• Global warming poses ‘severe’ threat

  Posted: 4/13/06

  Global warming poses ‘severe’ threat

  By Marv Knox
  

  Editor
  

  SAN ANTONIO—With the planet warming faster than it has in 10,000 years, “global warming is the most severe, important issue facing humankind,” environmentalist Karl Rábago insisted.

  04/13/2006 - By John Rutledge

• 

  2nd Opinion: Biblical Gospels repudiate Judas

  Posted: 4/13/06

  2nd Opinion:
  Biblical Gospels repudiate Judas

  By David Garland

  I am fully convinced the manuscript of the so-called Gospel of Judas is authentic, but so what? Sensationalized blurbs breathlessly trying to pump sales of new books about this manuscript tease the potential buyer: “If Judas had not betrayed Jesus, Jesus would not have been handed over to the authorities, crucified, buried and raised from the dead. Could it be that without Judas, the Easter miracle would never have happened?” Such questions are poppycock.
  

  Before addressing the question that is most often asked, “Why did Judas betray Jesus?” we need to ask, “What did Judas betray?

  04/13/2006 - By John Rutledge

• 

  DOWN HOME: Season of hope, grass & pin oaks

  Posted: 4/13/06

  DOWN HOME:
  Season of hope, grass & pin oaks

  The next couple of weeks should tell the tale: Will my yard look more like an oasis or a desert?
  

  You should be grateful the first man was named “Adam” and not “Marv.” Otherwise, in addition to Original Sin, all of humanity would have been stricken with Original Brown Thumb.
  

  Many times, as I’ve sweated in the various yards surrounding the various homes where my family has lived, I’ve thought about Adam’s curse. He would make his living by the sweat of his brow, and he would struggle to make things grow. I’ve got the sweating part down, and as far as making things grow, well that’s a struggle.

  04/13/2006 - By John Rutledge

• 

  EDITORIAL: Two steps to change Texas for better

  Posted: 4/13/06

  EDITORIAL:
  Two steps to change Texas for better

  We have seen the future, and it is brown.
  

  State Demographer Steve Murdock recently consulted Baptist General Convention of Texas institutional presidents. He sketched a paint-by-the-numbers portrait of Texas Today and Texas Tomorrow. Not too long ago, our state achieved a nonmajority culture; Anglos now comprise less than 50 percent of the population, and no ethnic group holds a majority. Eventually, however, Hispanics will become the majority. With the pace of Hispanic growth rapid but uneven, statisticians such as Murdock can’t predict exactly when that moment will occur, but they seem to keep moving the date nearer and nearer.

  Even as Murdock spoke to Texas Baptist leaders about our population shift, Congress debated federal laws that regulate immigration, a key force driving demographic change. We’ve discussed immigration reform in this space before. Frankly, Texas Baptists—like the rest of the country—don’t agree on this vital issue. But we can pray for consensus on at least two points: People of faith, particularly working through their churches, never should face prosecution for ministering to hurting and needy people, even illegal immigrants. And shame on us if we continue to allow people to die in the backs of tractor-trailers.

  04/13/2006 - By John Rutledge

• Casinos not the solution for school financing

  Posted: 4/13/06

  Casinos not the solution for school financing

  By Ken Camp
  

  Managing Editor
  

  DALLAS—Texas legislators looking for revenue to fund public schools better not bet on casinos, the director of an Austin-based think tank told the Texans Against Gambling board of directors.

  04/13/2006 - By John Rutledge

• 

  Members join pastor on 1,000-mile walk

  Posted: 4/13/06

  Members join pastor on 1,000-mile walk

  By Ken Camp
  

  Managing Editor
  

  HOUSTON—Pastor Ed Hogan has lost about a dozen pounds since he started walking 10 miles a day, but he’s more interested in talking about what he has gained from the experience—a closer walk with God and church members.

  04/13/2006 - By John Rutledge

• Compromise immigration reform legislation stalls in Senate

  Posted: 4/13/06

  Compromise immigration reform
  legislation stalls in Senate

  By John Hall
  

  Texas Baptist Communications
  

  WASHINGTON—Just one day after celebrating a “huge breakthrough,” the U.S. Senate rejected an immigration reform bill brought forward by leaders of both parties.

  04/13/2006 - By John Rutledge

• Christian Women’s Job Corps expands to Mexico

  Posted: 4/13/06

  Christian Women’s Job Corps expands to Mexico

  By John Hall
  

  Texas Baptist Communications
  

  PIEDRAS NEGRAS, Mexico—Woman’s Missionary Union of Texas recently held the first Christian Women’s Job Corps training outside the United States.

  04/13/2006 - By John Rutledge

• Judas got a bum rap, scholars say

  Posted: 4/13/06

  Judas got a bum rap, scholars say

  By Stacy Meichtry
  

  Religion News Service
  

  ROME (RNS)—Every great story deserves a great villain. For Christians who consider the Easter narrative the greatest ever told, no one in history quite matches the despicable deeds and evil nature of Judas Iscariot.

  04/13/2006 - By John Rutledge

• 

  Give it up for Lent

  Posted: 4/13/06

  A formal processional by a robed choir begins an Easter 2005 worship service at River Road Church, a Baptist congregation in Richmond, Va., that observes the Lenten season. (Photo courtesy of River Road Church, Baptist)

  Give it up for Lent:

  By Hannah Elliott
  

  Associated Baptist Press
  

  DALLAS (ABP)—For Ray Vickrey and Mike Clingenpeel, Easter doesn’t mean much without about 40 days of reflection and repentance before it.

  04/13/2006 - By John Rutledge

• 

  Missouri Baptists link with WorldconneX

  Posted: 4/13/06

  Missouri Baptists link with WorldconneX

  By David Williams
  

  WorldconneX
  

  ROACH, Mo.—The Baptist General Convention of Missouri has entered into a three-year partnership with WorldconneX, a missions network Texas Baptists launched in 2004.

  04/13/2006 - By John Rutledge

• On the Move

  Posted: 4/13/06

  On the Move

  • Ed Adcock to First Church in Grand Prairie as minister of music from First Church in DeRitter, La.
  

  • Charles Baker to Calvary Church in Abilene as music minister.
  

  • Lashley Banks to Grayson Association as director of missions.

  04/13/2006 - By John Rutledge