Colorful characters and exciting elections make up this lively history. In the Habit of Acting Together: The Emergence of the Whig Party in Louisiana 1828-1840, by Henry O. Robertson, Ph.D., LC History. Published in May 2007 by the Center for Louisiana Studies University Siana. Louisiana differed in many ways from the American political mainstream yet remained oddly parallel in other regards. Economic development, ethnicity, slavery, and regional rivalry between sections of the state had a hand in creating the issues and ideas that fired the imagination of early Whigs. “Colorful characters and exciting elections make up this lively history,” according to a reviewer. Whigs, the author wrote, were in the habit of working together. … [Read more...]

Stevens presents the beginning student of the Greek of the New Testament with a user-friendly introduction to the morphology and grammar of the Greek language.   New Testament Greek Primer, 2d ed., by Gerald L. Stevens, Eugene, Ore.: Cascade Books, 2007 Using graphic layouts, copious tables, and clear discussion, Stevens presents the beginning student of the Greek of the New Testament with a user-friendly introduction to the morphology and grammar of the Greek language. The transition from English to Greek is assisted by an appendix of four chapters reviewing English grammar. Vocabulary acquisition is down to words occurring 50 or more times in the New Testament. The second edition to this popular textbook makes corrections, tweaks discussion, and adds helpful explanations. Gerald L. Stevens is Professor of New Testament and Greek at NOBTS.   … [Read more...]

The priorities Johnny Hunt announced for his tenure as president of the Southern Baptist Convention are the same ones that have characterized his 32 years as a local church pastor – evangelism, discipleship and missions. INDIANAPOLIS (BP) – The priorities Johnny Hunt announced for his tenure as president of the Southern Baptist Convention are the same ones that have characterized his 32 years as a local church pastor – evangelism, discipleship and missions. “I want to see as many people as possible come to embrace Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior and then help as many people as possible become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ and to see churches become personally involved in taking the gospel down the street and around the world,” Hunt said during a news conference after being elected SBC president June 10 on the first ballot among six candidates. When reporters tried to apply characteristics of Hunt’s ministry to existing political agendas, he kept to his message and refused to be drawn into what he regards as lesser issues. “I’ve not really thought that much through things that have divided us. I believe if we’ll keep the focus off of that and our hearts on what’s united us, it can lead us to the best … [Read more...]

Despite difficult economic conditions, Southern Baptists gave $150.4 million to the 2007 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions to support the work of more than 5,300 missionaries worldwide. RICHMOND, Va. (BP) – Despite difficult economic conditions, Southern Baptists gave $150.4 million to the 2007 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions to support the work of more than 5,300 missionaries worldwide. After financial books closed at the end of May, the annual offering totaled $150,409,653.86 – more than $231,000 above the record 2006 offering of $150.1 million, but falling short of the $165 million goal. “We are grateful for the strong commitment to the Great Commission exhibited by the generous giving of Southern Baptists to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering,” International Mission Board President Jerry Rankin said. “Although we’re disappointed by the failure to meet the goal of $165 million, we think it is significant in the context of financial challenges in today’s economy that we received the same impressive level of giving as last year. “Many families are struggling with mortgages, foreclosures and the rising price of gasoline. Many churches are struggling to meet budgets. Yet … [Read more...]

On Jan. 5, 1969, Sarah Davidson, without asking anyone, climbed the stairs at First Baptist Church Kilbourne and went to work in the Sunday school class for beginners. KILBOURNE – On Jan. 5, 1969, Sarah Davidson, without asking anyone, climbed the stairs at First Baptist Church Kilbourne and went to work in the Sunday school class for beginners. Thirty-nine years later Davidson, who turned 100 on June 9, continues to climb those stairs unaided to teach “her kids.” Amazingly during her nearly four decades of service at Kilbourne, she went the first 26 years straight without missing a Sunday, and in the last 13 has only missed a handful. When one adds in the years she and her husband – Jessie Davidson – spent traveling across the nation, and especially lengthy stays in Missouri, Arkansas and Memphis, Tenn., they’ll quickly discover she has taught children in kindergarten, first, second and third grades for more than 70 years. Kilbourne First Baptist recognized her faithful service with a special day on June 8 as friends, family and old students returned for that one special day. More than 54 family members were in attendance, not to mention numerous former students. She received three plaques in recognition of her … [Read more...]

Disaster relief units from across Louisiana remain at “alert readiness” status at press time, reports Gibbie McMillan, men’s ministries/disaster relief director for the Louisiana Baptist convention. ALEXANDRIA – Disaster relief units from across Louisiana remain at “alert readiness” status at press time, reports Gibbie McMillan, men’s ministries/disaster relief director for the Louisiana Baptist convention. The media surged over the weekend with reports of flooding in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where floodwaters swamped 1,300 city blocks and forced 24,000 people from their homes; breached levees and flood stages at  more than double their design capacity; a 500-year “event” swirling chest-high to a tall man. It’s a disaster the likes of which Louisianians know only too well, and of a scope that stretches across more than five states. Louisiana Disaster Relief volunteers are eager to help, McMillan said. And while they wait for assessments by the Southern Baptist Convention’s National Disaster Relief teams, they’re busy at home. World Changers – crews of Southern Baptist teenage repair teams on mission to spruce up neighborhoods – are in the state,  and associational disaster relief trailers – laundry, shower and feeding … [Read more...]

Johnny Hunt, pastor of First Baptist Church in Woodstock, Ga., was elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention on the first ballot, leading a slate of officers that included two new vice presidents and two re-elected secretaries. INDIANAPOLIS (BP) – Johnny Hunt, pastor of First Baptist Church in Woodstock, Ga., was elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention on the first ballot, leading a slate of officers that included two new vice presidents and two re-elected secretaries. Bill Henard, pastor of Porter Memorial Baptist Church in Lexington, Ky., was elected first vice president, and John Newland, pastor of Fall Creek Baptist Church in Indianapolis, was elected second vice president. John Yeats, director of communications for the Louisiana Baptist Convention, was re-elected SBC recording secretary – a position in which he has served since 1997. Jim Wells, director of missions for the Tri-County Baptist Association in Nixa, Mo., was re-elected registration secretary for the sixth consecutive year. John Marshall, pastor of Second Baptist Church in Springfield, Mo., was elected to preach the convention sermon at the 2009 annual meeting in Louisville, Ky. Larry Wynn, pastor of Hebron Baptist Church in … [Read more...]

“Hide and watch,” my dad used to say. When my father said this he was indicating that if I would be quiet and observe, I might learn something. “Hide and watch,” my dad used to say. When my father said this he was indicating that if I would be quiet and observe, I might learn something. Those who did hide and watch a recent government hearing concerning the effectiveness of abstinence-only- sex-education learned that some so-called sex-ed experts are nothing more than ideological hypocrites. Under the guise of hearing objective testimony from a panel of experts the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, chaired by Democratic Rep. Henry Waxman, was subject to a barrage of ideological attacks on abstinence sex-ed. Though Waxman indicated in his opening remarks that government policy must be based “on the best science and evidence, not ideology,” it was clear that the panel was little more than a stacked deck of rabid supporters for “comprehensive” sex-education which includes instruction on sexual activity as well as information on contraception. The committee convened the week that a new Heritage Foundation review of 21 abstinence education programs showed that a solid majority of them – 15 – showed … [Read more...]

I was raised in the mountains of East Tennessee. I was never very conscious of the sky because, frankly, I couldn’t see it without looking straight up. The view of the sky over the mountains is very limited. As a teenager on a family trip driving through the flat cornfields of the Midwest, I suddenly realized something had changed. The sky had grown. It was enormous. I was raised in the mountains of East Tennessee. I was never very conscious of the sky because, frankly, I couldn’t see it without looking straight up. The view of the sky over the mountains is very limited. As a teenager on a family trip driving through the flat cornfields of the Midwest, I suddenly realized something had changed. The sky had grown. It was enormous. Although it is obvious that the sky hadn’t really grown, nor was it falling, a similarity can be found between that experience and overseas missions. What once seemed so far away and distant years ago is now more accessible than ever through advances in technology and travel. The opportunities for us to take the Gospel to the nations have grown. In fact, they are enormous. Churches of like faith and practice formed the organization that is today the Southern Baptist Convention primarily for the … [Read more...]

Dr. Paige Patterson’s response to the LifeWay study on the decline of baptisms and church membership stimulated my own concern about this issue. We must follow our Lord’s instructions Dr. Paige Patterson’s response to the LifeWay study on the decline of baptisms and church membership stimulated my own concern about this issue.  For many years my concern has been the fact that Southern Baptists have been afraid to acknowledge that the key to success in evangelism is in our following the instruction of our Lord to wait until we are endued with power.  The final words of the Lord Jesus before his ascension are recorded in Acts 1:8: But you shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.  The power of the Holy Spirit came to the disciples at Pentecost and that power has not been withdrawn.   We as Southern Baptists have allowed those who have distorted the work and power of the Holy Spirit to rob us of the power to succeed in evangelism. We have substituted gimmicks and our own schemes for the plan that our Lord Jesus gave us.  Jesus clearly told us in His words recorded … [Read more...]