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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Archives for December 2017

Calculate your estimated 2018 savings from the tax cuts passed by Congress

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The Washington Post and the New York Times offer easy-to-use tools for estimating how much you will save in taxes in 2018: Click here to use the NYT tax savings estimator, or click here to see what the Washington Post estimates your tax savings will be next year. NOTE: Both graphs distinguish between tax decreases and increases using colors. Note the overwhelming amount of green (people who will save money) compared to the limited areas of pink (people who will pay more). This is a good visual to demonstrate that the overwhelming number of U.S. taxpayers will receive a tax break under the new law. … [Read more...]

Building family identity during the holidays

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By James Dobson These days should be remembered and observed in every generation by every family. Esther 9:28 In today's hurry-up society, it's easy for frantic husbands and wives, as well as their harried children, to feel isolated and lonely. They begin to feel more like a busy cluster of people simply living together in a house than a living, breathing family with a linked character and heritage. One way to avoid this disconnection is to establish traditions that encourage closeness and fellowship. For instance, for many years the Dobson family has enjoyed several traditions during the holidays that center around food. Each year during Thanksgiving and Christmas, the women prepare marvelous turkey dinners with all the trimmings. Another favorite at these times is a fruit dish called ambrosia, containing sectioned oranges and grapes. The family peels the grapes the night before the big day. We look forward to these gatherings not just for the food, but for the laughter and warm family interaction that occurs when we come together. Even more beneficial are traditions that reinforce God's love for His children, such as attending church as a family, reading Scripture together, and singing songs of praise. They … [Read more...]

Zenoria rebuilds from flood, builds again from growth

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By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ZENORIA – Twenty-one months after a historic flood destroyed the facilities of Zenoria Baptist Church, a new day has come for the congregation. Nine feet of water from the Little River submerged the campus, March 11, 2016, and members dedicated a new worship center and education space exactly one year later. Now they have to build again, this time to expand because of growth, primarily from baptisms. The congregation has baptized four new believers, so far, this year, growing to 41 persons who faithfully take part in Sunday morning service, and they sense more are on the way. Pastor Joel Johnson told the Baptist Message expanded facilities are needed to expand the congregation’s ministries. Two Sunday school classrooms are being built, and the fellowship hall is being “up-sized,” with plans to build a cooking shed as well.   Johnson said despite the tragedy of the flood, many good things have resulted, especially with regard to the love expressed to this small community of believers, just 10 miles outside of Jena.   When the congregation decided not to “close the doors” after the flood, the Jena Band of Choctaws offered them a temporary meeting … [Read more...]

Three specific ways to pray for others to come to Jesus Christ

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By Ronnie Floyd The local churches, denominations, ministries, and the prayer movement in America cannot be separated from evangelism. Consider this: If prayer and the desire for evangelism are genuine, they happen simultaneously. Are local churches, denominations, ministries and the prayer movement in America praying for others to come to Jesus Christ? Are you praying for others to come to Jesus Christ? Do you call out specific names to God each day? America needs Jesus Christ more now than ever before. Our hearts should be broken over the lostness of America and the world. Mocking it helps no one. Ignoring it does not make it go away. Every genuine Christian needs to pray for others to come to faith in Jesus Christ. 3 Specific Ways to Pray for Others to Come to Jesus Christ Pray for the scales to fall away from their blinded eyes. We cannot deny the reality of what Paul stated in 2 Corinthians 4:4, “In their case, the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” Only through God opening their eyes and minds to the gospel will the unsaved see and hear the good news of Jesus Christ. We need to … [Read more...]