Conservative Post

Peculiar obligations rest upon those to whom are entrusted the education of the rising Ministry. God in His mercy preserve the instructors from the crime of teaching a single error, however unimportant, and grant unto all our Boards the grace necessary for faithfulness to the trusts devolved upon them, that false doctrine, however trifling, may receive no countenance.

You will infringe the right of no man, and you will secure the rights of those who have established here an instrumentality for the production of a sound ministry. It is no hardship to those who teach here, to be called upon to sign the declaration of their principles, for there are fields of usefulness open elsewhere to every man, and none need accept your call who can not conscientiously sign your formulary.

Playing upon the prejudices of the weak and ignorant among our people, decrying creeds and an infringement upon the rights of conscience, making a deep impression by his extensive learning and great abilities, Alexander Campbell threatened at one time the total destruction of our faith.
–Inaugural Address, Furman University (1856)

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Last Thursday evening as we were preparing to leave the Houston area due to hurricane Ike, we packed our clothes, important papers, and what we could into our car.Before we left I did a walk through our mobile home and just looked at our “stuff.” I did this because we really thought that we would lose everything.

When you are faced with losing everything, strange things run through your mind. I stood in my study and I could almost remember where and when I bought every book, every picture. I looked at the American Flag that draped my dads coffin, sitting there in its glass case, folded in the proper way. It seemed to be saying “don’t worry, I proudly covered the casket of a war hero, I did my job, now go do yours.”

I looked at pictures of my children, my wife, and my deceased mother. It was surreal.

At times like that you want to get a truck and move everything out. You do not want to loose anything.

As my mind was racing through all kind of thoughts and memories, my wife came in and said that she was ready. I looked at her, standing there in pain from the pressure that was already building in the weather. She had a hard time even lifting anything. We just stood there with tears in our eyes looking around wondering why?

I sent her to the car and I made a last minute pass through the living room. I grabbed my Bible and an old one with notes in it.

I had the overwhelming feeling that I had more in that car than allot of folks have. Some clothes, some water, computers, and a woman that loves me for whatever reason, and my Bible.

Yes, I stood there just looking at the car with my Bible in one hand….

and a can of Bush’s Grillin Beans in the other, and the Father’s arms wrapped around me. I was content. It no longer mattered why. Life is good.

Gary Newman

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