Thursday

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.

Honor one another above yourselves.

Romans 12:10 (NIV)

Bucky and Ccolbye Erwin’s baby’s names is spelled “Ryleigh”. Everyone is doing well.

James Lee and Barbara Hutchinson has a new great grandson, Christian Hayden Holmes.

Mrs. Blanch Wheat is back at home in Kentwood with a sitter. If you know “Miss” Blanch, you know she wants to be in her own house. Pray for her and visit her. You’ll be richly blessed.

Mike Nason has experienced some additional problems lately, but is doing better. Please continue to remember him in your prayers.

Mr. Raymond Anthony and Mrs. Avis Sullivan continue to be in rehab in Hammond. Pray for them as they work to overcome problems associated with recent surgeries.

Dr. Earl Council’s sister will have hip replacement surgery next week. Please be in prayer for her. I think the surgery will be in Florida.

Mr. Frankie Gehringer is slowly recovering, but needs our continued prayers as he does so. Pray for his family as you pray for him.

Ashley Miller of Hillsdale received a good report.

Sharon Martin’s dad, Earlo LaBauve, is back at home and doing well. Thank you for praying for him.

JoAnna Wallace Gualtieri
(July 25, 1939 – August 3, 2008)

JoAnna Wallace Gualtieri
JoAnna Wallace Gualtieri, 69, passed away on August 3, 2008. JoAnna was born in Memphis, Tennessee July 25, 1939. She was a resident of Kentwood, Louisiana during her growing up years until moving to Hobbs, New Mexico and graduating from Hobbs High School. She is survived by her husband of 23 years, Angelo Gualtieri of Tooele, Utah; one daughter, Rene’ (Marshall) Tucker and husband, Houston, TX; and one son, Keith Marshall and wife, Ogden, Utah; stepchildren, Kathy Martinez, Sherry West and Mariea King and husband; sister Aimee Wallace Theobald in Lexington, KY; eight grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by her father Josiah Nettles Wallace and mother Annie Gill Wallace, Kentwood, and siblings Douglas Nettles Wallace and Alice Wallace Shirley. JoAnna loved sewing, cooking, singing and any craft she could put her hands and heart to. A memorial service was held Thursday, August 7, 2008 at 6pm at the Tate Mortuary in Tooele, Utah. JoAnna’s children, Rene’ Tucker and Keith Marshall would like to hear from JoAnna’s family and friends. Please feel free to contact Rene’ at 10326 Pine Pass Drive, Houston, TX 77070.

Nellie Mae Lea Lee
(September 24, 1912 – August 11, 2008)

Nellie Mae Lee Lea, 95, passed away on August 11, 2008 at Atlantis, FL. She was a resident of Line Creek near Kentwood, LA from 1929 until 1998. She was born on September 24, 1912 in Jackson, LA and lived there until she married Orris Harmon Lea and moved to Line Creek. She was preceded in death by her husband and two children, Orris, Jr. and Eleanor Mae and a daughter-in-law, Mary Lea. She is survived by her daughter, Tommie Jean Chorpenning and son- in-law, Jack, her son, Robert N. Lea, her 6 grandchildren, Jack Smith Chorpenning, Frank Chorpenning, Rebecca Casceoli, Mark Lea, Terry Monaghan, and Tracy Mansfield. She also has 8 great-grandchildren. Visitation will be at McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, from 10 am until the service following at 1 pm on Friday, August 15, 2008 in the funeral home chapel. Interment will be at the Line Creek Cemetery near Kentwood, LA.

Tena Singleton Bridges
(January 1, 1918 – August 13, 2008)

Tena Singleton Bridges died at her home near Kentwood, LA on Thursday, August 13, 2008. She was born in the Lewiston Community of Tangipahoa Parish, LA to Robert Hinson Singleton and Alma Boyd Singleton on January 1, 1918. She married Willie Bates Bridges of St. Helena Parish and they had eight children, Betty, Monnie, Billie, Maurice Jay, Thomas “Pud”, Garland “Rocky”, Rhonda Coleen and Raymond Curtis “Curt”. She is survived by daughters, Betty B. Wales, Monnie B. McNabb and her husband, Johnny McNabb and Billie B. Bullock; son, Maurice Jay Bridges and wife, Judy Birch Bridges; 13 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren; sister, Merlin S. Cox. She is preceded in death by her husband and parents as well as her sons, Thomas, Garland and Curt; daughter, Rhonda, parents, Robert Hinson and Alma Boyd Singleton; brothers, Wilson, Jack, Ollie and Roy; sisters, Mae, Nina, Verlie and Helen. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Thursday and from 8 a.m. until religious services at 10 a.m. Friday. Services conducted by Rev. Danny Smith. Interment New Zion Cemetery, Kentwood, LA.

SECURING THE TOMB

A joke heard around the Pentagon goes like this:

One reason the Services have trouble operating jointly is that they don’t speak the same language.

For example, if you told Navy personnel to “secure a building,” they would turn off the lights and lock the doors.

Army personnel would occupy the building so no one could enter.

Marines would assault the building, capture it, and defend it with suppressive fire and close combat.

The Air Force, on the other hand, would take out a three-year lease with an option to buy.

It seems to me that there was some misunderstanding regarding the “securing” of a location in Palestine in the first century as well.

“On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, saying, ‘Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, “After three days I will rise.” Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, “He has risen from the dead.” So the last deception will be worse than the first.’ Pilate said to them, ‘You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how.’ So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard.” (Matthew 27:62-66).

The Jewish and Roman leaders’ idea of “securing the tomb” meant putting a big rock in front of it. Unfortunately for them (but fortunately for us), Jesus’ idea was to secure the tomb’s place in history by rising from the dead. Mere rocks are unable to hold back the one who created the universe! What hope is ours because of what happened that glorious morning nearly 2,000 years ago! Praise God for the resurrection of His precious Son!

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

We may be victims of miscommunication periodically, but we can rest assured God does not have that problem. His message to us is clear and unchanging.

Anna Lee