Week of May 23, 2005 ‘In God We Trust’ A federal appeals court has ruled that the phrase “In God We Trust” on a government building does not violate the separation of church and state. The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the national motto may remain on the facade of a county government building in Lexington, N.C. A three-judge panel of the court stated that the phrase does not violate the First Amendment prohibition on government establishment of religion. Two lawyers brought suit for inclusion of the phrase on the new building. However, writing for the appeals panel, Judge Robert King noted – “(The court has) heretofore characterized the phrase, ‘In God We Trust,’ when used as the national motto on coins and currency, as a ‘patriotic and ceremonial motto’ with ‘no theological or ritualistic impact.’ The use of the challenged phrase as the national motto is long-standing, and it has been used extensively over the years by the federal government.” The phrase is used on coins and currency, and it also appears in both houses of Congress, King said. He noted that Congress established “In God We Trust” as the national motto in 1956. One year later Same-sex marriages were legalized in Massachusetts on … [Read more...]

Reconciliation. What a beautiful word – but more important, what a glorious experience. Certainly, the capacity to experience reconciliation is at the heart of God’s greatest gift to his children. Reconciliation. What a beautiful word – but more important, what a glorious experience. Certainly, the capacity to experience reconciliation is at the heart of God’s greatest gift to his children. Yet, reconciliation is far too often left on the sidelines of human relationships. The need for reconciliation means estrangement and alienation are facts of human existence. In our fallen condition, our understanding on issues and circumstances start from a self-centered perspective. We view matters from, “Is what the other person wants or does in contradiction or conflict with what I think is best for me? Is it in keeping with what I believe and what I want? What is best for me?” That is the conflict we have with God. “Is surrendering to God and to his will and way what I believe is best for me? Will I get what I want from my relationship with him? Will I have to give up what now matters most to me?” In our fallen, sinful state, we find ourselves in conflict with the divine. And our conflict with God poisons our … [Read more...]

Now is the time for persons to contact Louisiana legislators regarding key moral and social issues, Ken Ward said. Now is the time for persons to contact Louisiana legislators regarding key moral and social issues, Ken Ward said. “Bills on several key issues are being heard in upcoming days,” noted Ward, executive director of the Louisiana Moral and Civic Foundation. “Those concerned about these matters would do well to contact their legislators now and express their views.” Human cloning is one issue that has drawn considerable attention and currently is being debated. Last week, the House of Representatives voted 54-45 against a measure that would have banned human cloning except for approved research purposes. Instead, the House voted 75-23 in favor of House Bill 492, which calls for a blanket ban on human cloning. That measure now heads to the Senate, where it first must be considered in committee. In addition to that measure, several bills remain in committee, awaiting action. Votes on the measures could come within days, Ward noted. The measures include: • House Bill 242. The bill would require women seeking abortions to receive professional counseling. • House Bill 410. The measure … [Read more...]

In Matthew 25, Jesus outlined some of the basics of daily faith – feeding the hungry, caring for the sick, visiting the imprisoned. In Matthew 25, Jesus outlined some of the basics of daily faith – feeding the hungry, caring for the sick, visiting the imprisoned. This month, Louisiana Baptists took him at his word. “I was in prison, and you came to me,” Eugene Peterson writes in The Message translation of the Bible. That is exactly what Louisiana Baptists did in conducting a revival at Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola this month – and they brought friends. During an initial service in the prison’s rodeo arena, more than 2,000 inmates cheered and applauded as dirt bike specialists performed high-flying jumps and others stunts. Then, they listened as the performers talked about life without Christ – and life with him. “I didn’t understand the big picture, ...” Brad Bennett told the inmates during his testimony. “It’s not about being a good person or a bad person,” said Bennett, who heads Real Encounter, a Missouri-based ministry that uses motorcycle performances and stunts to share the gospel.     “It’s about what God has done for us.” What Louisiana Baptists did for the inmates at … [Read more...]

There are many reasons to join the armed forces – for college money or out of a sense of patriotic duty perhaps. There are many reasons to join the armed forces – for college money or out of a sense of patriotic duty perhaps. There are even some who join because they answered a call – not a telephone call but a call from God. Lt. Cmdr. Phillip Endel Lee is all of those. A Navy chaplain and assistant professor of preaching and pastoral ministry in New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary’s Leavell College, Lee recalls how God used a combination of factors to lead him into the military. “From the time I was 9 years old, I was working part-time jobs,” Lee recounts. “When I turned 14, I couldn’t even drive, but there were days where I would be walking around with hundreds of dollars in my pocket from selling farm produce on the side of the road.” Lee joined a local Baptist church in Tanner Williams, Ala., at the age of 15 and surrendered to fulltime Christian service at the age of 17. “I started going to church, and I knew that God was calling me to preach,” Lee continues. “I had about $5,000 in the bank when I finished high school, and that would have paid for a secular education. I knew I needed to get … [Read more...]

Hundreds of state Bible Drill participants filled Louisiana College’s Guinn Auditorium May 7 as Beau Colle approached the podium. By Brian Blackwell LBM Newswriter Hundreds of state Bible Drill participants filled Louisiana College’s Guinn Auditorium May 7 as Beau Colle approached the podium. “How do you say thank you for 30 years of service to children’s Bible drills, youth Bible drills and youth speaker’s tournaments?” Colle, Louisiana Baptist Convention director of church development, asked the youngsters. “By standing up and giving Kenneth Mooney a round of applause.” Mooney, who was recognized for serving 30 years as coordinator of the state Bible drills, then stood beside his wife, Pam, as he accepted gifts of appreciation from LBC staff members. The mementos included a shadow box plaque containing a medallion and seals from the children and youth Bible drills and youth speaker’s tournaments and a book of letters written by persons Mooney had influenced through the years. Mooney is set to retire Aug. 31 as LBC director of discipleship and senior adults. “Out of all I do in this office, nothing pays off more in long-term dividends than Bible drill,” he says. “It not only teaches … [Read more...]

A federal panel charged with monitoring religious freedom worldwide is asking the Bush administration to take sanctions against Pakistan, Uzbekistan and several other nations for severe violations. A federal panel charged with monitoring religious freedom worldwide is asking the Bush administration to take sanctions against Pakistan, Uzbekistan and several other nations for severe violations. Members of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom recently released their 2005 annual report to the U.S. State Department. The 1998 law that created the panel requires it to report annually on the status of religious liberty worldwide and to recommend nations that commit or tolerate “severe and egregious” violations be named “Countries of Particular Concern” – or CPCs. This year, commissioners recommended 11 nations for CPC status – including Uzbekistan for the first time. They also re-recommended 10 nations named last year – Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Turkmenistan and Vietnam. Members of the independent panel chose not to re-recommend India as a country of particular concern. The commission tagged India with that status last year in a split … [Read more...]

If abortion is a key issue during the next U.S. Supreme Court confirmation battle, then, pro-lifers may have an edge with the American public, a new Gallup poll suggests. If abortion is a key issue during the next U.S. Supreme Court confirmation battle, then, pro-lifers may have an edge with the American public, a new Gallup poll suggests. The poll of 1,005 adults shows that pro-lifers are more likely than pro-choicers to believe that the next Supreme Court justice must agree with them on abortion. Although there is no opening on the court, many observers believe Chief Justice William Rehnquist will step down this year. Gallup asked the public “how important” it is that the next nominee to the high court share their views on abortion. Forty-five percent said “very important,” 31 percent “somewhat important,” 15 percent “not too important” and 8 percent “not important at all.” Among the group saying it is “very important,” 53 percent are pro-life, 39 percent pro-choice. That could prove significant when pro-life and pro-choice groups ask their constituents to contact their senators. “Clearly, pro-life supporters have the edge in terms of their interest in the abortion position of future Supreme … [Read more...]

The word “go” often is deemphasized in the Great Commission – after all, going disrupts retirement and threatens sought-after comfort and ease, John Marshall observed. The word “go” often is deemphasized in the Great Commission – after all, going disrupts retirement and threatens sought-after comfort and ease, John Marshall observed. But the Great Commission can be fulfilled only by all Christians obediently going, emphasized Marshall, pastor of Second Baptist Church in Springfield, Mo. He spoke during a recent New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary chapel service. The principle of going was first modeled by the disciples, Marshall reminded them. “For the 12, ‘go’ became the manifesto governing their lives,” he said. “These were folks just like you and me. They had jobs, interests and hobbies.” The manifesto to go still governs the lives of believers, Marshall said. “The directive is still the marching order for all believers, ...” he said. “We are not afforded the luxury of influencing only those people who happen to come our way.” Expecting non-believers to come instead of Christians to go and tell the Good News is like a hunter waiting in the kitchen for a duck to fly through or like a farmer … [Read more...]