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  "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
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The Bible For Today Update
Yvonne Sanborn Waite

August 2001


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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