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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Easter Reflections – Day 29

As Easter approaches, the Baptist Message team invites you to pause daily from the hustle and bustle of life to focus on the days leading up to Easter or Resurrection Sunday. Join us in this challenge to read through the Gospels to get a greater understanding of Jesus’ birth, ministry, death and resurrection. Day 29: John 7-9 (NKJV) ========================= (John 7) Jesus’ Brothers Disbelieve 7 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the [a]Jews sought to kill Him. 2 Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. 3 His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. 4 For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” 5 For even His brothers did not believe in Him. 6 Then Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil. 8 You go up to this feast. I am not[b]yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come.” 9 When He had said these things to them, He remained in … [Read more...]

The ironies of the trial and crucifixion of Jesus

By Waylon Bailey Everyone who has been a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ for any length of time is well acquainted with the trial and crucifixion of our Lord. Jesus gave Himself freely and voluntarily to atone for our sins. While we know this wonderful fact, there are other areas that are striking in their truthfulness and ironic in the way it was carried out. What are these ironic situations? First, notice the irony of Simon of Cyrene carrying the cross of Jesus when the other Simon (Peter) had proclaimed so loudly that he would never forsake Jesus. Second, notice the irony of God using the words of skeptics and mockers for good. Pilate put a plack on the cross of Jesus saying, “This is the king of the Jews.” The leaders of the people mocked Jesus saying, “He saved others, let him come down from the cross and save himself.” Could God have used these statements as a way to convict the criminal that Jesus was indeed the Messiah and that He could save him as He had saved others? Third, notice how all creation mourned as the light of the world gave Himself for the sins of lost humanity. The three hours of darkness pointed to the darkness of the people of Jerusalem and the Roman soldiers who had God with them In … [Read more...]

LBC executive director nomination moves forward

By Message Staff ALEXANDRIA – The administrative committee of the Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board unanimously approved Steve Horn as the nominee for executive director of the state convention. The vote moved forward the LBC presidential search committee's recommendation of Horn, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Lafayette, during a special called meeting. The nomination will be voted on by the full Executive Board during its regularly scheduled spring meeting, May 7, at the Tall Timbers Camp and Conference Center in Woodworth. If elected, Horn will replace David Hankins, who is officially retiring from the position June 30. Horn has served as pastor of First Lafayette since 2005 and has been a prominent Louisiana Baptist and Southern Baptist leader over the years, most notably as president of the LBC from 2014-15, president of the LBC Executive Board from 2010-11 and, currently, as trustee of Louisiana College and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. … [Read more...]

Easter Reflections – Day 28

As Easter approaches, the Baptist Message team invites you to pause daily from the hustle and bustle of life to focus on the days leading up to Easter or Resurrection Sunday. Join us in this challenge to read through the Gospels to get a greater understanding of Jesus’ birth, ministry, death and resurrection. Day 28: John 4-6 (NKJV) ========================= (John 4) A Samaritan Woman Meets Her Messiah 4 Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John 2 (though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples), 3 He left Judea and departed again to Galilee. 4 But He needed to go through Samaria. 5 So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. 7 A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” 8 For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. 9 Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. 10 Jesus … [Read more...]

DR teams spring into action in Blanchard

By Message Staff BLANCHARD (LBM) - Hours after powerful storms tore through the Shreveport-Bossier City area Saturday, April 13, members of a Louisiana Baptist were on the ground responding to residents whose property was damaged. Tobey Wilemon, blue hat of the First Baptist Church of Blanchard disaster relief team, and a few other team members helped clear off a tree that fell on the house of a resident in the community and helped install shingles that were damaged by the storm. Later, the team members placed a tarp on the roof of a damaged home. The team also distributed five Bibles and a case of bottled water to residents of the neighborhood. Wilemon said all they encountered were grateful for the assistance. “Everyone was very open and friendly,” Wilemon said. “They seemed to be in high spirits considering what just happened. They were glad it wasn’t any worse. “They weren’t focused on what could have been and what just happened,” he continued. “They were focused on the fact that it’s just stuff. There was no physical damage or loss of life and for that they were thankful.” … [Read more...]