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...]
Ice Fishing 101 – cut a hole, bait a hook, enjoy the company
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...]
This is NOT the NBA – this is ‘gospel’ basketball
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...]
Dictator is gone – but urgent needs still remain in Yugoslavia
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...]
SBC hunger work – ministry to bodies and souls
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...]
Face it – Louisiana is addicted to legalized gambling
Owners and operators of Louisiana’s gambling boats must be celebrating the new year in fine fashion. Owners and operators of Louisianas 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...]
Message to God’s people
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...]
Weekly Announcements
For the week of January 11, 2001 Potpourri BAKER - First church: Common Good in concert; Jan. 21, 10:30 a.m.; Ralph Parks, minister of music; B. K. Miller, Jr., pastor. POLLOCK - Pleasant Hill church: The Down East Boys in concert, Jan. 18, 7 p.m., with a special appearance by In Christ. Lyndon Marcotte, pastor. BASTROP - First church: The Hoppers in concert; Jan. 14, 6 p.m.; Dick Day, minister of music; Mark Strum, pastor. BATON ROUGE - Woodlawn church to host Evangelism Explosion Clinic, Feb. 7-11; Ray Castro, speaker; for information, call the church office at (225) 753-1667; Tommy Middleton, pastor. LAFAYETTE - Northside church: "Ministry Arts Tour" clown ministry featuring Duane Laflin and J. T. "Bubba" Sikes; Jan. 19, 6 - 10 p.m.; Jan. 20, 8:30 a.m.- 5:30 p.m.; for details, contact Sheri Young at (337) 237-6956; Wayne Sistrunk, pastor. RUSTON - Calvary church: "Gospel Music Extravaganza"; Jan. 13, 6 - 9 p.m.; sponsored by Joe Aulds Evangelism Association; David Hastings, pastor. SHREVEPORT - Summer Grove church: "A Changeless Gospel for Changing Times" 2001 Louisiana Baptist Evangelism Conference; Jan. 22-23; Roy Fish, Alvin … [Read more...]
Sign of the time (Part 2)
Everyone now agrees a new millennium has begun, and there are plenty of challenges on the horizon including some hopeful ones for an American church seeking to impact its culture Remember all those stories in recent years about teenagers signing sexual abstinence pledge cards, vowing to remain sexually pure until marriage? Tell the truth - did it cross your mind that the effort was nice but rather ineffective? After all, it was just a piece of paper, just a name scrawled across the bottom of a page. What good could that do related to the sexual pressure young people feel in this world? As it turns out - quite a bit. And that makes for an encouraging "sign of the times." Indeed, a recent study shows that teenagers who pledge to remain sexually abstinent until marriage are 34 percent less likely to have sex than those who do not take virginity vows. "Pledging decreases the risk of intercourse substantially and independently," Peter Bearman and Hannah Brückner, wrote in their study, published in the American Journal of Sociology. Bearman is professor of sociology and director of the Institute for Social and Economic Theory and Research at … [Read more...]
Sign of the time (Part 1)
Everyone now agrees a new millennium has begun, and there are plenty of challenges on the horizon including some hopeful ones for an American church seeking to impact its culture Sign of the time: Everyone now agrees a new millennium has begun, and there are plenty of challenges on the horizon including some hopeful ones for an American church seeking to impact its culture Last year arrived with many fearing a technological meltdown of apocalyptic proportions - complete with food shortages, utility breakdowns and survivalist conditions. Many Christian leaders urged churches to prepare for ministry to church members and the community in a time of need. Some even called for stockpiling food and materials to be used in a time of technological anarachy. Instead, Y2K fizzled. Now, at the dawn of yet another new year, the American church faces another challenge - and pre-year 2000 concerns may pale in comparison when one reflects on the signs of the times and considers the possibilities. Forget technological anarchy. Moral anarchy may be beginning. The difficulties facing the church certainly are indicative of such an era, Christian … [Read more...]