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I don't see a need to debate that he is drunk, but he admits that opposing this crappie Senate Bill is a winning idea for the GOP in 2010. Wonder if that is because we in America do not want it? Call Kay Hagan 1 (877) 852-9462 and tell her you don't want this, you don't want to pay for it, and you will remember this five years from now when she runs again. She's not safe to vote for this just because she has several voting cycles between now and when she runs. We will remember!!!

Also, call Sen. Richard Burr,(800) 685-8916, tell him thanks for what he is doing and encourage him to run for President!!

Christmas Sermons

All five sermons from my Christmas Series: Christmas Times a Comin' are avaible for download as a 34MB Zip file which contains all five sermons. Simply click on the link to download the file and then unzip the file once it is downloaded. All five sermons are .mp3s. You can also listen to them in streaming audio with the media player on the side of the page.

FOXNews.com - Draft Cheney? Conservatives Have Competing Visions Over Former VP's Role

FOXNews.com - Draft Cheney? Conservatives Have Competing Visions Over Former VP's Role

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2009 Pastor's Conference

With the text of Phil. 3:14 in mind pastors gathered Nov. 8-9 at Lawndale Baptist Church to learn more about how to move onward, or to “Surge” (the conference theme), in their efforts to continue becoming more like Christ and reaching more people with the gospel. 



Pastors from across the country responded to the theme verse, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”


BR photo by Norman Jameson

Micheal Pardue, left, pastor of High Shoal Baptist Church in Mooresboro, vice president; Bobby Blanton, pastor of Lake Norman Baptist Church in Huntersville, president; and Dale Robertson, pastor of North Main Baptist Church in Salisbury, treasurer.

Participants elected offices for 2011.

They are Bobby Blanton, pastor of Lake Norman Baptist Church in Huntersville, president; Micheal Pardue, pastor of High Shoal Baptist Church in Mooresboro, vice president; and Dale Robertson, pastor of North Main Baptist Church in Salisbury, treasurer.

Phil Ortego, pastor of Scotts Hill Baptist Church in Wilmington, said four things prevent the church from surging forward: indifference to the lost; ignorance of the gospel and basic biblical knowledge; insensitivity to the needs of the world; and intimidation to stand toe-to-toe with intellectuals.

Bryan Loritts, lead pastor of Fellowship Church in Memphis, Tenn., said he chose to plant a church in Memphis after reading census data which suggested that the city was the most racially divided in America.

Fellowship Church is now about 60 percent white and 40 percent black — their unity a witness to the power of the gospel in a segregated city.

Loritts pleaded with pastors from 2 Tim. 4:1-5 to “man up” and “preach the Word” because being a pastor is not a popularity contest — the call is to proclaim the gospel whether people like it or not. 



Alistair Begg, pastor of Parkside Church in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, encouraged pastors to endure the hardship that inevitably comes. “The gospel is not the ABC of the Christian life that gets me started. The gospel is the A-Z that gets me through the entirety of life,” he said.

Other speakers included Jonathan Falwell, pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Va.; Ed Litton, pastor of First Baptist North Mobile, Saraland, Ala.; and Alex McFarland, president of Southern Evangelical Seminary.



Pastors’ Conference President Craig Hamlin “did an excellent job lining up speakers for this year’s pastors’ conference,” said Carl Poole, pastor of Essentials Church. “I especially liked the theme ‘Surge’ which inspired me as a new church planter to go back to my church and keep up the good fight.”

Nobody Bought It

Just before President Obama gave his speech to Congress last week, 44% of voters nationwide supported his health care reform proposal and 53% were opposed. Today, eight days after the speech and a brief bounce, a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% support the health care plan and 53% are opposed. Absolutely no change.
It’s worth noting that support and opposition were at precisely the same levels in mid-July. In fact, other than brief blips following a nationally televised press conference by the president and his recent speech to Congress, opposition to the plan has been stable at 53% throughout July and August and now into September.
The latest figures show that 25% Strongly Favor the plan and 43% are Strongly Opposed. In late August, those figures were 23% and 43% respectively.
This suggests public opinion is hardening when it comes to the plan proposed by the president and congressional Democrats that is currently working its way through Congress.
Rasmussen Reports will conclude its daily tracking of support for the health care plan tonight and release the new findings tomorrow morning at 9 EDT. After this week, Rasmussen Reports will continue tracking the issue on a weekly basis (see day-by-day numbers).
While many credit or blame the town hall protests for building opposition to the plan, it appears they were simply a reflection of public opinion rather than a creator of it. This sense is confirmed by the fact that Obama’s approval ratings fell more in June and July before stabilizing in August.
One thing that did change during the month of August is that public perception of the protesters improved. after the initial shock wore off. Most voters came to believe that the purpose of the town hall meetings was for members of Congress to listen rather than speak. That’s partly because just 22% believe Congress has a good understanding of the legislation.
While some Democrats have charged that opposition to the president’s plan is based upon racism, just 12% of voters agree.
Prior to the president's speech, most people with insurance said it’s likely they would be forced to change coverage if the plan passes. As Scott Rasmussen, president of Rasmussen Reports, wrote recently in the Wall Street Journal: “The most important fundamental is that 68% of American voters have health insurance coverage they rate good or excellent … Most of these voters approach the health care reform debate fearing that they have more to lose than to gain.”
Despite lukewarm support, 50% still say that health care reform is at least somewhat likely to pass this year. That figure includes 19% who say passage is Very Likely.
If the plan passes, 27% of voters say the quality of care will get better, and 51% say it will get worse. In August, the numbers were 23% better and 50% worse.
Fifty-two percent (52%) say passage of the plan will make the cost of health care go up while 19% say it will make costs go down. In August, 52% thought the plan would lead to higher costs, and just 17% thought it would achieve the stated goal of lowering costs.
Voters overwhelmingly believe that every American should be able to buy the same health insurance plan that Congress has. Most favor limits on jury awards for medical malpractice claims and think that tort reform will significantly reduce the cost of health care.
The health care debate has produced a difficult political environment for Democrats. Several incumbent Democratic senators currently are behind in their reelection bids including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in Nevada, Chris Dodd in Connecticut and Michael Bennet in Colorado. Republicans appear to have a better shot than expected at hanging on to the New Hampshire Senate seat, and GOP incumbent Richard Burr leads in North Carolina.
Democrats also trail in the 2009 governor’s races in New Jersey and Virginia.
The health care debate has become one focal point for voters frustrated by a string of government actions. Voters overwhelmingly opposed the bailout of the financial industry and the bailout and takeover of General Motors. (http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/healthcare/september_2009/health_care_reform)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Rev. Micheal Pardue to be nominated for
Second Vice President of Pastor’s Conference

Ellenboro, NC – August 21, 2009 – Micheal Pardue, pastor of High Shoal Baptist Church, Mooresboro, will be nominated for second vice president of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina’s Pastor’s Conference when the Conference meets in Greensboro Nov. 8-9.
B. David Easler, pastor of Bethel Baptist Church in Ellenboro, has asked to nominate Pardue, who felt called to the ministry while at the Southern Baptist Convention’s Centrifuge camp as a teenager.

Micheal grew up in East Taylorsville Baptist Church in Taylorsville. He is a graduate of Gardner-Webb University and will finish his first Masters degree at the T. Walter Brashier Graduate School at North Greenville University in December. He plans to continue his education at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

He has previously served as Associate Pastor of Walls Baptist Church in Bostic, and worked in part-time student ministry positions at Westview Baptist Church, Shelby and Kings Mountain Baptist Church, Kings Mountain.

Rev. Pardue, a member of the Sandy Run Baptist Association’s Pastor’s Conference, has led the SRBA to consider affirming the Baptist Faith & Message 2000, a decision it will make in its October annual meeting. He also serves as a contributor for www.passionforpreaching.net, an online resource which, “exists to glorify God by being an encouraging and informative website for pastors and preachers.”

“I want to see the pastor’s conference continue to be a time of refreshing, challenge and fellowship for pastors across our state,” said Pardue. “Our pastor’s conference brings us together to celebrate what Christ has done over the last year and anticipate what He is going to do as we carry the message of His Kingdom forward.”

Micheal is married to the former Rachel Massey, a second grade school teacher in Shelby, and they have four children, Elijah, Jason, Kyle and Addelyen. Information about Rev. Pardue and his ministry can be found at www.michealpardue.com

Hickory Cove Powerpoints

Click on the images below for a PDF file of my messages from Hickory Cove Bible Camp

Camp Pastor

I have spent this week as "Camp Pastor" or "Guest Speaker" at Hickory Cove Bible Camp. This is the first time I've been back here in several years and I and my family are having a wonderful week. Of course, this is a special place for Rachel and I as we met here June 22, 2003 (six years and one month ago today). It is also a place of fond memories as I am sitting just a few hundred feet from the place I was able to lead a child to Christ for the first time. Here are some observations thus far this week.

1. Speaking to children in a chapel setting is a difficult task. I speak to to groups of adults several times a week. This, for me, is an exciting task that I rarely am nervous about. With children, however, all the rules are thrown out the window along with many of your notes. I'm glad we have been doing the Good News Club at Cliffside this spring. It was good preparation for this week but it has in no way made it easy.


2. A group of children singing praises to God is a blessed sound. Many times when I have been at children's events or programs, they sing "dinky" kids songs that are not very deep and are some what childish. The worship leader this week has used both kids songs and contemporary worship songs during the chapel services. These worship songs have really touched me as it seems they have been very genuine from the children. I have posted one on Facebook which I invite you to listen to.
3. A church which does not invest in children is failing its Kingdom mission! I am convinced that if every church does not put the children in their church and the ones on the outside as first priority in their church, the might as well turn off the lights, lock up the doors, and throw away the key. There is not future for the Church if there are no Christians to further Its purpose. And this does not include trying to feed our children something cooked up sixty years ago and assume they will like it today. We need fresh, vibrant, and innovative children's ministries that are relevant and engaging.
4. God is still working! I do not know the number of salvations we have had this week, but I am quite sure several children have accepted Christ. We have staff from the U.S., Germany, and Britian and God is moving. There are times when, as I know all of you do, I get down trodden about everything going on in the world. Remeber Galatians 6:9 (NLT) "So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up."

God is at work, pray for us during the rest of this week.

Dangers of Illustrating Salvation

On a local "Christian" T.V. station I heard a man give an illustration on Christ's sacrifice. It was as follows in paraphrase

Say you were driving and accidentally hit someone as they were crossing the street. You are put on trial for murder and the jury finds you guilty. Just as the judge is about to hand down a verdict that will mean prison, someone steps in and offers to take your punishment for you. That's what Jesus did.

While I am sure that the one presenting this had the best of intentions, we must be careful in using human illustrations for Divine principles. This is not to say that we must not help those whom we teach understand the Divinie. Application is nesscary in preaching/teaching if we are going to be at all effective for Christ's Kingdom. However, as much as possible we should you the applications found in the Scriptures. There is much teaching on salvation, and Biblical examples and illustrations are always preferable to human attempts to explain what we truely will never fully understand.