Weekend at Alwaves a Pleasure

This past weekend we got to take Maddie to the Jackson’s houseboat and she had a blast! We got to visit with Poppy, Momma Kay, Granny, Aunt Lindsey, Aunt Whitney and Aunt Wanda! It was a nice weekend to just chill with some family…eating…laughing…watching Maddie’s every move! Here are a couple of pictures, but click here to see some more! (We’ve also added a new family pic too )

Little Miss Chatter Box

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Originally uploaded by willandbeth

These days Maddie just loves to play in her exersaucer with her star toy and just talk talk talk talk talk. She talks when she wakes up, talks before she goes to sleep, and talks while she plays.

We are loving this stage of her life right now . . . yall enjoy.

SBTS Chapel – Fall 09

Just saw where the Fall Chapel schedule is posted.  Here’s a few highlights:

3 different panel discussions which is something new this year

• Sept 3 called N.T. Wright and the Doctrine of Justification
• Oct 22 called Southern Baptists and the Great Commission Resurgence.  (My only issue here is that the whole panel is from Highview . . . just a little one-side, no?)
• Nov 3 called Perspectives on Mulit-site Churches.  (This one should be good w/ Dr. Mohler moderating.  From what I remember from the IX Marks journal, only Greg Gilbert would be in the opposition to multi-site.  Anyone can correct me if I am wrong.)

Faculty Preaching

• Dr. Mohler – 7 times
• Dr. Moore – 2 times
• Dr. Ware, Dr. York, Dr. Hamilton, Dr. Nettles, Dr. Fuller, Mr. Jason Allen

Others to look fwd to:

• Dr. Al Jackson on Sept 15
• Rev Al Gilbert on Oct 20 as part of mission’s week.  He is also on the GC Task Force
• Matt Chandler on Nov 12.  I think this may be his first time to speak in Chapel . . . This may be the most full the chapel will ever be this late in the semester.

Should be a good semester.

Giggle box

Originally uploaded by willandbeth

Maddie boo is just growing and growing….I (Beth) have started back to work and still am praying for a smooth transition for Maddie and I. She is now drinking out of a sports bottle sippy cup – thank you Nuby! – and she’s eating cereal and has tried butternut squash and sweet potatoes. Will has now turned 30 years of age and he’s still looking buff and trim and handsome as ever We’ve had fun celebrating his birthday “month”…We were getting ready to go somewhere and Will likes to try to make her laugh and he succeeded. Her laugh is so fun and cute and I just can’t begin to describe how much joy it brings both of us to hear it. It’s not like anything I’ve ever heard….we’re very anxious to hear what her little voice will sound like when she starts saying words…I’m sure just as sweet. Check out some more new pics here. Enjoy!

A Weekend w/ the Alexanders and C.J. Mahaney

Well, ok, we really didn’t spend the weekend w/ C. J.  However, we did hear him preach at Cornerstone Community Church in Knoxville with our friends the Alexanders.  Walt is a pastor there, and Beth has been friends w/ his wife Kim since they were back in Jr. High.  Waaaaayyyy back in the mid-90’s.  They were wonderful host treating us well over the weekend.  It was a pleasure to spend time with them chatting, playing cards, and talking about spiritual matters.  Walt just graduated from the Sovereign Grace Pastor’s College so we had a good time comparing notes between there and Southern.

On Sunday, C.J. was preaching at their church and it was a blessing for us to hear him.  You can download his message at their website, and I recommend that you do.  Here are a few of the quotes that I wrote down from his sermon on Acts 4:32 – 6:7:

• “Any offense to God’s swift judgment shows our ignorance of His holiness and our sin”
• Speaking about Ananias and Sapphira, “Ask not ‘why they died’ but ‘why are we still alive?’”
• “The persecution only highlighted [the apostles] joy.  This is an unstoppable gospel”
• “God’s favor results in growth which results in change.  Changes were required; sacrifice was necessary.”
• “Turn your attention away from exclusively your heart and toward the hearts of others”

Thanks Walt and Kim for a great weekend!!

My first visit with Nonnie…

My (Beth) friend Anna, aka Nonnie, came up this past weekend for a nice visit with me and to meet Maddie.  She always cracks me up and we end up reminiscing and recreating new quotes and happenstances.   Anna really is a fun girl.  It was a treat to have her around and hear what’s going on in her life.  Maddie loved her too!  They had a blast!  No matter how long it’s been since we’ve talked, it always seems like we just pick back up from where we left off.  I love those kind of friendships…and they don’t come by all that frequently.  Thanks for coming to visit with us dear friend!

Well, the results are in!

As of 7/13, she measures 24.5 inches long and 15lbs 1 oz! whoa baby! She’s awesome……….I guess we’ll keep her

Happy 4th Month Birthday Maddie!

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Originally uploaded by willandbeth

Yup, that’s right. Our little girl is 4 months old today. Sheesh, I can’t believe it! She is growing and growing…almost like Alice in Wonderland when she drinks that potion. I kind of forgot the story…anyways, she’s bringing everything to her mouth (including those toes!)…we got for her 4 month doc appt on Monday so, we’ll have some measurements then. She has also developed another new trick – not taking her bottle! boo! I’ve got a few more weeks until I start back school, so, we’ll be trying some new things in the upcoming weeks. Here is a video of her playing in the pool and you can see her taking her first rice cereal here – it’s a hoot!

Post SBC Annual Meeting fun…

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Originally uploaded by willandbeth

So, Will and I have barely seen each other for the past couple of days, but when we were all together as a family last night we enjoyed it by playing with our little girl. She has grown so much and is still doing really well! Will was playing with her and since she loves to “stand up” now, he was seeing how she would do by holding her by the waist instead of under the arms. Other than already looking like a member of the LolliPop Guild, she did pretty well. Also, check out more new pics of her on the Flickr page…

What Article IX of the GCR Could Look Like

With the SBC Annual Meeting just around the corner, there has been lots of discussion over the Great Commission Resurgence led by Dr. Johnny Hunt and Dr. Danny Akin.  It seems like the biggest discussion has been over Article IX which calls for a commitment to a more effective convention structure.  Some are for it; others against it.  Some were for it a few years ago, but now are against it.   

However, I believe that the answer to what Article IX looks like has already been answered.  In Feb 2007 at the Baptist Identity conference, Dr. Mike Day presented a topic called “The Future of Baptist Associations and State Conventions” in which he presented the history of these two associations as well as his suggestions for what the future could look like. 

I would recommend that EVERYone coming to the SBC could/should have to listen to Dr. Day’s suggestion for associations and conventions.   Timmy Brister was there live blogging the event and provided a summary of Dr. Day’s speech.  Here’s the link for the notes: http://timmybrister.com/2007/02/15/baptist-id-dr-mike-day-on-the-future-of-baptist-associations-and-state-conventions/.

Here’s the summary of his paradigm for the future:

1. Church-driven
2. Priority-based
3. Resource-focused
4. Institution-free
5. Strategically-managed
6. Regionally-located but not geographically bound
7. Denominationally-connected buy not in its traditional ways

Note: At the 31:30 mark, he references Morris Chapman from the 2004 Baptist Identity conference when he called for a possible need for a “major overhaul” of the SBC and that it may be a matter of necessity . . .