News For Thursday Aug 28, 2008 News For Thursday Aug 28, 2008

Religion Religion

Religion news in brief - Added 3 hours ago

The pastor of one of Minnesota's largest churches said an IRS investigation into his ministry's finances is "politically motivated." The Rev. Mac Hammond is recognizable to a wide audience through Sunday morning TV...

Religion today - Added 3 hours ago

!!-- pobj:NY376-0821081154 -->!!-- pobj:NY377-0821081154 -->!!-- pobj:NY378-0821081155 -->!!-- pobj:NY379-0821081154 -->Carol Umsted got more than the word of God during services this summer at the Congregational United...

No longer lesbian - Added 19 hours ago

EDITOR'S NOTE: This monthly column about the issue of homosexuality by various authors is a partnership between Baptist Press and the SBC Task Force on Ministry to Homosexuals.FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (BP)--My heart...

Katrina, after 3 years, still presents opportunities for missions, partnership - Added 19 hours ago

NEW ORLEANS (BP)--Three years ago, New Orleans residents escaped a city that, in just a few days, had changed forever. Nearly half would leave for good because they had no reason to return after Hurricane Katrina's...

Senior duo adds to 70-plus mission trips - Added 19 hours ago

GULU, Uganda (BP)--Ann Davis lifted her aching body from a straw mat and reached with her right hand to touch the shoulder of a new sister in Christ. The woman turned and their meeting eyes initiated laughter, tears of...

Gospel message met with joyful 'trill' - Added 19 hours ago

GULU, Uganda (BP)--Josephine's shrill trill came without warning -- like the battle cry of a warrior -- splitting the afternoon serenity created by a fading orange sun and cornstalks swaying in the gentle breeze. A few...

Pro-lifers decry APA's denial of link between abortion, depression - Added 19 hours ago

WASHINGTON (BP)--Representatives of post-abortion and pregnancy center organizations have denounced a report that asserts there is no trustworthy evidence that a lone abortion causes mental health problems in a woman.A...

While Denver parties, witnesses impact eternity - Added 19 hours ago

DENVER (BP)--As thousands of people converged on Denver for the Democratic National Convention, a small group of Southern Baptist street evangelists arrived in the city to make an impact far beyond even a four-year term...

Sharing Christ in the school - Added 1 day ago

ALEXANDRIA, La. (BP)--With school back in session, drivers are heeding the warning again to slow down in school zones. Public school buses loaded with excited children are rolling down our streets. If school hasn't...

Union to open 14 student housing buildings - Added 1 day ago

JACKSON, Tenn. (BP)--Union University students will move into 14 new student housing buildings when they return to the campus for the fall semester, less than seven months after a tornado destroyed much of the...

After Fay's drenching, volunteers mobilize - Added 1 day ago

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (BP)--Moving at a snail's pace while dumping heavy rain and pushing strong winds in an erratic pattern through Florida, Tropical Storm Fay -- or "Fickle Fay" as it's been called -- finally headed out...

'Fickle Fay' displaces blind family - Added 1 day ago

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (BP)--Florida Baptist disaster relief volunteers assisted a Daytona Beach family Aug. 23 after Tropical Storm Fay dumped rain in the area. Earlier in the week the storm's unpredictable nature caused...

S. Baptists' views of Scripture studied - Added 1 day ago

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Research from two studies by LifeWay Research indicates a disconnect between Southern Baptist pastors' view of Scripture and those of the people in their pews.The research arm of LifeWay Christian...

At the DNC, Baptists aid first responders - Added 1 day ago

DENVER (BP)--Southern Baptist volunteers are donning aprons this week in Denver as they prepare meals for city, state and national personnel providing protection and aid to those attending the Democratic National...

Alternatives make embryonic stem cell research obsolete - Added 1 day ago

WASHINGTON (BP)--Scientists continue to deal blows to the campaign for embryonic stem cell research, some by shifting their allegiance to a more ethical form of experimentation and some by discovering new means of...

EDITORIAL: In China, some things never change but some things cannot stay the same - Added 1 day ago

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--I have vivid memories of the 1989 pro-democracy protests in China. I was a member of an aviation unit deployed on one of three ships that made a historic visit to Shanghai. At the time, it was the...

DVDs give modern view of Jesus' parables - Added 1 day ago

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--If the story of the Good Samaritan were retold with modern-day characters, what would it look like? How about an elderly white man on a busy street playing the role of the man who was robbed, a...

Obama, Biden align on most major issues - Added 1 day ago

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (BP)--When presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama chose Joe Biden as his running mate, he chose someone who aligns with him on most issues, differs on a handful, but can possibly...

In Gori, relief logistics move forward - Added 1 day ago

TBLISI, Georgia (BP)--When Russian troops pulled back from Gori, Georgia, Aug. 22, a Southern Baptist overseas relief team in Tblisi scrambled to assess the need for humanitarian assistance."The city of Gori is in...

Prayer vigil for revival to begin Sept. 24 - Added 1 day ago

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--A call for Southern Baptists and other believers to engage in 40 days of prayer beginning in late September has been issued by the SBC's North American Mission Board and Ethics & Religious Liberty...

LETTER FROM CHINA, 'Now is the time of opportunity' missionary Lottie Moon said - Added 1 day ago

EDITOR'S NOTE: Each day during Baptist Press' coverage of the Beijing Olympics, we are publishing a letter from a Southern Baptist missionary who served in China during the years before the People's Republic of China...

FROM THE OLYMPICS: U.S. 'Redeem Team' duo adds perspective to redemption - Added 1 day ago

BEIJING (BP)--They called themselves the "Redeem Team," and at least two of the U.S. men's gold medal basketball team know an added something about the word: Center Dwight Howard and shooting guard Michael Redd have...

Olympic impact echoes in eternity, volunteers say - Added 1 day ago

EDITOR'S NOTE: Tim Ellsworth covered the 2008 Olympics while in Beijing Aug. 6-16 and after returning to the States. Ellsworth, director of news and media relations at Union University, has been assisted with...

Let's tax abortion - Added 5 days ago

ALEXANDRIA, La. (BP)--The topic of abortion has become front and center for conservatives in the presidential election, with questions for both candidates about the issue now on the table.However, one question that...

MBC files appeal of Windermere ruling - Added 5 days ago

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (BP)--The lead attorney for the Missouri Baptist Convention wants a hearing by the end of the year of an appeal to overturn a trial judge's ruling in favor of a conference center that broke its ties to...

COSBE pres.: Baptism decline can be turned - Added 5 days ago

SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Ron Herrod has seen the statistics and is well aware that baptisms are on the decline in the Southern Baptist Convention.Like many Southern Baptists, Herrod, who was elected president of the...

Volunteers tackle Fay's damage & debris - Added 5 days ago

BAREFOOT BAY, Fla. (BP)--Florida Baptist disaster relief volunteers from throughout Central Florida descended into Barefoot Bay Aug. 21, site of a tornado spawned by Tropical Storm Fay Aug. 19.Rain was still falling and...

New HHS rule would protect pro-life docs - Added 5 days ago

WASHINGTON (BP)--The freedom of conscience of pro-life doctors and other health-care providers would be protected under a new rule proposed by the Bush administration.The regulation, issued by the Department of Health...

Calif. marriage amendment supporters take fundraising lead on strength of big donations - Added 5 days ago

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (BP)--After trailing in fundraising by $3 million, supporters of a proposed California marriage amendment have taken the lead over opponents, thanks in part to a series of gifts totaling nearly $2...

LETTER FROM CHINA: Chinese believer Wang Way Sze says more missionaries needed - Added 5 days ago

EDITOR'S NOTE: Each day during Baptist Press' coverage of the Beijing Olympics, we are publishing a letter from a Southern Baptist missionary who served in China during the years before the People's Republic of China...

God's call motivates marathoner in Beijing - Added 5 days ago

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Ryan Hall, a native of Big Bear Lake, Calif., set a U.S. Olympic Trials marathon record on Nov. 3, 2007, when he qualified for the U.S. Olympic team in a time of 2:09:02 on the Central Park course...

FROM THE OLYMPICS: Bryan Clay gets decathlon gold; Robinson, BMX bronze - Added 5 days ago

BEIJING (BP)--Bryan Clay, in winning the gold medal in the decathlon Aug. 22 and the unofficial title of "world's greatest athlete," tallied the largest margin of victory in the epic Olympic competition since 1972.The...

Now saved, boxing manager helps others - Added 5 days ago

EDITOR'S NOTE: Tim Ellsworth, who was in Beijing Aug. 6-16, is continuing his coverage of the 2008 Olympics for Baptist Press. Ellsworth, director of news and media relations at Union University, has been assisted with...

Olympian shunned abortion; now has son & bronze medal - Added 5 days ago

BEIJING (BP)--Tasha Danvers chose her unborn child four years ago over her hopes for an Olympic medal. Now she has both.Running for Great Britain, Danvers won the bronze medal Aug. 20 in the women's 400 meter hurdles,...

A growing concern - Added 6 days ago

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Recently I was in Tulsa, Okla., sharing in an EKG/Sunday School conference. It was both well-organized and well-attended. A large crowd gathered for the better part of a beautiful Saturday to...

Longtime prof C.W. Brister dies - Added 6 days ago

FORT WORTH, Texas (BP)--C.W. Brister Jr., a pastoral ministry professor at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary from 1957 until his retirement in 2001, died Aug. 9 after a battle with Lou Gehrig's disease. He was...

Allen remembered for mentorship legacy - Added 6 days ago

FORT WORTH, Texas (BP)--John H. Allen, who supervised the mentoring of hundreds of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary students, died Aug. 18 after a lengthy bout with cancer. He was 77.Allen was director of...

Zambian president's death mourned - Added 6 days ago

FORT WORTH, Texas (BP)--Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is mourning the death of Zambia's president, Levy Mwanawasa, on Aug. 19 at the age of 59.Mwanawasa's pastor, Rodney Masona of Twin Palms Baptist Church...

Fay's heavy rains continue in Fla. - Added 6 days ago

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (BP)--Tropical Storm Fay made it to the Atlantic coast Wednesday but stalled in the Cape Canaveral area, after passing across the Florida Keys Monday night and making a second Florida landfall early...

Huckabee: Sanctity for human life eroding - Added 6 days ago

LAKE OZARK, Mo. (BP)--"It's important to take God seriously and not take yourself too seriously," said Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas and recent candidate for president, when asked how his faith affects his...

Land, McLaren 'diavlog' on religion, politics - Added 6 days ago

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--An innovative Internet video technology provided a venue Aug. 20 for a real-time "diavlog" between Brian McLaren, an author and leader in the Emerging Church movement, and Richard Land, president...

LETTER FROM CHINA, G.P. Bostick: 'Lives laid down for Christ's sake' - Added 6 days ago

EDITOR'S NOTE: Each day during Baptist Press' coverage of the Beijing Olympics, we are publishing a letter from a Southern Baptist missionary who served in China during the years before the People's Republic of China...

Softball pitcher found God in college - Added 6 days ago

BEIJING (BP)--Pitcher Monica Abbott contributed a perfect game and a 3-0 record to the U.S. women's softball team's 8-0 run at the Beijing Olympics, but the squad fell 3-1 to Japan in the gold medal matchup Aug....

FROM THE OLYMPICS: Allyson Felix gets another silver in 200 meter sprint - Added 6 days ago

BEIJING (BP)—Allyson Felix and other U.S. sprinters were unable to strike gold at the "Jamaican Olympics," as some in the media have dubbed the individual sprint titles at the Beijing Games.Felix earned the silver medal...

U.S. swimmer thankful she 'kept going' toward Olympics - Added 6 days ago

EDITOR'S NOTE: Tim Ellsworth, who was in Beijing Aug. 6-16, is continuing his coverage of the 2008 Olympics for Baptist Press. Ellsworth, director of news and media relations at Union University, has been assisted with...

Religion news in brief - Added 1 week ago

Todd Bentley, the Canadian revivalist whose tactics drew protest from some fellow Pentecostals, has resigned from public ministry after acknowledging an "unhealthy relationship on an emotional level" with a female staff...

Piece of black history rests with Arkansas church - Added 1 week ago

Centennial Baptist Church sits silently on a downtown street, its doors locked and window panes so clouded light has trouble getting in. The roof is sagging and some shingles are missing. The foundation has started to...

Fixer-upper or move-in ready? - Added 1 week ago

GAINESVILLE, Ga. (BP)--Is it financially wiser to buy a home that is a fixer-upper or one that is move-in ready? Well, that depends, because obviously the answer won't be the same for all situations. For example, if you...

LETTER FROM CHINA, William S. Walker: 'Progress of our work is encouraging' - Added 1 week ago

EDITOR'S NOTE: Each day during Baptist Press' coverage of the Beijing Olympics, we are publishing a letter from a Southern Baptist missionary who served in China during the years before the People's Republic of China...

Olympics hoops star sustained by faith - Added 1 week ago

BEIJING (BP)--Tamika Catchings, a leading field goal shooter on the U.S. women's basketball team, has been articulate about her faith playing a key role in her development as an athlete at the top of her game.When the...