Much attention has been focused on video games recently, especially as news of hidden sex scenes on a popular action game has surfaced. Much attention has been focused on video games recently, especially as news of hidden sex scenes on a popular action game has surfaced. The Federal Trade Commission launched an investigation of a game software company after it confirmed sex scenes were hidden on “Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.” The game had been rated “M” until explicit, animated sex scenes were found to have been hidden by programmers. The rating then changed to “AO.” But what does all of that mean? The content of the games played on those consoles and on computers varies widely. However, federal officials remind parents that game packages have information that can help persons decide if a particular game is suitable. The Entertainment Software Rating Board maintains a two-part rating system for video and computer games. A rating symbol – such as “M” or “AO” – suggests the game’s age appropriateness and appears on the front of the game box. Content descriptors – such as “Blood” and “Gore” – point out specific elements of the game that have caused the rating. They appear on the back of the … [Read more...]
New survey asks pastors – how is your family doing?
Pastors see their families as fairly healthy, though they believe that their job means they do not spend enough time with them and that there are unreasonable expectations connected with being the spouse or child of a minister, a new study indicates. Pastors see their families as fairly healthy, though they believe that their job means they do not spend enough time with them and that there are unreasonable expectations connected with being the spouse or child of a minister, a new study indicates. The national study of 870 senior pastors showed eight out of 10 pastors currently are on their first marriage, while another 12 percent are divorced and remarried. Ninety-three percent have children, including 43 percent who have adolescents and 50 percent who have only children 18 or older. Fourteen percent are carrying on a family tradition – being the child of a minister. Conducted by Ellison Research of Phoenix, the study is published in the July/August issue of Facts & Trends magazine, a publication of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. The survey revealed that 93 percent of all pastors believe there is extra pressure being married to a minister (including 54 percent who … [Read more...]
Graham Waller is blind – he also is a Louisiana Baptist Bible drill competitor
How can a blind youth participate in the state Bible drill competition? It is a challenge, but 12-year-old Graham Waller is used to it. By Brian Blackwell LBM Newswriter How can a blind youth participate in the state Bible drill competition? It is a challenge, but 12-year-old Graham Waller is used to it. Left blind in 2002 after surgery to remove a brain tumor, Waller’s faith in Christ and the support from First Baptist Church of Kenner have helped him persevere and accomplish the most challenging tasks, including Bible drill. “(Bible drill) helps me learn stuff from the Bible, and we get snacks after each time we practice,” he notes. “Also, I get to spend time with my friends.” When Waller was preparing for his first year of Bible drill competition in 2002, state coordinator Linda Aguillard was informed of the blind youth. Aguillard and the Louisiana Baptist Convention state leadership went the extra mile to accommodate Waller, his mother, Sherrie, recounts. “Graham could not see to use a Bible in the drill, but they still allowed him to participate,” Sherrie Waller says of her son, who advanced to the state level of annual Bible drill competition for the third consecutive year this past … [Read more...]
At this church, the focus is clear – every member is a minister
As a pastor and former missionary, Calvin Wittman says he often wonders how many more people could be reached if churches expanded their participation in Cooperative Program missions. As a pastor and former missionary, Calvin Wittman says he often wonders how many more people could be reached if churches expanded their participation in Cooperative Program missions. “A pastor has to ask, what could we do in impacting the lostness in our world if every person would get involved in the Cooperative Program?” says Wittman, pastor at Applewood Baptist Church in Wheat Ridge, Colo. “How many more people could be reached? What could we do if every church cooperated the way they want their members to cooperate? “If we’re not, as a church, giving at least 10 percent to the Cooperative Program, how can we ask our members to tithe?” Wittman says there is not a better way for persons to do missions than the Cooperative Program. “The Cooperative Program is the most effective way to reach the world with the gospel,” says Wittman, a former Southern Baptist missionary to Spain. “That’s why we’re involved with it. We’re a missions-minded church.” This year, Applewood members are ministering in Belarus, Brazil, Kenya, … [Read more...]
Report – Louisiana leads the nation in child poverty
Taken by themselves, the numbers are benumbing enough – a recent national report indicates almost one-third (30 percent) of Louisiana children currently live in poverty conditions. That rate leads the nation. It also translates to 351,000 Louisiana children – and half of those live in what is defined by researchers as “extreme poverty,” where annual family incomes are less than 50 percent of the established poverty level. Taken by themselves, the numbers are benumbing enough – a recent national report indicates almost one-third (30 percent) of Louisiana children currently live in poverty conditions. That rate leads the nation. It also translates to 351,000 Louisiana children – and half of those live in what is defined by researchers as “extreme poverty,” where annual family incomes are less than 50 percent of the established poverty level. In turn, a full half of all Louisiana children live in low-income households, where the annual income is less than 200 percent of the established federal poverty level. And by the way, that established poverty level is not high. In 2003, the federal poverty line was $14,824 for a family of one adult and two children. For a family of two adults and two children, the line … [Read more...]
When it comes down to hard problems like child poverty – what can one person do?
What can one person possibly do is a question often heard when individuals are presented with the hard realities of the world. What can one person possibly do is a question often heard when individuals are presented with the hard realities of the world. For instance, what can only one do about U.S. poverty, the epidemic of child abuse, the scandalous life too many children are forced to live in this richest of all nations? Look at the statistics – too many American children are suffering, too many are living in poverty, too many are living without hope. This especially is true in Louisiana. But what can one person do? And what should one person be expected to do? After all, there are government programs to help those in need. There are faith-based programs as well. Southern Baptists have them – world hunger offerings to feed the starving and ministries that focus on teaching the illiterate and training the unemployable and sheltering the homeless. There are all kinds of foundations and organizations and grants and programs and initiatives. So, what should one person be expected to do – even if there were anything that one person could do? Well, for one thing, each person can hope … [Read more...]
2005 Georgia Barnette State Missions Offering – Chinese Baptist Mission
Gideon Lim is pastor of a small Chinese mission in Shreveport – but his vision extends much farther than just that area. Note: Leading up to the Week of Prayer for State Missions and the Georgia Barnette State Missions Offering (September 18-25), the Baptist Message will present reports on ongoing missions work across Louisiana. Information and photographs for the articles have been provided by the Louisiana Baptist Woman’s Missionary Union. Gideon Lim is pastor of a small Chinese mission in Shreveport – but his vision extends much farther than just that area. Indeed, Lim’s efforts have left what one Louisiana Baptist leader called “fingerprints for Jesus” around the world. And that is just fine with the young Chinese pastor – he expects his church to be a missions force elsewhere. “The potential of this ministry is very huge,” Lim says on a DVD testimony for the Georgia Barnette State Missions Offering, which lends financial support to the Chinese Baptist Mission. “Even though right now, we are small, we see more and more Chinese coming in. ... “Also, the impact of this ministry is beyond Shreveport, ...” Lim continues. “Many of those who accept Christ, they will carry the gospel with them … [Read more...]
Weekly announcements
Week of August 8, 2005 Potpourri RAYVILLE – West New Hope church: Jamie Womack, guest speaker; Aug. 14, 11 a.m.; Troy Dennard, pastor. GLOSTER – Gloster church: Jamie Womack, guest speaker; Aug. 15, 7 p.m.; Ron McLellan, pastor. SULPHUR – First church: Palmetto State Quartet in concert; Aug. 26, 7 p.m.; tickets are $8 in advance/$10 at the door; for ticket information, call (337) 527-5231; David Holder, pastor. NEW ORLEANS – Oak Park church: “Evidence of Grace” musical; Aug. 21, 6 p.m.; Isaac Hallock, minister of worship; Paul Brady, pastor. BREAUX BRIDGE – Teche church: Faithful Heart in concert; Aug. 21, 6 p.m.; Wayne Lyons, pastor. VINTON – First church: Jamie Womack, guest speaker; Aug. 21, 10:30 a.m.; Bill Holifield, pastor. DRY CREEK – Dry Creek camp: Men’s Fish Fry; Aug. 20, 2-5 p.m. activities/singing with dinner and worship service to follow; David Hankins, guest speaker; Mackey Willis, musical guest; for information, call (337) 328-7531; Curt Iles, camp manager. MANSFIELD – First church: “Somebody is Praying Me Through” musical; Aug. 14, 6 p.m.; Gary Gregg, minister of music; Thumper Miller, pastor. BOGALUSA – First church: Larnelle Harris in concert; Aug. 21, 6 p.m.; Bob Adams, … [Read more...]
World of religion
Week of August 15, 2005 Iraqi elections The Iraqi Electoral Commission will not allow Iraqi expatriates to vote on a new constitution in October, effectively locking out a quarter-million votes from mostly religious minorities living in the United States, Britain and other countries. The decision is certain to alienate the Christian minorities who comprise most Iraqi exiles, observers say. New parliamentary elections will be held by the end of the year, following ratification of the new constitution in October. The commission has not announced yet if those elections will be open to out-of-country voters. An Iraqi Election Commission spokesperson said the organization running the January elections in Iraq initially had estimated an expatriate turnout of 1.25 million. Instead, only 250,000 were found, a low percentage. However, officials of the International Organization of Migration, which ran the January election, note they had only two months to launch a global get-out-the-vote effort among expatriate Iraqis. Of about 3.5 million Iraqi Christians, more than half are expatriates, with concentrations in the United States and Syria. Annuity Board update GuideStone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist … [Read more...]
Weekly announcements
Week of August 15, 2005 Potpourri BOSSIER CITY – Elm Grove church: Price Harris in concert; Aug. 21, 6 p.m.; Billy Flowers, pastor. SHREVEPORT – Kingston Road church: The Bennets in concert; Aug. 28, 6 p.m.; Trey Lewis, pastor. WINNFIELD – First church: Sanctuary choir to present concert of spirituals arranged by Moses Hogan; Aug. 28, 6 p.m.; John Holland, minister of music; Lindsey Burns, pastor. MINDEN – North Acres church: Joe Aguillard, guest speaker; Aug. 28, 10:15 a.m.; Roy Strother, pastor. PINEVILLE – First church: “Ridgecrest in Cenla” Sunday school training seminar; Aug. 27, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; David Hankins, guest speaker; Gary Baldwin, pastor. BAKER – First church: J. Garland McKee, humorist, will be performing Aug. 20, 6 p.m. and guest speaking Aug. 21, 10:30 a.m.; Dennis Allen, pastor. NEW ORLEANS – New Orleans Theological Seminary: “Ridgecrest on the Red” Sunday school training seminar; Sept. 10, 9 a.m-3:30 p.m.; Gene Mims, guest speaker; early registration deadline is Aug. 23; Charles “Chuck” Kelley, president. BREAUX BRIDGE – Teche church: French Rally; Aug. 26, 9:30 a.m. - noon; meal will be provided; call (337) 507-3301 to R.S.V.P.; Wayne Lyons, pastor. PINEVILLE – … [Read more...]