So, divorce is no panacea. The July 25 issue of the Baptist Message carried an article that reports the findings of a study that included 5,232 married adults certainly not an insignificant number. Among these were 645 who said they were unhappy in their marriages. With all the press given to what is supposed to be a mass of unhappiness in marriage, it is significant that only about 12 percent said that they were unhappy. So, divorce is no panacea. The July 25 issue of the Baptist Message carried an article that reports the findings of a study that included 5,232 married adults certainly not an insignificant number. Among these were 645 who said they were unhappy in their marriages. With all the press given to what is supposed to be a mass of unhappiness in marriage, it is significant that only about 12 percent said that they were unhappy. The organization conducting this study, New York-based Institute of American Values, checked back five years later with the 645 people who originally said they were unhappy in their marriages. Of the 645, 167 were divorced or separated. The majority, 478, had remained married to their mates. Then, … [Read more...]
Billy and Franklin Graham – finding one another
Billy Graham tried to save the world, traveling for months at a time to more than 170 countries to preach the gospel to tens of millions of souls he considered lost. After one extended trip, it took him awhile to recognize one of his sons when he returned home. When the ambitious son of this ambitious father grew up, he would carve out his own place in the evangelical world, leaving his children behind while he repaired homes in the Bosnian village of Hadzicido and drove around mined potholes in Angola to bring medicine to a remote hospital. "My child arrived just the other day. He came to the world in the usual way. But there were planes to catch and bills to pay. He learned to walk while I was away. And he was talking fore I knew it, and as he grew, hed say, Im gonna be like you, dad. You know Im gonna be like you." "Cats in the Cradle" by Harry Chapin Billy Graham tried to save the world, traveling for months at a time to more than 170 countries to preach the gospel to tens of millions of souls he considered lost. After one extended trip, it took him awhile to recognize one of his sons when he returned home. When … [Read more...]
Great disappointment
s come with great disappointment that the LBC Executive Board has allowed the issue of phasing out the funding of the director of missions to reach its current status. It has come with great disappointment that the LBC Executive Board has allowed the issue of phasing out the funding of the director of missions to reach its current status. Therefore, the First Baptist Church of Spearsville, in its July business meeting, voted to send a letter to the Louisiana Baptist Message, requesting that the Executive Board vote to keep the current process as it is and vote no to the motion to phase the funding out. It seems that the proposed option is already available for churches to follow if they so decide. To adopt the proposed procedure would force our church to reconsider and possibly alter its present giving arrangement through the Cooperative Program. It also seems such changes in giving would affect the Louisiana Baptist Convention and its programs. We urge the Executive Board not to let this matter go to the floor of the state convention in November, where it is likely to become more divisive than it is now. Chuck Johnston, Pastor Spearsville Baptist … [Read more...]
Doing their best
thanks for the articles regarding the proposed change in structure of the directors of missions. The treatment you are giving this issue is informative and balanced. Your attempt to present all the sides of the question is journalism at its best. Thanks for the articles regarding the proposed change in structure of the directors of missions. The treatment you are giving this issue is informative and balanced. Your attempt to present all the sides of the question is journalism at its best. I believe that Philip Robertson and Paul Roney are doing their best to make a full and open disclosure of the issue and the questions that have arisen and will continue to arise. I think that much of the turmoil and strife of the past 30 years could have been avoided if our leaders would have taken the course you have taken: "Trusting the Lord and telling the people." Bobby Bonds, Pastor Mt. Hope Baptist Church Oakdale … [Read more...]
All about polity?
After reading the August 1, 2002, edition of the Baptist Message article, "A proposed change, ..." my mind was spurred on to think about the issue of polity in our state convention. Philip Robertson and Paul Roney stated that the need to change the way we handle our directors of missions in our state convention is a matter of Baptist polity. After reading the August 1, 2002, edition of the Baptist Message article, "A proposed change, ..." my mind was spurred on to think about the issue of polity in our state convention. Philip Robertson and Paul Roney stated that the need to change the way we handle our directors of missions in our state convention is a matter of Baptist polity. These two brothers seem to be concerned with the autonomy of our local church families and the need for control to issue forth from our local churches up to the state convention. I am in full agreement! But instead of fixing something that is not broken, lets fix something that is broken. Let us correct the errors in our Louisiana Baptist Convention polity, beginning with the process of selecting state Executive Board members. If Philip Robertson and Paul Roney wish to protect local church autonomy, then let these two … [Read more...]
Weekly Announcements
For the week of August 22, 2002 Potpourri MANSFIELD - First church: "Jesus, The One and Only" musical; Aug. 25, 6:30 p.m.; Gary Gregg, minister of music; Calvin Phelps, interim pastor. BATON ROUGE - Stevendale church: The Carolina Boys in concert; Aug 23, 7 p.m.; Michael J. LoBrutto, pastor. CHASE - Chase church: One Way in concert; Aug. 23, 7 p.m.; Dennis Fontenot, pastor. BETHANY - Camp Bethany: Northwest Association sponsored mens fish fry; Sept. 5, 5:30 p.m.; $6 per person; Charles Thornton, guest speaker; Johnnie Dunn, music; for reservations, call (318) 938-1221; Robert Cole, camp manager. HEBERT - Welcome Home church: The New Liberty Boys in concert; Aug. 24, 7 p.m.; Billy T. Gueringer, Sr., pastor. ALEXANDRIA - Horseshoe Drive church: Phil Cross & Poet Voices in concert; Sept. 6, 7 p.m.; Don Arbuckle, minister of music; Aubrey Whitlock, pastor. WEST MONROE - Ike Hamilton Expo center: "Ropin for the Redeemer" team roping event; sponsored by Northeast Association; Sept. 7, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., team roping; 6-7 p.m., music/worship; cowboy church at 7 p.m.; Paul Daily, wild horse trainer and Rusty Rugg, professional … [Read more...]
Things you did not know you did not know you did not know
I NEVER KNEW THAT. Thank God for the Internet. I only thought I knew what I did not know, but now I know there is a lot more I do not know than I thought I knew. Someone sent me a list of things I did not know that I did not know that I did not know but now I know. You may have receive the same e-mail. Seems every email I show someone, someone else has sent it to everyone. I NEVER KNEW THAT. Thank God for the Internet. I only thought I knew what I did not know, but now I know there is a lot more I do not know than I thought I knew. Someone sent me a list of things I did not know that I did not know that I did not know but now I know. You may have receive the same e-mail. Seems every email I show someone, someone else has sent it to everyone. But in case you have not seen this e-mail, I am sure you will want to know all of these things you might not know but will know after you read it. Rubber bands last longer when refrigerated. Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite. There are 293 ways to make change for a dollar. The average persons left hand … [Read more...]
Combatting and overloading ( Part Four )
People usually encounter 40 to 50 incidents of stress a day - and what is does to their bodies is deadly, a Southern Baptist counselor warned. Because of the nature of their work, ministers especially are vulnerable, said Barney Self, LeaderCare counselor for LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. However, stress impacts all persons, he added. People usually encounter 40 to 50 incidents of stress a day - and what is does to their bodies is deadly, a Southern Baptist counselor warned. Because of the nature of their work, ministers especially are vulnerable, said Barney Self, LeaderCare counselor for LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. However, stress impacts all persons, he added. "The deal is not whether it will be there, but what we are going to do with it," Self emphasized. "If we dont take care of it, getting sick is part of how we deal with it." Indeed, about 60 to 90 percent of all doctors office visits are directly or indirectly related to stress, Self noted. Because stress is the perception of a threat or danger, a persons body goes through significant changes when it is encountered, Self … [Read more...]
Combatting and overloading ( Part Three )
When Tommy Yessick seeks to explain "overload syndrome," he asks persons to imagine their lives as a rubber band stretched to the limit. One more tug - one more activity added to ones schedule - and the rubber band will pop. Overload syndrome. When Tommy Yessick seeks to explain "overload syndrome," he asks persons to imagine their lives as a rubber band stretched to the limit. One more tug - one more activity added to ones schedule - and the rubber band will pop. Overload syndrome. "We in America tend to not realize that we can be stretched until we cant go anymore, so, we add one more thing," said Yessick, minister wellness specialist for LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. "Thats what leads to our mounting stress." Persons must begin to consider their activities, Yessick insisted. "Think of all the things you do at church, for your kids, for your family, for the community. Now, think of all the things you think you should be doing." Persons then should consider their attitudes toward their daily activities, Yessick continued. "What type of attitude do you have as you approach all of your … [Read more...]
Combatting and overloading ( Part Two )
Being a caregiver himself, Barney Self knows the causes and the symptoms of a malady he refers to as "compassion fatigue." Generally, it is caused when one has become so involved in providing care to others that they become emotionally and spiritually exhausted, he said. Being a caregiver himself, Barney Self knows the causes and the symptoms of a malady he refers to as "compassion fatigue." Generally, it is caused when one has become so involved in providing care to others that they become emotionally and spiritually exhausted, he said. "A caregiver is always at risk of compassion fatigue," noted Self, a licensed family and marriage therapist and LeaderCare counselor for LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. "For everybody who does caregiving, there is a threat of burning out. Our only protection is our willingness to be honest with ourselves about what our level of health is." Self said one way he handles potential burnout is by refusing to counsel people on Fridays or weekends - unless it is a dire emergency. He said he also avoids movies. "I cant get all wrapped up in the emotions of movies," he noted. "I have to save my … [Read more...]
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