By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – Standing before the May graduating class at Louisiana College, evangelist Jay Strack said there is a reason he believes America still has a chance to be great again. “Don’t be one of those who are very fearful about the future,” he told the students during his address at Louisiana College's 160th Commencement on May 7. “Don’t be one of those that believe America has lost its mojo and will never be great again. I believe with all my heart the Lord still has a plan for this nation and the reason is these students and these professors. You keep us optimistic about the future.” Throughout his speech to the 101 graduates, Strack challenged them numerous times to remain passionate about Christ and follow their God-given dreams. Receiving the award of summa cum laude - the highest awarded by the school - were Zachary Fleming, Jessica Johnson, Katelyn Persick, Mollie Stuart, Eli Sanders, Hannah Shields and Rebekah Weatherford. Prior to Strack’s message, three graduating seniors shared just how their passion for Jesus was strengthened during their time at LC. Also recognized during the ceremony was 22-year-old David Marler, who was on pace to graduate with this classmates. However, … [Read more...]
Joe McKeever cartoon
EDITORIAL: State government needs to go on a spending diet
By John Kennedy, State Treasurer I have a radical suggestion for you. Let's pretend that we have a time-traveling DeLorean parked at the State Capitol and go back a few years. Specifically, let's go back to 2015. Liquid water was found on Mars. The Brits got a new royal baby. And, in fiscal year 2015, the state general fund was $8.6 billion. The state general fund is basically the state’s main checking account. It’s how income is deposited and the bills are paid. For the most part, the state general fund doesn’t change a lot from year to year unless we’ve had a hurricane or a similar disaster that results in people rebuilding their homes and replacing their cars. Post-storm years puff up the general fund, but they’re blips. The state general fund for next fiscal year – the state’s budget year runs from July 1 to June 30 – started at $8.2 billion. Then legislators, at the governor’s behest, raised taxes $1.3 billion. Everything from that cold beer you drink after mowing the grass to the Girl Scout cookies you buy from the neighbor’s kid is going up in price. But the governor’s not done. He wants the general fund to stand at $10.2 billion, requiring an additional $750 million in tax increases or maybe it’s an … [Read more...]
Longtime New Orleans ministry leader shares well-learned lessons on grief
By Tobin Perry, Christian Examiner NEW ORLEANS (Christian Examiner)—In a preaching ministry that has stretched for more than 50 years, Joe McKeever has taught on just about every biblical topic you could imagine. For the past 15 months, he has lived a sermon — on grief. It's a lesson he began teaching on the afternoon of Jan. 23, 2015. To read the rest of the story, click here. … [Read more...]
Atheists sue U.S. House of Representatives chaplain on National Day of Prayer
By Gregory Tomlin, Christian Examiner WASHINGTON (Christian Examiner) – On the same day many Americans of different faiths were praying – on the National Day of Prayer May 5 – the Freedom from Religion Foundation was filing a lawsuit against U.S. House of Representatives Chaplain Patrick Conroy. According to the lawsuit, Father Conroy, a Jesuit Catholic priest, would not allow FFRF's Co-President Dan Barker, a former minister who now professes atheism, to offer a "secular" invocation before the House. Barker had been invited in February 2015 to offer the invocation by Rep. Mark Pocan, who represents the district of Madison, Wisconsin. Almost a year later (in January 2016), Conroy's office notified Barker he could not deliver the invocation because the chaplain's office requires guest chaplains to be ordained and submit an ordination certificate and the content of their prayer, which must at least reference a "higher power." To read the rest of the article, click here. … [Read more...]
Missing NOBTS student found in Alabama hospital
NEW ORLEANS – New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary student John Russell, missing since April 22, has been found in an Alabama hospital. Russell has been in the ICU at D.W. McMillan Hospital in Brewton, Ala., since April 22 following an accident. Hospital officials were unable to identify Russell until May 4. After identifying Russell, who is still in ICU, Alabama authorities notified NOBTS that he had been found. Russell’s mother has been notified and is traveling to be with him during his recovery. NOBTS President Chuck Kelley asked for continued prayer for Russell as he recovers. “We rejoice that our student John Russell has been found and is receiving the medical care he needs,” Kelley said. “Please join us in praying for his full recovery.” … [Read more...]
Feds drop the hammer on North Carolina over bathroom law
By Gregory Tomlin, Christian Examiner RALEIGH, N.C. (Christian Examiner) – The Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has fired off a terse letter to the governor of North Carolina over House Bill 2, the state's recently passed law which prohibits men from using women's multi-occupancy restrooms and vice versa – a law LGBT advocates claim is discriminatory against transgenders. In the May 4 letter to Gov. Pat McCrory, the DOJ claims the state and the governor are in breach of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 after it passed (and he signed into law) HB 2. Title VII, the letter said, prohibits discrimination against transgenders. "Specifically," the DOJ letter said, "the State is engaging in a pattern or practice of discrimination against transgender state employees and both you [the governor], in your official capacity, and the State are engaging in a pattern or practice of resistance to the full enjoyment of Title VII rights by transgender employees of public agencies." To read the rest of the article, click here. … [Read more...]
Ethel Waters: The Sparrow that soared
By Ron F Hale Ethel Waters came into this world unwanted and unloved. Of her early childhood, Ethel said, “No one raised me; I just ran wild. I never was a child. I never was cuddled, or liked, or understood by my family.” Her young mother had been raped at knife point by a family acquaintance. At the age of 13, Louise Anderson gave birth to baby Ethel on October 31, 1900 in Chester, Pennsylvania. Her heartrending beginning (on Halloween day) only got worse. Ethel’s biological father, John Waters, has been described as a 23-year-old middle-class mixed-race pianist. Wanting to be the one to steal her virginity, Waters coldly planned the rape of young Louise. Ethel was given the “Waters” name and few of his family could deny their remarkable resemblance. Ethel survived an unbelievable childhood filled with extreme poverty, daily hunger, thieving, disdain, and being shuffled between aunts, uncles, grandmother, and neighbors. She married a man when she was only 12 years old but soon fled the abusive relationship. At 13, Ethel found a job in Philadelphia working as a chambermaid earning less than $5 a week. My generation knew Ethel Waters as the endearing gray-haired gospel singer on stage with Billy Graham, Cliff Barrows, and … [Read more...]
NOBTS helping police in missing student case
By Diana Chandler, Baptist Press NEW ORLEANS (BP) - New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary is assisting police in the disappearance of John W. Russell, a 39-year-old master of divinity student reported missing April 25th. Russell was last seen April 21 at NOBTS around 7:45 p.m., and last had contact with his mother April 22, NOBTS Director of Public Relations Gary Myers confirmed to Baptist Press. NOBTS informed the New Orleans Police Department of Russell's disappearance after receiving a call from his mother April 25th, Myers said. NOBTS President Chuck Kelley told BP, "At this time we are assisting the authorities in every appropriate way to find John Russell, and we are praying for his safe return to his family." Russell, a commuter student, is described in news reports as 5'9" tall, 190 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. According to New Orleans police, he was last seen wearing a long sleeve blue shirt and jeans, and drives a gray 2007 Chevy Silverado with Louisiana license plate C30-9240. In Facebook and Twitter posts, Russell is described as the son of Jan (Hays) Russell of Memphis suburb Collierville, Tenn. Various friends and family members have asked the public to pray for Russell's safe return. "Pray, … [Read more...]
LSUA men’s basketball coach encourages others to combine one’s passion with purpose
By Message Staff PINEVILLE - Larry Cordaro believes his purpose is bigger than winning two conference championships in his first two seasons as head coach of the LSU-Alexandria men’s basketball team. Though Cordaro strives to be successful on the court, the Ruston native is also intent on building better men, God’s way. “I’m wanting my players to be champions in three areas – the classroom, the community and the court,” Cordaro said during his message today at the monthly First@First Business Leaders Lunch at First Baptist Church in Pineville. He added that two of his players have been baptized – one before and one after the most recent season. Cordaro said knowing that some of his team will graduate with a deeper relationship with Christ – whether it be accepting Him as their personal Lord and Savior or gaining wisdom through an assigned mentor from the community – makes his role rewarding. "God has given me a passion for coaching basketball and has put me in a leadership role that I am grateful for," said Cordaro, a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Alexandria. "My purpose is to equip these young men I am responsible for to enter life after college with Godly values and habits." Since he became head coach at LSU-A in … [Read more...]
