Friday, November 04, 2016

• EDITORIAL: Dar gracias en todo

  by Por Octavio J. Esqueda, posted Friday, November 04, 2016 (7 years ago)

  En los próximos días terminará la campaña electoral para elegir al nuevo presidente de los Estados Unidos. Puede ser que cuando lea estas líneas estemos a pocas horas de las elecciones o quizá las votaciones ya hayan terminado. ... Read More

• Swing-state pastors offer election counsel

  by David Roach, posted Friday, November 04, 2016 (7 years ago)

  

  NASHVILLE (BP) -- When Florida pastor Ken Whitten started to address the 2016 presidential election in a sermon, "it got real quiet" because the congregation "knows I do not do that" typically, Whitten said.

  But he spoke out because he is among Southern Baptist pastors in key swing states who, without endorsing a candidate, have felt compelled to offer spiritual counsel to their congregations in the home stretch of an at-times rancorous presidential campaign. Their concerns include harsh social media posts by Christians, the squandering of evangelistic opportunities with angry political rhetoric, and an apparent failure to rest in God's sovereign plan. Read More

• She overcomes illness, serves hurricane survivors

  by Josie Rabbitt, posted Friday, November 04, 2016 (7 years ago)

  

  NAMB photo

  LUMBERTON, N.C. (BP) -- Jean Freeman felt useless.

  Months before Hurricane Matthew hammered the East Coast, including her hometown of Lumberton, N.C., Freeman was lying in a hospital bed fighting her second round of cancer. Yet Freeman, who is a member of Hyde Park Baptist Church in Lumberton, said she was quickly reminded of God's "innate ability to use anybody at any time" after the hurricane hit.

  "While I was in the hospital, there were so many people taking care of me," Freeman said. "I used to lie there and feel like I wasn't doing anybody any good. But, though I felt useless then, God had so much in store for me where I could give back later." Read More

• In IS-torn Iraq & Syria, rays of hope for Christians

  by Diana Chandler, posted Friday, November 04, 2016 (7 years ago)

  

  Image: iStock

  MIDDLE EAST (BP) -- While the Islamic State maintains territorial strongholds in Syria and Iraq, Christians have reportedly been able to remain in or return to areas where they held majorities before civil war began.

  Alqosh, about 30 miles north of IS-held Mosul, is described as the last Christian town in Iraq, with 500 Christian families, four churches and two monasteries, World Watch Monitor reported Thursday (Nov. 3). Iraqi soldiers are liberating several surrounding communities in the Nineveh Plain north of Mosul, including Qaraqosh, Karamles and Bartella, allowing some Christians to return to their homes despite fear of landmines left behind by Islamic State terrorists, World Watch said. Read More

• Ark. Baptists increase CP for SBC missions, ministry

  by Staff/Arkansas Baptist News, posted Friday, November 04, 2016 (7 years ago)

  

  LITTLE ROCK (BP) -- Focusing on the theme "Engage," messengers gathered for the 163rd annual meeting of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention (ABSC) held Oct. 25-26 at Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock.

  During the two-day meeting, Arkansas Baptists worshipped and prayed together, conducted business, approved eight resolutions and agreed to increase the percentage of Cooperative Programs dollars they send to Southern Baptist Convention national and international causes. Read More

• Marijuana legalization on 9 state ballots

  by Tom Strode, posted Friday, November 04, 2016 (7 years ago)

  

  Image: iStock

  WASHINGTON (BP) -- Nine states will vote Nov. 8 on marijuana legalization, reflecting its advocates' continued nationwide push at the ballot box.

  Voters in five states -- Arizona, California, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada -- will cast ballots on Election Day for or against initiatives that will legalize the recreational use of marijuana, or cannabis as it is sometimes known. Another four states -- Arkansas, Florida, Montana and North Dakota -- will vote on measures to legalize medical use of marijuana. Read More

• FIRST-PERSON: Linking arms, marching together

  by Danny Akin, posted Friday, November 04, 2016 (7 years ago)

  Seminary president Danny Akin describes the uniqueness of Southern Baptists' local, state and national cooperation. Whether in reaching a community or the world, Baptist churches "join together voluntarily because we believe that we can do more together than we can do apart," Akin writes. Read More

• Confraternidad hispana a reunirse en conjunto con la CBS

  Por Karen L. Willoughby , posted Friday, November 04, 2016 (7 years ago)

  

  WICHITA, Kan. (BP) -- La Confraternidad Nacional de Iglesias Hispanas Bautistas del Sur, en una reunión intensa de adoración, tuvo su noveno congreso anual en la Iglesia Bautista Casa de Dios en Wichita, donde Abraham Arévalo es pastor.

  Alrededor de 80 personas de 24 iglesias participaron en las sesiones del 27 al 29 de octubre, reportó Elías Bracamonte, primer vicepresidente de la organización.

  El liderazgo de la confraternidad votó cambiar la reunión anual a junio para coincidir con la reunión anual de la CBS. Read More

• Diferencias de la Reforma persisten, sostiene declaración

  Por David Roach , posted Friday, November 04, 2016 (7 years ago)

  

  Imagen: iStock

  ROMA (BP) -- Aunque la cooperación protestante católica en asuntos sociales es laudable, de acuerdo a una declaración divulgada hoy (1 de noviembre) por una coalición internacional de evangélicos, las divisiones doctrinales persistentes deben darles pausa a los evangélicos en cuanto a cooperar con los católicos en misiones y evangelismo.

  "¿Se ha terminado la Reforma? Una Declaración de Convicciones Evangélicas" fue publicada por la Iniciativa Reformada con sede en Italia, la cual busca educar a los evangélicos sobre el catolicismo romano. La declaración ha sido firmada por ... Read More

• Ministro bivocacional se niega a someter sus sermones

  Por Diana Chandler, posted Friday, November 04, 2016 (7 years ago)

  

  ATLANTA (BP) -- Un médico y ministro laico bivocacional se niega a someter al estado de Georgia copias de sus sermones pasados en una demanda legal que alega que el estado le ha despedido como director de salud debido a sus creencias religiosas.

  Eric Walsh no obedecerá la petición de la corte del distrito solicitando sus sermones y notas relevantes ya que cree que la corte ha sobrepasado su autoridad en esta petición, según dijo en un boletín de prensa del 26 de octubre, dado a conocer por su concejo, el First Liberty Institute. Read More

• LifeWay saca los libros de Hatmaker por posturas LGBT

  Por Diana Chandler , posted Friday, November 04, 2016 (7 years ago)

  

  AUSTIN, Texas (BP) -- Recursos Cristianos LifeWay ha descontinuado los recursos que presentan el estudio bíblico éxito de ventas de la autora Jen Hatmaker justo días después de que ella expresó aprobación al matrimonio gay y al estilo de vida gay.

  "En una entrevista reciente, [Hatmaker] expresó cambios significativos en su teología de la sexualidad humana y del significado y la definición del matrimonio -- cambios que contradicen los lineamientos doctrinales de LifeWay," le dijo LifeWay a Baptist Press hoy (27 de octubre). "Como resultado, LifeWay ha descontinuado ... Read More

• EDITORIAL: Dar gracias en todo

  Por Octavio J. Esqueda, posted Friday, November 04, 2016 (7 years ago)

  En los próximos días terminará la campaña electoral para elegir al nuevo presidente de los Estados Unidos. Puede ser que cuando lea estas líneas estemos a pocas horas de las elecciones o quizá las votaciones ya hayan terminado. Independientemente del que resulte ganador, los últimos meses han sido muy pesados y el ambiente social demasiado tenso en todos los sentidos. Read More