My, my. Now, was that nice?   Football fans gathered in the Cleveland stadium a couple of weeks ago to watch their beloved Cleveland Browns battle the Jacksonville Jaguars. (Don’t you love the war terminology and analogies we use to describe football?) My, my. Now, was that nice?   Football fans gathered in the Cleveland stadium a couple of weeks ago to watch their beloved Cleveland Browns battle the Jacksonville Jaguars. (Don’t you love the war terminology and analogies we use to describe football?)   Cleveland fans did not like the referee’s decision, which is not at all unusual for sports fans. What fans do like the referee’s decision when it goes against their team?   But the Cleveland fans went beyond not liking the call. They obviously had their fan training at Little League games. The irate fans showed their displeasure not by throwing their voices but by throwing just about anything physical that was small and/or large enough to be hurled from their rented seats to the playing field.   It seems a little more than ironic that most of the missiles primarily were previously used to hold beer. Glass drink bottles have been outlawed at most major sporting … [Read more...]

Potatoes. More than one could ever imagine - more than 200 different varieties, in fact.   Potatoes are everywhere - on trucks, in barrels at the open markets, on vendors’ tables at the side of the road and in the hand of a child who eats potatoes like apples. Potatoes. More than one could ever imagine - more than 200 different varieties, in fact.   Potatoes are everywhere - on trucks, in barrels at the open markets, on vendors’ tables at the side of the road and in the hand of a child who eats potatoes like apples.   Here, in Bolivia around Lake Titicaca, and at nearly 14,000 feet above sea level, is where the potato originated.   It is practically an agricultural miracle that anything grows here at all. The windswept Altiplano (High Plane) is either dust-bowl dry or subject to flash flooding. Little topsoil covers the rock in which potatoes are grown. This would be one of the wealthiest places in the world, if there were a market for dust and rock.   Instead, it is one of the poorest.   This is home to the Aymara an indigenous people group surviving here for more than 1,000 years. But survival on the Alti-plano today is even more difficult, leading … [Read more...]

For the week of January 3, 2002 Religious influence Although church attendance has returned to levels of last spring, a survey by The Pew Research Center indicates the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks have increased the prominence of religion in this country to an extraordinary degree. "Fully 78 percent now say religion’s influence in American life is growing - up from 37 percent eight months ago and the highest mark on this measure in surveys dating back four decades," the Pew Center reported from a November survey. In a 1957 Gallup survey, 69 percent of those surveyed said the influence of religion was increasing, but that number has never exceeded 45 percent since then. Among other findings, 44 percent of survey respondents said they are praying more. That is down from the 69 percent who said the same immediately after the terrorist attacks in September. Meanwhile, the number of people who regard religion as "very important" to them personally was virtually unchanged from the previous March, standing at 61 percent. Asked whether the terrorist attacks are a sign that God no longer is protecting the United States as much as in the past, 73 percent of respondents rejected that possibility. Child’s response Like many … [Read more...]

Celebrating what was hailed as "a successful conclusion to a 25-year struggle," Tom Hebert Road Mission became Tom Hebert Road Baptist Church the last month of 2001. Celebrating what was hailed as "a successful conclusion to a 25-year struggle," Tom Hebert Road Mission became Tom Hebert Road Baptist Church the last month of 2001.   The south Lake Charles congregation that started as a mission in 1979 "has experienced many low points," according to observers. Still, the commitment of one lady, its sponsoring church, the state missions division "and especially the blessings of God" finally birthed a new and flourishing church.   When Chris Fuselier became mission pastor three and one-half years ago, attendance was "about eight in Sunday School and 15 in worship," he recalls. "They were meeting only in the education building because they could not afford to pay the utilities if they met in the auditorium."   But that was by no means the lowest point in the mission’s history. When Ed Simmons became pastor of Sale Street Baptist Church, the mission’s sponsoring church, he met with the mission congregation. First Baptist Church of Maplewood co-sponsored the mission in its early days but … [Read more...]

For the week of January 3, 2002 Potpourri • OAK GROVE - First church: a dinner theatre,"Catacombs," presented by the youth creative arts team; Jan. 26-27, 6:30 p.m.; and Jan. 30, 6:30 p.m.; tickets $5.00, includes meal/theatre; limited seating; for more information call (318) 428-2583; James Parker, pastor. • BETHANY - Camp Bethany: youth winter retreat; Jan. 19-20; Troy Terrell, speaker; Paul Stagges, music; cost is $50.00; for more information call (318) 938-1221; Warren Jackson, director; Robert Cole, camp manager. Retirements • MANSFIELD - First church: William T. Crosby retired as of Dec. 31, 2001, after 23 and one-half years of service. He has established a storefront ministry, a prayer ministry, a television ministry and served on the executive board of the SBC and LBC. Ordinations • LEESVILLE - Calvary church: Darrell B. Willis to gospel ministry; T. J. Crosby, pastor. • MONROE - Parkview church: Chris Hudson to deacon ministry; Jan. 13, 10:30 a.m.; Lee McGlone, pastor. Ministers Needed • MANSFIELD - First church: full-time pastor; send resumes to: Mansfield First Baptist Church, Attn: Pastor Search Committee, 1710 McArthur Dr., Mansfield, LA 71052. Available • NEW ORLEANS - Kevin Richard; … [Read more...]

As the United States continues its fight against terrorism, some observers are expressing caution that they not sacrifice religious freedom in the process.   Meanwhile, an administration official has insisted the United States has not turned "a blind eye" to religious persecution during its fight against terrorism. As the United States continues its fight against terrorism, some observers are expressing caution that they not sacrifice religious freedom in the process.   Meanwhile, an administration official has insisted the United States has not turned "a blind eye" to religious persecution during its fight against terrorism.   Late last year, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom asked President George Bush to heed religious freedom concerns as he worked to fight terrorism and to establish a new government in Afghanistan.   "The commission believes strongly that the United States needs to be laying the groundwork now for a future Afghanistan that respects the rights of all persons - including the right to freedom of religion and belief - and strengthens elements of religious tolerance," the letter urges.   Indeed, many of the American allies … [Read more...]

Mark Wingfield, Texas Baptist Standard   Evil is making a comeback in an America jarred from complacency by Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.   Once considered passé by many mainstream Christians, fundamental questions about the nature of good and evil are now showing up not only in churches, but also in front pages and television talk shows. Evil is making a comeback in an America jarred from complacency by Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.   Once considered passé by many mainstream Christians, fundamental questions about the nature of good and evil are now showing up not only in churches, but also in front pages and television talk shows.   Recent events have renewed talk about cosmic evil, a problem that has confounded theologians for centuries but which some say has become neglected in modern society’s "I’m OK, you’re OK" philosophy.   "I see this in one tragic way as the vindication of the Christian position on the nature of human beings," says Steven Davis, professor of philosophy at Claremont-McKenna College in California.   Sept. 11 proved "a real wakeup call for educated people around the world," the Presbyterian professor says. "A lot of educated and … [Read more...]

Pasqual Quispe rises early and walks to the park near his house in La Paz, Bolivia.   He waits there with dozens of men, hoping one of the passing trucks will hire him for the day. Jobs vary, when he lands one. Most days, he returns home unemployed. Pasqual Quispe rises early and walks to the park near his house in La Paz, Bolivia.   He waits there with dozens of men, hoping one of the passing trucks will hire him for the day. Jobs vary, when he lands one. Most days, he returns home unemployed.   His wife, Justina, leaves home shortly after 5 a.m. She takes a bus across town to buy butchered chickens and various beef cuts. She returns by 7 a.m. to a tiny booth in a market to sell the meats.   After a short break in early afternoon, she works until 9 p.m. She eats, goes to bed, and repeats the grind the next day.   Every day, living is hand to mouth. It is faithfully hoping for daily bread.   "It is very difficult because we make little money, and in the afternoon, we hope we will have food to eat for supper," Quispe says. "We trust in God that he will provide, and he always seems to."   It’s a hard life - a sacrificial life - the Quispes … [Read more...]