Texas Baptist Forum
Resting place
___I cannot thank you enough for the feature on cremation (Jan. 29). For a long time, I have considered cremation when I go to meet the Lord, but I had so many questions.
___As a child, I remember leaving my grandparents' graves and thinking about them being there. I have faithfully honored my family's graves by visiting them every chance I get and

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placing flowers in loving memory. But I find my children do not share that feeling about visiting graves. This is what made me think about cremation more and more.
___The articles put me at ease about that final resting place.
___Of course, the main thing is that we are Christians, isn't it?
___ Mamie Blaylock
___ Mineral Wells

Donate body
___I wonder whether people choosing cremation have ever considered first having their bodies donated for some useful purpose.
___My husband's body was given--as mine will be--to the state medical university in Dallas, where it was used for the anatomy class. This helps these young medical students, who in turn will contribute their knowledge to helping the sick.
___After being used in class, the body is cremated. The ashes are buried by the university or returned to the family.
___Think about what you might do.
___ Mrs. John A. Moore
___ Brownwood

Tug-of-war
___Our relationships within the Baptist family remind me of a tug-of-war.
___The rope holding us together is money, and great efforts are at work on that rope--pulling and maneuvering for control.
___When topics like defunding, redirecting funds, reminders of medical and retirement benefits, and reductions of budgets cause our eyes to narrow and our suspicions to rage, we have reached a low and weak level of relationship. Money is a weak bond in a relationship. It is the last thing to go at the end of a relationship.
___A new relationship is needed--based upon something stronger and more eternal than money. Relationships based upon love will still be standing when all else has failed.
___The challenge leaders of our groups must face is developing new relationships with each other. Each group has its own emphasis and calling, but surely we have matured beyond burning each other at the stake.
___If we are members of the same family by faith in Jesus Christ, and we are, then we must use our efforts to develop new relationships with each other that glorify God. The kind of relationship that the old Apostle Paul and Mark had would be a good one to seek: "Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is helpful to me for ministry" (2 Timothy 4:11).
___ Bubba Stahl
___ Boerne

Both wrong
___Richard Land's public support for the nomination of John Ashcroft as attorney general on behalf of the "vast majority" of Southern Baptists was improper but probably was not inaccurate. I have little doubt most Baptists support the nomination of a decent, serious Christian to the position.
___As I recall, the Southern Baptist Convention defunded the Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs because of its perceived partisanship (presumably toward the left) and replaced it with the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. Now Texas Baptists have defunded the ERLC because of its perceived partisanship (presumably toward the right).
___Unfortunately, Phil Strickland, director of the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission, opposed Ashcroft because of his positions on welfare reform, church-state separation and, most appallingly, "embrace of the political Religious Right." I do not care what he thinks of Ashcroft nor how he stands on welfare reform. Count me as one of the Texas Baptists who does not think we need a CLC director publicly grinding the axes of the political left.
___Neither Strickland nor Land should be quoted for or against Ashcroft's nomination or taking shots at fellow Christians. At least Land avoided the latter.
___I say defund them all. Get Baptists out of the governmental affairs business. Spend the money on missions. The world will be better for it.
___ Brent Perry
___ Houston

Adopt evangelists
___Our church was fortunate to have Abdul speak to us while he was in Texas (Jan. 29). His testimony is quite moving, as is his passion for winning other Muslims to Christ.
___While he was with us, he also made us aware of a ministry opportunity. He has trained 52 Bengali evangelists who are ready to begin their mission but have no funding. He asked if we were interested in sponsoring some of these men, so that they could begin working.
___Our church adopted five (for a relatively small investment by our standards), and has been privileged to get reports back from them. So far, our five men have led 114 people to trust in Christ (Isa) and be baptized.
___Many other evangelists are waiting for funding. If any other churches would like to share in this tremendous work, they can contact us at Calvary Baptist Church, Bastrop; phone (512) 303-1697.
___ Charles Whitmire
___ Bastrop

Heed the call
___Thank you for the "Impact Northeast" focus (Jan. 1). How encouraging that six strong "support conventions" have joined with six Northeast "impact conventions" in reaching this massive, secular population center with the gospel!
___The Northeast is the major national locus of influence for finance, education, government and corporate strength. The unquestioned need for the gospel is evident in the overwhelming number of "unchurched" persons within the urban centers.
___Over 35 years, my wife, Norma, and I were privileged to serve in this area with some of God's most consecrated, courageous and creative people. As a pastor, director of Metropolitan New York Baptist Association and executive director of the Baptist Convention of New York, we saw impressive growth. In the late 1950s, it took courage for the Maryland Baptist Convention to sponsor emerging Baptist work in the Northeast. From those early years, the inspiring gospel victories have been significant; but the urgency of an aggressive reinforcement warrants the immediate, generous support of Texas Baptists.
___As a native Texan, I am grateful for my heritage, my home church, and my alma mater, East Texas Baptist University. From this background, God called me to love and serve the Northeast. A host of other Texans--pastors and laypersons--have given themselves without reservation to Christ's witness there. Today, at the helm of the BCNY is a competent Texan, J.B. Graham.
___May God bless Texas Baptists as you heed the call of the Northeast!
___ R. Quinn Pugh
___ Statesboro, Ga.

Same opportunity
___I am 82 years of age. I was saved 69 years ago and served the Baptist denomination in pioneer missions work. I am now retired and enjoying it.
___I have followed happenings in the SBC through the years with much sadness and disappointment. Traditional Baptists made it possible for me to be used in the service of the King.
___Since the wrecking crew ripped through Southern Baptist life and destroyed so much of our heritage, we wonder if people like me will ever be afforded the same opportunity again.
___ Bill Landers
___ Allen

No change
___As I read the opinion section, my thoughts turn to struggles of a previous generation. Our nation was divided, students protested, politicians spent national resources on personal projects. Hollywood personalities played the advocate for America's enemies and demoralized our soldiers. Everyone was doing that which was right in their own eyes.
___We have not changed. It is now pastors and not students protesting. Local and national conventions have their "pork barrels." Seminaries gloat and cry foul over funding. One seminary gloats over the funding demise of the older brother. The older brother has a history of turning a deaf ear to the younger brother. All the while, key personalities everywhere demoralize the soldiers. Everyone is doing that which is right in their own eyes.
___And Jesus wept.
___ Jerry Rogers
___ Lewisville

"Disturbing letter" (Jan. 29) disturbing
___ It is unethical to bite the hand that feeds you, besides not being very Christ-like. To belittle an institution (Southwestern Seminary) and denomination (SBC) that is paying the retired professors’ retirement benefits is hypocritical.
___ If funding SBC seminary institutions is a waste of Cooperative Program money as the letter writer proposes, why don’t these same professors refuse the checks still coming from Cooperative Program funds? Is the waste being spent on the hundreds of seminary students, many of which are going to foreign mission fields, or is it the retired professors with their hands out for retirement help all the while chewing on the hands that are feeding them? It is unethical.
___ Let them completely sever ties, including financial help, then let them bite all they want to. Then they could do it in good conscience.
___ Norman Abernathy
___ Boyd

Grateful for Zurheide
___ Thank goodness for Jeff Zurheide (Jan. 29). He is carrying forward the banner of "freedom" that Herschel Hobbs left us.
___ Bob Nichols
___ Oklahoma City

A wacky world
___ The BGCT has been labeled by some as greedy for choosing to redirect money away from SBC seminaries and directing it to Texas seminaries and ministries. The perceived greed in the projected loss of $514,000 has Golden Gate Seminary administration blaming Texas for preventing its faculty members from getting a salary increase this year and for causing the elimination of four staff positions.
___ Second Baptist Church in Houston, an SBC loyalist, hired Wacky World, an "edutainment" company to design a recently dedicated $595,000 Soul Train City and Hangar area complete with Disney-style life-size animatonic figures for children and teens.
___ According to Bruce Barry, president and CEO of Wacky World, First Baptist Church of Springdale, Ark., also an SBC conformist, used his firm to design "Toon Town," a children’s sanctuary featuring a children’s baptistry built inside a fire truck. When a child is baptized, a bell rings and he or she is sprayed with confetti.
___ Am I missing something? Has the word "greed" been redefined? It truly is a Wacky World!

___ B. D. Sexton
___ Corpus Christi

"Liberty or death" relevant today
___ When the Muslims were about to take Constantinople, the Christians there were arguing about the color of the holy mother Virgin Mary’s eyes and whether a fly that fell into holy water was made holy or contaminated the water. When the communists were taking over Russia, the clergy were arguing about the color of their vestments. While hundreds of Christians are being killed, and hundreds of churches are being destroyed, Baptists are arguing about the exact words of our statement of faith, and whether the sovereign Lord of the universe can ordain whomever God pleases.
___ In the immortal words of Patrick Henry, spoken at church, "The war has already begun. Why stand we here idle? ... Give me liberty are give me death."
___ I urge all Christians and churches that are financially able to support Voice of the Martyrs at www.persecution.com.
___ Cathy Smith
___ Atlanta, Ga.



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