This, you really will not believe - or then again, maybe you will. After all, it came from the Internet, so it has to be true, right?   Anyway, an effort apparently is underway to clone Jesus in time for the 2000th anniversary of his birth.   Or is it? This, you really will not believe - or then again, maybe you will. After all, it came from the Internet, so it has to be true, right? Anyway, an effort apparently is underway to clone Jesus in time for the 2000th anniversary of his birth.   Or is it?   The www.clonejesus.com website states:   "Our intention is to clone Jesus ... by taking an incorrupt cell from one of the many Holy Relics of Jesus’ blood and body that are preserved in churches throughout the world, extracting its DNA and inserting into an unfertilized human egg, through the now-proven biological process called nuclear transfer. The fertilized egg ... will be implanted into the womb of a young virginal woman ... who will then bring the baby Jesus to term in a second Virgin Birth."   The goal is for Jesus to be born on December 25, 2001, the website notes.   "No longer can we rely on hope and prayer, waiting around futilely … [Read more...]

First Baptist Church of Coushatta celebrated its 150th year of ministry recently, holding to the theme of "looking backwards - Moving Forward."   The Louisiana Baptist church was established in 1850 by J.E. Paxton. The original facility was built by slaves, who accompanied their owners to services, sitting across the aisle from them. First Baptist Church of Coushatta celebrated its 150th year of ministry recently, holding to the theme of "looking backwards - Moving Forward."   The Louisiana Baptist church was established in 1850 by J.E. Paxton. The original facility was built by slaves, who accompanied their owners to services, sitting across the aisle from them.   By 1862, the congregation totaled 27 persons. In 1873, the first pastor was ordained by the Coushatta church.   New facilities were constructed after the turn of the century - and the first full-time pastor was hired for $2,000 a year.   Electricity was added to church facilities in 1917. The church sanctuary burned four years later. It was rebuilt in 1923 - and the present facility was constructed in 1949.   A pair of education buildings were added to the church plant in 1956 and … [Read more...]

As far as John Avant is concerned, the world has no hope - unless God acts to change things, unless he moves to bring revival to the land.   But that will only happen if people pray, he added.   Avant made his stance clear from the outset of his address at the recent Great Commission Prayer Conference at First Baptist Church of Lafayette. As far as John Avant is concerned, the world has no hope - unless God acts to change things, unless he moves to bring revival to the land.   But that will only happen if people pray, he added.   Avant made his stance clear from the outset of his address at the recent Great Commission Prayer Conference at First Baptist Church of Lafayette.   "Father, unless you do something in this land, we’re done, ..." Avant said in his opening prayer. "Lord, we just beg you, ... to save our land. We don’t want to be like Sodom.   "Lord, we want to see your incredible revival, ..." continued Avant, pastor at New Hope Baptist Church in Fayetteville, Ga. " We want to be like Nineveh and turn and repent. ...   "We don’t ask for anything small, God. ... but for you to come in a sweeping revival. ... We ask you to do it, God. … [Read more...]

Re: Letter to editor, "The answer is prayer," September 21, 2000, issue   The closing remarks were either intended to be sarcastic or revealed a deficiency in understanding biblical truth. I do hope this is not the attitude about the issues of inerrancy within our convention.   Are we so spiritually bankrupt and weak that we would accept the idea that truth no longer matters and erect a false dichotomy between theology and doxology? Re: Letter to editor, "The answer is prayer," September 21, 2000, issue   The closing remarks were either intended to be sarcastic or revealed a deficiency in understanding biblical truth. I do hope this is not the attitude about the issues of inerrancy within our convention.   Are we so spiritually bankrupt and weak that we would accept the idea that truth no longer matters and erect a false dichotomy between theology and doxology?   The writer asks, "If you were totally focused on doing the Lord’s will, how much time would you have left to participate in a theological battle?" The Lord’s will and theological accuracy are not separate issues. Paul instructed young Timothy: "Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, … [Read more...]

Most teenagers today who make professions of faith in Christ still do not believe Christianity is the one true religion, an international Christian apologist and youth ministry expert insisted.   "Seventy-five percent of all kids coming to Christ today are not coming to Jesus because he’s the way, the truth and the life," Josh McDowell says. "They are coming to Christ because he is the best thing that’s come along so far that they’ve filtered through their experience. And as soon as something better to them comes along, they’re gone." Most teenagers today who make professions of faith in Christ still do not believe Christianity is the one true religion, an international Christian apologist and youth ministry expert insisted.   "Seventy-five percent of all kids coming to Christ today are not coming to Jesus because he’s the way, the truth and the life," Josh McDowell says. "They are coming to Christ because he is the best thing that’s come along so far that they’ve filtered through their experience. And as soon as something better to them comes along, they’re gone."   Indeed, the greatest challenge facing the evangelical church in the 21st century is communicating the truth of the … [Read more...]

In an age when truth is relative and the end justifies the means, people are searching for something that transcends the "cultural free-for-all" called postmodernism, Ray Jones emphasized. "Postmoderns are the easiest people on the planet to witness to," said Jones, personal evangelism specialist at the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board. "Don’t believe the media stereotype. They’re not hostile." In an age when truth is relative and the end justifies the means, people are searching for something that transcends the "cultural free-for-all" called postmodernism, Ray Jones emphasized. "Postmoderns are the easiest people on the planet to witness to," said Jones, personal evangelism specialist at the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board. "Don’t believe the media stereotype. They’re not hostile." "Postmodernism" is a recently-coined cultural term. It is used to describe an ideology built on the premise that there is no absolute standard of truth that applies to all people. Instead, experience is highly valued, Jones noted. "Experience in postmodernism has been elevated to the level of a god," he explained. Consequently, postmoderns - those people who favor such a belief system - never have been … [Read more...]

Re: Editorials on worship and letter from Billy Miller.   I am a 20-year-old junior in college. I know on the surface that contemporary worship is intimidating. However, it is not only rich in praise, but it is also rich in confession and thanksgiving. Re: Editorials on worship and letter from Billy Miller.   I am a 20-year-old junior in college. I know on the surface that contemporary worship is intimidating. However, it is not only rich in praise, but it is also rich in confession and thanksgiving.   The point of contemporary worship is to enter the throne room of Christ and give him everything that we have to offer. I not only wish to say that, but based on Romans 12:1 we are to offer God ourselves as a living sacrifice. That is so much more than just a service or a song. That includes everything that we have and we are. I know that hymns are important.   I love hymns. Their words are beautiful and express an awesome picture of real life and human struggles as well as the victory we have in Christ. The most important part of worshipping God corporately is finding a way that the worshipper is most comfortable. However, it is not a bad thing to sing a new song to the Lord … [Read more...]

Dear LBC messengers, this is an appeal not to let the offensive attitudes and remarks which occurred at the Baptist General Convention of Texas infiltrate the 2000 LBC. It was reported in the SBC Baptist Press that one Texas state leader, critical of the national SBC leadership, publicly said that they "remain (Jesus’) enemies. ... Christ has no value to them." Such offensive remarks have no place in Texas, nor in Louisiana ... by any side. As we approach the 2000 LBC, I call all Louisiana Baptists to refrain from such ungodly accusations of each other. Let us keep Louisiana’s debate on a higher plane than has been done in Texas. Dear LBC messengers, this is an appeal not to let the offensive attitudes and remarks which occurred at the Baptist General Convention of Texas infiltrate the 2000 LBC. It was reported in the SBC Baptist Press that one Texas state leader, critical of the national SBC leadership, publicly said that they "remain (Jesus’) enemies. ... Christ has no value to them." Such offensive remarks have no place in Texas, nor in Louisiana ... by any side. As we approach the 2000 LBC, I call all Louisiana Baptists to refrain from such ungodly accusations of each other. Let us keep Louisiana’s debate on … [Read more...]

The last thing Louisiana needs is another casino, but even against the will of the people, especially in the parish where this proposed monster would be located, we may get one. An article on this page reports a thumbnail sketch of the efforts underway to bring a new casino to the Cypress Bend Golf Resort on Toledo Bend near Many. Read the article, and you will see that the people of Sabine Parish, where the casino would be located have already voted out video poker machines. The parish police jury has voted three-to-one against establishing the casino. Yet, the resort shrewdly brought the Jena Indians into the ownership of the management company. If the Jena Indians buy land adjacent to the resort and the governor approves the casino, look out. The last thing Louisiana needs is another casino, but even against the will of the people, especially in the parish where this proposed monster would be located, we may get one. An article on this page reports a thumbnail sketch of the efforts underway to bring a new casino to the Cypress Bend Golf Resort on Toledo Bend near Many. Read the article, and you will see that the people of Sabine Parish, where the casino would be located have already voted out video poker … [Read more...]

Two words almost have disappeared from the modern vocabulary of the modern world (including many Christians) - sin and repentance, Kerry Skinner warned in a recent presentation to a Louisiana Baptist group.   They are deemed too negative by many, noted Skinner, an author and worker with the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board. Skinner spoke in a small-group seminar at the recent Louisiana Baptist Great Commission Prayer Conference in Lafayette. Two words almost have disappeared from the modern vocabulary of the modern world (including many Christians) - sin and repentance, Kerry Skinner warned in a recent presentation to a Louisiana Baptist group.   They are deemed too negative by many, noted Skinner, an author and worker with the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board. Skinner spoke in a small-group seminar at the recent Louisiana Baptist Great Commission Prayer Conference in Lafayette.   "Sin" is a negative term, Skinner acknowledged during the seminar, one of several presented during the two-day gathering highlighted in last week’s Louisiana Baptist Message.   However, contrary to popular belief, "repentance" most certainly is not, he … [Read more...]