February 3, 2003
TEXAS BAPTIST FORUM:
Empty despisery
___In the midst of musing about pleasant memories, I remembered seeing William Hall Preston, famed for Baptist Student Union work, then retired.
___He was sweeping the porch of New Mexico Hall at Glorieta, a grand smile on his face. I said: "Dr. Preston, you radiate love wherever you go! What is your secret?"
E-mail the editor at marvknox@baptiststandard.com
___The great man stopped, wiped perspiration from his brow, and said, "I guess it is because I don't keep nobody 'ner nothing in my despisery."
___If someone is selling despisery containers, I am buying.
___Is there anyone else who will make the same statement? I will if you will.
___ Jess Moody
___ Mansfield
Good from difficulty
___Unexpected blessings come our way, but not too often out of controversy.
___When we received the Baptist General Convention of Texas check that came from "redirected" funds the convention voted not to send to the Southern Baptist Convention Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission and the SBC Executive Committee, we were surprised.
___We know some Texas Baptists found the action to "redirect" funds confusing and inflammatory. Yet out of that decision, a major gift has been sent to our ministry that will go directly to assisting children and families in crisis. This comes at a significant time due to our loss of income because of the economy.
___We must say again, "Thank you, Texas Baptists, for remembering human welfare ministries like us." Truly, good has come from a difficult decision, and we praise God for this special gift!
___ Jerry T. Bradley, President
___ Texas Baptist Children's Home
___ Round Rock
'Nobody' inspires
___Thank you for printing the tribute to Bill Koehn by his son-in-law Randal Pearce (Jan. 13). It was one of the most moving and inspirational pieces I have read.
___Every teenager should have a copy of this to show them that even a "nobody" can make a huge, lasting impact with practically impossible odds.
___Bill Koehn's life was his message. Even in the "backside of nowhere."
___ Cindy McGill
___ Kingwood
Punishment issues
___Regarding the Christian Life Commission's recent recommendation on capital punishment, the issue isn't conservative versus liberal.
___There are a number of conservative evangelicals who oppose the death penalty--Chuck Colson, for one.
___The real issues are:
___Do we want to continue to "shed innocent blood" (Jeremiah 7:6), as is being done in some cases?
___Do we want to support a system that is discriminatory racially and ethnically?
___Do we want to approve a policy that is based, to a considerable degree, on how much money a defendant has in order to avoid being given the maximum penalty?
___Do we hope no one will perish (John 3:16) when they could still have the opportunity to trust Christ and become a witness to others?
___Does it make good sense economically to assign the death penalty, when this costs more (largely in lawsuits and appeals) than it does to keep a prisoner incarcerated for life?
___Does it seem reasonable to give the ultimate punishment, when only swift and certain punishment has been proven consistently to deter murder, and we know that death sentences average 10 years of delay and extend, in some cases, over 20 years?
___As a minimum, it seems that we should be contacting our state legislators to urge them to enact legislation in our state, that already exists in many others, which would allow juries to have the option of giving the guilty a life sentence without parole.
___ Julian Bridges
___ Abilene
Differing weights
___Scripture identifies as an "abomination" the slippery exchange of instruments of measurement in business transactions (Deuteronomy 25:13-16).
___Prophets like Micah and Amos deplore those who would enter a commitment on the basis of one standard of measurement and, when it becomes advantageous, employ a different standard (Micah 6:11; Amos 8:4-6).
___This is similar to the Psalmist's implicit warning that those who fail to honor a commitment, when to do so would be costly, put at risk their place in the congregation (Psalm 15:4). Surely such practices violate Jesus' simple demand: "Let your 'yes' be yes."
___Such concerns for integrity come to mind when I read of missionaries who had entered into a covenant commitment with the International Mission Board under one standard of measurement.
___Now, though having been told by IMB officials that such commitments would be honored, many missionaries are "getting the call" (Jan. 27).
___IMB officials have pulled from their bag "differing weights" and are (despite their word games) terminating long-serving missionaries.
___The demand for previously appointed missionaries to affirm the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message or lose their positions is nothing less than a violation of the minimal standards of honest dealing between people who should be able to trust one another. The biblical judgment of such actions is that they are an "abomination." It remains to be seen what Southern Baptists will call them.
___ Jeph Holloway
___ Marshall
Going on
___I am responding to the letter calling suicide a selfish act (Jan. 20). This past March, our daughter, a sophomore at Wayland Baptist University, committed suicide. At the time, I thought it was a choice she made, but I have come to realize it wasn't.
___If she had known the hurt and pain it would cause, she would have never done it. Meghan's life touched so many people and had the potential of touching even more. If she had known it might have caused one person to question their faith or turn their back on God, she would have never done it. She never wanted to cause us pain.
___ Now we have a choice to help people see this is not an answer.
___Are there things we could have done differently as her parents? I can name hundreds, but I have to pray that God will give us peace to go on.
___I would have never intentionally done anything to cause Meghan to take her life, and no one else would have either.
___I go on, knowing Meghan is with her Lord, who never turned his back on her, and he will continue to give us the grace to live each day for him.
___Our God is awesome, and he is bigger than even suicide. We will remember the families of people who commit suicide in our prayers as we have continually been remembered in the prayers of others, for which we will forever be grateful.
___ Pat Gill
___ New Home
Broken promise
___During the years I worked at Baylor Medical Center as director of pastoral care and counseling, I was impressed with how hard the trustees and administrators worked to live up to and carry out the institution's mission. An unusual spirit of loyalty and trust in the leadership prevailed among employees and medical staff members.
___Baylor has broken its promise of "paid up" life insurance for its retirees (Jan. 27). I feel great distress for those low-paid retirees who have counted on Baylor's promises to take care of their end-of-life expenses.
___The attitude of "we have the legal power to do it" rather than "what is morally right to do" causes me profound concern.
___Will Baylor be able to attract and hold loyal employees, and how will this affect patient care and the institution itself in its second century?
___ Joseph E. Gross
___ Heath
Worthy study
___My Bible (King James Version) says we shouldn't add or subtract from it. Tell me why Baptist preachers will not preach on Revelation.
___If God or angels transported John up to heaven, and he was shown all about it and told to write this because it is true, why can't preachers preach about it?
___My wife and I read it often and enjoy it very much. It could help more people to start really believing in God and Jesus.
___I've been told by some preachers they didn't study about it. Something is lacking in our seminaries if they delete this book. This is part of our Bible, and people should hear it as any of the other books of the 66.
___ Al Rosenberger
___ Rowlett
___What do you think? Submit letters for Texas Baptist Forum via e-mail to marvknox@baptiststandard.com or regular mail at Box 660267, Dallas 75266-0267. Letters must be no longer than 250 words. They may be edited to accommodate space. Published letters reflect a cross-section of letters received.
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