Month: November 2009

Tuesday

“You are better off to have a friend than to be all alone . . .

If you fall, your friend can help you up.

But if you fall without having a friend nearby,

you are really in trouble”

~Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 CEV~

Missions Rally

FBC, Kentwood

Tonight at 6:30

Dr. and Mrs.  Jerry Rankin

Dr. Rankin leads the International Mission Board.

His extended family has served for many years as missionaries

and continues to do.

This will be once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!


Continue to pray for Mrs. Faye Price.  She’s still at North Oaks.  Pray for her family as they continue to stick by her day-by-day.  It has now been eleven months since “Miss” Faye had heart surgery.

Thank God that Jim Slaven’s heart is not damaged from the problems he had Staurday.

Pray for the many people with viruses and different forms of the flu.  Pray they will recover completely without spreading what they have.

Continue to pray for David Allen and his family.

There have been several updates for some of the children we have been praying for.  You may need to read the journal section  of the links below.  Caring Bridge sites:

Ruth Konzleman sent word this morning that Dennis Konzleman just passed away.  Arrangements will be posted when they become available.  Your prayers for the family will be appreciated.

I think I may have shared this devotional before, but as I think of long-term illnesses like some I have mentioned today I realize we may need this reminder.  I hope some of you can relate to this or share the message with someone else who is weary and needs encouragement.

Weary

football.jpgTHE WORST DEFEAT in a college football game came on October 7, 1916, when Georgia Tech played Cumberland College of Tennessee…

The final score was 222 to 0. The much smaller Cumberland players were mauled.

Cumberland had discontinued its football program before the season, but was not permitted to cancel its game against the Engineers. The fact that Cumberland’s baseball team had crushed Georgia Tech earlier that year 22-0 (amidst allegations that Cumberland used professional players) probably accounted for Georgia Tech coach John Heisman’s running up the score on the bulldogs.

Cumberland received the opening kickoff and failed to make a first down. After a punt, the Engineers scored on their first play. Cumberland then fumbled on their next play from scrimmage, and a Tech player returned it for another touchdown. The Bulldogs fumbled again the next time they had the ball, and Tech took two plays to score its third touchdown. Cumberland lost nine yard on its next possession, then gave up a fourth touchdown two plays later.

The Engineerss led 63-0 after the first quarter and 126-0 at halftime. Tech added 54 more points in the third quarter and 42 in the final period. Cumberland’s longest play during the game was a 10-yard pass (on 4th and 22). Tech scored on every one of its drives.

Sometimes our situation seems hopeless. We’ve dropped the ball and we don’t feel like picking it up again and running with it. We’ve been knocked down time and time again, and we just want to quit the game. But what we feel like doing and what we should do are two different things.

“Let us not become weary in doing good,

for at the proper time we will reap a harvest

if we do not give up.”

Galatians 6:9 NIV

Posted by Mike Benson

Have a fantastic day.  Be sure to schedule in 6:30 for the Missions Rally!

Anna Lee

Monday Night

Shirley Mae Egan
(July 15, 1931 – November 1, 2009)


Shirley Mae Egan

Mrs. Shirley Mae Egan a loving mother, sister and grandmother was born on July 15, 1931 and passed away at 5:20 a.m. on Sunday, November 1, 2009 at North Oaks Medical Center, Hammond. She was 78, a native of New Orleans and a resident of Amite.

Mrs. Shirley is survived by 3 daughters, Ruthelene Egan, Amite, Mary E. Semel & husband, Gerard, Metairie, and Eva E. Whitworth and husband, Chuck, Kentwood; 2 sons, John Egan. & wife, Vicki, Amite and Alvin Egan, Jr., Amite; 5 sisters, Jo Ann Davis & husband, Donald Ray, Loranger, Edna Whitaker, Amite, Betty Loupe, Amite, Diane Tate, Loranger, Annabelle Warner, Loranger; 2 brothers, Clarence Jones & wife Eva, Amite and Bobby Jones & wife Gail, Loranger; 2 grandchildren, Gerard Semel, Jr., Metairie and Daisy Egan, New Orleans.

Preceded in death by her husband, Alvin Egan, Sr.; a daughter, Barbara Egan; 2 brothers, Cecil and Leroy Jones.

Visitation will be at McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, on Tuesday, November 3, 2009 from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and on Wednesday, November 4, 2009 from 8:00 a.m. until Religious Services in the Funeral Home Chapel at 9:30 a.m. with Rev. Don Meadows officiating. Interment in the Ford Cemetery, Loranger.

An on-line Guestbook and to view a Video Tribute is available at http://www.mckneelyvaughnfh.com

McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, is located at I-55N & Hwy 16W behind Mr. Tom’s Car Wash and Bond Eye Clinic.

Monday

“And He Himself gave some to be apostles,

some prophets,

some evangelists,

and some pastors and teachers,

for the equipping of the saints.”

~Ephesians 4:11-12a, NKJV~

Mrs. Faye Price continues to be at North Oaks.  Please keep her in your prayers.

Tomorrow night at 6:30, Dr. Jerry Rankin will be the speaker at FBC, Kentwood.  Dr. Rankin has served as a missionary for many years and is now president of the International Mission Board.  You are invited and encouraged to attend.

Panic

panic2.jpgTHERE WERE SOME anxious moments at our house as my daughter and I prepared for our mission trip…

Late in the packing process we discovered that my passport that had been set out earlier, was not a current passport! That current passport was not where we expected it to be.

For about an hour, we gave the term ransack new meaning. God answered our fervent prayers and we found the all-important document.

Those who travel understand the seriousness of misplacing a passport. This document shows you are a citizen of the United States and have been cleared for travel to other countries. Without it I would have been denied admission to Peru. Actually, I wouldn’t have been allowed onto the plane headed for Peru. I would have been left behind.

As I reflect upon that nerve-wracking episode, I think of a more vital appointment. Jesus spoke about it in Matthew 25:31,32:

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and
all the holy angels with Him, then He will
sit on the throne of His glory. All the
nations will be gathered before Him, and He
will separate them one from another, as a
shepherd divides his sheep from the goats”
(NKJV).

Following the pronouncement of judgment, only two destinations will await those who have been sentenced. Of the two, heaven and hell, all know the destination to which they want to go.

Earlier in that chapter (verses 1-13), Jesus spoke the parable of the wise and foolish maidens. Ten young women anxiously awaited the arrival of the bridegroom. The wait was longer than expected and five of them found that their supply of oil for their lamps was not sufficient. While they were away buying oil, the bridegroom came and the door was shut. The five foolish maidens were barred from the celebration they had dreamed about. They should have made better preparation.

There will be those at the Day of Judgment who will experience panic far worse than I recently felt. They will assume they’re ready for the coming of Jesus — but they won’t be. For them there will be no second chance. The sound of heaven’s door closing will be heard, and it will prompt “weeping and gnashing of teeth” ( Matthew 25:30). As you read this, realize one thing: You have this opportunity to make preparations for the coming of the Lord. You may not have another opportunity. We urge you out of genuine Christian love to prepare your soul for the certain arrival of Jesus Christ! Tim Hall at http://forthright.net

Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them.” Matthew 25:1-3

Posted by Mike Benson

A great week awaits us.  Let’s get going!

Anna Lee

Sunday Evening

Debbie Miller called to share a prayer concern.  Clayton” Booger” Sibley has been hospitalized in Baton Rouge with heart issues.  Please be in prayer for “Bogger”, his wife, Lynda, and other family members.  Your prayers will be appreciated.

Susie Sharkey thanks you for praying for her as she had finger surgery.  She’s doing well as she waits for some healing time now.  Continue to pray as her finger continues to heal.

Pray for our your friend Kacy Walker, daughter of Rev. Dennis Walker, as she is involved in women’s prison ministry Thursday through Sunday.  Pray she is a good witness to the inmates there as she shares her testimony and ministers to their spiritual needs.

Sunday Afternoon

David Allen did not get to come home yesterday, but is still hopeful to do so today.  Please continue to remember David and his family in your prayers.

Another former student:

Johnny Lee Westmoreland
(September 6, 1962 – November 1, 2009)

Died at 5:55 a.m. on Sunday, November 1, 2009 at Hood Memorial Hospital in Amite. He was a native of Tylertown, MS and a resident of Amite, LA. Age 47 years. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Tuesday and from 8 a.m. until religious services at 11 a.m. Wednesday. Services conducted by Rev. Ray Schenk. Interment Amite Memorial Gardens, Amite. He is survived by his wife, Edith Schenk Westmoreland, Amite. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles R.D. & Billie Lee Westmoreland; grandparents, Artie & Lena Westmoreland and Lee & Victor Buniff.

Sunday

“Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost

those who come to God through Him,

since He always lives to make intercession for them.”

~Hebrews 7:25~

Trisha Wilson is married to Dwayne Wilson, the son of Robert and Ora Lee Wilson.  She sent you a wonderful thank-you card with a picture of the family.

Just a note to thank you and all those on the prayer link for praying for me.  Whatever I had that was causing so much pain and swelling seems to be gone and I pray it doesn’t come back.  What a very strange 7 or 8 weeks I had!  I am grateful for so many prayers for me and how God answered.

Mildred H. Duncan
(March 25, 1922 – October 30, 2009)

Died on Friday, October 30, 2009 at South McComb Extended Care in McComb, MS. She was a native of New Orleans, LA, a resident of McComb, MS and a former lifelong resident of Kentwood, LA. Age 87 years. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, from 1 p.m. on Wednesday and until religious services at 3 p.m. Wednesday. Services conducted by Rev. Dennis Walker. Interment Spring Creek Cemetery, Spring Creek, LA. Survived by 2 sisters, Judy Cornette, McComb, MS, Shirley Kizer, Osyka, MS, 6 grandchildren, James Kizer, Petal, MS, Alton Dillon, Sacramento, CA, Anita Phillips, McComb, MS, Bridgette Dutt, Denver, CO, Mickel Dean, Morton, MS, Pamela Cutrer, McComb, MS. Preceded in death by daughter, Lena Winstead, sister, Florence Duncan, brother, George Hughes.

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” Philippians 2:10
Mike Benson, Editor

“YOU’LL HAVE A hard time topping him…!”

This was the comment made by a well-intentioned Christian lady to the next speaker on the lectureship.  He responded to this sister, “I don’t want to top him.  We’re on the same side.”  Though I’m sure this sweet Christian lady meant nothing negative, it reminds me of the old saying, “There is no competition among light houses.”  We would do well to remember that sentiment on a regular basis.
There seems to be an infatuation with some Christians that they “get credit” for their work.  Some preachers have even warned, “If you use my material, be sure to give me credit.”  In the secular world there is surely understandable, but in the Lord’s church the obsession with getting credit seems a bit out of place.  My goal as a Gospel preacher is not about “getting credit.”  My “credit” is not on this earth.  My goal is to save souls, and if I produce something that will help others more effectively accomplish this goal, then please use it.

The Pharisees were very concerned with getting credit and with being seen of men.  When they gave alms, they wanted credit among men.  When they prayed, they wanted credit among men.  But the Lord said, “Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward” (Matthew 6:2).  May our righteousness exceed that of the Pharisees!

One is also reminded of Herod in Acts 12 who evidently had given a very eloquent verbal presentation.  Though the praise of the people was certainly excessive, Herod enjoyed it nonetheless.  The text however says that “an angel the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God…”  Without a doubt this is where all credit should be directed.  Though we may have been blessed with great ability, it must be remembered that it was given to us by God.

In the business world, employees who work for the same company labor together to produce a product that will benefit the business.  And ultimately, the credit goes to the company, not the individual.  In fact, under the U.S. copyright law’s work-made-for-hire-doctrine, the owner of an intellectual creation is not the employee who originated the idea, but rather the company for whom he works.
In the Lord’s church, well all work for the same “company” if you will.  Though the Lord’s church is not a company, it is a team of people all working together to accomplish the same goal — save souls and to give God the glory.  Let’s let the credit remain with the Owner of the church.  (Don Blackwell)

“Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
let Your glory be above all the earth.”
~Psalm 57:5~
Have a great Lord’s Day!
Anna Lee