Baptist Press Stories for Jul. 19 2012 --------------------------------------- Chick-fil-A, in nat'l media storm, swims against cultural tide http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38301 Baptist college: We'll defy gov't on mandate http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38295 SPORTS: NBA's Jeremy Lin now a Rocket http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38296 'Trust the trustees' editorial stirs responses http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38297 House panel OKs D.C. late-term abortion ban http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38300 BIBLE STUDY: Sunday, July 22, 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38294 MOVIES: Who do you hope to see in heaven? http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38299 FIRST-PERSON: God is at work in teen lives in Vt. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38302 --------------------------------------- Chick-fil-A, in nat'l media storm, swims against cultural tide By Michael Foust Jul. 19 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38301 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) -- In a day when companies such as General Mills, Nabisco, JC Penney and Target seemingly compete to appear the most supportive of gay marriage, Chick-fil-A and its biblically-based values stand out -- and the nation and media are noticing. [IMG=33078@right@350] As a company, Chick-fil-A takes no position on gay marriage, but comments Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy made to the Biblical Recorder newspaper -- in a [URL=http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38271]story[/URL] re-posted by Baptist Press -- have launched a media storm. The story, in which Cathy takes a biblical stance on the issue, has been mentioned on networks such as CNN and referenced by the Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Associated Press and Huffington Post, just to name a few. It quickly became the most-read story on Baptist Press' website for the year. The company issued a statement Thursday (July 19) telling its customers that "going forward, our intent is to leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government and political arena" and that its tradition is "to treat every person with honor, dignity and respect -- regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender." It also noted that it has applied "biblically-based principles" to business management and will continue to do so. There are more than 1,600 Chick-fil-A restaurants. Cathy's comments were tame from a biblical perspective and would have gone unnoticed had they been made by the pastor at his home congregation, New Hope Baptist Church in Fayetteville, Ga. Yet in the current environment in which celebrities and companies on a weekly basis make statements affirming gay marriage, Cathy's statements stood out. Asked about the company's support of the traditional family, Cathy said in the Biblical Recorder story, "Well, guilty as charged." "We are very much supportive of the family -- the biblical definition of the family unit," Cathy said. "We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that." [QUOTE@right@175='I'm gonna have to stop by there for spicy chicken sandwiches and a milkshake more often.' -- Glenn Stanton]Chick-fil-A's stores are closed on Sundays and the company, he said, "operate[s] on biblical principles." The media storm grew larger when a June 16 radio program was spotlighted in which Cathy underscored the need for children to have a mom and a dad. "As it relates to society in general, I think we are inviting God's judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at Him and say, 'We know better than You as to what constitutes a marriage,'" Cathy said on "The Ken Coleman Show." "I pray God's mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think that we would have the audacity to try to redefine what marriage is all about." The Los Angeles Times story carried a headline, "Chick-fil-A's anti-gay-marriage stance triggers online uproar." The Washington Post included an online poll asking readers, "Will you continue to eat at Chick-fil-A?" The Human Rights Campaign -- the nation's largest gay activist group -- posted a Chick-fil-A logo on its website with a fake tagline, "We Didn't Invent Discrimination. We Just Support It." It remains to be seen whether the controversy will harm Chick-fil-A, but the company likely will survive and might even pick up some new customers. That's partially because its base is passionate about its food and, for the most part, apparently appreciates its traditional stance. That Washington Post poll -- although not scientific -- showed that 66 percent of respondents say they'll continue eating at the restaurant. As of Thursday afternoon, more than 14,000 people had commented on Chick-fil-A's Facebook page, the majority of them supportive of the company. Families with young children are particularly fond of the restaurant because many of the locations have indoor playgrounds. The company also likely will thrive because its base remains in conservative states. Texas has the most Chick-fil-A restaurants at 262. Including Texas, five states have more than 100 restaurants, and they're all in the South. North Carolina, which has 143 Chick-fil-A restaurants, passed a constitutional marriage amendment in May defining marriage as between a man and a woman. By contrast, the entire state of New York has one Chick-fil-A restaurant. Washington state doesn't have any. Neither does Oregon. Or Vermont. This means that many of those calling for a boycott don't have a restaurant in their area to boycott -- and they've likely never been to a Chick-fil-A. After watching the uproar, Focus on the Family's Glenn T. Stanton, who often debates the issue of gay marriage and takes the traditional side, told Baptist Press, "I'm gonna have to stop by there for spicy chicken sandwiches and a milkshake more often." "We hear almost monthly of new major companies announcing their support for the gay community, regardless of what most of their customers want," Stanton said. "And here we have the CEO of a clearly on-the-record traditional values company simply saying he supports the traditional family and how tampering with it is contrary to God's will. And the split-second reaction from these activists is to slander him and his company in the press and blogosphere. It just takes one company taking an alternative position to make the gay activists and liberal press hit the ceiling. But that's where we are today." Stanton said the message by some opponents of Chick-fil-A apparently is, "Speak up for the natural, traditional family and we will come after you." "If you don't believe this," Stanton said, "just watch how Chick-fil-A will be treated in the coming months. They [Chick-fil-A's critics] are the new close-minded fundamentalists." Even in responding to the controversy July 19, Chick-fil-A mentioned its traditional roots. "From the day Truett Cathy started the company, he began applying biblically-based principles to managing his business," the company's statement said. "For example, we believe that closing on Sundays, operating debt-free and devoting a percentage of our profits back to our communities are what make us a stronger company and Chick-fil-A family. Our mission is simple: to serve great food, provide genuine hospitality and have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A." This year especially, Chick-fil-A's stance on traditional values stands out. In June, General Mills -- whose products include Cheerios, Pillsbury and Green Giant vegetables -- announced that it is opposing a Minnesota constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman. Voters will decide the issue in November. Also in June, Nabisco's Oreo brand posted on Facebook a picture of an Oreo cookie with six colorful layers representing the gay pride rainbow. The caption: "Proudly support love!" Target has sold gay pride T-shirts this year and recently began selling greeting cards with gay marriage themes. And JC Penney has placed pictures of gay dads in its catalogue. --30-- Michael Foust is associate editor of Baptist Press. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter ([URL=http://www.Twitter.com/BaptistPress]@BaptistPress[/URL]), Facebook ([URL=http://Facebook.com/BaptistPress]Facebook.com/BaptistPress [/URL]) and in your email ([URL=http://baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp] baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp[/URL]). -- End of story -- Baptist college: We'll defy gov't on mandate By Todd Starnes/Fox News & Commentary Jul. 19 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38295 NEW YORK (BP) -- The president of Louisiana College says his school's lawsuit against the health care law will go forward and vowed to defy the law even if the courts rule in favor of the Obama administration. [IMG=31972@right@130]Louisiana College, affiliated with the Louisiana Baptist Convention, filed suit against the federal government in February. The school believes the administration's mandate that religious employers provide insurance that covers abortion-inducing drugs, sterilization and contraceptives is unconstitutional. "If the government continues to say that we have to do this, we will not do it," Louisiana College President Joe Aguillard told Fox News. "There's going to be, in my opinion, a constitutional crisis. We're not going to do it." Aguillard's comments came one day after a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by seven states along with several religious plaintiffs who argued the mandate violated the rights of employers who object to the use of abortion-inducing drugs, sterilization and contraceptives. "People of faith shouldn't be punished by the government for following their beliefs when making decisions for themselves or their organizations," said Kevin Theriot, senior counsel for the Alliance Defending Freedom. The ADF is representing Louisiana College in its lawsuit. They claim the mandate violates the Religious Restoration Act as well as the First and Fifth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. "The sixth commandment says thou shall not murder," Aguillard said. "The government is imposing their religion of murder on us and I think it's time for the people of our country to wake up and stand together." Even if the courts rule against the college, Aguillard said, Louisiana College will not comply with the law. "I guess President Obama will have to come down to Louisiana College with whatever means they want to stop us," he said. "We are going to have, as we say in French, a tete-a-tete." The battle with the federal government has united the 106-year-old college, Aguillard added. "They can't imprison all of us," he said. "They can't fight all of us. We are greater than the Department of Justice." On Wednesday (July 18) Wheaton College, an evangelical school based in Illinois, joined the Catholic University of America in filing suit against the Obama administration. "In this case, we recognize we have common cause with the Catholic University of America and other Catholic institutions in defending religious liberty," Wheaton College President Philip Graham Ryken said on a conference call. "We're very clear on the sanctity of life, and this insurance mandate goes against our conscience," Ryken said. About two dozen lawsuits have been filed seeking to overturn the mandate. Aguillard told Fox News his school is basing its fight on "almighty God." "We're going to see where the Constitution stands with regard to religious freedom," he said. --30-- Todd Starnes is host of Fox News & Commentary, heard daily on Fox News Radio stations around the nation. He is the author of "Dispatches From Bitter America" and "They Popped My Hood and Found Gravy on the Dipstick." This article first appeared at [URL=http://www.toddstarnes.com]www.toddstarnes.com[/URL]. Used by permission. -- End of story -- SPORTS: NBA's Jeremy Lin now a Rocket By Lee Warren Jul. 19 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38296 PALO ALTO, Calif. (BP) -- Jeremy Lin was waived twice last December -- first by the Golden State Warriors and then by the Houston Rockets. [IMG=31953@left@150]This week, the player who had a hard time finding employment in the NBA learned that he was Houston-bound, since the New York Knicks would not match the three-year, $25.1 million contract offered by the Rockets. Lin -- whose outspoken comments about his faith won him fans in the Christian community -- already had a hunch that the Knicks were headed in another direction at the point guard position. Earlier in July, the team signed Jason Kidd. Then, on Sunday (July 15), according to Sports Illustrated, Lin read an online report that said the Knicks were pursuing Raymond Felton. That report turned out to be true, and New York signed Felton the following day. "Felton's signing was the first time when I thought, 'Oh, wow, I might not be a Knick,'" Lin told SI. The 23-year-old Lin took the sports world by storm last season, leading the Knicks to a seven-game winning streak that turned their season around. "Linsanity" was born. But Lin's season ended in late March with a torn meniscus in his left knee. That led to surgery in April. But the Rockets saw enough in the 35 games (14.6 points and 6.2 assists per game) Lin played for the Knicks to offer him the big contract. As much as he hated to say goodbye to the fans in New York, he took to Twitter to express how he felt about rejoining the Rockets. "Extremely excited and honored to be a Houston Rocket again!!" he tweeted. He also released a statement to let Knicks fans know how much he appreciated them and the time he spent with the team. "I loved this past year with the Knicks and truly appreciate the opportunity that New York gave me," Lin said. "The way the fans fully embraced me and our team was something I'll always cherish forever. It was an extraordinary and unforgettable time that was easily the best year of my life. "Now I am excited to be back with the Rockets. They made a very compelling pitch in terms of what I could bring to the team and for the city. I am also impressed with [Houston owner Leslie] Alexander and the management's commitment to improving the team. I'm excited about contributing to the Rockets winning tradition and competing with my new teammates." There is more to Lin, though, than big contracts and clutch buzzer beaters. Those who visit his Twitter page see his bio that says "to know Him is to want to know Him more." Lin is the son of Christian Taiwanese immigrants who settled in California. He became a Christian as a freshman in high school and matured in his faith while playing at Harvard from 2006-10. He was an active member of the Harvard-Radcliffe Asian American Christian Fellowship, meeting regularly with Adrian Tam, an InterVarsity campus staff member at the time. The two studied the Bible together and read books together. "First and foremost, he is a disciple of Christ," Tam told Baptist Press about Lin in February. "That becomes very evident from the beginning. When you meet him you don't think, 'Oh wow, this must be an important person.' He's very humble. In some ways, you might even think he downplays a lot of these things -- his intellect, his ability and all that." Tam said Lin's goal and quiet ambition was to be "not only the best basketball player he could be, but also to be the best Christ-follower he could be." Stephen Chen, Lin's pastor at Redeemer Bible Fellowship in Mountain View, Calif., described Lin's faith in a video interview with the Associated Press in February. "He loves the Gospel," Chen said. "He loves giving other people hope and showing them that life is more than riches. Faith is not something that is important to him, it's really who he is. "I think sometimes people want to label him as Chinese-American phenom, or as an underdog, but I think if you were to talk with him, he would probably say his identity is in Christ, first and foremost. And that is who he is." --30-- Lee Warren is a freelance writer and frequent Baptist Press contributor based in Omaha, Neb. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter ([URL=http://www.Twitter.com/BaptistPress]@BaptistPress[/URL]), Facebook ([URL=http://Facebook.com/BaptistPress]Facebook.com/BaptistPress [/URL]) and in your email ([URL=http://baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp] baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp[/URL]). -- End of story -- 'Trust the trustees' editorial stirs responses By Diana Chandler Jul. 19 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38297 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) -- An editorial written by a Southern Baptist Convention state newspaper editor has opened a dialogue on the role and accountability of the various boards of trustees governing SBC entities. In a July editorial, "Trust the trustees," North Carolina Biblical Recorder Editor K. Allan Blume encourages Southern Baptists to operate under the system of leadership established through boards of trustees governing LifeWay Christian Resources, the mission boards, GuideStone Financial Resources, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and the six SBC seminaries. Blume referenced LifeWay President and CEO Thom Rainer's response to a question a messenger raised at the 2012 SBC annual meeting, writing that Rainer's statement was worth repeating. Rainer was responding to a messenger's inquiry about LifeWay's decision-making process in choosing which books, videos and other products to sell. For instance, LifeWay this year chose to continue selling the New International Version 2011 Bible, and chose to discontinue selling the movie "The Blind Side." "You see, you Southern Baptists have elected 57 trustees to represent you at LifeWay. … They are pastors, educators, directors of missions, homemakers, businessmen, businesswomen and so on," Blume quoted Rainer as saying. "They have a common love for the Lord, the inerrancy of the Word of God and the commitment to you, the Southern Baptist Convention. They ask us the hard questions." Rainer continued, "They hold us accountable. ... Please allow us to be represented by your trustees, some of the greatest men and women I have ever known. How do we decide certain books? How do we decide certain videos? How do we decide what we do? It is your trustees who hold us accountable. Trust the trustees. That's how we make our decisions." Bart Barber, a trustee of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and pastor of First Baptist Church in Farmersville, Texas, posted on the Biblical Recorder's website a comment defending messengers' right to question trustees. "I do not think that anyone is out of line to ask the boards of trustees or the various entity administrations to explain themselves to the messengers and to answer our questions," Barber wrote. "I hope that LifeWay has a good uniform standard by which it makes decisions about what to sell and what not to sell. An entity that large in that particular business and with this particular constituency ought to have such a standard, approved by the trustees. "I just can't see any reason why that standard ought to be kept a secret from the messengers." Barber added, "'Trust the trustees'? Certainly. Great answer, just not to this particular question, which, as I understood it, attempted not at all to wrest power away from the trustees or control sales policy at LifeWay, but instead merely asked for a report of what document or principles underlie that policy." Barber pointed out he is in favor of selling the NIV 2011 Bible and The Blind Side. Bill Tomlinson, pastor emeritus of Arlington Baptist Church in Rocky Mount, N.C., responded to Blume by referencing the conservative resurgence the SBC experienced in the 1980s and 1990s. "As we struggled trying to bring about the conservative resurgence, the one argument we heard over and over again from those who opposed us was that we [should] 'trust the trustees,'" Tomlinson wrote on the Recorder's website. "If we had listened to them then, there would have been no conservative resurgence." In response, Blume defended Rainer. "I believe Dr. Rainer's comments were reflecting the fact that the resurgence is history," Blume wrote in a response supporting his editorial. "He implied that today, we not only have good conservatives serving as trustees, we also have a CEO at LifeWay who is a solid conservative. So, hopefully the trust levels should be high for our boards." In his editorial, Blume pointed out the importance of openness and trust in SBC dealings, encouraging messengers to work harmoniously. "Having worked within the process for several decades, I learned that most trustees are outstanding Baptist men and women," Blume wrote. "I've encountered a few who did not seem to fit. But they are in the minority. Most trustees are dedicated to the goals and mission of the entity. Their purpose is to make that entity effective in Kingdom work. Their desire for service is not motivated by prestige or power, but to see souls saved and lives changed. Board members give their valuable time without pay to offer wise counsel. Blanket accusations against boards or general statements critical of the leadership are counterproductive. "We are free to disagree, but we do not need to be disagreeable," Blume wrote. "Remember that the SBC is made up of an eclectic membership representing believers of diverse backgrounds, traditions and methodologies. Our commonality is set by parameters within the Baptist Faith & Message." Blume noted that trustees are elected to four-year terms and that no single trustee can control a board. Brent Hobbs, pastor of Severn Baptist Church in Severn, N.C., posted a comment emphasizing the integrity of the trustee system. "Unless some egregious instances surface, we should let the trustees determine what they sell and relax about it," Hobbs wrote. "If there becomes a pattern of irresponsibility, then some action can be taken at that point. If the Blind Side is the biggest problem -- then we really do have more important things to worry about." --30-- Diana Chandler is staff writer for Baptist Press. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter ([URL=http://www.Twitter.com/BaptistPress]@BaptistPress[/URL]), Facebook ([URL=http://Facebook.com/BaptistPress]Facebook.com/BaptistPress [/URL]) and in your email ([URL=http://baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp] baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp[/URL]). -- End of story -- House panel OKs D.C. late-term abortion ban By Tom Strode Jul. 19 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38300 WASHINGTON (BP) -- A congressional committee has approved a bill seeking to place a limitation on the District of Columbia's unfettered abortion policy. The House of Representatives Judiciary Committee voted 18-14 Wednesday (July 18) to send the District of Columbia Pain-capable Unborn Child Protection Act to the full chamber. The vote on H.R. 3803 came along party lines, with Republicans in the majority. The legislation would prohibit abortions in the District of Columbia at 20 weeks or more after fertilization based on evidence a baby in the womb experiences pain by that point. If enacted, it would provide a restriction in a jurisdiction that has legalized abortion throughout pregnancy until birth. In its findings, the bill points out the D.C. council "repealed all limitations on abortion at any stage of pregnancy" in 2004. Congress has authority over the District of Columbia under the U.S. Constitution. Southern Baptist ethicist Richard Land urged committee leaders in a July 18 letter to back the bill. "[I]t is alarming that Congress ... allows this heinous practice of aborting pain-capable unborn children to continue in the nation's capital," said Land, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. "This atrocious practice must be stopped." Douglas Johnson, legislative director of the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), said in a written statement, "A vote against this bill amounts to a vote to ratify the extreme policy currently in effect in the nation's capital.... Under the Constitution, members of Congress, and the President, are ultimately accountable for this extreme policy." Democrats on the committee proposed three amendments to the bill, but all met defeat. Seven states have similar pain-capable abortion bans, according to NRLC. --30-- Compiled by Baptist Press Washington bureau chief Tom Strode. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter ([URL=http://www.Twitter.com/BaptistPress]@BaptistPress[/URL]), Facebook ([URL=http://Facebook.com/BaptistPress]Facebook.com/BaptistPress [/URL]) and in your email ([URL=http://baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp] baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp[/URL]). -- End of story -- BIBLE STUDY: Sunday, July 22, 2012 By Staff/LifeWay Christian Resources Jul. 19 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38294 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) -- This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, LifeWay publishes Sunday School curriculum and additional resources for all age groups. This week's Bible study is adapted from the Explore the Bible curriculum. Bible Passage: Judges 6:1—8:21 Discussion Question: How can God use us to encourage others in spite of our weaknesses? Food for Thought: Christ tells us in Scripture that He is made perfect through our weakness. Hudson Taylor once wrote that, "All God's giants have been weak people." Think about Gideon, David and Abraham. God really does use our weaknesses to glorify Himself, and Brant Hansen, for one, is grateful for that. Hansen is a self-professed nerd. As a middle-schooler, he wore thick glasses because of a problem with his eyes. He worried about how he looked and whether girls liked him. He also suffers from Asperger syndrome, a mild form of autism, which means that it's difficult for him to recognize social cues, so he spent a lot of time in his "own little world." He accepted Christ when he was 12 because he was a preacher's kid and didn't want to go to hell. He's realized as he's deepened his relationship with Christ that being a Christian isn't just about not going to hell; it's about growing in Christ and loving Him. Now, as an adult, Hansen is a radio host whose broadcast affords him the opportunity to share the Gospel. "I know God has taken somebody who is so skeptical and socially awkward and put him in a place where he gets to speak for Him," Hansen says, "and I think it's because of my weaknesses honestly, and I am aware of it every day." How will you use your weaknesses to glorify God? Explore the Bible is an ongoing Bible study curriculum that helps groups dig into the key truths of each Bible book while keeping on pace to study through the entire Bible in eight years. The eight-year plan and more information can be found on the Internet at [URL=http://www.LifeWay.com/ExploreTheBible]www.LifeWay.com/ExploreTheBible[/URL]. Other ongoing Bible study options for all ages offered by LifeWay can be found at [URL=http://www.LifeWay.com]www.LifeWay.com[/URL]. --30-- Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter ([URL=http://www.Twitter.com/BaptistPress]@BaptistPress[/URL]), Facebook ([URL=http://Facebook.com/BaptistPress]Facebook.com/BaptistPress [/URL]) and in your email ([URL=http://baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp] baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp[/URL]). -- End of story -- MOVIES: Who do you hope to see in heaven? By Phil Boatwright Jul. 19 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38299 KANSAS CITY, Kan. (BP) -- Besides friends, family and foes, you would expect a film-buff Christian to be looking for movie stars in heaven, right? And I admit, I'm hoping for John Wayne and Elvis to also be there along with Abe Lincoln and Peter, Paul and Mary (the apostles and Jesus' mother, not the singing group, although I hope to see them too). There's, of course, another celeb I'm hoping for. I won't mention his name as I don't want to sound judgmental, but though an unabashed fan, I've read a lot about him that would suggest he did it too much his way. Perhaps you feel this same compassion for those who have entertained us throughout the years. When it comes to film personas from the past, we are especially affectionate. For instance, who didn't like Jimmy Stewart? It would be nice to see him up there, wouldn't it? Elvis recorded several Gospel albums and managed to incorporate a spiritual or two in most of his concerts. That's not something done by many rock-n-rollers. Newsman Sander Vanocur relayed a story about Elvis on a PBS special that spotlighted the entertainer's love of Gospel music. According to the journalist, the story goes that a group of girls at a Presley concert lifted up a huge banner that declared, "Elvis is King." It caught the performer's eye and he said to them and everybody else in attendance, "There's only one King, and that's Jesus Christ." Does such a public declaration reveal a person's place in Heaven? Well, you gotta give me, it's a hopeful indicator. ("Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven" -- Matthew 10:32.) As for the Duke, there are many examples of him reverencing the Creator and acknowledging Jesus as the Son of God. Even toward the end of his career when rating codes had slackened, enabling movie stars to profane God's name on screen, John Wayne never did. And in several films, including "Three Godfathers," "She Wore A Yellow Ribbon," "Operation Pacific," "The Cowboys," and "Chisum," he was seen either leading others in prayer or discussing God's authority. What's more, on the first day of filming "The Alamo," Wayne, who produced, directed and starred in the picture, had a minister on the set to pray over the production. On a segment of "The Dean Martin Show" in the mid-1960s, Wayne made a point of letting the audience know he would make sure his newly born daughter grew up guided by the Psalms and the Lord's Prayer. In the early 1970s, a televised interview showed Wayne gathered with his family at mealtime, Duke's youngest saying grace and ending it in "Jesus' name." I remember thinking, somebody taught that boy to pray in "Jesus' name." Is it a stretch to assume it was his dad? Certainly, it would be naïve to think we know a man by his carefully protected public image, but an acknowledgement of God must have been important to John Wayne for some reason. Since he didn't need to be reverential in order to maintain celebrity, could his reasoning be based on a spiritual awareness? After hearing Jimmy Stewart state in a TV appearance that he was grateful to God for his blessings, I then learned that he and his wife attended a Presbyterian church in Southern California. Of course, there are many people who attend church who have yet to accept Jesus as their Savior, but again, it's a pretty positive indicator when you see a major movie star attending a house of worship. Because most don't. Solomon wrote, "As water reflects the face, so a man's heart reveals the man" (Proverbs 27:19). I choose to believe the above actions reveal something about these men's take on things yet unseen. So, who do you want to meet in Heaven? Besides those we've known intimately, maybe you also tend toward seeing someone famous. Or, perhaps the first to come to mind are the disciples, or men or women renowned for sacrificing their lives for their faith. From an earthly perspective, those would be incredible moments. But I suspect that after standing before God and His Son, we'll look upon everyone in Heaven as special. They're special to our Creator. ("For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight," Ephesians 1:4.) He sees something special in each one of us. I'm looking forward to meeting everyone up there, including you. (Well, someday. Let's not rush this thing.) --30-- Phil Boatwright is celebrating 25 years of writing about Hollywood from a Christian perspective. Besides providing a monthly column for Baptist Press, he reviews films for [URL=http://www.previewonline.org]www.previewonline.org[/URL]. He also is a regular contributor to "The World and Everything In it," a weekly radio program from WORLD News Group, which also publishes WORLD Magazine. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter ([URL=http://www.Twitter.com/BaptistPress]@BaptistPress[/URL]), Facebook ([URL=http://Facebook.com/BaptistPress]Facebook.com/BaptistPress [/URL]) and in your email ([URL=http://baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp] baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp[/URL]). -- End of story -- FIRST-PERSON: God is at work in teen lives in Vt. By Terry Dorsett Jul. 19 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38302 BARRE, Vt. (BP) -- Parental suicide. Sexual molestation. Cutting. Drug addiction. Attempted suicide. Childhood brain tumor. Mother murdered. Bullying. Near fatal car accidents. Family member died of cancer. Family member battled cancer. Depression. Pill addiction. Many other problems too numerous to list. But one God who has the power to overcome it all. These were the stories of teens and young adults who gathered at Faith Community Church in Barre, Vt., one night in late June. As they do every Wednesday, young people played games, ate lots of food, hung out with friends and heard a challenging lesson from a caring youth worker. In this case, the teacher was Leo Dutil, a 20-year-old young man who grew up in the youth group and is now preparing to become a youth minister. After sharing from James 2 on why we should be joyful when difficulties come into our lives, he then invited those present to come to the front and share a testimony of a time in their lives when God was there for them in the midst of great difficulty. At first, it was awkwardly silent as the microphone laid on the podium waiting for someone to share their story of God's transforming grace. Then, one young lady came. Her story was painful, but God had been with her. Then another came. And another. A steady stream came to the front to share their story of pain, hurt and heartache and give God the glory for walking with them in difficult times. Nearly an hour later, when the Spirit was finished doing a deep work in the hearts of the nearly 100 young people present, the closing prayer was finally said. The stories were moving. The praise that God was given was nothing short of miraculous considering that most of the young people come from non-Christian homes. But it is evident that the Spirit is calling many to faith in Christ and He often speaks through pain and difficulty. One young lady, whose mother died when she was two and whose father committed suicide the following year, said, "I've been angry at God and I've tried running from Him. But I cannot get away from Him. He is always there. I need to run to Him, not away from Him." Another young person, one of the few who did grow up in a Christian home, said, "Outwardly I was living a happy Christian life, but inwardly I was lonely and miserable. I decided to kill myself and as I put the razor blade to my wrist, my older brother knocked on my door. He asked me to watch a Christian video and it changed my life." One young man said, "I was in a really bad car accident a few weeks ago. The car rolled over many times and I should have died. But someone kept me alive, I think it was God. Though I have never been religious, I'm coming to church now because I think I'm going to become religious." One young lady, whose siblings have bounced from foster home to foster home and whose biological family lost nearly everything they owned in a flood last year, said, "When you have lived the life I've lived, it is hard to believe in God because it does not seem like He has done much for you. But I know I need to believe because God is the only one who is always there for me." Though some churches may be struggling to reach young people, other churches are seeing waves of unchurched young adults come to faith in Jesus. God has not given up on this generation, and neither must we. God has a plan for these young adults. What a blessing to be the means through which the God of the universe chooses to work. The next generation is a mess. Jesus is the answer. Let's stop complaining about how few of them come to church and let's roll up our sleeves and get to work reaching them. --30-- Terry Dorsett serves as the director of the Green Mountain Baptist Association and is the bivocational pastor of Faith Community Church in Barre, Vt. For information, visit [URL=http://www.VermontBaptist.org]www.VermontBaptist.org[/URL]. Visit his blog at [URL=http://www.TerryDorsett.com]www.TerryDorsett.com[/URL]. He is the author of "Developing Leadership Teams in the Bivocational Church," and "Bible Brain Teasers: Fun Adventures Through the Bible." 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