By Rod Masteller, President Louisiana Baptist Convention The most powerful force on earth is united prayer. [img_assist|nid=6139|title=Dr. Rod Masteller Louisiana Baptist Convention President|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=61|height=100]Matthew 18:19 (NIV) says that where there is agreement, God will move. “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.” He will give us what we ask for. Across the state there are thousands, perhaps even millions of people who could be saved if Louisiana Baptists came together in great unity of prayer. In this same chapter, in verses 15-17 (NIV), Jesus teaches that before there can be unity in prayer and answered prayer, there must be reconciliation with our brothers. “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.” In … [Read more...]
Prayer needed before GCRTF recommendations
By Kelly Boggs, Editor Louisiana Baptist Message The much anticipated Progress Report of the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force was presented to the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention on Feb. 22, in Nashville, Tenn. The report outlined six “components” or recommendations the task force believes will enable the SBC and its entities to operate more effectively and efficiently. [img_assist|nid=5974|title=Kelly Boggs, Editor Louisiana Baptist Message|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=78|height=100]If all the recommendations are implemented in their current form, the way the SBC operates will change dramatically. Depending on your perspective, that may be good or that could be bad. The GCRTF described the Progress Report as interim in nature. A final report is due out on May 3. Until then, task force members say they are open to altering some or all of the recommendations. “We have said since our first press conference following the release of the Progress Report,” Floyd wrote recently on his blog, “if Southern Baptists have ideas about how we can improve the report, we are open to hear them.” The fact that the Task Force is willing to listen and remain open to changes is a good sign. Not so … [Read more...]
Help needed to correct bill impacting children’s ministry
Dear Editor, With so many bills being signed by Governor Jindal, at the close of the 2009 Legislative Session, one got by all of us who serve as family advocates. The bill that slipped through was Senate Bill 238 or what is now known as Act 194. It has dozens of co-authors, all looking for a way to streamline the Department of Social Services. One of the consequences of this bill is that it has complicated children’s ministries and child-care providers within the church. This act leaves many regulations up to the discretion of state bureaucrats for application and implementation. It removes the religious exemptions from churches that we have enjoyed for many years. Churches provide children’s activities at little to no cost to the family and at no cost to the government. Now, this bill infringes on our religious liberties and Constitutional rights. This act lowers the threshold of the number of hours a church can serve children, without going through the costly hassle of Class A licensing and regulations. A church with a low cost Mother’s Day Out ministry to the community is unable to sustain the additional regulations and costs. The Governor has been made aware of this debacle. He and his staff know they … [Read more...]
The 10 Commandments, Lord’s Prayer similar?
By Ed Steele, Associate Professor of Music Leavell College, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary I was reading and thinking through the Ten Commandments in my quiet time this week and began to walk through some interesting insights. Perhaps for many this is old hat, but it was new to me and certainly caused me to pause and think. [img_assist|nid=5774|title=Ed Steele Professor of Music in Leavell College at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=67|height=100]In Exodus 19, we see the fulfillment of what God had told Moses at the burning bush, that He would bring the people out and that they “would worship Him at this mountain.” [Exodus 3:12] Sure enough, there they are in the place where God had told them they would be. Moses first consecrates the people, and he tells them to cleanse themselves and prepare to meet with God. [For those who like alliteration: Consecration, Cleansing, Communion.] The important point is that there was definite preparation to meet with God. God was about to give the “ten words” and they had to be ready to listen, able to hear Him. The First Four Commands The first words were words that revealed who He was: “I am the Lord your God.” The first four … [Read more...]
Questions We’ve Pondered
Question: How should Christians handle life’s problems? [img_assist|nid=6013|title=Archie England PH D NOBTS Professor of Old Testament and Hebrew|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=73|height=100]Archie England responds: “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” Well, the going is pretty tough right now. The economy, job market, stock market, banking industry, war on terror, among other societal ills, are all making us fearful about our tomorrow. When there’s so much harm facing life’s way, how should we face such trouble? Let’s see how David handled the hurts of life in Psalm 27. David faced his problems with resolve. When a host descended upon him, David turned to the Lord. Rather than melt with fear, David exuded confidence. Neither the thought of war nor the threat of a hungry sword devouring his flesh could diminish his trust in God. The innumerable host camped about him motivated David to want God more – and to want more of God. To do so, he sought the Lord. David addressed his problems, therefore, by calling upon the Lord. He sought God with a focus (“one thing he asked,” v. 4). He sought God where God could be found – in the Temple. That’s how David faced his reality: he took his cares and concerns … [Read more...]
The Counseling Connection
How does a parent keep up in the accelerated, technology-saturated, and sexually-charged world of their kids? How do they handle information overload with their children? Whose responsibility is it anyway? Commit to Take Responsibility This is a monumental task that must be accepted in order to protect your kids. How does one prepare in a world of over-exposed sex? The principle of “first mentioned” takes effect. The first information received about a subject will form the foundational mindset about that subject. So, if the first thing our children hear about sex will determine their views on the subject, we must be very sure they hear the truth, and that they hear it from us. If we do not accept the task, believe me, the world will snatch the opportunity. Talk to your kids early but appropriately. Be Confident in the Truth Do Not Fear! The first step is to form a personal spiritual, theological ethic of sex – what does God say about sex? Use scripture to build the theological platform. Also ask, “What do I believe about sex?” “Has the world’s misinformation clouded my perspective on the issue?” and “What really is the truth?” Write out your answers and be prepared to verbalize them in a way that kids will … [Read more...]
Jennifer Rothschild featured speaker at Fresh Grounded Faith Conference
By Marilyn Stewart, Regional Reporter NEW ORLEANS – At the tender age of 15, Jennifer Rothschild lost her sight and with it, her dream of becoming an artist. Today, she is a wife, mother, author of seven books including Lessons I Learned in the Dark, and shares with others how God transformed her loss. [img_assist|nid=6160|title=Noted author Jennifer Rothschild is the featured speaker at the national womens conference at First Baptist New Orleans|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=75]Rothschild, who has appeared on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” Dr. Phil and The Billy Graham Television Special, is the featured speaker at Fresh Grounded Faith, a national women’s conference to take place April 9-10 at First Baptist Church of New Orleans. Event team member Kathy Frady, known on stage and in ministry as The Creative Dramatist, said the team met Rothschild via satellite months ago. “She is absolutely delightful. You feel like you could sit down and have coffee with her,” Frady said. “She is going to make this conference fun and fulfilling.” The degenerative disease retinitis pigmentosa that took her sight was a devastating blow, but her faith in God helped her view her situation differently, Rothschild told … [Read more...]
Medical mission team at Good Samaritan hospital heals wounds
By Sarah Hudson, Baptist Message JIMANI, Dominican Republic – A white two-story building stands under a clear blue sky in front of a beautiful backdrop of mountains. A view of a lake that extends from the Dominican Republic and into Haiti can be seen in the distance. Surrounded by all of God’s creation, here stands Good Samaritan Hospital in Jimani, Dominican Republic. [img_assist|nid=6174|title=Members of a medical team gather in front of Good Samaritan Hospital in Haiti|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=75]Before the Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti, Good Samaritan stood empty, but had the possibility of becoming a medical clinic. Just days after the earthquake, Good Samaritan reopened and became a trauma hospital for patients of all ages. Just five days after the quake, International Mission Board missionary Delores York arrived at Good Samaritan with the intention of helping out in whatever ways were needed. After walking in to have a tour of the hospital, she found herself taking on around 30 patients. York crawled on her knees from patient to patient with no blood pressure cuff, thermometer or any other basic medical tool and used her hands to check temperatures, heartbeats and breathing. There were … [Read more...]
Changing Lives at Bethel Mission Outreach orphanage
By Sarah Hudson, Special to the Baptist Message HAITI – Driving into Croix des Bouquets, Haiti, the streets are lined with rubble from the recent earthquake. Haitians sit in front of their homes trying to continue life as usual. In front of unstable and fallen homes often stands a new makeshift home made of cardboard, tarp, sheets or whatever other material is readily available. Croix des Bouquets is on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince; just a short drive, depending on traffic and the time of the day. Nestled a mile or so off-road, surrounded by Voodoo temples, sits Bethel Mission Outreach orphanage. There are more than 450 Voodoo temples within a five-mile radius of the orphanage, but this does not hinder worship and praise being lifted up to Jesus Christ within the concrete walls of the orphanage. Eight of the fourteen from the Louisiana medical mission team never imagined that they would be working and sleeping within these walls. The original plan was to have the entire team work together at Good Samaritan hospital in Jimani, Dominican Republic, but with the hospital being overstaffed, the team split up to do separate work. As the team arrived on day one at the orphanage they were greeted by David Gunter, a … [Read more...]
2010 LBC Transitions Mission Trip Arlington
"Our first ever LBC Transitions Mission Trip was a great success. The participants "served the Lord with gladness". They worked hard, got to know each other better and conncected with each other. I invite and encourage other youth groups to join us for next year's trip." Steve Masters, Baptist Collegiate Ministries Director at LSU Sarah McAlister, 11th grade “Mission Arlington has been an awesome experience for me, because I got to know people from other youth groups and got to know the people in my youth group better. I was also truly amazed by the many operations that go on within Mission Arlington and how the people who work there are so on fire for Christ. The love of God can be seen everywhere throughout the ministry.” Taylor Hallum, Freshman “I really enjoyed the friendships built at Mission Arlington and witnessing God’s blessing on this ministry. This is such a blessed place, and they truly make the most out of what they’re given. It’s a very encouraging place.” Alyssa Kimmell, Freshman “I have absolutely loved this trip. Using this as a Transitions trip has been amazing because I have been able to love on such great juniors and seniors. Seeing God’s work through Mission Arlington has shown me how God … [Read more...]
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