Sunday

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion?

Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life.

I’ll show you how to take a real rest.

Walk with me and work with me-watch how I do it.

Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.

I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.

Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

~ Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG)~

Ethel Mae Durbin Bourgeois
(September 26, 1923 – December 4, 2009)

Died at 7:00PM on Friday, December 4, 2009 at Lane Regional Medical Center in Zachary, LA. She was a native of Montpelier, LA and a resident of Zachary, LA. Age 86 years. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Sunday and from 8 a.m. until religious services at 10 a.m. Monday. Services conducted by Rev. David Luce. Interment Montpelier Cemetery, Montpelier, LA. Survived by her husband, Percy Bourgeois, Zachary , 2 daughters, Gloria Mobley and her husband, Andy, Calhoun, and Susan Durbin, West Monroe , daughter-in-law, Jennifer Bigner Durbin, Amite, 2 step-daughters, Linda Redden, Watson, and Susan Simpson, Baton Rouge, grandchildren, LaDonna Coleman Bender and her husband, Mike, Keller, TX, Clint Coleman and his wife, Tammy, Calhoun, Scott Coleman and his wife, Tracey, Plattsburg, NY, Mellissa Durbin Leto and her husband David, Sr., Amite, Kimberly Durbin Curry and her husband, Stephen “Nim”, Hillsdale, John Daniel Durbin and his wife, Andrea, Gulfport, MS, Ken Rogers, West Monroe, and Nichole Smith and her husband, Cody, West Monroe, 18 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great-grandson, Preceded in death by, first husband, Leland J. Durbin, Sr., and son, Leland J. Durbin, Jr. Pallbearers will be grandsons, Clint Coleman, Scott Coleman, Ken Rogers, John Durbin, David Leto, Jr., and Clinton Coleman.

Peoples of the Canary Islands

Pepe and Shari Lopez (names changed) rely heavily on relationship-building to enhance their ministry opportunities in Fuerteventura, one of seven Canary Islands located off the west coast of Africa.

Many islanders are immigrants from northwest Africa who have come looking for a better life in the European Union. Some enter the country legally, while others go a more dangerous route on rickety boats or makeshift rafts.

Earning these people’s trust is a lengthy process, but the Lopezes have found that providing free, no-strings-attached services — such as teaching — help tremendously. Shari leads multilingual children’s camps, and Pepe teaches a free Spanish class. Omar, a Muslim, is one of Pepe’s most dependable students. Because of Pepe’s dedication and free teaching, the trust level among his students has skyrocketed — especially with Omar.

The friendships built during the classes and camps have helped Pepe and Shari reach areas of the community that previously would have been nearly impossible.

Pray
Pray that Pepe and Shari will continue building deep relationships with fellow islanders.

Because you give
“The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering is our ‘life support.’ We could not live, function or remain here should Southern Baptists not be praying for us all the time,” Pepe says. “We are the tangible extension of your life and your ministry. So much of what we see around us — schools, hospitals, people and government … they are all in dire need of the Gospel. How could we continue to reach out to them if you do not pray and give?”

Don’t forget to bring your blankets, hats, and gloves to me so I can pass them on to Dena P. Simmons.  She’s going to work through BrownBagsandJesus.com to get these into the hands of the homeless in New Orleans who live under a bridge.

Catalog

TIS THE SEASON to receive catalogs in the mail….
Every trip to the mailbox ends with an armload of slick holiday catalogs. Each one claims to offer me something I need–immediately. “Don’t wait!” “Limited offer!” “Order now!”

The lure works. I open the pages to discover what I didn’t know I needed. Sure enough, I see things that suddenly seem essential, even though a few minutes earlier I didn’t know they existed. Manufacturers use catalog illustrations to create desire for their products.

In a way, Christians are God’s catalogs. We are His illustration to the world of what He has to offer. His work in our lives makes us a picture of qualities that people may not know they need or want until they see them at work in us.

As you browse holiday catalogs, consider what the “catalog” of your life says about God. Do people see qualities in you that make them long for God? (Julie Ackerman Link)

“You are our epistle written in our hearts,

known and read by all men.”

~2 Cor. 3:2

Posted by Mike Benson

Jesus is the reason for the season!

Anna Lee