While many poverty-stricken people of Louisiana struggle to survive, Louisiana Baptists are doing their part to help at least some of those in need by providing hope and care centers.   These ministry centers operate to meet clothing, food and other needs that arise for those living at or below the poverty level.   The centers operate out of storefronts in many locations around the state. While many poverty-stricken people of Louisiana struggle to survive, Louisiana Baptists are doing their part to help at least some of those in need by providing hope and care centers.   These ministry centers operate to meet clothing, food and other needs that arise for those living at or below the poverty level.   The centers operate out of storefronts in many locations around the state.   Other services some of the centers offer include English as a Second Language training, reading and writing programs, pregnancy counseling and tutoring of school children.   Louisiana Baptist Convention Director of Mission Ministries John Hebert said the hope and care centers "were created in response to a need.   "We had more impoverished people in the state per … [Read more...]

As it has with other segments of society, the Internet now may be changing the face of organized religion.   However, what is not so certain is what the changes are - and what they will mean.   "Only God knows what the future will be like for religion on the Internet, ..." said Scott Thumma, a staff person with the Hartford Institute for Religion Research. As it has with other segments of society, the Internet now may be changing the face of organized religion.   However, what is not so certain is what the changes are - and what they will mean.   "Only God knows what the future will be like for religion on the Internet, ..." said Scott Thumma, a staff person with the Hartford Institute for Religion Research.   "And there are times that I think even God is a bit baffled by it," he quipped in a spring address at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.   Joking aside, Thumma suggested the Internet could impact the dynamics of local congregations, even a church’s identity.   However, the Internet phenomenon still is in its early stages as far as religion is concerned - and it will be several years before observers will be able to gauge … [Read more...]

There is no denying that the Internet has opened a wide world of information for users - including when it comes to religion and spirituality.   Unfortunately, of course, there is no denying that sex currently rules online, with millions of pornographic sites available to the undisciplined surfer.   And just as unfortunate, there is no denying that the very nature of the Internet creates problems. There is no denying that the Internet has opened a wide world of information for users - including when it comes to religion and spirituality.   Unfortunately, of course, there is no denying that sex currently rules online, with millions of pornographic sites available to the undisciplined surfer.   And just as unfortunate, there is no denying that the very nature of the Internet creates problems.   After all, anyone can post anything at all, which means it is left to the visitor to determine if the information made available is reliable or not.   In addition, the very manner of searching about a particular topic can be troublesome. For example, searching for "Christianity" may return a few millions sites - but how many are pro-Christian and how many are … [Read more...]

Re: Teen sexual activity report (Baptist Message, April 15, 2002, Page Two) Re: Teen sexual activity report (Baptist Message, April 15, 2002, Page Two)   The questions being asked of teenagers in these surveys are worded in such a way that we get false results. "Are you having sex?" To the average teenager, that means sexual intercourse. They (like a former president) don’t consider anything else sex.   As a pregnancy resource counselor, I deal with hundreds of clients a month, many of them teenagers, and they think that abstinence is "how far can I go without intercourse?"   We need to ask the right questions to get the whole picture.   April Bolgiano Leesville … [Read more...]

For the week of August 29, 2002 Potpourri • SHREVEPORT - Pinecroft church: True Heart in concert; Sept. 8, 10:45 a.m.; Gary Melanson, minister of music; Marty J. Wright, pastor.   • BOGALUSA - Superior Avenue church: "Miracle Mondays," at 6 p.m.; guest speakers are as follows: Sept. 9- Chuck Kelley; Sept. 16- R. Alan Jackson; Sept. 23- Leo Day; Sept. 30- Waylon Bailey; J. T. Wright, Jr., pastor.   • FOREST HILL - Calvary church: Mark Lanier in concert; Sept. 1, 6 p.m.; Mike Evans, minister of music; Joel McMickin, pastor.   • DRY CREEK - Dry Creek camp: "See You at the Pole" rally; Sept. 14, 5:30-8:30 p.m.; bring picnic lunch; recreation activities available during picnic; for information, call (337) 328-7531; Curt Iles, camp manager.   • RAYVILLE - Eastside church: "Chalk Art for Christ" presentation; Aug. 31, 7 p.m.; Kyle Coates, pastor.   • HARRISONBURG - First church: "Kingdom Family" rally; Sept. 7, 7 p.m.; J.J. Jasper, from American Family Radio, to speak; Ralph Webber, pastor. Revivals • CAMERON - Johnson Bayou church: Sept. 8, 10:45 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.; Sept. 9-11, 7 p.m.; Jack Daniels, evangelist; Greg Trahan, music; Les Fogleman, pastor.   • … [Read more...]

Amid the rolling hills of rural southwest Ohio, four high schools feature identical sets of five monuments placed neatly in front of their new buildings.   Each of the tombstone-like monuments highlights a different legal code, such as the Declaration of Independence and the Magna Carta. But the monument in the center is the one that has sparked controversy - the one with the Ten Commandments etched in granite. Amid the rolling hills of rural southwest Ohio, four high schools feature identical sets of five monuments placed neatly in front of their new buildings.   Each of the tombstone-like monuments highlights a different legal code, such as the Declaration of Independence and the Magna Carta. But the monument in the center is the one that has sparked controversy - the one with the Ten Commandments etched in granite.   The monuments were donated by a private group of ministers and laypeople. School officials contend they belong there and have appealed a June district court decision declaring them unconstitutional.   "Our belief is that the monuments are there not primarily as a religious statement but as a historical reminder of our system of law and government in the … [Read more...]

Only a few days after the Sept. 11 terror attacks, Bill Curington went to New York to serve meals to survivors and rescue workers near the smoking ruins of the World Trade Center.   That earned the Southern Baptist disaster relief veteran pats on the back from friends back home in Tennessee. But when he announced he was heading to Israel in late June to deliver food to needy Palestinian families in bullet-riddled Gaza, some folks questioned his sanity. Only a few days after the Sept. 11 terror attacks, Bill Curington went to New York to serve meals to survivors and rescue workers near the smoking ruins of the World Trade Center.   That earned the Southern Baptist disaster relief veteran pats on the back from friends back home in Tennessee. But when he announced he was heading to Israel in late June to deliver food to needy Palestinian families in bullet-riddled Gaza, some folks questioned his sanity.   "They said, ‘You’re crazy! I wouldn’t go,’" Curington recalls.   Friends warned him about terrorists and suicide bombers, about getting caught in Israeli-Palestinian gun battles. A family member begged him to make "real sure" he heard the voice of God before … [Read more...]

Enjoy what you do, and there is no telling what you might achieve.   Take Feynman Dyson, for instance. Professor Dyson was (I assume "was" is the correct term, although I am not certain of his death) a significant scientist. Feynman Dyson, among other significant scientific accomplishments, helped figure out why the Challenger blew up. Earlier, he helped develop the atomic bomb. Enjoy what you do, and there is no telling what you might achieve.   Take Feynman Dyson, for instance. Professor Dyson was (I assume "was" is the correct term, although I am not certain of his death) a significant scientist. Feynman Dyson, among other significant scientific accomplishments, helped figure out why the Challenger blew up. Earlier, he helped develop the atomic bomb.   After atomic bombs were dropped on cities of Japan, World War II ended. Citizens of the United States rejoiced because no more American lives would be lost trying to defeat those forces of tyranny.   When the war ended, however, Feynman Dyson became depressed. His first wife had just died of tuberculosis, and, he began to experience a fuller understanding of the awful destructive power of the bomb he had helped make. He … [Read more...]