Posted: 8/22/03

BGCT to create funding channel
for some former IMB missionaries

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

DALLAS–Texas Baptists may soon have a way for churches and individuals to provide financial support to former Southern Baptist missionaries who were terminated or resigned over the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message doctrinal statement.

The Baptist General Convention of Texas already offers a “missionary transition fund” to help former missionaries as they seek new positions. A new funding mechanism would help missionaries stay on the field after losing support from the Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board.

“We are making it possible for churches and individuals to support missionaries whose ministry was taken away from them by the International Mission Board,” said E.B. Brooks, coordinator of the BGCT church missions and evangelism section. “We are doing this at the request of our churches who want to support their continued ministry.”

At least 77 of the IMB's 5,500 missionaries have left the mission field because of the new, more conservative doctrinal statement, including 13 who were fired for refusing to sign the statement. The exodus is presumably the IMB's largest departure ever over one issue.

An IMB spokesman declined to comment on the BGCT plan.

At least 10 missionaries have shown interest in receiving funds through the new Texas Baptist funding channel. The Texas convention already channels some support to four missionaries who returned to their field.

Brooks said the program will be a cooperative effort between Texas Baptists and Baptists in the host countries who want the former missionaries to return to their fields of service.

The funding channel, approved unanimously by the BGCT's State Missions Commission Aug. 19, will be operational by Oct. 1 if approved by the convention's Executive Board Sept 30. It eventually will become part of a new, as-yet-unnamed missions network of the BGCT.

The State Missions Commission also approved a proposed $12.18 million 2004 budget for the Church Missions and Evangelism Section, Church Health and Growth Section and the Associational Missions and Administration Section.

The proposed budget included reductions in personnel and program money as a result of a sluggish economy, decreasing returns on investments and the lack of churches following this year's BGCT Adopted Budget, according to David Nabors, chief financial officer.

Each section reduced its budget by about 18 percent, he said. Eleven positions affecting six employees were eliminated from the three sections.

Several offices were consolidated in an effort to save money. Counseling and psychological services, the Texas Baptist Leadership Center and the minister/church relations office will become the Center for Christian Leadership. Church Personnel Information Services and ChurchLife Resources will become the Church/Membership Resourcing Area.

The Center for Community Ministries and Mission Service Corps are combining to form the Mission Equipping Center, and the prayer and spiritual development office is moving into the Missional Church Strategy Center.

BGCT Executive Director Charles Wade indicated morale among employees was down, but they are determined to continue their ministry despite the reduction in force and funds.

Board members followed Wade's words with a prayer for the staff as it works through the loss of co-workers and funding.

Brooks thanked the commission for keeping the staff in their thoughts and for understanding the need for cutbacks.

The BGCT Administrative Committee will consider the budget recommendation at its Sept. 4-5 meeting. The BGCT Executive Board will consider the proposed budget and missionary funding mechanism during its Sept. 30 meeting. The convention will vote on the recommended budget during the annual session Nov. 10-11 in Lubbock.

In other business, the commission elected new officers. Ed Seay, pastor of First Baptist Church in Magnolia, was elected chairman. Vice chairman will be Bill Ingram, interim minister of music at First Baptist Church in Huffman. Eunice Chambless of First Baptist Church in Abilene was re-elected as secretary.

Posted: 8/22/03

Bombin the Clown has a nose for ministry

By Leann Callaway

Special to the Standard

FORT WORTH–Most people associate clowns with children's birthday parties or a circus. But a “clown ministry” is much more than that–it's a form of creative evangelism.

“As a clown, I can use comedy, songs, Bible stories, object lessons, illusions, juggling, slapsticks and more silly stuff to share a biblical truth with anyone,” Rafael Rondon explained.

When Rondon puts on his clown makeup and trademark red nose, he becomes Bombin the Clown.

“Bombin the Clown is a silly character who presents the good news of Jesus Christ in fun and interesting ways,” he said. “Some people will simply not come to church, but they will watch a clown show. I think of it as reaching the unreachable.

“The amazing thing is, not only kids listen, but people of all ages. My audience watches with the expectation to be entertained, but they get more than that. I begin by making them laugh, but then I lead them to know about Jesus Christ, who gives true joy.”

Long before Rondon's clown ministry began, he was a regular performer at family birthday parties. “I started being a clown when I was about 8,” he said. “I would entertain my family on their birthdays. I would do funny stuff and play the accordion.”

By the time Rondon graduated from high school, he was getting requests to perform at parties outside his family. He paid his way through college by clowning at birthday parties and schools.

From there, Rondon began performing for children at his church. In 1990, Rondon met a Christian clown who introduced him to clowning as a ministry.

“I got hooked,” he said. “It was amazing because people would actually stop and pay attention to the gospel preached by a clown.”

Four years later, Rondon and a former Home Mission Board missionary, Eugenio Adorno, better known as Chagy the Clown, established Circus of the King.

“Circus of the King utilizes traditional circus acts to present the gospel to audiences, while concluding with an invitation to surrender to Christ,” Rondon explained. “In 1995, after working for a year to put a circus and evangelistic crusade together with the Home Mission Board, we had thousands of people coming to hear the gospel. God was showing me this was the kind of creative ministry that he wanted me to do.

“One morning, we were having a staff prayer meeting, and as we prayed, I received God's calling to surrender to ministry. Since I have accepted God's calling, I no longer do clowning as a business but I use it as part of a ministry.”

Both Rondon and Adorno wanted more training, so they enlisted the help of professionals.

They signed up for intensive clown training from the retired staff of Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus.

“We met clowns from all over the world, and we were introduced to areas of clowning that we never imagined, such as mime, drama, juggling, slapsticks, physical comedy, circus clowning, and more,” Rondon said.

In 1997, Rondon relocated to Fort Worth to attend Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he graduated with a master of divinity degree in 2001. During this time, Rondon began serving as music minister at Templo Bautista Emanuel.

In addition to being a full-time music minister, he performs 50 to 75 times a year as a clown for evangelistic crusades, block parties, Vacation Bible Schools, church camps and other outreach efforts.

“To me, the most meaningful thing is seeing someone come to know Christ,” Rondon said. “I have seen kids and their parents surrendering to Christ at the same time. That is beautiful. It's meaningful to see that God uses me, and he changes people's lives.”

Posted: 8/22/03

Baptist Briefs

"Purpose Driven" still on top. "The Purpose Driven Life," written by California pastor Rick Warren, continues to top the religion best-seller list, with 4.5 million copies of the hardback book already sold. The retail price of the book is $19.99.

Northeast university students sought. The Baptist Convention of New England seeks information on Baptist students entering any of the universities in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. John Ramirez, director of collegiate ministry for New England Baptists, would like to connect these students with Baptist campus ministries. Contact Ramirez at (508) 393-6013 or John.Ramirez@bcne.net.

IMB leaders call for more missionaries. Despite current economic challenges that have slowed missionary appointments, Southern Baptists need to increase their overseas missionary force by at least one-half, International Mission Board regional leaders said in an Aug. 4-8 strategy session. "This is not a time when Southern Baptists should be sending fewer missionaries," President Jerry Rankin said. "The lostness of our world is undiminished. Christ's mandate is still for us to make disciples of all peoples. And our mission of making Jesus Christ known among all peoples will not change." In addition to proclaiming the need for at least 8,500 IMB missionaries, the regional leaders agreed how the limited number of positions for new workers available in 2004 will be divided among the board's 15 regions.

Paige Patterson

Patterson projects higher enrollment. In his second week on the job as president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Paige Patterson invited faculty and staff to celebrate a hoped-for turnaround in student enrollment numbers. "From now on, we are on our way to 6,000 students," Patterson said. At its height, the Fort Worth seminary enrolled 5,120 students. That was in the 1983-1984 academic year. Enrollment began a slight drop in 1987, took a greater dive in 1994 after trustees fired President Russell Dilday, regained some in the late 1990s and then dropped to 3,577 in the 2001-2002 academic year.

CBF benefits board grows. The Church Benefits Board of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship surpassed $10 million in total assets in the fiscal year just ended, increasing membership from 300 to 440 and growing from 80 participating employers to 134. The board now has assets of $11.6 million, with monthly billings of more than $2 million.

CBF appoints partner study committee. Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Moderator Cynthia Holmes has appointed a seven-member group to study the organization's partnership relationships. The Partner Funding Study Committee will be chaired by Charles Cantrell of Mountain View, Mo., and includes Matt Cook of Rosebud; Elizabeth Denham Thompson of Littleton, Colo.; Jerry Mantooth of Maryville, Tenn.; Michael Duncan of Eminence, Ky.; Carolyn Busby of Ada, Okla.; and Candace McKibben of Tallahassee, Fla.

Bush will reappoint Land. President Bush has announced he will reappoint Richard Land to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, is the only Bush appointee returned to the commission. Two new Bush appointees are Khaled Abou El Fadl, a law professor at the University of California-Los Angeles and a leading authority on Islamic law, and Charles Caput, the Roman Catholic archbishop of Denver.

Posted: 8/22/03

Baptistway Lesson for Sept. 14

Philippians 1:27; 2:15

Live a life worthy of the gospel

By David Morgan

Joe shared this story. A woman pulled up behind a man at a stop light. When the man hesitated as the light changed to green, the woman began to honk her horn and to scream at him. He finally made it through the light just as it turned back to red. The woman, who was stuck for a second cycle, continued her tirade.

A policeman pulled up behind the woman, waved her to the side, arrested her for driving a stolen vehicle, and took her to the station. She was finally released after several hours of questioning. The arresting officer told her that when he saw her Christian bumper stickers, one of which said, “Jesus is my Lord,” and heard her screaming, he felt certain that the car must have been stolen.

Joe admitted that the story is likely one of those urban myths that circulates on the Internet. Yet I have witnessed similar behavior from drivers whose cars blazon their faith in Christ. As Christians, we need to remember that someone is always watching. We also need to remember that we should live lives worthy of the gospel both in our communities and in our churches.

Unity and courage

In last week's lesson, we saw that Paul exemplified courage for the Philippian Christians in his imprisonment. He anticipated that he would be able to once again visit them although some uncertainty still remained (1:26). Since he might not be able to see them soon, he used the letter to challenge them to live a life worthy of the gospel. Paul considered living a worthy life to be an integral part of their communal life as Christians. Paul urged them to stand firm and strong in the faith.

Paul abruptly changed tone between verses 26 and 27. He began to focus on the behavior and conduct of the Philippians and not on his situation. He instructed them to live as citizens of God's heavenly kingdom. The word suggests they were a colony of people whose actions and attitudes reflect that of the homeland. Christians have pledged allegiance to a new Lord and king.

We may abide on earth, but our ultimate citizenship is in heaven. Our actions should reflect our new nature so the worldly community will notice how different we are.

Paul could not be sure he would ever visit Philippi again. But he urged them to remain bold in the faith should he see them again or not. Maintaining a strong commitment to Christ would require the courage exhibited by soldiers. Paul insisted the Philippians refuse to waver when threatened by those who opposed the gospel.

Paul expected them to stand firm with unity of spirit and mind. One of Paul's concerns in the letter was the need for unity within the church. Philippians 4:2 suggests the church had at least two factions which needed to come together. Unity grows from a new relationship with Christ through which he instills his mind in them. Having the mind of Christ does not negate personal identity. “One spirit” and “one mind” seem to reinforce each other, and we should not draw too great a distinction between them.

A unified Philippian church would present a solid front as its individual members worked together. As athletes tussle side by side or gladiators stood back to back for defense, Christians multiply their strength as they cooperate with others. Christians need to combine their concentration and energy to best preserve the faith. Christians need each other. A unified effort will provide security from believers' enemies.

Christians can expect opposition. We should not be startled or terrified when we encounter attacks. We can harness our strength in unity and prevent the stampeding of our fears.

Christians' courage signals the defeat of their enemies. Intimidation and threats are powerless before the boldness of believers. The destruction of Christians' enemies likely refers to their eternal separation from God.

Their courage has a second influence, for it signals to believers the certainty of their salvation. Their actions support their confession. Paul took this opportunity to remind the Philippians that God was the source of their salvation. It was the Lord's gift to them.

God had shown his grace on the Philippians by granting them two privileges: (1) to believe in Christ and (2) to suffer for Christ. The former we certainly would acknowledge as a gift, but few stand in line when suffering is offered as a gift. And yet Paul stated God's grace was evident in both belief and suffering.

Paul reminded the Philippians that they were having the same agony in their lives they had seen in him in his imprisonment. He used his personal circumstances to press upon them the redemptive value of suffering.

Unity and humility

Paul had mentioned the need for unity in verse 27. In the first four verses of chapter 2, he elaborated on the call to unity in the church by appealing to those things already present in the lives of the Philippians–encouragement in Christ, consolation of love, fellowship of the Spirit, affection and compassion. Unity in the Spirit flows from a transformed inner person. Paul's stress on humility in these verses is closely connected to his previous call for unity and courage. He used rare words in verse 1 to convey to the Philippians the importance of qualities which they already possessed. These were facts in existence and not mere potential qualities.

The Philippians knew the encouragement that came from Christ. The word “encouragement” is translated elsewhere as “advocate.” It means “a calling alongside.” Paul based his appeal on the reality that Christ had the power to exhort the church to unity and was in fact already doing so.

Paul knew that in their salvation they had received Christ's love which seeks what is in the best interest of others. This self-giving love was able to persuade them to strive for unity in the body of Christ.

The Philippians were part of one community that participated in one Spirit. They also were part of a common life produced by the Spirit. That they all participated in the Spirit and were part of one community would enable and empower them to achieve harmony.

When Paul mentioned affection and compassion, he was speaking to the spirit and inner will of each person. The church did not need further doctrinal teaching or instruction to attain unity. What the church needed was a right attitude.

Paul was able to rejoice in his circumstances and imprisonment, but the disharmony at Philippi dimmed his joy. His joy lacked completeness because of the factions there. He asked that the church make his joy full and achieve unity (1) by maintaining the same love, (2) by being united in their spirits, (3) by doing nothing based on selfishness and (4) by not looking out for their own interests but for the interests of others (verses 2-4).

Paul urged the Philippians to treat each other with the love which was theirs in Christ. They were to think in the same way, not in uniformity but with one purpose and intent. Paul desired that they do nothing based on selfishness or unworthy ambition. Paul insisted the motivation behind their actions be as wholesome as the acts themselves.

Seeking their own interests had created factions within the church. Boastful pride had reared its ugly head. People were honoring themselves and putting down others. Paul suggested a dose of humility could help cure the factions in the church. Humility honestly judges what is. Not only do humble persons recognize their limitations but also their strengths. They also see the strengths and gifts of others. A church which demonstrates unity is one where people look out for the needs and interests of others in the body. It's a “you-first” approach to life.

Christ's selflessness

The ultimate means for attaining unity in Philippi was for the church to keep on displaying the mind of Christ that God had given them as Christians. He challenged the church to keep on having the same attitude that Christ had.

Paul employed an early hymn to describe Christ's mind. Christ was divine but did not relinquish his divinity when he became human. He refused to clutch or cling to his equality with God but emptied himself and became a servant.

The hymn focuses on Jesus' willingness to accept the role of obedient servant. Never did Christ allow himself to act selfishly. During his lifetime, Christ exhibited the role of servant. He declared that he did not come to be served but to serve (Mark 10:45). Two incidents illustrate this. In the upper room, Jesus took a basin and towel and washed the feet of his disciples. The greatest example of Christ's humility was his willingness to embrace one of the cruelest means of execution ever imagined–crucifixion. Hear his obedience in Gethsemane: “Father, if thou art willing, remove this cup from me; yet not my will, but thine be done” (Luke 22:42).

God exalted Christ because of his obedience. Actually God “superexalted” Jesus and gave him the name Lord. Jesus' resurrection, ascension and subsequent glorification all followed the crucifixion. God gave Jesus honor and dominion above all other names. All creation will bow in honor and praise before the Lord.

A final appeal to unity

Paul finally applied the example of Christ to the disharmony in Philippi. He addressed the readers as “beloved,” perhaps because his words appeared harsh. The Philippians had obeyed Paul when he was with them, and he expected them to heed his instructions in his absence. Paul urged them to continue to “work out” their salvation. The salvation to which he referred was more the communal implications of salvation than its individual dimensions. Paul was instructing them to apply the example of Christ's humility in the church and reunite those divided by the factions. That they stood before God in awe and reverence should motivate them to heed Paul's instructions.

They could work out their salvation only because God was already working in them. Growing in Christ is not an “either God works or we work” proposition. God works, and we respond. Both parts are essential. God chooses not to change us unless we willingly accept what he offers. But neither can we grow in Christlikeness unless God enables us to do so. Again Paul was stressing communal transformation more than individual change.

A final word from Paul exhorted the Philippians to cease grumbling. Should they be able to accomplish this, they will demonstrate that as God's children they are different from a wicked world.

Our friends and neighbors desperately need to see what God can do in their lives. What they see in our lives is what they believe that God can do for them. Let us each seek to imitate Christ's obedience and humility. Let us seek to demonstrate to others what Christ can do for them. Let us lead worthy lives.

And let it begin in our relationships to others in our churches.

Questions for discussion

How can unity help us to stand firm in the faith?

In what ways are you working out your own salvation? What is God doing to work out your salvation?

How can your church assist Christians in working out their salvation?

How can you help your church to achieve greater harmony?

What is the difference between unity and uniformity? Can you have unity with uniformity? If so, how? If not, why?

If salvation is by grace through faith, what is meant by “work out your own salvation” (Philippians 2:12-13)?

Do Christians need more or less courage now than in New Testament times?

In what ways do Christians neglect the well-being of other Christians?

What would your church look like if all members possessed the mind of Christ?

How would your life change if you had the mind of Christ?

Posted: 8/22/03

Baptistway Lesson for Sept. 21

Philippians 2:19-30

Make a difference with your life

By David Morgan

Our pre-teens attended camp this past summer at Highland Lakes Conference Center. They had a marvelous week. Marcy, an elementary school teacher, and Mary, a college student, went as sponsors. They, like the students, returned with glowing reports of their camp experience. I was grateful for their willingness to attend and to prepare in advance for the Bible studies and church times. God made a difference in the lives of our children because Marcy and Mary made themselves available.

Our youth attended camp the same week at Pineywoods Baptist Encampment. Curtis planned to go as a sponsor, but at the last minute work schedules left the teens without a driver. Mickie stepped in and drove a van to the camp and returned home the same day. On Thursday, Howard took a day off from work so he could bring the youth home. Five of our students made professions of faith during the week. God made a difference in the lives of our students because Mickie and Howard made themselves available.

People who make a difference in the lives of others give of themselves in serving others for Christ's sake. Philippians provides us with two examples of men who gave themselves to Christ and to his work.

Paul's plans for Timothy

Paul's imprisonment prevented him from personally visiting the Philippians. This created two problems for the apostle. First, he could not receive first-hand information about their condition but had to rely on reports from others. Quite likely, Epaphroditus had been gone so long from Philippi that the information he relayed to Paul was out-of-date. The second issue was that Paul could not share information about his current condition with his friends. He wanted to quiet the fears of the Philippians; tell them he was doing well.

Paul planned to send Timothy to Philippi as soon as possible. Timothy had ministered to the Philippian church with Paul on several occasions (Acts 16:1,3; 19:22; 20:3-6). Timothy had earned Paul's confidence through his years of joint service. Paul had dispatched him on many crucial assignments (Acts 17:14-15; 18:5; 19:22; 20:4; 1 Corinthians 4:17; 16:10, 1 Thessalonians 3:2, 6).

Paul intended for his young colleague to visit Philippi to report on Paul's situation and return with an update on the church. Paul trusted Timothy would return with an accurate and positive report that would cheer Paul's spirits. Since the letter of Philippians would have been sent earlier, I suspect Paul wanted to hear if the church had eliminated factions and restored broken relationships in the congregation.

Paul's letters and Acts reveal he was not alone in Rome. But Timothy alone, of all Paul's possible choices as a representative, possessed a kindred spirit with Paul. Years spent together had forged Timothy into a man Paul could trust. Timothy would have the best interests and welfare of the Philippians in mind.

Others whom Paul could have sent might have had divided loyalties. They might have brought a report clouded with information that served their personal advantage. Their message might have been tainted by selfish ambition. Paul had mentioned in the first chapter that some were preaching the gospel out of envy and strife. They were more concerned with personal gain than with what Christ Jesus would have desired for the church.

Paul elaborated further on his relationship with Timothy. He had served with Paul as a child would serve his father. Paul called Timothy his son in the faith (1 Timothy 1:2). This designation and Timothy's joining of Paul and Silas on their first missionary journey suggests Timothy was converted during Paul and Barnabas' missionary journey. Paul had nurtured Timothy and watched as the young man was tested by adversity. Through it all he had remained true to Christ and to Paul.

Communication capabilities have advanced dramatically since Paul wrote Philippians. When this material was finished. it was transmitted electronically to the Baptist Standard. It usually transfers almost instantly with no glitches. It was a direct delivery of information between the editor and me.

The sharing of information was far less reliable and much slower in ancient times. Information was carried by letter or messenger, both of which often took extensive time. Regular postal service did not exist, and correspondence was carried by individuals. We can easily see the need for trustworthy messengers and couriers. Timothy fulfilled a most significant role in the communication between Paul and the Philippians. We should not underestimate his importance and the role he played.

When Paul sent the letter to the Philippians, he was anticipating some resolution of his current situation. He wanted to know the results of this before sending Timothy. He wanted the information to be as accurate and up-to-date as possible. Paul still felt certain he himself would soon be able to visit the Philippians.

Plans for Epaphroditus

Paul apparently sent this letter with Epaphroditus. That Paul would state he felt it necessary to send Epaphroditus back may sound odd. Epaphroditus had brought the Philippians' gift to Paul. The Philippians had placed a great deal of confidence in Epaphroditus, entrusting him with the gift and with the facts about their situation. He likely had planned to remain in Rome with Paul and assist him in any way he could.

Paul's referring to him as “my brother,” “fellow worker” and “fellow soldier” suggests he planned to stay and serve with Paul for an extended time. As brothers in Christ, they shared a relationship through their Lord. As fellow workers, they labored together. They shared common dangers as soldiers of the Lord.

Epaphroditus had fallen gravely ill while in Rome. The Philippians had received a report of his illness and were quite concerned about his welfare. Paul reported that God intervened during his sickness and restored him to health. Paul described God's intervention as an act of divine mercy. God bestowed this mercy first on Epaphroditus in sparing his life but also on Paul, for Epaphroditus had served him well. Furthermore, Paul noted that Epaphroditus had developed a severe case of homesickness and wanted to return to Philippi.

Paul sent Epaphroditus back to allay the fears of the Philippians. Their concern about their fellow worker created some anxiety for Paul. Their uneasiness affected his well-being. Paul would have a greater peace if he knew the Philippians were not worried about their co-worker.

Paul instructed the church to receive Epaphroditus with joy. Servants like him deserve to be revered by the church. They provide an example for other Christians as the minister to others for Christ. We know nothing about this man apart from what Paul wrote. God is able to use the unsung hero to achieve great things. This obscure man nearly died in serving God. He shouldered the responsibility for the Philippian's service to Paul. Distance prevented them from fully ministering to Paul. Epaphroditus was able to complete their service and attention to Paul through his personal ministry.

Gerda is one of those unsung heroes who reflect the qualities of Timothy and Epaphroditus. Several months ago, our deacons honored her with a “hug 'em and mug 'em” coffee cup. Gerda ministers to our homebound. She has never been formally elected to this task. She simply began to visit them. She asked our sound technicians to provide a tape of our services to carry to the homebound. When it became impractical for her to copy tapes, she challenged us to purchase a tape duplicator. She reports often how blessed our homebound are by this simple ministry. One person like Gerda who serves can make a difference. What service can you offer? How much better to obey willingly than by compulsion!

Questions for discussion

What qualities do you look for in a person who represents you before others? What can you do to develop these qualities in yourself?

Imagine a gathering at church for prayer in which those present offer only reports of what God is doing in

their lives. Compare or contrast that with what occurs now when prayer concerns are shared.

In what ways do church members put their own interests above those of the church?

What is our responsibility to those whom we select as ministers/servants for our churches? (Include Sunday School workers, deacons, committee or team leaders in addition to church staff.)

What risks are you willing to take to serve Christ? What risks do you consider too great to take?

Posted: 8/22/03

Baptistway Lesson for Sept. 28

Philippians 3:2-14

Keep focused on knowing Christ

By David Morgan

Texas native Lance Armstrong won his fifth straight Tour de France last July. He appeared the morning after his victory at a press conference titled: “Life After Cancer: A Celebration Of Life.”

Armstrong is not only the pre-eminent cyclist in the world but also a cancer survivor. Armstrong said at the conference: “It's an honor to win the Tour de France but even more so as a cancer survivor. When I think about a crash on Luz Ardiden or a cyclocross in Gap, and then think back to 1996 and being in a hospital bed in Indianapolis, it's easy to choose.” Armstrong has kept cycling in proper perspective.

Paul's word to the Philippians can help us to keep our lives in proper perspective. An appropriate outlook on life includes a lifelong quest to know Christ fully.

Watch out for false teachers

False teachers threatened the Philippians' well-being. The attack came from a faction of Paul's opponents known as Judaizers. This party was comprised of men who believed that Gentile Christians had to submit to and practice certain Jewish rites before they could become Christians. Paul relentlessly battled this heresy, which may have been dividing the Philippian church.

Paul warned the church to resist this group, which he likened to dogs. Now Paul was not thinking of the domesticated dogs many of us have as pets. Dogs in his day were ferocious scavengers. They roamed the streets and were known to viciously attack people. Both Jews and Gentile used this term to express contempt toward the other. Paul used the word as one of rebuke.

He warned the Philippians to stay clear of these teachers. He further referred to them as evil workers. They felt that they were acting in righteous ways, but Paul saw their acts were evil. He urged the Philippians to realize that the Judaizers taught a false circumcision. The word Paul used for circumcision was used in the Old Testament for mutilations and other incisions which were prohibited by the law (Leviticus 21:5; Deuteronomy 14:1). Paul's strong language stressed the severity of the threat.

Boast in Christ Jesus

True circumcision was not a physical act. It was the church's recognition that the body of Christ comprised the new people of God. Paul wrote in Romans that true circumcision was of the heart and not the flesh (Romans 2:25-29). He spoke in similar words to the Corinthians: “Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is the keeping of the commandments of God” (1 Corinthians 7:19). Paul's word for worship described the worship of God's special people, those who worship him in Spirit and truth.

Those who are of the true circumcision boast in what Christ is doing and not what they think they are accomplishing. Christ alone was the subject of their praise and adoration. The Christians had no reason to trust in or to brag about anything in their lives was apart from God and outside of what Christ was doing.

The futility of the past

If any person had reason to trust his birthright and past accomplishments to please God, it was Paul. Whatever others might submit as reasons for boasting, Paul could exceed them. He listed those things in his life that some would consider advantages in knowing Christ (verses 5-6).

Paul was circumcised when he was eight days old. His parents followed the law closely in this regard (Genesis 17:12). Abraham circumcised Isaac on the eighth day (Acts 7:8). Jesus and Mary did likewise for Jesus (Luke 1:59). That Paul was circumcised as an infant also proved he was a Jew from birth and not a convert. His parents must have been devout Jews to perform this act so diligently.

Paul's adding he was “of the nation of Israel” further showed that he was not a Jewish proselyte but was a Jew by birth and ancestry. Paul could not only claim a Jewish genealogy, but he could trace it back to the tribe of Benjamin. This small, faithful tribe remained loyal to the Davidic dynasty when the kingdoms divided after the death of Solomon. Israel's first king, Saul's (Paul's Hebrew name) namesake, came from Benjamin.

Paul was a “Hebrew of Hebrews.” Many Jews in his day had adopted a cosmopolitan attitude toward the world. They spoke Greek more fluently than their native tongues of Hebrew and Aramaic. But Paul came from Hebrew parents who preserved a Hebrew heritage. Paul was faithful to the ancient Jewish culture in all ways.

The Pharisees counted Paul among their number. Faithful and strict adherence to the law was one mark of this religious sect. This conservative and influential group of laymen sought to preserve the religious heritage of Judaism.

Paul was more than simply a member of the Pharisees. His leadership was evident when he watched over the cloaks of those who stoned Stephen (Acts 7:58). He demonstrated his enthusiasm when he began to attack Christians. The apostle was traveling to Damascus to pursue and persecute Christians when Christ appeared to him in a blinding light.

Paul declared he was blameless in the law. He scrupulously kept the commandments. No Jew could find any fault in Paul. He stood at the top of his class.

Abandoning all for Christ

Paul had catalogued a rather comprehensive list of qualities that would have given him reason to boast in the flesh. “In the flesh” means apart from God and not necessarily carnal. Paul consciously and willfully rejected at his conversion the previously mentioned list of traits. Paul had considered life without Christ and the benefits of his Jewish heritage. He contrasted those with what Christ offered. He chose Christ and rejected the advantages of his past.

Verse 7 deals with Paul's past conversion (“I have counted”). In verse 8, Paul was describing his current state and attitude (“I count”). Paul's earlier list of advantages focused on religious matters. He now made clear he would count “all things” as loss for the sake of his new relationship with Christ. He would cling to nothing which prevented him from knowing Christ intimately. By referring to Christ as Lord, Paul admitted Christ held an absolute and ultimate claim on him. Paul had relinquished control of his own life for the sake of serving the Lord Jesus Christ. All those things which Paul had prized earlier in his life he believed now to be rubbish.

To be found in Christ

Paul's aim was to gain Christ, that is to more and more allow the Lord to control him. Paul also wished he would possess more and more of Christ in his life. “To gain” considered Paul's present situation. “To be found” in him looks to the future. Paul wanted Christ to find him a faithful member of the body of Christ when the Lord returned or at the apostle's death. Being found in Christ included a righteousness only God could bring. Paul had rejected all of his heritage and adherence to the law as a means for achieving this right standing before God. He had discovered only God could impart to him a righteous, upright quality of life. Paul appropriated this righteousness through his personal trust in Christ.

To gain Christ and to be found in him would produce an intimate relationship with Christ. Paul wanted to know Christ better. Paul wanted to experience the power of the resurrection in his own life as God further transformed him in mind and spirit. He connected experiencing the power of the resurrection to the fellowship of his sufferings. Paul felt that to experience suffering because he was proclaiming the gospel would deepen his faith. He did not flee from suffering but embraced it as a medium of God's grace.

He believed that as he died more completely to self he would be raised to the life Christ planned for him. Paul anticipated that at life's end he would experience the fullness of being redeemed through Christ's resurrection.

Pressing on toward the goal

Paul figuratively, and perhaps literally, took a breath after plumbing the depths of his desire to experience all Christ had to offer him. He acknowledged that what he had been contemplating would only be fully realized in the future. His conversion on the Damascus road was only the first step on the journey. He remained a pilgrim on earth, seeking the perfection in Christ that could only come when the journey had ended. But he continued to strive for what he still lacked. Christ took control of Paul's life near Damascus. Now Paul prayed he might know Christ and everything this new relationship entailed. Christ had a plan for Paul. Paul sought to know it and accomplish it.

Paul made no pretense in claiming he had attained all Christ had prepared for him. Paul had spent countless hours in prison contemplating what Christ was doing in his life. His statement was not one of false humility. He genuinely knew he had far to travel in his walk with Christ.

Paul was so overcome with emotion he omitted the verb “do” and literally said, “one thing.” That “one thing” was to forget the past and reach for the future. Obviously Paul could not erase his memories, but he could live in such a way that he refused to let his past control and determine his tomorrows. He described himself as straining forward toward the future and the prize which Christ held for him.

Paul had renounced his past. He rejoiced in his present circumstances, and he fixed his gaze upon Christ's goal for him. “Goal” translates a word found only here in the New Testament and usually means a mark for shooting at. The prize that awaited him had been determined by Christ.

I've heard it said that who you know is more important than who you are when it comes to getting a job. I have doubted this statement, although it sometimes appears to be based in fact. But when it comes to the Christian walk, who you know is all that counts. Who you are has been replace by the new creature you are in Christ. Keep focused on Christ. The best way to live your life is to seek constantly to know Christ more fully and completely.

Questions for discussion

Name some false teachings Christians may hear taught in their churches.

If we can never achieve perfection, why should we keep trying?

Posted: 8/22/03

Baptistway Lessons for Sept. 7

Philippians 1:1-26

Look at life positively

By David Morgan

My family and I met Georgia when she visited the church I served as pastor. She and her husband, Willard, became dear friends. They filled in as surrogate grandparents for our daughter at school functions. We came to love them deeply.

Georgia and Willard's positive approach to life impressed me from the moment we met. They simply loved life. I later understood that the basis for their attitude was their deep faith in Jesus Christ.

While many of us can maintain a positive posture during good times, Georgia retained hers through several years of battling the cancer which ultimately took her life. Her upbeat spirit embodied the positive look at life which Paul possessed and described in Philippians 1.

Life can be tough. Some people celebrate life amid its struggles, while others are shrouded by clouds of gloom and despair. A maturing and growing relationship with Christ, good relationships with other Christians and a confidence in God's future can foster a positive approach to life.

A foundation for positive living

Paul's opening words offer insight into why he looked at life positively. God had called Paul to be one of the Lord's chosen servants. God had transformed Paul from one who had been enslaved to sin to one who spent the remainder of his life as God's slave. Paul possessed in his life the grace and peace he desired for the Philippians.

The Philippians had tasted God's grace. Paul reminded them that as saints God had set them apart for service. God had taken the initiative in calling them, and they had responded affirmatively to that call. It takes both divine initiative and human response for one to become a Christian. In no way does “saint” suggest a super-Christian or a religious fanatic. All Christians are saints because God has redeemed them and given them new lives in a new community.

Paul expressed his wish that the Philippians receive continued grace and mercy from God. “Grace” is God's free and unmerited love and favor toward those who do not deserve it. God's grace makes possible salvation with its new relationship to God.

Flowing from God's grace is God's peace. “Peace” describes the believer's reconciliation to God, self and others. It is more than an absence of strife. It is a spiritual contentment in the midst of turmoil.

Grace and peace come from God the Father and God the Son.

Christian relationships nourish positive living

Paul's warm relationship with the Philippian church nourished his positive outlook. Paul jumped into the body of his letter with an earnest thanksgiving for the Philippians.

Paul's feelings for this church seem to have run deeper than for any other congregation. He established it during his second missionary journey (Acts 16:6-40). Paul received a vision of a Macedonian man bidding him to come and proclaim the gospel in Macedonia. Paul and his companions accepted the invitation and journeyed to Philippi. There they met a group of women who had gathered on the riverbank outside the city to worship. Lydia and her family were converted. When Paul and Silas freed a slave girl of a demonic spirit, her master filed charges and had them imprisoned. Paul displayed his positive approach to life when he and Silas were singing during the night they spent in the dungeon.

When God opened the bars to the jail and the jailer threatened to kill himself, Paul quickly reassured him no prisoner had fled. The jailer professed faith in Christ, took Paul and Silas to his home, and treated their wounds. The authorities released Paul and Silas the next day, and Paul left the city. But the foundation of a deep and abiding concern between the Philippians and Paul had been poured.

Paul offered this prayer of thanksgiving while a prisoner in Rome. Ephaphroditus had brought the apostle a gift from the Macedonian church (Philippians 2:15; 4:18). Paul's thank-you note gift allowed him to reminisce about their history together. He recalled his fondness for them and assured them of his habitual prayer for them. He joyously thanked God that they continued to show concern for him and to participate in his work.

The church first supported Paul financially when he went to Thessalonica from Philippi (Philippians 4:16). He prayed for God to continue to bless them. The apostle described their sharing with him as actually making them participants in the spread of the gospel. They were more than bystanders.

Paul voiced his certainty that God would complete in their life the work the apostle had started years earlier. He expressed confidence both in the Philippians and in God's faithfulness. Paul trusted God to guide them to experience all aspects of salvation. God would empower and enable them to complete their Christian pilgrimage until Christ returned.

The Philippians' support of Paul demonstrated they were developing as believers. Paul was pleased with this growth. Despite his chains and accompanying humiliation, the church remained committed to him. Memories of them encouraged him in this time of imprisonment.

Note that Paul referred to his imprisonment not as an ordeal but an expression of God's grace. Still, Paul was “homesick” for his friends. He loved them with the love Christ had planted in him.

Praying for continued spiritual development

Having expressed gratitude for them and confidence that God's grace continued to work in their lives, Paul prayed they might increase in love, knowledge and discernment. He knew of their unfailing love for him and for others. He prayed this love would gush forth in a search for sound judgment and proper moral discernment.

They needed a spiritual perception that would enable them to distinguish those things that were pure and spotless. By knowing those things that were excellent, they could live blameless lives, filled with God's righteousness. A blameless life includes not causing other Christians to stumble in their growth.

Paul knew Christ had filled them with fruit of righteousness. God had declared the Philippians righteous when they trusted Jesus as Savior. Paul desired that the Philippians not only be declared righteous, but that they give evidence of this righteousness. God declares us righteous and then makes us righteous in action.

Paul fully expected that God would answer his prayer. As the Lord answered it, God would receive praise and honor because of the lives of the Philippian Christians.

Confidence despite imprisonment

That Paul could express a positive outlook because of what God was doing in the life of the Philippians seems obvious. That he could express one in his own situation is shocking. Paul had been imprisoned for more than two years and was facing a trial before Nero. While some people would moan over such circumstances, Paul rejoiced because God was using them to spread the gospel.

Paul had committed no crime for which he deserved jail time. He had been confined solely because he proclaimed the gospel. Paul had angered a group called the Judaizers. These men insisted a Gentile must become a Jew before becoming a Christian. Paul rejected this dogma outright. The Judaizers hounded Paul in his travels. While in Jerusalem at the end of his third journey, the Jewish authorities charged him with taking a Gentile into the temple with him. The Romans then arrested him for disturbing the peace, because Paul's Jewish opponents had incited a riot. The Romans took Paul to Caesarea after Paul's nephew informed him a band of Jews had plotted to assassinate him in Jerusalem. When Paul faced the possibility of returning to Jerusalem for trial, he appealed to Caesar.

The Praetorian guard, elite Roman soldiers who guarded him in Rome, realized he was imprisoned only because he preached the gospel.

Paul rejoiced that his imprisonment had advanced the gospel. Paul was blazing a trail for Christians to follow in his suffering. He could understand why the Philippians might not understand his attitude, so he explained it. Paul's example emboldened some Christians in Rome. If he could endure such hardship, they could preach without fear. On the other hand, self-seeking Christians preached with the intent to discredit Paul. Paul was not upset but was thrilled the gospel was being proclaimed, whatever the motive behind the proclamation.

Paul believed the proclamation of the gospel would vindicate him. While he apparently did not feel the preaching would lead to his quick release, he confidently asserted the preaching would authenticate his stand for Christ. Suffering and proclamation in Paul's case were intertwined.

Imprisonment for the sake of Christ would only strengthen and deepen Paul's relationship to Jesus Christ. His circumstances would propel him toward a fullness of his salvation experience.

Paul attributed his vindication to two things: (1) the prayers of the Philippians and (2) the provision of the Holy Spirit. Paul had repeatedly mentioned the Philippians' participation with him in his imprisonment and ministry. The Spirit would undergird and strengthen Paul with all the help he needed, both in his current and future situations.

Let's not forget that Paul was in prison. Although it appears that he was in a rented house chained to a guard and not in a dungeon, he was still confined. While many of us would be preoccupied with being released, Paul's primary concern was not freedom but glorifying Christ. He wanted to do nothing that would shame his Savior. He expressed the hope that he would remain courageous whatever happened to him.

Verse 21 finds Paul uncertain about his future. He had done nothing to warrant a death sentence, but with Nero as emperor, he could not be certain about his fate. His language suggests he was immersed in a great internal struggle. Should he live, Christ would continue to be his Lord.

However, he considered death better, for he would receive his heavenly reward and be forever in the presence of Christ.

As Paul further reflected on his future, he knew that living would be good, for he could continue his work as Christ's servant. Broken sentences again stress Paul's internal wrestling. My dad might translate Paul by saying that he was between a rock and a hard place. He wanted to cut loose the ropes of the ship of life and be with Christ, but to continue to dwell on earth would be “much, more, better” for the Philippians.

Paul's struggle appears to have ended with verse 25. God had revealed to him in some way that he would not be executed. We have no way of knowing if he received a direct revelation from God, favorable news or simply a further reflection on his situation. He would remain with the Philippians so they might rejoice in his deliverance and increase their joy in Christ when he visited Philippi after his release.

Lessons for life

Sooner or later, all of us face difficult times. We cannot escape them. How we address these times depends to a large measure on the support we have from the community of faith. We can cultivate that relationship by praying, thanking God for other Christians. Pray regularly for them.

Knowing that God uses suffering to further his kingdom work provides a different perspective on our struggles. Seeking to avoid them or denying they are part of the Christian life reduces our opportunities to know the fullness of God's grace. Graciously accept your struggles as a means of using your life to witness of God's grace and mercy.

Questions for discussion

Name someone who lives life positively. Identify as much as possible how that person's relationship to God has produced that attitude.

Name some ways in which support from other Christians has nourished your faith and confidence in God.

Does your approach to life demonstrate a positive outlook? Why or why not?

In what ways do your gifts and prayers for missionaries make you a participant in the gospel?

How can praying for someone else lift your spirits?

David Morgan is pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in Harker Heights

Posted: 8/22/03

Texas Baptists called
to prayer for adoption need

Adela Jones, clinical director for Buckner Adoption & Maternity Services, has issued an urgent call for prayer and action for two children who have not been adopted and “need to be in their forever homes now.”

Both Precious, a 5-month-old girl, and Armani, a 9-month-old girl, are African-American, have been legally approved for adoption and are healthy, Jones said. “We desperately need two-parent, Christian families of any race who want to share their love with either or both of these sweet children.”

Jones also called for prayer for Armani and Precious among Baptist Standard readers. “I plead with everyone who reads this to pray without ceasing that God would make known his plan for Precious and Armani by revealing loving parents for them.”

She also asked for prayer for the birthmothers of two more African-American children “that God would guide them through this difficult but courageous decision and that he would find these two children adoptive parents as well.”

For immediate information about these children and domestic adoption through Buckner, contact Jones by phone at (214) 319-3426 or by e-mail at ajones@buckner.org.

Posted: 8/22/03

Interracial adoption blends easily into pastor's family

By Jenny Hartgraves

Buckner News Service

Tucked somewhere between the winding roads and picket fences of Aubrey lies the loving home of Chris and Heather Walden, a home that breathes the rich colors of nature, a much broader spectrum than what's simply black or white.

Lining the walls of their home are pictures of their twins, Jeremiah and Quincy, striking poses that even a professional model would envy: Jeremiah leaning on a cane wearing a top hat, mugging for the camera like a regular Fred Astaire, while Quincy grins with a Pollyanna-like innocence, flowers in her cap and hands propped under her chin.

The Waldens never expected to see these photos on their walls three years ago. Nor did they expect to pass out plates of oatmeal cookies or watch their twins splash in the wading pool outside.

“I always wanted to be a mom growing up, and it is truly heartbreaking when you think that you aren't going to have children,” Mrs. Walden said. “It's really a blessing that God can form your family in his own way, and it may not be biologically.”

The story of Chris and Heather Walden began more than 10 years ago, before they were engaged or married. “We started praying about having twins,” he said. “That was something we always wanted, a little Chris and Heather. We didn't know at that time that we couldn't have children.”

With twins running on both sides of the family, they always hoped God would bless them twice. After four long years of praying and trying to conceive, they finally considered looking into adoption.

“Buckner was the first orientation we went to, and we went into it not even sure if we were going to adopt,” she said. “We left from there and went to dinner to discuss it.”

“We decided that Buckner was the place. God spoke to us,” he said. “I felt at ease the whole time. I got assurance as they shared their heart. They did a great job clarifying what the purpose is and that this was not about getting what you want. The primary purpose is giving the best to the kids. It's not about helping out the birth family or the adoptive family. It's all about the kids.”

The only thing holding the couple back from starting the adoption process immediately was the lack of financial funding. As pastor and wife of Rock Hill Baptist Church in Aubrey, a small “little-house-on-the-prairie” kind of church, the Waldens weren't sure how they could come up with the money they needed for an adoption.

“We told the Lord one night: 'OK, Lord, maybe we're jumping the gun. We can't finance this money, so we'll start saving. And if it's another year or two, then we'll just wait.' It would be our confirmation when we had that money,” Walden said.

Within two weeks, their prayer was answered. Churches and people from around the community heard about the Waldens' needs, and through a series of God-inspired donations, they were blessed with the exact amount needed to begin the adoption process.

Jeremiah relaxes in the arms of his mother, who believes he is a gift of God to her family.

“In a matter of minutes, God raised this money for us through our community and the body of Christ,” the pastor explained. “It was confirmation that we were moving in the right direction. God was telling us that we were doing the right thing.”

With God's direction so visible in their lives, it shouldn't have come as a surprise when they received a phone call from Buckner a year later. “They told us about a birth mother who was expecting twins, and there were very rarely twins in adoption. So they thought of us right away,” Walden said.

But they faced one other hurdle. The Waldens are white. The twins were African-American.

“We knew from the very beginning we wanted to adopt a child that was bi-racial or African-American,” Walden said. “Heather had heard a broadcast a few years earlier on KCBI of how (African-American children) were in need of parents and there weren't many African-American couples adopting.”

“So maybe there had already been a seed planted. I just can't explain it, but we felt a real peace about it,” Mrs. Walden said.

After just five minutes on the phone with the birthmother, she told them they were the ones. “I don't know what it was, but somehow in that conversation we just seemed to click. All three of us felt like this was good.”

Buckner Children & Family Services, which facilitates domestic adoptions, promotes open adoption, a process that allows the birthmother and the adoptive family to choose each other and maintain an open connection to benefit the child. “At first, I was scared of open adoption. I had seen too many movies,” Mrs. Walden said.

From the moment they first spoke with the twins' birthmother, the Waldens began to develop a meaningful relationship. They made several trips to visit her during the pregnancy, seeing sonograms of the babies and getting to know her.

After their birth, both sides of the family came to the hospital to meet the twins. The picture of two families gathered, with all colors of skin, to share their mutual love for these children attests to the success of open adoption. “For me, that's one of the greatest memories,” Walden said. “As they grow up, they don't have that empty spot wondering why no one loved them.

“I love not having to keep anything from them. I love the fact that they're going to grow up and be able to ask questions, know their bloodline and history. At the same time, we have this great joy of having them as our children. Our family loves them, our church loves them, our whole community knows all about our kids, and they ask about them everywhere we go.”

“I just think it's healthy for everybody involved. These kids are not going to have any mysteries in their life,” Mrs. Walden said.

Their birth grandmother had sent the play clothes that Jeremiah and Qunicy were wearing, and the Waldens were proud to dress their children in them. From the outside looking in, this family may be difficult to understand. But with God's hand leading the way and a love that penetrates any distinguishable boundaries, the Walden family has everything it's ever dreamed of–and then some.

The Waldens now look forward to building on to their growing church, clearing out more land for parking, and conquering the terrible twos. Quincy and Jeremiah turned 2 in February, and the “no-mine” phase has just begun. But Mrs. Walden doesn't blink an eyelash.

“I've never thought of it as twice as hard to raise twins; this is all we've ever known,” she said. As she speaks, Jeremiah dances on the piano bench, and Quincy reaches for her sippy cup before falling off the couch.

Raising the twins may not be twice as hard, but it certainly is twice the blessing.

“We've prayed from the very beginning, and this whole thing has just evolved. We can tell that is was him. … God is the reason that it worked.”

Posted: 8/25/03

Baylor president declares intention to stay in office

By Jenny Hartgraves

Texas Baptist Communications

WACO–Robert Sloan he has no intention to resign as Baylor University's president, despite the desire of some Faculty Senate members to seek a vote of "no-confidence" in his leadership, he told reporters Aug. 21.

Even if the Faculty Senate passes such a vote at its Sept. 9 meeting, the decision ultimately rests with the university's board of regents, he said.

As controversy has mounted at Baylor over the summer–ranging from discontent over the university's direction, faculty hiring and tenure decisions, the disappearance and death of a basketball player and revelations of misconduct by the men's basketball coach–Sloan repeatedly has noted that he serves at the pleasure of the regents and plans to keep pursuing his vision for Baylor as long as they want him to lead.

At a media conference scheduled before Sloan welcomed new students to campus, more than 100 faculty members attended to show support of the president and his policies. Baylor has about 560 tenured or tenure-track faculty members.

"I've heard and felt the overwhelming support of the majority," Sloan said, adding that the reported call for a vote of no confidence was "only representative of a small group."

Sloan also announced the launch of an online alumni-support network, www.friendsofbaylor.net, founded by an independent group desiring to highlight positive aspects of Baylor's Vision 2012, the Sloan administration's long-range plan for the university.

After Sloan addressed the media, he met with new students and their families at the President's Picnic on the campus quadrangle.

"These have been difficult days for out nation and campus," he told the incoming students. "But today we're celebrating what I think is the first of the greatest years of your life."

Sloan praised the faculty and pledged his commitment to make Baylor the "finest possible education you can receive." He encouraged students to grow both personally and spiritually.

"Think about your faith," he urged, "and discover God's calling on your life."

Julie Naugher, 18, said she was thankful to arrive at Baylor despite the controversy.

"People in the dorms were talking about Dr. Sloan and everything that's happened," Naugher said. "But for the most part, everyone's excited to be here and ready for school to start."

Jenny Hartgraves is a Baylor senior majoring in journalism. She served this summer as an intern with the Baptist Standard.

Posted: 8/29/03

Bush affirms faith in magazine interview

WASHINGTON (RNS)–President Bush reaffirmed his reliance on his faith in an interview with Ladies' Home Journal and attributed his concern about AIDS policy to his reading of the Bible.

"Just living this life–when you realize that there is an Almighty God on whom you can rely–it provides a great comfort," the president told former White House speechwriter Peggy Noonan in a Q-and-A interview for the magazine's October issue.

"That's why I read every morning, the Bible and Scriptures and Charles Stanley devotionals. It matters a lot to me personally."

Stanley is pastor of First Baptist Church of Atlanta and a former president of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Bush told Noonan he thinks those who are not particularly religious should not fear those who are.

"The Bible talks about love and compassion and to whom much has been given, much is required," he said. "That's really a lot behind my passion on AIDS policy, for example."

The president went on to declare his belief in a pluralistic society. "I believe people can choose whatever religion they choose," he said.

"It's not my job–nor the government's–to dictate religion. On the other hand, I would hope it would give people great comfort to know there's a religious person holding the office."

Bush also said he thinks there probably have been and probably will be presidents who do not share his viewpoint on faith.

"From my perspective, however, I know that belief in God and prayer, and prayers of people on our behalf, makes a huge difference," he said.

The October issue of Ladies' Home Journal, which features the interview with Bush and first lady Laura Bush, will be on newsstands by the beginning of September.

Posted: 9/5/03

Annuity Board offers insurance updates

Representatives of the Southern Baptist Convention's Annuity Board will conduct 13 regional meetings in Texas this fall to answer questions about the new medical plans that will be available to Southern Baptist ministers, church and denominational employees and seminary students in 2004.

Locations, dates and times are:

Abilene, Pioneer Drive Baptist Church, Sept. 23, 10 a.m.

Austin, Austin Baptist Association, Sept. 9, 10 a.m.

Beaumont, First Baptist Church, Sept. 11, 10 a.m.

Euless, First Baptist Church, Sept. 18, 10 a.m.

Fort Worth, Travis Avenue Baptist Church, Sept. 18, 2 p.m.

Houston, First Baptist Church, Sept. 10, 10 a.m.

Lubbock, Southcrest Baptist Church, Sept. 24, 10 a.m.

Richardson, First Baptist Church, Sept. 16, 10 a.m.

Rowlett, Lake Pointe Church, Sept. 17, 10 a.m.

San Antonio, First Baptist Church, Sept. 9, 2 p.m.

Spring, Spring Baptist Church, Sept. 10, 2 p.m.

Tyler, First Baptist Church, Sept. 22, 2 p.m.

Waco, Columbus Avenue Baptist Church, Sept. 22, 10 a.m.

Anyone who is currently participating in an Annuity Board medical plan should receive re-enrollment material in the mail or from their employer in September.