‘Nearly miraculous’: Even two centuries later, the Louisiana Purchase remains a truly remarkable event that opened many doors of opportunity When American representative Robert Livingston heard the offer being made by French leaders for the sale of Louisiana, he dropped his teeth - literally. When American representative Robert Livingston heard the offer being made by French leaders for the sale of Louisiana, he dropped his teeth - literally. "By his own account, Livingston, who was an elderly man and who wore, as was common at the time, false teeth made of wood, was so astonished (at the offer) that his mouth flew open and his lower plate came out and fell on the carpet in front of the president of France," explains Thomas Howell, chair of the history department at Louisiana College. "Livingston literally had to pick up his teeth off the rug." The reaction was not a surprising one. The American effort to buy the city of New Orleans and some of the immediate surrounding area had just taken an amazing turn - and the young country was about to make one tremendous deal that still defies explanation in ways. Looking back, the Louisiana Purchase represents "a nearly miraculous combination of circumstances … [Read more...]
History shows – great preachers have passionate souls
Note: The following article represents the third in an 11-part series on "Characteristics of Great Preachers." The series was commissioned by the Louisiana Baptist Message from Austin Tucker of Shreveport, a former Louisiana Baptist pastor who now teaches and writes on religious subjects. He also is a frequent pulpit guest in churches and serves as a member of the Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board. Note: The following article represents the third in an 11-part series on "Characteristics of Great Preachers." The series was commissioned by the Louisiana Baptist Message from Austin Tucker of Shreveport, a former Louisiana Baptist pastor who now teaches and writes on religious subjects. He also is a frequent pulpit guest in churches and serves as a member of the Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board. Austin B. Tucker, Freelance writer Great preachers tend to feel deeply, and they are not likely to be bashful about expressing those feelings. They are passionate souls. Their love is focused in two directions - toward their fellow man and Godward. They especially have a devout love of Christ. Take Bernard of Clairvaux, for example. He was a … [Read more...]
New partnership to offer help for LBC ministers
It is true - ministers are some of the most stressed persons in the world, Kelly Barnett notes. That can lead to personal problems - even family problems, said Barnett, director of Granberry Counseling Centers for the Louisiana Baptist Childrens Home. It is true - ministers are some of the most stressed persons in the world, Kelly Barnett notes. That can lead to personal problems - even family problems, said Barnett, director of Granberry Counseling Centers for the Louisiana Baptist Childrens Home. However, Louisiana Baptist ministers seeking help with family or personal problems now have a new team resource - the childrens home and the state conventions church-minister relations office. The two entities have teamed up to offer affordable Christian counseling to ministers and their families through the Granberry Counseling Centers around the state. One leader involved in the effort described as a "win-win" relationship. "Ministers live in a fishbowl, ..." Barnett acknowledged. "Our goal is to help their marriage, help with their stresses." It is a goal shared by Alan Miller, director of the Louisiana Baptist … [Read more...]
Weekly Announcements
For the week of November 13, 2003 Potpourri DENHAM SPRINGS - First church: Dallas Holm in concert; Nov. 15, 7 p.m.; $5 per ticket; call (225) 664-4102 for ticket information; Danny Henderson, pastor. RIVER RIDGE - Riverside church: Testify in concert; Nov. 23, 7 p.m.; Joseph Miller, pastor. FARMERVILLE - Antioch church: The Chordsmen in concert; Nov. 23, 6 p.m.; Paul Carter, pastor. ALEXANDRIA - Calvary church: Alan Jackson, guest speaker for Youth Parent Forum; Nov. 24, 6 p.m.; David Brooks, pastor. Revivals SHREVEPORT - North Shreve church: Soul Harvest Day; Nov. 16, 9:45 and 11 a.m./5:30 and 6:30 p.m.; dinner on the grounds at noon; Gene Williams, evangelist; Jericho and the NSBC Youth Praise Band, special music; Steve Miller, music; Roy W. Davis, pastor. Homecomings JONESVILLE - Utility church: Nov. 16, 10 a.m.; Danny Chaney, guest speaker; James Foster, pastor. ALEXANDRIA - Twin Bridges church: Nov. 23, 10 a.m. with dinner on the grounds to follow; Courtland "Junior" Stokes, Jr., guest speaker; HIS Southern Gospel Singers, music; Robert Daniel, pastor. Anniversaries JENA - Calvary Heights church: Kenneth Boyd, ten years as pastor. VIDALIA - Riverside … [Read more...]
Author – churches can be biblical and purpose-driven
Rick Warren wants to make one thing very clear - a church does not have to change the biblical message in order to become purpose-driven. Rick Warren wants to make one thing very clear - a church does not have to change the biblical message in order to become purpose-driven. Being purpose-driven is about targeting who a church will reach and staying focused on that target while balancing the five biblical purposes - worship, fellowship, discipleship, service and evangelism, Warren said during a recent training conference in Lynchburg, Va. "How do you turn an audience into an army?" he asked. The goal is to move people from the outer circle of community to an inner circle, core group, he said. Warren said a survey by George Gallup once found that only 10 percent of laypeople are involved in ministry, yet another 40 percent are interested in ministry opportunities but never have been asked to serve. Citing his own church in Lake Forest, Calif., Warren said he was astonished to learn what some of his members had been involved in through their careers. "Something I do not like about big churches is how easy it is for talent to hide." In order to get such talented people involved in ministry, Warren … [Read more...]
Prof urges International Mission Board to enforce strict theological parameters
The Southern Baptist International Mission Board should rid itself of "unbiblical" practices and alliances with Christian mission groups that do not enforce strict theological parameters, a Southern Baptist missions professor has urged. The Southern Baptist International Mission Board should rid itself of "unbiblical" practices and alliances with Christian mission groups that do not enforce strict theological parameters, a Southern Baptist missions professor has urged. Keith Eitel is professor of Christian missions at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C.. He outlined his concerns in an eight-page paper circulated by Paige Patterson, president at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Eitel alleges that because of inadequate training of some missionaries, "evangelism, church planting and discipleship are in the hands of theological novices." He also says women inappropriately are placed in positions of authority over men. An International Mission Board spokesperson called Eitels criticisms "groundless accusations." Nonetheless, he said the matter will be discussed by mission board trustees when they meet this week. Eitels document was … [Read more...]
Never has a quarter brought so much mayhem and chaos
Can I have a quarter?" The five-year-old was a cinch to get the quarter he was asking his grandfather for. Apparently, this was a time of bonding with the two grandsons and grandparents. Pizza was the food of choice, and there was no need to wonder whose choice. The boys, although small in stature, ate two slices to one of their grandparents. "Can I have a quarter?" The five-year-old was a cinch to get the quarter he was asking his grandfather for. Apparently, this was a time of bonding with the two grandsons and grandparents. Pizza was the food of choice, and there was no need to wonder whose choice. The boys, although small in stature, ate two slices to one of their grandparents. The pizza gone, the grandsons attention immediately turned to the video game standing nearby. They examined it carefully, then moved on to examine the pinball machine. The pinball machine must have looked like a relic of the pastno blood, no guns, no decapitations, no excitement - just a large steel ball banging around under a piece of glass, flashing lights and clanging bells. They went back to the video game. Actually, the video game is tame. The person who inserts his … [Read more...]
Weekly Briefs
For the week of November 20, 2003 Messenger registration The convention opened Monday night with 748 messengers registered. By the second session on Tuesday morning, the total had climbed to 1,193. By the end of the convention, 1,235 messengers had registered for the annual meeting. That total is 166 (11.8 percent) less than last year. It also represents the lowest messenger registration since 1998, when 1,228 persons registered for the annual meeting in Baton Rouge. The last time the convention met in Lafayette was 1991, when 2,155 messengers registered, a record high at the time. It also met in Lafayette in 1982, with just 783 messengers registered. The last time registration was this low in a year when there was no sitting president involved in a reelection bid was 1985, when only 868 messengers attended the state convention. The highest convention registration ever came in 1996, when 2,600 messengers registered for the annual meeting. Convention registrations have topped the 2,000 mark five times. It has not fallen below the 1,000 mark since 804 messengers registered in 1986. Tellers Committee Thirty-one persons were appointed by Louisiana Baptist Convention … [Read more...]
2003 Louisiana Baptist Convention was no place for controversy
If you were looking for controversy, the 2003 Louisiana Baptist Convention was not the place to find it. The convention went like clockwork with no If you were looking for controversy, the 2003 Louisiana Baptist Convention was not the place to find it. The convention went like clockwork with no surprises, little debate and no controversy. For only the second time in this editors memory, an "open" election with no sitting president, each officer of the convention was elected by acclamation. Each of the men nominated for a convention office had been endorsed by the Louisiana Inerrancy Fellowship and apparently, the more moderate Louisiana Baptists decided there was no reason to mount a nominee after having failed to win an election in several years. One of the more significant actions of the messengers was voting to accept the recommendation from the Executive Board and the retirement center board to sell the state conventions Arcadia retirement center. The action was not unanimous but it was overwhelming. Closing institutions never goes easily for Baptists, but Louisiana Baptists have shown through the years they are open to better, more frugal ways of ministering. Louisiana Baptists gave … [Read more...]
God has work for all to do – if they can see it, speaker urges
Rod Masteller reminded Louisiana Baptist Convention messengers last week that God has a great work for each of them to do. Rod Masteller reminded Louisiana Baptist Convention messengers last week that God has a great work for each of them to do. "The question is can you see it?" asked Masteller, pastor of Summer Grove Baptist Church in Shreveport. The key is to have a vision for the church, Masteller said in delivering the convention sermon at last weeks annual meeting in Lafayette. He reminded convention messengers that without a vision, God has said his people will perish. Citing Joshua 6, Masteller said that when Joshua arrived at Jericho, the city was all shut up. "No one came in and no one came out," he said. The first six days, Joshua and others marched around Jericho once each day. On the seventh day, they circled the city seven times, blew the trumpet, shouted and the walls fell down. God told Joshua he had given him Jericho. And just as God gave Joshua the city, he has given Christian leaders their city and area of service to make a difference, Masteller added. He referred to Helen Keller, who developed blindness and deafness early … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- …
- 41
- Next Page »