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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Colorado loses bid to dismiss cake artist’s lawsuit

By Alliance Defending Freedom DENVER – A federal district court has issued an order that allows Colorado cake artist Jack Phillips to proceed with a lawsuit against the state for its hostility toward him and his religious beliefs. Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys representing Phillips, owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop, filed suit when the state chose to prosecute him again even after he won his case at the U.S. Supreme Court in June. The high court ruled that Colorado cannot treat Phillips differently than other cake artists who decline custom projects based on the messages they convey. “The same agency that the Supreme Court rebuked as hostile to Jack Phillips has remained committed to treating him unequally and forcing him to express messages that violate his religious beliefs,” said ADF Senior Counsel Jim Campbell, who argued before the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado on Dec. 18. “Colorado is acting in bad faith and with bias toward Jack. We look forward to moving forward with this lawsuit to ensure that Jack isn’t forced to create custom cakes that express messages in conflict with his faith.” The district court ruled in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Elenis that evidence of unequal treatment remains. … [Read more...]

Cassidy, Kennedy among senators who reintroduce bill to fully fund border wall

By Office of U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Mike Rounds (R-SD), John Kennedy (R-LA) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) have reintroduced the WALL Act, legislation that would fully fund the border wall along the southern border. Their legislation, first introduced in December, identifies specific funding sources for the project. “I’m proud to support the WALL Act, legislation to fully fund a wall along our country’s southern border,” Cassidy said. “This isn’t just about illegal immigration, and it isn’t just about stopping dangerous gang members from coming into our country. It’s also about stopping the flow of drugs coming across our border, killing Americans in communities across the country. It’s time we uphold our responsibility to secure the border and protect Americans. It’s a national security priority, it’s a health priority, it should be an American priority. Let’s get it done.” “We need to build the wall,” Inhofe said. “Over the past two weeks, Democrats have refused to secure our border from drugs, human trafficking and crime all because they are determined to oppose any policy of President Trump—even policies they have supported in the past. My bill fully funds … [Read more...]

Clemson, Trevor and those who pave the way for influence

By Scott Barkley, Georgia Christian Index For other Cartersville residents and I, it was surreal to see Trevor Lawrence, a kid who had just been known around town as “Trevor” since he was 15, on the national stage last night. It shouldn’t have been. Over four years we saw his talent at Cartersville High’s Weinman Stadium, the spirals thrown at ridiculously impossible angles with equally ridiculous velocity. Fans of the Purple Hurricanes became used to 42-0 leads halfway through the second quarter. In 2017, his senior year, Trevor and the Canes led Calhoun – a team that would later that year win the Class AAA state championship – 51-0 at the half. So when the kid many call “Sunshine” after his resemblance to the character from the movie “Remember the Titans” shone so brightly on the national stage against the favored Alabama Crimson Tide, many of us weren’t surprised. To read the rest of this article which first appeared in the Georgia Christian Index, click here. Scott Barkley is editor of the Christian Index, the newspaper that covers Georgia Baptist news and features. This editorial first appeared on the Christian Index’s website. … [Read more...]

Out with the old in 2019

By Rebecca Holloway Somewhere in the middle of the rain, the merriment, and the holiday travel, the new year dawned. And here we sit with a chance to start over again. A couple of weeks ago, the Lord had given me my verse for the year and a couple of words. (With me, it never seems to follow the pattern of a single word. I usually get multiple words.) The verse hit me like a ton of bricks as I was flipping through the book of Isaiah to another passage. "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past." (Isaiah 43:18) And goodness, there are some things I need to forget. Some things I need to let go. Some things from which I need to move on. Last year I asked the Lord to make me fruitful in the land of my suffering (Genesis 41:52). I don't know how fruitful I really was, but I am ready to be out of the land of suffering. Suffering will never be gone from any of our lives, but I am ready to forget what is behind and strain toward what is ahead. (Philippians 3:13) How will I do that? The other words the Lord gave me were obedience and surrender. I don't know exactly what the obedience means yet. But I do know the surrender means that I need to let go and fall into the arms of the One who knows what is best for … [Read more...]