In the Witness this week

A ‘myth that seems to never die’ might hurt marriage amendment Published January 19, 2006: ORLANDO (FBW)–Passing out petitions aimed at getting a voter initiative on the ballot or hosting a voter registration drive at church is not only legal, but is a natural result of a church which teaches “basic, biblical moral issues,” a legal expert says.
QB facing college challenges grounded in Christ Tebow’s commitment to honoring God supersedes his athletic success Published January 19, 2006: JACKSONVILLE (FBC)–Living with acclaim and accolades could easily overwhelm an 18-year-old recruited by the nation’s top college football teams. His decision to commit to the University of Florida recently pre-empted local television news programming and created a media frenzy throughout the nation.
IMB trustees seek removal of trustee Burleson Published January 19, 2006: RICHMOND, Va. (BP)–Trustees of the International Mission Board have initiated an action to ask the Southern Baptist Convention to remove one of their members.

Opinion

Editorial

AWOL in the ‘battle to preserve the family’? JAMES A. SMITH SR. Executive Editor: James Dobson has a stark warning about “gay marriage” for Christians in America: “This is the climactic moment in the battle to preserve the family, and future generations hang in the balance.”

Point of View

Ethical reasons, rationale behind annual church audits JOHN SULLIVAN executive director-treasurer Florida Baptist Convention: About this time of year, all of us begin thinking about closing out the prior year; getting tax materials together and determining whether we have overpaid or underpaid our taxes. We make the adjustments; pay the taxes and say, “Thank God I am an American!”
Desert sunset’s brilliance prompts memories of journey 25 years ago JONI B. HANNIGAN Managing Editor: Following a large Penske moving truck through the mountains in central Arizona, I was startled by the bright orange, red and yellow glow beginning to move down a cactus-covered hill on my right.
BREAKPOINT: Why bad law sometimes has to go CHARLES COLSON Breakpoint: More than 40 years ago, on August 28, 1963, a quarter million people gathered in front of the Lincoln Memorial. They marched here for the cause of civil rights. And that day they heard Martin Luther King Jr. deliver his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, a speech in which he challenged America to fulfill her promise.

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor Published January 19, 2006: 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.

Florida

Florida News

QB facing college challenges grounded in Christ Tebow’s commitment to honoring God supersedes his athletic success: JACKSONVILLE (FBC)–Living with acclaim and accolades could easily overwhelm an 18-year-old recruited by the nation’s top college football teams. His decision to commit to the University of Florida recently pre-empted local television news programming and created a media frenzy throughout the nation.
Students walk USF campus with eternity in mind: TAMPA (FBC)–Debunking the myth that evangelism is the duty of preachers and religious leaders, students on the campus of Tampa’s University of South Florida are taking personal responsibility for sharing the Gospel with fellow classmates.
New starts join FBC: JACKSONVILLE (FBC)–According to a report released by the Florida Baptist Convention’s Church Planting Department, Florida Baptists started seven new churches in December 2005.
Correction:

Florida Marriage Amendment

A ‘myth that seems to never die’ might hurt marriage amendment: ORLANDO (FBW)–Passing out petitions aimed at getting a voter initiative on the ballot or hosting a voter registration drive at church is not only legal, but is a natural result of a church which teaches “basic, biblical moral issues,” a legal expert says.
Why does Florida need a marriage amendment?: TALLAHASSEE (BP)–Conservatives in Florida are gathering signatures with the goal of placing a state constitutional marriage amendment on the ballot in 2006. Their deadline (late January) is fast approaching. Following are a list of some commonly asked questions, with answers.
Three ways to conduct an effective petition drive in your church
Collecting marriage amendment petitions ‘easily do-able’ says movement initiator: LAKELAND (FBW)–”My hope is that we don’t look in our rear view mirror and say, ‘We should have done that,’” said Lakeland pastor Jay Dennis of the approaching deadline for petitions to get the Florida Marriage Protection Amendment before the state’s voters. Florida Baptists, along with thousands of other Christians in Florida, have been given a deadline of Jan. 23 to have petitions mailed in to a collection center at First Baptist Church in Orlando.
Marriage’s importance emphasized by Union faculty: JACKSON, Tenn. (BP)–The declining esteem with which people hold marriage is detrimental to society, and it is the responsibility of the church to address the issue, Union University faculty members said in sessions held at First Baptist Church in Jackson, Tenn.

Florida News Briefs

Lowery teaches conference
Ministry assistants convene

Florida Focus

Florida Focus: A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version.

National

National News

IMB trustees seek removal of trustee Burleson: RICHMOND, Va. (BP)–Trustees of the International Mission Board have initiated an action to ask the Southern Baptist Convention to remove one of their members.
IMB trustees focus on theological education, statistics: RICHMOND, Va. (BP)–International Mission Board leaders reaffirmed their commitment to theological education overseas during the Jan. 9-11 board of trustees meeting in Richmond, Va., saying that discipleship and leadership training are essential to fulfilling the international missions task.
President Bush signs bill targeting sex trafficking: WASHINGTON (BP)–President Bush signed into law Jan. 10 a bill strengthening the campaign against worldwide trafficking in people, especially the effort to combat the sex trade in the United States.
One in four churches neglect Internet ministry potential: NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–One out of every four Protestant churches in the United States has virtually no involvement with the World Wide Web despite the emergence of the Internet as a leading communication medium in the 21st century, according to a new study conducted for LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Santorum, Dobson, Falwell speak at Justice Sunday III: PHILADELPHIA (BP)–Meeting in the city where America was founded, conservative leaders gathered in Philadelphia Jan. 8 to spotlight judicial activism and to demand an up-or-down vote on Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito.
Valentine, leader in racial reconciliation, dies at age 82 Texan led SBC moral concerns arm 27 years; Land notes Valentine’s significant place in SBC history: DALLAS (BP)–Foy Valentine, former executive director of the Southern Baptist Christian Life Commission (now the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission), died Jan. 7 at Baylor Medical Center in Dallas. Valentine, 82, was taken to the hospital after suffering a heart attack at home.
Intelligent Design forum features Dembski & FSU prof: MARIETTA, Ga. (BP)–An upcoming dialogue between a key Intelligent Design proponent and a Darwinian evolutionist from Florida State University reflects the fact that, “Our commitment to truth leads us to believe that we have nothing to fear from public discussion of important topics,” said Robert Stewart, associate professor of philosophy and theology at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

National News Briefs

Okla. pastor, EC member resigns after arrest
Pro-family groups target ‘Book of Daniel’ sponsors
Cable companies announce new ‘family tier’ channels
American Girl alternative enjoys sales boost
Alcohol ads contribute to teen drinking

Features

Sanctity of Human Life

Adoption: A lifeline for Lauren: BIRMINGHAM, Ala., (BP)–Over a decade ago, a video about the plight of children in orphanages sparked a passion in our hearts to extend a lifeline to an orphaned child. Carol and I resolved that our first child would be an orphan needing a Christian family. Our passion for adoption was a natural product of the pro-life, pro-family teaching that we received growing up in a Southern Baptist church.
Check it out!

Bible Study

Family Bible Study

January 22: Character matters Proverbs 4:23-27; 6:16-19; Matthew 15:16-20: Wiley Richards is a retired professor of theology and philosophy at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville.
January 29: Sexual purity matters Genesis 2:18, 21-25; Proverbs 5:15-20; Romans 13:11-14: Wiley Richards is a retired professor of theology and philosophy at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville.

Explore the Bible

January 22: Live as a godly neighbor Romans 13:1-10, 12b: Troy Bush is the minister of evangelism and missions at Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola.
January 29: Consider others Romans 14:1-12: Troy Bush is the minister of evangelism and missions at Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola.