On the Move_122203

Posted: 12/19/03

On the Move

Byron Ayres to Mildred Church in Corsicana as interim youth minister.

Chris Baggett has resigned as minister of youth at New Hope Community Church in Venus.

Bob Baldwin has resigned as pastor at Oletha Church in Thornton.

12/19/2003 - By John Rutledge

Pornography snares women as well as men today_122203

Posted: 12/19/03

Pornography snares women as well as men today

By Mark O'Keefe

Religion News Service

WASHINGTON (RNS)–After putting her daughter to bed, Maggie, 42, routinely sat at her computer for hours, mesmerized by an online world of erotic stories and real-time sexual discussions.

12/19/2003 - By John Rutledge

Pastors encouraged to be shepherds rather than executives_122203

Posted: 12/19/03

Pastors encouraged to be shepherds rather than executives

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

The pastor is no longer the chief executive officer of the church, but a minister who serves as the shepherd of his members, gathering them and moving with them toward a goal, according to Texas Baptist leadership experts.

12/19/2003 - By John Rutledge

Texas Tidbits_122203

Posted: 12/19/03

Texas Tidbits

HSU graduates 198. Tommy Brisco and Pam Williford were keynote speakers at winter commencement ceremonies at Hardin-Simmons University Dec. 13. Brisco is dean of HSU's Logsdon School of Theology. Williford is dean of the Irvin School of Education. Aileen Culpepper, retired residence hall director, received the honorary doctor of humanities degree. Bachelor's and master's degrees were awarded to 198 students.

Spanish course offered. The Baptist University of the Americas will offer a Spanish-language immersion course Feb. 9-13. Participants will learn conversational Spanish through a variety of classroom and practical experiences during a week of training on the San Antonio campus. Tuition is $100, but members of churches and missions affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas receive a full-tuition scholarship provided through the Mary Hill Davis Offering. For more information, contact Mary Ranjel at (210) 924-4338 or mranjel@bua.edu.

Potter receives UMHB honor. Clark Potter of Belton received the honorary doctor of humanities degree during the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor's winter commencement Dec. 13. Potter served on the university board of trustees 27 years and twice was elected chairman of the board. He also served twice as the mayor of the Belton. Degrees were awarded to 279 students.

12/19/2003 - By John Rutledge

TOGETHER: True joy follows obedience to God_122203

Posted: 12/19/03

TOGETHER: True joy follows obedience to God

Happiness is now an academic discipline, complete with a scholarly publication, The Journal of Happiness Studies.

Studying happiness, joy and pleasure is becoming a big business. It has implications for people who sell insurance, market entertainment, hire a lot of people, develop drugs or try to move merchandise out the door. Someone already may be lurking behind the Christmas tree to study what we really mean when we say, “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!”

What makes you happy? What brings you joy? As you celebrate Christmas and contemplate the New Year ahead, are you excited and grateful? Or are you depressed and frustrated?

12/19/2003 - By John Rutledge

Powell stays on as Truett Seminary dean_122203

Posted: 12/19/03

Powell stays on as Truett Seminary dean

WACO–Although he had intended to retire at the end of the current academic year, Paul Powell will stay on as dean of Baylor University's Truett Theological Seminary.

Baylor President Robert Sloan announced Powell's decision Dec. 5.

Powell came to the post in February 2001 with a commitment to serve up to three years.

12/19/2003 - By John Rutledge

Texas Baptist volunteers help spur Baptist growth in Vermont_122203

Posted: 12/19/03

Texas Baptist volunteers help spur Baptist growth in Vermont

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

Working hand-in-hand with Texas Baptists, Vermont Baptists witnessed record membership and baptisms during the past year.

12/19/2003 - By John Rutledge

WorldConneX adds staff and adopts budget_122203

Posted: 12/19/03

WorldConneX adds staff and adopts budget

DALLAS–The WorldconneX administrative committee has added two part-time staff to the new missions network, adopted a preliminary budget for 2004 and agreed to secure office space near downtown Dallas.

Meeting in Dallas Dec. 9, the committee selected Frank Dang of Keller to join the network's staff as part-time ethnic and emerging church associate.

Dang is a first-generation Vietnamese-American who has been an associate pastor at NorthWood Church in Keller for three years. In January, he will begin serving as bivocational pastor of the Vietnamese Church of Fort Worth, a mission of Travis Avenue Baptist Church.

12/19/2003 - By John Rutledge

Cybercolumn for 12/22: Pondering by Berry D. Simpson_122203

Posted: 12/19/03

CYBERCOLUMN
Pondering

By Berry D, Simpson

This morning at my weekly McDonald’s Power Breakfast (hotcakes and large Diet Coke), my friend Bear was talking about a phrase from Sunday morning’s sermon, that “Mary pondered these things in her heart” (Luke 2:19).

There was no one closer to the person of Jesus or the circumstances of his origin than Mary, yet she still did not understand the meaning of it all. The one who was closest still had some things to ponder. And even in her pondering, she was obedient at every step. Without knowing all the answers, she still did everything God asked of her in spite of the fact that it caused her great discomfort and public humiliation and a lifetime of being misunderstood. She not only obeyed, but she also praised God with her life and her words. She said, “My soul glorifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”

Berry D. Simpson

12/19/2003 - By John Rutledge

Mother, heaven and Christmas by Debbie Davies_122203

Posted: 12/19/03

Mother, heaven and Christmas

By Debbi Davies

Unbelievably, 2003 is almost over, and we’re into the eye of the holiday storm.

To me, the first thing that comes to my mind is that it has been two full years since my mother unexpectedly died, and praise God, waits for me in Heaven. Even two years later, everything to me is either before my mother died or after my mother died. It has that impact on me.

12/19/2003 - By John Rutledge

storylist_120803

Posted 12/05/03 Article List for 12/08/03 issue GO TO SECTIONS: • Texas       • Baptists       • Religion      • Departments      • Opinion      • Bible Study      ARTICLES FROM OUR FRONT PAGE…

12/15/2003 - By John Rutledge

Cubercolumn for 12/15: Of Christmas and angels by John Duncan_120803

Posted: 12/15/03

CYBERCOLUMN
Of Christmas and angels

By John Duncan

I am sitting here under the old oak tree, thinking of Christmas. What do you remember about Christmas?

It was Christmas 2002. Our family opened gifts. Crinkled wrapping paper littered the living room floor. Gifts were stacked in small piles. The Christmas tree appeared barren, empty, awash with pine needles loosely scattered.

12/15/2003 - By John Rutledge