Representatives of five world religions compared notes on God, evil and eternity in a recent panel discussion at Houston Baptist University.   More than 250 students attended the three-hour World Religions Forum, which organizers said was planned to foster understanding. At the gathering, speakers addressed three questions: Who is God? Why is there evil and suffering in this life? What is the ultimate destiny of human life? Representatives of five world religions compared notes on God, evil and eternity in a recent panel discussion at Houston Baptist University.   More than 250 students attended the three-hour World Religions Forum, which organizers said was planned to foster understanding. At the gathering, speakers addressed three questions: Who is God? Why is there evil and suffering in this life? What is the ultimate destiny of human life?   The Jewish perspective was represented by Rabbi Stuart Federow, spiritual leader of Shaar Hashalom in Clear Lake City, Texas. He said the Hebrew Scriptures reveal a God who is one, indivisible, unique, without form, omnipotent and different from man.   "We are to love God, obey God, to be ever conscious about God and loyal to God," … [Read more...]

Leaders of Southern Baptist Convention agencies continue to batten down the doctrinal hatches of the denomination. This editor imagines that there are only two or three more hatches to be battened down to complete the purposes of the Southern Baptist Convention leadership.   Jerry Rankin, President of the Southern Baptist International Mission Board, sent a letter to all missionaries under appointment of that agency requiring them to sign an affirmation of the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message. Leaders of Southern Baptist Convention agencies continue to batten down the doctrinal hatches of the denomination. This editor imagines that there are only two or three more hatches to be battened down to complete the purposes of the Southern Baptist Convention leadership.   Jerry Rankin, President of the Southern Baptist International Mission Board, sent a letter to all missionaries under appointment of that agency requiring them to sign an affirmation of the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message.   Rankin’s action comes after saying earlier that missionaries would not be required to sign an affirmation of the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message. Rather, they would be required to say they will work within … [Read more...]

Parking and Walkways   • Are there clearly-marked accessible parking spaces close to the church building?   • Can one get from a parked car into the building without going up or down steps?   • Are walks at least 48 inches wide with a gradient no greater than 5 percent?   • Do walks have a level platform at the door that is five-feet-by-five-feet and extends at least one foot beyond each side of the door?   Ramps and Stairs   • Do ramps have a slope no greater than one foot in 12 feet and a width no less than 36 inches?   • Do ramps have handrails on at least one side 32 inches above the surface? ... Is your church disability-friendly?   Parking and Walkways   • Are there clearly-marked accessible parking spaces close to the church building?   • Can one get from a parked car into the building without going up or down steps?   • Are walks at least 48 inches wide with a gradient no greater than 5 percent?   • Do walks have a level platform at the door that is five-feet-by-five-feet and extends at least one foot beyond each side of the door?   Ramps and Stairs   • Do … [Read more...]

Removing barriers in church environments - both figuratively and literally - is a crusade Bob Anderson looks forward to on a daily basis.   It is the focus of his work as director of the religion and disability program at Lakeshore Foundation in Birmingham, Ala., an eight-year-old nonprofit organization addresses issues dealing with individuals with physical disabilities. Removing barriers in church environments - both figuratively and literally - is a crusade Bob Anderson looks forward to on a daily basis.   It is the focus of his work as director of the religion and disability program at Lakeshore Foundation in Birmingham, Ala., an eight-year-old nonprofit organization addresses issues dealing with individuals with physical disabilities.   "Our mission is to provide opportunities for people with physical disabilities to live healthy, active lifestyles and participate fully in their community," Anderson explains.   As the former chaplain at a rehabilitative hospital, Anderson says he became acutely aware of the many challenges individuals with physical disabilities face in the able-bodied world.   He says he especially was in tune with the limited … [Read more...]

American teenagers overall have a fairly strong sense of conscience, a recent Gallup poll indicates.   And as a boost to those who emphasize the importance of church involvement for young people, those who attend religious services report an even more-developed sense of right and wrong, the poll shows. American teenagers overall have a fairly strong sense of conscience, a recent Gallup poll indicates.   And as a boost to those who emphasize the importance of church involvement for young people, those who attend religious services report an even more-developed sense of right and wrong, the poll shows.   In the recently-released poll, American youth (ages 13-17) were given a list of items and asked to indicate if they would feel guilty or not guilty about committing them - "even if nobody else knew about it."   The results were both encouraging and frightening, with majorities saying they would feel guilty about any of the items but those majorities shrinking when it came to pornography, cheating, cursing and sex.   Indeed, across the board, those four areas rank the lowest as guilt-inducing behaviors, with having sex before marriage ranked the … [Read more...]

The plans students from Louisiana State University’s Baptist Campus Ministry had made for their trip to New York during Christmas pretty well fell through.   But that turned out to be not so bad. The plans students from Louisiana State University’s Baptist Campus Ministry had made for their trip to New York during Christmas pretty well fell through.   But that turned out to be not so bad.   The group originally was scheduled to spend a day at Staten Island helping a Southern Baptist North American Mission Board church planter begin a new church.   Some members from the group were also to visit Ground Zero to distribute "relief phone numbers" from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and to be open to counsel people. Those same group members also were scheduled to work in a store operated by Samaritan’s Purse that allowed family members’ victims to shop for their Christmas presents at no cost.   But cold and rainy conditions stopped the outside activities at the church-starting site, so those students were forced to look for another avenue of missions work, since that entire day was set aside for the activity.   Their cancelled plans led to team … [Read more...]

By the time a Louisiana Baptist mass choir performs "Experiencing God: The Musical" in Lafayette on March 15, thousands will have heard it across the state.   And no one knows how many lives will have been touched by the presentations, said Jim Faull, Louisiana Baptist church and music development director. By the time a Louisiana Baptist mass choir performs "Experiencing God: The Musical" in Lafayette on March 15, thousands will have heard it across the state.   And no one knows how many lives will have been touched by the presentations, said Jim Faull, Louisiana Baptist church and music development director.   "This (musical) is a great way to model how worship should be," Faull said. "God is the focus and not the people.   "It’s been good for our state."   The concluding performance of the "Experiencing God" musical is scheduled for March 15 at 7 p.m. in the Heymann Performing Arts Center in Lafayette.   The performance will cap a year-and-a-half tour of the state, in which choirs have presented the musical in eight locations.   Every performance attracted a "packed house," Faull noted. The largest crowd came during the state Evangelism … [Read more...]

The number of persons with disabilities in the United States is on the rise, statistics indicate - the question is whether the church is making itself and its ministries accessible to them   When Austin Tucker talks about the importance of making churches accessible to persons with dis-abilities, one listens.   It is evident that Tucker has firsthand knowledge. Since 1994, the Louisiana Baptist preacher has experienced life from a wheelchair, paralyzed from the waist down as a result of a fall from a pine tree. The number of persons with disabilities in the United States is on the rise, statistics indicate - the question is whether the church is making itself and its ministries accessible to them   When Austin Tucker talks about the importance of making churches accessible to persons with dis-abilities, one listens.   It is evident that Tucker has firsthand knowledge. Since 1994, the Louisiana Baptist preacher has experienced life from a wheelchair, paralyzed from the waist down as a result of a fall from a pine tree.   In ways, it is a miracle that Tucker even survived the fall and the damage to his spinal cord and ribs. It is as much of a miracle that Tucker … [Read more...]

For the week of February 28, 2002 Potpourri   • ABBEVILLE - First church: Southern Lights and Chris Burney in concert; March 15, 7 p.m.; Sheri Young, ventriloquist, special guest; $5 per person; Noah Lang-ley, interim pastor.   • ZACHARY - First church: area wide Sunday school training session; "Disciplemaking Teachers," March 11, 6:30 p.m.; "How To Double Your Church in Five Years or Less," March 12, 9 a.m.; Josh Hunt, seminar leader; T. W. Terrell, interim pastor.   • OAKDALE - Trinity church: adult retreat; March 15, 6:30 - 9 p.m.; March 16, 9 a.m. - noon; Bill and Joanne Riddick, guest speakers; Tony Robinson, pastor.   • LEESVILLE - Castor church: One Reason in concert; March 1, 7 p.m.; David Willis, pastor.   • HOUMA - Mulberry church: "Every Little Crook and Nanny" drama; March, 15-16, 7 p.m.; March 17, 4 p.m.; $5 for tickets, for ticket information call (985) 876-3204; Charlie Vandercook, director; Tommy Harrell, pastor.   • WISNER - First church: The Hemphills in concert; March 3, 11 a.m.; Thomas Peoples, pastor.   • START - Start church: deacon ministry conference sponsored by Caldwell, Richland and Deer Creek Associations; March 14, … [Read more...]

Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee members have proposed a new procedure for submitting resolutions to the denomination’s annual meeting.   The new procedure was approved during the committee’s scheduled meeting last week and will be submitted to convention messengers in June for approval. Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee members have proposed a new procedure for submitting resolutions to the denomination’s annual meeting.   The new procedure was approved during the committee’s scheduled meeting last week and will be submitted to convention messengers in June for approval.   Among the proposed changes:   • The Resolutions Committee will be selected 75 days prior to the annual meeting, instead of the current 45 days.   • Proposed resolutions may be submitted as early as April 15 but no later than 15 days prior to the annual meeting. No resolutions can be introduced at the convention.   • Proposed resolutions must be accompanied by a letter from a church qualified to send a messenger to the annual convention, certifying that the individual submitting the resolution is a member in good standing. However, the person … [Read more...]