Category: Baptist Press

Wednesday

“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” ~Luke 19:10~

I’m very thankful for the rain last night and for God’s protection over all of us, especially for the family that had the tornado visit them south of Tangipahoa Baptist Church.

http://www.wafb.com/story/16051473/tornado-watch-remains-in-effect-until-10-am

Please remember Mrs. Ruby Dillon in your prayers.  Her hip problem is healing slowly preventing some of “Miss” Ruby’s normal activities.

Remember those who have been sick such as Renee Deck, those who have surgery such as Jason Dean, and those who have had a family member to pass away such as Mrs. Bill Hughes family.  Be an encourager to others in these and similar situations.

Baptist Press – a continuing story we have been following

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=36578

Thought for the Day: Missed Opportunities

The story is told of a young man who wished to marry the farmer’s beautiful daughter. He went to the farmer to ask his permission. The farmer looked him over and responded, “Son, go stand out in that field and I’m going to release three bulls, one at a time. If you can catch the tail of any one of the three bulls, you can marry my daughter.”

The young man stood in the pasture awaiting the first bull. The barn door opened and out ran the biggest, meanest-looking bull he had ever seen. He decided that one of the next bulls had to be a better choice than this one, so he ran over to the side and let the bull pass through the pasture out the back gate.

The barn door opened again. Unbelievable. He had never seen anything so big and fierce in his life. It stood – pawing the ground, grunting, slinging slobber – as it eyed him. Whatever the next bull was like, it had to be a better choice than this one. He ran to the fence and let the bull pass through the pasture, out the back gate.

The door opened a third time. A smile came across his face. This was the weakest, scrawniest little bull he had ever seen. This one was his bull. As the bull came running by, he positioned himself just right and jumped at just the exact moment. He grabbed… but the bull had no tail!

Life is full of opportunities. Some will be easy to take advantage of, some will be difficult. But once we let them pass (often in hopes of something better), those opportunities may never again be available.

The same thing is also true of opportunities to serve Christ. God often opens doors — opportunities to speak up for Him, opportunities to minister to someone who is hurting or in need, opportunities to make an influence on the world around us. If we allow them to pass by (perhaps because we are waiting for something easier to come along), we may miss out on them altogether.

“Continue praying, keeping alert, and always thanking God. Also pray for us that God will give us an opportunity to tell people his message.” (Col. 4:2-3a, NCV)

“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (Gal. 6:10).

May you take advantage of the doors God opens for you this day!

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
White House Church of Christ
White House, Tennessee

Try to take advantage of the opportunities God gives you.  You won’t be disappointed!

Anna Lee

Tuesday

Jesus said,

“Watch out and guard yourselves from every kind of greed;

because your true life is not made up of the things you own,

no matter how rich you may be.”

~Luke 12:15 (GN)~

Pray for me as I see my gamma knife surgeon for my two week check-up.  Pray for us as we travel.

Heart to Heart with Holley: What makes you beautiful?

As a little girl, I believed anyone related to you automatically thought you were beautiful. The kids at school might tease me but aunts and grandmas gushed, “Look at those cheeks! Look at that hair!”

Over time, I realized my little theory might not quite be true. I just happened to belong to an especially gracious (and very southern) family who chose to see the best in me.

But for the longest time I thought blood ties made you beautiful.

Pushing a vaccuum through the hall the other day, hair in a messy ponytail, I felt anything but lovely. I thought of my sweet relatives and wished someone were there to gush over me–even in my unsightly state.

Then I realized that Someone in my life did see me as beautiful right here, right now.

“Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

I paused for a moment in my cleaning, leaned back against the wall and smiled.

Aha!

It turns out I’d been right all along…

Blood ties do make us beautiful. 

Perhaps not always the kind that flow through family trees but forever the kind that flowed down a tree made into a cross.

Yes, He takes all of our unloveliness and turns it into what only He can…

all beauty. 

–Holley

Baptist Press: Condoleezza Rice voices faith & optimism

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=36567

Thank God for the rain He is providing today.

Anna Lee

Monday

“We must support believers who go on trips like this

so that we can work together with them in spreading the truth.”

~3 John 1:8 (GW)~

If you did not get your Operation Christmas Child Shoebox turned in at FBC, Kentwood yesterday, you will still have about two more days before they are delivered to the collection center.  Complete your box and take it to the church office with a check for $7.00 to cover shipping.  You’ll be blessed!

Another blessing you can have this week is to attend our Third Thursday Share Group at the cabin.  We meet at 6:30 for a time of food, fellowship, devotional, and prayer.  Nobody is ever put “on the spot”, so feel free to come check it out.

Pray for Carol New as she has knee replacement surgery today.

Continue to pray for the many who have lost loved ones recently as well as those who are not well.

Pray for safety for those who will be traveling in the coming weeks.

Pray for boldness for those who have family members and friends who have not accepted God into their hearts.

Be thankful for all the blessing you and yours have received.

Baptist Press

http://www.bpnews.net/

Thought for the Day: He will provide

One Saturday Ken Erickson’s wife cleaned out leftovers from the refrigerator. She gave the one remaining portion of tortellini to their 6-year-old son, Jeremy. Their 8-year-old son, Matthew, also wanted some, so bickering ensued. After several unsuccessful attempts to mediate the dispute, Ken decided on a theological approach. Hoping to convince Jeremy to share his portion with Matthew, he said, “Jeremy, what would Jesus do in this situation?”

Jeremy immediately responded, “Oh, Dad, He would just make more!”

What a beautiful truth — Jesus will provide! I’m not saying that he would have provided for his own personal need (because he never did that in a miraculous way), but time and time again Jesus showed both his willingness and his ability to provide for those who were around him.

It was a truth the apostles needed to learn. Surrounded by thousands of people, Jesus said to them, “Give them something to eat.” (Matthew 14:16). Their answer indicated their recognition that Jesus had asked the impossible. They didn’t have the resources. But Jesus did.

It is a truth we all need to learn. Whatever your need may be, whatever crisis you may be going through, whatever strength you need to cope with the struggles in your life, Jesus will provide. He has both the willingness and the ability to provide for those in need.

“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

Have a great day!

Alan Smith

He will provide!  Sometimes that’s all people can say about their situation in life.  I pray God will use you to “provide for others”.

Anna Lee

Saturday

“When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them.

Always be eager to practice hospitality.”

~Romans 12:13 (NLT, second edition)~

Jana C. Creel is home from the hospital.  Thank God her her improvement.

Jason Dean is in pain, but walking a little.  Pray for him as he continues to recover from back surgery.  He should be released Sunday,

Chloe Neyland is doing better.  She may be strong enough to move to a regular room later today.

I shared this website before, but think it might encourage us to do more for others, so I’m posting it again.

http://www.joeyshopeforhungrychildren.bbnow.org/index.php

Thought for the Day: Missed opportunities

The story is told of a young man who wished to marry the farmer’s beautiful daughter. He went to the farmer to ask his permission. The farmer looked him over and responded, “Son, go stand out in that field and I’m going to release three bulls, one at a time. If you can catch the tail of any one of the three bulls, you can marry my daughter.”

The young man stood in the pasture awaiting the first bull. The barn door opened and out ran the biggest, meanest-looking bull he had ever seen. He decided that one of the next bulls had to be a better choice than this one, so he ran over to the side and let the bull pass through the pasture out the back gate.

The barn door opened again. Unbelievable. He had never seen anything so big and fierce in his life. It stood – pawing the ground, grunting, slinging slobber – as it eyed him. Whatever the next bull was like, it had to be a better choice than this one. He ran to the fence and let the bull pass through the pasture, out the back gate.

The door opened a third time. A smile came across his face. This was the weakest, scrawniest little bull he had ever seen. This one was his bull. As the bull came running by, he positioned himself just right and jumped at just the exact moment. He grabbed… but the bull had no tail!

Life is full of opportunities. Some will be easy to take advantage of, some will be difficult. But once we let them pass (often in hopes of something better), those opportunities may never again be available.

The same thing is also true of opportunities to serve Christ. God often opens doors — opportunities to speak up for Him, opportunities to minister to someone who is hurting or in need, opportunities to make an influence on the world around us. If we allow them to pass by (perhaps because we are waiting for something easier to come along), we may miss out on them altogether.

“Continue praying, keeping alert, and always thanking God. Also pray for us that God will give us an opportunity to tell people his message.” (Col. 4:2-3a, NCV)

“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (Gal. 6:10)

May you take advantage of the doors God opens for you this day!

Have a great day!

Alan Smith

 

 

Have a super Saturday!

Anna Lee

Saturday

“This service that you perform

is not only supplying the needs of God’s people

but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.”

~2 Corinthians 9:12 NIV~

Please continue to pray for Chloe Neyland and her family.  Chloe did not have a great day yesterday.  We can pray for a better day today.

Baptist Press:  A 7th inning exit & a great lesson about fatherhood

 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=36438

Baptist Press: God uses student’s handicap for His glory

http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=36437

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD

    I heard about a preacher who went into children’s church to talk to the children about Psalm 23.  He told the children about sheep, that they weren’t smart and needed lots of guidance, and that a shepherd’s job was to stay close to the sheep, protect them from wild animals and keep them from wandering off and doing dumb things that would get them hurt or killed.

He pointed to the children in the room and said that they were the sheep and needed lots of guidance.  Then the minister said, “If you are the sheep, then who is the shepherd?”  He was obviously indicating himself.

There was a silence for a few seconds.  Then one of the children said, “Jesus.  Jesus is the shepherd.”

The minister was obviously caught by surprise and said to the boy, “Well, then, who am I?”

The little boy thought for a moment and then he said with a shrug, “I guess you must be a sheep dog.”

That’s not a bad answer!  I know that the Bible refers to the elders in the church as “pastors” (shepherds), so it’s fully appropriate to refer to them in that way.  But Peter referred to Jesus as the “Chief Shepherd” (I Peter 5:4) so as to draw a sharp distinction between Him and the other shepherds of the church.  But I also like this idea of our spiritual leaders being “sheep dogs” because it pictures both their role of watching over the sheep and their role of submission to the Chief Shepherd, ready to follow His every command.

If you are a pastor, I hope you connect with the concept of the sheep dog.  If you’re one of the flock, I hope that you will “obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account.” (Hebrews 13:17).  And may we all take comfort in our Shepherd who watches over us and provides all that we need (and so much more!).

In his book, “I Shall Not Want”, Robert Ketchum tells about a Sunday school teacher who asked her group of children if any of them could quote the entire twenty-third psalm.  A little 4-year-old girl raised her hand.

The little girl came to the front of the class, and she said: “The Lord is my shepherd, that’s all I want.”  Then she bowed and sat down.  She may have overlooked a few verses, but that little girl captured David’s heart in Psalm 23.  “The Lord is my shepherd, that’s all I want.”

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

How is God using you today to bring Glory to His name?  If you haven’t already done so, take some time today to prepare for the Lord’s Day.

Anna Lee

Saturday

“He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”

~Psalm 23:3b (NIV)~

The manhunt continues east of town.  Don’t grow weary of praying for all involved.

Baptist Press

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=36390

Thought for the Day: Surely I can’t look that old

Have you ever been guilty of looking at others your own age and thinking, “Surely I can’t look that old”? An elderly woman was sitting in the waiting room for her first appointment with a new dentist. She noticed his DDS diploma, which bore his full name.

Suddenly, she remembered that a tall, handsome, dark-haired boy with the same name had been in her high school class some 40-odd years ago. Could he be the same guy that she had a secret crush on, way back then?

Upon seeing him, however, she quickly discarded any such thought. This balding, gray-haired man with the deeply lined face was way, way too old to have been her classmate….or was he?

After he examined her teeth, she asked him if he had attended Morgan Park High School.

“Yes. Yes. I did…I’m a Morgan Mustang,” he gleamed with pride.

“When did you graduate?” she asked.

He answered, “In 1959. Why do you ask?”

“You were in my class!” she exclaimed.

He looked at her closely…and then he asked, “What did you teach?”

It’s easy, isn’t it, to look at others our age and see all the changes they’ve gone through — the wrinkles they added, the hair they’ve lost, and not realize that we have changed in exactly the same way? “Surely I can’t look that old!”

It’s easy to do the same thing spiritually. We see the spiritual “wrinkles” in others. We see what’s lacking in their lives that ought to be there. “Surely I’m not that sinful!” And, all the while, they are looking at us, unaware of those problems in their own lives, but they see the same blemishes in our lives!

Jesus didn’t use the imagery of wrinkles and hair loss. Rather, he used the imagery of dust and planks to make the same point.

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:3-5)

Let’s be honest enough to look in the mirror and say, “You know, I really do look that old!” And let’s be honest enough to look into the mirror of God’s Word and say, “You know, I really do have these sins in my life.” Only when we use a mirror on ourselves rather than a magnifying glass on others will we begin to see some development in our spiritual life.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith

Make time to prepare for the Lord’s Day!

Anna Lee

Friday

“Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?

Look at the birds of the air,

for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns;

yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

Are you not of more value than they?”

~Matthew 6:25b-26, NKJV~

“His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me!”

Gwen Harper Pedelahore

Praisiing God for his healing power. Gwen has been taken off of the ventilator and hopefully, she will be moved out of ICU today and into a regular room. Thank all of you for your many prayers this week and continue praying for her complete recovery.

Keri Harper Wickham (Gwen’s aunt)

Linda B. Williams is home after her surgery.  Pray for her recovery to be smooth and uneventful.

Malone Williams has health issues.  Tests show it’s not his heart.  Pray as more tests are done to identify the problem.

As far as I know the manhunt continues.  Please pray for all the people whose lives have been altered so much as they try to live their normal lives or as they join with others trying to locate him.

This is the day I was to have my gamma knife surgery.  Pray for the person who is in surgery because their need is much greater.  Thank God for a facility that can handle “inoperable” brain tumors.

Baptist Press Selected Reading for Today: No church buildings left in Afghanistan

http://bpnews.asp/?ID=36378

Heart to Heart with Holley: You are Called

In the fictional movie, The Princess Diaries, Mia Thermopolis (Anne Hathaway) is an awkward teenager enduring the usual difficulties of high school. That all changes the day her paternal grandmother Clarisse Renaldi (Julie Andrews) arrives with shocking news. It turns out that Mia is far from ordinary. She is, in fact, a princess and the only heir to the throne of Genovia.

Mia proceeds to get herself into a series of mishaps and embarrassing situations as she seeks to become who she rightfully is already. While we’ll probably never be called to rule a country, we all have a moment when the King of Kings calls us to be a princess in His kingdom. Much like Mia, our initial response may be the equivalent of, “Who, me?”

But our calling isn’t about us. Like Mia, we may not see ourselves as “princess material” but what matters most is the will of our Father.

Even after we’ve accepted God’s offer to be a princess, we may forget our calling from time to time. Imagine if Mia moved out of the palace and lived on the streets. Her beautiful gowns would become dirty, she would have little to eat, and few would guess her real identity. Yet the fact that she was royalty wouldn’t change. Being called is just the first step. Carrying out our calling is a lifetime pursuit.

Living our calling can sometimes be confusing because our culture tends to view “a calling” as synonymous with a vocation. We say pastors are “called” to the ministry. A missionary might be “called” overseas. Yet Scripture talks about our calling in a much deeper way. Being called by God is about who we are not about what we do.

You can carry out your calling as a stay-at-home mom, a CEO, a marketing director, a caregiver, or any number of other ways. What matters most is embracing your identity in Christ and living your faith wherever you are today. As Mia finally discovered, being a princess doesn’t require a castle, fancy gowns, or lavish parties. It only requires a heart fully committed to the king.

Ring, ring.

There’s a call for your heart.

It’s been there since the day you were born.

And it will be there until the day you go Home.

Pick it up, listen closely, and you’ll hear

the voice of Your Father whispering what’s true…

“You are mine.

I made you.

Chose you.

Called you.

That call isn’t about a vocation.

It’s about making a difference wherever you are.

It’s about being who I created you to be.

No one else can take your place.

No one else can answer this call.

I’m so glad you did.

I’ll be right here telling you all you need to know

every day, every step of the way.

I love to hear your voice…

and I love when you listen to Mine.”

–God’s Heart for You: Embracing Your True Worth as a Woman      

Make this day, even though it is a Friday, as great as God planned it to be.

Anna Lee

Thursday

“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me,

for I am gentle and lowly in heart,

and you will find rest for your souls.

For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

~Matthew 1:29-30~

Prayers Needed

I would like to ask for prayers for my daughter KaLeigh. Last year she had several lymph nodes removed and just recently we discovered a very large mass in her neck, it is putting pressure on both of her main blood vessels that go to her brain. We are unsure as to what it is. We are waiting for Childrens Hospital to contact us to arrange surgery for her. She is in good spirits but we are all afraid of what it might be, so I would like for everyone to please pray for her and the family as we go through this. It is very difficult since she came such along way from birth.
Thanks
Debbie Powers & family

Please pray for Melissa Johnson, she is in Lallie Kemp Hospital. She has fluid on her lungs and they are trying to get it off.

Thank you,
Gretchen Simpson

Mr. Pete Hyde is now is rehab.  Pray he regains his strength and gets the rehab he needs to return home soon.

Sherry Simpson will have her corrective surgery today in Nashville.  Pray everything goes well and she regains her former strength and stamina.

Robbie Lynn Kirby  is slowly recovering at home.  Pray for her and Kirby as they take one day at a time.

Gwen Harper Pedalahole is still sedated, but seems to be making some progress.  Pray for Gwen and family during some very difficult times.

Mrs. “Bill” Hughes had surgery in McComb.  Pray for this wonderfully sweet lady with a very frail body.  Pray for Mrs. Anne Hurst as she cares for her sister.

Pray Chole Neyland to stay in good health for her heart surgery next week.  If she is healthy, she will enter Children’s Hospital Monday and have surgery Wednesday.  Pray for the family as they surrender this baby to surgeons again.

Pray for the continuing manhunt east of town.  Pray for the law enforcement teams and for the residents who have lived and moved around under such stress for a week.  Pray too for the fugitive and his family.  I would like to quote a principal I had when I first started teaching – “Everybody had a momma”.  I don’t think any of us would want to be in her place today.

Jean M. Limerick

(February 18, 1925 – October 18, 2011)

Mrs. Jean M. Limerick was born on February 18, 1925 and passed away at 8:20 p.m., Tuesday, October 18, 2011 at Northshore Specialty Hospital, Covington. She was 86, a native of Oklahoma City, OK, a resident of Amite and a former resident of Oklahoma City, OK.

Mrs. Jean is survived by her son, Mark Fisher, Sr., Amite; grandson, Mark Fisher, Jr.; granddaughter, Shana Myers and husband Mark; 4 great grandchildren, Coleman Fisher, Gracie Fisher, Erin Myers & Ellie Myers; numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.

Preceded in death by her parents, Eugene and Joyce Hughs Matthews; 1st husband, Edward Fisher; 2nd husband, Charles Limerick; daughter, Marcia Joyce Fisher.

Graveside funeral services will be held at Memorial Park Cemetery, Oklahoma City, OK on Monday, October 24, 2011 at 2:00 p.m.

McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home in charge of local arrangements.

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

Thought for the Day: Should I Forgive that Person?

 The following story comes from Glenn E. Schaeffer via Christian Reader (“Kids of the Kingdom;” September/October 1997):

During a childrens sermon one Sunday morning, I held up an ugly-looking summer shirt that I wore occasionally around the house. I explained to the children that someone said the shirt was ugly and should be thrown away.

“This really hurt me,” I explained. “I’m having trouble forgiving the person who said those mean things. Do you think I should forgive that person?” I asked the children.

Immediately, my six-year-old daughter, Alicia, raised her hand. “Yes, you should,” she said without hesitation. “But why? The person hurt my feelings,” I responded.

To which Alicia wisely answered, “Because you’re married to her.”

We live in a society that doesn’t care much at all about forgiveness. Our culture exalts those TV and movie heroes who take vengeance on others. Those who are willing to forgive are portrayed as weak, and those who refuse to forgive are strong. The result is a society filled with bitterness, vengeance, anger, hate and hostility. Marriages suffer because grudges are held and nobody’s willing to forgive. Crimes of retaliation and ridiculously excessive lawsuits are rampantly common as people seek vengeance both inside or outside the law.

But Jesus emphasized the importance of forgiving others. In fact, he doesn’t give us any other option, if we are to be his disciples. He said, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:14-15). That’s strong language!

Again in Mark 11:25-26, Jesus said, “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

When Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” (Matthew 18:21), Jesus responds by telling a parable about a master who forgave a servant’s huge debt, but that servant refused to forgive another servant who owed him a small amount. The story ends with an angry master turning over the unforgiving servant to the jailers for torture and torment. And then Jesus made the application in one of the harshest statements in all the gospels: “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” (Matthew 18:35).

Jesus makes it painfully clear that forgiving others is directly related to our being forgiven by God, and our unwillingness to forgive destroys the bridge over which God’s forgiveness comes to us. Before you ask for God to forgive you, is there someone who needs your forgiveness today?

Have a great day!

Alan Smith

Baptist Press Article

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=36372

 

So many people have been a blessing to me lately.  I have been humbled by the number of individuals, including former students from many years ago, churches, and church organizations praying for me.  Wow!  I surely hope that I can be a prayer warrior for others like so many have been for me.

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