The Way to the Better

"If the way to the Better there be, it exacts a full look at the Worst."
- "In Tenebris II" by Thomas Hardy

I have found this to be true.

I found this quotation on the frontispiece to "Lost Honor" by John W. Dean III (Counsel to President Nixon), which I just bought at the thrift store and may review here if I get around to reading it.  (I have to finish "First Baptist" first).

VM

Book Review of The First Baptist Church of Dallas

The First Baptist Church of Dallas: Centennial History (1868-1968)

by Leon McBeth

Zondervan Pub. House (1968), Edition: First Edition first Printing, Hardcover, 358 pages

This book covers the first one-hundred years of one of the most influential churches in the Southern Baptist Convention, including the lengthy pastorates of great men like George W. Truett and W. A. Criswell.  Here is my review, after reading about half the book so far.  I occasionally post book reviews like this on my entry for the book on librarything.com, where I catalogue all our family's books.

Book Review:

Many better books I have read, but fewer better stories. What the author lacks in style is more than made up for by the subject matter covered. The great working of Jesus Christ through the lives and ministry of His humble servants like George W. Truett, W. A. Criswell and lesser-known men before them in Dallas and state-wide is portrayed in this work. Such accounts, often teetering on the unbelievable or miraculous to a modern-day Christian, will thrill the soul of any Baptist, every preacher and all saints who love to be encouraged in the mysterious Providence of the God we serve.

Every chapter details events that make me want to shout "Glory," or get on my knees calling down the same blessings on my own ministry, or jump head first into new endeavors of service with renewed vigor and confidence in Christ. From the struggling starts of early Baptist works in Dallas, through doctrinal controversy involving the entire Southern Baptist Convention, through church strife or personal disaster as well as blessed times, what shines through in this amazing story is the working of the God of all grace, Who uses flawed men and women to accomplish His will.

I give this book four stars out of a possible five, detracting none for the story and only one for the author's mildly annoying habit of circling around the bush and back again before diving into the main vein of every chapter. The biographical material on the men and women of First Baptist is excellent. The extensive and exhaustive research into local church and Convention records aids in understanding the character and times of this story. The author occasionally places too much focus on numbers and extravagance and denominational machinery, but this may be a true reflection of the focus of the church at times. The only other complaint, a mild one at best, is that the book sometimes seems slightly targeted at readers who were current First Baptist members or at least those familar with the Southern Baptist works of central Texas. For a reader who only has a passing acquaintance with names like B. H. Carroll, J. B. Cranfill and other men of the day, or the colleges and factions of the time, I would have appreciated more background information on them to better understand the roles they played in the history of this leading church in their movement. But perhaps this work would have been double its size and not worth reading if it included all I think it should have. I rejoice instead for the amazing glory of God shown in the accounts given and I pray God will keep using people today the way He worked in the past, as portrayed in this work.

Victor E. Mowery, June 6, 2015 ( )

A personal note by Victor Mowery that is not a part of this review: I would not today endorse the Southern Baptist Convention or the First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas.

VM

Quoting Gerald Ford More Fully

In the news this week is the retirement of a late night TV comedy host and a quote from President Ford used for comic effect.  I thought it proper to draw attention to a fuller statement from President Gerald Rudolph Ford, Jr. in his inauguration speech.  Even a President such as he was, for better or worse, makes me wonder where the statesmen and men of principle and conviction are today in our political landscape.

"I am acutely aware that you have not elected me as your President by your ballots, and so I ask you to confirm me as your President with your prayers. And I hope that such prayers will also be the first of many... If you have not chosen me by secret ballot, neither have I gained office by any secret promises.  I have not campaigned either for the Presidency or the Vice Presidency.  I have not subscribed to any partisan platform.  I am indebted to no man, and only to one woman—my dear wife, Betty—as I begin this very difficult job...  

"My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over...  Our Constitution works; our great Republic is a government of laws and not of men.  Here the people rule.  But there is a higher Power, by whatever name we honor Him, who ordains not only righteousness but love, not only justice but mercy. ... let us restore the golden rule to our political process, and let brotherly love purge our hearts of suspicion and hate."

President Ford also stated:

"I have not sought this enormous responsibility, but I will not shirk it. Those who nominated and confirmed me as Vice President were my friends and are my friends. They were of both parties, elected by all the people and acting under the Constitution in their name. It is only fitting then that I should pledge to them and to you that I will be the President of all the people."

Gerald Ford was long known as a man of scruples.  When Vice President Spiro T. Agnew resigned under scandal, Nixon consulted Congressional leaders of both parties for suggestions of a replacement and they gave him no choice but Ford.  He was easily confirmed by overwhelming votes in both congressional houses, on both sides of the aisle.

Commenting on his pardon of President Nixon, Ford stated:

"[It] is a tragedy in which we all have played a part. It could go on and on and on, or someone must write the end to it. I have concluded that only I can do that, and if I can, I must."

Many opposed to the pardon at the time have concluded that history proved it to be the correct decision.  Ford had to know it would cost his political future, but his convictions and scruples forced him to do what he believed was the right and proper thing.

Where are such men today?  Such men are out there, but they are rarely placed in office.  I don't believe many of the American people can stomach such a man today.  Instead we are ready to vote in four more (or eight more) years of Clintonian scandals.

God help us!

VM

Bear My Load (Original Gospel Song)

BEAR MY LOAD

Words & Music by Victor E. Mowery, 5-11-2015

Written for a Male Quartet

I saw a man (I saw a man)

Baptizing by the sea.

He said “Repent!” (He said “Repent!”)

I hoped he’d set me free.

For I need someone (I need someone)

To take and bear my load.

John said, “Not I,” (John said, “Not I”)

“To Calvary you must go!”

Bear my load.

Bear my load.

I saw a man (I saw a man)

Carrying a heavy cross.

He strove and strained (He strove and strained)

Crawling up a dirty hill.

I asked his name.  (I asked his name.)

“Why do you want to know?”

For I need someone (I need someone)

To take and bear my load!

Bear my load.

Bear my load.

“His name is Simon.”  (“Name is Simon.”)

“He comes from old Cyrene.”

I knew right then (I knew right then)

He couldn’t bear my load for me.

Him they compelled, (Him they compelled)

But One will do it free.

For I need someone (I need someone)

To take and bear my load.

Bear my load.

Bear my load.

I saw a man (I saw a man)

Dying up on a hill.

He groaned and strained.  (He groaned and strained.)

Then it seemed that he was still.

I asked his crime.  (I asked his crime.)

“Why do you want to know?”

For I need someone (I need someone)

To take and bear my load!

Bear my load.

Bear my load.

“He’s just a thief!”  (He’s just a thief!)

“We need to break his knee!”

I knew right then (knew right then)

He couldn’t bear my load for me.

He died for him, (He died for him)

But One would die for me.

For I need someone (I need someone)

To take and bear my load.

Bear my load.

Bear my load.

I saw a man (I saw a man)

Walking on Emmaus road

I asked his work (I asked his work)

He said, “I came to seek and save!”

But I need someone (I need someone)

To take and bear my load.

He said, “I’VE BORNE IT (YES, I’VE BORNE IT)

“I LEFT IT BURIED IN MY GRAVE!”

He Bore My Load!

He Bore My Load!

VM

Barbecue Updates

I have written here before about St. Louis Barbecue from the perspective of a Kansas City native.

Without looking for it, today I stumbled across another guy who feels the same way.  He also gives a shout-out to Biffle's BBQ in Concordia, MO, which I found years ago suited my tastes quite well.  Stacey and I used to stop at Biffle's quite frequently on our long I-70 treks across Missouri.  I think I would have a lot in common with this blogger.

This guy found a decent BBQ in the STL land, not quite up to snuff for a KC native but passable for an exile to the gateway city.  This is worth reading: The quest for BBQ in St. Louis takes me to Smokin’ Al’s | The Silicon Underground

Meanwhile, we are still hunting for decent BBQ in Iowa.  My boss told me about this place, which I shall have to try next time I am in Des Moines.  They won the American Royal Grand Championship, which is pretty impressive to a Kansas City boy: About Smokey D's BBQ

The entire family agreed on our last trip to Kansas City that we wanted to enjoy some Gate's BBQ.  I can still taste it weeks later, it was so good.  Next time back though, we gotta stop at Jack Stack.

I heard one of the Quicks owners is retiring.  I don't know what that means for the BBQ joints, whether Earl Quick's on Merriam Lane will close, or Quick's 7th Street, or both, or neither will close.  If you like Quick's and you haven't had any lately, you better scoot on down there next chance you get.  Remember the Tuesday rib specials at Earl Quick's.  I haven't been to Quick's in over eight years. :(

Somebody else recently seconded our family's opinion that Wyandotte BBQ has the best french fries.  One of our daughters, when she was very little, commented, "I just love these barbecued french fries."  Haha!

Are there rumours about putting the American Royal BBQ Contest inside Arrowhead Stadium?  I believe that would ruin the entire atmosphere.  That's just my opinion.

VM

Most Persistent Old Testament Thought

"Modern Scholarship is inclined to minimize the Predictive Element in the Bible. But the predictive element is there. The most persistent thought in the entire Old Testament is this: Jehovah, the God of the Hebrew nation, eventually is going to become the God of all nations." - Halley's Bible Handbook, Henry H. Halley, "The Prophets"

AMEN!

Regarding My Email Accounts

Let me state for the record that recent news about the number of email accounts I use has been blown way out or proportion. Contrary to published and highly exaggerated reports, I only use 27 different email addresses for work, 31 for personal business, and a mere 19 email accounts for private correspondence. I fail to see why this number matters to the vast right wing conspiracy that is plotting my demise, or their lackeys in the biased right-leaning media. Nevertheless, in a show of my transparency and extreme humility, I now rub the truth in their faces and challenge them to choke on it.

As to the nature of correspondence via those email addresses, I have instructed my personally dedicated email staff to perform an analysis in preparation for your questions. My three dedicated email server full-time administrators, along with the two part-timers and the college intern, have tallied the results of the emails I have received as follows:

- 60% of the emails received were unsolicited advertisements, commonly called SPAM, for things such as Canadian pharmacy pills, vintage 1970s electric hairbrushes, wool socks, chinchilla farms and the other typical SPAM emails everyone receives.

- An additional 10% of received emails were SPAM knock-offs known as TREET, Hormel Canned Dinner Ham, and a few simply known as unbranded "potted meat." In all cases, whether for SPAM or knock-offs, the analysis shows that I responded to less than half of these offers and spent less than $23,000 on them, only some of which was money I managed in my official capacity related to my position.

- 5% of received emails turned out to be from Nigerian and other West African widows and orphans who needed my help transferring the funds of their influentual but deceased relatives out of their country. I want to stress that at NO TIME did I use my official position and influence to solicit these requests from relatives of deceased foreign officials and dignitaries. These requests arrived in my inboxes unannounced, and only after careful scrutiny, consisting of at least three emails back and forth, did I ever invest any official funds in these humanitarian causes. We expect to see these start paying off any day, with only a few more hurdles to clear on the African side before the moneys will be deposited into accounts here.

- 10% of received emails were newsletters for which I never signed up. To keep my office totally transparent, we printed and filed five copies of each newsletter issue received. Anyone pressing for details on all my email activity will be shipped a truckload of these newsletters, printed, sorted by date and boxed alphabetically. These are the only records my office will be releasing for public scrutiny, as all other emails are either too personal or too sensitive for wide viewing.

- 5% of my received emails were true stories about a girl with cancer who will get her full treatment paid by Microsoft if we keep forwarding the emails. Another 5% were replies from some very mean people about this email, heartlessly claiming it is a hoax and urging people to stop participating in this worthy cause.

- 5% were jokes, cute religious stories, urban legends and funny cat pictures forwarded to me by Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, and a high-ranking Iranian official whom I will not name directly but I have nick-named "Mammy Moody." (On a personal note, his cutesy nick-name for me is "That crazy American that hangs out at my uncle Yusef's house watching Andy Griffith all day"). I want to stress that no amount of cute emails with foreign officials would cause me to compromise the trust my position requires.

There you have it. That is the analysis of all emails received across all of my 77 email accounts. I will not be releasing details of emails I sent, as they are private, and I will not be changing my email practices, as they are a personal choice and I have broken no rules. I can use as many email accounts as I want to and the vast left wing conspiracy or their lackeys in the biased left-leaning media can't stop me.

This should put to rest all the speculation that has been raised recently. Thank you for your attention.

Victor Mowery, Under-Secretary to the Deputy Secretary to the Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Secretaries and Administrative Assistants.

VM - 03-10-2015