Pastor Chris Wolford - Soft White Underbelly

[ALAYMAN]

As a young believer, the first time I was exposed to that passage, I understood what Jesus was saying. How people misconstrue this so badly is beyond me.

My mom ain’t a deep thinker, and I don’t often pose theological questions of any depth to her. She is a sweet, sweet lady with lots of common sense, which is only exceeded by even more compassion, but most of all she’s a Spirit filled believer. So today on a whipsnitch I asked her if she thought we should do like they did in the early church and pick up snakes. She hates snakes so I knew what her answer would be , but when I pressed her for a serious answer she said “ why would Jesus ask us to do something to hurt ourselves when he loves us so much”? Lots of plain Biblical wisdom there.

 

[Dr. Huk-N-Duck]

My mom ain’t a deep thinker, and I don’t often pose theological questions of any depth to her. She is a sweet, sweet lady with lots of common sense, which is only exceeded by even more compassion, but most of all she’s a Spirit filled believer. So today on a whipsnitch I asked her if she thought we should do like they did in the early church and pick up snakes. She hates snakes so I knew what her answer would be , but when I pressed her for a serious answer she said “ why would Jesus ask us to do something to hurt ourselves when he loves us so much”? Lots of plain Biblical wisdom there.

Some of the most intelligent people I’ve ever met never stepped foot on a college campus, except for their own children’s graduation. I often wish I had skipped higher education and just learned a trade or become a fishing guide.

 

[ALAYMAN]

Interesting. Growing up on the coast, I was never sure if it was a mountain vs coastal cultural difference, or maybe they just have different types of Baptists in the hills. I just knew their Baptist church was quite livelier than mine…and more fun! LOL

Fast forward the video to the 10-minute mark. What kind of Baptists have music like this? Back when I was growing up, my grandparents church up in the foothills of North Carolina looked just like this during the praise & worship portion of the services. However, it was definitely a BAPTIST church —not charismatic or anything else. It was definitely not the same sort of Baptist church I grew up in.

I’d bet dollars to donuts that such idiosyncrasies as you describe in your grandparents church is simply attributable to mountain/Appalachian cultural effects which parallels a variety of evangelical sects in the region.

 

[ALAYMAN]

Some of the most intelligent people I’ve ever met never stepped foot on a college campus, except for their own children’s graduation. I often wish I had skipped higher education and just learned a trade or become a fishing guide.

I can’t say the same about education, but I understand what you’re getting at. My brother’s brother in law was a bean-counter until he retired in his 50s, at which time he became a plumber even though he had shown very little mechanical inclinations prior to that

 

[Dr. Huk-N-Duck]

I’d bet dollars to donuts that such idiosyncrasies as you describe in your grandparents church is simply attributable to mountain/Appalachian cultural effects which parallels a variety of evangelical sects in the region.

I think you’re probably correct. I know they were hardcore Baptists my entire life, and about half of my dad’s childhood. Prior to that they were lifelong Methodists, but even they saw the liberal slide of the Methodists way back in the 60s and switched to the Baptist church.

 

[abcaines]

You were in Millington around the same time as me right?

Do you remember the United Pentecostal Church in town with all the PRETTY GIRLS trying to witness to Sailors on "Navy Road?"

Their doctrine was more twisted than than a pretzel dipped in cheese sauce but boy them girls SURE WERE PURTY and girls were absolutely NON-EXISTENT in the IFB Church I was attending (Southside Baptist)! There were definitely a few times I was tempted to get on the "Other" Church bus for this reason alone!

God sure kept me safe from having "Two Ex-Wives" and a wagonload of bad doctrine!

I was in Millington Jan.-Sept. '83. I found my way to Bellevue Baptist. The guy who led that ministry was a seminary student by the name of Randy Brantley. I hung out at the Oasis servicemen's center quite a bit. I remember well dressed folk walking along that long sidewalk on Navy Rd. witnessing to sailors. I don't remember what church they were from. That is where I was first exposed to KJVOism.

Further down the street from the Oasis, closer to the bars, was a servicemen's center that was run by Thrifthaven Baptist. I went in there and met two older fellas. One was really easy-going, the other was a portly old fella who acted like his Ex-Lax hadn't worked yet. The old portly fella wanted me to go into a tiny room with him so he could share the plan of salvation with me. I tried to sit on the bench across from him but he insisted I sit by his side. CREEPY. He didn't try anything funny with me, he just dutifully took me through the Romans Road. I was a very immature believer but I knew what I believed. I assented to whatever I had to to get out of that tiny room as quickly as I could. Once out, I was talking with the other guy and mentioned I fellowshipped with the military ministry from Bellevue Baptist at which ol' Portly blurted out, "The best thing that could happen to Memphis Tennessee is if Bellevue Baptist would close its doors for good!" My visit to that center ended quickly and I never went back.

Here's the link to the chapter in my blog from my days in Millington:

Testimony, Part 8 - 1983

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways.” This is the Lord’s declaration. “For as heaven is higher...

anotherridersperspective.blogspot.com

 

[Ransom]

My humble hermeneutical analysis of Mark 16 leads me to believe that Jesus never meant taking up of serpents and the drinking of poison to be a "Display of Faith" but if an enemy of God tries to kill you off by throwing a serpent in your sack or spikes your drink with strychnine, that the Lord was going to protect you!

You pointed out one example, but pretty much everything Jesus talks about in that passage actually happens somewhere in the New Testament.

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; (Acts 16:16-18)

they shall speak with new tongues; (Acts 2:4)

They shall take up serpents; (Acts 28:3-6)

and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. (Acts 19:11-12)​

There's no account in the New Testament of Paul or any other apostle drinking poison and living. We can suppose that theoretically, if one of them had accidentally drunk poison before his appointed time, it wouldn't have harmed him.

That said, 1) it isn't a command to go around drinking bleach or handle snakes; and 2) it's questionable whether the ending of Mark 16 is authentic in any case.

 

[ALAYMAN]

I think you’re probably correct. I know they were hardcore Baptists my entire life, and about half of my dad’s childhood. Prior to that they were lifelong Methodists, but even they saw the liberal slide of the Methodists way back in the 60s and switched to the Baptist church.

I gave the eulogy for my wife’s uncle this past weekend and afterwards a relative came up to me and said that her church was looking for someone to candidate for pastor in her Christian Union (good folk, not exactly Baptist though). Through the course of conversation about her situation I asked how she ended up there at that denomination and she said it was due to an exodus from the Methodist Church years ago when they started being more gay tolerant. It’s good to know that people take convictional stands as this culture lurches further and further to the left in our churches, but it seems like good biblical churches are withering on the vine.

 

[Baptist Renegade]

I was in Millington Jan.-Sept. '83. I found my way to Bellevue Baptist. The guy who led that ministry was a seminary student by the name of Randy Brantley. I hung out at the Oasis servicemen's center quite a bit. I remember well dressed folk walking along that long sidewalk on Navy Rd. witnessing to sailors. I don't remember what church they were from. That is where I was first exposed to KJVOism.

Further down the street from the Oasis, closer to the bars, was a servicemen's center that was run by Thrifthaven Baptist. I went in there and met two older fellas. One was really easy-going, the other was a portly old fella who acted like his Ex-Lax hadn't worked yet. The old portly fella wanted me to go into a tiny room with him so he could share the plan of salvation with me. I tried to sit on the bench across from him but he insisted I sit by his side. CREEPY. He didn't try anything funny with me, he just dutifully took me through the Romans Road. I was a very immature believer but I knew what I believed. I assented to whatever I had to to get out of that tiny room as quickly as I could. Once out, I was talking with the other guy and mentioned I fellowshipped with the military ministry from Bellevue Baptist at which ol' Portly blurted out, "The best thing that could happen to Memphis Tennessee is if Bellevue Baptist would close its doors for good!" My visit to that center ended quickly and I never went back.

Here's the link to the chapter in my blog from my days in Millington:

Testimony, Part 8 - 1983

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways.” This is the Lord’s declaration. “For as heaven is higher...

anotherridersperspective.blogspot.com

There were three "Servicemen Centers" as I recall. I set foot in the "Oasis" once like you did. I told them I had already "Trusted Christ" and was a Christian and was going to Southside Baptist (KJVO, Ruckmanite, Street Preaching, Etc.) but they still wanted to read me "The Plan" anyway. Hyper-critical and I don't know of anyone who actually stuck around. They probably didn't think I was saved because of how I dressed plus I was wearing sunglasses at the time! There was another one that was more of a library setting which I thought was pretty cool and the gentleman there seemed like a nice guy. There was one a little further in town that was usually closed but was run by Michael Pearl (later known for "No Greater Joy" ministries) but I got to meet him one evening and we got to jam out with guitars and stuff so that was pretty cool. He seemed like a nice guy but I also learned he was the former pastor of the Church I was attending and was warned he was a little off on his doctrine.

I saw the Bellevue Baptist flyers too and was planning to go but I was hit up by Tom Wilson who was a "Fleet Sailor" going through AV "A" School and he started talking to me the way this guy did who led me to the Lord a year or so prior so that was probably the "Hook" that put me in this direction and they of course warned me about those "Apostate Southern Baptists." I am guessing you probably met his acquaintance at one time or other - everyone knew him as the "Bible-Pounder" or whatever.

We were out at times on Navy Road (and Overton Square) passing out gospel tracts. This is where I would often run into the UPC Pentecostals and ever so often I would run into some Church of Christ "Waterdogs" so I got a real education but I still kick myself for not going to Bellevue and not hearing Adrian Rogers preach!

I was there for an entire year - Sept '82 to Sept '83 being an "AFTA Puke Rent a Crow" who helped make it hard guys like you to make E-4 on your own! What barracks were you in? I was in S-444 for a while but then transferred to the AFTA barracks (S-440) and eventually became one of the "Gate Guards." I eventually became a "West Coaster" stationed out in San Diego.

 

[abcaines]

S

There were three "Servicemen Centers" as I recall. I set foot in the "Oasis" once like you did. I told them I had already "Trusted Christ" and was a Christian and was going to Southside Baptist (KJVO, Ruckmanite, Street Preaching, Etc.) but they still wanted to read me "The Plan" anyway. Hyper-critical and I don't know of anyone who actually stuck around. They probably didn't think I was saved because of how I dressed plus I was wearing sunglasses at the time! There was another one that was more of a library setting which I thought was pretty cool and the gentleman there seemed like a nice guy. There was one a little further in town that was usually closed but was run by Michael Pearl (later known for "No Greater Joy" ministries) but I got to meet him one evening and we got to jam out with guitars and stuff so that was pretty cool. He seemed like a nice guy but I also learned he was the former pastor of the Church I was attending and was warned he was a little off on his doctrine.

I saw the Bellevue Baptist flyers too and was planning to go but I was hit up by Tom Wilson who was a "Fleet Sailor" going through AV "A" School and he started talking to me the way this guy did who led me to the Lord a year or so prior so that was probably the "Hook" that put me in this direction and they of course warned me about those "Apostate Southern Baptists." I am guessing you probably met his acquaintance at one time or other - everyone knew him as the "Bible-Pounder" or whatever.

We were out at times on Navy Road (and Overton Square) passing out gospel tracts. This is where I would often run into the UPC Pentecostals and ever so often I would run into some Church of Christ "Waterdogs" so I got a real education but I still kick myself for not going to Bellevue and not hearing Adrian Rogers preach!

I was there for an entire year - Sept '82 to Sept '83 being an "AFTA Puke Rent a Crow" who helped make it hard guys like you to make E-4 on your own! What barracks were you in? I was in S-444 for a while but then transferred to the AFTA barracks (S-440) and eventually became one of the "Gate Guards." I eventually became a "West Coaster" stationed out in San Diego.

S-440 rings a bell. I was originally slated for AFTA but my performance in AVA wasn't up to snuff. I remember a dude in the AFTA barracks, Joel Hull, that's the only name I remember; he was a memorable guy. If you knew him, you'd know why I said that.

More later...

 

[Baptist Renegade]

S

S-440 rings a bell. I was originally slated for AFTA but my performance in AVA wasn't up to snuff. I remember a dude in the AFTA barracks, Joel Hull, that's the only name I remember; he was a memorable guy. If you knew him, you'd know why I said that.

More later...

Did you ever make E-4 when you got out to the fleet? I knew of many "AFTA Rock Outs" that spent their entire 4-year enlistment as an E-3! AFTA really is overrated though and looking back now, I think it was just a gimmick to get two more years out of you! They throw way too much information at you that impossible to retain or fully grasp and apply in the real world. I did good in AVA because I took my time and didn't allow anyone to push me. I actually "Aced" the final comp except for the "Trick Answer" they threw in to ensure I wasn't cheating! Barely made it through AFTA though. All in all, my Navy training equated to 62 Credit Hours which I used towards a BS Degree from University of Phoenix.

I made E-5 on my first attempt and was wearing "Second Class" with about 2.5 years active service (no medals/ribbons, wings, or hashmarks). Some have made it much quicker in under two years but it took me almost two years (lots of "C" Schools they put me through in San Diego) before I actually got out into the fleet and had a real set of evals from which I could actually advance. Took me FOREVER to make E-6 though: five exam cycles and put it on with about 7.5 years in so I pretty much lost all advantage of that quick "Push Button" promotion to E-4. I got out a year later but had I stayed in, I am sure I would be "Wearing Gold" as a First Class before I picked up "Chief."

 

[AverageJoe]

Did you attend law school? LOL

It’s a dying slice of backwoods Americana Christianity. This particular church is the last remaining serpent-handling church in West Virginia. I read a recent article about this church due to a photo exhibition. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...e-handling-church-West-Virginia-pictures.html

Anything else?

You positive it's the last? I know of several that are still in operation.

 

[abcaines]

Did you ever make E-4 when you got out to the fleet? I knew of many "AFTA Rock Outs" that spent their entire 4-year enlistment as an E-3! AFTA really is overrated though and looking back now, I think it was just a gimmick to get two more years out of you! They throw way too much information at you that impossible to retain or fully grasp and apply in the real world. I did good in AVA because I took my time and didn't allow anyone to push me. I actually "Aced" the final comp except for the "Trick Answer" they threw in to ensure I wasn't cheating! Barely made it through AFTA though. All in all, my Navy training equated to 62 Credit Hours which I used towards a BS Degree from University of Phoenix.

I made E-5 on my first attempt and was wearing "Second Class" with about 2.5 years active service (no medals/ribbons, wings, or hashmarks). Some have made it much quicker in under two years but it took me almost two years (lots of "C" Schools they put me through in San Diego) before I actually got out into the fleet and had a real set of evals from which I could actually advance. Took me FOREVER to make E-6 though: five exam cycles and put it on with about 7.5 years in so I pretty much lost all advantage of that quick "Push Button" promotion to E-4. I got out a year later but had I stayed in, I am sure I would be "Wearing Gold" as a First Class before I picked up "Chief."

My original enlistment was up in Oct. 86 while I was on deployment. I signed a one year extension in order to finish my deployment. (What a lifer thing to do, right?) I got my first hash mark before I put on my crow. I put on my crow in Jan. 87. At the time, I just knew it was God's will that I go to PCC after getting out. That changed to TMC after my deployment. During my final year on active duty, I displayed a great knack for micro-min repair. I was told that if I reenlisted, they'd send me to micro-min repair school in a heartbeat. But I just "knew" what God's call on my life was and passed on the opportunity. In hindsight, I sometimes kick myself for that because my life didn't go how I just knew it was going to. I provided the link to the Millington chapter of my testimony. Subsequent chapters of my blog give a pretty good picture of what my mindset was while in the Navy and after. I am proud to say I continued in the Reserves and did extremely well, picking up second class very quickly. In both promotions, I was fifth highest score in my unit, making myself eligible for advanced pay four months early.

If you do read all the chapters of my testimony and it blesses you, let me know. I posted it to share how God has worked with me and I pray it speaks encouragement to someone. I am thinking about posting more chapters of my testimony or starting a separate blog altogether as less of a riding blog and more of a journal that shares God's good work in my life or through His Word. This invitation is open to all: Let me know what you think.

 

[AverageJoe]

My original enlistment was up in Oct. 86 while I was on deployment. I signed a one year extension in order to finish my deployment. (What a lifer thing to do, right?) I got my first hash mark before I put on my crow. I put on my crow in Jan. 87. At the time, I just knew it was God's will that I go to PCC after getting out. That changed to TMC after my deployment. During my final year on active duty, I displayed a great knack for micro-min repair. I was told that if I reenlisted, they'd send me to micro-min repair in a heartbeat. But I just "knew" what God's call on my life was and passed on the opportunity. In hindsight, I sometimes kick myself for that because my life didn't go how I just knew it was going to. I provided the link to the Millington chapter of my testimony. Subsequent chapters of my blog give a pretty good picture of what my mindset was while in the Navy and after. I am proud to say I continued in the Reserves and did extremely well, picking up second class very quickly. In both promotions, I was fifth highest score in my unit, making myself eligible for advanced pay four months early.

If you do read all the chapters of my testimony and it blesses you, let me know. I posted it to share how God has worked with me and I pray it speaks encouragement to someone. I am thinking about posting more chapters of my testimony or starting a separate blog altogether as less of a riding blog and more of a journal that shares God's good work in my life or through His Word. This invitation is open to all: Let me know what you think.

Is there a link? I always like to read/listen to testimonies!

 

[abcaines]

Is there a link? I always like to read/listen to testimonies!

Testimony, Part 1

Second grade portrait, Fall 1971. In Ecclesiastes 3:11, Solomon declared, "Everything is appropriate in its own time. But thoug...

anotherridersperspective.blogspot.com

I never get tired of hearing how God has redeemed lives for His sake. I'm always happy to share my testimony and to hear others'.

 

[AverageJoe]

Testimony, Part 1

Second grade portrait, Fall 1971. In Ecclesiastes 3:11, Solomon declared, "Everything is appropriate in its own time. But thoug...

anotherridersperspective.blogspot.com

I never get tired of hearing how God has redeemed lives for His sake. I'm always happy to share my testimony and to hear others'.

Thank you. I hope to put mine up on blogspot one day. I have it in print, but, not in digital format.

 

[Ransom]

Shady Acres Baptist Church (Houston TX) during their "Camp Meeting" time, would have people running the aisles, whoopin' and a hollerin,' waving the flags, and I have heard reports of one or two going for a swim in the Baptistry.

A classic:

Not sure whether these guys are IFB or Pentecostal, though.

 

[ALAYMAN]

…. This invitation is open to all: Let me know what you think.

Two quick thoughts. That blessed me real good and secondly, I think you should have included your testimony for your latter adult years.

 

[Dr. Huk-N-Duck]

You positive it's the last? I know of several that are still in operation.

I’ve heard of this one in WV, one in Kentucky, one in Alabama, and possibly one in northern Georgia (not positive if still practicing at this time, but definitely in the past). That being said, there are probably more. I’ve definitely heard it being done in Tennessee in the past, and even one in Florida.

 

[Baptist Renegade]

A classic:

Not sure whether these guys are IFB or Pentecostal, though.

Some y'all thought I was exaggerting didn't ya?

Yep, looks IFB "Campmeeting Crowd" to me!