Heavy rain filled the Sunday night’s darkness. What the black of night did not obscure from vision, the dense raindrops did. Heavy rain filled the Sunday night’s darkness. What the black of night did not obscure from vision, the dense raindrops did. Leah and I travel this road every Sunday evening. We turn east from 171 North onto 28 East. We can drive it by memory, knowing every bump, bridge, tree and turn. But this night ... Leah is not with me to help with passenger-seat driving. In the 27 years I have been driving Louisiana highways and byways, our state government has promised repeatedly to put “a high priority” on making four-lane the militarily-significant Hwy. 28 that links England Airpark and Fort Polk. The road often is filled with convoys of military vehicles, making the two-lane highway dangerous for them and other motorists. After almost three decades of constant promises, they have maybe a sixth of the 45-mile stretch of highway four lanes. As I turned off 171 and came to where they were working to make a section of the road four lanes, a new, large barrier stood in the road with a monster “Detour” sign pointing left. I went left. I knew the rural road led to Simpson, and from Simpson, … [Read more...]

Observers offer any number of suggestions for the what is undermining American families these days. Observers offer any number of suggestions for the what is undermining American families these days. For some, judges and their untraditional rulings are to blame. For others, it is women’s changing roles or the same-sex marriage movement. All have obvious negative impact on families – but other, more basic forces are at play as well, Tom Ehrich suggested in a recent column for Religion New Service. Ehrich is a writer, consultant and Episcopal priest in Durham, N.C. He cites several factors currently undermining families in this country and the role churches and faith can play on offsetting those forces: • Excessive indebtedness. “The average American family owes more than $20,000 in personal, non-mortgage debt,” Ehrich noted. “As interest rates soar past 20 percent, the debt load becomes a permanent member of the family. Financial problems are a critical factor in an estimated 83 percent of divorces. “Meanwhile, banks flood our mailboxes with more credit card and home equity loan offers, and consumer advertising pushes us to keep spending.” The role of the church and faith in this arena is … [Read more...]

Researchers now are questioning whether the oft-quoted assertion that one-half of all U.S. marriages end in divorce is accurate or not. Researchers now are questioning whether the oft-quoted assertion that one-half of all U.S. marriages end in divorce is accurate or not. The problem is with how the calculations are done – and researchers say a correct calculation shows the divorce rate never has exceeded 41 percent of all marriages and likely never will hit the 50 percent mark. While somewhat encouraging news, it misses the point, said Tom Elliff, pastor at First Baptist Church of Del City, Okla., and leader of the Southern Baptist Convention’s “Kingdom Families” initiative. Indeed, whether 40 percent or 50 percent, the divorce rate should not be the focus when discussing the tragedy of broken marriages sweeping the nation, he maintained. “As someone has said, statistics are like people, in that if you put enough pressure on them, they’ll say almost anything you want them to say,” Elliff said. “Statistics on marriage and divorce can be reported in such a way that at any given time, it can look like things are drastically improving or things are getting worse and worse.” More striking than what … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptist Message trustees last week voted against a proposal that would have moved the newspaper back under state Executive Board structure and authority. Louisiana Baptist Message trustees last week voted against a proposal that would have moved the newspaper back under state Executive Board structure and authority. Newspaper trustees spent about 90 minutes in discussion before voting 8-4 against the proposal. Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Director David Hankins had proposed the move for the paper in a called meeting of the trustees in early April. Hankins suggested the newspaper return to the Executive Board fold as part of a larger communications division in the works. He has stressed the need for a coordinated effort to tell the Baptist story more effectively and efficiently. He said he envisions the use of various media – including a newspaper in some form. Hankins emphasized last week that a window of opportunity for making the transition existed because of the scheduled retirement of Baptist Message Editor Lynn P. Clayton at the end of the year. He also reiterated his view that print media is facing declining subscriptions and considerable challenges in a technological age and … [Read more...]

Louisiana College trustees approved a reduced budget for the upcoming school year in anticipation of decreased enrollment at the school. Louisiana College trustees approved a reduced budget for the upcoming school year in anticipation of decreased enrollment at the school. However, it also held the line on tuition and residence hall rates for the new academic year, the first time that has been done in a number of years. In addition, trustees approved a new capital fundraising campaign to coincide with the college’s centennial celebration set for next year. In a called meeting, trustees unanimously approved a budget of $16,268,203, a decrease of $473,613 (2.8 percent) from the current year. The budget mark is based on an anticipated full-time equivalency total of 839 students. That represents a decrease from the current year as well. In the fall of 2004, the school reported a full-time equivalency enrollment of 993. That total dropped to 870 this spring. The full-time equivalency (FTE) total does not represent overall headcount of students at a school. Instead, it is derived by totaling the credit hours being taken by all students – part-time and full-time – and dividing them to show how many … [Read more...]

Louisiana College trustees last week received an update on efforts to address accreditation concerns and took one action designed to aid in that work. Louisiana College trustees last week received an update on efforts to address accreditation concerns and took one action designed to aid in that work. During a called meeting on the Pineville campus, trustees also reviewed the status of a lawsuit challenging the election of Joe Aguillard as school president. The meeting was set primarily to adopt a budget for the upcoming academic year. Trustees had delayed adoption of the budget from its March session in order to allow school administrators to gather more accurate estimates on fall enrollment. In addition to addressing the budget, trustees also received a review of steps being taken to address accreditation concerns. The school was placed on probation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accrediting agency last December for concerns related to governance and academic freedom. In January, Aguillard was elected president, and trustees took up the task of responding to accrediting concerns. Last week, Aguillard reviewed several steps that have been taken along those lines: • Trustees have … [Read more...]

Bessie Whatley is no short-termer when it comes to playing the piano. She celebrated her 64th anniversary as lead pianist at First Baptist Church of Pollock in 2002. By Brian Blackwell LBM Newswriter Bessie Whatley is no short-termer when it comes to playing the piano. She celebrated her 64th anniversary as lead pianist at First Baptist Church of Pollock in 2002. During that time, she had the rare opportunity of serving with pastors that included a grandfather and his grandson. The grandfather, A.E. Pardue, served the church from 1928-1933, and his grandson, Jeff Pardue, celebrated his first anniversary at the church in February. “Back when A.E. was pastor, I played the old-time hymns,” the 90-year-old great-grandmother recalls. “Today, it’s harder for me to keep up with the type of music that is played at the church. “I tried to retire several times, but the church wouldn’t let me,” she recalls. But three years ago, it appeared the time was right. “I felt like it was time for some younger person to step in,” Whatley says. Thus, Whatley – who began playing the piano at the church when she was 17-years-old and later stepped away from the role for six years – passed the keyboard to a new … [Read more...]

Jerry Shacklett’s ministry has taken him far from his old Kentucky home – around the world to a naval base in Kuwait. Jerry Shacklett’s ministry has taken him far from his old Kentucky home – around the world to a naval base in Kuwait. Shacklett is pastor at Irvington Baptist Church in Irvington, Ky.     He also serves as a chaplain for the United States Army National Guard’s 1/487th field artillery unit currently stationed in Kuwait. Although Shacklett was deployed in early January, he and his wife, Ruth Ann, had been preparing for the possibility since last summer. “We were kind of expecting it in a way, but there was always hope that he wouldn’t have to go,” Ruth Ann Shacklett says. “I am proud that he was willing to serve the Lord, and I am ready to support him in that.” Meanwhile, Shacklett says he is learning to deal with situations as a chaplain that are more difficult than anything he has experienced as a pastor in Kentucky. “God is taking my faith deeper – I am working harder in sermon preparation,” Shacklett recounts via an e-mail correspondence. “I am learning to live without conveniences. I don’t need fancy pews, chairs or pulpits. Sometimes, you have a tailgate of a Hummer, and that’s … [Read more...]

Week of May 23, 2005 ‘In God We Trust’ A federal appeals court has ruled that the phrase “In God We Trust” on a government building does not violate the separation of church and state. The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the national motto may remain on the facade of a county government building in Lexington, N.C. A three-judge panel of the court stated that the phrase does not violate the First Amendment prohibition on government establishment of religion. Two lawyers brought suit for inclusion of the phrase on the new building. However, writing for the appeals panel, Judge Robert King noted – “(The court has) heretofore characterized the phrase, ‘In God We Trust,’ when used as the national motto on coins and currency, as a ‘patriotic and ceremonial motto’ with ‘no theological or ritualistic impact.’ The use of the challenged phrase as the national motto is long-standing, and it has been used extensively over the years by the federal government.” The phrase is used on coins and currency, and it also appears in both houses of Congress, King said. He noted that Congress established “In God We Trust” as the national motto in 1956. One year later Same-sex marriages were legalized in Massachusetts on … [Read more...]

Reconciliation. What a beautiful word – but more important, what a glorious experience. Certainly, the capacity to experience reconciliation is at the heart of God’s greatest gift to his children. Reconciliation. What a beautiful word – but more important, what a glorious experience. Certainly, the capacity to experience reconciliation is at the heart of God’s greatest gift to his children. Yet, reconciliation is far too often left on the sidelines of human relationships. The need for reconciliation means estrangement and alienation are facts of human existence. In our fallen condition, our understanding on issues and circumstances start from a self-centered perspective. We view matters from, “Is what the other person wants or does in contradiction or conflict with what I think is best for me? Is it in keeping with what I believe and what I want? What is best for me?” That is the conflict we have with God. “Is surrendering to God and to his will and way what I believe is best for me? Will I get what I want from my relationship with him? Will I have to give up what now matters most to me?” In our fallen, sinful state, we find ourselves in conflict with the divine. And our conflict with God poisons our … [Read more...]