An estimated 2.5 million people contracted the virus that causes AIDS last year, bringing the total number of people in the world living with HIV/AIDS to 33.2 million, according to updated figures from UNAIDS, the joint United Nations program on HIV/AIDS.  GENEVA, Switzerland (BP) – An estimated 2.5 million people contracted the virus that causes AIDS last year, bringing the total number of people in the world living with HIV/AIDS to 33.2 million, according to updated figures from UNAIDS, the joint United Nations program on HIV/AIDS. Also, an estimated 2.1 million individuals died from AIDS in 2007, based on the best available information released in a report by UNAIDS and the World Health Organization Nov. 20. Of the more than 30 million people living with HIV/AIDS, 2.5 million are children, UNAIDS reported in its global summary of the AIDS epidemic. More than 25 million people have died of AIDS since 1981, UNAIDS said, and Africa has 12 million AIDS orphans. The UNAIDS report drew attention mostly because it contained numbers indicating United Nations scientists have long overestimated both the size and course of the AIDS epidemic, The Washington Post said. Estimates released in November showed a more than 40 … [Read more...]

After her 19-year-old daughter was killed in an automobile accident, Helen didn’t know how she would get through the holidays. “The idea of facing an empty chair from Thanksgiving through the new year intimidated and even terrified me,” she remembers. After her 19-year-old daughter was killed in an automobile accident, Helen didn’t know how she would get through the holidays. “The idea of facing an empty chair from Thanksgiving through the new year intimidated and even terrified me,” she remembers. After talking about that issue with her husband, the couple came up with a creative solution. They decided to fill the empty chair with someone else. “Granddad flew in for Thanksgiving. On Christmas eve, a widowed neighbor joined us for dinner. One of my husband’s colleagues, who was recently divorced and would otherwise have spent the day alone, joined us for Christmas Day. And on New Year’s Day, a college friend of our daughter’s came and had brunch with us. All in all, there was never an empty chair, and amazingly, our visitors eased our holiday pain considerably.” For the majority of people, the holidays are a festive, happy time filled to overflowing with bonds of love. But for those who have experienced the … [Read more...]

Getting a book published is a very exciting venture and the Rev. Robert L. “Bob” Adams is naturally pleased, but also very humbled by his experience. Getting a book published is a very exciting venture and the Rev. Robert L. “Bob” Adams is naturally pleased, but also very humbled by his experience. This quiet-spoken Bogalusa First Baptist Church pastor has written articles for many different religious publications over the years, but Growing Up In Charis is his first book. It is a children’s book, but not with large pictures and few words that small children would enjoy. It is more for middle and older children, with several line drawings by Lane Tanner, a young man in Adams’ congregation who also created the cover. It might be described as being somewhere between the fantasy style of “Alice in Wonderland” and the spiritual impact of Chronicles of Narnia. Growing Up In Charis is “a magical story of four everyday children who live in a land where it is always light and never dark. Mirrors in the grass, bubbles at sea, and an old bent over man are just a few of the unseen experiences that awaken the children to an unseen but very real presence.” This charming story was written by Adams four years ago for his four … [Read more...]

It’s a cheap shot to criticize socially conservative American “values voters” for narrowing the political litmus test to abortion and “same-sex marriage,” because “narrowing” and “prioritizing” are two different things. It’s a cheap shot to criticize socially conservative American “values voters” for narrowing the political litmus test to abortion and “same-sex marriage,” because “narrowing” and “prioritizing” are two different things. Can there be a higher priority or a more compelling moral issue than 3,600 babies dying every day? If a child is born poor, he at least has some chance of escaping poverty. If he is killed before he is born, he doesn’t have a chance of escaping his mother’s womb. We lose more babies through abortion every year than the total fatalities in all of the wars in which we have ever participated, commencing with the French and Indian War and including the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War I, and Gulf War II. What’s wrong with religious people who are not making this their paramount issue? Again, I would contend that supporting traditional marriage is not narrowing, but prioritizing. Marriage is the … [Read more...]

Incongruous as it sounds, atheists are now organizing Sunday Schools. TIME magazine reports in its Dec. 3 issue that many non-believing parents are concerned that their children are not adequately grounded in secular thought and feel left out of experiences like Sunday School that are common among their friends. Incongruous as it sounds, atheists are now organizing Sunday Schools. TIME magazine reports in its Dec. 3 issue that many non-believing parents are concerned that their children are not adequately grounded in secular thought and feel left out of experiences like Sunday School that are common among their friends. Reporter Jeninne Lee-St. John understands that the idea seems a bit strange. “On Sunday mornings, most parents who don’t believe in the Christian God, or any god at all, are probably making brunch or cheering at their kids’ soccer game, or running errands or, with luck, sleeping in. Without religion, there’s no need for church, right?” Well, not exactly. TIME explains this new development: “But some nonbelievers are beginning to think they might need something for their children. ‘When you have kids,’ says Julie Willey, a design engineer, ‘you start to notice that your co-workers or friends have church … [Read more...]

SHOELACES – Three completely different Christmas programs last weekend brightened this part of the boot-shaped state. SHOELACES – Three completely different Christmas programs last weekend brightened this part of the boot-shaped state. At First Baptist St. Francisville, luminaries lined a pathway past several tableaux that told of Jesus’ birth and the reason for it. At CrossPoint Baton Rouge, the emphasis was on children – children’s activities, the Christmas story told at their level, and time given to pet the animals. At First Baptist Zachary, a vocal/instrumental event including music from various eras was interspersed with production-rich scenes that reminded the audience of Jesus birth and life. If you’ve been following the coverage in the Louisiana Baptist Message, you know that these were only three of many Christmas-related events that have been going on since early November across the state. That “early November” relates to First St. Francisville, which for more than 20 years has been producing an event to help women Preparing Hearts and Homes for Christmas. The six-hour event starts with breakfast and includes music and guest speaker, as well as several craft learning-and-doing options. First St. … [Read more...]

Where will you sleep tonight? About 12,000 people in greater New Orleans don’t have a definite answer to that question. NEW ORLEANS (BP) – Where will you sleep tonight? About 12,000 people in greater New Orleans don’t have a definite answer to that question. Maybe underneath an overpass. Maybe in an abandoned house. A lucky few in shelters. The rest are subject to the weather or the violence of another person’s desperation.  By way of contrast, some 5,130 people were said to be homeless in Los Angeles’ skid row area in 2006, according to the Los Angeles Homeless Service Authority.  Southern Baptists are responding to the need with a cooperative effort involving First Baptist Church in New Orleans, the Louisiana Baptist Convention and the SBC’s North American Mission Board, plus the partnership of the New Orleans Mission as well as financial assistance from Mayor Ray Nagin’s office.  “We’re on the front end of this homeless crisis and it’s not going away anytime soon,” said David Crosby, First New Orleans’ pastor. “As followers of Jesus Christ, we must commit ourselves to doing what we believe the Lord would do, and being where we believe the Lord would be.”  This crisis is yet another ripple effect of Hurricane … [Read more...]

The timing wasn’t exactly perfect, but God’s work got done and that was the reason Jonathan Forester MD, his son Chris, and the rest of the six-person, Louisiana-based mission team went to the southern African nation this summer. HARARE, Zimbabwe – The timing wasn’t exactly perfect, but God’s work got done and that was the reason Jonathan Forester MD, his son Chris, and the rest of the six-person, Louisiana-based mission team went to the southern African nation this summer. It was a trip nearly a year in the planning. Who would have thought inflation could skyrocket between the time the mission team’s flight left the U.S. and arrived in Zimbabwe? “When we got there, there was no gas to buy,” Forester said. “When we left, there was no food to buy.” The official inflation rate was said to be 4,500 percent, but unofficially it was said to be 11,000 percent or more, according to a July 10 article in Baptist Press. “If you bought a loaf of bread for 50 cents last year, it now costs around $1,125,” according to the Baptist Press article. “Or more likely, you’d end up spending $2,750 at the unofficial inflation rate found in most stores. Government and independent estimates are completely different.” Forester, an … [Read more...]

The release of “The Golden Compass” as a major motion picture represents a new challenge for Christians – especially parents. The release of a popular film with major actors that presents a message directly subversive of Christianity is something new. It is not likely to be the last. The release of “The Golden Compass” as a major motion picture represents a new challenge for Christians –  especially parents. The release of a popular film with major actors that presents a message directly subversive of Christianity is something new. It is not likely to be the last. WHY IS THIS MOVIE SUCH A CHALLENGE? First of all, “The Golden Compass” (rated PG-13) is an extremely attractive movie. Like the book on which it is based, the movie is a very sophisticated story that is very well told. The casting was excellent. Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig are joined by others including Sam Elliott and newcomer Dakota Blue Richards, who plays the central role of 11-year-old Lyra Belacqua. Kidman is chilling as the beautiful but evil Marisa Coulter and Craig is perfect as Lord Asriel. The movie is very well done and will be of interest to audiences of all ages. The special effects are superior to any previous movie of the type, … [Read more...]

ALEXANDRIA – Baptist Temple is to present its Christmas cantata at 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16. A fellowship is to follow. Kelly Boggs is interim pastor. BATON ROUGE – The Sanctuary Choir of Broadmoor Baptist is to present Christmas music at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 16. The church’s annual Christmas dinner is set for 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16 followed by a Christmas piano concert at 7 p.m. Paul Henderson is music minister. Roger Sullivan is interim pastor. SHREVEPORT – The church Christmas celebration service of Pinecroft Baptist is set for 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16. Marty J. Wright is pastor. BATON ROUGE – The music ministry of First Baptist presents The Sanctuary Choir and Orchestra in a “A Christmas Celebration” at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14 and Sunday, Dec. 16. The church distributed 500 balloons at the Festival of Lights, which included information about the upcoming Christmas program. Burn Page is pastor. ALEXANDRIA – Calvary Baptist’s Christmas Choir and Orchestra with guests This Hope are to present “Christmas We Believe” at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 14 and 15. David Brooks is pastor. LIVINGSTON – A “Christmas in the Pines” Dinner Concert by the Down East Boys is set for 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, at Pine Grove … [Read more...]