Although the Prayer Revival of 1857 had a less than overwhelming start, Jeremiah Lanphier and the six men who prayed with him at lunchtime in downtown New York City decided to meet again the following Wednesday, Sept. 30.         Second of two articles Although the Prayer Revival of 1857 had a less than overwhelming start, Jeremiah Lanphier and the six men who prayed with him at lunchtime in downtown New York City decided to meet again the following Wednesday, Sept. 30.   This time 20 men showed up to pray, the following week 30 or 40 filled the third floor. During that third meeting, the group determined a daily prayer time was in order rather than a weekly meeting.   The gathering began to increase in numbers so fast that by the end of the second month three large rooms were filled. Many unsaved people came and fell under conviction of sin. Within six months, 50,000 people were gathering in prayer meetings all over New York City.   The Prayer Revival couldn’t have come at a better time, because a national crisis loomed on the horizon. The time of great economic prosperity was about to succumb to the grip of panic. In his work, When Heaven Touched Earth, Roy Fish wrote, "The immediate era … [Read more...]

The Southern Baptist Convention’s North American Mission Board has appointed six missionaries with ties to Louisiana.         ALPHARETTA, Ga. – The Southern Baptist Convention’s North American Mission Board has appointed six missionaries with ties to Louisiana.   Michele Bruss is serving as a Baptist center missionary in New Orleans, where she will work at the Baptist Friendship House, a transitional housing program for homeless women with children.   Michele, who considers Summit, Miss. as her hometown, is completing work on her masters in social work at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Ala. She will graduate in May 2007. She also earned her bachelors degree in social work at the University of Alabama. She has served as a summer missionary in Arizona and Louisiana, and has interned with WMU.   Erika Holt, a native of Holt, Fla., is serving in New Orleans, where she has been appointed as a US/C-2 missionary at the Carver House, another Southern Baptist center. She will be assisting children in an after-school program, as well as teens and the homeless.   Erika attended the University of West Florida in Pensacola, and recently earned a B.A. degree in Christian counseling at the Baptist … [Read more...]

A woman hefting a fold-up wheelchair out of the back of a vehicle stopped what she was doing to direct me into that Sunday’s worship center one recent week. PINEVILLE - A woman hefting a fold-up wheelchair out of the back of a vehicle stopped what she was doing to direct me into that Sunday’s worship center one recent week. I was impressed that busy as she was, this kind woman stopped to make sure I knew where church was happening.   Just as I stepped through the doors to the church’s recreation center – the worship center was in the middle of getting a new heating and air conditioning unit, I learned later – a man in the pulpit started praying. I bowed my head and most unexpectedly (after all, I wasn’t a foot inside the doorway, and not prepared mentally for a prayer) I received the covering of God’s love. That praying person spoke to every single need and thought in my life! Later I found out the person who had been praying was the pastor, Greg Carroll. A church with a pastor that connected to God is blessed indeed.   After the prayer a greeter smiled a silent welcome at me, and an usher unobtrusively directed me to an available chair; both made me feel cared about.   Pineville Park asks its members to each give a dollar … [Read more...]

On March 4, a On March 4, a "documentary" aired on the Discovery Channel that claimed archaeologists have discovered the family tomb of Jesus of Nazareth.   I have had an opportunity to read the related book by filmmakers Simcha Jacobovici and Charles Pellegrino titled The Jesus Family Tomb. The book describes the discovery and investigation of ten ossuaries (bone boxes) that were discovered in the Talpiot tomb in Jerusalem in 1980. Because several of the ossuaries contain names associated with the Jesus of the New Testament Gospels, the authors argue that the tomb is undoubtedly the family tomb of Jesus. The ossuaries purportedly bear such inscriptions as "Jesus, son of Joseph," "Judah, son of Jesus," "Matthew," "Mary the master," "Mary," and "Jose" (a diminutive form of Joseph).   The Jesus Family Tomb is written in the fashion of the Da Vinci Code. This book, however, is intended for the history and religion sections of bookstores rather than the fiction section. That alone will give the book more credibility in the eyes of many readers. Despite the overstatements and leaps to conclusions unwarranted by the data, many readers will view the claims as fact. Although a detailed and carefully researched response to … [Read more...]

Movie director James Cameron, film documentarian Simcha Jacobovici recently announced that they have identified a tomb in East Talpiot, just south of the old city of Jerusalem, which they believe contained the skeletal remains of Jesus Christ.         Movie director James Cameron, film documentarian Simcha Jacobovici recently announced that they have identified a tomb in East Talpiot, just south of the old city of Jerusalem, which they believe contained the skeletal remains of Jesus Christ.   Supposedly, in the tomb also were found the remains of his family, including his mother Mary, his "wife" Mary Magdalene, his "son" Judah, his brother Joses and another possible family member named Matthew. The remains were found in burial boxes called ossuaries.   A book called The Jesus Family Tomb was released Feb. 27, and a corresponding documentary on the tomb aired on The Discovery Channel March 4. If the tomb really does contain the remains of Jesus and His family, the ramifications would be devastating to Christianity. The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:17, "And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins." In the original Greek, Paul literally wrote … [Read more...]

Looking for a larger purpose in your life, but doubt you can make a difference in this world?         Looking for a larger purpose in your life, but doubt you can make a difference in this world?   You owe it to yourself to see the movie "Amazing Grace,"   If you care about a kid, a teen or a young adult who needs life purpose, take him or her to see it.   "Amazing Grace" (Rated PG for mild language and thematic elements involving slavery) exposes once again the lie that impersonal forces shape human history. That theory, long popular among secular historians, cannot account for a man like William Wilberforce (1759–1833). What did this 5-foot-tall colossus accomplish? Nothing less than an end to the slave trade throughout the British Empire. He did it in the face of staggering odds, overwhelming opposition, contempt, ridicule and long years of defeat.   The British Parliament, of which Wilberforce was a member, finally abolished slave trading Feb. 23, 1807, after a lonely, 20-year campaign by this evangelical believer. On the day of the vote, he bowed his head and wept as other members stood in Parliament and cheered him. But it would take an additional 26 years for Parliament to muster the … [Read more...]

Some examine the stars or world history to foretell the future. I scrutinize the movies.         Some examine the stars or world history to foretell the future. I scrutinize the movies. Therefore, I’m issuing the following alert: If certain people in the artistic community have their way, Christians and Christianity will at some point be outlawed.   And maybe sooner than later.   "Oh, that can’t happen here!" That’s what many throughout history have said as, slowly, their cultures crumbled into the hands of tyrants. Heed the following:   Though moviemakers have always thrown spitballs at the followers of the Christian faith, intolerance has suddenly become the percussion of their profession. Take, for instance, two films that were nominated for an Oscar as best documentary.   "Jesus Camp" seems bent on warning unbelievers that evangelicals have a powerful voice in the political world, one that threatens proponents of homosexuality, abortion and other secular progressive agendas.   The film features Mike Papantonio, an Air America radio host, who offers unabashed disdain for Christianity. Mr. Papantonio comes across so shrill that his "concerns" seem not just anti-Christian, but … [Read more...]

When the North American Mission Board and the Arkansas Baptist Convention appointed Diana Lewis as state ministry evangelism director here almost 15 years ago, it was something akin to throwing a wily rabbit into the proverbial briar patch.         LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – When the North American Mission Board and the Arkansas Baptist Convention appointed Diana Lewis as state ministry evangelism director here almost 15 years ago, it was something akin to throwing a wily rabbit into the proverbial briar patch.   A native of Springdale, Ark., the Ouachita Baptist University and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary graduate all too well knows the bittersweet taste of Arkansas.   "Arkansas’ nickname is ‘The Natural State.’ We have lots of beautiful state parks, lakes, rivers, mountains and farmland. We go from the Delta to the edge of the Ozark Mountains. It’s a very, very beautiful state." And whether it’s winning football or basketball, Arkansans are proud of their University of Arkansas Razorbacks.   But Lewis would also be the first tell you about the less attractive, more depressing parts and pictures of Arkansas that aren’t played up in the glossy state Chamber of Commerce brochures or flashed … [Read more...]

Girlfriends and God - both are biblical relationships necessary in the life of a Christian woman, according to a topical study shared by author and speaker Beth Moore at a Living Proof Live event held Feb. 16-17 in Detroit. DETROIT, Mich. – Girlfriends and God - both are biblical relationships necessary in the life of a Christian woman, according to a topical study shared by author and speaker Beth Moore at a Living Proof Live event held Feb. 16-17 in Detroit. More than 7,000 event attendees from several states and Canada came to hear the international Bible teacher share what God had revealed to her about the need for biblical friendships. Seventeen women publicly accepted Christ as Savior, taking the first step towards friendship with God. True friendships with others Moore associated five characteristics to biblically sound friendships. First, she said that truest friendships are distinctive from any other relationship. "People in today’s culture are quick to misname acquaintances as friends," she said. "A close friend should be someone you feel free to love and with whom you have common interests." Moore held her hand high in the air with fingers extended, proclaiming, "You should only have as many close friends as you … [Read more...]

Dine trees and peace are the most attractive commodities of Washington Parish. With only two cities, Franklinton and Bogalusa, and a handful of towns, the parish remains a rural outpost, offering visitors a chance to tube, fish, hunt, or just enjoy the outdoors. FRANKLINTON – Pine trees and peace are the most attractive commodities of Washington Parish. With only two cities, Franklinton and Bogalusa, and a handful of towns, the parish remains a rural outpost, offering visitors a chance to tube, fish, hunt, or just enjoy the outdoors. A new state park is in the building phase and a recreational reservoir is in the planning stage. With a population of just under 44,000, according to the 2000 census, the population density is only 66 people per mile. Using the parish phone directory as a guide, there are at least 140 churches in the parish; 36 of those are Southern Baptist, making a church of some description for every 314 people. Director of Missions Joe Baugh said there are only about seven growing Southern Baptist churches in the parish, using the criteria that an increasing Sunday school equals a growing church. Most of the others are plateaued, with a handful in decline. "It’s not necessarily bad for a church to be … [Read more...]