Christian leaders from nearly 130 countries recently gathered in Thai- land to consider 31 key issues confronting world evangelization - and learned of one huge challenge that might trump all the others. Christian leaders from nearly 130 countries recently gathered in Thai- land to consider 31 key issues confronting world evangelization - and learned of one huge challenge that might trump all the others.   Is it terrorism? Persecution? Opposition from hostile governments or religions?   No. It is this simple fact - 4 billion people (or about two-thirds of the world’s population) are oral learners.   They communicate, learn, perceive reality and embrace core beliefs through orally-expressed stories, songs and proverbs - not through the books and other forms of linear thinking.   Some oral learners are illiterate because of lack of education. Many others belong to the thousands of oral cultures of the globe. Some even may read a written language, but it is not the way they prefer to interact with the world. These include millions of postmoderns in "literate" societies.   Even if all the other higher-profile roadblocks suddenly fall away, this one will continue to … [Read more...]

w do children learn to pray? The young mother’s husband was in and out of the hospital, suffering from painful kidney stones. Her Christian friends proved compassionate, encouraging, prayerful visitors. How do children learn to pray? The young mother’s husband was in and out of the hospital, suffering from painful kidney stones. Her Christian friends proved compassionate, encouraging, prayerful visitors.   In the midst of the comings and goings of the young husband’s illness, their minister preached on "Going the Second Mile."   When the wife considered the support of what she considered "second mile Christians" who visited her and took care of her 5-year-old son, she said to herself, "With people praying for my husband, I have felt it is my responsibility to be on my knees at least as much."   Sunday evening, the loving mother knelt beside her bed to pray for her husband - and to offer thanks for her friends.   While she was praying, her young son slipped into the room. He was supposed to be in bed, she said, but you know, any excuse ...   "I heard him sneak in behind me but decided to finish praying," recalls the mother who has been a Christian only a few … [Read more...]

For the week of December 9, 2004 Supreme Court decision   The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to review the decision by the Massachusetts high court that legalized same-sex marriages in that state. Without comment, the high court turned down an appeal from 11 Massachusetts state legislators and Catholic Action League Vice President Robert Largess. The group had argued that the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court violated the U.S. Constitution when it forced the state to legalize same-sex marriages. The decision by the court was not a surprise. Legal experts say the Supreme Court often is reluctant to overturn a decision by a state high court. It also does not mean the nation’s high court will not hear a same-sex marriage case in the near future. The case before the court dealt with the decision by the Massachusetts court. It did not deal with the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which is being challenged in seven separate cases in lower courts. That act gives states the option of not recognizing another state’s same-sex marriages.   Convention resolutions   Baptists in at least seven states approved resolutions during their annual meetings that take stands against same-sex … [Read more...]

The following Christmas commentary was written by LBM Associate Editor C. Lacy Thompson, with indebtedness to Francis Church, the newspaperman who penned the famous "Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus" editorial in the New York Sun in 1897. Note: The following Christmas commentary was written by LBM Associate Editor C. Lacy Thompson, with indebtedness to Francis Church, the newspaperman who penned the famous "Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus" editorial in the New York Sun in 1897.   They sat in a cafe talking, getting to know another, sharing the moments and memories and meanings of their lives.   It was near Christmas, so, predictably, conversation finally turned to the approaching holiday season.   "I don’t celebrate Christmas," she said. "I don’t see the point. I believe in Christ. I read the Bible. But I don’t celebrate the season. Why should I?"   Hours later, alone at home, he relived the conversation, turned off the television, sat at the desk with pen and paper and began to write.   Why celebrate Christmas?   It is a good question.   It is a fair question, one that deserves - and demands - an answer.   Why … [Read more...]

Planning and shopping for the holidays can be stressful enough on its own, but coping with holiday festivities after a loss or traumatic event can be overwhelming. Planning and shopping for the holidays can be stressful enough on its own, but coping with holiday festivities after a loss or traumatic event can be overwhelming.   Sights, sounds and smells of the holidays can trigger memories of a person who died, a past job or past family gatherings.   Keeping family traditions may seem impossible, but getting through the holidays is part of the process of recovery.   How can persons survive the holiday season when they literally do not feel like celebrating anything?   How can persons help children through the grieving process when they are not sure of the journey themselves?   In his book, "Decembered Grief," Harold Ivan Smith gives tips to surviving holidays when one does not feel like celebrating.   They include:   • Anticipate the holidays.   Approach the holidays with determination to treasure the memory of a loved one. Writing a letter to the deceased loved one allows a person to express feelings about the person’s absence. … [Read more...]

Making crossroad choices: More than 5,500 Louisiana Baptist young people recently were urged to make fundamental decisions for Christ that would change their lives Making crossroad choices: More than 5,500 Louisiana Baptist young people recently were urged to make fundamental decisions for Christ that would change their lives   In the midst of three days of high-energy focus and fun at the annual Louisiana Baptist Youth Evangelism Celebration, Rob Turner reminded several thousand teenagers of the seriousness of the moment.   "This week, many of you are faced with a crossroads in life - and so am I," said Turner, pastor at Apex Community Church in Dayton, Ohio. "I am not promised the next minute. All that we have is the eternal now. (And) What happens in this moment can really dictate the rest of your life."   Turner challenged young people to make good decisions at their crossroads moment. He was one of several speakers and artists on the schedule of the annual three-day celebration just prior to Thanksgiving.   The youth celebration traditionally is the largest Louisiana Baptist gathering each year. This year, a total of 5,599 high school students traveled to … [Read more...]

Brian Kinchen’s story never may appear on the movie screen - but Hollywood would be pressed to write a better ending for the former long-snapper of last year’s Super Bowl champion New England Patriots. Brian Kinchen’s story never may appear on the movie screen - but Hollywood would be pressed to write a better ending for the former long-snapper of last year’s Super Bowl champion New England Patriots.   Kinchen shared his story with young people at the recent Youth Evangelism Celebration in Alexandria.   A 14-year veteran of the National Football League, Kinchen played college ball at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge in the mid-1980s.   Kinchen said he thought he had played his last down of pro football when he retired in 2000. However, although he was a Christian who had found significance and purpose in life, he said he soon found he had a void he could not fill.   He prayed diligently that God would give him direction. Eventually, he accepted a position to teach Bible classes at Parkview Baptist School in Baton Rouge.   As the 2003 semester ended in December, he received a call to try out for the Patriots with two games remaining in the regular season. … [Read more...]

Wade Morris offered a simple challenge to thousands of Louisiana Baptist teenagers recently - depart their old ways of life for a new way. Wade Morris offered a simple challenge to thousands of Louisiana Baptist teenagers recently - depart their old ways of life for a new way.   "If you can understand what God’s love is, if your love in God can abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, then, you’ll know what’s best for your life, you can be pure when you walk this walk and you really can live a life of love," Morris told the Louisiana Baptist high school students attending the annual Youth Evangelism Celebration in Alexandria just prior to Thanksgiving.   Citing Philippians 1:3-11, the evangelist from Birmingham, Ala., explained the truth about God’s love. He said that:   • Love is not about passion but about a principle.   "In other words, it makes no difference how hard you try or what you do," Morris explained. "It’s about the principles everything is based on."   The one thing every person has in common is the need to be loved and accepted, Morris reminded the young people.   But love is not about how hard a person tries or how much he … [Read more...]

No one is any more disappointed in Dr. Yarnell’s withdrawal than I am. No one is any more disappointed in Dr. Yarnell’s withdrawal than I am. He is the kind of president we need for Louisiana College. While regretting deeply his decision to withdraw, I affirm Dr. Hudson and the original search committee for their willingness to go above and beyond to accommodate Dr. Yarnell’s request in the contract negotiations.   As I understand it, some of Dr. Yarnell’s requests would have placed the board in violations of the bylaws of Louisiana College. This trustee committee obviously wanted Dr. Yarnell to be the next president of Louisiana College, and I believe did everything they could to bring him here short of putting the college in further jeopardy with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools by violating the bylaws of the college.   God has the right man for the job, and I am confident he will guide us to that man.   Philip Robertson, Pastor Philadelphia Baptist Church Deville, La. … [Read more...]

A recent editorial rightly praised the selection of Dr. Malcolm Yarnell as president of Louisiana College. A recent editorial rightly praised the selection of Dr. Malcolm Yarnell as president of Louisiana College. Therefore, the fact that he found governance conditions imposed by the board of trustees unacceptable and withdrew his name from consideration should be a matter of serious concern.   More importantly, it indicates that the board of trustees must be held accountable by Louisiana Baptists. The board should be replaced.   No person with the level of talent and integrity that LC deserves will agree to be president of a college at which the trustees are intent on playing power games.   The faculty have earned LC nationwide acclaim (for example in the US News and World Report College Guide), but prospective students are now only aware that LC is a place where the faculty are distracted and are afraid to teach for fear that they will be reported for some misconstrued statement that does not toe the party line. It is sheer lunacy to propose that an educated person should not be exposed to the unpleasant as well as the pleasant realities of the world. Christians cannot be prepared … [Read more...]