Pensees: Funny Quote of the Week

Let’s not be too hard on Greenville. When I was at FBBC, Ankeny had its share of people like this, too. I’m sure Dunbar, Watertown, Owatonna, etc. etc. have their share of people who would fit the profile as well. BJU is an easy target- but it isn’t the only one- and frankly, I’m sure the phenomena can probably be seen in Sun Valley, Louisville, and other similar places outside the “fundy orbit” proper.

It’s hard living as an alien on the outer rim.

MMMMOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

BJU isn’t the target. Nor any of the other schools. It’s not even Mr. MMMMOOOOO himself!

it’s funny, but it does raise an interesting point, since we do believe in a sovereign God. maybe i’m tempted to play the devil’s advocate, since it’s such a dogmatic statement, and dogmatic statements are so fun to poke holes in. but i really have been thinking about this very enigma lately.

i just spent a couple weeks down there with friends who never would’ve guessed they’d end up as “lifers” at bju in ministry or in greenville, where there’s a good church on practically every corner—rather than in less richly-populated-by-believers areas.

these friends are submitted believers, not running from God but continually submitting their choices and future to Him.

when criticizing believers for sticking around Christian college-towns, i know we always tack on a “gracious” disclaimer that, of course, God must “call” some to stay, but not that many. right?

well, what if—what if!—God is in control of those who’ve decided to put down roots in Greenbuckle. what if, in His sovereign timing and agenda, it’s indeed His will for there to be a good church on practically every corner and so many talented “lifers” hanging around the premises instead of hitting the mission field?

i’m beginning to think the assumptions and paradigm-dictations work both ways. sure, for some people, rebellion is going to take shape in the form of staying in a Gospel-inundated area. hmm. but maybe God is bigger than what my human thinking would idealize as the better plan.

maybe we’re not talking about a bunch of disobedient lazies hanging around in an incubator. maybe God deliberately placed them there, in spite of our limited-by-humanity opinions?

just some thoughts. it’s not like i haven’t thought about it from multiple sides. i’ve considered going back, and haven’t. and i do know some who are still in Gville and don’t think they’ll be there forever, yea, even dread being there forever. but i also believe God is sovereign in His greater plans and in His inclining of hearts, especially prayerful and Word-saturated ones.

What is interesting Bob is how many non-BJU churches dwarf the amount of BJU churches in this area.
BTW Joe Roof took your blog and threw it into SI world under the fundamentalism forum. It’s been a funny night over there.

You’re absolutely right, Bruce. The flagship SBC seminary (Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) started in Greenville. There are currently a couple Presbyterian seminaries. North Greenville College. Beaucoup.

Obviously, my complaint is mostly tongue in cheek. My brother pastors down there! And I believe that he is where he ought to be…

But then again. . . .

This is hilarious… Over at the SI forums where Joel’s diatribe is being discussed, Joel responded to Greg Linscott’s statement (the one above):

Greg buddy,

You say you can see this in “Dunbar.”

I love you man but have you actually ever been to Northland? Outside of the the compound known of NBBC do you know who inhabits Dunbar?

237 moose, 178 deer, 79 rabits and one bearded snow plower named “guss!”

That’s what’s in Dunbar!

Joel

There are too many Macedonia’s calling out, “Come over into Macedonia, and help us” (Acts 16:9). One thing that bothers me is when a brother says he is going to plant a new church in a city that already has 100 independent Baptist churches. That I cannot get! Isn’t that why God sent persecution to Jerusalem in the beginning of Acts because He wanted them to be spread abroad with the gospel, not all congregating in one city?

Joy,

Belief in a Sovereign God doesn’t negate the possibility of “disobedient lazies.” I think Joel believes in a Sovereign God.

Joel is just jealous because God refuses to call him to Greenville. I notice he keeps sticking his head around the corner here just to see what will happen next.:)

True confession: I actually candidated in a church in the G’ville area.

(Phew! That’s off my chest.)

Bob, you say that like it was a sin or something.

Listen, Bruce! I have two and a half friends in this world. Joel is one of them. Do you really think I’m going to BRAG about something like that? Sheeesh.

Brag? hmmmmm Between you, Joel, and I I’m pretty sure we have each suffered from PETERS-foot-in-mouth disease.

Brag? hmmmmm Between you, Joel, and I I’m pretty sure we have each suffered from PETERS-foot-in-mouth disease.

LOL. And you had to say it twice!!!!

(Actually, Joel and I are planning on co-pastoring a new church-plant in Greenville. Stay tuned.)

Yes I have suffered from Peters-foot-in-mouth thing - but you have to admit - My “Mia-Culpa’s” come off as much more geniune than Bob’s.

Bruce, You’re funny but you are a Type C fundamentalist - being SBC and all (This of course means you left Type A “land” for Type C - Wow - do any of the Type A’s actually talk to you anymore?).

Bob and I being “Type B” understand that our role is one of uniting the fundamentalist masses - Yes, it is our mission to bring the fundamentalist world together - that is the balanced portion of it. And so Bruce, buddy - we’re here for you. But there is a limit.

We only allow a certain quota of discussion from Type C’s. Now we allow more air time for Type C’s than Type A’s.

I’m sorry to inform you that your quota is up - You will have to wait 2 hours before posting here.

Just kidding - this is Bob’s “pensils” (pronounced - Pun-ceeels) anyway!

sloppy agape!

Joel

Sure Joel, they still talk to me, but mostly, they just look at me and wonder why I’m so happy all the time.

My mission as a type C is to find out just how many of us there are. I’ll let you guys try to pull the masses together. To me that’s too much like a pregnant woman trying to pole vault but hey, knock yourself out.

Wait two hours? Is that like waiting to swim for an hour after eating. Not that any of Bob’s posts have ever made me nearly throw up or anything. I’m just curious. Or is this part of that jealousey thing you and I were talking about.

Bob, sorry I posted it twice. Too much type “A” coffee makes me edgy.

Bruce Baby!

There are lots of you former Type A’s who were kicked out of the Type A “club,” or asked to leave, or bludgeoned to “near-death” and so you crawled over (or ran to) the Type C position. Hey, I understand. Most of you guys didn’t know that the Type B fundamentalist category was an option. It’s not your fault.

You see Bruce, We Type B’s have of our own accord charted a new course -which of course is not a new course at all - It’s the same course that Machen, Warefield, and a whole host of other mostly dead leaders have walked.

Now we B’s (unlike most of the C’s) have not burned our bridges to the A guys - well at least not all the bridges.

My buddy Bob here has had his life threatened by the Type A guys regularly (Let me clarify for any lurking New York Times types out there - The Type A guys don’t literally try to knock off Bixby - well not yet. This is mostly metaphoric in nature).

Continuing with said metaphor - It’s rather dangerous walking with Bixby. You know your out enjoying fellowship with Bob and then all of a sudden “Wammmo!” Another bridge gets blown up behind you. I can’t tell you how many splinters I’ve had to dig out of my carcass because of my friendship with this guy. The neat thing about Bixby here is he’s not bitter. Amazing! Furthermore he has a good focus on our mission - Confrontation with the truth mixed in with a generous amount of mercy and love - We call it “Global Grace!” (How’s that Bob?)

And so this being what B’s are about we kind of see ourselves as modern day versions of the Good Samaritan.

More Sloppy Agape!

Joel

Joel, who said I was kicked out. Not sure I was ever in. But if I was, when I left, I RAN like I stole something. Believe it or not, when my parents came to teach at BJU, we ate breakfast at the dining common. And each morning I sat across the table from a very nice gentleman named Dr. Michael Barrett. I guess it was too early in the morning for me to glean anything from him. We are still freindly to each other when we see each other but we only talk about hunting. I talk about deer I never saw and he talks about taking aim at type “B’s” regularly. Until I met you I never knew what he was talking about. But I digress.

BTW Bob, I just looked up the word condescending in the dictionary and on the opposite page was a full color picture of Joel Tetreau grinning like a Cheshire cat.

Joel, next time we need new controversy in our church I’ll let the Pastor know that I know a professional.

Bruce,

I could tell you walked on your own accord. I’ve heard nothing but great things about Michael. Would love to meet him some time regardless of how he takes Type B’s.

Condescending? Come on? I’m way too nice of a guy! You’re not going to believe this. Their is a part of me that hates controversy. Again you may not believe me the older I get (and I’m not old yet - but each year passes quicker than the previous one!) the more I cringe when I see my name “out there” in the context of this discussion or that.

I usually want to hide under a desk. Most wouldn’t know that about me. In the thick of it -typically I’m focused, excited, and engaged. Outside of “the discussion” I’d sooner just be allowed to minister in private. I know that sounds contradictory. I’m sure some will accuse me of schizophrenia! That’s not all too bad…You typically have more fun with schizophrenia…no you don’t….yes you do!
(See what I mean!)

The deal is their is a larger part of me that hates covering up truth for sake of political convenience. There is another part of me that has seen too much ecclesiastical abuse in the name of fundamentalism. The damage that causes is unbelievable. I love God’s people too much to allow that sort of thing to go unchallenged.

When I see what I believe to be truth violated, or I see innocent people being whacked because of legitimate views, belief’s, etc….I can’t ignore that. I will show up. So what might look like a desire for controversy is not reality.

Believe me, I am happiest - Studying in my quiet office, proclaiming “The Word!,” planning and executing ministry with my fellow elders and ministry leaders, worshipping with my brothers and sisters here at SVBC, praying with a saint who needs encouraging or visiting with someone (who is either lost or hurting) over a cup of coffee. I try to spend most of my time doing those sorts of things.

This blog thing is just a fun diversion that gives me a chance to have a nice break from the major focus of my life - my family and my church family.

Straight Ahead!

Joel

PS - Besides Bruce, I’m not nearly the King of Controversy like Bixby is here. Why I’m down right tame in comparison!

I’m with you Joel. And if I ever move to your hometown I’ll be ready to jump in and help your ministry with fervency. I’m not as Southern Baptist as one would think. At the IFB churches, I was always the one leaning a little to the left. Now at Clearview, I’m always the one leaning to the right, and that is a good thing.

BTW I failed to mention I was standing in the picture next to you with the same goofy grin on my face. But I refuse to tell you where I found Bob’s picture. Nope! Not gonna do it.

Bruce,

About a fifth of our congregation are former Southern Baptist. You would fit right in! (Nascar and everything - We just had a church activity where I think about 40 of our people went to a Nascar thing at Phoenix Raceway International.)

My guess is I’m a B/B- and your a C/C+.

That places us very close together. My brother - will even be closer in the Kingdom!

Grateful for your friendship,

Joel

Bruce, you ever make it Phoenix, I’ll take you to lunch or will get a cup of coffee!

Joel…

“Their is a part of me that hates controversy…”

“Their” is a part of you that hates the English language also!

Just here to help out, bro…

Regards,
Don Johnson
Jer 33.3

Joel, that is so wild about your church numbers. When I joined Clearview, I guess my Pastor was a little amused because well over half our church is former IFB’s. We are excited though about what God is doing. I feel like were on the brink of revival. Last Sunday night well over half the congregation went forward confessing sin and getting things right with God and family. Next week starts our missions conference where we will have many missionaries presenting their ministries. Were not real big on the coopperative program, and our Pastor is very vocal in the convention about how only 32 cents on the dollar is actually making it to the SB missionaries. That is why were taking a proactive approach to doing more of our own thing. And we will still support the program though. Just trying to reform it. Talk about trying to turn the Titanic.

BTW I’ve never heard Dr. Barrett take shots at type “B’s”. I have heard though he is pretty intimidating in Greek classes. Thank goodness our conversations centered around hunting.

Okay Joel, Back to the campfire.
Oh great, while we were talking Bob ate all the marshmellos. Way to go Bob.

Bruce,

What a thrill! I’m very optimistic about what the Lord is doing these days. I’m not at all put out about the church. The Lord has promised to build His church and their is certainly no reasons for Him to stop just because postmodernity showed up. Our God reigns!

Joel

Let me try this one more time,

uptight Type A people groups are watching -

“….there (contra their) is certainly no reason for Him to stop just because postmodernity showed up…..”

Joel, I would help you with your spelling but I’m busy at the salt lick right now!:)