In a much-anticipated ruling, a federal judge in California has ruled the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act unconstitutional. In a much-anticipated ruling, a federal judge in California has ruled the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act unconstitutional.   In a 117-page opinion, federal Judge Phyllis Hamilton ruled the 2003 law is:   • An "undue burden" on a woman’s right to have an abortion in the second trimester.   • "Unconstitutionally vague."   • Needs an exception for the mother’s health to meet requirements established by the U.S. Supreme Court.   Hamilton blocked enforcement of the law but applied the injunction only to the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and its affiliates, the city and county of San Francisco and their representatives. Planned Parenthood had filed suit against the law.   The California decision is the first of three expected on the partial-birth law. Trials also have been held in New York and Lincoln, Neb. Hamilton’s ruling against the law also does not comes as a surprise. The judge in the Nebraska case also is expected to rule against the measure. However, pro-life advocates are more hopeful about a decision in the New York … [Read more...]

In a very real sense, they are the new kids on the block - and turning out to be what no one expected. In a very real sense, they are the new kids on the block - and turning out to be what no one expected. They are traditional, conservative - and even have displayed a surprising sort of modesty in a runaway culture. They are their parents’ children - but not their parents’ clones. Say hello to the "Millennials" - the generation of Americans born since 1982. Churches can reach these young people by understanding their world and helping them "figure out the code" to life’s profound questions, futurist Neil Howe said. "We are constantly trying to predict what the next generation is going to be like," noted Howe, a demographer, economist, historian and author of several books on U.S. generations, including "Millennials Rising: The Next American Generation." A common way of doing so is extrapolation - predicting that the rising generation will be like the current generation, only more so. Unfortunately, that "always proves to be wildly inaccurate," Howe said. For example, historians guessed the Baby Boomers - born between 1943 and 1960 - would be more conformist than their parents. However, they proved to be the … [Read more...]

Boats have been called a hole in the water into which one pours countless dollars. True. But there is a way to save money when dealing with boats. Boats have been called a hole in the water into which one pours countless dollars. True. But there is a way to save money when dealing with boats.   Someone with a warped sense of humor and anonymity sends me the monthly publication, Yachting. The irony of that slick publication coming to my home becomes obvious when one sees my bass boat. My bass boat would not make a good dingy for a decent yacht.   Still, thumbing through the pages of this substantial publication proves interesting. For instance, there is an advertisement that presents a particular brand of yacht that seems reasonably priced, for a yacht. One can buy a 68-foot yacht for only $2.1 million, or a 94-foot yacht for $4.2 million, or a 97-foot raised pilothouse edition for only $4.1 million.   Or, if you want to get nowhere faster, there is an "express cruiser" equipped with triple 440-horsepower diesel engines and to her credit, on a recent voyage "she manhandles 6-to-8-foot seas, thundering across 405 miles of open ocean at an average speed of 46.8 mph reaching speeds of … [Read more...]

For the week of June 17, 2004 Louisiana College news   The teacher education program at Louisiana College recently received a rating of exemplary from the state of Louisiana, the highest of five rankings possible, school officials announced. "We are extremely proud of our education faculty and of our teacher education graduates," interim school President John "Bud" Traylor said. "These accountability ratings prove that we are accomplishing what we set out to do - educate and train quality Christian teachers." Altogether, 12 schools in the state received the exemplary rating.   Hope in Liberia   After more than a year of bloody civil war, Liberians still remain highly religious, reports indicate. Indeed, Liberian Baptist Theological Seminary students have begged to reopen their school soon after things calmed down. Meanwhile, they continue to engage in ministry efforts - to refugees of the war and others. Seminary President Lincoln Brownell said most people believe Jesus kept them alive during a rebel insurgence that ousted Charles Taylor from power. However, unrest lingers. More than 12,000 United Nations peacekeeping soldiers patrol the streets. Most buildings have mortar damage, … [Read more...]

A new survey and analysis by George Barna suggests faith will play a major role in who is elected president of the United States this fall. A new survey and analysis by George Barna suggests faith will play a major role in who is elected president of the United States this fall.   "If the election were held today, Mr. Bush would be re-elected by a small margin," suggested Barna, a Christian researcher based in California.   "However, these next five months will be critical in seeing where the undecided voters land. They comprise one-fifth of the likely voters. That outcome will be intimately related to people’s faith leanings and how they interpret the moral standards and personal character of the leading candidates.   "For instance, one-quarter of the non-evangelical born-again segment (of the population) and one-third of the Notional Christian segment have yet to decide whom they will support," Barna noted. "Their choices will tip the scale one way or the other."   Barna drew his conclusion based on findings from a survey of 1,618 American adults, including 1,260 registered voters. The study has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points.   The … [Read more...]

In the 1960 presidential campaign, John F. Kennedy, a Roman Catholic, proclaimed his political independence from the Vatican to gain support from wary Protestants. In the 1960 presidential campaign, John F. Kennedy, a Roman Catholic, proclaimed his political independence from the Vatican to gain support from wary Protestants.   Now, as another Massachusetts Democrat, John Kerry, prepares to become the first Roman Catholic presidential nominee since Kennedy, the religious dynamics in American politics are still a factor - but along much different lines.   Voter suspicion of Catholic candidates largely has subsided, political experts say. Now, political lines are drawn not between religious denominations but within them - along liberal and conservative lines.   Kerry is likely to face friction from conservative Catholics as well as from other conservatives, said Luis Lugo, director of the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life.   "It’s not Protestant against Catholic or Jewish against Protestant and Catholic anymore," Lugo explained. "It’s really the more orthodox or traditional wings of those communities making common cause. ...   "It’s not so much which religious … [Read more...]

Don Hines makes no bones about it - when it comes to the unemployed, the uninsured, the indigent, he is determined to help give them a voice. And he is in just the position to do it. Don Hines makes no bones about it - when it comes to the unemployed, the uninsured, the indigent, he is determined to help give them a voice.   And he is in just the position to do it.   As a Louisiana senator for 12 years, Hines has championed causes to benefit Louisianians in need.   Now, serving as Senate president, he insists that he plans to continue doing the same.   "When it comes to the unemployed, the uninsured, the indigent and such, I have to admit - I’m liberal about helping them, ..." said Hines, who is a member at First Baptist Church of Bunkie.   "They don’t have the lobbyists. They don’t have the influence. ... I came down here thinking I’d be the lobbyist for them. ... And I plan to continue speaking out for them."   Perhaps it is Hines’ upbringing in rural Louisiana that fuels his passion for those in need. Perhaps it is his experience as a rural family doctor in the state for many years.   Perhaps it is his lifelong Baptist … [Read more...]

The search for a new Louisiana Baptist Convention executive director is underway with a call for nominations and prayer. The search for a new Louisiana Baptist Convention executive director is underway with a call for nominations and prayer.   "The Executive Director Search Committee of the Louisiana Baptist Convention requests resumes for the position of executive director of the Louisiana Baptist Convention to be prayerfully submitted by August 15, 2004 to: Dr. Jim Law, c/o the Executive Office, Louisiana Baptist Convention, P.O. Box 311, Alexandria, LA 71309," reads a request drafted by the 21-member search committee.   Committee members met in Alexandria on June 8 to discuss the search process and officially issue the call for resumes.   Committee members had met briefly following Dean Doster’s announcement on May 4 that he would retire as executive director of the Louisiana convention on January 31, 2005. At that time, Doster, 60, will have completed eight full years as the convention’s top leader.   In making his announcement last month, Doster said he felt the timing was right for a new leader to "build on the work we have accomplished during these eight … [Read more...]

southern Baptist churches - and their 5,376 missionaries around the world - are celebrating a monumental $136.2 million response to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions. Southern Baptist churches - and their 5,376 missionaries around the world - are celebrating a monumental $136.2 million response to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions. When the books on the 2003 offering closed May 31, Southern Baptists had given $136,204,648 – an increase of almost $21.2 million (18.4 percent) from 2002. The increase marks the largest total and dollar increase in the offering’s 115-year history. "Southern Baptists are shouting ‘Glory to God!’ over this marvelous response to the needs of a lost world," Southern International Mission Board President Jerry Rankin said. "God’s people feel his heartbreak over 1.6 billion people with little hope of even hearing about Jesus Christ. They were distressed that qualified missionaries were being held back for lack of finances. "And they responded with a vision and passion only God’s Spirit can inspire." Southern Baptist Woman’s Missionary Union Executive Director Wanda Lee also cheered the offering total. "We are grateful for the … [Read more...]

Ronald Reagan is gone, but his influence on Christian politics in this country will be felt for years to come. The 40th president died on June 5. He was known for his optimism and his ability to communicate it to the American public.Ronald Reagan is gone, but his influence on Christian politics in this country will be felt for years to come. The 40th president died on June 5. He was known for his optimism and his ability to communicate it to the American public. He also was famous for introducing many Christians to real political influence. Reagan was present - and uttered one of his most famous lines - at the meeting many see as the birth of the Religious Right, which molded evangelical Protestant conservatism into a cohesive political movement. Reagan appeared at the Religious Roundtable’s National Affairs Briefing in 1980, where he was introduced by a Southern Baptist evangelist as "God’s man." A presidential candidate at the time, Reagan told the gathering of conservative Christian luminaries - "I know you can’t endorse me, but I endorse you." Reagan’s statement launched a relationship with conservative Christians that would reshape America’s political landscape. "He presented a conservative political … [Read more...]