Month: September 2011

Sunday Evening

 

 

Caring Bridge: Larkin Dorris

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

 

Please begin praying for little Chloe Neyland who will have heart surgery next week in New Orleans.

Pray for Dennis Travis who is hospitalized at Ochsner in New Orleans.  The Travis family lives west of Amite.

Douglas Frank Brumfield of Denham Springs passed away.  His wake is tonight at Pine Ridge with the funeral there in the morning.

Thelma Lindsey Alford, a native of Kentwood, passed away.  Her services are scheduled to be in Baton Rouge.

The Lord's Day

Caring Bridge: Logan Watts

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

Randy Relan‘s liver transplant went well.  According to the last report I had, Randy was still sleeping, but the doctors were not alarmed.  Pray for Randy, the family, and the medical staff caring for him.

Jesse Dean is in some pain due to Tuesday’s back surgery, but it is bearable. Continue to remember Jesse and Majel in your prayers.

Ruby Schwartz is in a lot of pain at North Oaks.  Please pray for her and for her family.

Mr. Luther Ricks had a stroke Thursday.  Please be in prayer for Luther, this family, and the medical staff caring for him.

John Levi Reid, Jr.
(September 25, 1937 – September 17, 2011)

John Levi Reid, Jr.

A resident of Greensburg, he died at 9:35 a.m. on Saturday, September 17, 2011 at St. Helena Parish Hospital in Greensburg. He was born September 25, 1937 in Amite and was 73 years of age. He is survived by his sister, Katie Reid, Prairieville; brother, Joe Moore, Albany; 2 nieces, Sandra Turner, Denham Springs and Melanie Moore, Ponchatoula; 3 nephews, Nola David Longmire, Jr., Central, Joseph Moore, III, Amite and Scott Moore, Amite; great-nephew, Kenneth Joseph Landry. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Sunday and from 9 a.m. until religious services at 11 a.m. on Monday, September 19, 2011. Interment Killian Chapel Cemetery, Amite.

Thought for the Day: Life Isn’t Easy

Unfortunately there are some things that children should be learning in school, but don’t. Not all of them have to do with academics. For the benefit of our high school and college graduates, here are some basic rules that may not have found their way into the standard curriculum. Some (perhaps all) of these should be credited to Charles Sykes, author of “Dumbing Down Our Kids.”

Rule #1: Life is not fair. Get used to it.

Rule #2: The world won’t care about your self-esteem. It will expect you to accomplish something before you feel good about yourself.

Rule #3: Sorry, you won’t make $40,000 a year right out of high school. And you won’t be a vice president or have a car phone either. You may even have to wear a uniform that doesn’t have a Gap label.

Rule #4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait ’till you get a boss. He doesn’t have tenure, so he tends to be a bit edgier.

Rule #5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger flipping. They called it opportunity.

Rule #6: If you mess up, it’s not your parents’ fault, so don’t whine about your mistakes. Learn from them.

Rule #7: Before you were born, your parents weren’t as boring as they are now. They got that way paying your bills, cleaning up your room and listening to you tell them how idealistic you are. And by the way, before you save the rain forest from the blood-sucking parasites of your parents’ generation try cleaning out your bedroom.

Rule #8: In some schools they have abolished failing grades. They’ll give you as many times as you want to get the right answer. This, of course, bears not the slightest resemblance to anything in real life.

Rule #9: Life is not divided into semesters, and you don’t get summers off. They expect you to show up every day. For eight hours. And very few employers are interested in helping you find yourself. Do that on your own time.

Rule #10. Television is not real life. Your life is not a sitcom. Your problems will not all be solved in 30 minutes, minus time for commercials. In real life, people actually have to leave the coffee shop to go to jobs.

Rule #11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you’ll end up working for one.

Rule #12: Enjoy this while you can. Sure, parents are a pain, school’s a bother, and life is depressing. But someday you’ll realize how wonderful it was to be a kid. Maybe you should start now.

You’re welcome.

I think there are some good points to be learned by students in the material above. The message I see repeated throughout is “don’t expect for life to be easy.” Interestingly enough, that’s one of the messages that Jesus left with his disciples. Life for a Christian will not always be easy. At times, it will be very difficult. And sometimes it helps just to know that in advance.

“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.” (1 Peter 4:12-13).

The good thing is, though, that even when life is not easy, God has promised to provide the strength we need to get through it.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Boone Church of Christ
Boone, North Carolina

Stand in the storm.  When it gets rough, make adjustments, but keep standing.

Anna Lee

Saturday

CHARLES HARWELL SHEFFIELD Born January 3, 1940, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; died August 15, 2011, in Columbia Falls, Montana, of Lewy Body Dementia. Charlie grew up in Kentwood, Louisiana, graduated from Louisiana State University, and joined the U.S. Navy, retiring from the Reserves with the rank of Captain. He was a small business owner in Kentwood before retirement. Preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Ollie Sheffield and a niece, Michele Garon. Survived by his wife of 48 years, Gail Kemp Sheffield of Kalispell, MT; brother Henry Sheffield and wife Kathleen of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; sister, Sally Garon and husband Claude of Hamilton MT, and several nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. No services scheduled at this time. Donations to the Lewy Body Dementia Association (lbda.org) or the Feral Cat Consortium of Madisonville, Louisiana (helpferals.org) would be appreciated.

There will be a memorial service for Charlie Sheffield on Saturday, September 24th at St. Elizabeth Catholic Chapel in Kentwood. Visitation begins at 1:00 PM and the service will be at 2:30 PM.

Georgia Barnette Week of Prayer for Louisiana Missions

http://georgiabarnette.org/GBO/Day7/

 

 

 

Thought for the Day: God’s Grading Plan

Grade A

Someone has come up with this list of the ways that professors grade their final exams:

DEPT OF STATISTICS:
– All grades are plotted along the normal bell curve.

DEPT OF PSYCHOLOGY:
– Students are asked to blot ink in their exam books, close them and turn them in. The professor opens the books and assigns the first grade that comes to mind.

DEPT OF HISTORY:
– All students get the same grade they got last year.

DEPT OF PHILOSOPHY:
– What is a grade?

LAW SCHOOL:
– Students are asked to defend their position of why they should receive an A.

DEPT OF MATHEMATICS:
– Grades are variable.

DEPT OF LOGIC:
– If and only if the student is present for the final and the student has accumulated a passing grade then the student will receive an A else the student will not receive an A.

DEPT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE:
– Random number generator determines grade.

MUSIC DEPARTMENT:
– Each student must figure out his grade by listening to the instructor play the corresponding note (+ and – would be sharp and flat respectively).

DEPT OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION:
– Everybody gets an A.

How do you suppose God will grade us on our “final exam”? Some people think he will automatically pass everyone (“After all, he’s so kind and loving, how could he do otherwise?”). Some people think he’ll grade on a curve (“I may be bad, but I’m not as bad as some people I know!”). Some people think he look at the assignments you completed (the “good” deeds) and the assignments you failed (the “bad” deeds), and passes you if the good side outweighs the bad.

However, none of those ideas are accurate. Truth is, God grades on a strict pass/fail basis — either we pass (heaven) or we fail (hell). And there is only one way to keep from failing:

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1).

For those who are “in Christ” and continue to walk “according to the Spirit”, the grade is certain. I don’t know about you, but I’m anxious for the semester to end! 🙂

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Boone Church of Christ
Boone, NC

Friday

Georgia Barnette Week of Prayer – Day 6 – Walker: Another area close to us

http://georgiabarnette.org/GBO/Day6/

Georgia Barnette Week of Prayer – Your dollars at work

http://georgiabarnette.org/GBO/Default2.aspx?id=8222

 

NOBTS Project

Archaeological team moves 230 tons of Israel dig debris

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=36120

When You Care Enough to Send the Very Best

Someone has composed the following list of “Cards You’ll Never See at Hallmark”:

“Looking back over the years that we’ve been together, I can’t help but wonder….
What was I thinking?!”

“I’ve always wanted to have someone to hold, someone to love….
After having met you, I’ve changed my mind.”

“As the days go by, I think of how lucky I am….
that you’re not here to ruin it for me.”

“As you grow older, Mom, I think of all the gifts you’ve given me…..
Like the need for therapy.”

“You look great for your age….
Almost life-like!”

“When we were together, you always said you’d die for me….
Now that we’ve broken up, I think it’s time you kept your promise.”

“We have been friends for a very long time….
What do you say we call it quits?”

“I’m so miserable without you….
It’s almost like you’re here.”

“You are such a good friend that if we were on a sinking ship and there was only one life jacket….
I’d miss you heaps and think of you often.”

Somehow those cards truly don’t seem very appropriate for a card company that advertises with the slogan, “When you care enough to send the very best.” Greeting card companies certainly have made it easy for us to let our friends and relatives know that we care about them.

The apostle Paul didn’t have the benefit of going into a card store, but many of the words he wrote to congregations and individuals are filled with sentiment and worded in such a way that perhaps they should be used in greeting cards. Listen to these words written to the Christians in Philippi:

“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always with every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy….it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart….For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:3-4,7,8).

Warren Wiersbe outlines this section with these phrases: “I have you in my mind”, “I have you in my heart” and “I have you in my prayers.” That sums up well the affection that Paul had for those brethren.

Is there someone that you care greatly about? Send them a card. Better yet, drop them a line of your own creation and let them know that they are on your mind, in your heart and in your prayers today. Only do it, though, if you care enough to send the “very best.”

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Boone church of Christ
Boone, NC

Have a fantastic Friday!

Anna Lee

Thursday Afternoon

From Sue Smith

Thank everyone for your prayers. Mike is doing wonderful. Dr said he would have him up in morning for coffee. Thanks again….

 

May Wall Lindsey
(February 18, 1931 – September 14, 2011)
May Wall Lindsey

A resident of Greensburg, died at 5:50 p.m. on Wednesday, September 14, 2011 at North Oaks Medical Center in Hammond. She was born February 18, 1931 in Gillsburg, MS and was 80 years of age. She is survived by 3 daughters, Dorothy Lindsey Ricks and her husband, Sidney, Tricia Wall Simmons and Sheryl Kay Wall Crosby, son, George Wall, 9 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by husband, William Lindsey, III, parents, Willie and Mary Cummings Wall, daughter, Barbara Jean Lindsey, son, Clarence Lindsey, grandson, Sidney Ricks, Jr., granddaughter, Melissa May Ricks, 6 brothers and 6 sisters. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, from 10 a.m. until religious services at 2 p.m. Friday, September 16, 2011. Services conducted by Rev. David Cutrer. Interment Second Baptist Church Cemetery, Jackson, LA.

Thursday

“Worry is a indication that we think God cannot look after us.”

Oswald Chambers

Pray for Andy and Betty Taylor as Andy sees the doctor again today.

Jesse Dean came home yesterday evening.  Pray for his recovery the next few days.

Ruby Schwartz is in room 2205 at North Oaks.  Keep the Schwartz family in your prayers.

Pray for Mike Smith as he has bypass surgery today in Hattisburg.

Raymond Cutrer cut an eye yesterday, but thankfully his eye was not damaged.

Dr. Joe Baugh is in OLOL following knee surgery.  Pray his rehab goes well.

George Eddie Lee’s dad, Mr. Buster Lee, is in North Oaks.  Join others in praying for him.

Thought for the Day: Learning from Children

The following are some “Important Things I’ve Learned From Kids”
(author unknown):

1. It’s more fun to color outside the lines.

2. If you’re gonna draw on the wall, do it behind the couch.

3. Ask why until you understand.

4. Hang on tight.

5. Even if you’ve been fishing for 3 hours and haven’t gotten anything
except poison ivy and a sunburn, you’re still better off than the
worm.

6. Make up the rules as you go along.

7. It doesn’t matter who started it.

8. Ask for sprinkles.

9. If the horse you’re drawing looks more like a dog, make it a dog.

10. Save a place in line for your friends.

11. Sometimes you have to take the test before you’ve finished studying.

12. If you want a kitten, start out asking for a horse.

13. Just keep banging until someone opens the door.

14. Making your bed is a waste of time.

15. There is no good reason why clothes have to match.

16. Even Popeye didn’t eat his spinach until he absolutely had to.

17. You work so hard pedaling up the hill that you hate to brake
on the way down.

18. You can’t ask to start over just because you’re losing the game.

It’s an interesting collection of advice. Some of it translates into
good spiritual advice (#4, #13), some of it doesn’t (#2, #6). That’s to be
expected because there are some aspects of childhood that we should imitate
(purity, humility, trust) and other aspects that we should not
(self-centeredness, ignorance, stubbornness).

In the scriptures, sometimes children are held up as examples to us
(Matt. 18:3-4) and sometimes those who are like children are rebuked (Heb.
5:12-14). And sometimes both occur in the same verse:

“Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be
babes, but in understanding be mature.” (1 Cor. 14:20).

May we seek to add those beautiful “childlike” qualities while seeking
to mature and outgrow those “childish” traits.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Boone Church of Christ
Boone, North Carolina

Make something good happen today for someone else.

Anna Lee