Since Sept. 11, routine acts such as waving the flag, pledging "one nation under God" and proclaiming the words "God bless America" have taken on almost worshipful significance. Since Sept. 11, routine acts such as waving the flag, pledging "one nation under God" and proclaiming the words "God bless America" have taken on almost worshipful significance. But what some find unifying and reassuring, others see as divisive and troubling, a blurring of the line between love of country and religion, with woe to those who do not believe. The wall between church and state has been temporarily lowered, said Derek Davis, director of the Institute for Church-State Studies at Baylor University. "At times like this, you almost set aside the First Amendment. The excitement and emotion almost trump everything else." The fervor that makes patriotism an almost sacred duty goes by a variety of academic labels - civil religion, public religion, even democratic faith. Some scholars distinguish it from authentic spirituality. "Patriotism sort of becomes a secular religion," said Pauline Maier, author of "American Scripture: Making the Declaration of … [Read more...]
Flag-waving patriotism sweeping country – as well as some churches
Churches and synagogues are joining the flag-waving and patriotism that have swept the country since the Sept. 11 attacks in Washington and New York City. Huge flags can be seen outside church buildings and on walls inside worship areas and even on the altar in at least one Boston Roman Catholic church. Churches and synagogues are joining the flag-waving and patriotism that have swept the country since the Sept. 11 attacks in Washington and New York City. Huge flags can be seen outside church buildings and on walls inside worship areas and even on the altar in at least one Boston Roman Catholic church. Religious services these days often end with "God Bless America" or other patriotic songs. "We recite the Pledge of Allegiance, sing patriotic songs in the service and present the colors," said the Rev. Keenan Roberts, associate pastor at Abundant Life Christian Center in Arvada, Colo. In addition, workers hung a huge flag on the side of the church building in late September so it will be visible to motorists. The church also has put red, white and blue floodlights behind the altar. "Christians should be patriotic in the land they enjoy living in," Roberts … [Read more...]
Ministry groups takes gospel to Louisiana prisons
It is not every day that prisoners at Dixon Correctional Institute in Jackson enjoy jambalaya under the huge oak tree on the prison grounds, much less a relaxing two-hour outdoor program of Christian humor, entertainment and inspiration. But that is just the idea with Operation Starting Line, a national effort by a variety of evangelical Christian groups to reach out to the broader prison population. It is not every day that prisoners at Dixon Correctional Institute in Jackson enjoy jambalaya under the huge oak tree on the prison grounds, much less a relaxing two-hour outdoor program of Christian humor, entertainment and inspiration. But that is just the idea with Operation Starting Line, a national effort by a variety of evangelical Christian groups to reach out to the broader prison population. The goal is to reach those who likely would not attend chapel meetings and Bible studies that characterize the Christian presence in most correctional institutions. "Our intent is to try to touch people who arent normally touched in the prison," emphasized Gary Pearce, who serves director of chaplaincy for Dixon Correctional Institute and is a Louisiana Baptist. The … [Read more...]
‘Shhh!’ – I am trying to listen and grow a little bit here
At the Blue Bird Cafe, music is king - and queen. The hole-in-the-wall provides seating for fewer than 100 people and is one of the few places outside performance halls where the musical performance is not coincidental. At the Blue Bird Cafe, music is king - and queen. The hole-in-the-wall provides seating for fewer than 100 people and is one of the few places outside performance halls where the musical performance is not coincidental. They serve food and libation, but one does not go there to eat or drink; one goes to hear music. If music were not of utmost importance, would "Shhh!" be the Blue Birds theme? Make noise during a performance and be met with numerous aggravated "Shhhs!" They sell tee shirts with "Shhh!" printed across them. Most of the music featured at the Bird - this is Nashville - is country. After a meeting in our denominational capital recently, I went to the Bird. It was "songwriters in the round" night. Four songwriters sat facing one another in the middle of the room and took turns plunking and strumming acoustical guitars and singing their songs. They sang some songs that had made the charts, but mostly, they sang new songs the writers wanted to … [Read more...]
Briefs
For the week of November 15, 2001 Cooperative Program Gifts through the Southern Baptist Cooperative Program totaled almost $12.7 million last month, about $1.8 million (12.4 percent) down from the previous October. In turn, designated gifts for the month totaled $3.3 million, an increase of slightly more than $1 million (46.3 percent) from the previous October. The totals represent the first month in a new fiscal year for the Southern Baptist Convention. It closed the 2000-2001 Cooperative Program year at the end of September with the second-highest total in history and ahead of the budget goal. However, receipts failed to exceed the previous year, a trend that continued last month. In addition, the October total was more than $2.1 million (85.4 percent) below the monthly budget needs. Bucks for Fire Trucks The Louisiana College community is participating in Gov. Mike Fosters "Bucks for Fire Trucks" program, an initiative to collect donations from Louisiana citizens and businesses interested in helping to purchase a fire truck for the City of New York. Fosters goal is to raise at least $500,000 to purchase a pumper fire truck to donate. The New York City Fire Department lost a total of 35 trucks and vehicles … [Read more...]
His ‘challenge’ is to help change troubled young lives
He is explaining that there are 2.5 miles of such walkways connecting every building on the 374-acre Gillis W. Long Center campus. They were built to enable former residents of the facility to move from building to building with minimal difficulty. Suddenly, the visitor understands why. He is explaining that there are 2.5 miles of such walkways connecting every building on the 374-acre Gillis W. Long Center campus. They were built to enable former residents of the facility to move from building to building with minimal difficulty. Suddenly, the visitor understands why. "Wait," he says. "Is this Carville?" Kirkpatrick nods. "This is Carville." In years past, the very name was enough to evoke a range of images and emotions. After all, for most of the last century, the isolated Carville facilities housed leprosy patients from around the world. Now, the Hansens Disease Center has moved to Baton Rouge, which lies just a turn and twist upriver. Only a few dozen Hansens patients remain on the Carville campus. They have no other place to go. Thus, after years of giving care and hope and a future to people once considered hopeless, … [Read more...]
For Louisiana Baptists, the key is to work as a team
As a math major, I believed that the whole is equal to the sum of its parts, until I worked with teams. Then, when I became a coach, I saw that the whole is never the sum of its parts - its greater or lesser, depending on how well the individuals work together." These experienced words of wisdom come from Chuck Noll, former coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers when they were consistent Super Bowl champions. As a math major, I believed that the whole is equal to the sum of its parts, until I worked with teams. Then, when I became a coach, I saw that the whole is never the sum of its parts - its greater or lesser, depending on how well the individuals work together." These experienced words of wisdom come from Chuck Noll, former coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers when they were consistent Super Bowl champions. When people form an organization for any purpose, they become some kind of team. They will either focus on their tasks and implement proven teamship principles or frustrate their members by missing their mark. The Louisiana Baptist Convention is an organization, established primarily, according to Article II PURPOSE, "to provide means through which Louisiana Baptist churches and members … [Read more...]
Weekly Announcements
For the week of November 15, 2001 Potpourri ALEXANDRIA - Horseshoe Drive church: The Down East Boys, Mark Lanier and The Bennetts in concert; Nov. 16, 7 p.m.; Don Arbuckle, minister of music; Aubrey Whitlock, pastor. BATON ROUGE - Goodwood church: The Down East Boys in concert; Nov. 15, 7 p.m.; David Campbell, pastor. EUNICE - Acadian center: childrens retreat; Nov. 30 - Dec. 1; John Yates, speaker; for information, call the camp at (337) 457-9047; James Newsom, camp manager. FOREST HILL - Calvary church: Brotherly Love in concert; Nov. 18, 6 p.m.; Mike Evans, minister of music; Joel McMickin, pastor. Homecomings ALEXANDRIA - Twin Bridges church: 30th homecoming/anniversary; Nov. 18; Sunday School, 9:45 a.m.; worship service, 10:45 a.m.; Herb Dickerson, speaker; The Bennetts, music; dinner to follow; Robert Daniel, pastor. Anniversaries BOGALUSA - Lees Creek church: 130th; Nov. 18, 9:30 a.m.; Terry Wilkerson, speaker; Tim Jones and Ric Watkins, music; dinner and afternoon service of worship and praise to follow; Lonnie Thompson, pastor. BOGALUSA - First church: 95th; Nov. 18, 10:30 a.m.; dinner to follow; Bob Adams, pastor. DEQUINCY … [Read more...]
… including within the Salvation Army
The Salvation Armys Western Corporation is set to offer healthcare benefits to the domestic partners of its employees - many of whom are homosexual. The action has been announced despite the Salvation Armys long-standing policy against homosexuality. The Salvation Armys Western Corporation is set to offer healthcare benefits to the domestic partners of its employees - many of whom are homosexual. The action has been announced despite the Salvation Armys long-standing policy against homosexuality. The Western Corporation is based in Long Beach, Calif., and is one of four Salvation Army nonprofit corporations in the nation. It previously had severed ties with the San Francisco government rather than comply with the citys Equal Benefits Ordinance, which forced city contractors to offer benefits to domestic partners of employees. The Salvation Army had been the last major holdout on the 1997 ordinance, forgoing a $3.5 million contract with the city to provide drug rehabilitation and meal programs, as well as a homeless shelter. However, a Western Corporation official said changes in society now has dictated a change in healthcare … [Read more...]
Report: Homosexuals continue to gain rights in American workplace …
Homosexuals continue to gain employment rights in both the public and private sectors, a new report indcates. More than 700 American employers added health insurance benefits for the partners of their homosexual employees during the last year, reported the countrys largest homosexual political organization, the Human Rights Campaign. Homosexuals continue to gain employment rights in both the public and private sectors, a new report indcates. More than 700 American employers added health insurance benefits for the partners of their homosexual employees during the last year, reported the countrys largest homosexual political organization, the Human Rights Campaign. In some cases, the policies also cover unmarried, heterosexual partners. The total reflects an increase of 20 percent from the previous year. The 4,284 companies, colleges, and state and local governments that now offer or have announced they soon will offer health benefits to domestic partners amounts to a 50 percent increase from 1999, the report said. In addition, more than 290 employers extended their nondiscrimination policies during the last year to cover "sexual orientation." The … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 741
- 742
- 743
- 744
- 745
- …
- 808
- Next Page »