What does the resignation of Secretary of State Colin Powell and President George Bush’s choice of National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice to replace him mean for the United States foreign policy regarding religious freedom issues? What does the resignation of Secretary of State Colin Powell and President George Bush’s choice of National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice to replace him mean for the United States foreign policy regarding religious freedom issues?   It depends on who one asks.   Bush formally selected Rice, 50, last month to succeed Powell. Rice was raised in Alabama, the daughter of an African-American Presbyterian minister. She was the first woman of color to serve as national security adviser and, if confirmed by the Senate, will break the same barrier at the State Department. She is an evangelical Christian.   Still, some say her actions as secretary of state may differ little from those of her two predecessors in regard to making religious liberty and other human rights issues more central to American foreign policy.   Larry Uzzell said he is not optimistic about Rice’s appointment translating into a renewed emphasis on religious freedom. Uzzell is … [Read more...]

Much is said these days about forces at play on families - but what are the greatest threats they face? Much is said these days about forces at play on families - but what are the greatest threats they face?   A recent national survey of Protestant ministers identifies three primary threats - divorce, negative influences from the media and materialism.   Indeed, divorce was listed as one of the top three concerns by 43 percent of all ministers surveyed.   Meanwhile, 38 percent of those surveyed cited the media as a key issue they need to help families in their communities guard against.   Thirty-six percent of percent said materialism represented a prime concern.   The study was conducted for LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention by Ellison Research, a marketing research firm in Phoenix.   The study asked ministers to choose from a list of concerns related to families in contemporary America.   Other matters of concern included on the list were absentee fathers (cited by 24 percent of persons surveyed) and families that lack a stay-at-home parent (noted by 22 percent of ministers).   The rest of the list … [Read more...]

Wonderful things happen at Christmas. The dryness of the commercialization and materialism that permeates the season cannot overcome the simple - and not so simple - wonderful acts that sprout from the Spirit of Christ. Wonderful things happen at Christmas. The dryness of the commercialization and materialism that permeates the season cannot overcome the simple - and not so simple - wonderful acts that sprout from the Spirit of Christ. I remember reading about the German and American troops that were fighting at close range during World War I during the days leading to Christmas. On Christmas Eve, one army filling its muddy trenches began singing Christmas carols. Their enemies in their trenches heard the sounds and joined in the singing. Soon, soldiers from both sides of the war left their protective digs and came to fellowship with fellow Christians of opposing sides. Two brothers were at emotional war, and when Christmas came, the memories of their childhood Christmases caused them to want to experience that family warmth and closeness again. One called the other, and they both cried and left behind their bitterness. It was a time of reunion and family love. The children sat before their pile of presents, … [Read more...]

For the week of December 16, 2004 Parade protest Organizers of Denver’s annual holiday parade refused to allow Faith Bible Chapel to enter a float that would have included carolers and a "Merry Christmas" sign, so, as many as 1,000 people protested by quietly singing Christmas carols as they walked along the sidewalk on the parade route, passing out hot chocolate and a list of Christmas services at community churches. The Parade of Lights is a two-day event sponsored by a group of businesses. A spokesperson said the parade was meant to be "cutesy" for kids and a way to get bodies downtown. However, after receiving hundreds of complaints about the parade’s "no religion" policy, the spokesperson acknowledged that organizers now will evaluate exactly what the community wants the event to be. The situation has drawn national attention, with one local pastor appearing on a nationally-televised talk show to discuss the matter. Also, what further irritated some Christians is that parade officials allowed a float sponsored by Two Spirits, an American Indian group that considers homosexuality to be holy. Baylor University   A majority of Baylor University faculty who voted in a recent nonbinding … [Read more...]

In the Gospel of St. Matthew, it is the apparition that heralds the birth of Jesus Christ so long ago. In the Gospel of St. Matthew, it is the apparition that heralds the birth of Jesus Christ so long ago.   Today, it features in Christmas trappings from tree toppers to carols to cards. No children’s Nativity play is complete without its tinfoil likeness above the stable.   But what was the Star of Bethlehem?   Suggestions have included a comet, a supernova, meteors, bright-shining planets - even a UFO.   The truth may be more subtle.   Using reconstruction software and the historical record, astronomers increasingly have come to believe that the wise men "following yonder star" may have been interpreting astrological omens so esoteric that only the learned would have noticed anything unusual in the night skies.   While scientists disagree on the particulars, one thing is absolutely certain, said Mark Kidger, an astronomer with the Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias in Spain’s Canary Islands. "Whatever the Star of Bethlehem was, it was not an extraordinarily spectacular object."   King Herod did not see the sign that drew the Magi to … [Read more...]

It was not like he never had seen a baby before - indeed, he had witnessed the birth of two and had held many others. It was not like he never had seen a baby before - indeed, he had witnessed the birth of two and had held many others.   And yet, here he stood, in the parking lot of a shopping center, leaning into the back seat of a vehicle, rubbing a finger over the soft cheek of a child - and crying.   What gives Christmas its wonder?   What makes it special - different from all other holidays?   Is it the unexplainable star, unimaginable heavenly host, unusual setting, unexpected wise men?   Be honest.   This is a skeptical age.   Many find such details hard to conceive, even harder to accept.   Indeed, two national magazines recently produced cover stories examining the long-ago event, exploring oh-so-rational explanations to its twists and turns.   "(But) The Christmas story that Christians know by heart is actually a collection of mysteries," the article in the Dec. 13 issue of Time magazine concludes.   True.   It is mystery some accept.   It is mystery some reject.   But … [Read more...]

The search for a new Louisiana College president will continue with an expanded committee operating under instructions to consider a specific candidate first. The search for a new Louisiana College president will continue with an expanded committee operating under instructions to consider a specific candidate first.   Louisiana College trustees voted last week to expand the presidential search committee, then to instruct that committee to give LC Education Department Chair Joe Aguillard priority consideration as a person to lead the school.   That action came only after trustees went into closed-door executive session to consider a motion to elect Aguillard immediately as school president.   The 75-minute closed session was conducted as Aguillard stood in an outside hallway, awaiting an invitation into the meeting in order to be interviewed by trustees. However, that invite never came.   The session also came despite the fact that the previous presidential search committee arrived at the meeting prepared to pass out information regarding a second candidate for the school’s top post.   Although the individual never was named during the trustee session, sources and … [Read more...]

The following article - and its companion on Page Seven - are based on an almost eight-hour meeting of Louisiana College trustees on Dec. 14. Because of the great interest in the college, the Baptist Message has elected to present as complete a report as possible about the meeting - hence, the lengths of the stories. Note: The following article - and its companion on Page Seven - are based on an almost eight-hour meeting of Louisiana College trustees on Dec. 14. Because of the great interest in the college, the Baptist Message has elected to present as complete a report as possible about the meeting - hence, the lengths of the stories.   C. Lacy Thompson, LBM Associate Editor   Louisiana College trustees spent seven-and-a-half hours earlier this month discussing key items related to the school, including its search for a new president and its accreditation probation.   By the end of the marathon session, trustees had:   • Settled on a revised search process for a new college president. (See Page Seven article)   • Responded to the decision by Southern Baptist educator Malcolm Yarnell to withdraw his name from consideration as president after initially accepting … [Read more...]

As expected for weeks, Louisiana College has been placed on probation by its accrediting agency, given one year to address cited concerns of school governance. As expected for weeks, Louisiana College has been placed on probation by its accrediting agency, given one year to address cited concerns of school governance.   At its annual meeting last week, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools placed the Pineville college on probation for a period of 12 months.   The action does not affect the school’s accreditation at this time. Louisiana College remains fully accredited - but it must address stated concerns within the next 12 months in order to maintain that standing.   Essentially, the action means the college is not in full compliance with established operational standards. In Louisiana College’s case, cited concerns relate to school governance and academic freedom.   Thus, during the upcoming year, the accrediting agency will monitor the school to determine if efforts are being made to bring the school back into the compliance.   If Louisiana College addresses concerns, the association could vote next year to return the school to good standing. It also … [Read more...]

It is interesting that Mr. Philip Robertson has decided to publicly disseminate innuendos concerning my reasons for turning down the presidency of Louisiana College Re: Letter to the Editor in Dec. 9, 2004 issue of Louisiana Baptist Message   It is interesting that Mr. Philip Robertson has decided to publicly disseminate innuendos concerning my reasons for turning down the presidency of Louisiana College, especially after Mr. Robertson telephoned me to ask that I allow him to lead a movement on the board of trustees to correct the executive committee. I refused to allow Mr. Robertson to do such out of respect for the leadership of the board of trustees.   I have shared the particular reasons for my concerns about governance with the school’s leadership - Dr. John Traylor, the interim president; Mr. Bill Hudson, chair of the board of trustees; and Mr. Ed Tarpley, chair of the presidential search committee. Those concerned for the definition of the cited "governance" issues should speak to all three of these men.   In order to allow the trustees room to deal with their next presidential candidate, I would prefer to remain quiet. It would be best if others refrained from … [Read more...]