“But to You I have cried out, O Lord,
and in the morning my prayer comes before You.”
~Psalm 88:13~
Jadon Pailet is making amazing progress. He is able to scoot around on the floor much better, repeat sounds and words better than he ever has, and give a high-five with his right hand. Go, Jadon! Thank you, Jesus!
Mr. Kenneth Felker seems to have his hands full lately. “Miss” Grace Helen seems to have an infection in her knee. She will be moved back to North Oaks for more attention on her knee.
Robert Lee Beaver
McKneely Funeral Home, Amite
Robert Lee Beaver relinquished the bonds of this world to join another that he strove for his whole life on January 25, 2012. Born January 25, 1930 in Martha, West Virginia to Charles Wesley Beaver and Vesta Lovejoy Beaver. A faithful servant to God, devoted husband, father, brother and trusted friend to all he shared his rich life with. Bob was a teacher of the Word of God and the skills of the hand to many. A retiree of Union Carbide Corporation with 35 years of service. Bob was raised and lived in Hurricane, West Virginia, later residing in Luling, Amite and Zachary, Louisiana. Bob is survived by wife, Ann Welsh Beaver, 3 daughters, Donna Ericson, Diana Herrera and husband, Don, Devon Jeffcoat and husband, Jerry, son, Scott Beaver and wife, Susan, step-son, Kohn Milton and wife, Patricia, brother, Bill Beaver and wife, Jean and sister, Helen Beckett. Bob was blessed with grandchildren, Krista, Morgan, Chelsea, Mitchell, Joshua, Meagan, Steve, Adam, Thomas, Eric, Catherine and Brittany. Also sharing his love with great-grandchildren, Brianna, Carissa, Mallory and Colin. Bob is preceded in death by his wife of 48 years, Loretta Wise Beaver, son, Mitchell Dean Beaver, brother-in-law, Bill Beckett. Special Thanks from the family go to Zachary Manor Nursing Home for the long term care given to Robert and for the many thoughts and prayers from the special friends that have joined in the adventurous life journey with Bob. Visitation at First United Methodist Church, Amite, from 8 a.m. until religious services at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 28, 2012. Services conducted by Rev. Brady Whitton. Interment services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday in Lakelawn Mausoleum, Metairie. McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, in charge of arrangements. For an online guestbook, visit http://www.mckneelys.com.
A number of years ago, there was a woman in Kansas City who walked into a Haagen-Dazs ice cream shop. While she was waiting in line, she turned around to find actor Paul Newman standing behind her. He was in town filming the movie Mr. & Mrs. Bridge, and he didn’t realize it, but he was standing behind one of his biggest fans.
Paul Newman smiled at her and said “hello.” She took one look at those blue eyes and her knees almost buckled. She tried to speak, but nothing came out. Mortified, she turned back around, paid for her ice cream, then quickly walked out of the store.
When she was outside, she sat down on a bench and took a moment to catch her breath. As she calmed down, she realized she didn’t have her ice cream cone. She was getting ready to walk back in to get it when Paul Newman walked out. He asked her, “Are you looking for your ice cream cone?” She was still speechless but she nodded. He said, “You put it in your purse with your change.”
There are some people who hold such great significance in our lives, that meeting them affects us in a powerful way. But if a celebrity or an athlete can have that kind of effect on people, just imagine how much difference it would make in a person’s life to come face-to-face with Jesus Christ!
Think of the difference made in the lives of the Samaritan woman, the man possessed by a multitude of demons, Zaccheus, James and John, the lame man by the pool of Bethesda, the paralytic lowered by his four friends, Saul (later known as Paul), the woman caught in adultery, the blind man, the leper, the thief on the cross, and countless others.
There’s a popular video making the rounds on Youtube this week (with over 14 million hits!) entitled, “Why I Hate Religion But Love Jesus”. There is much I like about the video and some that I don’t like. Religion is not the problem; false religion (hypocrisy) is. Many people fail to realize that Jesus was a religious person himself! But, it is true that religion (in and of itself) cannot save us; Jesus can. Religion cannot change our hearts; Jesus can. Religion cannot empower us to live holy lives; Jesus can.
Our goal as Christians should not be to get people to follow a religion. Our goal should be to bring people to Jesus, to let them see him for themselves, and to allow that encounter to change their lives. Perhaps the most powerful thing we can say to people is what Philip said to Nathaniel (John 1:46) and what the Samaritan woman said to the villagers (John 4:29): “Come and meet Jesus for yourself.”
Have a great day!
Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina
The Prayer Link 