaction is just state of the art and convenient. I’m very impressed.

Yesterday, I had the privilege of hosting Dr. Paige Patterson, President of Southwestern Theological Seminary and former President of Southeastern Theological Seminary. Dr. Patterson is one of the true heroes of the conservative resurgence of the Southern Baptist. After the services at Northside, we enjoyed a nearly 3-hour lunch and I peppered him with questions like a CIA interrogator. We discussed everything from his perspectives on the Independent Baptists to the “Calvinist” debates going on in the SBC, evangelicalism and the internet, the influence of blogs on evangelicalism today, megachurch trends and questions and much, much more. I hope to share some of his insight here in coming days as I think you will find it challenging and thought-provoking.

I can say this, I don’t know when I’ve ever interacted with someone who is just as flat-out brilliant as is Dr. Patterson. Frankly, this caught me a bit by surprise. I knew him as a preacher and a bit of a firebrand leader. What I didn’t expect is someone who is so absolutely scintillating and articulate as he discusses theology, the minutia of organizational issues and trends, philosophy and history. When I asked him what he was currently reading, I was floored by the substance and depth of the books which are certainly obscure by today’s pop-publishing standards. He is preparing to lead a study group through Northern Italy in the Spring and is preparing for that trip with research and study as well.

One other note — for all those in the IFBX camp who like to broad-brush Southern Baptists as “liberals” or compromisors, let me assure you that I’ve rarely met anyone who was more of a “fundamentalist” than Paige Patterson. Add to that theological foundation his wit, intellect and experience, and I felt like I was in the presence of one of the pillars of today’s church. I’m embarrassed that I sounded so over-the-top in my description of him, but I was simply blown away in a manner that I was not anticipating.

Last night, scores of our Northside family drove up to Denver, NC to go door-to-door inviting people to attend Providence Church as they get started. We hit over 5,000 homes in two-hour’s time. It was a blessing to see families, a bus load of our teenagers, staff, lots of new members to Northside and the Providence core team all out making a beach head in this rapidly growing part of our area.

There’s plenty more to tell you, but projects await me. Just a note to our Northside family, Pastor Lilley’s mother did pass away while we were at worship yesterday morning. He and his family have left for Saginaw, MI for the service which will be held on Wednesday. They will be back home early next week. Please keep them in your prayers.

Hopefully, I’ll be able to be more frequent in my blogging in coming weeks. Thanks, as always, for stopping by.

I have about five minutes before I start our Wednesday worship service, so I thought I’d jot a quick update to bring you up to speed on several things of rather inconsequential importance.

• I was out of the office on Monday and Tuesday with our pastoral team at the Ridgecrest Baptist Conference Center in Black Mountain, NC. It’s a gorgeous spot, away from TV, phones and other such distractions, nice facilities, friendly folks and fantastic food. We put the final touches on some plans for the fall, did some very important brain-storming and are all excited about the future at Northside.
• I received final confirmation today that I am now officially an “Adjunct Professor” for Liberty University. I will be providing direction for two Seminary classes. One covers church administration and the other church education. This is a particular blessing as it allows me to defray some of the tuition costs for my eldest who moves on campus on Sunday. It’s an answer to prayer and I really enjoy any type of educational work. PLUS, it’s all done via the internet which allows me to do this at times when normal people are sleeping or watching TV, so it won’t interfere with the many other activities in my life.
• I’m working on a post/article that will be of interest to those who live in North Carolina. It will deal with the recent guilty plea submitted by former Representative Michael Decker who accepted a bribe to switch parties in 2003 and which gave control of the State House to the Democrats. Decker is a former Christian school teacher and member of a large Independent Baptist Church in Walkertown, NC. I should have it completed by the end of the week and will post it here.
• Thanks to all of you who have written asking about Julie and her recovery from a fairly severe foot injury. We are all doing well. Her situation remains stable in that she simply cannot put any weight on it whatsoever for a total of six weeks. We have about two and half weeks left before her next doctor’s visit and x-ray. At that time, she will hopefully be fitted with a special boot or shoe which she must wear for another six weeks. She’sgetting better about manueveringaround in her wheelchair and crutches and the girls have been a big help around the house. Nathan and I made a midnight-to-2:30 a.m. run to the Super WalMart last week and got all the school shopping finished, so that’s out of the way. Thanks to all who have called, sent cards and brought meals and goodies over. It was all a blessing to her and to us.
• Thanks also for those who have sent me “I feel your pain” emails regarding Nathan’s leaving the nest this coming week-end. He’s ready and raring to go and I’m truly happy that he is so excited. We wouldn’t want anything less for him, he’s made us proud, we have confidence in his character and heart and we are looking forward to watching him blossom at Liberty these coming months. PLUS, now I have a good excuse to go to LU for the big Caner/White debate on Calvinism in a few weeks!
• To the several dozen college kids from Northside and my former kids from WPB, I’ll be opening a “Facebook” account once I receive my Liberty email address and will be keeping in touch with our “gang” via that while you are off at school this year. So, look for me in a week or two and link up with me and we’ll stay in contact. If you are over 35, you probably don’t know what “Facebook” is, so don’t worry about it. {smile}

I’m out of time for now, but hope to do better about posting in the coming days. If you know of someone who used to stop by my blog, but thinks I’m closed for business because they keep clicking on the old link, send them a link here or an email with the correct address (www.danburrell.com), so they can rejoin us!

More in a while…..

I’m struck right now, more than usual, with the busy-ness of life. We all whine from time to time about how quickly time flies, but for me in recent days, it truly seems that what is normally a fairly full and busy schedule has become even more frantic. I’m also very aware that these are spiritually vulnerable times simply because they are busy times.

Several years ago, I had the opportunity to join a small group of local pastors for a breakfast with Charles Stanley. I don’t think there were more than a dozen or so of us in attendance which lent itself to the development of an unusual opportunity to dialogue rather intimately with someone of Stanley’s profile. As we discussed various challenges in ministry, stresses and pressures that come with full schedules and assorted dangers unique to spiritual leaders, Charles said something that I’ve never forgotten. He was reflective as he said it. He said, “If Satan can’t make you bad, he might be satisfied with making you busy.”

The last few weeks have been exceptionally “busy” for me. My wife is laid up for six weeks with a foot injury and I’m having to do things that I don’t normally find myself doing. I spent Thursday night and Friday morning until 2:30 a.m. in the Super Wal-Mart buying supplies for three school-aged kids and my eldest, who was with me, picked up the items he’s going to need for his dorm room and start of college life. I’ve been bearing down on our leadership team this summer on making double-sure that we are presenting our ministry with an excellence worthy of the Savior and reflective of our best human efforts. In two weeks, we’ll welcome over a thousand students and faculty and staff back to our campus for the beginning of another school year. The week-end I’ll be loading up my first born and heading to Liberty University where he’ll embark on the next phase of his life. My email response file is so full that I honestly do not believe I will ever be caught up again. (I know that is frustrating to some who have written and I apologize. I read every email….but finding time to answer every one is just proving almost impossible to maintain.) I’ve got a thousand plans that still reside in my heart and head that I want to see enacted in our ministry. This fall, we will begin a paving and road development project on our campus that will cost over $3,000,000 and take a year and a half to complete.

Life is busy. Then we die and face the Lord. I don’t want to face the Lord with regrets — regrets because of sin and character failures, nor regrets born of being so busy serving the King that I ultimately neglected Him.

So please forgive me if I haven’t had time to blog like I often do — it’s not because I don’t want to write at all, it’s because I don’t want to write if the trade-off is the time I need to spend with the Lord. Writing is one of my favorite things to do. But that only increases the temptation to write when I should be reading or praying or listening for what God may be saying to me.

It’s not bad to be busy, unless you’re too busy to pay attention to the Lord.