By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer LASALLE PARISH, La. (LBM) – Residents of LaSalle Parish will celebrate the upcoming National Day of Prayer with events at LaSalle High School in Olla and Jena High School football stadiums starting noon, May 7. Scott Smith, pastor of First Baptist Church in Tullos and organizer of the gathering at LaSalle High School, said he is anticipating a powerful time of prayer with others from multiple denominations. “As I have spoken with pastors and leaders of our communities, one thing has become quite evident,” Smith told the Baptist Message. “Every person that I spoke with seemed eager to come together and pray. “I could sense the sincerity in their voices as each one shared about how God is our only hope,” he continued. “I hope this will lead to a time of revival and spiritual awakening.” According to the Jena Times, both locations will allow ample space for participants to adhere to proper social distancing guidelines of at least six feet apart from one another. Additionally, those attending are asked not to hold hands or form close groups while praying. “It there has ever been a year when all of LaSalle Parish believers should come together to participate in the National Day … [Read more...]

By Will Hall, Message Executive Editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM)—Last week as environmentalists around the world celebrated Earth Day, I was intrigued by the potential of a biblical solution to the problem of air pollution: a day of rest. The concept of a day of rest is nothing new to people of faith. We are familiar with God’s six days of creation -- His forming the heavens and the earth and fashioning all the creatures of the air, land and sea, as well as molding man into His image. Likewise, we know our Heavenly Father established the seventh day as a time of rest. But two points about the nature of that first week stood out for me: First, God did not need six days to complete His creation. He did not need to give multiple commands to establish light, the earth’s atmosphere, etc. He simply could have said, “Let there be all” and everything would have been in its place at once. It is obvious that He was providing a cycle, a recurring schedule for mankind. Second, God had no reason to rest. He was not exhausted from His creative endeavors. Nor was He in need of refreshment or restoration of His energy. But He established a day of cessation of work in part for man’s benefit. The day off is meant to be a holy time, set … [Read more...]

By Message Staff WASHINGTON, D.C. (LBM) – Gov. John Bel Edwards struck an optimistic tone for reopening the state’s economy during a meeting with President Donald Trump Wednesday. Edwards, who two days earlier extended a stay-at-home order in the state through May 15, said during the meeting at the White House that a commitment by the Trump administration to supply Louisiana with 200,000 kits monthly to test for novel coronavirus, beginning in May, was a top reason for reopening the economy. “This is the big piece that we have been looking for,” Edwards said. “And with that commitment we feel much better about moving forward.” During the meeting, Edwards thanked Trump for providing field hospitals, ventilators and Navy medical personnel during the crisis. “We have obviously turned the corner in Louisiana,” he said. “We are in a much, much better place in Louisiana than we thought was even possible five or six days ago. That’s because of our local partners and our federal partners and hard work.” Trump thanked Edwards, US. Senators Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy, and others in Louisiana for their cooperative spirit throughout the crisis. “It’s an honor working with you and the people of Louisiana,” Trump said. … [Read more...]