| Informing and Inspiring Oklahoma Baptists Since 1912 |
Tom Beddow is the coordinator for Oil Patch Chaplains, a ministry of the BGCO founded in January. A native Oklahoman, Beddow founded TR Beddow Welding Service in Ada. He also worked for Parker Drilling Company and Chevron. He obtained a Master of...
Oklahoma Baptists are among several denominations across the state participating in a three-pronged pro-life campaign called 40 Days for Life, Sept. 24-Nov. 2.
For the first time since 2001, messengers elected by Southern Baptist churches in Oklahoma will gather in the Tulsa area Nov. 10-11 for the 102nd Annual Meeting of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma (BGCO) at The Church at Battle Creek in...
If you think Islam is the biggest offender of religious liberty around the world, you are mostly right. In India, Hindu radicals are now making a run for that ominous distinction. The next time you hear a Hollywood celebrity talk about the...
"Miss Dana Beth Williamson of Maysville has been named staff writer for the Public Relations Department of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma effective Oct. 14, (1968)."
On Sept. 28, a pastor whom I respect and appreciate as a leader on moral and ethical issues endorsed a presidential candidate from the pulpit of his church. He joined a couple of hundred pastors across the nation who chose to defy the IRS...
It's a funny thing: you can't become a grandparent until a grandchild arrives. I don't have any grandkids, yet, and that causes me some concern. My wife and I got married while we were young, but our sons both waited awhile. As a result, many of...
The board of directors of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma approved the 2009 proposed budget and voted to conclude the missions partnership with Guanajuato, Mexico during their board meeting Sept. 23 at the Baptist Building in Oklahoma...
In a recent Oklahoma study on Family Fragmentation, conducted by the House Human Services Committee, lawmakers concluded that for every dollar spent keeping families together, the government spends $1,000 on 'clean up' from the fallout of broken...
MIAMI- To look at Kerry Holden, one wouldn't suspect she is anything but a vivacious, 48-year-old mother experiencing the normal apprehensions of home-schooling a 16-year-old daughter who's anxiously waiting to get her driver's license.
DALLAS- Long-term retirement investors should keep their focus on their goals, and not on short-term market fluctuations, including even the recent Sept. 15 sell-off that resulted in the single worst trading day since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist...
Some of today's most important vocabulary words have their root in the word "connect." Whether by cell phone, computer or other electronic device, it seems we are always looking for "connectivity." When successful, the computer tells us that the...
My name is Walker Moore, and I don't know how to text message. There, I finally said it. A man who has spent most of his life working with young people can't text message. One of our students tells me that if I want to communicate with this...
MOORE-Saying Oklahoma has a special place in his heart because his wife's family is from the Sooner State, Henry Blackaby acknowledged he is one who believes in the mercy of God, and God could choose Oklahoma as the place where His mighty work...
KINGFISHER - Four-hundred-and-ninety-three miles is a long way. If you go straight out of Oklahoma City north and travel 493 miles, you will arrive 30 miles north of Omaha, Neb. If you go south out of Oklahoma City, you will end up 48 miles south...
We are in the height of hurricane season. One storm after another comes across the Atlantic and several find their way into the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf Coast states are in the cross hairs time and again.
Imagine the year is 1620 and you are standing with your family on a pier in Southampton, England observing Pilgrims boarding the Mayflower. There is an excitement in the air as word has spread about the journey the vessel will take to a new land-a...
Ray E. Sanders, executive editor of the Baptist Messenger since February 2006, and leader of the Communications Team of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma since October 1998, has resigned to become a member of the executive team with the...
A call for Southern Baptists and other beievers to engage in 40 days of prayer beginning in late September has been issued by the Southern Baptist Convention's North American Mission Board and Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission.
Larry Nigh is a strong Southern Baptist and a faithful supporter of the Cooperative Program.
As Gov. Brad Henry officially welcomed evacuees from the Gulf Coast to Oklahoma on Sunday, Aug. 31, Oklahoma's Southern Baptist disaster relief teams rolled into the old Lucent Technologies building in Oklahoma City to prepare meals for as many as...
Transition is a very familiar word in our day. Almost everything, it seems, is in transition. Checking my computer Thesaurus, the first word that appears as a synonym for "transition" is change. In many instances the word transition does not...
I love the scene in the movie "Shrek" where Shrek and Donkey are talking about who they are. Shrek finally gets frustrated and tells Donkey that he is like an onion: he has many layers.
Rogers Association will sponsor the largest non-sanctioned rodeo in Oklahoma Oct. 3-5 at the Claremore Expo Center.
It has been 15 years since my wife and I bought a new car. Knowing the odometer on our Chevrolet Suburban would soon hit 150,000 miles, we decided to give serious consideration to a new set of wheels.
A recent story reported by Baptist Press reporter Erin Roach indicates that video game retailers are selling Mature-rated video games to minors 36 percent of the time. The story was based on a study by the Parents Television Council. The goal of...
Oklahoma Baptists like celebrations. And they had a lot to celebrate when last year's state mission offering reached the $1 million mark for the first time.
Some days are just harder than others. I realize each is a gift from God, but I don't always like the things that happen. You understand. Life just gets hard sometimes.
There are two types of heroes. First, there are the ones who generate national attention, such as Michael Phelps and many other Olympians. The record books are full of people such as this who have accomplished amazing things. Yet there are also...
Our family recently passed another milestone, two to be exact. With six children, it is not hard to imagine that Stephanie and I have lived through nearly every imaginable family emergency, crisis and episode. Having two boys and four girls has...
There was just something about Jessica.* The Armenia mission team noticed it. That's why they asked Jessica to consider returning to the country for two years as a Journeyman.
It has been a few months since the release of Greg Frizzell's pilot book, Iceberg Dead Ahead: The Urgency of God-Seeking Repentance. The book outlines growing signs of sin's consequences and God's potential judgments. It also strongly emphasizes...
Richard Land told about 300 people gathered at Del City, First Southern that Southern Baptists shouldn't be endorsing candidates, but looking for candidates who endorse our values, beliefs and convictions.
It is on rare occasion that the Baptist Messenger gives strong endorsement to motion pictures, but such is the case with the new movie "Fireproof" opening Sept. 26 in theatres nationwide. The film is produced by the creators of "Facing the...
Every pastor and WMU Director has in their hands the tools to help them promote the upcoming State Missions Offering emphasis. But you may be asking the question, "What do I do next?"
Some have suggested in recent years that Christians should abandon the public school system.
Like you, I was captivated by the excitement of the Beijing Olympics. I'm not a dyed-in-the-wool sports fan. I know many of you men enjoy any kind of sport. You watch game after game and enjoy sitting around with your men-friends to analyze the...
My wife and I recently had the privilege of finding ourselves with a little extra time on our hands. As if that were not surprise enough, we were alone. Rather than head straight home, we decided to take a turn and chase a sunset at the local lake.
Don't delay! Now is the time. Every day that passes is another day lost. 2 Corinthians 6:2b says, "I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation." Sensing the urgent need to reach and minister to the lost, "Now Is the...
While the new Tabernacle at Falls Creek Baptist Conference Center continued to attract youth in record numbers this summer, God also used the inaugural year for the Wynn Center for World Missions to call out young people and adults alike to take...
Oklahoma Baptists will send their new disaster relief feeding unit to Denver to help feed security people covering the Democratic National Convention Aug. 25-28.
Procrastination is a habitual pastime for many of us. In fact, many would agree with the statement, "Why do today what you can do tomorrow!" Others live by the motto, "Don't get in a big rush-there's always tomorrow." But is there?
'Tis the season . . . for children to head back to school. A friend once told me that school is the smartest place in the world. The children come the first day thinking they know everything and leave the last day knowing nothing. Somewhere in...
Before we get much further, let me be clear. I am a computer operator not a computer programmer, developer or whiz kid. I do well to peck my way through word processing software. My astute high school typing training continues to haunt me. Let's...
It's 8:45 a.m., and thousands of teenagers are stumbling into downtown Oklahoma City's Ford Center, sleepy-eyed and carrying plates full of pepperoni pizza and soft drinks for breakfast.
"To do" lists have been part of my life for many years. Every Monday morning, I put together an agenda of things that must be accomplished for me to meet deadlines and be more productive. There's nothing better than taking my yellow highlighter...
Henry Blackaby will be the featured speaker at a Returning to God Conference Sept. 5-6 at Moore, First.
The dust that had settled will soon be filling the air as large yellow and black buses travel the dusty roads of Oklahoma in search of students in need of a ride to school. Traffic on highways and byways has been thinner as parents and children...
DAVIS-When Olelah Mae Morris mentions one of her Indian friends or acquaintances, the name is followed immediately by what tribe they belong to.
Have you spent time around 20-somethings lately? I presume the answer for many of you would be no. Polla and I have been privileged to have a houseful this summer. Our daughter just finished at OSU and moved back home temporarily, and two Aussie...
Communication: what a challenge! Relationships rise and fall on our ability to communicate what we think, what we feel and what we desire.
One of the great things about living in Oklahoma is that there are still a few kind souls who love to garden and raise fresh produce. Several times throughout the summer, our neighbor, Tony, shares from the abundance of his garden. There is...
Let's face it. Ministry can be draining. For most, serving the local church as a full- time or bivocational minister of the Gospel requires a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week commitment. Serving in the church is far from just a Sunday affair.
For 91 years, Oklahoma's youth have been discovering their call to serve in missions and ministry while at Falls Creek Youth Camp. This summer, the newest addition to the campground brought students even closer to the reality of life in the...
The word "program" has become taboo in Baptist circles. Anything that looks like a program, to the younger leaders in particular, is immediately dismissed. For them, a program seems too structured, restrictive and divorced from the opportunity to...
I'm pastor of North Pointe Church, a mid-sized church in the far northwest corner of Oklahoma County, averaging around 240 in worship.
Forty-two days, eight hours, 33 minutes and 27 seconds . . . until my wife and I begin our vacation. I have a counter on my computer that keeps track of the day, hours, minutes and seconds until vacation time. When I was growing up, our family...
DAVIS-Jerry Rankin said it is hard to believe there are still places in this world where people have no Bibles and have never heard of Jesus Christ, yet the communication message of Coca Cola has reached most every place on Earth.
Mention you were called to missions a generation ago, and many in the church would assume you were called to serve in Africa, South America or some other foreign land. If your calling landed you overseas, you were considered among God's elite.
MCALESTER-The name may have changed, but the focus remains the same at CrossTimbers Children's Mission Adventure Camp-teaching children about Jesus and those who dedicate their lives to spreading the Gospel around the world.
Most churches are happy to give their pastor time off for vacations, revivals, conferences, conventions and seminars.
Youth Falls Creek 2008 is now complete. For 91 years, young people have made their way to the Arbuckle Mountains to have a divine encounter with the living Savior. Over these years, millions have come and been deeply touched and forever changed by...
Every summer, adventurous men and women tackle one of the world's greatest adventures-climbing Mount Everest. At 29,029 feet, this mountain in the Himalayas is a daunting challenge. Many people know that Sir Edmund Hillary was the first person to...
In my 10-plus years of writing this column, I have never recommended a single movie to my readers. I will change that . . . today. Recently, I had the privilege of being among the first to see the movie "Fireproof." I belong to a wonderful...
When was the last time you bought a piece of luggage? Like a lot of things, luggage has gone high-tech. Not only does luggage come in all shapes, colors and sizes, but you can now buy luggage with wheels that roll in all directions, handles that...
Say what you want about the next generation, but be sure what you say includes something about Oklahoma's GO Students.
For far too long, Native American churches virtually have been a silent segment of the Southern Baptist Convention, and Emerson Falls believes it's time they wake up and start beating their own drum!
Each week this summer at Falls Creek Baptist Conference Center, an average of 600 students are expressing an interest in becoming a part of GO Students, a student missions mobilization strategy developed by James Lankford, BGCO student ministry...
I have just finished a new message on Matthew 16:24-28. The words of this passage convey clearly and simply that to follow Jesus requires self denial and cross bearing. As often happens, I was forced by the truth of Scripture and the Holy Spirit...
Acts 1:8 starts with receiving power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, but it goes further. Jesus tells us that we are to be His witnesses; in our communities, in our country, to other cultures and to every corner of the planet. Presenting...
The other night, my wife and I were meeting another couple for dinner. I wanted to be on my best behavior. I wanted to make a good impression-on them and on . . . my wife.
I recently had the privilege of traveling to Europe on business. Experiencing different cultures can be fun and exciting, but it can also be a little bit stressful.
What would you give for a church full of missional Christians? An arm? A leg? Your gas-guzzling SUV? How about $25 and eight weeks? That's right. A little pocket change and eight weeks of focusing your church on the activities that Acts 1:8...
It has been several weeks now since Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) messengers met in Indianapolis June 10-11 and elected Johnny Hunt, pastor of First Church in Woodstock, Ga., as their new president. Many of the approximately 7,200 registered...
LONDON- With London Bridge and Cardiff Bay as their backdrop, more than 200 GO Students from Oklahoma have obeyed the call of God and spent a portion of their summer as short-term missionaries in the United Kingdom. The post-modern culture has...
Polls have always had a place in American culture. They help us identify the thoughts, preferences and opinions of people in our society. In years past, a poll would be conducted and then a period of time would elapse before a new one was begun....
I swore I wasn't going to write another article that mentioned the price of gasoline. It was more like taking an oath than actually swearing . . . although I admit that I have come close to that when I paid more than $4 a gallon to fill up my car.
It is a simple task. One that even a monkey can do. Peeling a banana is easy. But perhaps you are like me and never considered optional ways to get to the middle of one of the world's most famous jungle fruits.
Fifty years! Think about how far we've come together. Imagine where we'll go. Welcome to the future of aging services. Baptist Village Retirement Communities (BVRC) is doing a great job embracing change. We (including you) are all pioneers in a...
It is the fourth commandment found in Exodus 20:8, "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy." So how are we doing when it comes to keeping the Sabbath holy?
Several years ago, my mom and dad built a new house in a 100-year floodplain. Other relatives had built in the area, and so they were excited to be among family. No one gave a second thought to building in this neighborhood because, after all,...
DAVIS-Many outstanding changes have been made to Falls Creek Baptist Conference Center in recent years. Campers now worship in an air conditioned Tabernacle, sleep in newly remodeled or new cabins and enjoy some of the best recreational venues in...
Today's high gas prices are finally causing us to rethink some of our driving habits. We are combining trips and doing whatever we can to cut back on unnecessary travel. A pastor friend of mine tells me the costs have risen so much that he doubles...
International Mission Board President Jerry Rankin urged 34 new missionaries commissioned during a service June 27 at Oklahoma City, Southern Hills to stay true to their calling.
That's right, June bug'n. Not to be confused with dune bug'n. Throughout Oklahoma, the grub worms are on the rise, have grown wings and have invaded every streetlight known to man.
Deep blue skies, fluffy floating white clouds, soaring stately pine, fir and spruce trees, lakes brimming with cool, clear water and gigantic purple-tinged snow-capped mountains met the Oklahoma City, Southern Hills senior adult choir as members...
What could be better than a motorcycle ride half way across the state, then to hear one of your favorite University of Oklahoma football players speak?
Lee Tunnell has been a standout pitcher at Baylor University and played in the major leagues with the Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals and Minnesota Twins, but his greatest baseball move possibly came off the field on a Wednesday evening...
According to the United States Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, more than 70 million Americans, about 1 in 4, are younger than 18, the age group commonly referred to as juveniles. This age group has increased consistently...
With the exception of a laundry unit serving in Iowa, Oklahoma Southern Baptist disaster relief units were still on standy by status June 19 as floodwaters which have inundated the upper midwest slowly worked their way south toward Missouri,...
One of the first acts of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma upon its founding 102 years ago was to establish a committee to consider the founding of a college. It was clear from the beginning that Oklahoma Baptists wanted a school that...
I am as upset about the price of a gallon of gas as . . . you. Every morning, I turn on the news and the announcer says, "Today, another record price for gas." If gas keeps going up, everything else goes up, too. Soon, it will be cheaper to mail...
I'm a Ford truck man. Or should I say, "I was a Ford truck man." I have fallen victim to the price of oil. Gone are the good ole' days of riding high in the saddle, looking out over traffic from my gasoline-guzzling, hay hauling, eight cylinder,...
INDIANAPOLIS-Alan Day, pastor of Edmond, First, told those attending the 2008 Pastors Conference that "brokenness is essential for real intimacy with God."
INDIANAPOLIS (BP)-Johnny Hunt, pastor of First Church in Woodstock, Ga., was elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention during the annual meeting of the convention June 10-11, receiving 52.94 percent of votes (3,100) cast on the first...
The campaign to elect the next President of the United States is about to begin in earnest. Barack Obama has now defeated Hillary Clinton on the Democratic side of the equation and John McCain has had the Republican nomination in the bag for some...
I just returned from a trip to Panama. While I was there, I worked with a group of indigenous people called the Kunas of Tribaldi. When we arrived, the tribe contained only 12 believers. By the time we left, God had added 33 more Kunas to his...
It's another first for Oklahoma Baptists. And what better place than a state that has oil rigs on its State Capitol grounds?
It is a classic conflict between man and wife, the need for directions. Despite rising gasoline prices and the declining value of the dollar, Americans are icing down coolers, loading trunks and hitting the open road in pursuit of summertime...
Representing the nation's largest Protestant denomination for two years gives an individual keen insight into the workings of the denomination. It provides a behind-the-scenes look at how efficiently the SBC works and where there is room for growth.
DAVIS-Registration for Associational Children's Camp (ACC) soared past the 7,000 mark for the first time this year, with a total of 7,173 campers and sponsors attending the two sessions May 25-28 and May 28-31 at the Falls Creek Baptist Conference...
It should come as no surprise that a recent study conducted by LifeWay Research has found that a majority of Southern Baptist Convention pastors differ in their views when compared to those held by average Americans on several key issues.
You won't ever find Andy Harrison in the field for the Tour de France, but he has his sights set on a grueling diagonal bicycle road trip across the Sooner State in September.
This time of the year provides some of the greatest opportunities for the presentation of the Gospel. Vacation Bible School, children's camps and Falls Creek are just a few of the places where we must make absolutely sure we give a clear...
As we move further into the political season, I keep hearing people saying that certain politicians are playing "the race card." If there is anything I hate, it is the evaluation of an individual based upon his pigmentation. Man is much more than...
Summer is here and opportunities for being outdoors abound. Quail season is long gone, but as any hunter knows, sometimes you still get an itch for a little gun smoke. Such was the case recently for me and my boys. With a three-day weekend in...
The Singing ChurchWomen of Oklahoma will premiere the new Baptist Hymnal during Music Week at Glorieta Conference Center on July 14.
James 2:14-16 asks, "What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm...
How do we reach our communities with the Gospel? Every pastor and every church that has the heart of Jesus asks that question regularly. We are often puzzled about how to break the barriers that keep us from engaging lost people. I have found that...
Barry Switzer's 6 Gun Chili,T. Boone Pickens' Baby Back Ribs; Vince Gill's Homemade Pizza Pie, Toby Keith's Chunky Red Chili, Joe Washington's Peach Cobbler and Anthony Jordan's Plan of Salvation.
What a privilege it was to stand before you and Caleb and speak those sacred vows into your hearts. First, I want to tell you how much I appreciate your graciousness. I don't know another bride who asked her future mother-in-law to go with her to...
We were up early in order to beat the traffic. Our heads were a little cloudy, but the java would soon have us juiced. Not exactly the breakfast of champions, but we were on time and ready to take on the day.
BANGKOK, Thailand-A Baptist Global Response assessment team sent to set the stage for Myanmar relief efforts never set foot inside its borders, but their ministry is stretching deep into the Asian country battered by Cyclone Nargis.
Board members were treated to a first look at the new Wynn Center for World Missions and World Missions Prayer Park at Falls Creek Baptist Conference Center as they gathered for the meeting of the BGCO Board of Directors May 20.
According to Christianity Today, 51 percent of pastors say Internet pornography is a possible temptation and 37 percent say it is a current struggle. Sadly, 40percent of pastors say they have visited a pornographic Web site.
Bo knows churches. He's been planting them since he was a US-2 summer missionary in Oklahoma in the 1970s.
Once when preaching from Ezekiel 37 on the valley of dry bones, I had a very humorous and yet very powerful experience. In theatrical tones, I posed the question God asked of Ezekiel, "Son of man, can these bones live?" Then, describing in graphic...
In a few days, you will stand before me in one of the most solemn ceremonies in which a person can participate: your wedding. You will share vows and exchange rings. Those few moments will alter your life . . . forever.
On more than one occasion Isaiah 55:8 has rolled through my mind, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord." Let's face it; there are plenty of times that God just doesn't seem to make sense. We see...
"You're riding home with me tonight," Floyd McKee told 14-year-old Neal Storey after a Wednesday night church service.
BANGKOK, Thailand-A team of Southern Baptists is on the ground in Bangkok, Thailand, to help national believers from Myanmar deal with the mounting crisis in their country after a May 3 cyclone left 62,000 people dead or missing and drove perhaps...
The sight and sound generation is alive and well within the Church. Gone are the days when church bulletins are the sole source for sharing information with church members. The options for communicating to the Church, not to mention the...
Trained Southern Baptist disaster relief volunteers and chaplains responded immediately to victims and survivors of the worst outbreak of tornadoes since May 1999 after several twisters slashed through the eastern and northeastern sections of the...
As gasoline prices continue to rise and the fear of inflation looms, politicians, commuters and soccer moms are looking for ways to save money. While alternative fuels and penny-pinching might be in our future, a study conducted by Georgia State...
The last few weeks have been filled with tragedy. Storms have ripped across America, including parts of our own state, leaving many dead and many more injured or homeless in Oklahoma and several other states. I well remember preaching at Picher,...
Every day at this time of year, my mailbox is stuffed with graduation announcements from students we have taken overseas. Some are graduating from high school and others from college.
It is truly a wonder of nature, a spectacular display of creation and a brief glimpse in into the mind of our incredible God. Rising some 600 feet into the air, its water rushes over the edge of a magnificent cliff and thunders down the side of...
FORT CASWELL, N.C.-Southern Baptists took a major step toward responding more quickly to overseas disasters when their state disaster relief directors approved a new protocol for mobilizing "initial responders" to crisis situations overseas.
There has been much discussion among Baptists and considerable coverage in the media regarding the revival in Jena, La. Many are beginning to ask what genuine revival might look like, and if revival such as the one in Jena might spark a spiritual...
Each day, I thank God for the privilege of serving in Oklahoma. While we are certainly not in sweeping revival, God has mercifully blessed with factors that could help facilitate a move of His Spirit. As I travel our state, I see key things that...
INDIANAPOLIS (BP)-Fulfilling the mission Christ gave His followers-bringing lost souls into God's Kingdom-will be the focus of the 151st session of the Southern Baptist Convention when it convenes June 10-11 at the Indiana Convention Center.
Doctors told Sonya McDougall she was being selfish. After all, her 20-month-old son would be nothing more than a vegetable, kept alive on machines at an unnecessary expense.
In just a few weeks, another summer season of youth camp will begin at Falls Creek Baptist Conference Center. This summer, like many before, will be filled with opportunity for life-altering experiences for those who journey to the Arbuckle...
The other day, I was driving by a church that had a big sign out front: "Every Saturday Night at 7 p.m., Professional Wrestling, $5.00." I am not making this up-I really did see this sign! I don't want to pass judgment until I know what the church...
Maxine McKnight taught piano lessons for 50 cents each. Melva Sechrist took piano lessons for 50 cents each, with no time limit. And now, more than 50 years later, the ladies were honored for their faithful service at the organ and piano by...
Is it time for the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) to drop Baptist from its name? With baptisms falling for the third year in a row among Southern Baptist churches, maybe it is time for the SBC to change its name to something like Southern...
DAVIS-More than 2,200 men and boys attended the 2008 "Rewired" Oklahoma State Men's Retreat at the Falls Creek Baptist Conference Center April 25-26, and at least 30 left with their lives changed for eternity as a result.
Over the last several weeks, I have been making my way through an 895-page biography of Charles Haddon Spurgeon. Spurgeon was the pastor of the Metropolitan Tabernacle of London in the mid- to late-1800s. He is noted by most scholars to be the...
It seems to me that our society has lost the art of graciousness. There was a time when we had an unwritten law about this-when graciousness was an integral part of our culture. Remember the cartoon, "Chip and Dale?" In almost every episode, the...
Wire reports the number of people baptized in Southern Baptist churches fell for the third straight year in 2007 to the convention's lowest level since 1987.
"You've got termites." Such was the assessment of the friendly exterminator. Not the news I was hoping to hear. I saw the little dirt piles and thought a few ants might have decided to stop by for a slumber party. Boy was I wrong. Ants I can...
It is a sad situation, only 35 percent of Americans are very happy according to a New National "Happiness" Index.
Imagine having an accident and needing a transfusion of blood only to learn there was no blood available, or that the blood you were about to receive was infected. Although we may often take our blood supply for granted, this situation is reality...
Bill Robertson, director of pastoral leadership for the Louisiana Baptist Convention, had always hoped to see God move in a powerful way during his lifetime. During the past two months, his prayers have been answered. Big time.
In the last two years, Oklahoma has become a much safer place for the unborn. For more than 25 years, we have prayed and worked to see unborn children given love and respect. Today, the sanctity of human life has become a reality in our state.
I am a missionary who works with many different language groups. I am comfortable in a meeting where multiple languages are spoken. For the most part, I can follow all the conversations. Yet I have the hardest time understanding English dialects...
It is called a lunch hour, but it feels more like a lunch flash to me. About the time I get my food, it is time to get up and go. For me, rush hour starts at noon!
"I can go back and get along with my aunt because of what I've learned from you," the 8-year-old told Autumn and Trinity Tinsley. The young girl had spent two weeks with the Tinsley sisters. She was the first child the sisters had kept as foster...
It is official; the Bible is the most popular book in America according to a new survey conducted by Harris Poll among 2,513 adults. Surprised? Not really. What is surprising is how a book can be so popular and yet so few put what the book...
Supporters of an omnibus pro-life bill moved quickly in the Oklahoma State Senate and House of Representatives April 17 to override an April 16 veto of the measure by Gov. Brad Henry. The Senate voted 37-11 to override the governor's veto of...
In an emergency, medical personnel need all the diagnostic tools-including the patient's medical history-they can find to help treat the patient quickly and properly to restore his health. Unfortunately, for a volunteer on a mission trip, those...
One of the presidential candidates recently described people from small towns as bitter. He stated, "And it's not surprising . . . they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade...
As I wrote a few columns back, I have had a bad case of the "everlasting flu." This virus hits you hard for about four weeks. When it finally wears off, someone else in your family catches it. After it spends months going through different members...
I have to admit, I love taking an occasional Sunday afternoon nap. There is nothing better than dozing off after a big meal on the Sabbath. I recently caught one of those cherished down times. As I faded off into sweet dreams, a faint buzzing...
DAVIS-The energy was electrifying and expectations were met as a record crowd of nearly 3,000 women from across the state made their presence known during the 2008 Oklahoma Ladies Retreat held at Falls Creek Baptist Conference Center the weekend...
Actor, commentator and comedian, Ben Stein's new documentary film, "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed" opens April 18. Many Christian conservative leaders are on board with the film and so are we. The film was shown at a recent National...
Everywhere Alex, Southern members looked, they saw the number 500. Pastor Don Chaffin cut out wooden numbers and posted them on every entrance to the church building. A large cross in front of the church had "500" inscribed on it. Prayer cards...
The Tony Kennedy Family. Is that Tony, his wife, three children and six grandchildren or is it the 289 children on the campuses of Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children? Actually, for Kennedy, president of OBHC, it is both. But on this day, April...
Presidential politics dominates the airwaves these days. Debates, interviews, endless talking head analyzation and political games clog the media. Exaggerations, lies, rumors, counter-rumors, gossip and character assassinations overflow the...
BROKEN ARROW-More than 1,200 preschool and children's ministers and workers were reminded by LifeWay Christian Resources President Thom S. Rainer that little eyes are "watching" them as the Heart of the Child Convention began April 4 at Broken...
The older I get, the more things I find I wish I had taught my children. I keep asking myself, "Why didn't I pour these life skills into my sons at an earlier age?" Back then, I just didn't know what I know . . . now. If I could do the parenting...
Gaining a clear perspective isn't always easy. As the old saying goes, "There are always two sides to every story." Two blind men were describing the same elephant. One described a short, skinny trunk while the other was certain the tail was...
Since when does a church or its pastor have to remain silent when addressing moral and social issues from a biblical worldview? There is no shortage on those who would like to squelch the voice of the church, especially during a political season.
Ted Lam was alternately roasted and praised during a surprise retirement dinner following the annual Church Planting Conference at Moore, First, March 28. Lam, who retired as church planting specialist for the Baptist General Convention of...
As the disturbing statistics of declines in baptisms of the 18-34 age group continue, Oklahoma Baptists are working to turn the tide in keeping those young adults in church and bringing in more of that age group.
Nearly 2,000 supporters enthusiastically clapped and chanted "Sal-lee, Sal-lee, Sal-lee," during an energetic "Rally for Sally, Traditional Family Values and Christian Free Speech" April 2, which spilled over from the first floor rotunda of the...
I wish we could learn afresh the power that resides in united fervent prayer. It wouldn't surprise me one day in Heaven to have the Father show us how much we missed just because we failed to unite in fervent prayer.
If you have been one of my Baptist Messenger readers for any length of time, you know I have a love for carnivals. My grandmother was a carnie, so I guess you could say it's in my blood. Every year, I serve as a chaplain at the Tulsa State Fair so...
The day started out OK. The business trip to Atlanta with my friend and coworker had been planned for weeks. Our first hint of trouble occurred when I checked the news on my cellular telephone. American Airlines had grounded more than 200 flights...
Ask, and most will agree, there is no shortage on sin. Ask for a definition of sin, and few will concur. What some may consider sin may not be considered sin by others. Sin has never been more popular than now as society has become more and more...
"We touched them the first part of March, then we handed them materials about our church on the 15th and then we celebrated Easter," said Doug Passmore, whose church is coming out of one of the greatest responses to the Gospel in its history.
When Jennifer Johnson was 17, God called her into ministry.
Recently, I had the opportunity to preach at New Orleans Seminary and tour the city. It is both remarkable and heartbreaking to drive through New Orleans now, some two years after Hurricane Katrina. It is remarkable to see some of the renewal that...
I have been sick with the flu . . . or at least suffering from flu-like symptoms. Whenever I am sick, I can't help wondering if I have something more serious than an ordinary illness. You see, I come from a long line of self-diagnosers. I don't...
We had promised ourselves we would never do it again. We lied. The cause was too good and the potential too high to not do it one more time. Yes, we embarked on yet another family garage sale. This time we were raising money for missions.
Lew Sterrett believes certain principles apply to all of God's creatures, whether they walk upright on two legs or perhaps exhibit flashing hooves as they gallop across a meadow.
If Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has his way, he will use the Presidency as a bully pulpit to urge states to treat same-sex couples with full equality in their family and adoption laws. Obama's comments came three days after he...
While it will still be a few weeks before the impact of ACROSS Oklahoma is fully known, Alan Quigley believes in his heart that thousands of Oklahoma Baptists praying and working together for two consecutive weekends will have an impact on the...
If Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has his way, he will use the Presidency as a bully pulpit to urge states to treat same-sex couples with full equality in their family and adoption laws. Obama's comments came three days after he...
Messenger Radio Co-hosts Ray Sanders and Bob Nigh interview Oklahoma state legislator Sally Kern about her recent comments about homosexuals. Click here to...
Over the last several weeks, state news has been filled with comments regarding the words of Rep. Sally Kern concerning the homosexual agenda. The focus has been on her statement that homosexuals are more dangerous than "terrorists" as they push...
Recently, I had the privilege of speaking at McGregor Church in Ft. Myers, Fla. I preached on "Our Disappointments are God's Divine Appointments." It was an incredible morning. I left immediately after the third service and arrived at the airport...
Growing up in Oklahoma, I gained a quick appreciation for severe weather. Kids from other states sing, "April showers bring May flowers." Kids in Oklahoma sing, " April showers bring May tornados!"
Jesus asked Peter, "Who do you say that I am?" Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." What if Peter was wrong? In his letter to the Christians of Corinth, the Apostle Paul gives the perfect response to this question. I...
DAVIS-Come early and stay late. Men, if you're looking for a weekend full of fun, fellowship and inspiration, circle the dates of April 25-26 on your calendar for the Oklahoma Baptist Men's Retreat at the Falls Creek Baptist Conference Center.
We need to get on ball or we're going to die as native Christians, Native Americans were told at the Indian Evangelism Conference at Oklahoma City, Glorieta.
I have just finished watching the news. Death was the main topic of the day. Two coeds senselessly murdered in the prime of life. Bombs in Bagdad killed 50 or more innocent people whose only crime was to do their daily shopping. Death rules in our...
I visit Urak at least a couple of times a day, but I don't go to Holygek. You may be scratching your head and saying, "What in the world is the boy talking about?" In our office, we have restroom signs posted from the countries where we serve. If...
Anyone who travels can relate to the anxiety I recently felt when boarding an airplane on business. No I am not referring to the nervous jitters that pass through your mind as you prepare for take-off. I'm not even talking about concern over an...
Jennifer Rothschild says she has, in the words of many televangelists, "named it and claimed it." "I name it Grace and I claim it as Faith," said Rothschild, 44, who was diagnosed with a disease that causes blindness when she was 15. "What God has...
The world is out to win over the hearts and minds of our young people. Thousands of dollars are spent every day trying to lure them away into a compromising, self-centered, tolerant lifestyle.
For most males from 5 to 105, the sound of a roaring motorcycle engine is music to the ears.
Have we reduced Christianity to reading words on a card? This was one of the questions Ed Stetzer, director of LifeWay Research asked at the Missional Missions Conference at Moore, First.
On June 1, 1968, Polla and I said, "I do." On June 2, when we moved to Pratt, Kan., to take a summer job in the oil field, we said, "Oh, me!" We found ourselves away from home for the first time and very alone.
I am developing a teaching called the "Orphan Heart" from John 14:18. It contains a discussion about the role of the father versus the role of the mother in a child's life.
About 400 church staff and lay leaders gathered the evening of Feb. 28 at Moore, First to hear how to inspire "remarkable" people during the Missional Ministry Conference.
I will have to die another day. I recently lived to celebrate yet another candle on my birthday cake. Dimming the lights proved to be no problem for the picture takers. The candles provided plenty of illumination.
For 100 years, many weary travelers have been pleased to discover a complimentary copy of the Bible in their hotel room, thanks to The Gideons International. According to the organization, each Bible placed in a hotel room has the potential to...
SHAWNEE-The old school bell was ringing outside Sallateeska Church the evening of Feb. 25, but it wasn't a celebration. Several members of the church rang the bell in response to the church building and nearby parsonage being destroyed by a grass...
LOUISVILLE, Ky.-A new study of the American religious landscape should call Christians to intensify their efforts in both evangelism and discipleship, R. Albert Mohler Jr. said Feb. 25 on his national radio program.
At any given time, about 10 percent of Southern Baptist churches are without a pastor. During the time between pastors, churches may do one of several things. They may have different men preach on Sundays; they may call an interim pastor to be...
A new television show called "My Dad Is Better than Your Dad" has captured my attention. Four teams made up of a dad and his young son or daughter compete with the goal of determining which dad is stronger, faster, smarter and braver than the...
Blessings come in all sizes and shapes. One Friday morning not long ago, I got a call from one of my Baptist Messenger readers. He told me his name was Cecil, and he had been blessed by many of my articles. He also said he would like to come by my...
Oh to be young and in love. Not that being old and in love is bad, but I sure like that younger part these days. When I was young and in love, I simply didn't know what I didn't know about love. Now that I am older, I just don't remember what I...
Daniel Caceres' call to missions started off as a still small voice, but by the time he accepted the call, it had become a hurricane force wind he couldn't ignore. It took three distinct calls from God before Daniel committed to full-time ministry.
During the Feb.18 meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, Frank Page, president of the Southern Baptist Convention, told Executive Committee members he believes the calling of the convention is to have a singular focus on...
As Oklahoma Baptists are gearing up for the largest outreach in the history of the state, Alan Quigley, Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma evangelism specialist, says he is not discouraged, despite the decreasing number of baptisms in Oklahoma.
On March 8, hundreds of Oklahoma Baptists will hit the streets as they pray for the lost in the state.
I had read the words many times. Indeed, I had pondered them and mulled them over in my mind for days. What did the Psalmist mean when he said, "Those who sow in tears . . . he will surely come back with shouts of joy carrying his sheaves with...
Today, I have reached a mile marker. The article you are now reading is my 500th "Rite of Passage Parenting" article, completing my 10th year of writing for the Baptist Messenger. I know of very few things in my life that I have done 500 times-not...
I recently discovered a little taste of Heaven here on Earth. My discovery came none to soon. I love what I do, but I must admit, I had grown tired and weary of the daily grind.