Front Page

Broward, Miami-Dade set March 8 slots vote
JAMES A SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published January 27, 2005

FORT LAUDERDALE/MIAMI (FBW) – Voters in Broward and Miami-Dade counties will be asked to consider a referendum in each county to permit Las Vegas-style slot machines at seven pari-mutuel facilities after both county commissions approved separate deals with the pari-mutuels and agreed to add the measure to the March 8 ballot.

Photo by Joni B. Hannigan

Super Bowl interns serve Host Committee, JAX Baptist Association as NAMB missionaries

Eva Wolever (left), a 2004 graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University and Zac Gorley, a senior at Washington State University, are serving as semester missionaries through the North American Mission Board. The duo is responsible for helping to organize about 9,000 volunteers who will staff NFL sanctioned events throughout Jacksonville before and during the Super Bowl game Feb. 7. They also serve as liaisons with the Jacksonville Baptist Association to facilitate community-based opportunities for church members and their guests throughout “The City of Seven Bridges.”[Click here for article.]

U.S. Supreme court refuses to hear appeal in Bush v. Schiavo
JONI B. HANNIGAN
Managing Editor
Published January 27, 2005

WASHINGTON (FBW)–The U.S. Supreme Court denied an appeal by Florida Governor Jeb Bush Jan. 24 to overturn a decision by the Florida Supreme Court which ruled “Terri’s Law” unconstitutional last September.

Federal judge Upholds DOMA, dismisses ‘gay marriage’ case
Published January 27, 2005

TAMPA (BP)—In the first ruling of its kind a federal judge upheld the Defense of Marriage Act Jan. 19, dismissing a case brought by a lesbian couple that had sought to have their Massachusetts marriage license recognized in Florida.

Judge rules schools must remove stickers from texts
Published January 27, 2005

ATLANTA (BP)— The months-long trial over whether evolution disclaimers in the form of stickers on textbooks in a Cobb County, Ga., school district are permissible ended with a federal judge saying the stickers clearly have a “secular purpose” but are unconstitutional and must be removed.

Witness now hiring entry-level journalist for writing/layout
Published January 27, 2005

JACKSONVILLE (FBW) — Florida Baptist Witness is accepting resumes for an entry level position which will include reporting, layout and design responsibilities in the Jacksonville office.

Opinion

Editorial

Predatory politicians want slots in South Florida
Editorial

It’s a sickening sight.

Point of View

Second Coming of Christ ‘critical’ to biblical theology
Point of View

For the next two weeks, we will explore the Doctrine of the Second Coming. As I began writing this doctrine study, I feel somewhat like Peter on the Mount of Transfiguration: “I wist not what to say.” Yet it becomes imperative that we try to formulate a biblical concept of the last days.

Getting a big bang out of the Good Book (Hebrews 11:3)
Point of View

Astronomers recently reported seeing, in the pattern of galaxies scattered across the night sky, vestiges of sound waves rumbling through the universe. According to them, this is convincing proof of the validity of science’s big bang theory. The big bang is based on the supposition that the universe is expanding. Sound waves rumbling through the universe, like those recently detected by astronomers, are thought to be similar to the expanding ripples caused by a stone cast into a pond. In other words, sound waves have been rippling through our expanding universe ever since the instant of the universe’s inception.  Consequently, astronomers conclude that the universe began with a big bang of such unimaginable proportion that it has been expanding from the explosion ever since. What incredible power could possibly account for such a blast from the past?

Family fitness is good stewardship
Point of View

We teach our children to walk and talk. We help them learn to read and write. But are you teaching your children how to be healthy?

BREAKPOINT: Sticker Wars: Intelligent design foes fight evolution sticker
Point of View

Last week a federal judge, egged on by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), ordered a Georgia school district to remove stickers from biology textbooks. Why? Because, according to the judge, a simple statement written on the stickers—that evolution is a theory, not a fact—was an unconstitutional endorsement of religion. He held evolution as fact!

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor may not reflect the views or opinions of the Witness. Letters may be mailed, faxed or submitted using our online form. Only letters marked clearly for publication, signed with address will be considered for use. Letters are subject to editing. Please limit letters to 250 words.

Bibliocipher

Bibliocipher

Have fun with cryptography and exercise your Bible knowledge. A King James Version verse is encoded by letter substitution. The same letter is substituted throughout the puzzle. Solve by trial and error.

Florida

Florida News

Witness now hiring entry-level journalist for writing/layout

JACKSONVILLE (FBW) — Florida Baptist Witness is accepting resumes for an entry level position which will include reporting, layout and design responsibilities in the Jacksonville office.

Wireless Internet enhances Baptist College of Florida

GRACEVILLE (BCF)—Whether sitting under the gazebo or out by the lake, in the dining hall with friends, taking notes in a classroom, or studying in a dorm room, Baptist College of Florida students can be seen all over campus with their laptops in tow and a smile on their faces.

Transitional pastors’ training features SBC leaders

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Three Southern Baptist denominational leaders with 156 years combined ministry experience will lead a conference for transitional pastors March 21-24 at Lake Yale Conference Center.

Miami Christian band releases video

MIAMI (FBW)–Miami Christian alternative rock band, Invisible Fireworks, will release its first music video in a free concert Jan. 29. The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. at 180 Studio Café in Miami.

Florida News Briefs

New South Florida Bible Study Summit offers Sunday School leaders age-specific training

JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—A one-day meeting focused on cultivating “A Heart for all People” through Sunday School and small group programs will be held at First Baptist Church, Pompano Beach, March 12.

Southeastern Seminary president featured in BCF Powell Lectures

GRACEVILLE (BCF)–The annual Powell Lectures will be held at The Baptist College of Florida (BCF) Feb. 14 - 15 on the Graceville campus. The event is 10 – 11 a.m. each day in the Assembly Center.

State Collegiate Retreat Feb. 25-27 at Lake Yale

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)–Students from universities across Florida will gather at Lake Yale Baptist Conference Center, Feb. 25-27 for a weekend of spiritual restoration and recreational activities.

Bible League prints millionth King James 2000 Bible

JACKSONVILLE (FBW)-The Bible League’s latest printing of the King James 2000 Bible has taken the devotional study Bible to more than 1 million in print. The Bible version is used primarily by African national teachers in several nations on the continent, according to a Bible League press release.

National

National News

Not enough pollling places may deter Iraqi Christians

WASHINGTON (BP)–Iraqis in the United States and 13 other countries have begun registering to vote in their home country’s election, but the process in this country has disenfranchised Christians, critics charge.

Southern Baptist chaplain says U.S. troops need prayer during Jan. 30 Iraqi elections

SOUTHERN IRAQ (BP)--A Southern Baptist chaplain stationed in Iraq has requested special prayer for U.S. troops involved in the historic democratic elections scheduled Jan. 30 in that country.

Marriage amendment gets support of Frist, 21 other senators

WASHINGTON (BP)–A marriage amendment to the U.S. Constitution was re-introduced in the Senate Jan. 24 with support from Majority Leader Bill Frist and 21 other senators, including Florida’s Mel Martinez.

SBC leaders speak out on BWA alternative

WASHINGTON (BP)–A statement by Richard Land, that he and fellow Southern Baptist leaders will attend a meeting in Europe “to form a new alternative to the Baptist World Alliance,” prompted the BWA general secretary to say he was “shocked.”

Inauguration 2005

Freedom, character major themes in Bush

WASHINGTON (BP)–President George W. Bush called for the United States-supported spread of freedom throughout the world and a strengthening of American character as a product of such liberty in his second inaugural speech Jan. 20.

Bush & religion: How Bush compares to past presidents
Writer says Bush takes Bible seriously as Word of God

WASHINGTON (BP)--Where does George W. Bush rank among past presidents in terms of public displays of religion? Right in the middle, says author David Aikman, a former senior correspondent for Time magazine who has written a book about Bush’s Christian faith.

Bunkleys attend inauguration as governor’s guests

WASHINGTON (FBW) – Frigid temperatures could not deter Bill and Toni Bunkley from enjoying their special opportunity as guests of Gov. Jeb Bush to witness history as George W. Bush was inaugurated Jan. 20 for his second term as president of the United States.

National News Briefs

Baylor’s President Sloan steps aside to become chancellor of world’s largest Baptist university

WACO, Texas (BP)–Baylor University President Robert B. Sloan Jr. and Baylor Board of Regents chairman Will Davis jointly announced Jan. 21 that Sloan will transition to chancellor of the largest Baptist University in the world effective June 1.

Aguillard named new La. College president

PINEVILLE, La. (BP)–Louisiana College’s board of trustees voted 17-13 to name Joe Aguillard as the college’s new president around 2 a.m. Jan. 18 as a crowd of students and faculty members awaited the decision.

New booklet explores conservative movement

FORT WORTH, Texas (BP)–A new booklet from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary President Paige Patterson provides an insider's look at the conservative resurgence within the Southern Baptist Convention.

Features

Intelligent Design

Judge rules schools must remove stickers from texts

ATLANTA (BP)— The months-long trial over whether evolution disclaimers in the form of stickers on textbooks in a Cobb County, Ga., school district are permissible ended with a federal judge saying the stickers clearly have a “secular purpose” but are unconstitutional and must be removed.

ANALYSIS: Discovery Institute explains intelligent design

SEATTLE (BP)--The theory of intelligent design is in the news right now, but some of the purportedly factual descriptions of the theory being offered by reporters are highly inaccurate. Part of the reason for this is that some reporters are citing as fact partisan descriptions of design theory offered by anti-design groups such as the ACLU.

I.D. pivotal in philosopher’s turn from atheism

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Christian apologist Gary Habermas had just finished debating noted British atheist Antony Flew about the existence of God and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

PBS station bans I.D. documentary

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (BP)—"Unlocking the Mystery of Life," a science documentary about intelligent design, has been banned by a local PBS station in Albuquerque, N.M., according to the Discovery Institute's Center for Science and Culture.

ACLU & AU sue school board over intelligent design
n I.D. proponents argue some features of the natural world are result of cause rather than evolution

DOVER, Pa. (BP)–A federal lawsuit filed Dec. 14 contends that “intelligent design,” if presented in public school science classes, will violate students’ religious liberty by promoting particular religious beliefs under the guise of science education.

Super Bowl Evangelism

Super Bowl Host Committee interns meet challenge

JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—For both Eva Wolever and Zac Gorley, the idea of interning with the Super Bowl Host Committee wasn’t exactly his or her idea of doing student missions. For one, it wasn’t summer and Jacksonville wasn’t exactly next door to either of their home states of Washington or Oklahoma. In addition, instead of a lengthy application approval process, each had just days to decide whether to accept that challenge then to pack up and head out towards Jacksonville.

March for Jesus Jan. 29 in JAX

JACKSONVILLE (FBW)–The “Super March for Jesus,” a free celebration open to the public, kicks off Jan. 29 at 11 a.m.

Tsunami

Showing God’s love to tsunami survivors with food, Bibles
When their Bibles ‘washed out to sea’

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (BP)--”Southern Baptists are committed to serving Sri Lankans for the time it takes to make a significant difference in their lives,” a Southern Baptist assessment team member assured.

Christian Citizenship

Broward, Miami-Dade set March 8 slots vote

FORT LAUDERDALE/MIAMI (FBW) – Voters in Broward and Miami-Dade counties will be asked to consider a referendum in each county to permit Las Vegas-style slot machines at seven pari-mutuel facilities after both county commissions approved separate deals with the pari-mutuels and agreed to add the measure to the March 8 ballot.

U.S. Supreme court refuses to hear appeal in Bush v. Schiavo

WASHINGTON (FBW)–The U.S. Supreme Court denied an appeal by Florida Governor Jeb Bush Jan. 24 to overturn a decision by the Florida Supreme Court which ruled “Terri’s Law” unconstitutional last September.

Federal judge Upholds DOMA, dismisses ‘gay marriage’ case

TAMPA (BP)—In the first ruling of its kind a federal judge upheld the Defense of Marriage Act Jan. 19, dismissing a case brought by a lesbian couple that had sought to have their Massachusetts marriage license recognized in Florida.

Media Montage

God’s sovereignty, human responsibility explored in book

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)–Scripture affirms that God is absolutely sovereign over His creation. Yet, human beings make choices every day, and God holds them morally responsible for these choices.

New study explores church health

NEW ORLEANS (BP)–For some 20 years, a disturbing statistic has left its mark on Southern Baptists –70 percent of Southern Baptist churches are plateaued or declining. A new study now has examined whether the statistic remains true.

Bible Study

Family Bible Study

FEBRUARY 6: If God really loves me
Hosea 1:2-11; 3:1-5

Wiley Richards is a retired professor of theology and philosophy at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville.

February 13: How much does sin cost?
Hosea 4:1-9, 5:13-15

Wiley Richards is a retired professor of theology and philosophy at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville.

Explore the Bible

February 6: Jesus will return
Luke 21:7-11, 25-28, 34-36

Steve Smartt is pastor of Moultrie Baptist Church in St. Augustine.

February 13: Jesus’ ministry continues
Luke 22:14-22, 41-44, 66-71

Steve Smartt is pastor of Moultrie Baptist Church in St. Augustine.