It is said the hardest thing to do is to send a son or daughter off to war. No, the hardest thing is the waiting for their return. STATEWIDE – It is said the hardest thing to do is to send a son or daughter off to war. No, the hardest thing is the waiting for their return. Justin Mixon of Amite, Ben Morris of Walker, and Joey Harper of Bossier City are three Louisiana soldiers who have been or they are presently deployed in Iraq. They are not alone, there are many more just like them. One has paid the ultimate price, one completes his tour, extended an extra three months, on July 4, and one still has more than seven months left before he completes his tour of duty. All across Louisiana – all across the United States – there are thousands of Southern Baptists just like them serving or who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan as part of the global war on terror. Their only protection is a thin layer of body army and a shield of prayers and love from their family and friends. On the eve of the 232nd anniversary of the United States declaring its independence from Great Britain, the Baptist Message would like to pay tribute to all of our servicemen and their families for their service and sacrifice. … [Read more...]

A new Pew Research Center poll result showing evangelicals holding universalistic beliefs regarding salvation may have been skewed at least somewhat because of how the question was worded. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – A new Pew Research Center poll result showing evangelicals holding universalistic beliefs regarding salvation may have been skewed at least somewhat because of how the question was worded. The full Pew report regarding religion in the U.S. was lengthy at 256 pages, but one particular finding stood out: 70 percent of Americans believe there are many paths to eternal life and, amazingly, 57 percent of evangelical Protestant church members do as well. The fact that a majority of evangelicals reject John 14:6 and a key tenet of their faith was surprising, to say the least. But some observers are questioning whether the poll’s question on that topic could have led to various interpretations. Pew asked people to choose among two statements: “My religion is the one, true faith leading to eternal life” or “many religions can lead to eternal life.” Determining what a person’s religion is may be a bit more complex than it appears. “I am being a bit picky here, but I suspect that if you asked a lot of people that Pew … [Read more...]

His voice breaking with emotional intensity, Louisiana College President Joe Aguillard announced during a June 27 press conference staged in front of the fountain at the center of the college’s front lawn that “we will be able to offer masters degrees across all divisions in our institution.” PINEVILLE – His voice breaking with emotional intensity, Louisiana College President Joe Aguillard announced during a June 27 press conference staged in front of the fountain at the center of the college’s front lawn that “we will be able to offer masters degrees across all divisions in our institution.” The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Commission on Colleges informed Aguillard the previous afternoon that LC had been granted Level 3 academic standing, which allows a college or university to confer graduate degrees. “This did not happen by itself, but through the efforts of some people who worked so diligently, so faithfully,” Aguillard said. He read from the Old Testament book of Joel, chapter 2, about reclaiming the years the locusts have eaten, and then said, “I know the Lord has His hand on Louisiana College.” The effort to gain Level 3 academic standing took five years and three tries, said Michael … [Read more...]

The 2008 Louisiana Baptist All-State Youth Choir performed in concert July 27 at First Baptist Church of Pineville. PINEVILLE – The 2008 Louisiana Baptist All-State Youth Choir performed in concert July 27 at First Baptist Church of Pineville. It was the final performance of the 25th annual All-State Youth Choir tour, which this year took 84 students and their sponsors to Tennessee and back. As if to highlight the significance of the 25th anniversary, Kristin Theriot of Springfield was recognized as the first of the second generation of choir members. Her parents – David and Leah Theriot – both performed in the All-State Youth Choir when they were in their teens. “I love singing and I wanted a reason to praise God with a group of people who wanted to praise Him as much as I,” said Emma Meek of Broadmoor Baptist in Shreveport, explaining why she took the time from her summer to be part of the choir. Her most memorable moment of the tour was not singing, however. “Sharing Christ one on one,” she said. “That was the best part.” The choir deliberately set engagements at locations where nonChristians perhaps would hear them, said Herb Armentrout, tour organizer and youth music consultant for the Louisiana Baptist … [Read more...]

A recent court decision in Canada should send chills down every parent’s spine. The ruling is so out of bounds that the news story sounds like a parody – but it isn’t. A Canadian judge ruled that a 12-year-old girl was “excessively” punished when her father told her she could not go on a school camping trip because she had broken rules for use of the Internet. A recent court decision in Canada should send chills down every parent’s spine. The ruling is so out of bounds that the news story sounds like a parody – but it isn’t. A Canadian judge ruled that a 12-year-old girl was “excessively” punished when her father told her she could not go on a school camping trip because she had broken rules for use of the Internet. As the Globe and Mail newspaper [Toronto] reports: “First, the father banned his 12-year-old daughter from going online after she posted photos of herself on a dating site. Then she allegedly had a row with her stepmother, so the father said his girl couldn’t go on a school trip. “The girl took the matter to the court – and won what lawyers say was an unprecedented judgment. “Madam Justice Suzanne Tessier of the Quebec Superior Court ruled on Friday [June 13] that the father couldn’t discipline his … [Read more...]

For sometime now, the American Civil Liberties Union has been waging an aggressive campaign to expunge the American public square from all things religious, and specifically all things Christian. A small cross, once displayed on the official seal of Los Angles County, is just one of the casualties of the ACLU’s crazed crusade. For sometime now, the American Civil Liberties Union has been waging an aggressive campaign to expunge the American public square from all things religious, and specifically all things Christian. A small cross, once displayed on the official seal of Los Angles County, is just one of the casualties of the ACLU’s crazed crusade. A tiny cross was one of several symbols displayed on the southern California county’s seal. Its inclusion was intended to commemorate the role Christianity played in the founding of the area – but it was hardly the most prominent figure on the seal. Easily the most significant symbol was and is the goddess Pomona – the Roman goddess of gardens and fruit trees – which the ACLU seems to find perfectly acceptable. The ACLU maintained the presence of the small cross made non-Christians feel “unwelcome” and it threatened to bring a lawsuit against Los Angeles County if it was not … [Read more...]