[img_assist|nid=6944|title=Mike Canady|desc=LBC Executive Director David Hankins (right) recognizes Mike Canady, his wife Linda, and son Matt during the 2010 Annual Meeting. Canady, the LBC’s Director of Missions, is retiring Dec. 31 after serving in that post for the last 17 years.|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=67]By STAFF, Baptist Message               ALEXANDRIA – Many, La., native Mike Canady on Dec. 31 concludes his service as Director of Missions with the Louisiana Baptist Convention. It’s a post he’s ministered through over the last 17 years.   "Not until we bow before the feet of Jesus will we fully understand all that Mike Canady has done for the kingdom of God," said LBC Executive Director David Hankins. "In his faithful service as an international missionary, as a director of missions, and as the leader of the LBC Missions and Ministry team, Mike has demonstrated great faith, wisdom and a heart for lost people. … [Read more...]

By MICHAEL FOUST, Baptist Press   SAN FRANCISCO (BP) – A panel for the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments Dec. 6 in a high-profile case that could lead to all 50 states being forced to recognize "gay marriage."   The three-judge panel posed questions to both sides for more than two hours and didn’t give much indication as to how or when they might rule, although the questioning did appear to follow each judge’s ideology.   At issue is California Proposition 8, a constitutional amendment passed by voters of that state in 2008 that defines marriage as being between one man and one woman. Its passage reversed a state Supreme Court ruling that had legalized "gay marriage."   … [Read more...]

By DON GRAHAM, Baptist Press                   NORTH AFRICA (BP) – They broke into the church at night to finish the job they’d begun weeks earlier.   Hard-line Islamists wanted to shut down a Kabylie church in North Africa that had recently moved into a largely Muslim neighborhood. Twice they’d successfully stopped services by barricading the church’s doors; they’d even threatened to kill the pastor. But each week the Christians returned to worship.   This time the Islamists poured gasoline over everything – chairs, Bibles, equipment – and set it ablaze. … [Read more...]

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...]