December 31, 2001
Overheard in 2001
___"When a teenager seriously takes into account the (True Love Waits) pledge he or she is making and to whom the pledge is made, a lifestyle emerges that is true to the biblical standards established by God for sex."
___Paul Turner, co-coordinator of the True Love Waits sexual abstinence campaign, on a survey that demonstrates teens who take the pledge are 34 percent less likely to have sex than are those who do not take the pledge
___ "It is utterly inconsistent that people would think that any decayed body—however that might have decayed, naturally in the bottom of the ground or in the ocean or in a fire—could not be resurrected by our omnipotent God."
___Bob Beck, longtime Texas Baptist pastor, on the theological implications of cremation
___"Some needs and hurts are so deep they will only respond to a mentor's touch or a pastor's prayer. Church and charity, synagogue and mosque lend our communities their humanity, and they will have an honored place in our plans and in our laws."
___ President George W. Bush, in his inaugural address
___ "I compared the Bible and the Koran, and I decided to take baptism. I wanted to break that idea—that a Muslim cannot become a Christian."
___ "Abdul," a Christian leader in Bangladesh
___"Madalyn Murray O'Hair is dead. Dead people cannot file petitions with the FCC. So, next time you see this phony information about RM 2493 floating around in a chain letter or an e-mail, please remind people that it has no merit."
___ Marv Knox, Baptist Standard editor, on the confirmed death of atheist activist Madalyn Murray O'Hair
___ "When we're talking about evangelism, we're talking about the heart of God."
___ Randall O'Brien, Baylor University religion professor
___ "Before God wants anything else, he wants us to love him."
___ Jim Denison, pastor of Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas
___ "Do you know what holds back most churches in Texas? Talking and division and fighting. … It's impossible for God to bless something that is divided. No house divided against itself can stand. That's the fist principle of spiritual life."
___ Jim Cymbala, pastor of Brooklyn Tabernacle in New York City
___ "Lost people need you, and they need me. We must make a place for them at our table, in our Palm Pilots, in our lives."
___ Albert Reyes, president of Hispanic Baptist Theological School in San Antonio
___"The most important thing we do is pray every day for a long time. … It's not that we don't read the word of God or go to services, but it's that prayer time that keeps us straight."
___Jon Rivers, Christian radio personality
___ "Most of our prayer life will be better if we do more listening than talking. When was the last time you got on your knees and said, 'God, all I've done is say gimme, gimme, gimme. Now, speak to me'? It will change your life."
___Bill Wright, pastor of First Baptist Church in Plains
___"My daughter's birth led me to Christ, but it was my dad's death that made me stop running from God's call."
___Bob Parrish, who retired after 21 years as deaf work consultant with the BGCT, on his call to ministry
___"SBC conservatives believe American culture has turned hostile toward evangelicals. … This is the language of culture war, and it drives the SBC conservative movement on issues ranging from church-state, to abortion, to the roles of women."
___ Barry Hankins, history professor at Baylor University
___"I don't need to be in control of everything. My primary role is to keep the congregation focused, that we become who Christ intended for us to become, … and that what we do is always genuine, … authentic and biblical."
___Walter Mueller, pastor of Vista del Sol Baptist Church in El Paso
___"A church's success is not what surrounds you, but the church itself. If you have a warm-hearted, loving people, you're going to have a nice church."
___Billy Harris, pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church near Farmersville
___ "We're not ecumenists. We're evangelicals committed to sharing the gospel."
___Phil Roberts, president of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, on the Southern Baptist Convention's decision to break off dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church
___"What counts is the fullness of my heart and not the wrinkles on my face."
___Ellen Harris, speaker at a conference for senior adult women
___"The church ministers out of what it is. If it is a reconciled community of the living God, then by nature it passes on reconciliation."
___Craig Van Gelder, professor at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn.
___"Lake Pointe will grow smaller as at grows larger by promoting and facilitating Bible fellowships, growth groups and one-to-one discipleship."
___Steve Stroope, pastor of Lake Pointe Baptist Church in Rockwall, which attracts 5,000 worshippers each week
___ "If we're known for fabricating stories, for passing fearful stories around, we're going to lose our right to be heard in the public arena. We're going to be looked upon as fools for Christ."
___ Author John Williams, on Christians' distribution of e-mail hoaxes
___"Whatever the issues of life, … Jesus Christ was a single adult who understands what you're going through."
___ Ron Hill, a minister from San Antonio, speaking to the Texas Single Adult Conference
___"I've been successful, it's been a good life, but my career comes way near the bottom, compared with my relationship to Christ, my wife and my kids."
___Michael W. Smith, contemporary Christian music artist
___"Texas is growing rapidly, not only in population but as a mission field. … We have much to do to stay even with the Hispanic growth."
___E.B. Brooks, coordinator of church missions and evangelism for the Baptist General Convention of Texas
___ "There is a tendency in youth ministry and general church life to minister most to those who need it least. I believe Jesus called us to just the opposite."
___Richard Ross, youth ministry professor at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
___ "There are two institutions which God said the leadership is male only. One is the home, where the Scripture is plain where it says the husband is to be the head of the home. And the other is the church, where the Scripture says a man should be in the role of a senior pastor."
___James Merritt, Southern Baptist Convention president, on "60 Minutes"
___"The SBC must cooperate with our state conventions. Our state conventions must cooperate with the SBC. We must take the initiative in volunteering to cooperate willingly, genuinely and enthusiastically."
___ Morris Chapman, president of the SBC Executive Committee
___"Most people in America don't see Christians as being bearers of good news. To most of the public, church worship, church witness is received as bad news. … We are talking a language that is like a riddle."
___ Tom Bandy, congregational leadership consultant from Aransas Pass
___ "At a time like this, you offer assurance that God did not cause this to happen. Evil people in the world were the ones who attacked us. Where was God? God was present with those who suffered. He was in the fire with them."
___ Brig. Gen. Charles Baldwin, deputy chief of the U.S. Air Force, on the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks
___ "Ninety-nine percent of the people who need Jesus Christ in their lives never will walk through the doors of your church building. So, if you spend 99 percent of your spiritual life cloistered in your church building, then you never will be the presence of Christ in the world."
___Ellis Orozco, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in McAllen
___"We are thankful for a God who answers prayer."
___Jimmy Seibert, pastor of Antioch Community Church in Waco, after Dayna Curry and Heather Mercer were released by the Taliban in Afghanistan
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