Editorial for September 22, 2005
By Jim White
Some of you have been kind enough to ask if I've heard recently from my fictional Aunt Ida, WMU director extraordinaire from Bluebell Baptist, and Uncle Orley, a deacon. It so happens that with Religious Herald Sunday coming on Sept. 25, they have been thinking of me. Mostly, however, they've been thinking about the Religious Herald.
Dear Jimmy,
Well, glory be. That's all I know to say. After years of being tighter than last year's swim suit your Uncle Orley decided last week that it's time for us to think about makin' a will. As you know, he has had an aversion to thinking about dying ever since he was a kid and got choked on a wishbone one Sunday after church. Well, he said he'd been a-thinkin' and prayin' about how good the Lord has been to us and it just hit him that bein' a good steward includes what we do with what we leave behind after we've gone to be with the Lord.
I've been after him to get this done since the time the corn picker grabbed his shirt tail and jerked it right off. I saw the whole thing and it scared me to death. I thought he'd worn his good shirt. Well anyway, I told him I was going to call Mr. Bill Aplenty, the only lawyer we've got in town, but Uncle Orley said no. He said that Mr. Aplenty was so crooked that after he dies they'll have to screw him into the ground and he wanted to talk to somebody we could trust. He said he had already called Brother Ron Hall from the Virginia Baptist Foundation and had an appointment set up.
Well, today was the day we met with Brother Hall, and I can tell you what a fine gentleman he is. We told him what we wanted to do and he is going to set up the whole thing. Naturally, nephew, we're going to leave a good bit to the Religious Herald. Now, I know you're probably thinkin' that your bein' the editor and all has something to do with our decision. While I can't deny this crossed our minds, our decision was bigger'n that. In fact, I thought I'd tell you just why we believe in the Religious Herald.
First of all, like Bro. Hall, I know I can trust the Religious Herald. I may not always like what's in it, but I know that it isn't beholdin' to a particular viewpoint. It's as honest and free as its editor and board. It's been around a long, long time. I have heard that some state papers have been brought under the control of their state conventions. Maybe politics has soured me, but when somebody controls the news, be it government or a convention, how do I know I'm not readin' spin? That's one thing I like about the Religious Herald. You've got an independent board there and you answer to them.
I also think it's down right essential that Virginia Baptists know what the good Lord is doin' through other Virginia Baptists. Why, one of the spiritual gifts is encouragement. I believe God is tryin' to encourage some of His people by letting them know what others are doin'. But, if they don't get the Religious Herald, how do they know what Virginia Baptist are up to? Where will they hear about good things happenin' in another part of the state? Why, this alone would make me want to leave my money to a cause that will be tellin' the kingdom story until Jesus comes again.
But the truth is I don't just read the Religious Herald for encouragement. I also read it for entertainment. Information is good and necessary, but I've always enjoyed enjoyin' myself. The paper is enjoyable.
That said, nephew, I have some suggestions about how you can make the Religious Herald even better. I think you ought to find somebody to draw a cartoon. Now, I'm not talkin' about becomin' a funny paper, but the Bible says laughter does good like a medicine. I think it wouldn't hurt to have a crossword puzzle in it. I've heard workin' crosswords postpones oldtimer's disease and from the looks of the congregation at Bluebell Baptist, we could use it. And what about sports? People around these parts talk little else. Even down at Cathy's Beauty and Antiques where I get the gray rinsed out of my hair I hear girls talkin' about restrictor plates. I thought for six months they were girdle parts.
I don't mean to get into your business none, but why doesn't every church put on an annual subscription drive? Even if a church can't afford to put it in their budget surely people would be willin' to subscribe if the preacher made it a priority. Wouldn't you think?
Well, I gotta go. All afternoon Uncle Orley's been happier than a gopher in soft dirt, but I hear a noise in the other room. I think he's singin' to hisself again, but it could be his gall bladder actin' up, so I'd better go check it out. Write back soon.
With Love,
Aunt Ida
Jim White is editor and business manager of the Religious Herald.