2006 Archives
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Texas Baptist Forum
Posted: 8/18/06
Texas Baptist Forum
Untrue statement
I enjoy reading the Standard and keeping up with the news about God’s work in Texas and around the world.
Jump to online-only letters. Letters are welcomed. Send them to marvknox@baptiststandard.com; 250 words maximum. 
“Nobody is going to tell God what to do and what not to do, but we are in a serious drought in West Texas, and since he is the man who controls the rain clouds, we’re asking him for his mercy and his help.”David Miller
Mayor of Lubbock, speaking about efforts to encourage residents to pray for rain (Lubbock Avalanche-Journal/RNS)“I’m not against the death penalty; I’m against the wrong guy being executed. And I ask the question, ‘When was the last time a rich man was executed in Texas?’ Since the answer is never, I don’t see how we’ve improved the system in the 2,000 years since Jesus Christ was executed.”
Kinky Friedman
Independent candidate for Texas governor (Dallas Morning News)“Those are decisions only the Lord will make. It would be foolish for me to speculate on who will be there and who won’t. … I don’t want to speculate about all that. I believe the love of God is absolute. He said he gave his Son for the whole world, and I think he loves everybody, regardless of what label they have.”
Billy Graham
The evangelist, asked if he thinks heaven is “closed to good Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus or secular people” (Newsweek/RNS)For the most part, I enjoy and appreciate your editorials. However, in the one on the “End Times” (Aug. 7), I was disappointed in a theological doctrine you stated as being a true fact. Your statement: “From a New Testament perspective, the church—not the Jewish people—is the New Israel.”
I believe, given a careful reading of Romans 10 and 11, one would be hard-pressed to conclude Paul, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, believed the church was the New Israel.
08/22/2006 - By John Rutledge
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Sloan elected as Houston Baptist University president
Posted: 8/18/06
Sloan elected as Houston
Baptist University presidentBy Ken Camp
Managing Editor
HOUSTON—After 10 years as Baylor University’s president—the last few marked by deep division among the Waco school’s varied constituencies—Robert Sloan never thought he would want to lead another university.
But at an Aug. 8 called meeting, Houston Baptist Univer-sity’s trustees overwhelmingly elected Sloan, 57, as president of their 2,300-student school, effective Sept. 1.
Robert Sloan becomes president of Houston Baptist University Sept. 1. Trustees elected him at a called meeting Aug. 8. Sloan served 10 years as Baylor University’s president. 08/18/2006 - By John Rutledge
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Sri Lankan violence forces change of venue for volunteers
Posted: 8/18/06
A possible ear infection gets medical attention for the CERI foster child in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka. Texas Baptists, through CERI, are providing on-going care for tsunami orphans. Sri Lankan violence forces
change of venue for volunteersBy Craig Bird
Baptist Child & Family Services
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka—As Sri Lankan military and Tamil Tiger rebels traded mortar fire and accusations of mass slaughter, a team of volunteers from Baptist Child & Family Services treated the sick, comforted the traumatized and dug septic tanks in the tropical heat.
Two staff members from the Texas Baptist family services agency, four members of Cibolo Creek Community Church in San Antonio, two doctors and a nurse from Tyler and two counselors from Wisconsin worked with Children’s Emergency Relief International, the overseas arm of BCFS.
08/18/2006 - By John Rutledge
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Faith sustains family through dark days of son’s illness
Posted: 8/18/06
Emily and Scott Hall say their faith sustained them through the ordeal. Faith sustains family through
dark days of son’s illnessBy David Alvey
Special to the Baptist Standard
GARLAND—Scott and Emily Hall had big plans this summer. He intended to teach their 15-year-old son, Ryan, to drive. The whole family had volunteered to work in Vacation Bible School at their church. And they wanted to take a road trip to the Grand Canyon.
Instead, the Halls found themselves weathering the most difficult storm of their lives when a mysterious lung disease claimed Ryan’s life.
Ryan Hall, age 15, died June 20 after the sudden onset of a mysterious illness one month earlier. 08/18/2006 - By John Rutledge
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South Texas heat? No sweat for KidsHeart volunteers
Posted: 8/18/06
Girls from Crossing Baptist Church in Mesquite take time out from construction to play a pick-up game of foosball in Progreso. (Photos by Scott Collins) South Texas heat? No sweat
for KidsHeart volunteersBy Russ Dilday
Buckner Benevolences
RIO GRANDE VALLEY—Richard Buerkle wiped a sweaty forehead with an equally sweaty forearm as he paused from his carpentry work in 100-degree heat and oppressively high humidity.
Buerkle and his team of volunteers from First Baptist Church in Gatesville, were repairing a home in Monte Alto, near the Mexican border, in preparation for repainting the home.
See Related Articles:
• Hundreds of volunteers sweat, serve at KidsHeart project in Rio Grande Valley
• Families served together at KidsHeart
08/18/2006 - By John Rutledge
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KidsHeart project makes missions a family affair
Posted: 8/18/06
Tonya Mathews is among several members of First Baptist Church of Gatesville who is leading 46 children in Vacation Bible School in Monte Alto as part of the KidsHeart missions event in July in the Rio Grande Valley. Among the children are her own, including Jordan, 7 (wearing No. 7). KidsHeart project makes missions a family affair
By Russ Dilday
Buckner Benevolences
RIO GRANDE VALLEY—During the first full workday of KidsHeart, it became clear families had become a powerful force in the weeklong event—a joint missions effort of the Cooperative Baptist Fellow-ship and Buckner Benevolences that matches churches with needs in the Rio Grande Valley.
See Related Articles:
• Hundreds of volunteers sweat, serve at KidsHeart project in Rio Grande Valley
• Families served together at KidsHeart
At Monte Alto Baptist Church, Tonya Mathews was one of several members of First Baptist Church of Gatesville who led the first day of Vacation Bible School. Among the children participating were her own—ages 7, 5 and 2.
08/18/2006 - By John Rutledge
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VBS shines light in the darkness this summer
Posted: 8/18/06
Grace Temple Baptist Church in Waco is one of a growing number of churches holding Vacation Bible School in the evening. (Photos by Diane Lane/BGCT) VBS shines light in the darkness this summer
By John Hall
Texas Baptist Communications
Many Vacation Bible Schools in Texas this summer decided to shine light into the darkness.
The majority of Texas churches who reported 2005 Vacation Bible School statistics to Lifeway Christian Resources held their Bible schools at night—a change from the typical weeklong events held in the morning.
08/18/2006 - By John Rutledge
