By Message Staff PINEVILLE – Author and Bible study leader Katie Orr and dramatist, speaker and  author Gwen “Ms. Chocolate” Williams will challenge hundreds of women to become more obedient in their walk with Christ at the upcoming Kaleidoscope women’s conference. More than 300 women are expected to attend the annual conference Feb. 23-24 at First Baptist Church, Pineville. The theme of the 2018 conference is “Obedience.” Janie Wise, women’s missions and ministry strategist for Louisiana Baptists, said this year’s Kaleidoscope features several firsts. Not only has the conference expanded to include an additional day to offer more opportunities for fellowship and breakout sessions, but event organizers also will offer participants the chance to purchase a women’s missions and ministry shirt. “The important thing about Kaleidoscope is what God has in store for each of us related to obedience,” Wise said. “It’s not an easy topic, but I invite each woman across Louisiana to come and learn together,” Wise continued. “We will better serve the Lord and more effectively reach the lost when we learn to live in obedience to Him. We have a great program team to help us.” During the main sessions, Orr, author … [Read more...]

By Greg Laurie I heard about a monk who joined a monastery and took a vow of silence, with the exception of being allowed to speak two words every year. After the first year passed, he was called into the abbot’s office to speak his two words. The monk said, “Bed’s hard.” Another year passed, and again he went to speak his two words before the abbot. The monk said, “Food’s cold.” Another year went by, and he appeared once again before the abbot. “You’re allowed your two words,” the abbot told him. “What are they?” The monk said, “I quit.” “It’s no wonder!” the abbot exclaimed. “Since you’ve been here, all you’ve done is complain!” That is true of some people. All they want to do is complain. My friend James Merritt says there are two kinds of people in this world: those who are born again, and those who are born against. Some people are simply contrary. Nothing pleases them. Nothing meets their standards. They actually like to go and make trouble in the lives of others. As Proverbs 4:16 says, evil people are restless unless they’re making trouble. They can’t even get a good night’s sleep unless they have made life miserable for someone. Zig Ziglar said, “Don’t be distracted by criticism. Remember, the only … [Read more...]

By Rick Patrick SYLACAUGA, Ala. (LBM) – As I challenge the prevailing narrative arising from the 2016 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting in St. Louis, Missouri, my remarks, though sincere and well-intentioned, will likely be misunderstood. This is regrettable and unavoidable. Just because something is difficult to say does not mean it should not be said. Perhaps my timing will be challenged. Could this not wait for another day? Yes, it could, but Barney Fife’s “nip it in the bud” philosophy is practically a core value of mine. Why allow a questionable notion to grow unchallenged for an extended period of time? Most accounts of the convention describe the beautiful feelings of unity and peace elicited by the withdrawal of J.D. Greear from the presidential race just prior to the second runoff ballot on that Wednesday morning in 2016. The election result was thus determined, not by the expressed will of the electorate, but by one candidate yielding to another. Candidates are free to run and free to withdraw, but in the aftermath of Greear’s resignation, I must have read a half dozen times that Greear is almost certain to become the SBC president in 2018. The theory is that his 2016 forfeiture was such a sign … [Read more...]