What would drive someone to spend 14 years, four nights per week in rain, snow or shine, knocking on doors to find where God might be at work? What would drive someone to spend 14 years, four nights per week in rain, snow or shine, knocking on doors to find where God might be at work? For Phil Duncan, it is the day in 1954 when he saw a car hit his brother. Two days later, his brother was dead, and Duncan says he understood that life has no guarantees. That same month, he gave his life to Christ. "When I watched my brother die, I realized I didnt know where I would go when I died," says Duncan, 62, associate pastor at Jersey Baptist Church in Pataskala, Ohio. Immediately following Duncans salvation at age 13, he says God burdened him for his unsaved family members. For years, on every visit to his grandfather, Duncan says he would sit by his grandfathers chair and ask him to invite Christ into his life. For years, his grandfather said, "Nope." But at age 88, in a tearful conversion, Duncans grandfather finally said yes. Duncan says he has had similar experiences with cousins, aunts and uncles. In high school and college … [Read more...]
He cannot walk – however, he still ‘stands’ to preach
Paralysis may be a handicap for certain individuals, but Terry Taylor has refused to let that prevent him from preaching every Sunday or participating in lumberjack competitions. Paralysis may be a handicap for certain individuals, but Terry Taylor has refused to let that prevent him from preaching every Sunday or participating in lumberjack competitions. "I dont have the ability to walk, but that doesnt mean I can stop," says Taylor, pastor at Crews New Salem Baptist Church in Montgomery. Taylor was injured Aug. 18, 1993, when a tree fell on him while he was working as a logger. Nevertheless, Taylor still "stands" to preach - thanks to a motorized wheelchair that elevates his body vertically. It is not the career Taylor anticipated, even after he began his career in the ministry two years after he married his wife, Beverly, in 1976. At that time, Taylor served as minister of music and youth at Sikes Baptist Church. He remained with that congregation until he accepted the call to Atlanta Baptist Church to lead music. Taylor remained at that church for 13 years. While Taylor was serving at Atlanta Baptist Church, he was … [Read more...]
Issues of moral and social concern continue to draw interest in state legislature
Several issues of moral and social concern continue to draw interest as the Louisiana Legislature nears close of its regular session. Several issues of moral and social concern continue to draw interest as the Louisiana Legislature nears close of its regular session. With the legislature set to close later this month, issues related to alcohol use, gambling, human cloning and same-sex marriage remain to be decided, said Ken Ward, executive director of the Louisiana Moral and Civic Foundation. "Its coming down to the final days - and there is still a lot to be determined," Ward noted. "Things will happen very quickly now. Concerned citizens have to be vigilant and monitor issues carefully." Key issues include: Same-sex marriage. Both the Louisiana House and Senate have passed bills that would allow state voters to cast ballots on a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriages. The amendment would prohibit same-sex marriages in Louisiana from recognizing same-sex marriages that were performed in other states as well. However, it still has not been determined when Louisiana voters will have a say on the amendment. One version of the … [Read more...]
Judge rules partial-birth abortion ban as unconstitutional
In a much-anticipated ruling, a federal judge in California has ruled the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act unconstitutional. In a much-anticipated ruling, a federal judge in California has ruled the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act unconstitutional. In a 117-page opinion, federal Judge Phyllis Hamilton ruled the 2003 law is: An "undue burden" on a womans right to have an abortion in the second trimester. "Unconstitutionally vague." Needs an exception for the mothers health to meet requirements established by the U.S. Supreme Court. Hamilton blocked enforcement of the law but applied the injunction only to the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and its affiliates, the city and county of San Francisco and their representatives. Planned Parenthood had filed suit against the law. The California decision is the first of three expected on the partial-birth law. Trials also have been held in New York and Lincoln, Neb. Hamiltons ruling against the law also does not comes as a surprise. The judge in the Nebraska case also is expected to rule against the measure. However, pro-life advocates are more hopeful about a decision in the New York … [Read more...]
Meet the ‘Millennials’ – America’s newest generation
In a very real sense, they are the new kids on the block - and turning out to be what no one expected. In a very real sense, they are the new kids on the block - and turning out to be what no one expected. They are traditional, conservative - and even have displayed a surprising sort of modesty in a runaway culture. They are their parents children - but not their parents clones. Say hello to the "Millennials" - the generation of Americans born since 1982. Churches can reach these young people by understanding their world and helping them "figure out the code" to lifes profound questions, futurist Neil Howe said. "We are constantly trying to predict what the next generation is going to be like," noted Howe, a demographer, economist, historian and author of several books on U.S. generations, including "Millennials Rising: The Next American Generation." A common way of doing so is extrapolation - predicting that the rising generation will be like the current generation, only more so. Unfortunately, that "always proves to be wildly inaccurate," Howe said. For example, historians guessed the Baby Boomers - born between 1943 and 1960 - would be more conformist than their parents. However, they proved to be the … [Read more...]
You can forget trying to find any bargains on yachts in this magazine
Boats have been called a hole in the water into which one pours countless dollars. True. But there is a way to save money when dealing with boats. Boats have been called a hole in the water into which one pours countless dollars. True. But there is a way to save money when dealing with boats. Someone with a warped sense of humor and anonymity sends me the monthly publication, Yachting. The irony of that slick publication coming to my home becomes obvious when one sees my bass boat. My bass boat would not make a good dingy for a decent yacht. Still, thumbing through the pages of this substantial publication proves interesting. For instance, there is an advertisement that presents a particular brand of yacht that seems reasonably priced, for a yacht. One can buy a 68-foot yacht for only $2.1 million, or a 94-foot yacht for $4.2 million, or a 97-foot raised pilothouse edition for only $4.1 million. Or, if you want to get nowhere faster, there is an "express cruiser" equipped with triple 440-horsepower diesel engines and to her credit, on a recent voyage "she manhandles 6-to-8-foot seas, thundering across 405 miles of open ocean at an average speed of 46.8 mph reaching speeds of … [Read more...]
Area Briefs
For the week of June 17, 2004 Louisiana College news The teacher education program at Louisiana College recently received a rating of exemplary from the state of Louisiana, the highest of five rankings possible, school officials announced. "We are extremely proud of our education faculty and of our teacher education graduates," interim school President John "Bud" Traylor said. "These accountability ratings prove that we are accomplishing what we set out to do - educate and train quality Christian teachers." Altogether, 12 schools in the state received the exemplary rating. Hope in Liberia After more than a year of bloody civil war, Liberians still remain highly religious, reports indicate. Indeed, Liberian Baptist Theological Seminary students have begged to reopen their school soon after things calmed down. Meanwhile, they continue to engage in ministry efforts - to refugees of the war and others. Seminary President Lincoln Brownell said most people believe Jesus kept them alive during a rebel insurgence that ousted Charles Taylor from power. However, unrest lingers. More than 12,000 United Nations peacekeeping soldiers patrol the streets. Most buildings have mortar damage, … [Read more...]
Faith is a key factor in presidential vote, pollster says
A new survey and analysis by George Barna suggests faith will play a major role in who is elected president of the United States this fall. A new survey and analysis by George Barna suggests faith will play a major role in who is elected president of the United States this fall. "If the election were held today, Mr. Bush would be re-elected by a small margin," suggested Barna, a Christian researcher based in California. "However, these next five months will be critical in seeing where the undecided voters land. They comprise one-fifth of the likely voters. That outcome will be intimately related to peoples faith leanings and how they interpret the moral standards and personal character of the leading candidates. "For instance, one-quarter of the non-evangelical born-again segment (of the population) and one-third of the Notional Christian segment have yet to decide whom they will support," Barna noted. "Their choices will tip the scale one way or the other." Barna drew his conclusion based on findings from a survey of 1,618 American adults, including 1,260 registered voters. The study has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points. The … [Read more...]
Religious dynamic in elections has changed, observers say
In the 1960 presidential campaign, John F. Kennedy, a Roman Catholic, proclaimed his political independence from the Vatican to gain support from wary Protestants. In the 1960 presidential campaign, John F. Kennedy, a Roman Catholic, proclaimed his political independence from the Vatican to gain support from wary Protestants. Now, as another Massachusetts Democrat, John Kerry, prepares to become the first Roman Catholic presidential nominee since Kennedy, the religious dynamics in American politics are still a factor - but along much different lines. Voter suspicion of Catholic candidates largely has subsided, political experts say. Now, political lines are drawn not between religious denominations but within them - along liberal and conservative lines. Kerry is likely to face friction from conservative Catholics as well as from other conservatives, said Luis Lugo, director of the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. "Its not Protestant against Catholic or Jewish against Protestant and Catholic anymore," Lugo explained. "Its really the more orthodox or traditional wings of those communities making common cause. ... "Its not so much which religious … [Read more...]
‘I backed into a challenge I couldn’t walk away from’
Don Hines makes no bones about it - when it comes to the unemployed, the uninsured, the indigent, he is determined to help give them a voice. And he is in just the position to do it. Don Hines makes no bones about it - when it comes to the unemployed, the uninsured, the indigent, he is determined to help give them a voice. And he is in just the position to do it. As a Louisiana senator for 12 years, Hines has championed causes to benefit Louisianians in need. Now, serving as Senate president, he insists that he plans to continue doing the same. "When it comes to the unemployed, the uninsured, the indigent and such, I have to admit - Im liberal about helping them, ..." said Hines, who is a member at First Baptist Church of Bunkie. "They dont have the lobbyists. They dont have the influence. ... I came down here thinking Id be the lobbyist for them. ... And I plan to continue speaking out for them." Perhaps it is Hines upbringing in rural Louisiana that fuels his passion for those in need. Perhaps it is his experience as a rural family doctor in the state for many years. Perhaps it is his lifelong Baptist … [Read more...]