THESE ARE PERILOUS TIMES!
CHRISTIANS MUST BE VIGILANT
Satan is out to destroy Christians and their families!
Let us not be too proud to HUMBLE OURSELVES
Under the Mighty Hand of God!
I Peter 5:6-11
YES, WE WERE ON THE ROAD AGAIN!
I SUPPOSE I SHOULD SAY "IN THE SKY!" PERHAPS A MORE ACCURATE TERM
WOULD BE "IN THE AIRPORT!" For that is exactly where my husband and I,
as well as PASTOR SOLOMON JOAH, sat, walked, and ate for four hours
waiting for our plane to Philadelphia. That was at Chicago's MIDWAY.
Yes, I did say with Pastor St. Solomon Joah, our West African
Pastor-friend whom you, along with other BIBLE FOR TODAY friends, have
supported all these years.
The DEAN BURGON SOCIETY'S TWENTY-THIRD YEAR!
ORDER THE VIDEOS & THE AUDIO TAPES TODAY
ORDER INDIVIDUALS SPEAKERS BY NAME OF SPEAKER
YES, WE WERE RETURNING FROM THE TWENTY-THIRD ANNUAL MEETING OF THE DEAN
BURGON SOCIETY. It was held at the INDEPENDENT BAPTIST CHURCH on 15650
Sunfish Lake Blvd. N.W., Ramsey, MN 55303 from July 18-19, 2001.
(763-421-3050) How delightful to be with those dear people again--a
congregation that has paid the price for its Biblical, separatist,
fundamental stand! There were about eighteen DBS speakers. Personally,
I've lost track of the exact number! I heard every one of them and am
"paying the price" right now, as I write to you, with physical
exhaustion. I'm not as young as I used to be. I should have had sense
enough go back to the motel the second afternoon like some others did.
I thought of it, but didn't remember how to get to the motel by myself.
By the time I thought of getting a ride with someone, it was too late.
Oh well, as least I can tell you that I heard every one of the
speakers. In fact, I even relieved son, DAN WAITE, from his videoing
position that afternoon, as well as a couple other sessions during that
full conference "In Defense Of Traditional Bible Texts," but--I must be
honest--Dan did the majority of the videoing. I HOPE YOU ORDER THEM!
(BFT #3037VC1-3 VIDEOS @ $35.00 + $5.00 S&H & BFT #3037/1-10 AUDIOS @
$28.00 + $4.00 S&H) or two of them. As usual, the speakers were
excellent. Don't ask me what they exactly said as I was in a fog and my
ankles were beginning to swell! When I look at the videos in future
months, I'll recall what I've forgotten. That will be good!
DAN WAITE, GARY WEBB, & PETER LOPEZ
Yes, besides videoing DAN WAITE'S message, I think I did PASTOR GARY WEBB's talk BY EVERY WORD. He's from North Carolina. I enjoy hearing
him speak, don't you? Also, I videoed a young man by the name of PETER
LOPEZ. He's special to Harriet and Douglas Nielson. Mr. Nielson is on
the DBS Adviisory Council. The Nielsons are from Minnesota, just around
the corner from the host church. Say--they didn't have far to drive to
come to the meetings, did they? While wintering in Texas some place
they met young Peter, told him about the DEAN BURGON SOCIETY, and about
HERITAGE BAPTIST COLLEGE in Greenwood, Indiana. Remember that college?
It is near Indianapolis. Peter goes there now and likes it! DBS was
there a couple of years ago. Anyhow, young Mr. Lopez gave a stirring
exhortation on A Truthless Generation. He keeps one's attention with
his loud delivery and snapping fingers!
Yes indeed, I videoed DANIEL WAITE's TALK ON TENSE SENSE. I thought
that a unique title. He pointed out the various tenses in the KING
JAMES BIBLE which should be reflected from the Greek to the English like
the present tense, the aorist tense, and the perfect tense. The epistle
of I JOHN was used for this illustration. I didn't know it before, but
in discussing the subject with my husband (D. A. Waite), he explained
that this "tense" business is one of the reasons that it is good to know
the Greek language or to use the Greek interliniers, etc. to understand
what the original Greek language in the New Testament actually says,
because sometimes the exact "tense" and the meaning is better understood
in the actual language God breathed out when He inspired His words to
make up the Scriptures. Remember--that was when Holy Men spake as they
were moved by the Holy Ghost (2 Peter 1:21).
D. A. WAITE, SR., DON JASMIN, & DAVID CLOUD
Oh yes, I videoed my husband! That way, if anything goes wrong, it is
my fault. (Ha!) Dr. Waite always speaks last, you know. His subject
was TEN REASONS WHY THE DEAN BURGON SOCIETY DESERVES ITS NAME. In case
you have not ordered his latest book--the Wedgewood blue one with John
William Burgon's picture etched in white on the cover, do so today!
(BFT#PB1847 @ $6.00 + $3.00 S&H) Get several of them! Dr. Waite spoke on
Thursday evening after Dr. Don Jasmin's talk on PRESERVATION--FAITH,
FACT, and FELLOWSHIP. Dr. Jasmin spoke with much feeling and conviction
of heart. He writes and edits THE FUNDAMENTAL DIGEST.
Preceding the Jasmin talk, DAVID CLOUD of Oklahoma and soon to be of
Nepal took his turn at the podium. He does an outstanding job in his
news magazine, O TIMOTHY. Both of these magazines expose and inform
concerning current trends in and out of fundamentalism as well as recent
religious leanings among men and movements of the "cloth." Rev. Cloud
had excellent overhead transparencies proving, at our DBS meetings, that
old-time fundamentalists and Bible-believing preachers stood for the
RECEIVED TEXT and the King James Bible. He gave long quotes from Dean
Burgon and Rev. Dabney, men of another century, and then several
fundamentalists in the early 1900's who were strong for the KING JAMES
BIBLE and its underlying texts. His message was called OLD-TIME
FUNDAMENTALISTS FOR THE KJB. These overhead transparencies are soon to
be in a VIDEO which will answer MARK MINNICK'S slick tract about TRUSTED
VOICES ON TRANSLATIONS. He is the Minnick who is Pastor of a
Greenville, SC church and teacher at Bob Jones University. Minnick
writes about dead people who he says knocked the King James Bible! The
quotes are not always complete. The people, including Frances Havergal,
whom I know something about, can't answer for themselves. He uses no
quotation marks to indicate exact quotations from these dead people.
ORDER MY HUSBAND'S RECENT 30-MINUTE RADIO PRO- GRAMS ON THIS SUBJECT
(BFT #3038/1-3 @ $9.00 + $2.00 S&H).
BARNETT, HOLLOWOOD, & WAITE, JR.
YES, DR. BOB BARNETT of Grayling, Michigan was there. He was the
keynote speaker. I don't know what we'd do without him in the DEAN
BURGON SOCIETY. HE HAS BEEN THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR SEVERAL YEARS. His
topic was PRACTICAL PROMISES OF PRESERVATION! REV. DAVID HOLLOWOOD
of New Holland, PA spoke the second year on the subject INSPIRATION ON
INSPIRATION #2. He told me that he departed greatly from his written
script because he was so exercised by the recently published book out of
CENTRAL SEMINARY called ONE BIBLE ONLY? with Roy Beacham & Kevin T.
Bauder as general editors. It is published by KREGEL PUBLICATIONS and
copyrighted by Beacham. And to think, KREGEL ceased publishing DAVID
OTIS FULLER'S Books with their pro-KING JAMES position to take up with
the likes of this book. SHAME! Kevin Bauder takes off in several areas
against truths that the DBS stands for. In fact, he wields his sword
against my husband's views several times--sometimes mentioned Dr.
Waite's name and sometimes not. Dr. Waite is often footnoted, yet often
his research is not footnoted. (But that's becoming a popular thing for
book writers to do these days in this country, the Far East, and
abroad.) My husband says that much of the book is a rehash (my words)
of Central Seminary's former book, The Bible Version Debate. Four of
the five chapters in this new book appeared in the former book. My
husband has answered this book in his CENTRAL SEMINARY REFUTED ON BIBLE
VERSIONS (B.F.T. #2926 @ $10.00 + $4.00 S&H). You should listen to Mr.
Hollowood's message!
Then the talk by our oldest son, D. A. WAITE, JR.--long time of
Maryland--gave a fascinating encouragement on THE USE OF INTERLINEARS.
Remember, he is the author of the footnotes to THE DEFINED KING JAMES
BIBLE. He passed out work sheets for us to follow as he explained his
points, one being that everyone with a computer should get a program
like the ON-LINE BIBLE as a study-tool for sermon and lesson
preparations, or for just plain personal devotional use of the Bible. I
think you'll appreciate his advice when you hear or view Mr. Waite's
message.
DOOM, DEWITT, & HENDRICKS
Yes, DR. BOB DOOM of North Carolina was there! This voice for the
RUSSIAN BIBLE SOCIETY challenged us to beware of the new Southern
Baptist Broadman/Holman Bible with his message on THE HOLMAN Christian
Standard Bible PERVERSION. My husband has been watching that version
also. Just this summer at another King James Bible Seminar in Georgia,
he and his class compared about 25 verses of the Broadman/Holman Bible
with the King James Bible and the original languages. I went with my
husband to the area but stayed in the motel working on one of my
projects. (I've heard my husband before--ha!) In fact, Dr. Waite has
written a small booklet called HOLES IN THE HOLMAN BIBLE (BFT #2966 @
$2.00 + $2.00 S&H). You should take a peek at it so you can be
informed. MAKE PLANS EARLY TO BE WITH US!
By the way, DR. BOB DOOM has invited the DEAN BURGON SOCIETY to meet
with him at his church in North Carolina next year. It is in
ASHEVILLE. The dates will be Wednesday and Thursday, July 24-25, 2002.
After the Doom dogma, DR. ED DEWITT gave us food for thought with his
wit and wisdom on the King James Version debate. He is a Vietnam
veteran and is suffering from the effect of AGENT ORANGE in his body.
In fact he told me at the lunch table the first day, that he probably
will have to go on disability this year. Talk about a life sacrificed
for others! Get DR. DEWITT's DBS address! You'll laugh and you'll
listen! PASTOR BILL HENDRICKS of Illinois always renders a practical
application to the textual subject. This year was no different. His
title was THE APPEARANCE OF AGE.
ROSE, LA MORE, & BROWN
Yes, DR. TOM ROSE made it from South Dakota again this year. I'd
forgotten that he'd had a terrible motorcycle accident on the way home
from last year's meeting. It is only by the grace of God that he is
alive. His helmet saved him! But a little thing like a Velcro on its
strap kept his neck from being broken. As he flew off the bike and
landed on his head, the strap released and saved his neck from being
broken. His subject for us was THE BIBLE AND THE CHURCH. He has a good
delivery!
DR. GARY LA MORE from the Toronto, Canada territory gave us a CRITIQUE
OF THE UNITED BIBLE SOCIETY'S GREEK TEXT. He showed the UBS
inconsistencies in their Greek New Testament. Some of what he said will
be in the 2001 DEAN BURGON MESSAGE BOOK. Dr. LaMore is a prolific
writer and student of history. .
I was very impressed with DR. DAVID BROWN'S talk on ROOTS OF OUR
ENGLISH BIBLE. This Wisconsin pastor had wonderful overhead
transparencies with pictures and pertinent words describing them and his
subject. He really is a student and his presentation proves it. Being
a wife of someone who researches, I know the work behind the scenes it
takes to come up with such a presentation. I think he may be writing a
book. BE SURE TO GET HIS MESSAGE!
DIVIETRO, GRASSER, & NICHOLS
Yes, DR. KIRK DIVIETRO, a student and computer whiz, spoke on
SEPARATION AND BIBLE VERSIONS. This Massachusetts pastor prodded us to
conclude that it may be time for fundamentalists to separate from those
who use another version of the Bible that is not based on the RECEIVED
GREEK TEXT and the MASORETIC HEBREW. That's the kind that underlie the
King James Bible. And of course, we in the Dean Burgon Society feel
that the KING JAMES BIBLE is the best and only accurate rendering of
those original language texts. There is a rumor running around,
unfortunately starting within our own ranks, that we might be changing
versions or approving of some easy reading version. This is absolutely
false and upsets me no end to think that someone encouraged such
falsehood without checking with my husband first before sounding off
publicly by voice and/or by letters.
Yes, I must tell you about MR. TED GRASSER from Wisconsin. If you have
seen either the BIBLE FOR TODAY web page (www.biblefortoday.org ) or
the DEAN BURGON SOCIETY'S WEB PAGE (www.DeanBurgonSociety.org),
you have
seen his beautiful work. We are so proud to have him part of our
Internet team! Anyhow, he spoke on CHRISTIAN USE OF THE INTERNET.
Parts of his talk were sort-of technical but very informative.
Then there was the message by the host pastor, CHARLES NICHOLS. He
spoke about the word , words, and message in the Word of God. The
embarrassing thing about his talks was: we almost didn't hear him.
Somehow in planning the schedule, his name was omitted. My husband
realized this in the middle of one afternoon session and told Pastor
Nichol he would be preaching in a couple hours. Quickly the pastor went
to his study to resurrect his message which was full of good thoughts
and a challenge from the Scriptures. He showed how God had preserved
his WORDS, and not merely His thoughts, ideas, and concepts. Get the
tape and be blessed!
A WEST AFRICAN PASTOR WITH US
ST. SOLOMON JOAH PREACHED AT DBS IN RAMSEY, MN &
AT OUR BIBLE FOR TODAY BAPTIST CHURCH HERE IN COLLINGSWOOD
Yes, it was a joy to have our Liberian pastor/friend with us! He spoke
at the DBS meetings on Thursday morning on the subject BATTLE OF THE NEW
VERSIONS IN AFRICA. He just beamed as he told of the blessings of the
Lord in his life and church. He told of his stand for Biblical
fundamentalism where few care to be so bold and true to the Word. His
reverence for the King James Bible and its underlying texts would bless
your heart. He boldly proclaims the textual truths in a country where
the King James is a fading version. Because of your help to our BIBLE
FOR TODAY missions fund, we are able to send gifts to Pastor Joah so he
can proclaim his VOICE OF FUNDAMENTALISM on three Liberian radio
stations. It is beamed to surrounding West African countries! What an
opportunity to tune the West African ear to all facets of the
fundamentalist cause. Sad to say ELWA, the "Christian" radio station
there in Liberia took his program off the air because it was too
controversial. I wonder how Peter and Paul would have fared on their
wavelength with their proper name calling and holy boldness. If you
want to contribute to the BFT missions' fund, feel free. Just mark it
"MISSIONS FUND."
Pastor Joah arrived in the United States on July 12th after a
close call with the U.S. EM- BASSY in Liberia. They did not want him to
come. In fact, they would not let Mrs. Joah come at all. We tried
everything! My husband and a lawyer friend even went to our
congressman. To no avail! The embassy is afraid that the Liberians
would not return to their country. As you remember, Liberia is
war-torn, has little electricity, few conveniences, absolutely awful
roads, and is always threatened by African rebel violence of one sort or
another.
Yes, He preached in our church here at 900 Park Avenue on July 15th to
a packed house. We had fifty packed into our living room. Every chair
was filled and we were prepared for fifteen or twenty more to spill into
the hall and the dinning room. So there is always room for you, too, if
you want to taste and see what it's like at BIBLE FOR TODAY BAPTIST
CHURCH. Pastor Joah's text was taken from Hebrews 12. You have to get
these two tapes! (BFT #3039/1-2 $ $7.00+ $2.00 S&H) We have it on
video, too. (BFT #3039VCR @ $15+$4 S&H) I think my husband is making up
a special video, ALL OF PASTOR JOAH , (BFT #3040VCR @ $15+$4 S&H) which
will not only have his sermon, but also the QUESTION & ANSWER TIME we
enjoyed that afternoon during our usual 1:30 P.M. BIBLE STUDY time slot
on Sunday afternoons after lunch. Maybe Pastor Waite will put other
Joah questions and testimonies on the video also. Get it. You'll like
it!
DBS WOMEN HAD JOYCE NICHOLS & YVONNE WAITE
Yes, the host pastor's wife gave a compelling devotional to us women
while the men met in executive session first thing on Wednesday morning
at the DBS gathering in Ramsey. It was on the use of "words" in our
daily lives. Then the women were stuck with me again because TIANGAY
JOAH couldn't make it! Not being prepared to talk on the TEXT, I spoke
about BRUCE WILKINSON'S popular booklet, THE PRAYER OF JABEZ. Breaking
Through to the Blessed Life. (BFT #3037/10 @ $4.00 + $2.00 S&H) Dallas
Theological Seminary is giving a copy of the "Jabez" book to everyone
who sends them a donation. Did you know that 6.6 million of that tiny
"how-to" book have been sold? I spoke about it on my radio broadcast
"JUST FOR WOMEN" in June (JFW # 13, @ $4.00 + $2.00 S&H) Readers of the
book are encouraged to pray this Jewish Old Testament prayer for thirty
days and wonderful things will happen to them. Mr. Wilkinson has been
praying it for thirty years!--and look what has happened to him. Poor
Jabez--he only prayed it once!
I'm under God's care, are you?
Yvonne Sanborn Waite ( Peter 5:6-11)
FOUR QUESTION & ANSWER SESSIONS
My husband's first assignment was the combined Sunday School Class full
of all the adults and older young people, including the college students
from FAIRHAVEN BAPTIST COLLEGE. There were about nine hundred people
there. At first Pastor VOEGTLIN and his staff were dubious if QUESTION
& ANSWERS would go over with his church. This is often the fear of many
pastors. To the delight and edification of all, questions kept
coming--good questions--with Dr. Waite answering with good answers and
limiting himself to two minutes per answer. You'll have to get the
"FAIRHAVEN QUESTION & ANSWER TAPES"! (BFT # )
As the conference continued, my husband not only gave two excellent
defenses of the Text that underlies the King James Bible and the Bible
itself; but also he had three more sessions of Q & A! I wish you could
have been there. One of the sessions was in the college library and it
was outstanding. There must have been seventy-five (mostly men) asking
pop-corn questions. The other church and conference sessions had a
thousand or more, depending on the day; but there was something about
the Library group!--the feel, the look, the intensity! Oh, I nearly
forgot about the Q&A in the Greek Class. Those men, under the direction
of their teacher, Mr. Dan Amacost, had been saving up questions for
several weeks to ask Dr. Waite. I wasn't in that class. Had to have
some time to wash my hair!
WHY DON'T YOU COME TO OUR JUNE KJB SEMINAR?
June 12-14, 2001 Right here in Collingswood, New Jersey.
CALL TODAY! 1-800-JOHN 10:9
ORDER THE FAIRHAVEN TAPES AN ANSWER TO THE "MIND OF MAN" BOOK
TWO LECTURES & FOUR Q&A AUDIOS
You must get the tapes--sorry no videos (I just get too tired!)--of the
two teaching sessions with overhead transparencies, AS WELL AS THE FOUR
QUESTION & ANSWERS SESSIONS (BFT# .) The first
lecture was Sunday night. Ask for
" " (BFT
# ).
We were told there were 1,800 on Tuesday night, that was the first
actual night of the conference when the people and pastors from all over
came, as well as the church and college regulars. That night my husband
gave his "TIGER BOOK" (BFT # ) which is an answer
to THE MIND OF GOD AND THE MIND OF MAN book pushed by many uniformed
fundamentalists. GET THE AUDIO TAPE! (BFT
# )
Remember--that's the book that tries to neutralize people's Bible text
stand. By the way, it never defends the Textus Receptus position at
all--only the Nestle Alan, United Bible Society texts (modified Westcott
and Hort texts) and the Majority Text. (You have to watch it--because
in the olden days when my husband first began this learning and his
defense of the TR, the TR was also called the Majority Text; but since
Hodges's , Farstad's, Pickering's, Pierpoint's, & Robinson's works, the
Textus Receptus defenders must not use the term "majority text"
anymore. See the tract my husband wrote for the Dean Burgon Society
several years ago. "Why the Majority Text is not the TR?????????? BFT
# . .
Getting back to the "Mind Book"--perhaps you have noticed some changes
in the third edition. No longer can one read the Revised Standard
Version on the front cover. The words are blurred now. I am sure that
was not an accident! The accident was that it was in the first printing
at all--or was it? Then we noticed different people are endorsers in
this edition that weren't in the other editions; and, for some reason,
Virginia Beach's Dr. Rod Bell's name is missing. Remember all that
flack at the close of last school year when it was reported in O TIMOTHY
that Pastor Bell didn't really want his camp of fundamentalist to know
he didn't want to endorse the book? (It gets a little confusing,
doesn't it?) Also, Mark Simmons' name is gone; but his chapter is there
under different authorship--now it is the authored by "the committee."
I'm wondering did "the committee" write it in the first place or did
Mark Simmons?. (By the way some of our sons and daughter knew him at BJU. He was one of the "darlings" along with Mark Minnick. And they
probably are "darling," too. There's really nothing wrong with being a
"darling" as long as it doesn't go to one's head! God has a way of
shrinking our heads, doesn't He?)
FAIRHAVEN BAPTIST COLLEGE
To be perfectly honest, I knew nothing personally about FAIRHAVEN
BAPTIST COLLEGE except through a small paper that comes to our house
from that school. I usually look it over and skim Pastor Voegtlin's
sermons. I'd heard of a couple of preachers who had preached in his
church; but knew nothing else. So it was a pleasant surprise when I saw
the campus which is a part of the large church complex. It is
beautiful. Dr. Waite and I stayed in the prophets chamber. It is in
the boy's dorm. Both the boys and the girls dorms over-look a man-
made lake. They are built in the Tudor style of architecture, I
believe. (I'm making that up--but that's what I think.) It is
lovely! We saw over two hundred students, neat as a pin, walking
around the place. It is a Bible College. The degrees offered are in
Pastoral Theology, Music, Greek, Missions, Elementary and secondary
education, and Bible. There is a two year church/School Secretarial
course. I hope that men are encouraged to be in that course.
MEN NEEDED AS CHURCH SECRETARIES
As you know, I wish Bible colleges would encourage men to be church
office assistants and college secretaries. They should be paid good
wages so family men will see this type of job as an opportunity to serve
the Lord full time. Much of the time the church secretary practically
runs the church. Why shouldn't this position be a man's work? Wouldn't
that be the Scriptural posture to take? Did the Apostle Paul run around
with a woman handwriting his epistles for him? This way Christian women
would be freed to stay at home or do other work not involving a day to
day closeness to a man who isn't her husband!. Thus, the would-be
adulteress would be staying out of another women's home--especially the
male church workers' homes. But I don't hear much about this subject at
all from the pulpits. In fact, I NEVER hear anyone talk about this but
me. I write about this in my booklet MARRIAGE DEFRAUDING AND OTHER
MATTERS ESPECIALLY FOR WOMEN, page 38. (BFT #2868 @ $2.00 + S&H)
FELLOWSHIP WITH THE VOEGTLINS Both my husband and I enjoyed the fellowship with Pastor Roger Voegtlin, his family, his staff, and visiting preachers at the
conference. I ESPECIALLY ENJOYED MEETING THE WOMEN IN THE PEW. Got to
know Angela from Georgia--she was darling! And Rose Mundo who let me sit
by her Sunday night. Even though the church is very large, it was
difficult to find a seat. Rose moved over and we had a delightful
visit. There were other women with whom I visited but do not remember
their names. Good meeting Mrs. Jean Hoover from Union Grove,
Wisconsin. I had met her husband last year at Christ Independent
Baptist Church in Philadelphia where my husband had been teaching on
Monday evenings at an inner-city Bible school for several years. He
wanted me to meet Jean because we have been married about the same
number of years. Would like to mention that I was impressed with the
friendliness of Mrs. Voegtlin. She introduced herself to us and led us
to the car so we could eat our Sunday dinner with them. I go to many
churches where the preacher's wife does not speak to me. Often I have
to hunt her out in order to meet her
MET THE COLLEGE ADMINISTRATORS , TOO
My husband spent many minutes privately talking with the Pastor of
Fairhaven Baptist Church covering several subjects of interest to both
of them, and I was with them both in the car alone, one time, long
enough to ask questions. One afternoon we were able to spend sufficient
time with the pastor's son, Pastor Jeff Voegtlin who is the
vice-president and Dean of Education of the school. I asked him many
questions regarding the school, his work, and his life. He is also the
conductor of the church's fifty-five piece church orchestra. It is most
unusual for a church to have such an orchestra, I think. I was
personally blessed by the church choir which sings the old fashioned
hymns in a beautiful way. The special vocalist and singing groups were
unusually good and abundant.
My husband met all the college administration. Come to think of it, I
am not sure if he met the dean of women or not. Mr. Dan Armacost is a
dedicated man as the college's Dean of Bible. You would like him. He
has a beautiful wife named Jennifer who is the church organist. By the
way, the church has two pianos. Why not? This way many who play the
piano have the opportunity to do so in a church setting. Why not pass
this opportunity for those with talent for all to enjoy? Some church
pianist seem to be chained to the church piano, and woe be to anyone who
tries to take play that piano--that's often true of church soloists,
too. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THIS SCHOOL, DROP A LINE TO 86 EAST OAK
HILL ROAD, CHESTERTON, INDIANA 46304, or call 1-800-SEE-FHBC or E-MAIL:
FBCinfo@CleanInter.net.
A DASH TO NEW ORLEANS
...CONTINUED...
OUR WELCOMED RESPONSE
I can't tell you when I've had so much response to one of my UPDATES.
It's been a long time since my readers have written so! I really
enjoyed the letters and phone calls responding to the MARCH/APRIL 20001 BFT UPDATE where
I told about our trip to NEW ORLEANS, on that warm February 2001 afternoon that Dr. Waite
and I spent at the D-DAY MUSEUM on Magazine Street in New Orleans. It must have
struck some kind of memory chord in my readers hearts! Let me share some of the
comments with you: A pastor from Michigan wrote that his wife and he went to New
Orleans just to see the museum!
"We ate lunch at a restaurant in the French Quarter on Bourbon Street
and neither us were able to finish our meals. I ordered a plate of
Cajun Crayfish for the first time. The streets were narrow and dirty,
the sights, sounds and smells were offensive. . . .Neither of us want to
go to New Orleans again."
Another pastor wrote:
"I just finished reading of your trip to New Orleans. It brought back
memories. I attended the Southern Baptist Seminary there. I didn't
know that your dear husband had been a Military Chaplain. I, too, was
an Air Force Chaplain. In fact--his and my backgrounds are so very much
alike. He has more formal training than I do; but I have about fifty
hours (college and seminary) in Classic and Koine Greek, of course, from
the Westcott-Hort position. I have done much additional studies to
"unlearn" most of what my unworthy teachers taught."
A former New Jerseyan:
"Your trip to New Orleans bought back memoirs to John [her husband], Before Christmas
1942, he had some basic training in New Orleans. They were only there two to three
months. He and some of the fellows went to a restaurant where they had oysters like
they had never had before or after that time. . . .John especially enjoyed reading about
your visit to the D-Day museum" My mother's cousin (in her nineties) wrote from Ohio:
"When we were in New Orleans, we ate in the French Quarter. We
thought we were going through a door to get inside a restaurant; but it
was an open ceiling, outside dining area--a real flower & plant garden.
Really beautiful! Then coming back home (we were pulling a camper), we
ate fish and hush puppies upon the levy by the Mississippi River
Louisiana. We followed and crossed the river every time we could till
we got to Cairo, Illinois. There we found an agate on the beach and
became rock-hounds and hunted for gem stones everywhere we went."
For something to talk about with my dentist--I often tell him about our
trips; but I can never top him in travels, for he has been everywhere
that I have been and more, it seems--except to church that is! (Believe
me I try!) Of course, all conversation stops when he put those gadget
in my mouth. Then I am limited to a grunt or a gargle. His response
to my "We've been to New Orleans!" was most interesting. His
impression of New Orleans was that it was the dirtiest, worst place he
has ever been. I asked him, "WHY?" He said that in the middle of the
morning people were drunk, staggering, throwing up, as well as passed
out on the sidewalks of Bourbon Street. I couldn't verify his findings
as my husband and I didn't walk there--only saw a glance of it from a
tour bus.
WHAT IS MARDI GRAS?
When we made plans to go to New Orleans, we never thought of the Mardi
Gras. Were we ever glad that we missed it! The first parade was the
very night of the afternoon we left the city! Talk about good timing!
The reason we chose the week of February 6th was because it was my
birthday! We saw the reviewing stands in various parts of the city and
suburbs decorated in the Mardi Gras colors: PURPLE for JUSTICE, GREEN
for FAITH, GOLD for POWER. Houses had wreaths and banners flaming in
preparation for the celebration. I must admit it was pretty. Neither
Dr. Waite nor I knew much about Mardi Gras. The words are French for
"fat Tuesday."
I asked a driver, "What was the attraction of Mardi Gras?" He said
something about "getting beads!" This didn't make any sense to us.
Beads? He said that the goal of the crowds of people who lined the
parade streets was to get beads. Thousands of beads (and something else
I've forgotten--maybe coins) were thrown to the cheering "peasants"
from the hands of the "elite" riding the floats. The goal was to grab
as many strings of beads as possible and put them around your neck. It
reflects back to another era when high people like kings and rulers
would deign to throw something of value to the common folk. There is
some kind of personal achievement today to have one's neck lined with
those baubles. During that pre-Lenten season, people stand near or sit
on temporary constructed viewing stands to watch the parades go by.
Decorative, gaudy floats pass daily crowds of hysterical people
preparing for the start of the so-called religious season of Lent.
Rex--like a winning captain in the Philadelphia mummer parade--appears
as the Lord of Misrule on his magnificent float, gloating over his
kingdom.. What a drunken religious travesty. The Bible tells us that
"pure religion" and "undefiled before God" is to visit the fatherless
and widows in their affliction , and to keep himself unspotted from the
world. (James 1:27).
AN HISTORIC ANTEBELLUM PLANTATION
KEEPING THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER OUT One afternoon we took a BUS & WALKING TOUR to an historic
"working" sugar plantation named EVERGREEN--the South's largest
Antebellum plantation. (Antebellum means before the civil war.) We
were told that it was recently opened to the public. I don't know how
recent "recently" really means because its picture is in all the
brochures along with "non-recent" listings. (Ha!) A very wealthy
woman--whose names escapes me at this writing--lives in this antebellum
plantation when she is not living in one of her many other houses.
(It's awful but I can't remember the details--we went there in February
and it is now May and I've seen and heard so much since then. But I
think she is an heir to an oil magnet's fortune. I wonder how she is
making out in this recent stock market plunge, and I wonder what her
capital gains were this income tax year!) The original builder designed
the second floor to be the living quarters and in what we would call the
first floor, was the basement. You see, the Mississippi River lives
across the street from the EVERGREEN and it often overflowed, not only
visiting the vast front yards of the plantations in the area, but also
it came uninvited into the first floors; but now there is a hill or
large mound of grass on the shores of the mighty River keeping this
uninvited guests away from the home. Those grass hills are rather like
dikes, I suppose you could say; but in spire of them, the River
sometimes comes "a-calling." Now the owner has the first floor
furnished but not carpeted, of course, because of the intruding water.
CREOLE CHANGED TO GEORGIAN ARCHITECTURE
Originally the house was built in the 1700 in the Creole style, but
later after another son of an owner, when he became the owner,
refurbished the place into the Georgian style of architecture like
Independence Hall. In fact, he was influenced to this design because of
a visit to Philadelphia. (I live fifteen or twenty minutes from the
Liberty Bell in Philadelphia. Was not there recently though, when that
man with the unkempt hair and natty beard decided to pound "the bell"
with a hammer.) In case you have forgotten, "Georgian architecture has
symmetry, or balance, in design, and restrained but bold ornament based
on classic forms. . . .imposing main doors, ornamental cornices, . . .
.chimneys distributed equally on both sides. . .a central block with
symmetrical wings."(THE WORLD BOOK ENCYCLOPEDIA) The style takes its
name from the Georges (I, II, II) who reigned in England.
TWO STAIRCASES FOR MODESTY
Strange to say, the inside of the house itself is very disappointing.
Turns out that Creole style of architecture is small, very plain, and
crowded. Imagine if you can a book case, like you would have in a
child's room, with about five shelves in it. Turn it on the side so the
shelves are perpendicular rather than horizontal--000-la--you have a
Creole house! (Of course it would be bigger than the book shelf! Plus,
this owner had turned the "basement" into living quarters.) EVERGREEN
is mostly Georgian porches--front and back--across the length of the
house and two mammoth staircases going up each side of the front of the
house facing the Mississippi River which you can't see anymore because
of the "green hill." We were told that double staircases were often
used so men and women would go up separate stairs. After all it
wouldn't be nice for a man to gaze indiscretely at a woman' ascending
the steps ahead of him, and see her ankles. Oh for such modestly today!
A HOUSE FOR THE BOYS
The grounds were absolutely beautiful even in February with little
white buildings for the kitchen, store houses, well houses, and "out
houses." No cooking was done in the big house. There was one small
building where the boys of the house, over fourteen, lived with their
tutor. If there were daughters, they lived in the "big" house.
THE WORKERS' WOODEN CABINS
The plantations had a dirt road lined with lovely arching branches from
the old oak trees--green and majestic. The road path led to the
simple, unpainted wooden cabins where the plantations workers lived.
There were about seven, eight, nine or less of them. (I have forgotten
the exact number. Maybe my husband will remember.) It appeared to be a
dear, pleasant setting--a nice place to raise children. These simple,
two family cabins were adjacent to the sugar cane fields--handy for the
workers. Thus, they could be near their field work and their homes and
families as well. At one time, there were as many as ninety-one people
living in these small cottages. I would have called these people
"slaves," but our guide, who could trace her heritage back to this
plantation's early days, was specific in telling us they were indentured
servants; and when the plantation was first worked, Louisiana was NOT a
part of the United States, and did not become so until the after the
Louisiana Purchase (1803). (According to my encyclopedia, Louisiana
became a state on April 30, 1812 when Orleans Territory was renamed
Louisiana, and became the 18th state in the Union. It has a population
at the time of 76,600.) She reminded us that it was a country of its
own. To be truthful, I'd forgotten all of this. She made a big point
of how nice the owners were to these "servants"--and they very well may
have been; but it seemed as if she protested too much. Later, after the
"purchase," the workers were "slaves" purchased from the African people
themselves.
A COMPLICATED SUBJECTS
Slavery is a very complicated subject and I really do not want to get
into it; but if the African warlords (or whatever they were called) had
not captured their own people and sold them, there were have been no
black slaves in America. (There may have been white slaves, Asian
slaves, or Native American slaves, but no black slaves.) That doesn't
justify any mistreatment given to the black people after they got here.
Sometimes in discussing slavery, people forget about the white enslaved
peoples of the world.
(While I'm into this, let me talk about the original inhabitants of this land we call
the United States of America. Before it was called "America," the people who lived
here before Columbus called their land by other names such as "Mother Earth" or
"the land,." etc., etc., etc. That's fine with me. I see their point.
But these people whose land was not originally called "America" desire to be called
"Native Americans." So, why don't the people we used to call "Indians" as in
"cowboys and Indians" when I went to school in the Dark Ages want to be called
"Native Mother-Earths" or "Native 'The Landers'" instead of "Native Americans"?)
Getting back to slavery--even in the Bible, we read about slavery. It is a
difficult subject. I don't know why I've gotten into it; but talking about this
plantation brings this to my mind. Paul, the apostle, said he was a "slave"
of the Lord's. What did that mean? DEFINITION OF "CREOLE"
Now a word about the Creole people who are the original inhabitants of
the Orleans Territory or the state of Louisiana. My old World Book
Encyclopedia says:
"a term used loosely to indicate descendants of French or Spanish
settlers of an area. It come from the Spanish word "criollo," meaning
"native to the place." It is used in speaking of Creole people's
languages or local products, as in the terms "Creole pralines or Creole
cooking." In the United States, Creole now refers only to white
descendants of French or Spanish settlers of the Gulf States. . . ."
SITTING BY THE MIGHTY MISSISSIPPI
WATCHING THE NATCHEZ DOCK
One of the enjoyable times in New Orleans was sitting on park benches
and watching the mighty Mississippi River at work. Here came a barge
pushed and prodded by a tug boat or two. There came a sight-seeing
boat, maybe a freighter in the distance, another barge, another tug boat
making the bend up yonder, and a distant sailboat for pleasure. But,
most of all, our eyes were riveted on THE NATCHEZ, a beautiful white and
red paddle boat with flying flags and old fashioned regal pride. It
spoke of a past area when women floated in long gowns holding fancy
umbrellas to hide from the sun. It's steamboat whistle pierced the air
with warnings of its approaching. Those on shore stood to meet friends
and those aboard strained to debark. At the command of a senior man on
the second deck calling orders, like a cheerleader through a bull horn,
the crew threw hawsers, or lines, twisting those big hemp "snakes"
around ratchets and cleats--a day's work in itself. They jumped here and
stretched there until their work was perfected. Only then was the
gigantic gang plank lowered. All those eager, panting passengers piled
from the decks of the historic Steamwheeler to be greeted by
entertainers with banjos, guitars, clarinets or silent mime,
statue-like, human cartoon character. Each was in business for himself
with a box or dish begging for money. One was a clown, one was a tramp,
but the prize could have been given to the tall football player with the
painted white face dressed in red, white & blue football attire,
stretching his long and perfectly poised legs as if running. His white
running shoes shod his feet as he motionaly pointed and positioned them
on his box. All the while, this silent, still character held his
football ready to be thrown. Who wouldn't give him a dollar?
BR'ER RABBIT & A STREET CAR NAMED DESIRE
As I'm flipping through the souvenir booklet I purchased, I see a
picture of the brown Mississippi River winding around New Orleans. I am
thinking of the things I would have liked to have done. It would hare
been nice to have taken the tour into the Louisiana swamps and bayous.
Because we went to the D-Day Museum, we had to forfeit some of the local
color. It would been fun to see the nesting grounds of alligators--as
long as they stayed away from me--and the timeless beauty of the area's
topography. Would have liked peek of the LAURA PLANTATION, too, where Br'er Rabbit was first recorded. My grand daughters, Kristen and Megan,
would have liked that . Their father used to read them that fable. How
they enjoyed it!
I didn't realize that old red streetcar, we kept seeing by the
waterfront, was synonymous with New Orleans; and that the St. Charles
Avenue Streetcar was America's oldest--being more than 150 years old.
When my husband was a teaching-fellow at Purdue University, we went to
the University's plays. Being in the speech department, my husband got
free tickets. I suppose some of you, who don't like plays, will be
horrified but we saw the one called "A Streetcar Named Desire." Now
that I've been to New Orleans, I see that there really was a streetcar
with that name. Who would have known it?
A TASTE OF CAJUN FOOD
We wanted to eat down town so I could tell about it--ha--but it's just
too hard to park and walk--mostly walk. I just can't walk too much
anymore. Another case of the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
My legs won't co-operated. (I've found out recently that it really
isn't really my legs, its my back (the nerves you know); but the word
hasn't gotten to my legs. Ha!) Anyhow, it was easier to eat nearer our
hotel than cope with the French quarter or the fashionable hotels in the
city, etc. So for a taste of Cajun food, we ate at a nearby place to
the Landmark/BEST WESTERN. I had catfish and hush puppies with an
interesting bread pudding that looked like hard squares of squeemi stuff
with a sweet sauce over it. It was good in spite of how it looked.. My
husband had his usual chicken. He's a conservative, you know. Did I
tell you this before? As we were preparing to leave the hotel for the
plane and home, my husband's back went out. He had to ride the plane in
such a state. He's grateful for his chiropractor! We're a pair!
SOME CLOSING THOUGHTS
Maybe I have space to tell you a few more things. Just a few days ago,
Dr. Waite and some others went up to Newington, Connecticut for the
questioning of the first doctoral graduate of the EMMANUEL BAPTIST
SEMINARY. The student was David McCarthy from Virginia Beach, Va. We
had met him when at last year's KING JAMES SEMINAR here in our
house/church. Dr. McCarthy's thesis was on the book of Galatians. Of
interest to me was that he received two hours of graduate school credits
for his work from last year seminar. Isn't that good?
I don't think that I told you that in February--I think it was--we did
THE TRIBUTE TO FANNY CROSBY at the Baptist Church of Newfield here in
South Jersey. The pastor is David Craig who, come to find out, takes a
strong Textus Receptus position. That was refreshing! Must mention that his
wife was extremely friendly and kind. That's a plus for Pastor Craig. Of
course, they were from the Midwest--come to think of it. It was wonderful to have our
only daughter delight us with a visit in May. We hadn't seen her for a year; so her
presence was special to her Dad and me. She is a beautiful woman and precious
to us--and to her husband, too. At our Sunday morning service she sang the gospel
song, THE TOUCH OF HIS HAND ON MINE. You know that one, don't you? Yes,
"there are days so dark that we search in vain. . ." I remember my mother singing
that song, and as the years brought me "darkness," I, too, would sing those
words with tears. Now it's Dianne's song, too. How good to "cling to that saving
Hand"! Do you know Jesus as your Saviour?
I'm under God's care, are you?
Yvonne Sanborn Waite ( Peter 5:6-11)
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