Merry Christmas

Grace and Peace to Each of You,

Consider the "Christmas Story" from John's gospel:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:1, 14).

"...He is the One Mediator, fully God, fully man, in whose Person is effected the reconciliation between God and man. He will return in power and glory to judge the world and to consummate His Redemptive mission. He now dwells in all believers as the living and ever present Lord" (BF&M 2000).

Jesus Christ is God's indescribable gift to us (2 Cor. 9:15)!

Linda and I attended our first Christmas party of the season on December 1, 2012! It was held at the beautiful Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center in Forest Hill, Louisiana. 'Twas a wondrous evening with banquet delicacies and spectacular music (by Jared Peoples) as we gathered the "Ministers and Mates" of Central Louisiana Baptist Association churches for their annual Christmas fellowship.

Perhaps the most unique feature of the evening was the drawing for a door prize of a chauffeured helicopter ride to an exotic Louisiana restaurant! Now, that was a first for me! What fun and ... what a "buzz" that provoked out there in the social media world!  

Have a great Christmas as you celebrate the true reason for the season. On behalf of the staff of the Baptist Mission Center...we wish you a very Merry Christmas!!

Blessings,
Robert

I Knew It...Sleep is Overrated?!

Grace and Peace Be Unto You,

It is good to share with you in these beautiful Autumn days, the kingdom work of the 92 Baptist churches here in central Louisiana. But before I get into some particulars, allow me to digress for a drowsy excursus.

In the Daniel household, there is an ongoing discussion about my sleep peculiarities.  Basically, I go to bed around midnight and I arise around 6:00 a.m. in the morning. I fall into the category of nearly one third of all working adults--who get six hours or fewer of sleep a night. Strange as it seems to my wife, Linda, six hours of night time sleep seems to work just fine for me. To wit: my answer to the age old question: "Are you a morning person or a night person?" is to reply: "Neither, but I do lunch time really well!" That being said, though, sleep is vitally important.

The New York Times recently published an article entitled: "Rethinking Sleep" http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/23/opinion/sunday/rethinking-sleep.html?_r=0, in which the notion that an eight hour block of sleep is essential is challenged. Apparently, deep sleep is more significant than the length of time one sleeps. If you sleep deeply, and you are not sleep deprived, the good news is that you may be doing just fine...regardless of whether you sleep in longer blocks of time or in shorter blocks of time. 

The Bible speaks about sleep in numerous ways. In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety (Psalm 4:8). We can sleep well in the peace of the Lord. Also, the Bible informs us that God does not sleep: Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep (Psalm 121:4). Thus, we can pillow our heads knowing that the One who keeps His people, will be on watch at all times. Relax, Christian servant...and sleep well my friend. Then, arise and enjoy the Fall beauty of our beloved Louisiana habitat, and labor as ye ought...as unto the Lord!

Many churches, it seems, have Fall Revivals scheduled. I pray that you will take note of nearby sister churches in revival and support them with your prayers and attendance. The Central Louisiana Baptist Association Annual Meeting will be held on October 14, 2012, at 6:00 p.m. (Executive Board at 5:00 p.m.), at Baptist Temple. The North Rapides Baptist Association Annual Meeting will be held on October 21, 2012,  with a Missions Fair at 5:30 p.m., followed by the 6:30 p.m., main meeting, at Alpine First Baptist Church. Support your local association by your attendance. Prayerfully, your church will consider transferring your Sunday night service that evening, to join with other churches for a grand annual gathering to be together in worship and service.

Oh, and by the way...sleep is NOT overrated!!

Blessings,
Robert Daniel, Director of Missions
Big Creek, Central, and North Rapides Associations

Robert's Schedule:
Wednesday Prayer Breakfast, September 26: 7:00 a.m. at Bethel Baptist Church. Bus Trip for a Prayer Drive to Bethel...bus departs the Baptist Mission Center at 6:30 a.m..
September 30: Vacation
October 7: Vacation
October 14: AM at Trinity Baptist. PM is Central Association Annual Meeting at Baptist Temple
October 21: Wilda Baptist morning service, North Rapides Association Annual Meeting at Alpine in the evening.
October 28: Wilda Baptist AM and PM services. Pastor Joey Rudisill on mission in Philippine Islands.
November 4: Wilda Baptist (see above)
November 11: AM is open, St. Claire Baptist Church, PM, for community Thanksgiving Service.
November 18: Open
November 25: Open
December 2: Open
December 9: Homewood Baptist Church Annual Homecoming Service and Dinner on the Grounds
December 16: Open
December 23: Open
December 30: Open

Note: Open dates will become visits to churches to enjoy a time of worship with congregations around the three associations.

Annual Meeting Time

Grace and Peace Be Unto You,

On Tuesday, Sept 11, 2012 (while not forgetting 911), the Big Creek Baptist Association gathered for their 141st Annual Meeting at the Verda Baptist Church. It is a tradition among Baptist churches to belong to an association, to cooperate together in multiple areas of ministry, and to assemble messengers from the member churches to conduct the official business of the association. At this annual meeting of the Big Creek Association, the obligatory reading of the minutes of the previous meeting, the report of the finances, and the adoption of the budget for the coming year were quickly but thoroughly executed. Then, reports were presented. This is an extraordinary time in such annual meetings. The messengers heard reports from associational ministries and from entities of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, such as the Executive Committee, Louisiana College, Louisiana Baptist Children's Home, and the Baptist Collegiate Ministry from a local university.
These reports, as always, included amazing examples of the wonderful ways that God touched the lives of people to bring about His kingdom work locally and across Louisiana. So, business was accomplished simultaneously with testimonies of praise and adoration. It was a reminder to us all that the business of the association (and churches) remains...ministry, evangelism, and missions...not just numbers and procedures.

Fundamentally, these meetings are not only to include times of inspiration and worship, they are to be principally focused on those features... for our Lord, Jesus Christ. In that meeting of the Big Creek Association, fifteen or more churches provided around one hundred messengers to unify voice and heart to sing the praise songs sung in corporate worship and hear the message of God's Word delivered in the Annual Sermon. Wow, what a dynamic event an annual associational meeting can be!

I encourage you to be a part of your association's annual meeting. Here in the central Louisiana area, there are two associations that have upcoming annual meetings: Central Louisiana Baptist Association gathers her messengers on October 14, 2012, seven o'clock in the evening, at the Baptist Temple Church on MacArthur Drive. North Rapides Baptist Association's annual event is on October 21, 2012, with Missions Fair at 5:30 p.m., with the meeting at 6:30 p.m., at Alpine First Baptist Church on Shreveport Highway. Do come, and see for yourself, the amazing kingdom work you participate in through your church, association, and state convention.

Blessings,
Robert Daniel, Director of Missions
Big Creek, Central, and North Rapides Associations

Robert's Sunday Schedule:
September 16: Vick Baptist and Homewood Baptist Churches
September 23: Open
September 30: Vacation
October 7: Vacation
October 14: Central Association Annual Meeting at Baptist Temple
October 21: Wilda Baptist morning service, North Rapides Association Annual Meeting at Alpine in the evening.
October 28: Wilda Baptist AM and PM services. Pastor Joey Rudisill on mission in Philippine Islands.
November 4: Wilda Baptist (see above)
November 11: AM is open, St. Claire Baptist Church, PM, for community Thanksgiving Service.
November 18: Open
November 25: Open
December 2: Open
December 9: Homewood Baptist Church Annual Homecoming Service and Dinner on the Grounds
December 16: Open
December 23: Open
December 30: Open

Note: Open dates will become visits to churches to enjoy a time of worship with congregations around the three associations.

Storm Time...Caution

Not The Biblical Patriarch...Isaac Cometh:

Grace, peace, and safety unto you all. Batten down the hatches, "Thar be a storm dead ahead!" I still want to view the inevitable hurricane season as I did...pre-Katrina. However, I do know better when I just stop and think about the possibilities. Thus, supplies are ready, fuel topped off, and flashlights at hand. I even have a few refugees from South Louisiana boarding at my house.

As to the Baptist Mission Center, we have taken appropirate precautions and have adopted the following storm hours:

Today (8/28): The BMC will be open for the day. Our Seminary Extension Classes are on schedule at the moment. Instructor, Dr. Jack West, will contact the students by 3:00 pm, if there is a change.

Wednesday (8/29): Office closed

Thursaday (8/30): Office closed

Friday (8/31): Office will be open to the public during the following hours: 9 am to 4 pm.

As always, our urgent contact numbers: 318-446-4478 (Robert), or 318-229-7096.

Blessings,
Robert Daniel

There is a protections from the storms that come...His name is Jesus: Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.  Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall (Matthew 7:24-27 NASB).

Pastor...What Does That Title Mean To You?

Grace and Peace, dear friends,

A few weeks ago, I introduced a man to speak to a group of preachers and other church leaders at an associational meeting. Years ago, my family and I were members of a church in which he was serving as the senior pastor. As I thought about the relationship that was forged between us during that time, I began to think about the rich and varied meaning of the term...pastor. I thought about what it has meant to me to be a pastor, and I thought about various things I've heard from various people trying to put their perceptions into words.

Typically, we seem to informally make a distinction between emphasizing the traits of people in the role of pastor...as in: "He is more a 'pastor' than a 'preacher'." Implying, I suppose, that the "pastor" type places more emphasis and time on ministry visits and relationship building. The "preacher" type places more emphasis on study and working on sermons. Certainly, both traits are vitally important and are biblically emphasized:

And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-12 NASB).

Here are some other expressions that I've seen or heard:

A pastor is someone who carefully provides spiritual nourishment for people. 

A pastor is someone who models God’s love to all people, and calls the church to live lives defined by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

A pastor of a church is someone called by god and others to be a part of a community and to minister with them toward god’s mission in the world. 

A pastor has to be everything to everyone all the time. (ha ha)

Regardless of how well we define the role, there is common agreement that the role of pastor is extremely important to the local church.

When I became a pastor, I was 44 years old and embarking into quite different territory than I could have possibly imagined. I still remember an amazing moment that was so "eye opening" that it is burned into my memory. I was just mingling among the church members and heard Mrs. Billie Faye calling out: "pastor..." and I simply thought she was trying to get her pastors attention...and it hit me...it was me she was calling "pastor!" It was an awesome moment for me to absorb, I was now a man that God and a church had called to be in the role of pastor! To quote the ancient Hebrew..."WOW!" Having held the various pastors in my life in high esteem, and now to be in that same position for others was a notion that I would hold in the greatest sense of humility and fidelity...so help me God.

I once asked on a facebook post: "What is a Director of Missions?" There were numerous replies but there was only one thing that was true of every single reply and that was that the D.O.M. was to be a "pastor to the pastors." I have that role etched into my heart and I want to hold that too, in the greatest sense of humility and fidelity...so help me God. The pastors that I serve associationally, I relate with at the most fundamental levels of the calling of God to be in that amazing role. After all, it's important.

Hey pastor, need a sermon outline? Here is a Question and Answer outline attributed to Dr. John Sullivan. With apologies to Dr. Sullivan for some personalized alterations, here it is:

Title: Is There Anything God Doesn't Know?

Text: Psalm 73:11

> God does not know a sin He does not hate

> God does not know a sinner He does not love

> God does not know a way of forgiveness outside of the Blood of Jesus.

> God does not know a better time to be saved than right now.

Work it out spiritually and search for the Scriptures that will support the points. Then, prayerfully develop the conclusion that will be needed for your audience and let God's Word speak.

Blessings,

Robert Daniel

Grace and Peace:

And ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 1:8).

The first human being walked on the moon on July 20, 1969. He and his crewmates were 240,000 miles from the earth...I didn't find that on google maps, but you can look it up. The United States had invested $24 billion and employed 400,000 workers from some 20,000 private firms.

Joe Shea was the man charged with the task of brining all of those resources together for this historic task. As you can imagine, the challenges were beyond daunting. There were pressures, arguments, and unspeakable dangers inherent in this project, but they had one thing going for them. In the book Apollo, Shea recalled, "We would go out in the parking lot and look up at the moon asd say, 'You really want to go there?'"* The answer was yes.

Our Great Commission for Christ carries a much higher calling than putting a man on the moon. Southern Baptists have a mandate from our Lord that requires an amazing investment of monies, over 10,000 missionaries, and the cooperative efforts of 42,000 Southern Baptist Churches with 16,000,000 members. We will always face problems, challenges, pressures, and even arguments. But if we really believe what we say we believe...if we really do accept the Great Commission...if we really can gaze heavenward and affirm that we really want to take everyone we can with us there...then we can look to Jesus and see the value of our efforts, our time, and our investment. Do we really want to do missions? The answer simply must be YES!

Please Look at this Opportunity:

Celebrate Missions! Thursday, 06.28.12. Come on out to Wilda Baptist Church on St. Clair Rd., just past Gardner, LA, off Hwy 28 W., at 6:30 pm. A Central Louisiana Baptist Association event to help you take notice of the many mission endeavors that are in action from right here in central Louisiana. Who knows? You just might discover a previously uncovered passion for a mission that our Lord has placed "right up your alley." Oh yeah, there's good food and fellowship, too!

Blessings,
Robert Daniel
__________________
*Charles Murray and Catherine Bly Cox, Apollo (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1989), 178.

The Genius of Baptist Associations

Grace and Peace to You,


In Southern Baptist Church life, there is a fundamental concept of "cooperation." In fact, one of our most common avenues of connection is the missions support mechanism called "The Cooperative Program." Notice in the following text, please, how that principle works at the associational level.


Associations in SBC life are clusters of Baptist churches that work together to accomplish that which cannot be done by a lone congregation for God's Kingdom. Realistically, no one church will reach everyone with the message of the gospel. Working together, churches are more effective in delivering the message of the gospel to the varied people of a given area. In the central Louisiana Parishes, Rapides and Grant, three associations with a total of 92 churches have voluntarily chosen to work together in telling the people who populate these Parishes about the Good News that is the gospel. To come to that point of cooperation, churches have adopted basic principles:


1. Every Person in Central Louisiana Must Hear. So, then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing comes by the word of God (Romans 10:17). We believe that a person who dies without faith in Christ here in central Louisiana will suffer the same eternity apart from God as a person who dies without faith in Christ in some distant country.


2. Every Church in Central Louisiana Must Share in the Task. Multiple approaches are needed and in the providence of God, central Louisiana churches are perfectly positioned and wonderfully diverse in order to relate to the people who occupy this part of our beloved Louisiana.


3. Cooperation is Our Foundation. Working together, churches support the associations ministries and provide for the coordinated efforts that help us do that which can not be done by any single church.


In central Louisiana, three associations have bound themselves together to provide an associational office and a Director of Missions. The Baptist Mission Center is our associational office and it is engaged at the "Front Lines" of the ministry to churches and pastors who are giving their best in sharing the gospel in central Louisiana. We exist to help...whatever form that may take...the churches of central Louisiana. As the Director of Missions, it is my joy to partner with central Louisiana churches, to worship in those churches, and to be of service to each one. Call on me anytime.


Blessings,
Robert Daniel,
Director of Missions
Big Creek, Central Louisiana, and North Rapides Baptist Associations

Grace and Peace to You,

Hope you are having a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. I am excited about the fun part of the weekend...children and grandchildren...lots of great food...and I'm looking forward to the worship that we will share.

Memorial Day is a time to remember those who gave their all in preserving the freedom we enjoy here in America. As we remember not only those who died in battle, it is appropriate that we also honor those who have and those who presently serve in our armed forces. Truly, we owe those men and women far more than we can put into words...or even fully perceive.

Memorial Day, May 28, 2012

The Revolutionary War:	5,000
The War of 1812:	2,000
The Mexican War:	13,000
The War Between the States:	700,000
The Spanish American War:	2,000
World War I:	116,000
World War II:	400,000
The Korean Conflict:	36,000
Viet Nam:	58,261
The Gulf War:	382
The Iraq War:	4,486
The Afghan War:	1,946
Total Service Members Killed:	1,339,075

May God Bless America...May America be fully given to God.

Blessings,

Robert Daniel

Director of Missions


P.S.: Thanks to my good friend,
"Yogi", for compiling these figures that help us realize just how important Memorial Day is to each citizen of the United States of America

May News from the Association

Grace and Peace,

Two Thousand Twelve has been mighty quick, so far! My-oh-my, there have been conferences and meetings at the LBC level and associational events, galore. Your church has had a full schedule to keep you engaged in your specific field of service. And, no doubt, you have had, as I, plenty of personal and family events.

In our LBC, we have hosted the Evangelism Conference here in central Louisiana, participated in the Courthouse Prayer meetings, and in the ALPC conference. The evangelism conference also included a feature for our area churches. Fourteen churches agreed to host an area evangelist to conduct a one day "Harvest" event prior to the Conference. The emphasis on "It's Time" for spiritual awakening has drawn many of our area churches into deep times of prayer and Bible study. The ALPC event was well attended and beneficial. Thanks, LBC, for all you do to aid our churches in kingdom work.

Locally, your associational ministry has been fully engaged. We have conducted special events for Sunday School, Senior Adults, Vacation Bible School, and the first of several Missions Celebrations. In addition to the association events, your Director of Missions has been in our churches for forty-five...Sunday, Mid-Week, Revival, and special services. Naturally, there have been specific calls for help with pastor search committee training, ordinations, and various needs that seem to inevitably "pop up."

I want to update you on your associational office here at the Baptist Mission Center. The "Door and Window Project" has been completed and we now have six months of experience for analysis. The electricity bills for the six months reflect a savings of 35%!! Thank you for the effort to keep your associational office in good shape.

Personally, I want to thank our churches for the wonderful reception at the Baptist Mission Center to meet Linda and to honor us with your presence in celebration of our marriage. Further, every church in which she has accompanied me for a visit has been extraordinarily warm and welcoming! You have been a big part of making this Arizona transplant feel welcome! God has been wonderfully gracious to us in our marriage and in Linda's acclimation to central Louisiana. We thank our God for every blessing!

Hope to see you soon! I'll be looking forward to an occasion to worship with you and your congregation real soon! Call on me...I am at your service.

Blessings,
Robert Daniel

Upcoming Schedule:
May 3    -  Baptist Mission Center Trustee Meeting
May 6    -  Riverview Baptist Church AM service
May 7    -  N. Rapides VBS Clinic at Philadelphia Baptist
May 13  -  Mother's Day - Open Date 
May 15  -  NRBA Admin Team
May 17  -  CLBA Admin Team
May 18-19  -  Louisiana DOM Association Retreat
May 20  -  Georgetown Baptist Church AM and PM services
May 27  -  Georgetown Baptist Church AM and PM services
June 3   -  New Prospect Baptist Church  AM and PM services
Open Dates: June 10, and 24.
June 17  -  New Orleans for SBC Crossover, D.O.M. meetings, and SBC Annual Meeting.