You should’ve seen the look on her face. You should’ve seen the look on her face. A beautiful 3-year-old girl sat on the floor staring at the twinkling lights of a Christmas tree. I asked her what she wanted for Christmas and she said "THAT!" I noticed she was pointing at the tree and it dawned on me, this is probably the first time she has ever had a Christmas tree, this is the first time she has ever had a Christmas present, and this may be the first time she has ever heard the story of the baby Jesus. See this little girl isn’t mine, at least not biologically, she is a child who has worked her way through the foster care system and now we are in the process of adopting her. So no, she isn’t mine, but at the same time she is. She is my daughter in every sense of the word, with the exception of being mine biologically. She will be the fourth child my wife and I have adopted. Combined with the three biological children we have a total of seven kids. Now, take the sheer number of kids and combine it with the fact that two of my children are not the same color as my wife and I, and that makes going to the mall an interesting experience. So why did we do it? Why adopt four children? It wasn’t our initial plan, but as … [Read more...]

Are the chemical sciences found in the Bible? Is the Word of God a spiritual writing, set apart from the physical and the chemical? Or is all Truth One – do all things spiritual and chemical meld into one reality under the dominion of the Creator?     Are the chemical sciences found in the Bible? Is the Word of God a spiritual writing, set apart from the physical and the chemical? Or is all Truth One – do all things spiritual and chemical meld into one reality under the dominion of the Creator? As a trained scientist, it is more and more clear to me that the Truth of God is confirmed in every natural phenomenon. Every force of nature and every chemical principle directs man to the only source of life and hope: a loving, creative, almighty God.   Isaiah 45:18 (NIV): For this is what the LORD says – He who created the heavens, He is God; He who fashioned and made the earth, He founded it; He did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited – He says: I am the LORD, and there is no other. Not only did God create from nothing all the matter of the universe, but He shaped it all, too, for His divine purpose. And what was this purpose? Isaiah 45:18 tells us in no uncertain terms that earth was created so that it could … [Read more...]

Ironically, six decades removed from the blood-soaked beaches of Normandy, many of the doctrines the Allies warred against now are embraced by the Western world. The morning of June 6, 1944, a massive armada launched from Great Britain and made its way across the English Channel. Known as Operation Overlord, the amphibious action was the Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied France.   The bold D-Day assault on the beaches of Normandy was critical in turning the tide of World War II. Men fought -- and many died -- in order to halt Germany’s tyrannical advance fueled by Adolf Hitler’s noxious philosophies.   Destroying armies has proven easier than discrediting ideas. Ironically, six decades removed from the blood-soaked beaches of Normandy, many of the doctrines the Allies warred against now are embraced by the Western world.   The Nazi rejection of a personal God who posited absolute truth is in vogue throughout Europe, Great Britain and the United States. Hitler once quipped that the idea of conscience was concocted by the Jews.   The Nazis loathed the children of Abraham, not solely because of race, but for what they represented: transcendent monotheism. Hitler believed that by killing the Jews, Western culture would … [Read more...]

"The world I learned to reach in seminary 20 years ago no longer exists!"         ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) – "The world I learned to reach in seminary 20 years ago no longer exists!" These words from a pastor friend have riveted me since I first heard them last year.   I recently took part in what might possibly be the most unique father-daughter mission outing ever planned. DragonCon is one of the largest fantasy film, pop culture and science fiction conventions in the world. Thousands of people converge on Atlanta dressed up as their favorite comic book or film characters to enjoy concerts, attend seminars, visit exhibits, trade comic books and play fantasy games.   My daughter, Perry, and I decided to attend the four-day event to present Christ. In this crowd, where rebellion was the status quo, we were the strangest characters of all with our JoePix t-shirts, hats and cameras.   Never have I been around a more eclectic crowd. As I walked around this sea of humanity in a four square block area of Atlanta, the words of my friend echoed again in my mind, "The world I learned to reach in seminary 20 years ago no longer exists."   In an international missions context no denomination is better … [Read more...]

In honor of the celebration of the life and ministry of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., let’s look this week at Zion Hill Baptist Church in Pineville, where Joshua Joy Dara is pastor. Think: Big church. Think: Class.         In honor of the celebration of the life and ministry of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., let’s look this week at Zion Hill Baptist Church in Pineville, where Joshua Joy Dara is pastor. Think: Big church. Think: Class. At least 1,200 people were spread out across a light and bright worship center that could probably seat 1,500. Room enough to bring friends!   The choir’s first CD is to be released next month. You’d be blessed by buying it and listening to it. Their style is like a roux – full-bodied and yet smooth. Tears unbidden ran down my cheeks as they sang of God’s goodness, and I could tell I was worshipping God with my whole heart.   Two offerings were collected, which is pretty common in churches that worship in an African American tradition. The first was the tithe; the second, your gift to God, the seeds you’re sowing for the harvest to come.   Pastor Dara spoke for about 20 minutes of all that was happening: The youth are making the Annex into their hangout; … [Read more...]

American families interested in adopting babies from the People’s Republic of China will find it more difficult when tougher guidelines are implemented in May. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – American families interested in adopting babies from the People’s Republic of China will find it more difficult when tougher guidelines are implemented in May. Those rules will refuse adoption to people who are obese, single, over 50 years old or on anti-depressant medication. Prospective parents also will be required to have been married for two years and have no more than four children.   The director of the China Center for Adoption Affairs said the measures will help ensure the quality of adoptive parents, according to a report in the Associated Press. In the past 10 years, more than 50,000 Chinese babies have been adopted by foreigners, the majority of whom are from North America and Europe.   China’s population control law limits most couples to only one child. Large numbers of baby girls are abandoned at birth because of a traditional Chinese preference for sons. More than 90 percent of Chinese babies adopted are girls. AFGHAN WOMEN STILL STRUGGLE – Millions of women and girls in Afghanistan continue to face daily violence and … [Read more...]

The message of the Gospel may be 2,000 years old but thanks to new Internet-driven technologies – podcasts, blogs, webcasts and others –Southern Baptists’ work of spreading the Good News has never been easier, more flexible or more pervasive. ALPHARETTA, GA. (BP) – The message of the Gospel may be 2,000 years old but thanks to new Internet-driven technologies – podcasts, blogs, webcasts and others –Southern Baptists’ work of spreading the Good News has never been easier, more flexible or more pervasive.   The North American Mission Board’s (NAMB’s) church planting group has just launched a new weekly podcast aimed at the church planting community, according to Tom Cheyney, the group’s resourcing manager.   What is a podcast? Think of it as an audio "broadcast" but aimed at – or subscribed to by — specific audiences. The audio program can be accessed live or downloaded for listening at a more convenient time, much like using a Tivo® digital video recorder or VCR to "time-shift" and watch video programs later.   Podcasts can be accessed two ways — via clicking up a site on the Internet, or by using digital music or multimedia players such as Apple’s iPod® with iTunes® software.   "We’ve just released our ninth episode." … [Read more...]

The stage is set in Kansas City, Mo., as thousands of girls prepare to gather for "Blume"-four powerful days of worship, interactive conferences, hands-on missions and ministry projects, concerts, fun nightly activities, and new friends. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The stage is set in Kansas City, Mo., as thousands of girls prepare to gather for "Blume"-four powerful days of worship, interactive conferences, hands-on missions and ministry projects, concerts, fun nightly activities, and new friends.   On July 10-13, 2007, more than 8,000 girls from across the nation are expected to experience Blume, a missions event designed to challenge girls to recognize their gifts and encourage them to live out their God-given purpose. Blume is the German word for "flower" representing growth, youth, and new life. The event is open to all girls ages 12 and up, including collegiate young women.   "The purpose of Blume will be accomplished in our minds and hearts if girls leave empowered with the realization that God has a plan and purpose for their lives," said Blume coordinator Suzanne Reece. "They are each uniquely gifted, and God can use them even now to make a difference in the world and to accomplish His mission."   Taking a holistic approach … [Read more...]

Nearly all churches were involved in some way in evangelism during the past year, though many churches place a low priority on increasing their community outreach, according to research released by LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.     PHOENIX (BP) – Nearly all churches were involved in some way in evangelism during the past year, though many churches place a low priority on increasing their community outreach, according to research released by LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.   Research released in the January/February edition of LifeWay’s Facts & Trends magazine examines the level of involvement of U.S. Protestant churches in evangelism and community outreach, as well as what obstacles hold them back from being even more involved. The study, conducted for Facts & Trends by Ellison Research of Phoenix, is a representative sample of 811 Protestant senior pastors nationwide. Senior ministers were asked about the activities their church held in the past year specifically for the purpose of evangelism, as well as what types of community outreach the church offered.   Ninety-seven percent of all churches report doing something specifically for … [Read more...]

The Louisiana Baptist Convention disaster relief ministry is responding to the ice storm disaster in southwest Missouri.     ALEXANDRIA—The Louisiana Baptist Convention disaster relief ministry is responding to the ice storm disaster in southwest Missouri. As a part of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Disaster Relief network, Louisiana is joining other teams across the nation by mobilizing quickly in response to the severe weather that hit many parts of the Midwest, particularly Missouri and Oklahoma. Both states were hammered by the ice storm that followed the I-44 corridor.   Louisiana Baptist chainsaw crews were activated and two are scheduled to leave Sunday for Southwest Missouri. According to Cal Jones, LBC disaster coordinator, the Richland Baptist Association crew (office in Minden, La.,) and the Folsom First Baptist Church team are planning to leave Sunday for Nixa, Mo.   "The problem is huge. It is somewhat like Katrina in that the damage covers thousands of square miles," Jones said.   Louisiana Baptist Convention has 23 certified chain saw crews and has a training program for equipping additional teams for future disasters.   Gibbie McMillan, director of men’s ministries and volunteerism for the Louisiana … [Read more...]