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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

A roadmap for peace in 2022

By Steve Horn ALEXANDRIA, La. - Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised. (Job 1:21 NIV) Perhaps you have seen the meme that says, “Have you realized that 2022 is pronounced 2020 Too?” Unfortunately, the early days of 2022 seem like a repeat of what we have experienced over 2020 and 2021. Job’s story doesn’t lend itself to New Year optimism. Or does it? Though Job experienced much pain, he also exhibited unfathomable peace. It is with incredible peace that: Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then, he fell to the ground in worship and said: Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised. (Job 1:20-21 NIV) Where did that incredible peace come from in Job’s life? And, can we have that same kind of peace? Let me note three things about Job. He lived on purpose. Job 1:1 reveals that Job was “blameless and upright” and “feared God and shunned evil.” Peace comes when the purpose of life is summed up with the words “fear God.” He lived in praise. Job fell to the ground “in worship.” What an incredible … [Read more...]

Jesus is the cure for our heart problem

By David Cranford PONCHATOULA, La.  - Some of the things that happen on this earth and some of the things that people do defy description: unspeakable acts of mass violence, hatred that leads to slaughter, complete disregard for the sanctity of human life, horrible acts committed against children. Some events and actions can only be described as evil. We always want to know the source of this evil. We should know the source of this evil. Scripture answers our question and the answer is not pretty. Unfortunately, the problem is inside of us. “The heart is more deceitful than anything else, and incurable—who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9) The evil that leads to the worst acts imaginable comes from our own hearts. Blaise Pascal wrote, “the heart has its reasons which reason does not know.” Unmitigated evil surely makes no sense, yet, there it is. I’m not sure we’re willing or ready to wrap our minds and hearts around the depth of the depravity we’re capable of. The need is greater than we can fathom! Thankfully so is the grace of Jesus. David Cranford is pastor of First Baptist Church, Ponchatoula, and is a past president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. … [Read more...]

CHUCK KELLEY: Tradition

Tradition runs deep in the Kelley family. You will find it expressed in many ways, but especially in our holiday celebrations. … [Read more...]

Jesus’ birth was meant for you and me!

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – When I read the Word, I try to remember that every verse is intended to reveal something about the character of God and to unveil something about the nature of the relationship He seeks with us. This is especially important when we celebrate the birth of our Savior -- He is the reason for the season; and the reason for His birth was to bring hope to you and me. Nothing underscores this fact more than the creation account, which shows that God designed the earth and the things in it and on it to sustain man’s physical existence (Gen. 1:1-31): -- On day 1, God said all that He had created was “good.” He did so again on days three, four and five. All that He had done up to that point He said was “good.” -- Even on the sixth day after creating all the animals on the earth and the creeping things (and before He was done with creation) the Bible records that “God saw that it was good.” -- But it was not until the end of the sixth day, after He had created man and established all of earth to sustain the life of man, that God “saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good,” and then He rested. Man is the crown of God’s … [Read more...]

The soul sustaining habit of scripture memory

By Lane Corley MADISONVILLE, La. - Three years ago, our family was going through one of those down seasons in the ups and downs of life. My mental focus and physical health was declining. I was discouraged and struggling mentally and emotionally. I knew I needed to change a few habits. As part of a recovery process, I deleted a bunch of apps on my phone and dusted off an app I had dutifully downloaded but never utilized: The Bible Memory App. I’m now over three years of daily usage. I have over 1,700 verses mastered and review 25-50 verses everyday. The habit of scripture memory has greatly improved my spiritual and mental health. It’s helped my preaching, speaking, and my discipling of others, as a growing library of verses are easily recalled in conversation and speaking opportunities. While the Bible Memory App has worked for me, I don’t want to recommend that only. I want to recommend the soul sustaining habit of scripture memory. Find a way that works for you to hide God’s word in your heart. Lane Corley is a Louisiana Baptist church planting strategist and pastor of the Bridge Church in Madisonville. … [Read more...]

Five reasons why CP is so important

By Matt Tullos Yes, Southern Baptists are legendary for lots of reasons. We are the largest protestant association of churches. People see our Disaster Relief hats, trucks and chain saws on the news, and traveling down the interstate.  Our seminaries train over 23,000 students every year. And some would say we invented the casserole! But the greatest thing about being a Southern Baptist often flies under the radar. We work together. While each Baptist church is autonomous with no real hierarchy, we realize that the glue of our partnership is cooperative giving.  And because churches give cooperatively, we comprise the greatest missions movement in the long history of the church. We know we can do so much more together, and the Cooperative Program makes it all happen.  It’s been an unofficial tradition that we celebrate the Cooperative Program in October, and this is a great time to cast a worldwide vision for giving. Here are five great advantages of working together: (1) Every church gets in on the action. The genius of the Cooperative Program is that no matter how small or large your church is, you have an opportunity to do missions all over Tennessee and around the world. Is your church planting a church in … [Read more...]

CRT: Three problems that evangelicals must navigate

By Ron F. Hale In times of headlong cultural change and confusion, secular philosophies tend to taint our biblical values and virtues. Distinguishing fact from fiction becomes harder. This is even harder when new media-driven narratives automatically put you in a defensive posture as an oppressor of others due to the color of your skin and gender. To read the rest of the article, click here. … [Read more...]

Value of being a Southern Baptist

By Jeff Iorg More than 25 years as a Southern Baptist denominational executive, preceded by more than a dozen years as a Southern Baptist pastor, has shaped my perspective on navigating the vagaries of working among and with the large network known as the Southern Baptist denomination.  It can be a daunting, and at times disappointing task.  Here are eight perspectives (and one concluding story) which have helped sustain my spiritual, emotional, and strategic equilibrium – and helped me maintain a positive perspective on denominational involvement and leadership. Recognize there will always be imperfection There never have been any “good old days” when the denomination functioned without difficulty, divisions, conflicts, and scandals.  We have lived through moral failures, criminal activities, strategic blunders, and financial disasters throughout our 175-year history.  We have struggled with sins like racism and failures like mishandling sexual abuse.  We have always been, and always will be, an imperfect denomination.  While we must strive to solve pressing problems and build a healthier organization, we must also admit perfection will never be achieved. It is astounding, however, what this imperfect denomination has … [Read more...]

In the midst of the storm, His grace is sufficient for you!

By Steve Horn ALEXANDRIA, La. - Here we are again. Covid still raging and here comes a hurricane. Is it 2020 or 2021? It’s like Yogi Berra said, “It’s deja-vu all over again.” Saying something like, “Just trust God,” seems so hollow and void of real compassion and solution. And yet, is there any better answer to all of our problems than the answer that Christ gives? Jesus said to Paul and He says to us, “My grace is sufficient for you.” Though theories abound as to what the “thorn in the flesh” was, we really do not know. However, we do know that Paul prayed for the thorn to be removed. Paul’s prayer was not answered with relief from the thorn, but with one of the greatest promises in all of God’s word, “My grace is sufficient for you.” Why could Jesus make such a statement as that? I want to share with you seven reasons why His grace is sufficient for you! Seven Reasons that His Grace is Sufficient for You! The Power of the Cross of Christ "For to those who are perishing the message of the cross is foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is God's power." (1 Corinthians 1:18) The greatest need that any of us have is the need for forgiveness. Every other need, though the need could be met, would not … [Read more...]