My desire to entertain guests dwindled as my family continued to grow. I would herd my children from room to room trying to make the house look decent. I worried if the chicken was overcooked or if my guests would notice the stains on the carpet. Eventually the pain of preparation outweighed the pleasure of receiving guests. My desire to entertain guests dwindled as my family continued to grow. I would herd my children from room to room trying to make the house look decent. I worried if the chicken was overcooked or if my guests would notice the stains on the carpet. Eventually the pain of preparation outweighed the pleasure of receiving guests. It was then that I heard the still small voice of the Holy Spirit asking, “Are you preparing to bless or impress your company?” Ouch! My good intentions were shrouded by my desire to impress my guests with external appearances rather than focusing on the internal spiritual state. I was more like Martha who allowed the distractions of housekeeping to take precedence over listening to Jesus (Luke 10:40). The Holy Spirit’s question was a defining moment for me as I came face to face with a sad truth — by trying to make a good impression, I was failing God and my family. This … [Read more...]

Have you ever wanted to ask a question and did not know who to ask? Sometimes we might not even know what we really want to ask. The Louisiana Baptist Message felt it would be helpful to write a series of articles about counseling and family health issues. My plan is to pick different topics and the most frequently asked questions that I hear. Have you ever wanted to ask a question and did not know who to ask? Sometimes we might not even know what we really want to ask. The Louisiana Baptist Message felt it would be helpful to write a series of articles about counseling and family health issues. My plan is to pick different topics and the most frequently asked questions that I hear. My name is Gary Greene and I am the Director of Counseling at the Granberry Counseling Centers. Granberry is a ministry of the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries. Some of the topics that I will attempt to answer are things like what is Christian Counseling?  What are the signs of depression? How can I beat feeling anxious? How can we improve communication skills in our marriage? How does the Bible tell us to resolve a conflict?  How can we benefit from relaxation?  How might we enrich our marriages? How can we parent … [Read more...]

Let the year 2009 be the year you get personally involved in missions and ministry. ALEXANDRIA – Let the year 2009 be the year you get personally involved in missions and ministry. Missions is what is done for/with/to people outside the local church family. Ministry is what is done to nurture, build up and encourage the body of believers, most often within the local church walls. There’s scriptural admonition for both: Missions: “But my life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus – the work of telling others the Good News about God’s wonderful kindness and love.” – (Acts 20:24 NLT)  Ministry: “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing.” –  (I Thessalonians 5:11, HCSB  Here are 99 ways you can be the hands and feet of Christ in this coming year. It is not an exhaustive list – see No. 100 – and the ideas can be used by families, church mission groups – girls, women, boys, men – and individuals. Yes, individuals. God often gives one person a passion, and when others see the good that’s being done, they want to get involved. Let God use you in 2009! Prepare welcome baskets for new families in your neighborhood. Along with … [Read more...]

The day after his basketball team lost 100-63 to Troy State, Northwestern State University Coach Mike McConathy took his entire team to Sunday services at First Baptist Church in Natchitoches. “Expect great things from God and attempt great things for God.” – William Carey, Baptist missionary to India NATCHITOCHES – The day after his basketball team lost 100-63 to Troy State, Northwestern State University Coach Mike McConathy took his entire team to Sunday services at First Baptist Church in Natchitoches. “I’m sure some of the kids were upset that I made them get up and go to church following the lopsided loss, and long bus ride home,” McConathy said. “But I was trying to make a point.” On this particular Sunday, he gathered his team before entering the church and explained what he was doing. “I said, ‘Guys, I know you think I brought you here as punishment, but you are wrong. I want you to know people here (at First Natchitoches) love you whether you lose by one or by 20.  “‘God doesn’t care whether you win or lose, but whether or not you have used your talents and skills to the very best of your abilities,’” McConathy said. “Therefore, you need to spend time to honor and thank Him.’ “It was interesting to see … [Read more...]

Prayer is what all mankind seems to do, regardless of religious persuasion, when confronted with something beyond their ability with which to cope, comprehend or control. Prayer is what all mankind seems to do, regardless of religious persuasion, when confronted with something beyond their ability with which to cope, comprehend or control. Currently, the members of Hamas pray that their rockets will seek out and destroy as many Israelis as possible. The Israelis pray not only that they will be protected from the Hamas bombs, but they will also be empowered to destroy their enemies. Entered into this mix are those of us who are called Christians who pray for resolution between the two warring factions. The question is, “What are we all doing when we pray?” The American Heritage Dictionary defines prayer as a “reverent petition made to God.” It appears that prayer lives or dies not with the petitioner but rather with the one who is being petitioned. Making the assumption that those of us who are reading this article are Christian gives cause to read Genesis 4:26: “At that time men began to call on the name of the Lord.” At the time the aforementioned passage was recorded, God was characterized by the name … [Read more...]

Question: What is the “unpardonable sin” really about and where is it found in the Bible? Is it related to divorce, or suicide, or something else? Question: What is the “unpardonable sin” really about and where is it found in the Bible?  Is it related to divorce, or suicide, or something else? Bill Warren answers: The adage that “if you’re worried about having committed the unpardonable sin, you haven’t” is actually more biblical than most realize, as can be seen by looking at the Bible’s teaching regarding the “unpardonable sin.”  The primary texts are found in Mark 3:28-30 and the parallel passages in Matt.12:31-33 and Luke 12:10, with the wording in Mark 3:28-29 being the basis for the concept of the “unpardonable sin:” I assure you: people will be forgiven for all sins and whatever blasphemies they may blaspheme.  But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin’–because they were saying, ‘He has an unclean spirit.’ The larger context for this passage runs from Mark 3:20-31.  Jesus’ popularity was skyrocketing with large crowds gathering, such that even some of his family members (perhaps extended family, but we can’t be sure of that) were becoming worried by … [Read more...]

Louisiana Southern Baptist Churches celebrating anniversaries this year include: 25th Anniversary El Camino, Metairie Emmanuel Hispanic, Monroe 50th Anniversary Calvary, Slidell Calvary, Tullos Crossgate, Robert Emmanuel, Minden Faith, Bastrop Fellowship, Monroe First, St. Rose Haynes Ave., Shreveport Satsuma, Livingston Trinity, Many 75th Anniversary Calvary of Gardner, Boyce Center Point, West Monroe Clayton, Clayton Diamond, DeRidder Elmwood, Lake Providence Freedom Rest, Anacoco Mt. Bethel, Leesville New Zion, Oak Grove Springhill, Grayson 100th Anniversary East Fork, Kentwood First, Pitkin First, Kinder Main St., Bogalusa 125th Anniversary Beulah, Farmerville First, Crowville Gravel Hill, Pitkin Green Oak, Merryville Hunter Magnolia, Mansfield Oak Grove, Eros Oak Grove, Jonesville Redwood, Slaughter 150th Anniversary New Beulah, Hammond New Union, Tullos Spring Creek, Tullos … [Read more...]

Julia Parker, a member at Calvary Baptist here, is Mission Service Corps coordinator for the Louisiana Baptist Convention. ALEXANDRIA – Julia Parker, a member at Calvary Baptist here, is Mission Service Corps coordinator for the Louisiana Baptist Convention. A part of the Missions and Ministries team led by Mike Canady, Parker stepped in August 2007 into shoes previously worn by Cherry Blackwell and Phyllis Rabalais. “It’s so important for us as a state to support Mission Service Corps missionaries,” Parker said. “They really are missionaries – sent by God to serve others.” Mission Service Corps – which usually is known as MSC – is an opportunity for people in Louisiana to serve for a minimum of two years in a ministry assignment anywhere in North America, including Louisiana, or for anyone in the world to serve in a 2-year or longer ministry assignment in Louisiana. MSC missionaries are commissioned by their local church, endorsed by the Southern Baptist Convention’s North American Mission Board, and privately funded. Some are able to serve because of retirement income, trust fund, insurance settlement or the sale of assets; others, because they receive support from family, friends, churches and perhaps elsewhere. … [Read more...]

Somewhere between the first automobile race, which was in 1887 in France, and NASCAR, youngsters began to build their own racing vehicles out of whatever they could find. ALEXANDRIA – Somewhere between the first automobile race, which was in 1887 in France, and NASCAR, youngsters began to build their own racing vehicles out of whatever they could find. Louisiana RAs are carrying on the tradition. The year 1885 marked the introduction of gasoline-fueled internal combustion engines. Ford’s Model T made its debut in 1908, and by the mid-’20s the vehicle had become commonplace enough that “every kid wanted one.” In addition to building clubhouses (and chasing girls away from them), half-grown lads scoured their neighborhoods for cast-off wheels and discarded lumber they could use to build gravity-powered cars, and pummeled their dads with questions about how to make their vehicles go faster than any other. “It takes just the right combination of aerodynamics and weight,” the boys were told. Discarded Oxydol, Lux and other soap boxes – sturdy containers in which loose laundry soap was shipped – were used to go around the driver. Neighborhood races fueled by the Lil Rascals movie shorts led to community races and in … [Read more...]

Cross Point Baptist Church Northwest Louisiana Baptist Association BOSSIER CITY – Tony Meinhardt, pastor at Cross Point Baptist, said he thinks the new year will be exciting for his church. On Jan. 11, the church will have its building dedication, just two and a half years after the group first began to meet. With a brand new building that is just over a month old, the church has increased from a weekly attendance of about 70 to over 100, Meinhardt said. “We were meeting at an elementary school before, but since we have our new building we have grown tremendously,” Meinhardt said. No big events are scheduled at this point, but church members are formulating outreach tools to let the community be aware of the church. Having been in the ministry for almost 30 years, Meinhardt said he is excited to see what God is doing at Cross Point Baptist. Cross Point’s new building hosts a blended group of believers that does not target any specific age group.  “My goal is to see the church grow,” Meinhardt said, “and to reach out to all age groups with the love of Christ.” Acme Baptist Church Ouachita Baptist Association ACME – On the banks of the Black River stands a painted white wooden church building. Founded … [Read more...]