Today's media could accuse him of running a Ponzi Scheme of sorts. John, as we would call him, seemed always coming up with schemes to raise additional capital to keep money on the table for his primary project, and first love. Most people would have given up long before, but he was obsessed. Today's media could accuse him of running a Ponzi Scheme of sorts. John, as we would call him, seemed always coming up with schemes to raise additional capital to keep money on the table for his primary project, and first love. Most people would have given up long before, but he was obsessed.   The German’s product was not as newsworthy to the public as the means by which he kept promising to manufacture the product. The "means" would be a new invention that would launch a fledgling industry, granted, a risky business at the start.   The "old line" producers made things tough for the new industry. They kept lowering their prices and offering better luxury items by crafting elegant, high-quality add-ons that the new method of production was initially unable to match. John would have done far better had he launched his enterprise before he could match the add-ons of his competitors, but he seemed unable … [Read more...]

The ongoing furor over many of the pardons former President Bill Clinton granted in the last hours of his administration is a study in the use and probable abuse of legal pardons. The term pardon means "a release from the penalty of an offense" and the Constitution of the United States gives its president the right and power to grant pardons at his discretion. The ongoing furor over many of the pardons former President Bill Clinton granted in the last hours of his administration is a study in the use and probable abuse of legal pardons. The term pardon means "a release from the penalty of an offense" and the Constitution of the United States gives its president the right and power to grant pardons at his discretion.   The power of pardon seems to most Americans the only time presidential power is above the law. This singular power has been handled in most cases with the respect and reserve it deserves. In a society run by laws, for one person to have at his personal disposal the awesome power to set aside the penalty and legal guilt of any lawbreaker is frightening. The framers of the Constitution, nevertheless, believed it necessary.   The exercise of this power depends completely upon the … [Read more...]

Despite filing bankruptcy, the Baptist Foundation of Arizona has continued to spend millions of dollars on salaries, professional fees and administrative costs, a newspaper reports. Despite filing bankruptcy, the Baptist Foundation of Arizona has continued to spend millions of dollars on salaries, professional fees and administrative costs, a newspaper reports.   The payments include some $600,000 to a firm co-owned by the foundation’s chief executive officer at the time.   The Arizona Republic reports expenditures have continued even as investors look to receive only a portion of their investments as a result of bankruptcy.   Many of those investors are Baptists and put life savings into the foundation. Now, they stand to lose more than half.   The foundation came under fire in 1999 for allegedly engaging in a complex financial scheme in which it was forced to use new investments to pay old debts. State investigators forced the agency to cease selling investment plans, charging it was overestimating its performance in order to encourage persons to invest more money.   Observers suggest 13,000 or so investors are owed upward to $600 million from the Baptist … [Read more...]

Southern Baptist leaders took a determined step last week to help troubled families. Southern Baptist leaders took a determined step last week to help troubled families.   "Acknowledging that today’s family is under severe attack, we have registered our determination to recover God’s design for the family, strengthen families within our convention and minister to families around the world," a report approved by the SBC Executive Committee reads.   In unanimously adopting the report, committee members agreed last week to establish a blue-ribbon council for marshalling denominational resources related to the family. The council recommendation is the centerpiece of the report, presented by the SBC Committee on Family Life, a study group created last summer by SBC Executive Committee President Morris Chapman.   The goal is to develop and implement "a cohesive and concerted strategy ... that draws together both our resources and our people with the goal of elevating our families and the meaning of the word ‘family’ to God’s standard as clearly stated in the Scripture," the study group report outlines.   The council will be responsible for making interim reports and delivering … [Read more...]

More than 60 Southern Baptists are slated for overseas missionary appointment by the Southern Baptist International Mission Board March 10 at 7 p.m. at Broadmoor Baptist Church in Shreveport. More than 60 Southern Baptists are slated for overseas missionary appointment by the Southern Baptist International Mission Board March 10 at 7 p.m. at Broadmoor Baptist Church in Shreveport.   For the "City of Churches," Christian events are nothing new. "At one point, one out of every five or six people that walked the streets in Shreveport was probably Southern Baptist," said Wayne Jenkins, director of evangelism at the Louisiana Baptist Convention.   "In the northern half of the state, especially Shreveport, there are some strong, strong Southern Baptist churches and strong giving to the Cooperative Program."   Among the missionary appointees are several candidates with ties to Louisiana, mainly through New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.   For instance, Charles "Elliott" and Patricia Nichols moved from Alaska to Louisiana for the sole purpose of receiving missionary training at the school. As African Americans, the Nicholses join the International Mission Board’s growing … [Read more...]

The Jerusalem Baptist Church in Jerusalem, Israel, requests prayers for the Baptist work in that nation and especially for the ministry of the Jerusalem Baptist Church. The Jerusalem Baptist Church in Jerusalem, Israel, requests prayers for the Baptist work in that nation and especially for the ministry of the Jerusalem Baptist Church.   From its beginning, the Jerusalem Baptist Church has been blessed to have had a Southern Baptist International Mission Board representative as pastor, paid by the International Mission Board.   In 1999, when the board decided to cease funding all English-speaking ministries in Israel, the International Mission Board representative/pastor was reassigned to a new field. The church extended a call to me, a retired pastor, to serve as pastor.   The pastor must be fully in agreement with the Southern Baptist Convention and the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message, and he must be self-supported.   I committed to be pastor through September 2001. That commitment ends in seven months, and the church is seeking a new pastor.   There are only two Southern Baptist churches in the nation of Israel, both English-speaking churches. One has been … [Read more...]

For the week of March 1, 2001 Potpourri •DRY CREEK - Dry Creek camp: deacon’s retreat; March 30-31; John Temple, leader; for information or to register, call the camp at (337) 328-7531; Curt Iles, camp manager. •FRANKLINTON - Hillcrest church: Washington and Two Rivers Association Men’s Rally; March 10, 9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.; Chuck Kelley, Buddy Day, Rob Carr and Dean Doster, speakers; lunch provided; Gene Richard, pastor. •SULPHUR - Maplewood First church: The Martins in concert; March 22, 7 p.m.; tickets are $15 and are available by calling (337) 625-5899; Charley Watson, minister of music; Bobby Taylor, pastor. Homecomings •FAIRBANKS - Fairbanks church: 55th homecoming/anniversary; March 11; Sunday School, 9:45 a.m.; worship service, 11 a.m.; dinner to follow; Brothers In Christ in concert, 2 p.m.; pastor Butch Goodman to speak. Anniversaries •MINDEN - First church: Eugene and Maxine Allen; 60 married years. Revivals •EUNICE - First church: March 4, 10:15 a.m. and 6 p.m.; March 5-7, 7 p.m.; Ronnie Hill, evangelist; Clark Palmer, pastor. •HARRISONBURG - First church: March 11, 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.; March 12-14, 7 p.m.; Oda "Tuck" Roberts, evangelist; James Foster, music; Ralph Webber, pastor. •LEESVILLE - … [Read more...]

C. Lacy Thompson LBM Associate Editor   It has been said "insanity" can be defined as doing the same thing again and again and expecting different results. It has been said "insanity" can be defined as doing the same thing again and again and expecting different results.   It has been said "addiction" may be defined as uncontrolled craving for the thing that will destroy you.   It has been said "sucker bet" may be defined as wagering on a guaranteed loser.   When it comes to Louisiana and legalized gambling, all three definitions apply.   Some 100 years ago, Louisiana bought into the promise of gambling - with disastrous results. The ensuing scandal made national headlines - and ended legalized gambling in the state for decades.   The closing years of the last century saw Louisiana legislators bring it back in unparalleled fashion - approving riverboats, video poker, a state lottery and a land-based casino in the city of New Orleans.   Insane, right?   The money has been intoxicating for lawmakers, much as oil and gas revenues were in heady times so many years ago.   Everyone has wanted a piece of the gambling pie, … [Read more...]

Shannon Baker New Orleans Seminary   Women who pour themselves out in prayer, personal testimony and in the investment of relationships will be richly rewarded, speakers emphasized at this year’s Women’s Leadership Consultation in New Orleans. They also will impact others. Women who pour themselves out in prayer, personal testimony and in the investment of relationships will be richly rewarded, speakers emphasized at this year’s Women’s Leadership Consultation in New Orleans. They also will impact others.   "God is using women today to influence other women to him," said consultation Coordinator Rhonda Kelley, wife of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary President Chuck Kelley and adjunct professor of women’s ministry.   "As examples of Christ, we can touch the lives of women personally and biblically. ... Christian women today have the opportunity to influence generations through the power of prayer and one-to-one ministry."   More than 200 women from New Orleans and other states attended the recent annual consultation, held this year at New Orleans Seminary. The theme was "Share Life - the life of a woman ... poured out into others," related to the Titus 2 idea of … [Read more...]

Lynn P. Clayton LBM Editor Louisiana is known as the Sportsman’s Paradise, so it stands to reason the state is loaded with sportsmen.   Indeed, someone looking for one of the largest special interest groups in Louisiana and adjoining states need look no further than outdoors men. Lynn P. Clayton LBM Editor Louisiana is known as the Sportsman’s Paradise, so it stands to reason the state is loaded with sportsmen.   Indeed, someone looking for one of the largest special interest groups in Louisiana and adjoining states need look no further than outdoors men.   With that in mind, two Louisiana sportsmen are fine tuning an effort to turn this strong interest into a natural venue to present the gospel to the vast numbers of hunters.   David Fortenberry and Gene Hoyt have established Outdoor Evangelism Association Incorporated. The educational and outreach efforts of the men are aimed at presenting the gospel of Jesus Christ in a setting that attracts sportsmen who, in many cases, would not attend regular church meetings.   The 15-month record of this targeted effort indicates significant success.   "We just had a pastor call whose church is … [Read more...]