Thursday

Put on the new self,

created to be like God

in true righteousness and holiness.

~Ephesians 4:24 (NIV)~

Mrs. Avis Sullivan continues to progress nicely following surgery. Please continue to pray for her.

Tyler Easley, grandson of Judy Easley, remains in Woman’s Hospital in Baton Rouge. Please remember him and his family, especially Joffrey and Moira, in your prayers.

Mrs. Jimmie Shaw continues to improve since her recent fall. Pray for her as she goes through rehabilitation for a few days.

Cliff Titus has had some more difficult days lately. Pray for Cliff and Lauree as they deal with his continuing health issues.

Continue to pray for those who are battling cancer daily. Pray for strength and hope.

 

INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS PRAYERLINE
INTERNATIONAL MISSION BOARD
Wednesday, July 23, 2008

“Blessed are you when people hate you…

on account of the Son of Man!

Rejoice in that day…for behold,

your reward is great in heaven”

(Luke 6:22-23a, ESV).

Dear Intercessors, this is Eleanor Witcher of the International Prayer Strategy Office, inviting you to pray for the people of Iran.

Fear is common for new believers in Iran. They do not know how to explain their new faith and are afraid of family response. Compounding the sense of isolation and fear is a reluctance to meet with other believers. “What if the others are only posing as believers and use information they find out about me to harm me?” Ask God to grant courage and boldness.

One Iranian Arab couple has refused to leave their country despite persecution, but remain in order to share the Good News. Pray for God’s protection over their lives.

V, on the other hand, is an Azeri of Iran who has had to flee and is not able to return to his family. He recently received a new version of the Bible in the Farsi language. He has found it much easier to read and has been sharing it with others.

MR is a Sorani-speaking Kurdish man from a key western city in Iran and leader of a small group of Kurdish believers. Recently MR was thrown in jail for his faith. The authorities tell him that he may be in jail for as long as six months. They also say that if he will discontinue his Christian activities and also expose other believers, his time in jail will be reduced. Please pray for MR to remain faithful and strong during his time in jail. Pray that he will fully experience the peace of God. Often during times of persecution, God calls out new leaders. Pray for believers to be attentive to His call during MR’s imprisonment.

* Please pray that these experiences will result in the growth of the church in Iran.

* Ask that the hearts of Iranian believers will be stirred to reach their people.

* Pray that these believers will rejoice in persecution for great is their reward.

On Mission is Kentwood in this Saturday. It’s not too late to sign up to participate in some way. There’s something for everyone. If you know of a project that needs our attention, please contact me or the church office.

Continue to pray for the children’s sports camp at church. Pray for safety and fun, but mostly for growth in relationships with God. Thank God for the young people from Simpson and Kentwood who gave of themselves to run the camp this week.

I just received an email from Jennie. She and the children are now home. Boyd remains with the International World Changers and will get them to the airport for the return trip home. Thank God for the opportunities of the last two weeks to impact the lives of the Roma. Remember there is a seven hour time difference, so pray today for the travelers as they return home tomorrow. Pray for Bro. Brady Haynes as he continues to minister to and influence the young adults in Birmingham. Thank God so many were willing to give of themselves to take the news of Jesus to an often overlooked people group.

Boyd Alton Bennett
A native and resident of Central, he passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Wednesday, July 23, 2008. He was 82. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Mildred N. Bennett; daughter, Janice B. Carpenter, Deville; son, David Bennett and wife Lois, Baton Rouge; brother, Levi and wife Elaine Bennett; four sisters and brothers-in-law, Laura Lee and Whitey Waters, of Central, Bobbie and Pete Neyland, of Baker, Marguerite Baudin, of Kentwood, and Louise and Barzie Fletcher, San Angelo, Texas; seven grandchildren, Ralph Carpenter Jr., Amanda Carpenter Cooksey, Eric Bennett, David Bennett, James Bennett, Lisa Bennett Langley and Michelle Bennett White; and eight great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by his father, James Bennett; mother, Margaret “Maggie” Browning Bennett; three sisters, Inez Ward, Annie Martin and Flarrie Baudin; and son-in-law, Ralph Carpenter. He was a retired route salesman for Holsum Bakery. He served during World War II in the 409th Quartermaster Depot Company as a cook. He was a member of the Central Masonic Lodge. In 1976, he was one of the founding members of the Central Volunteer Fire Department and in 1969, he was a Boy Scout leader. He was instrumental in the building and opening of Central Private School in 1968. He was a member of Zoar Baptist Church. Visitation at Rabenhorst Funeral Home East, 11000 Florida Blvd., on Friday, July 25, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Visitation resumes at the funeral home on Saturday from 8 a.m. until religious service at 10 a.m., conducted by the Rev. Danny Smith, pastor of Spring Creek Baptist Church in Kentwood. Interment in Zoar Baptist Church Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Ralph Carpenter Jr., Brandon Cooksey, Eric Bennett, David A. Bennett, James Bennett and Mike Neyland. Honorary pallbearers are Joseph White and Aaron Langley. Special thanks to Hospice of Baton Rouge and Dr. Say. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Baton Rouge, the American Heart Association or Alzheimer’s Services of the Capital Area.
Published in The Advocate on 7/24/2008

GETTING OLDER (part 4)

George Burns once said, “Tennis is a game for young people. Until age 25, you can play singles. From there until age 35, you should play doubles. I won’t tell you my age, but when I played, there were 28 people on the court — just on my side of the net.”

I’ve talked some about the fears we have related to getting older. But, I want to close out this series by looking at the positive aspect of aging. In Proverbs 20:29, Solomon wrote, “The glory of young men is their strength, and the splendor of old men is their gray head.” The Bible has for us several examples of elderly people who refused to believe their usefulness was over just because they weren’t young anymore, who served God well despite their advancing years.

One of the greatest examples is found in the book of Joshua. Caleb was 85 years old. He had served the Lord faithfully for his entire lifetime. When he was 40, he, along with eleven other soldiers, sneaked into the land of Canaan to spy out the land that God had promised them. What they saw was frightening and ten of the soldiers concluded there was no chance of victory. Joshua and Caleb were the two faithful spies who stood firm in their conviction that God could give them Canaan despite the giants in the land.

Then for the next 40 years, that unbelieving nation wandered in the wilderness until Caleb and Joshua were the only adults left. Joshua led the Israelites in conquering the land of Canaan and Caleb had fought valiantly in securing the land. But by the time we get to the 14th chapter of the book of Joshua, Caleb is an old man — 85 years old. You would think he was ready to sit out on that porch swing, but listen to him:

“And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, as he said, these forty-five years, ever since the Lord spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as I was on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in. Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord said.” (Joshua 14:10-12).

At the age of 85, Caleb was still looking for ways to serve God; he asked for a mountain full of giants to conquer. It was the most difficult spot in the whole land to be conquered. He deliberately chose the hardest task. Now if anyone in that nation had earned the right to retire and live the rest of his days in comfort, it was Caleb. But, he wasn’t ready for the shelf; he wanted a mountain.

What was his secret? There are several things that I think stand out. He was a man who obviously had a positive attitude and faith in God. It’s easy to become negative as we get older, looking back on “the good old days”. But Caleb refused to be negative. He had a positive faith in God. God said, “Even to your old age, I am he, and even to gray hairs I will carry you.” (Isaiah 46:4). Caleb truly believed that, that God is in control at every stage of our lives.

Here was a man who had a divine purpose. He was in his eighties, but he believed that God had something important for him to do. And he believed that with God’s help he could do it. He was a man who looked for ways to serve God despite his advancing age. There are tasks that an older Christian can do that a younger Christian just simply isn’t equipped to do.

But, above all else, Caleb was obedient to the Lord. It’s difficult for a person to obey God in his old age if he doesn’t establish a pattern of obedience in his earlier years. But it can be done. The important thing is to continue to give yourself to the Lord no matter what your age.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

The important thing is to continue to give yourself to the Lord no matter what your age.

I think that statement deserves an”Amen”!

AMEN!

Anna Lee