I am neither a prophet, nor the son of one, but I thought I might like to give a few New Year’s Day predictions. I looked back at what I wrote last year at this time and find the posts to be as relevant today as they were then. It will be interesting to look back a year from now and see how close I was to hitting the mark on the predictions.
After my predictions, I am sharing with you an email sent to me by a fellow Southern Baptist that I believe many of you will enjoy.
(1). Frank Page will be reelected President of the Southern Baptist Convention at the June, 2007 Southern Baptist Convention in San Antonio, Texas.
(2). Al Mohler will announce in late 2007 his candidacy for the SBC Presidential election in anticipation of the 2009 Southern Baptist Convention in Louisville, Kentucky.
(3). Steven Gaines will not step down as Pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church, Memphis, Tennessee and the church will eventually enter into a more settled peace.
(4). The Baptist Identity Conference at Union University slated for February 15-17, 2007 will provide more memorable, maybe even infamous, quotes from the speakers than any Southern Baptist Conference in the last thirty years.
(5). The new IMB policies on baptism and private prayer language will be modified.
(6). The Oklahoma Sooners will go undefeated in 2007 season and play in the BCS National Football Championship in 2008. (Update: The Fiesta Bowl is NOT the 2007 season. :) By the way, my next post may be "Lessons on Predestination: Boise State vs. Oklahoma! )
(7). The nation of Israel will launch a preemptive surgical strike against Iran’s nuclear reactor in March or April of 2007 in conjunction with a battle in northern Israel and southern Lebanon against Hezbollah.
(8). The International Mission Board will set a record in both Lottie Moon gifts and Cooperative Funding in 2007.
(9). There will be a more first time appointees to serve as Southern Baptist trustees and members of standing committees and convention committees than in the past three years combined.
(10). There will be more Southern Baptist blogs on December 31, 2007 than January 1, 2007.
_______________________
The following was sent to me by a fellow Southern Baptist. It was written, according to the author, in the style of the late Johnny Carson’s ‘Carnac the Magnificent.’ Many of us remember how the late night talk show host would dress up like a gypsy mind reader, hold an envelope to his forward, then speak a word or a phrase that was an answer to an unknown question. He would then open the envelope and read the question (to the laughter of many).
The answers and questions below, in the style of ‘Carnac the Magnificent’ would do well on late night ‘Family Net’ Southern Baptist television. Not everyone will catch the inside humor of every question, but for people like me, several of them were good for a laugh this New Year’s Day.
Answer: The Southern ivory bill woodpecker, the Southern belle, and the Southern Baptist missionary with a private prayer language.
Question: Name three things on the endangered species list.
Answer: Déjà Vu
Question: The 2006 SBC Presidential election. The 2007 SBC Presidential election.
Answer: The Great Pyramid
Question: What will the stack of resolutions submitted to the 2007 SBC be called?
Answer: Grape Nuts
Question: Who are those who say Jesus turned the water into grape juice?
Answer: All In The Family
Question: What is the Missouri Baptist Nominating Committee report called?
Answer: The Silence of the Lambs
Question: What is SWBTS trustee dissent?
Answer: Supercalifragilisticexpialodocious and cooperation
Question: Name two words Southern Baptists know with no actual meaning.
Answer: The Loch Ness Monster
Question: Who will they find sooner than a liberal Southern Baptist?
Answer: Beet Red
Question: The color of some faces in Texas and Virginia upon hearing President Page’s appointments.
Answer: “They are written by fools and read by imbeciles”
Question: How do extra-biblical requirements for ‘holiness’ become Baptist traditions?
Happy New Year to All!
Wade Burleson
42 comments:
Happy New Year!
#7 is mighty scary, but believable.
#8 & #9 - May God Provide.
Carnac: mighty funny!
Havea great, Godly year!
I always liked Carnac.
Pastor Wade,
It looks that you will be about 90% correct on your ten predictions, as after October 6th, number 6 will be impossible.
The last Carnac was the best...
Happy New Year
Wade,
Sometimes the future can seem so clear. But just remember the lesson of Pat Robertson, who declared that God would bring many hurricanes to lash our coasts in 2006. 2006 was the first year in a long time with no hurricanes.
The future can be tricky. However, to have come up with #6, you must have broken the IMB's rule of abstention :).
You guys are funny!
My personal "Carnac" favorite is the Lock Ness Monster.
:)
I love the optimism for '07...
Hey Wade, being the big Sooner dude that you are... I would assume you've dined at the Norman TexMex establishment, Tarahumara's?
Visiting my wife's family in Newcastle, we ate there...wow. I thought Ted's was the best, not anymore...
Have you found a better place?
Woo hoo.
Thanks for the tip.
We love Ted's, but will try out the new guy on the block.
I think the 2008 convention is in Indianapolis and the 2009 convention is here in Louisvile.
Do you think Mohler could be elected?
Thanks anon. You are correct.
wade
The Lock Ness monster was also my favorite. :)
It will be interesting to compare this post with actual events at the end of 2007. Whoa, I don't want to rush this year too fast, with each passing year, I'm a year older. :)
If #8 goes along with the beet red faces, I'll be very interested to see Dr. Page's appointments, especially those from Texas.
Wade,
are the Sooners really up to facing the Buckeyes in 2007? Careful what you ask for...our coach is a devote born again Christian and most importantly...a Southern Baptist!
wade,
this post....specifically the johnny carson thing....was anything but irenic. to call those of us who beleive that Jesus turned the water into grape juice are nuts...is....well....not nice.
to say that those who stand on extra biblical standards of holiness are fools and imbeciles is....well....not nice...not irenic. almost sounds like a mad, angry conservative.
if i had used the same words to describe someone who beleived in drinking liquor and who wants to widen the tent.....what would you have said to me? i am just trying to point out to you that when you get onto others for saying mean things, then we shouldnt turn right around and say mean, ugly things about others who dont agree with us. should we?
also, it will be the tn vols who run the table next year to win it all....dont know why you would even think red and sooner on that prophetic utterance. also, dont forget the ot teachings on a prophet who makes predictions that dont come true.....something about stoning....ha ha....
wade, are you coming to the identity conference at union univ.?
i will be there.
volfan007
wade,
also, i really pray that #3 will come true.
volfan007
Volfan,
In regard to the "fools and imbeciles" comment, I am glad that you see things that way. I agree completely. So does Wade. Dr. Malcolm Yarnell recently left a comment on SBC Outpost comparing his opponents in this debate in SBC life to "fools and imbeciles." Wade was obviously referring to that comment, although he might have given a link for those who would attribute those accusations directly to him. That is how I took it, anyway.
As for Tennessee, I am thinking it will be LSU, but as long as we keep it in the SEC, right?
Volfan,
Everybody has to laugh a little.
Alan is right. My friend read Dr. Malcolm's statement and at Marty's blog.
I'm thinking about going to the conference.
If I do, I'll buy you lunch!
:)
Fox,
Buckeyes are going down.
:)
Tarahumara's is the bomb! And LOTS less expensive than Ted's!
I also have to say that The Great Pyramid was another one that caused me to chuckle. :)
wade,
if you come to the conference, i'd be glad to buy you lunch. you name the type of food, and we'll go to the best place i know in jackson to eat it.
volfan007
So far Oklahoma's record in 2007 is 0-1.
Sorry Wade, as an SBC pastor near Boise State's QB's hometown, I was pulling for the Broncos.
Now Oklahoma can go undefeated in 2007.
May you have a happy and blessed 2007!
Wade wrote:
(6). The Oklahoma Sooners will go undefeated in 2007 and play in the BCS National Football Championship in 2008.
Sorry Wade, but OU has already lost one game this year. They will lose three games next season. Those games will be lost to: 1) OSU, 2) Texas & 3) one other team to be named later...
:-)
Wade:
I commiserate with you that Sooners are unwon this year (that's the opposited of undefeated, right?). And that they lost a close game after a courageous battle.
Reminds me of Alabama's last game. Of course, the Tide didn't have a head coach......
Wade:
It will be interesting to see how many of your predictions come true.
For those, like me, who are uninformed could you give us a brief idea of what the "Identity Conference" is about. Who is identifying with what?
I thought, after watching the USC vs Texas game last January for the National championship, that it was the greatest college game ever played, (I am not alone in that opinion). But last nights OU vs BSU may have come close to beating that game for competeitiveness and evenly matched great teams. Watching with my daughter (currently an OU student) with me cheering for the Boise State Bronos...it is a close second. Don't get me wrong, I was not happy to see OU lose, but with BSU being undefeated (13-0), I would like to see Florida beat Ohio State next week, and then lets talk about a playoff for college ball. I think OU would do exteremely well with a college playoff system. But how can the polls leave an unbeaten Boise State out of the National championship if they are the only unbeaten team in the nation...(Although I know they will) that will give all the more ammo for a playoff. If it were not for that factor I would have been cheering for OU...But as for Wades prediction...Watch out for Kansas State in the Bg 12 championship next year...(My prediction) that will derail the unbeaten 07...but knowing the BCS...they will get beat by KSU and go to the national championship game anyway...lol...that is the system we have with the BCS...not far from what we have in the SBC...hhhmmmmmm.
All in good humor...Bob Stoops is still the best coach in the nation and is deserving of every accolade he has recieved.
Jeff Rogers
ho, hum-
It's interesting to listen to all the fans of wanna be athletic program as they differ over their "cute" little athletic programs. After Florida plays next week we'll have competed in national championships in the three major sport (baseball, basketball and football) within the last three years. All this talk about other programs just helps me to sit back and smile about our Florida greatness.
I said it's....great....to be....a....FLORIDA GATOR!!!!!
Dear Brother Wade,
I'm sorry, I cannot comment on last night's game and the prospects for this Fall. "For me, the grief is still too near."
Love in Christ,
Jeff
Micah: Yeah, but could they play in the snow. And still win. That's what makes a champ IMO. LOL
Micah - I, too am a Florida Gator. Having graduated with a bachelors degree from UF, later a law degree from UF, and having met my wife there. Both of my kids were born in Gainesville. I certainly share your enthusiasm. However, you might know that we Gator fans have a reputation for being arrogant and offensive, so I cringe at your criticizing other programs as "cute" and "wanna be." Oklahoma has several national football championships by the way, and you are only giving all the readers more reasons to be a "gator hater." I certainly don't want to see Florida alums excluded from serving on IMB boards for reasons of arrogance and offensiveness.
Final Score: Florida 31 Ohio State 30
johnjaxthebaptist-
You're absolutely right about the arrogance of Florida fans. Ours is a history that is certainly filled with success, but it's also recent success. Programs like Oklahoma are representative of years of tremendous success.
My comment was not intended to appear arrogant. It WAS, however, intended to get a "rise" out of fans of other institutions! As a Gator fan living in the middle of (aaaack) Big Twelve country, it's nice to have the chance to trumpet our program!
I appreciate greatness in any form, even though I may really, really dislike the teams that represent that greatness (read:Ohio State). I admire OK, USC, Ohio State and others for their success and I'm thankful for the chance to be a fan of a great program as well.
In the end, however, regardless of the success of other programs I'm still convinced that ours is the best. I'm also reminded that dislike of a program generally only happens when said program becomes successful in their field. (in other words, I don't know of many Missouri State University haters out there :-).
So, next week - win or lose - I'll sit back, enjoy the game and sing "We are the boys from Old Florida" as I root (with you) for the greatest program in the country! :-)
I thought both teams played well and it was a shame that one of them had to lose.
It now puts me in the awkward position of wanting Florida to win, simply to foul up the best laid plans of the BCS and open up the opportunity for Boise State to carry off the other half of a split national title, like USC did with LSU three years ago.
I would not be surprised if OU finds itself in position to challenge for a national title next season, particularly considering its head coach, and I wouldn't be surprised if, within the next couple of years, the Stoops brothers face each other on opposite sides of the field in a major bowl or BCS championship game.
I did more research to find out what the "Identify Conference" in February is.
I hope they put up the audio stream -- either live or delayed -- on the Internet. I really think a lot hangs in the balance in the next 12 to 24 months.
Wade, Hi Pege here.
First of all....GO PENN STATE!!
Now that we got that straight...
...I agree totally with you about the bombing of Iran by Israel in the spring. What is your opinion about the politcal fall out....(not nuclear fall out)....against Israel. What will the U.S. do?? What will Christians do?What will dispensationalists think?I'm curious of your thoughts.
JOYOUS NEW YEAR!!
Jeff,
All great questions.
Since I love Israel as a nation, but come nowhere close being a dispensationalist, I would have to simply say the U.S. simply should support Israel for the sake of democracy in the Middle East.
I think we will.
Wade,
“Answer: The Loch Ness Monster.
Question: Who will they find sooner than a liberal Southern Baptist?”
That’s funny, but true if it is a REAL liberal, but not so true for SO-CALLED liberals or so-called ‘Conspiracy Theorists.’
BTW, do you have some ‘device’ to identify someone who makes a comment as “anonymous”?
Rex Ray
Rex,
I do not have such a device. I do appreciate your keen analysis, and though we do not agree on everything, you and I are a lot alike --- a little bulldog blood in the both of us. :)
David,
If you understand Jesus' words -- let me say that again 'Jesus'' words --- my kingdom is not of this world" to mean what they say, then you have no problem with man's words, whether it be Darby, Scofield, or any other disensationalist being subordinate to our Lord's words. :)
steve gaines is a Godly man who grew up in dyersburg, tn, and he loves the Lord and pastors bellevue baptist church at the present. why do you ask?
volfan007
deu,
its a long story, but it all seemed to start when jim whitmire, the music minister for a long time, was asked to step aside so that steve could bring in his man. that's the way people perceived it anyway. and, some people got very upset about that. also, steve is not dr. adrian rogers. he is steve gaines. and, some people couldnt handle that steve was not dr. rogers. dr. rogers was at bellevue for 30 years or something, and he was very much loved. and, it's always hard to follow a legend.
i would say that's where it pretty much got started, and all the rest is a result of what i told you above.
volfan007
Hi Wade, Pege again. If Israel "nukes" Iran do you think it will cause a crisis in people's escatology?
If so how?
Israel would be the agressor and reap the world's "wrath" even though in truth it is protecting itself because the P.M. of Iran has vowed to annihalate Israel. As a sovereign nation it does have a right to protect itself. I agree the U.S. should support it as an ally, I hope we do.
Pege,
I honestly don't know, but you ask an interesting question.
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