Now that everyone is agreed the 21st century has arrived, perhaps persons can decide the top stories of the past century. Now that the Christmas wrappings are disposed of and the New Year’s festivities are complete, attention can turn to an annual pastime - selection of the top story for the previous year.   What was it?   The election (finally) of a new president in the United States?   The slow - and often bloody - efforts at peace in the Middle East?   Completion of the human genome pro-ject, providing a genetic map of humans?   The Elian Gonzalez drama?   The Microsoft trial?   The Russian submarine tragedy?   The firing of the Taco Bell chihuahua as a fast food commercial spokesdog?   Or was it something else?   Certainly, the year 2000 offered its range of news and events, including those of the wonderful, weird and wacky bent.   For instance, what other year can boast of having a magician who encased himself inside a block of ice for 61 hours?   And what year can lay claim to the whole reality-based television boom?   And before the year 2000, did anyone even know what a … [Read more...]

Now that the Christmas wrappings are disposed of and the New Year’s festivities are complete, attention can turn to an annual pastime - selection of the top story for the previous year. Now that the Christmas wrappings are disposed of and the New Year’s festivities are complete, attention can turn to an annual pastime - selection of the top story for the previous year.   What was it?   The election (finally) of a new president in the United States?   The slow - and often bloody - efforts at peace in the Middle East?   Completion of the human genome pro-ject, providing a genetic map of humans?   The Elian Gonzalez drama?   The Microsoft trial?   The Russian submarine tragedy?   The firing of the Taco Bell chihuahua as a fast food commercial spokesdog?   Or was it something else?   Certainly, the year 2000 offered its range of news and events, including those of the wonderful, weird and wacky bent.   For instance, what other year can boast of having a magician who encased himself inside a block of ice for 61 hours?   And what year can lay claim to the whole reality-based … [Read more...]

First Baptist Church of Lacombe members celebrated 75 years of ministry in their community during anniversary ceremonies last fall. First Baptist Church of Lacombe members celebrated 75 years of ministry in their community during anniversary ceremonies last fall.   The Louisiana Baptist church was established in 1925 with 11 members. It has had a total of 26 pastors since then and has grown to a membership of almost 400 and an average Sunday School attendance of more than 150. The church currently is planning to construct a new facility.   Glen Carver currently serves as pastor of the Lacombe church, which celebrated its anniversary with a special service and dinner on the grounds.   During the ceremonies, former Pastor Keith Ivey delivered the anniversary address and former Minister of Music Eddie Lightsey returned to lead in music.   In addition, the church recognized Elise Clark, who has been a member of the congregation since 1957. Church members helped Clark celebrate her 90th birthday during the anniversary celebration. … [Read more...]

When President-elect George W. Bush prepares the speech for his inaugural address on January 20, he might well include an appropriate verse from the Bible. When President-elect George W. Bush prepares the speech for his inaugural address on January 20, he might well include an appropriate verse from the Bible.   He would not be the first president to do so. Indeed, several of his predecessors have done the same.   Most recently, in his 1992 inaugural, Bill Clinton cited a verse from Paul’s letter to the Galatians - "And let us not be weary in well-doing, for in due season, we shall reap if we faint not" - using it as a call for Americans to serve the good of their country.   Jimmy Carter was the last president before Clinton to use a biblical quote in his inaugural address. On January 20, 1977, Carter said: "Here before me is the Bible used in the inauguration of our first president in 1789, and I have just taken the oath of office on the Bible my mother gave me just a few years ago, opened to a timeless admonition from the ancient prophet Micah - ‘He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly … [Read more...]

Snow and snow turned to ice covers the canyon gravel road. The road winds up the side of the snow-covered Colorado mountainside, reaching an altitude of some 11,000 feet. The December sky is amazingly blue and the air feels warmer than its registered 20 degrees. Snow and snow turned to ice covers the canyon gravel road. The road winds up the side of the snow-covered Colorado mountainside, reaching an altitude of some 11,000 feet. The December sky is amazingly blue and the air feels warmer than its registered 20 degrees.   The ice-covered lake stretches behind the dam and up the canyon floor.   Sure enough, seven figures - not the dollar kind - dot the ice. I have come here to try to prevail on someone’s kindness.   "Any vacant hole out there?" I ask the slender man fixing a sandwich at the truck that is parked beside the dam.   "No, we just drilled one apiece and that is all we could muster," he answers in a pleasant tone.   "I can understand that. How thick is the ice?"   " ’Bout 12 to 14 inches."   "Not much danger of falling in," this flatlander Louisianian responds, seeking assurance.   "Nope. Could drive a truck over … [Read more...]

The National Basketball Association has dunking sensation Vince Carter. ` College basketball boasts coaching legend Mike Krzyzewski. The National Basketball Association has dunking sensation Vince Carter. ` College basketball boasts coaching legend Mike Krzyzewski.   But the Upward Basketball League lays claim to a far greater presence on the basketball court – 120,000 girls and boys learning about Jesus and jump shots.   Through this unique ministry, more than 600 churches this year will have the opportunity to teach children fundamental basketball skills while also sharing with them about salvation.   "Upward Basketball is not a traditional basketball league," says Shane McKenzie, Upward Unlimited vice president of operations. "Its primary focus is outreach. It’s not about championships. It’s not about trophies. What we’re about is changed lives and creating opportunities to share the Lord."   The Upward Basketball season consists of eight games and 10 practices. Boys and girls in grades one through six are invited to participate. There is a fee for a child to join the league, but kids receive a bag full of basketball goodies. Scholarships are available for kids who need … [Read more...]

As the Serbian people face their first winter with a new democratically-elected government, evangelicals are scrambling to minister to a nation left nearly bankrupt, observers report. As the Serbian people face their first winter with a new democratically-elected government, evangelicals are scrambling to minister to a nation left nearly bankrupt, observers report.   It remains to be seen if they will find the help they need.   Bread of Life Co-director Jasmina Tosic recently laid out a plan to meet the physical and spiritual needs of more than 15,000 Serbian families this winter. Bread of Life is a ministry that largely has focused on refugee aid during the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s. The Southern Baptist World Hunger Fund is among Bread of Life’s sources of support.   However, Tosic recently noted Bread of Life has received only a few offers of outside help for the plan. "We are putting our trust in God and find ourselves continuing as written in Haggai ‘giving careful thought’ about our past and future," said Tosic, a member at First Baptist Church of Belgrade.   The organization’s winter ministry plan includes monthly distribution of food and hygiene items; a … [Read more...]

From storm-ravaged villages in Honduras to the decaying ghettos of New York City to the war-torn Balkans, missionaries and volunteers are ministering to hungry souls through the Southern Baptist World Hunger Fund. From storm-ravaged villages in Honduras to the decaying ghettos of New York City to the war-torn Balkans, missionaries and volunteers are ministering to hungry souls through the Southern Baptist World Hunger Fund.   Indeed, last year, almost 30 million people were impacted by Southern Baptist efforts. And a new video by the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission is seeking to make sure workers have even more money to use this year.   "When Will We Cry?" highlights ministries funded by the Southern Baptist hunger emphasis. It also challenges viewers to give to the World Hunger Fund – and to find their own place of service in a Christ-centered ministry to persons in need.   Commission director of Hunger Concerns Steve Nelson said he has high hopes the production will raise awareness of the fact that God calls his people to be involved in ministry evangelism.   "Southern Baptist hunger ministries often go unnoticed," Nelson noted. "Many people are … [Read more...]

Owners and operators of Louisiana’s gambling boats must be celebrating the new year in fine fashion. Owners and operators of Louisiana’s gambling boats must be celebrating the new year in fine fashion. They see the natural progression of expanding gambling taking its next step and they can see a wonderful financial future for themselves. Revenues from gambling are the most addicting of all state income. State politicians and citizens were seduced by the promise of millions upon millions of dollars from legalizing gambling, and approved greatly expanding it in our state. Our state quickly passed proposals to open wide our state to legalized gambling - off-track betting, lotteries, video poker, casinos.   Some limits were placed on gambling at first. That made it easier to get proposals passed over some obvious objections of its negative impact on the state. For instance, casinos were to be only on boats that actually sailed. The boats’ sailing limits the number of gamblers that can gamble at a time, and supposedly keeps other negative influences safely on the shore. (The exceptions are casinos on Indian reservations that are land based. But, the state draws no income from these. After they reach a … [Read more...]

Many of you volunteer to come to Louisiana State Penitentiary on a regular basis to facilitate discipleship training studies and work and support the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Extension Center at Angola. This precious time away from families and churches, as well as the traveling expenses, are personal sacrifices. Many of you volunteer to come to Louisiana State Penitentiary on a regular basis to facilitate discipleship training studies and work and support the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Extension Center at Angola. This precious time away from families and churches, as well as the traveling expenses, are personal sacrifices.   I thank God for each volunteer and for the wives and children who share their husbands, fathers and grandfathers with us. Your sacrifices are touching the lives of many. You are fulfilling the Great Commission. We ask God daily to watch over you, protect you and provide for your every need.   For those who contribute financially, please be aware that your contributions are assisting the mission field within this prison. Your money buys books for studies, supports the New Orleans Seminary Extension Center and pays for other Christian materials … [Read more...]