By any measure, last year was a banner year for advocates of religious liberty in public education. Why? By any measure, last year was a banner year for advocates of religious liberty in public education. Why? Because after more than 150 years of debate and conflict, a national consensus on the constitutional role of religion in schools is finally reaching local districts across the nation. The year began with the U.S. Department of Educations extraordinary mailing of religious liberty guidelines to every public school in America. The year then closed with the news that all national and state standards now mandate teaching about religions in social studies classrooms. With all of the hand-wringing about a "divided America" in the aftermath of the election, it is heartening to note that most religious and educational groups - from left to right - endorse these developments. However, despite this emerging consensus, the task of translating guidelines and standards into lasting change in local schools remains formidable. There likely are to be three very big challenges in 2001. These are: Creating local … [Read more...]
Guideline on religion and public schools sent to all districts
The greatest hindrances to exercising religious freedom in American schools are not necessarily rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court as much as a lack of understanding of court rulings by many school officials. The greatest hindrances to exercising religious freedom in American schools are not necessarily rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court as much as a lack of understanding of court rulings by many school officials. An article on the opposite page reports the good news that the U.S. Department of Education recently mailed religious liberty guidelines to every public school in America. The guidelines carefully explain the differences between what constitutes state-sponsored religious activities (prohibited by law) and voluntary expressions of religion by students and teachers (protected by the law). The differences are often subtle and delicate, yet the exercise and enforcement of both are essential to the future character of our nation. The material distributed by the U.S. Department of Education can help guide school administrators to provide proper exercise and enforcement. Many school boards and administrators believe the U.S. Supreme Court has outlawed prayer and Bible study or any other … [Read more...]
An ideal classroom
For four weeks last summer, a group of Louisiana College students took a crash course in biblical archaeology - helping to excavate a site that dates back to Old Testament days For four weeks last summer, a group of Louisiana College students took a crash course in biblical archaeology - helping to excavate a site that dates back to Old Testament days In the Old Testament days - there was a town known as Beth-Shemesh in the foothills of Judah, about 15 miles southwest of Jerusalem. It occupied a unique place in Israelite history. It was strategically located, a border town that felt the influence of the Canaanite, Philistine and Israelite cultures. Indeed, it lay in the land of Samson, who fell for a Philistine girl not so far away in the town of Timnah. It carried biblical significance as well. It was to Beth-Shemesh that the Philistines returned the Ark of the Covenant (as recorded in 1 Samuel 6). It also was the site of a decisive battle between King Jehoash of Israel and King Amaziah of Judah during the time the Israelites lived in divided nations. Families in the town lived in simple - but ingenious - homes made of mud brick, with a thatched roof that … [Read more...]
Weekly Announcements
For the week of January 25, 2001 Potpourri ALEXANDRIA - Calvary church: "Celebration of Women" conference; Feb. 23, 5 p.m. and Feb. 24, 8:30 a.m.; Mamie McCullough and Cheri Fuller, speakers; Sandi Patty, music; for information, call the church office at (318) 445-5640; David Brooks, pastor. CROWLEY - Parkerson Avenue church: "Jesus Thru the Arts" presents Dale Crum, dramatist, Feb. 4, 6 p.m.; pre-rally music, 5:45 p.m. by The Barkleys; Acadia Association Evangelism Rally; L. C. Lord, pastor. DENHAM SPRINGS - Amite church: Eastern La. Association Sunday School Revival; Feb. 4, 6 p.m.; Feb. 5-7, 7 p.m.; Leon Kilbreth, evangelist; Sons of the Father, music; Terry Booth, pastor. DRY CREEK - Dry Creek camp: couples retreat; Feb. 16-17; Ray and Carolyn Wells, leaders; cost is $50 per couple or $30/commuters; for information, call the camp at (337) 328-7531; Curt Iles, camp manager. DRY CREEK - Dry Creek camp: turkey hunters seminar; Feb. 17, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.; cost is $10/person (includes lunch); to pre-register, call (337) 328-7531; Curt Iles, camp manager. EUNICE - Emmanuel church: "Jesus Thru the Arts" presents Dale Crum, dramatist, Feb. 4, 10:15 … [Read more...]
W.A. Criswell dies
Legendary Southern Baptist Pastor W.A. Criswell died in the early morning hours of Jan. 10, closing a life that influenced a generation of preachers to preach the literal Word of God. Those who knew him mourned the passing of what one described as a "giant of the land." Legendary Southern Baptist Pastor W.A. Criswell died in the early morning hours of Jan. 10, closing a life that influenced a generation of preachers to preach the literal Word of God. Those who knew him mourned the passing of what one described as a "giant of the land." Criswell, 92, served as pastor at First Baptist Church of Dallas - one of the nations largest Southern Baptist congregations - from 1944 until 1991, when he was given the title of senior pastor. He had held the title of pastor emeritus since 1994. He also was founder of Criswell College. Criswells passing was peaceful, said Paige Patterson, president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Criswell passed away at the home of Jack Pogue, a longtime friend who Criswell led to Christ 30 years ago. Pogue was reading to Criswell from John 14 when Criswell took his last breath, Patterson said. Criswells … [Read more...]
The only hope of the world – faith in Jesus Christ
Even as the world goes through sometime cataclysmic changes, the hunger for meaning in life remains, research indicates. Unfortunately, research also suggests that people are not finding the answers they seek in traditional institutions. Even as the world goes through sometime cataclysmic changes, the hunger for meaning in life remains, research indicates. Unfortunately, research also suggests that people are not finding the answers they seek in traditional institutions. Recently-reported data shows two contrasting trends - a decline of attendance at religious services through industrialized nations and a persistence of religious beliefs and spiritual concerns, reports the Emerging Trends, a publication of the Princeton Religion Research Center. Of 20 advanced industrialized societies, only two show increases in church attendance, the newsletter reports. In contrast, attendance is growing in five of seven ex-Communist societies, the publication notes. At the same time, even industrialized regions show a persistence of spiritual concerns, data indicates. Modern persons "are less attached to traditional forms of religions, ... but they are more likely to … [Read more...]
When in doubt, pray – even a five-year-old knows that
The classroom was a car and the professor was my then five-year-old son. I thought of that day’s lesson again, a quarter of a century later, as I read the article about prayer beginning on the front page of this issue. The classroom was a car and the professor was my then five-year-old son. I thought of that day’s lesson again, a quarter of a century later, as I read the article about prayer beginning on the front page of this issue. We were on the way to visit a family of our church. The son of that family had received a degree of brain damage at birth. He was a sweet kid twice the age of my son. While his body was that of a 12-year-old, it was very uncoordinated, and his mental ability and maturity were that normally of a child younger than my son. This incongruity apparently troubled my son, and he may have even found it somewhat frightening. Ron sat silently as we drove across town but suddenly blurted, "Daddy, we have to pray for Mike." This was a reasonable, understandable statement. Ron regularly heard our church pray for people with illnesses. His Sunday School teacher led his class in prayer for people in need. I was thankful Ron understood the rightness of praying … [Read more...]
Louisiana College included on pair of best college lists
Once again, Louisiana College has been recognized as one of the best college buys in the nation. Once again, Louisiana College has been recognized as one of the best college buys in the nation. The Louisiana Baptist school was one of select institutions listed in the recently-released Fifth Annual Report of America’s 100 Best College Buys. It marks one of two recent "best college" lists on which the Pineville school is included - and may be the most prestigious, since it is limited to just 100 schools across the nation. "To be chosen as one of only 100 schools across the country to be listed in this prestigious publication is a testament to the quality of Louisiana College’s educational experience," LC President Rory Lee emphasized. "We strive to give our students the very best education possible at the most affordable rate possible. We are pleased to have our efforts recognized." The 100 "best buys" were selected from more than 1,200 colleges that provide quality, four-year education at a cost lower - or less than 10 percent higher - than the national average, school officials explained. The average is calculated from the regular cost at private … [Read more...]
Prayer – and spiritual war
Check the local Christian bookstore – how many titles are there related to demons and territorial spirits and intricate spiritual warfare? Not only is there a demon behind every bush, as some say, but there seems to be plenty lurking on Christian bookshelves as well. Check the local Christian bookstore – how many titles are there related to demons and territorial spirits and intricate spiritual warfare? Not only is there a demon behind every bush, as some say, but there seems to be plenty lurking on Christian bookshelves as well. Unfortunately, many of the popularized books miss a fundamental point regarding spiritual warfare, suggested Alvin Reid, associate professor of evangelism at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C. It is not battling demons but battling to bring people to Christ, he emphasized. "If every unsaved person for whom you prayed in the last six months suddently came to Christ, how many would be saved? ..." Reid asked during a recent Louisiana Baptist seminar. "That’s spiritual warfare. (And) I promise you this – if you’re concentrating more time on the devil than on lost people coming to Christ, I would argue that you’re … [Read more...]
Louisiana youth focus on Jesus at annual gathering
A week after Louisiana Baptists Convention messengers met to decide their annual business, Baptist young people from across the state gathered to take care of gospel business. A week after Louisiana Baptists Convention messengers met to decide their annual business, Baptist young people from across the state gathered to take care of gospel business. Some 4,000 youth met in Alexandria November 19-21 for the annual Louisiana Baptist Youth Evangelism Celebration. The event continues to be the largest Louisiana Baptist gathering of the year. Without question, it also is the most energetic. As in previous years, the recent youth celebration featured high-energy music and presentations from Christian artists and bands; faith testimonies from young people; and addresses designed to challenge Christian teenagers to greater discipleship and to draw lost young people to personal faith in Jesus Christ. "The Youth Evangelism Celebration is ... the greatest ‘front door’ for bringing lost teenagers (to Christ)," emphasized Kevin Boles, youth and young adult director for the Louisiana Baptist Convention. As in previous years, dozens of young people made … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 778
- 779
- 780
- 781
- 782
- …
- 808
- Next Page »