By KELLY BOGGS, Editor, Baptist Message   It almost did not air. Network executives thought it moved too slowly for a Christmas special. They also were convinced that the absence of a laugh track, a staple of 1960 era comedies, would be the kiss of death.   [img_assist|nid=6929|title=Merry Christmas Charlie Brown|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=75]To further complicate matters, the man behind the cast of animated characters insisted upon using real kids for the voice-overs. As a result, only a couple of the children who were cast had any acting experience.   However, what most concerned the suits at CBS was the religious content. The climax of the 30-minute program focused on a main character quoting Scripture.   The executive producer even insisted that the Bible could not be read on network television. However, the creator of what has become a Christmas classic refused to edit or otherwise water-down the content.   In spite of network executives’ concerns, "A Charlie Brown Christmas" made its television debut on Thursday, Dec. 9, 1965. The result: More than 15 million homes tuned in and it captured nearly half of the possible audience.   The week it aired, the show was No. … [Read more...]

By ERIN ROACH, Staff Writer, Baptist Press   On a recent Christmas Eve, I attended a service at a Southern Baptist church that made me hope it was not representative of churches across our convention.   [img_assist|nid=6931|title=The meaning of Christmas: It's about Jesus, not Frosty|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=89]As the congregation sang "It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" and images of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer appeared on the screens above, I was dismayed that a perfectly good opportunity to celebrate Jesus was being used to call attention the secular parts of Christmas.   The pastor then led us on what he called an investigative journey to determine the real meaning of Christmas.   Out came people dressed in costume as a gingerbread man, a toy soldier, Frosty the Snowman, the Christmas Mouse and a candy cane.   As each character paraded across the platform, the pastor asked whether they were the real meaning of Christmas.   After much focus on the characters themselves, each time the pastor would conclude something like, "Christmas is not about the gingerbread man. It’s about our Jesus." Soon the congregation caught on and began to recite "our … [Read more...]

By MARK KELLY, Baptist Press   NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – Southern Baptists are being called to "solemn assembly" in January 2011 – a time of seeking God in prayer and repentance – by key leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention.   … [Read more...]

By KAREN L. WILLOUGHBY, Managing Editor   SHREVEPORT – Nine preachers from Louisiana are to headline the annual State Evangelism Conference, set for Jan. 24-25 at Broadmoor Baptist Church in Shreveport.   … [Read more...]

By KELLY BOGGS, Editor       By now you have realized that the Baptist Message you hold in your hands is a bit different from one you held a couple of weeks ago.   In response to financial difficulties, the Baptist Message has undergone a redesign, a renovation if you will. The same information is just being repackaged. However, it is being presented in such a way that it will not only result in a savings for the Baptist Message, but we hope will be a more user-friendly experience for you.   A tough economy coupled with rising costs have significantly affected the newspaper. Rather than pass the financial impact onto our subscribers – many of which are churches – by raising subscriptions rates, the Baptist Message chose to redesign the paper and give it a facelift. As a result, the Message will realize a savings on the cost of printing and postage. The end result is the Baptist Message remains a quality publication that is more reader-friendly than ever, and remains available to subscribers at a very low, reasonable price.   The redesign also coincides with the 125th anniversary of the Baptist Message. Yes, the Message has been informing Louisiana Baptists on all things Southern … [Read more...]

By KELLY BOGGS, Editor, Baptist Message   A poll conducted on USA Today’s website a few years ago found that 80 percent of Americans annually make at least one New Year’s resolution. But research indicates that many of those setting New Year’s goals will have broken them by March.   Even though most of us have a history of breaking our New Year’s commitments, year after year we continue to make them. Why? I think it’s because deep down we really want to improve.   Among the most popular resolutions are commitments to lose weight, reduce debt and break a bad habit.   These are noble aspirations and, if kept, would certainly have positive results. However, there is one area of life that is usually overlooked and one that will not only help us keep our resolutions, but also will impact virtually every area of our lives.   What is this important aspect of life that is often ignored? Attitude.   A mother and her pre-teen daughter embarked on a day of shopping. Several little things went wrong before the pair left home. To add to the day’s frustrations, traffic was snarled. Mom and daughter finally reached the mall a couple of hours behind the mother’s intended schedule.   At the first … [Read more...]

by ANDY JOHNSON, Pastor, Cross Roads Baptist Church, Farmerville   Recently, I entered my house and caught a whiff of a foul odor. It smelled like mold or like something mildewed. It only lasted for a brief second and then it was gone.   The smell grew more intense over the next few days. I asked my wife about it and she confirmed that she noticed it as well. … [Read more...]

By CHESTER QUARLES, Professor Emeritus Criminal Justice, University of Mississippi   Church crimes are increasing exponentially. While attacks are geographically isolated, they are occurring in almost every state on a regular basis, and church size or membership, doesn’t correlate. Responsible church leaders should plan to prevent these crimes.   Some churches are targeted because they are located in more vulnerable inner-city locations. Other churches are targeted because they are "soft" and "easy" targets.   … [Read more...]

By H.P. Tarpley, Pollock, La. In 1950, at the tender age of 20, I was called to be the pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church at Little Creek, Louisiana in LaSalle Parish. Shortly thereafter, I led the church to give 10 percent of the gross from our offerings to missions through the Cooperative Program. Recently, at the ripe old age of 80, I returned to Ebenezer to fill the pulpit in the absence of the church’s pastor. While there, I spoke with Mrs. Betty Mills Evans, the current church treasurer and daughter of the person who was treasurer when I was pastor of the church 60 years ago. Mrs. Evans informed me that the church has been faithful to give 10 percent to the Cooperative Program since the time I was pastor. Though many of the older records have been lost, records since 1997 indicate Ebenezer has contributed $56,532.53 to the Cooperative Program! The aforementioned amount represents only 13 years out of 60 years of Cooperative Program giving. This amount does not include offerings to state or special mission causes. Only God really knows how much financial impact this small rural church has had for the cause of Christ. The genius of the Cooperative Program allows churches like Ebenezer to partner with thousands of other … [Read more...]

By KELLY BOGGS, Editor   EDITOR’S NOTE – On December 12, the Town Talk – the daily newspaper of Alexandria, La., reported on a draft proposal the paper had in its possession that indicated Louisiana College had at one time sought $70 million in funding for the LC medical school from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia – $35 million from each country. The Town Talk report also indicated the proposal called on the school to be named in honor of George H.W. Bush. On December 16, the Alexandria newspaper followed up with a report based on a press release from LC that confirmed the proposal and sought to give it some context. In light of the aforementioned reports, the Baptist Message conducted a question and answer session with Louisiana College president Joe Aguillard on December 17.   Baptist Message : What motivated the draft proposal? How did it originate?  Joe Aguillard: The draft reported on in the Town Talk was the result of, I would say, 10 to 12 revisions of an original proposal that was developed when we learned that Kuwait was giving money through the Red Cross and other agencies to Gulf Coast states after Katrina.   Most of the money [given after Katrina] was medical-related gifts and grants. So … [Read more...]