Month: February 2011

Friday

“This people honors Me with their lips,

But their heart is far from Me.

And in vain they worship Me,

Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.”

~Mark 7:6b, NKJV~

MK Elias has been moved to another hospital where he is being closely monitored.  He is still facing more than one surgery.  One problem seems to be healing on its own.  His parents and grandmother have all had a turn holding and feeding him.

Prayer requests:

1.  His duct will continue to close

2.  His heart will, in turn, respond well and begin to compensate

3.  He will be able to maintain adequate oxygen levels on his own with no assistance

4.  He will be able to take a bottle and feed on his own (no more feeding tube)

I’m sure the family is very thankful for your prayers.

Jadon’s Story: Halfway Through and a New House!!!

We made it half way through my topamax wean. I’m still doing great. My seizures haven’t increased at all. In fact, they are still very mild and very few. My mommy is home with me today so she has been watching me really closely. I’ve only had about 15 spasms and they are so little. I took my last dose of steroids Sunday. We are praying that they will stay down. Other than that we are enjoying the good days for now and thanking God for this relief in seizures.

My mommy wanted me to let everyone know that we finally got moved into our new house. We sold our house in Hammond about two years ago. My Paw let us live in the trailer by his house. (Thanks Paw) The plan was for us to buy land and build. Mommy wanted to wait until after I was born to start building so we waited. I was born in August and mommy stayed home with me until December. Mommy and Daddy started looking for land in January. That was also the month that my mommy knew something was not right. By February my family got the terrible news that I had IS. So of course we stopped looking for land. In fact, we didn’t even think about buying land. All we were concerned about was getting me better. We knew building could wait. When we look back we realize how perfect God’s timing was. We were able to sell our house when houses weren’t selling. So we didn’t have to worry about a house note when my mommy took a leave from work. Now a year later and much thanks to the USMC and VA loans, we have finally bought a house and moved. I want everyone to know that the donations you all have kindly given us have nothing to do with us buying the house. It was in our plan but with all that has been going on we were unable to. My mommy and daddy have a totally separate account with all my donations. We use that money for my medical use and expenses. We are so thankful to have that account. That account has allowed us to travel and see the very best doctors so that I can get better. It really makes our life a little easier. We love you and thank you so much for all you do for me and my family. When you pray for me today don’t forget to thank God for this relief in seizures. I can’t explain how awesome it has been for us!!

Jerry McKnight

(December 7, 1931 – February 5, 2011)

A resident of Gonzales, she died at 5 a.m. on Thursday, February 3, 2011 at The Carpenter House in Baton Rouge. She was born December 7, 1931 in Independence and was 79 years of age. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 11 a.m. until religious services at 3 p.m. Saturday, February 5, 2011. Interment Bennett Cemetery, Independence. Survived by son, Carlos McKnight, Gonzales, daughter, Tamie Scofield, Gonzales, step-son, Danny McKnight and his family, Independence, grandchildren, Amber Bush, Chase Scofield, Blake Scofield, great-grandson, Maxx Scofield, nephew, Edgar Bennett and his wife, Nora, Hammond, beloved pet, Whiskers. Preceded in death by parents, Edgar and May Bennett, sister, Dean Bennett, brother, Lawrence Bennett, niece, Merrill Jean Breeland, nephew, Wilton Breeland.

Jack Allen Hall

(June 15, 1953 – February 2, 2011)

A resident of Metairie, he passed away on Wednesday, February 2, 2011 at Ochsner Medical Center in Jefferson. He was born June 15, 1953 in Lake Charles and was 57 years of age. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 9 a.m until 11:40 a.m. on Saturday. Funeral Services will be held at St. Helena Catholic Church, Amite, on Saturday, February 5, 2011 at 12 noon conducted by Fr. Joe Camilleri. He is survived by his 2 sisters, Linda Henry and husband, Michael, Roseland and Susan Higgins and husband, Billy, Amite; 2 brothers, Ernest Hall and wife, Dawn, Ponchatoula and Glenn Hall and wife, Barbara, Slidell. Preceded in death by his parents, Gerney and Juanita Hall.

Women’s Ministry: Pajama Party

Who: Ladies from 5-105

What:  Breakfast, Devotional, & Craft

When: Tomorrow morning at 9 A.M.

(You can meet at FBC, Kentwood at 8:30 if that is

convenient.)

Where: FBC, Amite in the fellowship hall

Why: Fellowship, Fun, Building relationships, Missions

Cost: Free

Clothing:  Something comfortable (pajamas, sweats, scrubs, etc.)

I hope to see you there!

Stay in and be warm and safe today if you can.

Anna Lee

Thursday

“Don’t ever be afraid or discouraged!

I am the Lord your God,

and I will be there to help you wherever you go.”

~Joshua 1:9 (CEV)~


Maggie Lee Henson was the young girl who died as a result of a blown out tire while on a church bus.  Her mother, Jinny, has shared her heart at the eighteen month anniversary of Maggie Lee’s death.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/maggieleehenson

Mrs. Annie Bell Harrell’s procedure has been changed to Thursday.  At this time, she will be admitted to the hospital Wednesday.  Continue to pray for her and her sweet family.

Mrs. Micky Cade is now in Kentwood and staying with Teri.  Continue to pray for a full recovery for “Miss” Micky.

Bro. Joe Baugh shared how his daughter and granddaughter shared their faith at the time of Bro. Joe’s mother’s funeral services.  Be sure to ask him about them. Thank God for people who bravely witness to unsaved family members!  Those are usually the hardest ones to share with.

In Egypt, Christians Hoping, Praying for Greater Freedom

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34573

“That we won’t blink. That we will find ways to join the Lord in the midst of this chaos and let the Good News ring out in ways that will help people find true freedom in Christ. That’s what I want to see more than anything else. I want people to know Him — and in knowing Him, to know what it’s like to really be free.”

THE MOST EXPENSIVE MEAL IN HISTORY

Did you hear about the expensive meal at Burger King in Palmdale, California?  George Beane ordered two Whopper Jr.s and two Rodeo cheeseburgers when he pulled up to the drive-through window. The cashier forgot that she had entered the $4.33 charge on his debit card, and she punched in the numbers again without erasing the original ones — creating a total bill of $4,334.33!  The electronic charge went through to George’s checking account and left him penniless.

It was promoted as “the most expensive meal in history.”  That seems a little extreme to me.  I’m sure there are many other meals which have brought a higher tab than that.  But, I would like to cast MY vote for the most expensive meal in history.

In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve ate some fruit which turned out to be extremely expensive.  It cost them their home in the Garden of Eden.  It cost them their relationship with one another.  It cost them their relationship with God.  And additional costs have been passed down to every man and woman who have lived on the face of this earth ever since.

The truth of the matter is that sin always has consequences.  We play games in our mind and try to deny it because we like to play with fire thinking that we’ll never get burned (even though everybody else has).  We like to flirt with sin thinking that “I can do this and it won’t hurt anything” but it always does.  Sometimes, like Adam and Eve, sin affects our relationship with others around us — husbands, wives, children, parents, church family, friends.  And sin always affects our relationship with God.  And if our sin remains unforgiven, it can cost us our eternal home.  It’s a high price to pay for a few moments of selfish enjoyment.

Listen to this warning from James:  “When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’  For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.  Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.  Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers.” (James 1:13-16)

Don’t be deceived!  Partaking of sin will result in a bill far greater than you ever could have imagined.  Even greater than the cost of burgers in California these days.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Stay in and keep warm today.  Help your neighbor if they are not prepared for this weather.

Have a blessed day!

Anna Lee

Wednesday Afternoon

We saw Mrs. Katheryn Sanders.  She has improved enough to go to rehab next Sunday. The birthday party is still scheduled for 2-4 Saturday at the Specialty Hospital across from North Oaks.

Update on my shoulder

  • I am up to about 90% usage of my arm now.  I have a little more physical therapy, but it has really helped.
  • The bone is not healed, but is healing well.  The orthopedist said I do not need to see him again unless I have a problem

Wednesday

“This poor man cried out,

and the Lord heard him

and saved him out of all his troubles.”

~Psalm 34:6a~

My broken arm

I’ve been making good physical therapy progress with my broken arm.  Today, I see the orthopedist again.  Pray that I get a good report there too.

Jadon’s Story:  I’m feeling better!

I went for my checkup today. My pediatrician said I wasn’t wheezing anymore. Thank God I’m not wheezing anymore. I can now stop the breathing treatments. She did put me on another antibiotic. I still have alot of congestion in my chest. Hopefully the antibiotic will help get rid of all this yucky stuff. My seizures are still great. I’m not having very many at all. I don’t have a good number for you because they are so little you have to be holding me to even know I’m having one. We did stop the steroids yesterday so we will see how I do the rest of the week. Please pray that they will stay down. I can’t tell you how much better life is when my seizures are down. I’m much happier, I’m stronger, and I babble so much more. My mommy also doesn’t have to worry about me hitting my head. I can’t begin to explain the joy it brings to my family. I will keep you updated. I got my computer back so it will be much easier. Thanks for praying for me 🙂

Jon-Michael Williams and his mother, Brenda Gill Williams

Please continue to pray for Jon-Michael Williams, his mother, and many friends.  Thank God for all the friends and strangers who have stepped up to help.    Thousands of emails to Extreme Home Makeover have been written.  It’s not too late to write your email or to get everyone in your class, club, or home to write.

Cold weather

Take care and stay warm.  Help someone else who might not be warm enough.

Baptist Press: 2-1-11

  • Chick-fil-A stands firm during gay clamor, gains support
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34564
  • Church planting ‘a significant priority,’ seminary leader says
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34563
  • As CP giving rebounded, so did congregation
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34565
  • CP: 3.19% below previous year’s pace
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34566
  • Health care ruling most significant one yet

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34567

  • SUPER BOWL: Steelers’ chaplain benefits from coach’s, team’s support
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34568
  • SUPER BOWL: Packers’ chaplain a ‘resource’ for players in spiritual need
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34569
  • CBF budget shortfall: 13 positions eliminated
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34570
  • ‘A Scent of Jasmine,’ a novel, Chapter 12

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34571

  • FIRST-PERSON: Creating a culture of character in your company
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34572
Johnnie W. Tidwell
(November 5, 1933 – February 1, 2011)

Johnnie W. Tidwell was born November 5, 1933 and passed away at 9:39 a.m., Tuesday, February 1, 2011 at his residence. He was 77, a native of Booneville, MS and a resident of Greensburg.

Johnnie is survived by a sister, Bernice T. Cade, Livingston; 3 brothers, Bill Tidwell, Livingston, Jimmy Tidwell, Greensburg and Charles “Cleve” Tidwell and wife Sybil, Greensburg; numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lonnie and Annie Rogers Tidwell; sister, Clynese T. Phillips; and brother, Hubert Tidwell.

Visitation at McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, on Wednesday, February 2, 2011 from 11:00 a.m. until Celebration of Life Services at 3:00 p.m. in the funeral home Chapel with Rev. Larry Stewart officiating. Interment in the Greensburg Cemetery.

An on-line Guestbook is available at http://www.mckneelyvaughnfh.com

McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home is located at I-55N and Hwy 16W next to Hood Automotive and behind Mr. Tom’s Car Wash and Holiday Inn Express.

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” Philippians 2.10
Mike Benson, Editor

HENRY FORD HAD an incredibly large dream…

He envisioned an affordable automobile for every family at a time when automobiles were only luxurious novelties.  The average person traveled by foot, horse, train, or boat.  People in his day were at first skeptical of his dream, but Ford’s development of the assembly line and mass production of automobiles changed forever world manufacturing and the American way of life.

How can the dreamer know if his vision is big enough?

Several factors can help in assessing the size of the vision. First, the vision has to be bigger than the envisioner in the sense that it goes far beyond him and his abilities to accomplish it.  If he or she feels that it is within his or her grasp to accomplish the vision, then it is probably too small and limits God.  When Christians develop visions that go beyond their abilities, they are forced to bring God into the picture and begin to trust him to play the major role in realizing the vision.  When this happens, in a sense, the sky becomes the limit…  Aubrey Malphurs, The Vision Process, Developing a Vision for Ministry, 66-67

5 Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more. 6 So he said to them, “Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: 7 There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf.” 8 And his brothers said to him, “Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words. 9 Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.” 10 So he told it to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?” 11 And his brothers envied him, but his father kept the matter in mind. Genesis 37.5-11

May you be able to count new blessings in your life today.

Anna Lee

Tuesday

“Don’t worry about anything …”

~Philippians 4:6a (LB)~

A friend who lives in the Texas Panhandle shared this on facebook:

Snowing, 12 degrees & falling to a low of 2 tonight, high of 9 tomorrow, 25-30 MPH winds with gust up to 50 MPH tomorrow, white out & blizzard conditions. Don’t you wish you were here?

As we prepare for a lot of 27 tonight, let’s pray for those who are facing much colder temperatures.  For them, we can pray they continue to have heat, that they have stored up enough food and medicine that most of them will not have to try to travel, safety of utility crews who are in location anticipating a problem, for no broken pipes, etc.

From my son-in-law:

Thank you for your prayers for Sunday.
More than 60 Romany adults + children attended the first weekly meeting of ‘Cacipen’ (‘Truth’ in Romany language) Church Prague.  The Roma were originally from Poland, Bulgaria, Slovakia, and Czech Republic, but all now reside in Czech Republic.  Rafal and Janek Gil (long-term Romany missionaries from Poland) led music, prayers, and preaching.  There were additional non-Roma present from two international churches.  A lady from the local Czech Baptist church directed a children’s program.  Leaders even collected an offering, very unusual in early Romany church plants.
I always appreciate prayers for my family as they serve God and minister to the Roma.  Thanks to the 5,000+ missionaries who serve through the IMB and people like you in churches who support missions through the Cooperative Program and especially the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.
KneEmail
"At the name of Jesus every knee should bow..." Philippians 2:10
Mike Benson, Editor

DO YOU REMEMBER Bubba Smith...?

 

He retired from professional football a few years ago. Then, after he retired from playing football, Bubba Smith started making beer commercials. He was the guy who tore the top off of beer cans, and engaged in the argument about whether it is less filling or tastes great. You remember him now, don’t you?

 

In a magazine article about him, Bubba Smith said that he has never had a beer. Drinking any kind of alcoholic beverage just isn’t a part of his life. But he advertised it and felt good about his job. It was an easy job. It was an enjoyable job, and it paid a good salary.

 

Until one day when he went back to Michigan State, his alma mater, as the Grand Marshal of the Homecoming Parade. As he was riding in the limousine at the head of the parade, he heard the throngs of people on both sides of the parade route shouting. And what were they shouting? "Hail to Michigan State?" No! One side was shouting, "Tastes great!" and the other side was shouting, "Less filling!"

 

Bubba Smith suddenly realized that he and the beer commercials that he made had had a tremendous impact on the students at Michigan State. And the message that they had gotten was that "It is all right to drink light beer."

 

Later, Bubba was in Ft. Lauderdale during Spring Break, and he saw drunken college kids up and down the beaches, shouting "Tastes great! Less filling!"

 

And when it came time to renew his contract, he refused to sign because he said that he didn’t want his life to count for something like that. He said that his conscience kept telling him, "Stop, Bubba. Stop."

 


You see, everybody’s life counts for something.  Melvin Newland


 




 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot." Matthew 5:13

 

Have a great day!  Be sure to give God a portion of your day!

Anna Lee