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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Integrity means you’re the same person in private and in public

By Rick Warren “God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8 NLT). As you strive to build a life based on values that last, it’s important to establish and maintain integrity. The Bible says in Matthew 5:8, “God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God” (NLT).To “see God” means to experience the presence of God. Believers who have a pure heart get to feel the power of God. They get to know the purpose of God for their lives. They get to live in the peace of God. They experience the pardon of God. Do you want to be one of those people? We don’t talk a lot these days about being pure in heart, but we do use the word integrity. To have integrity does not mean you are perfect, because if it did, none of us would have it! So, what does it mean to have integrity? Integrity is wholeness. A lot of people think of their life like a pie, and the different parts of their life are the pieces of the pie. This slice of the pie is my career. This is my work life. This is my spiritual life. Then this is my family life. That one is my social life. Then over here is my secret life — my compulsions, addictions, and the things nobody else knows about. If you segment your life … [Read more...]

Pastor, wife thankful for outpouring of support, prayers following parsonage fire

BASILE – More than a year after their home in Mamou flooded, the parsonage at First Baptist Church, Basile in which Pastor Mike Fontenot and his wife Jessica were staying, has been destroyed by a fire. Fontenot said the blaze happened between 2 and 2:15 p.m. Wednesday, July 11, but no one was inside. The couple, who live in the parsonage only on the weekends, reside at their house in Mamou during the rest of the week. And just like when their Mamou home flooded, they have experienced an outpouring of support from the community and the state. The couple is grateful for the concern shown by others since the fire likely was started by a lightning strike. “Jessica and I are well, praise God," Mike Fontenot told the Baptist Message. "The house is a total loss but that can be replaced. We did not have insurance on our personal belongings because we did not know we needed it due to our first time in a parsonage. So we are trusting God to help replace these things when we rebuild.” Jessica Fontenot, who is human resources specialist for Louisiana Baptists, took to Facebook and expressed gratitude for the encouraging words offered. “I wanted to take this opportunity before I go to bed tonight to thank each and every one who … [Read more...]