Submitted by philip on Fri, 01/31/2014 - 09:47 Twice as many pastors gathered for two days of focused prayer in Atlanta compared to the first such meeting last fall in Dallas, prompting the gathering’s organizer, Ronnie Floyd, to say, “God is up to something special in America.” By Erin Roach, Baptist Press ATLANTA (BP) – Twice as many pastors gathered for two days of focused prayer in Atlanta compared to the first such meeting last fall in Dallas, prompting the gathering’s organizer, Ronnie Floyd, to say, “God is up to something special in America.” “As I leave our prayer gathering, I am convinced more than ever that the Lord is stirring up men of God all across this nation,” Floyd, pastor of Cross Church in northwest Arkansas, wrote in a blog post. Floyd was greatly encouraged by the turnout for “A Call to Pray for Revival and Awakening”: nearly 400 pastors and other ministers praying together Jan. 13-14 at the Westin Atlanta Airport Hotel. Last fall’s gathering primarily was for senior pastors, and the latest meeting was opened to a broader group. The men were from 180 churches in 28 states as well as various Southern Baptist entities, state conventions and other ministries. “The only answer in the church and … [Read more...]
NYC pregnancy centers win free speech appeal
By Staff, World News Magazine ALBANY, N.Y. – The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has tossed out key parts of New York City’s law requiring pregnancy centers to post signs saying they do not offer abortion referrals. The court ruled this provision is a violation of the centers’ free speech. In striking down the city law’s sign requirement, the 2nd Circuit ruled the law “requires centers to mention controversial services that some pregnancy services centers, such as plaintiffs in this case, oppose.” The ruling continued: “A requirement that pregnancy services centers address abortion, emergency contraception, or prenatal care at the beginning of their contact with potential clients alters the centers’ political speech by mandating the manner in which the discussion of these issues begins. … The centers must be free to formulate their own address.” The court also struck the provision that centers post a sign saying that “the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene encourages women who are or who may be pregnant to consult with a licensed provider.” The court said if the city wanted to get that message across, it could do so through its own ad campaign, not through pregnancy centers. “We think the court was right … [Read more...]
Pedophilia: Italian court sets a dangerous precedent
By Kelly Boggs, Message Editor The conviction of a 60-year-old man for having sex with a pre-teen girl was overturned by Italy’s highest court last fall according to a report by Agence France-Presse. Social worker Pietro Lamberti was sent to prison for five years for his relationship with an 11-year-old girl. The original conviction in 2011 was upheld by an appellate court but now has been overturned by the Italian Supreme Court, which ruled the original court had failed to consider the consensual nature of the relationship, according to AFP. The court ordered a retrial. The high court said consideration should have been given to the “existence of an amorous relationship, the absence of physical force, the girl’s feelings of love,” AFP reported. Russia Today reported that one Supreme Court justice said the sexagenarian and the pre-teen “shared a genuine emotional bond that could justify the carnal union between the two.” It seems the Italian Supreme Court has joined a growing number who are more than willing to acquiesce to the prevailing winds of perversity in regard to adult depravity and child sexuality. Two respected publications have subtly promoted the idea in the past year that adults having sex with pre-teen children … [Read more...]
As God remembered Noah, so will he remember us in 2014
By David E. Hankins, LBC Executive Director Now that it is over, how do you rate 2013? Are you singing with Sinatra, “It was a very good year”? We like good years where there is bountiful harvest, good health, memorable experiences with family and friends, and a general sense of peace and satisfaction. Those are the years we remember with fondness. We get out the photos or pop in the DVD and enjoy once again the pleasant times. Then… there are those “other” years – the ones marked by loss and hardship and conflict. We pack the artifacts of bad years in a box tied with strong twine, and shove it in a corner of life’s attic, hoping to never look at it again. The biblical man Noah lived a long time and also long time ago. Across his lengthy lifespan, he probably had a wide admixture of annual experiences. There were years that were good, bad, mediocre, exhilarating, frightening, happy, sad, mundane, forgettable- -the whole gamut. But his 600th year was catastrophic – a life-changing, earth-shattering, epoch-making, never-to-be-repeated calamity. It was the year of the deluge-the great flood. He had been warned it would come and told how to prepare. But it was still catastrophic. The Bible’s description of the flood’s … [Read more...]
Morals built on sand will lead to collapse
By Gary Ledbetter, Editor of The Texan Last month’s federal district court decision out of Utah that struck down part of the state’s anti-polygamy law prompted much talk about slippery slopes. Clearly this is another shoe dropping from earlier decisions against the U.S. Defense of Marriage Act and even the Lawrence v. Texas decision, which declared anti-sodomy laws unconstitutional. It really is hard to imagine how such decisions, which blur the definitions of morality and marriage, will have no catastrophic consequences. In fact, there is little doubt that advocates of minority morals are counting on the slope being slippery. Remember when the Boy Scouts of America decided to abandon a national ban on openly homosexual scouts but did not go so far as to accept homosexual scout leaders? Protesters and advocates who pushed for homosexual rights responded by saying this is only the first step. And we agreed with them. Those who favor public endorsement of licentiousness have taken encouragement from the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in the military, from the growing number of states that now recognize same-sex marriages and from cases where private businesses have been punished for their private refusal to participate in … [Read more...]
Letters to the Editor
To the Editor Has a policy been issued or a revised interpretation of scripture been developed which says that rededication is no longer appropriate or politically correct? Has this personal act of surrender become a victim of the “reculturalization” of our churches? As Christians we can each go into our bedroom, our closet, or our automobile and rededicate our lives to God. It would have the same validity as a public rededication. What it would not have is the visual, physical, and social support from our fellow Christians who become not only our mentors but also our monitors. Christianity is both a personal and a corporate responsibility. Personal in that we alone have the freedom to choose salvation. Corporate, in that we depend upon our church leadership to provide an environment that fosters the enabling of our conversion as well as the development, maturation and maintenance of our Christian life. Sometime ago I asked a minister “How is Christianity measured”? He had no answer. However, I fully believe that each one of us knows exactly the level of our tank concerning our Christianity. We know both spiritually and intuitively. The indicators are practically unlimited and include our thoughts, speech, physical actions, … [Read more...]
Are thoughts on alcoholism changing?
By Ed Stetzer, President of LifeWay Research It appears views about alcohol are changing among some evangelicals. I’ve had conversations about with Wesleyans in Canada, Baptists in Texas and Pentecostals in Oklahoma. All see a shift in attitude. Many conservative evangelicals have been moderationists for a long time, so an anti-alcohol sentiment is not universal among evangelicals. Sometimes observers will see “Northern Evangelicalism” as moderationist, with “Southern Evangelicalism” being abstentionists, and there is a good amount of truth in that geographic reality. I’ve always been very open that I don’t drink beverage alcohol. Part of that comes from a heritage of alcoholism that inspires this post. I’ve seen it up close and know alcoholism’s destructive power – yet, many evangelicals have not. More evangelicals may be exposed to the destructiveness of alcoholism if acceptance grows. I believe this column would not be needed if everyone shared my view, but they don’t. So my purpose is to point to a side effect of a growing acceptance of alcohol, and no one should disagree with the importance of this topic (unless you don’t believe in alcoholism). After I read the article “5 Uncomfortable Issues the Church Needs to Start … [Read more...]
Start reading your Bible
By David Roach, Writer Shelbyville, Ky. There is no wrong place to start reading the Bible. The book of 2 Timothy says that “all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). While the apostle Paul wrote those words specifically about the Old Testament, they apply to the New Testament as well. Regardless of where you begin reading, God guarantees that the words on the page are true, sent from Him and powerful to change your life. Still, different Bible reading plans are better suited for different people. Here are a few methods to consider: n Read through the entire Bible in a year using a reading calendar. You can find many plans online for covering every single verse in one year. n To read at a slower pace, use a one-year plan but only read half of the assignment each day. This helps some people understand and apply what they read more effectively. And it will take you through the Bible in two years. n Start in one of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke or John) and read a chapter each day. These books tell the story of Jesus’ life on earth and are a great place to learn about following Him. n Start at the beginning. Begin with … [Read more...]
We should embrace the Power of the Pulpit
By Jeff Iorg, President of Golden Gate Seminary The Martin Luther King Day celebrations reminded me of a trip a few years ago that included a few minutes at Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church in Montgomery, Ala. The most surprising aspect of my visit was how small the church was. It could easily fit inside our chapel at Golden Gate, which is not very big compared to many other schools. Yet, from a relatively small church facility, a pastor used the power and influence of his pulpit to guide the Montgomery bus boycott and fuel the civil rights movement that changed our nation. The size of the church was eclipsed by two things – the power of the preached Word of God and the capabilities of the man doing the preaching. Many churches, and sadly many pastors, have lost the sense of awe the pulpit once inspired. The pulpit, as a symbol of preaching, has been removed from many churches. A seemingly good motive for this was to remove communication barriers with the congregation. While I understand the desire to change the mood toward a more dialogical approach, the lost sense of authority implied by jettisoning the furniture may have been more of a loss than intended. The African-American church still embraces the power of … [Read more...]
CEC equips students with tools to become a voice on campus
Submitted by philip on Fri, 01/31/2014 - 10:03 Jordan Easley By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer LAFAYETTE – In a day of increasing opposition to the gospel, Louisiana Baptist leaders are hoping the upcoming Collegiate Evangelism Conference will equip students with the tools necessary to be a voice on their respective campuses and beyond. Set for Feb. 7-8 at East Bayou Baptist in Lafayette, the conference is expected to draw between 600 and 900 students to the annual event. In addition to high-energy music and inspiring messages, the conference will also feature breakout seminars that will focus on apologetics – speaking in defense of one’s faith. The theme of the conference is “Your Voice.” Mark Robinson, director of the LBC’s collegiate ministry team, said they hope each seminar and session will help students find their voice to speak the truth. “It’s paramount to their ability to grow as a strong follower of Christ and leader in the church,” Robinson said. Jordan Easley, a pastor and author from Hendersonville, Tenn., will be the guest speaker at the Friday evening and Saturday morning and evening sessions. All Sons and Daughters, a worship duo based out of Journey Church in Franklin, Tenn., will lead the … [Read more...]