Posted: 8/02/04

CYBERCOLUMN:
God always will be with us

By Jeanie Miley

I could be wrong about it, but I just don’t believe in a godless society.

It is entirely possible that I am dead wrong, but I don’t think any human being can take God out of a classroom or a culture.

I could have on blinders and be in denial so deep that I don’t know up from down, but I cannot accept the proposition that God has abandoned anyone.

As a young child, I remember being impressed with the words “omniscient,” “omnipotent” and “omnipresent.” Maybe it was because my earthly father was so reliable and trustworthy that I could so easily accept and believe that there was no place I could go where God was not. My father’s passion for Christ made it easy for me to remember Jesus’ promise, “I am with you always.”

Frankly, the problem isn’t God. To the end of my life, I will believe that God will never leave us or forsake us. I am fully confident that God really is at work in all things, attempting to bring about good, even when God does leave us to the choices we keep making that prevent him from doing what he longs to do for us.

I get it that the problem is that we humans don’t cooperate with what God is trying to do. We thwart the purposes of God and stifle the flow of God’s healing, transforming, liberating and empowering mercy, grace and love. We act in self-willed and self-destructive ways, and then, when we get the results we have been earning all along, we have the audacity to declare that God has left the premises.

The problem is not that God is not at work. The problem is that we have often become so blind and deaf and insensitive to the workings of God that we often don’t recognize God’s initiatives when they are right in front of us.

God did not wind the world up to let it to tick on its own. The problem is that we sometimes live with such paltry, immature and limited concepts of who God is that we cannot see God-at-work all around us. We are so attached to our small gods, the god we can keep in a box and the god we can control and manage, that we don’t often don’t “get it” until we are smacked in the head by a two-by-four, and maybe that is what two-by-four moments are for!

I am responsible to make sure that I keep my own inner life fine-tuned to the still, small nudges of the Creator/Sustainer/God who is constantly asking me to let him work through me. I am responsible for maintaining my inner life through the spiritual disciplines that feed my soul so that I can recognize God’s presence. I am responsible for not doing the things that “quench the Spirit” and inhibit God’s purposes.

And I am responsible for making sure that, in the places where I hold responsibility to other people who are aching to believe in Immanuel—God-with-us—I do the kinds of things that make it easy for God to work. I don’t have to do everything, but I am called to do what is mine to do. I am responsible for “helping God help us” in ways that are consistent with my own call and gifts.

It is unmitigated arrogance to think that we can take God out of the world he made and loves.

It is irresponsible to lead others to believe that anyone has the power to do that.

And it is dangerous to make decisions based on error.

Jeanie Miley is an author and columnist and a retreat and workshop leader. She is married to Martus Miley, pastor of River Oaks Baptist Church in Houston, and they have three adult daughters. Got feedback? Write her at Writer2530@aol.com.

Posted: 7/30/04

Super Summer speaker Kyle Byrd shuns 'middle of the road'

By Leann Callaway

Special to the Baptist Standard

SUGAR LAND—After being offered a contract with the Texas Rangers, Kyle Byrd struggled with the choice between a career in professional baseball or the pursuit of the Lord's call on his life to ministry.

But after much prayer and consideration, he decided to "step off of the baseball playing field and into the evangelistic harvest field."

From there, Byrd established Front Line Ministries and became a sought-after youth communicator.

Now, 16 years later, Front Line Ministries is based out of Sugar Land, where Byrd and his family are members of First Baptist Church. In a few months, they will be relocating to the Hill Country, where they plan to help start a church.

“Front Line Ministries exists to address the front line issues facing the American student,” he explained. “The message is simple: a personal relationship with God, through Jesus Christ, is the only hope a student has to finding life's ultimate purpose.

“There are two bottom-line choices in life: the world's way or God's way; one leads to destruction, the other to life. Once a student chooses life, I challenge them to follow Christ, without reservation. I teach unapologetically that there is no such thing as 'middle-of-the-road' Christianity.”

While speaking at numerous youth conferences, such as Super Summer, Hot Hearts Student Conference and Youth Evangelism Conference, Byrd's messages have impacted thousands of students to follow Christ.

As a teenager, temptations from sports, alcohol, money, and success produced a clouded outlook on Byrd's life. At age 17, however, he was led to the Lord by Jack Bell, who was his Sunday School teacher and high school baseball coach.

In addition to speaking at evangelistic events, Byrd often speaks at public schools, where his messages are designed to challenge students to quit following the crowd and to listen to their own convictions.

“If you want to change the behavior of today's youth, you're going to have to get involved in their experiences and help change their belief system,” he said.

“Consistently seeing students experience a new life, by accepting Christ as their Savior, reminds me regularly why God has called me to this ministry. While I find tremendous satisfaction in seeing Christian students sell out to following Jesus, there is nothing quite like hearing students cry out in repentance to God for their sin and asking him for forgiveness. Then, to see how the faithfulness of God stuns them … it is beyond my ability to communicate in words.”

Posted: 7/23/04

Buckner seeks adoptive parents
for Myson, African-American newborn

DALLAS–Myson, a newborn African-American boy, urgently needs parents to adopt him, according to Buckner Adoption and Maternity Services.

“We are confident God has the perfect family for him,” said Courtney Warren, community relations representative for Buckner.

“We are asking Baptist Standard readers to please pray for Myson and others who need forever families, and please forward this information to anyone you know who might be interested in this situation.”

Myson's need for placement illustrates an ongoing need by Buckner “for families to adopt African-American and biracial babies,” Warren said.

“We need Christian families to come forward and provide the love and care for a child that only a family can. At times, there are a number of healthy babies waiting in foster care for a family.”

Myson, born May 20, is available for adoption immediately to a qualifying family, she said. Buckner is seeking a Christian family of any denomination, race or ethnicity, either in or out of state.

“Myson's birthparents prefer that he be adopted into a two-parent family,” Warren explained.

“However, single parents also will be considered.”

Buckner practices open adoption, in which the birth family of a child is involved in choosing an adoptive family, the birth family and adoptive family have ongoing contact after placement, and the adopted child and birth family have an opportunity to know each other.

Families adopting through Buckner pay a fee for recruitment and care services. The fees enable Buckner to care for additional children, Warren said.

“This baby has never been in the (Child Protective Services) system,” she explained.

“His birthparents made an adoption plan for him at birth. … Buckner has borne all the expenses associated with his care.”

Buckner Adoption and Maternity Services is a ministry of the 125-year-old Buckner Benevolences.

The adoption services agency recruits, studies, educates and approves adoptive families who can provide loving, secure, Christian homes for children being placed for adoption. Continued support services are provided to assist adoptive families with parenting issues.

Support services may include continued contact between the birth parents and the adoptive family.

Last year, Buckner Adoption and Maternity Services provided help to more than 100 women in crisis pregnancy situations.

For families living outside of Texas, “we would want to know about your willingness to make trips to Texas for visits,” Warren said.

“We would also need a home study done by a licensed agency in your state, and we will need to comply with … regulations.

“We anticipate a week of transition time for Myson, so families who live outside of North Texas will need to stay with family or friends or in a hotel during the transition.”

Posted: 7/23/04

Louisiana College trustees elect new chair
in closed session after former leader resigns

PINEVILLE, La. (ABP)–Trustees of Louisiana College, faced with the resignation of their chairman and the school's president, have elected a new trustee leader in a closed-door, off-campus meeting.

Bill Hudson, pastor of First Baptist Church in Rayne, La., announced his election as trustee chair after the meeting, which was closed to reporters and visitors, according to the Town Talk newspaper in Alexandria, La. No vote count was announced.

Hudson succeeds another pastor, Joe Nesom of First Baptist Church in Jackson, La., who resigned June 27, claiming trustees were making decisions intended to “humiliate and punish those that they despise.”

A majority of the trustees already had agreed to call a special meeting to remove Nesom, who attended the meeting as a regular trustee.

The college has been torn by controversies between the conservative majority and a moderate minority on the board for several years.

The tension has come to a head in recent months, with several well-publicized controversies over issues such as a new policy requiring new faculty hires to submit a statement outlining their “worldview,” as well as a policy forcing faculty to have all classroom materials approved by the academic dean.

Many faculty members have protested the policies, saying they endanger academic freedom.

Conservative board members have defended the policies as necessary to maintain the school's fidelity to its Baptist roots.

The college's president and academic vice president resigned earlier this year. Although they did not cite it in their reasons for leaving, many observers believe the controversy played a decisive role.

In Nesom's letter, he said of the board: “Our concerns have turned from academic excellence, and from a desire to see the college embrace its Baptist heritage with enthusiasm, to concerns that have nothing to do with historic Baptist doctrines or practice.”

He said he could “see nothing good coming of this situation” and warned of several negative consequences:

“A loss of donors who will justly be concerned about the academic integrity of the college.” Nesom cited one potential endowment gift of “better than $5 million” that he knows to be in danger.

“A genuine threat to the accreditation of the college because of investigations that are certain to come” from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accrediting association. Officials announced this summer that the group will send a committee to the school in September to investigate complaints that the board may be violating a provision of the association's principles for governing boards. The provision prohibits member schools' boards from being controlled by interest groups.

New board Chairman Hudson said the investigation is “not the end of the world.”

“Litigation, for sundry reasons, that will be harmful to the college.”

“A general loss of good will from the constituency of the college.”

“A loss of students and qualified faculty and staff members who will not want to remain under leadership of questionable integrity.”

Nesom also said he feared that some board members “are trying to frustrate the selection process for a new president.”

A search committee is seeking former President Rory Lee's successor. Trustee John Traylor serves as the interim president.

Posted: 7/23/04

Federal Marriage Amendment died in Senate

By Robert Marus

Associated Baptist Press

WASHINGTON (ABP)–Senate supporters of a constitutional ban on gay marriage failed to muster a simple majority in support of the amendment July 14, most likely killing the proposal until next year.

A motion to cut off debate and proceed to a vote on the proposed Federal Marriage Amendment failed 48-50. Such a motion requires 60 votes to succeed in the Senate.

If senators had voted on the amendment itself, it would have required a two-thirds majority–or 67, assuming all 100 senators cast a vote.

The Senate's Republican leadership hoped to bring the bill before the chamber for a regular up-or-down vote by mid-July.

However, a dispute over substitutes that might have more appeal to moderates in both parties caused Democrats to balk.

Proponents of the amendment touted their effort as an urgent response to “attacks” on traditional marriage, some contending the survival of America depends on stopping the gay-marriage movement.

A constitutional amendment is necessary, they said, because “activist judges” are interpreting the Constitution to advance the gay agenda.

Amendment supporters added they will not abandon their cause, despite the Senate defeat.

“The battle has just begun,” said Sen. Wayne Allard (R-Colo.), the bill's chief Senate sponsor. “I think this is a very strong first vote.”

Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), another proponent of the measure, compared the vote to similar gay-marriage bans that failed to pass state legislatures on their first votes but succeeded in subsequent tries.

Almost all Senate Democrats who spoke in opposition to the amendment also said they oppose same-sex marriage, he noted.

“We won on substance but lost on procedure,” Brownback explained. “This is a central issue. It will continue to be engaged.”

However, Allard admitted the proposal and similar ones likely would not come up again this year in the Senate.

Meanwhile, gay-rights supporters said the vote was a resounding victory for their cause.

“Today's vote is a very powerful repudiation of bigotry in America,” said Barry Lynn, director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

Cheryl Jacques, president of the Human Rights Campaign, said the vote was an example of “an attempt to divide Americans that backfired and divided Republicans.”

Six Republicans crossed the aisle to vote against further consideration of the constitutional amendment. They were Ben Nighthorse Campbell (Colo.), Lincoln Chafee (R.I.), Susan Collins (Maine), John McCain (Ariz.), Olympia Snowe (Maine) and John Sununu (N.H.).

Of the Senate's 49 Democrats, all but five voted against proceeding with the amendment. Robert Byrd (W.Va.), Zell Miller (Ga.) and Ben Nelson (Neb.) departed from their colleagues on the vote.

John Kerry of Massachusetts and John Edwards of North Carolina–the expected Democratic nominees for president and vice president–did not return to Washington from the campaign trail to vote on the procedural matter.

However, they previously stated their opposition to the amendment and said they would come back to Capitol Hill to vote against the amendment itself if it had come to an up-or-down ballot.

Both Kerry and Edwards oppose same-sex marriage but say amending the Constitution to ban it is too drastic a step.

In the days leading up to the vote, the amendment's supporters–chief among them President Bush–lobbied intensely on its behalf.

The Senate's Republican leadership bypassed committees and the normal legislative process to force quick action by the full chamber on the amendment, despite objections from some within the GOP itself.

Democrats charged Republicans with bringing up the bill–despite knowing it would fail–to boost turnout among religious conservative voters in this fall's presidential and congressional elections.

Giving credence to that charge, Religious Right activist Gary Bauer said the Senate vote will become a factor in the elections.

“I think that Senator Kerry has a tremendous problem here,” Bauer claimed.

Brownback likewise predicted voters will pay attention to their senators' action on the amendment.

“I think it will be a significant issue in the fall elections,” he said

And a group that has been outspoken in favor of the bill–the Family Research Council–issued a press release predicting doom for anti-amendment candidates.

“We now know which senators are for traditional marriage and which ones are not, and by November so will voters in every state,” council President Tony Perkins wrote. “Every time this issue is forced into the public square, the opposition to same-sex 'marriage' among the American public grows.”

The issue of gay marriage came to the forefront last year, when the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court legalized same-sex marriage in that state.

Supporters of the constitutional amendment defend their election-year push by arguing that, in the absence of a constitutional ban on gay marriage, it will likely be imposed on the entire country by future court decisions.

“This wasn't driven by politics; this was driven by activist courts,” Allard said.

But legal scholars are divided on whether the federal Supreme Court is anywhere near accepting a case regarding same-sex marriage, much less rendering a decision that would impose same-sex marriage on the entire country.

The proposed amendment reads: “Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman. Neither this Constitution, nor the constitution of any state, shall be construed to require that marriage or the legal incidents thereof be conferred upon any union other than the union of a man and a woman.”

The proposed amendment is Senate Joint Resolution 40. Leaders in the House of Representatives have announced their intent to bring a similar version of the amendment to that chamber's floor by November.

Posted: 7/23/04

Proponents of marriage amendment
pledge to continue their campaign

By Kirsten Pasha

Associated Baptist Press

WASHINGTON (ABP)–Despite a first-round defeat for the Federal Marriage Amendment July 14, proponents vowed to continue fighting and say they expect to win.

Matt Daniels, president of the Alliance for Marriage, a coalition of Christian and other groups that has led the fight for the amendment, said the Senate's 48-50 decision to end consideration of the proposal will only spur “democratic debate” on the topic.

“We introduced our marriage amendment in both the House and Senate in order to let the people decide the future of marriage,” Daniels said.

“And our amendment will continue to gain ground so long as activists continue to strike down our marriage laws in court.”

A ruling last year by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, which legalized gay marriage in that state, triggered the current constitutional debate.

Gay-marriage opponents say only an amendment to the U.S. Constitution will protect other states from having to accept gay marriages.

“Marriage, the union of one man and one woman, has always been recognized as the foundation of human society, but today marriage is sadly in need of protection,” said Wilton Gregory, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

“It is a shame that the Senate did not have the opportunity to vote on this amendment that is so necessary to the well-being of our nation.”

In the week leading up to the vote, supporters of the amendment waged an intensive lobbying campaign. The Family Research Council reportedly delivered petitions to the Senate signed by 2 million supporters of traditional marriage.

Ten thousand people gathered July 11 for a “Battle for Marriage” rally in Memphis, Tenn. The rally, featuring top Religious Right leaders, was held at Bellevue Baptist Church, one of the largest Southern Baptist congregations, and broadcast on Christian cable channels.

Rally speakers urged Christians to contact their senators prior to the vote and support the amendment. And they did just that.

The Washington Post reported Senate offices “were deluged with phone calls and e-mails prompted by heavy grassroots mobilizations over the weekend, topped off by two appeals for passage by President Bush.”

A spokesman for Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), an amendment proponent, said the public response was unprecedented.

“Sen. Brownback has received more thoughts on this issue than any other issue during his time in the Senate, especially over the last few days,” said Aaron Groote.

Likewise, Chris Lisi, a spokesman for Sen. Mark Dayton (D-Minn.), an amendment opponent, told the St. Paul Pioneer Press, “We haven't seen this kind of grassroots lobbying effort since the Iraq war.”

And, according to Larry Thompson, a staff member of Bellevue Baptist Church, the lobbying effort won't stop with the Senate defeat.

“We are still encouraging our people to contact their Congress members and show their appreciation for their votes or disapproval if they voted against [the FMA],” he said.

Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, said the Senate vote is “just round one in the debate over marriage, and now that it is over, we begin training for round two. We now know which senators are for traditional marriage and which ones are not, and by November, so will voters in every state. … This fight has just begun.”

But supporters of gay marriage likewise promised to continue the fight.

The effort “springs from a deep commitment to a biblical understanding of justice, a commitment to fairness,” said Daniel Pryfogle, interim director of the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists, which supports gay and lesbian rights.

“We want everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation, to enjoy the same rights in this country,” he said.

“There's relief at this stage that the bill will not go forward, but at the same time, we know a lot of organizing is going on to push this kind of legislation. We aim to do what we can to oppose these efforts. … One of the most important things under way is proclamation–churches preaching a message about fairness and justice.”

Laura Montgomery Rutt, director of communications for Soulforce, an interfaith pro-gay group, complained supporters of the Federal Marriage Amendment are using gays and lesbians as “political pawns” in an election-year strategy.

“To have this come up just before the elections shows that the religious-political conservatives are playing politics with people's lives,” she claimed. “This is simply wrong.”

Posted: 7/23/04

God's gift so great, Christians
can't keep quiet, pastor says

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

SAN ANTONIO–God has given Christians something worth talking about, and it's too good for them to keep it to themselves, insisted Charles Booth, the featured preacher at the African American Fellowship/Church Health and Growth Conference.

God's miraculous work in healing and altering lives around the world will lead people to faith, said Booth, senior pastor of Mount Olivet Baptist Church in Columbus, Ohio.

To illustrate, he recalled the story of Jesus healing a deaf man, as recorded in the Gospel of Mark. Although Jesus told witnesses not to tell anyone about the incident, the crowd could not contain themselves and reported the miracle to many others.

Similar miracles happen daily, as God works in human lives, he noted. People get off drugs, see cancer disappear overnight and survive difficult surgeries. When the miraculous happens, individuals are compelled to tell others.

“When I put my mind on revival and remember what (God's) done, I've got to tell someone,” Booth said during the Baptist General Convention of Texas-sponsored event.

And when Christians speak the truth of the gospel with power, they can “get the hell out” of others, he promised.

The gospel may not immediately change lives, because sin is so ingrained in a person's life, but the message will work in a person over time and bring him to know Christ, he observed.

“I believe the power of Christ in the first century is the same as it is in the 21st century,” Booth said.

Speaking the truth with power and certainty must be done in pulpits as well, he added.

Too many times, pastors are turning their heads from sin within their congregations and avoiding preaching biblical principles because they are afraid of upsetting people, he claimed.

But God's movement in lives gives a depth to people's faith and provides each person a testimony, he continued. Those stories touch lives in the name of Christ.

African Americans in particular have a glorious song to sing as God brings them out of a long history of bondage, he said, noting the civil rights movement and resulting legislation have brought new freedoms to African Americans and given them an opportunity to praise God for his goodness.

“When you are delivered, God gives you a song,” he said.