For those of you who are part of the 25 percent of American voters who still are not certain for whom they will vote on Election Day, I can help.   My vote goes to the man who will do the most to help Americans - Americans who spend a few dollars a year to those who spend millions.   Vote for the man who will do away with pennies. That’s right - who will do away with pennies. For those of you who are part of the 25 percent of American voters who still are not certain for whom they will vote on Election Day, I can help.   My vote goes to the man who will do the most to help Americans - Americans who spend a few dollars a year to those who spend millions.   Vote for the man who will do away with pennies. That’s right - who will do away with pennies.   Pennies have become the most useless item in American commerce. They are remnants of ancient America. Oh, sure, there was a day pennies were worth something. Not much, but something. Sixty years ago a penny would buy a single piece of bubble gum, or a tiny piece of candy. You could even buy a small package of Kits candy, four individually wrapped pieces of sticky, gummy candy bundled in cellophane.   But … [Read more...]

The 2000 Louisiana Baptist Convention annual meeting is less than two weeks away. Indications are that this year’s convention has the potential for serious differences of opinions among messengers. And, indications are that there will be a sizable multitude of messengers present to vote on issues about which there will be significant disagreement. The 2000 Louisiana Baptist Convention annual meeting is less than two weeks away. Indications are that this year’s convention has the potential for serious differences of opinions among messengers. And, indications are that there will be a sizable multitude of messengers present to vote on issues about which there will be significant disagreement.   The publication of the Louisiana Inerrancy Fellowship has announced a representative of that group will present a motion that the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message Statement be adopted as the convention’s statement of faith.   The publication of Mainstream Louisiana Baptists has announced that group’s intention to oppose any effort to make the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message an official part of Louisiana Baptist Convention governance.   That stage is set for dealing with emotionally-charged … [Read more...]

Adecades-old hoax about a well known atheist seeking a ban on religious broadcasting has caught up with the information age.   The urban legend about religion and the Federal Communications Commission has circulated through the mail and word of mouth since 1975. It re-emerged recently as an e-mail hoax focusing on the CBS program "Touched by an Angel." Adecades-old hoax about a well known atheist seeking a ban on religious broadcasting has caught up with the information age.   The urban legend about religion and the Federal Communications Commission has circulated through the mail and word of mouth since 1975. It re-emerged recently as an e-mail hoax focusing on the CBS program "Touched by an Angel."   The e-mail in question reads: "CBS will be forced to discontinue ‘Touched By an Angel’ for using the word GOD in every program. (The) petition, number 2493, would ultimately pave the way to stop the reading of the gospel of our Lord and Savior, on the airwaves of America."   The hoax asserts atheist Madalyn Murray O’Hair and her organization have received "287,000 signatures" with a petition that "ultimately" will ban religious programming.   "Sunday worship … [Read more...]

This, you really will not believe - or then again, maybe you will. After all, it came from the Internet, so it has to be true, right?   Anyway, an effort apparently is underway to clone Jesus in time for the 2000th anniversary of his birth.   Or is it? This, you really will not believe - or then again, maybe you will. After all, it came from the Internet, so it has to be true, right? Anyway, an effort apparently is underway to clone Jesus in time for the 2000th anniversary of his birth.   Or is it?   The www.clonejesus.com website states:   "Our intention is to clone Jesus ... by taking an incorrupt cell from one of the many Holy Relics of Jesus’ blood and body that are preserved in churches throughout the world, extracting its DNA and inserting into an unfertilized human egg, through the now-proven biological process called nuclear transfer. The fertilized egg ... will be implanted into the womb of a young virginal woman ... who will then bring the baby Jesus to term in a second Virgin Birth."   The goal is for Jesus to be born on December 25, 2001, the website notes.   "No longer can we rely on hope and prayer, waiting around futilely … [Read more...]

First Baptist Church of Coushatta celebrated its 150th year of ministry recently, holding to the theme of "looking backwards - Moving Forward."   The Louisiana Baptist church was established in 1850 by J.E. Paxton. The original facility was built by slaves, who accompanied their owners to services, sitting across the aisle from them. First Baptist Church of Coushatta celebrated its 150th year of ministry recently, holding to the theme of "looking backwards - Moving Forward."   The Louisiana Baptist church was established in 1850 by J.E. Paxton. The original facility was built by slaves, who accompanied their owners to services, sitting across the aisle from them.   By 1862, the congregation totaled 27 persons. In 1873, the first pastor was ordained by the Coushatta church.   New facilities were constructed after the turn of the century - and the first full-time pastor was hired for $2,000 a year.   Electricity was added to church facilities in 1917. The church sanctuary burned four years later. It was rebuilt in 1923 - and the present facility was constructed in 1949.   A pair of education buildings were added to the church plant in 1956 and … [Read more...]

As far as John Avant is concerned, the world has no hope - unless God acts to change things, unless he moves to bring revival to the land.   But that will only happen if people pray, he added.   Avant made his stance clear from the outset of his address at the recent Great Commission Prayer Conference at First Baptist Church of Lafayette. As far as John Avant is concerned, the world has no hope - unless God acts to change things, unless he moves to bring revival to the land.   But that will only happen if people pray, he added.   Avant made his stance clear from the outset of his address at the recent Great Commission Prayer Conference at First Baptist Church of Lafayette.   "Father, unless you do something in this land, we’re done, ..." Avant said in his opening prayer. "Lord, we just beg you, ... to save our land. We don’t want to be like Sodom.   "Lord, we want to see your incredible revival, ..." continued Avant, pastor at New Hope Baptist Church in Fayetteville, Ga. " We want to be like Nineveh and turn and repent. ...   "We don’t ask for anything small, God. ... but for you to come in a sweeping revival. ... We ask you to do it, God. … [Read more...]

Re: Letter to editor, "The answer is prayer," September 21, 2000, issue   The closing remarks were either intended to be sarcastic or revealed a deficiency in understanding biblical truth. I do hope this is not the attitude about the issues of inerrancy within our convention.   Are we so spiritually bankrupt and weak that we would accept the idea that truth no longer matters and erect a false dichotomy between theology and doxology? Re: Letter to editor, "The answer is prayer," September 21, 2000, issue   The closing remarks were either intended to be sarcastic or revealed a deficiency in understanding biblical truth. I do hope this is not the attitude about the issues of inerrancy within our convention.   Are we so spiritually bankrupt and weak that we would accept the idea that truth no longer matters and erect a false dichotomy between theology and doxology?   The writer asks, "If you were totally focused on doing the Lord’s will, how much time would you have left to participate in a theological battle?" The Lord’s will and theological accuracy are not separate issues. Paul instructed young Timothy: "Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, … [Read more...]

Most teenagers today who make professions of faith in Christ still do not believe Christianity is the one true religion, an international Christian apologist and youth ministry expert insisted.   "Seventy-five percent of all kids coming to Christ today are not coming to Jesus because he’s the way, the truth and the life," Josh McDowell says. "They are coming to Christ because he is the best thing that’s come along so far that they’ve filtered through their experience. And as soon as something better to them comes along, they’re gone." Most teenagers today who make professions of faith in Christ still do not believe Christianity is the one true religion, an international Christian apologist and youth ministry expert insisted.   "Seventy-five percent of all kids coming to Christ today are not coming to Jesus because he’s the way, the truth and the life," Josh McDowell says. "They are coming to Christ because he is the best thing that’s come along so far that they’ve filtered through their experience. And as soon as something better to them comes along, they’re gone."   Indeed, the greatest challenge facing the evangelical church in the 21st century is communicating the truth of the … [Read more...]

In an age when truth is relative and the end justifies the means, people are searching for something that transcends the "cultural free-for-all" called postmodernism, Ray Jones emphasized. "Postmoderns are the easiest people on the planet to witness to," said Jones, personal evangelism specialist at the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board. "Don’t believe the media stereotype. They’re not hostile." In an age when truth is relative and the end justifies the means, people are searching for something that transcends the "cultural free-for-all" called postmodernism, Ray Jones emphasized. "Postmoderns are the easiest people on the planet to witness to," said Jones, personal evangelism specialist at the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board. "Don’t believe the media stereotype. They’re not hostile." "Postmodernism" is a recently-coined cultural term. It is used to describe an ideology built on the premise that there is no absolute standard of truth that applies to all people. Instead, experience is highly valued, Jones noted. "Experience in postmodernism has been elevated to the level of a god," he explained. Consequently, postmoderns - those people who favor such a belief system - never have been … [Read more...]

Re: Editorials on worship and letter from Billy Miller.   I am a 20-year-old junior in college. I know on the surface that contemporary worship is intimidating. However, it is not only rich in praise, but it is also rich in confession and thanksgiving. Re: Editorials on worship and letter from Billy Miller.   I am a 20-year-old junior in college. I know on the surface that contemporary worship is intimidating. However, it is not only rich in praise, but it is also rich in confession and thanksgiving.   The point of contemporary worship is to enter the throne room of Christ and give him everything that we have to offer. I not only wish to say that, but based on Romans 12:1 we are to offer God ourselves as a living sacrifice. That is so much more than just a service or a song. That includes everything that we have and we are. I know that hymns are important.   I love hymns. Their words are beautiful and express an awesome picture of real life and human struggles as well as the victory we have in Christ. The most important part of worshipping God corporately is finding a way that the worshipper is most comfortable. However, it is not a bad thing to sing a new song to the Lord … [Read more...]