In the Witness this week

Jeb Bush: Gambling expansion to fix deficit ‘grave mistake’
In exclusive Witness interview, former governor says gambling not ‘unstoppable’
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published April 3, 2008

MIAMI (FBW)—If the Sunshine State had a mission statement it should be “Florida is a family-friendly, wholesome, prosperous place” and “gambling doesn’t have a part in that,” former Gov. Jeb Bush told Florida Baptist Witness in an exclusive interview.

Orlando science teacher says academic freedom bill ‘extremely important’
Legislature apologizes for slavery; abortion bill approved by House panel
By JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published April 3, 2008

TALLAHASSEE (FBW)—Although a Senate committee gave approval March 26 to legislation intended to protect academic freedom of teachers and students regarding evolution, the action was only a “small hurdle” and long odds remain against the bill becoming law, according to Florida Baptist Convention legislative consultant Bill Bunkley.

Teens at risk as permissive sex yields STD epidemic
Florida physician confirms 'tragic stories' of one in four girls infected nationwide
Published April 3, 2008

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)-Teenage girls particularly are at risk amid the permissive sex attitudes American culture has propagated for decades, leading to an epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases, a Southern Baptist physician told Baptist Press.

Opinion

Editorial

'Red-letter' hermeneutic harms homosexuals
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor

A Baptist ethics professor's column last week offers what is essentially a red-letter hermeneutic to deal with the controversial issue of homosexuality: Just look to the words of Jesus in the Gospels where He is supposedly silent on the matter and where love of neighbor is the controlling ethic for Christians.

Point of View

The source of biblical authority: Part 1
DAVID S. DOCKERY
Baptist Press

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first of five articles by David S. Dockery, president of Union University in Jackson, Tenn., on the authority of the Bible. The five articles were published as one article in the February 2008 issue of SBC Life, journal of the Southern Baptist Convention (www.sbclife.org).

Spirited and Christ-like climate debate
FRANK PAGE
Baptist Press

Recently, Southern Baptists’ attention has been focused on media reports which relate to the release of and the signing of a document titled, “Southern Baptists Environment and Climate Initiative.” Seldom have I seen such a reaction. Part of this has been slightly humorous.

‘They want Jesus instead’: Why Muslims convert

As you celebrated Easter, did you notice anything—or anyone—unusual?

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor
Published April 3, 2008

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.

Cartoon

Cartoon

Florida

Florida News

Florida Campers on Mission largest national chapter

MARIANNA (FBC)—In campgrounds across the state, over 400 Florida Baptists participate in evangelistic outreach through Campers on Mission each year sharing their faith as they go.

Miami Baptists hope to spark missions involvement with Brazil partnership

MIAMI (FBC)—Miami churches are reaching out across continents with an expectation of bringing a renewed excitement for missions at home with a three-year missions partnership with the Baptist churches of Manaus, Brazil.

Dade County African American churches bridge cultures to begin Hispanic works

DADE COUNTY (FBW)-Two Dade County Baptist churches, both predominantly African-American, recently started new Spanish-speaking congregations. Both new ministries grew out of the hearts of the churches' pastors who sensed a need to expand their churches' reach to the Hispanic families in their neighborhoods.

Brooksville Bible Quiz team shines in regional competition

BROOKSVILLE (FBW)—A team of youth Bible scholars from First Baptist Church in Brooksville will compete April 25-26 in Jacksonville in hopes of continuing their Bible Quiz winning streak in their Florida championship. The team of four and an alternate member took top honors in the Lakeland regional competition of the Word of Life Bible Quiz Blitz Challenge Feb. 23.

Middle Florida churches join resources to reach the community

MADISON (FBC)—Coming together to reach Madison County, the churches of the Middle Florida Baptist Association found that working cooperatively they could do more for the Kingdom of God.

Friendship Church is Malone’s 2008 Citizen of the Year

MALONE (FBW)—The City of Malone has selected Friendship Baptist Church as its 2008 Citizen of the Year in honor of the 250-member congregation’s ministries in the Jackson County community located just south of the Alabama state line.

Seminary recognizes McGregor Baptist as Church of Excellence

NEW ORLEANS (NOBTS)—McGregor Baptist Church in Fort Myers has been recognized as a “Church of Excellence” by the Leavell Center for Evangelism and Church Health and the Baptist Center for Theology and Ministry at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

Helicopter transports FBC Orlando pastor to new satellite campus

Indian Rocks church honors Charlie Martin for 37 years

LARGO (FBW)—Heralding the guest of honor as “not only my father who happens to be a preacher, but also my preacher who happens to be my father,” Christian Martin delivered an emotional thanks to his dad March 9 at a two-hour Sunday morning worship service at First Baptist Church of Indian Rocks.

Legislature Watch

Orlando science teacher says academic freedom bill ‘extremely important’
Legislature apologizes for slavery; abortion bill approved by House panel

TALLAHASSEE (FBW)—Although a Senate committee gave approval March 26 to legislation intended to protect academic freedom of teachers and students regarding evolution, the action was only a “small hurdle” and long odds remain against the bill becoming law, according to Florida Baptist Convention legislative consultant Bill Bunkley.

Florida News Briefs

Baptist History and Heritage Society seeks entries for research award

Beyond the first visit conf. May 1

Unleash the power of Sunday School

Simple Church seminar May 29

JAX LifeWay store celebrates grand opening

Fifteen new churches start in February

National

National News

Jena, Louisiana embraces ‘whatever God wants’

JENA, La. (BP)—Jena’s revival continues and was in its fifth week March 20.

Marijuana a ‘gateway drug,’ former user testifies

LAFAYETTE, Ga. (BP)—Ryan Drennon, a Southern Baptist layman, can testify to the dangers of marijuana from firsthand experience, and now he is warning youth to stay away from the destructive drug and to make commitments to purity despite peer pressure.

Arkansas & Missouri Baptists respond to floods

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (BP)—Arkansas Baptists have been known for their disaster relief feeding teams and chainsaw teams that offer aid following tornadoes, hurricanes, ice storms and other disasters. But they have no mud-out teams to call on when their state is inundated with flooding.

Judge dismisses suit against Southwestern

FORT WORTH, Texas (BP)—A federal judge has ruled in favor of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and its president, Paige Patterson, in a lawsuit by a former theology professor who claimed she was wrongly dismissed from a tenure-track position because she is a woman.

Teens at risk as permissive sex yields STD epidemic
Florida physician confirms 'tragic stories' of one in four girls infected nationwide

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)-Teenage girls particularly are at risk amid the permissive sex attitudes American culture has propagated for decades, leading to an epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases, a Southern Baptist physician told Baptist Press.

National News Briefs

Mohler tumor not cancerous

McKissic, Burleson lead ‘Antioch Network’

Features

Gambling with Florida

Jeb Bush: Gambling expansion to fix deficit ‘grave mistake’
In exclusive Witness interview, former governor says gambling not ‘unstoppable’

MIAMI (FBW)—If the Sunshine State had a mission statement it should be “Florida is a family-friendly, wholesome, prosperous place” and “gambling doesn’t have a part in that,” former Gov. Jeb Bush told Florida Baptist Witness in an exclusive interview.

Concerns raised about new gambling boom
Florida gambling ‘predatory,’ House Speaker Rubio says

TALLAHASSEE (FBW)—A gambling boom has come to the Sunshine State—starting in 2004 and escalating in the last year—with proponents promising economic development and new government revenues in a time of shrinking tax collections resulting from an uncertain economy.

Major gambling developments since 2004

New life for daughter, wife, mom against all odds

WEST PALM BEACH (FBW)—Looking into her eight-year old daughter’s brown eyes, Elisa stumbled for the words to answer why her little girl’s daddy doesn’t live with them anymore.

The biblical case against gambling

The only direct reference to gambling activity in the Bible occurs in the Gospel accounts of the Roman soldiers casting lots for possession of the garments of Jesus (Matt. 27:35; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:34; John 19:24). Although the Bible lacks a direct commandment against gambling, Scripture does express a negative view of activities associated with gambling. Moral and ethical principles derived from the biblical text reveal that gambling contradicts God’s standards.

Bases bíblicas contra el juego

La única referencia directa sobre el juego de azar que aparece en la Biblia se encuentra en el relato de los evangelios, cuando los soldados romanos echaron suertes para quedarse con las vestimentas de Jesús (Mateo 27:35; Marcos 15:24; Lucas 23:34; Juan 19:24). Aunque en la Biblia no aparece un mandamiento directo contra el juego, las Escrituras expresan un punto de vista negativo hacia las actividades asociadas con el mismo. Principios éticos y morales sacados del texto bíblico revelan que el juego contradice el designio de Dios.

Gambling Resources

Media Montage

Of marriage, love & sex: Creating a family legacy
Part inspiration, part instruction, pastor Gary Crawford reveals what he’s learned in 37 years of marriage & 30 years in ministry

GAINESVILLE (FBW)–At first Gary Crawford figured he would write a book along the lines of sharing in “the best of life in some of the most difficult of times,” drawing from his wife’s now eight-year struggle with multiple myeloma.

Bible Study

Bible Studies for Life

April 13: Exploring Devotion
Genesis 22:1-14, 17-18

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

April 20: Exploring perseverance
Genesis 26:1-3, 6, 12-22

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

Explore the Bible

April 13: The Lord was with him
Genesis 39

Mark Rathel is professor of theology at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville.

April 20: Forgotten by men but not forgotten by God
Genesis 40

Mark Rathel is professor of theology at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville.