By Kelly Boggs, Editor Louisiana Baptist Message

The much anticipated Progress Report of the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force was presented to the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention on Feb. 22, in Nashville, Tenn.

The report outlined six “components” or recommendations the task force believes will enable the SBC and its entities to operate more effectively and efficiently.

Kelly Boggs, Editor Louisiana Baptist MessageIf all the recommendations are implemented in their current form, the way the SBC operates will change dramatically. Depending on your perspective, that may be good or that could be bad. 

The most common complaint denominational people and guest preachers hear when they call on local churches is, “I’m unhappy with our pastor.” Invariably, it’s some lay leader of the church speaking.

Joe McKeever Pastor, cartoonist and retired DOM BAGNOLet’s state the obvious here: some pastors we ought to be unhappy with. I’m thinking of one preacher who was known to curse, tell shady stories, gamble, and drink. When he was forced out of the pulpit, no one shed a tear.

Kelly Boggs, Editor Louisiana Baptist MessageBy Kelly Boggs, Editor Louisiana Baptist Message

The game between the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts is surely the most anticipated aspect of Super Bowl XLIV.

However, there is another element of Super Sunday that draws a significant amount of attention – commercials.Because the television audience for the Super Bowl is so huge (last year 148 million people tuned into to watch at least some portion of the game), ad space is not only coveted but is also expensive.

“And if a blind man guides a blind man,” Jesus said, “both will fall into a pit.” You need look no further than the United States Congress and the American populace to see a visual aid of the truth the Savior declared.

He received more than 60,000 pieces of hate mail and profanity-laced e-mails daily filled his inbox. Teaming with the torrent of written abuse were scores of threatening voice messages.

The American Bar Association first published its "Guidelines for the Evaluation of Judicial Performance" in 1985. In 2005 the ABA issued an updated version titled "The Black Letter Guidelines for the Evaluation of Judicial Performance." Both documents articulate the qualities an individual should possess if he or she is to be considered a competent judge.

A recent study discovered a trend toward irreligion in America. The American Religious Identification Survey, conducted by the Program on Public Values at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., found that 15 percent of respondents said they had no religion. A similar survey conducted in 1990 found that 8.2 percent of Americans were irreligious.

It has been noted that if you get three Baptists to talking it will only be a matter of time until five opinions emerge.

A man working on an icy bridge fell 70 feet into the river. The current began moving the injured man downstream. Watching, a passing barge captain was faced with a life-or-death decision. Knowing the worker would freeze and drown if someone didn’t act, he dove into the frigid water and kept the man afloat until help arrived 30 minutes later.

“I have a question to offer you. It is contained in three words, DO YOU PRAY?”

In 1994, scores of people were sadistically slaughtered in the African country of Rwanda when the ruling Hutu tribe attempted to wipe out the country’s Tutsi minority.

People the world over now celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, but the first Christmas went almost unnoticed. With the exception of a few shepherds – the wise men likely arrived well after the actual birth – no one really paid much attention as Jesus made His entrance into human history.

Thank you.

Political historians tell us that presidential campaigns in America have always possessed a negative side. However, these same observers of elections agree that this year’s contest for the White House seems to be of a geometric configuration that has multiple sides that are downright ugly.

Many hot button issues have been debated over the course of the current presidential campaign. Of late, the struggling American economy has been the topic de jour. Missing from too many discussions and speeches, however, is perhaps the most searing issue – the likely appointment of one or more Supreme Court justices.