Until he got to the pros, absolutely no one can deny that Danny Wuerffel had experienced a dream in the world of football. Until he got to the pros, absolutely no one can deny that Danny Wuerffel had experienced a dream in the world of football. As the starting quarterback for the Florida Gators, he led the team to four Southeastern Conference championships in as many years, and to one national title. He set 17 national and University of Florida records and managed to graduate with high honors as well. And oh yes, he won the 1996 Heisman trophy, marking him as the best college athlete of the year. Then, Wuerffel was drafted by the New Orleans Saints. A story from his first game there is a perfect illustration. Wuerffel was hit so hard that his helmet spun around on his head - unbeknownst to him. He simply thought he had been hit so hard that he had gone blind. It did not get any better. In three years with the Saints, the team won a total of 15 games - and lost 33. Meanwhile, as Wuerffel puts it, he went from second string to first string to second string to third string to nothing in his final year with the team. After leaving … [Read more...]
Louisiana Baptist Convention lodging
Louisiana Baptist Convention offices have released the following lodging list for messengers attending the 2004 annual state convention, which is set for Nov. 15-16 at the Riverfront Convention Center in Alexandria. All listings are in Alexandria unless otherwise noted. Louisiana Baptist Convention offices have released the following lodging list for messengers attending the 2004 annual state convention, which is set for Nov. 15-16 at the Riverfront Convention Center in Alexandria. All listings are in Alexandria unless otherwise noted. Those with asterisks are nearest the convention center: Best Western 2720 MacArthur Drive (888) 338-2008 $64 Comfort Inn 2001 N. Bolton Avenue (318) 484-9155 $64.99 Clarion Hotel 2716 N. MacArthur Drive (318) 487-4261 $62.95 Hampton Inn 2301 N. MacArthur Drive (318) 487-8500 $72 Holiday Inn Convention Centre * 701 4th Street (318) 442-9000 $69 Hotel Bentley * 200 DeSoto … [Read more...]
LBC pastor offers tips on reaching men
Men did not want to go to Fred Luters church, so, he invited them to watch a boxing match. Men did not want to go to Fred Luters church, so, he invited them to watch a boxing match. It worked. When Luter became pastor at Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans in 1987, he said he knew it would be difficult to get men involved in the African-American congregation. "We had very few men active in the church, and most of them were old," he admitted. For two years, Luter tried different methods to reach out to the husbands, fathers and sons of the women in the church, hoping to get them to come. Nothing worked. "Finally, I started looking at what the men liked to do," Luter noted during a small-group conference at a recent Black Church Leadership Week at LifeWay Ridgecrest (N.C.) Conference Center. "I saw that sports was a big attraction. I ... decided to order a pay-per-view boxing match, then invite the men to come to our home to watch the fight on television." Food was prepared - and here the men came, carrying six-packs and wine coolers. Luter had placed a large trashcan outside his front door and asked the men to … [Read more...]
NOBTS ministry team carries gospel to Olympic setting
Endel Lee says a phrase from Acts 16:14 has new meaning for him after his experience at the Olympics. Endel Lee says a phrase from Acts 16:14 has new meaning for him after his experience at the Olympics. "And the Lord opened her heart to the gospel," the biblical passage notes. That is exactly what happened in one instance as Lee and 20 students and faculty members from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary spoke with hundreds of people during an Olympic mission trip. "It (Greece) was a very difficult place to share the gospel," said Lee, assistant professor of preaching and pastoral ministry at the seminarys Leavell College. "The hearts of the people - for many at least - were just not open to listen to us. Usually, within a few moments of talking with someone, you would have a sense whether or not they wanted to continue." In spite of resistance, Lee said the team saw at least three people make professions of faith in Jesus Christ. One of the hearts God opened to the gospel belongs to Angela, a young Greek woman from Cyprus, Lee noted. She went to Athens as a volunteer Olympic worker. A Christian working with the missions group who … [Read more...]
Republican, Democratic platforms differ on key issues
The adopted platforms of the Republican and Democratic parties differ clearly on three major social issues - abortion, embryonic stem cell research and a constitutional marriage amendment. The adopted platforms of the Republican and Democratic parties differ clearly on three major social issues - abortion, embryonic stem cell research and a constitutional marriage amendment. The difference on abortion is not new. As in past platforms, the Republican platform opposes abortion while the Democratic statement embraces the historic Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion. However, in stem cell research and a marriage amendment, this years political party platforms address two new headline issues as well. The Republican platform supports President George Bushs restrictions on public funding for embryonic stem cell research, while the Democratic platform backs a reversal of the Bush policy. The Republican platform also supports the presidents call for a constitutional amendment defining marriage as only between a man and a woman, while the Democratic platform opposes it. Although non-binding, party platforms provide an overview of the parties positions … [Read more...]
So, exactly how are politics and religion mixing these days?
Just as the current presidential election is shaping up as a highly-polarized event, American views on a range of issues related to politics, religion and moral values appear just as divided. Just as the current presidential election is shaping up as a highly-polarized event, American views on a range of issues related to politics, religion and moral values appear just as divided. Consider: More Americans view the Republican Party rather than the Democratic Party as friendly toward religion. However, they also say the two presidential candidates mention their faith about the right amount. Most American voters voice comfort with President George Bushs reliance on religious beliefs in making policy decisions. However, they also oppose too much involvement by churches in politics. The debate regarding stem-cell research is growing - while the issue of a constitutional amendment to define marriage as only between a man and a woman ranks low in terms of priorities. However, moral issues could play a key role in the election, with 64 percent of American voters saying such matters will be very important in how they cast a ballot. Meanwhile, interest in … [Read more...]
Weekly Briefs
For the week of September 16, 2004 Church conflict seminar The Louisiana Baptist Church-Minister Relations Department has scheduled a one-day session on church conflict for Oct. 21 at the Baptist Building in Alexandria. The theme of the session is "Transforming Your Church: Building a Culture of Peace." The scheduled leader is Ken Sande, executive director of Peacemaker Ministries, which works to help churches across the nation deal with conflict in a biblical manner. The Oct. 21 session is set to begin at 10 a.m. and conclude at 4:30. Lunch is included in the $10 per person cost. Persons are asked to register by Oct. 14 by sending personal and contact information and the registration fee to : Louisiana Baptist Convention, Attn: Church-Minister Relations, P.O. Box 311, Alexandria, LA 71309. Information should include name, address, phone number, occupation, church affiliation and church role. For information, call (800) 622-6549 or (318) 448-3402. Disaster relief The first two dozen Southern Baptist disaster relief units were deployed on Sept. 7 to help thousands of Floridians reeling from the devastation left by Hurricane Frances, the second hurricane to hit the state in less … [Read more...]
Remember your state paper – help make it strong
Baptists will communicate. They will either communicate through reliable channels or communicate through rumors and innuendo. And solid communication is part of the fuel that moves Baptists to do their best. Baptists will communicate. They will either communicate through reliable channels or communicate through rumors and innuendo. And solid communication is part of the fuel that moves Baptists to do their best. For more than 100 years, the Baptist Message has worked to be a reliable, trustworthy channel of communication among Louisiana Baptists. In spite of pressures, sometimes subtle and sometimes not so subtle, to do otherwise, the Baptist Message has tried to remain true to the purposes and the people of the Louisiana Baptist Convention and the Southern Baptist Convention. Unfortunately, some people judge a state Baptist paper totally on how the paper reports a controversy, especially if the paper covers the controversy with a "slant" that agrees with that readers. While controversies have sometimes dominated the thinking - even the actions - of some Louisiana and Southern Baptists, those controversies have never been the purposes of the conventions. A convention - and the news and … [Read more...]
Actor busy ‘with everything the Lord’s had me doing’
Stephen Baldwin has just told a packed auditorium of students in Dallas about his conversion to Christ following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorists attacks. Stephen Baldwin has just told a packed auditorium of students in Dallas about his conversion to Christ following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorists attacks. In the hallway next to the stage, a purple-haired teenager, probably 12 or 13 with tears flowing, bends Baldwin’s ears for several minutes before the veteran actor whisks him downstairs to the hospitality room to talk. After a 15-20-minute conversation, Baldwin gathers several others around and prays with the student. "Good luck, man," the teenager tells Baldwin as he stands to leave. "I don’t need luck, bro," Baldwin says, grinning. "I’ve got Jesus." That fact is curious to some. Baldwin is the youngest of a family acting clan - with older brothers Alec, Billy and Daniel - and a veteran of more than 60 movies, including "The Usual Suspects" and "8 Seconds." He also has been on television shows such as "The Young Riders," "Celebrity Mole" and "Fear Factor." His conversion and his work in producing an "extreme sports" DVD to reach kids in the … [Read more...]
‘Seeing those young lives changed is unbelievable’
Pastor Tom Carltons interest in the Youth Challenge Program at Camp Minden began in May 2003, after he toured the facility during a pastors day. Pastor Tom Carltons interest in the Youth Challenge Program at Camp Minden began in May 2003, after he toured the facility during a pastors day. Little did he know what his churchs involvement in the program would mean for the at-risk youth or for his Louisiana Baptist congregation. When Carlton initially proposed that First Baptist Church of Doyline participate in the program for at-risk youth - known as cadets - his congregation expressed minimal interest. However, after their first trip to the facility last October, he says the church never has been the same. "Its been phenomenal," Carlton says. "The program has been a shot in the arm for our church. Its amazing for it to drop in our laps like it has done." Janice Nelson agrees. "I cant even describe the feeling you walk away with after helping with the (Youth Challenge Program) each time," adds Nelson, a member at First Baptist Church of Doyline. "From my viewpoint, its been the beginning of a spiritual awakening at this … [Read more...]