Former Louisiana Baptist Convention President Robert S. Magee died July 23 in Ruston.   Magee was 70.   Magee was a Mississippi native but spent well more than half of his pastoral ministry at Temple Baptist Church in Ruston. Former Louisiana Baptist Convention President Robert S. Magee died July 23 in Ruston.   Magee was 70.   Magee was a Mississippi native but spent well more than half of his pastoral ministry at Temple Baptist Church in Ruston.   Magee received a doctor of theology degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary before entering the full-time pastoral ministry.   However, he served in several student pastorates in Mississippi during that time, leading four congregations during a 15-year span.   In 1964, just two years after graduating from seminary, Magee was called from his fourth Mississippi Baptist church to become pastor of the Temple congregation. He would serve in that post until he retired in 1998 and was named pastor emeritus of the church.   In Louisiana, Magee would serve as state convention president, elected to one-year terms in 1985 and 1986.   He also preached the state convention … [Read more...]

How many remember when we had associational missionaries - when the local association formed their own search committee to find the man God had for their "missionary?" We did not have someone from the Baptist Building telling us what kind of person we need and who would be acceptable to the executive director. How many remember when we had associational missionaries - when the local association formed their own search committee to find the man God had for their "missionary?" We did not have someone from the Baptist Building telling us what kind of person we need and who would be acceptable to the executive director.   Oh, for the good old days, when people were selected for the search committee without suggestion from the "Building" that the associational moderator place certain people on the committee, when the selection committee sought someone outside the search committee.   Oh for the good old days when a pastor was dealing with family problems or when his church was or had fired him, and the associational missionary was the first to offer help, when the associational missionary called on you, instead of you calling him.   If what the study committee presents to the Executive … [Read more...]

It’s unfortunate that L.B. Miller Jr., of Doyline, has reached the conclusion concerning the housing allowance issue. While the housing allowance does permit ministers some relief for tax purposes, the Internal Revenue Service still treats the entire compensation for ministers as self-employed for social security purposes. By treating ministers compensation in this way, ministers are not allowed standard self-employment deductions for income tax purposes. This results in a virtual wash out with regards to what a minister must pay annually at tax time. It’s unfortunate that L.B. Miller Jr., of Doyline, has reached the conclusion concerning the housing allowance issue. While the housing allowance does permit ministers some relief for tax purposes, the Internal Revenue Service still treats the entire compensation for ministers as self-employed for social security purposes. By treating ministers compensation in this way, ministers are not allowed standard self-employment deductions for income tax purposes. This results in a virtual wash out with regards to what a minister must pay annually at tax time.   Experience has shown that the tax laws for ministers are so obscure, few certified public accountants … [Read more...]

Connecting incoming freshman students with the Baptist group on their campus is a very important step in the student’s continued growth in Christ during their college years.   Now, there is an easier way to get the Baptist collegiate minister the information concerning the arriving student. Connecting incoming freshman students with the Baptist group on their campus is a very important step in the student’s continued growth in Christ during their college years.   Now, there is an easier way to get the Baptist collegiate minister the information concerning the arriving student. Http://student.org serves to reinforce Baptist collegiate ministry in North America. A part of that service is providing an on line form that pastors, parents, Sunday School teachers, friends or the student can complete to let the collegiate minister know the student is coming.   The process is simple. Go to the Website at http://student.org. Click on the orange box on the opening page. Complete the short form that appears. When you click the submit button on the form, the information is on its way to either the collegiate minister on the campus you indicate or the collegiate ministry state office where the … [Read more...]

Connecting incoming freshman students with the Baptist group on their campus is a very important step in the student’s continued growth in Christ during their college years.   Now, there is an easier way to get the Baptist collegiate minister the information concerning the arriving student. Connecting incoming freshman students with the Baptist group on their campus is a very important step in the student’s continued growth in Christ during their college years.   Now, there is an easier way to get the Baptist collegiate minister the information concerning the arriving student. Http://student.org serves to reinforce Baptist collegiate ministry in North America. A part of that service is providing an on line form that pastors, parents, Sunday School teachers, friends or the student can complete to let the collegiate minister know the student is coming.   The process is simple. Go to the Website at http://student.org. Click on the orange box on the opening page. Complete the short form that appears. When you click the submit button on the form, the information is on its way to either the collegiate minister on the campus you indicate or the collegiate ministry state office where the … [Read more...]

For the week of August 1, 2002 Potpourri • BASTROP - First church: The Martins in concert; Aug. 10, 7 p.m.; tickets are $12 and $15 for artists circle; for ticket information call (318) 281-6885; Dick Day, minister of music; Jim Ingram, pastor.   • WEST MONROE - First church: "Ridgecrest on the Ouachita" Northeast Assocational Sunday School Training conference; Aug. 17, 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.; Bill Taylor, guest speaker; $15 conference cost/does not include lunch; to register, call Glenda Suggs at (318) 322-6760; Jerry Price, director of missions; David Uth, pastor.   • MANY - First church: Arturo Us Moo, guest speaker; Aug. 4, 6 p.m.; Bill Hines, interim pastor.   • WEST MONROE - Cedar Crest church: Cross Ministry presents "What Counselors, Pastors & Church Staff Need to Know When Counseling (or relating to) the Homosexual," Aug. 12, 12 noon; Tim Wilkins, guest speaker; BBQ lunches available for $5 between 11:30 a.m and 1:15 p.m.; lunch reservations appreciated, call (318) 396-9218 and leave message; no charge for conference; Greg Clark, pastor.   • OAK GROVE - Hill church: Bayou Macon Associational Evangelism Rally; Aug. 4, 6 p.m.; Chuck Kelley, guest speaker; Charles … [Read more...]

The comment came as he talked to his mother about everyday things - just a regular conversation.   "You remember Mr. Theuss?" she asked.   "My high school teacher?" he answered.   "Yes," she said. "He’s in the hospital. Something sudden. They’re not sure what, but it’s serious." The comment came as he talked to his mother about everyday things - just a regular conversation.   "You remember Mr. Theuss?" she asked.   "My high school teacher?" he answered.   "Yes," she said. "He’s in the hospital. Something sudden. They’re not sure what, but it’s serious."   There was just a moment of silence.   "I didn’t know he was still around there," the son soon said.   "He never left," his mother replied. "Taught school and then became an administrator. Spent all this time in education."   The son thought back to those years, that teacher, that subject - what was it, social studies or history?   Did it matter?   "Have you seen him?" he asked.   "No," his mother responded. "But I want to go by the hospital."   The son remembered. That year, he had been settled in his future, on … [Read more...]

Is the climate in your home a bit chilly - where words of love and warmth are rarely uttered?   Steve Pettit has a one-word solution for the problem - affirmation.   "I don’t know anything in family enrichment you can do that can more richly affect the climate than practicing affirmation consistently in your home, ..." said Petitt, pastor at Centerpoint Christian Fellowship in Gainesville, Fla., and a leader of discipleship and family life conferences. Terri Lackey, LifeWay Christian Resources   Is the climate in your home a bit chilly - where words of love and warmth are rarely uttered?   Steve Pettit has a one-word solution for the problem - affirmation.   "I don’t know anything in family enrichment you can do that can more richly affect the climate than practicing affirmation consistently in your home, ..." said Petitt, pastor at Centerpoint Christian Fellowship in Gainesville, Fla., and a leader of discipleship and family life conferences.   "Christian families have a lot of work to do in the area of affirmation," Pettit said during a recent conference sponsored by LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. "According to … [Read more...]

That’s it. I’m suing myself.   Early morning fishing demands coffee, and really early fishing demands lots of strong, piping hot coffee.   The alarm began its obnoxious reveille. Did I really mean to set the alarm for 3:15 a.m.? That’s it. I’m suing myself.   Early morning fishing demands coffee, and really early fishing demands lots of strong, piping hot coffee.   The alarm began its obnoxious reveille. Did I really mean to set the alarm for 3:15 a.m.?   Staggering to the kitchen, I found the coffeepot standing at ready, just as I had left it. The water was poured into the top of the contraption that produces coffee quicker than one can retrieve the morning paper.   As a serious dark-roast coffee drinker, this adopted and adapted Cajun understands why the Good Lord spewed out the lukewarm drink. Nothing less appetizing than coffee colder than almost boiling.   The stainless steel quart-size thermos had been filled with boiling water the evening before. It would maintain the heat of the coffee for hours.   As soon as the coffee was brewed, I put it into the microwave to superheat it. Three minutes on high does the trick for the … [Read more...]

Although the next primary election for the state’s highest office will not be until October 2003, the air is filled with politicians’ hats flying toward the ring.   This means it is not too early for citizens to begin thinking about what to ask candidates, and then which candidate to support. Although the next primary election for the state’s highest office will not be until October 2003, the air is filled with politicians’ hats flying toward the ring.   This means it is not too early for citizens to begin thinking about what to ask candidates, and then which candidate to support.   There are several key issues most concerned Louisiana Baptists will want to ask. Certainly abortion will be at the top of many Baptists’ lists, although that issue has pretty well been settled in the state. There may be some differences about so called "exceptions," such as rape, incest, severe fetal deformity and the life of the mother, but overall, Baptists will want a candidate who is pro-life. Baptists who demand a pro-life position by a candidate will not be alone. Anti-abortion forces are strong in the state and there is not much chance of a gubernatorial candidate’s race including a pro-choice … [Read more...]