Posted: 1/04/08

Religion writers name evangelicals
in election as last year’s top story

By Adelle M. Banks

Religion News Service

WASHINGTON (RNS)—The nation’s religion writers considered political grappling of evangelicals for a GOP presidential candidate the top religion story of 2007.

Members of the Religion Newswriters Association named their Top 10 list of religion stories for the year.

1. Evangelical voters ponder if they can support the eventual Republican candidate due to questions about the leaders’ platforms and/or faith.

2. Leading Democratic presidential candidates make conscious efforts to attract faith-based voters after acknowledging their failure to do so in 2004.

Democrats tried to attract faith-based voters.

3. The role of gay and lesbian clergy continues to be a deeply divisive issue, with the Episcopal Church’s pledge of restraint on gay issues failing to halt the number of congregations making plans to leave the denomination.

4. Global warming increases in importance among religious groups, with mainline leaders considering it a high priority and evangelical leaders divided over its importance compared to other issues.

5. Religious groups and leaders debate illegal immigration, with some taking an active role in affirming undocumented immigrants.

6. Thousands of Buddhist monks in Myanmar lead a pro-democracy protest that is harshly put down after a week.

7. Some conservative Episcopalians in the United States realign with Anglican bishops in Africa and other parts of the “Global South,” setting off church property legal disputes.

8. The Supreme Court rules in favor of conservative positions in three major cases—upholding a ban on partial-birth abortions, permitting schools to create some limits on students’ free speech and denying a challenge to the White House Office of Faith-based and Community Initiatives.

9. Deaths among prominent evangelical leaders included Jerry Falwell, Rex Humbard and D. James Kennedy, as well as Ruth Graham, wife of evangelist Billy Graham, and Tammy Faye Messner, ex-wife of disgraced televangelist Jim Bakker.

10. The cost of priestly sex abuse to the U.S. Roman Catholic Church exceeds $2.1 billion, with a record $660 million settlement involving the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and earlier settlements in Portland, Ore., and Spokane, Wash.

The survey polled active RNA members via electronic ballot Dec. 7-13. With 80 people responding, there was a 27 percent response rate.

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Baptist churches, in Texas, the BGCT, the nation and around the world.

Posted: 1/04/07

Book reviews

Flawed Families of the Bible: How God’s Grace Works through Imperfect Relationships by David E. Garland and Diana R. Garland (Brazos Press)

We frequently hear discouraging statistics about family life in the United States—failed marriages, sexual abuse, violence and chaos. We don’t frequently hear reminders that the Bible, especially the Old Testament, brims with stories of the same problems. Some of them make today’s headlines look pale in comparison.

Diana and David Garland have provided a book that helps us face these stories and the issues they raise. Although the book makes a lot of guesses about what was going on in the minds of the biblical figures, it shines a reliable spotlight into dark corners that we need to see. The chapter on David and Bathsheba especially is eye-opening.

What are you reading that other Texas Baptists would find helpful? Send suggestions and reviews to books@baptiststandard.com.

When reading through the whole Bible for the first time, or for the first time in years, people often ask, “Why in the world is that in there?!” Now we have a wise guidebook to explain why and to show “how God’s grace works through imperfect relationships.”

Rick Willis, pastor

First Baptist Church, Lampasas

Praying the Psalms of Jesus by James W. Sire (InterVarsity Press)

Providing answers as to why Jesus often quoted from the Psalms as well as discussing the Psalms that refer to Jesus qualifies this book to be of interest to many readers. The book could serve as a commentary, but it is more. Each chapter has a section for small-group discussion, as well a prayer suggestions.

The first part, “Jesus in the Psalms,” covers Psalms 22, 110, 118, 2 and 69, while the second part, “The Psalms in Jesus,” covers Psalms 29, 23, 45 and 80. In discussing these nine specific Psalms, James Sire has written a very helpful and useful study. He discusses in detail Jesus’ use of the Psalms and why he quoted them. He also thoroughly treats those Psalms that refer to Jesus.

Through this study of these Psalms, the reader gets to know Jesus more intimately. By praying these Psalms, the reader gains a more accurate knowledge of how they affected Jesus. Thus we come to realize that the Psalms are just as important to us today as they were for our Master.

Ed Spann, retired dean

College of Fine Arts

Dallas Baptist University, Dallas

The Beautiful Fight: Surrendering to the Transforming Presence of God Every Day of Your Life by Gary Thomas (Zondervan)

In The Beautiful Fight, the reader gets a taste of Gary Thomas’ passion—the human struggle with what it means to be a Christ follower.

Taking its cues from 2 Timothy 4:7, The Beautiful Fight is about transformation. Thomas makes a point many have missed—transformation for God’s glory is the point of the gospel.

Indeed, Thomas states that in “real transformation and sacrificial service, our souls have everything they need to feel alive.” In the opening chapter, Thomas asks this penetrating question: “Is the Christianity taught today large enough to seize our hearts?” Drawing upon his deep understanding of Scripture and his encyclopedic knowledge of Christian spirituality, Thomas crafts a riveting book that paints a picture of Christianity precisely able to seize our hearts and transform our lives.

The Beautiful Fight is filled with personal anecdotes, penetrating questions and summaries for reflection. This is an outstanding selection for personal or small-group study

Jay Smith, assistant professor

School of Christian Studies

Howard Payne University, Brownwood

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Baptist churches, in Texas, the BGCT, the nation and around the world.

Posted: 1/04/07

EDITORIAL:
BGCT in ’08: Purpose over pander

This will be a pivotal year for the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The outcome will turn on several factors, but none more important than this: We must focus on our historic purpose, not pander to self-interest.

The BGCT Constitution defines the “nature” of the convention straight-up: “This convention is and always shall remain, only and solely a medium through which Baptist churches shall work harmoniously in cooperation with each other, promoting the work and objects set forth in this constitution.” And what are those “objects”? “To awake and stimulate among the churches evangelism, missions, Christian education and benevolent work and enterprises; to cultivate a closer cooperation among the churches and promote harmony of feeling and concert of action in advancing all the interests of the Redeemer’s Kingdom.”

For generations, Baptists have set aside ego, turf and even minor theological differences to cooperate. We have done so based on this truth: We can do more together than we can alone. But I’m not sure we still believe it.

That’s because we mirror society, particularly the me-first Baby Boom generation, which idolizes the individual. From politics, to advertising, to education, to about everything in-between, it’s all about what “I” wants.

For Baptists, the corollary to “I” is the local church. Don’t misunderstand: The local church is our bedrock institution. It can be our most vibrant, visionary component. But churches acting alone cannot accomplish our enormous tasks of evangelism, missions, education and benevolence. Churches must cooperate if we are going to advance Christ’s kingdom. That’s why we need a convention.

Unfortunately, we have adopted a church-first mindset. This unnaturally places the church—not Christ—at the center of the convention. We can see why this came about: It sounds great. It’s what churches want to hear. And churches have needs conventions typically fulfill.

This has created a “What have you done for me lately?” mindset. Churches have come to think of the convention like homeowners think of big-box hardware stores. It’s where you go to get all the stuff you need to “do church.” This is wrong, because it narrows the purpose of the convention to the walls of the congregations. Also, when another store offers better products or more focused service—think Saddleback and Willow Creek—then the convention is seen as practically useless. That’s hard to say, but I’ve heard it from the tongues of scores of pastors.

This year, the BGCT must rebuild. We face many challenges and numerous obstacles. But if we don’t first affirm the convention is necessary precisely because its “objects” transcend the local program needs of our churches, we’ll continue to decline. And the spiral may be irreversible.

That would be tragic, not just because it would signal the end of the BGCT. It would diminish our churches and impede our ability to advance “the Redeemer’s Kingdom.”

So, what do we do?

• Reconstruct our budget to fund constitution-mandated “objects.” Place top priority on the endeavors that require cooperation—church planting, education, benevolence and hands-on evangelism and missions ministry.

• Exercise stewardship of our institutions, God’s great blessing to the BGCT. Outsource to them the practical leadership—including church support—of ministries for which they are uniquely suited. Equip them with the financial resources, through budget and offerings, they need to succeed. We all benefit when they succeed.

• Streamline according to our values. This will mean eliminating some good in order to excel at the best. That is an agonizingly difficult task. It is necessary.

Texas Baptists always respond to God-sized challenges. Our path is steep and difficult. But Texas Baptists will persevere in order to advance “the Redeemer’s Kingdom.”

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Baptist churches, in Texas, the BGCT, the nation and around the world.

Posted: 1/04/08

TOGETHER:
Gospel means evangelism & ministry

I have sounded the twin notes of evangelism and ministry throughout my time as your executive director. I have done this because I am convinced both notes must be played in harmony if our churches are to have a full and healthy response to Christ’s call to “follow me.” The spiritual idea that drives me is that we have been called to be a Jesus kind of people and to build Jesus kind of churches.

Jesus came preaching the good news of God: “The time has come. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news” (Mark 1:15). Sin has broken everyone and separated us from God, but God loves us so much that he doesn’t want to spend eternity without us. He sent Jesus into the world to make sure we knew that. And the followers of Christ respond to that love and salvation by reaching out to others.

Executive Director BGCT Executive Board

Jesus also came demonstrating the heart of God and the will of God to the world. He spent time with the poor as well as the rich. He called those who have much to be generous in their attitudes and stewardship toward the needy. He demonstrated that people who love God also will love the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick and the prisoners (Matthew 4:23-24; 25:37-40; Luke 4:18-19).

These are not two gospels. There is only one gospel, and Jesus embodied all of it.

Two conferences are planned this month that will help you and your church be more effective in evangelism and ministry. Both conferences will encourage evangelism and ministry.

Jon Randles, our Baptist General Convention of Texas evangelism leader, spoke to our staff chapel this week and laid on our hearts the passion of God for those who are lost. I want what happened in my heart that day to happen in yours. Our churches need encouragement in reaching out to the lost all around us. I am praying God will fall upon our Engage conference with a mighty spiritual awakening and will use this time to help all of our pastors and churches to evangelize Texas. Go to the www.bgct.org/evangelism website for details on this Jan. 13-15 meeting at Lake Pointe Church in Rockwall.

Baptists from across North America will gather in Atlanta Jan. 30-Feb. 1 for the New Baptist Covenant celebration. It will be a historic meeting to proclaim what it would look like if Baptists were to take Jesus’ words to heart and go everywhere preaching the good news and binding up the wounded and broken-hearted. There will be memorable sermons and addresses, inspiring music and practical workshops where you can take back to your church ideas that are effective in other churches and could be useful in yours. There is more information at www.newbaptistcelebration.org.

These are the kinds of meetings you need to make calendar changes in order to be involved. You will not be able to duplicate what God can do for you and through you as you gather with fellow Baptists in Texas and in Atlanta this January.

We are loved.

Charles Wade is executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board.

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Baptist churches, in Texas, the BGCT, the nation and around the world.

Posted: 1/04/08

DOWNHOME:
Not-so-patiently learning to wait

If you pray for patience, God might move you to a Texas neighborhood with plenty of trees.

(By the way, never pray for patience or wisdom unless you really mean it. Those are wonderful virtues, but their acquisition comes with a steep, steep price.)

Joanna and I moved to our home in Coppell, in far northwest Dallas County, not quite a year and a half ago. Our girls both had graduated from high school, and Jo and I realized we could trim our commute time without uprooting our progeny. So, we moved.

From a practical standpoint, we were thrilled with the shorter driving times each day. From an emotional standpoint, we reveled in the homey-ness of our house. And from an almost spiritual standpoint, we adored all the trees.

I grew up in a part of the Texas Panhandle where trees were about as common as Church of Christ preachers at the citywide revival. Then, when we moved back to Texas a dozen years ago, we bought a new house in a subdivision where the builder scraped mesquite off the prairie and planted two sticks in the front yard.

So, when we decided to move, we fell in love with this “older” neighborhood. (OK, it’s been here only 20 years, but in this part of Dallas-Fort Worth, that’s old.) The developer managed to build houses without removing old-growth trees. And homeowners supplemented them with plenty of oaks, maples and native elm. The centerpiece of our front yard is a small stand of bald cypress that wave bright green in the spring and summer and turn rusty-crimson in autumn.

A year ago last fall, flush with zeal to keep a “clean” yard, I wound up blowing/raking leaves out of our yard at least three times.

This fall, Jo convinced me I’d be a lunatic to maintain that pace. Considering she knows a lunatic when she looks at one over breakfast, I took her advice. We decided to wait until all the leaves fell off our trees before bagging them.

We bided our time. Actually, Jo bided her time and calmed me down when I complained about our “embarrassing” yard. Finally, the Saturday after Christmas, we looked up at bare trees, and I trekked down to the local hardware store to rent a backpack leaf blower. A few hours later, we had a beautiful, neat yard and a couple dozen huge paper bags of leaves in the alley.

I was so proud.

Sunday morning, the wind blew out of the north. By the time we got home from church, 73 percent of the leaves from our neighbor across the street littered our yard. It looked like Saturday never happened.

Now, we’re waiting for every leaf to drop from every tree within a three-block radius. That’s when Jo will allow me to go back to the hardware store for the leaf blower.

We’re waiting, all right.

But we’re not praying for patience.

–Marv Knox

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Baptist churches, in Texas, the BGCT, the nation and around the world.

Storylist for week of 1/07/08

TAKE ME TO: Top Story |  Texas |  Opinion |  Baptists |  Faith & Culture |  Book Reviews |  Classifieds  |  Departments  |  Bible Study



• Kenya violence affects Wayland students

• Christians killed, churches burned in India



• Time to revamp discipleship methods?


• Families needed to adopt Ethiopian orphans

• Habitual Sin: Pastor's experience shows Christians can find freedom

• On the move

• Around the State

• Texas Tidbits


Time to Revamp Discipleship Methods?
• Study finds limits to Willow Creek's success model

• Raising the bar for membership

• Time to revamp discipleship methods?


• Volunteer teachers needed in China

• Baptist Briefs


• College students' spiritual interests increase; worship attendance drops

• Mayors' report says cities seeing more emergency food requests

• Religion writers name evangelicals in election as last year's top story

• 2007 a quiet year, but signs of change in the air

• Prayer heals honest Brit's legs but cannot cure bureaucracy with no ‘miracle' button

• High-tech audio Bibles bring Scriptures to life, users say

• Faith Digest


• Book reviews


• Classified Ads

• Cartoon

• On the move

• Around the State


• EDITORIAL: BGCT in '08: Purpose over pander

• DOWNHOME: Not-so-patiently learning to wait

• TOGETHER: Gospel means evangelism & ministry

• RIGHT or WRONG? A spouse's etiquette

• Texas Baptist Forum



• BaptistWay Bible Series for January 6: When cleanliness is not next to godliness

• Bible Studies for Life Series for January 6: Breakthrough in focus

• Bible Studies for Life Series for January 13: Breakthrough in Forgiveness

• Explore the Bible Series forJanuary 13: God allows us to choose


Previously posted
• Christians killed, churches burned in India

• Kenya violence affects Wayland students

• Former Valley Baptist Missions/Education Center president arrested

• Buckner postpones Kenya trips due to political unrest

• New Baptist Covenant, Huckabee rank as top stories in ‘07, journalists say

• Bird-eye view of Valley left indelible impression on long-tenured pastor

• ETBU dormitory furnishings find new home, meet multiple needs

• Hispanic social conservatives may leave GOP over immigration stance

• Florida sanctuary gutted by early-morning fire before Christmas

• Daehnert elected interim BGCT executive director

• Agency gives party for foster families who give year-round

• Foster youth create own Christmas traditions

• Novelist Grisham joins New Baptist Covenant speakers lineup

• Missouri leader who warned of Islamic takeover hired to aid world-mission effort

• CBF to lease building from Mercer

• Baptist outreach defuses Ebola fear in western Uganda

• Blogging pastor lauded for defending fired female seminary professor

• Board voting on Daehnert as interim executive director

• Board to vote on interim executive director

• TBM seeks coats for children in North Korea

• Board to vote on interim executive director

• Missouri Baptist rift widens when leaders restrict funding for church starts

• Huckabee's surge in polls brings new media attention, scrutiny

• Seven tips for the 2007 tax-filing season

• End of CBF/ABC partnership leaves future of medical/retirement benefits in doubt

• Former atheist shapes God-centered program in Moldova

• Executive Board may vote on short-term interim executive director


• See articles from the previous 12/17/07 issue here.

Posted: 1/04/08

RIGHT or WRONG? A spouse's etiquette

My husband and I said the traditional vows in our wedding a few months ago. The richer/poorer and sickness/health parts have been easy enough to deal with. However, my husband’s table manners and social etiquette have deteriorated since we dated. I don’t want these things to become a wedge. What can I do?

During the first few months of marriage, we often come face-to-face with the realities of our own expectations about what a spouse is supposed to look like. Our expectations can be reinforced by the especially nice version of one another we see while dating. The major difficulty often arises because these expectations are unexpressed, unwritten, unspoken and even unidentified until our spouse fails to meet them.

Then you’re faced with a dilemma. On the one hand, you love and care for this person. You say to yourself, “This is such a small, insignificant, little part of our lives. I really should not be bothered by ______ (insert spouse’s current faux pas).” You begin repeating to yourself Scriptures like 1 Corinthians 13:7, “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” You tell yourself you do not want to be that nagging wife of Proverbs 19:13, who is like a constantly dripping faucet.

On the other hand, you say to yourself—usually after a few days of trying to ignore the spousal blunder, “Hey, I thought husbands were supposed to love their wives as their own body, and I thought we vowed to respect and honor one another.” You say to yourself, “It’s not nagging; I’m just protecting him.”

Sound familiar? What do you do? Reassess your own attitude. Ask yourself if you are being unrealistic or unmoving in your own expectations. Consider your own motives. Why does this matter to you? I am a table etiquette fanatic and a neat-freak, but I have realized my husband is not trying to spite me when his etiquette slips or he leaves his socks on the floor. Sometimes, we have to choose to love, even when things are not exactly as we expected. Remind yourself there are greater issues at stake in a great marriage than whether or not he opens your door, or even—as much as it may pain you—burps at the table.

If you really must bring up this particular issue, talk to your spouse when you are not angry. Rather than beginning the conversation with all the things you want him to change, try to express how you feel. Don’t necessarily expect anything to change. Express to your husband that you want to feel heard, and when you have been, let it go.

Little things often become wedges when we are not honest or when we expect others to be just like us. Frequently, I find that reassessing my own expectations and purifying my own heart are much more effective at removing the wedge than trying to “fix” my husband.

Emily Row-Prevost, team leader/coordinator leader

Communications/spiritual formation specialist

Baptist General Convention of Texas, Dallas

Right or Wrong? is sponsored by the T.B. Maston Chair of Christian Ethics at Hardin-Simmons University's Logsdon School of Theology. Send your questions about how to apply your faith to btillman@hsutx.edu.

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Baptist churches, in Texas, the BGCT, the nation and around the world.

Posted 11/17/06

Valley Funds Scandal coverage The full investigation report is available here as a pdf document. Most recent articles: • Former Valley Baptist Missions/Education Center president arrested • Former pastor returns money to congregation; church agrees to give funds to BGCT • BGCT launches internal audit regarding more alleged improprieties in the Valley • Official confirms church-starting fund probe in U.S. Attorney's Office • No lawsuits planned; too costly & complex, lawyer suggests • BGCT implements responses to church-starting scandal • Executive Board to BGCT messengers: You're in charge • Former BGCT church-starting leader asserts race a factor in Valley probe • Bloggers to ask Executive Board to protect voting rights of messengers • Federal authorities receive Valley report • Pieces coming together for McAllen church • Wade to release Valley probe to law-enforcement officials • Wade still has support despite anger, sadness at scandal Convention action on the funds scandal • Moving On: Board pre-empted' BGCT by recommending reforms • Trust in God in turbulent times, president tells BGCT • Church starting policies designed to ensure accountability • Steps already taken to implement recommendations • Restoration of trust is vital, BGCT leaders agree • EDITORIAL: Churches next to 'vote' on BGCT future • Executive Board votes to explore criminal charges, recovery of Valley funds	Previous related articles: • Pattern of exaggeration repeated in Mexico, observers say • Executive Board sets second called meeting to respond to investigation • Evidence found of misuse of Valley funds • Investigation team outlines preventative steps • Brief excerpts from the report • Otto Arango's earnings claims disputed by directors of missions • BGCT faces challenges leaders say • EDITORIAL: Executive Board must rise to the occasion • Charles Wade posted an early response to the report here. Early progress of the Valley funds probe • Valley investigation could cost $150,000 • Called board meeting focuses on Valley • Executive Board endorses ongoing probe in Rio Grande Valley • Attorney hired to guide church-starting fund investigation • BGCT launches probe of church-planting funds in the Valley

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.

Posted: 1/03/07

Former Valley Baptist
Missions/Education Center president arrested

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

HARLINGEN – Former Valley Baptist Missions/Education Center president Pat Graham was arrested Dec. 21 on theft of property charges.

Valley Baptist Missions/Education Center discovered financial irregularities in its regular financial audit shortly before Graham resigned in June, said Othal Brand, chairman of the center’s board of trustees.

An internal investigation that delved further into the situation revealed more money was missing than previously thought, bringing the total up to $69,000.

• See complete list of Valley funds scandal articles

The missing funds are being reimbursed by insurance, and the board has taken steps to make sure future financial improprieties do not happen, Brand said.

“We are saddened by this situation, particularly for Pat and his family,” he said. “The situation has been turned over to legal authorities, and they will handle it.”

Valley Baptist Missions/Educations Center is one of 23 institutions affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas. Trustees who oversee the operation of institutions are elected by messengers to the BGCT annual meeting.

Keith Bruce, director of the BGCT Institutional Ministries team, said he is saddened by the apparent situation at the center and encouraged Texas Baptists to pray for all involved.

“The Valley Baptist Missions/Education Center board has been diligent and thorough in its efforts to uncover the reasons behind these financial irregularities,” he said. “We pledge to pray for the staff, Pat and everyone that this affects as this situation progresses.”

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Baptist churches, in Texas, the BGCT, the nation and around the world.

Posted: 1/03/07

Buckner postpones Kenya
trips due to political unrest

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

DALLAS—Buckner International has postponed two mission trips to Kenya in light of political unrest, but the agency has no plans to “back out” of ministry there.

In the wake of a disputed presidential election, violence has broken out in parts of the country. Tens of thousands of people have fled their homes. About 300 people have been killed, including 35 people who were burned to death in an Eldoret church.

Nairobi police have placed barricades around the capital city, making travel in the central district of the city nearly impossible. Gangs of young adults with machetes are patrolling the streets, according to Randy Daniels, Buckner vice president for global initiatives. The gangs are asking people their names in efforts to identify which tribe a person belongs to and assaulting them if they are of a rival tribe.

Buckner staff members throughout the country are safe, and most of the children in the Baptist Children’s Center in Nairobi were safely with relatives during the Christmas holiday, Daniels reported. The 10 who remain in the center have no living relatives and currently are safe.

At this point, Daniels said, Buckner does not plan to pull the Nairobi orphans or staff out of the area. Travel is difficult at best and treacherous at worst. He noted that much of the violence has been attributed to one Nairobi slum, highlighting the need for continued ministry among Kenya’s poor.

“The ministry will continue in Kenya,” he said. “We’re not going to back out.”

On his blog, Buckner President Ken Hall encouraged people to pray for Buckner’s ministry in Kenya and the situation in the country.

“The events in Kenya are a reminder that our world can be a dangerous place, and when you serve in it, you face uncertainty and even danger,” he wrote. “Please join me as we begin 2008 praying for peace in Kenya and around the world.”

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Baptist churches, in Texas, the BGCT, the nation and around the world.

Posted: 12/28/07

Bird-eye view of Valley left indelible
impression on long-tenured pastor

RIO HONDO—Considering the median tenure for Southern Baptist pastors at any given church is 4.2 years, Gene Horton’s 40-years-and-counting at First Baptist Church in Rio Hondo places him among the ranks of less than one percent of his peers.

Horton, who has been in the ministry 55 years, credits his lengthy of service to “God’s keeping power.”

Gene Horton

Frances Knight, who has been a Sunday school teacher at the Rio Hondo church for 38 years, believes the secret of her pastor’s success is simple.

“God has kept him steady because he is a man of prayer, and he faithfully preaches the gospel of salvation,” she said.

“Almost every morning, his small plane can be seen flying over the area of surrounding towns as he is alone with God and praying for not only his church, but also for all pastors of all denominations in the Rio Grande Valley.”

Horton’s experiences at a private pilot led to his initial call to serve in Rio Hondo. After Hurricane Beulah hit the Valley in 1967, he flew his plane from Victoria to the tip of Texas to survey damage.

Tears streamed down his face as he saw the devastation in the area. He later told his wife, “I think God is calling me to the Rio Grande Valley.”

Not long after that, a pastor search committee from First Baptist Church in Rio Hondo heard Horton preach. At the committee’s recommendation, the church in Rio Hondo extended an invitation for him to preach in view of a call.

He and his family began their ministry in Rio Hondo the first Sunday of the new year in 1968.

Although Rio Hondo officially has a population of only 1,800, the town becomes a seasonal home to many “Winter Texans” who move to the Valley for a few months each year. During the winter, the sanctuary at First Baptist Church often is filled to capacity with more than 800 worshippers.

For 38 of his 40 years in Rio Hondo, Horton also has extended his ministry to the region through a television program carried on the local ABC affiliate, whose signal reaches from Corpus Christi to northern Mexico.

“What makes this even more remarkable than the long tenure is the fact that Bro. Gene has never asked the television audience for any money. The debt-free local church has funded the telecast,” Knight noted.

“This, too, is evidence of answered prayer,” she added. “Our church is so grateful to have Brother Gene—a true man of god—continuing as our pastor.”

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Baptist churches, in Texas, the BGCT, the nation and around the world.

Posted:1/02/07

Explore the Bible Series for January 13

God allows us to choose

• Genesis 12:1-9; 13:8-13

By Donald Raney

First Baptist Church, Petersburg

Choices. We all make hundreds of them every day. Many concern trivial issues and almost are made unconsciously. Others involve decisions that affect the course of our life as well as that of our family.

What concerns us the most about making choices is knowing every choice has consequences and that each choice means saying “no” to something. As Christians, we all want to make choices that are in line with God’s plan for our lives.

For a printer-friendly version, click on the printer icon at bottom of page.

At times when the decision seems especially significant, many have expressed a desire that God would simply make the decision for them. The Bible clearly teaches that God does have a divine plan for each life, but because of God’s infinite love for us, he refuses to impose that plan on those to whom he has given free will. God is continually calling us to make a choice, and the question is what will guide our decision.

As we look at the life of Abraham, we find three decisions that lay a solid foundation for a life of making choices that are pleasing to God.

Abraham chose to obey (Genesis 12:1-4)

Prior to God’s call to Abraham, we read that Abraham’s father, Terah, had gathered the family and began a move toward Canaan, but had settled in Haran (Genesis 11:31). It is there that Abraham hears God call him to leave his father’s house and journey to a land God would show him.

It often is easy to idolize the great heroes of the Bible so that we forget that following God was as difficult for them as it is for us.

Consider Abraham’s situation. As far as we know, this was the first time he had heard God speak. How could he be sure it was the voice of God? Also, he had many reasonable excuses for not beginning a journey, especially when he did not know where it would lead or how long it would take. He was old himself and would feel some obligation to care for his aging parents who had just settled in a new home.

Yet somehow Abraham believed it was God calling and quickly chose to obey. Perhaps it was the promises God made that motivated Abraham’s obedience. Perhaps it was Terah’s failure to complete his planned journey to Canaan. Whatever his motivation might have been, Abraham understood that in order to receive God’s promises, he needed to obediently follow wherever God led.

The same is true for believers today. God’s leading in our lives does not always make sense or fit with our plans. We usually can find numerous excuses for not obeying, all of which seem perfectly logical and reasonable. But God desires to bless us in ways we cannot imagine. He calls us to follow him as he leads us to those blessings. But the choice is ours, and to experience the blessings God has for each of us, we each must choose to obey.

Abraham chose to worship (Genesis 12:5-9)

Mention the word “worship” and the first thought in the minds of many people includes a picture of a sanctuary full of people singing hymns and listening to a sermon.

Corporate worship with fellow believers is indeed a vital part of the Christian life. It is important that believers take the opportunity to gather together for worship, fellowship and mutual support. But throughout the Bible, we see worship is more than an occasional event we attend. It is a lifestyle. We were created to live in continual worship of our Creator.

As Abraham followed God to a new land, he did so continually aware of God’s presence with him and took every opportunity to express his awareness and appreciation of that in a tangible way. Twice in these verses, Abraham is said to have built an altar to God. Before God had fulfilled any of the promises he had made, Abraham thanked God.

It is not surprising that Abraham was later referred to as a friend of God (James 2:23). He walked in continual fellowship and in an overriding attitude of worship before God. Worship was not something confined to a specific place or time. And the altars he built would stand as a testimony to this lifestyle of worship to all who passed by long after Abraham had moved on. Many churches today are exploring various styles of worship. Most often this involves questions over types of music or changes in the bulletin. While each person should seek the style of corporate worship that is most meaningful to them, we should never forget to make the choice to live every moment in worship of our Creator.

Abraham chose to avoid sinful influences (Genesis 13:8-13)

The Bible tells us that when Abraham left his father’s house, he took his nephew Lot. No explanation is given as to why Lot accompanied his uncle. Perhaps he felt an obligation to help care for his aging relatives since they did not have children.

Whatever the reason, at some point, the hired hands of Abraham and Lot began to argue over access to the available grazing land. In an attempt to maintain peace within the family, Abraham and Lot decided to separate.

Lot chose what appeared to be the more exciting life of the nearby cities while Abraham settled in the more open countryside. Those who know the rest of the story know the cities Lot chose, Sodom and Gommorah, proved to be exceedingly wicked and ultimately were destroyed by God.

Abraham’s choice to move in order to maintain peace, as well as his choice to settle away from the cities, teaches us an important lesson about choices we make. If we wish to live a life that pleases God, we need to choose to avoid places and activities that may lead us astray. Sometimes, those are easy to identify. At other times, they may appear attractive or even harmless.

Most people today would identify the sin of Sodom and Gommorah as homosexuality and decide that particular sin, or similar transgressions, would be easy to spot and avoid. Yet according to Ezekiel 16:48-58, the sins for which God destroyed the cities were pride, idleness and mistreatment of the poor—sins that may be somewhat more difficult to avoid.

My father’s favorite saying has always been, “it is hard to soar with eagles when you normally run with turkeys.” We can avoid a lot of difficulty in our spiritual lives if we are constantly alert and choose to avoid sinful influences.

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