By Steve Horn About this time last week is when we began to know that this week was going to be one like we have never seen. Though my personal home was spared, we are hurting for so many friends scattered across South Louisiana who have suffered devastating loss. We have had a variety of emotions for sure. Now, a week later, I want to share some random reflections. 1. We need each other. We knew this already, but we seem to forget this too often. Seeing people help each other from every walk of life has been rewarding even in the midst of such tragedy. 2. We need God. Without a spiritual compass that points to an empty cross, an empty tomb, and an awaiting eternal glory that far exceeds any temporary affliction, I don’t know how you make it through times like this. 3. There was a lot of hurt going on in the world before last Friday and that has not changed. And, for some, more bad things have happened this week. In the midst of all of the disaster relief, let us not forget that people still have cancer, still are having heart attacks, some have died this week totally unrelated to the flood, people are still unemployed, and others have suffered many other overwhelming circumstances of life. Let us not forget all of … [Read more...]
Trump brings national attention to Louisiana’s plight
By Philip Timothy, Message Managing Editor BATON ROUGE -- An impromptu visit by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his running mate Indiana Gov. Mike Pence Aug.19 has succeeded in getting south Louisiana -- stricken by catastrophic flooding -- some national attention. Trump and Pence came to Baton Rouge to survey damage, visit with flood victims and relief crews and offer encouragement. The two men stopped at Greenwell Springs Baptist Church where they met with Tony Perkins, president of the Washington, D.C.-based Christian public policy ministry, Family Research Council, and Franklin Graham, president of the Christian international relief agency, Samaritan’s Purse. “Yesterday’s visit by Donald Trump, Mike Pence, and Franklin Graham has generated a lot of interest across the country from people who want to help our church and community,” wrote Perkins, who also is serving as interim pastor of the Greenwell Springs congregation. “Today 90 volunteers from Samaritan’s Purse were sent to clean out houses in the area. “As of last night we have had over 600 applications for assistance in removing debris and cleaning out homes,” Perkins said. Trump and Pence were joined by other local and state officials. … [Read more...]
Nearly half of refugees entering the U.S. this year are Muslim
By Phillip Connor, Pew Research Center The U.S. has received 28,957 Muslim refugees so far in fiscal year 2016, or nearly half (46%) of the more than 63,000 refugees who have entered the country since the fiscal year began Oct. 1, 2015, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of data from the State Department’s Refugee Processing Center. That means that already this year the U.S. has admitted the highest number of Muslim refugees of any year since data on self-reported religious affiliations first became publicly available in 2002. Christians are the second-largest group of refugees to the U.S. so far this fiscal year; 27,556 Christian refugees have entered the country, nearly as many as the number of Muslim refugees. A slightly lower share of 2016’s refugees were Christian (44%) than Muslim, the first time that has happened since fiscal 2006, when a large number of Somali refugees entered the U.S. To read the rest of the article, click here. … [Read more...]
THROUGH THE BIBLE: The synagogues of Magdala and Gamla; was Jesus here?
By Eric Mitchell, Christian Examiner GAMLA, Israel (Christian Examiner) – The Gospel accounts highlight the teachings and miracles of Jesus of Nazareth. Much of His ministry was set near the Sea of Galilee with Capernaum as His base. Many of His twelve disciples came from this region. Peter, Andrew, James, John, and Phillip were from Bethsaida. Matthew and Peter were from Capernaum, where we are told Peter had a house. To read the rest of the article, click here. … [Read more...]
SURPRISING: Christianity gains 1 point in Britain, while ‘nones’ fall
By Gregory Tomlin, Christian Examiner LONDON (Christian Examiner) – This year's British Social Attitudes (BSA) Survey has yielded a surprising result – Christianity has gained slightly, halting decades of decline, the UK's Telegraph has reported. According to the paper, which has had an advanced look at the unpublished survey's findings, the BSA shows decades of decline in Christianity slowing, or "leveling off" as the paper suggests. The one percent uptick in the number of people claiming to be Christian (from 42 to 43 percent) corresponds with the one percent of people no longer listing themselves as "nones," or British citizens not officially connected with any church or religious denomination. To read the rest of the article, click here. … [Read more...]
