Saturday

Keep your eyes open,

hold tight to your convictions,

give it all you’ve got,

be resolute,

and love without stopping.

~1 Corinthians 16:12-15 (MSG)~

Frances Gay is doing better and may be able to come home tomorrow.  Keep praying for her.

Mr. Billy Brabham got a good report.  He will continue the treatment in Hammond that was started earlier in the week.

Rev. Butch Reviere is doing well now.  He will not need any additional treatment.  Thank God for answering many prayers on Bro. Butch’s behalf.

The state WMU meeting in Covington was great last night.  We heard two wonderful speakers.  The meeting continue today.  Pray for those dedicated to sharing the Good News and for those who still have not heard and accepted the Good News.

Nelwyn M. Hendrickson
(November 14, 1930 – March 25, 2010

Mrs. Hendrickson was a resident of Kentwood, LA and died at 12:35PM on Thursday, March 25, 2010 at her residence. She was born November 14, 1930 in Orange County, CA and was 79 years of age and was a retired Register Nurse. Visitation at East Fork Baptist Church, East Fork, LA from 10 a.m. on Monday and until religious services at 2 p.m. Monday. Services conducted by Rev. Michael Shumuck. Interment East Fork Cemetery, East Fork, LA. Survived by 3 daughters, Amanda Hendrickson, Magnolia, MS, Abbi Hendrickson, Kentwood, Wendy Morris and her husband, Mike, Kentwood, 2 sons, David Hendrickson, Kentwood, Randy Hendrickson and his wife, Darlene, Zachary, 12 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by husband, Cecil Hendrickson, parents, H. E. and Lillie MacArthur, sister, Bettye Alderson, 2 brothers, Ed MacArthur and Frank MacArthur, and a grandson, Scott Sterling. McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, in charge of arrangements.

Pray for the faculty and students of KHS as well as the family of Ebony Williams as her life will be celebrated this morning.

CALMING ANGER DOWN

In a west Texas town a few years ago, employees in a medium-sized warehouse noticed the smell of gas.  Sensibly, management evacuated the building, extinguishing all potential sources of ignition — lights, power, etc.

After the building had been evacuated, two technicians from the gas company were dispatched.  Upon entering the building, they found they had difficulty navigating in the dark.  To their frustration, none of the lights worked.

Witnesses later described the vision of one of the technicians reaching into his pocket and retrieving an object that resembled a lighter.  Upon operation of the lighter-like object, the gas in the warehouse exploded, sending pieces of it up to three miles away.

Nothing was found of the technicians, but the lighter was virtually untouched by the explosion.  The technician that was suspected of causing the explosion had never been thought of as “bright” by his peers.

Years ago, Jim Croce, in his song, “You Don’t Mess Around With Jim”, used to sing about things that you don’t dare do (pull the mask off the Lone Ranger or tug on Superman’s cape, for example).  He might have done well to add, “You don’t flick your Bic inside a building with a gas leak”!  In an explosive situation, the last thing you want to do is provide the spark.

We’ve all been around those kinds of situations (not literally, but figuratively) — where someone was angry and it wouldn’t take much to create an explosion.  We have two choices in that setting, described by Solomon in this way:

“A gentle answer will calm a person’s anger, but an unkind answer will cause more anger.” (Prov. 15:1, NCV)

How I admire those people I know (and my wife is one of them) who have a calming effect on those around them (including me), gently stifling the flames of anger before they burst in flames.

“Wise people calm anger down.” (Prov. 29:8b, NCV)

May God help us all to be wise.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Have a great day today as you prepare for the Lord’s day!

Anna Lee