By Staff, Alliance Defending Freedom ALBANY, N.Y. – A New York court Thursday affirmed a Division of Human Rights ruling against an upstate couple for declining to coordinate a same-sex wedding ceremony in their own backyard. “All Americans should be free to live and work according to their beliefs, especially in our own backyards,” said Alliance Defending Freedom Legal Counsel Caleb Dalton, who argued before the court on behalf of the couple in Gifford v. Erwin. “The government went after both this couple’s freedom and their ability to make a living simply for adhering to their faith on their own property. The court should have rejected this unwarranted and unconstitutional government intrusion, so we will consult with our client regarding appeal.” Robert and Cynthia Gifford live in a barn they built on their farm and have occasionally hosted weddings on the first floor and the surrounding backyard area. Cynthia serves as a wedding coordinator for those events and does everything but officiate the ceremony. After the agency ruled that the Giffords were guilty of “sexual orientation discrimination,” it fined them $10,000 plus $3,000 in damages and ordered them to implement re-education training classes designed to … [Read more...]
His Kingdom will have no end
What the Powerball tells us about ourselves
By Waylon Bailey, Pastor, First Baptist Church Covington COVINGTON – I’m writing this on Wednesday afternoon so I don’t know what happened late last night with the Powerball drawing. Eventually, someone is going to win. Until that happens Americans will continue to throw their money after the big prize. You probably know all the particulars. The country is in a frenzy over the giveaway of $1.5 billion. I read an article this morning about the odds of winning the Powerball. It’s one in 292+ million– –not very good odds. If you want a fascinating look at these enormous odds, click here: http://graphics.wsj.com/lottery-odds/ People in the six states without the Powerball jackpot–Alabama, Alaska, Hiwaii, Mississippi, Nevada, and Utah–are clamoring to be included. Their lawmakers are really complaining. They want the opportunity to spend more money–other people’s money. What does this tell us about ourselves? First, it tells us that we think only about ourselves. As we look at life, we live it as “it’s all about me.” Jesus warned us about thinking this way. By doing so, we miss what our Creator planned for us. Second, it tells us money is everything to us. When will we learn that a person’s life doesn’t consist in the … [Read more...]
WMU Exec. Director Wanda Lee announces retirement
By Julie Walters, WMU communications BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BP) - Wanda Lee announced a search committee will be appointed to seek her successor as executive director/treasurer of national Woman's Missionary Union at the group's board meeting, Jan. 9-11. During the meeting, WMU also heard mission reports and addressed ways it is assisting International Mission Board personnel who have elected to take a voluntary retirement incentive. The meeting was at Shocco Springs Conference Center in Talladega, Ala. In her report, Lee said no date has been set for her departure. She pledged to continue to lead WMU until a new executive director is named and help facilitate a smooth transition. "It is my duty to give sufficient notice and it's my desire to ensure a seamless transition as the committee seeks someone with a fresh vision for our future," Lee shared Jan. 11 at the meeting. "May God bless the new leader of national WMU as He's blessed me on my leadership journey." Lee was elected executive director of national WMU in January 2000. She is the only woman in the history of WMU who also served as national president, an office she held 1996–2000. Lee served as president of Georgia WMU from 1993–1996. In addition, she and her … [Read more...]
Are you ready to March? Come out and support Cenla Right to Life March Jan. 30
Three pro-life marches in the state are quickly approaching and to prepare you more for the events, Louisiana Right to Life has released a preview video. The Baton Rouge and Shreveport/Bossier City marches are scheduled for Jan. 23 with a third, which was added just this year, taking place Jan. 30 in Alexandria/Pineville. For more information, watch the video and visit the Louisiana Life March website. https://youtu.be/0UyImJX_NK4 … [Read more...]
Five enemies of religious liberty
By Gerald Harris, Georgia Christian Index Editor During the current legislative session under the Gold Dome, Georgia Baptists will coalesce with a myriad of other groups to attempt to get a strong anti-discrimination Religious Liberty bill passed. This kind of legislation has come to be known as the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), because many of them are patterned after the federal RFRA that was passed by Congress in 1993 and signed into law by then-President Bill Clinton. In my estimation there are several enemies of religious liberty in America. First there is secular humanism. Although those who espouse this ideology would probably deny it, secular humanism is a religion – a religion that deifies man and humanizes God. Secular humanism puts man at the center of the universe and everything revolves around him. The humanists would embrace with appreciation and affirmation the words of William Ernest Henley, the author of Invictus, who penned, “I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.” Secular humanism is supported and facilitated by the ACLU, the Atheist Alliance of America, the National Organization of Women, the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Freethought Society, Center for Inquiry, and … [Read more...]
Louisiana Guardsmen continue building, monitoring flood barriers
By Spc. Joshua Barnett, Louisiana National Guard Public Affairs Office NEW ORLEANS – Approximately 300 Louisiana National Guardsmen continue working across the state to build protective barriers against the approaching flood waters and to patrol levees in support of local, parish and state officials at the request of the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. The 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team has installed more than 2.3 miles of HESCO barriers and is currently filling them with sand to create a levee on Avoca Island to prevent backwater flooding from reaching Morgan City and other towns in south Louisiana. “We had a hard night, it was very cold, it was muddy, but out Soldiers were motivated,” said Lt. Col. Rich Hanes, executive officer, 256th IBCT. “They stayed up all night with no complaints. I’m very proud of them. They’re hard working, great Soldiers and great Americans.” The levee project is part of a larger effort designed to prevent high water from the Atchafalaya River from travelling through Bayou Chene, over Avoca Island and into the Intracoastal Waterway, where it could flood Morgan City and other towns. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is working to seal off the waterway, … [Read more...]
La. Guard monitoring levee conditions during river flooding: Guardsmen working alongside Corps of Engineers
By Sgt. Noshoba Davis, Louisiana National Guard Public Affairs Office PINEVILLE – Louisiana National Guardsmen are working alongside the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the 5th Levee District to conduct 24-hour levee patrols in the parishes of Concordia, East Carroll, Madison and Tensas to inspect for any issues caused by the winter river flooding. These patrols started on Jan. 8. “We have the National Guard out here with us to assist with monitoring the territory on the levees since there is so much ground to cover,” said Steven Evans, a construction controller with the US Army Corps of Engineers. Approximately 200 miles of levees are being checked for leaks, sand boils and seepage around the clock. “The younger Soldiers are getting to see and understand exactly what the Louisiana Guard is here for. They get to see it’s about the community and protecting the people, letting them know that we are here for them,” said Sgt. Aerrial Fredricks, of Monroe, a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 528th Engineer Battalion, 225th Engineer Brigade. The Guardsmen, working with the Corps, are learning how to identify problems that may arise during a flood. They … [Read more...]
Homosexual activist group targets Southern Baptist colleges & universities
By Will Hall, Message Editor ALEXANDRIA – The homosexual activist group Human Rights Campaign has targeted 23 institutions of higher learning with Southern Baptist ties in a report that also names 35 other colleges and universities with distinct Christian identities. Released just before the 2015 Christmas season, the report, “Hidden Discrimination: Title IX Religious Exemptions Putting LGBT Students at Risk,” asks Obama Administration education officials to increase reporting requirements for these 58 schools because each was granted “exemptions of interest” relating to either “gender identity” or “sexual orientation” or both. Unlike President Obama’s 2014 executive order on LGBT rights, affecting federal employees as well as contractors, which did not allow exemptions for religious organizations, the Title IX law does not apply to an educational institution “controlled by a religious organization” that has “contrary religious tenets.” However, individual schools must apply for specific exemptions and confirm they are either a divinity school or department, or, an educational institution that requires faculty, students and employees to be members of a specific religion, or, a college or university that essentially is an … [Read more...]
Waylon Bailey to serve as NAMB’s ambassador to Louisiana Baptist pastors
By Tobin Perry, North American Mission Board communications COVINGTON — The North American Mission Board (NAMB) has asked veteran Louisiana pastor Waylon Bailey to serve as its ambassador to the state’s Southern Baptist pastors. In this role, Bailey will express gratitude to pastors for their churches’ giving to the Cooperative Program and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering®. He will also serve as a resource for pastors who want to get their churches more involved in North American missions. “I have a long association in Louisiana,” Bailey said. “I have a great desire to reach the state for Christ.” Bailey served as president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention between 2011 and 2013. As president, he led the convention to institute the 2020 Commission. The commission evaluated all that the state convention was doing in order to make an assessment of what it should continue to do. Bailey says the commission determined to emphasize reaching two Louisiana demographics in particular—“ethnics and the next generation.” Bailey hopes by serving in this ambassador role with NAMB he can help the state’s churches make progress toward that goal. He hopes to come alongside Louisiana Baptist pastors as they seek to impact their … [Read more...]
