By Jamie Stephens, Regional Reporter RUSTON – Power-hitting outfielder Darryl Strawberry, who played for four major league teams, was considered one of baseball's biggest stars in the 1980s--before his career was derailed by substance-abuse problems. During 17 seasons he helped lead the New York Mets to a World Series championship (1986) and the New York Yankees to three World Series championships (1996, 1998 and 1999). A popular player of that era, Strawberry, a right fielder, was voted to the Major League Baseball All-Star Game eight straight times (1984–1991). Despite being one of the most feared sluggers in the game, he also was suspended three times by Major League Baseball for substance abuse. He was in and out of drug-treatment centers for much of the late '90s and early 2000s. He went AWOL from one program multiple times, was kicked out of another, and, then he was sentenced to 18 months in prison for probation violations in April 2002. He had two marriages fail during this time, too. "I was once very lost and tormented, but now I have been found and I am free in Christ Jesus. I want everyone to experience the saving and transforming power of Jesus Christ,” Strawberry said. He came to First Baptist … [Read more...]
The home of a child refugee
By David Crosby, Pastor, First Baptist Church New Orleans The birth of Jesus was truly an international event. The Wise Men came from the East. They were not Jews, but they knew about the birth of the king. Herod realized that this child could rise up to compete for his throne one day, so he initiated a search. And the Holy Family fled to Egypt, finding refuge there until the death of Herod. The Coptic Christians in Egypt claim to be the oldest Christian group on earth. They trace their faith back to the visit of the Christ child and his family in this flight from Herod. They can take you to the house where tradition says Jesus lived. They have their own legends about the child Jesus. The only reference in the Bible to the flight to Egypt by the Holy Family is the one that we have read in Matthew. But there are a lot of "false writings" or apocryphal accounts of this journey and stay. Palm trees bow down to the child Jesus. Beasts of the field pay him homage. Two men enter his life who will later be the thieves on the cross. Many such notions are contained in these writings. There is a field of toppled and broken statues and idols in Egypt, I have read. At least some Coptic Christians believe that the child Jesus came … [Read more...]
Why I believe the message of Christmas
By Waylon Bailey, Pastor, First Baptist Church Covington We live in a day in which many people question the Bible. Actually, we live in a day in which people question everything. I well remember Neil Armstrong’s famous words when he stepped foot on the moon: “one small step for man; one huge step for mankind.” Many people who saw that on television still refuse to believe that Neil Armstrong ever traveled to the moon. We shouldn’t be surprised that people ask questions about the reality of Christmas. I believe in the message of Christmas. Here’s why: First, I believe in the message of Christmas because it has the “ring of truth.” I first encountered that phrase when I read A book by J. B. Phillips. He said that the New Testament contains the “ring of truth.” It really does. It’s a book in a real setting in both geography and history. The events of the Bible reflect the times in which they occurred. These are not stories which sound like fairy tales, they sound like real people. Joseph acted exactly the way a real man would react. At first, he believed the worst about the woman to whom he was betrothed in marriage. Only God’s intervention convinced him to take Mary as his wife. We know that Herod the … [Read more...]
Christmas greeting from Heaven: do not be afraid
By Steve Horn, Pastor, First Baptist Church Lafayette Do you still enjoy getting Christmas cards? With the use of e-mail and social media, I suspect there is an overall decline in sending and receiving traditional Christmas cards. People, of course, do Christmas cards in different ways. Some cards have rather generic messages related to Christmas. Others take the Christmas season to send family updates of the past year. We get a lot of picture cards which are also nice, especially when those cards are of people that we do not see often. This December, I have titled my sermon series “Christmas Cards from God.” We are going to explore some passages which give to us messages from angels, which are messages from God. Therefore, just as Christmas cards send messages, angels send messages from God. The first message is “Do Not Be Afraid.” That seems to be a message that we need to hear for a lot of different reasons. It is one of the messages of Christmas. That was the message to Zechariah, Joseph, Mary, and the shepherds. (Matthew 1:18-21, Luke 1:5-17, Luke 1:26-30, and Luke 2:8-11) Now, in order to be faithful to the Scriptures, let’s be clear about the matter. The message “Do not be afraid,” from the angels to each one … [Read more...]
Christmas Giving: 10 ways to transform your Christmas
By Joe McKeever Those of us who love the Christmas season–I plead guilty!–often are in the market for ways to make it more meaningful. I polled some friends and would like to share some of the results. Give more. Give yourself. Give the unexpected. Give ten times as much as they expect. Give more than ever before. Shop less. Buy fewer. Spend less. Stress less. Quit giving to the adults; give only to the children. Give no more than 3 presents per child. Emphasize the personal aspect. Write more notes. If you send Christmas cards, write personal notes on them. Don’t be afraid to tell people you love them, even if you need to vary the verb and make it “I treasure you.” (Or, cherish, adore, appreciate, or thank God for you) Okay. Now, our ten ways to transform your Christmas season…. 1) Never pass a Salvation Army kettle without dropping in some money. My friend Annie got me started on this. Recently, I noticed on her Facebook page that she was re-emphasizing this commitment, and told how after finding herself with only big bills on one occasion, she has made it a practice of having a number of ones and fives in the front of her purse, just for this reason. I suggest the Lord’s people do … [Read more...]
Four ways to avoid a Blue Christmas
By David Hankins, Executive Director, Louisiana Baptists In 1957, Elvis Presley released the song “Blue Christmas” in which he crooned “You’ll be doin’ alright with your Christmas of white but I’ll have a blue, blue Christmas.” Elvis is not the only one who has experienced a blue Christmas. Counselors and researchers have long noted that the Christmas season is associated with sadness, depression, even to the point of suicide, for many, many people. Perhaps you don’t need Elvis or psychiatrists to tell you that the yuletide season can be an occasion for sadness rather than joy. You have your own tale of heartache amidst the mistletoe and madness of our most popular holiday. There is an odd conflict of axioms at Christmas. Is it the “hap, hap, happiest season of all” or a blue Christmas for you? The Apostle Paul writes some words of encouragement out of his own life experience (Philippians 3:12-14) that can provide an antidote for a blue Christmas, or, for that matter, a blue life. Follow these steps Formulate a healthy perspective Paul says, “Not that I have attained … or am already perfect.” That’s quite an admission for one who saw the risen Christ personally and specially, who had a supernatural trip to the highest … [Read more...]
ADF seeks to intervene on behalf of pro-life groups in defense of Catholic hospital network sued by ACLU
By Alliance Defending Freedom staff DETROIT – Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys representing several pro-life, pro-women’s organizations asked a federal court Wednesday to allow the groups to intervene in defense of a Catholic hospital system that the American Civil Liberties Union sued in October. The ACLU lawsuit is asking the court to force Trinity Health and its staff to commit abortions regardless of their religious and pro-life objections. ADF attorneys represent Catholic Medical Association, Christian Medical and Dental Association, American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and Concerned Women for America, all of which could be affected by the lawsuit’s outcome. Trinity Health operates 86 facilities in 21 states. Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization that advocates for the right of people to freely live out their faith. … [Read more...]
Wyoming school district lifts ban on private prayer in school cafeterias: decision comes in response to ADF letter sent on behalf of three students
By Alliance Defending Freedom staff WHEATLAND, Wyo. – Platte County School District #1 has lifted its ban on non-disruptive, private prayer in its school cafeterias after receiving a letter from Alliance Defending Freedom on behalf of three students that explained that such prayer is completely legal and constitutional. “No student should be prevented from engaging in private prayer alone or quietly with other students on campus,” said ADF Legal Counsel Jonathan Scruggs. “The U.S. Supreme Court has weighed in on this specifically. The First Amendment protects the right to pray in a non-disruptive manner not just in private but in public, too. The district has done the right thing in lifting its unconstitutional ban.” On Oct. 15, a few students went to the back of the lunchroom at Glendo High School and formed a small circle while one student prayed for their meal. No teacher initiated, encouraged, or participated in the prayer, and the student only prayed in a way so that the other students in the circle could hear. The prayer did not create any disruptions or cause any problems in the noisy cafeteria. After the lunch period, Principal Stanetta Twiford confronted one of the students and told her that the students were … [Read more...]
Another prayer controversy created out of thin Colorado air: activist group threatens religious liberty of Air Force cadet football players
By Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty staff COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Military Religious Freedom Foundation is once again creating controversy over religious liberty in its ongoing efforts to quash religious expression rights for cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Following reports that cadets initiated and led a voluntary prayer at two recent football games, MRFF sent a threatening letter to the Air Force Academy command to demand that it put an end to this exercise of First Amendment freedoms. Activist Mikey Weinstein, who writes under the name of MRFF, frequently sends such letters. “Air Force cadets do not surrender their right to pray when they enter the Academy or the end zone,” said Ron Crews, executive director of the Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty. “No evidence exists that these prayers are anything but voluntary. We sincerely hope that the Academy will stand firm and allow these cadets to pray according to their conscience, as the Constitution they are training to defend gives them the right to do.” Cadets knelt in the end zone following a loss to New Mexico on Nov. 28. In his letter, Weinstein called what the cadets did “a putrid example of fundamentalist Christian supremacy, … [Read more...]
Unenforceable Paris Climate Agreement, ‘Worse than a Failure,’
Burke, VA, December 14, 2015- "The agreement Reached at the Paris climate summit is worse than a failure," said Dr. E. Calvin Beisner, Founder and National Spokesman of The Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation. "The 'Commitments' made in the Paris agreement are voluntary and unenforceable," Beisner said, "which means most nations will not comply. EU nations said They would make binding Commitments only if all major emitters did-and They Did not. So the EU's 'Commitments' lose all substance. " China and India, the # 1 and # 3 CO2 emitting nations, plan for Their emissions to keep rising at least until 2030 and Reductions even in rate of growth later will depend on Whether They can be made without slowing Their rise out of poverty. Other Developing Countries' "Commitments" are similar. "That's perfectly understandable," Beisner said. "Risks from poverty are far greater than from climate change, so whatever slows economic growth means greater harm than global warming." That thinking is behind the Cornwall Alliance's petition, Forget 'Climate Change', Energy Empowers the Poor. Full compliance with the Paris agreement would cost Hundreds of billions of dollars per year beginning now and rise to $ 1-2 Trillion … [Read more...]
