Best practice for Baptist ministers on retirement

A Baptist minister told me that when he retired he would follow the example of those ministers who when they retired would keep well away from the area where they last ministered.   This is best practice. It is not right to hang around and to be in a position to interfere with the newly appointed ministry.  This happened, in fact, at least twice in Essex, as retired ministers still remained active in those areas where they worked. It is right to keep well away, to put some distance from the former flock.

Those who made efforts to carry out appropriate actions and put certain procedures in place were commended.   A former regional minister and a well known former Baptist Union president were praised for their ways.

And did the retiring minister put much distance from his former flock?  He agreed to engage in ministerial duties just a few miles away, in the same borough, where some members live right in his former area of ministry!

Andy Murray lives in Surrey

Yes folks, the keen supporter of Scottish independence does not have a vote in the referendum!
And why is that?  It is because he does not live in Scotland and he is not registered to vote there at all. He lives in Surrey, England!

I wonder if Miss Sears, the English rose in Andy's life, would prefer to be north of the border. I doubt it, as Surrey suits her just fine.

ISIL is not islamic???

President Obama boldly asserts that ISIL, also known as Islamic State, is not islamic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwp8qKvE-0g

I find this very hard to swallow in the light of the evidence.  Why are young muslims from the UK and around the world so eager to join Islamic State and engage in jihad, violent jihad? Surely they follow the teaching of Islam and believe that they are practising their religion, Islam, as fighters for Islamic State, ISIS, or ISIL.

There are passages in the Quran that are used to justify the actions of Islamic State. They claim that they are true to Islam and the teaching of Muhammad.  Is this not an established fact? Are they not purists and fundamentalists, but nevertheless Islamic?

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2014/09/10/maher_vs_charlie_rose_to_claim_islam_is_like_other_religions_is_naive_and_plain_wrong.html

Joel Osteen is still peddling cheap grace

It does concern me that Joel Osteen still preaches cheap grace, a message of religion without true repentance from sin, which he does not mention, and without true discipleship, taking up the cross to follow Jesus. Has he ever preached on true repentance?

My question for Joel and his fellow travellers is this: how does Osteenism, the teaching of Joel Osteen, fare where Christians are persecuted and suffer hardship for their faith?  Jesus taught His disciples that they would face tribulation. Paul the Apostle taught that those who live godly lives in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 2 Timothy 3:12. Paul himself faced trials, tribulations, troubles, problems, prison and persecution for his faithful ministry. The experiences of Christians outlined in Hebrews 11 do not accord with Osteenism, Joel's brand of religion.

Joel Osteen ignores vast chunks of the Bible and preaches a sickly sweet message that has no relevance to the persecuted and suffering saints in Syria and throughout the world.

Yes, Jesus said that in the world you shall have tribulation. John 16:33. It is not a text that Joel preaches on. It is obvious why when you understand Joel's sugary sayings and worldly materialistic religion.

According to Bonhoeffer:
Cheap grace is preaching forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession. … Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.

The Jesus Bus along the Oregon Coast on Highway 101

If you have travelled regularly on Highway 101 in Oregon there is a good chance that you have spotted the Jesus Bus.

Travelling evangelist Cas Sowinski and his dog are often seen at coastal viewpoints and beauty spots.

Cas plays his guitar, shares his faith, sells t-shirts and sings Christian and Gospel songs.  He is supported by donations from friendly folk who wish to help his ministry.