Want to teach one’s community for Christ? Baptist leaders in three states want to help by passing on the key – doing whatever it takes. “Whatever It Takes ...” is set as a two-day conference at First Baptist Church of West Monroe on Aug. 25-26. Co-sponsored by leaders of the Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas Baptist conventions, the purpose of the gathering is clear – to encourage church leaders to proclaim the gospel. Want to teach one’s community for Christ? Baptist leaders in three states want to help by passing on the key – doing whatever it takes. “Whatever It Takes ...” is set as a two-day conference at First Baptist Church of West Monroe on Aug. 25-26. Co-sponsored by leaders of the Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas Baptist conventions, the purpose of the gathering is clear – to encourage church leaders to proclaim the gospel. “We just want to encourage pastors and others to do whatever it takes to reach their communities for Jesus Christ,” said Scotty Sanders, minister of education at First Baptist Church of West Monroe. “We just want to challenge them and pass on some principles we have found helpful.” To that end, the two-day gathering features a variety of workshops, Sanders noted. Subject … [Read more...]

The burial box that was touted as holding the remains of the brother of Jesus may not be as historical a find as once thought. The inscription on an ancient stone burial box that refers to Jesus is a fake, Israeli archaeological experts say. The burial box that was touted as holding the remains of the brother of Jesus may not be as historical a find as once thought. The inscription on an ancient stone burial box that refers to Jesus is a fake, Israeli archaeological experts say. The Aramaic inscription on the limestone box – called an ossuary – was deemed genuine last fall, when specialists announced the artifact could provide a link between the Jesus of the Bible and a historical figure named Jesus. If authenticated, the ossuary would have been one of the oldest archaeological references to biblical figures. The inscription reads, “James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus.” Originally, it was thought to date to about 63 A.D. However, Israeli Antiquities Authority experts now say it actually was carved over the stone’s natural fossilized sheen, or patina. Last October, other scholars argued the Aramaic script used on the box matches the style that was popular in the first decades of the first century … [Read more...]

Perhaps it only confirms what many long have suspected, but the fact is that Hollywood still has it wrong – indeed, a new report linking teenage sexual activity with depression and suicide goes directly against the carefree attitude about sex often portrayed in the entertainment industry. Perhaps it only confirms what many long have suspected, but the fact is that Hollywood still has it wrong – indeed, a new report linking teenage sexual activity with depression and suicide goes directly against the carefree attitude about sex often portrayed in the entertainment industry. The report by The Heritage Foundation finds teenagers who have had sex are two to three times more likely to feel depressed than virgins. Likewise, teenagers who have had sex are about three to eight times more likely to attempt suicide than those who have not had sex. The report is based on data in the National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent Health – a 1996 survey of about 6,500 teens. In The Heritage Foundation’s report, “teenagers” were those ages 14 to 17. “We have to send the message to teens that having sex is not going to make you happier,” said Lauren Noyes, director of research projects for The Heritage Foundation. The … [Read more...]

For the week of July 10, 2003 Cooperative Program Gifts through the Southern Baptist Cooperative Program totaled a little more than $15 million last month, an increase of almost $315,000 (2.1 percent from the previous June. Nine months into the Southern Baptist Convention’s fiscal year, gifts total $139 million, an increase of $574,558 (0.4 percent) from the same time last year. The total also stands about $6.3 million (4.8 percent) ahead of budget at this time. Meanwhile, designated gifts totaled $19.9 million last month, an increase of more than $5.4 million (37.3 percent) from the previous June. For the year, designated gifts total $149.4 million, a decrease of more than $8.1 million (5.2 percent) from the same time last year. Right to discriminate? President George Bush has released a position paper stating that faith-based groups that receive federal funds to provide social services should be able to discriminate in their hiring. The document outlines the administration’s intention to seek clarification of current law and grant faith-based groups the right to hire only those of their own faith – even if the groups receive federal money. Religious groups and churches enjoy that right under current law. But … [Read more...]

I am writing not only to express my personal views but also on behalf of a number of others, including several retired Southern Baptist missionaries. I am writing not only to express my personal views but also on behalf of a number of others, including several retired Southern Baptist missionaries. On May 19, 2003, Dr. Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberties Commission, along with others, sent a letter to President George Bush regarding efforts to promote peace in the Middle East. This letter was pro-Israel to the extreme, giving unqualified support to Israel and saying nothing whatsoever about responsibilities Israel might have in promoting peace. Dr. Land even went so far as to opine it would be "morally reprehensible" to be evenhanded in dealing with Israel and Palestine. Based on dictionary definitions of "evenhanded," Dr. Land is saying that being fair, just, impartial and unbiased in dealing with Israel and the Palestinians is "morally reprehensible." This attitude is both unchristian and irresponsible and can only hinder efforts by President Bush and other leaders to secure a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. Unfortunately, what Dr. Land espouses in his letter … [Read more...]

Jesse Norris has preached more than 15,000 times in his 60 years of evangelistic ministry - but retirement is not an option. "I'll never retire - I'll just refire," the 84-year-old Pineville resident says. Jesse Norris has preached more than 15,000 times in his 60 years of evangelistic ministry - but retirement is not an option. "I'll never retire - I'll just refire," the 84-year-old Pineville resident says. A planter of 30 churches and missions, Norris has preached in 25 states and ministered in countries such as the West Indies. "My ministry has been in highways and hedges, places where no one but God has the power to bring people to their knees and get right with their neighbor," insists Norris, who has preached at rodeos and on street corners as well. However, there was a time when Norris was forced to the sidelines. While praying on his knees in Magnolia, Ark., in 1996, Norris realized he could not stand up; he had suffered a stroke. Medical doctors told him they doubted he would be able to return to the pulpit. However, seven years later Norris is preparing to preach his 15,205th sermon as he continues to "press on." Norris was born in Rogers, which had a population of "eight … [Read more...]

"They" said it would not happen. "They" promised there would not be a significant increase in the number of compulsive gamblers in Louisiana. "They" said regulations would be so tight that teenagers would not be affected by gamblers. "They" said it would not happen. "They" promised there would not be a significant increase in the number of compulsive gamblers in Louisiana. "They" said regulations would be so tight that teenagers would not be affected by gamblers. "They" lied. Statistics and studies abounded that showed where the state was headed if it legalized gambling, and they were readily available all over Baton Rouge. Every statistic of every study where legalized gambling was instituted shows a significant increase in compulsive gamblers and teenage gamblers. The bottom line is leaders and a majority of legislators in our state government chose to ignore all statistics and/or deny them while talking only about the increase in state revenue legalized gambling would bring. The truth about compulsive gamblers and teenage gamblers has come out again and again in our state's media, albeit several years after the state-wide debate on such issues was settled. Where was the media when the … [Read more...]

Louisiana religious groups and churches won an important court victory recently - but the battle is not complete. A three-judge panel of the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals recently reversed a lower court decision that would have forced the state to begin collecting certain sales and use taxes from churches and religious groups. Louisiana religious groups and churches won an important court victory recently - but the battle is not complete. A three-judge panel of the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals recently reversed a lower court decision that would have forced the state to begin collecting certain sales and use taxes from churches and religious groups. For now, qualified churches and groups remain exempt from paying state sales tax on the purchase of Bibles and religious materials. They also do not have to pay sales taxes on use of religious camps. However, the matter has not been fully settled. Two avenues of federal appeal remain open - and if those fail, the issue then could be taken to state court. At issue is whether the state acted properly in granting sales tax exemptions to religious groups and churches in the 1990s. The American Civil Liberties Union say … [Read more...]

Religious groups win key victory in Louisiana sales Christians who desire spiritual awakening should stop bemoaning carnality within society and pray fervently that God would pour out his Spirit upon the church, Roger Ellsworth said. Religious groups win key victory in Louisiana sales Christians who desire spiritual awakening should stop bemoaning carnality within society and pray fervently that God would pour out his Spirit upon the church, Roger Ellsworth said. "Humble, fervent prayer is the means God delights to use in sending his extraordinary work of revival," said Ellsworth, pastor at Immanuel Baptist Church in Benton, Ill. "We must be careful that we do not fall into the trap of thinking that normal praying produces revival. The means of prayer must be used in an extraordinary way. "It is not just a matter of tacking this formula onto our prayers: 'And Lord, please send revival, ...'" Ellsworth said during an address at the Southern Baptist Founders Fellowship breakfast earlier last month. "We have been doing that for years. Revival is most likely to come when God's people give themselves to extraordinary prayer. (And) Extraordinary prayer means praying much with an extraordinary burden … [Read more...]

Aldam Tilao has every chance to follow Christ - his family was Christian, he fell in love with a Christian girl and he attended a Christian church. Instead, the Filipino embraced radical Islam, adopted the name Abu Sabaya and joined the Muslim terrorist group Abu Sayyaf. He became the flamboyant spokesperson of the group whose trademark was beheading hostages and prisoners of war. Deann Alford, Compass Direct Aldam Tilao has every chance to follow Christ - his family was Christian, he fell in love with a Christian girl and he attended a Christian church. Instead, the Filipino embraced radical Islam, adopted the name Abu Sabaya and joined the Muslim terrorist group Abu Sayyaf. He became the flamboyant spokesperson of the group whose trademark was beheading hostages and prisoners of war. On May 27, 2001, Sabaya and fellow guerrillas, wielding M-16s raided the Philippines resort of Dos Palmas where Christian missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham were celebrating their wedding anniversary. The terrorists took the couple and 15 other hostages. Days later, Abu Sayyaf took four more captives from a hospital. Gracia Burnham recounts this saga, a story of despair, faith, hope and love, in her … [Read more...]