“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God,
you will receive what he has promised.
For in just a very little while,
‘He who is coming will come and will not delay.’”
~Hebrews 10:36–37 NIV~
Averi Strickland has been able to be at school this week. Who would have predicted that after his recent stroke? His progress is an answer to prayers!
IMB Connecting
Lottie Moon shortfall limits Gospel access, leaves missionaries on hold Tim and Audrey Shepard (names changed) were ready to go to Asia as Southern Baptist missionaries. Then they got a call that told them their appointment had been put on hold. There wasn’t enough money to send them. “You feel sort of directionless,” said Audrey. “We really don’t know what to do now.” On the field, missionaries Sam and Elizabeth Hughes (names changed) were counting the days ’til the Shepards arrived. “I’ve got a list as long as I am tall of things I need them to be doing,” Sam says.
Giving shortfall risks southern Baptists’ opportunity to re-engage closed country. A rare opportunity to place missionaries in a highly restricted Central Asian country may soon slip through Southern Baptists’ fingers due to a serious shortfall in missions giving. Shane and Melanie Johnson (names changed) were on track to become the first Southern Baptist personnel to serve inside the country in nearly a decade. But now that plan is in jeopardy. Financial restrictions are leading to at least a six-month delay. During that time, the window of opportunity to get into the country could close. And the Johnsons — with a baby on the way — are looking at some financial hardships themselves.
“After 2,000 years of Christian history and concerted mission efforts, why do so many areas of our world remain untouched by the Gospel? … Could it be that one of the barriers to reaching these pockets of lostness is the lack of financial resources?”
Jerry Rankin, president, IMB
FYI: Dr. Jerry Rankin will be speaking at FBC, Kentwood later this fall. You will be invited to attend so you can hear his report on the Interantional Mission Board. What an opportunity! David and I have heard him speak more than once. He has insight we can all profit from.
Colton Frazier
Wednesday, September 2, 2009 2:12 PM, CDT
The Therapist came in to work with him. We sat him up on side of the bed again. He did good sitting up with all our help but was a little tired today. We asked him if he wanted to lay back down to raise your right thumb. Well let me tell you the thumb came straight up, he was ready to lay down. Everything else is still good.
Thursday, September 3, 2009 9:56 PM, CDT
Well all and all Colton had a good day. The therapists sat him in a big chair this morning. He looked good sitting there. Had Good responses from that. The rest of the day he was tired and had to rest. At the 8pm visit we raised his head from the pillow and he opened his eyes a little and we told him to move his hand and give us a thumbs up. Guess what, he did, then asked again and he raised his whole arm and thumb. It was a great way to tell us good night.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009 2:12 PM, CDT
The Therapist came in to work with him. We sat him up on side of the bed again. He did good sitting up with all our help but was a little tired today. We asked him if he wanted to lay back down to raise your right thumb. Well let me tell you the thumb came straight up, he was ready to lay down. Everything else is still good.
Baptist Press
September 3, 2009
MAINE–Maine set for historic ‘gay marriage’ vote. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31191
TEXAS–Humans are never ‘too expensive … too inconvenient,’ Land says. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31192
GEORGIA–Ga. pastor shot, killed by undercover police. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31193
WASHINGTON–Abortion doc reports threat; arrest follows. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31194
TENNESSEE–Young adults’ spirituality explored. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31195
TENNESSEE–FIRST-PERSON (Rob Phillips): Why the Kingdom still matters. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31196
KENTUCKY–FIRST-PERSON (R. Albert Mohler Jr.): NIV will require ‘attentive study.’ http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31197
Kne
Email
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” Philippians 2:10
Mike Benson, Editor
JEAN ROSENSTEIN SAT down at a small table in her cramped, one-bedroom apartment and painfully put her thoughts on paper…
The arthritis in her fingers made the writing difficult and painful, but she continued. The scrawled words read, “I’m so lonely I could die. So alone. I cannot write. My hands and fingers pain me…I see no human beings. My phone never rings…I’m so very old, so very lonely. I hear from no one…Way past eighty years. Should I die? Never had any kind of holidays, no kind. My birthday is this month…Sometimes I even feel sure the world ended, and I’m the only one on earth. How else can I feel? Oh, dear God, help me. Am of sound mind, so lonely, very, very much. I don’t know what to do.”
She put the letter in an oversized yellow envelope along with some money and six stamps and mailed it to the Los Angles Times newspaper. The money was to pay for the call if someone would just call to talk to her. The stamps were for anyone who would take the time to write. In a city surrounded by millions of people, Jean Rosenstein felt alone. And what happened? First, a reporter called and said he would like to visit. Mrs. Rosenstein was delighted. She had not had a visitor for a long, long time.
She described her painfully accurate situation to the reporter. “If you are alone, you die every day…Sometimes I just dread to see myself wake up in the morning.” The newspaper printed her letter along with a story. Within days thousands of letters and cards poured into the little apartment. Visitors began to stream in and out to talk to the lonely lady who had no friends. So many people called that she finally had to take the phone off the hook. Letters came from elderly people, young couples sent pictures of their children. People responded from all over the world. She said, “This will last a lifetime.”
THOUGHT: How many Mrs. Rosensteins are in the city which you live–some lost in vast cities, some in convalescent hospitals, some in shabby apartments, some on farms–all forgotten people, forgotten by children and former acquaintances, forgotten by people who are too busy to care? All that is necessary to destroy loneliness is the one real friend. If there is a Jean Rosenstein living near you, a person who needs your friendship as badly as you need to extend it? Take a look, friend, and reach out to that person. (Harold J. Sala)
“A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24
Have a fantastic Friday!
Anna Lee
The Prayer Link 