In 1 Kings 17:18, Elijah is called the man of God because he spoke forth the words and the will of Jehovah God. Today we need prophets of God to boldly stand up for the things of God. We call them pastors! We need men who will speak forth the truths of God’s Holy Word by saying “Thus says the Lord!” In 1 Kings 17:18, Elijah is called the man of God because he spoke forth the words and the will of Jehovah God.  Today we need prophets of God to boldly stand up for the things of God.  We call them pastors!  We need men who will speak forth the truths of God’s Holy Word by saying “Thus says the Lord!”  Have you noticed that there is a shortage of such men? A large number of our churches cannot find “men of God.”  My association alone has twelve churches that are currently without pastors and they are having trouble finding men willing to serve.  Churches seeking bi-vocational pastors are finding it especially difficult to find men to serve. Why is this becoming normal in most of our associations?  Have we stopped preaching about the call of God on men’s lives to the gospel ministry?  I don’t think I have addressed the subject enough from the pulpit.  Is the pastor shortage due to ministers expecting too much to follow the … [Read more...]

Paul Harvey News this week reported that the four greatest factors for longevity are these: quit smoking, drink only moderately, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, and exercise. In that case, I said to myself, I’m here for the duration. Paul Harvey News this week reported that the four greatest factors for longevity are these: quit smoking, drink only moderately, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, and exercise. In that case, I said to myself, I’m here for the duration. But not so fast. There are more factors than these four, surely. I’m not a social scientist – or any other kind of scientist for that matter – but I can name several. Here are my additional top five ways for long life.... 1) Obey and honor your parents. I’ll bet that one doesn’t make any scientific list, but it made God’s. “Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the earth.” (Exodus 20:12) In Ephesians Paul called it “the first commandment with a promise” attached to it. It’s tempting to be cute here and say that if I had not obeyed my dad, he would have killed me – thus fulfilling this promise. But, this was no joking matter to God’s people in Scriptures. 2) Don’t take foolish chances. I read somewhere of a soldier … [Read more...]

This concerns the letter in the June 5 issue of the Baptist Message concerning the loss of contributions to the retirement program and the loss of $17.50 matching contributions to GuideStone retirement accounts. This concerns the letter in the June 5 issue of the Baptist Message concerning the loss of contributions to the retirement program and the loss of $17.50 matching contributions to GuideStone retirement accounts. When GuideStone was created, I rolled my old annuity program over. My church treasurer was a retired AT&T employee and realized the value of investing in a 401K. When my last child graduated from school, she approached me about taking a salary reduction of $100 per month and putting that in the program. At that time I was putting about $550 per month in GuideStone. That is not a lot by today’s standards. It was at that time. As a result of GuideStone, I retired at age 62 without any problems. I still attend every traveling meeting that GuideStone puts on in the Lake Charles area. At the last meeting, there were six church employees present out of 62 churches listed in a recent church annual. The facilitator told me that low attendance at the meetings was normal. I have talked to pastors … [Read more...]

My small grandchildren often use the phrase “more better” to express their opinion about something they prefer. In spite of the bad grammar, I know exactly what they mean when they tell me the PB &J sandwich is “more better” without the crust. It’s the best! My small grandchildren often use the phrase “more better” to express their opinion about something they prefer. In spite of the bad grammar, I know exactly what they mean when they tell me the PB &J sandwich is “more better” without the crust. It’s the best! I am convinced the Cooperative Program is a “more better” way to accomplish the mission tasks the Lord has instructed us to pursue. It is not the only way to do missions. It is not the only thing being done for the Kingdom nor should it be. But for the assignments Southern Baptists want to accomplish together, the Cooperative Program is unparalleled in its effectiveness and its efficiencies. It is “more better” (the best)! First of all, it does “more.” I use these paragraphs from time to time to remind all of us of the many, many ministries the churches have through the Cooperative Program (international missions, collegiate evangelism, church planting, seminary education, disaster relief, children’s … [Read more...]

It seems that HIV ‘is a gay disease.’ It seems that HIV ‘is a gay disease.’ How should society respond to a behavior – a lifestyle choice – that places those who engage in the behavior at a high risk for poor health and grave disease? If the behavior in question is smoking, American society does everything in its power to discourage the behavior to the point of passing laws that make it illegal to puff in public places, even if the public venue is privately owned. However, if the behavior that results in probable poor health and potentially fatal disease is promiscuous sex, particularly homosexual sex, society only encourages those who engage in the behavior to do so safely. The result of America’s collective attack on smoking is that the rate of those who smoke has decreased dramatically in the United States. Additionally, the attitude toward smokers has shifted from tolerant acceptance to intolerant disgust. What has society’s “safe” approach to immoral and aberrant sex produced? Sexually transmitted diseases that are rampant and commonplace, so much so that drugs designed to deal with them are now routinely advertised on television. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has adopted … [Read more...]

After 40 years of service, Joe Baugh, Director of Missions for William Wallace, Two Rivers and Washington Baptist Associations, contemplated retiring on July 1. FRANKLINTON – After 40 years of service, Joe Baugh, Director of Missions for William Wallace, Two Rivers and Washington Baptist Associations, contemplated retiring on July 1. He was planning his fishing schedule, checking his gear, and anticipated taking pastors out and teaching them how to fish as a new ministry. Plans, though, changed. “I thought about it ... I prayed about it,” Baugh said. “And I’m just not ready to retire. I am still focused on the ministry and enjoy the work too much.” Baugh says the excitement of helping churches experience transformation and meet their expectations is still there for him. He also wants to continue assisting pastors in every way he can. “I’m chomping at the bit to take these pastors out fishing and teaching them how to fish, and more importantly how to relax,” Baugh said. “Pastors are having a tough time leading people to Christ,” Baugh said. “The numbers I’ve seen are apalling,  but I think I can still help them in their efforts. If nothing else, with my education background I can at least train them to do a … [Read more...]

There’s a saying, “Where children go, parents will soon follow.” “And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. 16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them. Mark 10:13-16 FRANKLINTON – There’s a saying, “Where children go, parents will soon follow.” Director of Missions Joe Baugh and the churches of the William Wallace Baptist Association have taken that to heart. “I believe that to be true,” Joe Baugh said. “Churches with active youth programs thrive, while others plateau or die. The youth are what help to drive growth in many churches today.” It is no wonder then the 22 churches of the association have embraced so many children and youth-oriented programs with active, fulltime staff members. “I love being a DOM, but my first love has always been the youth,” said Baugh, who spent 25 years as a youth minister. “Therefore, … [Read more...]

A majority of unchurched Americans are turned off by the institutional church and don’t have a biblical understanding about God and Jesus, yet they believe Jesus makes a positive difference in a person’s life and would enjoy an honest discussion with a friend about spiritual matters. NASHVILLE – A majority of unchurched Americans are turned off by the institutional church and don’t have a biblical understanding about God and Jesus, yet they believe Jesus makes a positive difference in a person’s life and would enjoy an honest discussion with a friend about spiritual matters. Those are just a few of the findings from a new study of unchurched Americans conducted by LifeWay Research in partnership with the North American Mission Board’s Center for Missional Research. LifeWay Research, the research arm of LifeWay Christian Resources, and the North American Mission Board are both entities of the Southern Baptist Convention. The results of the study, which polled 1,402 adults who had not attended a religious service at a church, synagogue or mosque in the previous six months, are available at LifeWayResearch.com. The findings have important implications for Christian churches and individuals who want to effectively reach … [Read more...]

While economists debate how serious America’s economic slowdown really is, Southern Baptist pastors report their members are still giving, in spite of the financial pressures felt by many families. NASHVILLE, Tenn. – While economists debate how serious America’s economic slowdown really is, Southern Baptist pastors report their members are still giving, in spite of the financial pressures felt by many families. A new study by LifeWay Research shows that 72 percent of Southern Baptist pastors indicate difficulties in the U.S. economy are affecting their churches negatively, yet 76 percent say offerings are at or above levels they had expected when drafting budgets several months ago. At the same time, 24 percent of the pastors say offerings are below what they had expected and 27 percent indicate their congregations will not meet budgets if current giving trends continue. “When two-thirds of Southern Baptist churches are plateaued or declining in membership and attendance, it is no surprise that 20 to 30 percent of churches find their giving under budget at any given point in time,” said Scott McConnell, associate director of LifeWay Research. Americans are feeling the pressure of rising prices on food and gasoline … [Read more...]

Having seen it first hand, Todd Strain is simply in awe of God and what He is capable of doing. MONROE – Having seen it firsthand, Todd Strain is simply in awe of God and what He is capable of doing. In two previous mission trips to Malawi to do evangelism with IMB missionaries Mat and Janet Lawrence, he witnessed thousands saved, hundreds baptized, and four churches established. However, those two trips were nothing compared to the two-week mission trip he and 19 others took from May 21 to June 7 to Lilongwe, Malawi. It is simply “the best one ever,” Strain said. Malawi, located in southern Africa, is a peaceful, yet poor nation. It is the 11th poorest nation in the world and the 13 million people living there have an average life span of 39 years due in large part to malaria and HIV/AIDS. Overall, the people of Malawi are receptive to the gospel, and roughly half the people with whom the gospel is shared accept Christ. So, it isn’t unusual to see 30 to 40 people saved daily and 400 to 500 a trip. So, what made this trip different from the first two? “I believe it was the baptism of a 97-year-old African doctor, which we consider to be a witch doctor,” said Strain, director of the Baptist Collegiate Ministry … [Read more...]