by J. Josh Smith IRVING, Texas (BP) -- Although I live only 10 miles from downtown Dallas, I'm rarely there. But last night, of all nights, I was. I was just a couple of miles south of Dallas when the shootings took place and had to make my way back through the city to return home as the situation continued to unfold. The city looked unlike I had ever seen it. The streets were shut down, blue and red lights reflected off the buildings, and the sky was filled with helicopters. I listened to the reporters on the AM radio trying to make sense of the events that had just occurred. It wasn't until I returned home and turned on the TV that I began to fully understand the reality of what had taken place in this city that I love. It's truly overwhelming. I feel a sense of the gut-wrenching compassion that Jesus felt as He looked out over the multitudes and saw them as sheep without a shepherd. I feel it for the families of Philando Castile and Alton Sterling. I feel it for the black community as they try to make sense of the last few days. I feel it for the 12 officers shot last night and their families. I feel it for the families of the five officers killed. I feel it for our Dallas police officers who will continue to protect our … [Read more...]

By Jerry Vines, President of Jerry Vines Ministries Editors Note:  This open letter was first sent to Baptist Press.  It is a letter written in response to Russell Moore's Twitter comment (Click HERE) and is used here by permission. We have been involved in Southern Baptist life for most of our lives. We are grateful for the opportunities to serve and minister in our Convention. At the same time, we have also witnessed and been involved in America's political life. Though we never endorsed political candidates, as pastors and Southern Baptist leaders, we have sought to share our perspectives as to how Southern Baptist believers should evaluate the moral and spiritual issues during presidential election cycles. Based on biblical principles we trusted those to whom we ministered to use their brains and their hearts as they voted for political candidates. Such political campaigns can be times of strong emotion, spirited debate, excessive rhetoric and sadly, broken relationships. The recent meeting of almost 1,000 religious leaders with Donald Trump (including a number of Southern Baptists) and the willingness of some to serve on an advisory group has caused much controversy. The negative reactions of some religious leaders have … [Read more...]

By Ronnie Floyd SPRINGDALE, Ark. (BP) -- I give my full and complete endorsement to Jesus Christ. My 100 percent trust is in God alone, our Sovereign King. I agree with the late Adrian Rogers, who said, "We dare not identify the Christian faith with the Democrat or Republican party. We need to be free to tell both parties to repent and get right with God."[1] I would add what I shared on June 14 with the Southern Baptist Convention, "The church cannot call America to repent until the church repents." The tension is real Christians have dual citizenship. Our citizenship is not only in the Kingdom of God that is eternal and superior to all, but we are active citizens in the United States of America. Our Sovereign God not only determined the period of time He ordained us to live, He also determined where we would live. I love the United States of America and still believe it is the greatest country in the world. Yet, I feel an enormous tension in my spirit about how to operate in our nation effectively. We live for one Kingdom while we live in another kingdom. Often, decisions within our country increase this tension, and we have never lived in a time in our generation when this tension has been greater. Spiritual leaders are … [Read more...]

John Kennedy, Louisiana State Treasurer BATON ROUGE - The new state budget that takes effect Friday is the second largest budget in Louisiana history and contains the largest amount of tax increases ever, according to State Treasurer John Kennedy. "Over the course of 365 days, the Louisiana Legislature raised $2.4 billion in taxes and fees," said Treasurer Kennedy. "I don't need to remind Louisianians that these tax increases arrive during an especially weak economy. The oil and gas industry is in a depression, and north Louisiana is still reeling from devastating floods. We also have the third highest unemployment rate in America." State spending in Louisiana's operating budget that takes effect on Friday has increased 31% since 2010. The most recent U.S. Census Bureau data ranks Louisiana as No. 1 in the South for state and local spending per capita. "Louisiana is in a league of its own now, and not in a good way," said Treasurer Kennedy. "We cannot tax ourselves into prosperity. History will prove this point as more businesses fold and more families suffer. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. We have a spending problem." … [Read more...]

By Waylon Bailey, Pastor of First Baptist Covington I’m smiling a lot this week. It’s because I’m seeing so many children who are professing their faith in Christ and following Him in Christian baptism. From Vacation Bible School to children’s Bible classes to parents who are  praying for their children to know Christ and live for him all of their lives, we are seeing many children saved. That makes me smile. It also makes me remember my initial experience with Christ–the time at age 9 when I talked with my mother in our automobile about faith. As you might expect, there are many aspects to that conversation that I don’t remember. There are three parts that I remember vividly. First, I remember taking my spiritual needs to my mother. I smile when children talk with their parents about spiritual things – – from asking questions about God or heaven and hell – – and seek their guidance. It was natural for me to talk to my mother about spiritual things because she had talked to me about spiritual things. Second, I remember her quoting Acts 16:31 to me, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.” Third, I also vividly remember ending the conversation, sitting back in the seat (the backseat of the automobile … [Read more...]

By John Kennedy, Louisiana State Treasurer Malcolm Bird was a first-time father with a toddler whose pinky finger was bleeding. He rushed his young daughter to a Connecticut emergency room, where a doctor washed off the finger and put a Band-Aid on it. That Band-Aid, which fell off in the car on the way home, cost Bird $629. Bird learned the hard way what most of us already know. The emergency room is an expensive place to treat minor injuries. If your kid cuts her finger, just wash it off and slap a Band-Aid on it. If your kid breaks her leg on a trampoline, go to the emergency room. Unfortunately, too many people treat the emergency room like a primary care physician's office, and they don't just do it once like Bird. They run to the emergency room when their stomach's upset, they're depressed, their back hurts or they get a pimple. The emergency room is expensive because it's expensive to run. It exists to save lives, not to dispense really pricey Band-Aids or aspirin. Our health care budget in Louisiana is out of control, and we've got to cut costs. As state treasurer, I'm constantly juggling funds for agencies because revenue isn't supporting expenses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 136.3 … [Read more...]