Month: July 2009

Thursday Midday

Maggie Lee Hinson had a difficult night.  CAT scan shows swelling and hemorrhage, but the pressure is better.  Please keep praying for this young lady.

Pray for Wayne Addison.  He’s having surgery because of diabetes.

Pray for Mrs. Nadine Council as she begins rehab.

Benjamin Franklin Allen

(October 26, 1931 – July 15, 2009)

U.S. Veteran Died at 6:47PM on Wednesday, July 15, 2009 at North Oaks Medical Center in Hammond, LA. He was a native of Loranger, LA and a resident of Amite, LA. Age 77 years. He retired as a driver for Greyhound with over 30 years of service and was a U.S.A.F. veteran of Korea. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 9 a.m. on Friday until religious services at 11 a.m. Friday. Services conducted by Rev. Marshall Wallace. Interment Briar Patch Cemetery, Loranger, LA. Survived by daughter, Joan Brumfield, Meadville, MS, son, Michael Allen, Amite, 2 sisters, Mary Jane King, Amite, Lerlene Holden, Amite. Preceded in death by, wife, Doris U. Allen, 3 brothers.

Janet Newcomb Loyd

(Died July 15, 2009)

Died on Wednesday, July 15, 2009 at her residence in Greensburg. She was a native of Independence, LA. Age 63 years. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 9 a.m. until religious services at 11 a.m. Saturday. Interment Greensburg Cemetery, Greensburg. She is survived by her 2 brothers, Billy Ed Kilcrease, Ark. and Billy Jean Newcomb, Concord, NC; numerous nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews. Preceded in death by her husband, Teddy Loyd; mother, Nola K. Newcomb; father, John Cass Newcomb; 3 brothers, J. V. Newcomb, Toddy Newcomb and Aubry Ray Newcomb.

Thursday

“This means tremendous joy to you, I know,

even though you are temporarily harassed

by all kinds of trials and temptations.

This is no accident—it happens to prove your faith,

which is infinitely more valuable than gold.”

~1 Peter 1:6-7 PH~

Please add my 16 year old great-niece, Rachel McClain Budde to thepraylink and please keep her and our family in your prayers. Rachel is the granddaughter of Barbara Didone, neice of Jesse Didone, daughter of Jessica. Rachel has been having some problems and has been found to have a tumor pressing on the main artery going to her heart. They are not sure yet whether it is malignant or not and what it is actually attached to. She will be seeing a surgeon at Oschner Hospital in New Orleans today to see where things go from here.

Sue Minor Tucker

Maggie Lee Henson

Wednesday, July 15, 2009 2:11 PM, CDT

Well, she still has a temper, so that’s a blessing:) Even in her coma, Maggie Lee is exerting her will. The nurse suctioned her chest and she got really ticked off: blood pressure went through the roof.

SERIOU

SLY URGENT PRAYERS: BRAIN SWELLING TO SUBSIDE before any more damage is done. It is obvious that the brain is of greatest concern. The heart is strong, the lungs are resolving and her urine output is good.

The doctors have never been able to keep the ICP Rate where it needs to be, so PLEASE PRAY RIGHT NOW that God would get that swelling down.

We are really just believing in a miracle here and your notes of God doing the impossible are great.

Thursday, July 16, 2009 1:26 AM, CDT

PRESSURE!
Maggie Lee continues to have this very high ICP. Dr.’s have wanted it to be in the 20’s and it is still creeping up to the high 30’s.
They are treating it w medication BUT PLEASE PRAY that this swelling would subside. What goes up MUST come down, so please pray that it would.  That is the gravest concern right now.
She has gone beyond the 72 hour mark which a brain injury typically peaks. We are desperate for her to get some relief.
All of our love,
jinny
Leland J. Durbin, Jr.
(May 27, 1946 – July 13, 2009)
U.S. Veteran He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, and friend in Christ who went home to be with the Lord at 9:10 p.m. on Monday, July 13, 2009 at his home in Amite, LA surrounded by his family. He was born May 27, 1946 in Hammond, LA. Age 63 years. He was a United States Army Veteran of the Vietnam War. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Jennifer Bigner Durbin, Amite; 2 daughters, Mellissa Durbin Leto and her husband David, Sr., Amite, Kimberly Durbin Curry and her husband, Stephen “Nim”, Hillsdale; a son, John Daniel Durbin and his wife, Andrea, Gulfport, MS; mother, Ethel Mae Durbin Bourgeois and her husband, Percy, Zachary; 2 sisters, Gloria Mobley and her husband, Andy, Calhoun, Susan Durbin, West Monroe; 11 grandchildren, Sybil, David, Jr. and his wife, Amanda, Caleb, Jacob and Cayla Leto, Lidia, Emily and Nim Curry, Isaac, Kate and Jane Durbin; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Leland J. Durbin, Sr. Visitation will be at Cornerstone Church, Amite, from 12 Noon on Saturday until religious services at 2 p. m. Saturday. Services conducted by Pastors Neil Barberio, Steve Farmer, and Mervin Strother. Interment Montpelier Cemetery, Montpelier, LA.

Baptist Press
July 15, 2009

WASHINGTON–Hate crimes vote slated in Senate. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30888

WASHINGTON–Sotomayor doesn’t budge on late-term abortion questions. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30889

OHIO–Asian family’s legacy stirs new missionaries. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30890

NEW MEXICO–Fuge camps: On the ‘move.’ http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30891

NEW MEXICO–X-Fuge on Mission aids retirees. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30892

KENTUCKY–FIRST-PERSON (R. Albert Mohler Jr.): A ‘clean sweep’ for the Episcopal liberals. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30893

TENNESSEE–FIRST-PERSON (David Francis): What’s your Sunday School strategy? http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30894

Truth

aaaicecream.jpgIN AMERICA, TRUTH in religion is considered an oxymoron…

There is no truth in religion, we are told. It’s all a matter of taste or opinion. You like chocolate, I like vanilla. You like Christianity, I like Islam. If Buddhism works for you, then it’s true for you. Besides, you ought not to judge me for my beliefs! (Norman L. Geisler and Frank Turek, “I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist,” 21).

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.

No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

John 14:6

Posted by Mike Benson at July 15, 2009
Have a great day!
Anna Lee

Wednesday Afternoon

From Landon Estay –

just left TCH. Caleb’s spina bifida is either at T8 or T10, and it looks as if there’s only one kidney. Caleb is moving his feet, which surprised the doctor.

I have a prayer request from my Texas relatives, ‘Please pray for dear friends of ours’.

Mrs. Nadine Council continues to have minor after-surgery problems.  She has already been approved for Sage Rehab which is near Our Lady of the Lake Hospital.  She should be moved there tomorrow.  She is very appreciative of your prayers.

Wednesday Addition

Dukes

< trending well. >
Unlike most stocks, unemployment, the future of Honduras, the rebound of GM, and the chance that Starbucks coffee will get cheaper, Mom’s recovery is trending well. Don’t get me wrong, now. She has had some very difficult days, but she has had some good days, too. A trend doesn’t mean she is having a hunky-dory recovery. It just means the direction is positive rather than negative, even though the incline on the line graph is only about 0.00003675 degrees.

Yesterday was more like 2 degrees, though.

They have taken Mom off that medicine that they suspected was causing most of her confusion, and so far it seems to have been the cause. Not that she is completely lucid 100% of the time, now. But she is at least not telling me she is laying on Joshua (Erik’s son) or that she thinks the lady holding the TV on her head across the room is getting tired.

Yesterday was so much better than the day before, in my opinion. I can’t explain it, but the day before was hard to endure. Mainly because of one moment. We were in Mom’s room. Dad was sitting off to the left resting his legs (he’s trying to get them elevated at least once or twice a day), and I was standing by Mom’s bed. The door was closed, and the haze of the cloudy-afternoon sky was darkening the sterile-lit room. Mom was asleep, or so it seemed. I was just watching her. She was somewhat curled up, rolled onto her left shoulder, arms pulled close, a pillow resting between her legs, and the most relaxed frown on her face I have ever seen. One of those sleepy frowns that either means the person is asleep so soundly even their earlobes are relaxed, or they’re having a bad dream, or both. I wasn’t sure, but the depth of Mom’s condition hit me again like a ton of bricks. And I was sad.

I was mostly thinking of the grandkids, because I get unspeakable joy watching them play with Mom. It is still hard to accept that at 7:25pm on April 4th, she was still capable of being an interactive and healthy grandmother. Just five minutes later, she was not. She may recover to the point of being interactive again. I hope so.

Even at the current slow pace, I am hopeful. After all, she is trending well.

The medicine thing – we can chalk it up as another answered prayer of “YES” that so many of you wrote in and said you were praying. The answer hasn’t been “YES” for everything, and so we need to be thankful for the “NO’s” we get, too, I guess. But after about two days of being off of it, I think we can say this answer was a “YES.”

We are hoping to hear today when the surgery for Mom’s cranium piece will be. The surgeon’s assistant has yet to call back to inform the case manager of when the doctor could fit Mom in. The goal continues to be to do the surgery, let Mom recover a few days, and then get her back to Orlando.

I am beginning to suspect that Dad has some form of memory-loss. THIS IS COMPLETELY A JOKE – NOT TO ALARM ANY OF YOU. I suspect this, because he has gone to see a movie with me about once every other week since being out of the hospital. We do it as a chance to take a deep breath and release a little at the almost-too-late show after we feed Mom supper and leave her to rest for the night. We have seen some good ones and a few not-so-good ones.

Here’s the real crazy thing, though. The one that shows that the apocalypse must be upon us. Dad went this past weekend, while neither Erik nor I were here, and saw one BY HIMSELF!!! For real. BY HIMSELF!!! This is a man whom we have had to drag to see a movie once a year on Christmas Eve (kind of a family tradition we still do when we are with the Dukes side of the family for Christmas). When we would do that, Dad would go willingly but not wantingly. Until now.

Either I am rubbing off on him (because I really enjoy seeing movies), or he is suffering from some form of personality-change induced by the metal rods in his legs interacting with his cell phone signal transmitting movie previews and show times through a rogue iPhone App causing a shift in preferences from wanting to sit in his Lazyboy to sitting in a theater where you can’t pause the movie and have to miss stuff to go to the bathroom and can’t pull your shoes off for fear of losing skin on the sticky floor and all that.

Or maybe he is starting to like movies…NAHHHHHHH! Couldn’t be.

Seriously, Dad seemed encouraged by Mom’s condition yesterday, as well. He still is dealing with a whole lot of pain in his legs. But I am confident he will get better over time as those bones keep healing. Please pray he won’t do too much too quickly and hinder his progress.

I just had to share with you a part of an email Dad received. I don’t want to embarrass the person who sent it, so I won’t mention any names. Suffice it to say that a young woman who knows our family who has at least one daughter sent it to us. Their family walked through a tragedy a little over two years ago. Insight and encouragement from her meant a whole lot to Dad. Here it is:

Dr. Dukes,

Just wanted to let you know that you have been in our thoughts and prayers regularly.  I can relate to your recent posts about having to deal with anger and frustration and not understanding God’s purpose in our trials.  I remember hearing one of Steven Curtis Chapman’s sons (after the death of their daughter/sister) saying that these feelings actually helped him realize how real his belief and relationship with God was.  We question God because we know He is real and can do anything. It doesn’t make it any easier some days though!

I thought I would tell you of a recent act by my youngest daughter, to help encourage you.  They announced at Sunday worship gathering that they were taking up a love offering for you and Retia.  My daughter was sitting next to me.  She had just received a card that morning with some money in it for her birthday.  I watched as she took the money she had just been given and put it in the offering plate for you both.  Our family loves you both dearly and we hope and pray for your healing soon.  It seems it is going to be a long process –  that frustrates me also.  But we will not stop praying.

______________________
WOW!!! Thank you. And thank all of you for your continued love and support and prayers. And thank you to the God who hears our prayers and answers us, whose love is so near. We are trending well because of you and because of Him.

Post at you later.
-jason

Wednesday

In His Time!

“But these things I plan won’t happen right away.

Slowly, steadily, surely,

the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled.

If it seems slow, do not despair,

for these things will surely come to pass.

Just be patient!

They will not be overdue a single day!”

~Habakkuk 2:3 LB~

Mary Lee Hinson

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/maggieleehenson/photos (more pictures)

1:49 A.M. Wednesday

With the coma-inducing medication removed, Maggie Lee is showing off with some incredible brain waves. We know that she is very, very, very much here with us.

I relieved John bedside a little after midnight and have been reading all of your precious words and scriptures to Maggie Lee since then. I know she can hear it and because I am SO LOUD, this entire END of the Critical Care Unit is, as well 🙂 God’s word is going out in this place thanks to you, the nurses and drs. hear your prayers for them as well.
We are all amazed at the outpouring of love from the body of Christ all over the world…many total strangers and cling to your encouragement. From prayer services at FBCS to Catholic Masses, our entire outh group is so covered in prayer.
Please pray:
-For her ICP to go down. We’re in the 30’s
-For her brain swelling to subside.
-For her lungs to stay inflated
-For her heart to continue to be strong
-For Lauren Murchison’s continued improvement. She has been moved to a private room in ccu
-For continued improvement for Sarah Smith
-For the parents of Brandon Ugarte as they mourne his loss.
-For God to glorify Himself in all of this wretched tragedy.

Words cannot express our appreciation but please KEEP ON!!!!!
jin

Please continue to pray for our church children at camp this week and for those for all the children and youth at other camps.  Pray for those serving internationally too in world changers.

Three cottage prayer meeting in Kentwood tonight to pray for our country.  They all begin at 6:30.  Chose one from Mrs. Mary Young’s, Mr. and Mrs. Gaylon Cutrer, and the Alford’s cabin.  For more information or directions call the church office (985-229-8111).

Leland J. Durbin, Jr.

(May 27, 1946 – July 13, 2009)

Born on May 27, 1946 died at his home in Amite, La. Monday night July 13, 2009 surrounded by His family. Arrangements are incomplete at McKneely Funeral Home of Amite & Kentwood, Inc., Amite, LA

Purpose

purpose1.jpgWHERE DID WE come from…?

Who are we? Why are we here? How should we live? Where are we going?

The answers to each of these questions depend on the existence of God. If God exists, then there’s ultimate meaning and purpose to your life. If there’s real purpose to your life, then there’s a real right and wrong way to live it. Choices you make now not only affect you here but will affect you in eternity. On the other hand, if there is no god, then your life ultimately means nothing. Since there is no enduring purpose to life, there’s right or wrong way to live it. And it doesn’t matter how you live or what you believe–your destiny is dust. (Norman L. Geisler and Frank Turek)

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:

Fear God and keep Hhis commandments,

for this is the whole duty of man.”

Ecclesiates 12:13

Posted by Mike Benson at July 14, 2009

Tueday Afternoon Update

Latest update on Maggie Lee Henson (Tuesday Afternoon)

Tubes have been inserted to inflate her lungs.  The tubes that were put on Sunday were temporary and have been removed.  Maggie Lee is getting good air return from this procedure.  Medicine has been turned down to ease her out of medically induced coma.  Her heart is stable.  We are still watching cranial pressure.  It is creeping up to 30.  Please pray for swelling to subside.

Tuesday Afternoon

I saw Charles “Butch” Slade Sunday.  He is continuing to recover from the copperhead bite. Pray for all the swelling to go down in his hand and fingers.  Thank God Butch was able to get help to save his life.

Please be in prayer for Maggie Lee Henson, the Henson family, and the FBC, Shreveport family during this time as Maggie Lee fights for her life.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/maggieleehenson

On July 12, 2009, while the FBC Shreveport Youth were en route to Passport Youth Camp, the church bus had a tire blowout in Meridian, Ms, and rolled several times. Maggie Lee was thrown from and trapped under the bus.
We’re now in Jackson, MS. at UMC-Batson, ICU. Maggie Lee desperately needs your prayer to survive. We appreciate you more than words express.

On July 12, 2009, while the FBC Shreveport Youth were en route to Passport Youth Camp, the church bus had a tire blowout in Meridian, Ms, and rolled several times. Maggie Lee was thrown from and trapped under the bus.

We’re now in Jackson, MS. at UMC-Batson, ICU. Maggie Lee desperately needs your prayer to survive. We appreciate you more than words express.

John David Cox

(February 4, 1959 – July 13, 2009)

Died on Monday, July 13, 2009 at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge, LA. He was a native of Shreveport, LA and a resident of Amite, LA. Age 50 years. Visitation at Montpelier Baptist Church, Montpelier, from 9 a.m. on Thursday until religious services at 2 p.m. Thursday. Services conducted by Rev. Rusty Durand. Interment New Zion Cemetery, Kentwood, LA. Survived by wife, Linda Distefano Cox, Amite, children, Shanna Cox, Houston, TX, Sean Cox, Houston, TX, Kelli Magee, Hammond, Kaylan Faust and her husband, Teddy, Amite, Tyler Magee, Hammond, 3 grandchildren, Gabrielle Gray, Cameron Faust, Kaydence Magee, parents, Ralph and Frankie Batten, Jacksonville, FL, 2 sisters, Cynthia Batten Waters & her husband, Harford, Jacksonville, FL, Vickie Batten Seidel & her husband, Steve, Jacksonville, FL, numerous nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by brother, Greg Cox. McKneely Funeral Home of Amite & Kentwood, Inc., Amite, in charge of arrangements.

Tuesday

“When you pray,

do not use a lot of meaningless words,

as the pagans do,

who think that their gods will hear them because their prayers are long.

Do not be like them.

Your Father already knows what you need before you ask Him.”

~Matthew 6:7-8 TEV~

 

 

 

 

 

Micah Simpson

We took Micah to the doctor about a bump on his rib. The doctor told us to go get an x-ray done. I talked to the doctor this afternoon and he thinks it’s a outgrowth bone and wants us to go to Children’s Hospital in New Orleans just to make sure everything is alright.

Marty & Gretchen Simpson

 

Cottage prayer meetings for our country will be held Wednesday at 6:30 P.M. in the homes of Mrs. Mary Young, Mr. and Mrs. Galon  Cutrer, and our cabin.  Feel free to choose one and participate.  

 

There will be a time of food, fellowship and devotional Thursday at the cabin at 6:30.  You are invited to join us.

 

Continue to pray for our children as they are at camp this week and all the other children and youth at camps this week.  Also, pray for those participating in VBS this week.

 

 

 

KneEmail

 

Unchanging
morals.jpgRELATIVISTS OFTEN CONFUSE the changing behavioral situation with the unchanging moral duty…
For example, when discussing a moral topic like premarital sex or cohabitation, you often hear people in support of it say something like, “Get with it, this is the twenty-first century!” as if current behaviors dictate what’s right and wrong. To illustrate the absurdity of the relativist’s reasoning, you need only to turn the discussion to a more serious moral issue like murder, which also occurs much more frequently in America today that it did fifty years ago. How many relativists would speak in support of murder by asking us to “Get with it, this is the twenty-first century!”? That’s where their reasoning takes them when they confuse what people do with what they ought to do. (Norman L. Geisler, Frank Turek)
KneEmail: “And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32
Bible reading for 07.13.09: Acts 18; Job 7-9
Be a missionary. Forward KneEmail to a friend, loved one, or co-worker today.
To SUBSCRIBE or find archives, go to: http://www.forthright.net/kneemail/
Posted by Mike Benson at July 13, 2009 

Unchanging

 

RELATIVISTS OFTEN CONFUSE the changing behavioral situation with the unchanging moral duty…

For example, when discussing a moral topic like premarital sex or cohabitation, you often hear people in support of it say something like, “Get with it, this is the twenty-first century!” as if current behaviors dictate what’s right and wrong. To illustrate the absurdity of the relativist’s reasoning, you need only to turn the discussion to a more serious moral issue like murder, which also occurs much more frequently in America today that it did fifty years ago. How many relativists would speak in support of murder by asking us to “Get with it, this is the twenty-first century!”? That’s where their reasoning takes them when they confuse what people do with what they ought to do. (Norman L. Geisler, Frank Turek)

“And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.”

John 8:32

Posted by Mike Benson at July 13, 2009 

 

Thanks for praying today.  Your prayers mean so much to so many!

Anna Lee