Sunday

 

“Lord, You have heard the

desire of the humble;

You will prepare their heart;

You will cause Your ear to hear.”

~Psalm 10:17~

Coach David Currier said his granddaughter, Allie Daigle, is walking all over the place on the foot with a cast. Continue to pray for Allie as she heals.

Hurricane Ike brought strong breezes and light rain to several of the special friends that I keep in contact with through email. We are all thankful for little or no damage, but mainly for the safety provided us throughout the hours of strong breezes and light rains.

Dr. Art’s prediction for Velta Morris today: Feeling much better! (This update came through Sonny Yarbrough.)

Mrs. June Russell has completed rehabilitation in Hammond and is now in Baton Rouge to receive additional rehabilitation. Pray for her return to independence at her home.

Elsie Vera Zachary McGee Jacobsen
(April 4, 1919 – September 12, 2008)

Services for Elsie Vera Zachary McGee Jacobsen, 89 who died on the 12th of September 2008 at the Crown Health & Rehab in Natchez, MS., will be held at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, La. Visitation will be on Tuesday September 16, 2008 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. followed by a service in the Chapel and burial at Kedron Cemetery in Amite, LA. Mrs. Jacobsen was the daughter of Dudley and LouElla Robertson Zachary of Amite, LA. She was retired from LSU Dental School and a former resident of Metairie, LA and Mandeville, LA. She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, Walter (Mac) McGee and Henry Jacobsen and one brother Erwin Zachary. She was a long time member of Metairie Baptist Church and First Baptist Church of Mandeville, LA. Survivors include her daughter Luann Hines and her husband, Roger, a sister, Loura Stevens, a brother, Lester Zachary, four grandchildren and 5 grandchildren with a sixth great granddaughter due in February, and many nieces and nephews. Her life will be celebrated as she was truly blessed as well as a blessing to us.

G. E. “Mike” Michael
(January 28, 1930 – September 13, 2008)

U.S. Veteran Mr. G. E. “Mike” Michael was born January 28, 1930 and passed away at 5:55AM, Saturday, September 13, 2008 at North Oaks Medical Center, Hammond. Mr. Mike was 78, a native of Greensburg, PA and a resident of Amite. He was retired from the United States Air Force & Tangipahoa Parish School System. He is the son of the late Darrell & Helen Snyder Michael. Mr. Mike was preceded in death by his wife, Gloria Dykes Michael.

He is survived by 2 daughters, Lauri Michael Girgenti and husband Nic, Amite, & Lisa Michael Kimball and husband, Mike, Ponchatoula; 2 sons, Darrell H. Michael and wife, Denise, Amite, & Matthew Eugene Michael, Lafayette; Grandchildren, Blythe G. Tabony, Sarah Girgenti, Jason Kimball, Adrienne Kimball, Kerri Anne Michael, Lacey Chunn, Nicholas Michael & Alex Michael; Great-Grandson, Dylan Chunn; Special family, Tonya Kent & Michelle Bordelon Michael.

He was also preceded in death by a brother, James Michael & a grandson, Michael Anthony Girgenti.

Visitation will be at the McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, on Monday, September 15, 2008 from 6:00PM until 9:00PM and on Tuesday, September 16, 2008 after 8:00AM until Religious Services at 10:00AM at the First United Methodist Church, Amite, with the Rev. Brady Whitton officiating. Interment at the Kedron Cemetery with full military honors.

An on-line Guestbook is available at http://www.mckneelyvaughnfh.com.

McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home is located at I-55N & Hwy 16W behind Coggins-Gentry Ford.

 

 

PRAYER FOR OUR ENEMIES

Last week, my wife and I were “window shopping” in a store with a Celtic theme. The Irish are know for their Irish Blessings (“May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back…”, for example). However, I saw a decorated banner with a most unusual old Gaelic “blessing”:

May those who love us, love us,
And those who don’t love us,
May God turn their hearts,
And if he doesn’t turn their hearts,
May he turn their ankles
So we’ll know them by their limping.

As I pointed out in a TFTD message a couple of weeks ago, we all struggle with our attitude toward our enemies. We know what Jesus said:

“Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” (Matt. 5:44). (and I don’t think the prayer above was what Jesus had in mind!)

But, there are, throughout scripture, a number of examples of righteous men calling God to act against their enemies. The Psalms are filled with such pleas. And even in the New Testament,

“…The souls of those who had been slain for the word of God…..cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’ ” (Rev. 6:9-10)

When we see great evil being carried out, I think there should be a part of us that cries out for justice. We want to see God avenge those who defiantly oppose Him (and we know that He will).

But, as difficult as it may be at times, we also pray that God will help us to respond personally to those who are our “enemies” in such a way that they may eventually be led to be our friends and, more importantly, friends of God.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

We have a responsibility toward our enemies: Lead them to God!

Anna Lee