Month: June 2010

Friday Afternoon

Beware of another afternoon of extremely high temperatures.  Take care of yourself and others.

Bonnie Blue Broussard came home yesterday afternoon.  She uncomfortable, but has started the healing process.  Continue to pray for her.

Randal W. Miller
(August 14, 1942 – June 25, 2010)

A resident of Independence, he died at 7:05 a.m. on Friday, June 25, 2010 at Tulane University Hospital and Clinic in New Orleans. He was born August 14, 1942 in Independence and was 67 years of age. He was a U. S. Navy veteran of Viet Nam and a driver for Winn Dixie Distribution Center in Hammond. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 9 a.m. on Monday until religious services at 1 p.m. Monday. Interment Montpelier Cemetery, Montpelier. He is survived by wife, Linda Miller, Independence, daughter, Whitney Hebert, Denham Springs, 2 sons, Brent Miller, Watson, and Pete Miller, Albany, 2 brothers, Ken Miller, Amite, and Roger Miller, Pine Grove, 6 grandchildren, Cooper Miller, Linden Miller, Austin Miller, Lane Hebert, Brenna Miller, and Kylee Babin. Preceded in death by parents, Ernest and Lela Mae Durbin Miller, sister, Carolyn Sue Miller.

Friday

God knew what he was doing from the very beginning.

He decided from the outset to shape the lives

of those who love him

along the same lines as the life of his Son. . . .

We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him.

~Romans 8:29 (MSG)~

CaringBridge – Callie Cole

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/calliecole/journal?jid=5701322

TODAY’S PRAYER
IMB
JUNE 25, 2010

“Hear my cry, O God;

attend to my prayer.

From the end of the earth I will cry to You.”

~Psalm 61:1-2a~


WORLD LEADERS. “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence” (1 Timothy 2:1-2). Please pray today for Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic of Serbia (southeastern Europe, between Macedonia and Hungary).

CHURCH PLANTING IN ZIMBABWE. Excited shouts and laughter could be heard as people from four villages in South-Central Zimbabwe walked swiftly toward the baptismal site. The drizzling rain and temperatures in the upper 60s could not dampen the enthusiasm of the 97 new Christians awaiting baptism in a ditch filled with runoff rainwater. Two pastors entered the water and then led the new believers in a hymn, a Scripture reading, and prayer. Among those who were baptized were young children and teenagers, as well as young, middle-aged and seemingly ancient adults. In African culture, baptism is very significant. It publicly demonstrates a person’s willingness to break with his traditional religious beliefs and practices. “Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature, the old things passed away, behold new things have come” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NASB). Pray that these “new creatures” will truly leave their old ways and ancestral spirits behind and learn to walk in the Spirit of the Living God!

PERSIANS OF IRAN (PURR-zhuns). In Acts 2:9, we read of Parthians, Medes and Elamites from the Persian Empire. They heard the Gospel message at Pentecost. Some returned to the Iranian region as believers in Jesus; there are ancient churches still in Iran with links to these groups found in Acts. The Christian presence in Iran is much older than Islam. Sadly, it has dwindled to a very small minority of the population. A small number of these ethnic Christians are evangelical, but most are not. During and after the 1979 revolution, more than 2 million Iranians left Iran for the West. Among them was a disproportionately large number of Christians, thus further reducing the relative proportion of Christians in the total population of Iran. Despite the small number of church buildings in the country, God’s church in Iran is growing. Thousands of people are coming to faith in Christ. There is a need for solid biblical teaching and well-grounded church leadership in Iran. Pray that ethnic Christians who attend ancient churches will realize their need for a personal relationship with Christ. Ask God to bring true revival to these churches, and ask that they will reach out boldly to the Muslims around them. Also pray that new believers from a Muslim background will be well grounded in their faith. Ask God to give them a deep hunger and thirst for His Word. Pray that they will be able to meet together in safety for Bible study and worship. http://centralasia.imb.org/
OUR TEACHER AND HIS TEXT

As those of you who are college students know, at the end of each semester you are asked to fill out a form evaluating the teacher and the text.  The following comments were taken from MIT forms in the fall of 1991:

“Have you ever fell asleep in class and awoke in another? That’s the way I felt all term.”

“The recitation instructor would make a good parking lot attendant.  Tries to tell you where to go, but you can never understand him.”

“Text is useless. I use it to kill roaches in my room.”

“In this class, the syllabus is more important than you are.”

“Text makes a satisfying `thud’ when dropped on the floor.”

“Textbook is confusing… Someone with a knowledge of English should proofread it.”

“Help!  I’ve fallen asleep and I can’t wake up!”

“Recitation was great. It was so confusing that I forgot who I was, where I was, and what I was doing — it’s a great stress reliever.”

“He teaches like Speedy Gonzalez on a caffeine high.”

“Information was presented like a ruptured fire hose — spraying in all directions, no way to stop it.”

“What’s the quality of the text, you ask? `Text is printed on high quality paper.'”

I can remember that it was easier to say nice things about some of my teachers in college than it was some of the others.  However, when it comes to evaluating my spiritual “Teacher” and his text, I can’t begin to say enough good things.  How would I evaluate the text?

“All Scripture is given by God and is useful for teaching, for showing people what is wrong in their lives, for correcting faults, and for teaching how to live right.  Using the Scriptures, the person who serves God will be capable, having all that is needed to do every good work.”  (2 Tim. 3:16-17, NCV)

And the teacher?

“LORD, teach me what you want me to do, and I will live by your truth.  Teach me to respect you completely.  Lord, my God, I will praise you with all my heart, and I will honor your name forever.  You have great love for me….” (Psa. 86:11-13a).

Praise to Him who is the greatest teacher we have ever known!  May our ears always be attentive to his instruction!

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Have a great day!

Anna Lee

Obituaries

George Dees

George L. “Brother” Dees a loving husband, father, brother and grandfather was born February 17, 1937 and passed away at 6:35 p.m., Wednesday, June 23, 2010 at his residence surrounded by his loving family. Mr. George was 73, a native of New Orleans and a resident of the Mt. Nebo Community. He was US Army Veteran and retired from the finance business after 32 years of service.

Mr. George is survived by his devoted wife of 50 years, Evelyn Jean Simmons Dees, Mt. Nebo Community; daughter, Lynn D. Frazier and husband, Chris, Kentwood; 2 sons, Chris Dees, Kentwood and Brad Dees, Gillsburg, MS; 2 grandsons, Colton Frazier and Paxton Dees; 3 sisters, Gayle Owens, Mt. Nebo Community, Susie St. Alexandre, Mt. Nebo Community and Sylvia Jackson, Amite.

Preceded in death by a daughter, Ann Dees; parents, Perry and Lena Mae Lawrence Dees; brother, John Perry Dees, Jr.

Visitation at McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, on Friday, June 25, 2010 from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and on Saturday, June 26, 2010 from 8:00 a.m. until Religious Services at 11:00 a.m. in the Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. John Fulda officiating. Interment in Dees Cemetery, Mt. Nebo Community.

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 (Exit 46) next to Bill Hood Automotive and behind Mr. Tom’s Car Wash and Holiday Inn Express.

Tom Brister

Thomas Mitchell Brister, 88, of Jackson, MS passed away Tuesday, June 22, 2010.
Visitation will be at 9:30 AM on Friday, June 25, 2010, with the funeral service at 11:00 AM at Wright & Ferguson Funeral Home on High Street, in Jackson, MS.
Tom (Mitch or Mitchell to his family) was born on October 26, 1921, in Memphis, TN to Majure Moses Brister and Ada Belle Thomas Brister, the fourth child among seven, the third of five boys. He grew up in Isola, MS on a large working farm. One of his earliest memories was of his mother calling in the night to “Get up! Everyone UP!” When he stood up, his feet were in rising water. It was the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927.
As an older teen his family moved to Terry, MS, where he met and married the love of his life, Evelyn Mae Myers, whom he called “Coot”. After high school Tom began a forty-two year career with the Illinois Central Railroad.
He served as Trainmaster of New Orleans during the late 1950’s and early 1960’s.
Tom was an ordained deacon of the Baptist Church and a long time member of Woodville Heights Baptist Church and First Baptist Church of Jackson.
After his retirement, Tom stayed busy for twenty years volunteering at First Baptist Church of Jackson; he particularly enjoyed being the bus driver for the International Missions group. He kept a huge vegetable garden in his back yard, sharing his harvest with friends and family. He began a second career in woodworking, making furniture, baskets and dollhouses. The Clarion-Ledger published an article about Tom and the thousands of Christmas reindeer baskets he sold all over Jackson for years. Tom and Coot also enjoyed trips to Branson, the Smokies, and to see the Braves in Atlanta.
Tom was preceded in death by his wife of sixty-five years, Evelyn Mae Brister; his mother and father; his brothers, Hillary, Marvin, Freddie, and J.W.; and his sister, Zelma Keeler.
He is survived by three sons, Thomas Mitchell Brister, Jr. and wife, Gail of Kentwood, LA, Majure Steven Brister and wife, Barbara of Yazoo City, MS, Michael Everett Brister and wife, Rosemary of Brandon, MS, sister Ouida Holt of Crystal Springs, MS; sister-in-law, Willie Dean Brister of Terry, MS; nine grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
The family wishes to express a special “thank you” to the staff at Building 69 of Jaquith Nursing Home for their kindness, patience, and loving care of our Papa. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, P. O. Box 250, Jackson, MS 39205.

Thursday Addition & Updates

I forgot to mention Mr. Billy Brabham this morning, but I have new information that is different so it is just as well.  Yesterday, I was told Mr. Billy was coming home in the afternoon,  but he didn’t get to come home.  He’s still in a regular room at North Oaks.  Please continue to pray for him and his family.

Pray for Mrs. Catherine Yarborough as she has a MRI today.

Arrangements for George Dees

Wake Friday night; funeral Saturday.

Thursday

“Therefore let it be known to you

that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles,

and they will hear it!”

~Acts 28:28~

Joey Baugh is returning to his family this week after serving in the Middle East with the military.  Kirk Wales has just deployed.  Thank God for Joey’s safe return.  Pray for Kirk as he serves.  Thank God for all the others who are in the military serving to protect the people of our great country.

Pray for Bonnie Blue Broussard as she has surgery this morning at nine in Baton Rouge.  Pray for her family as they wait during surgery and then care for Bonnie Blue as she recovers.

Pray for Debbie Bales.  She’s hospitalized in McComb.

Continue to pray for Wendell Simmons as he has surgeries to help him recover from his motobike accident.  Wendell is still in Jackson,MS.

Smiley Conerly is better.  Thank you for praying for him.

Donald Ray Cutrer

Donald Ray got to come home and he is doing well. He will still have to take the IV medications for another 6 weeks, but the doctors and nurses showed hin how to administer that. They placed a shunt or whatever it is called in his arm and he gives the drip to himself twice daily. The drip takes about one hour to administer and then he is through for the next twelve hours and he starts all over again.
Thanks to all for your prayers, but still pray for him as he goes through the next six weeks. He feels so much better now that he is at home.
His sugar level now is from 100 to 156 and if it stays that way he can take the meds by mouth instead of the Insulin shots. I sure hope the pills work. Well thanks again my Christian friends for your prayers…..
In Christian Love,
Mary Ann Cutrer

George Dees passes away last night.  Please be in prayer for the extended Dees family.

George Dees
(February 17, 1937 – June 23, 2010)

http://www.meaningfulfunerals.net/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=652488&fh_id=11426&s_id=DB6C70BBA6BAD5B24CFE954267F61920

I’ll report this obituary when it is updated.

Tom Brister’s dad passed away night before last.  Please be in prayer for the Brister family as they deal with his loss.

KneEmail

“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” Philippians 2:10

Mike Benson, Editor

ONE DAY, MY husband and I took up racquetball…

Knowing I needed the exercise, I also ventured into the little box that was the court.  It seemed a trifle small for the two of us, but it was fun.  Having played tennis years ago, in the days of my youth, I managed quite well.  However, being thoroughly out of shape, I found myself running furiously in every direction for about twenty minutes and then suddenly collapsing in a whimpering heap in a corner of the court.

My experience reminded me of many Christians.  Starting off with great enthusiasm, they leap frantically around, chasing the ball and running themselves into the ground, ending up beaten in a short span of time.  This is not the way to play the game.  Watch an expert racquetball player, and you see he paces himself well, knowing just where to put his feet.  He even finishes a vigorous game with steps left over.  The idea is to plod with God, rather than to race through space.  Jill Briscoe, “The Other Side of Redemption,” Here Am I, Lord…Send Somebody Else!,79-80

“But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings like eagles,

they shall run and not be weary,

they shall walk and not faint.”

Isaiah 40:31

Thank God for another day He has gifted us with.  Use it to honor Him!

Anna Lee



Wednesday

“I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples;

I will sing to You among the nations.”

~Psalm 57:9~

As we continue to have very hot days, pray for those who have to be outside and for those who do not have air conditioning.  Help out your neighbors if they are in danger because of the heat.

Roma Conference

http://imbeurope.org/2010/05/roma-conference-emphasizes-hope-in-christ/

Several churches are having VBS this week.  Pray for those who will be leading and for the children who will be attending.  May young lives be changed.

Baptist Press Stories for Jun. 22, 2010
—————————————
  • Mission:Dignity shows widows they’re not forgotten
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=33208
  • Obama celebrates gay dads on Father’s Day
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=33209
  • World Cup: U.S. fan support abounds
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=33210
  • Children, youth learned too during SBC
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=33211
  • Bivocational network holds 1st luncheon
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=33212
  • FIRST-PERSON: Fatherless homes & poverty
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=33212
Pray for Jennie and the children as they are preparing for a short visit in Kentwood.  Thank God for allowing them this opportunity.
Have a great day!  Thanks for praying.
Anna Lee

Tuesday

Nurture, guard, and guide

the flock of God that is your responsibility …

Not domineering as arrogant, dictatorial, and overbearing persons

but being examples, patterns, and models of Christian living ….

~1 Peter 5:2-3 (Amp)~

Jimmy Muse

Jimmy had a problem with an electrical charge at home and is hospitalized in Baron Rouge.  Please keep him in your prayers.

George Dees

George Dees is very ill.  Please pray for him and his family.

High Temperatures

Be careful to stay hydrated if you are working or playing outside.  The high temperatures we have been having are very dangerous.

Have you got a few minutes to read?

http://www.bpnews.net/

Devotional thought

http://www.upperroom.org/devotional/

TODAY’S PRAYER

IMB
JUNE 22, 2010

“I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 13:47)

WORLD LEADERS. “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence” (1 Timothy 2:1-2). Please pray today for Prime Minister Joachim Rafael Branco of Sao Tome and Principe (Gulf of Guinea, western Africa).

HIDDEN MOUNTAIN PEOPLE OF EAST ASIA. Ask the Father to impress upon local believers not only the great need to reach their neighbors and friends for Jesus, but also the great need to go to the remote places and do whatever it takes to reach the Hidden Mountain people with the Gospel.

KASHMIRI MUSLIMS OF INDIA (KASH-meer-ee). Give thanks to God for answering your prayers by providing amazing opportunities to interact with several government agencies and tourism groups in the area through a visiting expert. After visiting several new areas in the valley, workers believe that a new project might open doors in new villages for local believers to earn a livable wage, and for lost families living in poverty to hear the Good News.

Pray for Jennie and the children as they prepare to travel here for a brief family visit.

Thanks for taking time to read this and to pray.  If you have something you would like to share, please feel free to contact me so I can post it.  Have a wonderful day!

Anna Lee

Monday

“Teach me Your way, LORD,

and I will live by Your truth.”

~Psalm 86:11a, HCSB~

Stacy Scarle

Just a brief update on Stacey. We saw the oncologist on Friday. She reports the the bone scan and heart echo were fine. This is great news. We only have the CTs left and that will be at the end of the month. She thinks Stacey is doing fine. She has lost all of her hair and Darla cut the remaining straglers last night. She wears her wig and has named her “Maude”. She says Maude doesn’t like to be around a lot of people and that she creeps up her head when she is ready to go home. I can’t vouch for that but I know when she gets that look that we better be heading home. Of course we only go out for Drs, drug store and groceries so it isn’t that often. She stil has a good attitude and is positive that she will be ok. She continues to pray for a miracle and says when she sees the surgeon there won’t be anything to operate on. I pray she is correct. Keep praying for her as she goes through this ordeal. The last few weeks have been trying. Thanks for your cards and calls they really help.

Wendell Simmons

Wendell Simmons had a motorcycle racing accident over the weekend.  He is now hospitalized at University Hospital in Jackson, MS.  Wendell has a broken tibia as well as a hip problem.  Pray for Wendell as he is treated and healing in the coming months.

Smiley Conerly

Smiley is dealing with a case of pneumonia.  Pray he can beat it soon with no additional problems.

Judy Liberto

Judy continue to recover nicely from surgery.  Thank God for her great progress.

Alice Faye Lee

Alice Fay is doing well with her broken humerus.  She was at church yesterday. Pray for continued good healing.

Countdown

David and I are beginning the final countdown until Jennie and the children arrive a week from today.  Please pray for them as they make preparations for the long trip from Prague to Kentwood.

Today’s devotional

Have a great week!

Anna Lee