By Martha Bailey Demented. Deranged. Unhinged. Hatred. These were the type words used in the news I heard the day after an attempted assassin brutally wounded Congressman Steve Scalise and three others. Sadly, it seems he intended to leave much more carnage. It was premeditated and deliberate. Had it not been for two valiant police officers on the scene, he would have succeeded. How sad. How evil. What has happened to America? When did we forget that there are lines over which we dare not step? What happened to good manners and common decency? When did everything become gray where we don’t know what is right and what is wrong? When did truth mean whatever we want it to mean? Our country crossed the line when it compromised its values many decades ago and has been on a slippery slope ever since. Morality went out the window as did respect for other Christian principles. In his instructions to Timothy, a young minister, the apostle Paul warned him about what would happen to men’s hearts as the time grew closer to the Second Coming. Look at Paul’s description in his letter to Timothy (2 Timothy 3:1-5): ~There will be terrible times in the last days. ~People will be lovers of themselves. ~People will … [Read more...]

By Steve Horn If you live in my part of the world (South Louisiana) you likely have seen a headline in recent days that indicated, “All Eyes on Gulf” or something similar. We are waiting to see how much rain we get with a Tropical System. After a similar system last August which flooded us to point that some still have not been able to return to their homes, we tend to get a little jittery with such headlines. Maybe the headline is not “All Eyes on Gulf.” It might be “All Eyes on Trump” or “Russia” or “North Korea.” The truth is we wait for the next news. Some wait for the next episode of their favorite show. Some watch their online bank account for the next automatic payroll “drop.” We live in a day when we “watch” Facebook or Twitter for our “friend’s” (or “enemy’s”) next post. The point is we live “to watch.” The writer of Proverbs gave us a wise word about watching. As wisdom is personified, the writer of Proverbs said, “Anyone who listens to me is happy, watching at my doors every day, waiting by the posts of my doorway.” (Proverbs 8:34) I heard the weatherman say that the next advisory on the storm comes at 10 a.m. I need to make a decision about something so I am waiting for that advisory. As I … [Read more...]

By Steve Horn Manuel Noriega, former dictator of Panama who became a Christian in prison, once said as he pointed to the Bible, “There’s the book that tells me what His will is for my life. It has changed me.” Dr. Rick Byargeon, Old Testament scholar, teacher, preacher, and my friend, asked his wife for his Bible hours before he died, held it up, and said, “I gave my life to the study of this book.” The Apostle Paul in writing to Timothy said, “When you come . . . bring the scrolls, especially the parchments.” (2 Timothy 4:13) Our church, as well as countless others, is having Vacation Bible School this week. I am praying for lives to be changed, children to fall in love with Jesus, and begin a life-long study of the Bible. Last Sunday, in preparation for our week of Bible School, I preached from Joshua 1. I love this text. In verses 7-8, we read these instructions and a promise about the Word of God. Above all, be strong and very courageous to carefully observe the whole instruction My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or the left, so that you will have success wherever you go. 8 This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to recite it day and night so that you … [Read more...]

By Michael Evans It profoundly saddens me to hear that the Cooperative Program is down. I realize our great state has suffered major catastrophes and has an economy that is underperforming expectations. I get that -- but I believe I will borrow from Maya Angelou who once said, “Ignorance is a terrible thing. It causes families to lose their center and causes people to lose control. Ignorance knows no bounds. Old and young people, middle-aged, black white can all be ignorant.” I heartily agree. I know I once was young and ignorant, and now I am old and ignorant -- except now I know wisdom comes from dependence upon the leadership of the Holy Spirit. I believe those of us who know the value of the Cooperative Program have a biblical duty to enlighten those who may not be aware of the blessings that await any church that will give and support our cooperative ministries through the CP. Elwood Baptist Church is a country church in Forest Hill, and may I tell you we always have more than enough money and then some -- to borrow from Louisiana College President Rick Brewer -- for anything we are led to do in the service of the Lord. Our church has dedicated itself to giving 16% of its tithes and offerings to the … [Read more...]

By Todd Starnes Like many Americans, Barron Trump has seen the image of his father's decapitated head. And as you might imagine -- the 11-year-old boy was traumatized by what he saw. D-List comedian Kathy Griffin holding a bloody replica of President Trump's severed head. It was gruesome, gory and despicable. “Kathy Griffin should be ashamed of herself,” President Trump wrote in a Twitter message. “My children, especially my 11-year-old son, Barron, are having a hard time with this. Sick!” Controversial photographer Tyler Shields said he and Miss Griffin were hoping to create a bold message. “That’s what art is meant to do,” he told Fox News. “Some people look at it and they love it. Some people look at it and they hate it… I understand there are going to be people that hate this. It’s a very touchy subject…but this is not real. We didn’t kill anybody nor do I feel anybody should be killed.” Cable Newsers seemed to shrug it off. MSNBC's Morning Joe said it was not a story worth covering. I wonder if they would've said the same if Miss Griffin had been holding President Obama's severed head? It’s cliché, I know. But it needed to be said. The hypocrisy of the Left needs to be exposed – it must be … [Read more...]

By Michael Luce, pastor Amite Baptist Church Even in Disobedience God is Good Moses recalls God’s dealings with Israel and the ways that He showed His love and care for His people. Just because God banned the exodus generation from entering the Promised Land does not mean He wasn’t gracious to their needs. Israel lacked nothing during its travels in the desert. The emphasis in chapter 2 is on God’s unfailing, even miraculous, provision for Israel on their journey. The people were not to take even a sip of water from the Edomites without paying for it. And under no conditions were they to provoke the people into a fight. They were His people, and He was responsible for their care. They did not need to look elsewhere or try to make it on their own. God’s provision did not mean the Israelites never became hungry or thirsty, but God was there to supply what was needed. God is Faithful to His Word The psalmist said God’s Word is “eternal,” and that it “stands firm in the heavens” (Psalm 119:89). When we take God at His Word and obey Him, blessing follows. And He is also faithful to execute the warnings and judgments contained in His Word. We rejoice when obedience brings blessing, but too many times we expect God to … [Read more...]

By Franklin Graham President Donald J. Trump was so right when he called the Manchester Islamic terrorists “losers.” The truth is, they’re losers in this world and in the next. The President said, “This wicked ideology must be obliterated.” Jihadists following this are taught the lie that if you kill an infidel (a Christian or a Jew) and die in doing so, you will go to paradise where 70 virgins await you. I’ve got news for them—Hell awaits, with real flames and real fire. Hell is a real place—and so is Heaven, but there is only one road to Heaven. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). It is my prayer that Muslims around the world will come to know the truth and put their faith in Jesus Christ and Him alone. Franklin Graham is president and CEO of his father's Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, and of Samaritan's Purse, an international Christian relief organization. Originally posted on Facebook.com/FranklinGraham. … [Read more...]

By Martha Bailey At the invitation of our senator, Jack Donahue, we drove to Baton Rouge recently for my husband, Waylon Bailey, to pray as the Louisiana Senate convened for their afternoon session.  It was a privilege and an honor to have the opportunity to ask the Lord’s blessing on the work of the Senate for that day. When we first entered the historic capitol bustling with activity, we carefully followed protocol by reporting to the office of Sen. Gerald Long, the Louisiana State Senate President Pro Tempore. Because Waylon had previously prayed at the legislature several times, he had met Senator Long. However, I had not ever met him. Little did I know that our time with him was going to be such a blessing. When we arrived at his office his administrative assistant graciously greeted us, saying she would let Senator Long know we were there. However, he walked out of his inner office about that time. He greeted us warmly, invited us in, and offered us a seat like he would have if we had been in his living room. He was so kind and gentle and genuinely interested in who we were and our ministry. Our hearts were immediately tendered toward him not only because of his way more than cordial greeting, but because … [Read more...]

By Steve Horn Hopelessness is the enemy of faith. We all need hope. When I think about hope I always think about a story about the little boy playing Little League baseball. He is out in the field when his father arrives late for the game. Through the fence his father asks, “What’s the score?” “18-0!” says the little boy, “We’re losing.” Trying to offer comfort his dad says, “I’m sorry, son.” With the hope only a Little Leaguer could have, he answers back, “Don’t worry, Dad, we haven’t even got up to bat yet!” Now that’s hope. Billy Graham once said, “The greatest need in our world today is the need for hope. We thrive on hope, we rejoice in hope, we witness in hope, knowing that experience works hope. ‘Happy is he . . . whose hope is in the Lord his God (Psalm 146:5).’ There is hope for the future. It is centered in the Person of Jesus Christ who died for our sins and rose from the grave and is alive now. I have staked all that I am or ever hope to be on Him.” At yet another occasion, Graham said, “Faith points us beyond our problems to the hope we have in Christ.” When Jesus is our “hope,” we have more than hope as the world defines hope. We have a rock solid guarantee. Steve Horn is pastor of First … [Read more...]

By Waylon Bailey The Bible often talks about bearing spiritual fruit. Jesus spoke of it prominently. If this subject mattered to Jesus, it should matter to us. Are you bearing spiritual fruit? Is your life and activity profitable for the Kingdom of God? When I consider the subject of bearing spiritual fruit, these truths come immediately to mind. Jesus used the metaphor of fruit to describe how we make decisions and judgments. We know believers should not be judgmental or condemning. Jesus made that plain. “Do not judge, so that you won’t be judged. For with the judgment you use, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Matthew 7:1-2). He used a exaggeration to show how fruitless and ludicrous it is to judge. “Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but don’t notice the log in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:3). What Jesus didn’t condemn was making wise and godly decisions. In fact, as you deal with people in general and preachers and teachers specifically, He told us to check the spiritual fruitfulness of those who seek to influence us. Shortly after His teaching about judging and condemning, Jesus gave these words. “Beware of false prophets who come to you in … [Read more...]