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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Sixty years of ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’

By Kelly Boggs, special to the Baptist Message DALLAS (LBM) -- “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” the beloved animated television program, turns sixty this year, and it is hard to imagine that it almost did not air. Network executives thought it moved too slowly for a Christmas special. They also were convinced that the absence of a laugh track, a staple of 1960-era comedies, would be the kiss of death. To further complicate matters, the man behind the cast of animated characters insisted upon using real kids for the voiceovers, and as a result, only a couple of the children who were cast had any acting experience. However, what most concerned the executives at CBS was the religious content. The climax of the 30-minute program focused on a main character quoting Scripture, and the executive producer insisted that the Bible could not be read on network television. But the creator of what has become a Christmas classic staunchly refused to edit or otherwise water down the content. Despite network executives’ concerns, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” made its television debut on Thursday, Dec. 9, 1965. The result: More than 15 million homes tuned in and it captured nearly half of the possible audience. Indeed, the week it … [Read more...]

Great joy

As we prepare our hearts for Christmas, we need to recognize that the season inspires different feelings in different people—and that not all those feelings are pleasant. That was certainly true of the very first Christmas. … [Read more...]

Resist worldly influences

A flock of wild geese was flying south for the winter. One goose looked down and noticed a group of domestic geese by a little pond near a farm. He noticed that the domestic geese had plenty of grain to eat. Life seemed relatively easy for them. So, he flew down and hung out with the geese until spring. He enjoyed their food, their company, and their leisurely pace. … [Read more...]

Blinded by bright spots: Kelley warns of trends we’re ignoring

By Chuck Kelley Southern Baptists tend to confuse Bright Spots with Trendlines. Statistical reports may yield some bright spots in any given year, even when the same reports indicate that the trends across the board are downward and a matter of concern. Rejoicing in bright spots so much that you fail to recognize and respond to the indications of downward trends makes emerging problems ever more difficult to resolve. … [Read more...]

Don’t be afraid to pray for yourself

By Steve Horn ALEXANDRIA, La. - In 1 Chronicles 4:9-10, in an otherwise mundane list of genealogy, we get these powerful two verses about an otherwise unknown man named Jabez. This mention is truly a great “pause” over a man named Jabez. The brief mention is about this one thing of prayer—specifically a prayer for himself. Are you afraid to pray for yourself? Are you afraid to ask God to bless your life? If your response is “yes,” maybe you have said more about your beliefs about God than you intended. Why wouldn’t God want to bless you? Don’t you want to bless your children? In the same way, God wants to bless you—His child! The prayer of Jabez gives us a Biblical prayer that we might pray for ourselves. In the prayer of Jabez we can identify four specific requests that can become our model for praying for ourselves. Before we consider these four requests let’s consider what we know about Jabez, the person. The Bible does not tell us much about Jabez, but we do learn a few things about his life. We know that Jabez was named for the pain that he brought in childbirth. We know that Jabez stood out among his brothers. We know that God granted his request. In addition to all of these things, the most … [Read more...]

Geaux25: Calling out ‘the called’ for Kingdom impact

By Mark Robinson, LBC BCM Director WOODWORTH, La. (LBC BCM) – On Oct. 3–4, college students from across Louisiana and beyond will converge at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center for Geaux25, an overnight missions conference designed to awaken hearts and mobilize lives for the Gospel. Hosted by Louisiana Baptist Collegiate Ministries, this event is more than a gathering – it is a moment of decision, a place of calling and a catalyst for movement. In a world that often encourages young adults to chase comfort, status, or self-fulfillment, Geaux25 offers a countercultural invitation: to surrender fully to Christ and follow Him wherever He leads – whether that’s across the street, across campus, or across the globe. MISSION FIELD IS EVERYWHERE Today’s college students are globally aware, socially engaged and spiritually curious. Many are asking deep questions about purpose and impact. Geaux25 meets them at that crossroads, offering biblical teaching, practical training and Spirit-led community to help them connect their faith to their future. But the heartbeat of this conference goes beyond inspiration. It’s about calling out “the called” – recognizing that God is still raising up men and women for Gospel ministry … [Read more...]

No turning back: A call to true discipleship

In a nation reeling from senseless violence, where fear casts a long shadow, the words of a pastor and the president of Family Research Council, resonate with piercing clarity: “It is the word of God with which we find direction and hope in times of uncertainty.” … [Read more...]

Remembering 9/11 and the power of prayer in times of crisis

After the twin towers fell 24 years ago, President George W. Bush stood on a pile of rubble at Ground Zero with a megaphone in hand and told a crowd of weary rescue workers “America today is on bended knee in prayer.” The country had suffered the worst terrorist attack on American soil, claiming nearly 3,000 lives, and was shaken to its core — but it also was shaken to prayer. … [Read more...]