DIAMOND – Early, before the summer humidity takes hold, Noah Brown, 96, is out in his workshop tinkering with his latest project. His wife Thelma, 97, knows he needs the daily activity and besides, his piddling gets him out of the house for a little while so she can focus on her important task – whipping up something tasty for whichever grandkid or great-grandkid decides to stop by that day. Their deteriorating eyesight might keep them from driving, but the Browns don’t mind. They love … [Read more...]
Eight things the Supremes will never change
Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court may change American culture through their opinions that overrule the legality of an opinion expressed by the majority of a state’s population. Or their opinions may be the culmination of a movement to redefine marriage and normative sexual behavior. However, there are some things that do not change and will never change no matter what their black-robed opinions may imply to the general population. God remains who He is. His opinion about His creation … [Read more...]
Mental health issues garner SBC attention
Barbara Denman/Baptist Press HOUSTON (BP) – During a year when mass shootings and suicides have stunned the nation, a resolution on “Mental Health Concerns and the Heart of God” was overwhelmingly approved by messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention’s (SBC)June 11-12 annual meeting in Houston. The resolution offered by the SBC Committee on Resolutions sought to “affirm, support and share God’s love and redemption” while opposing “all stigmatization and prejudice” to those with mental … [Read more...]
The Supreme Court’s ruling against DOMA: a pit stop, not the finish line
Last week the Supreme Court ruled in United States v. Windsor that section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional. For all purposes of Federal laws, section 3 defined marriage as a union between one man and one woman. The case arose in New York, under the law of which same-sex couples may enter a status that New York defined as marriage. Ms Windsor, a resident of New York, was the beneficiary of her deceased same-sex spouse's sizeable estate. Under Federal tax law as … [Read more...]
From grief to hope in Jesus
JEFFERSON CITY – Speaking on the topic from the pulpit for the first time, Frank Page discussed the death of his 32-year-old daughter during Father’s Day services at Concord Baptist Church here. Page, the president and chief executive officer of the Southern Baptist Executive Committee, said that while it was difficult for him to recount the trying period in his life, he hoped it would shed light on the problem of suicide in the church and point those struggling to the only source of hope … [Read more...]
Dual Supreme Court decisions; waiting on the other shoe to drop
R. Albert Mohler Jr/president, Southern Seminary LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP) – On the last day of its term, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled today on two same-sex marriage cases. Both are important cases, and both will go far in redefining the most basic institution of human civilization. The court knew it was making history. A majority of the justices clearly intended to make history, and future generations will indeed remember this day. But for what? In the first decision handed down today, the … [Read more...]
Supreme Court decisions do not end marriage debate
JEFFERSON CITY - Decisions June 26 by the U.S. Supreme Court regarding California’s Proposition 8 and a key provision in the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) do not sound the death knell for the marriage debate, according to John Yeats, executive director of the Missouri Baptist Convention. The Court let stand a lower court ruling setting aside Prop 8, which California voters enacted in 2008 barring same-sex unions. Prop 8 is similar to laws in more than 30 other states. The court … [Read more...]
DON HINKLE: Reflecting on Houston, homosexuality, RU-486
Some random thoughts on a variety of subjects as we enter the summer of 2013: Three thoughts come to mind as I reflect on this year’s Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) annual meeting in Houston June 11-12. 1. The low attendance. Barely 5,000 messengers showed up and the question everyone wants answered is why? The SBC surveys messengers to gauge their feelings about various aspects of the meeting. It may be awhile before we have that data, but I am sure it will be studied closely. I … [Read more...]
Gov. Nixon vetoes ‘anti-Sharia’ bill
JEFFERSON CITY (BP) – Missouri’s governor vetoed legislation June 3 that some were calling an anti-Sharia law bill, keeping Missouri from becoming the seventh state to prohibit judges from considering foreign laws – including Islamic law – in their decisions. The legislation, Senate Bill (SB) 267, passed both chambers in May to create a Civil Liberties Defense Act mandating that any court, arbitration, tribunal or administrative agency ruling would be unenforceable if based on a foreign … [Read more...]
Pro-life bills finish strong as session ends at Capitol
JEFFERSON CITY – Pro-life issues gained considerable ground during the 2013 session of Missouri’s General Assembly which ended May 17. In its final week, the Legislature passed House Bill 400 (HB 400) which requires the same safety features for chemical abortions as exist for surgical abortions; that is, a medical doctor with hospital privileges must be physically present in the room when a woman takes the medication to abort her baby. Kerry Messer, lobbyist for Missouri Baptist … [Read more...]
Learning from Diocletian: Christians in the military
My friend, historian and author Bill Federer, reminded me in his May 1 “American Minute” series that one of the greatest periods of persecution against Christians occurred in the third century AD under the Roman Emperor Diocletian. Following a series of battlefield losses to the Persians, his generals blamed the setbacks on Romans not worshipping their pagan gods. Consequently Diocletian launched a reign of terror on Christianity, starting with the military which he ordered to worship Roman … [Read more...]
Race to kill gambling bill nears finish line
JEFFERSON CITY – With just days remaining in this year’s General Assembly, Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) churches are being urged to contact their state senators and ask them to vote against House Bill 747 (HB 747). HB 747 was sponsored by Rep. Dwight Scharnhorst, R-St. Louis. Its purpose is to permit casinos to accept credit cards and other credit instruments from gamblers in exchange for chips, tokens, or electronic tokens that can be used to continue their gambling after their cash … [Read more...]