In the Witness this week

Florida Baptists bring help & hope in wake of killer tornadoes LAUREN URTEL Florida Baptist Convention Published February 8, 2007: LADY LAKE (FBC)?Within hours after killer tornadoes slammed into Central Florida Feb. 2, Florida Baptist Disaster Relief and Recovery teams were mobilized with chainsaws in hand to help victims. The storm cell that spurned a possible five tornadoes left 20 people dead and four counties in a state of emergency.

BP photo by Bob Carey

Dungy proud of 'Christian values' At NFL pinnacle, Dungy points to God Published February 8, 2007: MIAMI (BP)?Tony Dungy closed out a soggy night riding the back of his players with his fists clinched, pointing to the sky, after his Indianapolis Colts captured Super Bowl XLI, 29-17, over the Chicago Bears Sunday night in Miami.
Gov. Crist supports 'ethical' stem cell research Published February 8, 2007: TAMPA (FBW)?Gov. Charlie Crist announced Jan. 31 a state budget recommendation of $20 million to create the Stem Cell Research Grant Program at the University of South Florida College of Medicine to explore "ethical" treatments and cures for diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, as well as spinal cord injuries, reversing a campaign position in which Crist supported funding embryonic stem cell research.
IMB appoints 43 new missionaries to 'look, love & live' for Christ Published February 8, 2007: HIGHLANDS, Calif. (BP)?While walking in a small town in Thailand years ago, Richard Blount spotted some Buddhists entering a temple and sensed his first heart-tug for missions.
IMB board rejects Burleson's allegations of impropriety Published February 8, 2007: ONTARIO, Calif. (SBT)?International Mission Board trustees meeting Jan. 31 re-affirmed a cooperative commitment to honor their responsibilities and accountability to the Southern Baptist Convention, rejecting charges of impropriety by IMB trustee Wade Burleson of Oklahoma.

Opinion

Editorial

In praise of Governor Crist (and Speaker Rubio) JAMES A. SMITH SR. Executive Editor: Contrary to the fears of Tallahassee pro-life leaders?and to the consternation of embryonic stem cell research advocates?Florida Gov. Charlie Crist announced Jan. 31 that he would not support legislative efforts to provide state funding for embryonic stem cell research (ESC), in spite of campaign pledges to favor such efforts. Crist's reversal was a huge surprise to both sides of the debate, but it wasn't exactly a change in position. Crist has proposed in his budget $20 million of state funds for stem cell research from non-embryonic sources-other than embryonic stem cell lines in existence in August 2001 when President George W. Bush issued a ban on federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. (For more on Crist's announcement, see page one.)
Congrats, Coach Dungy! JAMES A. SMITH SR. Executive Editor: I'm not an Indianapolis Colts fan?after all, they're in the same division as our Jacksonville Jaguars. So, while it's tough to root for the Colts, I am a Tony Dungy fan.

Point of View

'Make-believers' find a new 'Christ' in Cruise DON WALTON Time for Truth Ministries: In this day of rampant relativism, when everyone is encouraged to make up their own truth and no one is permitted to criticize another's concocted convictions, feelings have replaced facts as the foundation of faith. In other words, whatever you feel good about believing is "truth" enough, regardless of whether or not it flies in the face of facts and logic. Everyone is now free to make up their own beliefs, as well as their own "facts" in support of them. Consequently, today's world is becoming increasingly populated by "make-believers"; that is, people who believe what they or others have made-up. On the other hand, real believers?people who believe in real things?are becoming increasingly scarce.
What are we to do about Islam? MIKE LICONA Baptist Press: In the spring of 2006, 1,000 British Muslims were polled. The results were alarming:
Judges deem Constitution 'fluid' KEN CONNOR Baptist Press: Every year since 1973, millions of Americans have paused to remember the day when new words entered the American vocabulary. Words fraught with ambiguity, like "the right of personal privacy." Euphemisms, like "terminate one's pregnancy." Obscure phrases, like "the penumbras of the Bill of Rights." January after January we take time to remember these words and the carnage they have caused.
Loosing the chains of injustice: The 2007 Wilberforce award CHARLES COLSON Breakpoint: Each year since 1989 Prison Fellowship has given the William Wilberforce Award to that one person who has made a substantial difference in the face of formidable societal problems. As I mentioned last week, this year marks the two-hundredth anniversary of William Wilberforce's great achievement, the abolition of the slave trade, the story told beautifully in the major film to be released next month, Amazing Grace. So when the award was announced earlier this month, it was difficult to imagine a recipient more suited to it than Gary Haugen, founder of the International Justice Mission and champion of the ongoing struggle to end human trafficking.

Florida

Florida News

Florida Baptists bring help & hope in wake of killer tornadoes: LADY LAKE (FBC)?Within hours after killer tornadoes slammed into Central Florida Feb. 2, Florida Baptist Disaster Relief and Recovery teams were mobilized with chainsaws in hand to help victims. The storm cell that spurned a possible five tornadoes left 20 people dead and four counties in a state of emergency.
Chicago Bears' Lovie Smith puts God 'in the center': MIAMI (BP)?Lovie Smith had a limited amount of time during his Super Bowl XLI media session Monday, but the Chicago Bears head coach said he could spend hours talking about his star players and their efforts to get the team to their first Super Bowl berth in 21 years.
Gov. Crist supports 'ethical' stem cell research: TAMPA (FBW)?Gov. Charlie Crist announced Jan. 31 a state budget recommendation of $20 million to create the Stem Cell Research Grant Program at the University of South Florida College of Medicine to explore "ethical" treatments and cures for diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, as well as spinal cord injuries, reversing a campaign position in which Crist supported funding embryonic stem cell research.
Dungy proud of 'Christian values' At NFL pinnacle, Dungy points to God: MIAMI (BP)?Tony Dungy closed out a soggy night riding the back of his players with his fists clinched, pointing to the sky, after his Indianapolis Colts captured Super Bowl XLI, 29-17, over the Chicago Bears Sunday night in Miami.
Tornadoes kill three of Paisley Baptist congregation: PAISLEY (FBW)?First Baptist Church in Paisley is grieving the loss of three in its church family. Billy Nolan, 37, and his son, Jacob Nolan, 7, and David Downing, 15, were killed when tornadoes destroyed their families' homes in the early morning hours of Feb. 2.
Miami youth pastor leads teens in highrise ministry: MIAMI (BP)?For Miami pastor Art Salcedo, Super Bowl XLI was a golden opportunity to make inroads to his fast-changing community.

Florida News Briefs

Mom and Me Getaway 2007 in March
Extraordinary Marriage Weekend set

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 appoints 43 new missionaries to 'look, love & live' for Christ: HIGHLANDS, Calif. (BP)?While walking in a small town in Thailand years ago, Richard Blount spotted some Buddhists entering a temple and sensed his first heart-tug for missions.
IMB board rejects Burleson's allegations of impropriety: ONTARIO, Calif. (SBT)?International Mission Board trustees meeting Jan. 31 re-affirmed a cooperative commitment to honor their responsibilities and accountability to the Southern Baptist Convention, rejecting charges of impropriety by IMB trustee Wade Burleson of Oklahoma.
IMB strategies 'floundering,' more missionaries needed: ONTARIO, Calif. (SBT)?International Mission Board chairman John Floyd of Tennessee had a personal question to ask of the 79 trustees who gathered Jan. 29-31 in Ontario, Calif., as they imagined a day when all unreached people groups are engaged with the Gospel.
Arrests in racial killings help heal social wounds If Till bill passes more lawbreakers will face 'bar of justice,' Sykes says: JACKSON, Miss. (BP)?As a 71-year-old man faces prosecution in connection with the violent deaths of two black teenagers nearly 43 years ago, Southern Baptist ethicist Richard Land said the phrase "justice delayed is justice denied" is unduly pessimistic.
NFL clarifies Super Bowl party policy?somewhat: NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)?When the National Football League pressured an Indianapolis church to cancel its Super Bowl party several days before the big game, many churches nationwide followed suit and axed their own party plans. Other churches, though, accommodated the NFL rules and went ahead with their functions.

Features

Bible Study

Family Bible Study

February 11: Something You Must Do John 3:1-8, 13-18: Wiley Richards is a retired professor of theology and philosophy at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville.
February 18: Like Father, Like Son John 5:17-23, 36-42, 46-47: Wiley Richards is a retired professor of theology and philosophy at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville.

Explore the Bible

February 11: Satanic Strategy and Godly Response Esther 3-4: Mark Rathel is professor of theology at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville.
February 18: Haman: From Rapture to Rage to Ruin Esther 5-7: Mark Rathel is professor of theology at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville.