Boats have been called a hole in the water into which one pours countless dollars. True. But there is a way to save money when dealing with boats. Boats have been called a hole in the water into which one pours countless dollars. True. But there is a way to save money when dealing with boats.   Someone with a warped sense of humor and anonymity sends me the monthly publication, Yachting. The irony of that slick publication coming to my home becomes obvious when one sees my bass boat. My bass boat would not make a good dingy for a decent yacht.   Still, thumbing through the pages of this substantial publication proves interesting. For instance, there is an advertisement that presents a particular brand of yacht that seems reasonably priced, for a yacht. One can buy a 68-foot yacht for only $2.1 million, or a 94-foot yacht for $4.2 million, or a 97-foot raised pilothouse edition for only $4.1 million.   Or, if you want to get nowhere faster, there is an "express cruiser" equipped with triple 440-horsepower diesel engines and to her credit, on a recent voyage "she manhandles 6-to-8-foot seas, thundering across 405 miles of open ocean at an average speed of 46.8 mph reaching speeds of … [Read more...]

For the week of June 17, 2004 Louisiana College news   The teacher education program at Louisiana College recently received a rating of exemplary from the state of Louisiana, the highest of five rankings possible, school officials announced. "We are extremely proud of our education faculty and of our teacher education graduates," interim school President John "Bud" Traylor said. "These accountability ratings prove that we are accomplishing what we set out to do - educate and train quality Christian teachers." Altogether, 12 schools in the state received the exemplary rating.   Hope in Liberia   After more than a year of bloody civil war, Liberians still remain highly religious, reports indicate. Indeed, Liberian Baptist Theological Seminary students have begged to reopen their school soon after things calmed down. Meanwhile, they continue to engage in ministry efforts - to refugees of the war and others. Seminary President Lincoln Brownell said most people believe Jesus kept them alive during a rebel insurgence that ousted Charles Taylor from power. However, unrest lingers. More than 12,000 United Nations peacekeeping soldiers patrol the streets. Most buildings have mortar damage, … [Read more...]

A new survey and analysis by George Barna suggests faith will play a major role in who is elected president of the United States this fall. A new survey and analysis by George Barna suggests faith will play a major role in who is elected president of the United States this fall.   "If the election were held today, Mr. Bush would be re-elected by a small margin," suggested Barna, a Christian researcher based in California.   "However, these next five months will be critical in seeing where the undecided voters land. They comprise one-fifth of the likely voters. That outcome will be intimately related to people’s faith leanings and how they interpret the moral standards and personal character of the leading candidates.   "For instance, one-quarter of the non-evangelical born-again segment (of the population) and one-third of the Notional Christian segment have yet to decide whom they will support," Barna noted. "Their choices will tip the scale one way or the other."   Barna drew his conclusion based on findings from a survey of 1,618 American adults, including 1,260 registered voters. The study has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points.   The … [Read more...]

In the 1960 presidential campaign, John F. Kennedy, a Roman Catholic, proclaimed his political independence from the Vatican to gain support from wary Protestants. In the 1960 presidential campaign, John F. Kennedy, a Roman Catholic, proclaimed his political independence from the Vatican to gain support from wary Protestants.   Now, as another Massachusetts Democrat, John Kerry, prepares to become the first Roman Catholic presidential nominee since Kennedy, the religious dynamics in American politics are still a factor - but along much different lines.   Voter suspicion of Catholic candidates largely has subsided, political experts say. Now, political lines are drawn not between religious denominations but within them - along liberal and conservative lines.   Kerry is likely to face friction from conservative Catholics as well as from other conservatives, said Luis Lugo, director of the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life.   "It’s not Protestant against Catholic or Jewish against Protestant and Catholic anymore," Lugo explained. "It’s really the more orthodox or traditional wings of those communities making common cause. ...   "It’s not so much which religious … [Read more...]

Don Hines makes no bones about it - when it comes to the unemployed, the uninsured, the indigent, he is determined to help give them a voice. And he is in just the position to do it. Don Hines makes no bones about it - when it comes to the unemployed, the uninsured, the indigent, he is determined to help give them a voice.   And he is in just the position to do it.   As a Louisiana senator for 12 years, Hines has championed causes to benefit Louisianians in need.   Now, serving as Senate president, he insists that he plans to continue doing the same.   "When it comes to the unemployed, the uninsured, the indigent and such, I have to admit - I’m liberal about helping them, ..." said Hines, who is a member at First Baptist Church of Bunkie.   "They don’t have the lobbyists. They don’t have the influence. ... I came down here thinking I’d be the lobbyist for them. ... And I plan to continue speaking out for them."   Perhaps it is Hines’ upbringing in rural Louisiana that fuels his passion for those in need. Perhaps it is his experience as a rural family doctor in the state for many years.   Perhaps it is his lifelong Baptist … [Read more...]

The search for a new Louisiana Baptist Convention executive director is underway with a call for nominations and prayer. The search for a new Louisiana Baptist Convention executive director is underway with a call for nominations and prayer.   "The Executive Director Search Committee of the Louisiana Baptist Convention requests resumes for the position of executive director of the Louisiana Baptist Convention to be prayerfully submitted by August 15, 2004 to: Dr. Jim Law, c/o the Executive Office, Louisiana Baptist Convention, P.O. Box 311, Alexandria, LA 71309," reads a request drafted by the 21-member search committee.   Committee members met in Alexandria on June 8 to discuss the search process and officially issue the call for resumes.   Committee members had met briefly following Dean Doster’s announcement on May 4 that he would retire as executive director of the Louisiana convention on January 31, 2005. At that time, Doster, 60, will have completed eight full years as the convention’s top leader.   In making his announcement last month, Doster said he felt the timing was right for a new leader to "build on the work we have accomplished during these eight … [Read more...]

southern Baptist churches - and their 5,376 missionaries around the world - are celebrating a monumental $136.2 million response to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions. Southern Baptist churches - and their 5,376 missionaries around the world - are celebrating a monumental $136.2 million response to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions. When the books on the 2003 offering closed May 31, Southern Baptists had given $136,204,648 – an increase of almost $21.2 million (18.4 percent) from 2002. The increase marks the largest total and dollar increase in the offering’s 115-year history. "Southern Baptists are shouting ‘Glory to God!’ over this marvelous response to the needs of a lost world," Southern International Mission Board President Jerry Rankin said. "God’s people feel his heartbreak over 1.6 billion people with little hope of even hearing about Jesus Christ. They were distressed that qualified missionaries were being held back for lack of finances. "And they responded with a vision and passion only God’s Spirit can inspire." Southern Baptist Woman’s Missionary Union Executive Director Wanda Lee also cheered the offering total. "We are grateful for the … [Read more...]

Ronald Reagan is gone, but his influence on Christian politics in this country will be felt for years to come. The 40th president died on June 5. He was known for his optimism and his ability to communicate it to the American public.Ronald Reagan is gone, but his influence on Christian politics in this country will be felt for years to come. The 40th president died on June 5. He was known for his optimism and his ability to communicate it to the American public. He also was famous for introducing many Christians to real political influence. Reagan was present - and uttered one of his most famous lines - at the meeting many see as the birth of the Religious Right, which molded evangelical Protestant conservatism into a cohesive political movement. Reagan appeared at the Religious Roundtable’s National Affairs Briefing in 1980, where he was introduced by a Southern Baptist evangelist as "God’s man." A presidential candidate at the time, Reagan told the gathering of conservative Christian luminaries - "I know you can’t endorse me, but I endorse you." Reagan’s statement launched a relationship with conservative Christians that would reshape America’s political landscape. "He presented a conservative political … [Read more...]

He was carrying on his own little baseball game, by himself. The real game was on the regular baseball diamond-a "machine pitch" game featuring eight and nine-year-olds. He was carrying on his own little baseball game, by himself. The real game was on the regular baseball diamond-a "machine pitch" game featuring eight and nine-year-olds. For those whose children are grown but have not produced grandkids, a "machine pitch" game utilizes a baseball pitching machine rather than a young human. Such machines are far more accurate than an eight-year-old’s arm that is as likely to send the ball ten feet above home plate as dribble one over, and not even he knows which one is coming. The youngster’s just-older brother was playing in the real game. It was exciting as baseball games go, but not exciting enough to hold the attention of an active seven-year-old. How boring can something be that involves watching an older brother doing something you want to do? The younger brother had much rather have been in uniform and on the field than sitting with a bunch of stodgy adults who kept urging their offsprings to "Be a hitter!" and "Way to swing! Now, put that on the ball!" and "Keep your eye on the ball!" Playing in the … [Read more...]

For the week of June 24, 2004 SBC president   Facing a surprise challenge, Bobby Welch was elected Southern Baptist Convention president during the denomination’s annual meeting in Indianapolis last week. Welch is pastor at First Baptist Church of Daytona Beach, Fla. He was elected president in the first contested presidential race in a decade. He defeated pastor Al Jarrell of Merry Hill, N.C., on a vote of 3,997 (79.6 percent) to 1,020 (20.4 percent). Dennis Conner of Windsor, N.C. said he nominated Jarrell because of his concerns that leadership is "growing further and further and further away from the grassroots of this great convention." He noted Jarrell’s church averages just under 70 in Sunday School and said he is typical of pastors in the convention. Welch 61, has gained recognition as a founder of the FAITH program, which incorporates an evangelistic emphasis into Sunday School. Launched at Welch’s church, FAITH now is marketed conventionwide. Welch is a Vietnam veteran who received a Bronze Star for bravery and a Purple Heart for battle wounds. He is a graduate of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary   SBC officers   Two pastors - along with two familiar faces - were … [Read more...]