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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Louisiana College awards degrees to 101 during May graduation ceremony

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – Standing before the May graduating class at Louisiana College, evangelist Jay Strack said there is a reason he believes America still has a chance to be great again. “Don’t be one of those who are very fearful about the future,” he told the students during his address at Louisiana College's 160th Commencement on May 7. “Don’t be one of those that believe America has lost its mojo and will never be great again. I believe with all my heart the Lord still has a plan for this nation and the reason is these students and these professors. You keep us optimistic about the future.” Throughout his speech to the 101 graduates, Strack challenged them numerous times to remain passionate about Christ and follow their God-given dreams. Receiving the award of summa cum laude - the highest awarded by the school - were Zachary Fleming, Jessica Johnson, Katelyn Persick, Mollie Stuart, Eli Sanders, Hannah Shields and Rebekah Weatherford. Prior to Strack’s message, three graduating seniors shared just how their passion for Jesus was strengthened during their time at LC. Also recognized during the ceremony was 22-year-old David Marler, who was on pace to graduate with this classmates. However, … [Read more...]

EDITORIAL: State government needs to go on a spending diet

By John Kennedy, State Treasurer I have a radical suggestion for you.  Let's pretend that we have a time-traveling DeLorean parked at the State Capitol and go back a few years. Specifically, let's go back to 2015.  Liquid water was found on Mars.  The Brits got a new royal baby.   And, in fiscal year 2015, the state general fund was $8.6 billion. The state general fund is basically the state’s main checking account.  It’s how income is deposited and the bills are paid.  For the most part, the state general fund doesn’t change a lot from year to year unless we’ve had a hurricane or a similar disaster that results in people rebuilding their homes and replacing their cars.  Post-storm years puff up the general fund, but they’re blips. The state general fund for next fiscal year – the state’s budget year runs from July 1 to June 30 – started at $8.2 billion.  Then legislators, at the governor’s behest, raised taxes $1.3 billion.  Everything from that cold beer you drink after mowing the grass to the Girl Scout cookies you buy from the neighbor’s kid is going up in price. But the governor’s not done.  He wants the general fund to stand at $10.2 billion, requiring an additional $750 million in tax increases or maybe it’s an … [Read more...]

Longtime New Orleans ministry leader shares well-learned lessons on grief

By Tobin Perry, Christian Examiner NEW ORLEANS (Christian Examiner)—In a preaching ministry that has stretched for more than 50 years, Joe McKeever has taught on just about every biblical topic you could imagine. For the past 15 months, he has lived a sermon — on grief. It's a lesson he began teaching on the afternoon of Jan. 23, 2015. To read the rest of the story, click here. … [Read more...]

Poultry vs. Pinhead: New York City’s mayor says boycott Chick-fil-A

By Todd Starnes, FoxNews NEW YORK CITY (Christian Examiner) -- Mayor Bill de Blasio and members of the New York City Council are calling for a city-wide boycott of Chick-fil-A – urging citizens to refrain from eating plump juicy chicken breasts tucked between hot buttered buns. “I’m certainly not going to patronize them and I wouldn’t urge any other New Yorker to patronize them,” the mayor told DNAInfo.com. Councilman Daniel Dromm was even more blunt – accusing the Southern restaurant chain of spreading a “message of hate.” Chick-fil-A opened its first New York City restaurant in 2015 – followed by a second location in April. The mayor’s remarks came after it was announced a third restaurant would be opening in Queens – which happens to be the district represented by Councilman Dromm. So why does the mayor and the city council have a problem with Chick-fil-A – the unofficial chicken of Jesus? Well, Chick-fil-A is owned by a devoutly Christian family. Back in 2012 company president Dan Cathy ruffled feathers by telling a reporter that he believed marriage is between a man and a woman. And Sweet Lord Almighty, but the militant LGBT activists and leftwing lawmakers have been squawking ever since. “What the ownership of … [Read more...]

Atheists sue U.S. House of Representatives chaplain on National Day of Prayer

By Gregory  Tomlin, Christian Examiner WASHINGTON (Christian Examiner) – On the same day many Americans of different faiths were praying – on the National Day of Prayer May 5 – the Freedom from Religion Foundation was filing a lawsuit against U.S. House of Representatives Chaplain Patrick Conroy. According to the lawsuit, Father Conroy, a Jesuit Catholic priest, would not allow FFRF's Co-President Dan Barker, a former minister who now professes atheism, to offer a "secular" invocation before the House. Barker had been invited in February 2015 to offer the invocation by Rep. Mark Pocan, who represents the district of Madison, Wisconsin. Almost a year later (in January 2016), Conroy's office notified Barker he could not deliver the invocation because the chaplain's office requires guest chaplains to be ordained and submit an ordination certificate and the content of their prayer, which must at least reference a "higher power." To read the rest of the article, click here. … [Read more...]

Missing NOBTS student found in Alabama hospital

NEW ORLEANS – New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary student John Russell, missing since April 22, has been found in an Alabama hospital. Russell has been in the ICU at D.W. McMillan Hospital in Brewton, Ala., since April 22 following an accident. Hospital officials were unable to identify Russell until May 4. After identifying Russell, who is still in ICU, Alabama authorities notified NOBTS that he had been found. Russell’s mother has been notified and is traveling to be with him during his recovery. NOBTS President Chuck Kelley asked for continued prayer for Russell as he recovers. “We rejoice that our student John Russell has been found and is receiving the medical care he needs,” Kelley said. “Please join us in praying for his full recovery.” … [Read more...]

Feds drop the hammer on North Carolina over bathroom law

By Gregory Tomlin, Christian Examiner RALEIGH, N.C. (Christian Examiner) – The Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has fired off a terse letter to the governor of North Carolina over House Bill 2, the state's recently passed law which prohibits men from using women's multi-occupancy restrooms and vice versa – a law LGBT advocates claim is discriminatory against transgenders. In the May 4 letter to Gov. Pat McCrory, the DOJ claims the state and the governor are in breach of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 after it passed (and he signed into law) HB 2. Title VII, the letter said, prohibits discrimination against transgenders. "Specifically," the DOJ letter said, "the State is engaging in a pattern or practice of discrimination against transgender state employees and both you [the governor], in your official capacity, and the State are engaging in a pattern or practice of resistance to the full enjoyment of Title VII rights by transgender employees of public agencies." To read the rest of the article, click here. … [Read more...]

Trump’s Indiana win draws support; Cruz, Kasich exit GOP presidential run

By Tom Strode, Baptist Press WASHINGTON (BP) -- Donald Trump's striking victory in Indiana May 3 apparently settled the race for the Republican presidential nomination, but it did little to resolve the divisiveness among conservatives and evangelical Christians over his controversial candidacy. The brash billionaire triumphed easily in the latest primary over both of his rivals for the GOP nomination, leaving him seemingly with no opponents and an open path to the nomination barring a stunningly dramatic development. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas announced Tuesday night he was suspending his campaign, and Ohio Gov. John Kasich announced he was dropping out of the race Wednesday afternoon late. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont upset Hillary Clinton in the Democrats' Indiana primary but still faces an overwhelming challenge to win his party's nomination. Trump's candidacy has produced strong resistance from some conservatives and evangelicals -- resistance that apparently will continue in the general election. Using the hashtag #NeverTrump on Twitter, objectors have made no-vote promises based on his inconsistent and even harsh policy positions on such issues as abortion, religious liberty and immigration; autocratic inclinations; … [Read more...]

Two pro-life bills head to Governor Edwards’ desk for his signature

BATON ROUGE -- Two key pro-life bills in Louisiana Right to Life's 2016 Legislative Package overwhelmingly passed the Louisiana Senate May 3. The Women's Enhanced Reflection Act (HB 386) and the Compassionate Burial Options Act (HB 618) will soon head to Gov. John Bel Edwards' desk for his signature. Authored by Rep. Frank Hoffmann (R-West Monroe), HB 386 would increase the current time for reflection between pre-abortion counseling and the actual abortion procedure from 24 hours to 72 hours. The bill passed the Senate floor by a 34-4 margin and now heads back to the House of Representatives for technical concurrence before going to Gov. Edwards, who has expressed his support for the legislation. "Reflection periods longer than 24 hours are common across major decisions people must make in America, including getting married, signing a mortgage, and more,” said Louisiana Right to Life Legislative Director Deanna Wallace. “It is appropriate to allow women to have extra reflection time before abortion because of the magnitude of the decision in a woman's life. As testimony has shown, many women regret their abortion decision and now wish they had been given a longer reflection period. "We must also remember that abortion … [Read more...]