The original issue can be found at: http://www.baptistpress.com/issue-04/13/2017 DISCLAIMER: Baptist Press should be credited for any reprinted stories that originate with BP. Suggested credit line: Reprinted from Baptist Press (www.baptistpress.com), news service of the Southern Baptist Convention. Please note that Baptist Press periodically carries stories from other sources by permission. Individuals interested in reprinting non-BP stories should contact the entity where the story originated to seek reprint permission. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Bible Study: April 16, 2017 by Staff/LifeWay Christian Resources Date: April 13, 2017 - Thursday NASHVILLE (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 curricula and additional resources for all age groups. This week's Bible study is adapted from the Explore the Bible curriculum. Bible Passage: Matthew 28:1-15 Discussion Questions: Recall the last time you participated in a celebration. What were you commemorating? Why was it important for you to be a part of that celebration? What was the significance of the angels' invitation for the women to come and see where Jesus had been? Why is Jesus' bodily resurrection so important to the Christian faith? Food for Thought: Joy and gratitude in our hearts prompt us to celebrate. Our celebrations may focus on significant people who have made a huge difference to us. Or we may celebrate events that have changed the direction of our lives in a constructive way. Celebration gives us the opportunity to relive transformative experiences so we won't forget them. It can also allow us to express our gratitude for the people who have shaped our lives. On resurrection Sunday, Christians celebrate Jesus' victory over death. The reason we celebrate becomes more clear the longer we walk with Christ. His resurrection serves as the centerpiece of our relationship with Him. He's alive, and He lives in us the moment we welcome Him into our lives. Matthew's account of the resurrection provides details related to the world-changing moment when Jesus was raised from the grave. Jesus' resurrection is so important that we are reminded that the truth of that resurrection story must be shared with everyone, everywhere. Explore the Bible Explore the Bible is an ongoing Bible study curriculum that helps groups dig into the key truths of each Bible book, while keeping the group on pace to study through the Bible books in a systematic way. More information can be found at LifeWay.com/ExploreTheBible. Other ongoing Bible study options for all ages offered by LifeWay can be found at LifeWay.com/SundaySchool. -------------------------------------------------------------------- FIRST-PERSON: Looking for His return by David Jeremiah Date: April 13, 2017 - Thursday EL CAJON, Calif. (BP) -- "Men of Galilee," said the angels, "why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11). Those words inseparably linked Christ's departure to the moment of His return -- the reality of His Ascension and His Second Coming. It behooves us to be watching and waiting, untainted by the world, since Christ may come at any moment. The apostle Peter put it this way: "But when the Day of God's Judgment does come, it will be unannounced, like a thief.... Do your very best to be found living at your best, in purity and peace" (2 Peter 3:11-13, The Message). Eagerness for the Lord's return also motivates us to share the Gospel at every opportunity. It is exciting to see that when the disciples asked the Lord a question about His return, His answer directed them to practical service. In Matthew 24, they asked Him about the signs of the times and the end of the age. He answered in a sermon that began with information about the end times but ended with a long application (the last part of Matthew 24 and all of Matthew 25) about how this information should result in faithful ministry: "'Servants are fortunate if their master comes and finds them doing their job,' He said" (Matthew 24:46, CEV). Just moments before His Ascension, the disciples asked, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" His reply: "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses" (Acts 1:6-7). When will Christ return? When the Gospel has been preached to all nations: "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come" (Matthew 24:14). We are to witness by our words -- the confession of our lips. We are to witness by our work -- the consistency of our lives. We are to witness by writing -- the circulation of our literature. Every way we can think to do it -- personally, individually, collectively, by radio, television and internet, by snail-mail and e-mail -- we are to witness for our Lord Jesus Christ while we still can. The Lord's coming is nearer than ever. Can you find a way to say a word for Christ today, write to an unsaved friend, pass along a copy of a Gospel of John to someone, or invite someone to church on Easter? We're to keep one eye on the horizon looking for His return, and at the same time we're to stay as busy as we can in serving the Lord, witnessing in power, and living in holiness and victory. Sometimes we look around at the church and find Christians so "into" prophecy that they never get "into" anything else. They sit around trying to figure out how many years are elapsing between various events, but they never get busy for God. They never win anyone to Christ. It's wonderful to study the signs of the times but it's even more important to obey the command of Jesus, "Occupy until I come." What sort of people should we be as these things are coming to pass? We should be holy people eager to greet our Lord when He returns, ready at any moment for the trumpet's call, people of optimism, busy in evangelism, hands to the plow, eyes on the prize. Even so, Lord, may we live. "Even so, come, Lord Jesus." -------------------------------------------------------------------- Easter transcends Central Asia's spring celebration by David Edwards Date: April 13, 2017 - Thursday CENTRAL ASIA (BP) -- Winters are often cold, dark and hard in Central Asia. So, as days lengthen and warm, ice and snow melt, flowers bud and bloom, and trees and fields turn green, an undeniable freshness and newness take over. Spring rejuvenates us in winter's wake and refreshes us before the hot and dry summer arrives. Millions of Afghans, Kurds, Persians, Tajiks, Turks and other Central Asians celebrate spring's advent during Nowruz, meaning "New Day." Nowruz commemorates an era long ago when Zoroastrianism dominated the region. This ancient religion revered basic elements of nature, earth, water, wind and fire. Nowruz is a time to celebrate spring's renewal of these things, and it provides a remarkable opportunity to proclaim the Good News to Central Asians. Nowruz reminds us of the goodness of creation Our friends enjoy spring's blessings in family gatherings, mountain picnics, music and dancing -- lots of dancing. As they rejoice in the beauty of the creation around them, we have the opportunity to challenge their fatalistic view of God. They believe He cares little about them or creation. But we can demonstrate that God is good and cares for His creation (Psalm 34:8; Luke 18:19). God created everything, was involved in every detail, and called it very good (Genesis 1:31; Romans 11:36). In His goodness and wisdom, He remains close and sustains all things (Colossians 1:16-17). At the same time, we can point out that God created mankind as His image-bearer (Genesis 1:27). And at first, mankind was morally pure without sin, just like God. All of creation was designed for mankind's benefit and for God's glory (Psalm 19:1,2; Isaiah 43:7; Revelation 4:11). Everything was perfect. Nowruz reminds us that creation dies Like spring itself, Nowruz is short-lived. The picnics and dancing taper off. We go back to work, children return to school. Social, economic and political problems overlooked during Nowruz celebrations once again consume conversations. Likewise, everyone knows summer's harsh dry heat will again make everything brown and dusty. For most in our region, this is the picture of their lives without Jesus. They have temporary hope and happiness without lasting peace and eternal joy. Like the harsh winter, there is no denying the death around us. Natural disasters kill without warning and drought ravages whole swaths of land. Disease chokes out life. Worse yet, God's image-bearers commit evil against one another. Family members turn against each other, wars rage, human trafficking enslaves, and suicide and homicide rates escalate. We can empathize with our friends that indeed something has gone terribly wrong. We can remind our friends, however, that God did not intend this death. Scripture tells us man's rebellion severed his intimate relationship with God, and God cursed the ground in sin's wake (Genesis 3:17-19). Sin and death then spread to all mankind, bringing condemnation upon subsequent generations (Romans 3:23; 5:12,16; Ephesians 2:1). Mankind still bears God's image, yet this likeness has been distorted by sin. Nowruz reminds us of the resurrection & the renewal of creation During Nowruz, people jump over bonfires to signify a cleansing or purifying of their lives. On one side of the fire is the shame of the past year's bad deeds. On the other is a fresh start. And almost every home has a plate full of dirt that will sprout bright green grass before the Nowruz holiday starts. It represents the newness of life in this season. In a region swirling with war, refugees and civil unrest, Nowruz promises a new day and a fresh perspective. But the great renewing our friends long for commenced that first Easter morning. They need to hear that Jesus' death and resurrection renews everything. Jesus conquered sin and death, providing new life for us. Eternal peace, lasting hope and joy, glimpsed in the celebration of spring, can be theirs because of Christ's resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:20). Christ's resurrection also means the material creation we can see will be renewed. Creation waits now with "eager longing" for this renewal, "groaning in travail" until Earth "will be set free from its bondage to decay" (Romans 8:21-23). And those made alive in Christ will live forever in "new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells" (2 Peter 3:13). Ultimately, this great renewing will be completed as God and man again dwell together, when "death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away" (Revelation 21:3-4). But for now, for those who put their trust in Christ's death and resurrection, renewal happens every day as we dwell upon the richness and mercy of God's grace (2 Corinthians 4:16). May this be the spring many of our friends receive the grace to believe in this great renewal. May they join us in having "been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Peter 1:3). -------------------------------------------------------------------- Gaines names 2017 Committee on Committees by BP Staff Date: April 13, 2017 - Thursday PHOENIX (BP) -- Appointments to the Southern Baptist Convention's Committee on Committees have been announced by SBC President Steve Gaines, pastor of Memphis-area Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova, Tenn. The Committee on Committees will assemble in Phoenix just prior to the SBC's June 13-14 annual meeting to nominate members of the Committee on Nominations who, in 2018, will nominate trustees for the boards of SBC entities. The Committee on Committees has 68 members, two from each of the 34 states and regions qualified for representation on boards of SBC entities. Gaines has named Randy Davis, president & executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board in Brentwood, to serve as chairman of this year's Committee on Committees. Committee members are: ALABAMA -- Judy Bledsoe, First Baptist Church, Montgomery; Carl Williams, First Baptist Church, Demopolis ALASKA -- Jeff Ling, First Baptist Church, North Pole; Tom Hoffman, Fairview Loop Baptist Church, Wasilla ARIZONA -- Byron Banta, Pinnacle Church, Scottsdale; Noe Garcia, North Phoenix Baptist Church, Phoenix ARKANSAS -- Greg Addison, First Baptist Church, Cabot; Jay Shell, West Baptist Church, Batesville CALIFORNIA -- Randy McWhorter, First Baptist Church, Fair Oaks; Brenda Lackey, Immanuel Baptist Church, Highland COLORADO -- Jeff Rogers, Applewood Baptist Church, Wheat Ridge; Tyann DeClue, Calvary Baptist Church, Englewood FLORIDA -- Chip Fox, Pine Terrace Baptist Church, Milton; David Burton, Hibernia Baptist Church, Green Cove Springs GEORGIA -- David Mills, Beech Haven Baptist Church, Athens; Stephen Fountain, First Baptist Church, Buford HAWAII -- Annie Lam, Hawaii Chinese Baptist Church, Honolulu; Wendy Martin, Makailo Baptist Church, Honolulu ILLINOIS -- Tom DeWitt, First Baptist Church, Sesser; Keith Halsey, Raymond Baptist, Raymond INDIANA -- Rick Hillard, Foot of the Cross Church, Bloomington; Roger Kinion, Calvary Baptist Church, Greenfield KANSAS-NEBRASKA -- Joe Funderburk, Nall Avenue Baptist Church, Prairie Village (Kan.); Voyt Lynn, First Baptist Church, Douglass (Kan.) KENTUCKY -- Barry Fields, Hawesville Baptist Church, Hawesville; Nick Sandefur, Porter Memorial Baptist Church, Lexington LOUISIANA -- Clark Stewart, New Zion Baptist Church, Covington; Dale Lingenfelter, Kingsville Baptist Church, Ball MARYLAND/DELAWARE/DC -- Jim Edmonson, Elders Baptist, Sykesville (Md.); Gary Glanville, Northwest Baptist Church, Reisterstown (Md.) MICHIGAN -- Roy Henry, Faith Baptist Church, Battle Creek; Roy Southerland, Monroe Missionary Baptist Church, Monroe MISSISSIPPI -- Don Boone, First Baptist Church, Vancleave; Tim Mims, First Baptist Church, Winona MISSOURI -- Mike Whitehead, Abundant Life Baptist Church, Lee's Summit; Ted Middleton, First Baptist Church, Lewistown NEVADA -- John Pretlove, First Baptist Church of the Lakes, Las Vegas; Katrina Fields, Nellis Baptist Church, Las Vegas NEW ENGLAND -- Bland Mason, City on a Hill Church, Boston; Joseph Ferguson, Capstone Baptist Church, Bennington NEW MEXICO -- Dave Rowser, Jackson Avenue Baptist Church, Lovington; Marcia Hinze, First Baptist Church, Tucumcari NEW YORK -- Derek Duncan, Living Water Church, Lagrangeville; Van McClain, Grace Community Chapel, Saragoga Springs NORTH CAROLINA -- Aaron Wallace, Hephzibah Baptist Church, Wendell; John Mark Harrison, Apex Baptist Church, Apex NORTHWEST -- Gary Floyd, First Baptist Church, Toledo (Wash.); Jim Gantenbein, Kitsap Lake Baptist Church, Bremerton (Wash.) OHIO -- Timothy Cline, Chillicothe Baptist Church, Chillicothe; Faye Rodgers, Northside Baptist Church, Springfield OKLAHOMA -- Keith Wiginton, First Baptist Church, Claremore; Johnny Montgomery, First Baptist Church, Red Oak PENNSYLVANIA-SOUTH JERSEY -- Sam Wells, Crosspoint Baptist Church, Souderton (Pa.); Ed Roman, Carlisle Baptist Church, Carlisle (Pa.) SOUTH CAROLINA -- Jim Goodroe, Southside Baptist Church, Spartanburg; Tommy Kelly, First Baptist Church, Varnville TENNESSEE -- Randy Davis, First Baptist Church, Sevierville; Chris Kendall, Oak City Baptist Church, Seymour TEXAS -- Deborah Pearle, Birchman Baptist Church, Fort Worth; Jeff Schreve, First Baptist Church, Texarkana UTAH-IDAHO -- Bobby Wood, Redemption Church, Ogden (Utah); Travis Kerns, Risen Life Church, Salt Lake City (Utah) VIRGINIA -- Kelly Burris, Kempsville Baptist Church, Virginia Beach; Ronojit Nathaniel, Centreville Baptist Church, Centreville WEST VIRGINIA -- Danny Rumple, Cross Lanes Baptist Church, Cross Lanes; Franklin Howerton, West Ripley Baptist Church, Ripley WYOMING -- John Constantine, Story Community Church, Story; Deborah Grace, Trinity Baptist Church, Laramie -------------------------------------------------------------------- Ky. puts focus on Bible with new laws, executive action by Tom Latek/Kentucky Today Date: April 13, 2017 - Thursday FRANKFORT, Ky. (BP) -- Having declared 2017 the Year of the Bible, Gov. Matt Bevin has now signed two bills into law to make clear to teachers and administrators that Scripture is welcome in Kentucky public schools. Bevin signed legislation into law on Tuesday to allow school kids to take Bible literacy classes as electives. The law directs the Kentucky Department of Education to develop policies that allow public schools to offer Bible courses. That was one of dozens of bills signed by Bevin on Tuesday. Last month, the governor signed a bill into law clarifying that students can express religious and political viewpoints in public schools and on college campuses without interference from administrators. State Sen. Albert Robinson, R-London, sponsored that legislation after a Johnson County elementary school removed biblical references from a presentation of "Charlie Brown's Christmas Carol." The law affirms rights that were already in place, but that had been misunderstood by some teachers and administrators. Robinson said he's felt the legislation was necessary to make clear to educators that biblical references are in no way forbidden from campuses. Paul Chitwood, executive director of the 750,000-member Kentucky Baptist Convention, said he is glad that Gov. Bevin and lawmakers have enacted these laws "to make clear that the Bible is perfectly acceptable on school campuses and in classrooms." "Having seen so many students and teachers needlessly hurt by administrators who misunderstood religious liberty protections already in place, I believe these new laws will go a long way to clear misconceptions," he said. Sen. Danny Carroll, R-Paducah, said Bible classes are popular among Kentucky students in schools where they're already offered. And, Carroll said, "the sky didn't fall" because the Bible was being used as a school textbook. Sen. C. B. Embry, R-Morgantown, said children need a basic understanding of the Bible. "I don't think there is another document in the history of our culture that has had more impact on our culture, our society or our values than the Bible," Embry said. The measure had backing from most of the Democrats in the Republican-led Senate, including Robin Webb of Grayson. "This gives some level of protection to the districts that do this, because it will provide a framework to pass constitutional muster and scrutiny, and requires the Kentucky Department of Education to conform to federal law," she said. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Prioritize prayer, Gaines says in SBTS chapel message by Annie Corser Date: April 13, 2017 - Thursday LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP) -- Southern Baptists should prioritize prayer for unity and evangelism, Southern Baptist Convention President Steve Gaines said in a chapel message at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary setting forth key aspects of prayer. "I'm praying that the priority of the Southern Baptist Convention ... will become literally a house of prayer," Gaines said. "I'm praying that when people think about the Southern Baptist Convention the very first thing they will think of is this: That's the group of folks, those are the folks that pray." Examining the account of the early church in prayer in Acts 4:23-31, Gaines said the early church provides an example of how prayer reveals the intimacy of a Christian's relationship to God. People talk with and about those whom they love, and prayer is one way Christians talk with God, he said. The book of Acts is about people praying to God and sharing Scripture with others. "Everywhere they went, they prayed and they witnessed," Gaines, senior pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, Tenn., said in his April 11 message. "They loved the Lord. And so just naturally, out of their lives flowed prayer toward the Lord and evangelism and witnessing toward other people." Unity is a key result from the prayers of Christian believers, Gaines noted. Southern Baptists "could use a little bit of being unified together around the Lord Jesus Christ," he said. "And it will not come unless we spend time talking to God together. We've got to talk, not about one another, but we've got to talk with each other to the Lord. Something changes in your life when you start praying with other Christians instead of talking about other Christians. Unity comes not from divisive discourse but from unified prayer meetings. When we lift our voices to God with one accord, with one heart, as a congregation, as an assembly, then we enjoy genuine unity in the body of Christ." Christians also should be motivated by love and prayer to share the Gospel, Gaines said. "Every desire you have to tell someone about Jesus comes from the Holy Spirit," he said. "If Jesus is in your heart, He'll come out of your mouth. You can't serve Jesus with a zipped lip." Gaines also said prayer helps God's people overcome persecution, depend on Scripture, exude confidence, offer strategic petitions, experience miracles, enjoy bountiful grace, become exceptionally generous and become gifted leaders. During the seminary's trustee meeting on April 10, Gaines was installed as the first Herschel H. Hobbs Visiting Professor of Christian Preaching, honoring former SBC President Herschel H. Hobbs. The trustees established the professorship to honor the two-time graduate of Southern Seminary who was president of the Southern Baptist Convention from 1961-1963, served as chairman of the committee that revised the Baptist Faith and Message in 1963 and pastored several Southern Baptist churches. Southern Seminary President R. Albert Mohler Jr., in introducing Gaines, spoke of the importance of Hobbs' legacy. "Dr. Hobbs, who has now for many years been with the Lord, rightly must be honored by his alma mater here at Southern Seminary," Mohler said. "It is a matter of great satisfaction that Dr. Steve Gaines, who wrote his Ph.D. dissertation at Southwestern Seminary on Dr. Herschel Hobbs, has agreed to be the very first Herschel H. Hobbs Visiting Professor of Christian Preaching at Southern Seminary." Audio and video of Gaines' chapel message is available at equip.sbts.edu/chapel. -------------------------------------------------------------------- The empty tomb: archaeology & the ancient record by Gary D. Myers Date: April 13, 2017 - Thursday EDITOR'S NOTE: Gary D. Myers is the director of public relations at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and a master of arts student in biblical archaeology who has participated in archaeological excavations at Tel Gezer and Palmachim. JERUSALEM (BP) -- The thought of Jesus stepping out of the tomb on the first Easter morning is simply overwhelming. His atoning death was magnified by the miracle of His resurrection. While the cross remains the undisputed symbol of Christianity, the empty tomb conveys the abundant life found in Christ. Just imagine seeing the empty tomb as it was that day. As a believer, I have experienced the power of Jesus' cross and His empty tomb. I don't need to see the tomb to experience its power while, as a student of the Bible and archaeology, I am compelled to learn as much as I can about the setting in which the Bible was written. Seeing the empty tomb is an exciting thought. Archaeology offers a wealth of contextual information about biblical places, events and people. However, archaeology rarely offers proofs. Such is the case with Jesus' tomb. Archaeology alone cannot lead to the tomb. It is not as simple as locating an empty tomb. Many empty tombs dot the landscape around Jerusalem -- emptied by the ravages of time and human raiders. With these limitations in mind, what can one learn from archaeology regarding the tomb of Jesus? It turns out, quite a bit. With a little help from early church writers, the chances of identifying the location of Jesus' tomb rise significantly. First and foremost, archaeology confirms that the Bible gives an accurate, though not exhaustive, description of a first century tomb. The accounts of Matthew, Mark and Luke describe a tomb cut from rock with a stone to cover the opening. John implies the visitors to the tomb had to stoop down to enter (John 20:5, 11). Matthew (Matthew 27:60), Luke (Luke 23:53) and John (John 19:41) make it clear that the tomb was new and had not been used for other burials. This is an important distinction because tombs often included multiple burials (family tombs) and, at times, tombs from previous periods were reused. In "Archaeology & the New Testament," archaeologist John McRay wrote that rock-cut, two-chambered tombs were typical for burials in first-century Jerusalem. The entrances of these tombs were typically low and blocked by a large stone, McRay noted. While most first-century tombs in Jerusalem have square or cork-shaped blocking stones, examples of tombs with round blocking stones have been discovered. The round and cork-shaped stones are consistent with the Bible's descriptions. History, archaeology and the Bible all lead us to look outside the city walls for the sites of Jesus' crucifixion and burial. According to Jack Finegan, author of "The Archeology of the New Testament," Jewish and Roman customs dictated that executions and burials take place outside the city walls. Again the Bible agrees with what is known from archaeology. John 19:17 says that "he went out to the place of the Skull" while John 19:20 places the crucifixion "near the city." Hebrews 13:12 records that Jesus "suffered outside the city gate." Potential sites of Jesus' tomb Over the years, the two leading sites of Jesus' burial and resurrection are the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Garden Tomb. The traditional site, located inside the current city wall, is the massive Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which covers the entire area thought to be the place of Jesus' execution and burial. A smaller structure within, called the edicule (small house), has long been considered the place of Jesus' tomb. While portions of the proposed Calvary hill are still visible, nothing resembling a rock-cut tomb is still visible in the edicule. The tomb area is overlaid with marble and completely enclosed by the edicule, which resembles a small orthodox church. The overt religiosity of the site makes it an uncomfortable place for evangelical Christians, but it has been venerated since the earliest days of Christendom. The Garden Tomb fits better with the evangelical concept of the garden burial mentioned in John 19:41. The peaceful setting includes a rock-cut tomb a short distance from a cliff which bears a striking resemblance to a skull. First suggested as the location of Jesus' burial in the 1870s, the simple, worshipful atmosphere with an easily accessible tomb makes the Garden Tomb a must-see stop for Christians visiting Jerusalem. Located outside the walls of the Old City, the Garden Tomb is a short walk from the Damascus Gate. After visiting both sites, part of me hoped that the Garden Tomb was the actual location of Jesus' burial and resurrection. Archaeological evidence, however, is stacked against the Garden Tomb. As a rock-cut tomb outside the city walls, the site fits some of the most general parameters. When one looks at the finer points of tomb typology, it is clear that the tomb does not fit the profile. As McRay noted, the Garden Tomb was carved some 600 years before the time of Jesus and then reworked and reused during the Byzantine period. There are no first-century tombs in the general area. While the tomb itself is not visible at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, other factors seem to affirm the validity of the site. Other tombs in the church, some very near the edicule, date to the first century. Though located inside the current wall, it is well documented that Herod Agrippa I rebuilt the wall to encompass this area c. A.D. 44. At the time of Jesus' execution, this area was outside the city wall. The activities of Roman Emperor Hadrian provide evidence in favor of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. According to early church writers Eusebius and Jerome, Hadrian (c. A.D. 135) constructed a pagan temple on the site and installed statues of Jupiter and Venus. Romans commonly built temples to their gods on sites venerated by local, conquered populations. Construction of a pagan temple hints that early Christians were venerating these sites as early as 100 years after the resurrection. Later, Constantine (c. A.D. 325) cleared the ruins of the pagan temple, found the tomb and built the first church and edicule at the site. In his writings, Cyril of Jerusalem mentions that some of the original rock around the tomb was cut away during construction of Constantine's edicule. Cyril also implies that he saw a rock-cut tomb before it was altered and adorned. Later, more of the rock was cut away. The current edicule, built in 1809-1810, is the fourth structure to cover the tomb. Though completely covered in marble in the Middle Ages, possibly to protect the rock from visitors, the layout of a two-chambered tomb is preserved. The back chamber includes a shelf or bench where Jesus' body would have been laid. Recent renovation work at the edicule revealed stone consistent with a rock-cut tomb under the layers of marble. While the evidence points to the site's validity, there is no way to prove the edicule covers the actual site of Jesus' tomb. At the very least, Jesus likely was crucified and buried in the general vicinity of this long-venerated site. For evangelical Christians visiting Jerusalem, I would suggest visiting both sites. Though the Garden Tomb cannot be the location of Jesus' burial, it does convey the idea of a rock-cut tomb. It is a worshipful site and well worth a visit. If you look past the layers of gold, marble and iconography, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre can be enjoyable and educational. And it is the most likely site of the resurrection. Stand in line to touch and see the place identified as Calvary and step inside the edicule. As you wait, take in the surroundings -- the sound and scent of burning candles and the low hum of anxious pilgrims. A visit provides a great opportunity to witness the differences in the worship and devotional practices of Christians from around the world. Be sure to visit the tombs located near the edicule and search out a first-century tomb sealed with a rolling stone somewhere else in Jerusalem -- one is located behind the King David Hotel, only a short walk from the Old City -- to give you a better idea of what Jesus' tomb would have looked like. Yet, the power of the resurrection dawned on me -- not in the Holy Land -- but on a Sunday evening at First Baptist Church in Calvin, Okla. That night as a grade-schooler I understood Jesus' death, burial, resurrection and His power over sin for the first time. I don't need proof to believe in His power -- I have experienced it in my own life. Still, I find great value in traveling in Israel and studying what archaeologists uncover. Doing so illuminates the context of Scripture and helps me wrap my finite mind around the infinite message of Easter. -------------------------------------------------------------------- TRUSTEES: SWBTS' college named for L.R. Scarborough by Alex Sibley Date: April 13, 2017 - Thursday FORT WORTH, Texas (BP) -- Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary's trustees received reports on the renaming of the College at Southwestern and the establishment of the Patterson Center for Global Theological Innovation during their April 11-12 meeting at the Fort Worth, Texas, campus. Trustees also approved promotions for eight faculty members and the election of seven others along with a $36,833,962 budget for the 2017-2018 fiscal year. Trustees received a report from their executive committee which met earlier this spring and voted to rename the College at Southwestern as "The L.R. Scarborough College at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary" in honor of the seminary's second president, Lee Rutland Scarborough. Scarborough College will continue the school's original vision from its initial launch in 2005, aiming to lay a foundation on which God-called men and women can build a lifetime of ministry by being equipped to think biblically, reason truthfully and share God's Word effectively. In addition to its new name, Scarborough College also boasts a new mascot -- the lions -- as well as a gold "S" logo over a blue background. In a second item from the executive committee report, Southwestern's Global Theological Innovation will now be based in the newly named Patterson Center for GTI. GTI is a program of the seminary to strengthen theological education around the world by forming strategic partnerships with seminaries and Baptist conventions overseas. Since its beginning in 2012, Southwestern has formed 137 GTI partnerships in 58 nations over five continents, reaching such diverse locations as Brazil, Cuba, Portugal, Lebanon and the Philippines. Because Southwestern President Paige Patterson was one of the architects of the initiative, trustees voted to name the new GTI center in his honor. Faculty promotions & elections Promoted to professor from associate professor positions were John Laing in systematic theology and philosophy; Tom Keumsup Song in church music; and Douglas A. Wood in education and worship. Promoted to associate professor from assistant professor positions were Scott Aniol in church music; Dongsun Cho in systematic and historical theology; Paul Gould in philosophy and Christian apologetics; Madison Grace in Baptist history and theology; and Dean Sieberhagen in Islamic studies, formerly an assistant professor in missions and Islamic studies. Elected to the faculty were Nathan Holsteen as professor of systematic theology and Andrew Streett as associate professor of biblical studies, both in the school of theology; Brandon Kiesling as assistant professor of evangelism in the Roy Fish School of Evangelism and Missions; Matthew Harrison, assistant professor of foundations of education in the Terry School of Church and Family Ministries; Ethan Jones as assistant professor of Old Testament and Justin Hiester as assistant professor of missions, both in Scarborough College; and Brad Heller, assistant professor of English in the J. Dalton Havard School for Theological Studies in Houston. Holsteen's election is effective July 1. All other promotions and elections are effective Aug. 1. Trustees elected new officers: chairman, Kevin Ueckert, lead pastor of the First Baptist Church in Georgetown, Texas; vice chairman, David Maron, an attorney in Jackson, Miss.; and secretary, Ronny Cooksey, pastor of Valley Baptist Church in McMinnville, Ore. Scarborough College Lee Rutland Scarborough, for whom the college is now named, was born on July 4, 1870, and went on to become a cowboy preacher, a fiery evangelist, one of Southwestern's founding faculty members, the first occupant and namesake for the first-ever chair of evangelism in a seminary ("the Chair of Fire"), and the institution's second president, serving from 1914-1942. Though B.H. Carroll, Southwestern's first president, was the seminary's visionary and founder, Scarborough is credited as its architect and steward. Current President Paige Patterson, speaking of the college's new name at the trustee meeting, said he was initially hesitant to name the college after Scarborough for fear that he was not a well-known name. But when Patterson considered the monumental contributions Scarborough made to the seminary, he realized this was undeniably the best choice. "We are happy about the faithfulness and the example that Lee Scarborough left to us that we can now follow," Patterson said. He added that this is an appropriate time to rename the college, as it will move into the campus' newest building, Mathena Hall, this fall. "The mission of Scarborough College is to create effective witnesses for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, regardless of the student's academic pursuit," the scarboroughcollege.com website declares. The college thus prepares students to follow in the footsteps of L.R. Scarborough, who lived "with a heart on fire with evangelistic zeal and a head filled with the wisdom of God." -------------------------------------------------------------------- EASTER: Three commands from an empty tomb by Steve Gaines Date: April 13, 2017 - Thursday Steve Gaines is president of the Southern Baptist Convention and pastor of the Memphis-area Bellevue Baptist Church. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (BP) -- "The angel said to the women, 'Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you'" (Matthew 28:5-7 NASB). Springtime is here. Dogwoods and daffodils bloom as winter retreats and warmer days are welcomed. Across America, churches will soon be packed on Easter Sunday. Why? Easter is about forgiveness and hope through a sacred death and an empty tomb. Easter is about the grimness of the grave being overcome. It is about Jesus Christ rising bodily, victoriously and eternally from the grave. Behold our resurrected Lord triumphantly displaying the keys to death, hell and the grave in His nail-scarred hands! No wonder Easter is the annual apex for all Christians. No other religion dares to make such claims. Muslims readily admit that Muhammad is dead. Buddha and Confucius are also in the grave, as is Joseph Smith. But after Jesus died, He rose from the grave, never to die again. The women who followed Jesus to Jerusalem from Galilee had gone to the tomb to properly anoint their Lord for burial. There they found an angel who gave them three significant commands: The first command was "Do not be afraid" (v.5) Those women came to the tomb wondering how they would remove the stone so they could anoint Jesus' body (cf. Mark 16:1). But when they arrived, an angel had already rolled the stone away (cf. Matthew 28:2). Jesus was not there -- He had risen! And because He had risen, there would never again be a valid reason for fear. As Bill Gaither's song says, "Because He lives, all fear is gone." The angel's second command was "Come, see" (v.6). There was nothing to hide. Jesus' body had not been stolen. This was no gimmick or fabrication, as the Jewish religious leaders in Jerusalem slyly suggested (cf. Matthew 28:11f). Jesus was really alive. The angel rolled the stone away, not to allow Jesus to leave the grave, but to let the women and everyone else to look in! Jesus' burial proved His actual death. His empty tomb proved His actual resurrection. Now everyone could "come, see" for themselves. The third command was, "go quickly and tell" (v.7). The good news of Jesus' resurrection demanded sharing. The angel's words at this point were similar to those spoken by Jesus after His resurrection and prior to His ascension: "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation" (Mark 16:15 NASB). Jesus had risen from the grave and His disciples were commissioned to take that good news to the ends of the earth. As they proclaimed the gospel message, people repented of their sins, believed that Jesus died and rose for their salvation, and received Jesus as Lord and Savior by calling on His name in humble prayer. The book of Acts describes how those early disciples boldly shared the gospel from Jerusalem to Rome in just three decades. They could not stop speaking of what they had "seen and heard" (cf. Acts 4:20). Today we who follow Jesus must continue to tell the world the saving message of His death, burial and resurrection (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4). No religion in the world claims anything like Jesus' empty tomb. His vicarious death and victorious resurrection are what make the good news "good." The angel's three commands echo through the centuries, calling out to us this Easter season. By faith, with spirit-ears, we still hear His commands: "Jesus is alive! Do not be afraid!" "Jesus is alive! Come, see!" "Jesus is alive! Go quickly and tell!" Southern Baptists, that is the message of Easter! That is what we must share with our lost neighbors. We must tell everyone that there is hope, healing and forgiveness for anyone who comes to Christ in repentance and faith, and that salvation comes from the bloody cross and empty tomb of Jesus. Do not be afraid. Come and see. Go quickly and tell. Have a glorious Easter! -------------------------------------------------------------------- EDITORIAL: Ahora que resucitó by Por Luis R. Lopez Date: April 13, 2017 - Thursday NOTA DEL EDITOR: La columna First-Person (De primera mano) es parte de la edición de hoy de BP en español. Para ver historias adicionales, vaya a http://www.bpnews.net/espanol. SPRINGFIELD, Tenn. (BP) -- Algunas veces me pregunto qué sintieron quienes visitaron la tumba vacía aquella mañana de Pascua. ¿Puedes imaginarte la experiencia y las emociones vividas cuando llegaron a la tumba, al lugar donde apenas días antes, el cuerpo sin vida de Jesucristo lo habían puesto? Ahora encontraban que la piedra que sellaba la tumba había sido removida y la tumba estaba vacía. Al prepararnos para celebrar el hecho más importante de la humanidad, la resurrección de Cristo, estamos invitados a visitar nuevamente ese lugar especial. Quizás en su visita descubramos hechos que nos ayuden a conocer mejor a Dios y a nosotros mismos. Tal vez, la visita aumente nuestra fe y nos transforme. Esta tumba vacía no puede hablarnos con palabras audibles porque habla mucho más fuerte que eso. Habla clara y contundentemente a todos aquellos que están dispuestos a detenerse y escuchar. Pasa adelante conmigo y escuchemos lo que esta tumba vacía tiene que decir. Mire adentro. Trate de agacharse hacia la abertura para oír sin estorbos. La tumba vacía revelará sus secretos. He aquí tres de ellos: "Entonces, el ángel les habló a las mujeres: '¡No teman! – dijo -- Sé que buscan a Jesús, el que fue crucificado. ¡No está aquí! Ha resucitado tal como dijo que sucedería. Vengan, vean el lugar donde estaba su cuerpo. Y ahora, vayan rápidamente y cuénteles a sus discípulos que ha resucitado y que va delante de ustedes a Galilea. Allí lo verán. Recuerden lo que les he dicho.'" (Mateo 28:5-7 NTV) En primer lugar, la tumba vacía nos revela que no debemos temer. ¡No teman! Cristo vino para calmar nuestros temores. Con cada respiro, con cada palabra que habla, con cada paso y cada latido del corazón, Dios quiere calmar nuestras ansiedades y preocupaciones. Esta tumba quiere vaciar nuestros temores y llenarnos de Su paz. Lejos de toda altivez, Aquél que murió en humildad quiere librarnos de todo afán y vanidad. No te confundas. No temas. Confíaselo todo a él. Los sueños no realizados, las preocupaciones que se levantan, los planes frustrados y cualquier ansiedad que te quita el sueño llévalos hoy a la tumba vacía. Cristo resucitó. Por eso podemos darle todos nuestros días, los malos y los buenos. Déjalos escuchar el quebranto que sufrió por ti. Recuerda el crudo dolor que por nosotros padeció. Fue Su amor por ti lo que lo llevó a esa cruz. Por tus pecados soportó el cruel dolor. Con espinas fue coronado para librarte de tus temores. Cuando dijo "Consumado es", cumplió la misión para la cual había venido. Por esta razón, ¡no temas! En segundo lugar, la tumba vacía nos extiende una invitación "Vengan, vean" (v.6). No había nada que esconder. Su cuerpo no había sido robado. Cristo vive ahora y por la eternidad. La tumba vacía era una prueba de ello. Esta invitación aún está vigente para todo aquel que quiere buscarlo. Dios está cerca de nosotros y quiere que le experimentemos día a día. Alza tus ojos y acércate al Alfa y la Omega, al que tiene el poder en sus manos. Este es quien camina sobre las aguas, calma la tempestad con su palabra y tiene nuestra sanidad en sus manos. Ven y ve. Ahora mismo, no te detengas. Él es todo lo que necesitamos y lo que jamás pensamos que algún día podríamos aspirar tener. Él es nuestra vida. "Mi siervo creció en la presencia del Señor como un tierno brote verde; como raíz en tierra seca. No había nada hermoso ni majestuoso en su aspecto, nada que nos atrajera hacia él. Fue despreciado y rechazado: hombre de dolores, conocedor del dolor más profundo. Nosotros le dimos la espalda y desviamos la mirada; fue despreciado, y no nos importó. Sin embargo, fueron nuestras debilidades las que él cargó; fueron nuestros dolores los que lo agobiaron. Y pensamos que sus dificultades eran un castigo de Dios; ¡un castigo por sus propios pecados! Pero él fue traspasado por nuestras rebeliones y aplastado por nuestros pecados. Fue golpeado para que nosotros estuviéramos en paz; fue azotado para que pudiéramos ser sanados. Todos nosotros nos hemos extraviado como ovejas; hemos dejado los caminos de Dios para seguir los nuestros. Sin embargo, el Señor puso sobre él los pecados de todos nosotros." (Isaías 53:2-6 NTV) En último lugar, la tumba vacía nos revela y recuerda la gran comisión "vayan rápidamente y cuéntenles" (v.7) Tal como el escritor del famoso himno lo dijo bien: "Muerte y tumba él venció; con su fuerza y su virtud; vencedor se levantó; reina vivo e inmortal; el Señor resucitó." Su muerte ha hecho posible la salvación del hombre. Hizo posible que muchos sean contados entre los justos, porque él cargaría con todos los pecados de ellos. Ahora que resucitó nos ha asignado una tarea por cumplir y un mensaje que compartir. ¡Qué hermosos son los pies de los mensajeros que anuncian tan buenas nuevas! No somos responsables de la respuesta al mensaje. Esto no depende de nosotros. Somos responsables de obedecer compartiéndolo. Los resultados se los dejamos a él. Hoy, el Jesús resucitado nos habla desde la tumba vacía. Pongámosle atención. Escuchémosle con oídos restaurados. Quizás Malco, el esclavo del sumo sacerdote a quién Pedro le cortó la oreja derecha y luego Jesús se la restituyó, podría decirnos lo que significa tener una oreja sanada por el Maestro. Escuchémosle, no con oídos sordos, distraídos o insensibles pero con alegría y atención. Sin temor, ven y ve. Cristo ha resucitado. -------------------------------------------------------------------- My Southern Baptist experience at a Seder by Diana Chandler Date: April 13, 2017 - Thursday NASHVILLE (BP) -- "Aren't all Messianic congregations Jewish people who believe in Christ?" I asked myself as the 300 or so Christians gathered for the Nashville Passover. Partaking of a Seder had been one of my dreams since I first heard a "Jesus in the Passover" presentation as a lay minister in New Orleans some 15 years ago. I wanted to discover whether keeping the Passover might be considered a personal spiritual discipline beneficial to my walk with the Lord. The Messianic believers seated at my table for the full-course April 10th event were anything but Jewish. One, an African American gentleman, had first learned to keep the Sabbath on Saturdays as a Seventh-day Adventist. Another, an African American and very pregnant mother resplendent in an Afro-centric fabric head wrap, was taught to keep the Passover because one of her ancestors took hold of the practice when he first learned to read as an adult. Both were members of Mercy Collective, a Nashville Messianic congregation where only about 10 percent of the 100 or so who gather for Saturday worship have any sort of Jewish background, according to administrative pastor John Diffenderfer. He and his wife Melissa are not Jewish, and neither are pastor Nathein Perkins and his wife Shannon, but the four keep the Jewish Sabbath and the Passover in leading the four-year-old congregation which meets at Crievewood Baptist Church. "My background primarily was kind of 'Bapticostal' for my childhood and other things," Diffenderfer said. He "then came into the Messianic faith" later in his childhood and before his teens, he said, and has been "doing Passover and other biblical feasts since then." Diffenderfer planted Mercy Collective in response to God's calling, the bivocational pastor said, and has seen a growing interest in the Passover among Christians of various faiths, although he has no numbers to back his perception. He describes "a progression within the worldwide church of Christians embracing sort of a biblical, Hebraic, some people would call the Jewish customs, and the culture and the traditions that even Christ Himself practiced," Diffenderfer said. "Twenty years ago ... there were very few if any Christians celebrating Passover or doing anything of that sort. But now, they're everywhere." Perhaps a fifth of those who attended the Seder were Jewish believers, blended in a sea of other believers of various ethnicities. About a fourth of them responded when asked whether they were attending a Seder for the first time. Among guest pastors was Michael Cummings of Bethlehem Baptist Church, a Southern Baptist congregation he said averages 175 worshippers on Sundays in Nashville. Cummings focused on deliverance and the gift of eternal life when he presented a brief devotion at the event, one of four offered by various ministers. "Why should Protestants who are not Messianic participate in a Seder?" I asked Cummings a couple of days later. "To me, that's kind of an oxymoron," Cummings responded to my terminology. "To me, all believers are Messianic. Even though we are not from the tradition of a Messianic Jew, we are all focused on the Messiah." Cummings began taking Seder 10 years ago and describes the Nashville Passover, which he participated in for the first time, as his best experience in keeping the feast. While his Southern Baptist congregation does not observe other traditional Jewish festivals and feast days as does Mercy Collective, he encourages Christians to keep Passover. "It's important for us, in our everyday life. Any chance we get to focus on and remember what Jesus has done for us, then we should take that opportunity to do that," Cummings told me. "And of course if more of us did that on a daily basis as Jesus told us to, to take up our cross daily, then I think our world would be a lot better place." For Cummings, the Passover expands on the Lord's Supper and is a great benefit. "I think it's important for us to understand those traditions, because the more we understand our roots and those traditions," Cummings said, "I think the greater understanding we'll have of who Jesus is to us, and who God the Father is, and then of course the Holy Spirit." The Nashville Passover was more than a Seder. Mercy Collective's three-hour observance told of the enslaved Israelites, and the 10 plagues the Lord sent in delivering the Israelites from Pharaoh's oppression, and progressed through the Messiah and His unspeakable gift. Before we departed, we were stretching our hands to the heavens in high praise. Lyndon Allen of Christians United for Israel blew an elaborate shofar. Diffenderfer and Perkins began the observance and called to the podium members of the congregation to read select Scriptures. "For as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do show the Messiah's death 'til He come," recited one of the readers. Using Southern Baptist wine -- Welch's 100 percent Concord grape juice -- we drank the cup of sanctification. "Let us lift our first cup together and bless the name of Yahweh!" Perkins said. Then, all 300 of us lined up behind a large brass bucket, washed our hands with jars of water placed on the altar and dried them with paper towels. It was representative of Jesus washing the disciples' feet, Perkins said, but an adaptation more easily conducted with larger groups. Such symbolism carried the night, surrounding a meal of hummus, a garden salad, grilled lamb chops, smoked turkey breast, macaroni and cheese, the best collard greens I ever tasted, mashed potatoes with gravy and an array of desserts. More than at a Southern Baptist Lord's Supper observance, which typically is only a brief portion of the worship service, I was able to appreciate not only Christ's willing sacrifice, but I recalled vividly the miracles God had worked in my own life. I remembered when He taught me that love is unconditional, when He delivered me from a painful past more than 20 years ago and revealed within me various Spiritual gifts. I even remembered when, having run out of money as a freelance writer, I prayed for fresh fruit. I had moved in with my older sister, at times could not afford groceries, and had to eat whatever she prepared. To my amazement, New Orleans City Park built an arbor and surrounded it with orange trees for the community, the fruit nearly ripe. For a month, when I took my daily walk in the park, I would pick an orange or two. "Are you supposed to pick that fruit?" my sister asked. Sure, I said. The fruit was answered prayer. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Trump signs bill enabling states to defund PPFA by Tom Strode Date: April 13, 2017 - Thursday WASHINGTON (BP) -- President Trump signed legislation today (April 13) that once again enables states to withhold federal family planning funds from Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers. Trump's action overturned a rule issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in December, only five weeks before President Obama left office. Many pro-life advocates perceived the HHS regulation, which effectively barred states from prohibiting Title X funds for abortion clinics, as a parting gift from Obama to the abortion industry. The HHS rule appeared particularly beneficial to the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA). In recent years, at least 12 states have cut money for Planned Parenthood, some in the wake of various scandals uncovered regarding the country's No. 1 abortion provider. Courts blocked those actions in some cases, thereby enabling the organization to continue to receive government funds. Pro-life leaders applauded the president's enactment of the congressional resolution. "It is a travesty that any taxpayer money goes to support the exploitive work of Planned Parenthood," said Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC). "State legislatures that seek to prevent that from happening should be respected, not thwarted by federal allies of the abortion industry. "I'm thankful for this reversal and pray for the day soon when abortion providers would not operate on any cent of public money," Moore said in written comments for Baptist Press. The sponsors of House Joint Resolution 43 commended Trump for signing their measure. Rep. Diane Black, R-Tenn., said the new law places the American people "back in the driver's seat, empowering states like Tennessee to steer their Title X funds away from abortion-centric facilities like Planned Parenthood." Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, said enactment of the resolution "restores states' rights over a Washington-knows-best mentality." Dawn Laguens, PPFA's executive vice president, criticized the law, saying, "People are sick and tired of politicians making it even harder for them to access health care, and this bill is just the latest example." The president's enactment of the legislation is the latest in what is now a series of pro-life actions by his administration: -- Trump signed an executive order Jan. 23 to reinstate the Mexico City Policy, which bans federal funds for organizations that perform or promote abortions overseas. -- The State Department announced April 3 it would not forward congressionally approved money to the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA) because of its partnership with a Chinese population-control program that includes forced abortions and sterilizations. The measure overturning HHS' pro-Planned Parenthood rule almost didn't make it to Trump's desk. Acting in his capacity as president of the Senate, Vice President Mike Pence twice cast tie-breaking votes to gain passage in the upper chamber. On March 30, the vice president broke 50-50 roll calls -- first to bring the proposal to the Senate floor and then to pass it. The House of Representatives approved the legislation in a 230-188 vote in February. The new HHS rule does not explicitly block states from providing Title X funds to abortion providers. Instead, it bars states from basing the selection of a recipient organization on anything other than "its ability to provide Title X services." As a result, states are unable to block funds from going to organizations simply because they provide abortions. Title X is the federal program that provides money to states for family planning and preventive health services. According to federal law, Title X funds cannot be used for the performance of abortions, but pro-life advocates point out grants to Planned Parenthood and similar providers free up other funds for use in performing abortions. Planned Parenthood affiliates performed 323,999 abortions during 2013-14, the most recent year for which statistics are available. PPFA and its affiliates received $553.7 million in government grants and reimbursements, according to its 2014-2015 financial report. Among the latest in a series of scandals plaguing the organization is the online release beginning in 2015 of secretly recorded videos that showed Planned Parenthood officials discussing the sale of organs from aborted children. Congress is considering using a health care bill or other legislation to cut most of Planned Parenthood's federal funding and direct it to federally qualified health centers that do not perform abortions. The ERLC is conducting an online advertising campaign to rally support for the congressional effort to slash federal dollars for Planned Parenthood. The effort is the first of its kind by the ERLC and includes a digital petition for delivery to congressional leaders. The petition is available for signing at http://erlc.com/initiatives/defund-planned-parenthood. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Former Md./Del. exec. sues NAMB, claims libel by David Roach Date: April 13, 2017 - Thursday LOUISVILLE, Miss. (BP) -- A lawsuit filed by former Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware executive director Will McRaney alleges the North American Mission Board wrongly influenced his separation of employment from the BCMD in 2015. The suit also claims NAMB personnel engaged in "slander and/or libel" of McRaney and attempted to interfere with his speaking engagements after he left the state convention. In response to the suit, NAMB told Baptist Press Wednesday (April 12) in written comments it "strongly denies Dr. McRaney's allegations," adding today, "No one from NAMB has attempted or will attempt to interfere with Dr. McRaney's ministry efforts and we have not asked anyone else to do so." The lawsuit was filed April 7 in Winston County, Miss., where McRaney claims he was "uninvited" to speak at a 2016 "missions symposium" due to "intentional interference by NAMB leaders." The suit asks a county court to award unspecified punitive damages to McRaney stemming from "emotional distress" and economic loss. The filing followed more than a year of online posts by McRaney alleging improper NAMB interference in his ministry with the BCMD. The lawsuit's claim McRaney "was terminated" by the BCMD after NAMB leaders threatened to withhold funding from the two-state convention appeared to contrast with BCMD's March 2016 claim he "resigned." Among the suit's other allegations: -- NAMB leaders made "false and libelous" statements about McRaney in 2014-15 as NAMB and the BCMD attempted to work out details of a partnership agreement. -- In late 2015, NAMB posted McRaney's photo at the welcome desk of its Alpharetta, Ga., headquarters, communicating implicitly "that he was not to be trusted." The posting, the suit alleges, was "purposely designed to damage [McRaney's] reputation." -- NAMB President Kevin Ezell attempted "to interfere" with McRaney's scheduled speaking appearance at the 2016 Florida Baptist Convention Pastors' Conference. McRaney wrote in a blog post explaining his decision to sue, "Most regrettably, Dr. Ezell's actions and the lack of NAMB trustee responsiveness have placed [my wife] Sandy and I in the difficult position of seeking biblical restitution from the U.S. court system." "Prior to taking this public step," McRaney wrote, "... we have had countless communications with leaders across the spectrum of Southern Baptist life and several wise pastors. This includes SBC agency heads, several former SBC presidents, NAMB trustee officers and board members, the executive director and several members of the Executive Committee, several state executive directors and a host of other men and women who care deeply about the work of the SBC and NAMB. "Some have spoken words of sympathy and regret," McRaney wrote, "and some seem to wish I would go away." NAMB said in a statement, "We were disappointed and saddened to learn that last week, Dr. Will McRaney chose to file a legal action against our ministry rather than accept any of our repeated offers to seek resolution of differences in a biblical manner. The North American Mission Board strongly denies Dr. McRaney's allegations and is now compelled to vigorously defend against all unfounded claims in the appropriate forum. "Nonetheless, our offer of biblical resolution and reconciliation still stand[s], as do our continued prayers for Dr. and Mrs. McRaney, their family and his ongoing ministry," NAMB stated. A NAMB spokesman told BP April 13 the entity had not yet been served with the lawsuit and planned to file a legal response within 30 days of service. The BCMD said in its March 2016 statement McRaney "resigned from his position as executive director," and "the terms of Dr. McRaney's departure were mutually agreed upon" by him and the convention. The BCMD added, "Any suggestion that the North American Mission Board (NAMB) or any of its officers influenced the separation of Dr. McRaney's employment from the [BCMD] is false. While the [BCMD] continues to collaboratively work with NAMB to further our joint missions, all matters pertaining to [BCMD] personnel are governed solely by the policies and procedures established by the [BCMD]." In June 2016, NAMB trustees unanimously adopted a recommendation stating they had conducted a "thorough examination and review" of the entity's relationship with the BCMD and were "satisfied that this matter has been reviewed thoroughly and consider[ed] this matter concluded." McRaney has posted his version of events noted in the lawsuit at WillMcRaney.com. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Los cristianos coptos oran, perseveran después de los bombardeos en las iglesias de Egipto by Por Diana Chandler Date: April 13, 2017 - Thursday ALEJANDRIA/TANTA, Egipto (BP) -- Mientras los cristianos coptos entierran a aproximadamente 44 personas muertas por los bombardeos terroristas durante los servicios del Domingo de Ramos en Egipto, la iglesia copta más antigua en los Estados Unidos está orando por las familias de los "mártires" cristianos y por el Estado Islámico (IS, por sus siglas en inglés) que ha aceptado la autoría de estas muertes. Los ataques a la Iglesia de San Jorge en Tanta y la Catedral de San Marcos en Alejandría también hirieron a más de 125 feligreses, según reportó Morning Star News, calificándolos como el ataque más mortal con bombas comparado con el bombardeo de la Iglesia de San Pedro y San Pablo en el área suburbana de El Cairo, en la navidad del 2016, donde perecieron 24 personas e hirieron a 50. Éste era considerado el peor bombardeo en contra de los cristianos en la historia de Egipto. En los Estados Unidos, la Iglesia Ortodoxa Copta de San Marcos en la ciudad de Nueva Jersey está en oración por la perseverancia, dijo el diácono de relaciones públicas de la iglesia, Joseph Ghabour, a Baptist Press el día de hoy (10 abril). "Consideramos los ataques terroristas como un intento de interrumpir nuestras oraciones e interrumpir nuestras festividades, y hemos perdido muchas más almas que en el bombardeo de la Iglesia de San Pedro y San Pablo en El Cairo," dijo Ghabour. "Pero solamente podemos seguir adelante y orar y esparcir el mensaje de paz y amor que nos enseñó nuestro Señor." En esta denominación apostólica que cree haber nacido a partir de una iglesia fundada por San Marcos a mediados del primer siglo, los cristianos asesinados han sido llamado mártires. "Sabemos que los mártires están en un lugar mucho mejor," dijo Ghabour a BP. "Oren por los terroristas que están tratando de sembrar odio en los corazones de todos los egipcios, ya sean musulmanes o cristianos, y permitiremos que los terroristas tengan éxito en hacerlo." "Oramos por todos aquellos que nos odian y pedimos que Dios les provea Su guía para iluminar sus corazones y sus mentes para que lleguen a conocer el buen camino." El ataque en Tanta el Domingo de Ramos, a unas 60 millas al norte del El Cairo, mató a por lo menos 27 personas e hirió a 78, según reportó el 9 de abril Morning Star News. Unas horas después, un bombardero suicida que fue detenido por los oficiales a la puerta de la iglesia en la ciudad costera de Alejandría, detonó los explosivos que había escondido en su cuerpo, matando a 17 personas e hiriendo a otras 48. El mismo día, IS aceptó la autoría de ambos atentados. El presidente egipcio Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi declaró de inmediato un estado de emergencia de tres meses. El papa Teodoro II, líder de la Iglesia Copta, acababa de dirigirse a los feligreses en la congregación de Alejandría justo antes del ataque, dijo Morning Start News. Él no resultó herido. "Estos actos no dañarán la unidad y la cohesión del pueblo," dijo Teodoro II en una declaración oficial sobre los atentados. Los cristianos forman el 10 por ciento de la población de Egipto, y han sido más y más atacados y perseguidos desde el golpe de Estado del 2013 en el país, según reportó Morning Star News, con el ejército egipcio teniendo poco éxito en la protección de la minoría copta. En Nueva Jersey, Ghabour dijo que la iglesia de 2,000 miembros está entristecida por los ataques. La iglesia figura entre las casi 200 congregaciones coptas en los Estados Unidos, según la base de datos de la Iglesia Copta CopticNetwork.net. Siempre hay un sistema de seguridad activo en la iglesia de Nueva Jersey, dijo Ghabour, pero aumenta durante los días santos y los días festivos. "Los cristianos son -- ya sean coptos o católicos o cualquier otro tipo -- un blanco para los terroristas hoy en día," dijo Ghabour. "Ellos creen que somos blancos fáciles así que nosotros siempre tenemos medidas de seguridad activas. Aumentan durante las festividades, particularmente durante la Pascua, Navidad, todas las fiestas mayores." La iglesia está solicitando oraciones de los cristianos, incluyendo a los bautistas del sur. "El mundo sería un mejor lugar para todos si cada uno amara al otro como nos enseña la Biblia," dijo. "Todo lo que podemos hacer los humanos es orar que Dios provea guía a estas personas e ilumine sus corazones y sus mentes." -------------------------------------------------------------------- Ministerio de hogar temporal de TX acusado de abuso sexual by Por David Roach Date: April 13, 2017 - Thursday FORT WORTH, Texas (BP) -- Una acción legal de $7 millones alega que los niños fueron "seriamente abusados sexualmente" y desatendidos en un hogar bautista de niños en Texas. El Hogar Bautista para Niños de Texas (TBHC por sus siglas en inglés) -- un "ministerio afiliado" a la Convención Bautista del Sur de Texas (SBTC por sus siglas en inglés) -- no respondió específicamente a la demanda, pero le dijo a Baptist Press que mantiene los más altos estándares de seguridad para los niños a su cuidado. La acción legal, presentada el 5 de abril en la corte civil del condado Tarrant, aduce que siete hermanos menores de 14 años sufrieron abuso físico y sexual además de "serios descuidos médicos y otros" en 2013 cuando estaban bajo el cuidado de padres temporales en cabañas propiedad de TBHC en Waxahachie, Texas. Entre las alegaciones de la demanda están que TBHC falló en "investigar apropiadamente los reportes de abusos," "realizar chequeos adecuados de antecedentes o seguimientos de los padres temporales" y "tomar acción inmediata en contra de los perpetradores." Hal Browne, abogado que representa a los hermanos, le dijo al Fort Worth Star-Telegram que tres de los hermanos varones fueron sexualmente abusados por "otros, niños mayores" mientras que los otros cuatro hermanos sufrieron negligencia. Los demandantes están pidiendo indemnizaciones "por encima de" $1 millón por cada uno de los siete niños, de acuerdo a una copia de la demanda provista a BP por Browne. "No presentamos demandas legales a la ligera," le dijo Browne al Star-Telegram. "Si no hubiéramos sentido que el abuso fue severo y a largo plazo, no habríamos presentado la demanda." El presidente interino de TBHC, Randy Odom le dijo a BP el 10 de abril que él no había sido notificado todavía sobre la demanda, pero señaló que todos los padres sustitutos de TBHC se someten a "un muy extenso proceso" para tener la licencia. "Nuestros estándares van más allá de los estándares del estado," dijo Odom. La demanda menciona a SBTC como coacusada, y señala que TBHC es un ministerio afiliado a la convención. La SBTC tiene "representación" en la junta directiva de TBHC y provee fondos al ministerio, de acuerdo a la demanda. La SBTC le dijo a BP en una declaración que "está consciente de la demanda, y oramos por una resolución que facilite el seguimiento del ministerio del Hogar Bautista para Niños de Texas cuando llene las necesidades de los niños en riesgo y las familias." Otra coacusada es la Asociación Bautista Misionera de Texas, una red de 400 iglesias enumeradas en el sitio web de SBTC como un "ministerio relacionado" que "opera" el TBHC. De acuerdo al Star-Telegram, las alegaciones en la demanda legal parecen compararse con un caso hecho público previamente en el cual el Departamento de Familia y Servicios Protectores de Texas "no encontró deficiencias en su propia investigación del" TBHC. El estado recomendó, sin embargo, que los padres temporales a cargo de dos de los hermanos "aumenten la supervisión y no les permitan a los niños tener ningún contacto no supervisado uno con otro." La Convención Bautista del Sur, con la cual la SBTC mantiene una relación de cooperación, adoptó una resolución en 2013 "sobre el abuso sexual de niños" que "les recuerda a todos los bautistas del sur su responsabilidad legal y moral de reportar cualquier acusación de abuso infantil a las autoridades." La resolución "llama a todos los bautistas del sur a cooperar completamente con los oficiales del orden público en exponer y hacer justicia a todos los perpetradores," instó el uso de chequeo de antecedentes para el personal ministerial y voluntarios y "animó a todos los líderes de denominación … a utilizar el más alto sentido de discernimiento al afiliarse con grupos o individuos que tengan políticas y prácticas cuestionables para proteger a nuestros niños del abuso criminal." -------------------------------------------------------------------- Iglesia de Missouri lleva el evangelio a El Salvador by Por el personal/The Pathway Date: April 13, 2017 - Thursday EL SALVADOR (BP) -- Un equipo de 13 personas de la Iglesia Bautista First (FBC por sus siglas en inglés), Memphis, Mo., viajó a El Salvador en marzo para compartir el amor de Cristo. Este fue el cuarto viaje de la iglesia al área, donde hizo equipo con iglesias en El Coco, El Tanque y San Isidro -- pequeñas comunidades asentadas en las montañas de la frontera de la nación con Guatemala. "Una de las mayores experiencias del viaje misionero fue trabajar mano a mano con hermanas y hermanos cristianos de otra cultura que comparten la meta común de servir a Dios," dijo el pastor Dan Hite en un artículo en el Memphis (Missouri) Democrat. Cada año, cuando la iglesia trabaja en El Salvador, "los vínculos del compañerismo se fortalecen," añadió. "Viajes misioneros como este," dijo, "pueden cambiar la vida, y pueden ser gratificantes al ser grandemente bendecido por aquellos a los que vas a ser de bendición." Como en el pasado, el equipo misionero de FBC, Memphis, trabajó con los niños en esas comunidades golpeadas por la pobreza. Los misioneros de FBC Memphis, integrado por 13 personas de diferentes edades (desde adolescentes hasta adultos sénior), se dividieron en dos equipos para servir en las tres comunidades en El Salvador. Un equipo fue invitado a trabajar en las escuelas en San Isidro. Y en El Tanque, las escuelas llevaron niños a la iglesia, donde aprendieron cantos en español y en inglés, tuvieron juegos, hicieron manualidades y escucharon historias de la Biblia. El grupo misionero de FBC Memphis también distribuyó máquinas de coser, medicinas, animales de peluche, hilaza para hacer muñecas, cepillos de dientes, juguetes y casi 800 pares de zapatos -- recogidos de diferentes grupos en el condado de Scotland, Mo. "Los dos equipos también participaron en cultos en las noches, lo cual fue otra gran experiencia," dijo Hite. "El mundo se hace más pequeño cuando adoramos y alabamos a Dios con otras culturas." Adicionalmente, el grupo misionero tuvo cultos en la Primera Iglesia Bautista de Chalchuapa y trabajó con los niños de una escuela cristiana afiliada a la iglesia. De acuerdo al Memphis Democrat, FBC Memphis no solamente llevó el agua viva del evangelio a la gente de El Salvador. También jugaron una parte importante al llevar agua potable limpia a la comunidad de El Tanque. Una miembro del equipo misionero, Linda Blessing, también es miembro del Club Rotario del Condado de Schuyler. El Memphis Democrat explicó: "Uno de los principales intereses de servicio de los clubes Rotarios en el mundo es proveer recursos sostenibles de agua potable limpia para la gente en naciones en las que esto es un problema. Linda pudo hacer conexiones con miembros del Club Rotario en El Salvador y los líderes comunales de El Tanque para obtener apoyo local para el proyecto y tener la información necesaria en relación al proyecto para compartir con los clubes Rotarios en el noreste de Missouri." -------------------------------------------------------------------- Crece la expectativa por la CBS Phoenix 2017 by Por Diana Chandler Date: April 13, 2017 - Thursday PHOENIX (BP) -- El aparente interés en la próxima reunión anual de la Convención Bautista del Sur ha necesitado un incremento en la disponibilidad de cuartos de hotel para los asistentes el segundo año consecutivo, dijo un coordinador del evento. El Comité Ejecutivo de la CBS ha reservado 500 cuartos adicionales para la reunión del 2017 el 13 y 14 de junio en Phoenix, Ariz., dijo Bill Townes, vicepresidente de finanzas del Comité Ejecutivo de la CBS. El bloque de habitaciones apartadas, señaló, fue completamente reservado desde marzo. "Frecuentemente ajustamos los bloques de cuartos a medida que monitoreamos las reservaciones," dijo Townes. "Debido a la fuerte asistencia en St. Louis, Mo., en 2016, añadimos cuartos de hotel a inicios del proceso de reservación [para la reunión del año pasado]." Townes anticipa una asistencia de entre 5,000 a 6,000 mensajeros en Phoenix, comparable a la participación en las reuniones anuales del 2015 y 2014 en Columbus, Ohio, y Baltimore, Md., respectivamente, dijo. La asistencia prevista excede los 4,852 mensajeros registrados la última vez que la reunión anual fue realizada en Phoenix en 2011. Además de los mensajeros, Townes anticipa de 2,500 a 3,500 invitados, expositores y otros participantes, para una asistencia total anticipada de hasta 9,500. "Con solo dos meses más antes de nuestra próxima reunión anual de la CBS, esperamos una maravillosa y reverente asamblea de nuestra familia bautista del sur en Phoenix este verano," dijo Townes. "Con base en las reservaciones de hotel hechas con antelación, anticipo que nuestra asistencia será más grande que la última vez (2011) que estuvimos en Phoenix." La asistencia en 2016 de 11,581 en St. Louis incluyó 7,321 mensajeros. Un total de 5,407 mensajeros asistieron a la reunión de Columbus 2015, que sobrepasó a Baltimore 2014 que tuvo 5,298. Desde 2012, el registro de mensajeros ha fluctuado entre 5,103 y 7,874. En Phoenix, los bloques de cuartos han sido añadidos en cinco hoteles adicionales con acceso cercano al sistema de Phoenix Valley Metro Light Rail (metro ligero), lo que permite viajar convenientemente al Centro de Convenciones de Phoenix en 100 N. 3rd St. Las reservaciones están disponibles bajo la pestaña housing and travel (hospedaje y viaje) en SBCAnnualMeeting.net, o llamando a la oficina de hospedaje de la CBS al 1-800-967-8852. Las reservaciones deben estar aseguradas para el 17 de mayo para poder recibir las tarifas de descuento. El Sheraton Grand Phoenix es el hotel oficial de la convención, localizado a una cuadra del sitio de reuniones. Para obtener más detalles, asegúrese de visitar el sitio web de Baptist Press el 21 de abril para ver una variedad de reportes acerca de la próxima reunión anual. -------------------------------------------------------------------- EDITORIAL: Ahora que resucitó by Por Luis R. Lopez Date: April 13, 2017 - Thursday SPRINGFIELD, Tenn. (BP) -- Algunas veces me pregunto qué sintieron quienes visitaron la tumba vacía aquella mañana de Pascua. ¿Puedes imaginarte la experiencia y las emociones vividas cuando llegaron a la tumba, al lugar donde apenas días antes, el cuerpo sin vida de Jesucristo lo habían puesto? Ahora encontraban que la piedra que sellaba la tumba había sido removida y la tumba estaba vacía. Al prepararnos para celebrar el hecho más importante de la humanidad, la resurrección de Cristo, estamos invitados a visitar nuevamente ese lugar especial. Quizás en su visita descubramos hechos que nos ayuden a conocer mejor a Dios y a nosotros mismos. Tal vez, la visita aumente nuestra fe y nos transforme. Esta tumba vacía no puede hablarnos con palabras audibles porque habla mucho más fuerte que eso. Habla clara y contundentemente a todos aquellos que están dispuestos a detenerse y escuchar. Pasa adelante conmigo y escuchemos lo que esta tumba vacía tiene que decir. Mire adentro. Trate de agacharse hacia la abertura para oír sin estorbos. La tumba vacía revelará sus secretos. He aquí tres de ellos: "Entonces, el ángel les habló a las mujeres: '¡No teman! – dijo -- Sé que buscan a Jesús, el que fue crucificado. ¡No está aquí! Ha resucitado tal como dijo que sucedería. Vengan, vean el lugar donde estaba su cuerpo. Y ahora, vayan rápidamente y cuénteles a sus discípulos que ha resucitado y que va delante de ustedes a Galilea. Allí lo verán. Recuerden lo que les he dicho.'" (Mateo 28:5-7 NTV) En primer lugar, la tumba vacía nos revela que no debemos temer. ¡No teman! Cristo vino para calmar nuestros temores. Con cada respiro, con cada palabra que habla, con cada paso y cada latido del corazón, Dios quiere calmar nuestras ansiedades y preocupaciones. Esta tumba quiere vaciar nuestros temores y llenarnos de Su paz. Lejos de toda altivez, Aquél que murió en humildad quiere librarnos de todo afán y vanidad. No te confundas. No temas. Confíaselo todo a él. Los sueños no realizados, las preocupaciones que se levantan, los planes frustrados y cualquier ansiedad que te quita el sueño llévalos hoy a la tumba vacía. Cristo resucitó. Por eso podemos darle todos nuestros días, los malos y los buenos. Déjalos escuchar el quebranto que sufrió por ti. Recuerda el crudo dolor que por nosotros padeció. Fue Su amor por ti lo que lo llevó a esa cruz. Por tus pecados soportó el cruel dolor. Con espinas fue coronado para librarte de tus temores. Cuando dijo "Consumado es", cumplió la misión para la cual había venido. Por esta razón, ¡no temas! En segundo lugar, la tumba vacía nos extiende una invitación "Vengan, vean" (v.6). No había nada que esconder. Su cuerpo no había sido robado. Cristo vive ahora y por la eternidad. La tumba vacía era una prueba de ello. Esta invitación aún está vigente para todo aquel que quiere buscarlo. Dios está cerca de nosotros y quiere que le experimentemos día a día. Alza tus ojos y acércate al Alfa y la Omega, al que tiene el poder en sus manos. Este es quien camina sobre las aguas, calma la tempestad con su palabra y tiene nuestra sanidad en sus manos. Ven y ve. Ahora mismo, no te detengas. Él es todo lo que necesitamos y lo que jamás pensamos que algún día podríamos aspirar tener. Él es nuestra vida. "Mi siervo creció en la presencia del Señor como un tierno brote verde; como raíz en tierra seca. No había nada hermoso ni majestuoso en su aspecto, nada que nos atrajera hacia él. Fue despreciado y rechazado: hombre de dolores, conocedor del dolor más profundo. Nosotros le dimos la espalda y desviamos la mirada; fue despreciado, y no nos importó. Sin embargo, fueron nuestras debilidades las que él cargó; fueron nuestros dolores los que lo agobiaron. Y pensamos que sus dificultades eran un castigo de Dios; ¡un castigo por sus propios pecados! Pero él fue traspasado por nuestras rebeliones y aplastado por nuestros pecados. Fue golpeado para que nosotros estuviéramos en paz; fue azotado para que pudiéramos ser sanados. Todos nosotros nos hemos extraviado como ovejas; hemos dejado los caminos de Dios para seguir los nuestros. Sin embargo, el Señor puso sobre él los pecados de todos nosotros." (Isaías 53:2-6 NTV) En último lugar, la tumba vacía nos revela y recuerda la gran comisión "vayan rápidamente y cuéntenles" (v.7) Tal como el escritor del famoso himno lo dijo bien: "Muerte y tumba él venció; con su fuerza y su virtud; vencedor se levantó; reina vivo e inmortal; el Señor resucitó." Su muerte ha hecho posible la salvación del hombre. Hizo posible que muchos sean contados entre los justos, porque él cargaría con todos los pecados de ellos. Ahora que resucitó nos ha asignado una tarea por cumplir y un mensaje que compartir. ¡Qué hermosos son los pies de los mensajeros que anuncian tan buenas nuevas! No somos responsables de la respuesta al mensaje. Esto no depende de nosotros. Somos responsables de obedecer compartiéndolo. Los resultados se los dejamos a él. Hoy, el Jesús resucitado nos habla desde la tumba vacía. Pongámosle atención. Escuchémosle con oídos restaurados. Quizás Malco, el esclavo del sumo sacerdote a quién Pedro le cortó la oreja derecha y luego Jesús se la restituyó, podría decirnos lo que significa tener una oreja sanada por el Maestro. Escuchémosle, no con oídos sordos, distraídos o insensibles pero con alegría y atención. Sin temor, ven y ve. Cristo ha resucitado.