Tuesday, April 24, 2018

• GOP exodus raises questions about life, liberty

  by Tom Strode, posted Tuesday, April 24, 2018 (6 years ago)

  

  Photo from aoc.gov

  WASHINGTON (BP) -- The record number of Republicans leaving Congress not only raises questions about control of the House of Representatives after November's elections but the fate of such issues as the sanctity of human life and religious freedom.

  When Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, 48, announced April 11 he would retire at the end of this term, his decision brought to 38 the number of GOP members who have said they will not run for re-election, according to the Pew Research Center. The Senate's April 19 confirmation of Rep. Jim Bridenstine of Oklahoma increases that total to 39. More Republicans could still announce their retirements. In addition, the seats of two other GOP members who resigned this term will be filled by special election before November, Pew reported. Read More

• GQ's slam of the Bible 'sadly laughable'

  by David Roach, posted Tuesday, April 24, 2018 (6 years ago)

  

  iStock

  NASHVILLE (BP) -- GQ's inclusion of the Bible in a list of 21 overrated classic books has drawn expressions of pity for the popular men's magazine.

  "Our response as believers should not be defensiveness or outrage," said Union University Bible professor George Guthrie, "but pity for those who have never glimpsed even the smallest ray of beauty, the song of hope found in the Bible's wonderfully cohesive story."

  Last week, GQ's editors published a list of "21 books you don't have to read and 21 you should read instead," complied by "a group of un-boring writers." At no. 12 on the list, novelist Jesse Ball recommended scrapping the Bible in favor of Agota Kristof's novel "The Notebook." Read More

• Pastor: School incident defused by God's intervention

  by Nicole Kalil/Florida Baptist Convention, posted Tuesday, April 24, 2018 (6 years ago)

  

  FBC Ocala screen capture

  OCALA, Fla. (BP) -- First Baptist Church was on the frontline ministering to students, faculty and staff after a gunman opened fire at nearby Forest High School in Ocala, Fla.

  One student was injured in the April 20 incident, which lasted only minutes.

  But the church's connection to the shooting goes beyond providing crisis ministry to students and their families -- their pastor's eldest daughter came face-to-face with the alleged gunman, Sky Bouche. Read More

• Fox News host urges communicators to live out faith

  by Timothy Cockes , posted Tuesday, April 24, 2018 (6 years ago)

  

  Photo by Marc Ira Hooks

  WASHINGTON (BP) -- Fox News host Shannon Bream spoke to fellow Christian communicators about the importance of living a daily testimony of faith.

  Bream spoke during the Baptist Communicators Association (BCA) workshop on April 20 in Washington, D.C. Although things may get difficult, she shared, it is important for Christians to hold to principles they believe in.

  "It's just a daily walk with being a witness and living out your faith in whatever you're doing, and there will be certain moments where we could compromise, but we have to take a stand in those moments," Bream said during April 18-21 event. Read More

• Toronto pastor's hope: God will use evil for good

  by Diana Chandler, posted Tuesday, April 24, 2018 (6 years ago)

  

  Screen capture from CBS News

  TORONTO (BP) -- "Just steps away" from where a driver began a carnage that killed 10 and injured 15 on a pedestrian-friendly Toronto street, Willowdale Baptist Church pastor Bruce Jones is corralling a hurting community for prayer and hope.

  "As Joseph said at the end of Genesis [in the Bible], what you meant for evil, the Lord meant for good for the saving of many lives," Jones told Baptist Press ahead of a silent prayer vigil planned for 1:30 p.m. today (April 24) where the crime began. "I believe the same thing is occurring in this case, that what the evil one meant for harm, that God will turn into great good for His Kingdom. He's going to wake up people and call them back to a relationship with Himself." Read More

• FROM THE STATES: La., Ala. and Ill. evangelism/missions news; 'It gets my blood pumping a little harder'

  by Staff, posted Tuesday, April 24, 2018 (6 years ago)

  Today's From the States features items from: Baptist Message (Louisiana); The Alabama Baptist;

  Illinois Baptist Read More

• FIRST-PERSON: Missionary heroes

  by Doug Munton, posted Tuesday, April 24, 2018 (6 years ago)

  Count missionaries as "a special kind of hero," Doug Munton writes, citing how they "die to self" amid the joys of a calling often tempered by loneliness, isolation and illness. Read More