The rash of school shootings in recent years caused some Americans to reexamine life’s priorities. The events of September 11 caused us all to rearrange priorities. The rash of school shootings in recent years caused some Americans to reexamine life’s priorities. The events of September 11 caused us all to rearrange priorities.   We have bowed at the altar of the almighty dollar, paid homage to a culture of pleasure and exalted the virtues of materialism. We have devalued the importance of human life, reduced its immeasurable beauty and wonder to statistical measures and redefined human worth in terms of productivity. We have neglected proper worship of God and have confined him to a spiritual dustbin to be opened only in case of a wedding or funeral, if at all.   Events expose the fallacy of moral relativism. We saw the face of EVIL, and it was horrid beyond our wildest nightmares. Surely no thinking person could observe such an event and opine that some absolute standard of good and evil does not exist in the world. Our nation has lost its sense of right and wrong, truth and falsity, evil and good. A nation unwilling to accept a minimum standard of morality is perched dangerously over the … [Read more...]

Turn back the clock 1,950+ years. The Faith Fellowship of Damascus, Syria is gathered on a Friday evening at Wahid Saleb’s residence. A woman says, "My sister Ruth just came in from Bethsaida Turn back the clock 1,950+ years. The Faith Fellowship of Damascus, Syria is gathered on a Friday evening at Wahid Saleb’s residence. A woman says, "My sister Ruth just came in from Bethsaida - she’s the one who is married to the brother of Joseph of Arimathea, you know. She said that he told her that the chief priests in Jerusalem had given a commission to that zealot Saul of Tarsus to come here and round up all us believers to take them down for judgment!"   After a numb silence, Saleb, leader of the group, says, "There’s one thing we can do: We can pray! We can pray for him and for God’s protection for us." A long period of urgent petition to God follows.   The next day, about noon as Saul and his party approach the city, the sun seems brighter than usual. ...   The master taught us to "pray for them that despitefully use" us. Let’s pray for bin Laden, for Saddam Hussein, for Muammar Ghaddafe and for those in Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Indonesia who hate us. After all, nothing is impossible to … [Read more...]

For the week of October 11, 2001 Potpourri • BAKER - First church: David Wargo’s patriotic artistic presentation; Oct. 14, 6 p.m.; B. K. Miller, Jr., pastor.   • BATON ROUGE - Florida Blvd. church: "Splashing the Living Water" women’s conference; Oct. 26, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. and Oct. 27, 5 - 9 p.m.; Esther Burroughs, speaker; Shayla Blake, music; cost is $25; for information, call the church office at (225) 272-3740; Stephen Trammell, pastor.   • DENHAM SPRINGS - Gray’s Creek church: Eastern La. Association annual meeting; Oct. 22, 7 p.m.; Waylon Bailey, speaker; Carl Sullivan, pastor.   • DEVILLE - Holloway church: North Rapides Association annual meeting; Oct. 18, 7 p.m.; mission fair, 6:15 p.m.; Jack West, pastor.   • DRY PRONG - Hudson Creek church: "Family Fun Day"; Oct. 20, 12 noon - 4 p.m.; food, games, door prizes and concerts by David and Karen Hodnett, HIS, Homeward Bound and Firm Foundation; for information, contact Bonnie McDaniel at (318) 640-9370 or Helen Alford at (318) 640-1522; Ed Baldwin, pastor.   • FARMERVILLE - Culbertson church: block party; music, food and games; Oct. 13, 1 - 7 p.m.; for information, call the church office at (318) 368-3411; … [Read more...]

There is a tongue-in-cheek saying that goes - "If you can hold your head while all about you are losing theirs, you simply are not aware of all the facts."   These days, one could offer a similar but not-so-tongue-in-the-cheek statement as well - "If you think there is a future for American culture, you simply have not grasped the gravity of the current situation." There is a tongue-in-cheek saying that goes - "If you can hold your head while all about you are losing theirs, you simply are not aware of all the facts."   These days, one could offer a similar but not-so-tongue-in-the-cheek statement as well - "If you think there is a future for American culture, you simply have not grasped the gravity of the current situation."   Indeed, America is well on its way to developing what could be a terminal case of moral amnesia, Christian researcher George Barna maintains.   He has numbers to back up his fear.   And he is not alone.   In a recent issue of Emerging Trends newsletter, the Princeton Religion Research Center notes that while religion is gaining ground in America, morality is slipping.   Religious practices are up, beliefs are high and … [Read more...]

May I take your order?"   Free enterprise has birthed myriad choices of fast foods. Pick the one that gives you just the nuances you want and you can enjoy it in a matter of minutes. America – this is some place. May I take your order?"   Free enterprise has birthed myriad choices of fast foods. Pick the one that gives you just the nuances you want and you can enjoy it in a matter of minutes. America – this is some place.   "Yes. I would like two pieces of chicken."   "Will that be on the Clucky-Meal or singles?"   "What’s the difference?"   "You get two sides and bread with the Clucky-Meal."   "Fine."   "Will that be white meat or dark?"   "White."   "Will that be crispy, extra crispy, triple crispy, brick-hard or regular?"   "Triple crispy."   "Will that be mild, spicy or burn your tongue off?""   "Spicy."   "What side orders do you want with that?"   "What are my choices?"   "Look at the menu board. There are too many to name."   "Can I have a double order of coleslaw?"   "Just a minute. Let me ask." Pause. "Okay, you can do … [Read more...]

Two years ago, the Baptist Foundation of Arizona collapsed, victim of an elaborate insider scheme that has led to criminal charges and the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. Two years ago, the Baptist Foundation of Arizona collapsed, victim of an elaborate insider scheme that has led to criminal charges and the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars for investors.   Two years later, Louisiana Baptist Foundation Executive Director Wayne Taylor also continues to preach a simple message - what happened there cannot happen here.   Despite his efforts, questions remain for some - and in this case, what some people do not know definitely can hurt, especially the Louisiana Baptist Foundation.   That is why Taylor wants Louisiana Baptists to know the truth about the operation of his state agency. "The Baptist Foundation of Arizona was a bad apple doing its own thing," he noted. "To understand the difference (between them and us) takes some understanding of how the Baptist Foundation of Arizona operated versus how the Louisiana Baptist Foundation and the other Baptist state foundations operate."   There are three key areas of difference that prevent an … [Read more...]

At First Baptist Church of New Orleans relocation is tied to a larger gospel vision   Uptown New Orleans is a scenic area. Expansive, Garden District homes - some well more than 100 years old - catch the eyes of travelers down St. Charles Avenue. At First Baptist Church of New Orleans relocation is tied to a larger gospel vision   Uptown New Orleans is a scenic area. Expansive, Garden District homes - some well more than 100 years old - catch the eyes of travelers down St. Charles Avenue.   Stretching oak trees line the divided avenue, and street cars operate in the median that separates motor vehicles.   In the 4000 block of St. Charles - at the corner of Napoleon Avenue - stands First Baptist Church of New Orleans, right where it has stood for 47 years, since famed preacher J.D. Grey led the congregation to move there in 1954.   And that is right where the church could die or become an insignificant religious institution, current Pastor David Crosby warns. In an effort to prevent that from happening, Crosby has led the church through a painful, intense process in which members agreed to relocate the church.   It is only in doing so that First … [Read more...]

An LBC article this week deals with a question that arises occasionally when Louisiana Baptists read about the collapse of the Arizona Baptist Foundation. The question is: Could the same thing happen with the Louisiana Baptist Foundation? An LBC article this week deals with a question that arises occasionally when Louisiana Baptists read about the collapse of the Arizona Baptist Foundation. The question is: Could the same thing happen with the Louisiana Baptist Foundation?   The answer to this important question is, simply put, no.   The basic reason the Louisiana Baptist Foundation will not suffer the same kind of collapse as the Arizona Baptist Foundation is this: The natures and operations of the two foundations are vastly different.   The Arizona Baptist Foundation was established by the new-work Arizona Baptist Convention and then allowed to form itself into a not-for-profit organization. This organization worked to put money primarily into its own coffers rather than into other Arizona Baptist ministries.   The basic purpose of a Baptist foundation, formed either by a state or national Baptist convention, is to handle monies for other organizations, to make money for … [Read more...]

Louisiana College celebrated its 95th anniversary earlier this month, honoring four persons for outstanding achievements in the process. Louisiana College celebrated its 95th anniversary earlier this month, honoring four persons for outstanding achievements in the process.   Founded in 1906, Louisiana College has graduated more than 10,000 students in its 95 years of operation. The only Baptist college in the Bayou State, the school is known for academic excellence, President Rory Lee pointed out. Indeed, it has received - and continues to earn - numerous national academic and value recognitions.   Each year, the college celebrates its history and accomplishments during annual Founder’s Day ceremonies on its Pineville campus. This year’s activites on October 4 included a chapel service in which four persons were awarded Trustees’ Distinguished Service Awards from the school.   The Trustees’ Distinguished Service Award was begun as a means of recognizing persons for exceptional service to the church, outstanding achievements in the arts and exemplary service to philanthropy toward Louisiana College. Recipients are chosen each year by the school’s trustees.   The 2001 … [Read more...]

For the week of October 18, 2001 Potpourri • RAYVILLE - Woodlawn church: Richland Association Sunday School Leader Conference; Oct. 25, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.; Steve Coleman, minister of education; Alan Miller, pastor.   • SHREVEPORT - Brookwood church: "Judgment House"; Oct. 31 - Nov. 2, 6:30 - 10 p.m.; for information, call the church office at (318) 686-2898; Mark Sutton, pastor.   • SIMPSON - Simpson church: community-wide "Hobo Stew"; Oct. 31; joint service, 6:30 p.m.; dinner, 7 p.m.; James Miller, pastor.   • TIOGA - Tioga First church: "Under the Big Top" children’s circus; Oct. 31, 5 - 7 p.m.; David E. Cranford, pastor.   • WALKER - Judson church: Felix Snipes, magician, to perform Oct. 26-27, 7 p.m. and Oct. 28, 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.; Merelin McCon, pastor. Homecomings • CASTOR - New Ebenezer church: Oct. 28, 11 a.m.; Jim Walsh, speaker; dinner to follow; music by The Walsh Family; Kelly Tingle, pastor.   • CLINTON - Bluff Creek church: Oct. 28, 10:15 a.m.; Terry Ellis, speaker; Patty Davis, music; dinner to follow; Byron Comish, pastor. Anniversaries • SHREVEPORT - Trinity Heights church: 60th; Oct. 28, 10:45 a.m.; dinner to follow with music by Vision … [Read more...]