Baptist Press Archive

Tuesday, June 09, 2015

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  • Cleveland's true hope better than NBA title
    by Daniel Woodman, posted Tuesday, June 09, 2015 (9 years ago)

    Screen capture from ESPN.com
    CLEVELAND (BP) -- The city of Cleveland has gone 50 years without a championship, the longest drought of any U.S. city with three major sports teams. NFL legend Jim Brown and the Browns gave Cleveland their most recent championship, and that was back in 1964 when G.I. Joe dolls first hit store shelves.

    Now, the city of Cleveland and the Cavaliers stand just three wins away from capturing that elusive title. But only Christ can bring Ohio the hope it truly needs, said pastor David Gray, who leads First Baptist Church, Garrettsville, located about 35 miles from Akron, LeBron James' hometown, and 45 miles from Cleveland. Read More

  • Sickness at potluck highlights food safety
    by Scott Barkley, posted Tuesday, June 09, 2015 (9 years ago)

    SCOTT BARKLEY/Index
    DULUTH, Ga. (BP) -- The potluck dinner is often seen as a treasured part of church life. It's a welcomed stereotype because of the fellowship and good times that come with overeating highly caloric casseroles, side dishes, and various meats cooked in various ways. And that's before the desserts, often enough of them to fill a row of folding tables stretching half a basketball court.

    With those things, though, comes a real danger. A 54-year-old woman died, and others were hospitalized, from a possible case of botulism, reportedly linked to an Ohio church potluck in April. Read More

  • Reflections from a Chinese orphanage
    by Josh Owens, posted Tuesday, June 09, 2015 (9 years ago)

    YUNNAN PROVINCE, China (BP) -- In China's Yunnan Province, there is an ancient temple made of copper that crowns Jindian Park. In English it is literally "Golden Temple Park," reflecting the Daoist religion that it serves. Here on Jan. 14, 1994, a police officer noticed a five-day-old orphan, took him up and delivered him to the nearby orphanage.

    Nine months and three days later, that orphan was the first boy ever adopted from Kunming Municipal Children's Home. Read More

  • WORLDVIEW: Hope -- people need it, crave it, search for it
    by Erich Bridges, posted Tuesday, June 09, 2015 (9 years ago)

    RICHMOND, Va. (BP) -- Hope is one of the most powerful forces in the world. The absence of hope is like death.

    I've written in the past about my friend George. He was sincere, thoughtful, funny -- and deeply depressed. He eventually hanged himself.

    On the last morning of his life, George lay motionless. According to his father (who later found his body), the only words George managed to force through gritted teeth that day were: "No hope. No hope. No hope." Read More

  • Salvation, tragic death affirm urgency

    by Alex Sibley, posted Tuesday, June 09, 2015 (9 years ago)

    HOUSTON (BP) -- Eddie had some questions. Some Mormon missionaries had visited him at his home earlier that day and shared with him the basics of their faith. Eddie decided to go to John Wilsey, the interim pastor of North Oaks Baptist Church, to ask more questions.

    Wilsey sat down with Eddie after church on a Wednesday night. Eddie, who had been coming to church with his mother, was often a distraction during Bible studies because of his tendency to loudly blurt out comments at inappropriate times. Wilsey says certain people were leery of Eddie around church but that there were a number of older women who took him under their wing and tried to help "knock off some of the rough edges." Read More

  • Guide to protect churches from 'sexual liberty'
    by Tom Strode , posted Tuesday, June 09, 2015 (9 years ago)

    "The church cannot outsource our convictions to the state." – Russell Moore
    WASHINGTON (BP) -- The Southern Baptist Convention's religious liberty entity has collaborated with a leading legal advocacy organization to provide guidance for churches and other institutions in the face of the advance of "sexual liberty" and same-sex marriage.

    The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) and Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) have published "Protecting Your Ministry," a legal manual for Southern Baptist churches, schools and ministries. The 44-page booklet is designed to equip SBC and other evangelical churches and institutions with legal protection against sexual orientation and gender identity lawsuits. Read More