By Kelly Boggs, Editor Baptist Message “The right to free speech and the unrealistic expectation to never be offended cannot coexist,” rightly observed Philip Sharp. It seems, however, that the “unrealistic expectation” cited by the retired U.S. Army Ranger and author is being viewed increasingly as a right. The belief that individuals have a “right” to not be offended seems to be gaining momentum in the United States. As this concept grows in popularity it is set to challenge one of America’s first freedoms -- the freedom of speech. If the “right” against offense ever triumphs, if it is ever enshrined in law, free speech, of necessity, will cease to exist. The Founding Fathers believed that man is ultimately accountable to God and not government. As a result, they were quick to add the Bill of Rights to their newly drafted Constitution. The very First Amendment they adopted stated in part: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech ...” Having chafed under an oppressive government that recognized only one official religion and oppressed political dissent, the Founders wanted individuals to be free to pursue the … [Read more...]

  By Keith Manuel, LBC Evangelism Associate In 1949, coming off the heels of the Second World War, another kind of war – a spiritual war – was raging on the Scottish shores of the Outer Hebrides and especially on the island of Lewis. The Calvinistic Presbyterians had traded the vibrant movement of God through John Knox for a cold, lethargic religion that was dead. By all accounts, not one young person was attending church in that region. God raised up a fiery evangelist, Duncan Campbell, to be the general to oversee the taking back of the land. His coming to Lewis was a miraculous story in and of itself. Two sisters, Peggy and Christine Smith, one blind and the other arthritic, sought the face of God for their community. God put it on their hearts to pray. So, the sisters, 84 and 82 years old, set out to pray twice a week for revival among the young adults. The elderly sisters started praying at 10 p.m. and their prayer sessions lasted until three or four in the morning. During a particular evening of prayer, God gave one of the sisters a vision of their father’s church filled with people. She called her minister to tell him of her vision. The minister asked her what he ought to do. She said, “What? Give yourselves to … [Read more...]

By Tim Patrick, DOM Beauregard Association October is pastor appreciation month. I encourage you to practice this in your church. However, I want to carry this principle much deeper. I would like for you to consider the power of the affirming word. Words have the power to bless or curse. James said “Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.”( James 3:10) James was not advocating both blessing and cursing. He was instructing us in proper use of the tongue. We should avoid the negative, destructive use of the tongue. It is one thing to avoid criticism and destructive talk. It is another to provide positive and encouraging words. We may never engage in destructive talk; however, do we get around to building others up with positive words. The Bible says “the words of the pure are pleasant”(Prov. 15”26); “the words of a man’s mouth are deep waters” (Prov. 18:4); “the words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious.”(Ecc. 10:12) There are sins of commission when we sin against a person. There are also sins of omission when we fail to fulfill our responsibility. Affirming words have a way of building-up a person. Affirming words bring out the best in the other person. … [Read more...]

By Joe Alain, Pastor Hebron Baptist Denham Springs Every day we encounter sinful attitudes and actions that can only be “chocked up” to the fact that we live in a fallen world. I believe I am on sound biblical and theological ground when I say that every problem present in the world can be attributed to fallen sinful humanity, broken people. Of course, this only magnifies why we desperately need the reconciling power of the cross of Jesus Christ. An evidence of man’s sinfulness is his hatred of God and all that is good (Rom. 1:30). Recently, Dan Cathy was excoriated for his comments on the traditional family. In today’s politically correct culture to be “for” something “good” is to set yourself up for harsh and unfounded criticism. We are certainly living in days where Isaiah’s words ring true – people call good evil and evil good. The politically correct litmus test today for acceptance by the world seems to center on the issue of where one stands on the issue of homosexuality. If you believe homosexuality is a sin, that it’s part of our fallen nature, and furthermore, that people who are homosexuals can be changed by the Gospel, you are classified as a bigot and  homophobic or at best a judgmental … [Read more...]

  By Bill Warren, NOBTS “Lord, open the King of England’s eyes!” Thus was the cry of William Tyndale as he died a martyr’s death because of his conviction that the Bible should be placed in the hands of the people and not kept in a language that only the clergy and upper classes could read. We are the heirs of his sacrificial work every time we open our English Bibles, for much of the wording even in modern English translations of the Bible still echoes the phrasing used by William Tyndale in his translation. In fact, nearly 80 percent of the wording found in the King James Version of the Bible comes from the work of William Tyndale. For example, because of the influence of Tyndale’s Bible translation work, some words that Tyndale “created” in English became standard vocabulary in English, such as the word “Jehovah” for God in the Old Testament. So who was this man who gave his life for his conviction that people should have access to the Bible in their own language? William Tyndale was born in 1494, and attended Magdalen College at Oxford, beginning there probably around age 12. After his Bachelor’s degree, he completed his Master’s degree in 1515 at the age of 21, then went to Cambridge where the Renaissance … [Read more...]

  By Bill Warren, NOBTS Question: What do we know about James, the head of the church in Jerusalem? NOBTS Professor Bill Warren responds: Many people are called “James” in the NT since that was a popular name among Jews in the first century due to its OT roots. The NT name “James” comes to us by way of the Latin translation of the Greek word for “Jacob,” which is based on the Hebrew name of the patriarch Jacob in the OT. Two different people named James were major figures in the church in Jerusalem during the first century. The first James with a major role in the Jerusalem church was the brother of John the Apostle, one of the “sons of thunder” as the two were called (Mark 3:17). Most likely James was older than John since his name is normally before John’s in the listings of the Apostles. Their mother is mentioned in Matthew 27:56 as one of three women present at the crucifixion of Jesus. In light of Mark 15:40, her name likely was Salome, so James’ parents were Salome and Zebedee. This James died about A.D. 44 or a bit before, at the hands of King Herod Agrippa I, as noted in Acts 12:2. He was the first of the Apostles to be martyred. The James who became the head of the church in Jerusalem was James the … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Mon, 09/24/2012 - 01:00   By Kelly Boggs, Editor Baptist Message PINEVILLE -- Judge Mary Lauve Doggett of the Ninth Judicial District Court announced on Sept. 14  she was upholding an earlier decision that granted Louisiana College the right to determine the content of the school’s faith curriculum. Judge Doggett’s previous ruling, rendered March 27, was appealed by plaintiffs Carlton L. Winbery, Fredrick L. Downing, James R. Heath and Connie R. Douglas. The former LC professors had sued the college alleging loss of academic freedom and infliction of emotional distress.  The most recent ruling by the judge dismisses all claims made by the professors. In rejecting the appeal, Judge Doggett reaffirmed her previous position in the case. In the March ruling the judge wrote: “Under the establishment Clause [of the U.S. Constitution], the consideration is whether the issues which the Court will have to resolve will necessarily turn upon competing interpretations of religion, thus resulting in the Court becoming entangled in an ecclesiastical dispute.” Judge Doggett continued, “The ‘Entanglement Doctrine’ provides that a court must decline jurisdiction over a lawsuit when the dispute is so … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Mon, 09/24/2012 - 01:00   By Staff, LC Communications PINEVILLE – Louisiana College announced on Sept. 18 that J. Michael Johnson had tendered his “amicable resignation” from LC’s Pressler School of Law.” “It has been my honor and privilege to serve this institution, and I have committed to continue working with and supporting Louisiana College in the future,” Johnson said according to an LC press release. Johnson was hired as dean of LC’s Shreveport-based law school in July of 2010. He has since been directing the school which will be housed in the former Joe D. Waggonner Federal Building in downtown Shreveport. The building is in the midst of renovations. LC President Joe Aguillard said in the press release, Johnson “is moving on to other endeavors.” He did not, however, indicate what opportunity had lured Johnson away from his position as founding dean of the law school. Aguillard did add, “He [Johnson] has successfully guided the law school in its formative stages and steps, and we will be grateful for his continued involvement.” According to the release, “LC Board of Trustees met Tuesday to consider how to proceed. An interim dean has not been named, and it is not not known … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Mon, 09/24/2012 - 01:00 Harvest Now discipleship week: The third annual Harvest Now discipleship week for teens this summer, a District 8 event sponsored by Pleasant Hill Baptist Church of Florien and coordinated by Youth Minister Brian Gilcrease at the church, saw a group of about 100 teens from District 8 churches grow by week’s end to 140 or more each day, as the teens brought friends to participate in devotions each morning, about six hours of mission projects, followed by dynamic worship each evening. Services at night grew to 180 or more with the addition of parents.   FLORIEN – A mom who talked about her teenage son’s suicide helped a suicidal teen to see his need for the Lord. That was one of many “God-sightings” that took place during whre Mike Haynes is senior pastor. “The greatest thing to me about Harvest Now was watching God at work in the midst of not only the students but the leaders as well,” Haynes said. “If the Church of the Living God would get back to following the Spirit instead of man, what happened at Harvest Now could happen all across this land.” FLORIEN – A mom who talked about her teenage son’s suicide helped a suicidal teen to see his need for … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Mon, 09/24/2012 - 01:00 Fight Night   By Brian Blackwell, Marketing Director ALEXANDRIA – When Dwayne and Becky Vines first married, they knew small details such as who handles the finances could have destroyed their marriage. But the couple, now married for 20 years, realized early on they should focus on the bigger picture rather than spending time arguing over unimportant battles. “Being mean and arguing can be a habit,” said Dwayne Vines, dressed like a professional boxer during a mid-September “Fight Night” event at Calvary Baptist Church. “We could have had a bad marriage during the first year of our marriage. But we were more committed to our marriage than being right all the time.” Dwayne Vines and his wife talked about ways to handle conflict in a biblical manner. The two-hour Fight Night event, also featured video testimonials from authors Max Lucado and Chip Ingram. Becky Vines said that throughout their marriage the couple has kept Christ at the center. She said by doing so, the couple has been able to keep the proper perspective on who is at the head of their marriage. “When conflict arrives there are three parties involved,” she said. She added that … [Read more...]