Baptist Briefs_41904

Posted: 4/16/04

Baptist Briefs

IMB to consider VP candidate. An International Mission Board search committee will recommend Gordon Fort, regional leader for IMB work in southern Africa, to the board later this month to become vice president for overseas operations. Fort, 48, is the son of emeritus Southern Baptist missionary physicians who served at Sanyati Baptist Hospital in Zimbabwe. He and his wife, the former Leigh Ann Harrison of Fort Worth, were appointed by the International Mission Board as missionaries to Botswana in 1985. He assumed responsibility for the work in southern Africa in 1997. Fort is a graduate of Texas A&M University in College Station and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. Prior to missionary appointment, he was pastor of Macedonia-Hix Baptist Church in Caldwell.

Texans named to SBC resolutions committee. Three Texans–all members of churches dually aligned with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention and the Baptist General Convention of Texas–have been named to the Southern Baptist Convention's resolutions committee. SBC President Jack Graham, pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, appointed John Mark Caton, pastor of Cottonwood Creek Baptist Church in Allen, Penna Dexter, a radio talk show host and Prestonwood member, and Barbara O'Chester of Great Hills Baptist Church in Austin to the committee. He named Calvin Wittman, pastor of Applewood Baptist Church in Wheat Ridge, Colo., as chairman of the committee that will serve during the SBC annual meeting in Indianapolis, June 15-16.

LifeWay releases new Bible translation. LifeWay Christian Resources released the first copies of the Holman Christian Standard Bible this month. It is the first major English-language Bible translation in 30 years and one of only seven in the past 570 years translated directly from biblical languages. LifeWay spokesmen called it the culmination of a 20-year project that involved an international team of 100 translators, editors and biblical scholars representing 20 denominations and non-denominational churches. The Holman CSB New Testament was released in 2001.

04/16/2004 - By John Rutledge

Canton church portrays life of Christ in rodeo arena drama_41904

Posted: 4/16/04

Canton church portrays life of Christ in rodeo arena drama

By Orville Scott

Special to the Baptist Standard

CANTON–Despite a cold, rainy Easter weekend, more than 3,000 people gathered in an East Texas rodeo arena to view “The Passion,” a dramatization of Jesus Christ's life, death and resurrection.

04/16/2004 - By John Rutledge

Religious values should be taught by church, not state, Strickland asserts_41904

Posted: 4/16/04

Religious values should be taught by
church, not state, Strickland asserts

By Ferrell Foster

Texas Baptist Communications

DALLAS­Nearly 5,000 people attended a recent Ten Commandments rally in Dallas to discuss the “importance of God in politics,” news reports said. But a Texas Baptist ethics leader later raised concerns about the event and the movement it represents.

04/16/2004 - By John Rutledge

Time a matter of perspective, minister says_41904

Posted: 4/16/04

Time a matter of perspective, minister says

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

SAN ANTONIO–If it seems there are never enough hours in the day, it may be a matter of perspective rather than time, said Wayne Dillen, who led a time-management seminar during the Texas Baptist Hispanic Youth and Singles Congreso.

04/16/2004 - By John Rutledge

DOWN HOME: Welcome Tree shines nightly_41904

Posted: 4/16/04

DOWN HOME:
Welcome Tree shines nightly

If you drive down our street after dark, you'll recognize our house. It's the gray contemporary Cape Cod. Not distinctive enough? It's the one with the Welcome Tree out front.

My friend Rusty inspired our Welcome Tree. He has a dry sense of humor. Imagine the Sahara Desert. You sometimes have to stretch to get Rusty's humor, but it's worth the effort.

Late last year, Rusty confessed in his church newsletter that he once left his Christmas Tree up until April. He got too busy in December and didn't have time to enjoy the tree enough, and he wasn't ready to take it down by New Year's. So, he left it up until after April Fool's Day.

04/16/2004 - By John Rutledge

Political blocs splinter on chopping block of faith_41904

Posted: 4/16/04

EDITORIAL:
Political blocs splinter on chopping block of faith

A daily newspaper headline posed an intriguing question this election year: “Can Kerry keep the Catholic vote?”

The article begged for a sidebar to answer an unspoken question: What is the Catholic vote? And its corollary: What is the Baptist vote?

Of course, no such voting bloc exists. Not 44 years after 80 percent of all voting Catholics ensured John Kennedy's presidential bid. In 1960, Baptist Standard Editor E.S. James called Kennedy “a clean young man with intelligence, ability and competence” who “should be commended for his affirmation that if he were president he would abide by the Constitution, regardless of the attitude of his church.” Still, James opposed the Catholic candidate, and judging by responses to his editorial and other reports from that era, most Baptists voted as a bloc against Kennedy.

04/16/2004 - By John Rutledge

Variety of issues likely to determine how evangelicals vote_41904

Posted: 4/16/04

Variety of issues likely to determine how evangelicals vote

By Robert Marus

ABP Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON (ABP)–Christian voters likely will discover the choice between the two major presidential candidates may not be as black and white as campaign ads make it out to be, some observers of the religious and political landscape note.

04/16/2004 - By John Rutledge

LifeWay Explore the Bible Series for April 25: Persevere in sharing the good news of Christ_41904

Posted: 4/16/04

LifeWay Explore the Bible Series for April 25

Persevere in sharing the good news of Christ

2 Timothy 2

By David Morgan

Trinity Baptist Church, Harker Heights

04/16/2004 - By John Rutledge

LifeWay Explore the Bible Series for May 2: Christians are instructed to be good examples_41904

Posted: 4/16/04

LifeWay Explore the Bible Series for May 2

Christians are instructed to be good examples

2 Timothy 3

By David Morgan

Trinity Baptist Church, Harker Heights

04/16/2004 - By John Rutledge

LifeWay Family Bible Series for April 25: The return of Christ should affect everyday life_41904

Posted: 4/16/04

LifeWay Family Bible Series for April 25

The return of Christ should affect everyday life

Matthew 24:42-44; 1 John 2:28-3:3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

By Rodney McGlothlin

First Baptist Church, College Station

04/16/2004 - By John Rutledge

LifeWay Family Bible Series for May 2: We know him if we obey his command to love_41904

Posted: 4/16/04

LifeWay Family Bible Series for May 2

We know him if we obey his command to love

Proverbs 3:5-6; 1 John 2:1-11

By Rodney McGlothlin

First Baptist Church, College Station

04/16/2004 - By John Rutledge

Welfare bill with funds for charities stalls in Senate_41904

Posted: 4/16/04

Welfare bill with funds for charities stalls in Senate

By Robert Marus

ABP Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON (ABP)–Disputes over the minimum wage and other contentious election-year issues have stalled congressional reauthorization of a welfare reform program that includes funds for religious charities.

04/16/2004 - By John Rutledge