Looking for pastorate.

The same could be said for seminary professors, though there is more oversight at a seminary. To that end, we could agree.

 

Kentucky is an awesome state, and home of many right thinking Baptists. Perhaps God will choose to move me there. I would not be disappointed in the least if He does.

 

When I researched songs that I enjoy, I found that they came from a bluegrass background. I lean towards the old bluegrass gospel over the Sacred Harp style. I enjoy instruments and believe they have a place in church, which separates me from other old-fashioned Baptists.

Home of the Soul, Whispering Hope, Life's Evening Sun, each have a more bluegrass history. Since we are talking about specifically church music, the only twang would be that which is employed by the church members, whether it be bluegrass, praise and worship, or southern gospel.

Your dislike of the twang is fine, but I will throw tomatoes at you if you dislike the song beneath the twang. :laugh:

 

It is by a little known bluegrass band from Bodie, California. The chorus is something like this:

If you don't like the message that I brang,
It's 'Cause you haven't heard the song beneath the twang.
Cuts right through the heart in snow, hail, sleet and rain
It's based on the Holy Book- the song beneath the twang!

 

Nothing has changed.

It has been a while, and I thought I would follow up on my original thread. I am still a bivocational pastor, but have finished my education and seminary education (currently working on a PhD).

NOT A SINGLE THING HAS CHANGED FOR ME DOCTRINALLY!!!

Sitting at the feet of great Baptists has made me realize all the more how annoying Calvinists can be. I won't name any names, but sitting under Calvinist professors was kind of like being tortured intellectually. I mean, really, there are other viewpoints than Calvinism and even Augustine would not affirm limited atonement.

I still believe that we should use wine and unleavened bread for the Lord's Supper. We can not improve on what Christ has done.

I still believe that "must be" means "must be." "Ye must be born again" means the same as "you must be the husband of one wife."

I needn't go on. Simply put, nothing has changed at all. I know you guys were expecting otherwise. Maybe I would go to college and lose my ability to think for myself.

But, instead, I have learned that I have the Holy Spirit to teach me and he will not change his doctrine.

Oh, and on a final note, I did learn not post that I was searching for a church on a Baptist board. It seems that this is the most hostile place for such dialog.

Thanks!

 

Because I am trolling...

Went to google, did a search, saw these old posts of mine and thought I would have some fun with it. Was not sure anyone would respond anyway.

The implication was, once I have been to cemetary... ummmm... seminary, I would realize that John Calvin was a step below Christ. Well, I didn't.

Of course, maybe had I attended BMATS instead of the school I eventually chose, I might be Calvinist. Glad I dodged that bullet. :tongue3:

Truth is, I have no need to go to placement boards anymore to look for a pastor. One thing that has changed in the last 6 years is my networking ability. If I was seeking a church, I would have no problem finding places to preach in view of a call.

Since I posted that message, I served the Lord at another California church for several years. We'll see where the Lord leads me next.

 

Much of my formal education was via distance learning. However, I really enjoy math, so I did take some class in Statistics and Calculus in person to finish a degree in economics at the local college. Statistical analysis is really helpful when working on the quantitative portion of a PhD thesis.

With respect to accreditaion, my undergrad and my Masters are both regionally accredited. My PhD will be from a TRACS accredited school. However, my committee chair and the others who are seated on my committee all have degrees from well respected regionally accredited schools. I thank the Lord that I have such talented advisors.

In the last six years, I have learned that no matter how much education you have, there will always be some snobbish moron who will question your credentials. Had I went to Princeton, fundamentalists would hold me suspect because I was not conservative enough. Had I went to Bob Jones, Calvinists would hold me suspect because I was not Calvinist enough. Had I went to Southern seminary, dispensationalists would hold me suspect becuase I was not dispensational enough. Had I went to Master's, covenant theologians would hold me suspect..... The list goes on and on.

At the end of the day, my education is sufficient for me and my ministry. Everyone needs to decide in prayer what kind of education they are looking for. I am not convinced that accreditation does much more than seal the arrogance of the academically snobbish. I have long wished for a seminary that had a focus in humility. It would help me a great deal, and might help others too.

The best education I ever received was at the feet of those Baptists who serve in small to midsize churches around the country. They might not even make a footnote in a Baptist history book, but their dedication and love for their people is something I strive to emulate. All the scholarly junk you learn at any school can never replace those sermons that actually feed a flock. It does not take an education to be in tune with the spirit and preach godly messages.