The original issue can be found at: http://www.baptistpress.com/issue-02/05/2015 DISCLAIMER: Baptist Press should be credited for any reprinted stories that originate with BP. Suggested credit line: Reprinted from Baptist Press (www.baptistpress.com), news service of the Southern Baptist Convention. Please note that Baptist Press periodically carries stories from other sources by permission. Individuals interested in reprinting non-BP stories should contact the entity where the story originated to seek reprint permission. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Bible Study: February 8, 2015 by Staff/LifeWay Christian Resources Date: February 05, 2015 - Thursday NASHVILLE (BP) -- This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, LifeWay publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups. This week's Bible study is adapted from the Bible Studies For Life curriculum. Bible Passage: Ephesians 5:1-10 Discussion Question: What can we do to encourage the ones we love to live pure lives? Food for Thought: Sex is a gift from God, but in our fallen humanity, we have found ways to distort and misuse God's gift. "Sex" and "sin" are two words that our culture rarely puts together, reasoning that if two adults consent, it's not a sin. The Bible disagrees with that viewpoint, and we have seen the destructive nature of sexual practices that are outside God's original intent. Sexual sin destroys, but the Bible calls us to walk in the love and light of Christ. We can Influence others to walk in Christ's love rather than in impurity. Many may feel awkward talking about sexual immorality, but that is not the purpose here. In acknowledging that sex outside of marriage is wrong, this study calls us to live pure lives. How can we help those who are in sin follow Christ and live pure lives? Bible Studies for Life Bible Studies for Life is a family of resources that addresses key issues in the lives of adults, students and kids. Visit www.biblestudiesforlife.com and use it to help you "Connect the Unconnected, Strengthen Families, and Disciple People With Wisdom." Free session downloads are available, plus PDFs and videos that accompany this Bible study resource. Other ongoing Bible study options for all ages offered by LifeWay can be found at www.LifeWay.com/SundaySchool. -------------------------------------------------------------------- TRUSTEES: LifeWay outlines vision for future by Carol Pipes Date: February 05, 2015 - Thursday NASHVILLE (BP) -- LifeWay Christian Resources President and CEO Thom S. Rainer outlined for LifeWay's trustees a vision for the entity's future that includes an organizational restructuring, leadership changes, and a probable relocation. "In 2015 we are moving forward in one of the most strategic times of change LifeWay has ever known," Rainer told trustees during Feb. 2-3 meetings in Nashville. During his report, Rainer announced the combining of two divisions -- Church Resources and B&H Publishing -- into LifeWay Resources Division led by current vice president Eric Geiger. He noted that LifeWay historically has had three distinct market channels -- wholesale (B&H Publishing), direct-to-church (Church Resources) and retail (LifeWay Stores). "In today's marketplace, those channels are blurred," Rainer said. "Combining the two publishing channels allows LifeWay to have a stronger presence in the Christian publishing market." While LifeWay will continue to use the B&H imprint for its trade books, Rainer said it no longer made sense to have two publishers. "The fusion of these two divisions will give us an incredible opportunity to lead with LifeWay," Rainer said. "We believe this will make us a stronger entity and more appealing to prospective authors. We'll have one LifeWay, and we'll lead with LifeWay resources in our stores." Two vice presidents approved The restructure includes creation of a new organizational development division that will focus on LifeWay's people strategies, culture development, and change management. Selma Wilson, former vice president of B&H, was approved as vice president of the new division. As LifeWay changes organizationally and prepares for a physical move, Rainer said it is important to have someone focused on people and organizational culture. "We've never had someone solely dedicated to the people function at the executive leadership level," Rainer explained. "Not only is this the right time, but this is the right person." Wilson told trustees she could think of "no greater honor than to represent the people of LifeWay. The resources, the people, the opportunity we have in front of us are like no other organization I know." Prior to leading B&H, Wilson served more than 20 years in various leadership positions at LifeWay including as director of the discipleship and family magazines, director of organizational performance, and as associate to the vice president of Church Resources. Additionally, Wilson, along with her husband Rodney, served as executive editors of HomeLife magazine. She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and has completed continuing education courses, with emphases in organizational development and human resource management, at the University of Southern California and Columbia University. She and Rodney have two adult daughters and three grandchildren. Trustees also elected Cossy Pachares as vice president of LifeWay's retail division. Pachares fills the role vacated by Tim Vineyard who retired in January. Rainer tapped Pachares to help bring closer alignment between LifeWay's 185 local stores and LifeWay's resources. "We have the opportunity to lead with LifeWay and be most dependent on those things we truly believe in -- the resources we publish," Rainer said. "We face a tremendous headwind in retail," Rainer said. "But I am confident in the leadership of Cossy Pachares, because I have seen his work in Church Resources and B&H. He has been a turnaround agent."  Pachares is a 14-year LifeWay employee, most recently serving as associate vice president of B&H, where he led daily operations, including publishing and line leaders and strategic planning. "I'm humbled to be considered for this position," Pachares said. "I love this ministry; it's very personal to me. My hope is that my experience and background can be used under this new one LifeWay. I believe exciting opportunities are ahead for us." Pachares said his vision is that "while we will continue to carry a wide array of products, we will lead with LifeWay resources." Pachares holds a bachelors degree from Baylor University and is a certified public accountant. He and his wife Julie have three sons Joshua (15), Andrew (14), and Benjamin (9). Administration authorized to sell property Trustees also voted to authorize LifeWay's administration "to sell the Nashville campus or a portion of the campus, for a price that is within or exceeds the property valuation range determined" by a leading commercial real estate broker. The motion also stipulated the sale "would allow LifeWay to build a new facility designed specifically for its ministries now and in the future." Rainer said multiple offers to buy the property are being closely reviewed, clarified and analyzed. "We are in the middle of negotiations to get what is best for LifeWay's future. We need to move forward in a way that is the best stewardship of what God has given to us." Southern Baptist Convention President Ronnie Floyd thanked LifeWay's trustees for their willingness to serve and for their vision in a season of change. "You are in a moment when you can lead forth with vision, authority and passion and do something that will encourage the heart of this convention greatly," Floyd said. "The future is extremely bright." Rainer said, "As we head toward the future, we have an incredible opportunity. God is working through us, and we will see 'Biblical Solutions for Life' realized more than we ever have." -------------------------------------------------------------------- FIRST-PERSON: Urban bivocational ministry by Terry Dorsett Date: February 05, 2015 - Thursday HARTFORD, Conn. (BP) -- When people think of bivocational ministry, the image that comes to mind often includes a small rural church led by a pastor who may have come to ministry later in life or has less formal training. Perhaps the reason why this stereotype is so strong is because small rural churches for generations have been faithfully led by pastors who worked other jobs. Such pastors were often local farmers, carpenters or cowboys who felt a call to ministry and labored to serve the church while remaining in their profession. There are many small churches in urban areas, however, that also are served by bivocational pastors. This might surprise some people because urban areas have more people, and therefore one might think, larger churches that are able to fully compensate pastors. Yet, a growing number of urban pastors are bivocational. A denominational leader who serves 150 churches in the Philadelphia area, for example, told me that 70 percent of the pastors in those churches are bivocational. Many of them are historic facilities in great locations, but they are no longer able to fully fund a pastor's salary. Fortunately, many pastors are willing to serve such churches because of their calling to ministry and their love for the saints. They are not in it for the money, nor the prestige. They are focused on being faithful to the Lord and His church. If churches in urban areas have larger congregations than those in rural areas, why would their pastors still need to be bivocational? Sometimes it is the economic situation of those who attend the congregation. I have a friend in Connecticut with a church of nearly 200. It is primarily made up of single moms and their children. Though the congregation is sizable and quite active, there is no way it could fully support a pastor. Even in churches that may have more resources, the cost of living in some urban areas is significantly higher. A church of 150 committed adults with an average middle-class income may well be able to fully fund a pastor in a rural area, but it is less likely that the same size congregation of middle-class earners in an urban area would be able to fully fund a pastor even though their budget might be significantly higher than a rural church. This is especially true if the rural church has a parsonage for the pastor to live in (as is often the case) but the urban church does not (which is also often the case). Another reality is that sometimes urban congregations have older buildings with high overhead. Relocating is never as easy as it sounds and may not even be desirable if the church has a missional approach to its community. Therefore, a larger portion of the budget is consumed by the building, resulting in the pastor having to be bivocational. Yet another reason for urban bivocational ministry is that many churches in that context are ethnic churches. In some cultures the pastor is bivocational by default; it is just how it is done, regardless of the budget. There are also pastors who want to be bivocational so they can rub elbows with people in their community. They feel it allows them to be on mission right in the community they serve. Though the reasons for bivocational ministry in urban areas are numerous, it is a growing reality that impacts urban churches. We must avoid the temptation to relegate urban bivocational pastors to the "second-class" category. Many urban pastors have worked hard to gain formal theological education. Others may not have a degree on the wall, but they took their classes on the streets of the city and have an intense understanding of what it takes to reach urban areas for Christ. They often preach with a passion empowered not by textbooks but by the Holy Spirit. Bivocational pastors have much to offer urban areas and deserve the same respect as their fully funded colleagues. We should be doing all that we can to encourage and lift up these pastors. We need to shake off the stereotype that this is just a rural phenomenon. We must accept that bivocationalism in urban areas is growing and will not go away. These pastors are part of the team that can reach urban areas effectively. Will we let them have a seat at the table? -------------------------------------------------------------------- Skip 'Fifty Shades,' critics urge by Diana Chandler Date: February 05, 2015 - Thursday NASHVILLE (BP) -- The movie "Fifty Shades of Grey" offers no benefit to the Christian life and should be avoided by followers of Christ, said Southern Baptist pastor Jay Dennis, founder of the One Million Men anti-pornography ministry. The New York Times best-selling book trilogy, including "Fifty Shades Darker" and "Fifty Shades Freed," was originally marketed primarily to women. But with reportedly 114.4 million people tuned in for the Super Bowl, a trailer for the film aired during the big game Feb. 1. "The marketing of this movie by mainstream media is leading to the normalization of pornography. Make no mistake, Fifty Shades of Grey is pornography," Dennis, pastor of First Baptist Church at the Mall in Lakeland, Fla., said. "There is absolutely nothing good that could come from exposing your mind to that which will lead to sinful sexual thoughts and temptations. This is not something where you go see the movie for fun or to see what all the rage is about." The interfaith Religious Alliance Against Pornograhpy (RAAP) is encouraging Christians to instead see "Old Fashioned," a movie highlighting the values of love in I Corinthians 13, in stark contrast to Fifty Shades of Grey. RAAP, composed of Protestants, Catholics, Muslims and Jewish representatives, has asked faith leaders to speak against the movie and warn the public of its harm. "The books and the movie undermine everything that we believe as members of the faith community," RAAP said in a written statement signed by 29 leaders, though none of them appear to be Southern Baptist. "As members of the faith community we need to inform our constituencies about the destructive message of this movie and to highlight the beauty of God's design for loving relationships between a husband and wife in the covenant of marriage." RAAP encourages leaders to work at the grassroots level to discourage viewing of Fifty Shades of Grey. "It is critically important not simply to condemn the message of Fifty Shades of Grey," RAAP said. "It is equally important to celebrate our message about love and the blessing of sexual intimacy within the bonds of marriage. We have the better story; let's proclaim it." Dennis, who preached a sermon in 2012 on "50 Reasons Christian Women Shouldn't Read 'Fifty Shades of Grey,'" told Baptist Press the movie is subversive and just as harmful to men as to women. "A Christian man or woman attending this movie is placing their witness, testimony and reputation on the altar of political correctness," he said. "I read recently where this movie will virtually make this kind of sinful sexual involvement no longer a taboo. Who would have ever thought that bondage and sadomasochism in our society would be normalized even by those who profess to know Jesus"? Seeing the movie gives it a stamp of approval it doesn't deserve, Dennis said. "One cannot maintain a testimony of godliness, Christ likeness … and view this movie too. A choice must be made and a powerful statement must be given through a Christian man or woman's avoidance of the movie and speaking out against the movie," Dennis said. "Satan often uses curiosity to entrap Christians into making provision for the flesh. Can you see the movie and claim to be godly? I believe the answer is a huge 'No.' It is time for pastors and Christian leaders to stand up and speak out and declare 'this is wrong!'" RAAP's recommended alternative movie Old Fashioned, a Christian-styled love story also opening Valentine's Day, is explicitly marketed as an alternative to Fifty Shades of Grey. The movie trailer to Old Fashioned is at www.oldfashionedmovie.com. "Clearly, we're picking a fight with Fifty Shades," Rik Swartzwelder, who produces, directs and plays the lead actor role in the film, said in a press release on the movie's website. "We're not only picking a fight, we're picking a fight with the school ground bully, likely to get our nose busted in two. So why would a modestly budgeted indie romantic drama like Old Fashioned want to jump in the arena and go toe-to-toe in a David v. Goliath standoff with a cultural juggernaut like that? "Well, honestly, because we believe it matters. Love and romance are created by God and designed to lead to marriage and physical intimacy, created by God. And these are good things," Swartzwelder said. Valentine's Day openings of Old Fashioned include 220 theaters in 34 states, distributed by Pure Flix, the same distributor of the successful "God's Not Dead." Signatories of the RAAP letter include RAAP co-chairmen George H. Niederauer, archbishop of San Francisco, and Jerry R. Kirk, founder of the pureHOPE Christian purity ministry; Jack Bemporad, director of the Center for Interreligious Understanding; John Comstock, Sunday School and discipleship leader, Church of the Nazarene; Peggy A. Johnson, a United Methodist bishop; David Jeffrey, national commander, The Salvation Army; Jesse Miranda, director of the Jesse Miranda Center for Hispanic Leadership; John E. Maracle, chief and president of the Native American Fellowship of the Assemblies of God; and Omar Shaheed, an imam with the Muslim American Society. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Ore. bakers' religious liberty 'steamrolled' by Tom Strode Date: February 05, 2015 - Thursday EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated with a correction in the 14th paragraph. Blaine Adamson was misidentified in an earlier version of this story. GRESHAM, Ore. (BP) -- A judge's verdict against a Christian couple in Oregon has religious liberty advocates counting this as the latest loss in the escalating clash against sexual liberty. Administrative Law Judge Alan McCullough ruled that Aaron and Melissa Klein -- owners of a Gresham, Ore., bakery -- unlawfully discriminated against a lesbian couple by declining, based on their religious convictions, the couple's request for a wedding cake. In his Feb. 2 ruling, McCullough found that the Kleins violated an Oregon civil rights law that includes sexual orientation as a protected category. A March 10 hearing will determine how costly the fine will be for the Kleins, who closed their Sweet Cakes by Melissa shop after a public backlash and began making cakes at home. The Kleins' case is among an increasing number involving wedding service providers who find their religious free exercise threatened by the expansion of legalized, same-sex marriage. Gay marriage is now legal in 36 states, including Oregon, and the District of Columbia. Bakers, florists, photographers and other professionals who provide products for weddings have at times been forced to service same-sex ceremonies despite their belief that marriage is only between a man and a woman. It is not just providers of wedding services who are battling to express their religious convictions, however. Increasingly, those with biblical views regarding sexuality are finding their jobs and livelihoods threatened as government agencies -- and potentially courts -- rule that laws protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights trump the religious exercise of others. The growing, government-supported threat to conscience rights is real but not new, Southern Baptist religious liberty specialist Russell Moore said. "For years, we've been told that the sexual revolution is about tolerance and personal freedom," Moore, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, said. The Kleins' "situation shows once more the real instincts of a state-established religion of sexual liberation -- with the law used to steamroll every conscience in the way." Southern Baptists "need to be clear-eyed about this, not so we can vent outrage but so that we can rekindle in our own churches why religious liberty and freedom of conscience are essential for a free church and a free state," Moore told Baptist Press in written comments. "We've been here before, and we'll be here again." Among the wedding service providers fighting in court to protect their freedom not to participate in same-sex ceremonies: -- Barronelle Stutzman, a florist in Richland, Wash., is being sued in federal court by the state attorney general and the American Civil Liberties Union for declining to arrange flowers for a same-sex wedding. The case has been stayed until September for related proceedings in a lower court. -- Jack Phillips, a Lakewood, Colo., cake shop owner, has appealed a Colorado Civil Rights Commission ruling against him for refusing to make a cake for a same-sex ceremony. The case is before the Colorado Court of Appeals. Already, Jonathan and Elaine Huguenin, owners of a New Mexico photography business, have lost in court. They denied a request to photograph a lesbian commitment ceremony. In April, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to review the New Mexico high court's decision against the Huguenins. The state court ruled the couple had violated New Mexico's ban on sexual orientation discrimination. Christians also are finding themselves vulnerable before state and local authorities. Among believers affected by state and local policies upholding LGBT rights: -- Blaine Adamson, a Lexington, Ky.-area printer, is challenging an order by the county Human Rights Commission to print shirts that promote the Lexington Pride Festival. -- Atlanta Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran was fired in early January after publishing a book in which he defended the biblical view of sexuality and described homosexual behavior as immoral. The Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), which is representing Cochran, has said it is considering the legal options for defending the former fire chief's freedoms of speech and religion after his termination by Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed. Cochran told BP in January he is "pretty confident" he will bring legal action against the city. Cochran is a deacon, Sunday School teacher and Bible study leader at Atlanta's Elizabeth Baptist Church, a cooperating church with the Georgia Baptist Convention. "The city fired him for nothing other than his faith, and that's not constitutional," ADF Senior Counsel Kevin Theriot said in a written statement. In the same ADF release, Cochran said, "This happened to me, but it's really not about me. It's a warning to every American that freedom of speech and freedom of religion are hanging by a thread, which will snap if we don't fight to preserve these cherished protections." Cochran also said he is "heartbroken that I will no longer be able to serve the city and the people I love as fire chief for no reason other than my Christian faith. It's ironic that the city points to tolerance and inclusion as part of its reasoning. What could be more intolerant and exclusionary than ending a public servant's 30 years of distinguished service for his religious beliefs?" Cities, and even smaller municipalities, increasingly are enacting ordinances expanding anti-discrimination protections to LGBT people in employment, housing and public accommodation, which includes hotels, restaurants and other businesses. Opponents contend the laws often infringe upon freedom of religion and conscience for individuals, churches and businesses. The city councils of Houston and Plano, Texas, are among those that approved LGBT ordinances in 2014. At one point, the Houston government subpoenaed the sermons of pastors who opposed its ordinance as part of a lawsuit before backing down. Some municipalities recently have refused to endorse such laws. Fayetteville, Ark., voters repealed in December a pro-homosexual/transgender ordinance which the city council had approved in August. In October, the Berea, Ky., city council rejected a similar law in a 5-3 vote, according to the Associated Press. -------------------------------------------------------------------- AT THE MOVIES: Films difficult to watch by Phil Boatwright Date: February 05, 2015 - Thursday KANSAS CITY, Kan. (BP) -- There are some films difficult to view because of their portrayal of the human condition, or their presentation of man's inhumanity to man. Most of us seek escape from the realities of life whenever we venture into a movie theater. Indeed, that's the main duty of the cinema, to entertain us. Occasionally a film can open our eyes to injustice and offer solutions to correct such wrongs. There isn't a single film on the following list I wanted to see, due to their subject matter or some imagery I knew would upset or unnerve me. But I'm glad I saw them, because each helped me better understand myself, my fellow man, and in one case, my God. American Sniper In Clint Eastwood's "Unforgiven," the lead character and former gunman speaks one of the most telling lines in movie history about the irreversible finality of killing a fellow human being: "You take away all he's got and all he's ever gonna have." While the statement is not completely true (at least for those who die and spend eternity with our Lord and Savior), it does reveal the inner turmoil a man of conscience goes through upon examination of the deed. Some may be desensitized to just about anything Hollywood dishes out nowadays, but for many of us, it still grieves the spirit within to view brutal combat or the suffering of people on screen. Such films can, however, give us an insight into the character of man. Such is the case with American Sniper. Based on a true story, American Sniper recounts the military career of Chris Kyle, a Navy S.E.A.L who was trained as a sniper to protect advancing soldiers into hostile zones. This film, also from director Clint Eastwood, recreates many of his more than 150 confirmed kills. Superbly directed and memorably acted by Bradley Cooper, American Sniper does what most great military films do: it delivers a thoughtful exhortation on the wages of war. While it is pro God (Chris carried a Bible at all times) and pro country (he did four tours of duty), it points out the haunting price paid by any man who uses a weapon in the name of freedom. The film reminded me not just to thank our soldiers when I see them; but to pray God will replace their nightmares with peaceful dreams, and gently restore wounded bodies and minds. But beware. It's an R-rated film about men in war. It's brutal and peppered with obscenity. Does the profundity outweigh the profanity? Your call. The Passion of the Christ Mel Gibson's brutal yet undeniably artistic rendering of the final hours of Christ's life is aided by superb cinematography, lighting, music, dynamic special effects and Jim Caviezel's sincere and muted performance. Justly rated R for its graphic depiction of scourging, piercing, beating and crucifixion, The Passion of the Christ is meant to shock and unnerve us, and clarify the ordeal of Christ's sacrifice. That's often hard to sit through. But Mr. Gibson's film, while showing the physical horrors Christ endured, is not really about what mankind did to Him. It's about what He did for us. Amish Grace Based on a true story, this moving TV drama centers on a grieving community after a madman kills several of their schoolgirls. I only watched it because I had to review it. But what a lesson I learned. The book's title best summarizes the production's theme -- "Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy." For me, it wasn't a defense of a particular religious group, but rather a penetrating examination of the concept of true forgiveness. Make no mistake, this is a tough one. It will move you, often. But it's an important film because it deals with spiritual truths and provides a positive answer to a nagging question -- how do we forgive? Schindler's List Schindler's List, from 1993, is the true story of a war profiteer affected by the mistreatment of the Jews during the Holocaust. Besides the historical value of this piece, it presents a great example of redemption, and contains one of the most spiritually uplifting endings I have ever seen at the movies. Caution: it is rated R for language, brutality and sexual situations, including nudity, and adultery. I abhor those offenses and believe the same film could have been made just as effectively without the explicitness. But for me, Schindler's List contains scenes that represent God's intervention and His power to heal relationships. Ponette French with subtitles, what really makes it difficult to view is the ordeal the little protagonist endures. After the death of her mother, a child attempts to understand where her mommy is, and believes if she can get close enough to God, He will send the mother back. While it's a film that frustrates because we cannot relieve the child's sadness, Ponette nevertheless is an insightful look at the world of children. It includes an uplifting ending and powerful performances by the three lead kids. There's also a positive portrayal of a Christian woman as she relates the story of Christ to this little one. Four-year-old Victoire Thivisol won the 1996 Venice Film Festival Best Actress prize for her portrayal. How the filmmakers got such a dynamic, moving performance out of this cherub is beyond me; but even if she never does another thing, this little girl has greatly contributed to the world of art and the spirit of man. This film is not rated (There are three or four obscenities, but no apparent misuse of God's name). In Plain Sight In Plain Sight is an inspiring documentary featuring the work of six female abolitionists as they fight against sex trafficking in the United States. Right now, children are bought and sold, some by family members, right here in our own cities. This subject is painful to think about, but In Plain Sight will help you understand what is happening, why it is happening, and what you can do to make a positive difference. It's a moving, informative and necessary film. Not rated, this 68-minute documentary is now available from Word Entertainment. Anne Frank Remembered It's disheartening to think of people having to hide in order to survive, but that's the way it was for many Jews during WWII. This poignant documentary works on several levels: a true-life coming of age, the insights of a wise young girl, and the human capacity to survive while caring for others. Filled with many intuitive moments, the film reminds us that soon no one will be here to tell the personal events associated with that horrific time. One particular moment had a sudden emotional impact on me. Real-life film footage shows a parade during that period when suddenly the camera pans up the side of a housing complex, revealing people looking out the window at the commotion in the street. One of those people was the real Anne Frank. I remember bursting into tears as that visual overwhelmed me. I'm not sure why, other than the fact that here was this human being, full of life, and I realized that life would swiftly undergo change, then be snuffed out one day in a concentration camp. It's one of the most moving images ever caught on film. Anne Frank Remembered is rated PG. The atrocities of Hitler's concentration camps are briefly seen toward the end of the film. 42 Chadwick Boseman is outstanding as the legendary Jackie Robinson, one of the greatest baseball players of all time. Perhaps the most profound scene in the film has to do with an opposing coach hurling insults at Robinson before a packed stadium. It's an extended sequence, meant to unnerve and madden us. As difficult as it is to sit through these screen moments, they ultimately serve to unite the theater audience with Robinson. An equally telling moment has a dad and his boy ready to enjoy the game. The father and son are bonding when, as Robinson takes the field, the father yells out the N-word, along with the crowd. His vitriolic chant against this man of color unsettles the boy, as he doesn't understand what's going on. Alas, soon the child is also yelling the N-word along with his father. As demoralizing as that sequence can be, it sends the message that we learn from our parents. This film is rated PG-13. I'm sure many are asking, "What about the content of some of these films you are presenting?" The above films were difficult for me because of the content and the subjects, but they were also profound in their intent. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Minister pleads innocent to wife's murder by Staff Date: February 05, 2015 - Thursday BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BP) -- A former church staff member accused of murdering his wife entered a not guilty plea in a mid-January hearing. Richard Shahan, 53, entered the plea in a Jefferson County circuit court in Birmingham, Ala. Reports of the Jan. 16 hearing were carried in such media as the New York Daily News and People magazine's website. Shahan, former children and families minister at First Baptist Church in Birmingham, was arrested for the murder of his wife, Karen, on Jan. 1, 2014, at the Nashville International Airport prior to boarding a plane for Germany. Karen Shahan was stabbed to death on July 23, 2013. Her body was found around 11:15 a.m. inside the couple's Birmingham-area home. Richard Shahan was jailed for investigative purposes on Aug. 7 of that year and released Aug. 9 without being charged. Shahan has stated he was out of town at the time of his wife's murder to visit one of their two sons, according to news reports. Prosecutor Leigh Gwathney, in comments to the al.com news site, alleged that Shahan planned to "begin a new life with his boyfriend … who he intended to marry." Shanan defense attorney John Lentine countered that Shahan had publicly stated his plans to work with Bible Mission International for three years in Germany and Kazakhstan. First Baptist had a brief prayer time for Shahan at the conclusion of morning worship on Dec. 29, 2013, three days before his arrest. Lentine was quoted as claiming that prosecutors "are doing everything they can to try to manufacture a murder case." First Baptist Church released a statement on Jan. 2 of last year that read: "All of us were saddened by the unexpected news that Richard Shahan was arrested by Homeland Security just moments before his planned flight departure for Frankfurt, Germany. There he was to assume his new role working with the Children's ministry of Bible Mission International, primarily in Kazakhstan. "As we know, on November 29 Richard announced his plans to pursue this mission ministry. His resignation from First Baptist Church of Birmingham was effective December 31, 2013. "Our Prayers go out to Richard and his family. We trust that eventually truth and justice can prevail." Shahan continues to be held at the Jefferson County Jail in Birmingham.