By Archie England, NOBTS Question: How can God be good and allow there to be suffering? Archie England responds: Suffering resulted from Adam and Eve’s rebellion in the Garden of Eden. Whereas God had created all things “good,” humanity, by the means of sinful rebellion, caused the blight of suffering to descend upon all creation. In Genesis 3, God announced the curses of sin. Sin’s deviation from the holiness and righteousness of God, necessarily evoked God’s judgment against every infraction of His goodness: Sin entered, bringing death, sorrow, pain, disease, etc. Human goodness devolved into corruption; selflessness, into selfishness. God, therefore, did not cause suffering to trample the creation, but as judge, He did utter the verdict that revealed the consequences of sinful rebellion: suffering. All subsequent suffering is the continued consequence of Adam’s first act of rebellion. Childbirth and (by implication) marriage relationships became complicated and painful (Gen 3:16). The means of daily existence was transformed from simple yielding (of harvested foods) to stingy refusal. Humanity would now have to work laboriously to coax the necessary sustenance from the earth (Gen 3:17-19). The Serpent forfeited its … [Read more...]
‘Pure gospel’ gives Basile detainees best hope for salvation
By Rachel Ortego, Regional Reporter BASILE – When Johney Jeans, a member of First Baptist Basile, walked into the local prison one Monday night to share God’s word, he was not surprised when the Holy Spirit led him to turn over the pulpit that night to his partner, Kent Aguillard, a member of First Baptist Eunice. What really “threw him for a loop,” Jeans said, was when a prisoner walked up to him and asked if he was a preacher or pastor, then left and returned with a blind man who wanted to talk to Jeans privately. “The prisoner came back to me with a blind man who asked if he could speak to me in secret. He then asked, ‘What do I have to do to convert to Christianity?’ I questioned him about his beliefs and led him in the sinner’s prayer,” Jeans said. He then told me, ‘I am a Palestinian Muslim. I cannot tell anyone my full name or I will be killed.’” A week after he made his profession of faith in Jesus Christ, the Muslim was returned as part of routine deportation to his home country. “Oh, I tell you it was unbelievable to experience this,” Jeans said. “I relate it to Phillip preaching that revival in Antioch. I’m not a preacher or pastor, I’m just a layman, and if I had been so prideful as to not give up my place to lead … [Read more...]
Wild Spirit Ministries reaches young men through sport of hunting, fishing
Submitted by philip on Tue, 06/04/2013 - 11:05 Based out of Duson Baptist Church, Wild Spirit Ministries ministers to boys through hunting and fishing. Each boy is paired with a mentor who shares tips on the sport but also advice on life and a relationship with Jesus Christ. By Brian Blackwell, Marketing Director DUSON – Daniel Benoit’s vision to reach young men for Christ came one day on a deer stand. An avid hunter, Benoit spent many mornings on his property participating in a sport he loved. Then, Benoit said, God told him to share his passion with boys who needed Christian love, whom in some cases had never hunted in their life. “God spoke to me and told me to quit being selfish,” Benoit said. “I couldn’t wait to get back and tell [Duson Baptist Pastor] Toby Ryder what God told me. “When I did tell him the news, Toby shared that God had told him the same thing but using his love for fishing,” Benoit continued. “And that’s how this ministry started.” Based out of Duson Baptist Church, Wild Spirit Ministries is a young men’s hunting and fishing club. The boys attend weekly Bible studies, participate in fishing and hunting trips both inside and outside the state and a monthly community-wide men’s supper where the boys cook … [Read more...]
Louisiana College board exonerates President Aguillard
Submitted by philip on Thu, 05/02/2013 - 19:03 The Louisiana College Board of Trustees voted to exonerate President Joe Aguillard concerning allegations of impropriety. By Kelly Boggs, Editor PINEVILLE – The Louisiana College Board of Trustees met on the school’s Pineville campus April 30 for the purpose of addressing the college’s “budget and other items of regular business,” according to a statement released after a regularly scheduled meeting of the board on March 19. Gene Lee, chairman of the LC board, read a statement after the most recent trustee meeting that indicated that at least one item of “regular business” with which the board dealt concerned allegations of impropriety on the part of LC President Joe Aguillard. After a daylong meeting Lee read a hand-written statement to the media; Aguillard was by his side. “After a long, thorough investigation, the board has exonerated Dr. Aguillard of all allegations that were brought forward in the whistleblower complaints,” Lee read. “Concluding the vote, the board, led by Chairman Gene Lee, circled the president, laying hands on him in prayer, asking God for love and unity amongst the board and the administration.” Lee declined to comment on any specifics of … [Read more...]
LC Board exonerates President Aguillard
Submitted by philip on Thu, 05/02/2013 - 19:10 The Louisiana College Board of Trustees voted to exonerate President Joe Aguillard concerning allegations of impropriety. By Kelly Boggs, Editor PINEVILLE – The Louisiana College Board of Trustees met on the school’s Pineville campus April 30 for the purpose of addressing the college’s “budget and other items of regular business,” according to a statement released after a regularly scheduled meeting of the board on March 19. Gene Lee, chairman of the LC board, read a statement after the most recent trustee meeting that indicated that at least one item of “regular business” with which the board dealt concerned allegations of impropriety on the part of LC President Joe Aguillard. After a daylong meeting Lee read a hand-written statement to the media; Aguillard was by his side. “After a long, thorough investigation, the board has exonerated Dr. Aguillard of all allegations that were brought forward in the whistleblower complaints,” Lee read. “Concluding the vote, the board, led by Chairman Gene Lee, circled the president, laying hands on him in prayer, asking God for love and unity amongst the board and the administration.” Lee declined to comment on any specifics of … [Read more...]
LC Board exonerates Aguillard
Submitted by philip on Wed, 05/08/2013 - 09:41 The Louisiana College Board of Trustees voted to exonerate President Joe Aguillard concerning allegations of impropriety. By Kelly Boggs, Editor PINEVILLE – The Louisiana College Board of Trustees met on the school’s Pineville campus April 30 for the purpose of addressing the college’s “budget and other items of regular business,” according to a statement released after a regularly scheduled meeting of the board on March 19. Gene Lee, chairman of the LC board, read a statement after the most recent trustee meeting that indicated that at least one item of “regular business” with which the board dealt concerned allegations of impropriety on the part of LC President Joe Aguillard. After a daylong meeting Lee read a hand-written statement to the media; Aguillard was by his side. “After a long, thorough investigation, the board has exonerated Dr. Aguillard of all allegations that were brought forward in the whistleblower complaints,” Lee read. “Concluding the vote, the board, led by Chairman Gene Lee, circled the president, laying hands on him in prayer, asking God for love and unity amongst the board and the administration.” Lee declined to comment on any specifics of … [Read more...]
Planned Parenthood to begin abortions in Louisiana
By Marilyn Stewart, Regional Reporter NEW ORLEANS – Louisiana Baptists and others are concerned that unless something changes, abortions will be carried out by Planned Parenthood for the first time in Louisiana next year as the organization moves to open an expanded facility in New Orleans. SBC President Fred Luter, Jr. and Franklin Avenue Baptist Church have responded by joining with Nola Needs Peace, a coalition of concerned citizens that is taking a stand for life. Planned Parenthood’s proposed 7,000 square-foot “New Orleans Health Center” will open on South Claiborne Avenue, at the edge of one of the most crime-ridden neighborhoods in the heart of New Orleans. Luter said his reasons for joining with Nola Needs Peace, an initiative of the Louisiana Right to Life, are not political. “This is about saving lives,” Luter said. “This is not a political issue. This is a biblical issue. I’m concerned as a pastor and a believer.” Nola Needs Peace will hold a city-wide prayer meeting and community gathering May 16 at Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, where Luter is pastor. A press conference follows on May 20 at the Planned Parenthood property site. The Nola Needs Peace campaign comes amidst President Obama’s canceled appearance as … [Read more...]
Film ‘Temptation’ shows destructiveness of an affair
By Kelly Boggs, Message Editor “Tyler Perry is a moralist who doesn’t have sense enough to engage us by making sin look like fun,” is how one critic featured on the movie review Internet site “Rotten Tomatoes” sums up the film Temptation: The Confessions of a Marriage Counselor, which is currently in theaters. A brief synopsis of the movie on the “Temptation” website describes the film as, “A bold exploration of the intrigue and perils of infidelity.” As the critic points out, the movie does not portray marital unfaithfulness as innocent fun; rather it depicts it with all the negative emotional and physical consequences that are possible. While the critic quoted in the first paragraph deems Perry’s effort as nothing more than trite moralizing, I find it encouraging that a mainstream filmmaker would be bold enough to portray marital infidelity for what it really is: life-altering and destructive. In short, the movie is about a young woman who steps outside of what has become a stale marriage to experience what is initially an exciting fling. Eventually, negative consequences begin to multiply and the woman finds herself living with the constant regret of her selfish choices. “Temptation” opens with a couple seeing a marriage … [Read more...]
Why the afterlife bores so many Christians, God forbid
By Russell Moore, President of the SBC's ERLC I have long suspected that many Christians dread not just death but heaven. We won’t admit that, of course. Our hymnody, of whatever era, is filled with songs about the joy of the afterlife, and “what a day of rejoicing that will be.” We’re glad we’re not going to hell or to oblivion. But most of our songs and sermon mentions are about that first few moments in heaven: when we see Jesus, when we’re reunited with our loved ones, and so on. It’s like the happy ending of the story. And that’s the problem. The Gospel tells us that Satan keeps unbelievers bound by fear of death (Hebrews 2:14-15). Believers, too often, dread death also, though not as much from fear as from boredom. We see the story of our lives as encompassing this span of 70 or 80 or 100 years. The life to come is our “great reward” in “the afterlife.” But just think about that word “afterlife.” It assumes eternity is an endless postlude to where the action really happens. It’s “after.” Our “reward” happens after we’ve lived our lives. Here’s why this language matters. Imagine a couple referring to their marriage as their “after-love.” They explain to you that years ago they met, fell in love, and married. The years … [Read more...]
The resurrection should remove the dread of death
By Erich Bridges, IMB Watch out. They’re coming. And if they bite you, you’ll soon be joining them – after you die an agonizing death, reanimate and become one of the “undead.” I’m talking about zombies, of course. You can find them stumbling around looking for their next human snack in countless comics, books, computer games and movies. “The Walking Dead,” one of the most popular shows on TV, follows the grim adventures of survivors of the zombie apocalypse as they fight off hordes of mindless-but-hungry creatures in Georgia. No wisecracks, please; that’s my home state. There are any number of theories floating around about why folks are fascinated with zombies, ranging from our timeless appetite for scary stories to heavy-duty dissertations analyzing our fear of global pandemics, terrorism, world-ending wars and even the dehumanizing effects of consumer culture. But there’s a deeper and more universal human fear underlying the zombie obsession: our dread of death itself. And what comes after. “The zombie’s horror is that he is ... a slave forever,” culture commentator Russell Moore wrote in a Baptist Press column last year. “After all, if even death cannot free you, you can never be free. That’s exactly the point, and … [Read more...]
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