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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD

WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Executive Board to clarify the relationship of the Directors of Missions to the various associations and reaffirm the autonomy of the various associations;   BE IT RESOLVED, that the Executive Board of the Louisiana Baptist Convention rescinds any previously adopted recommendation for employing and calling a Director of Missions and adopts the following employment options: WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Executive Board to clarify the relationship of the Directors of Missions to the various associations and reaffirm the autonomy of the various associations;   BE IT RESOLVED, that the Executive Board of the Louisiana Baptist Convention rescinds any previously adopted recommendation for employing and calling a Director of Missions and adopts the following employment options:   Option One: That the associations employ, supervise and pay the salary and expenses of the Director of Missions of their choice.   Option Two: That the associations enter into a contract with the Executive Board of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, whereby the Executive Board would employ the Directors of Missions.   BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Executive … [Read more...]

Revamped DOM proposal set for convention action

Within days, Louisiana Baptists will be asked to approve a revamped director of missions proposal, outlining the role of the state and local associations in the process.   Action on the proposal at the upcoming state convention will culminate some 10 months of study, discussion and debate about how associational directors of missions should be employed, paid and administered. Within days, Louisiana Baptists will be asked to approve a revamped director of missions proposal, outlining the role of the state and local associations in the process.   Action on the proposal at the upcoming state convention will culminate some 10 months of study, discussion and debate about how associational directors of missions should be employed, paid and administered.   And while it appeared a few weeks ago that the issue would be a divisive one, it looks now like the revamped proposal is being viewed favorably by most concerned.   "Any real or perceived problems about the relationship of directors of missions to both the association and state convention have been studied and addressed, and an adequate recommendation has been made," maintained Dean Doster, executive director of the Louisiana … [Read more...]

Weekly Announcements

For the week of October 31, 2002 Potpourri • DENHAM SPRINGS - Hebron church: Marty Haggard in concert; Nov. 2, 5 p.m.; Rob Burns, pastor.   • LAFAYETTE - First church: "In His Hands" seminar for men/women; Nov. 9, 9 a.m. registration; $15 per person/includes lunch; Rachel Norris, Beau Guidry and Mary Langford, guest speakers; for information or tickets, call (337) 233-1774 ext. 3039 or Annette Smith at (337) 981-2352; Perry Sanders, pastor.   • JONESVILLE - First church: Face Down in concert; Nov. 9, 7 p.m.; Gary Norris, interim pastor.   • BENTON - Cypress church: "Judgement House" walk through drama; Oct. 30, Nov. 2-3, 6-9 p.m.; tours begin every 10 minutes; $2 donation; for information, call (318) 965-9233; Richard Young, pastor.   • RINGGOLD - Springhill church: Down East Boys in concert; Nov. 2, 7 p.m.; Eric Hodge, pastor. Revival • RAYVILLE - Eastside church: Oct. 30 - Nov. 3, 7 p.m. with homecoming services Nov. 3, 10:50 p.m.; Ed Blankenship, evangelist; Kyle Coates, pastor.   • WINNFIELD - First church: Nov. 10, 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.; Nov. 11-13, 11:45 a.m. service with lunch to follow and 7 p.m.; Larry Ramsour, evangelist; Phillip Willis, music; Lindsey … [Read more...]

Work on Shroud of Turin sparks controversy

Secret restoration work on the Shroud of Turin has set off heated debate between the custodian of what some consider Christianity’s most sacred relic and scientists studying its authenticity.   Cardinal Severino Poletto of Turin announced recently that experts had "rejuvenated" the shroud, which is preserved in a bulletproof aluminum and crystal casket in Turin’s Renaissance Cathedral of St. John. Secret restoration work on the Shroud of Turin has set off heated debate between the custodian of what some consider Christianity’s most sacred relic and scientists studying its authenticity.   Cardinal Severino Poletto of Turin announced recently that experts had "rejuvenated" the shroud, which is preserved in a bulletproof aluminum and crystal casket in Turin’s Renaissance Cathedral of St. John.   "I believe they were well intentioned," said William Meacham, a University of Hong Kong archaeologist. "I also believe that they made a terrible mistake."   Many Christians revere the 17-foot-long linen sheet bearing the outline - like a photographic negative - of the body and face of a bearded man. They insist the shroud is the winding-sheet in which Jesus was wrapped after his … [Read more...]

Earliest-ever reference to Jesus found on first century box

A limestone bone box dating to about 63 A.D. is being heralded as "the only New Testament-era mention of the central figure of Christianity," the Biblical Archaeology Review reports. It is "the first-ever archaeological discovery to corroborate biblical references to Jesus," the journal states. A limestone bone box dating to about 63 A.D. is being heralded as "the only New Testament-era mention of the central figure of Christianity," the Biblical Archaeology Review reports. It is "the first-ever archaeological discovery to corroborate biblical references to Jesus," the journal states. It may be the most important find in the history of New Testament archaeology," added Hershel Shanks, editor of Biblical Archaeology Review. The existence of the box - roughly 20 inches long, 10 inches wide and 12 inches high - was announced Oct. 21. It apparently once contained the bones of James, brother of Jesus. An inscription on the box reads, "James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus." An extensive article about the limestone box - called an "ossuary" - appears in the November-December issue of the Biblical Archaeology Review. The journal’s Web site at www.bib-arch.org notes: "The family relationships contained on the new … [Read more...]

Not quite brainless – and, at last, there now is proof

For those who thought this editor brainless, there is proof otherwise. How good a brain is still questionable - and what doctors and technicians found shows little sign of use.   For three weeks, doctors and technicians photographed, x-rayed, echo-grammed, electro-magneticized and finally drilled through my skull - not just to find my brain but to find the cause of some funny stuff going on in there. For those who thought this editor brainless, there is proof otherwise. How good a brain is still questionable - and what doctors and technicians found shows little sign of use.   For three weeks, doctors and technicians photographed, x-rayed, echo-grammed, electro-magneticized and finally drilled through my skull - not just to find my brain but to find the cause of some funny stuff going on in there.   Turns out they found an abscess fairly deep in the right hand side of the brain - "About the size of a chicken egg ..." Well, I know I have laid many eggs in my day but never thought I would end up with one in my brain. The neurologists did assure me such abscesses are rare and that in all their practice of medicine, they had never seen one this large.   Hey, if you are going to … [Read more...]

Weekly Briefs

For the week of September 12, 2002 Cooperative Program Gifts through the Southern Baptist Cooperative Program totaled almost $16 million last month, an increase of $1.4 million (9.6 percent) from the previous August. With just one month remaining in the convention’s fiscal year, overall receipts total $167.9 million, an increase of more than $7.3 million (4.6 percent) from the same time last year. The total also stands $4.5 million (2.8 percent) ahead of budget. Meanwhile, designated gifts totaled almost $4 million last month, a decrease of more than $1.7 million (31 percent) from the previous August. For the fiscal year, designated gifts total almost $167 million, an increase of $146,438 (0.1 percent) from the same time last year. Second suit The atheist who made legal news when he asked an appeals court to remove "under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance is now trying to have chaplains removed from the U.S. Congress. Michael Newdow of Sacramento, Calif., has filed suit in federal district court in Washington, claiming that it is unconstitutional for taxpayer-funded chaplains to minister to lawmakers and pray in Congress. "If congressmen want to go to church, (then) walk down the block like other Americans do … [Read more...]

Great concern

It is with great concern that I write these lines. For over 50 years, I have been closely associated with our Baptist work in the states of Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. It is with great concern that I write these lines. For over 50 years, I have been closely associated with our Baptist work in the states of Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. All directors of missions, as they are now called, have tremendous responsibilities. Louisiana is a state which really should be reviewed extremely carefully because of her uniqueness. There are many small areas, especially in South Louisiana, as well as larger areas such as New Orleans helped by DOMs, that have financial problems. Perhaps the Golden Rule needs to be applied! How would those who want changes in this work feel if they walked in the shoes of a DOM? "If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it," and from where I sit, most DOMs are doing a good job in spite of daily problems facing them. I feel this is not time for the changes. What would Jesus do? Ella May Causey Oak Grove … [Read more...]

Marriage restoration

Thank you for your editorial on divorce. I have been separated (his choice, not mine) from my husband for seven years but feel that God wants me to stand for my marriage. Many friends and family members tell me I should get on with my life. I made a commitment, and I know God hates divorce. If nothing else, it shows my sons that I believe in marriage and commitment. Thank you for your editorial on divorce. I have been separated (his choice, not mine) from my husband for seven years but feel that God wants me to stand for my marriage. Many friends and family members tell me I should get on with my life. I made a commitment, and I know God hates divorce. If nothing else, it shows my sons that I believe in marriage and commitment.   There are two great ministries - Rejoice Ministries and Restorem Ministries - that encourage marriage restoration. They have testimonies from many restored marriages. I wish that churches would preach commitment and restoration more and acceptance of divorce less.   Thank you again for following God’s plan for marriage.   Name withheld by editor … [Read more...]

Missing ingredient in 9/11 response has been repentance

Can we be surprised that the rush of church attendance and other outward turnings to God witnessed shortly after 9/11/2001 have faded with each passing day?   We felt good that people many of whom previously had little use for religion and only fleeting thoughts about God found their ways to houses of worship immediately after 9/11/01. Can we be surprised that the rush of church attendance and other outward turnings to God witnessed shortly after 9/11/2001 have faded with each passing day?   We felt good that people many of whom previously had little use for religion and only fleeting thoughts about God found their ways to houses of worship immediately after 9/11/01. Editors fill the media with accounts of public officials and others invoking God and calls for at virtually every public gathering. The citizenry nodded their approval. Churches across the nation, including those in Louisiana, were filled. For a few weeks, there was talk of a national spiritual revival.   Within a few weeks, American troops decimated the people who harbored those who caused our insecurities and fears, so our nation could again count on our armed strength, leaving fear and insecurity in the dust of our … [Read more...]