As an interested bystander neared the new grass field located near the rear entrance of Louisiana College, he smiled and shook his head a bit in wonder. "Now, thats a sight that hasnt been around here in a long while," he said, nodding toward the field. Indeed, it was. As an interested bystander neared the new grass field located near the rear entrance of Louisiana College, he smiled and shook his head a bit in wonder. "Now, thats a sight that hasnt been around here in a long while," he said, nodding toward the field. Indeed, it was. On the recently-sod field were 101 Louisiana College students, all clad in school colors, all wearing bright orange football helmets, all lined up and clapping in unison as a coach directed warm-up drills. When the players did not perform the drill as the coach desired, he shouted, "Not good enough. Again." And the drill was repeated - until it was good enough. From the summer blue sky to the shouts of the coach to the shrill of the whistle to the scattered spectators ringing the practice field sidelines, everything made it official. After a 32-year absence, football … [Read more...]
Twenty percent or 54 million Americans have special needs
Twenty percent or 54 million Americans have special needs - and churches should have programs to minister to them, a national consultant said. Twenty percent or 54 million Americans have special needs - and churches should have programs to minister to them, a national consultant said. "Jesus didnt tell us to minister to just those who can walk up our steps, who are socially acceptable, who are good looking or who are well-behaved and highly intelligent," said Marci Campbell, a consultant for LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. "No, the Bible tells us to minister to everyone." During a recent presentation, Campbell said people are misinformed when they think of people needing special education as being only mentally challenged. "Of this 20 percent of Americans with special needs (from 1990 Census figures), only 3 percent have mental retardation." People with special needs have a variety of challenges, Campbell said. They may deal with hearing disabilities, learning disabilities, physical disabilities, mental handicaps, visual impairments, behavior disorders or even be exceptionally bright. Additionally, it is not only the … [Read more...]
The idea was to bring (overseas) missions back locally to the church
A Southern Baptist missionary in Southeast Asia asks for volunteers to dig wells and instantaneously 600 churches are mobilized to meet the request. That is just one of the things the Global Missions Center of Bell Shoals Baptist Church in Brandon, Fla. does to support Southern Baptist missionaries around the world. A Southern Baptist missionary in Southeast Asia asks for volunteers to dig wells and instantaneously 600 churches are mobilized to meet the request. That is just one of the things the Global Missions Center of Bell Shoals Baptist Church in Brandon, Fla. does to support Southern Baptist missionaries around the world. The Bell Shoals missions center was started in 1998 and is the first of its kind among Southern Baptist churches. More than 200 volunteer and paid staffers work in its various ministries. Two other missions centers have become operational this year, in Hampton, Va., and Louisville, Ky. The Southern Baptist International Mission Board hopes to have 20 such centers throughout the United States to give firsthand, front-line support to missionaries. Three years ago, board leaders put together the Global Missions Center idea to make missions more visible and doable for the local church. The … [Read more...]
Gods will
Last weeks column reflected on Gods will as something of supreme importance for the Christian that encompasses all of life and that we can readily know 99 percent of the time. Last weeks column reflected on Gods will as something of supreme importance for the Christian that encompasses all of life and that we can readily know 99 percent of the time. Amazingly, however, the vast amount of conversation about Gods will focuses upon the one percent of the time when Gods will may be difficult to discern because it is intangible, multifaceted in opportunities and directions and uncertainty. These times usually relate to decisions toward the future: Should I move? Should I take this job? Who should be elected to . . . ? Should the church do this? Should an agency of the denomination do that? Discerning Gods will during these times can be difficult because there are numerous "morally right" directions that can be taken. It can also be difficult because such decisions are usually far more personal and intuitive and subjective. We make the decisions not only out of trying to discern what God would have, but out of who we are and how we feel and what we want. Such thoughts and feelings blend … [Read more...]
Take biblical stand
I read in the August 3 issue a letter from a pastor in our state praising the past moderator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. I read in the August 3 issue a letter from a pastor in our state praising the past moderator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. While, as the letter stated, the past moderator may have served the CBF with grace, dignity, and humor, she also presided over the approval of a CBF budget for the coming year that includes money for the "Baptist Peace Fellowship." This group openly supports homosexuals, including promoting ordaining homosexual ministers and performing unions between homosexuals as marriage. An article in the July 20, 2000 "Baptist Message" chronicled this action. Is this an example of interpreting the Bible in the light of Jesus? If it is, then the moderates just lost that argument. I call on the CBF and its past moderator to take a biblical stand against the Baptist Peace Fellowship, and anyone who distorts Scripture concerning homosexuality. Can you imagine the Southern Baptist Convention supporting such a group? The differences between the SBC and the CBF continue to be revealed. Leviticus 18:22 commands us, "You shall not lie with a male as one lies with … [Read more...]
License plates case
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Center for Reproductive Law and Policy (CRLP) would have Louisiana believe that our newest Prestige Plate is really anti-choice. How ironic that the "champions of free speech" and "reproductive choice" are faced with opposing their own core beliefs. License plates case The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Center for Reproductive Law and Policy (CRLP) would have Louisiana believe that our newest Prestige Plate is really anti-choice. How ironic that the "champions of free speech" and "reproductive choice" are faced with opposing their own core beliefs. Perhaps this opposition demonstrates that for these two liberal litigation tanks. They really have only one desirable outcome in an unexpected pregnancy, and its not the one expressed on the plate in question. The bogus argument of state administrative cost might be more appropriately applied to the unnecessary cost of litigating this perfectly legal, routinely-practiced Prestige Plate promotion. The argument that the state has no interest or benefit in soliciting and funding religious organizations to provide community services has been dealt with on a national level. The 1996 Welfare Reform law … [Read more...]
Still in shock
I had to reread and reread it (the article on page 8, Baptist Message, July 10), "Womens Group voices frustration ..." I had to reread and reread it (the article on page 8, Baptist Message, July 10), "Womens Group voices frustration ..." A group of people whose seared consciences have caused them to lose all discernment and to reject Gods Word. Then, I reminded myself of some of Gods warnings found in His Word (II Tim. 4:1-4; II Peter 2:1-3, 17-21). Jesus paid the penalty for their rebellion, and He will forgive them if they repent. Antha E. Powell Carencro … [Read more...]
Anybody can do this – at least, any physics genius
Kerboom! The camouflage form ruptures out of the partially-opened box like one of those snake deals that explodes out of a trick canister. From a cardboard box approximately 24 inches square across and two inches thick, the tent sort of thing bursts to its 56" height. It sits on its 56" base and becomes a hunting blind. Kerboom! The camouflage form ruptures out of the partially-opened box like one of those snake deals that explodes out of a trick canister. From a cardboard box approximately 24 inches square across and two inches thick, the tent sort of thing bursts to its 56" height. It sits on its 56" base and becomes a hunting blind. Okay, so it is a toy. A grownups toy but still a toy. And I love it. Ive wanted one since my eyes first fell upon this kind of contraption in the hunters wish book. Finally, the sporting goods store got a shipment of them, and I gladly laid down my monthly allowance for one. The trip home seems unbearably long. The box begs to be opened. Immediately upon arrival home, the box is taken outside and partially opened before it explodes. Joy fills my heart. Not only do I have my toy, it works. It has neat … [Read more...]
A world of need – a gospel response
In places of desperate need, Baptists can be found - offering physical and spiritual hope When Romanian pastor Florin Vasiliu notified the mayors of Dancu and Tirgu Frumos villages that he would like to hold Christian meetings in their villages public parks, the officials all declined. In places of desperate need, Baptists can be found - offering physical and spiritual hope When Romanian pastor Florin Vasiliu notified the mayors of Dancu and Tirgu Frumos villages that he would like to hold Christian meetings in their villages public parks, the officials all declined. Undaunted by the fact that stray dogs seem to have more legal freedom than evangelicals, the pastor continued witnessing efforts with the hope of finding new sites for the meetings. Remarkably, local businessmen in both villages offered their facilities, even though they were the most unlikely of places for the meetings - bars. However, not only were the bars private property, which made the meetings legitimate, they were strategically located in their communities. "The locations were better than the ones we were originally targeting," says Vasiliu, pastor at Biserica Crestina Baptista … [Read more...]
Normalcy is returning to war-torn Sarajevo
New construction is everywhere. People are out and about going to work, shopping and enjoying each others company at sidewalk coffee shops. Children are full of laughter and life. Todays Sarajevo is very different from three years ago when Southern Baptist Womans Missionary Union leaders made their first visit to the southeastern European city. New construction is everywhere. People are out and about going to work, shopping and enjoying each others company at sidewalk coffee shops. Children are full of laughter and life. Todays Sarajevo is very different from three years ago when Southern Baptist Womans Missionary Union leaders made their first visit to the southeastern European city. The cease-fire in the country was only a few months old at that time. Destruction was everywhere. "Bosnians were very solemn," recalls Mary Jo Troughton of Kansas, a member of the Womans Missionary Union survey team that visited Sarajevo in 1997. "Nothing had been repaired except for new red tile roofs. Ninety-five percent of the deaths then were a result of suicide. There was no hope, no forgiveness." Troughton returned to Sarajevo this summer as a member of one of the last two Womans Missionary Union teams who will be … [Read more...]
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