Oh, brother, here it goes again - same old story, who knows what number verse by now.   One would think that recent news would have stopped this madness. After all, confirmed death usually means a person no longer is active - purported Elvis sightings notwithstanding. Oh, brother, here it goes again - same old story, who knows what number verse by now.   One would think that recent news would have stopped this madness. After all, confirmed death usually means a person no longer is active - purported Elvis sightings notwithstanding.   Not in this case, however.   They may have found Madalyn Murray O’Hair’s bones and confirmed her fate at the hands of a murderous acquaintance - but they have not stopped her from petitioning the Federal Communications Commission to get religious talk off television.   Consider the following e-mail that recently arrived at the Baptist Message:   "THOUGH SHE’S DEAD AND HAS JUST BEEN LOCATED, AFTER 5 YEARS, THIS LADY CONTINUES TO HAUNT US FROM HER SHALLOW GRAVE. GET THIS:   CBS will be forced to discontinue ‘Touched by an Angel’ for using the word God in every program. Madeline Murray O’Hare (sic), an atheist, … [Read more...]

The darkness is just beginning to lose its daily battle to sunlight. The eastern horizon has a smear of gray where the sun will begin winning its skirmish. The darkness is just beginning to lose its daily battle to sunlight. The eastern horizon has a smear of gray where the sun will begin winning its skirmish. On this day, the eastern horizon rests on the opposite side of the Sea of Galilee, over the Galilean hills. Just enough clouds float in the sky to ensure a spectacular sunrise and a great photo opportunity. Everyone has to have one good shot of a sunrise in Israel. Armed with my camera, I leave the River Jordan Hotel in Tiberias for the walk to the peer that reaches a few yards over the water. Walking down the darkened path, I hear two voices coming up behind me. The two men speak Arabic in rather whispered tones. Somehow, I feel their conversation is about me. Having read the news about the sometimes violent conflict in this part of the world between Arabs and Jews, I worry that the two think I am Jewish. I walk a little faster. They walked a little faster, and keep talking. I glance over my shoulder and in that glance see they are carrying items that can easily be barrels of rifles. Even in the dim … [Read more...]

What are the essential keys for a successful postmodern church worship experience?   Ed Stetzer offers 10 such guidelines. And as director Nehemiah Project church-planting center at Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, Ky., Stetzer has opportunity to know what it takes to reach modern persons. His 10 rules are: What are the essential keys for a successful postmodern church worship experience?   Ed Stetzer offers 10 such guidelines. And as director Nehemiah Project church-planting center at Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, Ky., Stetzer has opportunity to know what it takes to reach modern persons. His 10 rules are:     Be unashamedly spiritual.   "Many postmoderns are open to the spiritual," the Southern Baptist worker said. "People are tired of the modern belief that everything can be answered by science and reason. They are open to something mystical and spiritual."     Promote incarnational ministry.   "Authenticity is essential," Stetzer said. "Postmoderns are looking for persons who are genuine and transparent."   Too often, postmoderns feel they are meeting an alien culture when they encounter evangelical Christianity, … [Read more...]

Church leaders can steer congregations in a healthy direction by honestly facing conflict instead of running from it or turning a dispute into a personal battle, Ken Schmitt insists.   Too many church members treat the biblical mandate of reconciliation as an opportunity to argue their case, said Schmitt, a former pastor who spoke at a recent Kentucky Baptist Convention gathering. Church leaders can steer congregations in a healthy direction by honestly facing conflict instead of running from it or turning a dispute into a personal battle, Ken Schmitt insists.   Too many church members treat the biblical mandate of reconciliation as an opportunity to argue their case, said Schmitt, a former pastor who spoke at a recent Kentucky Baptist Convention gathering.   Many people misunderstand Jesus’ process on resolving conflicts in Matthew 18:15-17, Schmitt said. The passage calls for private reproof, then intervention by a small group and then taking the matter before the whole congregation - as a last resort.   "We see this as one-two-three strikes, and you’re out," Schmitt said. "(Instead) We are to work toward reconciliation for the common good."   Instead, Schmitt … [Read more...]

Re: "The Baptist Scene" brief on "Free Bibles" - Baptist Message, April 5 Re: "The Baptist Scene" brief on "Free Bibles" - Baptist Message, April 5 Comment: Just what we need ... another translation. And none of them have improved on the King James Version. T.J. Ozbun Duplessis … [Read more...]

Re: "Absorbing Gambling" letter to the editor in March 22, 2001, issue.   My name is David Fortenberry, and I am the president of Outdoor Evangelism Association. The Apostle Paul told us to "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of building up, that it may minister grace unto the hearers" (Ephesians 4:29). Re: "Absorbing Gambling" letter to the editor in March 22, 2001, issue.   My name is David Fortenberry, and I am the president of Outdoor Evangelism Association. The Apostle Paul told us to "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of building up, that it may minister grace unto the hearers" (Ephesians 4:29). It really grieves me that the writer of the article associated my ministry with the gambling industry. This is based on his own lack of understanding as to what gambling is. The writer said there are three elements to gambling: (1) an element of chance (like your retirement plans?); (2) a prize to be won (read I Corinthians 9:24; Paul and I hope to win that prize); and (3) a consideration of value (yes, I consider the 1,500 souls our ministry has changed for Christ a real value!). The … [Read more...]

As the need for gospel ministry continues to grow, Louisiana Baptist women recently were reminded that God can do unbelievable things through ordinary, faithful lives The troubled state of affairs in Louisiana is "beyond belief" - but that is no reason for Louisiana Baptist women to be discouraged in their work, Nelda Seal insisted recently. As the need for gospel ministry continues to grow, Louisiana Baptist women recently were reminded that God can do unbelievable things through ordinary, faithful lives The troubled state of affairs in Louisiana is "beyond belief" - but that is no reason for Louisiana Baptist women to be discouraged in their work, Nelda Seal insisted recently. And this surely is no time to falter in that work, added Seal, Louisiana Baptist women’s missions and ministry director. "What are our possibilities?" Seal asked women attending the recent Louisiana Baptist Woman’s Missionary Union annual meeting at Broadmoor Baptist Church in Shreveport. "It is beyond belief what we can do through trust in God. ... We are to walk by faith and believe in the impossible." Trusting God to work through one’s life was a persistent theme during the recent two-day meeting, attended by some 400 women from … [Read more...]

For the week of April 19, 2001 Potpourri •ALEXANDRIA — Horseshoe Drive Church: Legacy Five in concert; April 27, 7 p.m.; Don Arbuckle, minister of music; Aubrey Whitlock, pastor. •BAKER - First church: annual spring keyboard concert; April 29, 6 p.m.; Kathy Overfield, Rita Williams, Michael Sharp and Robin Thomas, pianists and organists; Ralph G. Parks, minister of music; B. K. Miller, Jr., pastor. •CLARKS - Old Bethel church: Caldwell Association Bible drills; April 29, 6:30 p.m.; Jimmy Goodman, pastor. •FOREST HILL - Calvary church: Marvin Morrow in concert; April 20, 7 p.m.; Joel McMicken, pastor. •JONESVILLE - First church: Delta, LaSalle and Ouachita Association Children’s Workshop; April 28, 9 a.m. - 12 noon; Carroll Green, speaker; James Carson, pastor. •OLLA - First church: LaSalle Association evangelism rally; April 29, 6 p.m.; Milton Wilson, pastor. •PINEVILLE - Carmel church: Blackwood Voices in concert; April 29, 11 a.m.; dinner to follow; afternoon concert, 2 p.m.; John Everett, pastor. •RIDGECREST - Ridgecrest church: King’s Messengers in concert; April 29, 6 p.m.; Bobby Cruse, pastor. •RUBY - Pine Grove church: "Festival of Faith" drama presentation directed by Mark Tullos; April 29, 11 a.m. … [Read more...]

Aquartet of lawsuits allege the U.S. Navy has engaged in systematic discrimination against evangelical chaplains, including Southern Baptists.   Five current or former chaplains endorsed by the Southern Baptist Convention are among 17 plaintiffs in one class action suit. In all, 27 chaplains are involved in the four suits filed in the past 14 months. Aquartet of lawsuits allege the U.S. Navy has engaged in systematic discrimination against evangelical chaplains, including Southern Baptists.   Five current or former chaplains endorsed by the Southern Baptist Convention are among 17 plaintiffs in one class action suit. In all, 27 chaplains are involved in the four suits filed in the past 14 months.   Simply put, the suits claim the Navy is violating the First Amendment by failing to guarantee personnel free exercise of religion, asserted Art Schulcz, who represents parties in three of the cases.   For example, 12 percent of Navy personnel are members of denominations classified as "Protestant Liturgical," a designation that encompasses Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist and Presbyterian churches.   However, those denominations hold 35 percent of Navy … [Read more...]

C. Lacy Thompson LBM Associate Editor   Someone once opened a discussion of civility by looking back on the advent of the railroad into American life.   At the time, there were concerns about how persons would behave as they shared crowded railroad car space with others on long trips. There were discussions about what rules would be necessary.   However, surprisingly, behavior was not the problem some feared. Apparently, the sometimes crowded, inconvenienced passengers understood a simple truth - they were all in journey together. Someone once opened a discussion of civility by looking back on the advent of the railroad into American life.   At the time, there were concerns about how persons would behave as they shared crowded railroad car space with others on long trips. There were discussions about what rules would be necessary.   However, surprisingly, behavior was not the problem some feared. Apparently, the sometimes crowded, inconvenienced passengers understood a simple truth - they were all in journey together.   In other words, it made sense for persons to make the trip as pleasant as possibile - for others and themselves.   The … [Read more...]