November 2010 by Christian Star News

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magazine Issue 23 november 2010 USA www.csn-paper.com

Unmarried Christians living in a Secular World

5th Annual Platinum and Pearls Gala Tango Masquerade Ball Nov. 14, 2010 Fat Loss: Safely, Effectively and Permanently Pt.2

The Gift of Giving

The 2000 Health Foundation Board of Directors

FREE

People Helping People in our Community Written by Monica Soileau Photos provided by Lynn LeDoux The 2000 HEALTH FOUNDATION 5th Annual Platinum and Pearls Gala The 2000 HEALTH FOUNDATION is a non-profit organization and the “Gala” is its major annual fundraiser. Proceeds from this event benefit diabetes patients through our Diabetes Information Resource Center, hospice patients through grants for hospice companion care, tuition assistance for students at Sacred Heart St. Katherine Drexel School, and nursing scholarships in response to the nursing shortage. The event will be held on Sunday November 14, 2010 at L’Auberge Du Lac Casino Resort in the Grand Ballroom. Everyone may come adorned in masks and masquerade. Black tie is requested. Suits and cocktail attire are optional. Argentine Tango Attire welcome. Tango lessons by a professional tango couple will be available at 5 p.m. for those who want to show off some new moves during the Tango Social Hour. Please have your guests RSVP for the 5 p.m. lessons. The Tango Masquerade Ball will begin promptly at 6 p.m. and will include dancing and hors d ‘oeuvres, dinner, the VIP Dance introductions, presentations to the Honorees and a live Eddie Mormon Art Auction, followed by the premiere event - the 2010 Platinum & Pearls Tango Challenge. Soon to follow will be the highly anticipated official Platinum and Pearls dance competition, in which the Publishers of CSN Magazine, Rolland and Monica Soileau will perform the Dominicanoriginated bachata. “I love dancing and it is getting me back into shape, as this is extreme exercise, popping my hips from side to side” states Monica Soileau. The Tango Masquerade The Tango instructors are new this year - Debrah Weeks and Steve LeBlanc. Ms. Weeks states that the group started practicing the last part of August. There are six couples, who faithfully Debrah Weeks and Steve LeBlanc meet every Sunday for two hours of instruction. The couples are very dedicated and all have had some dance experience. The individuals who are participating were previous dancers from Dancing with the Stars competitions held in the past. The dancers are all exceptional people and they have all become closer during this experience over the past few months.

Ms. Weeks finds that teaching these students has been a real joy for her and very satisfying. Ms. Weeks’ motto for life is “Very few people actually get to live their life in their God-given talent and passion. Dancing is definitely my passion. I truly feel blessed to be able to do so on a daily basis.” Ms. Weeks has 30 years of dance experience and has danced all over the world. Her parents did not teach her how to walk; they taught her how to dance. She began dancing at 2 years of age. Ms. Weeks holds many National Titles and World Titles. All six couples are doing the same routine and will be judged by a panel, who will select the winning couple. This is the Tango Challenge. One of the competitors is Dr. Adrienne L. Breaux and she has expressed “how it’s been a lot of fun. It’s good exercise.” Dr. Breaux loves to dance and enjoys learning new styles.

from left to right: Kathleen Dorsey Bellow, Lisa Walker, Stephanie Morris, and Randy Robb

Board of Directors The Board of Directors for The 2000 HEALTH FOUNDATION consists of Kathleen Dorsey Bellow, Lisa Walker, Stephanie Morris, and Randy Robb. Kathleen Dorsey Bellow is the Principal at Sacred Heart St. Katherine Drexel School. Principal Bellow is excited about her participation on the Board of Directors because The Foundation is one of the schools Partners in Education. They provide scholarship funds for students and they recruit families from among their employees to attend the Catholic school, according to Principal Bellow. The Foundation assists with marketing and provides health education. They host motivational reward systems to promote excellence in education. They also host a shadow day for the seventh grade students to go to HOME HEALTH CARE 2000, Inc. facilities to learn about various professions available to them as future career options. Randy Robb is the Executive Director at Chennault International Airport Authority. Randy is excited about his service on the board because he believes in what the foundation does for the community. Randy and his wife Elaine will be celebrity

emerging Role of Nurse Practitioners.” The student must provide two reference letters: one letter from a high school faculty member and one letter from a personal reference that is unrelated to the applicant.

dancers this year. Partners In Education CSN staff was blessed with the opportunity to see first hand how actively involved The 2000 HEALTH FOUNDATION is with Sacred Heart St. Katherine Drexel School. The students were celebrating Red Ribbon Week, which represents putting a stop to drugs. On that day they also dressed in western wear as the theme was “Roping off drugs.” Nursing Scholarships The 2000 HEALTH FOUNDATION, in recognition of its commitment to academic study, has established academic nursing scholarships to assist nursing students in Southwest Louisiana. The following criteria and rules have been formulated to govern the administration of the scholarships and the selection of the recipients. SCHOLARSHIP AWARD GUIDELINES: Ten successful recipients are chosen from different parishes and they each receive a one-time $500.00 academic scholarship. The names of the winners are withheld from the general public until the award presentation. Someone designated by The 2000 HEALTH FOUNDATION Nursing Scholarship Committee presents the scholarship at the recipient’s spring graduation exercises or school’s award day. CRITERIA FOR ELIGIBILITY: The 2000 HEALTH FOUNDATION Nursing Scholarship will be awarded each fall semester. The scholarship will be awarded to high school students who plan to earn a bachelor’s degree in Nursing. • The student must be a high school senior. • The student must be enrolled (or accepted for enrollment) as a full-time student, in any accredited university in the United States. • The student must pursue a bachelor’s degree in Nursing. • The student must have a minimum grade point average of 2.5 on 4.0 scale. • The student must submit his/her ACT and/or SAT score. • The student must submit his/her official high school transcript. • The student must submit a completed application form and a one (1) page, typed, single-spaced essay entitled Caring Practices in the 21st Century: “The

One of the recent recipients of the Nursing scholarship was Anna Elizabeth Espey. She is attending South Eastern Louisiana University in Hammond, La., where she is pursuing a Nursing Degree. Her career goals are to graduate and complete clinicals in Baton Rouge, as well as move into the Baton Rouge area to work in the hospital NICU unit. The $500 scholarship was awarded Anna to Anna from The 2000 HEALTH Elizabeth Espey FOUNDATION. Anna says it helped because it was a big sacrifice for her parents to send her to Southeastern, but they knew it was a great nursing school. She utilized the scholarship to assist with the purchasing of her books. She wants to thank the scholarship committee for selecting her. Anna really appreciates it as it is helping her to pursue her career aspirations. Diabetes Assistance Executive Director Stephanie Morris and CEO Lisa Walker started The 2000 HEALTH FOUNDATION in 2005 and these efforts are spearheaded by them. Their purpose was to address the need for diabetes community education, hospice companion care, nursing scholarships and educational support. The 2000 HEALTH FOUNDATION funds the Diabetes Information Resource Center, and it sponsors the center’s monthly health care seminars concerning the self-management of diabetes and related diseases, including the promotion of wellness. The funds raised from the Gala will allow The 2000 HEALTH FOUNDATION to donate and sponsor diabetes Healthcare Seminars, self-management of the disease, promotion of wellness, offer diabetic supplies and equipment for those unable to afford the items, and also teach diabetes awareness. According to the 2000 LA Health Report Card issued by the LA Department of Health & Hospitals, Louisiana has the second highest death rate due to diabetes. According to these statistics, it is very critical that some type of intervention is in place to minimize diabetes and the death rate. Dr. Adrienne Breaux states “As a physician, I am behind what the Foundation is trying to accomplish. Between their diabetes education and assistance, the wellness and self-management training, and their scholarships for future nurses, they fill a great need within the community.”

Lisa Walker, Founder/Chairman of the Board of the 2000 Health Foundation to the Right with her Partners in Education

(Fall Into Health Awareness Festival) held in September hosted by Home Health 2000

Allison Goodwin poses with her 6th Grade Religion Students

Alex Stokes dressed as a Cowboy

Stephanie Morris to the right, poses with her Partners In Education at Sacred Heart Catholic School, along with Principal Bellow, 4th and 5th Graders, taking a stand against drugs!

(Fall Into Health Awareness Festival) held in September hosted by Home Health 2000

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November • 2010 • Issue 23 General Information: www.csn-paper.com 337.257.8972 news@christianstarnewspaper.com feedback@christianstarnewspaper.com calendar@christianstarnewspaper.com prayers@christianstarnewspaper.com Publisher: Monica Soileau monicasoileau@christianstarnewspaper.com Editor/Co-Publisher: Rolland Soileau rollandsoileau@christianstarnewspaper.com Sales Team 337.540.4275 337.257.8972 Graphic Designer: His Eye for Design - Sasha Singleton sashasingleton@christianstarnewspaper.com 337.853.9883 Distribution Managers: Derrick Singleton: Louisiana Christian Star News P.O. BOX 863 Westlake, LA 70669

Cover Photo: Dance Instructors, Jay and Maria Cotto for “Dancing with the Stars” couples. Jay and Maria have been married for 29 years! Thanks to All of our Contributors!

CSN is now offering Branding Identity Packages, Logos, Business Cards, Brochures, Event Flyers, Sermon Presentations, Stationary, Web Design and more. Call Sasha Singleton for more information at 337.853.9883 or email: hiseye4dezign@gmail.com Disclaimer: The entire content of this paper is copyrighted© November 2010 by Christian Star News. All rights reserved. Material in this publication may not be reproduced in any form without the expressed written consent of the publisher. Christian Star News is not responsible for any claims made by advertisers. The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the publisher. Display rates are available upon request. By accepting an advertisement, CSN does not endorse any advertiser or product. We reserve the right to reject advertisements not consistent with the magazines objective.

Scripture of the Month

Psalm 107:1 (NIV) “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.”

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A “Word” from the Publisher Hope for the Hopeless By Monica Soileau Have you made a mistake and you could not see your way out? Are you contemplating suicide or abortion? Are you overwhelmed with embarrassment or condemnation? Are you extremely lonely as the holiday season approaches quickly? Jesus came to set you free. He came to give you life, a life free from condemnation. God created you with a special plan for your life. Even when we take a detour off of the path God created for us, He sends His Sheppard to steer us back on track. Everyday that we have the opportunity to open our eyes and wake up again, we have another chance at redirecting our life, another chance to reach our goals. So you made a mistake --- your life is not over! Are you still alive? Well, get up and inhale, exhale, place one foot in front of the other and keep moving forward. Guard your ears and don’t listen to gossip or overly condemning people --- they are sinful too. If the people that surround you are not trying to encourage you and lift you up, then do not listen to their poison. Godly people give love, grace, mercy, and HOPE! Godly people do not turn their nose up to those that are hurt-

ing; they do not shun those that trip or fall. Godly people will reach back and pick you up. Godly people sit at the well with you and talk about what it will take to get back on track --- because with God “All things are possible”.

Challenge for Christians Challenge #1 Divorced or Widowed --- Reach out to someone who is going through a divorce or someone who has lost a spouse or child and share some encouraging words with them. Remind them that their life is not over and that God still has a plan for them. Challenge #2 Fatherless or Motherless --- Reach out to a fatherless or motherless child and tell them that you know how hard life must be for them and let them know that you are there for them if they need to talk to you about anything. Challenge #3 Pregnant Teen --- Adult Christians, reach out to a pregnant teen and let them know that their life is not over and that it is just the beginning. Let them know that they can still accomplish the visions and goals that God has placed in their Spirit. Tell them that you are there for them and that you love them unconditionally, just like God does. God has given you wisdom with age; direct them to every single organization and resource in your city that assists pregnant teens.

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Unify... Reach... Gather... The vision of CSN is to UNIFY all believers through printed media. We provide a forum for the Body of Christ to REACH out to the Church, the community and the world. We accomplish this through GATHERING encouraging news and uplifting stories that strive to make a difference.

Write Us news@ christianstarnewspaper.com or CSN, P.O. Box 863 Westlake, LA 70669. Letters become property of CSN and may be edited for length and clarity. Printed letters do not reflect the views of CSN or its staff.

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CONTENTS Issue 23

Being A Single Christian

Two months ago, we discussed marriage. This month, we will be considering singleness.

The Gift of Giving

Politics vs. Talent

Abstinence Pays

“The Campout for a Cause”.

Don’t Leave Your Children’s Destiny in the Hands of the Educators Politics vs. Doing the Right Thing

Growing up as a Christian teenager in today’s sexually promiscuous society, it is difficult and trying.

The Power of Change

Unmarried Christians Living in a Secular World

Do you wish you could change something about your life right now?

Many lonely nights, days and weekends pass by as we wish upon a star for God to send us the perfect mate

Departments Inspirational Community Health Fitness Youth Activity Financial Sports Legal Medical

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Being a Single Christian Two months ago, we discussed marriage. This month, we will be considering singleness. This topic for me is somewhat more difficult as I have not been considered single since 1994. I have friends and a father-in-law who talk about how they much prefer the single life and not being entwined with another. Not me. I love my wife, Sarah, with every fiber of my being and she is what makes me a better man. I feel truly blessed by having her by my side along with my two daughters, Brooke and Alexandra. Nevertheless, this month’s article is about “Being Single or Singleness” and the Bible, particularly, the Apostle Paul, discusses the issues of being single and celibate. As we will try to tackle what is said, first, perhaps it may be beneficial to begin by answering some questions on this topic. QUESTIONS REGARDING THE SINGLE CHRISTIAN WHY WOULD ANYONE BE SINGLE...? 1. Some may be single by circumstance. a. ) Such as women who have never been asked to marry or who have declined the only invitations received. b.) Such as men who have not yet found a woman to accept their proposal. c.) Such as those who are divorced, perhaps through no fault of their own. d.) Such as those who are widowed, suffering the loss of their spouse. e.) Such as those too young to marry, or too sick, etc. 2. Some may be single by choice. a.) Perhaps they prefer the single life on its own merits. b.) Perhaps they have chosen to remain single for other reasons.

1) Jesus said some would be single for the sake of the kingdom See Mt 19:11 12 2) Paul considered his singleness a "gift from God" see 1Cor 7:7 8 3) Some may simply not be drawn toward

the opposite sex and, thus must remain single. 3. Sometimes, circumstances make being single the best choice: see below. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS TO BEING SINGLE...? 1. Freedom from cares of this world a.) As in times of distress or persecution 1Cor 7:26 28, 32 b.) In such times, it is a blessing not to have to worry about a spouse and children 2. Freedom to serve the Lord a.) As Paul describes in 1Co 7:32b 35 b.) There are opportunities to serve the Lord that may not be as open to someone with familial responsibilities. 1) Preaching in foreign countries or doing missionary work. 2) Doing more for others in the local congregation. WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES TO BEING SINGLE...? 1. The danger of temptations a.) Physical desires can be strong. 1) If so, then one should not be single by choice 2) Marriage is for those who don't have the "gift" of singleness- 1Cor7:8 9 b.) If single by circumstance, one needs to be extra careful. 1) You may not have the help of other family members keeping you pure. 2) It is more tempting when no one is looking! 3) You need to be extra sure to lean on the Lord 1Cor 10:13 2. The danger of loneliness a.) Not to be confused with solitude, which many single people enjoy.

b.) Loneliness can lead to depression and bad choices, which can render one ineffective in the service of God. 3. The danger of self centeredness a.) Living alone, it is easy to become set in one's own ways. b.) One may soon forget how to accommodate others. Single life may not be better or worse than married life, only different!!! It does come with its own unique challenges, of which all Christians (married or single) should be aware. Those who are living in singleness are a swiftly growing portion of our society. In fact, 42% of all households in the US are headed by single adults. Nearly 20 % of the adult population of the United States has never been married. The singles population increased dramatically in the last 50 years. When you add to this the fact that 50 % of all currently single women have been previously married and that 50% of all marriages will eventually end in divorce, you begin to see that those who are single comprise a significant portion of our population. Then when you add the widow population, you can see that there a whole bunch of people who are not living the married life today.

Those who remain single do have a special place in the kingdom of God. As Paul discusses in I Cor. 7, it is not God's will for everyone to be married! There is no shame or reproach in choosing to remain single if that is the Lord's will for your life. If it is His will, God will provide you with the necessary tools to do so. You see, to live a clean, faithful, godly and satisfied Christian life as a single requires the gift of celibacy. If the Lord wants you to be single, you can be sure that He will "gift" you for that lifestyle. There are some blessings of single life. Singles typically face fewer demands physically, emotionally, materially and financially. The word "distress" speaks of one's needs. Generally speaking, the needs of singles are less than that those of their married counterparts. Two cannot live as cheaply as one! Then, in verse 32, Paul discusses how married couples have stress in their lives that singles simple do not. To say the least, singleness is not without its stresses and strains, but when a husband, a wife or children are factored in, the stresses become greater. Singles Generally Have Less Distractions There is no one to please or to answer to but the Lord. When two people are married, they are mutually responsible to pro-

vide care, love, intimacy and to meet the physical needs of their mate. Just ask anyone who was single for a number of years and then got married! Accordingly, singles are freer to focus on the Lord and his will for their lives. However, there are burdens of the single life. When one is single, there may be certain needs that cannot be legitimately met. These needs can include physical needs, the need for companionship, the need for emotional support, sexual, etc. Those who have been gifted by God with the gift of celibacy have been given special control over their sexual drive and urges. Those who have net been called to a life of singleness, do not have this special control in their lives. For those who have not been gifted in this manner, Paul advises marriage. No matter what our current station in life, God can give us the strength and wisdom to lead productive and joyful lives! If you are single, your service to Christ should not be hindered. May we all be sensitive to the particular needs of one another, and help each other glorify God with our lives, as diverse as they may be!

Justin Kase Having spent 23 year working as a radio D.J., I had many years ago come to accept the fact that in the grand scheme of things my job was not the most important one on the planet. While working in radio is “fun”, I have a clear understanding that on most days a D.J. is at best a small diversion in a listener’s day. I wasn’t saving lives, curing diseases, or even making or building anything tangible and enduring. On a few occasions; however, my profession put me in a position to be of genuine service, and provided me with unique opportunities to help others that I may not have enjoyed in another profession. One example of this that I carry as a great memory was broadcasting in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Rita. Virtually all of Southwest Louisiana was without electricity, so most residents who remained had no access to television, but did have battery operated radios. My colleagues and I spent long hours on the air keeping residents informed of conditions, closures, and places to get assistance and more. We ate slept and lived at the radio station for about 3 weeks, and for that period of time felt genuinely useful. In the fall of 2000 I was working as the morning show host on KBIU – FM in Lake Charles, La. I was in a meeting with the station’s operations manager, discussing strategies for improving our stations ratings. My manager told me that I needed to find a cause to embrace and build a goodwill promotion around as part of the morning show. It’s generally accepted in radio programming that hosts who build strong and public ties to the community generally enjoy good ratings. I started researching local charitable organizations that may be in need of assistance and that could be helped by strong publicity. In the course of my search someone mentioned Abraham’s Tent to me. Abraham’s Tent is an interfaith agency that was formed to meet the needs of the hungry in Southwest Louisiana. Abraham’s Tent serves hot lunches to those in need every day of the year, both at their facility, and through the delivery of meals to some local facilities serving the elderly and disabled. I called Abraham’s tent and spoke the Ms. Pearl Cole, the director of the agency. Ms. Pearl told me that Abraham’s tent operated primarily on donations of food and

monetary donations from the public. She told me a bit about their specific needs and how the need for their services typically increases around the time of the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Armed with the information that Ms. Pearl had provided me, I began brainstorming with the operations manager and other people in the programming department. We finally developed the idea of conducting a food drive for Abrahams Tent on Thanksgiving week, but making it unique and drawing attention to it by staging a “camp out” to collect the food. The idea was developed to set up a flatbed trailer at a high traffic location, pitch a tent on top of it and stay there, broadcasting day and night, until enough food was collected to fill the flatbed. The event would be called “The Campout for a Cause”. I contacted Ms. Pearl and told her our idea. She was excited about it, but told me that before the actual event took place, she wanted me to visit Abraham’s tent at lunch time to see the work that they do. The following Thursday I showed up at Abraham’s tent at around 11a.m. Ms. Pearl first took me through the kitchen and showed me their cooking operation. I was greeted warmly by the smiling faces of her small staff and many volunteers. Ms. Pearl then took me to the dining room and put me to work serving lunch. My experience that day was moving as I helped to serve meals to men, women, and children who were in need. My visit that day was transformative. Prior to that day I was viewing the upcoming “Campout for a Cause” promotion as a public relations vehicle to help with my listenership and ratings. When I left Abraham’s tent that Thursday, my priorities had changed. I wanted to do as much as I could to help Abraham’s Tent do the good work that they do. In the face of every person who showed up needing a meal that day and in the hands of every volunteer working to provide meals, I saw the work of God. On Thanksgiving week of 2000 I hosted the first campout for a cause. At that time the event was held in front of Market Basket grocery store on Ryan Street in Lake Charles. Arriving in the early morning darkness on that Monday morning, I began broadcasting the message that, “Yes we do have hungry people in Lake Charles, and yes

there is something you can do to help.” I asked people to donate any type of food item that they could. We of course accepted canned goods and dry goods, but we also were able to accept meats and perishables. I started encouraging people to donate turkeys because they are always very inexpensive at that time of year, and provide good lean protein that is very versatile. The response was overwhelming. I camped out on the side of that busy street from Monday morning through Wednesday afternoon. As luck would have it we experienced our first freeze of the winter that week, but I reminded myself that I had the good fortune to have a tent and a warm sleeping bag. There are people in our area that didn’t have that luxury. My wife would stop by and bring me supper each evening and visit. We were both moved by the generosity we witnessed, and more than once had to wipe tears from our eyes. Many people brought their children to the grocery store and had them buy food to donate so that they could learn about charity. We saw families and individuals that obviously had very little themselves stopping by to donate what they could, and saw grand acts of generosity from people who wouldn’t even tell me their name because they wanted no recognition, just the opportunity to do good. Every year since then I have hosted the “Campout for a Cause” on Thanksgiving week and have never failed to be moved by the amazing amount of generosity the residents of Lake Charles and the surrounding areas have for their fellow man. Each year we collect several tons of food donations including a large amount of turkey and other meats. The number of turkeys donated has become the benchmark by which we compare the success of each year. In 2008 I changed positions here at the radio station. I have moved off air into the sales department, but I still return to the air each year to host the Campout for a Cause. This year I will be camped out in front of the Ashley Furniture Home Store on Gerstner Memorial Blvd., beginning the morning of Monday, November 22. I’ll be broadcasting on KBIU - 103.3 Jack FM. If you find yourself in the area that week please stop by and donate what you can do to help feed the hungry of Southwest Louisiana.

A Story of Faith, Patience, & Hope

Mother & Son Reunited Pregnant teen elects adoption Lynn LeDoux Growing up I always went to church on Wednesday nights, Sunday mornings, and Sunday nights. My life was very hard. We barely made it by each month. My parents divorced when I was in middle school and my dad was sick and was dying. The church was the only place I truly had. As a teenager I was pressured into having sex which led to my being pregnant at 15. I was so scared and alone at this point. How could I face my church, my parents, or my peers? As rumors started to fly around about me, I became very depressed. I contemplated suicide. I asked God- “why me, I am a good girl and don’t ever do anything wrong.” Little did I know God had a greater plan for me. It would be Faith, Patience and Hope. Months went by and I decided, along with my parents, that the best thing for my baby was adoption. Again, I was not blessed with supporting parents. He was born on the most Holy day of the year-Easter. The adoption agency took him before I even had a chance to see him. I struggled with this for years. Where was my son? Was he alright? Was he in a Christian home? Years passed and I was blessed with three more children, Abbigayle, Carlee, and Matthew. By this time I became very curious about where my first son was. I finally got enough courage to contact the adoption agency and began to receive letters and pictures of my son. He had grown into a handsome young man. He was truly blessed with Christian parents who gave him more than I ever could at that young age, and I don’t mean money. We finally met for the first time in June of this year. At that first meeting I realized God’s plan was greater than I could have ever imagined. His parents are awesome Christians and we get along great; we talk frequently. I feel as if we are kindred spirits. I am truly blessed to have this relationship with my son and his parents.

I finally have the peace in my life that I have searched for. I have grown spiritually in my life and this whole situation has made my Faith in God stronger. God knew what he was going to use me for. I was going to give life to someone who couldn’t do it themselves. It was nice to speak with his parents and just hear thank you. I asked my son Clark, “Do you ever regret the decision I made for you.” He said, “No mom, because if it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t have the life I have had.” Clark attends college, has a part time job, is actively involved in the adoption center, is a social butterfly, and loves the life God chose for him. I would like to thank Clark’s parents for their decision for adoption. I would also like to thank Clark for being the man he is and understanding why things happened like they did. So, remember just because people make mistakes we shouldn’t shun them out or make fun of them, or judge them; only our Heavenly Father knows his plan for us. In our eyes what we think is wrong is not. God always turns it for the greater good. Always! Romans 8:28-30, And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. Clark, this is for you, our God does not make any mistakes: Psalm 139:13-18 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you. csn-paper.com October • 2010 CSN

Don’t Leave Your Children’s Destiny in the Hands of the Educators Politics vs. Talent As parents, it is our responsibility to be active participants in our children’s learning experience. As your child goes out into the world and steps into the classroom, they are faced with many more challenges beyond the classroom work that is presented to them.

Unfortunately, in Academics and Sports, politics and money still drive some of the decisions of the teachers and coaches who sponsor different organizations and athletics. For instance, a Booster Club that has a major financial contributor can put pressure on a coach to give their child more time on the football field over another athlete who has better physical capabilities. You may not have the funds to be a major contributor, although you should not have to buy your child’s way, but you do have the responsibility to be on that sideline observing practices and having frequent OPEN communications with the Coaching Staff.

In addition, if your child possesses the grades and the ability to receive Athletic Scholarships, you must contact the schools of your choice to inform them of your interest in their Athletic Program. Interesting enough, recently a parent contacted a school that his son would fit in perfectly because of the curriculum they offer, as well as into their football team. Well, the coach already knew of his son, and he had already contacted the High School Coach, who told this College Coach that this student had a problem with grades, which was FALSE INFORMATION of that student. The parent had to take it upon himself to forward that school his son’s ACT Scores and grades. The parent must take the initiative to manage their

child’s education and future. School Counselors should be your single point of contact to alert parents of scholarship availability that fits your child’s profile. In addition, they should be proactive in informing parents of mandatory classes your child should be taking to qualify for any financial assistance, such as TOPS in the State of Louisiana, before the students make their schedule for classes. The parent on the other hand, should be contacting the school to obtain the requirements for any programs that may be available for their child student. The School Counselors can only do so much with so many students; therefore, as parents we must get involved and remain active in your child’s learning experience. School Counselors realize that scholarships require more than just academic achievement and that the student should be involved in school organizations, sports, and civic groups to enhance their profile in successfully obtaining the scholarships available in their community. Many scholarships are not given out, just because the counselor did not inform the parents.

Recommendations for trying out for sports or being in clubs. There should always be judges who have no relations to anyone. How is that truly fair when the sponsor or coach has children who are trying out, it will raise questions so let’s delete the problem before it happens. All tryouts should be video taped so if any questions may arise there will be proof. No sponsor should ever be allowed to tally the votes themselves, it should be tallied by one of the judges that are unknown so that there is no tampering with the scores. Parents should be allowed to sit in during tryouts and practices so that we can assure that our children are being equally taught and no outside help should be allowed so that all the children have equal opportunities. As for organizations there should never be the same president picked for all clubs. This does not give the children equal opportunity to be involved. They have futures as well as the other students. I have a 4.0 student how is in all the clubs and has not been asked to hold an elected spot. Children are afraid to run because other children might loose to a child who had their parents write their speech. The counselor has not spoken to me about options for my 4.0 student in reference to her future in high

school so we might know the options of different classes they may offer for her. It is all about politics and money around town. Truly does this matter? Will you take these things with you into heaven? The answer is no, but your kindness and truthfulness will. Treat others how you would want to be treated. Proverbs 6:16- 21 There are six things the Lord hates, haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers. My son, keep your Father’s commands and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. Bind them upon your heart forever.

Abstinence Pays Submitted by Cody Pichnic: 18-year-old local resident Growing up as a Christian teenager in today’s sexually promiscuous society, it is difficult and trying. However, knowing the benefits of abstinence and the consequences of fornication encouraged me to abstain. There are many reasons to abstain from sex until you are married and several ways how it is beneficial to you and to those around you. Marriage is obviously God’s intent as it says in the Bible in 1 Corinthians 7:2 “never the less to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife and let every woman have her own husband.” God intended man and woman to marry to avoid fornication. God also gave us rules to follow just like a human father tries to protect his children; God tries to protect His children from harm. It would exactly be like our human father telling us to put shoes on when we run outside so that we don’t step on glass and cut our feet. One blessing that comes from abstaining from sex is trust that comes from having proven yourself to be faithful to your spouse and

they would be able to trust you. Also your wedding night will be more special for you and your spouse because abstinence makes the heart grow fonder. Even your children would benefit from you abstaining until marriage. Even if you have children from an unplanned pregnancy that you love and cherish it is very difficult to imagine that nothing could be better if the pregnancy had been planned. Unplanned pregnancies often bring financial burdens that sometimes continue throughout the child’s life, creating hardships for parent(s), the child, and other family members. Children from unplanned pregnancies usually don’t have two parents to love, guide, and nurture them. Even though there are many programs that promote condoms, contraceptives, and abortions which attempt to eliminate unplanned pregnancies, none of these are completely effective or safe. The only way to be completely safe from unplanned pregnancies is to just abstain from sex. Today, there are many people with AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. We all know by now that AIDS is incurable and ultimately

fatal. We also know that there are some sexually transmitted diseases such as Hepatitis B, Chlamydia, and others that are not fatal but are incurable. The rate of the spread of STD’s is growing at 19 million new infections every year with more than 50% of the infected population being young people between the ages of 15 to 24 years. Studies show that there have been over 40,000 new cases of syphilis, over 1,000,000 new cases of Chlamydia and 300,000 new cases of gonorrhea since 2007. It is my hope that by sharing this information on the benefits of abstinence and the consequences of fornication that I will encourage other teenagers to wait until they are married so they can experience God’s blessings and not suffer the consequences of fornication. Abstinence is the only way to ensure that you receive the blessings of God’s wisdom for yourself, your marriage, your children, and other family members. Abstinence is also the only way to avoid the many consequences of fornication. There may be other plans to replace abstinence but because it’s from God, abstinence pays.

Why should you advertise your product or service in Christian magazines and periodicals? Because Christian advertising gives you fantastic results! Just look at these three facts: FACT ONE: Christian magazine readers are ACTIVE CONSUMERS, who as a group have tremendous buying power, and who make excellent mail order customers for a wide range of products and services. A 1998 study conducted by Christianity Today found that in a 12-month period, an amazing 77% of Christian publication readers purchased a product or service through mail order! FACT TWO: Christian magazines reach over 100 million avid Christian readers throughout the United States everyday. These are Christians of all denominations, linked together by their passion and interest in their respective communities and Churches. So what does this mean to you as an advertiser trying to reach this market through Christian advertising? It means you're dealing with LOYAL readers who look to their Churches' publications for advice and guidance on family and life issues, which guarantees that these publications will enjoy a long shelf life. For instance, recent surveys run by the Simmons Market Research Bureau, found that Christian readers value their publications so highly that they come back an average of 2.3 times to re-read their issues, and spend an average of 46 minutes reading each issue. Most importantly, this intense involvement with their Churches and the Churches' publications', carries over to the advertisers who support these publications. In fact, a whopping 74% of Christian magazine and newspaper readers prefer to do business with Christian magazine and newspaper advertisers. FACT THREE: You'll maximize your Christian marketing dollars by FOCUSING your advertising campaign on a concentrated market. Focused advertising is by far the most effective way of advertising your product or service. Any marketing expert would tell you that every dollar you spend focusing on a targeted segment of the market, is worth at least 20 or 30 times what you would have spent on mass marketing and taking a shot gun approach. Clearly, with focused advertising you can squeeze every last ounce out of your advertising dollar. You Don't Need Deep Pockets to Reach the Christian Consumer!

This Christian market guide is absolutely ideal for any small business, church, ministry, entrepreneur or professional operating on a limited advertising budget. If you've ever felt frustrated by the outrageous rates charged by mainstream magazines, you'll be tickled to death when you see the affordable advertising rates these niche magazines and Christian newspapers offer you. In some cases display ads for even less than $100! But it's not just about the money you'll be saving in your advertising campaign. It's about the many responses your ad will be receiving from these enthusiastic readers. Because you're speaking directly to a narrow and attentive audience, your advertisement will rarely go unnoticed in these Christian magazines. Your ads get seen by interested Christian consumers who quickly tune into your message and will take the time to read your ad. That's why when you advertise in these publications you get the best of both worlds: low-cost ads AND targeted advertising. If you are marketing and advertising your business it doesn't get any better than this! The perfect mix to make your Christian ad campaign a success. Are all products suitable for Christian advertising in these publications? No, as you can imagine, they are not. Christian magazines and papers will not accept advertising for sex, gambling, alcoholic beverages, or tobacco products. Outside of this, however, the field is pretty wide open. Whether you're involved in nonprofit or church advertising, or whether you're advertising to Christians to promote your company and generate new business, you'll discover in these magazines a highly receptive audience interested in a large variety of products and services, including music, inspirational books, computer software/hardware, electronics, personal growth, clothing, gifts, novelties, collectibles, stationery, financial services, insurance, pharmaceuticals, travel and vacation packages, phone services, seminars, parishes, retreats, professional services, household goods, school supplies, business opportunities, job opportunities, college planning, retirement planning, securities investment, educational products, personal and home security, health, nutrition, fitness, charitable contributions, fundraising ideas, etc. etc

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FAT LOSS: Here are the last 5 tips to achieving your fat loss goals.

#6: Practice the 80:20 rule. You can’t expect to be perfect for the rest of your life and setting super impossible high Carl expectations will Comeaux definitely set you up for failure and feelings of inadequacy. Instead of saying, ‘I’m never going to eat chocolate again’, decide that you’ll eat it only once per week. Instead of determining that you’re going to eat perfectly 7 days a week, decide that you’ll eat really healthy 5 days a week and then 2 days, you’ll allow for a few indulgences. This is much more realistic and is something that you can adhere to for the rest of your life. We have to stop thinking “All or Nothing”. This just leads to failure and then the resultant binges. Remember that if you want to be 10 pounds lighter 10 years from now, then it’s not what you do over the next 6 weeks, but rather what you do for the next 10 years! So ask yourself, what type of a nutrition plan can you follow forever? #7: Limit your alcohol intake: Alcohol poses a number of problems. It is high in calories and lacking nutrient value. Some researchers have also suggested that because alcohol is metabolized in the body first, any food consumed in combination with the alcohol will be more easily converted to fat. And finally, and probably most importantly, alcohol reduces your inhibitions. You may be more inclined to indulge or make poor choices because you aren’t able to think clearly or examine the long term consequences. Most people won’t commit to never drinking again, but instead of drinking every night with

Safely, Effectively and Permanently

dinner, limit it to 1-2x/week. #8: Increase your daily activity: Try to think of ways that you can be more active throughout your day without having to actually exercise. The calories expended from walking a few extra blocks, taking the stairs, or performing errands in an active fashion really add up! If we could learn to just be more active throughout the day, we wouldn’t have to spend hours in the gym! #9: Try not to eat large amounts of food past 8:00pm. Eating late at night often goes hand-in-hand with highfat snacks and overeating. Secondly, it never feels good to go to bed on a full stomach! #10: Keep an activity and food log. Record your daily exercise and what and how much you eat. Some researchers have found that just the act of recording the foods you eat, result in better choices and a healthier diet. Also by writing everything out, you may also start to notice patterns. For example, you may observe that the days you don’t exercise are also the days you eat poorly. You can then take appropriate action. It’s also a good idea to set daily goals to break the long-term ultimate goal into smaller chunks and to keep your goals in the forefront of your thoughts. Be sure that your goals are behavioral in nature (ie. drink 8 glasses of water, exercise for 30 minutes, eat 5 small meals) instead of bodyfocused (ie. I will lose 1 pound this week, I will drop 10 inches by Monday etc.). Go to www.LiveFit7. com for free activity and food log downloads Last final words of wisdom are to be patient. Safe fat loss often takes months and sometimes years - definitely not weeks or

days! Be persistent and consistent! Finally, accept your genetics. If you come from a pear-shaped family, you most likely will always be a pear-shape. But you do have the choice of being an in-shape or an out-of-shape pearshape! Don’t compare yourself to other women or men, instead, try to implement these changes because they are healthy changes and you deserve to take care of yourself! We know from experience that if being thin is your goal to make you happy, you’re never going to be thin enough to be happy! So learn to be happy in the body you’re in right now! Yours in health and fitness, Carl Comeaux, M.S. Owner/Fitness Specialist Carl@LiveFIT7.com 337-853-2122 www.LiveFIT7.com

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POWERof CHANGE Do you wish you could change something about your life right now? I’m here to argue that change can happen in an instant. I know this goes against popular thought. Most people believe that change has to be worked at for months or even years. We expect to try and fail numerous times before we ultimately give up or succeed. How many people do you know who struggle with their weight? They want to make a healthy change by getting in shape, but the change never seems to take hold.

Patrick C.Nelson

Reality Fitness Owner/ Body Transformation Specialist

Is there something in your life that you want to change? Do you have weight to lose? Do you have high blood pressure? Do you have a pair of pants that you wish you could fit into? What is keeping you from making a positive change in your life? The getting-ready-for-change may take a little time, but if you are mentally ready, it can happen in an instant. And all this can instantly take place if you just do this one thing…Change what you’re comfortable with. You’ve probably heard that we as people are motivated by two things: 1) to avoid pain and 2) to gain pleasure. When

you want to change a behavior pattern the key is to associate pain with the behavior that you don’t want and pleasure with the behavior that you do want. You know that you want to lose weight and that to do so you need to quit eating comfort food late at night. You also know that you need to start exercising on a regular basis. Up until this point your brain is trained to associate pleasure with eating comfort food late at night and to associate pain with exercise. It’s time to retrain your brain to feel good about exercise and to feel bad about eating late at night. Think about all of the negative things about being overweight and connect these unpleasant thoughts to your late night snack. Now think about all of the wonderful things about being in shape and connect these pleasant thoughts to exercise. You are capable of making a big change in your life. As always, you are welcome to call, email me, or go to www.resultgetters. com for your free no obligation fitness consultation. Remember, change can happen in an instant.

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Adult Bible Quiz: Thanksgiving 1. What happened to Daniel after he gave thanks to God by his open window? 2. What occasion did David write Psalm 105 for? 3. What instruments were used to praise God when the temple foundation was rebuilt? 4. At the Last Supper what items of food and drink did Jesus give thanks for? 5. During what traumatic event did the apostle Paul take bread and give thanks? 6. Who did Jesus raise from the dead by a prayer of thanks to God? 7. Why do the four and twenty elders in Revelation give thanks to God? 8. In the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican, what did the Pharisee thank God for? 9. Where was Jonah when he prayed to God with the voice of thanksgiving? 10. Who gave thanks to the Lord when they saw the baby Jesus? 11. How did Paul say we should let our requests be made known to God? 12. Out of the ten lepers Jesus healed, what nationality was the one who returned to thank him? 13. What human qualities does Paul list as being signs of the last days? 14. In the Sermon on the Mount to who does Jesus say God is kind 15. Who does Paul thank God for because their faith and love grew exceedingly? 16. Paul thanks God that he did not baptise any of the Corinthians, except for which people? 17. Who thanked King David for allowing his son Absalom to return to Jerusalem? 18. On Paul’s journey to Rome, at what location did he meet brethren whom he thanked God for? 19. What did God specifically command concerning the thanksgiving offering that the Israelites made? 20. Complete this common phrase of thanksgiving found in the Bible: “O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his _____ endureth for ever.” 1)He was thrown into the lions’ den, 2) Bringing the ark back to Jerusalem, 3) Trumpets and cymbals. 4) Bread and wine, 5) Sea voyage, 6) Lazarus, 7) God has taken his power and commenced his reign, 8) That he was not sinful like other men, 9) In the fish’s belly, 10) Anna the Prophetess, 11) By prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, 12) Samaritan, 13) Covetous, boasters, proud, unthankful people, 14) The unthankful and the evil, 15) The Thessalonians, 16) Crispus, Gaius and the household of Stephanus, 17) Job, 18) Appii forum, 19) They must eat it on the day it is offered, 20) Mercy

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Praline Pumpkin Dessert Recipe FORMAL WEAR • DRY CLEANERS

1 can (15 oz) pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix) 1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk 3 eggs 1 cup sugar 4 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice 1 box Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® yellow or spice cake mix 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans or walnuts 3/4 cup butter or margarine, melted Whipped cream, if desired Additional pumpkin pie spice, if desired 1.Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Grease or spray bottom and sides of 13x9-inch pan. In medium bowl, beat pumpkin, milk, eggs, sugar and 4 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice with wire whisk until smooth. Pour into pan. 2.Sprinkle dry cake mix over pumpkin mixture. Sprinkle with pecans. Pour melted butter evenly over top. 3.Bake 50 to 60 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 30 minutes. 4.To serve, cut dessert into 4 rows by 3 rows. Serve warm or chilled with dollop of whipped cream sprinkled with pumpkin pie spice. Store covered in refrigerator.

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Unmarried Christians living in a Secular World

Blessings Mix

From a Woman’s Perspective Many lonely nights, days and weekends pass by as we wish upon a star for God to send us the perfect mate. We get nervous and anxious as our birthdays go by. We know deep down in our heart that God is preparing the perfect mate for us; although, we often end up rushing into relationships without praying to God and seeking His guidance before that first date. In life, we set goals for where we want to be in our career, yet we do not set goals as to what type of person we will allow to date us. God honors a person with a plan and a person who prepares himself. Create a checklist of things that are important to you in a person that you would consider dating. Write down moral issues that you will not back down on. Write down the type of qualities that you are seeking in a lifetime mate, or spouse. Then, we need to cultivate the qualities in ourselves that we seek out in the other person we desire to marry. Sometimes, we look at the person purposing the date as a potential renovation project, knowing full well that they are not what God has ordained for us. We think that we will be able to change them. Yes, it would be perfect for a man to tell us the famous line “You make me want to be a better man.” But, in reality, we know he has not held down a single job for more than 6 months at a time and he has not ever been able to hold down a monogamous relationship. Feeling rushed, we try to make, force and sometimes buy relationships. We look at a person as potential, yet not holding them up against the standards that we have set in place. We back down on the moral standards and ethics that we believe in, just to fit him in our life. Then, 12 months later, we are wondering why they have left our side or why we are feeling sadly unequally yoked. We overlook their inadequacies because we don’t even know our own self-worth. Oddly enough, we are the only one in the relationship that seems to be really happy. This too is a bad sign. Don’t go down that aisle if you are not at total peace with your decision to be in this relationship. We cannot change people. We can look at the signs that God is revealing to us, allow the Holy Spirit within us to lead us, and use good judgment to decide what to do. If things are not working out, cut your losses quick! Don’t give your time to an ungodly relationship and forfeit everything that He is preparing for you. How many of us pray to God and ask Him before we ever go out on that first date? Seek God’s input first; this could save us a lot of time and eliminate future relationship frustrations. Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and everything else shall be added onto us. Do you believe that? Honestly, I know that almost all Christian Women pray to God “please send me that perfect man that you are preparing for me”, “God I am patiently waiting for you to place a Godly man in my life” and it just does not seem to manifest fast enough. When things aren’t happening fast enough for you, focus on making the most of your singleness and serving God. Enjoy your family and friendships that God has blessed you with. Make friendship the first desire and goal of any relationship you begin, because in the end, this will be the most important aspect of your marriage—friendship with love and respect. It is important knowing yourself. Are you a caregiver? Often times, caregivers seek partners that are needy to feel worthy themselves. This is dangerous. Do you have low self-esteem? People with low self-esteem end up falling for the guys that have the best lines- only giving them a temporary fix with their empty words. The point is that we must know our weaknesses, work to overcome our weaknesses, and improve ourselves before getting involved with anyone else. Honor God at all times. Give God your spare time as He is preparing both you and the spouse He has set aside and apart just for you. When you give to God, He will greatly reward you. Know that at all times, God has a plan for your life and embrace every moment He is blessing you with and at all times honor and bless Him. Praise Him for the prayers that He is answering, even though you have not seen it manifest yet. Claim your blessings by faith!

I received the “Blessing Mix” from a friend one Thanksgiving Season. It is quite a good concoction to share with family and friends. I added the “Let us be Thankful” lines with scripture references to bless and encourage with God’s Word... Bugles: Shaped like a "Cornucopia" or "Horn of Plenty," a symbol of our nation's abundance. Let us be Thankful that Jesus came that we might have life and that more abundantly if we will follow Him... John 10:10b Pretzels: Arms folded in prayer, a freedom sought by those who founded our country. Let us be Thankful that we have this privilege of prayer and that the prayers of a righteous man avails much. God hears our prayers. James 5;16 Candy Corn: The sacrifices of the Pilgrims' first winter. Food was so scarce that settlers survived on just a few kernels of corn a day. Let us be Thankful that God provides all our need according to His riches in glory. Philippians 4:19 Nuts or Seeds: Promise of a future harvest, one we reap only if seeds are planted and tended with diligence. Let us be Thankful that from the beginning that God promised a "Seed" and that "Seed" was Jesus Christ, our Savior, who shed His precious blood for us that we might be free from sin and the wages thereof! Genesis 3:15 Dried Fruits: Harvest gifts from our bountiful land. Let us be Thankful that if we due not grow weary in well doing that in due season we shall reap. There is a harvest coming. Galatians 6:9 M&M''s: Memories of those who came before us to lead us to a blessed future. Let us be Thankful to God for men and women of God that have been examples unto us, showing through their walk lives committed to Christ to help us press on in our walk. Hebrews 11:4-40 and Philippians 3:16-17 Hershey's Kiss: The love of family and friends that sweetens our lives. Let us be Thankful for our God who has Loved us with an Everlasting Love and because of Him we have true Abundance... Jeremiah 31:3 and 2 Peter 1:2 Yes, Let us be Thankful… This Thanksgiving let us Love and Worship our God and Give Him Thanks with a Grateful Heart... Psalms 28:7 and many more... Love in Christ, Michele November 2007

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McNeese State: November Slate Here’s a quick look at the upcoming schedule for the McNeese Cowboy football team: McNeese State treated its homecoming crowd to an important 24-14 Southland Conference victory over Nicholls on Saturday, 10/30. Thanks to Stephen F. Austin’s 27-24 loss to Texas State earlier that day, McNeese finds itself in a three-way tie for 1st place in the conference with Stephen F. Austin and Northwestern State. McNeese State now sports an overall 4-4 record, while also possessing a 3-1 league mark. The remaining games for McNeese are Sam Houston State, Texas State, and Central Arkansas.

yard touchdown run in his first return to action after an injury suffered 2 games ago. McNeese dominated the first half, while Nicholls attempted a rally in the second half. Despite their efforts, McNeese still outgained Nicholls 404 to 235 in total yards.

In the game against Nicholls, McNeese jumped out to a 21-0 second quarter lead, before eventually taking the victory. Jacob Brewer completed 12 of 21 passes for 112 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for 40 yards. Tailback Andre Anderson rushed for an impressive 171 yards, while Bernardo Henry ran 3 times for 71 yards. Champlain Babin also chipped in with a 1

November 13 Texas State - Home (Senior night) - 7:00 pm

Upcoming schedule: November 6 Sam Houston State - Huntsville, Texas - 2:00 pm

November 20 Central Arkansas - Conway, Arkansas - 3:00 pm All games can be heard on Gator 99.5 FM

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FOOTBALL STRETCH RUN Bring on Alabama. That’s the war cry that’s being sounded in Tigerland this week. After last week’s Auburn game, it’s time to look forward and get ready for the Tide to roll in on November 6th. It’ll be different this time around in Baton Rouge. That’s what the fans are hoping to see. Last year LSU played Alabama very close until a couple of key injuries and some untimely cramping altered the outcome of what was shaping up to be a classic barn burner. Of all the games that loom on the schedule each year, this is the one that all LSU fans wait impatiently for. Of course, Alabama is still Alabama. They’ve lost one game this year to South Carolina and they’re not out of the national championship picture quite yet. One more loss and they will be though. Now wouldn’t LSU fans love to be the ones who ruin Nicky’s shot at back to back titles? You bet! Of course, getting Alabama now is not the best of timing. Since their 21-35 loss to South Carolina, they’ve reeled off 2 pretty good victories against SEC opponents and come into Baton Rouge fresh off of a bye week. Complacency certainly won’t be their problem. Who can forget the game last week against Auburn? Cam Newton certainly lived up to his billing as he ran for 217 yards, while Auburn netted 440 yards rushing as a team. That was done against one of the best defenses in the country too. On the flip side, LSU rushed for only 115 yards and the longest pass of the night came from Spencer Ware’s 39 yard touchdown pass to Reuben Randle. Once again, that’s the highlight of the passing game for LSU. Auburn didn’t light it up through the air either, but when you’re averaging over 8 yards per carry, why bother throwing the ball? The best thing I can say about that game is that despite all of the rushing yards, LSU was firmly in the game up until the final minutes. The undoing for the LSU bunch was the string of 3 and outs that they unveiled in their offensive attempts to begin the 3rd quarter. With an offense like

Auburn has, it’s asking too much for your defense to try to keep the game within reach if you can’t do more than exercise your punter for an entire quarter. Just how potent is Auburn’s offense? Try matching 50+ points 3 times this year, along with a 65 point explosion against Arkansas. LSU should feel good about holding them to 24 points. Auburn’s been rewarded with a #2 ranking in the BCS this week also. Right now LSU is right in the middle of the meat of its schedule. Alabama is going to be followed by ULM, Old Miss, and Arkansas. The natural tendency is to think that if LSU can somehow get past Bama that they’d have it made the rest of the way. Whoa, partner! Not so fast. Old Miss and Arkansas have made a living lately of being a thorn in LSU’s side. Even when LSU was seeing better days, Arkansas always found a way to give them fits. Is it something about playing the day after Thanksgiving that just doesn’t sit right with the Baton Rouge group? Maybe playing on the Saturday after the holiday will help this year. But why blame the turkey or pies? The other team has the same issues. Discipline is what keeps the ship righted. Discipline is what allows you to know what to do in situations where clock management is critical. Discipline is what allows you to play complete games and not take plays off from time to time. It’s also what keeps your program among the elite ones in the country. It allows you to recruit strongly year after year. So do the Tigers have the discipline to finish strongly this year, regardless of what the outcome of the Alabama battle is? A big game like this spends the emotions of both players and coaches; it takes something to get off the mat and keep playing, whether you win or lose this game. DISCIPLINE. And it doesn’t start overnight. Sometimes the players don’t need you to be their friends. They need you to coach em up!

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