By Jerry Love, Louisiana Baptist Foundation ALEXANDRIA – Once again we are moving into that exciting season of the year.  No, not baseball season… yet.  It’s Tax Season! Like most Americans, you want to pay your “fair” share (whatever that may mean) but definitely don’t want to pay more tax than necessary.  Here are a few reminders about deductions that sometime get overlooked. As Yogi Berra might have put it, here’s something so you don’t forget to remember what you forgot. As always make sure you check with the coaching staff (your personal advisors) if you have questions regarding the application of these deductions to your gameplan. Game extended for State Sales Tax Deduction in 2014 Late in the game of 2014, Congress took the state sales tax deduction into extra innings.  Currently you can choose either to deduct the income tax you paid in the previous year or the sales tax paid, whichever is greater.  This is important to those who may have bought a “big-ticket” item such as a car or a boat last year.  The tax paid on that one item may push your sales tax deduction higher than the income tax deduction that most people take.  The IRS web site has a calculator … [Read more...]

WASHINGTON, D.C. –The Supreme Court on Jan. 30 said it would decide whether all 50 states must issue licenses for same-sex marriages. It was only a matter of time before the court agreed to take up the issue, after the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling upholding marriage laws in the states under its jurisdiction. The circuit ruled voters, not courts, should decide the issue of gay marriage. Ironically that decision created a split among the circuits, which triggered the Supreme Court to step in. During the fall the high court allowed many lower court rulings, striking down marriage laws to stand, which expanded gay marriage to 36 states. The court in its decision said it will consider two questions: One, whether the 14th Amendment requires states to license same-sex marriages; and two, whether states must recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states. The court’s 2013 ruling striking a portion of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) should raise concerns for traditional marriage supporters. Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote the majority ruling in the case, ruling in part in favor of state’s rights. But he also ruled that DOMA violated equal protection under the U.S. Constitution. He said DOMA created … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 02/06/2015 - 13:50 Frank Page of the SBC Executive Committee speaks on his daughter Melissa’s suicide and the nation’s suicide epidemic. At New Orleans Seminary, Page calls for Christians to hold forth the peace of God to those who have lost loved ones to suicide. Photo by Boyd Guy By Frank M. McCormack, NOBTS Communications NEW ORLEANS (BP) – "I've never preached on this subject at a seminary before," Frank Page said. I've spoken on it in churches a few times, but not often. "For you see, five years and two months ago, my daughter left her family behind when she committed suicide. That 'left behind' feeling still affects us to this day," Page, president and CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention's Executive Committee, said in his chapel message at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Jan. 27. He described how, in late 2009, he received a call from his oldest daughter Melissa. "It had been a tumultuous few weeks prior to that," Page said. "But believe me, my antenna went up when she said, 'Daddy, I love you.' I said, 'Baby, I love you.' She said, 'Daddy, tell mama and the girls I love them too.' I said, 'Honey, I'm not going to do that. You tell them that.' 'Daddy, I can't. I love … [Read more...]

By Ronnie Floyd, SBC President SPRINGDALE, Ark. (BP) – Over 18,000 students are currently enrolled in our six Southern Baptist seminaries. This is the largest number of pastors, missionaries and scholars we have ever equipped at one time and is a great praise to our God. Due to the conservative resurgence in the Southern Baptist Convention by courageous men and women of God, our six seminaries are now anchored in a deep belief in the infallibility and inerrancy of Holy Scripture. Our Southern Baptist Convention rose to the occasion to declare to the world, “We believe in the Bible!” In our Baptist Faith and Message 2000, our convention of churches declared boldly: “The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God’s revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. All Scripture is … [Read more...]

By Diana Davis, author, columnist, ministers' wife, Pensacola, Fla. PENSACOLA, Fla. (BP) – A stunning fact you may not know: According to U. S. Census data, more than one-fourth of all adults have never been married (27 percent). Another 6 percent are widowed and 12 percent divorced or separated. Most churches minister well to adults who are married. But, do we also acknowledge the great value and importance of that “invisible” multitude of unmarried adults? In interviewing several unmarried Christian friends, I discovered 10 tips for loving and ministering to single adults who are members or guests at church. 1) See each single adult as a valued individual, ready to meet God and serve Him, with or without a boyfriend or girlfriend, fiancé, spouse or three kids in tow. 2) Train greeters at church. Comments such as “Are you here alone?” or “Is it just you?” may give the implication that he or she is incomplete. 3) Acknowledge single adults as full-fledged members, not just as sideline people. Plug them into leadership and ministry roles to fit their spiritual gifts. Encourage them to serve on important church committees, projects and men or women’s ministry teams. 4) Involve singles in small groups. Many singles enjoy a … [Read more...]

By Allen Raynor, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church, Rogers, Texas There is an old Hindu law which says lying is justified in only two cases: in saving a person’s life and in paying a compliment to a lady. It gives us cause to chuckle, but most often lying takes on a more ominous tone. Lying is one of the most fascinating of sins. It is denounced and often despised by those on the receiving end, whereas it is commonly brushed off as no big deal by those on the giving end. Lies are easy to justify in the human mind. There is always someone to protect, someone to avoid disappointing or some reason to try to achieve what one believes is “the greater good” in a given situation. Christians historically have believed it sinful to lie and that it somehow simultaneously displeases God while actually pleasing Satan, who is identified in Scripture as the “father of lies.” Longtime Southern Baptist pastor Adrian Rogers once said, “A man is never more like the devil than when he lies.” Throughout Scripture the concepts of “truth” and “lies” are contrasted. It begins as early as Genesis 3 when sin first entered the world. It was God’s “truth” which was “lied” about by Satan who then helped lead Adam and Eve astray. Sadly, mankind has … [Read more...]

By David Jermiah, Pastor Shadow Mountain Community Church EL CAJON, Calif. (BP) – The last aurochs – wild, huge cattle – died in Europe in 1627. They were the ancestors of modern domesticated cattle. How do we know they existed? History, in the form of cave drawings. Why is man driven to record the past in pictures, words, songs and stories? Since nothing can be done to change what has happened, why the compulsion to record it? It may have something to do with the observation of Spanish philosopher George Santayana: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Looking ahead, looking back But when it comes to biblical history, there is another reason for recording it: Looking back, the historical record of God’s faithfulness to His people and His Word builds confidence as we look ahead. What wouldn’t the average person give for a book that describes the future of the world and the human race! Fortunately, such a book exists – God’s Holy Word. Looking forward, our fears are dispelled by what the Bible tells us about the future. But how do we know what the Bible says about the future will come to pass? Simply by looking back to the prophecies that have already been fulfilled. With every prediction and … [Read more...]

ON THE MOVE Norris Landry, who retired as pastor of Hessmer Baptist Church Jan. 1, new as associate Pastor at Life Point Community Church in Mansura and as a church planter with LBC. He’s seeking to establish a church plant in Plaucheville. Calvin Phelps new as interim pastor at First Baptist Church, Many. Lane Moore new as interim pastor at Eastwood Baptist Church, Haughton. Billy Pierce new as interim pastor at Red River Baptist Church, Benton. Wayne DuBose new as interim pastor at Calvary Baptist Church, Shreveport. Jack and Carolyn Duke retired as music minister and pianist respectively from Woodland Hills, Shreveport Mike McKee retired as pastor from the deaf mission of First Baptist Church Shreveport. Donnie Bradley new as interim pastor at Mansfield Road, Keithville. Steve Pettey new as pastor at Pinecroft Baptist Church, Shreveport. Flint Miller new as children/youth minister at First Baptist Church, Zwolle. HOMECOMING First Baptist Church of Ponchatoula: 100th Homecoming, Feb. 22, 9:20 & 10:40 a.m. Speaker: Jake Roudkovski, former pastor 2001-2006. Pastor: David Cranford. REVIVAL Georgetown Baptist Church: Revival, Feb. 15-18, Sunday, 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.; Monday through Wednesday 7 p.m. Evangelist: Joe … [Read more...]