2005 Archives
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Around the State_22105
Posted: 2/18/05
Calvary Baptist Church of Oak Cliff in Dallas recently held a baby and parent dedication day for 25 babies. All but two were younger than two years old. The church's Sunday school attendance is about 175. Ted Kiser is pastor. Around the State
Two couples with Texas ties were among missionaries recently appointed by the Southern Baptist International Mission Board. Trey and Denise Shaw will serve in central and eastern Europe in evangelism efforts. A Waco native and pastor of White Rock Church in Celeste, Shaw will serve as a strategy coordinator. The Shaws have three children: Bryan, 7; Alexander, 4; and Lily, 2. Mark and Olga Gilbert also will work in central and eastern Europe, where he will be a church starter. He is a Dallas native, and she was born in Latvia. They have two children: John, 2; and Michael, 1. Williamson Association will hold a training event detailing the life of Christ. The deadline to sign up is Feb. 24. The cost is $72. Classes will be held March 3, 10 and 24 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. David Edwards, pastor of Main Street Church in Georgetown, will be the instructor. The Abilene Tri-College Choir and Collegiate Orch-estra, comprised of musicians from Hardin-Simmons Univer-sity, Abilene Christian Univer-sity and McMurray University, was selected to perform at the Texas Music Educators Association conference Feb. 10. Only six of 150 applicants were chosen to perform. This is the first time a choir and orchestra from multiple universities has been invited to perform. 
Anderson Church in Anderson celebrated its 160th anniversary with the theme “A Past to Remember, A Future to Mold.” Ron Gunter, Baptist General Convention of Texas regional consultant, presented a charge to the church in the morning service. A barbecue dinner under a tent followed the service. Dwain Steinkuehler is pastor. 02/18/2005 - By John Rutledge
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Book Reviews_22105
Posted: 2/18/05
Book Reviews
The Intentional Family: Simple Rituals to Strengthen Family Ties
by William J. Doherty (Perennial Currents)The definition of traditional family seems to take on new meaning daily. William Doherty's delightful book The Intentional Family is a great resource for helping us with efforts to create strong, healthy families. Drawing on experience with his own family and the families he works with, Doherty believes that everyday family rituals, seasonal celebrations, special occasions and community involvement keep today's family connected.
Twenty-first century families are assaulted on every front. Divorce, dual-career households, technological advances, children's school, and social and sporting activities leave us screaming for more family time. Families are being pulled apart, and it is increasingly difficult to connect meaningfully. Doherty states, “Only the intentional family has a fighting chance to maintain and increase its sense of connection, meaning and community over the years. An intentional family is one whose members create a working plan for maintaining and building family ties and then implement the plan as best they can. An intentional family rows and steers its boat rather than being moved only by the winds and current.”
What are you reading that other Texas Baptists would find helpful? Send suggestions and reviews to books@baptiststandard.com. 02/18/2005 - By John Rutledge
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Baptist Briefs_22105
Posted: 2/18/05
Baptist Briefs
Baptists make Time's list. At least seven Baptists are among Time magazine's list of the 25 most influential evangelicals in America. The magazine devoted the cover of a recent issue to the subject of evangelical Protestants in America and their influence over politics and culture. The list details evangelicals "whose influence is on the rise or who have carved out a singular role" in those arenas. Joining famed evangelist Billy Graham and his son, Franklin, on the list were Richard Land, head of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission; Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Community Church in Southern California and author of The Purpose-Driven Life; Tim LaHaye, co-author of the popular Left Behind series of apocalyptic novels and his wife, Beverly, founder of the conservative political-action group Concerned Women for America; reformed Watergate convict and Prison Fellowship founder Chuck Colson; and Hispanic Baptist community activist Luis Cortes.
Gregory named to college post. Joel Gregory, former pastor of First Baptist Church of Dallas, has been named a distinguished fellow at Georgetown College. In that part-time consulting role, Gregory will visit the campus several times a year and serve as an ambassador-at-large for the Kentucky Baptist-related school. Among his major responsibilities will be leading Proclaimers Place, a small-group preaching seminar; coordinating alumni and friends' travel such as a 10-day study tour on "Great Preachers of Great Britain"; and serving as a liaison to the African-American church community, including work with the school's Underground Railroad Research Institute. He will continue to live in Fort Worth and will continue his preaching and teaching ministry through Joel Gregory Ministries. A graduate of Baylor University in Waco and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Gregory also is a former pastor of Travis Avenue and Gambrell Street Baptist churches in Fort Worth, a former preaching professor at Southwestern and a two-term president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. GuideStone assets hit high. GuideStone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention reached an all-time high of $8.3 billion in assets at the close of 2004–12.05 percent increase over the 2003 closing numbers of $7.3 billion. In addition, the 13 AB Funds Trust mutual funds available to Southern Baptist participants turned in a positive performance for 2004 as well as continuing to post positive returns since their inception on Aug. 27, 2001, said officials with the agency, formerly known as the Southern Baptist Annuity Board. 02/18/2005 - By John Rutledge
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Cybercolumn by Berry D. Simpson: Find a way_22105
Posted: 2/18/05
CYBER COLUMN:
Find a wayBy Berry D. Simpson
C. S. Lewis wrote: “We often say, ‘I never expected to be a saint; I only wanted to be a decent, ordinary chap,’ and imagine when we say this we are being humble. Of course, we never wanted, and never asked, to be made into the sort of creatures (God) is going to make us into; the question is not what we intended ourselves to be, but what he intended us to be when he made us. We may be content to remain what we call ‘ordinary people,’ but he is determined to carry out a quite different plan.”
Berry D. Simpson God uses a wide variety of methods to carry out his plans. For me, God works me over when I run. I believe he gives me dreams of training better and longer and faster, dreams of running another marathon (or even further), so he can use that training process to mold me into his image. However, I don’t think he really cares that much how well I run. I think he cares more that I learn patience and dependability and courage than whether I can run 20 miles at a stretch or lower my times for quarter-mile repeats at the track. He wants me to be like him, and he’ll use running and backpacking, reading and journal-keeping (or as in Cyndi’s case, dancing and performing and generally living on the edge), as tools in his hands to carry out his intentions. When I look back over my life, I can see how God has done exactly all that. I’ve learned deep lessons and felt surprising changes in my heart as a result of running day after day in the cold rain or blowing sand or 100-degree heat.
02/18/2005 - By John Rutledge
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Doves look to Smith_22105
Posted: 2/18/05
Doves look to Smith
By Adelle M. Banks
Religion News Service
NASHVILLE (RNS)–Longtime Christian artist Michael W. Smith topped the field of nominations for the Dove Awards, which will be awarded by the Gospel Music Association in April.
Michael W. Smith 02/18/2005 - By John Rutledge
Two couples with Texas ties were among missionaries recently appointed by the Southern Baptist International Mission Board. Trey and Denise Shaw will serve in central and eastern Europe in evangelism efforts. A Waco native and pastor of White Rock Church in Celeste, Shaw will serve as a strategy coordinator. The Shaws have three children: Bryan, 7; Alexander, 4; and Lily, 2. Mark and Olga Gilbert also will work in central and eastern Europe, where he will be a church starter. He is a Dallas native, and she was born in Latvia. They have two children: John, 2; and Michael, 1. 
Williamson Association will hold a training event detailing the life of Christ. The deadline to sign up is Feb. 24. The cost is $72. Classes will be held March 3, 10 and 24 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. David Edwards, pastor of Main Street Church in Georgetown, will be the instructor. 
