The original issue can be found at: http://www.baptistpress.com/issue-02/06/2002 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. -------------------------------------------------------------------- 'Operation GO' taking gospel to Middle America's 28 million homes by Brittany Conner Date: February 06, 2002 - Wednesday EL JICARO, Guatemala (BP)--Southern Baptists and other Great Commission Christians are launching an ambitious plan to take the gospel to all 28 million homes in Central America during the next four years. Volunteers, missionaries and national Baptists will saturate the region with Christian material as part of Operation Gospel Outreach, or Operation GO. Bob W. Roberts, director of the Great Commission Network Center at Second Baptist Church in Springfield, Mo., has led a volunteer team to El Jicaro, Guatemala, as part of a test case for Operation GO. The team prayerwalked the area before distributing tracts and translations of the Gospel of John. "By bathing it with prayer, God opened up a lot of doors," Roberts said. Many residents opened their homes to the volunteers out of curiosity. "They respect gringos and would invite us into their homes," he said. "When they found out we were men of God, they would ask us to pray for their sick children. They were so excited to find someone to pray with them." But the team also encountered painful reminders of the city's lostness. Many churches in the area were locked shut. "We met a 103-year-old man crying like a baby ... because the church was padlocked," Roberts said. "When he saw us, he praised God because he thought we were there to open the church." Missionaries recognize Operation GO faces formidable barriers. There are villages located in hard to reach areas that require days of travel to reach. Linguistically, millions of Central Americans do not speak Spanish. Instead, residents most likely speak one of at least 260 distinct ethnic languages. The low rate of literacy makes printed material useless among many of the people. "We have made the mistake for too many years in thinking that somehow a person who can recognize their name on paper and can count to 10 can read the Bible and understand the truth," said Ken Sorrell, field strategy associate for International Mission Board's Middle America region. Therefore, the Gospel of John and other Christian materials also are available in audio formats. "It is important to note that this is not an evangelistic thrust; it's pre-evangelistic seed-sowing," Sorrell said. "We would like everyone to have access to the gospel at least once in their lifetime." Gospel saturation is a fast and easy method to share the gospel with as many people as possible. It does not require fluency in the language and volunteers do not need prior missions experience. Ultimately, the message of Jesus Christ reaches thousands of people within a short amount of time. "Where God's message goes, it does not return void," Roberts said. Roberts and Second Baptist Church are organizing volunteers from the United States to participate in Operation GO. At least 200 teams are needed this year to conduct the gospel saturation. That number should double next year. "I really think Operation GO is a vital part of making sure that everybody everywhere gets to know the gospel," Roberts said. "The only way to do that is to mobilize individuals who are willing to go." --30-- For information about joining an Operation GO team, call Bob Roberts at (417) 887-3111, ext. 137, or e-mail him at bob@secondbaptist.org. (BP) photos posted in the BP Photo Library at http://www.bpnews.net. Photo titles: SOWING SEEDS and THANKING GOD. -------------------------------------------------------------------- James Dobson joins critics of gender-neutral NIV revision by Art Toalston Date: February 06, 2002 - Wednesday COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (BP)--James Dobson stated Feb. 5 he will not support the gender-neutral "Today's New International Version" revision of the widely used 1984 New International Version translation of the Bible. Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family and one of the nation's leading evangelicals, noted in a prepared statement: -- "... I have now received sufficient feedback from a large number of evangelical scholars to convince me that this new work is a step backward in the field of biblical translation. Accordingly, I am now adding my name to the list of those who disagree with the liberties [the International Bible Society] has taken with God's Word in the new translation." -- "I love the Scriptures and I know them to be the very words of God to His creation. Like most evangelical Christians, I want my Bible to contain an accurate translation of the canonical Hebrew and Greek texts. Accordingly, I will continue to speak out against any effort that alters God's Word or toys with translation methodology for the sake of 'political correctness.'" -- It is "particularly unfortunate that the IBS has now chosen to go its own way" by withdrawing its endorsement of 1997 Bible translation guidelines developed in the wake of controversy over IBS plans, at the time, to introduce a gender-neutral Bible in the U.S. market by 2001. Dobson stated that the IBS "risks dividing the Christian community again, as well as damaging its own reputation and undermining the wonderful work in which it has been engaged for more than 150 years." The Today's New International Version (TNIV) was unveiled Jan. 28 in an announcement by IBS, the copyright holder of the NIV, and Zondervan, the NIV's publisher. By the end of the week, however, a group of evangelical scholars had signed a statement declaring that "we cannot endorse the TNIV translation as sufficiently accurate to commend to the church." The one-paragraph statement, now signed by 31 scholars, cited "troubling translation inaccuracies -- primarily (but not exclusively) in relation to gender language -- that introduce distortions of the meanings that were conveyed better by the original NIV." Signatories include two Southern Baptist Convention seminary presidents, R. Albert Mohler Jr. of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Paige Patterson of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary; Wayne Grudem of Phoenix Seminary in Scottsdale, Ariz., and a past president of the Evangelical Theological Society; Harold O.J. Brown of Reformed Theological Seminary; R.C. Sproul of Ligonier Ministries; John Piper of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis; and Raymond C. Ortlund Jr. of First Presbyterian Church, Augusta, Ga. Another leading theologian, J.I. Packer, did not add his name to the signatories, but told Baptist Press the TNIV is "a retrograde move ... . The masculine pronoun belongs in almost every language of the world. The gains that this translation seeks to achieve are far outweighed by the loss." IBS, as of Feb. 6, had not returned several calls from Baptist Press seeking comment on the unfolding reaction to the TNIV. IBS/Zondervan, on its www.tniv.info website, has listed a number of TNIV endorsers, including author Philip Yancey; Craig Blomberg of Denver Seminary; Gilbert Bilezikian and Gary Burge of Wheaton College; Mark Strauss of Bethel Seminary San Diego; and John R. Kohlenberger III, editor of "The Exhaustive Concordance to the Greek New Testament." Much of the criticism of the TNIV has been spearheaded by the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, which has posted on its www.cbmw.org website a 12-point "Concise listing of TNIV inaccuracies" and a longer list of more than 100 challenges to TNIV gender-related renderings. The TNIV's New Testament will be published this spring, according to an IBS/Zondervan news release, and the complete Bible is "expected in 2005." They said the NIV also will continue to be published. In another development, Wayne Grudem has challenged the International Bible Society over its statement that the TNIV was developed in accordance with Bible translation guidelines of the International Forum of Bible Agencies (IBFA), which encompasses such ministries as Wycliffe Bible Translators and New Tribes Mission. "I personally feel misled," Grudem wrote in an e-mail to various individuals. In checking the IBFA guidelines, Grudem noted, "I found that they say nothing about the controversial areas of translating gender language!" Grudem also wrote that the IBS, in stating that it was withdrawing its support from the 1997 accord known as the Colorado Springs Guidelines in order to follow those of the IBFA and IBS' own guidelines "gives an impression of 'academic cover' under which they did their work. But the guidelines did no such thing." In an interview with Baptist Press, Grudem cited three of the seven guidelines of the International Forum of Bible Agencies that he said IBS has violated in its TNIV revision of the NIV: -- Guideline 1: "To translate the Scriptures accurately, without loss, change, distortion or embellishment of the meaning of the original text. Accuracy in Bible translation is the faithful communication, as exactly as possible, of that meaning, determine according to sound principles of exegesis." -- Guideline 4: "To represent faithfully the original historical and cultural context. Historical facts and events should be expressed without distortion. At the same time the translation should be done in such a way that the receptor audience, despite differences of situation and culture, may understand the message that the original author was seeking to communicate to the original audience." -- Guideline 5: "To make every effort to ensure that no contemporary political, ideological, social, cultural, or theological agenda is allowed to distort the translation." Grudem reiterated a key contention of TNIV critics, that the TNIV fails to accurately translate masculine singular pronouns -- he, him, his -- which are used in a generic way in Scripture and in much of contemporary language. IBS spokesmen have stated that the TNIV does not reflect an agenda for political correctness and that it continues to use masculine references to God and Jesus. Steve Johnson, IBS vice president for communication and development, sent an e-mail to Baptist Press after its Jan. 28 news story on the TNIV, stating: "I wish to state for the record that the overriding concern of the [Committee on Bible Translation, a 15-scholar group responsible for the NIV text] is ALWAYS accuracy and clarity. While there may be differences within the body on the specific rendering of Greek and Hebrew, the influence of social agenda into any translation is NEVER permitted. We regret that once again, the issue of providing God's Word to the next generation of English-speakers has become an issue of division in the Body of Christ." A Bible scholar who spoke on condition of anonymity commented to Baptist Press, however, that the TNIV and proponents of politically correct speech at least share in common an agenda against masculine terminology. The use of he, him, his and "man" are "the kind of language that has been called 'sexist' by proponents of politically correct speech for years," the scholar said. "The bias against masculine nuances and meaning are characteristic of the pressures for politically correct speech on university campuses for decades." --30-- RELATED STORY: Dobson: 'no statement at this time' about gender-neutral NIV revision. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Chaplain's groundbreaking lawsuit reinstated by Ken Walker Date: February 06, 2002 - Wednesday SAN FRANCISCO (BP)--The first evangelical chaplain to sue the Navy for alleged discrimination has had his lawsuit reinstated by the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The appellate court dismissed some of Ronald Wilkins claims. But, a three-judge panel ruled on Jan. 31 that his constitutional challenge to the system should stand. "This case cannot be characterized simply as a military discharge case with a few constitutional claims thrown in for good measure," said M. Margaret McKeown, who wrote the opinion. "Although Wilkins sought money damages and reinstatement, his chief complaint is with the Navy Chaplain Corps's organization and its system of evaluation, assignment, promotion, and selection for early retirement." The reinstatement increases the number of Southern Baptists challenging the Navy to six. They are among 28 current or former chaplains who have filed five lawsuits, charging the Navy favors Catholics and liturgical Protestant chaplains at the expense of evangelicals. Wilkins began pursuing legal action, claiming he was forced into retirement in 1995. But after his attorney withdrew from the case, Wilkins filed suit on his own behalf in June of 1999. A district court judge threw out Wilkins's suit because of its request for punitive damages, which previous rulings have held cannot be sought from the government. After his case was dismissed in the U.S. District Court for Southern California in San Diego, attorney Art Schulcz agreed to appeal that ruling. Based in Vienna, Va., Schulcz represents all but one of 28 plaintiffs who have filed five separate lawsuits against the Navy. Wilkins hailed the lawsuit's revival on constitutional grounds. "They didn't limit the scope of my complaint," said Wilkins, 60, who now pastors West Tenth Street Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, Okla. "I can pursue system-wide reform now. "For me to be victorious against the United States' Department of Justice and the Department of the Navy is simply the hand of God," he added. "God did this for me. He provided me a lawyer and gave me victory. There's absolutely no way I could have done this on my own." A veteran of three separate Navy tours stretching back to 1959, Wilkins comes from an SBC background. However, he was endorsed as a chaplain by the Bible Churches Chaplaincy in 1977 because of a five-year waiting list at the time for Home (now North American) Mission Board appointments. Among the allegations in Wilkins's lawsuit are what he called structural violations of the Constitution. He claims the Navy prefers liturgical chaplains over non-liturgicals, and that its practices inhibit the free exercise of religion, thus violating the First and Fifth Amendments. In its ruling, the Ninth Circuit Court noted the heart of this case rests on constitutional grounds. "Although the United States paints Wilkins's claim as a military discharge case that has been dolled up with constitutional claims, this view overlooks the crux of Wilkins's case -- a First Amendment challenge to the very structure of the Chaplain Corps," the court said. "His significant constitutional claims go well beyond a mere personnel action." The ruling also mentioned the Feres doctrine, named for a past case against the government that resulted in limits on monetary awards. While the U.S. Supreme Court has not spoken directly on the issue of whether its Feres doctrine bars claims for non-monetary relief, its previous action indicates the ruling only applies to money damages, McKeown wrote. To conclude otherwise would leave military personnel without judicial recourse to challenge unconstitutional policies, she said, noting that historically both the Supreme Court and lower courts have entertained such challenges. As examples, the ruling listed a series of court tests ranging from a military regulation prohibiting the wearing of a Jewish skullcap to a prohibition of religious practices in on-base child care. "The most specific guidance comes from Chappel vs. Wallace ... where the Supreme Court explained that not all constitutional claims are foreclosed to military members: 'Our citizens in uniform may not be stripped of basic rights simply because they have doffed their civilian clothes,'" it said. "The Court stated unequivocally that it 'has never held, nor do we now hold, that military personnel are barred from all redress in civilian courts for constitutional wrongs suffered in the course of military service.'" However, in sending the case back to District Court for further action, the panel noted that it will leave procedural questions to that judge's discretion: "We take no position on the merits of Wilkins's claims nor whether any claims will survive subsequent dismissal." Schulcz, who said no further proceedings are scheduled yet, called the appellate court's ruling the correct decision. "It's one more chaplain's case that's back in the hopper," Schulcz said. "It will be a useful tool to expose the corruption in the Chaplain Corps." While the Justice Department has a policy against commenting on court rulings, the government agency continues to vigorously contest the evangelicals' claims. In a brief that successfully stopped an attempt to delay the latest round of chaplain promotion board hearings, the department argued that allegations of discrimination in such promotions is not proof it exists. "Perceptions that discriminatory policies may exist are mere speculation that can provide no basis for finding a First Amendment violation," it said. --30-- -------------------------------------------------------------------- Land, others rip doctors' group for support of same-sex adoptions by Tom Strode Date: February 06, 2002 - Wednesday WASHINGTON (BP)--Pro-family advocates have castigated the American Academy of Pediatrics' newly announced support of adoption rights for homosexual partners. In a new policy statement, the AAP said it backs "legislative and legal efforts to provide the possibility of adoption of the child by the second parent or coparent" in same-sex partnerships. Children born to or adopted by a homosexual "deserve the security of two legally recognized parents," the AAP said. A "considerable body of professional literature provides evidence that children with parents who are homosexual can have the same advantages and the same expectations for health, adjustment and development as can children whose parents are heterosexual," AAP's statement said. "Denying legal parent status through adoption to coparents or second parents prevents these children from enjoying the psychologic and legal security that comes from having two willing, capable and loving parents." Opponents of homosexual adoption criticized the policy, saying, among other criticisms, it is based on flawed studies and on an unconventional view of what is harmful. "The tobacco industry continues to produce studies that show using tobacco is not hazardous to your health. Anybody with the money and the time can produce studies that show anything," said Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. Reports "that show that children reared in such homes are statistically more likely themselves to become involved in same-sex relationships" would indicate there is a "harmful effect" as far as people "who believe homosexual activity is not healthy or to be preferred" are concerned, Land said. "In the case of children who are being reared with same-sex relationships, they're exposed to these relationships 24/7," Land said. "It would seem to me that the only way you could say that being reared with such relationships is okay is if you don't see anything abnormal or unhealthy about same-sex relationships per se. That is a judgment, or lack of judgment, that the vast majority of Southern Baptists and other evangelical Christians would reject." William Maier, a child and family psychologist at Focus on the Family, said the research the AAP cites is, at best, inconclusive. "Studies on this topic are fraught with methodological flaws, motivated by political agendas and ultimately offer no scientific justification for this hazardous recommendation," Maier said in a written release. "It seems clear that the [AAP] has submitted to the will of homosexual activists within its ranks -- at the expense of scientific honesty and the very children it seeks to serve." Family Research Council President Ken Connor said in a written statement, "There is an abundance of research demonstrating that children do best when raised by a mother and a father who are committed to one another in marriage. Mothers and fathers alike make significant contributions to the physical, emotional and social development of their children. To support a policy that would intentionally deprive a child of such benefits is unconscionable." Land and other critics of the AAP policy cited a paper appearing last year in the American Sociological Review in which two University of Southern California researchers said their review of 21 studies showed significant differences between children reared by same-sex parents and heterosexual parents. According to Judith Stacey and Timothy Biblarz, many studies appear to show children growing up with same-sex parents and in a home where homosexuality is accepted are influenced in their self-image, life goals and behavior, including sexual behavior, The New York Times reported. For instance, children of lesbian partners are more likely to engage in homosexual activity and the daughters of lesbians are "more sexually adventurous and less chaste," Family Research Council reported of the Stacey and Biblarz review of one study. According to The Times, Stacey and Biblarz wrote in their paper, "We recognize the political dangers of pointing out that recent studies indicate that a higher proportion of children with lesbigay parents are themselves apt to engage in homosexual activity. Nonetheless, we believe that denying this probability is apt to prove counterproductive in the long run." The Human Rights Campaign, the country's largest homosexual political organization, applauded the AAP action. HRC Executive Director Elizabeth Birch encouraged "judges, legislators and policy makers to act on the wise recommendations of this distinguished organization." In its policy statement, the AAP recommended pediatricians become advocates for the legalization of second-parent adoption by homosexuals. The AAP's Committee on Psychological Aspects of Child and Family Health wrote the statement. The AAP has been politicized for years, said Robert Knight, director of Concerned Women for America's Culture and Family Institute. "This is not the first time that sexual revolutionaries have used the pediatrics academy as cover," Knight said, citing AAP studies advocating "safe sex" for young people as an example. The AAP also has helped promote portions of the homosexual rights agenda, he said. The AAP is a 55,000-member organization of pediatric health-care providers. --30-- RELATED STORY: Judge upholds Florida ban on adoption by homosexuals. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Registration under way for SBC DayCamp 2002 by Staff Date: February 06, 2002 - Wednesday ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)--Children attending the 2002 Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting with their parents in St. Louis this June will have an opportunity to experience missions through SBC DayCamp 2002. With a theme of "Gateway for Missions," the camp will be offered for boys and girls who will have completed grades one through six by June. The camp will include fun and games, interaction with missionaries, and a hands-on mission project. Registration is open to participants at a cost of $75 per child for those before May 1, and $85 per child from May 1 through May 27. The schedule is Tuesday, June 11, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (lunch included) and Wednesday, June 12, from 8 a.m. to noon. Parents also will be required to sign a medical release for their children. Day campers should dress comfortably and are required to wear a day camp wristband, day camp T-shirt (provided through registration), soft-sole recreation shoes and socks. Volunteers also are being enlisted to help staff the camp. For further information and registration, contact Dean Green, SBC DayCamp 2002 Reservations, 192 Lovejoy Road, Sparta, Tenn. 38583. Green also may be contacted by e-mail at mktracks@blomand.net, or toll-free via telephone at (866) 813-3396. --30-- -------------------------------------------------------------------- 'Baptist interns' venture into Super Bowl action by Todd Starnes Date: February 06, 2002 - Wednesday NEW ORLEANS (BP)--When they were welcomed to the host committee of the National Football League's Super Bowl XXXVI, Liz Stewart and Ashley Lewis were introduced as the "Baptist interns." "It wasn't exactly the best introduction," Stewart told Baptist Press. "You know, the Bible Belt stops when you get on the bridge coming to New Orleans, and when they found out we were Baptists they had a lot of questions." Any doubts the host committee may have harbored against the two New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary students were soon dispelled. Stewart and Lewis combined a servant's heart and a strong work ethic to win over their colleagues and earn opportunities to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. "They [the host committee] were leery when they hired us," Stewart said, recalling the day last October when she joined the project. "They didn't think we would fit in, but we really did. "We showed them that we are normal people who like to have a real good time," she said. "In a way we had to prove ourselves and we did it with a good attitude and hard work." For Stewart and Lewis, the opportunity to work with the NFL's host committee was a dream come true -- and for the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans, it was an answer to prayer. The seminary students were in Ken Taylor's class called New Orleans Ministry and Missions. "We took the class because we thought it would help us know the city better," Stewart said. "One day [the class] went to [BAGNO] and they were telling us about upcoming ministry opportunities and they mentioned they were looking for two interns to work for the Super Bowl." Stewart, who has a degree in sports medicine, and Lewis, with an undergraduate degree in commercial tourism and recreation, could hardly believe the opportunity. "We nearly spit our lunch on the table," Stewart recalled. "We raised our hands and said we'll do it." That was back in October. With the Super Bowl only two days away, Stewart and Lewis were working 14 hour days preparing for the nation's most hyped athletic event. "It's been pretty exciting," Lewis said from his office across from the Louisiana Superdome. "I have been overwhelmed by the quality of people who work here." Lewis has been able to put his undergraduate degree to good use. One of his responsibilities was coordinating the national media party for the Super Bowl -- a hearty affair that included 4,000 to 5,000 print and broadcast journalists. "It was one of the largest parties thrown by the NFL," he said. "I know that the opportunities I've had will be useful in future ministry," Lewis said. "I'm learning how to plan large events and somewhere down the road that's going to help me out." Lewis and Stewart were paid through the North American Mission Board and received a food stipend from BAGNO. Their work schedule the week leading up to the Super Bowl was been non-stop. "Wednesday [before the Super Bowl] was my hardest day," Lewis said. "I got to work at 7 a.m. and went home at 2 a.m. The next day I was back at work at 7 a.m. and got home and 3 a.m." With an unforgiving schedule, Lewis and Stewart said their seminary professors have been understanding. "[They] gave us the week off for class," Lewis said. "We were very blessed with professors who understand what we were doing." Stewart said she has been thankful about the ministry opportunities that have come their way. "Many of our colleagues had questions about Christianity and why we are in seminary," she said. "We've had such a good time." "We've had the chance to share with those we work close to," Lewis added. "We are in an area that has such a strong Catholic presence. For the most part, our ministry has been in our conversations. And we noticed that they are respectful of what they say around us because we are Christians. "This was a tremendous opportunity," he said. "To be able to use your college degree to minister is great." --30-- (BP) photo posted in the BP Photo Library at http://www.bpnews.net. Photo title: SUPER BOWL INTERNS. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Super Bowl activities forge link between church & Canadian team by Doy Cave Date: February 06, 2002 - Wednesday BOUTTE, La. (BP)--West St. Charles Baptist Church in Boutte, La. -- roughly 30 miles from New Orleans -- capped off a week of global ministry with a cookout in the church parking lot where they watched the Super Bowl on the side of a large truck. The church is just a stone's throw from the town of Hahnville, which played host to the NFL's Global Junior Championship VI, Jan. 30-Feb. 2, where high school athletes from Canada, Europe, Japan and the United States descended on the area to compete for this year's title. After a last-minute shortage of rooms, West St. Charles Baptist Church was able to host some of the players from the Canadian team, many of whom came from a Catholic background. Keith Maddox, minister of music and youth at the church, said the experience was a great opportunity to witness to a global culture as well as a chance to change their minds about what it means to be a Baptist. "We had one guy staying with us who had never been to a Protestant service," Maddox recounted. "After the service, he said, 'You guys sing a lot.'" Tammy Tregre, one of the church members who opened up her home to the Canadian players, said she and her husband, Jeff, were able to talk at length about their faith as well as live it out in front of the players. "They asked a lot about the difference between our religions," she said. "I told them that we believe you have to accept Christ in order to be saved, that you can't be saved through good works. They seemed really receptive." Ronald Hilaire, a 17-year-old defensive tackle for the Canadian team, said his experience with the church was "great." "The people are great. The climate is great. The food is great. The people I'm staying with are great," he said. "They all seem like a close-knit family. Everybody is so friendly and they brought us in here and accepted us as their own." On the field, however, the Canadians' experience was not as fulfilling. In the championship game, Canada suffered a loss to the United States in the last seconds of the fourth quarter. The U.S. team, consisting entirely of athletes from the greater New Orleans area, defeated Canada 16-14, after the Canadians attempted a two-point conversion that failed. After almost a week of ministering to the players on the team, the West St. Charles congregation hosted a large outdoor Super Bowl party, hoping that members would bring lost friends and family to see a "Power to Win" video featuring testimonies by Trent Dilfer and other NFL players about their faith in Christ. West St. Charles pastor Chuck Lowman said a few people raised their eyebrows when he first proposed the idea, "but everybody got behind it," he said. "We're hooked up here to a digital satellite. We've been praying that the cable system would suddenly go out. Then we'd be the only show in town," Maddox smiled. --30-- -------------------------------------------------------------------- REVIEW: Movies fit for a teen by Philip Boatwright Date: February 06, 2002 - Wednesday THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (BP)--Recently, I have received several letters and e-mails asking me to recommend videos appropriate for teen church groups. That's a tough position to be in. Even when Hollywood's product contains an elevating message, there's bound to be some objectionable content. The moguls of movies seldom consider biblical principles when green-lighting projects. I can remember receiving an angry phone call from a subscriber when I offered up "Casablanca" as an alternative to "The English Patient" several years ago. I was taken to task because Bogart's Rick owned a bar and therefore was not a suitable hero. I considered Rick as a film character who ultimately grew out of his self-centeredness. In the end, he sacrificed his own desires, placing others first. Love, honor, redemption, and patriotism prevailed. And, as you may recall, he sold his bar. After I pointed out these facts, the gentleman who had complained began to understand why I thought it was the antithesis of "The English Patient's" more indulgent theme. He realized I wasn't secretly trying to get readers to join me for happy hour. But I think what ultimately impressed him about "Casablanca" was that Rick sold that bar. When reviewing a new release, my purpose is to inform prospective filmgoers of the synopsis and content. Although I point out a movie's positive elements, I make sure to write up the film's content. Given these details, readers can decide if it's suitable for their family's viewing. That said, every once in a while, I love to spotlight a film that has an uplifting or spiritual message. Here are a few video suggestions for your youth group that are entertaining without bombarding them with exploitive or abusive material. I think you'll find two of these entries spiritually rewarding, as well. Yes, there are some films we can enjoy and learn from. Good movies are the parables of today. But it takes a little effort to find them. For a more extensive FREE list of suggested videos via e-mail delivery, contact me at moveereptr@aol.com. -- Ages 12 to 15 The Bear. It follows an orphaned bear cub and his new protector, a huge Kodiak. There's no Disney-styled narration or cutesy voice-overs. "The Bear" is simply a captivating, humorous look at the daily life of these two mammals. The film takes place in 1885, British Columbia, with stunning, often breath-taking photography, locations and some truly touching moments. Caution: there are some life-threatening moments and the cub is curious when two adult bears are seen from a distance, copulating. But everything is handled with discretion, taste, and creativity. Rated PG. Support Your Local Sheriff. James Garner stars as a reluctant peace officer. This is the best western parody I have ever seen. Rated G. The Great Race. A comic spoof of old-time melodramas, with Jack Lemmon very funny as the villainous Professor Fate, Tony Curtis stalwart as the Great Leslie, and Natalie Wood luminous as a suffragette. I think this film has some of the greatest site gags of all time, plus a great sword fight between Leslie and the evil Ross Martin. It also has the pie fight to end all pie fights. Rated G. -- For mature teens Mercy Streets. Terrific filmmaking! Estranged twin brothers are leading very different lives -- one a pastor, one a crook. Then, without meaning to, they trade places ... and their lives -- and their faith -- is on the line. Available on line at crownvideo.com (an excellent place to find videos for every member of the Christian household). Anne Frank Remembered. Anne Frank's life and tragic death speak on behalf of the 1.5 million children killed by the Nazis. This poignant documentary works on several levels: a true-life coming of age; the insight of a wise young girl; the human capacity to survive and look out for fellow human beings. Every teenager should see this film to learn of the destructiveness of bigotry and to be uplifted by the courage and power people can display. PG (the atrocities of Hitler's concentration camps are briefly seen toward the end of the film). The Nutty Professor. The original is considered Jerry Lewis' best film and is a far gentler rendition of the Jekyll & Hyde theme than the more recent Eddie Murray remake. It provided some of Jerry's greatest sight gags. No crudity, no bad language, and it has a positive message. --30-- Philip Boatwright reviews films from a Christian perspective. For more information about his service, go to www.moviereporter.com.