Month: March 2011

Thursday

“Be anxious for nothing,

but in everything by prayer and supplication,

with thanksgiving,

let your requests be made known to God.”

~Philippians 4:6~

 

Debbie Miller would like to thank you for praying for her cousin, Janet Phillips Myers.  She’s being treated at M.D. Anderson and doing very well.

Mrs. Susie Wales had outpatient surgery in Baton Rouge.  All went well.

Rufus Williams is continuing to have heart issues.  Pray for him as he is being treated.

Mr. J.D. Smith and Mrs. “Bill” Hughes are both in North Oaks.  Add them to your prayer list.

Mr. Wenous Goings has been moved from North Oaks to the nursing home in Hammond again.  Pray for Mr. Wenous.

Chloe Neyland, two months old, is in Children’s Hospital in New Orleans.  She will have a heart cath. between 10:00 and 12:00 this morning.  Pray pray for her, the medical staff, and her new family.

FAMOUS LAST WORDS

Consider these quotes from the past:

“This ‘telephone’ has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication.  The device is inherently of no value to us.” –Western Union internal memo, 1876.

“Everything that can be invented has been invented.” –Charles H. Duell, Commissioner, U.S. Office of Patents, 1899.

“The wireless music box has no imaginable commercial value.  Who would pay for a message sent to nobody in particular?” –David Sarnoff’s associates in response to his urgings for investment in the radio in the 1920s.

“I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.” –Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943

“Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons.” –Popular Mechanics, forecasting the relentless march of science, 1949

“I have traveled the length and breadth of this country and talked with the best people, and I can assure you that data processing is a fad that won’t last out the year.” –The editor in charge of business books for Prentice Hall, 1957

“But what … is it good for?” –Engineer at the Advanced Computing Systems Division of IBM, 1968, commenting on the microchip.

“There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home.” –Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977

“640K ought to be enough for anybody.” — Bill Gates, 1981

It’s amazing that we’ve accomplished so much technologically in this country considering the pessimistic views held by many (even more amazing when you consider that some of the achievements eventually came from people who at one time held the pessimistic views themselves).

What is your vision for the future?  What would you like to accomplish?  More to the point, what would you like to see God accomplish through you?  There will likely be someone around you ready to tell you that “it can’t be done”, or “we’ve tried that before with no success”, or “it’s too much trouble”.

And they may be right.  Or they may have a “grasshopper complex” like the ten spies in Numbers 13 who were unable to see what God could accomplish because they were looking so intently at the obstacles in their way.

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.  Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)

May the God who can do more than we can even imagine (and I can imagine a lot!) be with you this day.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

 

Thanks for praying today.  Your prayers mean so much to so many.

Anna Lee

Wednesday

TODAY’S PRAYER
IMB
MARCH 23, 2011

“I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever; with my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations.” (Psalm 89:1)

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 President Felipe de Jesus Calderon Hinojosa of Mexico (southern North America).

JAPAN IN CRISIS. Hearing that her husband would be entering the Fukushima nuclear facility to try to avert disaster, a Japanese wife bravely said, “I hope that you will be the savior of Japan.” As we continue to pray for Japanese families who have suffered such loss in recent days, let us also continue to pray that they will place their faith in the One who can truly save them for all eternity. Christ has already paid the price to redeem their souls. Pray that those whose lives were forever changed as the earth shook and the ocean roared and those for whom life continues as usual will seek to know the Savior who died on Calvary so that they might truly live. Less than 1 percent of Japan’s people know Christ.http://eastasianpeoples.imb.org/

AMERICAN PEOPLES. Give thanks to God with a worker who writes: “Her face was full of wrinkles, and her hands a bit unsteady, as she led me outside of the church building. She said, ‘I want to show you where we prayed when we were locked out of our building. Following the revolution, our pastor and leaders were in jail and our church building was padlocked, but a few women and children gathered here each Sunday to pray, sing and worship God. We prayed for our neighborhood and for our nation, and I know that today many of those prayers are being answered.’ As I looked back into the open building at the now thriving, growing church, I knew I was standing on holy ground, seeing the truth of James 5:16b: ‘The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.’”

WOLOF OF SENEGAL AND THE GAMBIA (WUHL-uf). “In December, a team from a partnering church worked with teachers and students who were taking English,” writes the Wolof Team. “Teams from this church have been coming here since 2009. They are now realizing that they have an opportunity in one village, where they can spend all their time living with the villagers, sharing chronological Bible stories with them, and experiencing life in the village. They have shared with the chief imam (religious leader) and the chief, answering some of their questions about sin and about how we know that our prayers are answered. The question on everyone’s heart is the same wherever they go: ‘Is God real and is He interested in me?’ The chief imam and chief of the village have told this team that the village is completely open to them. This team has prepared college students and individuals as old as 72 years of age to story the Bible chronologically and to share their testimonies. Pray that this village will continue to be open and that understanding will come to those who have heard the testimonies and stories of the volunteers.”

 

Annie Armstrong Easter Offering Thanks

We deeply express our gratitude to North American Mission Board for featuring us and our ministry in the missionary week of prayer, 2009.  We are thankful to NAMB for their prayer and financial support.  We know all of our Southern Baptist churches in North America will be praying for us and NAMB is acting as a channel of blessing for us.
We praise God for NAMB and all of its stuffs for their great encouragements.
We hope NAMB will continue their support to us for our frontiers missions work in New England.

Paul and Elizabeth Biswas
Church planting missionary in New England
129A Brown Street
Waltham, MA 02453

 

Baptist Press Stories for Mar. 22 2011

—————————————

In quake-torn Japan, a baptism is celebrated     http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34891

Native American-focused event examines ways to remove barriers to Gospel     http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34892

Thousands of Bibles headed to soldiers

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34893

Full face transplant recipient given self-described ‘miracle’     http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34894

Elliff sees IMB role in strengthening CP

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34895

Indiana Baptists launch exec. direc. search

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34896

FIRST-PERSON: Are Christians obsessed with gays and abortion?     http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34897

 

 

Continue to pray for those who have undergone surgery or are hospitalized as well as those grieving over deaths in families.  Spend some time praying for those who do not have Jesus in their lives.

Anna Lee

 

Tuesday

Do not merely listen to the word,

and so deceive yourselves.

Do what it says.

~James 1:22 (NIV)~

 

Please pray for our young friend Layton Bankston of Roseland who is leaving for Afghanistan today.

 

Baptist Press Stories for Mar. 21, 2011

—————————————

Abortion rights supporters find new target: crisis pregnancy centers     http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34884


Japanese layman undertakes evacuation effort, buses 31 from danger zone     http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34883


Japan missionaries relocate, vow to return

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34885

 

Rural church’s windfall plowed into missions     http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34886


Porn gains its .xxx Web domain

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34887


Iorg ponders a Spirit-filled seminary

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34888

Elliff, in teleconference, answers questions

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34882


BP Ledger, March 21 edition

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34889


FIRST-PERSON: The pain — and hope — after a loved one’s death     http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34890
—————————————

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

SOLOMON TOLD IT right when he said, “Of making many books there is no end” (Ecclesiastes 12:12)…

The number of books extant today would dwarf any library Solomon ever saw or imagined. We have old books, new books, reprints, classics, even e-books. Now you can purchase a hand held device and wirelessly download entire books to it for reading anywhere, at your convenience–a virtual library in your pocket. If we were to take time to count all the volumes in our homes, we might be surprised how many books accumulate over the years. As a preacher, my religious library has grown with time, including hundreds of volumes of greater and lesser value (though it is still small compared to many). Some I would hate to part with. Others just occupy shelf space. In younger days, I was driven to build up a library, thinking that more books translated into more advantage to a preacher. These days, it is only occasionally that a book is added to the collection and I am more motivated to actually read what is on the shelf, rather than be on the lookout for something new to place on the shelf. Good books can aid immeasurably in Bible study, depending on the caliber of their content, and assuming they are read with a discerning eye, educated in the Scriptures. Though a fan of helpful books, I was, nevertheless, struck by an observation that Alexander Campbell made about his father:

“In my boyhood, when entering into his study, in which he had a large and well-assorted library, I was wont to wonder on seeing, with a very few exceptions, only his Bible and Concordance on the table, with a simple outfit of pen, ink, and paper. Whether he had read all these volumes, and cared nothing more for them, or whether he regarded them as wholly useless, I presumed not to inquire, and dared not to decide. But such was the fact” (Memoirs of Elder Thomas Campbell, p. 271).

Isn’t that really what it ought to come down to? For all that can be said in favor of things like commentaries (bad examples of which can do much harm), there is nothing to take the place of a man alone with his Bible. It is easy for our perceptions to be colored by something read elsewhere, and we may end up missing what the Bible actually says because we have been helped into a misunderstanding by an unhelpful book (or article, preacher, etc.). Whatever benefit we reap from other sources, we will always need open Bibles, prayerful hearts, and minds keen on learning exactly what God wrote. And, perhaps, the church would be in better shape if, along with having his honesty of heart, more of our preachers had desks like Thomas Campbell’s.  Weylan Deaver at: http://wdeaver.wordpress.com/2011/03/21/of-making-many-books/
“I will delight myself in Your statutes;I will not forget Your word.”  Psalm 119:16

 

Thanks for praying today.

Anna Lee

Monday Evening

Mr. Frankie Gehringer is beginning his physical therapy at home.   Pray for him as he goes through the therapy needed to get him back to walking.

 

Ora Lee Wilson just called to tell me about her arm.  She fell on her carport and dislocated it.  Thankfully, it is her left arm and she has a daughter and a granddaughter close by to help her.  Ora Lee is in a lot of pain, so pray for that to get better.  She needs to keep her arm immobilized and will have it checked weekly to see that it is still in position.

Ladies, just because Alice Faye, Mary, Ora Lee, and I have fallen and injured an arm, don’t think for a minute it is fun or anything you want to join in and do yourself.  Alice Faye is fine now, the the other three of us could use your continued prayers.

 

 

Monday Addition

Bernie Gill was able to have heart surgery this morning.  He had four bypasses and is doing well.  Keep Bernie and his family in your prayers.

 

 

Paul L. Cobb, Jr.
(July 27, 1939 – March 20, 2011)

Paul L. Cobb, Jr. a loving husband, father, grandfather & great- grandfather was born July 27, 1939 and passed away at 9:40 a.m., Sunday, March 20, 2011 at his residence surrounded by his loving family. He was 71, a native of Franklin, TX and a resident of Amite.

Paul was a retired Louisiana State Police Crime Lab Director, member of Southern Association of Forensic Science, part-time lecturer at Southeastern Louisiana University for 28 years, former employee at Hood Automotive, served as secretary for the Tri State Rodeo Association of which he enjoyed a lifelong association & he served our country in the US Air National Guard.

Paul is survived by his wife of 49 years, Glenda Dearman Cobb, Amite; son, Tobin Cobb and wife Lora, Amite; 2 daughters, Debbie Cobb Sceroler and husband Rev. Randy, Henderson, TX and Sherri Cobb Brady and husband Darden, Liberty, MS.; 6 grandchildren, Todd Sceroler and wife Tiffany, Brendan Sceroler and wife Michelle, Jordan Brady, Blake Brady, Sarah Cobb & Evan Cobb; 8 great-grandchildren, Addison, Anslee, Tyler, Lexie, Carson, Christian, Hayden & Catibeth; cousin, Charlsey Utley and husband O. B., Fairfield, TX.

Preceded in death by his parents, Paul L. and Lillian Beatrice Hughes Cobb, Sr.

Visitation at McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, on Tuesday, March 22, 2011 from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and on Wednesday, March 23, 2011 from 8:00 a.m. until Celebration of Life Services at 11:00 a.m. in the funeral home Chapel with Rev. Randy Sceroler and Rev. Rusty Durand officiating. Interment in Montpelier Cemetery.

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

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

 

Monday

“And take the helmet of salvation,

. . . praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit,

. . . that utterance may be given to me,

that I may open my mouth boldly

to make known the mystery of the gospel,

. . . that in it I may speak boldly,

as I ought to speak.”

~Ephesians 6:17-20~

 

Mr. Johnny and “Miss” Juanita Pritchett were involved in an wreck in Amite on their way home from church yesterday.  They are home, but banged up.  Please keep them in your prayers.

 

 

North American Mission Board Missionary says thanks for gifts to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering

I was thinking about the freedom I have to meet with unchurched people at starbucks, celebrate birthdays with apartment managers, and coach guys who are passionate about fulfilling their ministry purpose by leading a church. Then I realized very little of that would happen without you and your church giving through the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering. Your gifts afford me the living and thus the time to invest in these people’s lives. You are helping me give back and develop the next generation of leaders. I want to take this time to personally thank each of you who has missions so deeply embedded in your soul that you give your dollars to support a work you may never see. People are being changed for eternity, hope for the hopeless, peace for the restless, and Jesus is being lifted up because you are cooperating together with us in the field. Thank You!!!

Louis Spears
Church Planting
Valley Rim Baptist Association
1235 E. Evergreen
Mesa, Arizona 85203


 

I’ll update the obituary for Mr. Paul Cobb when it is available.

 

 

Have a great day!

Anna Lee

Sunday Afternoon

Paul L. Cobb, Jr.
(July 27, 1939 – March 20, 2011)

Paul L. Cobb, Jr. was born July 27, 1939 and passed away at 9:40 a.m., Sunday, March 20, 2011 at his residence surrounded by his loving family. He was 71, a resident of Amite.

Arrangements will be added Monday, March 21, 2011.

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

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

 

Sunday

You have begun to live the new life,

in which you are being made new

and are becoming like the One who made you.”

~Colossians 3:10a NCV~

We are “becoming brighter and more beautiful

as God enters our lives and we become like him.”

~2 Corinthians 3:18b Msg~

 

Heart to Heart with Holley

http://www.holleygerth.com/

Please take time to read some of Holley’s devotionals.  She touches my heart when I take time to read her writings.  I hope you will feel the same way.

 

Pray for our world.  It seems like there is war and other problems in so many areas.

God sees the big picture!  Trust Him to get us through whatever we face as a nation and whatever we face in our individual lives.

Have a great Lord’s Day!

Anna Lee


Saturday

 

“O Lord, God of my salvation,
I have cried out day and night before You.
Let my prayer come before You;
incline Your ear to my cry.”
~Psalm 88:1-2~
THE SEARCH IS ON

The boss of a big company needed to call one of his employees about an urgent problem with one of the main computers.  He dialed the employee’s home phone number and was greeted with a child whispering, “Hello?”

Feeling put out at the inconvenience of having to talk to a youngster, the boss asked, “Is your Daddy home?”  “Yes”, whispered the small voice.

“May I talk with him?”, the man asked.  To the surprise of the boss, the small voice whispered, “No.”

Wanting to talk with an adult, the boss asked, “Is your Mommy there?” “Yes”, came the answer.  “May I talk with her?”  Again the small voice whispered, “No.”

Knowing that it was not likely that a young child would be left home alone, the boss decided he would just leave a message with the person who should be there watching over the child.

“Is there anyone there besides you?”, the boss asked the child.  “Yes”, whispered the child,  “A policeman.”

Wondering what an officer would be doing at his employee’s home, the boss asked, “May I speak with the policeman?”  “No, he’s busy”, whispered the child.  “Busy doing what?”, asked the boss.  “Talking to Daddy and Mommy and the fireman”, came the whispered answer.

Growing concerned and even worried as he heard a loud noise through the earpiece on the phone, the boss asked, “What is that noise?”

“A hello-copper”, answered the whispering voice.  “What is going on there?”, asked the boss, now alarmed.

In an awed voice the child answered,  “The search team just landed the hello-copper!”

Alarmed, concerned and more than just a little frustrated the boss asked, “Why are they there?”

Still whispering, the young voice replied along with a muffled giggle, “They’re looking for me!”

It reminds me of how we act toward God at times.  When we have done something that we know is wrong, we sometimes, like Adam and Eve in the garden, try to hide from God.  Not physically, of course.  But we try to distance ourselves from God by neglecting worship with God’s people, Bible study, prayer.  We try to avoid God, hoping He won’t notice.

But like the little boy in the story, we know that God is searching for us, doing everything in His power to bring us back.  And even at times when I’ve done something I’m ashamed of, I appreciate that so much.

“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?….Or what woman, having ten coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it?” (Luke 15:4,8)

Is Somebody looking for you today?

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina


Baptist Press News
Have a great day of preparation for the Lord’s Day!  Thank God for the many blessing He has provided for you.  Petition Him for the needs on your heart.  Then, listen!
Anna Lee