A Life-Changing Resolution: Read the Bible Daily in 2011

Often I am asked, “What can I do to grow as a Christian?” There are several things that may help you grow in your faith but one of the most important things is to read the Bible everyday.

Sounds simple doesn’t it? But developing a daily discipline of reading the Bible can be challenging because it requires changing our daily habits. However, you are never too young or too old to start.

In the New Year’s season when folks traditionally make resolutions and establish goals for the coming year, why not resolve to read the Bible everyday? Consider some of the advantages of reading the Bible daily. Daily Bible reading increases our knowledge of God’s word. It gives us a more intimate and personal acquaintance with the biblical text. It helps us to discern God’s plan for us. It encourages us to integrate the teachings of the Bible into our daily lifestyle. It confronts our personal sin and affirms God’s forgiveness. It inspires us toward faithfulness and consistency in all of our tasks. Reading the Bible daily helps us to understand the contextual meaning of passages whereas those who read the Bible only occasionally or who read only a selected verse or two are more likely to superimpose their own presuppositions to the text. And finally, daily Bible reading helps keep your life and faith in focus.

Years ago, Lord Tennyson wrote, “Bible reading is an education in itself.” Here are some helpful strategies to develop a daily Bible reading plan:
• Begin by using a companion devotional guide. Our Daily Bread, Open Windows, and the Upper Room are just a few examples of devotional booklets that include both a daily Bible reading selection and a few inspirational comments and stories. There are also a growing number of online devotional sites, such as www.d365.org, that provide relevant daily devotionals, and other sites that you can subscribe to that will send daily devotional readings directly to your inbox.
• Try reading the Bible book by book. Some suggest alternating your reading between New Testament and Old Testament books.
• Read a chapter a day from the New Testament and the Old Testament plus a Psalm and one chapter of Proverbs. This approach provides a balanced diet of biblical perspectives. And because Proverbs is divided into thirty-one chapters, it makes for good systematic reading because of its compatibility with our monthly calendar.
• Read the Bible in one year. Many Christian publishing companies offer printed schedules for reading the Bible through in one year. The assignments for daily reading may prove challenging to slower readers but the rewards of knowledge and inspiration are definitely worth the challenge.

If you want to grow in your faith there are many practices that will enhance your spiritual maturity: daily prayer, regular worship participation, ethical decision-making, and ministry involvement. But one of the best places to begin your journey of spiritual growth if you are a new Christian, or to deepen your faith if you are a maturing Christian, is to develop the discipline of reading the Bible daily. If you really want to live by the book, resolve to spend quality time reading the book daily in 2011.

(Barry Howard serves as senior minister of First Baptist Church of Pensacola.)

Getting Relief from Depression

There are many reasons why winter is often considered an emotional downer. Some counselors attribute this wintry melancholy to post-holiday stress, while others believe it has more to do with isolation caused by blustery weather.


There are many reasons why winter is often considered an emotional downer. Some counselors attribute this wintry melancholy to post-holiday stress, while others believe it has more to do with isolation caused by blustery weather.



Some studies associate seasonal depression with less sunlight and more darkness. Other factors contributing to depression include lack of exercise, changes in diet, prolonged grief (especially during the holidays) and straying from spiritual values.



One noted psychologist and popular clinician offers these suggestions for overcoming depression:



1. Visit your physician. Depression might be a symptom of a physical problem such as hypothyroidism, hypoglycemia or endocrine imbalance.



2. Eat healthy. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, and avoid caffeine, sugar, junk food and especially alcohol.



3. Get enough sleep. Exhaustion adds to depression. Sleep refreshes the body and uplifts the spirit.



4. Be active. Physical activity can lift you out of depression. Avoid too much television and too many passive activities.



5. Be social. Surrounding yourself with people, especially positive people, can keep your mind off your problems and distract you from feeling sorry for yourself. Social interactions help pull you from your depression.



6. Do fun activities. When you are depressed, nothing sounds enjoyable. But getting out and doing what you used to enjoy will improve your attitude and after a while you will have fun.



7. Write out your feelings. Emotions trapped inside you increase depression. Getting them on paper can release the internal pressure. Write about your anger, grief, confusion or anything else that is bothering you.



8. Surround yourself with positives. Fill your life with positive people, positive music, positive books and positive situations. Stay away from the negatives.



9. Check out your negative self-talk. Listen to what you are saying to yourself. If you are saying negative things to yourself, it will make you feel worse. Put a positive spin on your life.



10. Make plans and dreams for the future. Make a list of all the things you wish to do in the future and then plan how to make them a reality.



11. Develop your faith. Faith in God provides hope. It lifts a person above the frustrations of life. Faith pulls a person above depression and provides perspective to difficulties.



12. Get help if the depression persists. Meet with a pastor if there are spiritual issues, a counselor if there are emotional problems or your physician for appropriate medication. It is a sign of wisdom and courage to seek help if needed.



If you sense that depressing thoughts or feelings are dominating your life, be proactive and take appropriate steps to help overcome your depression.

Simeon Says....

A few days after the birth of Jesus, Mary and Joseph took the baby to the temple, as was the custom, to have him consecrated to the Lord. After offering their sacrifice, they encountered Simeon, a man who was “righteous and devout” and who was “waiting for the consolation of Israel.”

As Simeon was moved by the Spirit, he took the child in his arms and praised God, saying: “ For your eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”

After the blessing, Joseph and Mary marveled. But Simeon continued, “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many will be revealed. And a sword that will pierce your own soul too.”

Although the birth of Jesus is celebrated with peace, joy, hope, and love, this matter of following Jesus is risky business. It requires loyal commitment, frequent forgiveness, and stubborn faithfulness.

You have followed the star of Christmas to find Jesus in the manger. Now that a New Year has begun, will you follow him further?



(Barry Howard serves as senior minister of First Baptist Church of Pensacola.)

Do They Celebrate Christmas in Heaven?

As a pastor, I get asked a lot of questions that I cannot directly answer. Some questions have no known answer. I suppose other questions have answers that are beyond our comprehension.

Across the years I have been asked a few questions repetitively, such as “where did God come from?”, “where do our pets go when they die?”, and “when will the ‘end of time’ occur?” I have learned to quickly but kindly respond that there are no dogmatic answers to these inquiries.

However, this year, on at least three occasions I have been asked, “Do they celebrate Christmas in heaven?” This is a new question for me. While this question fits in the same category of “does not have a dogmatic answer,” I have reflected on this question within the framework of my imagination, and realize that my proposed response may be more pastoral than theological.

Whatever heaven is like, I tend to think that the residents do celebrate Christmas. Now, I am aware that there are theological problems with such suppositions. For example, inhabitants of the earth operate on linear time, and are subjected to aging and deterioration. Residents of heaven seem to live in the realm of eternal time, which has no beginning, no end, and no lapse.

The fact that December 25 is our designated day to celebrate, and not the actual date of Jesus’ birth, is also problematic for those who are not willing to make the imaginative leap toward envisioning a Yuletide celebration in heaven. Nonetheless, my hunch is that they likely celebrate Christmas in heaven. Here’s why:

First, I think there is a perpetual atmosphere of celebration in heaven. So why not celebrate Christmas? The gospels tell us that the angels in heaven rejoice when a single “lost sheep is found” (Luke 15:6). Therefore, the inhabitants of heaven must receive a least a few news flashes from earth. And if Christ followers on earth are celebrating Christmas, it seems that to some degree a corresponding celebration would occur in heaven.

Second, heaven is a place of ultimate worship. The Bible indicates that believers from across the ages are singing, “Worthy, worthy is the Lamb!” (Revelation 5:12). When believers around the world gather locally to worship, I envision that we are not alone but are surrounded by a “great cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1). Especially during Advent and Christmas, when we worship, I can imagine that the great host of witnesses joins us when we sing, “O come let us adore Him, Christ, the King.”

Third, (and I know this sounds a little hokie to some) Christmas would be a great time for a reunion of the original cast of the nativity. Can you imagine Mary, Jesus, wise men, shepherds, angels, other visitors who were not specifically named in the gospel accounts, gathering to recount that historic night? They might even note how different the actual event was from the sanitized “manger scenes” of contemporary lore.

There’s a fourth reason I think they celebrate Christmas in heaven. Although the Son is said to have been present with the Father before the foundation of the world, Jesus was physically born into the world on the first Christmas. I grew up singing, “The Birthday of the King.” So in my prospectus, I can envision Christmas in heaven being the ideal time to gather around a huge cake and celebrate Jesus’ birthday.

And finally, Christmas would be a great time for a reception for new residents in heaven. Maybe that perspective is influenced by my Baptist upbringing…you know, we Baptists will host a fellowship for almost any occasion. But, think about this: A local mortuary in our town, like many around the country, had a candlelight service earlier this week for the families of those who lost loved ones this past year. I would like to think that on the other side of the bridge leading to eternity, the Hospitality Committee in heaven is hosting a party for those who have recently arrived.

Yes, I know it is theologically speculative to suppose that they celebrate Christmas in heaven. However, the Bible does affirm that heaven is a place where all things are made new. “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:4.

There are other biblical clues that indicate heaven is a place of social interaction, familiar acquaintance, and festive rejoicing. But most importantly, if heaven is indeed a place where there is no more sadness, then our loved ones who have preceded us in death are not looking over the banister of heaven, overwhelmed by the grief of their departure from earth. Of course, it is not that they don’t miss us. It is more like they now have a new perspective on the eternal reality that “is,” while we live more with the longing for “what shall be.”

So this year, when you see that empty chair at the table, or miss that familiar voice around the Christmas tree, it’s okay to grieve and think fondly of the one who is missing. Just don’t stop there. Imagine the chair they now occupy and the landscape where their voice is now heard. Go ahead and dream of what it must be like to celebrate your first Christmas in heaven.

And to better prepare for that occasion, practice, by celebrating Christmas right where you are.

(Barry Howard serves as senior minister at the First Baptist Church in Pensacola, Florida.)

Don't Let Darkness Eclipse Your Christmas Joy

On Monday evening December 20 as I was watching the twinkling lights on our Christmas tree, I heard the tv news anchor say something like, “tomorrow could be the darkest day in 372 years.” He sure had my attention.

As the story unfolded, the camera shifted to the meteorologist who began describing the pending Lunar Eclipse and how such an eclipse would not occur on the day of Winter Solstice again until 2094.

The shortest day of every year occurs on December 21 and is called the Winter Solstice. Since it is the shortest day, it is also the day with the longest period of darkness. The Earth’s axial tilt is at its furtherest point from the sun, allowing the least amount of daylight to reach the earth.

This year the darkest day of the year was even a little darker because the earth was positioned at just the right location between the moon and the sun for the earth to cast a shadow over the moon, meaning that even the moonlight reaching the earth was minimalized due to a lunar eclipse.

While it may be merely coincidental that the darkest day arrives just prior to our customary celebration of Christmas, from my experience as a pastor, I am aware that holidays can be very dark days emotionally for some folks. Where there are a variety of events, experiences, and emotions that cast shadows dark enough to eclipse the joy of Christmas, the number one culprit is grief.

Grief comes in many shapes and sizes. In the human experience, we grieve over the death of friends and loved ones. We grieve over disintegration of a marriage. We grieve over friction within the family. We grieve over the loss of a job. And at times we even grieve over the loss of a dream.

Let me be quick to affirm that grieving is healthy as long as you are moving through the grief process as opposed to stalling in the grief process. The Bible never tells us not to grieve, but the scriptures do advise us not to grieve “as those who have no hope.” (I Thessalonians 4:13)

Unexpressed grief can lead to anger, depression, or physical illness. During the holidays, rather than being overwhelmed by the darkness of grief, look your grief in the eye and call it by name. Think of grief as one of the many visitors you will entertain. Visit with your grief, but only briefly, and then move on to visit with other guests. Don’t deny it or ignore it. And for certain, don’t let grief dictate the mood or conversation of your holiday celebration.

After hearing the news on Monday night, I stayed up and watched the Lunar Eclipse on Tuesday morning. The shadow gradually covered the face of the moon and then gradually moved away allowing the nightlight to return.

Perhaps grief is the same. It’s okay to walk through the darkness; just don’t take up residence in the shadows.

Don’t let the darkness eclipse your Christmas celebration. Be aware of the shadows. They are real. But keep watching for the light.

Generous Discernment: Making Wise Decisions about Charitable Holiday Giving

by Barry Howard


As Christmas approaches, our mailbox seems to be stuffed each day with Christmas cards and requests for money. We enjoy personal Christmas cards and letters. After reading them, my wife displays them around the living room with other decorations to remind us of the friendships we share around the country and around the world.

The request letters are a different story. With each one we have a choice to make. We can discard those letters as junk mail, or we can consider the request, and decide whether that particular organization is going to make the cut in this year’s holiday giving.

Most non-profit organizations struggle for funding, even in good years. In this season when we are gradually emerging from a recession, all kinds of non-profits are in a heated competition for charitable dollars. Therefore, this year you might expect more appeals vying for your holiday or end-of-year giving.

Many businesses and foundations have pre-determined guidelines for selecting the charitable causes to which they will make contributions. At our house, we are also developing a list of criteria which helps us to filter through the requests and determine which charities, missions, and ministries will go on our Christmas list.

Here are a few factors that help us make decisions about holiday giving:

1. Our first and largest gift goes to the mission offerings of our church. Throughout the year, our “firstfruit” gifts go to the ministries of our church. Primarily, this is an act of obedience to what we believe the Bible teaches, but we also believe that the cumulative projects of a local church make the most significant impact on individual lives. At Christmas we give an additional gift that supports missionaries around the globe.

2. We tend to give to organizations that are faith-based, organizations that share many of our concerns and passions.

3. We try to give to organizations that focus on the “least of these,” providing a boost to individuals who are disconnected, disadvantaged, or disenfranchised.

4. We select organizations that have low overhead and administrative costs. We don’t want to support an organization that exists to sustain itself. Rather, we want to give to organizations that provide a monumental service to people in need or that serve as conduits to get funds and resources to people in need.

5. We give to organizations that have demonstrated accountability, those who have a reputable board of advisers and a reporting mechanism to let us know where previous gifts have been used.

6. We determine to avoid “guilt giving” and “arm-twisting requests.”

7. We do not give directly to persons on the street, at intersections, or interstate ramps. Our experience is that people are most effectively helped through missional organizations and relationships. (However, we do offer to help get persons on the street to our mission center for assistance, or we offer to buy them a meal, but we do not give money, simply because of the high rate of manipulation and addiction among full-time panhandlers.)

8. We recognize that some good organizations will be left out of our giving plan and that we cannot give to everyone.

9. We set a total dollar amount and then appropriate specific amounts to our chosen causes.

10. Each year we re-evaluate our recipients and do not automatically give to the same groups as the previous year.


Thousands of organizations, ministries, and causes are trustworthy, accountable, and effective, but we cannot support all of them. There are hundreds we would like to support, but our resources are limited. So we choose around 10 or 12 beneficiaries that fit our criteria and we give to them cheerfully.

As we grow and learn better stewardship practices, we realize that we are not liable for supporting every worthy cause. However, we are accountable to God for the resources placed within our care. We have the privilege, especially during the holidays, of generously discerning from among many worthwhile causes those projects and organizations we will support. Then we hope and pray that other organizations receive contributions from discerning benefactors as well.

Years ago Elbert Hubbard wrote, “To know when to be generous, and when to be firm --this is wisdom.” As you designate your holiday giving, don’t select just the causes that make the most emotional plea, and don’t be overwhelmed with guilt for not supporting every single cause. Be generous, but be discerning. Give to those causes that have a proven track record of ministering effectively to spiritual, physical, and emotional needs.


(Barry Howard serves as senior minister of the First Baptist Church of Pensacola.)

I’m Dreaming of an Allie Yniestra Christmas

The pastor’s Advent reflections….


I remember as a child sitting in the living room at my grandparent’s house watching The Bing Crosby Christmas Special on their black and white Philco television. One of the highlights of the show was when Bing Crosby began crooning “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas.” For those of us who grew up in the south, most years, we could only dream of a white Christmas.

This year at First Baptist we are dreaming of an Allie Yniestra Christmas. During the past couple of years as we have focused on ministry and outreach opportunities in our local community, our partnership with Allie Yniestra has been a meaningful and engaging missional project for all ages within our church family.

Allie Yniestra Elementary School serves children and families in an area heavily effected by poverty. In fact, the Allie Yniestra bus route stops at Loaves and Fishes to pick up children who are temporarily living at the shelter.

The administration and faculty at Allie Yniestra are well-acquainted with the social and economic challenges of their locale. Principal Sheree Cagle considers herself a missionary to Allie Yniestra and Hallmark, the two schools that are merging to become one effective downtown elementary school.

Our First Baptist Partnership with Allie Yniestra is making a difference in the school, and as a result, we are making a positive impact on families in the downtown community.

To kick off our partnership, FBC members refurbished the teacher’s lounge, creating a positive and pleasant atmosphere for teachers to re-energize. Throughout the year, FBC members pray for the faculty and students, and FBC volunteers operate The Success Store, a venture to promote academic achievement, life skills, and fiscal responsibility.

Now, we have a goal of providing a Christmas gift for each of the 252 students in the school. We are inviting FBC members to adopt one or more children from Allie Yniestra by taking paws from one of The Allie Yniestra Trees, located in the Atrium and Children’s Ministry Department. You are asked to purchase a hoodie (hooded sweatshirt) and gloves for each child you adopt, to wrap the gift and bring it to the Children’s Ministries Department by Sunday December 12. Then on Wednesday evening, December 15, join us in Chipley Hall as we host the Allie Yniestra Choir and their families, and present their gifts to them.

With your help, the dream of an Allie Yniestra Christmas will come true.

Advent: Setting the Stage for Christmas

by Barry Howard


In the close-knit rural church of my upbringing, we didn’t observe Advent. Not by that name, anyway. We naively made a huge leap from Thanksgiving to Christmas. The important liturgical dates on our church calendar other than Christmas and Easter were Church Conference after worship service on the first Sunday, Gospel Singing on the fourth Sunday night, Revival during the second full week in August, and Homecoming the last Sunday in July. Advent, Epiphany, Lent, Passover, and Pentecost were not specifically listed.

Our biggest holiday event was the annual Christmas play. Each year, right after Thanksgiving, we started setting the stage for the Christmas program. Tryouts were held for the annual play, the stage was set, and decorations, featuring a fresh cut cedar tree wrapped in strands of garland and big colored bulbs, were all put in place as our little sanctuary went through a bit of a seasonal transformation.

Prior to the renovation of 1972, the sanctuary of our country church featured knotty pine paneling, hardwood floors, a pine pulpit, and slat-back pews. The same pews were aligned on the platform to the right and left of the “sacred stand” in rows of three, facing toward the center much like an antiphonal choir, except that the choir sat on the right side and the deacons formed an “amen corner” on the left side. On both the east and west wall, precisely even with the front edge of the platform, there were sturdy eyehooks strategically mounted about 12 feet above the floor. Near the back of the platform, the same style of eyehooks hung on the east and west walls at the same height. The first step in setting the stage was to hang wire cables across the front and rear of the platform, cables similar to those used as guide wires to secure large utility poles.

The second step was to retrieve and install the velvet purple curtains that hung on the wire cables. The rear curtains formed a backdrop, hiding props and concealing characters until their time to enter the stage. The front curtains served as traditional theatrical stage curtains, opening to indicate the beginning of the play and closing between scenes and at the end of the program.

On most years, the Christmas play was a mini-drama based on the episodes in the biblical nativity narrative. Beginning with the appearance of a prophet foretelling the birth of the messiah or perhaps an angel visiting Mary, the play would progress scene by scene until finally, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the wise men, and a menagerie of animals surrounded the manger. For a couple of years, the script involved a more contemporary setting with a plot built around a 20th century family’s saga in re-discovering the meaning of Christmas, but even then, the play always ended with a living nativity.

Gradually and methodically the stage was set, and finally, after weeks of planning, practice, and preparation, the play would be presented on a Sunday evening to a packed house.

Although at the time, I didn’t know the meaning of Advent, looking back, I think we were sort of observing Advent all along and just didn’t know it. Advent is really a time of setting the stage for Christmas, a season of preparation, culminating in that grand night when we celebrate the birth of Christ.

Today, I am convinced more than ever that as mission-driven Christians who live in a fast-paced, market-driven culture, we need the reflective soulwork of Advent to subvert stealth forces like materialism, busyness, and greed, those illusive Grinches who would love to steal away the real message and gifts of the season and replace them with superficial slogans and glamorous counterfeits.

This year in our church, we will set the stage for Christmas by re-visiting the prophets, singing the carols, re-reading the gospels, and lighting the candles that call us to focus on peace, hope, love, and joy. Then we will be better equipped to empathize with the anxiety of Mary and Joseph, to feel the labor pains of God, to celebrate the birth of the world’s most pivotal newborn, and to hear both the singing of angels and the sobs of Rachel weeping.

If we take the time to set the stage, recounting the biblical stories from Advent to Christmas, we may find that we are more than ready to celebrate the birth of the messiah, and to follow Christ from the cradle to the cross and beyond.


(Barry Howard serves as senior minister at the First Baptist Church in Pensacola, Florida.)

Discovering the Hidden Power of Gratitude

Thursday is Thanksgiving. Most of us will be privileged to gather with family and friends to enjoy a hearty feast and memorable visits around the table. And either in our morning quiet time, or the prayer before the meal, we will give thanks for our many blessings.
As one of our treasured holidays, Thanksgiving is a day set aside, not only to give thanks, but to remind us of the ongoing importance of gratitude. In I Thessalonians 5: 16-18, Paul encourages believers to “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

As we grow in our walk with the Lord, we discover more about the hidden power of gratitude. Experiencing and expressing gratitude throughout the ever-changing seasons of life has a way of re-shaping our perspective and re-formatting our attitude.
In my journey of faith, I am discovering that gratitude has encouraging power. When I am frustrated and tend to see the glass half empty rather than half full, I find that the practice of “counting my blessings” infuses me with encouragement.

The daily discipline of expressing gratitude also tends to build staying power within me. Years ago, in a discipleship course called Masterlife, I was challenged to pray using the acronym, ACTS, a way of framing my prayers to include adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication. While each of those facets of prayer are important, thanksgiving is the one dimension that seems to fortify my sense of determination and perseverance.
And I am convinced that gratitude unleashes healing power. That does not mean that gratitude brings instantaneous healing, nor does it make me immune from viruses or exempt from accidents. But I do believe that a heart of gratitude promotes spiritual, emotional, and physical healing in at least a couple of ways. First, gratitude trumps toxic negativity and complaint, cleansing our perspective and renewing our focus. And second, gratitude seems to put us in a positive frame of mind which allows our body to better produce and release antibodies and restorative enzymes that work to promote health and wholeness.

A detailed report on a study of the psychology of gratitude is found in Robert Emmons’ book, Thanks!: How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier. Dr. Emmons and his colleagues at the University of California-Berkeley found that those who practice grateful thinking "reap emotional, physical and interpersonal benefits." The study revealed that individuals who regularly keep a gratitude journal report fewer illness symptoms, generally feel better about their lives as a whole, and are more optimistic about the future. This led Dr. Emmons to conclude that gratitude is both a personal choice and healthy response to our life experiences.

Ultimately, gratitude strengthens our serving power. Gratitude is not about counting my blessings just to make me a happier consumer. Genuine gratitude motivates me to share my blessings. For me, the quality of life is best measured, not by how much I have, but how effectively I use resources I have been given to serve.

With good reason, the scripture encourages us to “give thanks in all circumstances.” For the believer, thanksgiving is not just a day of feasting and festivity. Thanksgiving, the genuine expression of gratitude, is a daily spiritual discipline, a personal practice that steadily transforms us from the inside out.

Would Jesus Vote Democrat or Republican?

by Barry Howard



November 2 is Election Day around the country. In the state of Florida where I live citizens will be electing a new governor and a new senator in hotly contested races, and several other important local offices in a variety of cities. In my city, Pensacola, residents will be choosing our city’s first strong mayor, consolidating the positions of mayor and city manager.

During this past month at our church, we have been asking a variety of questions focused around the central question, What Would Jesus REALLY Do? These inquiries have included mostly lifestyle questions investigating what it means to be a follower of Jesus in 2010. These questions have encouraged us to take a deeper look at stewardship practices, social issues, ethical dilemmas, e-communications management, and community responsibility.

Last week we asked, if Jesus were going to the polls on Tuesday would he vote Democrat, Republican, or Independent? While we cannot know exactly who Jesus would vote for, I think it is possible to look at the life of Christ, his emphasis on citizenship, and his ethical teachings, and ascertain a few things that would influence Jesus’ voting habits.

Based on Jesus’ emphasis on civic responsibility, I think we can say for certain that Jesus would vote. Although Jesus did not live in a democratic society, his respect for political authority implies that he would participate in the electoral process and he would encourage his followers to do the same.

And based on what we know about Jesus’ values, I have a hunch that Jesus would vote based on the character of the candidate and not their party affiliation. I can’t imagine Jesus voting according to any party line. Admittedly the Pharisees and Sadducees were more religious sects than political parties. However, in his interaction with them, Jesus seems to have had a thorough knowledge of their practices, and yet he demonstrated an independent spirit in dealing with their agendas. If Jesus were voting in this year’s election, I think he would vote according to his convictions for individual candidates, regardless of the parties they represent.

I am intrigued at the variety of factors that influence how an individual casts his or her vote. Here are a few of the factors that influence voting habits:

• Voting a straight ticket according to a preferred political party.
• Voting for the candidate whose name sounds most familiar.
• Voting against the incumbent.
• Voting for the one who sent the least political advertisements, or the one who made the least calls to my home.
• Voting for the candidate who had hymns, scripture, or a picture of a Bible in their ad.
• Voting for the candidate who talks about family values.
• Voting according to a voter’s guide.
• Voting for the candidate who is going to best represent my business or protect my job.
• Voting based on the gender, age, or race of the candidate.
• Voting for the candidate who promises change.

This upcoming election is a crucial one, for our country, and especially for Florida and for Pensacola. As this election approaches, l encourage you to join me in exercising the responsibilities of our citizenship in the following ways:

• PRAY for the candidates and for the election.
• VOTE your personal conviction.
• SUPPORT those who are elected.
• WORK to make our nation, your state and your community a better place to live, work, and raise a family.

While the process of sorting through political motives and deciding who to vote for can be challenging and frustrating, voting is a privilege and a responsibility, and should never be taken for granted. Be as informed as possible and cast your ballot according to your conscientious convictions. I think that’s what Jesus would do.



(Barry Howard serves as Senior Minister of the First Baptist Church in Pensacola, Florida.)

Would Jesus Use a Credit Card?

If Jesus were walking the earth today, how would he make most of his purchases? Would he use cash, a debit card, or a credit card?

While the Bible is clear that Jesus treasured life experiences and was not preoccupied with accumulating stuff, the Bible also indicates that Jesus frequently spoke about the importance of managing resources carefully and intentionally.

In the 21st century, the way that we manage our resources may be the most reliable indicator of where we are in our relationship with God. The pressure to buy more than we can afford and to accumulate more than we need comes from a variety sources including social expectations, media exposure, and personal greed.

Earlier this week as Amanda and I were going for a walk, we passed two preschoolers playing in a nearby driveway. While I was not eavesdropping, I was amused and astonished to hear one child say to the other, “But I don’t need 50% off on car insurance.” In response the other child quacked like a duck and at the top of his duck-like voice said, “Aflac!”

While I am aware that the kids had merged phrases from two different insurance commercials, as I thought about what I had heard, I realized that these kids had picked up these slogans from viewing repetitive advertisements on TV. If we are not careful and intentional, we will underestimate the power of media advertising to formulate our values, to shape our dreams, and to influence our purchasing.  Children aren't the only ones subject to be influenced by appealing advertisements.  Consumers of all ages can be persuaded to make unwise decisions regarding buying and borrowing.

Developing and maintaining good management practices is perhaps more challenging than ever. One thing is for sure: If the cultural norm becomes our default value system, we will inevitably find ourselves in big trouble...steeped in debt, overridden by anxiety, and feeling hopeless about the future.

The Bible has more to say about how we manage our possessions than almost any other subject. In fact, one of the best ways for us to honor God is to learn to manage our resources well. The proposition Jesus gave years ago is still true, especially in the 21st century: "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matthew 6:21 NIV).

A Day That Haunts, A Faith That Hopes

A Pastoral Prayer for September 11, 2010

Today as we remember a day that we wish we could forget,
we need your transformative and emerging grace
as we see pictures that cause us to feel hostility all over again.
We are all too mindful that this date that still haunts us.

As we attempt to apply your words to life,
And to live by faith as we embrace your promise of a new future
We confess that our anger and grief from that fretful day is not nearly resolved.

And yet we acknowledge that our emptiness doesn’t compare to the hollowness
of those who were touched more directly
through the unexpected and unfair loss
of family members, friends, and co-workers.

We shutter at the memory of horrific images of death and destruction,
We ache over the ongoing armed conflict that seems to be unending,
We grieve over the deaths of the sons and daughters of our nation,
As well as the casualties among our adversaries and our allies.
And we long for a stabilizing and civilizing resolution
So that our sons and daughters may return home safely
And that those who have longed for liberation
Might govern and be governed with dignity and integrity.

Rather than being consumed by our grief,
And constrained by our fears
And constricted by our anxieties,
Let us set our minds to addressing the injustices that precipitate hostility,
Let us direct our souls to living out our moral conviction,
Let us turn our hearts to loving the poor,
and the disadvantaged,
and the disenfranchised.
And let us determine to fight terror,
Not with our own terroristic threats,
But with a responsible and courageous exercise of freedom,
And with a proactive and authentic faith.

And though it challenges our deepest passions,
You continue to teach us to love our enemies,
so that we do not become like them.

Today, especially today, we pray for the leaders of our nation and our world
For the leaders of our state and our community
For the leaders of our churches and our synagogues
To act and react with a wisdom and discernment
That will defuse conflict and advance the cause of peace.
And may we as your children act and react with transformative grace and eternal hope.

In the name of the One who came to bring peace on earth and goodwill to all humankind. Amen

Remembering an Unwelcome Trio of Storms

PENSACOLA, Fla. (ABP) -- The summer of 2005 will be permanently etched in the minds of Gulf Coast residents. And for me that summer of multiple hurricanes provided a most unusual welcome to a new community.

In May of 2005 I accepted a call to become the pastor at the First Baptist Church of Pensacola, Fla. At that time, the church was recovering and rebuilding from Hurricane Ivan, which the previous year had left $7 billion worth of destruction and inflicted more than $3.1 million in damages to the church campus alone. Little did we know that Ivan was a precursor to the multiple storms that would assault the Gulf Coast the following summer.

My wife and I rolled into Pensacola on the afternoon of Monday, July 4. That evening, as we were unpacking, I turned on the local news and learned that a storm was brewing in the Gulf. Tropical Storm Cindy was not expected to reach hurricane status, but was expected to bring high winds, flash floods, power outages, and possible tornadoes as it made landfall on Wednesday morning. Cindy did minimal damage – but she did surprise forecasters when she reached the status of a Category 1 hurricane.

After Cindy came Dennis. Following a similar path to Ivan, he was forecast to hit the Gulf Coast near Pensacola on Sunday morning July 10. Ironically, that was to be the day of my first sermon.

We made the painful decision to cancel services and encourage our members to evacuate. Some of the staff gathered in the church building to ride out the storm and attempt to minimize any further damage, since repairs from Ivan’s damage were still incomplete.

Early on Sunday morning we gathered in our chapel for an extemporaneous worship service. We were a motley-looking crew -- especially the new pastor, who stood before the remnant unbathed and unshaven to declare that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in our time of trouble” (Ps. 46:1).

Around 2:35 on Sunday afternoon Dennis, which had weakened some and was moving much more quickly than Ivan, made landfall. Thankfully, property damage to our campus and to our community was minimal.

On the Sundays following Cindy and Dennis, we enjoyed getting acquainted with our new congregation, assisting with repairs in the community, and developing ministry initiatives for the coming year. However, near the end of August, storm phobia reached an all-time high as a large blip on the weather radar was christened Katrina and the forecast path put her on a direct course for Pensacola.

Katrina was forecast to make landfall on Monday, August 29. Throughout the week prior we were monitoring the storm’s development and making preparations for another evacuation. But near week’s end, the storm joggled a bit, moving its projected path westward toward the coast of Louisiana and Mississippi.

Then, of course, Katrina made its disastrous landfall, ravaging the coast from Alabama to Louisiana, laying waste to New Orleans and becoming one of America’s most historic natural and human disasters.

After Ivan, our church had served as a distribution point for water, food and supplies. A variety of disaster-relief groups had lodged in our activities center. In Katrina’s aftermath and with Ivan still fresh on our minds, our church joined hundreds of others around the country in sending teams of volunteers to Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana to assist in relief work. In the days following the storm, I joined a team of ministers in surveying damage and visiting with pastors and directors of missions, to ascertain the greatest areas of need. We contributed volunteers and support to efforts in distribution of supplies, medical care, debris clean-up and home rebuilding.


In consultation with our Baptist mission partners and the Volunteers of America, we determined to adopt at least one church and community where we would invest time, energy, and resources for one year or longer. First Baptist Church of Gautier, Miss., became our primary partner. During the ensuing year, we channeled relief funds and over 300 volunteers from the Pensacola area to Gautier to repair homes and to support the ministries of their church during this season of rebuilding.

Last week, I contacted Gautier pastor David Aultman to ask how they are doing five years later. This was his response: “It is hard to believe five years have passed since Hurricane Katrina. We are doing well. We are finally getting back to pre-Katrina numbers in attendance. We have had a good year and we are looking excitedly toward the future. We are close to finally starting a remodeling program that will greatly enhance our facilities to better serve the Lord in this community.

“I still marvel at the way the Lord used you guys, as well as our other partners in the recovery process. We could not have done it without our partners. We, as a church, made a commitment to give back by being involved in disaster-relief ministries. Since then we have been to central Florida; Enterprise, Ala., San Leon, Texas; Wapello, Iowa; Atlanta; Nashville, Tenn.; and Yazoo City, Miss., with disaster relief. We do not want to forget what the Lord did for us through our brothers and sisters in Christ.”

It’s hard for me to believe it has been five years since that summer of multiple storms. During that span of time the Gulf Coast has weathered hurricanes, a major recession, and an oil spill. For many, life will never be the same. But thanks to many ministry partnerships, several homes and lives have been rebuilt. And in more ways than one, for many of us, the re-building continues.


(Barry Howard serves as the senior minister of the First Baptist Church in Pensacola, Florida.)

Getting Your Life in Gear

by Barry Howard

I learned how to drive in my grandfather’s 1966 Volkswagen Fastback….a straight shift. Learning to change gears while simultaneously pressing the clutch proved to be quite a challenge. However, once I mastered the art of driving a manual transmission, moving to an automatic was a piece of cake. Rather than shifting from first, to second, and then third, and grinding around looking for reverse, the options on the column of our 1976 Falcon were PNRDL: P for Park. N for Neutral. R for Reverse. D for Drive. And L for Low, a gear usually used for towing.

As we come to the end of the summer and as I am preparing to challenge our congregation to “gear up” for the upcoming season of missional opportunities, I am reminded of how easy it for our lives to get stuck in the wrong gear. In our commitments to Christ, to our church, and to our daily responsibilities we can become lethargic, passive, inactive, and at times, even backslide into old habits, living as if we have not given our hearts and lives to Jesus.

If you are sitting still, seemingly not going anywhere, your life may be stuck in Park. If you are committed to preserving the status quo, content to let others carry the bulk of responsibility, and have no interest in growing, your life is probably in Park. If you have grown comfortable sitting behind the steering wheel but you never leave the driveway, perhaps you need to find a way to get your life out of Park and into a forward gear.

A life that is stuck in Park is not going anywhere, but a life stuck in Neutral can be even more detrimental. When you put a car in neutral and let off the brake, it is likely to roll one way or the other. Perhaps it will roll whichever way the wind is blowing. Or maybe it will move one direction or the other based on the tug of gravity, which is usually downhill. The danger of putting your life in neutral is that you live without conviction, you go the way of the crowd, or you choose the path of least resistance. And those options are seldom the right way.

If you are continually going backward, or preoccupied with the past, your life might be stuck in Reverse. But it’s hard to go forward, while looking backward. Back in the 1990’s, the church I served in Alabama had a faithful custodian named Ralph. Ralph was a retired chemist who came to work at the church as a retirement project. Ralph was a loyal soul….good-hearted and highly punctual. Ralph and I both typically arrived at the church early, often driving into the parking lot simultaneously. One morning, as I pulled into my parking space, I heard a few horns honking at the nearby intersection. I looked up to investigate the commotion and was stunned to see Ralph’s 1972 Dodge Ram approaching the church….backward. Ralph was driving toward the church in a line of traffic tailgate first. He was advancing forward in reverse. As he pulled up beside me, he quickly explained that his transmission had locked up and reverse was the only gear that worked. He didn’t want to miss work so he drove all the way from home…looking backward over his shoulder.

To this day, Ralph is the only guy I know who has ever advanced forward by going backward. But as a minister serving in Baptist churches for over 30 years, I’ve seen a lot of others try to move forward by looking backward, and it just doesn’t work.

To get your life in gear and move forward, you have to move out of Park, resist the temptation to settle for Neutral, and avoid Reverse, in order to put life into Drive.

Maybe that is why Paul wrote to the Philippians, Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus (3:13-14 NIV).

God intends for us to grow forward in our walk with Christ, our fellowship with one another, and our participation in the work of the kingdom. One analyst put it this way: “There comes a moment when you have to stop revving up the car and shove it into gear.” Now is the time.

(Barry Howard serves as senior minister at the First Baptist Church in Pensacola, Florida.)

Blessing for a Clown's House

A prayer of dedication and celebration for the Ronald McDonald House of Northwest Florida, August 14, 2010:


Gracious God, today we gather representing a proud and grateful community. We are here to give thanks for a dream that became a vision and a vision that has become a reality in our new Ronald McDonald House. We are grateful for the support of community leaders and the guidance of our board members. We are grateful for the work of every contract laborer and every volunteer. And we are especially grateful for the generosity of every individual donor and every corporate partner who made this project possible. Now as we dedicate this house we ask for your ongoing blessing upon all who reside here. Our dream and vision is that this house will serve as a strategic home away from home for children and their families. We pray that it will be an oasis providing rest and refreshing, and serve as a hostel for hope, healing, and hospitality. May this house become a home where life-sustaining friendships are formed and a sacred place where life-saving faith is re-enforced. And may everyone who finds shelter in this home know of the love and strength you give in all of the seasons of life. We offer our prayers and our gratitude in the spirit of the One who teaches us to always welcome the little children. Amen.

Traveling the Paths of St. Francis

As the Eurostar train from Rome approached the Santa Maria degli Angeli station I could see the old town of Assisi sitting on the slope of an Umbrian butte with prominent castles and cathedrals visible from miles away. We headed to our hotel immediately after disembarking, and along the way we saw friars and nuns walking so routinely that few seemed to notice their presence. There was definitely a spiritual aura here, affirmed by a sense of serenity and safety not present in the larger cities we visited.

St. Francis was certainly the most well-known among the saints honored here. When I was in college, I took a couple of semesters of voice lessons, even though I was not a music major. My instructor chose the music I was to learn and since he knew that I was serving as a minister at a local church, he chose “Lord, Make Me an Instrument of Thy Peace,” the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, as one of the pieces I was to memorize.

This selection was one of the pieces our church choir sang on their recent International Music Tour in Germany and Italy. I still remember the words and sing them quietly when no one else is around.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon:
where there is doubt, faith ;
where there is despair, hope
where there is darkness, light
where there is sadness, joy
O divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.

This experience in college marked my introduction to the prayer and my first acquaintance with St. Francis. Since that time I have read much about the life and ministry of St. Francis and I have quoted him in sermons and columns. Little did I know that this day would come when I would have the privilege of visiting his hometown.

Many from around the world were making a summer pilgrimage to this historic place. For some Catholics, making the journey to Assisi is as important, if not more so, than traveling to Rome. Assisi is also a popular destination for seekers and mystics. In other words, some travel to Assisi to re-inforce their spiritual beliefs while others travel to Assisi to discover a higher purpose or a more spiritual meaning to existence.

While in Assisi, my wife and I walked almost every street, visited every church, and stopped at more than one pizzeria. We joined the crowds visiting the Cathedral of San Rufino where St. Frances was baptized, the Patriarchal Basilica in Santa Maria delgi Agneli where St. Francis died, and the Basilica of St. Francis where St. Francis was buried. Now I can better see how the life and message St. Francis still inspires spiritual pilgrims today.

Volumes have been written about the life of St. Francis, but three emphases from his ministry stand out as particularly relevant to the challenge facing the Christian church, especially Baptists, in the 21st century.

St. Francis emphasized simplicity of lifestyle. In 1206, the young Giovanni Francesco di Bernardone, who would later be known as St. Francis, had a vision of Jesus Christ that transformed his life. A couple of years later he heard a sermon on Matthew 10:9-10, in which Christ tells his followers they should go forth and proclaim the kingdom of heaven, and “do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts. Take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals, or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep.” Francis took this literally and it inspired him to devote himself to a life of poverty and to begin preaching a message of repentance and hope. The message of Francis captured the hearts of young men from all over Italy who in turn wandered about preaching the Gospel to rich and poor alike. His message of non-materialism emphasized a love for God, a love of nature, and equality of humankind.

Desiring to share the good news with everyone, St. Francis ventured outside the walls of the church and took his message to the streets, preaching in the common language of the people, not in the traditional Latin of the church, so that all could understand. While some protested this new practice of St. Francis and the methods he employed, eventually the pope gave his blessing in 1223, and the Franciscan Order was included in the larger Catholic community.

In addition to the young men who sensed a calling to joyfully proclaim the gospel, there was also the young Clare who at age 18 was captivated by the message of St. Francis. On the evening of Palm Sunday in 1212, she departed her father’s mansion without his permission, and headed to the valley below. Once there, friars escorted her to St. Francis who cut her hair, gave her a simple brown tunic, and commissioned her to a life of poverty. She spent the next forty years in the convent of San Damiano and was gradually joined by other women who heard the call to serve God. They became known as the Order of the Poor Clares.

One legendary story is told of Clare attempting to visit St. Francis when he was on his death bed. Since women were usually not permitted, when told by a friar that Clare had arrived to visit, St. Francis is said to have responded, “Then welcome Brother Clare.”

Much about St. Francis’ approach to ministry seems extraordinarily relevant for our time. To counter the materialistic impulses of our day, perhaps we need to re-emphasize the value of service, the beauty in nature, and the worth of each human being. Instead of waiting on people to “come to church,” perhaps we should also take the message to the streets, preaching through lifestyles and language a message of hope that the common people can understand. And perhaps we must find ways to affirm both the men and women that God calls to serve, recognizing that the spiritual passion and giftedness God places within a man or a woman supersedes the rules or traditions of the church or the culture.

In some ways, following the path of St. Frances in our time could be considered as radical as it was almost 800 years ago. But it may be a path worth following to revitalize the church and advance the Good News.

(Barry Howard serves as senior minister at the First Baptist Church in Pensacola, Florida.)

Who Really Holds the Keys?

Recently I had an opportunity to visit Rome, Italy, where I rendezvoused with our Sanctuary Choir and Orchestra on their International Choir Tour, an event that is planned every four years. This year our choir visited Munich, Venice, Florence, and Rome, singing in Mass at a variety of cathedrals, and sharing concerts in local churches and piazzas.

Other than one Anglican church and two Baptist churches, our choir primarily sang in Catholic settings. I was privileged to join our group as they sang during Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica and then later shared a full concert in The Artist’s Church, a local cathedral that customarily hosts a variety of musical guests.

One of our ladies commented on how much she enjoyed Mass and yet missed the kind of worship services we enjoy at home. “I know they are more formal, but I believe they are definitely worshipping God. What are the major differences between us and them?”

“It really comes down to who you believe holds the keys,” I responded. Although we share a common story about Christ, there really are a lot of differences between Baptists and Catholics, and perhaps at my age, I am more appreciative of our distinctness and theirs.

As a child growing up on the rural south, I didn’t know a Catholic until junior high school. In my rural Baptist heritage, folks were generally suspect of the Methodists, because they didn’t have church on Sunday night and they used an insufficient amount of water for baptism. But on more than one occasion I heard that Catholics were not really Christian since they had not “accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.”

Through the years I have come to appreciate the faith perspectives of Catholic friends and colleagues, though we do not always fully agree. In each of the communities where I have served, I have developed friendships with the local priests who taught me a few of the basics about Catholic theology, even as they exemplified the presence of Christ.

When I became pastor at the First Baptist Church in Corbin, Kentucky, in the heart of Appalachia, in the mid-1990’s, the congregation hosted a reception on Sunday afternoon after my first worship service. I was moved to discover that, in addition to the beautiful altar flowers which had been provided by my previous church at First Baptist Church of Williams near Jacksonville, Alabama, a huge peace lily had been sent by Corbin’s Sacred Heart Catholic Church to welcome me to the area. Also, near the front of the receiving line at the reception I met Father Roger Arnsparger, priest at Sacred Heart, accompanied by two of the nuns from the St. Camillus Academy, the local Catholic School.

During our ensuing friendship and ecumenical service to the community, Father Arnsparger gave me a whole new appreciation for catechism, confirmation, genuflection, and iconography. However, as a Catholic priest and a Baptist minister, we each held a different perspective about the keys to the kingdom.

In Matthew 16:18, just after Simon Peter confesses, “You are the Christ, the son of the living God,” Jesus says to Peter rather emphatically, 18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it 19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be] loosed in heaven."

The way I responded to the question about our differences is a bit over simplistic. Catholics emphasize a process of confirmation and Baptists emphasize the need for conversion. Catholics say their prayers through intercessors while Baptists pray directly to God. But perhaps the most distinctive difference regards the stewardship of the keys to the kingdom. Catholic tradition contends that, according to Matthew 16:19, Jesus was conveying to Simon Peter specific and unique authority to “hold the keys to the kingdom” and to establish and oversee the church. Simon Peter became the first bishop of Rome and was later believed to have been the first pope, shepherding and governing the church, until being put to death by Nero.

Our Baptist ancestors have understood that Jesus gave to Simon Peter and all of his disciples a priestly commission, indicating that their ministries were the very keys to the kingdom that would open the door to invite others in. One of our foundational Baptist distinctives is that we contend for the priesthood of every believer, believing that we as individual believers have both priestly access and priestly responsibilities. Priestly access reminds us that we approach God directly to confess our sins and say our prayers. Priestly responsibility calls us to be priests to one another by encouraging each other, praying for one another, and participating in acts of service for the good of the community.

I love my priest friends and I enjoy the order and liturgy of Mass on occasion, but I am Baptist in heart and in conviction. Baptist is more than a denominational label you write on a church sign. It is a way of holding the keys to the kingdom. And the kingdom is not just a reference to the “sweet by and by” but in invitation to live life God’s way in the “real here and now.”

While I am enjoying a few days of visiting some of the largest and most beautiful basilicas and cathedrals in the world, I am reminded of the significance of Simon Peter’s bold faith and courageous ministry.

And yes, I believe that Jesus did give to Simon Peter the keys to the kingdom. But he also gave them to James and John. And Jesus also gave the keys to you and to me.


(Barry Howard serves as senior minister of the First Baptist Church in Pensacola, Florida.)

Exploring the Vatican Museums

July 22, 2010

On Thursday morning, our group met at the entrance to the Musei Vaticani, the Vatican Museums, at 8:20 to begin an 8:30 tour. Imagine the irony of a group of Baptists from the southeastern United States meandering naively through the displays and exhibits chronicling the history of Catholicism. Contrary to that stereotype, I was pleasantly surprised at how eager, inquisitive, and knowledgeable our group turned out to be.

The galleries were filled with art, sculptures, and shrines from a variety of periods beginning with the time of Christ and continuing through the contemporary era. We spent a good three hours surveying the treasures, some of us following a printed guide and others listening via headsets to an audio tour guide.

Similar to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. the Musei Vatacani is a collection of museums where an avid student of history could spend days observing and investigating. Of the variety of exhibits, three areas were more significant to me than the others. First, the Gregorian Etruscan Museum contains relics from a period in Italy’s history that lasted roughly from 800 B.C. until just after 500 B.C. Etruci was in the general area where Tuscany is today, but the culture influenced all of Italy and especially the emergence of Rome. The Etruscan style of government seems to have begun as a theocracy, shifted to a monarchy, and by the 6th century transitioned to an oligarchal democracy, eventually giving rise to the Roman Republic.

Etruscans also were appreciative of art and music, and utilized several musical instruments, including a variety of pipes, percussion instruments, and stringed instruments including the lyre and kithara. It is also worth noting that the Etruscans were a monogamous in marriage and, unusual for their time, Etruscan wives were invited to socialize publicly alongside their husbands.

Second, the Pinacoteca is the gallery where many of the larger pieces of historical art are displayed. Two paintings captured my imagination. One is The Transfiguration by Renaissance artist Raphael. It is commonly believed that the painting was left unfinished by Raphael but was completed by his student, Guilio Romano in 1520 shortly after Raphael’s death. In the darkened room, the image of the transfigured Christ seemed to glow with spiritual energy as onlookers past and present stood with awe and astonishment.

After tearing myself away from this powerful presentation, I made my way to one of the final viewing rooms to see Adam and Eve in the Garden by Austrian painter Wenzel Peter. Centered around Adam and Eve enjoying the pleasures of the garden prior to the fall, over 200 animals from all over the world roam about freely, seemingly without predatory instincts, across a paradisiacal landscape.

The third monumental stop for me on the tour, and the most popular at the Museo Vaticani, was the Sistine Chapel. Known for its multiple frescoed paintings, I discovered the sequential artwork of the chapel to be an inspiring collage of notable scenes from the Bible. Michelangelo painted 12,000 square feet of the ceiling panels. The ceiling panels in the dome include depictions of Adam and Eve, the Garden of Eden, the Great Flood, and The Last Judgment. In addition to Michelangelo’s work, the Chapel also includes paintings by Bemini, Raphael, and Botticeli.

At the conclusion of our tour, several in our group commented that we had sensory overload. More than one said, “I wish I had paid more attention in my World History class.”

A local member of the parish who was volunteering as a guide was overheard in English to say, “The museum is not about history. The Vatican tells a story with many parts and that story is still alive today.” Even those of us who practice our Christian faith with Baptist convictions came away appreciating the story and heritage we share with the Catholic side of our spiritual family.

Baptists Fill St. Peter's Basilica with Song

July 22, 2010

The group gathering in St. Peter’s Square dressed in formal attire on this hot Thursday afternoon in July was attracting a lot of attention from locals and from tourists. The men in the group were decked out in black tuxedoes and the women were wearing black skirts, black tops, and gray jackets as they were assembling in a typical Baptist choir formation, four rows deep, for a photo in front of the papale basilica in which they were about to sing.

The Sanctuary Choir and Orchestra from the First Baptist Church of Pensacola was preparing to enter St. Peter’s Basilica, known in this part of the world as the Basilica Papale di San Pietro in Vaticano, to sing during 5:00 o’clock Mass. After singing in Munich, Venice, Florence, and Rome during a two week International Music Tour, on this final night of concerts, the choir was privileged to sing at the most famous church in the world. Our high school choir has sung at St. Peter’s a couple of times and this was the second opportunity for our adult choir, having sung here previously in 2002. As their pastor, I was honored to be present for this occasion.

There were ninety six persons in our group posing for the photo, including 66 singers, 16 orchestra members, and 14 missioners. We quickly learned that one reason we were getting such attention was because of the size of our group. While St. Peter’s frequently host guest groups, most of the visiting choirs are much smaller.

After the photo, our group lined to pass through a security checkpoint, similar to those commonly used at airports. Once inside, the group was escorted to a small chancel area surrounding a massive pipe organ on the left side of the north end of the basilica where mass was to be held. The chancel was small, providing seats for just over half of the choir members. Others stood to the left and right of the chancel behind the organist seated in the center.

Although there has been a church on this site since the 4th century, construction of the present basilica lasted 120 years and was completed on November 18, 1626. The basilica has a maximum capacity of about 60,000, but on this day as the basilica remained open to tourists, a couple of thousand seats were petitioned off beyond the Papal Alter and Baldacchino (Bemini’s masterpiece canopy) which cover the burial place of St. Peter, and toward the Cathedra Petri, or Altar of the Chair, for evening Mass.

Mass started promptly at five o’clock. After the first song, the lead priest welcomed the worshippers in Italian, and then introduced our choir in English and expressed appreciation for the choir “helping us to pray in song.” With the exception of one portion of the homily, which was rendered in Italian, then English, and finally Spanish, the remainder of the Mass was celebrated in Italian and Latin.

The Mass at St. Peter’s included more singing than I’ve experienced while attending Mass at other cathedrals. In addition to the four selections presented by our choir, Cantate Domino (O Sing Ye to the Lord), Alleluia, Come Unto Me, and O Filii et Filiae (Ye Sons and Daughters), the lead priest and the attending priests sang portions of the liturgy, with responses sung by four cantors who were standing near a microphone in front of our choir. The lead cantor, who also served as the music coordinator for the basilica, turned during one of the early response times and prompted our choir, without prior notice, to join in singing the antiphonal responses in Latin. Despite the astonished looks on a few faces, the choir caught on quickly, singing phonetically and with worshipful expression, even though I am sure they had limited understanding of the words.

I am quite sure that our English-speaking group understood only a few of the words spoken during the entire Mass, though names like Christos, Mary Magdalena, and John the Baptist rang with familiarity. Basically, we participated in the passing of the peace and stood at the appropriate times during the liturgy. However, our group resonated with the spirit of worship, we seemed to intuitively know when scripture was being read, and we were aware that we were among brothers and sisters in Christ who spoke a different language.

We realized that though we articulate our faith and celebrate worship much differently than our Catholic friends, we share a history and a story about the Christ who was crucified, buried, and raised to life to provide forgiveness for our sins and to show the way to salvation. Our theology has many divergent points, but on this day we shared in common worship of God.

Our choir was honored to sing for evening Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica. And the hunch of this proud and biased pastor is that this Baptist choir lifted their voices in a way that rang the rafters of this historic church in a powerful way.

There's No Place Like Rome

(During the next few days, I will post a few notes about our travels in Italy. Frequency of posts will depend upon availability of internet access.)

July 20-21, 2010

I love the Pensacola airport. From the time my friend dropped me off, it took a total of six minutes to check in, show my passport, pass through security and arrive at my departure gate.

This is my first trip to Italy. My first stop was Rome where I was to meet Amanda and the choir from our church for the last 4 days of their International Choir Tour. Then she and I will be striking out on a few days of vacation as an early celebration of our 25th wedding anniversary.

The connecting flight to Atlanta took an hour and twenty minutes total. Then the flight to Rome took eight hours and fifty minutes. We actually arrived at the Rome airport at 6:40 a.m. (IST) on Wednesday morning, 30 minutes ahead of schedule.

After riding the train to the Rome Termini, I caught the Metro (subway) to the Repubblica exit and emerged on the street about two blocks from the Eurostar Hotel. Amanda was waiting in the lobby. She eagerly updated me on the highlights of the first half of her week and the itinerary for the day.

I dropped my bags in the hotel room and took a quick shower. Then Amanda and I took off to catch up with our group who had already embarked on a guided walking tour.

We took the Metro to the Colossae exit and stepped off right in front of the Colosseum, which looked like the ruins of a modern day college football stadium. We turned right and headed toward the Capital district. We passed Palentine Hill and the Roman Forum to our left, all sites we plan to visit on Friday.

Amanda made a quick stop to fill our water bottle at a public fountain. I learned that because of the abundant springs in Italy, most cities have numerous public fountains providing spring water, for drinking, for washing, or for cooling off.

As we proceeded, I learned the huge building ahead, called the wedding cake by tourists, was the Arts and Exhibition Center. Bearing left again we caught up with our group en route to the Pantheon. After a few greetings, meeting our guide, and getting a headset, our group proceeded into the Pantheon which was an incredible dome-shaped structure, with an opening at the top of the dome, forming a kind of sundial on the inside. I knew that a variety of deities are represented by the shrines inside the Pantheon, but I was surprised to find out that Mass and other services are still held inside.

Upon leaving the Pantheon, we traveled a few backstreets viewing architectural styles of the ancient city and the newer additions. We walked by the Senate building and actually saw a few well-dressed government officials entering and exiting. After a brief historical summary, our tour concluded near the Piazza della Rotunda.

Immediately following the tour, Amanda and I went searching for a place to have lunch. There are ristorantes, cafes, and Gelaterias on almost every block. After walking down a couple of narrow market-lined streets, we found an appealing home-owned pizzeria where we shared a pizza margherita (tomato sauce and cheese) and salad. I quickly learned that Italian pizza is not exactly like American versions. In Rome the pizza had crust as thin as a tortilla, the tomatoes were fresh, and the cheese was bountiful. The salad consisted of a bowl of mixed greens, sliced cherry tomatoes, and fresh locally grown olives.

After lunch we returned to our room to begin getting ready for the evening concert at Rome Baptist Church. Groups from First Baptist Church of Pensacola have been hosted by RBC on numerous occasions. Dave Hodgdon has served as pastor for almost nine years and has become a good friend to our Minister of Music, Bob Morrison.

We departed for the church at 5:30 on foot. It was a short walk. After setting up our orchestral instruments, the choir began warming up, which has a dual meaning in the unairconditioned venues in Italy. Prior to the concert, two significant events happened. First, Bob Gowing, the chair of our Missions Committee at FBCP, present Pastor Dave with a financial gift from our church family to assist their church family in hiring a music intern who enrich their ministry. Pastor Dave was overwhelmed.

Secondly, after the presentation our church exited the church building onto the piazza to sing a few selections. As the choir began to sing, spectators began to gather, and patrons of local restaurants stopped eating and turned their chairs to watch and listen to the music of the choir. As the choir returned to the church, a few dozen onlookers followed them inside and many stayed for the entire concert.

The choir sounded awesome. I admire the devotion and commitment of each choir member to pay their own way, memorize 17 pieces of music (including 4 in Latin), and then pace themselves to endure 14 days of international travel.

After the concert we returned to the hotel room where I was more than ready for good night’s sleep. In just a few hours, I had already seen some of the most significant sites in Western Civilization. Next up on Thursday is a tour of the Vatican Museum, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica. I drifted off to sleep thinking, “There’s no place like Rome.”