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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Four steps to solving most any relationship issue

By Steve Horn Many New Testament scholars give the educated guess that the book of James is among the earliest, if not the earliest, written New Testament books. If this widely-held thesis is correct, then with James, we have a good look into the issues that the earliest believers in Jesus struggled with in their discipleship. We then observe that we struggle with the same issues. Indeed the sin and struggles of the human heart stretch across generations. At the risk of oversimplifying the issue, but relying on the word of God, can we solve most every relationship struggle with four steps? Let me be the messenger of some “one another” statements from Brother James. Don’t criticize one another, brothers and sisters. James 4:11 Brothers and sisters, do not complain about one another. James 5:9 Confess your sins to one another. James 5:16 Pray for one another. James 5:16 Think about a church or a convention of churches where we did not criticize one another or complain about one another, but instead confessed our own sin to one another, and prayed for one another. Steve Horn is executive director for Louisiana Baptists. This editorial first appeared on his blog. … [Read more...]

Auto accident claims the life of pastor’s wife

By Message Staff OAKDALE – Members of Oak Hill Community Baptist Church in Oakdale are mourning the loss of the wife of their pastor, who was killed in a car accident Tuesday, Nov. 19. “Pray for the family as they make arrangements today, and for their comfort and peace as they face the days ahead,” Mt. Olive Baptist Association Director of Missions Jerry Johnson told the Baptist Message. According to a news release from the Louisiana State Police Troop E, Myra Turner, the wife of Pastor Don Turner, died after the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze she was driving westbound on state Highway 489 collided around 4:30 p.m. with a 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe, driven by an unidentified driver, southbound on state Highway 121. Turner, who was the only person in her vehicle, was wearing her seat belt at the time of the crash, but was pronounced dead. The crash remains under investigation. A memorial service is scheduled for Nov. 23 at 10 a.m. at Oak Hill Community Baptist, with visitation at 9 a.m. Online messages of condolence may be posted at rushfh.com. … [Read more...]

The God of the unlikely

By David Jeremiah EL CAJON, Calif. (BP) - William and Marion Veitch, a godly Presbyterian couple, lived with their children in a peaceful home in Scotland in the 17th century. William was a preacher in the days when Presbyterians were outlawed, and he lived in fear that sooner or later he'd be arrested. It happened one night in 1680. Royal Scottish soldiers burst in and dragged William off to prison. It was orchestrated by Thomas Bell, a vicar in the established church who drank and used profanity and harbored a burning hatred for the Veitchs. William was taken to Morpeth Prison, leaving Marion at home profoundly troubled. Pouring out her soul to the Lord in prayer, she opened her Bible and drew strength from it pages. As soon as she could arrange it, she set off to visit her husband, for it appeared he would be moved to Edinburgh and executed. Marion's journey took place on a bitterly cold January day. The snow was blinding, and she had to fight the weather on horseback. Night fell, and she trudged on, finally arriving at the prison, half-frozen, around midnight. The guards wouldn't let her see William until morning, so Marion sat by the fire and waited. When morning broke, she was allowed to see her husband for only a … [Read more...]