Click to Login or Sign Up

Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

EASTER: Growing up with death

By Charles S. (Chuck) Kelley Jr. NEW ORLEANS (BP) - My childhood was different than most. I grew up in the home of a funeral director. For the first years of my life, we literally lived in the funeral home itself in an apartment above the family rooms, casket room and chapel. Far earlier than most, I learned an essential truth about life: Death is inevitable for all. My father handled funerals for the elderly and the young, the healthy and the sick, the wealthy and the poor, the unknown and the famous, including a service for the Big Bopper, whose huge hit "Chantilly Lace" made him a household name until a plane crash ended his life. Some deaths were expected and natural; others were shocking and tragic. The causes of death varied widely, and the timing of death was often unpredictable. But whatever the cause or whenever the timing, death was, is, and ever will be the experience of all who live, whether we like it or not. Many seek to avoid this truth, but none can avoid its reality. I walked into the back of the funeral home very early one Saturday morning during high school and saw the name Walter Portius on the board listing those who passed away overnight. We were in class together on Friday morning, but he died … [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...]

Emergency responders

By David Jeremiah EL CAJON, Calif. (BP) - I have endless respect for emergency responders, those trained to deploy when time is of the essence. In most search-and-rescue missions, conditions are unpredictable and every second can make the difference between survival and disaster. Whether it's a mountain rescue team in a barren wilderness, a combat search-and-rescue operation or an air/sea rescue team, these are true heroes -- men and women who use all available means to locate those in distress, provide for their initial medical needs and deliver them to a place of safety. What a calling! And what a reflection of the Lord Himself! History's ultimate search-and-rescue mission was the one launched by Jesus Christ in the fullness of time. In Luke 19:10, Jesus said, "The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." In John 17:3, He said, "This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." One dark Bethlehem night, our Savior rappelled into human history, descending from the heights of heaven into the cold of this world. He was determined to search for and rescue the lost, even at the cost of His own life. He once likened Himself to a one-man … [Read more...]

How to select your ‘life verse’

By Joe McKeever “Lord, to whom shall  we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).   Your life verse is not just a cute, catchy line that looks good on a bumper sticker. Your life verse understands you.  It sums up a lot about your life.  It has your number. Your life verse knows your deep, dark secrets. When you were young, you were still finding out who you were and had yet to encounter life’s bruises and hurts. You could not have found a verse that “fit” since you didn’t know “what size you were,” to stay with the metaphor.  But by this time, you have lived enough to carry scars from disappointments and battles.  You have failed and sometimes failed bigtime.  You have hurt and cried and cried out to God.  And now you are ready to find your life verse. Your life verse won’t necessarily make you happy.  It may be a reminder of the scars you wear and a few you have inflicted. Here’s mine. Job 4:4.  The odd thing is that I remember it in a way that I cannot find in any version of the Scripture.  The way I recall it is: Your words have stood men on their feet.  The NKJV reads: “Your words have upheld him who is stumbling; You have strengthened the feeble knees.” Most translations have a … [Read more...]

Steve Horn ‘a leader who loves Louisiana Baptists’

By Will Hall, Message Editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Steve Horn is a leader among leaders in the Louisiana Baptist Convention and someone who loves Louisiana Baptists, Waylon Bailey shared with the Baptist Message in announcing Horn as the candidate the search committee will present May 7 to the LBC Executive Board for a vote. If elected, Horn will replace David Hankins who is retiring June 30 as LBC executive director. “He lived in the northern part of the state early in his life and has served in the southern part of the state, so he understands the great uniqueness among Louisianans and has a deep appreciation for the great variety among the congregations that make up the fellowship we call a ‘Convention,’” said Bailey, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Covington and chairman of the search committee. “Likewise, he has been an exceptional friend and leader to other pastors on a personal level and in how his congregation has participated in the cooperative missions and ministries of the LBC during his entire tenure.” Horn has served as pastor of the First Baptist Church in Lafayette since 2005. The database of the Annual Church Profile shows his congregation has baptized 775 new believers since then and … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptists respond to search committee’s announcement

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA – Louisiana Baptist pastors and leaders have offered their resounding support for Steve Horn as a candidate for the state’s next executive director. The search committee announced Sunday, April 7, that Horn, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Lafayette since 2005, was their recommendation to lead Louisiana Baptists. The LBC Executive Board will vote on Horn’s nomination during its spring meeting May 7 at Tall Timbers Conference Center in Woodworth. LBC President Eddie Wren told the Baptist Message he is excited about the possibility of working alongside Horn to help Louisiana Baptists reach their state for Christ. “I am thankful Dr. Horn has been recommended and has agreed to serve as executive director for Louisiana Baptists,” said Wren, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Rayville. “I can’t think of anyone I would rather serve as executive director or anyone that is better prepared for the task. Steve is a man who loves the Lord, loves his family, the church and the state of Louisiana. I look forward to all God will do through his leadership.” Gevan Spinney, senior pastor of the First Baptist Church, Haughton, followed Horn as LBC president. He believes the … [Read more...]

Local attorney to discuss how Jews resisted the Holocaust at LC

By Norm Miller, LCNews PINEVILLE, (LCNews) -- A persistent but false contention about the Holocaust is that the Jews did not resist; rather, they relented like sheep to the slaughter. History records that the Jews fought in partisan bands, ghetto uprisings, and death camp revolts, all of which disprove the argument that the Jews were passive regarding genocide. This faulty reasoning intimates that the Jews were unable to organize a resistance to the Nazis and generally submitted while hoping they would be delivered from evil rather than actively resisting themselves. Louisiana College is pleased to sponsor “A Time to Fight: Jewish Resistance in the Holocaust.,” featuring keynoter and Alexandria attorney Steven Oxenhandler. Set for April 9 at 7 p.m. in Martin Performing Arts Center, the event is free and open to the public. “We are elated for Mr. Oxenhandler, who is an Israeli Jew, to share the historical record of the plight and the fight of the Jews,” said LC President Rick Brewer. “As an academic institution built upon a biblical worldview, Louisiana College wants to emphasize an accurate and appropriate history of the Jewish people. To do otherwise is an affront to the academy and the Jewish nation,” Brewer … [Read more...]

Living out a ‘friendly faith’ can lead others to Jesus

By Jeff Ginn You’re probably familiar with the tragedy of “friendly fire,” but have you thought about the potential of “friendly faith”? Let me unpack the difference. Friendly fire refers to incidents when, in the fog of war, a soldier will accidentally fire upon his own forces. The history of warfare is replete with examples. Perhaps the best known is the case of Pat Tillman. He was a gifted athlete who played in the NFL. After 9-11 he voluntarily gave up that lucrative career and became an Army Ranger. He died in the mountains of Afghanistan as a result of “friendly fire.” Friends can hurt friends (and not just on the battlefield!). But, it is equally true that friends can help friends. Your faith in the Lord can encourage and transform the lives of your friends. That’s what I mean by “friendly faith.” A great illustration of this is the biblical account of four friends who brought their paralyzed friend to Jesus. There he found healing and, more importantly, forgiveness for sins. God wants to use our lives and, particularly, our faith to influence others for Christ. Whom can you pray for or encourage today? Whom can you “bring” to Jesus? A kind deed, a quick email or note, a word of witness, an invitation - all … [Read more...]