When doctors diagnosed Charles Marx with life-threatening brain cancer, one of his biggest worries was that he would not be able to produce any more Bibliociphers.   Created by Marx, Bibliociphers appear weekly in the Baptist Message and are puzzles in which one letter has been substituted for another, encoding a Bible verse.   Other state Baptist newspapers that carry the puzzles are the Mississippi Baptist Record, Florida Baptist Witness and Baptist New Mexican. When doctors diagnosed Charles Marx with life-threatening brain cancer, one of his biggest worries was that he would not be able to produce any more Bibliociphers.   Created by Marx, Bibliociphers appear weekly in the Baptist Message and are puzzles in which one letter has been substituted for another, encoding a Bible verse.   Other state Baptist newspapers that carry the puzzles are the Mississippi Baptist Record, Florida Baptist Witness and Baptist New Mexican.   "They meant a lot to him," says brother Harold Marx, who spoke on behalf of Charles. "After he had his surgery and got better, he talked about writing some more."   The Baptist Message will publish his puzzles through at … [Read more...]

Observers offer a host of precautionary steps persons can take regarding the use of 15-passenger vans to transport groups.   The following compiled list includes suggestions from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Christian Ministry Resources and other sources. Observers offer various precautionary steps for those using 15-passenger vans to transport groups   Observers offer a host of precautionary steps persons can take regarding the use of 15-passenger vans to transport groups.   The following compiled list includes suggestions from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Christian Ministry Resources and other sources.   The suggestions include:   • Drive with fewer than 10 occupants. In fatal, single-vehicle crashes, 15-passenger vans rolled over 85 percent of the time when loaded with 10 or more occupants, compared to 38 percent of the time when loaded with less than 10 persons. However, in a Church Executive magazine survey, only 14.3 percent of churches indicated they never load more than the recommended nine people in their vans.   • Load occupants from the front of the van.   • Require each occupant to … [Read more...]

Recent advisories and reports have raised safety concerns about a popular means of group travel - 15-passenger vans   Everything is set for the summer mission trip - the kids are all gathered around the van, and the luggage is all stowed, in the small trailer behind the van and on the van’s rooftop rack. Recent advisories and reports have raised safety concerns about a popular means of group travel - 15-passenger vans   Everything is set for the summer mission trip - the kids are all gathered around the van, and the luggage is all stowed, in the small trailer behind the van and on the van’s rooftop rack.   Thirteen teenagers and two adults are set for the long, 12-hour trip. It is not quite 6 a.m., but the early start is needed if the team is to reach their destination by night.   Everyone is carrying a pillow and a personal CD player it seems. It will be a long, crowded trip - with four hours of it on two-lane rural roads of another state.   The pastor gathers the team around as parents stand in the outer circle. The pastor offers a prayer for the work the students are prepared to do, for the people they will reach with the gospel, for the families … [Read more...]

The acid smell of July 4th firecrackers is out of the air and the minds of multitudes of Louisiana Baptists have turned to planning their churches’ budgets.   Among the numerous considerations churches must undertake, salaries of staff and employees may be one of the most important, and contentious items. The acid smell of July 4th firecrackers is out of the air and the minds of multitudes of Louisiana Baptists have turned to planning their churches’ budgets.   Among the numerous considerations churches must undertake, salaries of staff and employees may be one of the most important, and contentious items. Some committee members will be committed to paying "good" salaries, others will be committed to paying absolutely as little as possible. Unfortunately, many discussions about salaries will not be generated by facts but emotions, personal prejudices and preconceived ideas.   When the committees and eventually the churches come to the point of discussing salaries, hearsays and "I guarantee you" will probably be in greater supply than hard facts. Gathering facts on how much churches of comparable size and budgets pay their staff and employees often takes detective work on a … [Read more...]

For the week of July 18, 2002 Work and worship Louisiana College has scheduled its annual Work and Worship Camp on the Pineville campus for Aug. 4-9. The camp is held each year to provide Campers on Mission and others a chance to spend time on the campus and help prepare it for the upcoming semester. The college provides lodging and three meals a day for participants, who engage in a variety of work projects on campus. In addition, participants are able to join in fellowship and worship activities. Persons should contact Work and Worship coordinator Jim Elder at (318) 487-7137 or (318) 487-7118 for details or to register for the camp. Court decision A decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that affirmed the right of religious, political and other interests to knock on doors to promote their causes was a victory for religious freedom, Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission President Richard Land said. The case involved an Ohio town, which sought to force groups to get a permit before going door-to-door for any reason. However, Jehovah’s Witnesses challenged the law, and the U.S. Supreme Court struck it down in an 8-1 decision. "It should not be up to the government to decide whether or not a group … [Read more...]

Even the best-run associational meetings can seem a little long. Reports are, well, reports. And, when reports are presented like linked sausages, they can get to be, well, like a lot of reports.   Unquestionably, the work of an association is vital for Baptist life. Part of the prescription for keeping associational life healthy is having informed members of the local churches that form the association. Even the best-run associational meetings can seem a little long. Reports are, well, reports. And, when reports are presented like linked sausages, they can get to be, well, like a lot of reports.   Unquestionably, the work of an association is vital for Baptist life. Part of the prescription for keeping associational life healthy is having informed members of the local churches that form the association. And, one of the ways Baptists do this is by getting as many members of the churches of the association together and letting them know about what the committees of the association are doing. Accountability and inspiration.   Reliable word is, a Louisiana Baptist association was having a meeting that was fulfilling its purpose of hearing lots of reports. Associational leaders were … [Read more...]

There is an old Peanuts comic strip in which Linus and Lucy are standing outside, talking.   If memory serves, Linus is explaining an idea to Lucy. It seems Charlie Brown had proposed that if Lucy, Linus and the Peanuts gang could learn to get along and treat one another right, then others could as well. Editor’s Note: August 4 is Social Issues Sunday in Southern Baptist churches. This year’s focus is human rights. The following commentary by LBM Associate Editor C. Lacy Thompson is offered as reflection on the emphasis.   There is an old Peanuts comic strip in which Linus and Lucy are standing outside, talking.   If memory serves, Linus is explaining an idea to Lucy. It seems Charlie Brown had proposed that if Lucy, Linus and the Peanuts gang could learn to get along and treat one another right, then others could as well.   It might even spread to adults and then to nations even, Linus noted.   "Of course, that’s where the analogy starts to fall apart," Linus concludes.   One can understand the feeling - the sinking suspicion that it is futile to hope or pray for such things as world peace or human rights for all persons.   After all, what … [Read more...]

Every year, students from across the country come to Lexington, Va., to begin study at either Virginia Military Institute or Washington and Lee University. It is both advantageous and equally difficult to locate Baptist students and others who are interested in Baptist Student Union before they arrive on campus. Every year, students from across the country come to Lexington, Va., to begin study at either Virginia Military Institute or Washington and Lee University. It is both advantageous and equally difficult to locate Baptist students and others who are interested in Baptist Student Union before they arrive on campus. We would appreciate any assistance from the churches in your state to locate these students before the start of the 2002-2003 academic year.   In the past, several incoming students have contacted the Lexington Area Baptist Student Union because of this letter in the state Baptist paper. You are an invaluable resource for reaching our students!   The Lexington Area BSU can be contacted at 120 W. Nelson Street, Lexington, Va. 24450 or (540) 463-5366 or lexbsu@hotmail.com. Your assistance is greatly appreciated as we work together to reach and strengthen our future leaders in … [Read more...]

My name is Sue Whitten, and I am serving as a Southern Baptist International Mission Board missionary in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. I recently received a postcard from you regarding your Web site.   Praise the Lord! This is great. I want to say thanks for the time and effort you have spent in setting up this site. My name is Sue Whitten, and I am serving as a Southern Baptist International Mission Board missionary in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. I recently received a postcard from you regarding your Web site.   Praise the Lord! This is great. I want to say thanks for the time and effort you have spent in setting up this site. It is a great joy to be able to read news and events from home. I am so excited to be able to keep up with ministries in our home state. I do pray for you there – that God will bless my brother and sister Louisianians and keep them faithful.   Louisiana will always hold a special place in my heart, because if it were not for many people there praying for me, my task would be much more difficult. I do have many prayer warriors from there who share in my ministry.   Please include me on your prayer list. The work is plentiful here. My task is teaching English as a … [Read more...]

Prayer can be a powerful tool, and Emmanuel Baptist Church members in Alexandria are hoping that a prayer quilt can encourage a hometown missionary.   "We wanted the missionaries to know that we’re praying for them," Emmanuel Woman’s Missionary Union coordinator Frances Blair says. "In times of discouragement, we want them to know we’re there for them." Prayer can be a powerful tool, and Emmanuel Baptist Church members in Alexandria are hoping that a prayer quilt can encourage a hometown missionary.   "We wanted the missionaries to know that we’re praying for them," Emmanuel Woman’s Missionary Union coordinator Frances Blair says. "In times of discouragement, we want them to know we’re there for them."   The church made the quilt for Hartwell Price, a Southern Baptist missionary in Benin, a country in the west-central part of Africa.   Blair says the group selected Price because the international worker is from Natchitoches.   At the time they selected Price, the Women’s on Mission group at Emmanuel Baptist Church was studying ‘Prayer Around Africa,’ a year-long emphasis focused on praying for needs in Africa. The Women’s on Mission group is part of Woman’s … [Read more...]