For the week of July 12, 2001 •STERLINGTON - First church: Souled Out in concert; July 16, 7 p.m. Al Bohl, chalk artist; July 23, 7 p.m. Dennis Hackler, pastor.   •EUNICE - First church: Higher Faith in concert; July 22, 6 p.m.; Michael DeRosier, pastor.   •HODGE - Hodge church: Down East Boys in concert; July 28, 7 p.m.; Dwayne Boudreaux, pastor.   •NEW ORLEANS - New Orleans Seminary: "Hand in Hand" Childhood Education Workshop; July 30-31; Tommy Sanders, speaker, July 30; Ann Parnell, speaker, July 31; sponsored by LBC; for information, contact the childhood education department, LBC, at (318) 448-3402 or 1-800-622-6549.   •ZWOLLE - Toledo Bend Resort Ministry: open house; July 14, 2 - 4:30 p.m.; hamburgers and hotdogs provided; for information, contact Mary Gore, missionary, at (318) 645-6601. Homecomings •JONESBORO - McDonald Memorial church: 63rd; July 15; Sunday School, 10 a.m.; worship service, 10:45 a.m.; Morris Goins, speaker; Shawn Masters, music; Higher Faith in concert, 2 p.m.; Terry Mims, pastor.   •PIONEER - New Prospect church: July 15; Sunday School, 10 a.m.; worship service, 11 a.m.; Don Slack, speaker; dinner to follow; fellowship and singing … [Read more...]

With the recent execution of two fed- eral inmates and cries from some that there are racial and economic disparities in the use of capital punishment, debate on the issue has been reignited. With the recent execution of two fed- eral inmates and cries from some that there are racial and economic disparities in the use of capital punishment, debate on the issue has been reignited.   Much discussion was prompted by the recent execution of convicted Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh - the first federal execution in more than three decades.   However, debate also has been fueled by the recent release of a Justice Department report on the equity of the punishment.   U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft said the report shows whites are more likely to face the death penalty than minorities. "There is no evidence of racial bias in the administration of the federal death penalty," he said.   The report concluded that once people were charged with federal capital crimes, race played little, if any, role in whether they faced death. It also noted that whites charged with capital crimes were twice as likely as minorities to enter into a plea bargain, freeing them from facing the … [Read more...]

It is boring to achieve the pinnacle of success and have no more heights to climb.   It also is frightening. It is boring to achieve the pinnacle of success and have no more heights to climb.   It also is frightening.   "I had to cling to the walls just to walk down the hallways," says John Tatterson, who was highly respected as a dentist and a businessman before he walked away from it all and into the arms of God.   He and his wife, Doris, had built the dental practice from three employees to 22 in 25 years. In addition to all the trappings of material success, Tatterson says he was the envy of his peers for his business acumen.   However, success in business was a hollow victory stresses the man who now is an energized member of the missions committee and co-chair of the deacons at Riva Trace Baptist Church in Annapolis, Md.   "No matter how much I accomplished, I always strived for a little more," Tatterson says. "It was pride. It was futile."   Tatterson relates how he took time to change the rolls of toilet paper at the office and to fluff pillows in the waiting room - but neglected his son and daughter.   "Our children paid … [Read more...]

Lynn P. Clayton LBM Editor The large man steps out of the backdoor of the car. He grabs Jim Ward ... and puts a bear hug on him ... and tells him how much he appreciates him and how thankful he is for the early morning time of worship. Lynn P. Clayton LBM Editor The large man steps out of the backdoor of the car. He grabs Jim Ward ... and puts a bear hug on him ... and tells him how much he appreciates him and how thankful he is for the early morning time of worship.   It is going to be one of those kind of days.   Thirty minutes earlier, about 8:15 a.m., various kinds of vehicles had begun arriving on the lower parking lot of Temple Baptist Church in York, Penn. The drivers pulled into parking slots, stopped, turned off their engines and stayed in their vehicles. Three men moved from car to car, greeting the occupants and giving them worship folders.   At 8:30 a.m., Pastor James Ward walked to a small covered entrance to the church, faced the cars and greeted the 25 participants of Temple Baptist Church’s first worship service of this beautiful late-spring Sunday.   This is drive-in worship, started in 1980 as one of the many ways this congregation attempts to … [Read more...]

For the week of July 19, 2001 Potpourri •DEQUINCY - Northside church: The Southern Plainsmen in concert; July 28, 7 p.m.; Shane Terrebonne, pastor.   •HAUGHTON - First church: Testify in concert; July 29, 10:40 a.m.; Scotty Gibson, minister of music.   •KENNER - First church: Tammy Trent in concert; Aug. 3, 7:30 p.m.; Once Blind, also appearing; tickets available at area book stores; for ticket prices or for information, call First church, Marrero, at (504) 340-7175; Joe McKeever, pastor.   •MINDEN - First church: Testify in concert; July 22, 10:45 a.m. and 6 p.m.; Darrell Washam, interim music director; Wayne L. DuBose, pastor.   •SHREVEPORT - Pinecroft church: April Evans in concert; July 22, 10:45 a.m.; Gary Melanson, minister of music.   •STERLINGTON - First church: Monday night services; Bill Britt, speaker; July 30, 7 p.m.; Dennis Hackler, pastor.   •ZACHARY - Milldale church now taking reservations for the Labor Day Camp Meet. Guest speakers to include, Bill Stafford, Bill Sturm, Sonny Holland, Jerry Chaddick and Philip Robertson. Music provided by Brothers in Christ. Reservations can be made on line at www.milldale.org or call (225) 654-8168 or … [Read more...]

Jerry Rankin President, SBC International Mission Board   The story of the Good Samaritan is an all-too-familiar one for Christians. Our indignation rises whenever we are reminded of the pious, busy religious leaders hastening to their appointments, ignoring the man suffering by the side of the road. The story of the Good Samaritan is an all-too-familiar one for Christians. Our indignation rises whenever we are reminded of the pious, busy religious leaders hastening to their appointments, ignoring the man suffering by the side of the road.   However, it is hard to escape the indictment of the story when we realize how self-centered we tend to be, focusing on the demands of our self-imposed agenda and busy lifestyles.   It is not that we neglect doing good.   We are faithful to our church. We give to support its ministry to those in need and even occasionally may witness to a lost person.   But the challenge is to see beyond our narrow provincialism and self-interests to recognize that those who are different are our neighbors. We have to be willing to go out of our way and be inconvenienced if we are going to reach out cross-culturally to those who are … [Read more...]

Jack Graham recently offered a pointed Dr. Seuss lesson to Southern Baptistministers - and help for them to get "unslumped." Jack Graham recently offered a pointed Dr. Seuss lesson to Southern Baptistministers - and help for them to get "unslumped."   "Wherever you go, you will top all the rest ... except when you don’t, because sometimes you won’t," Jack Graham read from Dr. Seuss’ book, "Oh, the Places You’ll Go." Graham offered the observation during the Wounded Ministers LeaderCare luncheon last month at the Southern Baptist Convention in New Orleans.   The rhythmic warning is true, noted Graham, pastor of the Dallas-area Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas. As a result, during his luncheon address, Graham stressed the importance of exercising preventive care and maintaining one’s passion in order to avoid and emerge from the slumps so many ministers and church leaders - and others - experience.   "Passion is something that you can’t define, but you know it when you see it, you know it when you have it and you definitely know it when you don’t have it," Graham maintained.   "Jeremiah had it. He went looking for a desert hotel, but discovered that he couldn’t … [Read more...]