The Mississippi Baptist Foundation | est. 1943 | Psalm 24:1

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From Daniel’s Den…

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS

Posted on Feb 7, 2022 in From Daniel's Den, General |

Johnson Oatman, Jr. was born in April 1856 near Medford, NJ. His father, Johnson, Sr. was a prominent businessman who also was an excellent singer. As a young boy, Oatman Jr. enjoyed sitting by his father in church as his dad sang hymns of the Christian faith. In his twenties, young Oatman was ordained as a Methodist Episcopal minister and preached regularly to congregations large and small. He did not, however, inherit his father’s gift of singing. Nonetheless, at the age of 36 Oatman discovered a special God-given talent…he could write songs. Johnson became a prolific songwriter and for the next 5 decades he wrote 4 or 5 gospel songs per week. Initially, he didn’t want any money for his songs. At the insistence of his publisher, Oatman finally agreed to accept $1.00 per song.

GOING TO HEAVEN

Posted on Jan 31, 2022 in From Daniel's Den, General |

Billy K. Smith was a professor of Old Testament and Hebrew at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary for many years prior to becoming the seminary’s first provost. He served as pastor of several churches in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas before joining the NOBTS faculty. Last week marked the 24^th anniversary of the day the Lord called my father-in-law into “higher service” with Him.

WHERE THERE’S A WILL, THERE’S A WAY…TO LEAVE A LEGACY*

Posted on Jan 24, 2022 in From Daniel's Den, General |

Rob Blackaby is president of the Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary and College in Cochrane, Alberta, Canada. In a Seminary News article published several years ago, Blackaby define one’s legacy as “the imprint that God has caused your life to leave on individuals, groups, and institutions” and “the lasting impression your life and story have had on generations who will follow after you, with the marked desire to serve Christ and seek His Kingdom and His righteousness.”

WHERE THERE’S A WILL, THERE’S A WAY…TO PROVIDE FOR FAMILY

Posted on Jan 17, 2022 in From Daniel's Den, General |

Many people have the erroneous perspective that only wealthy people need a Will. As a mother and a grandmother, Jane Earnest understands the importance of taking care of family…both in the present and with an eye toward the future. Over a decade ago, Jane asserted unapologetically “Anybody with a child needs to make a will.”

WHERE THERE’S A WILL…THERE’S A WAY TO WITNESS

Posted on Jan 10, 2022 in From Daniel's Den, General |

According to Ben Franklin, both death and taxes are certain. With respect to the former, have you made necessary and appropriate plans for the future when the Lord calls you into “higher service” with Him? Does your end-of-life planning include a Last Will and Testament that has been prayerfully and carefully prepared to reflect your faith and values?

GOALS FOR THE NEW YEAR

Posted on Jan 3, 2022 in From Daniel's Den, General |

Did you make resolutions for the New Year? Do you typically have a list of resolutions that are designed for self-improvement and to enhance certain areas of life? If so, do your resolutions truly have a legitimate chance of meeting with success? If your resolutions are like most resolutions and you are like most people that make resolutions for a new year, then likely you have experienced years in which your commitment to these resolutions begins evaporating within the early days of January.

THROUGH IT ALL

Posted on Dec 26, 2021 in From Daniel's Den, General |

About this time last year, I began my “From Daniel’s Den” article with these words:

What a year 2020 has been! To borrow from President Roosevelt, 2020 is a year that “will live in infamy!” A common theme over the past several months has been “Enough already” as many people want to erase the past twelve months and embrace a new year.

CHRISTMAS LIGHT: DISPELLING THE DARKNESS

Posted on Dec 20, 2021 in From Daniel's Den, General |

At a recent funeral, several speakers presented memories and reflections regarding their relationship with the deceased. The first speaker had known the individual about which he spoke since high school. The second speaker was a niece who shared some meaningful experiences from the perspective of a younger relative. The third speaker was a semi-retired preacher who a few folks might know…his initials are J.F. and his name rhymes with “Tim Neutral.”

ADVENT: A SEASON OF CELEBRATION

Posted on Dec 13, 2021 in From Daniel's Den, General |

About the time that I was graduating from high school, the band Kool and the Gang released the song “Celebration” that was wildly popular in the United States and around the world. The lyrics include phrases such as “There’s a party goin’ on right here, a celebration to last throughout the years” and “Celebrate good times, come on!”

ADVENT: A SEASON OF ADORATION

Posted on Dec 6, 2021 in From Daniel's Den, General |

The American Bible Society is one of the many Christian non-profit organizations that my mom supports. In fact, she has participated in the society’s “Bible-a-month” club for many years. Recently, she found some gospel/scripture tracts that had been published by the ABS years ago. One tract presents the announcement of Jesus’ birth by the angel to the shepherds (Luke 2:8-20). Entitled Great Joy for All, the cover of this tract is being used with permission as the graphic for the current edition of “From Daniel’s Den.”

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS

Posted on Feb 7, 2022 in From Daniel's Den, General |

Johnson Oatman, Jr. was born in April 1856 near Medford, NJ. His father, Johnson, Sr. was a prominent businessman who also was an excellent singer. As a young boy, Oatman Jr. enjoyed sitting by his father in church as his dad sang hymns of the Christian faith. In his twenties, young Oatman was ordained as a Methodist Episcopal minister and preached regularly to congregations large and small. He did not, however, inherit his father’s gift of singing. Nonetheless, at the age of 36 Oatman discovered a special God-given talent…he could write songs. Johnson became a prolific songwriter and for the next 5 decades he wrote 4 or 5 gospel songs per week. Initially, he didn’t want any money for his songs. At the insistence of his publisher, Oatman finally agreed to accept $1.00 per song.

GOING TO HEAVEN

Posted on Jan 31, 2022 in From Daniel's Den, General |

Billy K. Smith was a professor of Old Testament and Hebrew at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary for many years prior to becoming the seminary’s first provost. He served as pastor of several churches in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas before joining the NOBTS faculty. Last week marked the 24^th anniversary of the day the Lord called my father-in-law into “higher service” with Him.

WHERE THERE’S A WILL, THERE’S A WAY…TO LEAVE A LEGACY*

Posted on Jan 24, 2022 in From Daniel's Den, General |

Rob Blackaby is president of the Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary and College in Cochrane, Alberta, Canada. In a Seminary News article published several years ago, Blackaby define one’s legacy as “the imprint that God has caused your life to leave on individuals, groups, and institutions” and “the lasting impression your life and story have had on generations who will follow after you, with the marked desire to serve Christ and seek His Kingdom and His righteousness.”

WHERE THERE’S A WILL, THERE’S A WAY…TO PROVIDE FOR FAMILY

Posted on Jan 17, 2022 in From Daniel's Den, General |

Many people have the erroneous perspective that only wealthy people need a Will. As a mother and a grandmother, Jane Earnest understands the importance of taking care of family…both in the present and with an eye toward the future. Over a decade ago, Jane asserted unapologetically “Anybody with a child needs to make a will.”

WHERE THERE’S A WILL…THERE’S A WAY TO WITNESS

Posted on Jan 10, 2022 in From Daniel's Den, General |

According to Ben Franklin, both death and taxes are certain. With respect to the former, have you made necessary and appropriate plans for the future when the Lord calls you into “higher service” with Him? Does your end-of-life planning include a Last Will and Testament that has been prayerfully and carefully prepared to reflect your faith and values?

GOALS FOR THE NEW YEAR

Posted on Jan 3, 2022 in From Daniel's Den, General |

Did you make resolutions for the New Year? Do you typically have a list of resolutions that are designed for self-improvement and to enhance certain areas of life? If so, do your resolutions truly have a legitimate chance of meeting with success? If your resolutions are like most resolutions and you are like most people that make resolutions for a new year, then likely you have experienced years in which your commitment to these resolutions begins evaporating within the early days of January.

THROUGH IT ALL

Posted on Dec 26, 2021 in From Daniel's Den, General |

About this time last year, I began my “From Daniel’s Den” article with these words:

What a year 2020 has been! To borrow from President Roosevelt, 2020 is a year that “will live in infamy!” A common theme over the past several months has been “Enough already” as many people want to erase the past twelve months and embrace a new year.

CHRISTMAS LIGHT: DISPELLING THE DARKNESS

Posted on Dec 20, 2021 in From Daniel's Den, General |

At a recent funeral, several speakers presented memories and reflections regarding their relationship with the deceased. The first speaker had known the individual about which he spoke since high school. The second speaker was a niece who shared some meaningful experiences from the perspective of a younger relative. The third speaker was a semi-retired preacher who a few folks might know…his initials are J.F. and his name rhymes with “Tim Neutral.”

ADVENT: A SEASON OF CELEBRATION

Posted on Dec 13, 2021 in From Daniel's Den, General |

About the time that I was graduating from high school, the band Kool and the Gang released the song “Celebration” that was wildly popular in the United States and around the world. The lyrics include phrases such as “There’s a party goin’ on right here, a celebration to last throughout the years” and “Celebrate good times, come on!”

ADVENT: A SEASON OF ADORATION

Posted on Dec 6, 2021 in From Daniel's Den, General |

The American Bible Society is one of the many Christian non-profit organizations that my mom supports. In fact, she has participated in the society’s “Bible-a-month” club for many years. Recently, she found some gospel/scripture tracts that had been published by the ABS years ago. One tract presents the announcement of Jesus’ birth by the angel to the shepherds (Luke 2:8-20). Entitled Great Joy for All, the cover of this tract is being used with permission as the graphic for the current edition of “From Daniel’s Den.”