Posted: 1/21/05

Posted: 1/21/05

2ND OPINION:
Taking a risk with God for women in ministry

by Roger Olsen

I surprise students by telling them I have belonged to two churches pastored by women–one in Minnesota and one now in Waco.

For approximately seven years, our family's pastor has been a woman. Then I say: “Don't get me wrong; we don't have anything against men in ministry. If God calls a man to preach, who are we to oppose that?” That always elicits a nervous chuckle from most students; a few women students are especially tickled by the joke. And, of course, it is said facetiously.

By far the majority of pastors are and probably always will be men. However, more churches and denominations–including evangelical ones–are becoming receptive to women in the pulpit and behind the door marked “Pastor.”

Occasionally, a well-meaning person will ask me when I became liberal and began believing in women pastors. I surprise them as well. That never happened. I grew up in a very conservative denomination that ordains women to ministry; both my birth mother (who died when I was a child) and my stepmother were licensed ministers. The denomination ordained many women who planted churches, preached revivals and pastored. I first encountered strong opposition to women's ordination and pastoral leadership in seminary and never heard arguments convincing enough to change my mind.

The organization Christians for Biblical Equality explains the biblical basis for women's ordination and for women as pastors. (See www.cbeinternational.org) Evangelical theologians Stanley Grenz and Denise Kjesbo wrote a book that convincingly argues for full equality of women with men in church, family and society, Women in the Church: A Biblical Theology of Women in Ministry.

I find that many Christians–including some Baptists–have accepted full equality of women with men in ministry but have yet to be open to a woman pastor. They say, “I just don't think I could sit under a woman's ministry.” When asked why, they often appeal to comfort level and culture: “It would just feel so odd to me” and “It's a cultural thing.” I would like to help such people with my own testimony (and speaking for my whole family) about our experiences with two women pastors.

Many people are surprised to hear that neither woman Baptist pastor is an ideological feminist. Of course, both believe that men and women share full equality in every area of life, but neither uses the pulpit as a platform to promote a feminist agenda of inclusive God-talk or reverse discrimination that implies women are superior to men. Both joyfully work side-by-side with male colleagues. Neither Penny Zettler (our pastor in Minnesota) nor Julie Pennington-Russell (our pastor in Texas) has a chip on her shoulder. Both have experienced rejection due to their gender, but neither is angry about it.

At both Elim Baptist Church in Minneapolis and Calvary Baptist Church in Waco, one hears men and women saying, “You know, I didn't know how I'd feel about having a woman pastor, but now I wouldn't trade her for anyone.” Pastor Penny's husband is a lay partner in her ministry and actively involved in the church even though his profession is computer programming. Coincidently, Pastor Julie's husband also works with computers and is as active in the church as any layperson. Both take ribbing about being “the pastor's husband” with good humor. Their congregations love them as couples, but the women lead in the church. And that's perfectly all right with these traditional Baptist congregations.

Most importantly, our family found these women pastors to be models of sound biblical preaching that touches the hearts of their congregations with notes of personal application. Pastor Penny's style is narrative; Pastor Julie's is topical. Both successfully relate the biblical text to everyday life with humor, stories, self-disclosure and conviction. I have personally never sat under any pastor who more genuinely “comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable” than these two women pastors.

Some of my best seminary students are women called by God to pastor churches. And yet they often run into a cultural wall of opposition as they seek churches in which to minister. I urge them to be patient, but my heart grieves for them and for the churches that could be benefiting from their pastoral leadership just as Elim and Calvary are benefiting from their female pastors.

To those Baptists and other Christians who are open-minded to women in ministry but who still have personal and cultural qualms, I say, “Give a woman a chance; you may be very pleasantly surprised as my family and I have been.”

If we never take risks, nothing ever changes. God is calling women into his service, but he depends on us to give them opportunities to serve. Let's set aside our personal qualms and cultural hangups and give God-called women a chance to lead, just as they have been leading both women and men on mission fields for centuries.

Roger Olson is professor of theology at Baylor University's George W. Truett Theological Seminary.

Posted: 1/21/05

Texas Cooperative Program 2004 receipts top budget

By Ferrell Foster

Texas Baptist Communications

DALLAS–Texas Cooperative Pro-gram receipts in 2004 exceeded budget for the first time in five years, said David Nabors, chief financial officer for the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

The BGCT's end-of-year financial report also noted increased giving to each of five special missions offerings.

Texas Baptist churches gave $39.86 million through Texas CP last year. The budget called for $39.77 million.

Compared to the previous year, Texas CP giving declined by less than a percentage point, with $40.16 million given in 2003.

The 2004 budget represented a more realistic expectation of receipts based on economic conditions, Nabors said. Also, while total receipts climbed, churches allocated more of their gifts to dedicated causes, which are in addition to Cooperative Program receipts.

Texas Cooperative Program giving is a portion of overall Cooperative Program giving, which includes funds forwarded to the Southern Baptist Convention and other worldwide ministries. Total Cooperative Program receipts dropped 2.7 percent to $55.98 million in 2004 from $57.53 million in 2003.

Designated offering receipts for missions climbed 6.08 percent, with Texas Baptists giving $22.9 million to special missions and hunger causes.

Texas Baptists gave $4.8 million through the Mary Hill Davis Offering for Texas Missions–a 7 percent increase over 2003 giving.

The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Global Missions Offering experienced the highest percentage increase of the five offerings, with an 8.32 percent hike in giving to top $1 million.

Texas Baptists gave $11.6 million to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering of the Southern Baptist International Mission Board. It marked the largest dollar-amount increase of any of the designated offerings, with BGCT churches giving $731,471 more in 2004 than in the previous year.

The Texas Baptist Offering for World Hunger had a 6.67 percent increase, with $764,714 given to aid a variety of hunger relief efforts around the world. The BGCT partners with the Baptist World Alliance in many of the projects.

Texas Baptists' giving to the Annie Armstrong Offering for North American Missions climbed 3.07 percent, with $4.73 million given toward the offering of the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board.

BGCT churches determine how their Cooperative Program giving is divided between BGCT and worldwide ministries. In 2004, those choices resulted in 71.2 percent of Cooperative Program dollars going to the BGCT and 28.8 being sent to worldwide causes.

Of the money going to worldwide causes, $14.03 million was sent to the SBC and $2.08 million went to other efforts, including $1.15 million for the CBF.

While churches choose between giving approaches, the BGCT Adopted Budget Plan is approved at the annual meeting and recommended to churches. Under that plan, 79 percent of gifts stays in Texas and 21 percent goes to worldwide efforts. In 2004, 36.4 of total BGCT Cooperative Program gifts came through the Adopted Plan, up from 34.3 percent in 2003.

Posted: 1/21/05

CYBERCOLUMN:
Ordinary men

By Berry D. Simpson

Lately, I’ve spent a lot of time with the disciples of Jesus. At church, in my adult Bible study class, I’ve been teaching from the Gospel of Luke. In the Community Bible Study that Cyndi and I are doing together, we’re studying the Gospel of John. I keep mixing the two gospels in my head, telling stories from one when thinking about the other.

I remember in my younger days when I first started reading the Bible on my own (it was a “Reach Out” copy of the Living New Testament), I saw the 12 apostles as larger-than-life heroes. They were brave men who left their families and careers behind to follow Jesus and then literally changed the world by sharing the gospel of Christ and establishing churches and writing their accounts.

Later, I begin to think of them as bumblers, who never understood the points Jesus was trying to teach, who time after time were shocked at the miracles of Jesus even when experiencing miracle after miracle month after month, who thought mostly of themselves and who slept through prayer meetings. In fact, among certain circles and certain discussions, it was fashionable to make fun of these guys, as in, “They were 12 simple, ordinary goofballs who were transformed by Jesus.”

Nowadays, I am changing my mind about the disciples once again. I see them as fellow travelers, working their way down the same road I am. Simple men looking for answers, just like me.

Just because they saw Jesus do amazing miracles, they still were surprised each time. Some miracles were just too big to expect, and we place an impossible burden on them when we wonder why they were surprised. For example, how could they have anticipated Jesus would stop a raging storm on the Sea of Galilee? Even though they had walked with Jesus for many months and watched him do miraculous things over and over, stopping a storm caught them absolutely by surprise. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him.”

But I doubt Jesus and his disciples had perfect weather during the rest of their travels. I am sure they got burned by the sun, blasted by the wind, soaked from the rain and spent many cold nights alongside the road. They lived through harsh weather day-in and day-out like everyone around them did, and so they had no reason to expect special treatment when caught in a storm on the lake. Why would they anticipate Jesus would stop this one after they’d suffered through so many others?

And just not long ago, I was reading another story about the time when Jesus fed 5,000 men (and their families—probably 20,000 people) from only two small fish and five pieces of bread. But first, he told the disciples to feed the crowd—a request that really set them back since they had no idea how to feed so many people. They did not have enough money to buy so much food and not enough heart to pray for a miracle. (I wonder why none of those 5,000 men brought their own lunch? What were they thinking, bringing their wives and kids out without lunch?)

At first reading, I wondered why the disciples were surprised at Jesus’ ability to create food and feed so many people after all they’d seen him do. But we have no record that he’d ever done such a thing before. Jesus didn’t just reach into his pocket and pull out food whenever they were hungry. No, they solved their hunger through normal methods. They bought it, or gleaned it from a nearby field, or shared it. Why would they expect Jesus to solve the problem of 20,000 hungry people any differently?

I guess the reason I am going on and on about this is because I believe the disciples were normal, ordinary men just like me. They were “on target” with Jesus one moment and “off target” the next. Just when they got settled and comfortable with Jesus, he would do something to put them off balance. I think their entire time with Jesus was like this over and over: “Wow, this is bigger than I thought!”

Because I can only understand these men through my own experiences, I view them through the same lens I see myself. When I was young, I was a hero of discipleship, out to change the world; then I felt like a goofball stumbling my way through life; and now I think of myself as a guy who searches daily for God but is constantly caught off balance with the realization that this world, this life, this spiritual realm, this Jesus is way bigger than I thought.

My eyes get opened wider and wider, over and over, time after time.

Berry Simpson, a Sunday School teacher at First Baptist Church in Midland, is a petroleum engineer, writer, runner and member of the city council in Midland.

Posted: 1/21/05

DOWN HOME:
Thoroughly modern trip to the museum

If Molly and I appear more cultured these days, it's because we're more cultured these days.

Before my youngest daughter sped into her final semester of high school, she and I spent an afternoon with her cousin/my nephew Brian at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.

Even if it didn't house a stick of art (“stick” being a not-too-strange substitute for some of this art), The Modern would be worth the trip. Its broad, open spaces and glass walls construct an architectural metaphor for the building's sunny, optimistic hometown. Three parallel wings jut into a reflecting pool, so the building seems to float on a placid sea. Could Cowtown be heaven? Well … yeah.

But then there's the art.

Since Molly, Brian and I are relatively normal people who don't have Ph.D.s in art history, The Modern's collection prompted us to talk about what comprises “art.”

At first, Brian insisted modern artists must know and understand all the rules of classical art so that when they break those rules, their defiance of convention has specific meaning. Later, we saw a long fluorescent lightbulb bolted to the wall at a 45-degree angle to the floor. Wordlessly, I looked at Brian. “I take it back,” he said.

Since I think life should have significance, I was always trying to interpret the theological and philosophical meaning of the pieces. For example, I loved the irony of Anselm Kiefer's Book with Wings, which is exactly what the title says, except the book and wings are both lead and must weigh a ton. And I appreciated the yearning and futility of the rickety 36-foot scaled-to-infinity Ladder for Booker T. Washington crafted by Martin Puryear.

Eventually, even Brian, who's working on a master's degree in philosophy of religion, got tired of my musings, and I kept them to myself. (But I'll tell you, if you can sit and absorb Keifer's Aschenblume and not feel the pain of the Holocaust or watch Bill Viola's moody film The Greeting and not wonder what those women are talking about, you haven't got a soul.)

Still, some of this stuff I just plain didn't get, like Green Piece, by Jackie Winsor, which looks for all the world like a light-green beehive.

We all enjoyed Ulrich Ruckriem's Untitled (a popular title for scads of modern art), a huge cube of Texas red granite. The best part was the explanation. When a truck driver delivered the stone to Ruckriem's studio, the artist was so moved by its beauty he couldn't work for months.

“There you go, Daddy,” Molly urged. “You should just tell the board of the Baptist Standard, 'I'm so moved by the beauty of my new computer, I'm going to have to take the next six months off!'”

Maybe the Lord's calling me to be a sculptor. Or maybe not. Our trip to The Modern reminded me I don't have the eye to produce art.

But it also reminded me that we–especially Christians–should recognize the beauty that occurs in our world, the beauty that inspires artists. And we should praise God, from whom all beauty flows.

— Marv Knox

Posted: 1/21/05

EDITORIAL:
We can't wait for immigration reform

Try to imagine a long-term issue as vital to the future of Texas–and, not coincidentally, the United States–as immigration. OK; health care and education. But both of those big-ticket items will be impacted in one way or another by how well we solve our immigration crisis.

A package of articles in this issue of the Standard paints a face on immigration in Texas. The sheer numbers seem incomprehensible: More than 1 million residents of our state–about one in 20 people–are undocumented. In the harshest language, they're illegal aliens. That term, “illegal alien,” sounds more like a creature from a sci-fi movie than the person who eats at the next table in the coffee shop, the child who sits next to your son or daughter in homeroom, the fellow who mows your neighbor's yard or the believer who receives the Lord's Supper with you on Sunday morning.

Segregated as we tend to be, most non-Hispanic Texans rarely, if ever, worship with undocumented workers and their children. But they are here, in Texas churches. They're sisters and brothers in Christ, like Ernesto and Maria, whose story is told elsewhere in our paper. Read about them (click here), and then come back. …

Did you resonate with their longing, old as parenthood, to help their child fulfill her promise? Did you discern desperation that roused a man to risk his life for a better one? Did you sense the pain of two years between hugs and kisses? Did you feel kinship with fellow Baptists?

Hispanic Texas Baptists have felt all this, and more. That's why a Hispanic Baptist pastor prompted the Baptist General Convention of Texas to form an immigration task force. Out of that group's work, both the BGCT and the Hispanic Baptist Convencion of Texas have passed resolutions urging ministry to and justice for immigrants.

“The allure of freedom and the possibility of prosperity are in the hearts of all people,” the Convencion resolution asserts. Both resolutions note, “People are constantly leaving their homelands at great personal costs to seek freedom and prosperity, and … Texas has become the leading receptor of undocumented immigrants.”

The BGCT resolution points out the immigration system “unintentionally provides incentives for human smuggling and other exploitation.” It also says undocumented workers do not receive the protection of labor laws and are not even known to government regulatory agencies.

Both conventions stress, “The Bible teaches and the ministry of Jesus instructs that believers are to minister to the 'alien' and the 'stranger' in the land.” They also note churches do not violate any laws when they meet the basic needs of undocumented immigrants. They both call for ministry to immigrants “through prayer and action.”

The BGCT declares that the convention speaks “forcefully and clearly in opposition to systems that keep contributing workers in the shadows, deny security to our borders and hinder the search for freedom and prosperity.” Convencion goes further. It opposes “the current immigration system that hinders the search for freedom and prosperity,” and it calls for “the adoption of new legislation that would unshackle the immigrant.”

The conventions have powerful allies. President Bush told The Washington Times immigration reform will be a high priority for this session of Congress. He has proposed temporary work visas for foreign workers–however they entered the country–as long as U.S. citizens can't or won't take the jobs. It's not “instant citizenship,” but it provides for order, security, justice and possibility in the immigration system. Texas Sen. John Cornyn has been named chairman of the Senate Immigration Subcommittee, and he will promote the president's plan. Texas Gov. Rick Perry also has advocated immigration reform, and he should push the Texas Legislature.

Some Texans oppose any steps they believe would make immigration easier. They–and we–need to think:

Biblically. God's command to care for the immigrant and the outsider is a dominant theme of the Old Testament. And Jesus says our love for him will be measured by how we treat “the least of these.” If immigrants aren't among them, you don't know “least.”

Historically. At one time or another, we all were immigrants. Who are we to deny “the allure of freedom and the possibility of prosperity” that beats in the hearts of others?

Economically. If your only bottom line is the bottom line, recognize immigrants have been the engine of our economic growth. Thank them for taking hard jobs.

This issue won't go away. As religion researcher Phillip Jenkins (The Next Christendom) notes, global migration will redefine social, political, educational and religious realities.

So, keep on the lookout, and urge Texas Baptists, Congress and the Legislature to do right by immigrants.

Marv Knox is editor of the Baptist Standard

Posted: 1/21/05

Teens hunger for truth, youth evangelist insists

By Leann Callaway

Special to the Baptist Standard

MIDLAND–As youth evangelist Brad Fogarty speaks to students around the country, he draws his messages from lessons he learned while teaching and coaching in public schools. That's where he witnessed firsthand the need to share Christian truth with students.

“Personally, I am very concerned … because teenagers have been lied to for so long,” he said.

“Many teenagers think that sexual things are going to fulfill and that alcohol is going to solve their problems. In reality, all their addictions and sins have done nothing but make their lives worse. Teenagers are desperate to know the truth.”

Fogarty is student pastor at Stonegate Fellowship Church, a Baptist congregation in Midland, and also is the executive director of Armored Outreach.

Since co-founding Armored Outreach in 1999, Fogarty has traveled extensively across the country, speaking at youth camps, retreats, Disciple Now weekends, True Love Waits and See You at the Pole rallies, and other events such as Super Summer and the “Rock the Desert” Christian music festival in West Texas.

“When I became an itinerant minister, I was really impacted by what I saw,” he said.

“I realized that most of the traveling speakers and worship leaders were pretty lonely. They were constantly on the road, which meant rarely attending their home church. I didn't want that to happen to me. I wanted to be surrounded by a group of people to provide accountability, and whether we're at home or traveling, I wanted a close-knit family of ministers who would support each other.

“That's when God really began working in my life, and the vision for Armored Outreach was birthed. It was designed to be a haven for traveling ministers and a place for young ministers to be mentored, trained and assisted in their ministry.”

Recently, Armored Outreach created the “Truth Is” conference. The purpose of this two-day gathering is to provide teenagers with spiritual tools to keep their faith close while living in a secular world.

“We've been very intentional in having this conference outside of the Bible-belt and in the northeastern part of the U.S.,” he explained. “We basically say, 'Let us tell you what the truth is.' It's been really neat, because people are responding with, 'How come no one's ever told us this before?' Numerous people have accepted Christ as their Savior at this event.”

Through the conference, students also have realized their walk with Christ can be strengthened through meditation and memorization of Scripture, and they have made commitments to applying it to their daily life, he said.

“What a lot of Christians take for granted is that they've become really good at devotion, but they have forgotten about dwelling,” Fogarty said.

“A lot of people have their quiet time

so they can check it off, but they aren't

really spending time with Christ. That's a real passion of ours–to make sure that we're

really spending time with Christ and not just writing something in a journal and calling

it a devotion. We're taking that same charge to the people we speak to.”

Fogarty's favorite aspect of ministry happens when students give their lives to Christ and realize what the truth is.

“If I was working for a sales company or building houses, I would be able to see the fruit of my labor almost immediately,” he said. “You cut a deal, shake a hand and

get a check. You hammer a nail, lay a brick, and you've got a house.

“One of the beautiful things about what we do is we may never see it come to flourish. We're planting seeds that may flourish after our lifetime.

“I really can't describe the magnitude

of it, and I may never know the impact that Christ has had through my life.

“We get e-mails and letters so often that say, 'My life was changed at that event' … or, 'Let me tell you what God did at this event.' Just the thought of the eternal impact is so rewarding. I consider myself a door-to-door Jesus salesman.”

Posted: 1/21/05

Attorney general cancels contract with Las Vegas firm

By Ken Camp

Managing Editor

AUSTIN–Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has cancelled a contract with a Las Vegas law firm that drafted gambling legislation for the state.

The attorney general's action came less than a month after Russell Verney, director of Judicial Watch, filed a suit naming Abbott, Lottery Commission Executive Director Reagan Greer and Comptroller Carol Keeton Strayhorn.

Verney alleged the Lottery Commission and the attorney general's office initially agreed to pay $100,000 to Lionel, Sawyer & Collins to–among other things–write legislation legalizing video gambling in Texas. Later oral contracts increased the amount to more than $360,000.

The Baptist General Convention of Texas' Christian Life Commission first brought to light last year the involvement of the law firm, which has ties to slot machine companies and other gambling interests.

Verney called the contract “an illegal attempt to lobby the legislative branch, made by executive branch agencies.”

Angela Hale, a spokesperson for the attorney general, called Verney's claims “misguided, riddled with factual and legal errors and insupportable in both fact and law.”

According to widely published reports, the attorney general's office already has paid more than $176,000 to the Las Vegas law firm.

“Contrary to (Verney's) claim, no Lottery Commission dollars have been spent, period,” Hale said. “Second, contrary to his claims, no money has been spent for lobbying.”

She insisted the contract stipulated the services the law firm was to provide–legal analysis and research, negotiating and preparing contracts with Indian tribes and litigation support services.

“Legislators may study and seek changes to current law, and in doing so, have a right to legal advice on how to achieve policy or legal changes to the law,” she asserted.

But Verney said no lottery dollars were spent on the contract only because the attorney general cancelled the contract at the last minute after the suit was filed.

As far as the matter of lobbying is concerned, Verney said, “They need to read the bills the law firm sent to them.”

Billing records stipulate services rendered included drafting a constitutional amendment and legislation, meeting with legislators and testifying before legislative committees.

“That is lobbying, plain and simple,” he said.

The attorney general's office was seeking to have the lawsuit dismissed at a court hearing Jan. 20.

While Verney called the nullified contract “a victory for Judicial Watch, a victory for taxpayers and a victory for Texas school children,” he called the effort to dismiss his suit “a shameful and transparent attempt” to deny his right to discovery in court.

Posted: 1/21/05

Children's issues, gambling top list of legislative priorities

By Ferrell Foster

Texas Baptist Communications

DALLAS–Texas Baptists' Christian Life Commis-sion is for children and against gambling.

The Baptist General Convention of Texas' public policy agency approved a broad list of priorities Jan. 14 that it will support during the 79th session of the Texas Legislature, which began earlier this month. Its positions on children and gambling issues are part of that mix.

Children's issues are expected to be important in the current legislative session, especially in regard to how the state protects children in dangerous or destructive situations.

The commission supports reform and reorganization of the state's child protective and family services. Such reform should include “effective partnerships that impact faith-related child and family services,” the priority statement said.

Four BGCT-affiliated agencies provide those services–Baptist Child & Family Services, Buckner Baptist Benevolences, South Texas Children's Home and Texas Baptist Children's Home & Family Services.

In regard to gambling, the Christian Life Commission opposes efforts to expand gambling, including video lottery terminals or casinos. Last session, the Legislature rejected such proposals as a way of reforming the state's school finance system, but the broader school finance issue still lingers.

The commission approved 37 specific priorities. The items are grouped in nine categories.

Some of those priorities are:

Alcohol and addiction

Increase alcohol excise taxes to deter youth purchases.

Enforce limitations on alcohol advertising.

Increase treatment of addiction among the incarcerated.

Campaign finance and open government

Reduce undue influence, abuse and the appearance of corruption under the present system of unlimited campaign contributions.

Strengthen the Texas Ethics Commission and empower it to investigate election and ethics violations.

Record significant votes in the legislature.

Children and family

Promote an eligibility system that supports access to state services while recognizing the limits of community or faith-related services.

Clarify the nature and definitions of marriage and family. In previous action, the commission has affirmed marriage as the union between a man and a woman.

Criminal justice

Add "life without parole" as an option for Texas juries handling capital cases.

Create options that will keep the mentally ill who commit minor crimes from being charged with a crime and entering the criminal justice system.

Education

Oppose funding private and parochial schools through vouchers or other means of providing public support for private sectarian use.

Support expansion of adult literacy and learning through workforce development.

Environment

Reduce power plant and mercury emissions to federally mandated levels.

Ensure that cities, counties and groundwater conservation districts have the authority necessary to protect water quality, aquifer recharge and spring flows and to minimize aquifer depletion.

Gambling

Promote strong regulatory functions, transparency and accountability of state agencies related to gambling enterprises.

Health and long-term care

Access to medical insurance for children by increased state funding for federal government-supported programs.

Providing secure and affordable services for elderly and disabled citizens.

Immigration and border Issues

End trafficking of undocumented persons.

Provide a meaningful plan for guest workers, agriculture workers and employed immigrants now in the United States.

Posted: 1/21/05

Poor Texans bear greater burden, lottery study shows

By Ferrell Foster

Texas Baptist Communications

AUSTIN–A study commissioned by the Texas Lottery Commission supports what gambling opponents have been saying a long time–low-income Texans spend a larger portion of their income on the lottery than higher-income residents.

The study shows the lottery is regressive, said Suzii Paynter, director of citizenship and public policy for the Baptist General Convention of Texas' Christian Life Commission.

That means those on the lower end of the economic spectrum carry a larger portion of the burden for financing government than do those on the higher end, something Christian ethics leaders have decried for decades.

The report released this month by the Earl Survey Research Laboratory of Texas Tech University said, “Per month spending (on the lottery) is consistent across income categories, meaning that while the amount spent per month in dollars remains relatively constant, residents in lower income categories spend a larger proportion of their income on lottery games.”

About 47 percent of adult Texans played the lottery in the past year, and each player spent an average of $76 per month, the study says.

The income group that spends the most on the lottery includes those whose average income is $40,000 to $49,000. They average spending $112 per month.

The group spending the least includes those making $76,000 to $100,000. They average almost $29 per month.

Texan who make more than $100,000 a year spend $71 a month on the lottery.

They spend less, however, than the poorest Texans–income of less than $20,000–who average spending $76.

“The sad thing is our state has substituted a false hope for an exciting future,” Paynter said. “Poor people are playing the lottery because they think it's going to change their future.”

Education level also is related how much a person spends on the lottery, the report says. “Those with less than a high school diploma report spending notably more per month than those with more education.”

And then there is a racial component. African Americans are less likely to play the lottery than are Anglos, Hispanics or other groups.

However, the study showed, “black respondents that do play Texas Lottery games report spending the most per month of any group.”

Age has little to do with the rate of participation, but “younger players (those 35 and under) report spending more per month” than older Texans.

Likewise, gender matters little in the rate of parti- cipation, but men spend more than women.

Looking at trends, the report notes that lottery participation peaked in 1994, with 71 percent of surveyed residents reporting having played.

“A gradual decline began the following year, leading to the 2004 figure of 47 percent. … This represents the lowest level of participation since the introduction of the Texas Lottery.”

Posted: 1/21/05

TEXAS BAPTIST FORUM:

Religious right (on)

The United States has been unofficially known as a “Christian nation” since it was settled, fought for and founded in vast majority by Religious Right Protestant Christians who fled European persecution. Two hundred twenty-five years later, Satan now persecutes their believing descendants.

The socialist, anti-God Liberal Left rose half a century ago. Even some believers support the Left's political agenda of abortion, immorality and godlessness, evidence of its Satanic origin and power.

Our overwhelmingly Christian founders didn't exclude other faiths or no faith, but they established the right to publicly express majority belief in God and allowed no restriction of public prayer or expression of faith. They created majority rule through elected representatives, not minority rule through illegal abuse of court power.

Letters are welcomed. Send them to marvknox@baptiststandard.com; 250 words maximum.

“I don't see … at least from my perspective, how you can be president without a relationship with the Lord.” George W. Bush (The Washington Times, RNS) "What I object to in Hollywood is not necessarily vulgarity. It's vulgarity with no purpose. It's vulgarity with no message. It's vulgarity for the sake of exploiting vulgarity. … Jesus was really against all kinds of exploitation." Patricia Heaton Actress who plays Debra Barone in Everybody Loves Raymond (AFA Journal) "If God can adopt us into his family and call us his own, it is our hope that others consider following his example by adopting a 'fatherless' child into their families." Steven Curtis Chapman Recording artist, who has adopted three children from China (BP) “Money is never enough compensation for investing time in something you hate. … Having a job that only provides safety and security is not enough. … Jobs will come and go–but a vocation or 'calling' will provide a continuing direction.” Dan Miller Author of 48 Days to the Work You Love (BP)

Christians are forcing belief on no one. We're fighting to regain our rights abolished by an activist court whose agenda ignored precedent and found-ers' intent and decimated respect for human life and common sense.

Our founders acknowledged God's existence. Be ready to join Babylon, Rome and the U.S.S.R. if the Left is able to eliminate that recognition.

Jim Bryant

Clifton

An open door

Christ talks about tragedy such as the tsunami in several places. He refers to the birth pain of the end of time, and earthquakes are one of the signs. He tells of the tower that falls and bad things happen to the just and unjust.

However, there are times when God's people turn their back to God. …

But people who say their nation is “Christian” are set to be judged by God.

I truly believe 9/11 was a wakeup call to Christians that we have became too complacent with pleasing the world and not God. We backed off sending people to evangelize the world, failed to send gifts to help those who want to go, because we are too concerned about ourselves and our church programs.

The tsunami was not an act of God; it just happened. The tragedy does open the door to Christians to get together and send aid of all sorts and missionaries by the 747-loads.

Dennis W. Russell

El Paso

Call to love

When our country was founded, there were no ugly or pretty people, just people with beautiful souls, seeking a homeland where they could worship God without persecution.

For years, we grew closer to the Lord. Then we acted as Eve did when she was tempted by the devil. The devil told Eve, “You shall not surely die,” although God had said she would.

We started to believe that same lie, that God was mistaken in how he told us to live our lives, so that we would know peace, happiness and prosperity. …

God has told us to love one another, even love our enemies, and to return good for evil. We still think we know better.

When will we learn and return back to the peace and prosperity we once knew?

Daniel Younger

Itasca

Moving on

I like the new look of the Baptist Standard.

I like even better the stated plan to “move beyond the controversies and conflicts of the past.” …

We are all still Baptists. “Moving on” is good news.

Oralee Farell

Commerce

Posted: 1/21/05

On the Move

Charles Altimore to First Church in Oglesby as minister of music.

Matt Baker has resigned as pastor of Northlake Church in Dallas.

David Bonnet to First Church in Evant as pastor.

Jackie Brem to Oak Street Church in Colorado City as pastor from First Church in Rochester.

Todd and Jenny Bunch to First Church in Kopperl as music and youth ministers.

Robert Cepeda to First Church in Los Fresnos as pastor from Primera Iglesia in San Benito, where he was interim.

Gary Chapman to Vernon Church in Vernon as pastor.

John Davison has resigned as minister to students at First Church in Crowell.

Ed Geron to Concho Valley Association as director of missions, where he had been interim.

Eddy Hallock to Tallowood Church in Houston as minister of missions/evangelism.

Mikel Hatfield to First Church in Lewisville as associate student minister.

Darrell Horn to Coastal Plains Area as executive director/director of missions.

Billy Joe Lambert has resigned as pastor of Cedar Springs Church in Rosebud.

Billy Lucas has completed an interim pastorate at Shavano Church in San Antonio and is available for supply and interims at (210) 494-9018.

Tony Moye to First Church in Calvert as pastor.

Pete Martin to Mount Pleasant Church in Kosse as pastor.

Bob McCartney to First Church in Sulphur Springs as pastor.

Heather Parrish to First Church in Lometa as youth minister.

Matt Prescott has resigned as minister of youth at Colonial Hill Church in Snyder.

Jack Rodgers to Hickory Tree Church in Balch Springs as pastor, where he had been interim.

Roger Smith to Calvary Hills Church in San Antonio as director of student ministries.

Gara Stark has resigned as associate pastor/minister of music and administration at South Garland Church in Garland.

Melodee Stillwell has resigned as associate student minister at First Church in Lewisville.

Chan Thompson to College Avenue Church in McGregor as youth minister, where he had been interim.

Gary Welch to Northside Church in Corsicana as interim youth minister.