Some time back, I came across this compelling story about Alfred Nobel, the Swedish inventor of dynamite. The article below was written by Dr. Jack Graham, pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas. Since reading this, I've used Nobel's example several times in sermons and speeches. Hope you enjoy it!
Alfred Nobel:
Alfred Nobel was a Swedish Chemist who invented dynamite and other powerful explosives used for weapons. When his brother died, one newspaper accidentally printed Alfred’s obituary instead of his brothers. It described Alfred as one who became rich by enabling people to kill each other in unprecedented numbers.
Shaken by that assessment of his life, Alfred stared at his own mistaken obituary, and resolved that the fortune he had made from his accomplishments would thereby be used for the benefit of all humanity, and thus began the Nobel Peace Prize. Nobel came to a defining moment in his life. He had the opportunity to look at his life and start over.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Thursday, September 13, 2007
A Different Kind of Bird Brain
There is a wonderful story in the Times today about Alex the parrot, the bird whom scientists have used for the past 30 years in judging animals' cognitive abilities. Alex had a vocabulary of more than 100 words and could recognize colors, shapes, and my personal favorite, he could even tell what materials certain objects were made of simply by picking them up! Sadly, Alex died this week. However, his life is a fascinating story, and one that can lighten up an otherwise heavy day.
Way to go, Alex!
Way to go, Alex!
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Pastor's 50th Anniversary
I've written this article to several newspapers...thought it might be interesting.
In a couple of weeks, Glendale is planning on having a dinner to honor our pastor, Bro. Richard Oldham, who is celebrating his 50th anniversary at the church this month. Most pastors don't make it 50 years in ministry, much less fifty years at the same church! I wanted to provide you with a brief background of his life.
Bro. Richard grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, during some of the darkest days of the depression. He was a member of the Walnut Street Baptist Church, where Dr. Finley Gibson was pastor. After graduating from Union University in Jackson, Tennessee, at the age of 21, Bro. Richard was offered a full scholarship to pursue a Ph.D. in English at Auburn University, but turned it down because he felt God had called him to pastor a church. He would serve churches in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Michigan before coming to Glendale in 1957. His first trip to Bowling Green was by passenger train down at the old depot!
Through the years, Bro. Richard has led the church to open several ministries to our city. When he first came to Glendale, our church family consisted of just 19 members and still met at a house on Jones Avenue, a couple of blocks from the present location on Roselawn Way. Since the church had no money, Bro. Richard suggested selling $25,000 worth of bonds in order to construct a building. The only place they could find with that little money was an abandoned sink pit on the edge of town, where the Smallhouse neighborhood sits today. They constructed what became known as the "flat-room" auditorium, which is now part of the East Wing of the church complex.
After he came to Glendale, Bro. Richard began spending many hours visiting throughout Bowling Green and the surrounding community, and the church began to grow, so much so that by 1962, the church had completed construction of a 700 seat auditorium. The church would continue to grow, peaking in the 1970s, with attendance sometimes reaching 1500. One of the earliest ministries of the church was the Bus Ministry, which was used to go into the inner cities and surrounding areas of Bowling Green and Warren County to pick up children and adults who didn't have transportation to church. In 1962, a local youth radio broadcast known as Teentime was started in the auditorium after church on Sunday evenings, and that broadcast still continues today. In 1972,the church began construction of the Day Care and Child Development Center, the West Wing of the church. Also in 1972, the Anchored Christian School began inside the church with a small kindergarten class of 5. Today, the school has a pre-12th enrollment of more than 180. In 1993, we purchased the Cave Mill property, and in late 2003, construction was finally completed on the Anchored Christian School building, which also functions as a church Family Life Center.
But Bro. Richard has made a much bigger impact on this community than simply brick and mortar. To date, over 7000 individuals have made professions of faith in Christ at Glendale, and over 4000 of these have been baptized. Our pastor has especially had an impact on influencing young people to serve in the ministry. Over 250 individuals have gone out from Glendale to serve as pastors, evangelists, teachers, and missionaries. They are collectively known as "Swordsmen." Several of these now pastor churches numbering in the thousands, so Bro. Richard's scope reaches far beyond the walls of Glendale. In fact, if I'm counting correctly, about 10-15 of these individuals have named one of their children after him! The church has also been instrumental in starting various community centers around the city, including a service for several years at Beech Bend Park; the Oak Forest Chapel, which still continues in Riverside, KY, under the direction of assistant pastor Johnny Deakins; the Glendale Chapel, now known as the Victory Baptist Church, pastored by R.B. Adamson, who was a swordsman at Glendale. Others who are currently pastoring and have come from Glendale include Kevin Hamm, pastor of Gardendale's First Baptist Church in Gardendale, Alabama; Hollie Miller, pastor of Sevier Heights Baptist Church in Knoxville, Tennessee; Bill Ricketts, pastor of Prince Avenue Baptist Church in Athens, Georgia; and Mike Routt, pastor of Circle Drive Baptist Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. These are just some of the individuals . There are many more if you want the full list!
But Bro. Richard's real legacy is far more personal. He has tremendously impacted this community by conducting thousands of weddings and funeral services in this area, all at no charge. Many of the funerals he conducts are for people who aren't from our church, but they have asked him to be their honorary pastor. Many times the funeral directors will call him if there is no one to conduct the funeral, and he is always ready to help. In addition, Bro. Richard makes daily hospital visits to encourage those who have gone through medical problems. He will visit anyone if someone asks him to. He has never been married, often telling people that he feels "married to the Lord." Several times he has received offers to pastor bigger churches with much better salaries and benefits, but he has felt committed to the work at Glendale and Bowling Green. Whenever finances have become tight, he has increasingly reduced his own salary. He could easily be making 20 times as much as he does today. He consistently sacrifices for those who have no money, and if the church benevolent fund is low, I've personally seen him many times reach into his own wallet and give what little he makes away.
I know I'm biased, and I also know he's not perfect, but Bro. Richard's legacy is something that deserves to be remembered and appreciated. On Friday, July 13th, at 6:00 PM at the Carroll Knicely Center on Western Kentucky's South Campus in Bowling Green, Kentucky, we will be having a celebration in his honor. Currently, about 100 of the Swordsmen are planning on coming from out of town to be at this event. Bro. Richard has a lot of humility, and he probably wouldn't allow this event if he knew about, so it's supposed to be a surprise. Thought you guys might be interested in hearing about it.
In a couple of weeks, Glendale is planning on having a dinner to honor our pastor, Bro. Richard Oldham, who is celebrating his 50th anniversary at the church this month. Most pastors don't make it 50 years in ministry, much less fifty years at the same church! I wanted to provide you with a brief background of his life.
Bro. Richard grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, during some of the darkest days of the depression. He was a member of the Walnut Street Baptist Church, where Dr. Finley Gibson was pastor. After graduating from Union University in Jackson, Tennessee, at the age of 21, Bro. Richard was offered a full scholarship to pursue a Ph.D. in English at Auburn University, but turned it down because he felt God had called him to pastor a church. He would serve churches in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Michigan before coming to Glendale in 1957. His first trip to Bowling Green was by passenger train down at the old depot!
Through the years, Bro. Richard has led the church to open several ministries to our city. When he first came to Glendale, our church family consisted of just 19 members and still met at a house on Jones Avenue, a couple of blocks from the present location on Roselawn Way. Since the church had no money, Bro. Richard suggested selling $25,000 worth of bonds in order to construct a building. The only place they could find with that little money was an abandoned sink pit on the edge of town, where the Smallhouse neighborhood sits today. They constructed what became known as the "flat-room" auditorium, which is now part of the East Wing of the church complex.
After he came to Glendale, Bro. Richard began spending many hours visiting throughout Bowling Green and the surrounding community, and the church began to grow, so much so that by 1962, the church had completed construction of a 700 seat auditorium. The church would continue to grow, peaking in the 1970s, with attendance sometimes reaching 1500. One of the earliest ministries of the church was the Bus Ministry, which was used to go into the inner cities and surrounding areas of Bowling Green and Warren County to pick up children and adults who didn't have transportation to church. In 1962, a local youth radio broadcast known as Teentime was started in the auditorium after church on Sunday evenings, and that broadcast still continues today. In 1972,the church began construction of the Day Care and Child Development Center, the West Wing of the church. Also in 1972, the Anchored Christian School began inside the church with a small kindergarten class of 5. Today, the school has a pre-12th enrollment of more than 180. In 1993, we purchased the Cave Mill property, and in late 2003, construction was finally completed on the Anchored Christian School building, which also functions as a church Family Life Center.
But Bro. Richard has made a much bigger impact on this community than simply brick and mortar. To date, over 7000 individuals have made professions of faith in Christ at Glendale, and over 4000 of these have been baptized. Our pastor has especially had an impact on influencing young people to serve in the ministry. Over 250 individuals have gone out from Glendale to serve as pastors, evangelists, teachers, and missionaries. They are collectively known as "Swordsmen." Several of these now pastor churches numbering in the thousands, so Bro. Richard's scope reaches far beyond the walls of Glendale. In fact, if I'm counting correctly, about 10-15 of these individuals have named one of their children after him! The church has also been instrumental in starting various community centers around the city, including a service for several years at Beech Bend Park; the Oak Forest Chapel, which still continues in Riverside, KY, under the direction of assistant pastor Johnny Deakins; the Glendale Chapel, now known as the Victory Baptist Church, pastored by R.B. Adamson, who was a swordsman at Glendale. Others who are currently pastoring and have come from Glendale include Kevin Hamm, pastor of Gardendale's First Baptist Church in Gardendale, Alabama; Hollie Miller, pastor of Sevier Heights Baptist Church in Knoxville, Tennessee; Bill Ricketts, pastor of Prince Avenue Baptist Church in Athens, Georgia; and Mike Routt, pastor of Circle Drive Baptist Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. These are just some of the individuals . There are many more if you want the full list!
But Bro. Richard's real legacy is far more personal. He has tremendously impacted this community by conducting thousands of weddings and funeral services in this area, all at no charge. Many of the funerals he conducts are for people who aren't from our church, but they have asked him to be their honorary pastor. Many times the funeral directors will call him if there is no one to conduct the funeral, and he is always ready to help. In addition, Bro. Richard makes daily hospital visits to encourage those who have gone through medical problems. He will visit anyone if someone asks him to. He has never been married, often telling people that he feels "married to the Lord." Several times he has received offers to pastor bigger churches with much better salaries and benefits, but he has felt committed to the work at Glendale and Bowling Green. Whenever finances have become tight, he has increasingly reduced his own salary. He could easily be making 20 times as much as he does today. He consistently sacrifices for those who have no money, and if the church benevolent fund is low, I've personally seen him many times reach into his own wallet and give what little he makes away.
I know I'm biased, and I also know he's not perfect, but Bro. Richard's legacy is something that deserves to be remembered and appreciated. On Friday, July 13th, at 6:00 PM at the Carroll Knicely Center on Western Kentucky's South Campus in Bowling Green, Kentucky, we will be having a celebration in his honor. Currently, about 100 of the Swordsmen are planning on coming from out of town to be at this event. Bro. Richard has a lot of humility, and he probably wouldn't allow this event if he knew about, so it's supposed to be a surprise. Thought you guys might be interested in hearing about it.
Friday, March 09, 2007
The Times They Are A Changin'
Hello Friends,
Today is my last full day in the states for the next week or so (hopefully). Some of us from the speech and debate team are leaving tomorrow afternoon for the Republic of Argentina (not really sure if it's a republic, makes the writing flow better), where we will be competing in Buenos Aires for the International Forensics (speech/debate) Tournament. Currently, there is a huge anti-American rally going on in downtown Buenos Aires, led by none other than my favorite world leader to harass in extemp, Hugo Chavez. While at the tournament, I'm supposed to give a speech on an historical element of Argentina, so right now that looks like it's going to be the research paper from last semester's Latin American class. When in doubt, use stuff that's already been graded...at least it provides some feedback. I've never been to a serious anti-American rally before...maybe I could pass for being Canadian!
I'm really worried about losing my passport while down there...so much so that it may become a self-fulfilling prophecy. My Spanish is about as good as President Bush's English, which may not help me in tight spots. Should I not make it back for some reason, I'll be sure to let someone know (though I don't really see how that would be possible). The country of Argentina is definitely worth visiting, it's just their track record of government over the past fifty years is a little intimidating, and the collapse of their currency in 2001 certainly doesn't escape one's mind easily. We're traveling to the land of Juan Peron, Domingo Sarmiento, Julia Rosas....I just hope our hotel is close to the U.S. Embassy!
On a lighter note, I don't know if it's the weather or the season, but everybody and their brother (well, sometimes their sister too, if you live in Butler County) is getting married! I think I've touched on this topic before, but I've counted five weddings that I would like to go to within the next few months, and all of constituents involved are close to my age. Sadly, to the chagrin of American Idol hopefuls everywhere, I wasn't invited to sing at any of these ceremonies. It's really the oddest thing....I always sing at funerals, but never at weddings. There's some twisted form of irony in people not wanting to hear you until after they're gone, but alas, we must move forward.
Graduation is in two months....and the world isn't stopping. I don't know for sure what's going to happen after Seminary next year. I just want to do something that makes a difference. Guess that goes for all of us :0)
Today is my last full day in the states for the next week or so (hopefully). Some of us from the speech and debate team are leaving tomorrow afternoon for the Republic of Argentina (not really sure if it's a republic, makes the writing flow better), where we will be competing in Buenos Aires for the International Forensics (speech/debate) Tournament. Currently, there is a huge anti-American rally going on in downtown Buenos Aires, led by none other than my favorite world leader to harass in extemp, Hugo Chavez. While at the tournament, I'm supposed to give a speech on an historical element of Argentina, so right now that looks like it's going to be the research paper from last semester's Latin American class. When in doubt, use stuff that's already been graded...at least it provides some feedback. I've never been to a serious anti-American rally before...maybe I could pass for being Canadian!
I'm really worried about losing my passport while down there...so much so that it may become a self-fulfilling prophecy. My Spanish is about as good as President Bush's English, which may not help me in tight spots. Should I not make it back for some reason, I'll be sure to let someone know (though I don't really see how that would be possible). The country of Argentina is definitely worth visiting, it's just their track record of government over the past fifty years is a little intimidating, and the collapse of their currency in 2001 certainly doesn't escape one's mind easily. We're traveling to the land of Juan Peron, Domingo Sarmiento, Julia Rosas....I just hope our hotel is close to the U.S. Embassy!
On a lighter note, I don't know if it's the weather or the season, but everybody and their brother (well, sometimes their sister too, if you live in Butler County) is getting married! I think I've touched on this topic before, but I've counted five weddings that I would like to go to within the next few months, and all of constituents involved are close to my age. Sadly, to the chagrin of American Idol hopefuls everywhere, I wasn't invited to sing at any of these ceremonies. It's really the oddest thing....I always sing at funerals, but never at weddings. There's some twisted form of irony in people not wanting to hear you until after they're gone, but alas, we must move forward.
Graduation is in two months....and the world isn't stopping. I don't know for sure what's going to happen after Seminary next year. I just want to do something that makes a difference. Guess that goes for all of us :0)
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Mayberry Anyone???
At the writing of this post, I find myself in the middle of nowhere, which roughly translates into a place called Seward, Nebraska, which has an odd, cow-like smell in the air that gives a lot of credence to its name. We are at what I assume has to be the only hotel around, the local Seward Super 8, and let me tell you, should this hotel burn down, yours truly is gonna be mighty cold tonight, because there's absolutely no place else to go! (There's a Wal-Mart off in the distance, but I've heard of people who've gotten kicked out for trying to temporarily live there, so that won't be attempted should anything go wrong). The town claims to have a population of six thousand, but I'm having trouble finding the other 5, 880...(maybe they've gone off to get an early start for the Fourth of July Parade, which apparently is a pretty big deal in this town, judging by the local signs).
The only (and I do mean ONLY) reason we are here is for a speech and debate tournament this weekend at Concordia University, which is supposed to be a few miles up the road. Judging from the looks of things, that may be misleading information. There is absolutely nothing around here except cornfields and country roads. There's a restaurant in the vicinity called Vallentino's which claims to serve Italian food, but out here in the Midwest, and especially here in the Midwest, I'm not taking any chances! I'm sort of afraid to wander too far off for fear of getting lost...there's a very good chance you may never be heard from again (I'm not entirely joking).
Well, I guess I'd better sign off for now...Once again I have procrastinated as far as memorizing my speeches (a habit that has oddly gotten stronger as the years go by), and I must now attempt to get them ready for the tournament. I don't know what it is...I always do better when I don't have the speech memorized until the final round...oh well, no sense tempting fate!
By the way, I would just like to go on the record by saying that I love global warming right now...it is absolutely freezing out here!!!
The only (and I do mean ONLY) reason we are here is for a speech and debate tournament this weekend at Concordia University, which is supposed to be a few miles up the road. Judging from the looks of things, that may be misleading information. There is absolutely nothing around here except cornfields and country roads. There's a restaurant in the vicinity called Vallentino's which claims to serve Italian food, but out here in the Midwest, and especially here in the Midwest, I'm not taking any chances! I'm sort of afraid to wander too far off for fear of getting lost...there's a very good chance you may never be heard from again (I'm not entirely joking).
Well, I guess I'd better sign off for now...Once again I have procrastinated as far as memorizing my speeches (a habit that has oddly gotten stronger as the years go by), and I must now attempt to get them ready for the tournament. I don't know what it is...I always do better when I don't have the speech memorized until the final round...oh well, no sense tempting fate!
By the way, I would just like to go on the record by saying that I love global warming right now...it is absolutely freezing out here!!!
Friday, January 12, 2007
Memory Lane
About a week ago I was asked to speak at the chapel service of my old high school, Anchored Christian School in Bowling Green, KY. I just finished speaking this morning, and it was really good to be back. Many of the faces were easy to recognize ( there are some who will probably never leave, much less graduate!), and there were quite a few I didn't know, as well. It sure is strange how our worlds can change over four years...high school seems so long ago! For those of you that don't know, Anchored is a small, Christian school (100 or so grades K-12 when I was there), and I tend to embellish the fact that I graduated seventh in my class...the only problem with that, of course, was that there were only eight, but hey, that's beside the point!
At last count, one of those in my class has already married, and two are engaged (we'll see if that holds up...I'm pulling for them!!). Three or four people I went to school with in different classes are also engaged, and a couple of them have asked me to marry them...of all things! I told both couples that the only legal power I possess to marry them is about the same as Michael Jackson has to adopt children right now, but it was nice of them to ask. I'm ordained as a deacon at church, but not as a preacher (I just preach as a layman, which means that I don't have a certificate or official license).
I really enjoy the place where I'm at right now, and I feel like God is guiding my path, but at the same time, it's hard not to feel a nostalgia for things gone by. Sometimes I miss having to go to school with the same people, seven hours a day, five days a week, with basketball games and church services on the weekends...it just really gives you an opportunity to get to know and enjoy people in a different atmosphere. College is great, but you don't always get to see the same people every day (which can be a blessing in some cases!), and some of the people you would like to see, you almost never run into...But no complaints here! Shakespeare, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle...they're all gone. This is our place and our time, and that's exciting.
At last count, one of those in my class has already married, and two are engaged (we'll see if that holds up...I'm pulling for them!!). Three or four people I went to school with in different classes are also engaged, and a couple of them have asked me to marry them...of all things! I told both couples that the only legal power I possess to marry them is about the same as Michael Jackson has to adopt children right now, but it was nice of them to ask. I'm ordained as a deacon at church, but not as a preacher (I just preach as a layman, which means that I don't have a certificate or official license).
I really enjoy the place where I'm at right now, and I feel like God is guiding my path, but at the same time, it's hard not to feel a nostalgia for things gone by. Sometimes I miss having to go to school with the same people, seven hours a day, five days a week, with basketball games and church services on the weekends...it just really gives you an opportunity to get to know and enjoy people in a different atmosphere. College is great, but you don't always get to see the same people every day (which can be a blessing in some cases!), and some of the people you would like to see, you almost never run into...But no complaints here! Shakespeare, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle...they're all gone. This is our place and our time, and that's exciting.
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