For the week of November 18, 2004 Bible study cartoons   As in previous years, Joe McKeever once again has announced the availability of cartoons to accompany the upcoming Southern Baptist Winter Bible Study on the Gospel of Mark. A total of 32 cartoons is available, said McKeever, director of missions at the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans. The cartoons may be accessed ay www.joemckeever.com and used free of charge by anyone teaching the study. Many teachers reproduce them on transparencies for overhead projection or scan them into computers for display on screens, McKeever noted.   Louisiana missionaries   Four Louisiana Baptist schools placed in the top 50 in the nation in terms of sending summer missionaries through the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board in 2004. Actually, the school ranked in the top 13 when ties are considered among the 50 schools, Louisiana Baptist Collegiate Ministry leader noted. Nicholls State University in Thibodaux tied for 11th place by sending out eight summer missionaries through the North American Mission Board. Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge tied for 12th by sending out seven summer workers. Louisiana State … [Read more...]

Most would say Chuck Norris has reached the pinnacle of success. A six-time world karate champion, he starred as the hero in more than 23 films and wrote and produced his popular television series, "Walker, Texas Ranger." Most would say Chuck Norris has reached the pinnacle of success. A six-time world karate champion, he starred as the hero in more than 23 films and wrote and produced his popular television series, "Walker, Texas Ranger."   However, success could not rescue the Norris family the night they faced a life-threatening crisis.   Norris says he felt absolutely helpless when his wife, Gena, went into pre-term labor with their unborn twins. But he says he also knew he could rely solely on God. He recounts the events of that frightful night in his new autobiography, "Against All Odds: My Story" with Ken Abraham, published by Broadman & Holman.   "I had earned millions of dollars over my lifetime," he says. "I’d been a friend to several presidents, yet all the money in my bank account couldn’t help me now. ... There was only one person to whom I could turn."   It was God. He had been with Norris throughout his life, and this would be no … [Read more...]

That all peoples may know him: For Southern Baptists, the challenge is clear - shine the bright light of the gospel on all the world That all peoples may know him: For Southern Baptists, the challenge is clear - shine the bright light of the gospel on all the world   Where can one find thousands of millionaires - not to mention nine of the world’s richest billionaires as well?   India.   Who makes more movies than Hollywood?   India - by far.   "Bollywood," the vast film industry based in Bombay (now Mumbai) churns out about 1,000 pictures a year, roughly twice as many as Hollywood. Hindi movies burst with melodrama, action, sexy stars and big musical production numbers - and gross $3.5 billion a year worldwide.   Which nation boasts the world’s biggest democracy?   India.   And it still works, as demonstrated by this year’s stunning upset victory by the underdog Congress Party against the ruling Hindu nationalist alliance.   Which country now counts more than 24 million Christians - nearly 19 million of whom are evangelicals?   Right again - India.   If one’s most vivid impressions of India come from … [Read more...]

Forty days this year drastically changed Chesbrough Baptist Church in Kentwood. Forty days this year drastically changed Chesbrough Baptist Church in Kentwood.   As a result of their participation in the 40 Days of Purpose campaign in April and May, the eastern Louisiana church eliminated various committees and formed 25 new ministries.   Pastor John David Stewart said that while 40 Days of Purpose was not the solution to all his church’s problems, the study helped his members think more about serving others.   Developed by Rick Warren, pastor at Saddleback Valley Community Church in Lake Forest, Calif., 40 Days of Purpose is based on "The Purpose-Driven Life," written by Warren. That book invites individuals to undertake a 40-day study to help them understand God’s meaning and purpose for their lives.   "Unbelievable ministries have formed as a result of the study," Stewart said. "The campaign got everyone focused on serving one another. Forty Days (of Purpose) got everyone in tune to focus on the same goal, and the entire church was brought closer together."   Chesbrough is one of many Louisiana Baptist churches who has participated in the 40 Days of Purpose … [Read more...]

David Crosby admits that when he found himself ministering in the inner city of Houston for five years, he sometimes wondered why he was there. David Crosby admits that when he found himself ministering in the inner city of Houston for five years, he sometimes wondered why he was there.   When he served as a city desk reporter for the New Orleans Times Picayune newspaper during his seminary years, he probably wondered what world he had stumbled into at times as well.   But now, one easily can say it was all training for the day when Crosby would find himself as the only fulltime pastor of an Anglo church in the eastern part of Orleans Parish.   As it turns out, that pastorate is First Baptist Church of New Orleans.   As it also turns out, since arriving to the position in 1996, Crosby has led the church to a critical junction - for itself and for the Greater New Orleans area.   "It’s really been a generation since First Baptist Church has been ‘on the map,’ so to speak," Crosby acknowledged recently.   "But now we are again. This all is an effort to put a light on the hill - and we are."   Indeed, whereas it once may have taken initiative to … [Read more...]

Youth ministries must teach teenagers how to reflect the glory of God with their sexuality, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Al Mohler Jr. emphasized recently. Youth ministries must teach teenagers how to reflect the glory of God with their sexuality, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Al Mohler Jr. emphasized recently.   Churches must confront the current crisis of teenage sexuality by teaching youth about the Bible’s comprehensive plan for sex and marriage, Mohler said.   "The church, as the redeemed people of God under the authority of Scripture, is supposed to be the one place where sanity prevails in God-ward terms," he said. "But we’re in big trouble, because so often, we do not begin where the Scripture begins."   Teenagers must understand that God created them as sexual beings so that they could glorify him in that area, Mohler said.   "When we talk about the crisis in sexuality, the first crisis is that most people don’t know where to begin," he said.   "So, let’s just nail that down and say, ‘We’re going to begin with the glory of God,’ so that our message to young people and to their parents is this - we want to help them, … [Read more...]

College students with high levels of religious involvement and commitment tend to be more emotionally and mentally healthy than those with little or no involvement, a study by UCLA’s Higher Education Research Institute indicates. College students with high levels of religious involvement and commitment tend to be more emotionally and mentally healthy than those with little or no involvement, a study by UCLA’s Higher Education Research Institute indicates.   "College can be an unsettling time as students struggle with change and fundamental issues about themselves and the world," UCLA professor Alexander Astin said. "This study suggests religion and spirituality can play a positive role in the mental and emotional health of students."   Students who frequently participate in religious services - compared to non-participants - show much smaller increases in feeling overwhelmed during college.   Non-religious students had a 14 percent increase in feeling overwhelmed, while religious students had a 2 percent increase during college, the study found.   Likewise, just 20 percent of highly-religiously-involved students reported experiencing high levels of psychological distress, … [Read more...]