Saturday, July 14, 2012

The Magic of Photoshop



Update: Now we learn the 2012 photo may be from as long as 10 years ago. Why is it being presented as a current photo when clearly it's either (1) very old and/or (2) edited?

(Click on photo to enlarge.)

47 comments:

Anonymous said...

Is this the hypocrite Steve Gaines from Bellevue Baptist Church, Memphis TN?

The one who put down Joan Rivers for having a Doctor touch up her face/body?

Now you see that Steve Gaines has someone Doctor his pictures to make him more palatable
to the crowds.

Well Steve, enjoy your Alaskan Cruise, Jesus will wait.

Alexis said...

Well, Steve "sho 'nuff" has plenty of that green stuff to take expensive luxurious vacations any time he wants to. My friend's father preached in a small Baptist church in Louisiana. He did everything---preaching of course, music, weddings, funerals, visited the sick, printed the bulletin. He got a meager salary and seldom took time off. I think this faithful old saint will be in the very front row around His golden throne, ahead of many others who appear to only count the time until they go on yet another trip.

New BBC Open Forum said...

Is he really on vacation again?

Alexis said...

NASS: They asked us to pray that he would have a restful vacation. He was gone July 8 and is gone today, July 15. The first poster said he was on an Alaskan cruise; I did not know where he went, as he did not say before he left on July 1.

Anonymous said...

Alexis said...
"Steve "sho 'nuff" has plenty of that green stuff to take expensive luxurious vacations any time he wants to. "


Oh, don't worry, Steve Gaines knows how to take vacations that are not on his nickel.

Arkansas is at the Dodd's family lodge and if this is a Charles Stanley Alaskan Cruise, he's not paying for anything.


Like to see what he's stashing it all up for? Apparently not for Jesus!

Alexis said...

Steve will not be in the pulpit again this Sunday, July 22. This will make the 3rd Sunday in a row. I believe it will be Dr. Ray Strack who will get a good sum of money. Sigh....nothing left to say, except it must be nice to go when you want to and not answer to anyone.

Anonymous said...

After Steve Gaines and David Coombs purged the church of those they didn't approve,
the problem has been to fill it back up, so now their trying to lure the Memphis folk into
bowing before their papal powers.

Still monies are tight, but not affecting the Gaines family with and their intern payments or the payments to Coomb's brother's signage, kiosk or whatever company, and plenty of money for the teens amusement arcade on the 3rd floor.

Wonder if that'll work out like the Million Dollar + "The View" is workin (NOT)

Anonymous said...

So Steve Gaines of Bellevue Baptist Church is on a month long Vacation? (Won't be back till the 29th, the follow me promotional meeting?)

And he has a ghost writer (media staffer Craig Morris?) to do his Twitter/Facebook
posting while he's away (no signal on board the cruise ship) to make his followers feel that Steve's been a talkin to God.


Follow the Yellow Brick Road.

Col. Reb Sez said...

I thought some of you might like a story that my wife's uncle told me recently, although it might be a bit long.

I shared with him the fact that I had read a newspaper column that really impressed me about a revival service in Drew, Mississippi in the late 1940s by R.G. Lee, during which he preached his Payday Someday sermon. The column said it was one of the greatest revivals in the history of Sunflower County (I've looked on the Internet and the copyright of this sermon is 1957, but I'm fairly sure he said it was earlier). At some point we mentioned Steve Gaines and the changes in the church.

At any rate, he said at some point the past of the Baptist church in Anniston, Ala., wanted Dr. Lee to come preach and so he called and asked him to preach and Dr. Lee accepted. His visit was advertised and the church was packed. He arrived in a nice car with a driver, preached his sermon, visited for a while and was about to leave when the pastor realized he had not asked about the customary honorarium. He approached Dr. Lee as he was starting to walk towards the exit and said, "Wait, Dr. Lee, what do we need to give you to help cover your expenses."

Dr Lee replied: "You don't owe me anything. My congregation pays me enough that I don't need to charge anything."

Now he may well have charged from time to time, but what a breath of fresh air!

Michelle said...

2 months of waiting for a new post, and this is all you got? Disappointing.

Michelle said...

...and by the way, that pic you posted as the 2012 pic is back from well before 2009. I think you are confused.

New BBC Open Forum said...

I've got everything but time, Michelle. Everything but time.

:-(

Keep checking though. Maybe I'll be inspired again before long and have some extra time, too. Any ideas for subjects?

New BBC Open Forum said...

...and by the way, that pic you posted as the 2012 pic is back from well before 2009. I think you are confused.

I'm not confused that it's brand new to the BBC website. Why would they use such an old photo for the first time if it's not new? I realize they've been using that touched-up photo of Steve and Donna together on publications for several years, but this is the first time I've seen this one. Please show me an old publication where this photo was used.

BTW, does your employer know you're playing on the internet while you're supposed to be working?

Anonymous said...

Roman Catholic Church

"Philadelphia Church Official Sentenced to at Least 3 Years in Prison" for covering for a monster.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/25/us/philadelphia-church-official-to-be-sentenced-in-abuse-case.html


And Penn State

"The NCAA also erased 14 years of victories, wiping out 111 of coach Joe Paterno's wins and stripping him of his standing as the most successful coach in the history of big-time college football."

and Fined $60 million

http://seattletimes.com/html/sports/2018750693_apfbcpennstateabuse.html


Bellevue Baptist leadership anyone? and they passed him off without any prosecution, so he could be a church trustee in Somerville, TN.


Steve Gaines, do you have a conscience?

You know you don't mean this

"Treat all people with love & respect; even those different than you; even those who disagree w/ you. God created them; Jesus died for them."

Michelle said...

What I meant to say is it appears to just be the same photo from all the other publications with perhaps just a different background, rather than plastic surgery or photoshop to his appearance. And yes, my employer allows us internet access on our breaks. Thanks for your concern :)

Anonymous said...

"I'm not confused that it's brand new to the BBC website. Why would they use such an old photo for the first time if it's not new? I realize they've been using that touched-up photo of Steve and Donna together on publications for several years, but this is the first time I've seen this one. Please show me an old publication where this photo was used."

Michelle's right. I remember that photo from back in 2001 or 2002 when SG spoke the summer Dr. Rogers was on sabbatical. He looks just like a friend of mine in the photo, and that's why I remember. No clue why they used a 10 year old photo.

Anonymous said...

Steve Gaines ‏@bellevuepastor

"How tragic that God is known as merciful, forgiving, compassionate & gracious, but His children are often known as hard hearted/unforgiving."

Talking about those hard hearts running Bellevue Baptist Church their way , Steve?

Anonymous said...

A warning from the Anointed:

Steve Gaines ‏@bellevuepastor

"Be careful when you plot & scheme against someone else - "So they impaled Haman on the pole he had set up for Mordecai." (Esther 7:10 NLT)"

Steve, no one is plotting against you. You's being spoofed by your own shadow.

“Just the Facts Ma’am…..Just the Facts!”
http://madashelland.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/JoeFriday1.jpg

Anonymous said...

Steve Gaines ‏@bellevuepastor

"Fewer words, less regrets - "Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut, and you will stay out of trouble." (Proverbs 21:23 NLT)"

Take your own advise, Steve?

Alexis said...

I know I shouldn't say this and I realize it may come off as mean, but I just don't believe Steve when he said (on the Thursday B-Mail) that he is glad to be back from his vacation *(gone 3 Sundays). It would seem that he would have more than enough to do what with the many hurting sheep members needing personal counseling and prayer, etc. I know Adrian Rogers took appointments for many years until he was just too busy and overwhelmed. Plus, Bro. Adrian always preached on Wednesday night, even returning from his mother's funeral early so he could be at church on Wednesday night. This is just things I thought and observed and I hope the good Lord understands that I am not trying to cause dissension.

Alexis said...

P.S.: Then he will be gone to Cambodia and Vietnam for a month in September (or October). No one at the church, be it paid employee, pastor, deacon, usher, etc. will not say anything or be heard gossiping about his continual absenteeism, or they fear they will go the way of Jamie Parker and others. Does anyone else think this way, or am I being irrational? Truly, I don't see how he can travel the world like he does being on 2 medications and with mysanthea gravis, for which I am sorry. (Rant ended).

New BBC Open Forum said...

If somene remembers it, then I stand corrected. I don't remember ever seeing it. The earliest I can find it used was sometime in the first half of 2011 and that was a small photo on the staff page. Now it's enlarged and is splashed across the top of the "New to Bellevue?" page so visitors and prospective members will see it.

My point remains the same. He doesn't look like that today, and he didn't look like that 7 years ago. Now that I think about it, I'm not sure even the most skilled Photoshopper could do that.

To proof-text Proverbs 31...

"Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain.... "

Anonymous said...

"Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain.... "

Usually it is women who are vain, make up , dying their hair, etc

but WOW you have Steve Gaines reverting to younger pictures, dying his hair, etc

Your so Vain

You'll soon be looking like Wayne Webb, Pastor of Macon Road Baptist Church


http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR31_0Q4cphecPwa-bmhCsSbiNqvZV9c5iytQBYVsrjNvmvgqOU

Steve even had to have his trophy wife pray so he'll look soo good.

Michelle said...

Heyyyyyy!!! You added new pics! Good lookin' pastor right there. Okay, back to work. ;)

New BBC Open Forum said...

From Sunday's bulletin:

Pray for the Gregg Hauss family as they transition from Bellevue to pursue a new ministry position. Gregg and Allyson, along with their children, have served faithfully for 22 years in the Student Ministry, at Bellevue Arlington, and in the Recreation Ministry. Gregg leaves Bellevue to pursue his call to be a Senior Pastor or Lead Church-Planting Pastor. We continue our support of Gregg and his family as they focus on this next step in their journey and look forward to celebrating how God uses this choice servant in the future.

Oh, puhleaze.

New BBC Open Forum said...

Steve Gaines: Please be with us next Wednesday night as we hear from Dr. Fred Luter, the recently elected first African-American President of the Southern Baptist Convention.

If we'd reached a state of true equality that would have read, "Please be with us next Wednesday night as we hear from Dr. Fred Luter, the recently elected President of the Southern Baptist Convention." Just goes to show Luter was elected first and foremost because of his race.

New BBC Open Forum said...

One of the best comments I've read regarding the whole Chick-fil-A thing:

I hope people will eat at Chick-fil-A if and because they have great food and not because they are against gay people. It's a sad day when that's why Christians pick a place to eat.

Amen. See Disney, Home Depot, Kroger, Target, GM, Ford, and a host of other companies. At this rate Christians will have to start growing their own food, sewing all their clothes from cotton they've grown and processed, and walking everywhere.

New BBC Open Forum said...

The Christian Post >> More Business Than Ever Rated 'Gay-Friendly'

We can't avoid it.

New BBC Open Forum said...

Matthew Paul Turner >> Five Reasons Why the Church Failed Yesterday

Matthew Paul Turner >> Long Division: 5 Thoughts About That #ChickFilA Post...

The Movie Don said...

"I hope people will eat at Chick-fil-A if and because they have great food and not because they are against gay people."

How exactly did you come to the conclusion that Chick Fil-A is "against gay people?"

Why is it that every time a Christian takes a moral stand on any issue, it is referred to as a)hate, b) intolerance, or c) being against someone?

Is Amazon against Christians because Jeff Bezos gave money to the gay marriage cause?

New BBC Open Forum said...

Notice it's a quote of someone else. I didn't say it. I do, however, agree with it. The quote said NOTHING about Chick-fil-A or Dan Cathy. I don't think Dan Cathy is "against gay people," but judging by the rhetoric of some of the people who promoted Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day, some of those people are. Even if they're not "against gay people" and only against "gay marriage" (as am I), they're perceived as such by many. It's difficult for people to distinguish between being against their lifestyle choice(s) or what they're "allowed" to do because of their sex or race and them personally.

I think this was about more than protecting free speech. It was about supporting some free speech, namely "speech" we agree with. It's a lot harder to defend free speech when you don't agree with it.

I dare say if the CEO of, for example, Wendy's, came out in support of gay "marriage" (note the quotes -- I happen to think "gay marriage" is an oxymoron) and received the same backlash as Cathy did, you wouldn't see the same people who stood in line on August 1st to buy chikin sandwiches standing in line at Wendy's to buy Baconators. Just sayin'.

New BBC Open Forum said...

I hope people will eat at Chick-fil-A if and because they have great food and not because they are against gay people.

The way I read this was "I hope people will eat a Chick-fil-A if and because they (Chick-fil-A) have great food and not because they (the people who choose to eat there) are against gay people."

I can see how the second "they" could also be interpreted as the company, Chick-fil-A, but that's not how I read it.

The Movie Don said...

I find it difficult to judge the motivations (which we are not qualified to do anyway) of other Christians after watching this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqhjFkfDbcg

Christ warned that the world would hate us if we followed him.

New BBC Open Forum said...

There it is! The "judge not" card has been played. I'm not sure how interpreting something I read is "judging the motivations of other Christians."

Anyway, did you see the dude's backpedaling video?

The Movie Don said...

"There it is! The "judge not" card has been played."

There it is the knee jerk reaction. I didn't say it was wrong to judge. You just reacted as if I did.

I said it is wrong to judge another's motivations. I often don't know my own motivations. I certainly am not qualified to judge anothers. Neither is anyone else.

"I'm not sure how interpreting something I read is "judging the motivations of other Christians."

Here is the statement where you do exactly that:

"but judging by the rhetoric of some of the people who promoted Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day, some of those people are."

Also you completely ignored the video of the man who berates a Chick Fil-A worker for doing nothing but serving him kindly.

Generally I agree with you posts. I will have to agree to disagree on this one.


New BBC Open Forum said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
New BBC Open Forum said...

TMD, I apologize for my comment this morning. That was unnecessarily snarky.

Maybe we're using the term "judge" differently. I've always interpreted the "judge not" verse to mean not to judge the state of another person's soul because that's something no one can know for certain. A good example of this is when someone who identifies himself as a Christian refers to someone else as a "so-called Christian" or puts the word "Christian" in quotes as if to say the subject isn't a "real" Christian. (I should know. I've been on the receiving end of that one a few times!) However, if we aren't allowed to judge (i.e. discern) someone's motivations the world would be an even scarier place than it is.

I didn't ignore the video. I watched the whole thing. I'm not sure what there is to say about it. The guy was a jerk, and the young woman handled the situation with grace and dignity. I posted his follow-up video where he offered an apology after it backfired on him. If I had to judge his motivation, I'd say it was because he got canned, but I don't know for sure. Apparently it didn't save his job (if that was his intent).

The Movie Don said...

New BBC,

I appreciate your blog. It was part of the reason that I decided to leave BBC after attending for two decades.

I also appreciate your posts on tithing. I have come to the conclusion that it is not what the NT teaches about giving after being taught that it was Biblical my entire life.

I agree with what STR teaches about judging: http://www.str.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=6071

Having said that, I agree with Dr. Rogers that we can never really know another person's motivations and are not qualified to judge their motivations - only their actions and words.

Thanks for the good work that you do on this blog.

Anonymous said...

Russell Moore president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in response to Pat Robertson new comment, said:

"I say to my non-Christian friends and neighbors, if you want to see the gospel of Christ, the gospel that has energized this church for two thousand years, turn off the television. The grinning cartoon characters who claim to speak for Christ don’t speak for him. Find the followers who do what Jesus did. Find the people who risk their lives to carry a beaten stranger to safety. Find the houses opened to unwed mothers and their babies in crisis. Find the men who are man enough to be a father to troubled children of multiple ethnicity and backgrounds."

Does that include Steve Gaines on his TV show?

http://martinluther.kewego.com/

New BBC Open Forum said...

August 16, 2012

Thanks, everyone.

stressed said...

Don't know where to leave this so i will start here. Is anyone aware of the business conflicts that are just openly carried on from day to day? All the new signs being placed in Bellevue are the work of David Coombs brother and his company Rising Signs. It's common knowledge among the staff that Bellevue is the only thing keeping his brother's business afloat. Same holds true for all the new HVAC contracting going to Deacon Mike Golding. The in house network is keeping Master IT, llc in the black. Deacon Gary Wiseman's company. The church calendar is even maintained by Service U corp, you guessed it another deacon. We should be bidding out contracts to the best and lowest bidders, not buttering palms of those who benefit from being on the inside. The staff complains seriously about everyone of those companies not doing their job, but refusal to hold them accountable is refuted and employees are told that they must keep Bellevue looking good by not complaining.

Stressed said...

Update from Stressed:

The morale of the BBC staff is now in a hole somewhere out in one of the ball fields. I mean it really is horrible. Bellevue continues to spend massive amounts of money on useless projects that do not foster either the mission or its member's discipleship. For instance, we have just spent thousands upon thousands of dollars to pay the Auxano company to tell Bellevue what her mission, vision, and scope is supposed to be. Will Mancini who runs Auxano claims to be a "Clarity Evangelist" who can bring about vision change for Bellevue. Maybe I am wrong but as I sit in these meetings with this "Clarity Evangelist" I keep wondering why we don't just save the money and get on our faces before God and allow Him to give us the vision. This guy is laughing at us all the way to the bank and we are fools to have hired him. Don't believe me? Check out www.auxano.com or better yet www.willmancini.com. The web site and what they do are as clear as mud. So much for clarity.
On another note Bellevue is also paying a monthly fee to another company to allow us the privilege of having that Home Point center in the east lobby that no one even uses. That company dictates to us what books we can have, what messages we can promote and even what we CAN'T have on display. What is Intentionality anyway. Just more distractions that try and make us a part of the "NEXTGEN" and with the "In" crowd all in the name of reaching people. We don't need consultants, we need Jesus. Isn't it about time we let HIM back in the building?

Anonymous said...

I was a member of BBC for 15 years, but left shorty after Steve Gaines came. My family and friends have since all had to find new churches as well. As harsh as this may sound, I honestly feel as if I was once part of a wonderful group of God loving , serving people....but feel that the church has strayed too far from that, and seems similar to a cult.

Matt said...

You people need to get a life. Why would anyone begrudge his pastor a nice trip? The fact is you hate the man of God that has been sent to pastor at Bellevue. Lord have mercy on you.

Anonymous said...

He can't vacation because he is a preacher?? You people are pathetic. You have NO idea who he is! I'm sure you enjoyed your vacation this year.....

New BBC Open Forum said...

Well, actually, no. I have never had but one short vacation, and that was driving a few hundred miles to an adjacent state. I was not paid during that time either. I work 5-6 days a week and have family and other obligations that take up the other 1-2 days a week. My circumstances have never permitted me the luxury of anything resembling a vacation. If yours have, good for you. So in that respect, no, I don't know who he is. I cannot begin to relate to that. Which I suppose makes me pathetic. Whatever.

I don't have a problem with a pastor taking a couple of weeks of vacation a year. I do have a problem when it turns into over two months of vacation a year with said pastor posting photos of his and his wife's extended family vacaying all over the world and leading Holy Land tours which are making him $$$ off the backs of the people paying to travel with him.

New BBC Open Forum said...


Eddie Struble