Historical Sketch of the Quidnesset Baptist Church

I ran across this following history of the Quidnesset Baptist Church in Rhode Island and thought some of you might find it interesing reading.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~rigenweb/article225.html

Near death experiences

I recently heard a radio program on which the host and a panel were discussing "near death" experiences (NDE). Stories of such experiences are of great interest to Christians and non-Christians alike. Perhaps few are immune to concerns about life-after-death. Even Christians feel drawn to hear the testimony of someone who's "been there", regardless of what testimony the Bible might afford. Some of these testimonies commend themselves to us because we know the person providing the testimony.

There are many popular and not-so-popular books on the subject, both pro and con. A book that that has caught the imagination and interest of folks in our area is 90 Minutes In Heaven: A True Story of Death and Life by Don Piper (With Cecil Murphey). Piper is a Southern Baptist minister, who, according to the publisher, "On the Way home from a conference, Don Piper's car was crushed by a semi truck that crossed into his lane. Medical personnel said he died instantly. While his body lay lifeless inside the ruins of his car, Piper experienced the glories of heaven, awed by its beauty and music. Ninety minutes after the wreck, while a minister prayed for him, Piper miraculously returned to life on earth with only the memory of inexpressible heavenly bliss." Piper said, "Simultaneous with my last recollection of seeing the bridge and the rain, a light enveloped me, with a brilliance beyond earthly comprehension or description. Only that. In my next moment of awareness, I was standing in heaven." Piper's book does not spend a lot of time dwelling on his heavenly experience, but uses the experiences of his physical recovery to attempt to comfort both the suffering and the bereaved.

Piper's book probably has a much greater appeal to Biblical Christians than many others that are available. Many NDE books tend to run toward new age, mysticism and occulticism. On the other hand, there is If I Should Wake Before I Die: The Medical and Biblical Truth about Near-Death Experiences by H. Leon Greene, M.D. Dr. Greene believes that medical and scientific evidence can explain the near death experience, and also shows how he feels these experiences do not fit Biblical teachings.

A speech by the Prince of Wales illustrates the experiential appeal of the NDE: "The important point is that whatever position modern science may take on near-death experience, the subjects themselves are a) convinced of survival of death when they come back and b) they are transformed towards the valuing of love and the pursuit of wisdom."

In the Christian Research Journal, Summer 1992, J. Isamu Yamoto wrote, "There are two important reasons why we should turn to the Bible as we try to understand the NDE phenomenon. First (and quite obviously for Christians), the Bible is the supreme authority in guiding the lives of believers. It conveys what God declares essential for humans to know about truth and how to please Him. Therefore, whatever the Bible has to say bearing on near-death experiences must be thoroughly and objectively examined."

"In addition, we must turn to the Bible because NDE advocates also turn to the Bible to support their interpretations of this phenomenon. Since many of these advocates believe in the universality of all religions, they naturally seek passages from as many religious texts as they can find that seem to parallel the near-death experience, including one particular biblical account that they assert describes some NDE elements. What NDE advocates claim to find in this biblical account must not be taken at face value, however, but must be studied also in contrast to the total NDE model that they have established. (page 14)"
Christian Research Journal, Spring 1992, Part one

Earth warmest in 12,000 years

An article in our newspaper today discussed a study conducted by scientists. The study claims that the earth has reached its warmest point in the last 12,000 years. The study "also found that the planet has warmed to within one degree Celsius of the hottest temperature of the last million years."

Since this study is scientific rather than political, one would assume that it is not agenda driven. But I must say that I wonder about it. I'd like to see discussion of who recorded the earth's temperatures 12,000 years ago. And if they didn't have access to records of 12,000 year old scientists/meteorologists, then explain how they know the temperature of the earth 12,000 years ago.

Anyone know from whence this claim?

History of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church

I have been thinking of posting on my blog some of the history that I have compiled about the old Mt. Carmel Baptist Church of Rusk County, Texas. Finally, I decided that it will take up too much space here and have created another blog just for that. Please click on the above link to go there. It's just getting started, so it may take a day or two before much info up. At some point I will put a permanent link on my sidebar.

14th Annual Smyrna Sacred Harp Singing

We had a good singing at Waldrop Cemetery yesterday. This large rural cemetery had a good crowd in attendance and the weather was excellent. Next Saturday we will hold the 14th Annual Smyrna Singing.

Date: Saturday, September 30, 2006 (d.v.)

Location:
Smyrna Baptist Church
FM 2496
Mount Enterprise, Texas

Time: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Click here for map.

For such a time as this

Esther 4:14 - "For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"

When Joseph was in Egypt sold,
His brothers evil meant.
But God meant good to bring to pass
For such a time as this.

In Persia when an orphaned girl
Rose to become their queen;
None knew what God was working out
For such a time as this.

Esther lifted to a throne, and
Delivering Jews from death;
She was God's means that He ordained
For such a time as this.

The Sovereign Lord is in control
All things obey His will;
What we recoil from just might be
For such a time as this.

Rest on, dear one, in His firm hand,
God's providence is sure.
Though we see not what He has planned
For such a time as this.

Chorus:
For such a time as this,
For such a time as this,
Who knoweth whether this has come
For such a time as this.

Written September 10, 2006

I worked on this awhile, believing there was a good thought in there somewhere, but it seemed that it just didn't break out and live. Any suggestions?

Tomorrow we will...

... sing at Waldrop Cemetery. (d.v.)

Divine healing

Just read a short treatise with the following declaration: "God now only heals through His providence, which does not remove the need for proper medical treatment."

While I agreed with the basic premise of the writer, basically that modern so-called faith healers are really fake healers, I'm not sure I can agree with the above statement. What do you think?

I am not certain what the writer believes about providence and what it is, since he closed with the paragraph which included "God now only heals through His providence".

Some definitions of providence are (1) God's will, as expressed through events on Earth, (2) a manifestation of God's foresightful care for his creatures, (3) the guardianship and control exercised by a deity, (4) the continual care that God exercises over the universe He created.

Now this declaration breaks down into two parts. First, "God now only heals through His providence." It would seem to me that ultimately all healing comes under the providence of God, but this phrase seems to (1) with the word now indicate a difference from earlier times and with the word only indicate former healings were through "more" than His providence; (2) exclude for today any of the different kinds of healing that were through "more" than His providence. Second, His providence "does not remove the need for proper medical treatment." If this means only that medical treatment is within the providence of God, I agree. If it means that all of God's providence in healing is through medical treatment, I disagree. I think God heals directly and through answered prayer in addition to, in conjunction with and/or apart from medical treatment, even in this day and age. No need for the fake healers to drive us from that ground, IMO.

What do you think?

The birth of Isaac

Hebrews 11:18 - Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
Genesis 18:14 - Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

The birth of Isaac as a Divine miracle is demonstrated by the facts that:

1. Both Abram and Sarai were old; Genesis 17:17

2. Sarai was barren -- unable to bear children -- during her childbearing years; Genesis 11:30

3. Sarai was past childbearing; Genesis 18:11

Romans 4:16, 17 - ...Abraham; who is the father of us all, (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

Chapters and verses

According to the Wright's Bible Readers' Aids, the chapter divisions of the Bible were created in A.D. 1250 and the verses in 1550. That being true, these divisions are obviously not inspired, but rather tools intended to make the Bible, in modern speak, "user-friendly". The handy references to book, chapter and verse can be a boon for locating something or telling someone how to locate something. But if God didn't inspire these "user-friendly" tools, have we perhaps erred in creating them?

A Baptist Board member with the user-name Jack Matthews wrote, "I sometimes wonder if dividing up the Bible into chapters and verses that do not always align with the complete thoughts or contexts of the writing is a help or a hindrance to interpreting scripture. The early church clearly did not pick singular 'thoughts' out of artificial divisions of the Bible called 'verses' and formulate doctrines from them."

I'm not on a campaign to purge chapters and verses from the Bible, but Matthews' query is a valid one. The chapters and verses are a help. BUT could the hindrance of them be a greater negative than the help is positive? Possibly so. I doubt anybody will be buying a chapterless verseless Bible any time soon. But let's try to read the Bible in complete thoughts rather than just following the verse and chapter divisions for stopping and starting, and assuming those are where the thoughts naturally flow, stop and/or change. That's the least we can do.

Not so safe in Texas!

Here in Texas we often brag about being the biggest and having the biggest of everything. Looks like among the ten largest cities in the United States, we have the biggest crime rates.

Of the ten largest cities, Dallas, Texas is NUMBER ONE, with the rate of one crime for every 11.79 residents; San Antonio is third, one for every 14.12 residents; and Houston is fourth, one for every 14.17 residents. Phoenix, Arizona squeaked in just ahead of San Antonio to grab second place, with one crime for every 14.10 residents. Maybe if we work at it really hard we can have the top three positions next year! :-p

Surprisingly perhaps to some, of the largest cities in the U.S., New York was the safest, with one crime for every 37 residents.

Henderson Daily News, Tuesday 19 Sept 2006, p. 1; See also New York the safest big U.S. city

Not related to anything

Not related to anything in particular, but I heard this on a show last night and thought it was kind of funny. A lady was told she was paranoid, to which she replied, "Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get me!"

A Wonder

Psalm 71:7 - "I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge."

"Are you considered a WONDER unto many? You should be! People should wonder what in the world happened to you. Friends and co-workers should wonder what happened to the language you used and the jokes that you use to tell and listen to. They should wonder why you won’t go out to the bars or parties with them anymore after work. Your neighbors should wonder why it is that every Sunday morning and Sunday night they see you and your family dressed up and leaving for church instead of having that Bar-B-Q or going to the beach. Your family should wonder why things that would find their way on to your TV set just don’t seem to be there anymore. If you’re living a life for Christ, these wonders have taken place and maybe you don’t notice them. I guess the person that should be most amazed is you? Do you wonder why an almighty God would send His only Son to die for you? Do you wonder why out of the thousands and millions of people around you that God seems to have opened your eyes to the truth and now you are a child of God? Have you ever wondered how it is that God, who knows everything, says that He will remember your sins NO MORE? Oh, the WONDER of it all." -- by Franklin Senters, Living in His Word Devotions for Sunday, September 17th, 2006

I received this devotion in the e-mail today, and it made me think of the following song, which is found in the Sacred Harp, p. 292. It is also in Goble's and Lloyd's hymn books. I do not know who is the author. In singing it, the phrase "Tis a Wonder" is repeated after each line, as noted on the first stanza below. Some Lloyd book singers in Texas repeat "Tis a wonder, wonder, wonder" after each line.

Oh! 'tis a glorious mystery -- 'Tis a Wonder
That ever I should saved be -- 'Tis a Wonder
No heart can think, no tongue can tell -- 'Tis a Wonder
The love of God unspeakable -- 'Tis a Wonder.

Great mystery, that God should place
His love on any of Adam's race,
That I should also share a part,
And find a mansion in His heart.

Great mystery, I can't tell why
That Christ for sinners came to die;
Should leave the boundless realms of bliss,
And die for sinners on the cross.

Oh! Why was I not left behind,
Among the thousands of mankind,
Who run the dang'rous sinful race,
And die, and never taste His grace?

'Twas love that spread the gracious feast;
'Twas love that made my soul a guest;
'Twas love that brought Him from above;
'Twas love, Oh! matchless, boundless love.

Not all the heav'nly hosts can scan
The glories of this noble plan;
Oh! 'tis a glorious mystery,
And shall be to eternity.

Bible "trivia" follow-up

The middle verse of the Bible is Psalm 103:2. "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits"

The longest verse in the Bible is Esther 8:9. "Then were the king's scribes called at that time in the third month, that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language. "

The shortest verse is John 11:35. "Jesus wept."

Ezra 7:21 includes every letter of the English alphabet except the letter "j". "And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily"

The name "Jesus" is found in both the first and last verses of the New Testament.
Matthew 1:1 - The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Revelation 22:21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Bible "trivia"

The following information is not original with me, nor have I verified all of it. If anyone knows of corrections, please list them in the comments.

The Bible was first divided into chapters by Cardinal Hugo de Sancto Caro. The first division of verses was completed by Paris printer Robert Stevens in 1550. The first "Red Letter" edition of the Bible was published in 1901 (the New Testament only was printed in 1899).

Chapters (this information considers individual Psalms as chapters; I was taught that each Psalm is an individual song/hymn and therefore technically not a chapter)
The King James Bible is divided in 1189 chapters, 929 in the Old Testament and 260 in the New Testament. The middle chapter of the Bible is Psalm 117, having 594 chapters before it and after it. Psalm 117 is also considered the shortest chapter in the Bible. The longest chapter in the Bible in Psalm 119. The longest chapter in the Bible not a psalm is Numbers chapter 7, with 1939 words in 89 verses.

Verses
There are 31,101 verses in the Bible. Psalm 103:2 is the middle verse of the Bible. The longest verse in the Bible is Esther 8:9 and the shortest verse is John 11:35. Ezra 7:21 includes every letter of the English alphabet except the letter "j".

The name "Jesus" is found in both the first and last verses of the New Testament.

[Source: "The Bible Readers' Aids," Charles H. H. Wright, ed., pp. 16, 17; King James Version Bible, edition KWM-14-5941 by World Bible Publishers.]

Religion

Religion without Jesus is like a manure pile; it stinks highly until it finally dries up!

"If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless...Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ" -- Philippians 3:4-8

The Living Stone

When looking up Samuel Medley's hymn "Awake My Soul", I ran across the following hymn. I did not know it before finding it on the STEM Publishing website.

1. On Christ salvation rests secure;
The Rock of ages must endure;
Nor can that faith be overthrown
Which rests upon the "Living Stone".

2. No other hope shall intervene:
To Him we look, on Him we lean;
Other foundations we disown,
And build on Christ, the "Living Stone".

3. In Him it is ordained to raise
A temple to the Father's praise,
Composed of all the saints who own
No Saviour but the "Living Stone".

4. View the vast building, see it rise;
The work how great, the plan how wise!
Oh, wondrous fabric, power unknown
That rears it on the "Living Stone"!

5. But most adore His precious name,
His glory and His grace proclaim:
For us, condemned, despised, undone,
He gave Himself, the "Living Stone".

-- Samuel Medley

Waldrop Cemetery singing

Singing at Waldrop Cemetery

Date: Sunday, September 24, 2006 (d.v.)
Location: Waldrop Cemetery
FM 1251
Fairplay, Panola County, Texas
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
2000 Cooper Revision of the Sacred Harp

9-11

The following link is a permanent interactive memorial site for all affected by the tragic events of September 11, 2001.
Sept11thMemorial.com

History of shaped notes

Much of what those of us in the Sacred Harp shaped note tradition read about shaped notes is related to our own tradition. The following article is apparently by someone in or acquainted with the Christian Harmony tradition.

"Elizabeth Smathers-Shaw, a talented shaped-note singer and daughter of shaped-note master Quay Smathers, explained that many of America's settlers had come with only their necessities. Since music and fine instruments were more of a luxury, the nation, early on, was largely musically illiterate, Shaw said.

"Once things became more settled, organized church and music and education developed. By the mid-18th century, a revolution was under way to teach people music. Many teachers looked for a quick, easy way to do it—a sort of Hooked On Phonics method, Shaw said."

-- From A history of shaped notes, by Michael Beadle [click highlighted portion to link to the rest of the article]