Good morning, everyone. Let’s make this a great day for “others”! I’m glad you had time to “check-in” today.

Verse of the Day

Daily Bible Reading

August 12
II Chronicles 9-12

Prayer Focus

Today, let’s pray for the mothers of first time students. They often have a hard time the first days of school when they realize their children are growing up.

Obituaries

Deborah Lynn Byers

August 16, 1956 – August 6, 2025

Deborah, a resident of Hammond, LA, passed away at 7:30am on Wednesday August 6, 2025 at Universal Behavior Hospital Health in Hammond, LA. She was born August 16, 1956 in Alexandria, Virginia and was 68 years of age. She is survived by her son, Paul Shelby Williams, Jr. (Maggie) of Husser; daughter, Stephanie Lynn Williams of Houston; sister, Jennette Goff of Port Charlotte; 4 grandchildren, Clayton, Annabelle, Chase, and Zoe; 2 great grandchildren, Ava and Kasten. She is preceded in death by her mother, Barbara Vining; stepfather, Ellis Ball, Jr.; and father, Fayette Bowing; brother, Michael Ball. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 10:00am until Religious Services at 12:00pm on Wednesday, August 13, 2025. For an online guestbook, visit http://www.mckeelys.com.

Daniel Lynn Smith, Sr.

July 24, 1951 – August 9, 2025

A resident of Kentwood, LA, passed away on Saturday, August 9, 2025 at his home. He was born July 24, 1951 in Bogalusa, LA and was 74 years of age. He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Karen Smith; daughters, Stephanie Oakes (Chris), Samantha Reynolds (Neal), Madison Smith, Amber Phillips-Temple (Kaylynn), and Ashley Phillips; sons, R. Duane Smith (Kelly), and Joseph Phillips; sister, Pamela Gullick (Jerry); grandchildren, Rhett Smith, Kristin Oakes, Brian Oakes, Chase Stringer, Tatum Daigle, Nicholas Castella (Adrian), Montana Callaway (Caden), Colton Phillips (Brooklyn), Zola Billings, Mason Billings, Zayne Phillips, and Aspen Aldama; adopted grandson, Christopher McGuff; great-grandchildren, Braylynn, Blakely, Brynlee, Braxton, Chase, Jr. and Cade; very special cousin, Terry W. Smith; and very special neighbor and friend, Regina Stein (Chick). Preceded in death by his parents, Jewel J. Smith, Jr. and Betty J. Smith; son, Daniel L. Smith, Jr.; grandson, Gabriel Smith; and uncle, Carlton Smith. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, from 9:00AM until religious services at 11:00AM on Wednesday, August 13, 2025. Services conducted by Dr. Danny Smith. Interment Spring Creek Cemetery, Spring Creek, LA. For an online guestbook, visit http://www.mckneelys.com.

Reminder: The Pine Ridge Bible Study will soon begin another study. It is not too late to purchase a book and study with us. You’ll surely meet ladies you don’t know and have have new friends.

Quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson

“And what greater calamity can fall upon a nation than the loss of worship.”

I’ll leave you to think about Emerson’s quote. I can see only two ways that would happern . Someone takes/destroys your church or ability to worship and or you freely give it up by not gathering there for worship. It can and does happen! What a sad picture! What a sad day! What a great loss!

Anna Lee