Monday, March 28, 2016

• Utah could declare porn a health crisis

  by Kiley Crossland/WORLD News Service, posted Monday, March 28, 2016 (8 years ago)

  ASHEVILLE, N.C. (BP) -- A resolution declaring pornography a public health crisis landed on Utah Gov. Gary Herbert's desk in mid-March after unanimously passing the state House and Senate.  

  The bill, Senate Concurrent Resolution 9 (SCR9), marks the first time a state has called pornography a "public health crisis," language more often used for smoking, drunk driving, and epidemics like Ebola. Although the non-binding resolution does not change law, experts

  ay the bill is part of a concerted effort to start framing the issue as not merely a "moral" ... Read More

• FLOYD: Southern Baptists & the Power of God

  by Ronnie Floyd, posted Monday, March 28, 2016 (8 years ago)

  SBC President Ronnie Floyd gives "honest evaluation of Southern Baptists" and addresses need for the power of God. "Far too many pastors, leaders, laypersons and churches live life and do ministry without the power of God," he writes. "Spiritual mediocrity leads to a lukewarm spiritual condition. Jesus severely rebuked a lukewarm life and church." Read More

• Brussels attack leaves pastor thankful to be alive

  by Brian Blackwell/Baptist Message , posted Monday, March 28, 2016 (8 years ago)

  

  BRUSSELS, Belgium (BP) -- A Louisiana Baptist music minister is thankful to be alive after surviving a terrorist attack March 22 at an airport in Brussels, Belgium.

  Jeff Slaughter, an interim music minister at First Baptist Church in Greenwood, told the Baptist Message he had just walked into the airport departure area to check-in for his return flight back to Shreveport when he heard the first explosion, just 200 feet away. Moments later, a second bomb exploded. CNN reported today (March 28) the death toll for the bombings -- that also included a subway station -- has risen to 35 and more than 300 were injured. Read More

• Paralysis stirs Patti & her husband to compassion

  by Kevin Parker, posted Monday, March 28, 2016 (8 years ago)

  

  ALBUQUERQUE (BP) -- A message about compassion resonated with David and Patti Waterman at New Mexico Baptists' 2016 State Evangelism Conference.

  The speaker, Sonny Tucker of Arkansas, had no idea the Watermans were in the audience as he told story after story of reaching out to people who many Christians avoid.

  Patti is a wheelchair-bound paralytic. Read More

• Pakistani Easter bombing death toll rising

  by Diana Chandler, posted Monday, March 28, 2016 (8 years ago)

  

  Screen capture from ABCNews.com

  LAHORE, Pakistan (BP) -- The death toll is rising from a suicide bombing targeting Christians in a crowded park on Easter Sunday in Lahore, Pakistan, with at least 75 dead and more than 368 wounded, 138 of them critically, based on reports from Morning Star News and CNN.

  Already claiming responsibility for the evening attack and professing to have targeted Christians is the Jamaat-ul-Ahrar terrorist group, a splinter faction of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) that has professed allegiance to ISIS. Read More

• Bellevue security subdues 'heavily armed' man

  by David Roach, posted Monday, March 28, 2016 (8 years ago)

  

  Screen capture from WREG.

  MEMPHIS (BP) -- A "heavily armed" man was subdued and arrested at the Memphis-area Bellevue Baptist Church Easter Sunday, the congregation's director of security services told Baptist Press.

  Texas-based church security expert Jimmy Meeks told BP the incident serves as an example of "heads-up" response to a potential threat. The man -- 31-year-old Marcus Donald -- who was taken into custody remains under mental evaluation, according to media reports. Read More

• Ga. Governor to veto religious liberty bill

  by David Roach, posted Monday, March 28, 2016 (8 years ago)

  

  Screen capture from Georgia Office of the Governor.

  ATLANTA (BP) -- Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal's March 28 announcement that he will veto the state's religious liberty bill has provoked criticism from social conservatives, including Southern Baptists.

  Mike Griffin, public affairs representative for the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, told Baptist Press that Deal, a Republican, "missed an opportunity to stand for Georgia values as opposed to Wall Street and Hollywood values. We certainly respect his right to make that decision, but we also respect the right to voice our ... Read More