Posted: 10/15/04

Baptist Briefs

Gift benefits Hispanic church-starting. A $100,000 gift will be used by the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship for a joint effort in helping to start Hispanic churches throughout the United States. The donors, who chose to remain anonymous, asked that the money be combined with other gifts to help the Fellowship and the Convencion assist in training, equipping and encouraging church leaders to start 400 churches in eight years.

Iorg installed as seminary president. Jeff Iorg was installed Oct. 11 as the seventh president of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in Mill Valley, Calif. Iorg was elected to the office in April and began serving as president in August. Iorg came to Golden Gate from the Northwestern Baptist Convention in Vancouver, Wash., where he served as executive director-treasurer from 1995 to 2004. He is a graduate of Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Mo., and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. Born in Georgia, Iorg moved to Texas at the age of 3, where he lived until after college. He and his wife, Ann, who have relocated to Mill Valley, have three children: Casey, 20; Melody, 17; and Caleb, 15.

Texan named Prague seminary chaplain. Larry Maddox recently was named chaplain at the International Baptist Theological Seminary in Prague, Czech Republic. The former associate pastor of administration and education at First Baptist Church in Waco has served as a Texas Envoy at the seminary with his wife, Betty, for the past four years. Texas Envoys is a program of the Texas Partnerships Resource Center of the Baptist General Convention of Texas that encourages long-term volunteer mission work. In addition to serving as chaplain, Maddox will continue teaching theology and representing the seminary across Eastern Europe.

Seminary names new business officer. Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary has named Mike Hughes of Abilene as director of business services. Hughes owned and operated automobile franchises from 1976 to 2001. He also has worked as a consultant and helped launch an Internet start-up company. Hughes, 50, is a graduate of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, a long-time member of Pioneer Drive Baptist Church in Abilene and former chairman of trustees for Hendrick Medical Center.

Seminary honors missions educator. Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary honored Cal Guy–missions professor at Southwestern from 1946 to 1982–during global missions week. During his 50 years at Southwestern Seminary, Criswell College and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, it was estimated that he taught half of the missionaries appointed by the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board. Also during global missions week, President Paige Patterson announced Southwestern Seminary will focus its international evangelistic efforts over the next five years in Cuba and Siberia and among the Nyika people of Tanzania. He said the seminary will work with Baptists in Bonn, Germany, and Oradea, Romania, in the Siberian effort.

Shorter College president resigns. Shorter College President Ed Schrader, who led the attempt to sever the Rome, Ga., college's ties with the Georgia Baptist Convention, resigned to accept the presidency of Brenau University, a women's college in Gainesville, Ga. Schrader will begin his new position at Brenau Jan. 1. The case between Shorter College and the Georgia convention is slated to be heard by the Georgia Supreme Court in January. In March, the college lost in the Georgia Court of Appeals, which ruled in favor of the Georgia convention's position that Shorter had acted illegally in April 2003 in dissolving itself and transferring all its assets to a new corporation with a self-perpetuating board of trustees.

Posted: 10/15/04

Judge finds no evidence of
racketeering in Criswell College lawsuit

By Ken Camp

Managing Editor

DALLAS–A district judge found no evidence of racketeering by either the W.A. Criswell Foundation or Criswell College in a dispute with a computer contractor.

International Data Systems sued the foundation and the college for allegedly breaching a contract with IDS and then giving the business to a corporation in which IDS claimed a foundation board director held significant financial interests.

IDS accused the Criswell entities of engaging in a pattern of racketeering activity that included mail fraud, extortion and copyright infringement.

By granting the partial summary judgment and dismissing complaints filed under the Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act, the judge reduced the claim for damages from $46.6 million to about $15.5 million–which IDS claims are actual damages. The anti-racketeering statute allows recovery of three-fold damages.

Attorney Scott Hershman, representing IDS, noted a jury still could award punitive damages equal to or greater than those allowed under the anti-racketeering statute.

The judge found the case lacked evidence to qualify as racketeering under several elements of the RICO Act–particularly no evidence of a continued threat of criminal activity or the presence of a racketeering enterprise.

While the cause of action by IDS and its attorneys listed First Baptist Church of Dallas as part of the criminal enterprise, the judge found no evidence linking the church to racketeering.

The judge's ruling “removed all doubt of wrongdoing and vindicated the W.A. Criswell Foundation and the Criswell Center for Biblical Studies,” said Blake Beckham, lead attorney for the foundation.

Beckham characterized the anti-racketeering claims as “a cheap publicity stunt in an otherwise simple contractual dispute over $40,000 of contested invoices.”

The suit arose from an agreement John Thomas, a Baptist layman and founder of IDS, reached in 1995 to digitize tapes, transcripts and outlines of sermons by W.A. Criswell, longtime pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas.

Thomas claimed he understood he was working on a charitable venture for Criswell College. Consequently, he agreed to donate his own time and charge the school only what it would cost him to complete the project.

Thomas hired two students to digitize the sermons, and he purchased hardware and software for the job. Criswell College paid on invoices received for services and equipment through October 1999.

Originally, the Criswell Legacy Project–as the sermon preservation effort became known–called for the sermons to be available on compact disk. Later, the medium shifted to the Internet, and IDS developed a prototype website for the project, which was demonstrated at the 1998 Southern Baptist Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Operating under the understanding IDS would host the website, Thomas secured a five-year lease on a building with the necessary fiber-optic capacity and entered other contracts for Internet-related lines, connections and equipment.

But sometime between October 1999 and January 2000, the business relationship soured, and the Criswell entities stopped paying on invoices IDS presented. Each party since has accused the other of trying to change the terms of earlier agreements.

In March 2000, the Criswell entities terminated their relationship with IDS and entered into a contract with Chris Mor-eau, president of DIAWS Systems, to complete the project. Thomas maintains the project essentially was completed, a matter the foundation disputes.

Thomas also alleged a foundation board director had financial interests in DIAWS.

The court set another summary judgment hearing for Nov. 19. The trial on any remaining charges begins Dec. 6.

Posted: 10/15/04

DOWN HOME:
Complex cars; simple faith

A radio reporter recently confirmed something I've known for years: Fewer people work on their own cars than they did decades ago.

Most guys don't need a Time/CNN poll to tell us the obvious.

When I was a teenager, I always changed the oil in our cars. Daddy probably figured the experience would “build character” (or maybe provide me with a useful skill if the college thing didn't work out). I just thought it was fun to crawl around underneath our cars, handle tools and keep the engines running smoothly.

As a young adult, I kept this chore, mainly because I was cheap and money was tight. But I had to give it up when Joanna and I bought our first new car–an ultra-compact import. (We justified that buy because, in 1980, we thought gas might hit $2 a gallon. Little did we know …)

The first time I looked under the hood and then crawled under the chassis of that midget car, I knew my oil-changing days were over. Without a lift to hoist the vehicle over my head, I would've needed an extra elbow midway down my right forearm just to get a good grip on the oil filter. So, I scratched that chore off my list and started paying someone to do a task I was embarrassed I no longer could do myself.

The guy on the radio didn't blame ill-placed parts and squeeze-fitted engine compartments on the decline of shadetree mechanics. The real culprits are (a) computers and (b) new-fangled electronic, hydraulic and mechanical components that hadn't even been invented when guys like me thought they knew their way around under the hood of a car.

Now, you just about need a computer science degree from Stanford or a master's in engineering from MIT to fix the complicated machine parked in your garage.

I know what he means. Joanna and I now drive mid-priced sedans, both with more amenities than we really need but not with onboard satellite receivers, global positioning transponders or other high-end gadgets.

But I've got to confess that when I look under the hood of either car, I might as well be staring at the engine compartment of the Space Shuttle. If my life depended on it, I probably could add a quart of oil and fill the windshield washer reservoir. Maybe.

Sometimes, I think we Christians make the life of faith and the community of the church as complicated as today's high-tech cars. We seem to assume worship and ministry are so complex we have to hire professionals to do it. And so we miss out on the wonderful joy of “getting our hands dirty” in praise of our Lord and service to others.

The prophet Micah tells us our lives of faith are really pretty simple: “What does the Lord require of you? To act justly, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

Posted: 10/15/04

EDITORIAL:
Unlikely pair propose debate question

Politics really does make strange bedfellows. The day after the third presidential debate, Welton Gaddy, president of the Interfaith Alliance, and Paul Weyrich, chairman of the Free Congress Foundation, wrote a joint letter, thanking debate moderator Bob Schieffer for asking George W. Bush and John Kerry “a central question on faith and policy.”

Few Christians could be further apart politically than Gaddy of the left and Weyrich of the right. But before the third debate, they teamed up to ask Schieffer to “raise questions in the presidential debates about the influence of the candidates' religion and personal faith in making public policy.”

Schieffer complied. His 18th question of the night was, “What part does your faith play on your policy decisions?”

Both candidates then talked about their spiritual lives. “I'm mindful in a free society that people can worship if they want to or not. You're equally an American if you choose to worship an almighty and if you choose not to. … Prayer and religion sustain me. I receive calmness in the storms of the presidency,” President Bush said at one point. Sen. Kerry said, in part: “Everything is a gift from the Almighty. … As president, I will always respect everybody's right to practice religion as they choose–or not to practice–because that's part of America.”

Some Christians in America complain of being shoved to the sidelines of culture. You can understand their feelings, especially if you selectively sample mass-media images. But the religious undertones of the 2004 presidential election are fascinating. Both candidates have courted Christians while taking care not to ostracize people of other faiths or of no faith. Bush and Kerry both profess their faith in Christ. In their third debate, they talked about how their religious views empower their actions. Bush set his positions on abortion and homosexuality in the context of his faith. Kerry explained that his stands on justice and care for the poor stem from his theological understanding.

And Schieffer realized faith matters to American voters. He asked the question during a prime-time broadcast.

Also heartening was Gaddy and Weyrich's cooperation. They disagree on many issues. But they understand millions of Americans believe faith is part of the fabric of life, and voters can't make informed decisions unless they know more about the candidates' religious feelings and beliefs.

In their appeal to Schieffer, Gaddy and Weyrich suggested several questions people of faith can ask to better understand the candidates:

What role should and does your religious faith and values play in creating public policy?

What active steps have you taken and will you continue to take to show respect for the variety of religious beliefs among your constituents?

Should an office-holder's use of religious language reflect his/her own religious tradition, or be more broadly inclusive?

How do you balance the principles of your faith and your pledge to defend the Constitution, particularly when the two come into conflict?

Voters should seek answers to these questions during this election season.
–Marv Knox
E-mail the editor at marvknox@baptiststandard.com

Posted: 10/15/04

EDITORIAL:
One option may be foregone,
but votes count for something

Friends here in the Lone Star State–Democrats and Republicans alike–have joked and/or griped in recent weeks about the apparent futility of voting in the 2004 presidential election. “Everyone already knows where Texas' electoral college votes are going,” one declared. “Yeah, my vote doesn't really seem to matter,” another added.

To a degree, they're right. No individual trip to a Texas voting booth is likely to impact the race for the White House. President Bush will capture his home state's electoral votes. (On the other hand, we may be thankful we don't live in one of the 10 so-called swing states. Voters there reportedly have been inundated by some of the harshest campaign ads in history.)

But we deceive ourselves if we think our votes do not count, that voting does not matter.

That's especially true this year, when U.S. military personnel are risking their own lives to secure free elections in Afghanistan and Iraq. Their sacrifice reminds us our suffrage also was bought with blood. Every time we vote, we honor soldiers and sailors and flyers and marines who gave their lives so we might have the opportunity to vote.

As Christians, voting is a spiritual privilege and responsibility. We affirm that all people, created in God's image, ought to be autonomous and free. When we fail to vote, we denigrate the persecution of Christian brothers and sisters who do not enjoy religious liberty and who cannot participate in the selection of their government leaders.

As citizens, voting is a civic right and duty. Our democracy has been built on principles of informed participation by its citizens. When we fail to vote, we belittle and undermine the structure that has provided us with a free and stable government.

So, as citizens and Christians, we should vote–on everything from president to school board to bond issues to local referenda.
–Marv Knox
E-mail the editor at marvknox@baptiststandard.com

Posted: 10/15/04

Posted: 10/15/04

LifeWay Explore the Bible Series for Oct. 24

No one is beyond the healing powers of Christ

Luke 8:1-56

By Pakon Chan

Chinese Baptist Church, Arlington

Through several miracles, Jesus demonstrated his power over natural disasters, evil spirits, sickness and death. These miracles also served as proof that Jesus' teaching was the word of God, because only God can have such power.

Jesus' power over natural disaster

There was a lake called the Sea of Galilee. Storms often rose suddenly on it, and fishermen usually would stay closer to Capernaum to avoid getting swept into it. The other side of the Sea of Galilee was the region of Decapolis, where more Gentiles lived than Jews. Jesus knew why he wanted to go there. His message was not only given to Jews but to all people. Anyone who hears God's word and puts it into practice is his brother or sister (8:21).

Jesus probably was very tired and went to sleep in the boat while they were sailing on the lake. This time, they had to sail across the lake, because their Master had asked them to do so. “A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger” (v. 23).

Sometimes we may need to get out of our comfort zone and go beyond secure regions to do something for the Lord. This easily could expose us to danger and challenges. When danger comes and we do not know how to manage it, our immediate reaction is that we want God to intervene and deliver us. But sometimes we perceive no response from above. This was the emotion the disciples experienced when they went to wake Jesus, and said to him, “Master, Master, we are going to drown!” (v. 24).

“Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters” (v. 24). Jesus knows exactly when and what needs to be done to help us in any situation where we cannot help ourselves. He is the Lord who can even subdue the nature. He must be able to save us from the worst situation of our lives.

Jesus' power over evil spirits

Jesus went into a community which was despised by Jews. It was a place where people kept and sold pigs for a living. Certainly, they were pig consumers. Jesus even stepped into the graveyard, considered by Jews an unclean place. Jesus intentionally brought his message to the “unclean” people.

People discriminate between groups of peoples and associate with people according to their prejudice. But God wants to save all people. We can come to God, no matter who we are and what we have done in the past.

The demon-possessed man came to meet Jesus. Luke told us this man had been seized by the evil spirit many times (v. 29). He might have been a failure in the past in resisting the evil spirit, but this time Jesus completely released him from such tortures forever. Jesus has power over evil spirits and is able to destroy any spiritual bondage and set us free.

Jesus' power over sickness & death

After Jesus had driven the evil spirit from the man, he returned to the other side of the lake. He was welcomed by a crowd of people. In the midst of this crowd, there was a woman who had suffered from 12 years of bleeding.

Her sickness might be an irregular menstrual cycle which made her bleed all month long. Women under the Jewish law were considered unclean during the menstrual cycle (Leviticus 15:19-33).

This woman suffered physically and spiritually and was not allowed to appear in public. That was the reason she wanted to hide her identity when she touched Jesus' cloak and did not want to show herself when Jesus first asked who had touched him (v. 45).

The healing event occurred on Jesus' way to Jairus' house. Jairus' daughter–his only child–was dying. We cannot imagine how desperate he was when he asked for help from this itinerant rabbi. While Jesus was sending the woman away, someone from the house of Jairus came and told Jairus his daughter was dead, and Jesus wasn't needed (v. 49). They might believe Jesus was a godly prophet who had the power to heal the sick. They could not imagine Jesus was the Son of God and had powers of resurrecting the dead. Jesus only required his disciples, the woman and Jairus to have faith in him to see the miracles.

People in those four situations were all coming to their “dead ends.” The disciples were caught in the middle of the storm, and their boat was sinking. The demon-possessed man failed so many times in the past that when he met Jesus, he was possessed by a legion of evil spirits. A woman had suffered 12 years of sickness and shame and never had thought she was worthy for public acceptance. Jairus' daughter was his only child, and she was dead.

These four situations can represent all types of life situations. They represent all people, Jews and gentiles, men and women, society's elite and the ordinary people. Anyone in any life situation can come to Jesus. Jesus can save all those who have faith in him.

Discussion questions

Why did Jesus want to meet these four people?

Have you received Jesus as your personal Savior? If you have not received him yet, he is now calling you to put your faith in him.

Posted: 10/15/04

LifeWay Explore the Bible Series for Oct. 31

Give up your life so that Christ can fill it richly

Luke 9:1-50

By Pakon Chan

Chinese Baptist Church, Arlington

Different people see Jesus differently. We may hear people talk about Jesus as a great religious guru, moral teacher or a failed revolutionist. Often times, public opinion does not necessarily tell the truth and reflect the reality. Nowadays, people rely heavily on statistics to make judgments and decisions. People love to follow the crowd so they can act “normal” in the eyes of society.

It also is the case in the lifestyle of many Christians. What do we know about Jesus? How do we build a relationship with him? These answers will affect our Christian lifestyle and our testimonies to other people.

What do you know about Jesus?

Jesus wanted to know what his disciples learned from the crowds about him. He asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?” (v. 18).

There is nothing wrong with learning from others or even from the “crowds.” It is the function of education to transmit knowledge, values and lifestyle from one generation to another. Healthy social norms and public opinions are very important in giving stability to a society.

But Jesus wanted more from his disciples regarding their understanding of him. It is all right to have many different opinions about Jesus among the crowds, but Jesus wanted to know, “What about you?” (v. 20). What do I say about my Lord, Jesus Christ?

Jesus wants us to have personal knowledge of him. We should not be satisfied with what we have learned from others. Secondhand knowledge has no power and cannot transform our lives. All the preaching we have heard in worship services and Bible messages learned in Sunday school classes have to be internalized to become our own personal knowledge of our Lord.

The power of God's word will only be released if we put it into practice in our daily lives. Through putting God's word into practice, we will know Jesus personally. By then, we can answer the questions Jesus is asking us: “What about you? Who do you say I am?” (v. 20).

Peter answered, “The Christ of God.” (v. 20). Even though Peter had a very deep spiritual insight at that moment about the identity of Jesus, and he confirmed Jesus with this outstanding answer, he did not totally understand its full meaning until after the resurrection of Jesus. Then, Peter committed his life to the risen Lord, and put what he had learned from Jesus into practice. His life was completely transformed.

From loss to gain

Why did Jesus strictly warn the disciples not to tell this answer to anyone? (v. 21). It was because the crowds were not ready to accept it. The idea of Christ to the Jews was completely different from what Jesus would do in his life.

Jesus immediately told them the fate of the Messiah, and that he was going to fulfill that destiny (9:22). Jesus has set the example of how his disciples should live as Christians. Jesus gave his life for us, and he wants us to live the same lifestyle, which is a life full of self-giving love. He used the image of carrying the cross to follow him to make it clear that his disciples should live the example he has set for them (9:23).

Jesus tells us that in the Christian life, there is a paradox of loss and gain. People love to gain and focus on self-interest all the time. Their relationships with others always are based on what they can gain from them. But in God's kingdom, loss is gain. Jesus lost his life, but he gained many lives. When we accepted Jesus, we lost our old life, but in return, we also gained a new life. If we do not want to lose our old life, we will not be able to gain new life (9:24).

This was the core of Christian ethics and the nature of a Christ-like lifestyle. After describing what he would do in the future to fulfill his identity as the Messiah, he then turned to the followers and said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (9:23).

There are three things we should know in this statement:

There is a condition or requirement for following Jesus, and it is the denial of one's own self. Self-denial means to submit to Jesus. It can also mean to live a selfless life, a life no longer focused on self-interest.

The act of taking up a cross has to be personal. We should deal with our life problems and build a Christ-like character in Christ.

Following Christ is a daily habit. It is a lifestyle.

Live unashamedly for Jesus

Living a Christ-like lifestyle is not a shameful thing. Jesus is not ashamed of us, and we are not to be ashamed of him. People may laugh at us or even hate us if we live a Christ-like lifestyle. It is our cross, and we should take it up and carry it gratefully, for our Lord Jesus Christ already has carried the heaviest one for us.

Discussion questions

Can you tell a difference in your lifestyle from non-believers?

What does it mean to you when you hear that loss to a Christian is gain?

Posted: 10/15/04

LifeWay Family Bible Series for Oct. 24

Jesus brings meaning and purpose to our lives

Matthew 19:16-30

By Angela Hamm

First Baptist Church, Lewisville

For many Christians, this week's story is a familiar passage of Scripture. We must be careful to not allow our familiarity with the story to hinder us from experiencing truth and change in our lives. God's word is meant to invade our lives and change us from the inside out. We have much to learn from this rich young man.

The story

Jesus was asked by a rich young man what good thing he must do to obtain eternal life. This young man seems to come to Jesus with sincerity. He was really curious to know what he needed to do to receive eternal life.

Jesus addresses the man's presupposition that he can do something good enough to attain eternal life, which is only possible with God. Goodness can be measured only by God because God is the standard of goodness.

The young man asked Jesus what commands he must obey. Jesus responded to the man by citing the essence of the Ten Commandments. The young man was convinced he had kept the commandments and then asked Jesus what he still was lacking. Jesus encouraged the rich young man to sell all he had, give his money to the poor and follow him. When the young man heard Jesus' words, he left because he had many possessions and loved them more than he loved Jesus.

Although the disciples were astonished, the rich young man left without being willing to sell his possessions. Jesus announced it is virtually impossible for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God, yet Jesus taught the disciples that with God all things are possible.

The application

By the world's standards, this young man had it all. Yet he lacked the one thing he could not buy or obtain on his own–real life. Jesus tells us his purpose is to give life in all its fullness (John 10:10). The real life of Jesus gives our lives meaning and purpose.

Jim Collins, in his book “Good to Great,” writes: “Good is the enemy of great. And that is one of the key reasons why we have so little that becomes great. We don't have great schools, principally because we have good schools. We don't have great government, principally because we have good government. Few people attain great lives, in large part because it is just so easy to settle for a good life.”

The rich young man wanted to do something good (19:16), but he had great possessions (19:22). The young man settled for good when he could have had great. In other words, the young man desired a great thing–real life–yet he was unwilling to do a good thing.

Experiencing real life

At the heart of experiencing a real life are the words “follow me.” Experiencing real life comes from following Jesus. Experiencing real life does not come through following a set of rules. It does not come through having a lot of money. It does not come through owning many possessions. Following Jesus is the only way we can experience what real life is all about.

Experiencing real life is all about relationships. We are to grow in our love for God, which results in growing in our love for people. When we desire God more than money or possessions or fame, we will gain the greatest treasure of all.

A young student went to his spiritual teacher and asked, “Teacher, how can I truly find God?” The teacher took his student to a nearby river and invited him to go into the water. When they got to middle of the stream, his teacher said, “Please immerse yourself in the water.” The student went under the water, and immediately his teacher put his hands on his student's head and held him under water. The student began to struggle. His teacher kept holding him under the water. Moments passed, and the student began thrashing the water. Yet the teacher continued to hold him under the water. Finally, the teacher released his student. The student shot up from the water grasping for air. The teacher waited for a few moments and said, “When you desire God as much as you desired to breathe the air you just breathed–then you shall find God.”

What do you desire today? Experiencing real life is a desire to follow God. If an individual has good health, a good home, a good family, wealth, yet never experiences a real life in following God–that individual is just existing.

Jesus offers to give us life in all of its fullness. Let us experience real life and live it out.

Discussion questions

Did anything in this lesson resonate with you?

IN what areas of your life have you settled for good rather than great?

How did the story of the teacher and student relate to your life, especially the last sentence: “When you desire God as much as you desired to breathe the air you just breathed–then you shall find God?”

Posted: 10/15/04

LifeWay Family Bible Series for Oct. 31

Christ has the power to change lives for eternity

Mark 5:1-20

By Angela Hamm

First Baptist Church, Lewisville

Today we come to the end of the unit Looking for Change. We have discussed that one responsibility of every Christ-follower is the willingness to be changed and to be in a position where God's ways can be the believer's ways. Yet the human tendency is to hold on to what is known and to what has been comfortable. Hopefully, this series of lessons has been a challenge to move out of comfort zones and into the transformational process of becoming more like Jesus Christ.

The story

Jesus and his disciples arrive in the land of the Gerasenes. Immediately, Jesus encounters a man who is demon possessed. We are not told how the demon entered the man and took control of his life. We do know God's word tells us Satan's ultimate purpose is to “steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10). The man had lost his purpose for living.

Mark's description of this tormented man is graphic. He lives in a graveyard, sleeping in cave-like tombs. This man lives isolated from all human contact. He is so violent and out of control people are unable to restrain him. Day and night, he howls and wails. He cuts himself with broken pieces of stone. This demon-possessed man desires a changed life, and Jesus is there to initiate the change.

When the demon-possessed man encounters Jesus, he is fully aware of who Jesus is. The man kneels in homage before Jesus; he uses Jesus' divine name, “Son of the Most High God”; and he appeals to Jesus not to punish him.

Jesus asks, “What is your name?” The answer is “Legion.” The word “legion” referred to a contingent of 6,000 Roman soldiers–this man is tormented by an army of demonic spirits.

The demons beg Jesus not to send them out of the area. Jesus commands the legion to leave the man, and they leave. Jesus allows them to go into a herd of pigs. The man immediately has a changed life. He is dressed, instead of naked. He is in his right mind, instead of screaming and wailing.

Application

This story reminds us evil is alive and well in our present world and Jesus can bring freedom.

Jesus Christ can make hopeless situations into hopeful situations. Jesus has the power to change lives. He has the power to remove any stronghold in our lives. Jesus wants to invade our lives and make us more like him. He wants to cross into the places where evil has a stronghold on people's lives and give them freedom.

Let us look at Galatians 5:19-22 in order to develop an application for our lives. “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results–sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, envy, drunkenness, wild parties and other kinds of sin.”

Looking at the list in Galatians, there may be some life tendencies with which a person struggles and some that are no struggle at all. For the things with which there is a struggle, a red flag should go up that it needs to be determined if these things are a stronghold in one's life. This list shows us God does not assign a point system to the sinful nature. In God's eye's, sin is sin. And all sin has the ability to take residence in our lives and become a stronghold.

Christ followers have two choices: We can allow the flesh to control us, which leads to destruction, or we can allow the Holy Spirit to lead and control our lives. We have a force inside of us that gives our lives strength, wisdom, power and peace.

A grandfather from the Cherokee Nation was talking with his grandson. “A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy. “It is a terrible fight, and it is between two wolves. One wolf is evil and ugly. He is anger, envy, war, greed, self-pity, sorrow, regret, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, selfishness and arrogance. The other wolf is beautiful and good. He is friendliness, joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, justice, fairness, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, gratitude and deep vision. This same fight is going on inside you and inside every other human as well.”

The grandson paused in deep reflection because of what his grandfather had just said. Then he finally cried out; “Oyee! Grandfather, which wolf will win?”

The elder Cherokee replied, “The wolf that you feed.”

What needs to be released in your life today? What is your stronghold? The Holy Spirit is waiting and willing to bring deliverance. The Christian faith is in the people changing business–the transformation of people into fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.

Discussion questions

Did anything included in the Galatians list surprise you?

What are some things you can do to live a Spirit-driven life?

Posted: 10/15/04

Public policy should be measured against
plumb line of social justice, lecturer insists

WACO–Biblical justice demands either a change of heart or change of resident in the White House, renowned preacher James Forbes told a symposium at Baylor University's Truett Seminary.

Reading from the Old Testament book of Amos, Forbes said he was struck by the image of God measuring policies and practices by a plumb line to determine if the nation was in line with principles of righteousness and justice.

Forbes, pastor of the historic Riverside Church in New York City, called people of faith to measure modern-day politicians by that standard and vote accordingly on Nov. 2.

“We face a time of choices and a recognition that our nation has strayed from some of its founding spiritual, moral and democratic principles,” he said. “People of faith care deeply about the soul of our country. They feel inspired to roll up as the prophet Amos did a series of principles by which to test their leaders' policies.”

Forbes, delivering the Parchman Endowed Lectures at Truett Seminary, presented a 10-point social justice test by which he said politicians, political parties and public policy should be judged.

“If these principles apply, there must be a change either in administration or a change within administration,” he said.

Public policy should be measured against the following plumb line, Forbes asserted:

Does it seek the common good rather than the interests of a few?

Is it truthful in facts and motives?

Does it promote unity and inclusion? Does it help reduce polarization and fragmentation in society?

Does it offer good news for the poor? Does it reverse the trend toward an ever-widening gap between rich and poor?

Does it protect the vulnerable? Is it good for children, the elderly and the disadvantaged? Does it show sensitivity to the spirit of the Golden Rule?

Does it provide for free press, free discussion and the expression of dissent along with fair and just methods of participating in the democratic process?

Does it encourage respect for people and nations other than our own? Does it respect the fundamental dignity and rights of every human being? Does it use diplomacy as a valued instrument of statecraft in resolving international conflicts and refrain from unilateral military action or empire-building and domination strategies?

Does it ensure ecological responsibility and sustainability?

Does it reflect good global citizenship, involving respect for all cultures and nations and collective responsibility for the common good of the global community? Does is it refrain from nationalism, militarism and imperialism based on a sense of national superiority?

Does it lead by example? Does it promote a more ethical society and uphold trust in public offices?

Concerning these principles, Forbes later told a reporter: “I would like to see the Republicans embrace them. I would like to see the Democrats live up to them.”

Christians have a responsibility to seek God's guidance and cast informed votes, Forbes told his seminary audience.

“If you vote and you do not have a serious consultation with your God, then you have voted falsely,” he said. “It is a spiritual responsibility to vote as close as you can … inclined towards the will of God. … If you want to vote right, you must pray for your vote; you must listen to different opinions before you vote; you must read before you vote; you have to think; then you have to consult with Jesus; and then you've got to make up your mind.”

Forbes chided politicians of all stripes for “retreating from the public good,” citing economic figures that contend the current gap between “the haves” and “the have-nots” is the widest in 50 years.

The country “didn't get that way overnight, nor is it likely to be reversed overnight,” he asserted. And a course correction will demand spiritual–not just political–reformation, Forbes insisted.

“America will not come back because of this election,” he said. “America will only come back with a great awakening. Then we will begin to see a social amelioration.”

Based on reporting by Terri Jo Ryan of the Waco Tribune-Herald and Lori Fogleman of Baylor University.

Posted: 10/15/04

Duane Brooks	Robert Creech	Wayne Young

Men find church-based fraternity worth their
time, even if it means meeting before dawn

By Ken Camp

Managing Editor

HOUSTON–Two Houston Baptist churches have discovered how to get several hundred men to church at 6 a.m. once a week.

“They come because it meets a need,” said Duane Brooks, pastor at Tallowood Baptist Church. “It answers the questions they are asking: 'What does it mean to be a man? How can I get better at being a husband? How can I be a better father to my children and a better son to my parents?'”

Tallowood and University Baptist Church each recently started a six-month journey toward “authentic manhood” through Men's Fraternity. The groups they launched are among more than 400 started since August 2003 at churches throughout the United States and in China and Australia and among military personnel in Iraq.

Robert Lewis, teaching pastor at Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock, Ark., started developing the Men's Fraternity curriculum 14 years ago.

Weekly meetings include a brief teaching time, followed by small-group exercises in which men are encouraged to explore their pasts, define manhood, create a code for living and develop a plan for keeping each other accountable to that code.

Using the Old Testament example of King David, the program examines the “four faces of men–king, lover, warrior and friend,” explained Pastor Robert Creech of University Baptist Church.

“A big part of it initially is looking at how the past affects us,” he said. “There's an exploration of the wounds men carry” such as having absentee or abusive fathers.

“It is transforming in the sense that it invites our men to unpack their bags, look into their pasts and see not only who they are but also what they do,” Brooks added. “Ultimately, it brings Scripture to bear on men's lives and decisions.”

The program meshes well with University Baptist Church's discipleship emphasis on helping members grow in Christ-likeness, Creech noted. But while the Men's Fraternity is church-based, it reaches far beyond a single congregation.

Men from more than 40 churches representing several denominations attend the weekly Bay Area Men's Fraternity meetings at University Baptist Church. Even some men who claim no church affiliation have been drawn to the meetings.

“It's giving them a chance to talk about things that just don't get talked about,” Creech said.

Families will benefit from men participating in the program, he believes.

“We're teaching men to be present and accounted for at home,” Creech said. “It's encouraging men to be engaged in life more directly through relationships with family, friends and God.”

Wayne Young, coordinator of the Bay Area Men's Fraternity, thinks churches and the community will benefit.

“I personally believe a church is not any stronger than its families, and families are not any stronger than the fathers in them,” he said. “Some fathers are not in the picture at all. But even in some homes where they're around, they're passive. They're captured by work commitments and other distractions.”

Young, a layman at University Baptist Church, believes the Men's Fraternity teaches a “counter-cultural” message.
“Today's culture places men in the position of being measured by material success and the world's standards,” he said. “It's all focused on the trappings of life–temporal things that don't really matter.”

Young thinks Promise Keepers rallies, weekend men's retreats and church-based recreational activities have their place, but Men's Fraternity offers a deeper opportunity for ongoing spiritual development. While the initial program lasts about six months, additional studies are available, and some Men's Fraternity groups have been meeting for several years.

Mark Felton, a layman at University Baptist Church and member of the Bay Area Men's Fraternity leadership team, said the program satisfies a hunger many men feel.

“A lot of men are frustrated with the ideas of manhood presented in the media,” he said, pointing to role models who either are passively indecisive or criminally aggressive.

“We have fathers of teenaged sons who come wanting to know how to learn and teach rules for manhood.”

The intergenerational small-group experience available through Men's Fraternity particularly meets a need, he added.

“We develop deep bonds in small groups,” he said. “The group becomes a band of brothers to whom we are accountable.”