Rangers are not supposed to fear or cry or panic or exhibit any emotion as they endeavor to execute orders.   But as U.S. Army Ranger Jeff Struecker stared blankly at his blood-soaked vehicle in the streets of Mogadishu, Somalia, seven years ago, he knew these emotions raged in the hearts of each man in his armored vehicle team, men who had just witnessed the death of a fellow soldier, men who were now ordered to risk their lives again. Rangers are not supposed to fear or cry or panic or exhibit any emotion as they endeavor to execute orders.   But as U.S. Army Ranger Jeff Struecker stared blankly at his blood-soaked vehicle in the streets of Mogadishu, Somalia, seven years ago, he knew these emotions raged in the hearts of each man in his armored vehicle team, men who had just witnessed the death of a fellow soldier, men who were now ordered to risk their lives again.   He admits he felt the fear.   He began to pray.   Reflecting on that battle, Struecker identifies October 3-4, 1993, as the defining moment in his life. Struecker is now a student at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky.   In 1993, Struecker had conquered every … [Read more...]

Screams pierced the air as invaders forced their way onto the farm just outside Gweru, Zimbabwe.   The attackers forcibly marched frightened farm workers to the workers’ living compound, where they beat the workers with axes, picks and heavy sticks. Others were forced to strip to their underclothes in the middle of the Zimbabwe winter and then sing and dance by the firelight. Screams pierced the air as invaders forced their way onto the farm just outside Gweru, Zimbabwe.   The attackers forcibly marched frightened farm workers to the workers’ living compound, where they beat the workers with axes, picks and heavy sticks. Others were forced to strip to their underclothes in the middle of the Zimbabwe winter and then sing and dance by the firelight.   The owners of the farm, Derek and Sandy Shaw, locked themselves in the main house and watched as the path of destruction headed their way. The couple fully expected their farm to be invaded by the government-backed war veterans.   However, as the attack reached its climax, the phone that never worked rang.   Gweru Baptist Church pastor Chris Anderson was calling to see if there was anything he could pray about with … [Read more...]

A Baptist General Convention of Texas committee has proposed a state budget that drastically reduces funding for several Southern Baptist Convention entities, including all six seminaries.   Reaction to the proposal was immediate, with observers on both sides of the issue argeeing it represented the most significant step yet in ongoing tensions between the Texas convention and the national denomination. A Baptist General Convention of Texas committee has proposed a state budget that drastically reduces funding for several Southern Baptist Convention entities, including all six seminaries.   Reaction to the proposal was immediate, with observers on both sides of the issue argeeing it represented the most significant step yet in ongoing tensions between the Texas convention and the national denomination.   The proposal represents "the most dramatic thing undertaken by any state Baptist convention," insisted Charles Wade, executive director of the Texas state convention.   Indeed, the proposed action "is a dagger thrust at the heart of the Cooperative Program," the presidents of the six Southern Baptist seminaries said in a joint statement.   The administrative … [Read more...]

It did not happen overnight. It was little things that James McClintock noticed. First, his wife stopped wearing her wedding ring. Then, she stopped talking to him.   Finally, McClintock received the divorce papers. It did not happen overnight. It was little things that James McClintock noticed. First, his wife stopped wearing her wedding ring. Then, she stopped talking to him.   Finally, McClintock received the divorce papers.   Their five-year marriage was finished.   "There was no second chance, no talking about it," recalls McClintock, 33, a member of a Bible church in Franklin, Tenn. She just shut down. "It physically ripped my heart out.   "I loved my wife more than I loved anything in my life. She was my best friend. We did Bible studies. We were going to start a family. It went from that to the light switch going off. Then, my entire vision vanished."   McClintock is not alone. Recent George Barna Research Group statistic reveals that 27 percent of born again Christians have been divorced. That compares to 24 percent among adults who are not born again.   The numbers are sending Christian leaders scrambling for answers. Why are … [Read more...]

For 30 or more years, so-called experts have insisted that marriage makes no difference, that it is good for men but not for women, that children do as well in a single-parent home as an intact one.   Come to find out, the experts all have been wrong. For 30 or more years, so-called experts have insisted that marriage makes no difference, that it is good for men but not for women, that children do as well in a single-parent home as an intact one.   Come to find out, the experts all have been wrong.   "The divorce revolution has failed," a recent statement on the importance of marriage insists. "Contrary to the hopes of many Americans in the 1970s, high divorce rates have proved no panacea for family dysfunction."   Instead, children, have been hurt, explains "The Marriage Movement: A Statement of Principles," a comprehensive document endorsed by a broad coalition of groups and leaders. "When marriages fail, children suffer. For many, the suffering continues for years. For some, it never ends."   Likewise, the so-called "divorce revolution" has not fulfilled its promise of greater personal happiness for adults, the recently-released statement notes. And the … [Read more...]

As long as the economy is going well and people have good jobs, they are content and willing to go along with the general flow of affairs, right?   Well, maybe not so fast.   Apparently, there is something else that people are more concerned about - family. As long as the economy is going well and people have good jobs, they are content and willing to go along with the general flow of affairs, right?   Well, maybe not so fast.   Apparently, there is something else that people are more concerned about - family.   And even more apparently, Americans understand that as the family goes, so goes the country.   A new poll indicates strengthening families is more important to Americans of all political persuasions than increased job opportunities or a cleaner environment.   In the Wirthlin Worldwide survey, 64 percent of Americans said they believe strengthening families is more significant than increasing more meaningful job opportunities.   The recently-released poll also found 77 percent of respondents consider stronger families as a more important policy priority than a cleaner environment.   A strong majority gave the … [Read more...]

With all the national coverage devoted to the Boy Scout case this summer, including the Baptist Message, a great many people have become confused about a few important facts. With all the national coverage devoted to the Boy Scout case this summer, including the Baptist Message, a great many people have become confused about a few important facts. While about a dozen of over 1,400 local United Ways in this country have decreased their funding for the Boy Scouts, the vast majority have made no change whatsoever. Specifically, the United Ways in Louisiana are continuing their support. In Central Louisiana, for example, we have allocated $71,000 to the Attakapas Council of the Boy Scouts for the year 2001. That will not change unless our fundraising campaign falls short of its goal. That would be a shame, for then worthy organizations such as the Scouts wouldn’t receive the help they deserve.   Our Louisiana United Ways are solid organizations that help their local communities gather the resources to shelter the homeless, feed the hungry and help people in countless ways around our state. In fact, I use Matthew 25:31-46 often to help people understand why churches, United Ways and their member agencies … [Read more...]

There are Godly leaders on both sides of the current dispute in our state convention, and I am writing to request that they get together before November to have a series of joint prayer meetings. God placed this burden on my heart this summer. There are Godly leaders on both sides of the current dispute in our state convention, and I am writing to request that they get together before November to have a series of joint prayer meetings. God placed this burden on my heart this summer. In the early 90s, I served on the Executive Board. Every meeting was filled with tension and strife. I never thought it would get better, but around 1995, there was a dramatic improvement when leaders on both sides gathered to pray. Why not do it again?   I believe in the inerrancy of the Bible. I am a fundamentalist, but it seems to me that we cannot defend the Bible by disobeying the Bible. No one who has received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is my enemy. We are brothers and sisters in Christ, and what we have in common far outweighs any differences we may have. God calls us to love, forgive and pray for each other, and we should be obedient to His call.   Hopefully, walls of misunderstanding and mistrust can … [Read more...]

What role should a presidential ticket’s religious faith play in a voter’s decision on which lever to pull on election day? Certainly the presidential and vice presidential candidates’ personal faiths have become major talking points this election year. Surprising amounts of media time and space have been given to present the religious beliefs of George Bush, Al Gore, Dick Cheney and Joseph Lieberman. Even third party candidates’ religions are spotlighted. What role should a presidential ticket’s religious faith play in a voter’s decision on which lever to pull on election day? Certainly the presidential and vice presidential candidates’ personal faiths have become major talking points this election year. Surprising amounts of media time and space have been given to present the religious beliefs of George Bush, Al Gore, Dick Cheney and Joseph Lieberman. Even third party candidates’ religions are spotlighted.   Why this attention to the religious beliefs of the candidates?   If candidates and the media are making this much of the religion issue, one can know for sure this attention is driven by polls that reveal this is what the public says it wants to know. If polls indicate the public thinks … [Read more...]

The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee again declined to study the use of Cooperative Program funds in efforts involving groups with differing beliefs. The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee again declined to study the use of Cooperative Program funds in efforts involving groups with differing beliefs.   During the 2000 national convention this summer, Jerry Moser had asked committee members to study the expenditure of Cooperative Program funds or assets "as pertains to any SBC-supported employee’s, entity’s or agency’s cooperative involvements with organizations which include participating individuals, groups, denominations or conventions whose professed be2liefs are in conflict with or could ‘risk possible compromise of the historic distinctives or the unique witness of Southern Baptists to the world.’ " Moser is pastor at Bayou DuLarge Baptist Church in Theriot.   Moser had made a similar motion at the 1999 Southern Baptist Convention, only to have the Executive Committee decline to initiate such a study last fall.   The result was the same this year, with committee members reporting last week that trustees and staffs of the various denominational … [Read more...]