2008 Archives
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Robbie Seay Band musically tells story of âGod who created and pursues usâ
Posted: 3/14/08
Robbie Seay Band musically tells story
of ‘God who created and pursues us’By Leann Callaway
Special to the Baptist Standard
HOUSTON—On weekdays, Ecclesia Church in Houston serves as a community outreach center, farmer’s market, art gallery, coffeehouse and recording studio. On Sundays, its space becomes sanctuary to the homeless and drug-addicted, as well as to the high-profile attorneys and suburb-dwellers who fill its seats.
And it serves as home base for the Robbie Seay Band—worship leaders who shape the church’s identity and are shaped by it. Ecclesia’s services are a mix of liturgical elements such as weekly communion and communal prayer along with experiential worship, with artists painting during the service.
03/15/2008 - By John Rutledge
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Study links subprime mortgage crisis to U.S. poverty & hunger
Posted: 3/14/08
Study links subprime mortgage
crisis to U.S. poverty & hungerBy Matthew Streib
Religion News Service
WASHINGTON (RNS)—The poorest counties in the United States are among the hardest hit by the subprime mortgage crisis, according to a study released by the Christian anti-hunger advocacy group Bread for the World.
The report, titled “Home Ownership, Subprime Loans and Poverty,” found a strong correlation between poverty rates and percentages of mortgages that are subprime.
03/15/2008 - By John Rutledge
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UMHB Easter pageant draws thousands
Posted: 3/14/08
UMHB Easter pageant draws thousands
Standing as the risen Lord on the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor campus, Josh Hobratsch gives the Great Commission to all who will listen at the conclusion of the annual Easter pageant. Nearly 5,000 spectators gathered to watch three live Easter pageant performances March 12. The pageant involved about 200 students in the production. Hobratsch said he was grateful to play Christ but did not feel worthy.
“I believe that as Christians we all have the task of living lives just like Jesus, no matter how demanding or impossible it may be,” he said.
Senior management major Josh Hobratsch of Walberg portrays Christ carrying his cross as one of the Roman soldiers, Ryan Ohendalski of Huntsville, takes him through the crowd of onlookers on the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor campus. (UMHB Photos/Carol Woodward) Hobratsch portrays Christ hanging on the cross during the 69th annual UMHB Easter pageant.
03/15/2008 - By John Rutledge
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Texas Tidbits
Posted: 3/14/08
Texas Tidbits
HBU sues NCAA; seeks Division I status earlier. Houston Baptist University is suing the NCAA in an effort to reduce by four years its probation period to become a Division I athletic program. If successful, the school would have to wait two more years before becoming a top-level athletic program. The school joined the NCAA last year after being part of NAIA 17 years. Shortly before HBU petitioned to become a provisional member, the NCAA told HBU the governing body changed its constitution in April to increase the probation period from three years to seven. In the lawsuit, HBU contends an amendment like this requires a two-thirds affirmation by member bodies, which didn’t take place. HBU officials declined to comment on the case.
Hardin-Simmons takes steps to name search committee. Hardin-Simmons University trustees Chairman Hilton Hemphill will appoint a search committee and advisory committee to recommend a university president to succeed Craig Turner, who has announced plans to step down from the post May 31. Trustees authorized Hemphill to name the committees with input from both the board of trustees and the administrative council. Trustees will comprise a majority of the search committee, which also will include staff and faculty representatives. The advisory committee will include representatives from various Hardin-Simmons constituencies, including the board of development, alumni board, faculty, staff and student groups. Hemphill hopes to have the committees in place for an initial meeting in late March, and the search committee will consider employing a national search firm to seek and screen applicants. Hemphill said he hopes the process will be completed in six to nine months.
03/15/2008 - By John Rutledge
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Explore the Bible Series for March 23: Celebrating Easterâs Significance
Posted: 3/14/08
Explore the Bible Series for March 23
Celebrating Easter’s Significance
• John 20:15-18, 1 Corinthians 15:3-6, 20-22
First Baptist Church, Petersburg
What do you think about when you hear the word Easter? Is it brightly colored eggs, large Sunday lunches with all the family, elaborate dramatic presentations, or fancy new clothes? Apart from the special music and events with our church families, Easter should do something in our lives each year. Easter lies at the heart of the Christian message. The miracle that happened on Easter is the why we have hope. Jesus rose from the dead. He overcame humanity’s greatest fear, the grave, and offers new abundant life to all who would believe. Many today may not believe that this happened, but the Bible clearly tells us He did. As believers we are called and encouraged to celebrate and proclaim the truth and significance of Jesus’ resurrection. We are called to do this not only as we gather to celebrate through worship on Easter Sunday, but to celebrate the new life through our individual lives every day. The Good News of Easter is that Christians worship a Savior who is alive. Our response to this holiday should be to celebrate the significance of that message by allowing it to transform our lives.
03/15/2008 - By John Rutledge
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Texas Baptist Forum
Posted: 2/29/08
Texas Baptist Forum
No ‘baggage’ carried
Although I was not a voting member of the Baptist General Convention of Texas executive director search committee, I was part of the process to recommend Randel Everett to the Executive Board.
• Jump to online-only letters below Letters are welcomed. Send them to marvknox@baptiststandard.com; 250 words maximum.
“I don’t give a rip about the IRS. I don’t believe in the separation of church and state, and I believe the IRS should stay out of church business.”
Wiley Drake
Former Southern Baptist Convention vice president, on possible IRS censure for his endorsement of presidential candidate Mike Huckabee (ABP)“Trying to turn God into some sort of heavenly hit man is repugnant. There is more than a whiff of the Taliban in this action.”
Barry Lynn
Executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church & State, responding to Drake, who told supporters to pray for God to curse Americans United staffers after they asked the IRS to investigate him for allegedly improper politicking (RNS)“This problem can no longer be a back-burner issue for evangelicals. … It is time to spend our energies helping create a better national health-care system.”
Christianity Today
An editorial in the evangelical publication (RNS)When I read the letter written to the Standard by Joe Worley about connections to the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (Feb. 18), I had to respond to his assumptions about the committee members.
At no time did I hear any member of the search committee promote the CBF, oppose the Southern Baptist Convention, or any other group. They were deeply concerned about finding the person that God was leading to fit the profile that was developed with the input of all Texas Baptists who cared enough to attend listening sessions or submit opinions. In fact, I sensed a great caution in the effort to find someone without a lot of “denominational baggage” who would truly represent Texas Baptists and be a bridge to other groups.
03/08/2008 - By John Rutledge
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Circumcision: Are parents cutting out the sign of the covenant?
Posted: 3/07/08
Circumcision: Are parents cutting
out the sign of the covenant?By Hannah Elliott
Associated Baptist Press
NEW YORK (ABP)—The foundational symbol of God’s ancient covenant with his people is getting a lot less common in the United States, but medical and theological debates still rage about the propriety of circumcision.
Recent legal battles over whether parents can mandate circumcision for their children and new medical findings regarding the relative merits and risks of the practice have given parents reason to pause.
A family circumcision set and trunk from the eighteenth century included a wooden box covered in cow hide with silver implements: silver trays, clip, pointer, silver flask, spice vessel. 03/07/2008 - By John Rutledge
