Look in the dictionary for the definition of "irony" and you could see this commercial mailing selling crosses. The Random House College Dictionary says irony is "a figure of speech in which the words express a meaning that is often the direct opposite of the intended meaning." The definition that arrived on this editor’s desk through some quirk of fate is, "Special Church Crosses to help revive the Spirit of Christ in the world for the next millennium." Look in the dictionary for the definition of "irony" and you could see this commercial mailing selling crosses. The Random House College Dictionary says irony is "a figure of speech in which the words express a meaning that is often the direct opposite of the intended meaning." The definition that arrived on this editor’s desk through some quirk of fate is, "Special Church Crosses to help revive the Spirit of Christ in the world for the next millennium." Some enterprising manufacturer in Brisbane, Australia, mass mailed packets of material advertising crosses made from trees that are more than 2000 years old. The brochure says the trees were "preserved by an act of God." The wood for the crosses was "discovered, buried beneath the ground, during the development … [Read more...]

Frenzied people with hectic schedules might believe they deserve a quick trip to a fast food restaurant. But nothing could be further from the truth, warned Tommy Yessick, wellness consultant for LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Frenzied people with hectic schedules might believe they deserve a quick trip to a fast food restaurant. But nothing could be further from the truth, warned Tommy Yessick, wellness consultant for LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Busy people need to eat right. "You can eat some of what you want if you eat all of what you should," Yessick told a group of ministers at LifeWay Glorieta (N.M.) Conference Center. "You are made up of one hundred trillion cells, and those one hundred trillion cells like to be happy. If your cells are happy, you are more likely to fight off disease and make it through hard and stressful times," Yessick said. Cells are impacted in four ways. One is a healthy balance between activity and rest, Yessick explained. Another is good nutrition. "What you put in your mouth today impacts your cells for the next 48 to 72 hours," Yessick said. Third is stress management, he said. "Put stress in its proper … [Read more...]

C. Lacy Thompson LBM Associate Editor Deborah Jensen recalls a missions presentation that emphasized the need for persons to give their lives to sharing the gospel with others around the world. "I said, ‘God, where are all those people - and why don’t they go?’And God said, ‘Why don’t you go?’ " Deborah Jensen recalls a missions presentation that emphasized the need for persons to give their lives to sharing the gospel with others around the world. "I said, ‘God, where are all those people - and why don’t they go?’And God said, ‘Why don’t you go?’ " Frida Robles speaks of a dream she had over the course of several days. It haunted her - images of people going down a dark hole without knowing Jesus Christ. Joel Schlect tells of the moment he heard God ask him, "Are you willing to weep over the lost?" Jennifer Waldrep simply explains: "Life is short. I want mine to count for God’s kingdom." Meanwhile, Nick Evans tells of a worship service about a year ago, when he heard God say to him, "Now." For Evans and dozens of others, "now" came last week as they were commissioned to international missions service during a service at Broadmoor Baptist Church in Shreveport. "This is like a big celebration," Pastor … [Read more...]

"Always focus on your objectives, not your emotions" and "Don’t make impulsive decisions" are among "some very important principles of investing" cited March 14 by Roddy Cummins, the Southern Baptist Convention Annuity Board’s executive officer for investment services, concerning the rampant downward turn in stock prices that began March 9. "Always focus on your objectives, not your emotions" and "Don’t make impulsive decisions" are among "some very important principles of investing" cited March 14 by Roddy Cummins, the Southern Baptist Convention Annuity Board’s executive officer for investment services, concerning the rampant downward turn in stock prices that began March 9.   The Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted 317 points March 14, 436 points on March 12 and 213 points on March 9, gaining back just 82 points March 13 and 57 points March 15. Sizeable losses also hit the Nasdaq and Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.   Such losses are not unprecedented. Less than a year ago, the Dow Jones Industrial Average recorded its biggest one-week loss – 805 points in mid-April. And, when the Dow Jones dropped below 10,000 March 14, it stumbled to territory it had occupied just last … [Read more...]

For the week of March 22, 2001 Potpourri •BOUTTE - West St. Charles church: Higher Faith in concert; March 24, 7 p.m.; Keith Maddox, minister of music; Chuck Lowman, pastor. •DRY CREEK - Dry Creek camp: work day; April 7, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.; lunch provided; for information, call the camp at (337) 328-7531; Curt Iles, camp manager. •HARRISONBURG - First church: women’s conference; April 7, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.; Ann Webber, speaker; continental breakfast and lunch to be served; no registration fee; for information, call (318) 744-5295; Ralph Webber, pastor. •LAFAYETTE - First church’s Single Adult Ministry to present Renee Coates Scheidt for a singles ladies conference; March 31, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.; cost is $5; for information, contact the single adult ministry department at (337) 233-1774, ext. 3039; Perry Sanders, pastor. •MANY - First church: Union Heirs in concert; March 24, 6:30 p.m.; Mark Jordan, music director; Edwin Scott, pastor. •SHREVEPORT - Broadmoor church: Baptist Nursing Fellowship’s annual meeting; April 7, 12 noon - 3:30 p.m.; lunch provided; fee is $5 per person; to register, call 1-800-622-6549; Betty Jo Aguillard, BNF president; Chuck Pourciau, pastor. •SULPHUR - First church to host satellite … [Read more...]

Thank you for continuing to sound the alarm against Louisiana’s gambling addiction. Do you ever wonder if anyone is listening? Thank you for continuing to sound the alarm against Louisiana’s gambling addiction. Do you ever wonder if anyone is listening?   Isn’t it ironic that on the flip side of your current editorial about the slippery slope of boats and casinos there is a news story about an evangelizing sportsmen’s seminar that promotes attendance with door prizes? How easily we have slipped down that slope.   Is gambling OK if it’s for a good cause like evangelism or education? There are three elements to gambling: (1) an element of chance such as numbers rolled on dice or numbers on a ticket drawn at random; (2) a prize to be won. It may be a $10 jackpot or a $450 shotgun; (3) a consideration of value. It may be a $2 bet on a horse race or a $15 "cover charge" for the meal and seminar.   Does it bother anyone else that our Baptist churches have so quickly and thoroughly absorbed the gambling culture? Austin B. Tucker Shreveport … [Read more...]

Ministers and missionaries planning to attend the Southern Baptist Convention - but facing tight budgets - are being offered lodging in the homes of New Orleans Baptists. Ministers and missionaries planning to attend the Southern Baptist Convention - but facing tight budgets - are being offered lodging in the homes of New Orleans Baptists.   The housing assistance is being sponsored by the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans and the Local Arrangements Committee helping to plan the annual meeting, scheduled for June 12-13 in the Louisiana Superdome.   The guest housing will be available beginning June 10, for persons attending such pre-convention meetings as the Pastors’ Conference and Woman’s Missionary Union. Some housing also may be available for participants in the Crossover New Orleans evangelistic outreach June 9.   "We are excited to have Southern Baptists coming to New Orleans for Crossover New Orleans and the convention meetings," said Fred Dyess, director of missions for the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans. "Our desire is to extend hospitality to all our guests and a place to stay for those who need it."   To qualify for housing assistance, … [Read more...]

C. Lacy Thompson LBM Associate Editor Louisiana College trustees adopted a record budget for the coming year as the school faces financial challenges related to increased costs and higher enrollment. Louisiana College trustees adopted a record budget for the coming year as the school faces financial challenges related to increased costs and higher enrollment. Trustees also approved a policy change to make the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message statement the school’s statement of faith. In addition, they were presented with a proposed change in administrative structure that would delegate many day-to-day responsibilities to a provost, allowing the president of the college more freedom to travel and promote the school. In a meeting free from debate or dissension, President Rory Lee reported to trustees that enrollment at the Louisiana Baptist school is at its largest in 23 years. The spring semester headcount of 1,048 is 14.2 percent ahead of last year’s figure. Lee also reported projections show the college is expected to close its fiscal year at the end of July "in the black" financially. However, challenges remain. In a presentation of the proposed budget for 2001-2002, Lee noted that the school faces … [Read more...]

Lynn P. Clayton LBM Editor   George Snell has tried to get his wife, Felisha, to forsake her night-owl ways, but on October 29, 2000, he was glad she was up at 2:00 a.m.   "My daughter, Miah, and I were playing on the computer," Felisha Snell recalls. "I kept hearing this roar, and thought, ‘They must be running the machines down at the gas plant.’ But it kept getting louder. Lynn P. Clayton LBM Editor   George Snell has tried to get his wife, Felisha, to forsake her night-owl ways, but on October 29, 2000, he was glad she was up at 2:00 a.m.   "My daughter, Miah, and I were playing on the computer," Felisha Snell recalls. "I kept hearing this roar, and thought, ‘They must be running the machines down at the gas plant.’ But it kept getting louder.   "I looked into the bedroom where George and our son were sleeping, and everything was orange."   It was then she realized the church house of First Baptist Church of Evangeline, which sits only 40 or so yards from the parsonage, was burning.   The phone line already had been melted, so Felisha Snell rushed outside to get her cell phone from her automobile. She placed the 911 call - "and … [Read more...]

Who says the Internet does not provide cost-cutting benefits? For all of you who think the pastor is paid too much, the Internet may offer a solution.   You yourself can become a minister, and you can, therefore, cut the cost of a minister, as in your church’s minister. Who says the Internet does not provide cost-cutting benefits? For all of you who think the pastor is paid too much, the Internet may offer a solution.   You yourself can become a minister, and you can, therefore, cut the cost of a minister, as in your church’s minister.   You can become a legally ordained minister within 48 hours. All you have to do is send Charles Simpson $29.95, and he will make you a legally ordained minister. How does he have this power? I do not know, but it says right here in the e-mail that he has the power to do it.   His remarkable offer costs only $29.95 (less than a meal at a nice restaurant and movie would cost), and here is what it will buy you, according to the e-mail.   "Marry (one assumes he means conduct the ceremony) your brother, sister, or your best friend. Don’t settle for being the best man or brides’ maid."   Also, "Funerals (are) a very hard time … [Read more...]