The sign warned us; we just did not take it seriously enough. The car was dead in the center of the busy intersection, stopped. A bad choice almost sent the car and its four terrified passengers the wrong way into one-way traffic. The sign warned us; we just did not take it seriously enough. The car was dead in the center of the busy intersection, stopped. A bad choice almost sent the car and its four terrified passengers the wrong way into one-way traffic. Knowing that was not the way to go, but not knowing which way to go, stopping to contemplate seemed the best course of action. Folks in a hurry to get wherever they were going became frustrated, honked and stared, but they should have noticed the sign: "Warning: Student Driver." What a shame that things have gotten so complicated - even learning to drive a car. Of course, things were different when I learned. I did not have to dodge dinosaurs, but it was different. For six months before receiving my driver’s license, I drove. Our rural, agrarian town of 1200 was understanding about that sort of thing. Probably because half the adult population had never gotten around to getting their drivers’ licenses. Actually, that may have been … [Read more...]

Someone said for work to be enjoyable, it must be fulfilling, adequately compensated and not too much of it. So, one wonders why anyone works as a school teacher. Certainly there must be such an abundance of "fulfilling" because the lack of adequate compensation and abundance of overwork surely do not meet the "enjoyable" criteria. Someone said for work to be enjoyable, it must be fulfilling, adequately compensated and not too much of it. So, one wonders why anyone works as a school teacher. Certainly there must be such an abundance of "fulfilling" because the lack of adequate compensation and abundance of overwork surely do not meet the "enjoyable" criteria. Maggie matriculates at Tech to one day teach children. For her, it is a calling. A friend provides Maggie the opportunity to spend two days observing a first grade classroom in a Christian academy. It is the boost the university junior needs to keep her inspired toward her profession of call. At the end of the day in the classroom, she calls her mother to share her exuberance for the experience. "Mother, it was great. The little kids were precious, and they learn so much their first year. When they entered school this year, they couldn’t … [Read more...]

John Morgan followed in the footsteps of his father as a Baptist pastor - understandably, he has a heart for pastors and their families. And what touches his heart most is the plight of retired ministers and widows across the Southern Baptist Convention who live near the poverty line. John Morgan followed in the footsteps of his father as a Baptist pastor - understandably, he has a heart for pastors and their families. And what touches his heart most is the plight of retired ministers and widows across the Southern Baptist Convention who live near the poverty line. Several years ago, Morgan decided to act on his concerns. He led Sagemont Baptist Church in Houston to reach out and minister to the needs of aged ministers and their widows living in the surrounding area. The church began gathering the names of individuals with specific needs and responded by sending them $100 to $400 each month. The number grew to 13. "As our church began to invest in the lives of these dear people, we were blessed," Morgan says. "I would receive monthly thank you notes from these retired pastors with a 10 percent tithe to my church. The notes of these faithful servants touched my heart." Then, Morgan heard … [Read more...]

Public prayer before football games is unconstitutional - even when the prayer is composed and led by a student, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled. Public prayer before football games is unconstitutional - even when the prayer is composed and led by a student, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled. The much-anticipated ruling does not ban all prayers at public schools, but it still has been cause for concern and criticism from some Christian leaders and religious liberty groups. Others consider it a proper decision that maintains the delicate balance between government and religion. In a 6-3 decision announced June 19, the high court ruled against a policy in a Galveston County school district in Texas - the Santa Fe Independent School District. The policy allowed the high school student body to determine if it wanted a student to speak over the public address system before football games. If so, students elected the speaker, who then decided whether to pray or give some other message. The school district argued the resulting prayers were private speech and deserved constitutional protection. The nation’s high court disagreed, saying the policy violates the establishment clause of the First Amendment. … [Read more...]

Southern Baptist Convention messengers made history last week, adopting a first-ever resolution in support of capital punishment. Despite some debate, messengers easily approved a resolution that supports the death penalty as "a legitimate form of punishment for those guilty of murder or treasonous acts that result in death." Southern Baptist Convention messengers made history last week, adopting a first-ever resolution in support of capital punishment. Despite some debate, messengers easily approved a resolution that supports the death penalty as "a legitimate form of punishment for those guilty of murder or treasonous acts that result in death." The capital punishment resolution was one of only two that generated discussion. Altogether, messengers approved 10 resolutions on a range of topics at last week’s convention. The resolution on capital punishment comes amid growing public debate to re-evaluate capital punishment guidelines. It affirms the sacredness of life and notes God authorized capital punishment for murder in Genesis 9:6, validating its legitimacy. Indeed, God has set capital punishment "as a just and appropriate means by which the civil magistrate may punish those guilty of … [Read more...]

Southern Baptist Convention messengers last week approved resolution concerning: •New Age globalism. The resolution expresses concern about promotion of "a one-world government, a one-world religion and a one-world economy." It warns the movement would redefine family and recognize homosexuals, bisexuals and transexuals; employ wholesale abortion as a means of population control; elevate the rights of children above parents; deny any religion can possess objective truth; and mean the destruction of the sovereignty of nations. Southern Baptist Convention messengers last week approved resolution concerning: • New Age globalism. The resolution expresses concern about promotion of "a one-world government, a one-world religion and a one-world economy." It warns the movement would redefine family and recognize homosexuals, bisexuals and transexuals; employ wholesale abortion as a means of population control; elevate the rights of children above parents; deny any religion can possess objective truth; and mean the destruction of the sovereignty of nations. It calls on Christians to become informed about the movement and to pray and stand for national sovereignty. It urges leaders to protect the traditional … [Read more...]

To address "a moral, ethical and spiritual crisis" gripping the nation, a Southern Baptist leader announced the launch of an Internet prayer room and a concerted effort to strengthen families. Southern Baptist Convention President Morris Chapman announced the initiatives during his report to messengers at last week’s annual meeting in Orlando, Fla. To address "a moral, ethical and spiritual crisis" gripping the nation, a Southern Baptist leader announced the launch of an Internet prayer room and a concerted effort to strengthen families. Southern Baptist Convention President Morris Chapman announced the initiatives during his report to messengers at last week’s annual meeting in Orlando, Fla. "If Americans continue to neglect the inner man, then this country is on a road to irreparable ruin," he warned. In response, Chapman cited the importance of prayer and repentance. "Revival is nothing else but a new beginning of a new obedience to God," he said, quoting 19th-century evangelist Charles Finney. "My heart is burdened with the knowledge that no real revival has ever occurred in history except that it was preceded by prayer." In an effort to foster such prayer for a spiritual awakening in … [Read more...]

Southern Baptist Convention messengers dealt with several items of business last week, voting to expand the ministry of their Annuity Board and declining to form a committee to work toward reconciliation in the convention. Messengers approved 10 recommendations from the SBC Exectuive Committee and two motions from the floor. Southern Baptist Convention messengers dealt with several items of business last week, voting to expand the ministry of their Annuity Board and declining to form a committee to work toward reconciliation in the convention. Messengers approved 10 recommendations from the SBC Exectuive Committee and two motions from the floor. Executive Committee recommendations were approved without change during the annual meeting. A key change regarding the SBCAnnuity Board drew no discussion. The approved change allows the board to offer individual and institutional investment plans to Southern Baptists. Some state foundation leaders have complained about the change, insisting it duplicates services and confuses persons. However, messengers did not deliberate at all about the issue, approving it easily. Under the change, the Annuity Board is to form working relationships with each state … [Read more...]

Southern Baptist Convention messengers easily approved changes to their confessional statement last week after debating the place of Jesus and the Bible in the Christian faith. For the larger media world, the focus of the proposed document was on its declaration that only men may serve as pastor and that homosexuality is a sin. Southern Baptist Convention messengers easily approved changes to their confessional statement last week after debating the place of Jesus and the Bible in the Christian faith. For the larger media world, the focus of the proposed document was on its declaration that only men may serve as pastor and that homosexuality is a sin. But within the convention hall, debate focused on a more theological concern of the revelation and authority. Some messengers argued that the proposed document offers a new theology that equates Jesus and the Bible. They insisted that Jesus must stand above the Bible, which simply is a "record" of God’s revelation. However, the overwhelming number of messengers agreed with the Baptist Faith and Message study committee that there is no dividing the two — making the Bible God’s revelation, pure and simple. Observers on both sides of the issue … [Read more...]

The year 2000 has come, Y2K concerns have come and gone - and Southern Baptists continue to give strong support to international missions. Some things change. Some do not. The year 2000 has come, Y2K concerns have come and gone - and Southern Baptists continue to give strong support to international missions. Some things change. Some do not. Once again, Louisiana and Southern Baptists have set records for giving through the Lottie Moon Christimas Offering for International Missions. The offering runs on a June 1-to-May 31 basis each year - and recently closed. In Louisiana, gifts totaled $3,330,594.49, a record high and an increase of more than $135,000 (4.2 percent) from last year. The total represents the fourth straight year state receipts have topped $3 million - and the 13th consecutive increase in Lottie Moon giving by Louisiana Baptists. It also means that in the decade of the 1990s, Louisiana Baptists gave a little more than $29 million to support Southern Baptist missions efforts around the world. Their gifts this year helped Southern Baptists overall as well, who set another record by giving more than $105 million through the annual Lottie Moon offering. The total for the 1999 … [Read more...]