Question:  My new Bible has “peace on earth to those of goodwill” in Luke 2:14, but I’ve learned that passage as “peace on earth, goodwill to men.” Why is there a difference? Bill Warren responds: The shift in English translations in Luke 2:14 happens in the late 1800s, and is present in the American Standard Version in the early 1900s, a common English translation of that period for North America. Therefore your new translation is following what has become the more accepted translation of this passage. So why were these translations changed? The cause is a single letter (not even an entire word!) in the underlying Greek text. The issue is whether the Greek letter sigma, like an English “s,” should be on the end of the word translated “good will” or not. If the letter is present, then the translation is “of good will,” resulting in “peace on earth to men of good will,” But without that letter, the rendering is “peace on earth, good will to men.” What’s amazing about this is that we actually have enough manuscripts and evidence to decide on such minor matters as this! As I’ve said in my classes, we can have more confidence in the text of the New Testament today than at any time since the early church, because of the many … [Read more...]

NATCHITOCHES – About 125 men, women, teens and youngsters passed out more than 14,000 marked New Testaments to attendees at the recent Christmas parade and lighting in Natchitoches. The idea came from Andy Byon, a member at Philadelphia Baptist Church in Deville, and of the Pineville Gideons. “He had the vision for it,” said Keith Manuel, LBC associate evangelism director. “He asked me to help train and equip the people to go out, “A lot of people did a lot of work for months on end to pull it off,” Manuel continued. “One of the neatest things was to walk up and down the streets before the parade, seeing people reading their Bibles.” The parade started at 1 p.m. Dec. 1; people jostled for a good viewing spot as early as 10 a.m., which is when the volunteers started distribution. “I was talking with a little girl, maybe 9 or 10, at the end,” Manuel said. “I asked her if she had fun, and she said, ‘I handed out a bunch of Bibles, and I showed them Luke 2, where they could read the real Christmas story.’ ... “This was a way for people to start telling others the greatest story that’s ever happened to them,” Manuel continued. “You’ve got to go where the masses are to share with the masses. It was a great opportunity to present … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message STATEWIDE – In 2012 hundreds of congregations and thousands of individuals went through the 21 Days of Prayer emphasis as part of the Awaken movement for spiritual awakening in Louisiana. As 2013 begins, Louisiana Baptists will again have the opportunity to begin the new year via a 21 Day journey. “In response to a number who called and asked us to prepare material for this year, we enlisted 21 Louisiana pastors and leaders to write devotions for the 2013 Prayer Journal,” said Wayne Jenkins, evangelism/church growth team leader for the Louisiana Baptist Convention. “These devotions will focus our attention on reflecting, repenting, and realigning,” Jenkins continued. The journals are available to order at www.LBC.org/21Days online beginning Tuesday, December 11 for $1 each plus shipping. Customized versions are also available for $1 with a minimum order of 100. Downloadable versions of the journal are available as well as the option to have the daily readings sent directly to your computer, smart phone or tablet device. Suggested dates are January 6 through January 27, leading up to the state evangelism conference on January 28-29 at First Baptist Lafayette, but Jenkins noted that the journal is not … [Read more...]

By Michael Foust, Baptist Press ST. LOUIS (BP) – For the first time a federal appeals court has issued an order against the Obama administration’s abortion/contraceptive mandate. The one-page order Wednesday (Nov. 28) from a three-judge Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals panel prevents the government from forcing a Missouri business – O’Brien Industrial Holdings, LLC – to cover contraceptives and abortion-causing drugs in its employee health care plans as the appeals process is completed. The panel’s temporary injunction came two months after a lower court tossed out the lawsuit. It marks the fourth time this year that a federal court has issued an order or ruling against the mandate, which applies to businesses and religious organizations. There are about 40 cases nationwide seeking to overturn the mandate, which was implemented by the Department of Health and Human Services after President Obama signed the landmark health care bill into law. The lawsuit by the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) says the mandate would force Frank O’Brien – the business owner – to violate his “religious beliefs and company policy.” The mandate violates two federal laws as well as the First Amendment guarantee of religious freedom and free … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 12/14/2012 - 14:24 Pastor Doug Edwards, Tillou Baptist Church By Robert Lemoine, Regional Reporter BASTROP – Serving them all. Douglas Edwards, pastor of Tillou Baptist Church in Bastrop, recently was named an LBC “Exemplary Bivocational Pastor of the Year” for his hard work both at the church he pastors and at his secular job. “Doug from Turpin’s,” as the people of the Bastrop area called him for years, grew up attending regular services at Bonita Baptist Church in the town of Bonita, La. “My Dad, Orval L. Edwards, served as a deacon and my Mom, Mildred V. Edwards, served as a Sunday School Teacher, VBS Director, and WMU Director, and in her later years as the Morehouse Baptist Association WMU Director. As long as I can remember, Sunday was Church Day.” “Brother Doug,” as the people of Tillou Baptist Church call him, said he was mentored by Pastor J.E. May while in his teen years. With the encouragement of Mays, the young Doug volunteered as a summer counselor for the Louisiana Baptist Convention. He served as a Royal Ambassador counselor during the summer of 1980 and worked with young boys in week-long encampments throughout the state. “I can still remember my prayer as I … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 12/14/2012 - 14:31 Mary (Hannah Vermaelen) For the fifth straight year, Louisiana College students, faculty and staff joined together for a production of Follow the Star, the portrayal of the birth of Lord Jesus Christ. Led by members of the Louisiana College debate team, attendees were taken in small groups to the different stages leading up to the birth of baby Jesus in the manger. Then, attendees had the opportunity to watch a musical performance in the Martin Performing Arts Center with “Christmas on the Hill.” At left:  An angel appears to Mary and Joseph to announce the Son of God would be born to them. Above, and with a bit of dramatic license, the Magi bring gifts for the Christ child to the manger where the shepherds and a heavenly angel   watch over the scene. Right: The entrance to the LC campus, especially Alexander Hall, was adorned in lights. Select rating Give it 1/5 Give it 2/5 Give it 3/5 Give it 4/5 Give it 5/5 … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 12/14/2012 - 14:32 Select rating Give it 1/5 Give it 2/5 Give it 3/5 Give it 4/5 Give it 5/5 … [Read more...]

By Staff, World News Magazine (WNS) – Male and female students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will be able to live together in on-campus dorms starting next fall. The school’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved the option for gender-neutral housing on Nov. 15, after a student-led lobbying effort. Under the new housing plan, students must choose roommates of the same sex but can share suites or on-campus apartments with students of the opposite sex. The school’s chancellor, Holden Thorp, vetoed the same proposal in February, saying university stakeholders were not convinced the housing option was necessary. In September, UNC junior Kevin Blaybren headed a rejuvenated campaign to sway Thorp and the Board in favor of the proposal. The campaign had the support of campus groups like Young Democrats, the Black Student Movement, the LGBTQ Center and the provost’s committee for LGBTQ life. The campaign used a housing program at UNC-Greensboro that includes coed bathrooms as an example of success for gender-neutral housing. The nationwide push for gender-neutral housing picked up speed in 2010 and now includes 99 public and private colleges, according to the LBGTQ Center at UNC. Schools that have some form of … [Read more...]

She died on board a ship 100 years ago Christmas Eve – sick, exhausted, brokenhearted over leaving her beloved Chinese friends in their time of suffering. It was a bittersweet end to a long and fruitful life. But it wasn’t the end of Lottie Moon’s story. What is it about this woman that has inspired so many Southern Baptists, for so many years, to give their own lives and treasure to God’s mission? Born into privilege on a pre-Civil War plantation in Virginia, rambunctious young Lottie received the best education money could buy. But the difference between the fine words she heard from adults and the realities of life troubled her. A young, unbelieving Lottie told classmates her middle initial, D., stood for “Devil.” She pulled pranks, missed chapel and scoffed at religion. She was a brilliant scholar, however, and became one of the most educated women of her era. But knowledge alone couldn’t satisfy her soul. She began a search for truth. Lottie’s spiritual struggle came to a dramatic climax one night, sealing her commitment to serve God and others. She witnessed the ravages of Civil War, which destroyed the old society she had known. Matured by the experience, but just as independent as ever, she boldly joined her … [Read more...]

Church Events Lakeside Baptist Pineville: “Super Gift From Heaven” at 6 p.m. Dec. 22 and 10:45 a.m. Dec. 23. December 23 Judson Baptist Walker: “The Hope of Christmas” by Celebration Choir at 7 p.m. Dec. 21 and 10:30 a.m. Dec. 23. Live Oak Baptist in Denham Springs: Christmas musical, 10:30 a.m., Dec. 23. Rose Park Baptist in Shreveport: Choir Christmas program, 6:30 p.m., Dec. 23. Westside Emmanuel Baptist Bogalusa: Candlelight service 6 p.m. Dec. 23. Satsuma Baptist in Livingston:  “Silent Night! Holy Night!” at 6 p.m. Dec. 23. Old Zion Hill Baptist in Independence: Candlelight Communion at 6 p.m. Dec. 23. First Abbeville: Christmas Cantata, 5 p.m. Dec. 23. First Baptist Chataignier: “Silent Night. Holy Night,” Musical, 10 a.m., Dec. 23. First Baptist Opelousas: “Come See the Lamb”, Drama and Musical, 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., Dec. 23. First Baptist Haynesville: Christmas Eve service, 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 23. First Broussard: Old Fashioned Christmas Sing-along and Storytelling, 9:30 a.m., Dec. 23. Pilgrim Rest Eunice: Christmas Cantata, 10:30 a.m., Dec. 23. Teche Baptist, Breaux Bridge: Christmas Cantata, 10:30 a.m., Dec. 23. Bethel Baptist Colfax: Children and Youth Christmas Program, 6 p.m. Dec. 23. Christmas … [Read more...]