A recent national study concerning the media’s influence on teen behavior has some activist groups up in arms. As a result, they believe more must be done to remove content from TV that, they say, entices youngsters toward unhealthy behavior.         A recent national study concerning the media’s influence on teen behavior has some activist groups up in arms. As a result, they believe more must be done to remove content from TV that, they say, entices youngsters toward unhealthy behavior.   A spokesman for one organization is alarmed because kids are "bombarded by images" which are influencing their behavior. This representative believes the pervasive nature of these enticing images is leading kids to conclude that "everybody does it."   Another group contends that every movie depicting the activity should be given an "R" rating. Their argument is that the earlier a young person is exposed to this behavior, the more likely he or she will try it.   So, what is this behavior that researchers say shows up in 74 percent of movies and is also frequently depicted on TV and shamelessly promoted in magazines?   Smoking cigarettes.   "Exposure to Movie Smoking: Its Relation to Smoking Initiation Among … [Read more...]

It is the most pervasive and the least understood form of child abuse. It has a variety of sources and can include teachers, coaches, peers, parents and even ministers.     It is the most pervasive and the least understood form of child abuse. It has a variety of sources and can include teachers, coaches, peers, parents and even ministers. The wounds this abuse inflicts are very often hidden. The culprit to which I refer is the emotional abuse of children.   What exactly is emotional abuse? It is defined as any episode in which a child is made to feel worthless, flawed, unloved, unwanted, or endangered. It can include verbal abuse, unwarranted criticism, or more subtle tactics like intimidation, manipulation, or indifference.   The abuse may be intentional, but there are times when the abuser is oblivious to the damage he or she inflicts. Emotional abuse is almost always a pattern of conduct rather than a single event. And, its effect on a child’s life can be devastating.   What causes emotional abuse? Most emotional cruelty occurs for the same reasons that physical abuse occurs. Adults struggling with a personal crisis such as unemployment, poverty, divorce, illness, death, drug abuse, alcoholism, or depression … [Read more...]

Recently, I was speaking with the wait staff of one restaurant and was surprised to learn that most customers leaving gospel tracts do not bother to leave a tip.   Did you know that wait staff, in most restaurants, make only $2.15 per hour plus tips? Additionally they must pay a percentage of their gross to other employees like hostess, bartenders and bus staff.   Recently, I was speaking with the wait staff of one restaurant and was surprised to learn that most customers leaving gospel tracts do not bother to leave a tip. They said that this practice amounts to a double insult. First, the customer assumed them to be lost and in need of salvation. Second, the absence of a tip implies that the customer was not pleased with the service.   Our kindness and generosity says a lot about our Christian character. We should strive to be kinder than even is necessary for most everyone we meet is fighting some kind of battle. Doyle Cooper DeRidder, La.   … [Read more...]

Since Dr. Patterson became president of SWBTS, I have sadly watched as he has taken more and more rights and privileges away from women that God has called into ministry.   I, along with my husband and sister-in-law, are all alumni of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. I graduated with a master’s degree in christian education in May 1998. Upon graduation, I served as a Minister of Christian Education at a Southern Baptist church and then later served at another SBC church in Montgomery, Ala. At both churches I taught adult discipleship classes, amidst doing my paid ministry work, and had pastors who lovingly understood that women are called to ministry, even among men.   Since Dr. Patterson became president of SWBTS, I have sadly watched as he has taken more and more rights and privileges away from women that God has called into ministry. At SWBTS, the programs have changed, articles demean women in the alumni magazine and a woman on the teaching staff has become non-tenured. All this has occurred in an effort to control the place of women at SWBTS and in ministry. I believe these changes have been made by men who are insecure and afraid.   In light of the changes that have taken place under Dr. Patterson’s … [Read more...]

Inmates at the Richland Parish Detention Center for Women can now worship the Lord in their very own chapel, thanks, in part, to the Richland Baptist Association, said Director of Missions, James Carson.         RICHLAND ASSOCIATION – Inmates at the Richland Parish Detention Center for Women can now worship the Lord in their very own chapel, thanks, in part, to the Richland Baptist Association, said Director of Missions, James Carson.   Last year, the association, along with Deer Creek Association and believers in other denominations, helped finance and provide volunteers to build the chapel, a project that cost just under $40,000, Carson said. The detention center is a parish-owned facility that houses almost 400 inmates.   "Only God in heaven knows of the eternal investments [donors] made possible so ladies now and through the years to come will hear the gospel proclaimed here and whose lives will be eternally changed by the Holy Spirit of God," Carson concluded in the program for the chapel’s dedication service on August 6, 2006.   "The vision for the building of this chapel was placed in the heart and mind of Warden Linda Laing as she realized a need for a place of worship for the inmates … [Read more...]

Despite being without a pastor for the last six months, Start Baptist Church here is growing beyond its walls.     START – Despite being without a pastor for the last six months, Start Baptist Church here is growing beyond its walls. The church has been in its new, 600-seat worship center for about a year and a half, said Don Parker, chairman of the deacons. "I think we built too small," he said, referring to the fact that every Sunday at least five new visitors attend. The area surrounding Start, located directly on Interstate 20 near Monroe, has seen a recent surge in construction. "It’s hard to say what is causing the area to grow," Parker said. "A lot of people are trying to get out of the city." The new visitors are mainly young families. With an average attendance in Sunday school of at least 225, the worship service swells to at least 400 every Sunday, he said. "We used to be just a smaller, country church," Parker said. "But we’ve moved away from that and I would say we’re more of a regional church now. We attract people from as far as 30 miles away from surrounding areas. "Growth really started probably about three years ago," he continued. "We outgrew our old … [Read more...]

In the ministry for 41 years, Carson has gotten into hot water at least on one occasion, during a baptismal service at First Baptist Church of Deport, Texas, he said.     Born on his mother’s birthday, March 17, 1944, James Carson maintains that he was the best birthday present his mother ever received. His mother always agreed, he said, chuckling.   With his wife, Leta, Carson has two children, Libby, 39, and Derek, 31, who is married to Melissa. As of yet, the Carsons have no grandchildren.   After graduating from Louisiana College with a double major in elementary education and religion, Carson went on to Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth.   Because of a crippling case of arthritis that had developed his sophomore year in college, Carson was forced to drop out of seminary during his second year, he said. Carson has been DOM of the Richland, Deer Creek, and Caldwell Associations going on six years, he said.   "I believe that I have three of the best associations in the state. They’re just wonderful people to work with. I enjoy working with them so much."   In the ministry for 41 years, Carson has gotten into hot water at least on one occasion, during a baptismal service at First … [Read more...]

Marie Piro tells all the teen girls who come to Antioch Baptist Church to "get out of the truck and run!"         SLAGLE – Marie Piro tells all the teen girls who come to Antioch Baptist Church to "get out of the truck and run!"   Though the phrase has developed into a joke among girls within the youth group, it is nevertheless practical advice for a common situation: What to do in those awkward moments as a date is ending?   "I’ve told the girls not to say goodnight real late in a dark truck, which will lead to things they don’t need to be doing," Piro said. "God tells us to run from that. So [I tell them] ‘get out of the truck and run!’"   Married in 2003, after they both made True Love Wait pledges on separate occasions during their teen years, Marie Piro and husband Paul Piro are now youth ministers at Antioch. They encourage teens to seek and maintain their purity for God.   Marie made her True Love Waits pledge at 18, her senior year in high school, during a DiscipleNow weekend.   "It was one of those things that had been talked about a lot all during my growing up years," Marie Piro said. "It was something I really wanted to do."   After graduation, Marie met Paul Piro, the two began … [Read more...]

In the early hours of Tues. Feb. 13, a tornado left a five-mile swathe of destruction through this rural community about eleven miles east of Lafayette just below Interstate 10.         BREAUX BRIDGE – Filed 1 p.m. Feb. 13. In the early hours of Tues. Feb. 13, a tornado left a five-mile swathe of destruction through this rural community about eleven miles east of Lafayette just below Interstate 10. Teche Baptist Church, working alongside the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office, is caring for at least 12 people whose homes were damaged or destroyed. At least 43 homes were either totally destroyed or sustained some sort of damage, said Guy Cormier, St. Martin Parish president. The tornado affected an area about five miles long.   "It is unbelievable how God must have been shining down on St. Martin Parish," Cormier said in reference to the three minor injuries reported after the tornado.   "We have some homes that are just no longer there," he explained. "The people just ended up sitting in their yards in the middle of the night. One man’s mobile home was flipped over. All that is left now is a frame. He found himself with a bloody nose sitting on his lawn."   Aware that the parish would need … [Read more...]

A powerful line of storms ripped through the New Orleans area in the early morning hours Feb. 13, toppling trees, downing power lines and taking at least one life.         NEW ORLEANS – A powerful line of storms ripped through the New Orleans area in the early morning hours Feb. 13, toppling trees, downing power lines and taking at least one life.   The storms were particularly frightening for thousands of area residents still living in small, vulnerable FEMA trailers 18 months after Hurricane Katrina.   The weather system moved into the area around 3 a.m., spawning at least one tornado. The tornado skipped across the metro area touching down on both sides of the Mississippi River. The storm also brought heavy rain and hail.   On the West Bank, media outlets in New Orleans reported that the storm destroyed a hotel in Westwego.   Significant damage was also reported in the Carrollton, Mid-City, Gentilly and New Orleans East neighborhoods. More than 30,000 homes in Jefferson and Orleans parishes were without power.   The power outages prompted school closings throughout New Orleans and Jefferson Parish as well as isolated street closings. Xavier University also closed due to a power outage. A … [Read more...]