As Easter approaches, the Baptist Message team invites you to pause daily from the hustle and bustle of life to focus on the days leading up to Easter or Resurrection Sunday. Join us in this challenge to read through the Gospels to get a greater understanding of Jesus’ birth, ministry, death and resurrection. Day 12: Luke 21-22 (NKJV) ========================= (Luke 21) The Widow’s Two Mites 1 And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, 2 and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites.3 So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; 4 for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.” Jesus Predicts the Destruction of the Temple 5 Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said, 6 “These things which you see—the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down.” The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age 7 So they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?” 8 And He … [Read more...]

As Easter approaches, the Baptist Message team invites you to pause daily from the hustle and bustle of life to focus on the days leading up to Easter or Resurrection Sunday. Join us in this challenge to read through the Gospels to get a greater understanding of Jesus’ birth, ministry, death and resurrection. Day 11: Luke 19-20 (NKJV) ========================= (Luke 19) Jesus Comes to Zacchaeus’ House 1 Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way.5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus,make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” 6 So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. 7 But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.” 8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I … [Read more...]

By Will Hall, Message Editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) - The Department of Homeland Security has announced that it will be accepting requests starting either April 12 or April 16 for grants to be used to upgrade the security of facilities of nonprofits such as churches and religious schools to deal with the continuing threat of violence against such institutions because of their “ideology, beliefs or mission.” There will be a limited time to apply, only two-three weeks according to state sources, so churches are urged to turn in their write-ups as close to April 16 as possible. If the deadline cannot be met, churches are urged to submit the package as soon as possible, anyway, to be considered for next year. The U.S. Congress provided $60 million for the FY19 program, which also covers synagogues and mosques, and Louisiana is expected to receive about $200,000 to $300,000 of that allocation. Last year, the state approved four grant requests, a state official told the Baptist Message. Examples of items that are allowable for the funding include costs related to: Planning – development of security risk management plans, continuity of operations plans, and response plans. Equipment – purchase and installation of access … [Read more...]

As Easter approaches, the Baptist Message team invites you to pause daily from the hustle and bustle of life to focus on the days leading up to Easter or Resurrection Sunday. Join us in this challenge to read through the Gospels to get a greater understanding of Jesus’ birth, ministry, death and resurrection. Day 10: Luke 17-18 (NKJV) ========================= (Luke 17) Jesus Warns of Offenses 1 Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. 3 Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you,rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.” Faith and Duty 5 And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” 6 So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. 7 And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say … [Read more...]

As Easter approaches, the Baptist Message team invites you to pause daily from the hustle and bustle of life to focus on the days leading up to Easter or Resurrection Sunday. Join us in this challenge to read through the Gospels to get a greater understanding of Jesus’ birth, ministry, death and resurrection. Day 9: Luke 15-16 (NKJV) ========================= (Luke 15) The Parable of the Lost Sheep 15 Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” 3 So He spoke this parable to them, saying: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. The Parable of the Lost Coin 8 “Or what woman, having ten silver [c]coins, … [Read more...]

Two Louisiana Baptist mud out teams are responding to a call for help in the wake of the recent flooding in Nebraska. The team of two from Lake Charles left Monday, March 25, and a team of 12 from Eastern Louisiana Baptist Association left Wednesday, March 27, for Fremont, Nebraska. They are expected to remain there a week. Heavy rain and melting snow caused rivers to reach historic levels in early March across Nebraska, including Fremont. Road closures from the flooding made it impossible to enter and leave Fremont, which is about 35 miles northwest of Omaha, was blocked for more than a week, and nearly 1,000 homes and 100 businesses in the community were damaged, according to KLKN-TV news station in Lincoln, Nebraska. Louisiana Baptist state disaster relief director Gibbie McMillan said nearly 250,000 people were displaced from their homes in areas damaged by flooding in areas of the Midwest. He said 125,000 of those cannot return to their homes. “Pray for the will of the people to survive a disaster of this magnitude,” McMillan said. “And we pray they will know t and knowing that through it all God will sustain his people.” … [Read more...]