The selection of Albert Reyes to lead Buckner Children & Family Services signals not only a decisive personnel change, but also a shift in vision and focus for Buckner International, Ken Hall insists.

Now, Buckner is poised to present Christ—not only spiritually, but also physically—to the world’s poorest children, said Hall, president of Buckner International, which encompasses not only ministry to children and their families, but also care for senior adults, as well as fund-raising support for the ministries.

01/19/2007 - By John Rutledge

MESQUITE—Some participants called the meeting the start of a movement, and others labeled it the launch of an organization. Whatever form it may take, a small group of Texas Baptists met to discuss ways to fund some Baptist General Convention of Texas ministries to which their churches are committed—but not necessarily support a state convention in which they feel they have no voice.

Three Baptist bloggers—Kevin Holmes, pastor of Edgemont Park Baptist Church in Mesquite; Rick Davis, pastor of First Baptist Church in Brownwood; and David Montoya, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Mineral Wells—convened the group Jan. 16 in Mesquite.

01/19/2007 - By John Rutledge

The Way of the Wild Heart by John Eldredge (Nelson Books)

The premise of John Eldredge’s latest book is simple—“acting as a true Father, and you his true son, God is now raising you up as a son.” Intentional training and initiation is the mode presented by which boys are raised into men. Like every book on men, Eldredge bemoans what is lacking in our churches today. But different from most other books is his plan to correct what has been lost.

Having once been adamantly against Eldredge’s approach to men, I came to this book with my doubts. I still find his theological foundations to be weak at times but improved over Wild at Heart. God the risk taker of Wild at Heart gives way now to God the warrior in The Way of the Wild Heart. The constant hunt for a wound in need of healing also wears on me, but that may be because I am blessed with a great earthly father.

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

This book probably was under many Christmas trees recently, and I believe that is a good thing. Eldredge’s clarity in describing his understanding of the stages of manhood is helpful and thought-provoking. His openness with his own life as a son and as a father is engaging. Many fathers will benefit from the chapters following the description of each man-stage, which detail how to intentionally raise your own son.

01/19/2007 - By John Rutledge

N.C. editor to join Campbell Divinity faculty. Tony Cartledge, editor of the Biblical Recorder, newsjournal of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, will join the faculty of Campbell University Divinity School. Cartledge will assume his new duties as associate professor of Old Testament Aug. 15. Cartledge earned degrees from the University of Georgia, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and Duke University. Prior to joining the staff of the Biblical Recorder, Cartledge served 26 years as pastor of churches in Georgia and North Carolina. Cartledge and his wife, Jan, are the parents of three children—Russ, Bethany (who died in 1994 at the age of 7) and Samuel.

Southern Seminary president released from hospital. Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Al Mohler was discharged Jan. 10 from Louisville’s Baptist Hospital East following a two-week hospitalization that included extensive abdominal surgery and a four-day stay in the intensive care unit due to blood clots in the lungs. He was admitted to the hospital Dec. 27 complaining of intense abdominal pain and underwent surgery the following day. While physicians reported the procedure went well and Mohler’s abdominal issues were remedied, the development of blood clots led doctors to move Mohler to intensive care.

01/19/2007 - By John Rutledge

If so, plan to travel to Atlanta in just about a year. Baptists of all races and ethnicities from across Canada, Mexico and the United States will convene to celebrate a new covenant of committed, compassionate cooperation. Participants will spiritually and emotionally mend a wound that has disfigured the body of Christ for generations.

About 200 years ago, missions fervor compelled Baptists in America to cooperate so they could spread the gospel across the continent and around the globe. By 1845, however, their differences over slavery tore them apart—a denominational precursor to the Civil War.

So, for at least 162 years, Baptists have divided over race. To some extent, our churches and even conventions have integrated. But the wound inflicted by slavery has not healed enough so the four dominant African-American Baptist conventions and Anglo Baptists far and wide could come together for common passion and purpose.

01/19/2007 - By John Rutledge

Carter book prompts resignations. Fourteen members of an advisory group to the Atlanta-based Carter Center resigned in protest over former President Jimmy Carter’s recent book and statements on the Israeli-Palestinian stalemate. At the same time, the Central Conference of American Rabbis, a group that represents nearly 2,000 Reform rabbis, canceled a visit to the Carter Center during the group’s scheduled March convention in Atlanta. The resignations and cancellation were prompted by anger over a recently published book, Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid, which is critical of Israeli policies toward the Palestinians, and remarks Carter has made defending the book. Last month, former Carter Center Director Kenneth Stein resigned as a center fellow, saying the book is biased and marred with factual mistakes. Carter has defended the book as fair and thorough.

Christ’s return in 2007 “somewhat likely,” poll says. Twenty-five percent of Americans believe it is at least somewhat likely Jesus Christ will return in 2007, a poll from the Associated Press and AOL News shows. The poll, conducted by the international polling firm Ipsos, found 11 percent of those surveyed said it is “very likely” Jesus will return this year. An additional 14 percent said it was “somewhat likely.” Twenty-five percent of those polled said it was “not too likely,” compared to 42 percent who said it was “not at all likely.” Eight percent said they did not know or were not sure. While a quarter of Americans polled said it is at least somewhat likely Jesus will return this year, views varied depending on religious persuasion. For example, 46 percent of white evangelical Christians believe it’s at least somewhat likely Jesus will return this year, while 17 percent of Catholics and 10 percent of those with no religion feel the same way.

01/19/2007 - By John Rutledge