Think of the number one, followed by a comma, followed by three zeros, followed by another comma and three more zeros, then by yet another comma and three final zeros. Think of the number one, followed by a comma, followed by three zeros, followed by another comma and three more zeros, then by yet another comma and three final zeros.   Now - add a dollar sign in front of the total.   The result is $1 billion, which someone once quipped represents "a lot of money even if you say it fast."   It also represents a lot of money when one considers that is the cost of addiction in Louisiana.   Yes - $1 billion.   That is how much Louisiana spends each year to deal with the fallout of alcohol, tobacco and drug addictions.   Again- $1 billion.   That represents 10 percent of the annual state budget - or 10 cents out of every dollar handled by Louisiana officials.   It also represents about $243.33 per Louisiana resident. In other words, each person in the state is paying the cost of addiction in Louisiana - literally.   And it is a high price.   Indeed, the total represents more than the state spends on Medicaid every … [Read more...]

Your comments were on target. When two prominent leaders of this country can be openly immoral and then be widely accepted by the populace since, "We are all human, then alarm bells should sound for all of us. Your comments were on target. When two prominent leaders of this country can be openly immoral and then be widely accepted by the populace since, "We are all human, then alarm bells should sound for all of us. You will probably be accused by some as being judgmental, but the recognition of and the dealing with sin is commanded by God. Few members of the press have taken the bold step you have in calling to the attention of your readers of the consequences of our not recognizing and branding sin for what it is.   The message to people, young and old, in this country sent by those two prominent leaders is that sin has little or no consequences and a tacit admission is all that is needed for total reinstatement in society. That is a recipe for disaster.   It was Chaucer who said, "When silver and gold rust, then what will iron do?"   Frank Elliott Pineville … [Read more...]

For the week of February 8, 2001 Potpourri •COUSHATTA - Union Hill church: prayer seminar; Feb. 10, 6 - 8 p.m.; Jack Daniels, speaker; Tommy Allen, pastor.   •HEFLIN - Heflin church: Bluegrass Lightning in concert; Feb. 11, 6 p.m.; Danny Baskin, pastor.   •JONESVILLE - First church: wild game supper, seminar and archery contest; Feb. 9, 5 p.m.; James M. Carson, pastor.   •MONROE - Loch Arbor church: The Bishops in concert; Feb. 15, 7 p.m.; Andy Myrick, pastor.   •MONROE - Loch Arbor church: NELBA Sunday School and Evangelism Rally; Feb. 26, 10:30 a.m.; Danny Pitts, speaker; evening service, 6:30 p.m., to be held at Victory church; Marshall Douglass and Bruce Gill, speakers; Feb. 27, 6:30 p.m., to be held at Mt. Vernon church; Woody Rimes and Bruce Gill, speakers; Andy Myrick, evangelism director; Scott Holder, Sunday School director.   •PINEVILLE - Northside church: The Tommy Drewett Family and The Messengers Quartet in concert; Feb. 16, 7 p.m.; Brad Cleveland, minister of music; Joe Reynolds, pastor. Revivals •COUSHATTA - Union Hill church: Feb. 11-14, 7 p.m.; Jack Daniels, evangelist; Tommy Allen, pastor. Ordinations •BATON ROUGE - University church: John … [Read more...]

I am writing to express my appreciation for the article about the policeman January 18 and the article about the police chaplain January 25. I have been a volunteer police chaplain for fifteen years. I am writing to express my appreciation for the article about the policeman January 18 and the article about the police chaplain January 25. I have been a volunteer police chaplain for fifteen years. I presently serve the Lake Charles Police Department. I am a graduate of the Southwest Louisiana Law Enforcement Academy and have lectured at the Louisiana Sheriff’s Association Meeting three times on death notification.   I have held local seminars for pastors on death notification, protecting yourself from the dead and the do’s and don’ts of jailhouse ministries. I have delivered over 100 notifications and worked numerous violent crime scenes. Law enforcement officers are a special group of men and women and deserve all the spiritual and practical help they can receive on the job. So far as I have been able to determine, they are the only specific occupation other than religious ministries that I find scriptural reference as being called of God.   We need to constantly keep our law enforcement … [Read more...]

Imagine a city as large as Louisville, Ky., with only a handful of Christians and very few churches. Imagine a city as large as Louisville, Ky., with only a handful of Christians and very few churches.   Indeed, perhaps there are no churches.   There are more than 200 such cities in China, a nation of 1.6 billion people - and tremendous spiritual needs.   To help meet those needs, Southern Baptist missions leaders are focusing resources on the largest of Chinese cities - including more than 100 that have populations surpassing 1 million people.   That means entire cities as large as New Orleans are "too small" to be placed on the Southern Baptist International Mission Board priority city listings.   These "medium-sized" cities have growing populations - but only a handful of local Christians and no concerted witness.   However, a new strategy may help change that, missions leaders say.   Under the approach, individual Southern Baptist churches are beginning to adopt the "medium-sized" Chinese cities - and make a commitment to do all they can to share the gospel with their residents.   In the last six months, three churches have … [Read more...]

Southern Baptists have made it undeniably clear that they take the Great Commission charge to carry the gospel to the world literally - and seriously. Southern Baptists have made it undeniably clear that they take the Great Commission charge to carry the gospel to the world literally - and seriously. Half of their Cooperative Program receipts go for international missions. Another 20 percent or so is used for North American efforts to share Jesus Christ.   Missions is a highlight emphasis at annual conventions. Through the years, missions has served as a guaranteed rallying point. Indeed, next to the Cooperative Program, perhaps the most recognizable Southern Baptist effort in history is Bold Mission Thrust, the name given to the denomination’s 25-year effort to fulfill the daunting challenge of the Great Commission.   Make no mistake - Southern Baptists are committed to missions.   Make no mistake as well - the task they have assumed is no small one.   Indeed, recent figures offer both motivation - and reason for concern.   First, the good news.   Christianity is the globe’s largest religion, claiming 1.9 billion followers - or 31 percent of the … [Read more...]

The man and woman were scurrying around, tidying up the area beside the bridge. The bridge was in a remote area of the state that sees considerable traffic caused by people trying to get from one more inhabited area to another. Almost no one comes here except on the way to somewhere else. The man and woman were scurrying around, tidying up the area beside the bridge. The bridge was in a remote area of the state that sees considerable traffic caused by people trying to get from one more inhabited area to another. Almost no one comes here except on the way to somewhere else.   The area by the bridge holds several crosses. They are part of an increasing phenomenon across our state. More and more people chose to make a place of death a place of memorial.   Such roadside memorials cause mixed emotions with me. Perhaps this is because I have never talked with a person who has made these memorials to understand their motivations. It may be because, thankfully, none of my loved ones have died in a car crash. But whatever the motivation, more folks seem to want to put crosses where others have died in an automobile accident.   The loved ones of someone who had died at the scene of this bridge … [Read more...]

Abdul’s family almost beat him to death when he turned his back on Allah. Only his mother’s love - and God’s grace - spared his life, he says. Abdul’s family almost beat him to death when he turned his back on Allah. Only his mother’s love - and God’s grace - spared his life, he says.   Even 18 years later, Abdul says he risks his life every day in his native Bangladesh by urging other Muslims to accept Christ as Savior.   Abdul told his story on a recent trip to Texas, where he visited Baptist churches that are supporting Christian ministry among Bengali Muslims. "Abdul" is not his real name. He uses it to hide his real identity in order to protect his life and the lives of other Christians, he says.   Located on the northeastern border of India, Bangladesh is about the size of Arkansas. But it is home to 150 million people - 87 percent of them Muslim. Another 10 percent are Hindu, and fewer than 1 percent profess to be Christian.   "In Bangladesh, we have had the idea that no Muslim can become a Christian," Abdul says. "That idea already has been changed. People are coming to the faith."   But the journey is long, hard and often dangerous, he notes, recounting … [Read more...]

Citing the urgency to reach out and disciple youth in the postmodern culture, A Southern Baptist leader recently listed 10 trends he said youth ministry leaders must understand. Citing the urgency to reach out and disciple youth in the postmodern culture, A Southern Baptist leader recently listed 10 trends he said youth ministry leaders must understand.   For instance, youth ministers must do their work with the understanding that families are falling apart – "and not just outside the church," said Paul Turner, a worker with LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention   In addition, ministers must understand that loneliness characterizes the lives of many youth, even though they are surrounded by others at school and at church, Turner pointed out during a recent youth ministry conference in Birmingham, Ala.   Third, leaders must realize music is young people’s language, Turner said. "Kids today are grabbing a CD from one of their favorite artists, giving it to one of their friends and saying, ‘This is how I believe,’" he pointed out.   In a fourth trend, Turner reminded youth leaders that boundaries are nonexistent for modern … [Read more...]

Do not look to the Louisiana governor’s office for help in stemming the tidal wave of proposed increased legalized gambling in the state. Mr. Foster has jumped on the Mardi Gras float driven by those who want to increase the presence of legalized gambling in the state. Do not look to the Louisiana governor’s office for help in stemming the tidal wave of proposed increased legalized gambling in the state. Mr. Foster has jumped on the Mardi Gras float driven by those who want to increase the presence of legalized gambling in the state.   Governor Mike Foster ran his first term on a platform that had the bright plank of anti-gambling featured on it. And, for a couple of his first years in office, he spoke forthrightly about the evils of gambling and its negative impact upon the state. He even said gambling was a bad bet for the state’s economy.   Now, Mr. Foster is pushing two major proposals that would significantly increase legalized gambling and the state’s growing addiction to money from legalized gambling.   Governor Foster is now a major proponent of giving the Harrah’s land-based casino owners huge tax breaks from their original agreement. He wants legislators to drastically shrink … [Read more...]