Month: October 2011

Saturday

“We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks!

For Your wondrous works declare that Your name is near.”

~Psalm 75:1~

Pray for Mr. Kenneth Felker.  He’s having trouble with his legs and back.

Continue to pray for Mike Nason and his family.  Mike is in ICU at North Oaks.

Pray for Brenda Brister Edwards in the death of her husband, Chris.  Brenda is still working to get through the death of other family members.  Pray too for the Edwards family in the loss of a son, brother, and uncle.

The news says the search for the wanted man in Kentwood was called off again last night, but will resume this morning.  Pray this dangerous man is caught without anyone being hurt.  Pray for the safety of people in the area who are nervous in their home, especially after dark.  Pray the life of this man will be changed by contact with Christians who are eager to “save” him for eternity.

Thought for the Day: Prison Thoughts


These are some of the frivolous lawsuits filed by convicted prisoners across the United States (which are subsidized by taxpayers).

~ An inmate, calling himself a sports fanatic, complains that, as a result of cruel and unusual punishment, he was forced to miss the NFL playoffs — especially the “classic ” between Miami and San Diego, San Diego and Pittsburgh, and Dallas and San Francisco. (Arkansas)

~ An inmate complains because his meal allegedly was in poor condition. He claims his sandwich was soggy and his cookie was broken. (Brittaker v. Rowland)

~ An inmate who murdered five people sues after lightning knocks out the prison’s TV satellite dish and he must watch network programs, which he says contain violence, profanity, and other objectionable material. (Jackson v. Barton)

~ An inmate sues to be served fruit juice at meals and three pancakes instead of two. (Spradley v. Rathman)

~ An inmate sues to be given Reeboks, Adidas, Pony, or Avia hightops rather than the inferior brand sneakers issued by the prison. (Brown v. Singletary)

~ An inmate sues for not receiving his scheduled parole hearing, though he was out on escape when the hearing was to be held. (Young v. Murphy)

~ An inmate sues to be served fresh rather than reconstituted milk. (Gerteisen v. Bowers)

~ An inmate sues for right to conduct martial arts sparring and full-contact fighting as part of his religion. (Gibson v. Miller)

~ An inmate sues because he was required to eat off of a paper plate. (Procup v. Strickland, et al)

~ An inmate — who has filed more than 140 actions in state and federal court — sues over finding gristle in his turkey leg. (Attwood v. Bowers)

We get quite a different picture of a prisoner in the New Testament by the name of Paul. While he wasn’t afraid to demand his rights (Acts 22:25; 25:11), neither was Paul one to whine and complain and mope while in prison(and he hadn’t even committed a crime!). Listen to this positive statement which comes from Paul’s pen as he sat in chains:

“Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly….. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice.” (Philippians 1:12-14, 18b).

This passage is an encouragement to me in those times when it seems that life is treating me unfairly. If Paul could maintain such a positive spirit and joy in the midst of such difficulty, surely I can do the same.

There is much to be thankful for!

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
White House Church of Christ
White House, Tennessee 37188

Let’s not worry about the frivolous things of life, but those of eternal value.  Today is a good day to encourage/uplift someone.  What are you waiting for?

Anna Lee

Friday

I am not saying this because I am in need,

for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

~ Philippians 4:11 (NIV)~

 

 

On the local level, be safe.  I can find nothing that says the convict on the run has been captured.  Days like we had yesterday and today should make us more aware of the dangers around us all the time.  Ask for Go

INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS PRAYERLINE
IMB
Friday, October 14, 2011

“We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks! For Your wondrous works declare that Your name is near,” (Psalm 75:1, NKJV).

Dear Intercessors, this is Eleanor Witcher of the Office of Global Prayer Strategy, asking you to join the European peoples affinity in a Day of Prayer this Sunday, October 16.

More than 97 percent of the people of Europe do not have a personal relationship with Jesus. They trust in themselves, their governments, their jobs, their families, their education, etc. Those who are “religious” follow church traditions and rituals instead of the truth found the Bible. Western Europeans tend to be post-modern in their thinking, and Eastern Europeans are still influenced by the ideals of their former communist, atheist governments.

Approximately 700 Southern Baptist supported missionaries are currently living and sharing their faith among the world’s 817 million Europeans. A missionary in Malta shares this story. “‘Would you like to come in for a cup of tea?’ my neighbor asked. I immediately said yes, having learned that while Maltese are extremely friendly people, invitations into their homes are not common. We spent an hour and a half and I shared some Bible verses and prayed with her. She showed me the 600-year-old icon that has been passed down through her family and assured me that she respected ‘my religion,’ but she had her own. ‘Jesus loves everyone, but he especially loves those who are good,’ she said.”

In May, 2011, more than fifty Roma met in Prague, the Czech Republic. They were not protesting lower wages, higher unemployment, educational discrimination, or persecution. They were celebrating God’s love, forgiveness, and mercy. They were singing, praying, and praising in the Romany/Gypsy language.

* Please pray today and especially Sunday, October 16, for the work among European peoples, giving thanks in advance for God’s answers to prayer.

* Intercede for European peoples that they will recognize their need for a Savior and place their faith in Jesus.

* Pray for missionaries that they will be encouraged and strengthened as they do the “good work” of spreading the gospel.

***Visit the website europeanpeoples.imb.org to locate the 2011 prayer guide for European Peoples.***

Baptist Press

http://www.bpnews.net/

Heart to Heart with Holley: When it’s time to burn your candles

http://www.holleygerth.com/

Thursday Evening

Luther Ricks took his first steps in a few weeks today.  Continue to remember Luther and his family in your prayers.

Susan Rimes went to the doctor today.  Seven more stones were found.  Keep praying for Susan and her family.

Diane Strickland is out of surgery.  According to Jill, all went well.  Pray for a good recovery.

Robbie Lynn continues to be in a lot of pain.  Physical therapy was hard today.  She should be hospitalized for a couple more days.

Thursday

Enjoy prosperity while you can.

But when hard times strike,

realize that both come from God.

That way you will realize that nothing is certain in this life.

~Ecclesiastes 7:14 NLT~

 

 

 

Miss Bill Hughes is at home once more. She said that she is doing better but is still in some pain. (I called her at home. And then I called Mrs. Anne Hurst.) Both Miss Bill and Mrs. Anne Hurst went home last night from their hospitals. Mrs. Hurst said that she was definitely feeling better.

Laura Joiner

 

Jadon’s Story: Eye appointment

I had my eye appointment today. After a 3 hour wait they said my vision is fine. I have to go back in 6 months to see if there has been any change. Other than that my seizures are still the same. We have to talk to the Dr. In Detroit tomorrow. II will let you know what he says. Please continue to pray!!!

 

Mr. Harrell Sharkey’s heart is fine.  Doctors will be searching for what his problem could be.

Mr. Jimmy Tolar also had a heart cath. with good results.

Taylor Breland, a 14 year old student at Sumner Middle School, was recently diagnosed with cancer.  Pray for Taylor and her family as go to Childrens’ Hospital.

Dr. Earl Council always requests prayer for unborn babies and their mother.  That is a very valid request and one we should all add to our prayer lists.

Andy Taylor has a place in his stomach that is not healing as well as the doctors would like.  Pray that Andy heals so additional attention is not needed.

Pray for the family of Mrs. Georgia Gaines Zachary as they deal with her loss and the circumstances of the accident.  Life and death can seem so unfair at times.

Thought for the Day: Some things money cannot buy

The story is told of a professor was gave a big test one day to his students. He handed out all of the tests and went back to his desk to wait. Once the test was over, the students all handed the tests back in.

The professor noticed that one of the students had attached a $100 bill to his test with a note saying “A dollar per point.”

The next class the professor handed the tests back out. This student got back his test score and $64 change.

We live in a world where virtually anything can be bought with money. It’s important to be reminded every now and then that there are some things that money can’t buy.

“….Conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” (I Peter 1:17b-19)

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
White House Church of Christ

White House, Tennessee

 

May you have the peace of God today in all you do!

Anna Lee

Wednesday Afternoon

Harrell Sharkey is in North Oaks for a procedure leading up to possible heart surgery.

Mr. Pete Hyde has had heart surgery and is in the recovery stage.

Mike Nason has several issues now.  Keep praying for him.

The Nason family had a funeral today and another one recently.  “When it rains, it pours”.

We looked, but couldn’t find “Miss” Bill Hughes at North Oaks.  Maybe, she got to come home.

Diane Strickland is having surgery in the morning.  Keep her in your prayers.

Wednesday

“In response to all he has done for us, l

et us outdo each other in being helpful and kind

to each other and in doing good.”

 ~Hebrews 10:24 (TLB)~

Pray for Robbie Lynn Callihan as she has major back surgery this morning.

Mrs. Anne Hurst was released from the Greensburg Hospital.

Mike Nason and “Miss” Bill Hughes are still at North Oaks.

Tripp Roth

http://randycourtneytripproth.blogspot.com/

Thought for the Day: When the difference yo make is hard to see

All day long I click, type, look through the screen at the faces of people I love who live halfway across the country or even on the other side of the world.

And, sometimes, in the quiet moments I wonder if what I do really makes a difference.

“You can’t see it in person,” hisses the enemy, “You can’t touch it. How do you know it’s real?”

Then I think about how I should be doing something tangible–rocking a baby, handing out food, building a house. I feel a heart-hunger to know the results with my five senses.

I whisper this to Jesus one morning as sunlight spills in through the open window. I ask Him if I’ve gotten it all wrong–if I should be doing something else.

A verse pops into my heart like a present left on the front porch…

Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

I’ve always thought of those words in the context of believing in God.

But that morning it seemed the One Who Loves Us whispered that part of faith is also about believing that our obedience makes a difference–even when we can’t see the results.

Have you ever felt that way about something in your life?

 

Have a great day making a difference in someone’s life!

Anna Lee

Tuesday

“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth,

to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.”

~2 Chronicles 16:9a~

Baptist Press

http://www.bpnews.net/

Shirley Marie Davidson Cutrer Bennett
(July 13, 1936 – October 9, 2011)

Shirley Marie Davidson Cutrer Bennett was born July 13, 1936 and passed away at 7:20 a.m., Sunday, October 9, 2011 at her residence surrounded by her loving family. She was 75, a native of Bruce, MS and a resident of Amite.

Mrs. Shirley is survived by 2 daughters, Peggy Marie Cutrer, Amite & Patricia Cutrer Mathis and husband Richard, Amite:3 sons, Marvin Delbert Cutrer and wife Angie, Amite, Ronald Joe Cutrer and wife Ella, Amite & Samuel Timothy Cutrer, Roseland; former husband Timothy Marvin Cutrer, Roseland; 2 sisters, Neva Hyde, Roseland, & Catherine Battles, Amite, 3 brothers, Paul Davidson, Tickfaw, Eddie Davidson, Tickfaw, & Charles Davidson, Roseland; 11 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren.

Preceded in death by parents, Grady Edward “Eddie” & Carrena Davidson, sister, Rena Faye Davidson Lambert, 2 brothers, Thomas Davidson & Billy Davidson; nephew, Randy Bailey.

Visitation will be at McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, on Wednesday, October 12, 2011 from 10:00 a.m. until Celebration of Life Services at 1:00 p.m. in the funeral home Chapel with Bro. David Cutrer officiating. Interment in Amite Memorial Gardens, Amite.

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

McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home is located at I-55N (Exit 46) and Hwy 16W next to Hood Chevrolet and behind Mr. Tom’s Car Wash, Bond Eye Clinic and Holiday Inn Express

Georgie Gaines Zachary
(Died October 7, 2011)

A resident of Amite, she died at 9:20 pm on Friday, October 7, 2011 at Baptist Hospital in Pensacola, FL. She was 78 and a native of Amite. Visitation will be at Arcola Baptist Church on Wednesday from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. and Thursday from 8 a.m. until Religious Services at 10 a.m. conducted by Rev Bob Simpson. Interment will be at Sharon Cemetery in Amite. She is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Carl “Chicken” Gaines, Jr. and wife, Barbara Gaines of Roseland; three daughters and sons-in-law, Sandra Collins and Jerry Collins of Houston, TX, Carolyn Bourne and Harvey Bourne of Ocean Springs, MS and Diane Moran and Keith Moran of Amite; Nine grandchildren and ten great grandchildren. Two sisters, Emma Stillwell and Bobbie Miller and one brother, Alfred Holden. She is preceded in death by her parents, Al and Cora Holden; her husband, Carl Gaines, Sr. and second husband, Keegan Zachary and a brother, T.J. Holden.

Randy Conleay was very seriously injured in a motorcycle accident while his dad, Mr. Bill, was in ICU at North Oaks.  If you are interested in helping with this benefit, please contact JoEllen.

 A community wide benefit is being held on Friday October 28 for Randy Conleay at the First Baptist Church in Greensburg. We are serving Jambalaya lunches for $7.00, … homemade cakes that will be delicious, and taking donations. Tickets will be on sale at the Forest Festival this Saturday. If you would like to help sell tickets or work on Oct. 28 please call Jo Ellen at 225-324-1837. We need volunteers.

Thought for the Day: Two very different kingdoms

 A number of years ago, I received the following letter from one of my subscribers in Great Britain. Since many of you were not subscribers at the time, I thought you might appreciate this “repeat TFTD”:

To the citizens of the United States of America,

In light of your failure to elect a new President of our former colonies, known more recently as the U.S.A., in order to govern yourselves and that which you habitually refer to as the free world, irrespective of his ability to govern himself, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective today.

Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will assume monarchical duties over all states, commonwealths, former colonies and other territories (including New Jersey).

To aid in the transition to a British Crown Dependency, please comply with the following acts:

1. Look up “revocation” in the now official Chambers English
Dictionary.

2. Start spelling (and pronouncing) correctly all English words.

3. Learn at least the first 4 lines of “God Save The Queen.”

4. Start referring to “soccer” as football and admit that American
football isn’t.

5. Immediately declare war on Quebec (and France). You may use our
air space.

6. Enjoy all cold beverages at room temperature and insist that your
tea be served hot.

7. Learn to enjoy delicacies such as steak and kidney pudding and
Marmite.

8. The Fourth of July is no longer to be observed as a public
holiday. This has been replaced with 5th November, also known
as Guy Fawkes Day (he was the roguish chap who tried to blow up
the Houses of Parliament).

9. All members of this British Crown Dependency will be required to
take 6 weeks annual holiday and observe statutory tea breaks.

10. Driving on the left is now compulsory – recall all cars to effect
the change immediately.

11. Car parts will be referred to by their proper names (bonnet,
boot, etc.) and a more healthy level of tax will be applied to
petrol and diesel fuels.

12. All citizens are to report to our Consulate General in NY for the
issue of new passports and work permits. Please ensure that
orderly queues are maintained.

13. Add the Royal insignia to the top of the Washington Monument.

14. Assemble a national cricket team in preparation for a world tour
next summer.

15. Stop referring to a “World Series” of baseball and instead call
it the National Series of USA, Cuba and Japan.

16. Recall all currency and replace with new coins and notes bearing
an image of monarch’s head.

17. Increase all domestic power supplies to 240 volts with immediate
effect.

Tax collectors from Her Majesty’s Government will be with you shortly to ensure the acquisition of all revenues due (backdated to 1776 with interest).

Thank you for your cooperation and have a nice day!

Aside from the humor (which I enjoyed immensely), the above letter served to remind me of the great difference between our two “kingdoms”. Transferring from one to the other would indeed involve a lot of changes.

In a similar manner, those of us who are Christians have changed kingdoms. In the Colossian letter, the apostle Paul describes what God has done for us:

“He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.” (Col. 1:13)

Allow the significance of that statement to settle in. We used to be a part of Satan’s kingdom; now we are a part of God’s kingdom. We used to be “aliens” (Eph. 2:12); now we are “fellow citizens with the saints” (Eph. 2:19). Things are different now. Very much different!

With no disrespect intended toward Great Britain, I consider it a blessing to be a citizen of the United States. But that blessing doesn’t begin to compare with the great privilege that God has provided in allowing me to be a part of HIS kingdom.

Have a jolly good day!

Alan Smith

Thankful for so much,

Anna Lee