Baptist Press Stories for May. 3 2012 --------------------------------------- Chen tells U.S. House members: I want to come to the U.S. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37757 GPS to spotlight evangelistic events in 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37750 NAMB-state partnerships shine through GPS http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37751 Church outreach events drive GPS 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37749 In ads, Billy Graham backs NC marriage amend. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37755 Day of Prayer may have been largest ever http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37756 BIBLE STUDY: Sunday, May 6, 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37752 FIRST-PERSON: A football coach, under fire for biblical beliefs http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37754 FIRST-PERSON: Questioning American exceptionalism http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37753 --------------------------------------- Chen tells U.S. House members: I want to come to the U.S. By Staff May. 3 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37757 BEIJING (BP) -- In a dramatic testimony by phone to a U.S. House committee Thursday, Chinese human rights advocate Chen Guangcheng made clear he wants to come to the United States and that he fears for his family's safety. "I want to come to the U.S. to rest. I have not had a rest in 10 years," Chen said, according to a translation as reported by Reuters. Chen, speaking from a hospital, also said he wanted to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. "I'm really scared for my other family members' lives," Chen said. "[Chinese officials] have installed seven video cameras and are in my house." Chen's testimony only added to a confusing set of media reports about his situation. Earlier in the day, USA Today reported that Chen was confident that the U.S. will help him leave the country. "I am not disappointed in the U.S. government," Chen told the newspaper. "They made such a great effort. I am very grateful. It was under their great efforts that I got this important agreement." Chen also called the agreement between the countries a "breakthrough." "The Chinese government has promised to guarantee my civil liberties. Is this not a breakthrough? But its implementation is very important. It must be fully implemented, and this has not happened yet," he said. Chen, a 40-year-old self-trained lawyer who has been blind since childhood, was imprisoned and then placed under house arrest for exposing forced abortions under China's one-child policy. In one of the most tragic examples Chen had helped uncover, the government forced a woman who was seven months pregnant to have an abortion, and then forcibly sterilized her, LifeNews.com reported. The State Department, meanwhile, continued Thursday to say Chen left the embassy of his own volition and expressed a desire to remain in China. Though that once was his intention, Chen told CNN the imminent threat he and his family have realized means their only hope for freedom is to leave China. In an English transcript of his remarks to CNN, Chen said he believes U.S. officials failed to protect human rights in his case, and he appealed to President Obama to "do everything you can to get our whole family out." Chen reiterated to CNN that he left the U.S. Embassy, where he had sought refuge, in order to receive medical care and reunite with his wife and two children at a Beijing hospital. He also feared that if he did not leave the embassy his family would be in danger. Chen told CNN he was disappointed that no U.S. officials remained with him at the hospital overnight to ensure his safety and expressed frustration that at the time he had been unable to make contact with embassy representatives or U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, R.-N.J., a longtime supporter. "I want them to protect human rights through concrete actions," Chen replied when CNN asked what he wants to say to the U.S. government. "We are in danger. If you can talk to Hillary [Clinton], I hope she can help my whole family leave China ... as soon as possible." Smith, chairman of the Congressional Executive Commission on China, held an emergency hearing on Chen Thursday (May 3) in Washington. Bob Fu of the Texas-based China Aid Association and Reggie Littlejohn of Women's Rights Without Frontiers were among those that testified. "Chen and his associates are at great risk if they stay in China," Smith said in a statement May 2. "Even the hospital is a precarious place for this extraordinary human rights hero. The durable solution was, is and continues to be asylum. "The secretary of state should visit Chen while he is in the hospital -- as a direct act of solidarity -- and to ensure his safety," Smith said. "And U.S. Embassy officials should re-interview Chen and his family to ensure that comments made under duress or based on misinformation do not result in sending him back to a place where he is tortured and beaten and could easily be killed." Smith has been working to secure Chen's safety for years, and the Chinese Embassy has blocked his request for a visa to visit Chen since last October, the congressman said. Littlejohn said in a statement May 3 that the United States "should immediately grant asylum" to Chen and his family as well as to He Peirong, the activist who rescued him. "Chen is hugely symbolic in China, the conscience of the nation," Littlejohn wrote. "By challenging the One Child Policy, he has challenged the lynchpin of social control in China. This explains the ferocity of the Chinese Communist Party's reaction to him." If the United States had granted asylum to Chen and his family and brought them safely to America from the embassy, Littlejohn said, "This would have erased a generation of anti-American propaganda and inspired gratitude, admiration and trust among the Chinese people." "Instead the U.S. expediently dispatched Chen out the door, shattering our moral credibility before the world and losing the hearts and minds of a generation of Chinese people who share our values," Littlejohn wrote. "The only way to redeem the situation is as clear as it is urgent: Give asylum to Chen and his family -- and to He Peirong as well. Bring them to safety in the United States, whatever it takes, on Hillary Clinton's plane." Clinton has been in China this week for economic and strategy talks with Chinese leaders. Gary Locke, the U.S. ambassador to China, recounted Thursday what transpired as Chen decided to leave the embassy. "I can tell you that he knew the stark choices in front of him. He knew that -- and was very aware that he might have to spend many, many years in the embassy," Locke said. "... He also was fully aware of the plight of his family if he stayed in the embassy." The deal that the United States helped broker with China regarding Chen included his safe relocation to another part of China, and the Chinese government offered to pay for a college education at one of seven universities as well as living expenses for him and his family, Locke said. The Chinese government also agreed that while he was in the hospital, Chinese officials would listen to his complaints of abuse and conduct a full investigation. "And so I can tell you unequivocally that he was never pressured to leave, he was excited and eager about leaving when he made his decision," Locke recounted. The ambassador said Chen "never asked for asylum" while in the embassy. "He always said he wanted to stay and live in China, and wanted to go back into China and continue his work on civil rights and to pursue an education." --30-- Compiled by Erin Roach, assistant editor of Baptist Press, and Michael Foust, associate editor of Baptist Press. To read two previous stories about Chen's recent ordeal, visit [URL=http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=37736]www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=37736[/URL] and [URL=http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37741]www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37741[/URL]. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress) and in your email (baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp). -- End of story -- GPS to spotlight evangelistic events in 2012 By Mickey Noah May. 3 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37750 RIO RANCHO, N.M. (BP) -- Matt Sellers says the use of attractional, evangelistic events under the God's Plan for Sharing initiative is like throwing gasoline on an already blazing fire for his two-year-old church plant. [IMG=32543@right@150]Following its introduction in 2010 by the North American Mission Board and most state conventions, the second phase of GPS is under way across the Southern Baptist Convention. In 2012, GPS is focused on event evangelism. Sellers is pastor of Paragon Church in Rio Rancho, N.M., which runs 150-175 per Sunday. On Easter, the church plant drew a record crowd of 300. Rio Rancho -- with 90,000 people -- is a northwest suburb of Albuquerque. "The whole idea of a church plant is being outward-focused from the get-go," Sellers said. "All our people are already involved and engaged. We didn't need GPS for that. We're already out in the community, reaching out to neighbors. What GPS has done is to come alongside of what we were already doing." During the introduction of the GPS initiative in 2010, Sellers said Paragon Church conducted door-to-door evangelism, left door hangers on front doors and advertised on area billboards. That laid the foundation for 2012, he said. "We're doing different things this time around," Sellers said. "We rented out a concert hall seating 1,000 for our Sunday Easter service. We had 300, and 50 percent of them were visitors." Paragon is planning other GPS events this summer such as backyard Bible clubs, block parties and Vacation Bible School. Paragon, which normally meets in Rio Rancho's Cleveland High School, recently rented an indoor city aquatics center to baptize 17 new believers. "GPS has enhanced what we're doing already and keeps our evangelistic drive going," Sellers said, adding that Paragon ranges in age from infants to 75-year-olds and draws retirees, young families and high school students who are Anglo, African American, Native American and Hispanic. In Missouri, under the leadership of Missouri Baptist Convention director of evangelism Gary Taylor, GPS enjoyed incredible success in 2010 when Missouri Baptists deposited Gospel door hangers and church invitations on some 900,000 front doors. With a theme of Here's Hope, Missouri Baptists have been challenged to create special events or Big Days as part of phase two of GPS in the Show Me State. Missouri Baptist churches are being encouraged to plan and execute four Big Day events in 2012 and 2013, Taylor said. Big day events are not only found in larger cities, conducted by large churches. Take Rogersville, Mo., with a population of 3,000, for instance. In February, Harmony Baptist Church partnered with a nondenominational church and Real Encounter Outreach to stage an extreme sports event at a high school gym in Rogersville, which attracted a full house of 1,800 to witness the aerial stunts of professional cyclists and hear the Gospel, Jim Bates, minister of youth and children at 300-member Harmony Baptist, said. Working with Brad Bennett of Real Encounter, based in Springfield, Mo., the two churches promoted a free evangelistic event featuring motorcyclists, BMX bike riders and skateboarders. More than 260 decisions for Christ were made that night. Midway through the show, Bennett gives his testimony and shares the Gospel with the crowd, which is made up not only of children and teens but usually their parents as well. He does 20 to 25 such events per year. "The hook is the entertainment," Bates said. "The Real Encounter guys are outstanding athletes on the motorcycles and BMX bikes. They do amazing things -- back flips, front flips, spins and even make the bikes walk. "The key to this or any evangelistic event is the follow up," Bates said. "Event evangelism absolutely works. The key is to follow up." In another Missouri town, Randy Conn, pastor of First Baptist Church in Morehouse, Mo., plans this year to use sportsmen competitions and dinners, block parties and a revival as evangelistic events in his town with a population of 800. First Baptist, which averages 60 people in weekly worship services, has seen 53 salvation decisions since January as a result of evangelistic events. "GPS has been a great tool for First Baptist Morehouse," Conn, the church's pastor for the last 12 years, said. "Easter Sunday, because of the sportsmen dinner and other events, we had the largest Easter crowd in the church's history, 150 people. Conn believes evangelistic events work, "but some things need to take place in order for them to work. The church has to be praying for the lost of the community and for the success of the event," he said. "You can plan an event and do it in your own power and still have poor results. Or you can seek the Lord and have tremendous results. Don't underestimate what God can do with what He has provided." --30-- Mickey Noah writes for the North American Mission Board. For GPS-related church resources, visit [URL=http://www.gps2020.net]www.gps2020.net[/URL]. For an online Gospel presentation related to GPS, visit [URL=http://www.findithere.com]www.findithere.com[/URL]. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress) and in your email (baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp). -- End of story -- NAMB-state partnerships shine through GPS By Tobin Perry May. 3 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37751 FRESNO, Calif. (BP) -- Three years into God's Plan for Sharing, a strategy for sharing the Gospel with every person in North America by 2020, Southern Baptists are working together across state lines to make the vision a reality. "One of the greatest things about GPS is that it came out of collaboration with our state partners," said Ken Ellis, the GPS team leader at NAMB. "Working with our state partners, associations and churches is how GPS originated. We have no intention of changing that now." According to the evangelism group at the North American Mission Board, 41 state and national conventions are involved in this year's God's Plan for Sharing: Reaching Across North America efforts. This year's GPS focuses on evangelistic events, but states are encouraged to focus on events and strategies that work in their particular contexts. For example, the California Southern Baptist Convention encouraged churches to come up with their own outreach events and apply to the state convention for seed money to get them started. Some CSBC associations also have pitched in matching funds for the events. Randy McWhorter, the healthy church group leader for the CSBC, said California churches have done events aimed at reaching a variety of people in the state including families, children and youth. "We've also had a significant number of our new church plants -- or churches that are being planted -- utilize the seed money," McWhorter said. Although many of the participating California churches hosted their evangelistic events during the Easter season, churches have the option of conducting an event at any time during the year. McWhorter estimates that close to 300 churches have taken advantage of the seed money so far this year and hopes to have more than 500 churches participate by the end of the year. During the last two-year emphasis, Across America, in 2010, California Southern Baptists saw an 18 percent increase in baptisms, McWhorter said. While not all of that growth can be attributed to GPS, McWhorter noted that GPS was part of an increase in the visibility of evangelism in the state that year. The Alabama State Board of Missions is providing churches and associations throughout Alabama with specialists who have expertise in particular evangelistic events and with tracts to use as part of their GPS strategy. Recently, 120 people committed their lives to Christ during six days of Horse Whisperer events throughout Alabama. More than 6,300 attended the events, according to Sammy Gilbreath, the state's director of evangelism. Information on those who filled out decision and prospect cards during the events was given to church planters for follow up. Other outreach events in Alabama include wild game dinners and car shows. Alabama has "bought in" to GPS and it will be the state's evangelism strategy through 2020, Gilbreath said, adding that Southern Baptists in the state knocked on about 1 million doors in 2010 through GPS. "It's our strategy that this 10-year ministry will cover every person in the state of Alabama with the Gospel," Gilbreath said. "We covered about 30 percent in 2010 just with the visitation bags and the billboards. With the attractional events this year, we're well on our way to making sure that every person in the state of Alabama hears the Gospel by 2020." In the Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist Convention, where cold weather late into the spring often keeps churches from holding large evangelistic events around Easter, David Sundeen, the state's evangelism catalyst, is expecting many churches to hold their GPS events this summer. Many churches, he said, are planning outdoor block party events. Others will host Vacation Bible School and wild game dinners. "A lot of the churches are pretty new up here," Sundeen said. "The way they were started was through outreach-type events. A lot of them haven't gotten so old that they've forgotten how they were started." --30-- Tobin Perry writes for the North American Mission Board. For GPS-related church resources, visit [URL=http://www.gps2020.net]www.gps2020.net[/URL]. For an online Gospel presentation related to GPS, visit [URL=http://www.findithere.com]www.findithere.com[/URL]. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress) and in your email (baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp). -- End of story -- Church outreach events drive GPS 2012 By Joe Conway May. 3 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37749 ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) -- Church outreach events are a main part of this year's strategy for God's Plan for Sharing, the decade-long national evangelism emphasis of the North American Mission Board. [IMG=32541@right@400]By design, GPS can be easily customized for any church or community. Even if churches have yet to participate, they can begin at any point, GPS team leader Ken Ellis said. "A church can begin using the tools whenever they are ready," said Ellis, who was involved in the original planning for GPS as a member of NAMB's evangelism team. "And the events are scalable for any church. You may say your church cannot host a community crusade, but you can host a drive-by pickup of donuts and coffee for the people who serve your community, your law enforcement officers and firefighters." Now in its third year, each GPS theme builds on the next. As part of this year's theme, Reaching Across North America, churches are encouraged to host a block party, a sports clinic or any type of evangelistic event that shows the community they care. One of those churches is Paragon Church in Rio Rancho, N.M. Pastor Matt Sellers said the church plant made effective use of GPS at Easter. "GPS has enhanced what we're doing already and keeps our evangelistic drive going," said Sellers, who led Paragon to rent a concert hall for Easter services and saw 300 in attendance, many who were first-time visitors. The GPS process includes planning and promotion in odd numbered years, followed by campaign implementation in even years. The entire span of 2012 is designed for event evangelism connected with the local church. "Attractional events are a tremendous evangelism tool," Larry Wynn, evangelism vice president for NAMB, said. "When a church prays for those who will attend, uses multiple avenues to invite people who don't know Christ, gives priority to the event, is faithful to the Gospel and does a good job with follow-up, it will see great results." Ellis agrees. He sees limitless application for GPS strategy. "GPS is nothing more than a mobilization process," Ellis said. "And it meets Send North America when you are going to a city or planting a church -- you are being mobilized to share your faith. With GPS we say you are mobilized to go across the nation or walk across the room. You get up out of your comfort zone and go. You are bounded only by God's call and your own imagination." Send North America is NAMB's strategy to help churches and individuals become active in all regions of North America to lead people to faith in Jesus Christ and start new churches. "All of these efforts tie back to the local church," Kevin Ezell, NAMB's president, said. "NAMB is not going to sponsor or organize events that don't try to connect people to a church where they can grow and be discipled." Coordinated media campaigns are another aspect of GPS. NAMB invested $1 million for media buys in dozens of markets across North America. This year 35 state conventions and Canada participated in the "Hope, Find It Here" media promotion. A majority of funds this year have been invested in social media efforts. The ads lead people to the findithere.com website where they can view a Gospel presentation. In all, NAMB has set aside some $15 million for GPS campaigns every two years through 2020. A church customization kit is available from NAMB, but the GPS website, gps2020.net, has multiple resources for evangelism outreach by affinity -- everything from campaign promotion to church-hosted events. Evangelism resources, primarily Gospel tracts, also are available in 16 languages. "Another great tool is the Evangelism Response Center," Ellis said. "We want churches to know that they have a backup for their evangelistic events. By promoting the ERC toll-free phone number -- 1-888-JESUS20 (537-8720) -- a church can increase the opportunity visitors have to hear the Gospel. Some people who attend an event may never return to the church. But they might find an ERC card in their welcome bag and call." Reaching Across North America will conclude at the end of 2012. The remaining campaign themes include Serving, Sharing, Start Something and culminate in 2020 with Celebrating. "I'm excited about where we will go with Serving Across North America in 2014," Ellis said. "We will begin meeting soon with our state convention partners, association staffs and pastors to plan." In 2013, the North American Mission Board will sponsor a Find It Here Bible distribution project. Southern Baptist churches will receive a complimentary box of four dozen Bibles to distribute in their communities. Additional Bibles will be available for purchase if churches need more. "As I work with churches I like to ask them a question," Ellis said. "'If your church closed its doors tomorrow, who in your community, other than your members, would know you were gone?' We need to be visible in the community, but more than that we need to love our community." --30-- Joe Conway writes for the North American Mission Board. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress) and in your email (baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp). -- End of story -- In ads, Billy Graham backs NC marriage amend. By Michael Foust May. 3 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37755 CHARLOTTE, N.C. (BP) -- In a move that could sway some voters in the final days leading up to Tuesday's vote, evangelist Billy Graham has announced his support for a proposed constitutional marriage amendment in his home state of North Carolina, and his ministry will pay for 14 newspaper ads across the state featuring him. [IMGONLY=32546@right@450]The ads show a picture of a smiling Graham beneath the words: "At 93, I never thought we would have to debate the definition of marriage. The Bible is clear -- God's definition of marriage is between a man and a woman. I want to urge my fellow North Carolinians to vote for the marriage amendment on Tuesday, May 8. God bless you as you vote." The ads, which will run over the weekend, make clear they were paid for by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Graham lives in Montreat, N.C. Although retired, Graham remains a popular figure in North Carolina, and a section of a major road in Charlotte is even named the Billy Graham Parkway. If the amendment passes, North Carolina would become the 30th state defining marriage in a state constitution as between a man and a woman -- and preventing state courts from legalizing gay "marriage," as happened in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Iowa. North Carolina is the only state in the South without such an amendment. Graham's public statement comes after son Franklin Graham and daughter Anne Graham Lotz also announced their support for the amendment, which will be on the May 8 primary ballot. Early voting, though, began in April, and North Carolinians could set a record for early voting turnout in a primary -- a remarkable stat when considering early voting began in 2000 and several high-profile presidential primaries have taken place since. The first week of early voting in April did set a record, according to the News & Observer newspaper in Raleigh. With no contested presidential race on the ballot, the amendment seems to be driving voters to the polls. The main group supporting the amendment, Vote For Marriage NC, has raised only half of the money raised by the opposition group, the Coalition to Protect North Carolina Families. Through April 23, the Coalition to Protect North Carolina Families had raised $2.3 million while Vote For Marriage NC had raise $1.2 million, according to the Associated Press. The Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest gay group, was the biggest donor to the coalition, contributing $246,499. On the other side, the Christian Action League of North Carolina ($311,533) and the National Organization for Marriage ($302,950) were the top contributors to Vote for Marriage NC. Despite trailing in fundraising, the pro-amendment side still leads in polls. The latest survey, conducted by SurveyUSA, shows the amendment leading, 57-37 percent, among 1,127 voters who are likely to vote or already have voted. But among the 10 percent of those who already have voted, the amendment leads only 50-46 percent. Participation by Christians and churches could help determine whether the amendment passes, officials with Vote for Marriage NC say. The IRS allows churches to take positions on such ballot issues as marriage amendments. (See previous Baptist Press story at [URL=http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37508]http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37508[/URL]. --30-- For more information, visit [URL=http://www.VoteForMarriageNC.com]www.VoteForMarriageNC.com[/URL]. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress) and in your email (baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp). Read Glenn Stanton's column, "Why not legalize gay marriage?" at [URL=http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37494]http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37494[/URL]. -- End of story -- Day of Prayer may have been largest ever By Staff May. 3 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37756 WASHINGTON (BP) -- Americans observed the National Day of Prayer by gathering at thousands of locations across the country in what was expected to be the largest such observance in its six-decade history. The number of events for the May 3 observance was more than 35 percent ahead of last year at the same time, the National Day of Prayer (NDP) Task Force reported six days before the observance. In 2011, prayer events were held at about 40,000 locations. The National Day of Prayer has been observed each year since Congress approved a resolution in 1952 calling on the president to establish it as an annual event. President Truman inaugurated the observance the same year, and presidents since then have recognized it with proclamations. In 1988, Congress amended the law to set the first Thursday of May for the observance. In this year's National Day of Prayer proclamation, President Obama invited Americans to join him "in giving thanks for the many blessings we enjoy, and I call upon individuals of all faiths to pray for guidance, grace, and protection for our great Nation as we address the challenges of our time." The president urged citizens to "be humble in our convictions, and courageous in our virtue. Let us pray for those who are suffering around the world, and let us be open to opportunities to ease that suffering." He also called for Americans to honor the members of the Armed Forces and pray for them and their family members. The lead observance of the National Day of Prayer again was held at an event on Capitol Hill in Washington, with NDP Task Force chairman Shirley Dobson and honorary chairman David Jeremiah among the speakers. This year's theme, established by the task force, was "One Nation Under God," which was based on Psalm 33:12: "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord." Jeremiah, senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon, Calif., and founder of Turning Point Radio and Television Ministries, gave the keynote address at the national observance in Washington. He also wrote the national prayer for the observance, which said: "Heavenly Father, [e]very good gift and perfect gift comes from You. You are a faithful God and Your mercy endures forever. You have promised to bless the nation that trusts in You. Our currency proclaims 'In God We Trust,' but in our culture we are far from You. In the words of the prophet Daniel, 'We have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments.' We come before You once more, seeking Your forgiveness and mercy. You, O God, are our only hope.... Hear our prayer and, for Your honor's sake, shine Your face upon this nation. Give our leaders the desire to seek Your wisdom and the courage to follow Your guidance. . . . and watch over the men and women of our armed forces as they sacrifice for the cause of freedom. We give You thanks for all You have done for us, and we earnestly pray that You will help us become, once again, a nation whose God is the Lord. In the name of Your Son, and our Savior, we pray this prayer. Amen." The NDP Task Force is a privately funded group that says the observance is for people of all faiths to participate in but the events it organizes are fulfilled "in accordance with its Judeo-Christian beliefs." Obama's National Day of Prayer proclamation may be accessed online at [URL=http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/05/01/presidential-proclamation-national-day-prayer-2012]www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/05/01/presidential-proclamation-national-day-prayer-2012[/URL]. --30-- Compiled by Baptist Press Washington bureau chief Tom Strode. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress) and in your email (baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp). -- End of story -- BIBLE STUDY: Sunday, May 6, 2012 By Staff/LifeWay Christian Resources May. 3 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37752 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 Bible Studies for Life curriculum. Bible Passage: Deuteronomy 6:1-5a Discussion Question: What are some idols that distract God's people today from loving God with all of their heart, soul and strength? Food for Thought: You may tell yourself that you don't have any idols, but are you sure? Think about it a little bit. Is money your idol? Is pride in your family your idol? Is it the need to be right or to have the last word? Idols are, in fact, all around us. We've made graven images of almost everything. We don't have to look any further than the evening television lineup. In the winter of 2002, television audiences were introduced to a new reality show format with a panel of three judges who would soon become household names and a host who would go on to become one of the busiest men in Hollywood. Scores of viewers tuned in twice a week to hear Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson praise or berate contestants as Ryan Seacrest welcomed us all to "American Idol." In the decade since the show's debut, audiences have cheered, booed and voted by the millions for young people who have gone on to have lucrative careers in the entertainment industry. Another primetime reality show abandons people on remote islands and instructs them to use their "Survivor" skills to avoid being kicked off the island. During their televised skills games, contestants may find a hidden idol which allows them to protect themselves or a team member from elimination. The single contestant left standing at the end of the 40-day event wins the prize. The need for money or love for one's family aren't inherently bad things. We simply need to make sure that we don't make them more important than our love for the Lord. Instead of voting for specific people or cheering on stranded islanders, as Christians we should praise and worship the One who chose not to abandon us to this world but instead lowered Himself to this world, lived among us, died for us and rose from the dead so that we can live eternally with Him. Bible Studies for Life is a life-stage family of resources that addresses key issues in the lives of adults and students. Consisting of seven curriculum lines developed for various life and generational stages plus two others designed for deeper study, these resources focus on the same Bible passage each week. Information about the seven curriculum lines and more information can be found on the Internet at LifeWay.com/BibleStudiesforLife. 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 (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress) and in your email (baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp). -- End of story -- FIRST-PERSON: A football coach, under fire for biblical beliefs By Brett Maragni May. 3 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37754 JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (BP) -- Gene Wojciechowski of ESPN.com is not very tolerant of longtime Nebraska assistant football coach Ron Brown's behavior. Wojciechowski finds Brown's publicly vocalized views on homosexuality in breach of his role as a representative of a state and federally funded university. Brown, you see, has been vocal in opposing a proposed Omaha gay rights law. Wojciechowski recently began an ESPN.com commentary with these words: "Let's say there is a gay running back on the Nebraska roster. And Ron Brown is his position coach. Now what? Think about that for a moment. And then think about Brown's very public stance against homosexuality." Wojciechowski has given it some thought and arrived at the conclusion that Ron Brown should be fired. That's right, fired -- for expressing beliefs on a subject that are consistent with the prevailing view of Americans for the vast majority of our nation's history. Of course, the majority of Americans no longer hold a negative view of homosexuality. According to Gallup research, the perceived acceptability of gay/lesbian relations crossed the 50 percent threshold in 2010. But does that mean that homosexuality is healthy and acceptable behavior? Statistically, homosexuals experience greater levels of addiction, depression and diseases. Some, though, place the blame for these problems at the feet of the condemning portion of the populace. In other words, if we eliminate social rejection of homosexuality in our society, these negative statistics associated with it will recede to normal levels. However, extensive research conducted in the Netherlands -- one of the more liberal countries on the planet -- has revealed that the likelihood of psychiatric disease being attributed to social rejection or "homophobia" is very low. Wojciechowski even took offense at Brown's office voice message, which says: "I praise the Lord Jesus Christ for today. I hope you're having a blessed day. Not able to answer my phone right now. Give me a try back and Lord willing, I'll get back to you as soon as possible. Have a great day." That, Wojciechowski said, conflicts with the "separation of church and state." The thought of tax dollars going to pay the salary of a man who actually takes the Bible seriously seems unconscionable to the senior national columnist for ESPN.com. What grieved me most in reading Wojciechowski's column is the fact that he engaged in assassinating Ron Brown's character without referencing the opinions of anyone who worked closely with the man. Wojciechowski would have done well to call upon Nebraska running back Ameer Abdullah, a practicing Muslim. If anyone would be able to attest to the supposed bigoted, narrow-minded, discriminatory behavior of Ron Brown, it surely would be Abdullah. After all, Ron Brown believes that Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven, something Ameer should take great offense at, considering his Muslim beliefs. But an Omaha World-Herald story from last September dispelled any notions that Ron Brown was discriminatory in his relationship with Abdullah. In fact, the opposite is clearly the case, with writer Dirk Chatelain painting the picture of a non-discriminating, compassionate coach who treated the Muslim running back with dignity and respect Yet we get Wojciechowski asking questions like, "Would you want to play for a coach who thinks God loves gays less than women or African-Americans? Would you want to play for a coach who preaches compassion and love, but is willing to turn his back on a fellow human being because of that person's sexual orientation?" If the reader is not familiar with the logical fallacy of the straw man, here is a classic example. By asking these ridiculous questions, Wojciechowski has erected a straw man, torched it, and proclaimed victory, while the real Ron Brown, godly, compassionate and committed to God's truth, stands untouched by these false accusations. Brown is more concerned with faithfulness to Scripture than cultural trends. The Scriptures are clear that homosexual behavior is sinful (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Romans 1:26-27). "The same thing that was a sin 2,000 years ago is a sin today," Brown has said. "The thing that was right 2,000 years ago is right today." I've taken Wojciechowski's advice to heart. I've thought about what it would be like for a gay running back to play for Ron Brown. And I've arrived at a different conclusion than the esteemed ESPN.com columnist. I believe Ron Brown would treat that player with dignity and respect and love, even if disagreeing with his personal, private behavioral choices. The University of Nebraska would do well to support their loyal employee's right to free speech and not cave in to the pressure from those who are naively and intolerantly calling for his job. --30-- Brett Maragni is senior pastor of Harvest Bible Chapel of Jacksonville, Fla., and a frequent columnist for BP Sports (BPSports.net).Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress) and in your email (baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp). -- End of story -- FIRST-PERSON: Questioning American exceptionalism By Matthew Arbo May. 3 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37753 KANSAS CITY, Kan. (BP) -- Many of us likely received "exceptional" scores on our grade school report cards at one time or other. Alongside the glimmering "A," our respective teachers commented favorably on our exceptional performance in class. Our parents would in turn beam with pride on reading it, reinforcing the teacher's commendation: "You're exceptional!" That claim to being exceptional could not have been self-asserted; it required recognition and ascription by someone with knowledge of us and of our situations, someone in authority. The relatively new and peculiar doctrine of American exceptionalism, propounded more vigorously the past two decades, claims that America's privileged status in the world confers moral responsibility for intervening, sometimes violently, in the event of overt injustice. Genuine injustices ought to be remedied, of course, but the underlying supposition of American privilege among nations is not germane to the Just War tradition of Christian moral reasoning; it has rather been stitched to that tradition like a bad patch. Perceptive citizens will notice that exceptionalism is almost always appealed to as justification for unilateralism, which curtails or circumvents the Just War principles meant to give us guidance. It's a roundabout way of dismissing accountability. Our exceptionalism apparently guarantees and justifies the truthfulness of our political judgments and actions. However, this doctrine of American exceptionalism is at best unnecessary to, and at worse a perversion of, the Just War tradition. So why continue to commence deliberations about international justice at a false starting point? To claim exceptional status is to claim a position above or outside any "normal" range. Indeed the term "normal" does not apply to it by definition. Having done a share of international travel, my feeling is that citizens of other countries see America as "exceptional" in its furnishing of great domestic (i.e. economic) opportunity. In truth, we are one nation within a community of nations and we are accountable to the international community because they are our neighbor. When America claims to be politically exceptional the international community perceives our actions as patronizing, supposing itself once again to be above other nations and exempt from the "normal" rules of play. So, if other nations do not view America as politically exceptional, then why do we understand ourselves this way? Is there a biblical or theological reason for our stance? The Just War tradition admits that if a nation has it in its power to remedy apparent injustices, then that nation is justified in its intervention if the injustice is in fact real (given the satisfaction of other Just War principles). But possessing the power to intervene does not make a nation "exceptional," for at any time numerous other nations may also have the power to intervene. If many nations have certain powers to intervene in the face of injustice, then logically no one nation would be "exceptional" in this regard. This is why I say the doctrine of American exceptionalism is unnecessary: The Just war tradition contains within it all the resources necessary for deliberating over and engaging in international affairs. In fact, the whole point of intervention would be because it is right and just to intervene, not because the nation is beholden to its privilege. The doctrine of American exceptionalism has, I fear, been used to justify aggression by insisting that "normal" rules do not apply to the country's actions. We as a nation can work for justice in the world without working from or appealing to this doctrine of exceptionalism; after all, the Just War tradition served perfectly well as a matrix for deliberations of this sort for nearly two millennia without an exceptionalist doctrine. Biblically, an individual becomes exceptional in the eyes of the Father by virtue of having been made right by the precious blood of His Son. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer suggested in Discipleship, "What is Christian is what is 'peculiar', the extraordinary, irregular, not self-evident." Jesus Christ and His Gospel are what make the Church exceptional, and nothing more. When one applies divine favor more broadly to national identity one has thereby misunderstood what makes any person -- or people -- exceptional. We are the exception to none because we are slave to the supreme Exception and therefore in following His example the servant to all. If every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of Lights, then many Americans have much to be grateful for. But God blesses us despite our national identity, not because of it. American exceptionalism implies that God's favor extends to this nation in a way the Bible promises only to the church -- the church is exceptional because it is the body of Christ on earth. The United States, needless to say, is not the body of Christ. If it supposes to be favored among nations it does so presumptuously and at its peril. So let's jettison once and for all this unnecessary and biblically incongruous doctrine of American exceptionalism and rethink how we, the redeemed members of Christ's heavenly city, might best promote true exceptionalism. --30-- Matthew Arbo is assistant professor of Christian ethics at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Mo. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress) and in your email (baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp). -- End of story -- Copyright (c) 2013 Southern Baptist Convention, Baptist Press 901 Commerce Street Nashville, TN 37203 Tel: 615.244.2355 Fax: 615.782.8736 email: bpress@sbc.net