TOGETHER: God offers opportunity, accountability_53104

Posted: 5/28/04

TOGETHER:
God offers opportunity, accountability

In the process of revisioning and anticipating restructuring for our convention, I have found guidance in Jesus' teaching just before the crucifixion. Matthew 25 lays out Jesus' passion regarding what is important to him and the consequences of not knowing and acting on that.

He teaches three parables: The Ten Bridesmaids, The Three Servants and The Two Destinies. The first has to do with being prepared and making tough decisions. The second has to do with using wisely and courageously what has been put in your hands. The third has to do with true service to God and people. All three have to do with the consequences of not getting it right.

Jesus warns a time is coming when the doors will be shut, when the darkness will be filled with crying and remorse, and when ignoring the needs of people will bring eternal punishment.

05/28/2004 - By John Rutledge

Former Soviet republic named a top violator of religious freedom by panels_53104

Posted: 5/28/04

Former Soviet republic named a top
violator of religious freedom by panels

By Robert Marus

ABP Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON (ABP)–Members of two federal panels have turned a spotlight on an often-overlooked former Soviet state as one of the world's worst violators of religious freedom.

05/28/2004 - By John Rutledge

Cybercolumn by John Duncan: Dad’s old glove_53104

Posted: 5/28/04

CYBERCOLUMN:
Dad's old glove

By John Duncan

I’m sitting here under the old oak tree, thinking of Father’s Day. Actually, I’m thinking of a glove. Imagine a leather baseball glove. Hear the sound of the ball popping the leather. Smell the leather.

I think back to the ’70s, when I was a teenager. I am leaning against a steel chain-link fence on a softball diamond. My father wears a yellow jersey with blue letters on the front and numbers on the back. My father is wearing tennis shoes. A baseball glove fits nicely on his rather large left hand. I do not know if his team won or lost. I remember the game was played on a spring evening as the sun set.

05/28/2004 - By John Rutledge

Cybercolumn by Brett Younger: Lessons from a Habitat house_53104

Posted: 5/25/04

CYBERCOLUMN:
Lessons from a Habitat house

By Brett Younger

With increasing frequency, ministers are expected to do manual labor as a way of sharing ministry with their parishioners. Ministry outside my comfort zone can feel like an interruption. I feel like I should be back at the church writing a newsletter column, but humility is a lesson learned in more than one way.

When volunteering requires a “waiver of liability,” it’s almost never a good sign. The form contains the ominous declaration that “as a volunteer, you are not covered by Workers’ Compensation Insurance.” It does not say, “chances are good that you, with your laughable lack of skills, will be disfigured beyond recognition,” but it could.

05/25/2004 - By John Rutledge

CECB recommends Executive Board to ask HBU to end ties with SBCT_53104

Posted: 5/19/04

CECB recommends Executive Board
to ask HBU to end ties with SBCT

By Ferrell Foster

Texas Baptist Communications

DALLAS–The Baptist General Convention of Texas Christian Education Coordinating Board wants Houston Baptist University to rescind a "fraternal relationship" it established last year with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention.

05/20/2004 - By John Rutledge

Cybercolumn by Berry D. Simpson: Circle Bluff_51704

Posted: 5/17/04

CYBERCOLUMN:
Circle Bluff

By Berry D. Simpson

We correctly analyzed our mistake. We’d started up the bluff too soon instead of searching downriver for the trail. We knew to correct our mistake we should keep moving up in elevation, but we also suspected we might be on the wrong bluff or might be making a long circuitous route that would sweep us past our target—the Circle Bluff lookout point.

We were lost in that we hadn’t yet found our trail, but we were never so lost we couldn’t find our way home. I was a little worried that we might waste all afternoon on this one hill trying to find a way down off the bluff, and I would feel bad about that, since Cyndi and I talked another family into hiking with us when they could have gone swimming with everyone else.

05/17/2004 - By John Rutledge

Storylist_51704

Storylist for 5/17/04 issue GO TO SECTIONS: • Texas       • Baptists       • Faith       • Departments      • Opinion       • Bible Study       • Calling to missions came…

05/17/2004 - By John Rutledge

Authentic Christian lives convince postmoderns gospel is true, pastor says_51704

Posted: 5/14/04

Authentic Christian lives convince
postmoderns gospel is true, pastor says

By Ken Camp

Managing Editor

ARLINGTON–In a culture where spirituality is more about human gratification than relationship with God, Christians should follow the example of the first century church, a Dallas pastor suggested.

05/14/2004 - By John Rutledge

Real interfaith dialogue demands honesty, understanding_51704

Posted: 5/14/04

Real interfaith dialogue demands honesty, understanding

By Ken Camp

Managing Editor

ARLINGTON–Rather than retreating from the challenge of proliferating world religions in an increasingly pluralistic society, Christians should enter into honest dialogue with people who hold different beliefs, a Dallas pastor told a national conference examining “ultimate questions.”

05/14/2004 - By John Rutledge

For Christians, the real question of suffering is ‘how,’ not ‘why’_51704

Posted: 5/14/04

For Christians, the real question
of suffering is 'how,' not 'why'

By Ken Camp

Managing Editor

ARLINGTON–For Christians, the question of evil and suffering is “how” rather than “why,” panelists told a national leadership conference.

05/14/2004 - By John Rutledge

Low-power Spanish radio station directed by Higher Power, pastor insists_51704

Posted: 5/14/04

Low-power Spanish radio station directed
by Higher Power, pastor insists

By Terri Jo Ryan

Special to the Standard

WACO–By Federal Communications Commission standards, Radio Amistad is a “low-power” station. But ask the pastor of Amistad Baptist Church in Waco what fuels his new venture into ethnic Christian broadcasting, and he'll tell you he is “higher-powered.”

05/14/2004 - By John Rutledge

Proposed SBC resolution calls for withdrawal from public education_51704

Posted: 5/14/04

Proposed SBC resolution calls for
withdrawal from public education

By Bob Allen

EthicsDaily.com

The Southern Baptist Convention may consider a resolution urging parents to pull their children out of public schools and educate them either by home schooling or sending them to Christian private schools.

05/14/2004 - By John Rutledge