By Benjamin Clapper, Louisiana Right to Life CHICAGO – At its annual meeting June 13, the American Medical Association (AMA) rejected a Louisiana State Medical Society proposal to reaffirm the AMA's long-standing policy against physician assisted suicide. Instead it approved a study-resolution to explore AMA adoption of a neutral position on physician assisted suicide, which was often referred to as "aid-in-dying" in the debate. The study will be led by the AMA Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs, which will study a possible change to the AMA policy and report back with recommendations to the AMA Annual Meeting next year. Dr. Jeff White, a member of the Louisiana State Medical Society and physician ally of Louisiana Right to Life, said the following after the AMA vote: "The AMA's decision to study a possible change in position on doctor-prescribed suicide is very concerning for the future of the integrity of the medical profession. For millennia, the medical profession has been in unison that physicians prescribing death for their patients is antithetical to the mission of healing integral to the role of a physician. “If the AMA changes it long-standing policy of opposition to doctor-prescribed suicide,” he said. “It will … [Read more...]
NAMB trustees end investigation involving former state convention leader
by Tammi Reed Ledbetter/TEXAN ST LOUIS (Christian Examiner) — Following an unanticipated two-hour, closed-door session labeled as a "workshop," trustees of the North American Mission Board meeting in St. Louis June 13 unanimously approved a recommendation by officers indicating their satisfaction with a "thorough examination and review" of the Southern Baptist entity's relationship with the Mid-Atlantic Baptist Network (MABN). "Representatives of this board have conducted a thorough examination and review of the dealings between NAMB leadership and the Mid-Atlantic Baptist Network and have fully reported those findings to the full Board of Trustees, who discussed the findings at length and considered them when making this recommendation," the board was told as a part of background information before the vote. "In addition, the trustees were kept informed about challenges regarding the relationship between NAMB and MABN as the challenges developed, and NAMB's executive leadership sought input from the chairman and other officers of this board regarding such challenges." The motion approved by trustees without discussion during their June 13 meeting a day before the annual Southern Baptist Convention convenes indicated by the … [Read more...]
EC action changes plan for SBC entity Q&A session
By David Roach & Art Toalston, Baptist Press ST LOUIS (BP) -- The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee's June 13 decision not to recommend amending SBC Bylaw 26 has forced the cancelation of a panel discussion scheduled for June 15 with SBC entity heads fielding questions from messengers to the convention's annual meeting in St. Louis. Instead, each entity president will answer messenger questions for four minutes at the end of his report. The EC also referred back to its Bylaws Workgroup for further discussion of a proposal to grant EC representation to Baptists in five pioneer regions of the United States. In other action at the EC's meeting in St. Louis prior to the June 14-15 SBC annual meeting there, committee members elected new officers, honored retiring Woman's Missionary Union executive director Wanda Lee and heard a report from outgoing SBC President Ronnie Floyd. Entity questions at SBC annual meetings The EC's Administrative Committee considered a recommendation to amend Bylaw 26 that would have permitted two or more entities to be grouped together by the Committee on Order of Business for a messenger Q&A session. The recommendation stipulated that each Q&A session would allot "no less than … [Read more...]
We can reduce our Medicaid costs
By John Kennedy, Louisiana State Treasurer Malcolm Bird was a first-time father with a toddler whose pinky finger was bleeding. He rushed his young daughter to a Connecticut emergency room, where a doctor washed off the finger and put a Band-Aid on it. That Band-Aid, which fell off in the car on the way home, cost Bird $629. Bird learned the hard way what most of us already know. The emergency room is an expensive place to treat minor injuries. If your kid cuts her finger, just wash it off and slap a Band-Aid on it. If your kid breaks her leg on a trampoline, go to the emergency room. Unfortunately, too many people treat the emergency room like a primary care physician's office, and they don't just do it once like Bird. They run to the emergency room when their stomach's upset, they're depressed, their back hurts or they get a pimple. The emergency room is expensive because it's expensive to run. It exists to save lives, not to dispense really pricey Band-Aids or aspirin. Our health care budget in Louisiana is out of control, and we've got to cut costs. As state treasurer, I'm constantly juggling funds for agencies because revenue isn't supporting expenses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 136.3 … [Read more...]
The latest from Joe McKeever
Clemson head coach faces Father’s Day of memories
By Butch Blume, South Carolina Baptist Courier CLEMSON, S.C. -- When Father's Day rolls around this year, Dabo Swinney won't be able to pick up the phone and call his dad. But Clemson's head football coach still has a few voicemail messages from the man he calls "Big Erv," who passed away last August. Maybe he'll listen to them again, as he does from time to time. Last summer, in the months before he died, Ervil Swinney had been receiving treatments in Greenville for a recurrence of lung cancer. Still, he seemed to be doing pretty well. By August, he was back at his appliance shop at the M&M Hardware in Alabaster, Ala., where he enjoyed "holding court" with his buddies. He felt tired and sat down to take a nap. He never woke up. He was going to return to South Carolina the next day for a checkup and a week's stay with his son and his family. He was 70. "I think about him every day," Swinney said, pointing to a framed photograph among the scores of pictures covering the walls, shelves and desktop of his office. The photo shows his dad watching a game at Clemson's Death Valley, both arms raised in the air, celebrating a big play by the team coached by his youngest son. "I look at that picture all the time," Swinney said. … [Read more...]
Why we are Baptist
By Waylon Bailey, Pastor of First Baptist Church in Covington If I’ve ever preached on why we are Baptists, it has certainly been a long time. Doesn’t it seem reasonable to preach about what makes us unique and distinctive? I would think that any group – – no matter how large or how small– – should know why they exist and what they have been called to do. For that reason I gave our church four areas that make us Baptist. This is the gist of the message. Baptists arose in England and the European continent in the 1500s and 1600s. They arose out of the opportunity to read the Scripture for themselves. When they read and studied the New Testament, they wanted to “do church” according to the dictates of their conscience and the Word of God. Such beginnings led these small groups to be freedom loving, Scripture hungry, and emphasizing salvation by grace through faith that transforms and makes people new. That is our heritage – – the heritage of a people desiring to worship God freely and in ways that follow the teachings of Scripture. It’s a great heritage. We should honor that heritage and appreciate those who have gone before us. If you were going to describe a Baptist, how would you do it? Maybe we would see ourselves with … [Read more...]
Atheists demand governor rescind Bible reading proclamation
By Gregory Tomlin, Christian Examiner ***This article was previously posted at the Christian Examiner and is used by permission. DES MOINES (Christian Examiner) – A Wisconsin-based atheist group has fired off an angry letter to the governor of Iowa after he issued a proclamation encouraging the citizens of his state to read the Bible. In the proclamation, Gov. Terry Branstad asked Iowans to join together in an historic Bible reading marathon in front of all 99 county courthouses across the state between June 30 and July 3, in preparation for the national Fourth of July holiday. Branstad said in the proclamation "all Scripture is essential to prepare us to be the people God wants us to be and to accomplish the purpose for which he created us." He also claimed, "the Bible is recognized as the one true revelation from God, showing the way of Salvation, Truth, Life" and "regular Bible reading renews the mind of men, thus transforming the life of the individual which ultimately affects the lives of those in the family, the local community, the state, and the Nation." The atheist Freedom from Religion Foundation, however, called the proclamation "problematic on a lot of different levels" and a violation of "Iowa's constitutional … [Read more...]
Visiting Myrtle Louise
By David E. Crosby, Pastor of First Baptist Church New Orleans NEW ORLEANS -- The interstate was jammed with commuters at drive time. I started thinking about my friend, almost 100 years old, and wondering what words of wisdom I would glean as I visited her in the hospital. I determined that I would listen carefully and, if necessary, prompt her with questions. I saw her super-gripper socks when I glanced in the door, and finally her face as I walked past the curtain. Her hair was matted from a night on the pillow, something she would never countenance when healthy. Every hair was in place every time I saw Myrtle Louise Ainsworth—usually even when she was sick. “Hello, Myrtle Louise,” I said. I was the only person in her life who called her by both names, and she often responded by calling me both of mine --David Eldon. “I was wondering where you were,” she remarked dryly. I took a seat at the foot of the bed. “I just had the best breakfast of my life,” she said enthusiastically, “soupy grits, scrambled eggs, toast and jelly.” My ears perked up. Many people are not so grateful for hospital food. “My doctor is so sweet,” she said, and I wondered if all his patients felt the same. I guessed that her statement indicated more … [Read more...]
Sheriff orders child to stop sharing Bible verses at school
By Todd Starnes, Fox News ***This article was previously posted at the Christian Examiner and is used by permission. PALMDALE (Calif.) — A public school in California ordered a 7-year-old boy to stop handing out Bible verses during lunch – and they dispatched a deputy sheriff to the child's home to enforce the directive. "This is a clear, gross violation of the rights of a child," said Horatio Mihet, a Liberty Counsel attorney representing the first-grader who attends Desert Rose Elementary School in Palmdale. They are also representing his parents, Christina and Jaime Zavala. Mrs. Zavala made it a practice of including a Bible verse and encouraging note in her son's lunch bag. The boy would tell his friends about the note and read them aloud at the lunch table. To read the full story, click here … [Read more...]
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