Who are your prayer warriors? Who are those few people that you can pick up a phone and ask for prayer? I had an opportunity to teach children for a Sunday school, and I asked the same question. When I asked these little children, interestingly, the top two came out as the following: 1. Mama; 2. Grandma. As I look back, it is personally true in my own life! I think of my mother, who had a huge spiritual impact upon my life. So much of who I am today is in answer to her prayers for me. Her … [Read more...]

What is the most often sung Christmas hymn in North America? Here’s a hint: it was never meant to be a Christmas song. Well, if you said “Joy to the World” you are correct. But even a casual glance at this favorite reveals much more of a Second Coming theme than it does a Christmas theme. Yet it is one of the world’s favorite Christmas songs of all time. If the question is “what makes it so great?” the answer may be found in two genius craftsmen: Isaac Watts and Lowell Mason. “Joy to the … [Read more...]

In my reading over this past Thanksgiving weekend, one of the articles that really caught my attention reported how a mainline denomination may soon cease to exist. Over the years, this same denomination has captured media headlines because they have popularized a very progressive theological direction relating to the cultural issues of today. Yet, our Southern Baptist Convention remains a convention of churches that deeply and unashamedly believes in the authority and infallibility of … [Read more...]

The Missouri Baptist Foundation loves Missouri Baptist pastors. If you add up the years of ministry between our President Dr. Neil Franks and our Ambassadors (Dr. John Marshall and me) we represent over 100 years of pastoral ministry experience. We know the joy of preaching God’s Word and seeing people come to faith in Christ, seeing baptisms, watching people take their next step of faith, and officiating when people say, “I do”. We have lived through the grief of burying beloved friends … [Read more...]

Quick…name a chorus or a hymn dedicated to thanksgiving. Not that easy is it? In fact, outside of a couple of the favorites that are quite old (“Give Thanks,” “We Gather Together,” “My Tribute,” “Come, Ye Thankful People, Come”) I can’t think of many. We know that “thanksgiving” is different from “praise;” however, in our worship time they tend to merge into adoration. This is natural as many of the Psalms that include thanksgiving (which are many) tend to occur inside an “enthronement” … [Read more...]

EDITOR’S NOTE: Chaplain (Major General), U.S. Army, Retired, Douglas Carver is executive director of chaplaincy at the North American Mission Board. Carver served as the 22nd Chief of Chaplains of the U.S. Army before retiring from the military and joining NAMB. ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) – There is no mystery behind the endurance and the success of American liberty. It is because in every generation, from the Revolutionary period to this very hour, brave Americans have stepped forward and … [Read more...]

More than ever, parents face challenges when determining how they will educate their children in these uncertain times. As a Missouri Baptist pastor for 22 years and a former public school teacher, I encourage parents to strongly consider Christian education for their children and grandchildren. Christian education invites students to see and better understand the world through the perspective of God’s truth, the Bible. The Bible becomes the lens through which students view what they are … [Read more...]

It’s tough when a child or teen acts out behaviorally, isn’t it? Whether it is your own child at home or a child you are responsible for at church or school, it can be frustrating and sometimes even frightening – especially if the child seems intent on hurting him/herself or someone else. We may often wonder, “What has gotten into that child?” But have you ever considered that when a child acts out it may be a signal from the child asking the parent, the school teacher, the Sunday school … [Read more...]

One of the most freeing and relaxing teachings of Scripture is; God owns everything. “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof” (PS 24:1). We are not owners. We are merely stewards, temporary trustees. Realizing nothing belongs to us can help break our addiction and emotional attachment to stuff. This should make it easier for us to give to God. Since God owns everything anyway, there is a way in which we can say we never give Him anything. After David and the people gave … [Read more...]

At the beginning of 2020, I was reflecting on changes I wanted to make and ways I hoped to grow over the upcoming year. My life was so busy and seemed at times to be almost out of control. I had heard the phrase “hurry sickness” and decided to do some research to see if I was afflicted with this “illness”. I found a checklist of symptoms: • Constant state of worry/stress – check. • Consistently multitasking – check. • Always feeling rushed/moving quickly – check. • Anxious when things … [Read more...]

The Christ-followers at Corinth had countless problems and squabbles. My guess is, they were Baptists. The Apostle Paul, in his two letters to the Corinthians, had to deal with several difficult, controversial topics. One delicate topic Paul was brave enough to broach with them was the issue of fundraising. A key event in Paul’s fruitful ministry was the offering he collected from poor Gentiles in Asia to be given to even poorer Jewish saints in Jerusalem. Paul prayed this offering would … [Read more...]