By David Jeremiah And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. Psalm 139:16b Recommended Reading: Genesis 22:8-14 If a vacationer can afford it, concierge-type travel services can plan and provide for every day—actually, every hour—of an itinerary. From the moment you are picked up at your door until the moment you return, your trip has been planned and executed in detail. For some, eliminating the serendipitous, unplanned moments from a trip removes all the fun. For others, security and not worrying about details is worth the price. To read the rest of the devotional, please click here. … [Read more...]
Barry McCarty: What your vote does and does not do
By Barry McCarty, Christian Examiner FORT WORTH, Texas (Christian Examiner) — A lot of you are confusing the "consent of the governed," which is what happens in a political election, with some sort of absolute moral affirmation of everything the candidate you vote for has ever said or done. Your vote does nothing of the sort. For the rest of the story, please click here. … [Read more...]
Todd Starnes: Muslims complain about town’s 911 memorial
By Todd Starnes, Fox News A group of New York Muslims has taken offense at a small town’s new memorial honoring those who died in the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks. The Islamic Organization of the Southern Tier fired off a letter to city leaders in Owego – alleging that words engraved in the granite memorial would encourage hatred to Muslims. To read the rest of the story, please click here. … [Read more...]
40 led to Christ during disaster relief chaplain’s eight days in Lafayette
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer LAFAYETTE – As he passed by a local fast food restaurant, Wayne Barber felt a nudging by the Holy Spirit to stop and see what God had in store for he and his fellow Southern Baptist Disaster Relief team members. When Barber did, the Southern Baptists of Texas Disaster Relief chaplain found a worker in the establishment discouraged and in need of hope after flooding in mid-August left her apartment uninhabitable. Moments later, Barber offered her something that would never wash away or be destroyed – a lasting relationship with Jesus Christ. She would be the first person over the next three days in the same restaurant and in the same booth – and one of nearly 40 altogether during Barber’s eight days there – to make a decision for Christ. “There were three people in a row at the same booth, three days in a row, all accepting Christ,” said Barber, still all smiles after his week in Louisiana. “It was amazing how we were going down the road and the Holy Spirit nudged us to go in there, even though we really hadn’t planned to at first. “Every night when we go to bed we pray the Lord would prepare divine appointments the next day,” said Barber, a member of Hillcrest Baptist Church … [Read more...]
Calling all soul winners to Northside Baptist
By Brian Blackwell,vMessage Staff Writer DENHAM SPRINGS – James Carson is calling all soul winners to join him at Northside Baptist Church in spreading the Gospel to those hurting after recent flooding in south Louisiana. “We need all the help and prayers and support we can get,” said Carson, interim pastor of Northside Baptist Church in Denham Springs. “We as a church are looking at this opportunity not only of ministering to the physical needs of people but more importantly to the spiritual needs and trying to win people all over this community to Jesus Christ. We will put forth a really hard effort to get that done in our community here. “And we welcome any soul winners to come and join us in this effort,” he added. “We would appreciate that.” Nearly four feet of water came inside the worship center at Northside Baptist Church in mid-August. Nearly everything from pews to hymnals to carpet is ruined, except for the baby grand piano, an organ and the Bible sitting atop the Lord’s Supper table. “We are most grateful that our grand piano and organ was spared as they are used to glorify our Lord with leading our praise to Him in worship,” Carson said. “We also are grateful the large family Bible on the communion … [Read more...]
Pastors Conference to stress urgency to reach culture with Gospel
By Message Staff BALL - Understanding the urgency to reach the culture with the Gospel, organizers of this year’s Pastor's Conference are hoping to equip participants with tools needed to assist in this spiritual battle. Scheduled Nov. 13-14 at Kingsville Baptist Church, the annual gathering’s theme is “Urgency,” based on Romans 13:11. “With the state of affairs in our nation, now more than ever, we need a sense of urgency as it relates to personal evangelism, the preaching of the gospel, and equipping the saints,” said Pastors Conference President Nathan Davis. “We are really looking forward to what God is going to do this year. “I believe we have an all-star lineup with great preaching and singing,” said Davis, pastor of First Baptist Church in Coushatta. “Be praying for the conference and encourage people to come with a sense of ‘urgency.’ Please make plans to attend because this is your Pastors Conference. We are expecting God to do amazing things this year. Don’t miss out.” The conference will begin at 6:00 p.m. on Nov. 13 with music led by Todd DuBose, Minister of Music at First Baptist Church in Minden, with area choirs participating. Among those scheduled to preach are David Allen, Dean of the School of … [Read more...]
It’s time to step up: More recovery workers needed, as damaged homes top 155,000
By Philip Timothy, Message Managing Editor ALEXANDRIA – With a revised estimate of 155,000 damaged homes now being reported by the governor’s office, Louisiana Baptist leaders are asking for more volunteers to meet the overwhelming demand for assistance in mud-out and related services caused by historic floods across the southern part of the state in August. The new number, issued by Mike Steele, communications director for the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, more than doubles the previously reported figure of about 61,000 flooded houses. But, Steele stressed the numbers may continue to fluctuate because calculations include direct reports from parishes combined with information gleaned from imaging technology. Meanwhile, Louisiana Baptist leaders are calling for an even greater mobilization of volunteers. Gevan Spinney, pastor of First Baptist Church, Haughton, and president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, thanked Southern Baptists for their response so far and lauded the North American Mission Board for the great work it does with disaster relief. “Those yellow shirts are a reminder throughout our state that we are not alone in this,” he said. But he also urged more … [Read more...]
Blood River pastor calls for more Sheetrock donations
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALBANY – The water was rising to the door of the church parsonage and Pastor David Collins knew he had to make a difficult decision – placing his trust in complete strangers in an airboat to rescue his family. With the water waste deep and Blood River Baptist Church just a few hundred yards away, Collins reassured his two young boys they would be okay. Moments later, Collins joined his children as the three breathed a sigh of relief, for they had found refuge inside the church building. And in the midst of the situation, the Lord reminded Collins of a sermon he preached a few Sundays before on trusting in the Lord wholeheartedly for everything. Collins had to apply the message at that very moment. “It’s crazy how some folks think that it’s easy to put our trust in someone with an airboat, that we’ve never met, and put our little boys and belongings, on the boat,” Collins said. “I’ve never seen these people in my life. They came to rescue us without asking for anything in return. They came into my house to help me pack, grabbed my boys, dogs, and some essential belongings up and unselfishly placed them on their airboat. They asked me what else I needed and I had to say just … [Read more...]
Students give up Labor Day holiday to help with flood recovery
By Message Staff BATON ROUGE – The college spirit is coming to Baton Rouge this weekend, but not for a tailgate party near a football stadium. Four hundred college students from five southern states and 18 different Baptist Collegiate Ministry and church collegiate groups are coming together in the city, for one purpose – to help rebuild homes impacted by mid-August flooding. The groups will begin arriving on Friday and the last ones remaining will return to their campuses Monday. They will stay are area churches and come together on Saturday evening for a worship service at Istrouma Baptist Church in Baton Rouge. Steve Masters, Baptist Collegiate Ministry director at Louisiana State University, is one of the organizers of the event. He expects the student groups will complete between 70 and 100 homes. “I’m proud of these college students for being to help other people,” said Steve Master’s, BCM minister at LSU. “It’s so timely these college students would come. The sooner we can get Sheetock out of the homes, the better.” If a BCM is interested in assisting with recovery efforts, call Masters at 225.964.0830 or e-mail lsubcm@eatel.net. … [Read more...]
Theft of equipment adds insult to injury for Crossgate
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ROBERT – Talk about adding insult to injury. First, their worship center flooded with 12 inches of water Aug. 12. Now, Crossgate Church of Robert is dealing with another problem – theft of a fork attachment used to load items for those affected by the flooding. Pastor Louis Husser noticed the equipment was stolen Aug. 18, when some members and volunteers were preparing to load the supplies for delivery. The green 521 Loader was worth $2,500. “We have 10,000 houses that flooded in Tangipahoa Parish and this piece of equipment was needed to help them,” Husser said. “But we will roll on.” When word got out during a pastor’s meeting Crossgate Church was in need of a new loader, a fellow Northshore Baptist Association church responded. After hearing of the situation, Carl Richardson, chairman of the deacons at Lee Valley Baptist Church in Loranger who also works for a company that sells tractor supplies and equipment, contacted his pastor to see if they could provide funding for a new loader. The congregation obliged, agreeing to turn what could have been a trying situation into a good ending. Richardson sees the gesture as a way to pay forward what others have done for … [Read more...]
