WASHINGTON, D.C. - Tommy Middleton, director of missions for the Baptist Association of Greater Baton Rouge, led a prayer to open the U.S. Senate December 6. Middleton, who was invited by U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, voiced prayers of thanksgiving and guidance for decisions made by elected officials. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGD-81gWW9E&feature=youtu.be … [Read more...]
Advent devotional: Take your medicine
By David Cranford “We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the LORD has punished him for the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6, CSB) Slick Willie Sutton was an infamous bank robber. Estimates are that he stole over 2 million dollars from banks during his career. A reporter asked Slick Willie, “Why do you rob banks?” Slick Willie reportedly said, “I rob banks because that’s where the money is.” Although he later denied saying it, nobody can deny his logic, which came to be known as “Sutton’s law.” The simplest answer to the question “Why did Jesus come to earth on that first Christmas?” is that Jesus came to earth because that’s where the need is. “What love is this?” It is a love that is prescribed to meet our deepest personal need. Just as medicine is prescribed to meet our physical illness, Jesus the Savior is prescribed to meet our spiritual illness. Jeremiah was crushed by the condition of his people. “I am broken by the brokenness of my dear people. I mourn; horror has taken hold of me. Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? So why has the healing of my dear people not come about?” (Jeremiah 8:21–22, CSB) Can’t you shake your head and agree with Jeremiah? Aren’t … [Read more...]
SBC public relations pioneer and LC alumnus W.C. Fields dies at 96
By Art Toalston, Baptist Press NASHVILLE (BP) - W.C. Fields, a forerunner in denominational journalism as vice president for public relations for the Southern Baptist Convention's Executive Committee from 1959-1987 and an alumnus of Louisiana College, died Monday (Dec. 3) in Nashville at age 96. As an Executive Committee vice president, Fields was the SBC's press representative and director of Baptist Press, the convention's news service. He also was editor of the Executive Committee's former Baptist Program magazine from 1959-1972. He was first listed in Who's Who in America in 1976. Gratis, he wrote an article on Southern Baptists for Saturday Evening Post in 1983 that sold more than 1 million reprints. In 1979, Fields was among SBC denominational leaders who found themselves in the national media when Memphis-area pastor Adrian Rogers was elected as SBC president in Houston, marking the first of successive presidencies by Southern Baptist conservatives who held to the inerrancy of the Bible. During the 1960s and early 1970s, Fields served as president of the Religious Public Relations Council, Associated Church Press and the Baptist Public Relations Association (now Baptist Communicators Association). The BCA … [Read more...]
Graham: G.H.W. Bush ‘in the presence of God’
By Will Hall, Message Editor CHARLOTTE, N.C. (LBM) -- Asked to reflect about the passing of President George H.W. Bush, Franklin Graham did not hesitate to respond. “I know where my father is, he’s in the presence of God,” he told Fox News interviewers, Dec. 1. “And I believe that President George H.W. Bush today is with my father, in the presence of God.” The 41st president died at age 94 on Nov. 30 in Houston, Texas. His wife Barbara preceded him in death earlier this year. News reports stated that shortly before dying she comforted her son, Jeb, the former governor of Florida, by reassuring him, “I believe in Jesus and He is my Savior. I don’t want to leave your dad, but I know I will be in a beautiful place.” SPIRITUAL CERTAINTY Graham, president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, disclosed that Bush’s faith was “a very private thing for him,” but spoke confidently that the president had “faith in God.” “He believed in His Son, Jesus Christ. He believed that Jesus was the Way, the Truth and the Life, and He was the only way to God. He believed that,” Graham said. Graham also offered anecdotes to underscore his observations about the former U.S. president. “[H]e and my father had many … [Read more...]
Christmas can be hard
Christmas can be hard. But it also can be good even when circumstances are difficult. Life is filled with difficulties. The circumstances of life sometimes make any celebration–birthdays, holidays, etc–difficult. I remember so well as a teenager when someone close to me was killed in a traffic accident. I couldn’t get over the fact that life for most people went on. How could they be happy when we were so sad? Those kind of events and the feelings associated with them make the holidays hard. What should you do during difficult times? First, worship the risen Christ. His story is the only story of hope for all human beings. While you may not be able to laugh through the holidays, you can worship through the holidays, knowing that God sent His Son to give us hope in the midst of difficult times. Second, spend as much time as possible with other people. For the most part, once you get past your teenage years, Christmas celebrations are about Christ and the people around us. Don’t isolate yourself. Spend time with as many people as possible. Third, take advantage of Christmas celebrations, especially those celebrations that exalt Christ and remind us of His birth. For First Baptist Church, we will have … [Read more...]
The Reason For The Season: Day 2
As Christmas approaches, the Baptist Message team invites you to pause daily from the hustle and bustle of life to focus on the Reason for the reason. Join us in a 24-day challenge to read through the Gospel of Luke to get a greater understanding of Jesus’ birth, ministry, death and resurrection. Day 2: Luke 1:5; 2:52 (NKJV) ================================== John the Baptist and Jesus 5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. … [Read more...]
The Reason For The Season: Day 1
As Christmas approaches, the Baptist Message team invites you to pause daily from the hustle and bustle of life to focus on the Reason for the reason. Join us in a 24-day challenge to read through the Gospel of Luke to get a greater understanding of Jesus’ birth, ministry, death and resurrection. Day 1: Luke 1:1-4 (NKJV) ================================== The Preface 1 Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed … [Read more...]
A great question
By Steve Horn In the story of Elijah’s epic showdown with King Ahab—which in reality is a showdown between Yahweh, the one true God, and Baal—Elijah asks a great question. “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If Yahweh is God, follow Him. But if Baal, follow him.” (1 Kings 18:21) I see four things about this question. This is a question for every generation. Choosing to follow God or not is a question of every generation and every person. Every single one of us must choose. This is a question of our own discipleship. The choices are clear, and we must make a clear and decisive choice. We cannot waiver in our decision. This is a question that directs our evangelism. In pointing people to Christ, we must point them to a decision. We cannot just talk about Jesus; we must call people to make a choice regarding Jesus. This is not a question that automatically gets a response. It didn’t for Elijah for the rest of the verse says, “But the people didn’t answer him a word.” Pray for someone today who needs to make a decision for Christ! Steve Horn is senior pastor of the First Baptist Church, Lafayette. This editorial first appeared on his blog. … [Read more...]
Pastor’s wife tragically killed in New Orleans carjacking
METAIRIE – Celebration Church is asking for prayers for Jeannot Plessy, who was tragically killed in a carjacking incident in New Orleans Tuesday, November 27. Her death was witnessed by her two pre-teen children. According to WDSU-TV in New Orleans, the incident was reported around 8:25 p.m. in the 2400 block of Prentiss Avenue in New Orleans. New Orleans Police Department investigators are seeking to identify the assailant. Lead Pastor Dennis Watson wrote in a letter posted on the church website that Plessy, 49, was a “great woman of God” who recently returned from ministering in Samoa. She is the wife of David Plessy, a pastor of the non-denominational Crossover Christian Fellowship in New Orleans, and the mother of Celebration Church member Nadia Sanchez and the mother-in-law of facilities manager Kristian Sanchez. He said that while such tragedies cause sadness and grief, followers of Christ are not left without hope. “We can pray and ask the Lord to bring comfort, help, and healing to those who have experienced this great loss,” Watson wrote. “So please be praying for Pastor David and his children, Nadia and Kristian and their girls, Jeannot’s mother, and siblings, Jeannot’s extended family, and for her Church … [Read more...]
Vote NO on alcohol sales in Pineville
PINEVILLE, La.—Residents within the corporate limits will decide the fate of alcohol sales in Pineville in the form of five propositions that are on the ballot: -- Props 1 and 4 would allow alcohol sales in grocery stores, drug stores, convenience stores, gas stations, stand-alone liquor stores, beer barns and drive-through daiquiri stores, etc. -- Props 2 and 3 would permit alcohol sales in restaurants, bars, strip clubs, lounges, hotels, theaters, etc. -- Prop 5 would restrict alcohol sales in restaurants only. Proponents argue that permitting alcohol sales "will keep tax dollars in Pineville." But no amount of money can replace the loss of even a single loved one killed by a drunk driver. Advocates for alcohol are counting on low voter turnout, meaning the ballots cast by just a few could cause the rest of the community to have to deal with the problems of open alcohol sales for decades to come. Stop the sale of alcohol in any form in Pineville: Be sure to vote, and to say NO on all 5 options. Early voting continues until Dec. 1, 8:30 a.m. through 6 p.m., at Rapides Parish Courthouse in Alexandria and the Kees Park Community Center. Election day is Dec. 8. … [Read more...]
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