To the Editor Claiming to be something and being something are two different things. Beginning with the time of John Calvin until today, there have been some Calvinists who claim to be Baptists. This is like claiming to be a Christian atheist. The two words are incompatible and in same way Baptist and Calvinists are also incompatible. From the time of Christ until today, Baptists have been a “whosoever will” people. For anyone to attempt to inject Calvinism into the Baptist faith is as absurd as would be an effort to inject falling from grace or praying for the dead. Why would we consider Calvinism and not the beliefs of other groups as well? Baptists defend the rights for our friends of other faiths to believe whatever they will. But a line is drawn when a person tries to inject non-Baptist theology into our faith. Personal integrity demands that such a person should join a church or even start one that is Calvinistic. Some Calvinist are trying to pirate Baptist churches, colleges, universities and even seminaries – none of which they have had any part in building. Some Calvinists claim their takeover effort is the result of other issues. I could think far more highly of these people if they would openly acknowledge they … [Read more...]

Question: How can I understand the Bible better when I read it? Bill Warren responds: Epistles comprise 21 of the 27 NT books. Most NT epistles are public letters sent to specific groups of Christians, making them quite different from casual personal letters among family or friends. These public letters were written to be read aloud to the groups receiving them, not simply to be read privately by individuals. Of course, most of the Christian recipients could not read, so having the letters read aloud to them was the only means of accessing the text. As letters, the epistles follow the common first-century letter writing forms (Philippians is cited as an example). The epistles (except Hebrews) begin with a salutation and greeting, stating the writers names and to whom they are writing, and then expressing greetings (Phil. 1:1-2).  Expressions of thankfulness and prayers for the recipients follow (Phil. 1:3-11).  Then the circumstances that led to the writing of the letter are normally given, concluding with a statement of the main purpose of the letter (Phil. 12-30).  Next comes the main body of the letter, with the primary theological development of the letter given here as the main arguments are presented and defended (Phil. … [Read more...]

By Philip Caples, Louisiana College Dr. David Uth, Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church, Orlando, Fla., made a statement that caused a deep impression on my heart, during the recent E4 Preaching Conference. Uth shared that people who want to become successful seem to focus on themselves, and people who want to become significant focus on influencing others. As I pondered the difference between being successful and significant, a question came to my mind. Which type of person is the better of the two options? To answer this question, I searched the Scripture, and the Lord led me to 2 Kings 5:1-14. In this Bible passage, Naaman, captain of the army of Aram, emerged as a great warrior and was a highly respected individual both within the community and with his political leader, the king. However, he had one major problem. He was a leper. Being a leper usually resulted in the person being cut off from his community to live with other lepers outside town. While the biblical text does not reveal this situation, we are told that Arameans had taken captive a little girl from the land of Israel. The significance of the writer revealing that this little Israelite girl wanted to help her master by telling him about the prophet in … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Wed, 10/09/2013 - 18:50 More than 300 students gathered at the concourse between Buckeye Junior High and Buckeye High School to pray and then listen to a brief message by Longview Baptist Church Minister of Youth Josh Sikes. Photo by Jade McEntyre By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer Student-led prayer was the main focus on the final Wednesday in September. Whether they gathered in a group of two or as many as 400, the students’ mission was the same – pray for their families, friends, nation and school in the 23rd annual See You At The Pole. Started in 1990 with 10 students praying at their school in Texas, the grass roots movement has spread to thousands of campuses worldwide. Millions of students in public and private schools and colleges gather each year to pray on the fourth Wednesday of every September around their respective flagpoles. Grant Phillips was one of the more than 100 students who gathered to pray before the school day began at Alfred M. Barbe High School in Lake Charles. The senior from the school and member of Sale Street Baptist Church in Lake Charles said seeing his fellow classmates gather for prayer was a moving experience. “Today God moved in the hearts of … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Wed, 10/09/2013 - 18:54 Joe Ricketts and his wife, Marlene, stand with Louisiana College President Joe Aguillard and LC trustee Sam Camp after being presented the Louisiana College Distinguished Service Award during the recent Founders Day chapel service. By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – Louisiana College recently honored the founder of an education foundation, the owner of the Chicago Cubs and an Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder expert. During the college’s annual Founders Day chapel service, LC President Joe Aguillard and board of trustees members presented three men with Distinguished Service Awards. This award is given annually to people who achieve significant accomplishments in the business world. Joe and Jim Ricketts were both honored for their work with Opportunity Education Foundation, based in Omaha, Neb. The brothers in 2005 founded the organization that strives to provide educational opportunities and resources to children and teachers in developing nations. Joe Ricketts is the founder and chief executive officer while Jim Ricketts is president and chief operations officer, as well as owner of the Chicago Cubs baseball team. The foundation and LC formed a … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer MONROE – A dream to build a Louisiana Baptist-sponsored ministry center for orphans and those seeking medical care in Haiti is nearing reality. A partnership between Louisiana Baptist churches, the Louisiana Baptist Convention and the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home, the ministry center will be located on six acres near Port Au Prince, Haiti. The purchase of the property is expected to take place sometime between the end of this year and early 2014, after a foundation is established to handle the transaction. And that’s good news for Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home President and CEO Perry Hancock. “Our churches are very interested and the need is so significant,” Hancock said during a recent board meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home in Monroe. “There is a tremendous need and opportunity to share Christ.” Haiti was devastated by a Jan. 12, 2010, earthquake that killed more than 250,000 people and left hundreds of thousands homeless. Louisiana Baptists were among those who provided disaster relief soon after the earthquake and that effort has continued with the partnership. The Children’s Home is sponsoring a mission trip to the country Nov. 2-8. Those participating in … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Wed, 10/09/2013 - 18:58 Dorothy Patterson, the wife of SWBTS President Paige Patterson, has long had a heart for wives, mothers and homemakers. By Philip Timothy, Managing Editor FT. WORTH, Texas – Dorothy Kelley Patterson, author, speaker, professor of Theology in Women’s Studies at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and the school’s First Lady, has long had a heart for wives, mothers and homemakers. Married to SWBTS President Paige Patterson, she has been a driving force in the advancement and promotion of the school’s homemaking program, which teaches women in the art and skill of homemaking. “Teaching women to be a Proverbs 31 woman is something that is very near and dear to my heart,” she said. “When I was much younger, I had a dream from God that I would one day teach women to be godly wives and mothers.” In the summer of 2007, Patterson’s dream became reality as Southwestern offered a bachelor of arts in humanities degree with a 23-hour concentration in homemaking. The program was, and still is, open only to women. “At first, as we were working on what the homemaking program should have in it, I went to my knees,” Patterson said, “and God started placing in my mind the … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Wed, 10/09/2013 - 18:59 LBC Associate Executive Director Wayne Sheppard commends Mission Service Corps Coordinator Julia Parker at her recent retirement party in Alexandria. By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA – For seven years Julia Parker coordinated assignments for Baptist Builders, ministry center workers and others serving as Mission Service Corps missionaries in Louisiana. In late August, Parker retired from the position, though her involvement with missions is anything but over. “When I first started, I went and met with missionaries we had in the state of Louisiana so I could put a name with a face, which was enjoyable,” Parker said. “Throughout the seven years I had a chance to participate in ministry with them. I appreciate getting to work with them along with the people at the Baptist Building.” A native of Boyce, Parker participated in volunteer missions since 1983, which included a 13-month stint in London along with other international mission trips. She became a Mission Service Corps missionary in 1990 while in Orange, Texas, and assumed the role of Mission Service Corps coordinator in Louisiana in 2007. As Missions Service Corps coordinator, Parker visited … [Read more...]

ON THE MOVE Shane Terrebonne new as pastor at South Lafourche Baptist Church. Frank (wife Melaney) Dudley new as interim pastor at Erath Baptist Church. He replaces Marty Melancon who departed in July for full-time ministry on the mission field. Cullen Clark (wife Kara) new as pastor at First Baptist Church, Crowley David Whitehead new as pastor at Beech Ridge Baptist Church, Walker. Gary (wife Pam) Richerson new as pastor at First Baptist Church, Walker REVIVALS/HOMECOMINGS First Baptist Church, Head of Island, French Settlement: Homecoming Singing Service, Oct. 12, 6 p.m. with a fellowship following. Any musical groups or singers are invited. Contact Terry of Sharon Simoneaux at 225.698.6654. Pastor: Rocky Brown. First Baptist Chatham: Homecoming, Oct. 13, 10 p.m. Lunch will follow after services at the church. Speaker: Dominic DiCarlo. Music: Brothers in Christ. Pastor: Royce Strothers. First Baptist Church, Patterson: Revival Oct. 13-16, Sunday, 10:30 and 6 p.m. Oct. 14-16, & p.m. Speaker: Joe Aulds. Music: Price Harris. Pator: Joe Thibeau. Horseshoe Baptist Church, Mer Rouge: Fall Revival, Oct. 13-16. Sunday services will be at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday-Wednesday at 7 p.m. Evangelist: Don Walker. Pastor: Bob … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Wed, 10/09/2013 - 19:08 Southern Baptist Convention President Fred Luter reads from Ezekiel 37 in delivering his sermon “How to Revive Dry Bones,” during the Sept. 16 plenary session of the SBC Executive Committee meeting. “Many of us are like dead men walking,” he told the crowd, encouraging the preaching of Scripture as an antidote to dry bones, and a pathway to revival. By Diana Chandler, Baptist Press NASHVILLE (BP) -- Preaching the Scripture, not politics or even “Duck Dynasty,” will bring revival to the Southern Baptist Convention and the nation, SBC President Fred Luter said in his address to the SBC Executive Committee at its Sept. 16-17 meeting in Nashville. Revival birthed through the SBC and its entities is still his heart’s desire, Luter said, drawing comparisons to what he termed the “sad story” of the prophet’s vision of dry bones in Ezekiel 37:1-10. “My ultimate goal is, prayerfully, that we can pray that God will send revival across America and particularly among our SBC churches,” he said, “because it’s so easy to get sidetracked. It’s so easy to get comfortable where we are. It’s so easy to rest on our laurels and all of the past things that we’ve done. “However, I am … [Read more...]