Category: Baptist Press

Tuesday

“In the day of my trouble

I will call upon You,

for You will answer me.”

~Psalm 86:7~





Our grandson, Mason Hatchel (5), was diagnosed with a contagious bacterial infection yesterday. Later, he broke his collarbone. Jennie pulled a muscle getting him to the hospital and is not feeling well. Boyd took Madison (6) in to be checked. She has had an allergic reaction to something. All this in less than twenty-four hours and after Jennie drove home from Poland. We would appreciate your prayers for these “bumps in the road”. Pray for Boyd. It seems he will have three patients!

Don Denton

11:20 P.M. Monday

Doctor came out the surgery went well so far. They had to make a larger incision, but they feel that they got a biopsy that may reveal something. He found an area that did not look normal.

The doctor still had to close, it will be another hour. Then Don will be in ICU. Please pray that he will not have complications.

And as always pray for a cure.

Diane


From Baptist Press

NOBTS Creates Fund for Dukes’ Recovery
By Staff

NEW ORLEANS (BP)–New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary has established a fund to help Jimmy and Retia Dukes with recovery and rehabilitation costs from severe injuries sustained when they were struck by an automobile near the campus April 4.

Jimmy Dukes, professor of New Testament and Greek since 1984, serves as the director of theological education/distance learning for the Florida Baptist Convention. In an arrangement with the Florida Baptist Convention, he also serves as associate dean of the seminary’s Florida extension centers and director of the seminary’s Orlando hub. Retia was a longtime NOBTS staff member before they moved to Florida in 2007.

The couple faces a long, expensive recovery from their injuries. NOBTS President Chuck Kelley created the Jimmy and Retia Dukes Recovery Fund to offset the many rehabilitation costs that will not be covered by insurance. These include treatment costs as well as travel and lodging expenses incurred by the Dukes’ two sons, Erik and Jason, who are making frequent trips to New Orleans. Erik is a physician in Booneville, Miss. Jason is co-pastor of Westpoint Fellowship Church in Windermere, Fla.

“Many of us who have been blessed and helped by the Dukes’ ministry through the years and want to help,” Kelley said. “We know that the recovery will take months and they will be away from their home and family.”

“This fund will be for expenses not covered by insurance. It offers a way for any who want to help to be able to help in a way that greatly assists them and their family,” Kelley said.

Jimmy Dukes received treatment for multiple fractures and injuries, including two broken legs, a broken arm, broken ribs, a cracked vertebra and a collapsed lung. Retia suffered a brain hemorrhage in the accident and was in coma for three weeks.

As bad as things were for Jimmy, doctors and family members were most concerned about Retia’s coma. For three weeks she was unconscious. Family members and seminary administrators urged churches and individuals to pray diligently about her situation. On April 24 Retia awoke and responded to questions from doctors. Now the couple is braced for months of rehabilitation.

The Dukes recently were moved to separate metropolitan New Orleans hospitals to continue their recovery. Jimmy Dukes is at Ochsner Hospital in Elmwood, Retia is at West Jefferson Hospital in Marrero.

The driver of the SUV that struck the Dukes waited at the scene for the New Orleans Police Department to arrive. The case is still under review, but no charges have been filed to date.

Contributions to the fund for the Dukes may be made by calling 504-282-4455, ext. 3252, or sending gifts to New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Office for Institutional Advancement, 3939 Gentilly Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70126. Note “Dukes Fund” on checks. Online gifts may be given by selecting the “Click to Donate” tab at www.nobts.edu. Once in the online giving area, select the Jimmy and Retia Duke Recovery Fund before submitting a gift.

The president’s office at NOBTS will handle disbursements from the fund based on expense requests from the family. Records of the income and disbursements will be available to the NOBTS trustee board for review. Any remaining money in the fund after treatment and rehabilitation is complete will be used to establish the Jimmy and Retia Dukes Scholarship Fund.

The accident happened at dusk April 4. A vehicle traveling east on Gentilly Boulevard/Chef Menteur Highway struck the Dukes as they crossed the street from the seminary’s guest housing to the main campus. NOBTS Campus Police officers and witnesses contacted first responders immediately. Several New Orleans residents, who were on the seminary campus to vote in an election that evening, stopped to offer help as well.

The Dukes family is maintaining a Caring Bridge website with recovery updates for friends of the family. The site is a free, but requires registration: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jimmyandretiadukes.

Reported by New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary’s public relations staff.

Mrs. Laura Bellavia Platzer
(September 29, 1906 – May 4, 2009)

Mrs. Laura Bellavia Platzer

Mrs. Laura Bellavia Platzer was born September 29, 1906 and passed away at 11:32AM, Monday, May 4, 2009 at her residence. She was 102, a native of Donaldsonville and a resident of Amite.

She is survived by numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and her dog Prissy.

Mrs. Laura was preceded in death by her parents Camello and Angelina Patti Bellavia; 3 brothers, Jack, Kelly & Frank Bellavia; 4 sisters, Josie Ardillo, Virginia “Gina” Fassula, Lucy Catalanotto Alessi & Mary Ard.

Special Thanks to her caregivers, Joyce Williams & Beverly Stewart.

Visitation will be at the McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, on Wednesday, May 6, 2009 from 9:00AM until 10:40AM. Religious Services will be at the St. Helena Catholic Church at 11:00AM with Fr. Joe Camilleri officiating. Interment at the Amite Mulberry Cemetery.

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

McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, is located at I-55N & Hwy 16W behind Grand Prix Car Wash & Bond Eye Clinic.

Danny Paul Brignac
(March 22, 1959 – May 1, 2009)

Born March 22, 1959 and died May 1, 2009, a native of Algiers, LA and resident of Ponchatoula, LA. He is a former employee of Entergy Waterford III. Survived by beloved wife of 27 years, Sheila Ockman Brignac, 2 sons Derek Brignac and Shane Brignac and 1 precious granddaughter, Brooklyn Jaide Brignac, mother of his granddaughter Casey Fernandez, 4 brothers Donald, Bryan, Kevin, and Randy Brignac, 1 sister, Shanon Brignac, mother-in-law, Helen Ockman, numerous godchildren, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by parents Donald Brignac, Sr. and Gertrude Weckesser Brignac, father-in-law, Earl Ockman. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m. on Friday and from 8 a.m. until religious services at 11 a.m Saturday. Interment Amite Memorial Gardens, Amite, LA.

Cecil Reinken Bedsole
Mrs. Cecil Reinken Bedsole, beloved wife, mother and grandmother, died at Hood Memorial Hospital on Sunday, May 3, 2009, surrounded by her family. She was 88, a native of Baton Rouge and a resident of Hammond. She graduated from Baton Rouge High School in 1937 and LSU in 1941 where she worked as a secretary to the LSU dean of men. After marrying and moving to Hammond, she was secretary to Luther H. Dyson, president of Southeastern Louisiana College (now SLU). She was a retired real estate agent and former member of Les Mesdames and other campus, civic and church organizations. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Hammond and the United Methodist Women. She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Robert G. and Brenda Bedsole Ricks, of Amite; two sons, G. Alan Bedsole, of Hammond, and Robert L. Bedsole, of Baton Rouge, and his special friend, Marcia Colvin; five grandchildren, Mike Ricks, Rachel, Laura and Joseph Bedsole, of Baton Rouge, and Robert W. Ricks, of Amite; four nieces, Barbara Griffin Wiltshire and husband Rick, of Richmond, Va., Jane Griffin DeMatteis and husband Denny, of Raleigh, N.C., Jan Woods Gray and husband Bob, of Dothan, Ala., and Betty Sue Woods Rash and husband Bobby, of Slocomb, Ala.; nephew, David Griffin and wife Mary, of Raleigh; and numerous other family members. Preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, George W. Bedsole, retired department head emeritus of the department of sociology, social welfare and criminal justice and professor emeritus of sociology at SLU; parents, Granville B. and Bertie Dixon Reinken; sister, Nell Reinken Griffin and husband Percy; brother-in-law, Vergil L. Bedsole; sister-in-law, Blanche Bedsole Woods and husband Hubert; and three nephews, Hubert “Trump” Woods, Edward Woods and Jimmy Woods. Friends will be received Wednesday, May 6, from noon until service at 2 p.m. at Harry McKneely & Son Funeral Home, Hammond. Entombment in Greenlawn Mausoleum. The family extends a special thanks to all of her wonderful friends, neighbors and caregivers. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the George and Cecil Bedsole Criminal Justice Scholarship through the Southeastern Louisiana Development Foundation, SLU Box 1073, Hammond, LA 70402. An online guestbook and family forum are available at http://www.harrymckneely.com.

Mrs. Wilda Westmoreland’s photograph has now been posted.

Wilda Phillips Westmoreland

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor
WILLIAM TYNDALE WAS born in A.D. 1494, near the middle of the Dark Ages…
The times were dark because the Scriptures had long been kept from the people by the Roman Catholic church. Church leaders believed that only members of the clergy should read the Scriptures. For that reason, the Word of God was neither taught nor made available.
Tyndale devoted his life to changing all of that. He built on the work of John Wycliffe, a man who died a hundred years before Tyndale was born. Wycliffe risked his life on a daily basis to translate the Bible from Latin to English, then to have handwritten copies distributed to the people. Wycliffe was so hated for making the Bible available that several decades after he died, his enemies condemned him for heresy, dug up his body, burned it, then threw the ashes into a local river.
Tyndale built on the foundation Wycliffe laid down, except that Tyndale bypassed the Latin version entirely ad translated the Scriptures from the original Hebrew and Greek, directly into English. Because his work was so violently opposed in England, the land of his birth, he fled to Germany. In answering a priest who criticized his work, Tyndale said, “If God spare my life, ere many years, I will cause a boy that drives a plow to know more of the Scriptures than you do.”
Like those in the time of Josiah, the people did not know the Scriptures, but neither did the priests. Most of them were ignorant of the Bible. Their source of “truth” was the Pope.
One bishop in Tyndale’s time did a survey of the 311 priests in his diocese:
. 168 of the priests couldn’t repeat the Ten Commandments.
. 31 of the 168 had no idea in where in the Bible the Ten Commandments could be found.
. 41 could not locate the “Lord’s prayer.”
. 31 of the 41 could not name the author of the Lord’s prayer.
When Tyndale completed his translation of the New Testament in 1525, more than 15,000 copies were smuggled back into England over the next five years. Officials did their best to stop the distribution. They delighted in burning Bibles whenever they discovered any. In May of 1535, Tyndale was finally captured and thrown into prison. Approximately one year later, he was burned at the stake. And why was he burned in the flames? Because he was committed to the idea that average people should be able to read the Bible. That was his crime. (Steve Farrar)
KneEmail: “Then the king sent and gathered all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. The king went up to the house of the LORD, with all the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem—the priests and the Levites, and all the people, great and small. And he read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant which had been found in the house of the LORD. Then the king stood in his place and made a covenant before the LORD, to follow the LORD, and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this book.” 2 Chronicles 34:29-32

Have a great day!

Anna Lee

Good Friday

“But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.

Again the high priest asked Him,

“Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?”

~Mark 14:61 NIV~

Would you please add Ms. Margaret Huber to the prayer list. She is having surgery today. They have found a tumor where the large and small intestine are joined.

Mary Margaret Kundler

Caring Bridge Update on Dukes

Spoke with Jason and Erik for the latest update:

They got news that they did NOT actually fix dad’s wrist. Because the skin abrasions were severe enough there, they did not want to risk infection. So they DID fix his humurous, but NOT his ulna.

As the day went on, dad got a little bit more sensible. He struggled a bit coming out of the anasthesia. They did write orders to begin transition to a step down room out of ICU. They expect that to happen tomorrow. He will still be under close watch in a room with a sitter.

As for mom, the neurosurgeon told us that there is really no change. The positive, she is not digressing. Her swelling is going down and the swelling in her face is going down. They said she is making normal progress for a head injury patient but she is still in a deep coma. They are specifically using that terminology.

Please be praying:

1-mom would in some way demonstrate some kind of interaction – sometimes people don’t have that kind of response for 3-4 weeks.

2-pray that both are protected from infections and from clots since they are laying flat all the time.

3-regard to infection for dad – found some issues with skin on legs as result of traumatic type of issue that it was – soft tissue damaged. being diabetic – big cause of concern – don’t want issue with legs and circulation.

4-dads bones would continue to heal and manage pain well.

They continue to be encouraged by the incredible response from friends and family. Jason and Erik’s church families have stepped up to help Jenn and Erin back at home. Please be praying for them as they walk through this with the kids. Erin’s mom is with her and Jenn’s sister Lindsey is staying with her.

Thank you all so much for being the church.

Pray for Dwayne and Trisha Wilson and others as they participate in a mission trip to El Salvadore during the Easter holidays. Pray for the Wilson children and their grandparents as they enjoy this time together.

I look forward to Fridays so I can read KOMpray (Kids on Mission Pray). You can read it too by going to http://kompray.imb.org.

Baptist Press

April 9, 2009

ILLINOIS–FIRST-PERSON (Mark Coppenger): God the Son & His Victorious Resurrection. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30248

TENNESSEE–Oprah doctor: ‘stem cell debate is dead.’ http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30249

TENNESSEE–Rick Warren: ‘I … never campaigned.’ http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30250

PENNSYLVANIA–Philadelphia churches sweep city with God’s Plan for Sharing. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30251

KENTUCKY–Resolutions Committee named for ’09 SBC . http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30252

TENNESSEE–Obama tax proposal shouldn’t hurt churches, exec says. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30253

TENNESSEE–INTERNATIONAL DIGEST: Luis Palau draws 425,000 in Guatemala City. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30254

VIRGINIA–WORLDVIEW (Erich Bridges): Hope for the hopeless. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30256

KANSAS–FIRST-PERSON (Phil Boatwright): Films celebrating Jesus’ resurrection. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30257


FBC, Kentwood will have an 8:15 service this week in addition to the normal Sunday School and worship times.

Monday, the Louisiana College Chorale will be in concert at FBC, Kentwood at 7 P.M. I heard this group many times while Jennie and Jason were students at LC. The students in the group will be different, but the high quality should still be the same. Don’t miss this special night!


THE REWARD FOR FAITHFULNESS

I thought you would enjoy the following list of “Rules and Regulations for Teachers in 1872”:

1. Teachers each day will fill lamps, clean chimneys, and trim wicks.

2. Each teacher will bring a bucket of water and scuttle of coal for the day’s sessions.

3. Make your pens carefully: you may whittle nibs to the individual taste of pupils.

4. Men teachers may take one evening each week for courting purposes, or two evenings a week if they go to church regularly.

5. After 10 hours in school, the teachers spend the remaining time reading the Bible or other good books.

6. Women teachers who marry or engage in unseemly conduct will be dismissed.

7. Each teacher should lay aside from each pay a goodly sum of his earnings for his benefit during his declining years so that he will not become a burden on society.

8. Any teacher who smokes, uses liquor in any form, frequents pool or public halls, or get shaved in a barber shop will give good reason to suspect his worth, intentions, integrity and honesty.

9. The teacher who performs his labors faithfully and without fault for five years will be given an increase of 25 cents per week in his pay, providing the Board of Education approves.

I was intrigued by the wording of #9 above. It sounded somewhat familiar to me. Then it dawned on me that there is a similarity to what Jesus had to say to the seven churches of Asia Minor in Revelation 2 and 3.

“Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Rev.2:10b)

“…[T]hey shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.” (Rev. 3:4-5)

There are a couple of significant differences, though, between the promise given to teachers in 1872 and the promises given by Jesus. Jesus doesn’t require that we live “without fault” (and oh, how I’m thankful for that!). The reward that Jesus promises is considerably better than 25 cents for every five years of service (and I’m thankful for that as well!). And it’s not a matter of gaining the approval of a group of men. The only approval that matters is the smile we’ll see on our Father’s face.

Father, thank you for the promises that you have given — not just the promise of a crown or of white garments, but the promise of an opportunity to be in your presence, to be held in your arms. I don’t live before you “without fault”, so I thank you for your grace as I seek to live faithfully as your child. I commit all that I am and all that I have to be used in your service. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Jesus is the reason for the season!

Anna Lee

Friday

“Do not fear, little flock,

for it is your Father’s good pleasure

to give you the kingdom.

Sell what you have and give alms;

provide yourselves money bags

which do not grow old,

a treasure in the heavens that does not fail,

where no thief approaches nor moth destroys.

For where your treasure is,

there your heart will be also.”

~Luke 12:32-34~

Don Denton

We made it home this afternoon and we all are so glad to be home again. It is true that there is no place like home and the comfort, peace and rest that it can bring to one.

I am coming to you all again. I am broken and empty. Don has had a headache most of the day and it has gotten worse tonight. It is the first time he has needed a narcotic since January.

The doctors at Barnes told us that if Don should relapse between now and the surgery in three weeks that we should take him immediately to the ER in Springfield and have the hospital there transfer Don to Barnes Jewish. They will be waiting for his arrival and they will do immediate emergency surgery. So seeing Don’s headaches increase is very hard.

Joshua has a cold. The usual Spring cold that happens.

It seems as though we are loosing ground that we felt like we had gained with Don doing better.

Tonight Joshua brought a book to his daddy and Don was unable to read it to him. Josh climbed up in the chair and the look on his face was that of hopelessness and saddness. When I came over to him and just nelt beside him, Joshua had tears streaming down his face. Silent tears. He was so sad.

Don, Joshua and I just talked about our saddness and how we all have cried during this difficult time and it is OK to cry.

I just held him. Then the cat and dog decided they were going to put on one of their shows for us. It can be very commical.

We also got word from the insurance company responding to my appeal. They are going back on everything they said they would do with Mayo reimbursement. They are not honoring what they agreed to. So now I have to somehow figure out how we are going to be able to do this. I just have to find a place to put this on the burner until Don is better.

I continue to pray for healing. I continue to pray that this will be treatable. Tonight I am so discouraged.

WEll as you can see, I so need your prayers. WE all do again. WE find ourselves not understanding. It will be seven months soon, and three different hospitals. It seems so surreal.

Pray for Don that we can control his headaches with meds until he is off of the steroids.

Pray for Joshua. He is a child, not an adult. Some people think children should act like adults and that is the saddest thing when I encounter that. They just don’t get it.

Here I am being honest again. I could use some prayer myself. It is so hard to watch the ones you love suffer.

Oh my soul needs filling with hope.

Diane

From Mary Margaret Kundler:

I have 2 kids to be put on your prayer list. I have a driver his grandson has leukemia his name is Tyler Mc Clendon he is only two months old and they are at Childrens in New Orleans. We also got a note yesterday from school that a sixth grader also has leukemia. Her name is Jenna Van Dan and she will be in Jackson, MS getting her treatments at University Medical Center. Please lift these kids and there families in your prayers.

Please continue to pray for all involved in state testing in the school system.

Bertie Jane Greenhill Kilpatrick
(March 17, 1930 – April 1, 2009)


Native of Clarksville, Tennessee and resident of Amite, Louisiana, born March 17 –St. Patrick’s Day — of 1930; died Wednesday evening, April 1st, 2009. She is the daughter of Margaret Jane Perkins Greenhill and James Edward Greenhill. Bertie Jane, preceded in death by her father, her stepfather, William Richard Hellmers, her mother, and her sister Linda Ann Greenhill Simms.Bertie Jane leaves here John Herbert Kilpatrick, her husband of 59 years, her three sons, John Stephen Kilpatrick, and wife, Elaine and their two daughters, Morgan and Christina, of Shreveport Louisiana; James David Kilpatrick, residing abroad; and Richard Ross Perkins Kilpatrick, and wife, Kathleen, of Denham Springs, Louisiana.With Bertie Jane now are all her cherished dogs — most assuredly Samuel and little Pete Block.Forever missed here below, Bertie Jane now rests in ineffable peace with God and those above.Before her death, Mrs. Kilpatrick requested that in lieu of flowers, any donations be made to either of the following:The Humane SocietyDepartment GABHGP2100 L Street NWWashington, D.C. 20037Doris Day Animal League227 Massachusetts Avenue NE, Suite 100P. O. Box 96084Washington, D.C. 20090-6084++++++++A brief graveside service for relatives and close friends will be held at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, April 4th, at the old Amite Cemetery, Amite, officiated by The Reverend Dennis Walker of Amite First Baptist Church. A viewing will be held at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 10:00 A.M.. until 10:45 A.M.

Baptist Press

April 2, 2009

IRAQ–JOURNEY TO IRAQ: Christ’s story still told in historical land. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30190

IRAQ–JOURNEY TO IRAQ, Part 2: Soldier’s baptism speaks volumes. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30191

WASHINGTON–In Iran, ‘crackdown’ on Christians heightens. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30192

IOWA–‘Gay marriage’ on docket in Iowa, NY. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30193

FLORIDA–‘Quiet influence’ focus of ministers’ wives. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30194

TENNESSEE–Pistol Pete’s faith gets new spotlight. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30195

TENNESSEE–Terri Schiavo’s death is documentary’s focus. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30196

TENNESSEE–Pro-lifers send red envelopes to Obama. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30197

VIRGINIA–FIRST-PERSON (Jerry Rankin): When is the last time you lived with urgency? http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30198


KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor
IN 490 BC, THE Persians landed at a place called Marathon with the hope of capturing Athens…
Greatly outnumbers, the Athenians dispatched Pheidippides to Sparta for help. Pheidippides is reported to have run one hundred and fifty miles in two days. Then, when he returned and learned that the Athenians had already defeated the Persians, he ran another twenty-two miles to Athens. There, he shouted, “Rejoice… We conquer,” and collapsed to his death in exhaustion.
The first Olympics (1896 AD), retraced Pheidippides’ steps with a twenty six mile race in his honor. Today, “marathons” are still run and every step of every race pays silent tribute to a hero that was faithful to the very end of his life. In keeping with that same spirit, Hebrews chapter three challenges us to “hold fast” [literally, “stay the course”]…firm to the end (3:6, 14; cf. 4:14; 6:18; 10:23). (Dan Winkler)
“But Christ as a Son over His own house,
who house we are if we hold fast the confidence
and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.”
~Heb. 3:6~
May Friday be the “topping on the cake” for this week the Lord has provided for us.
Anna Lee

Wednesday

“As for me, I will call upon God,

and the Lord shall save me.

Evening and morning and at noon I will pray,

and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice.”

~Psalm 55:16-17~




Miranda M. Erwin will begin physical therapy Thursday for her shoulder injury. Pray she will soon be 100%.


Carl Wayne Stevens was able to go home yesterday – the first time in two months. Pray for him and Nora as they adjust to being at home again.


Mrs. Faye Price continues to need our prayers. As you pray for her, pray for her family and the medical personnel caring for her.



Pray for students (and teachers) as statewide testing begins today and continues for the next week.


Betty Jo Jarreau
A retired nurse for many, she also was a night watchman at Dixon Correctional Institute. A resident of Plaquemine, she died at 5:40 p.m. on Saturday, March 28, 2009, at River West Medical Center in Plaquemine surrounded by her family. She was 64 and a native of Jackson. Visiting at Wilbert Funeral Home in Plaquemine on Wednesday, April 1, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Visiting will continue at Victory Baptist Church in Plaquemine on Thursday, April 2, from 10 a.m. until religious service at 2 p.m., conducted by the Rev. Donald Ray. Interment in Grace Memorial Park. She is survived by her mother, Bessie Alford; husband, Harold J. Jarreau; a daughter, Kirsten Ray and husband Dr. Derris Ray, of Amite; stepdaughters and stepsons, Toni Hudson, Sherry Hodges, Quanita Ellot, Jack Jarreau, Ricky Jarreau and Tommy Travis; a son, Chris Travis; a sister, Sonya Alford; a brother, Kenny Alford; and grandchildren, Steven and Trenton Warren, Joseph Jarreau, John Cole and Sarah Cole. Pallbearers will be Dr. Derris Ray, Ronnie Rockforte, Mark Angeron, Chris Sterling, Jack Jarreau and Kevin Keith. She was preceded in death by her father, Clifford “Tip” Alford; and granddaughter, Kaitlyn Warren. Betty was an active member of Victory Baptist Church, serving her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, by doing what she did best: acting as a caretaker to many. She sang and played the tambourine for the music group, Victory Baptist Singers. Betty was an active participant of the Women’s Missionary Union and along with her husband, they were witnesses to many lost souls. She not only served Victory Baptist Church, but her calling was to reach out to various communities to serve those less fortunate. Please share sympathies, condolences and memories online at www.wilbertservices.com.






My Son Zane

Baptist Press

By Darin Wales

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (BP)–I love all three of my kids equally. I wouldn’t want any of them not to be in my life. But for this column, I will talk only about my 6-year-old son, Zane.

I can’t imagine life without Zane. I find myself always wanting to love on him, whether it’s a little hug, a love tap on the back, a quick kiss on the head, or just checking in on him while he is sleeping. I just can’t get enough of my boy!

Zane is utterly amazing to me. Some days he has the energy of five kids. He runs all through the house shouting at the top of his lungs “Dad! Dad! Mom! Mom!” — trying to get our attention to say something to us or show us something, which usually only has meaning to him.

Or Zane dances, as only he can dance, endlessly to The Wiggles or some other show on TV. Or we have “wrestling” matches which usually are just extended tickle bouts — Zane doesn’t want to tickle so much as he wants me to tickle him. And that laugh, it is so wonderful, infectious and funny.

Every once in a while, Zane will look over at my wife or me and will keep his gaze on us until we look at him. And when our eyes meet, the biggest toothy grin comes over his face.

And when he tells me he loves me, I just melt and think, “Anything you want son — anything!”

Zane is the world’s best when it comes to cuddling. He always tries to let you know exactly what he wants. Zane will forcefully whap his hand on the chair or bed when he wants you to sit or lie down with him.

When he scoots over next to me and I put my arm around him and we cuddle, I think I could sit there forever! And Zane loves to give kisses, and sometimes they are the very wet variety. For some reason he likes to give them to me on the back of the neck. Go figure.

To say Zane lives life with reckless abandon is an understatement. If he is not going all out then he is asleep. (We have added deadbolt locks high up on our outer doors just to make sure he doesn’t invade the neighborhood).

Zane’s enthusiasm knows no bounds. He is also very loving, forgiving and compassionate. He has this knack for winning over people’s hearts in no time. All his teachers at school and church just adore him. I have to admit: He is hard not to love.

Alas, Zane is not perfect. He can be whiny and difficult to deal with when he doesn’t get his way — typical for a 6-year-old. For some reason, he struggles with daily transitions: TV time to dinner time, dinner time to homework time and then bedtime. We trust that he will grow out of it.

I never imagined that a child could bring me such joy, laughter and love. But Zane manages to pull it off every day. He inspires me. And obviously, I love to brag on my boy.

While I love all three of my children equally, I have to admit that Zane is special. You see, Zane was born with Down syndrome.

Nine out of every 10 Down syndrome babies are aborted. Zane was a number 10. Zane was born with Down syndrome and we love him just the way he is. Do we wish he hadn’t been born with DS? Of course. Do we ask God to heal him every day? You bet. Can I imagine life without him? No way.

My wife and I don’t think we are better than anyone else, but the thought of aborting our baby never crossed our minds. We didn’t have an amniocentesis done because of the possibility of it causing a miscarriage. But we thought, “What difference does it make? We plan to keep this baby even if there is some birth defect.”

We did not learn of Zane’s condition until the moment of his birth. It was one of the happiest moments of my life while at the same time it was also one of profound sadness. I knew immediately, short of a supernatural healing from God, my newborn would never do many of the things “normal” kids grow up doing.

Over time, we got over the “normal” versus “handicapped” thing. Zane is our son — period. And we love him like crazy.

There are lots of evil things in this world. A kid with Down syndrome, or other physical or mental challenges, isn’t one of them. But abortion is.

Deep down in our hearts, we know, as people, as humans, as creatures fashioned in God’s image, we know that abortion is the taking of an innocent human life. It isn’t right and we know it.

While some in our country may not want to admit that abortion is the taking of innocent life, I believe they inherently know that it is wrong. And if they have ever experienced a Down syndrome child — really spent time with one — then they know in a very real and profound way that abortion is evil.

Zane is my son. He has Down syndrome. I cannot imagine life without him. <!–
D([“mb”,”nu003cbr /u003enZane is utterly amazing to me. Some days he has the energy of five kids. He runs all through the house shouting at the top of his lungs u0026quot;Dad! Dad! Mom! Mom!u0026quot; — trying to get our attention to say something to us or show us something, which usually only has meaning to him.u003cbr /u003enu003cbr /u003enOr Zane dances, as only he can dance, endlessly to The Wiggles or some other show on TV. Or we have u0026quot;wrestlingu0026quot; matches which usually are just extended tickle bouts — Zane doesn’t want to tickle so much as he wants me to tickle him. And that laugh, it is so wonderful, infectious and funny.u003cbr /u003enu003cbr /u003enEvery once in a while, Zane will look over at my wife or me and will keep his gaze on us until we look at him. And when our eyes meet, the biggest toothy grin comes over his face.u003cbr /u003enu003cbr /u003enAnd when he tells me he loves me, I just melt and think, u0026quot;Anything you want son — anything!u0026quot;u003cbr /u003enu003cbr /u003enZane is the world’s best when it comes to cuddling. He always tries to let you know exactly what he wants. Zane will forcefully whap his hand on the chair or bed when he wants you to sit or lie down with him.u003cbr /u003enu003cbr /u003enWhen he scoots over next to me and I put my arm around him and we cuddle, I think I could sit there forever! And Zane loves to give kisses, and sometimes they are the very wet variety. For some reason he likes to give them to me on the back of the neck. Go figure.u003cbr /u003enu003cbr /u003enTo say Zane lives life with reckless abandon is an understatement. If he is not going all out then he is asleep. (We have added deadbolt locks high up on our outer doors just to make sure he doesn’t invade the neighborhood).u003cbr /u003enu003cbr /u003enZane’s enthusiasm knows no bounds. He is also very loving, forgiving and compassionate. He has this knack for winning over people’s hearts in no time. All his teachers at school and church just adore him. I have to admit: He is hard not to love.u003cbr /u003enu003cbr /u003enAlas, Zane is not perfect. He can be whiny and difficult to deal with when he doesn’t get his way — typical for a 6-year-old. For some reason, he struggles with daily transitions: TV time to dinner time, dinner time to homework time and then bedtime. We trust that he will grow out of it.u003cbr /u003e”,1]
);

//–> <!–
D([“mb”,”nu003cbr /u003enI never imagined that a child could bring me such joy, laughter and love. But Zane manages to pull it off every day. He inspires me. And obviously, I love to brag on my boy.u003cbr /u003enu003cbr /u003enWhile I love all three of my children equally, I have to admit that Zane is special. You see, Zane was born with Down syndrome.u003cbr /u003enu003cbr /u003enNine out of every 10 Down syndrome babies are aborted. Zane was a number 10. Zane was born with Down syndrome and we love him just the way he is. Do we wish he hadn’t been born with DS? Of course. Do we ask God to heal him every day? You bet. Can I imagine life without him? No way.u003cbr /u003enu003cbr /u003enMy wife and I don’t think we are better than anyone else, but the thought of aborting our baby never crossed our minds. We didn’t have an amniocentesis done because of the possibility of it causing a miscarriage. But we thought, u0026quot;What difference does it make? We plan to keep this baby even if there is some birth defect.u0026quot;u003cbr /u003enu003cbr /u003enWe did not learn of Zane’s condition until the moment of his birth. It was one of the happiest moments of my life while at the same time it was also one of profound sadness. I knew immediately, short of a supernatural healing from God, my newborn would never do many of the things u0026quot;normalu0026quot; kids grow up doing.u003cbr /u003enu003cbr /u003enOver time, we got over the u0026quot;normalu0026quot; versus u0026quot;handicappedu0026quot; thing. Zane is our son — period. And we love him like crazy.u003cbr /u003enu003cbr /u003enThere are lots of evil things in this world. A kid with Down syndrome, or other physical or mental challenges, isn’t one of them. But abortion is.u003cbr /u003enu003cbr /u003enDeep down in our hearts, we know, as people, as humans, as creatures fashioned in God’s image, we know that abortion is the taking of an innocent human life. It isn’t right and we know it.u003cbr /u003enu003cbr /u003enWhile some in our country may not want to admit that abortion is the taking of innocent life, I believe they inherently know that it is wrong. And if they have ever experienced a Down syndrome child — really spent time with one — then they know in a very real and profound way that abortion is evil.u003cbr /u003e”,1]
);

//–> <!–
D([“mb”,”nu003cbr /u003enZane is my son. He has Down syndrome. I cannot imagine life without him.u003cbr /u003en–30–u003cbr /u003enDarin Wales is a freelance film and television director in Virginia Beach, Va.u003cbr /u003enu003cbr /u003enu003cbr /u003en***********u003cbr /u003enPlease submit any prayer requests via u003ca onclicku003d”return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)” hrefu003d”http://www.sbc.net/oneinamillion&#8221; targetu003d_blanku003ehttp://www.sbc.net/u003cwbr /u003eoneinamillionu003c/au003e.u003cbr /u003en***********u003cbr /u003enSearch ALL SBC sites at u003ca onclicku003d”return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)” hrefu003d”http://www.sbcsearch.net&#8221; targetu003d_blanku003ehttp://www.sbcsearch.netu003c/au003e.u003cbr /u003en***********u003cbr /u003enVolunteer to pray for SBC churches at u003ca onclicku003d”return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)” hrefu003d”http://www.sbc.net/oneinamillion/intro.asp&#8221; targetu003d_blanku003ehttp://www.sbc.net/u003cwbr /u003eoneinamillion/intro.aspu003c/au003e.u003cbr /u003en***********u003cbr /u003enTo have friends subscribe, tell them to visit u003ca onclicku003d”return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)” hrefu003d”http://www.bpnews.net&#8221; targetu003d_blanku003ehttp://www.bpnews.netu003c/au003e and enter their e-mail address under the u0026quot;Subscribe to BPu0026quot; link at the top of the page.u003cbr /u003en***********u003cbr /u003enTo REMOVE or CHANGE your address, click here:u003cbr /u003enu003ca onclicku003d”return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)” hrefu003d”http://mh.databack.com/c.php?Lu003dbaptistpressu0026amp;Eu003dannaleealford@gmail.com&#8221; targetu003d_blanku003ehttp://mh.databack.com/c.php?u003cwbr /u003eLu003dbaptistpressu0026amp;Eu003du003cwbr /u003eannaleealford@gmail.comu003c/au003eu003cbr /u003enu003cbr /u003enu003cbr /u003enu003cbr /u003enu003c/divu003e”,0]
);

//–>

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor
THEODORE ROOSEVELT’S CHILD once jabbed, “Father always had to be the center of attention…
When he went to a wedding, he wanted to be the bride. When he went to a funeral, he was sorry that he couldn’t be the corpse.”
Although we may find humor in this illustration, it reflect a harmful “me-first” philosophy. This philosophy can best be defined by the motto, “Look out for number one.” Self is enthroned as king; people, circumstances, and life are subjects that must bow down.
Embracing this philosophy, self becomes the epicenter of the world. But according to God’s Word, self is not to be the focal point of our lives. God’s plan is for us to focus our thoughts, time, and energy on loving Him and others (Matthew 22:36-39)..
If you were to write your life motto, what would it say? Look out for number one? Or look out for the needs of others? (David Jeremiah)
“Let each of you look out
not only for his own interests,
but also for the interests of others.”
Philippians 2:4


Thank-you for praying today.
Anna Lee

Friday

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels,

but have not love,

I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.”

~1 Corinthians 13:1, ESV~

KOMpray

(Kids on Mission Pray)

Prayer requests

“Let the little children come to Me, and don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these,” Luke 18:16b

WHAT IS COMMON TO YOU?

Lots of us get our ears pierced—after you get over that first sting and let your ear lobes get used to it, pierced ears can be fun and beautiful. But have you ever wondered? Who was the first person to pierce his or her ears? Why did they do it?

The Jur Modo women in Africa don’t just pierce their ears—they pierce their bottom lips! What is beautiful in one culture might be considered unusual in another.

Ear or lip piercing is cultural—it’s common in some countries, not common in others. In America, it’s common to eat peanut butter but it’s not common in every country. In some churches, it is common for girls to wear pants; but in other churches girls wear a dress every Sunday. Maybe you can think of other ideas that are common in once place but not common in another.

We can do some things differently; but when it comes to things about God, there is only one Truth. Jesus is the Savior. The Jur Modo people don’t have anyone teaching them about Jesus. Please ask God to send someone to Africa to teach them about His great love.

MORE PRAYER REQUESTS FROM MISSIONARY KIDS

My brother and I have been sharing with our friends about Jesus. We don’t talk about Jesus a lot because our friends try to change the subject. They have seen the Jesus film, but afterwards they haven’t said a word about Jesus or God. I would like you to pray that our friends’ hearts will be opened to what we have to say and that my brother and I will have the language to share with them. SETH, age 14 (West Africa)

Please ask God to help my parents to know what they are doing and concentrate on their work. I pray that soon the whole world will know God. JL, age 9 (East Asia)

We live in a huge city, full of crime. Please pray for our safety as we travel different places around the city for work and school. Pray for my dad’s ministry in the township of

Soweto. Many people are in cults and many worship their ancestors. There are 4 million people in Soweto and many areas do not have any evangelical churches! Pray that God will open their hearts to the gospel so that they can know Jesus as Savior, Lord and friend! JOSHUWA, age 5 (Central, Eastern and Southern Africa)

Safety. JOEL, age 13, (Northern Africa and the Middle East)

My name is Adrian and I am a junior in high school. I live in northern Thailand with my family. I want the Lord to do a work in me so that I can be a mature witness by the time I go to college. Please pray for my self-discipline in all areas of my life: spiritual, emotional, and physical. ADRIAN, age 15 (Pacific Rim)


INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS PRAYERLINE
INTERNATIONAL MISSION BOARD
Friday, March 27, 2009

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal” (1 Corinthians 13:1, ESV).

Dear Intercessors, this is Eleanor Witcher of the Office of Global Prayer Strategy, encouraging you to pray for the process of language learning.

Learning another language is difficult physically as well as mentally. Workers among the Lake People of Western Europe ask you to pray for ears that will hear and minds that will understand grammar, vocabulary and nuances of the language being studied. Pray with them for adequate rest at night and strength for the day. Ask God to provide native speakers who will come alongside personnel to encourage them in language learning.

The Central Thai language has 44 consonants, 32 vowels and five tones. It has a Sanskrit-like alphabet, not a Roman alphabet. Southern Thai Team members Robert and Kay H. are going to school to learn the Central Thai language before coming south. Besides learning the language, they are also learning and adapting to culture. They will need to learn enough language in about one-and-a half years to be able to go to a more permanent assignment.

Many missionaries “hit the wall” in language study and wonder if it is really worth it. Pray that they will keep the goal in mind–the image of a seeker’s smile of pure joy upon hearing of Jesus’ love in his own heart language. Specifically pray for Sub-Saharan African missionaries, as many must learn two new languages: a trade language and the heart language of the people group to whom God has sent them to tell the story of Jesus.

* Please pray for missionaries to understand their respective languages quickly, accept the culture gracefully, and have fun doing it.

* Pray that God will be glorified in each person’s efforts to be good communicators of the gospel.

* Ask the Lord to fill each one with love even as He fills their minds with new words.

Baptist Press

March 26, 2009

HAWAII–Christians credited for Hawaii gay unions defeat. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30140

TEXAS–Conservatives lose Texas evolution vote. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30141

WASHINGTON–Pro-lifers, at White House, discuss reducing abortions. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30142

MISSISSIPPI–Wedding plans hijacked by Miss. tornado. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30143

NORTH DAKOTA–Snow hampering Dakota flooding relief. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30144

ILLINOIS–Mexico violence affects volunteers’ plans. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30145

GEORGIA–Tighter budgets, expanding ministry challenge SBC churches. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30146

TENNESSEE–Union’s Lady Bulldogs win 4th national title. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30147

TENNESSEE–FIRST-PERSON (Art Toalston): Attention marijuana users. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30148

VIRGINIA–WORLDVIEW (Erich Bridges): The rise of the ‘nones.’ http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30149

Cpl. Jeffrey Scott Hammond
Scottie Hammond, 39, passed away Wednesday, March 25, 2009, at his home in Prairieville. He went to claim his heavenly healing after a two-year battle with brain cancer. He was a 20-year veteran of the Baton Rouge Police Department, where he was a corporal in the motorcycle division. He was a member of the Baton Rouge Union of Police and the Fraternal Order of Police. He was an avid competitor in the motorcycle competitions nationwide, an LSU fan and loved NASCAR races. Visiting at Parkview Baptist Church on Friday, March 27, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Visiting resumes at the church on Saturday from 9 a.m. until religious service at 11 a.m., conducted by the Rev. Russ Kuyrkland. Interment in Magnolia Cemetery, Magnolia, Miss. Scottie was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Hammond and Glenda Gatlin May; and grandparents, Walter and Connie Hammond and H.R. and Eva Gatlin. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Esther Hammond, of Prairieville; a stepson, Mitch Nordstrom, of Prairieville; son, Landon, of Lake Charles; stepdad, Glen May, of Baton Rouge; brother, Lamar Hammond, of Magnolia; half brother, Timothy May, of Prairieville; stepsister, Susan Talbot, of Houston; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Bert and Brenda Schenk, of Kentwood; brother-in-law, Cain Schenk, of Walker; special grandmother, Maryetta Morris, of Magnolia; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Also survived by his brothers and sisters in the Baton Rouge Police Department along with countless motor officers throughout the country. Special thanks to St. Joseph Hospice, Dr. Patrick Stagg, Dr. Judd Paten, Mary Bird Perkins and Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center’s fifth floor nurses. A heartfelt thanks to our devoted friends, Carl and Carla Dabadie and to two of his angels, Emma Turner and Mekisha Earl. Active pallbearers will be Carl Dabadie, David Wallace, Todd Bourgyone, Tyrone Honore, Marco LeBlanc and Mike Richard. Honorary pallbearers are Gary Traylor, Jimmy Vernon, Todd Weisher, Jules Lockett, Brian Harrison, Gerrick Nelson, Ken Albarez, Rob Grimsley, Kolin Burmaster and Scott Montgomery.

Do you see the timeliness of the following devotional?

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor
FEW GREAT LEADERS are accomplished without obstacles or opposition…
Nehemiah encountered both. The officials in Jerusalem ridiculed and opposed Nehemiah’s efforts to rebuilt the wall. Tobiah the Ammonite chortled, “What they are building–if even a fox climbed up on it, he would break down their wall of stones.” And Sanballat the Horonite chimed in, “What are those feeble Jews doing? …Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble–burned as they are?” (Nehemiah 4:2-3). Which just goes to show you that if your purpose is good and worthwhile, you will probably have some vocal opponents.
Nehemiah knew that he alone could not accomplish his purpose of rebuilding the wall; he needed to strengthen the purpose of the entire team. This he did by reminding them that they were not just rebuilding a wall, they were rebuilding and defending their families and a nation. He posted them by families, with their swords, spears, and bows. “After I looked things over, I stood up and said to…the people, ‘Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.'” (Nehemiah 4:14). (Lorin Woolfe)
“So we built the wall,
and the entire wall was joined together
up to half its height,
for the people had a mind to work.”
~Nehemiah 4:6~
I thank God for the rains and pray for your safety through the thunderstorms we are experiencing as well as the “storms” in your life. God is present with us through each thunderstorm and each “storm”.
Anna Lee

Thursday

“He has shaped each person in turn;

now he watches everything we do.”

~Psalm 33:15 MSG~



Daddy’s procedure went well yesterday. Thank-you for praying for him.

Baptist Press

March 18, 2009

WASHINGTON–U.S. endorses U.N. homosexuality declaration. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30090

WASHINGTON–Obama’s first judicial nominee once ruled against Christ’s name in prayers. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30091

WASHINGTON–Boxer urges U.S. to OK controversial kids treaty. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30092

ALABAMA–‘What if?’ focuses Pastors Conf. on Great Commission. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30093

ALABAMA–Seafarers & campers get youthful ministry. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30094

TENNESSEE–FIRST-PERSON (Michael Foust): When discussing cloning, let’s be honest. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30095



Elva Mae Townsend Tycer
(July 21, 1922 – March 18, 2009)

Died at 8:10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 18, 2009 at The Hospice House in Hammond. She was a native of Columbia, MS and a resident of Montpelier. Age 86 years. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 10 a.m. until religious services at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 21, 2009. Services conducted by Rev. Reggie Ogea. Interment Amite Cemetery, Amite. She is survived by her 3 sons, Arthur Ray Tycer, Meridianville, AL, James Herndon Tycer, Montpelier and Lindsay Townsend Tycer, Mechanicsville, VA; 3 sisters, Iva Lee Dunaway, Spartanburg, SC, Nell Lanier, Hammond and Dorothy Forshag, Hammond; 8 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, William A. Tycer; parents, Carl and Mary Powell Townsend; 2 brothers, Shelby Ray Townsend and James Townsend. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Richard Murphy Hospice Foundation, 16013 Halbert Lane, Hammond, LA 70403.


Frederick Andrew Yarborough passed away on Tuesday, March 17, 2009, at St. Helena Nursing Home. He was born Dec. 18, 1924, to Joseph and Rebecca McKinney Yarborough. He is survived by sons, James and William Yarborough, of Greensburg; daughters, Jody Yarborough, of Hammond, Norma Travis, of Denham Springs, and Becky Richhart, of Mooresville, Ind.; brother, Roulan Yarborough, of Greenwell Springs; 14 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren. He was a member of Day’s Methodist Church, an alumni of LSU, a dairyman and former manager of Kentwood Dairy Co-op and Gulf Dairy Inc. He was also a proud Merchant Marine. Visitation at Day’s Methodist Church, Liverpool, on Sunday, March 22, from noon until memorial service at 2 p.m. Preceded in death by his wife, Bonnie Wilkinson Yarborough; two sons, Ricky and Franklin Joseph Yarborough; parents, Joseph and Rebecca Yarborough; and sisters, Louise Batte and Marguerite Travis. Special thanks to Community Care Hospice and St. Helena Nursing Home staffs. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The American Cancer Society, Community Care Hospice in Hammond or Day’s Cemetery Fund.
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KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor
REMEMBER “LONESOME DOVE,” television’s blockbuster mini-series…?
It was the saga of two men, Woodrow Call and Gus McCray. Both strong. Stronger together. Men with rock solid commitments to each other. To be sure, both were stubborn eccentrics. They called each other into question regularly, but they never questioned the friendship. They knew, at the soul level, the one would gladly die for the other. They’d ride through any storm for each other. Come **** or high water. “Ah giv’ him mah word,” became the bottom line of the relationship. And a big chunk of America watched–fascinated, tainted perhaps with cynical disbelief, but touched with unspoken longing–as Woodrow Call dragged the body of Gus McCray three thousand miles to bury him “‘neath the pecan trees at the picnic place ’cause…Ah giv’ him mah word.” Period.
America may have questioned it. Jacob wouldn’t have. Seems to me I recall the old patriarch asking his son to swear he’d bury his bones back over the long miles to bury him at home “with my fathers.” And Joseph did it without flinching. Even though it took and act of Congress (okay, Pharaoh) to do it (see Genesis 47:29-31, 50:1-14). There’s something to it, isn’t there? There was something between two men who understood each other. And others stood around in awe, watching one man move a whole community, “a very great company,” just to fill out a relationship. Joseph might have been heard to declare in Western Hebrew, “Ah giv’ him mah word.” I find myself longing for that kind of commitment in a friendship. To give it and receive it. Don’t you? (Stu Webber)
“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity” (Proverbs 17:17).

Enjoy a little sunshine provided by the Son.
Anna Lee

Wednesday


“Just tell me what to do and I will do it, Lord.

As long as I live I’ll wholeheartedly obey.”

~Psalm 119:33 LB~

Frank Smith

I received three updates on Frank Smith – one from his wife, one from his daughter, and one from a friend. All three said he was doing very well. I’ll post the one from his wife.

. . . . I apologize for not sending in an update on Frank yesterday. His surgery went amazing. The Dr. only had to remove one disc and replaced with bone fragment and a metal plate with screws. I brought him home at 4:00 p.m. Monday and he had a pain free night. His throat is a little sore but nothing to complain about. He did not have to have any pain meds through the night.
I went through 3 back surgeries with him and I can tell you medicine technology has come a long way in 15 years. Thank you all for the power of prayer, I am sure that is what brought him through so good and also the skilled hands of the surgeon.
We love all of you and thanks to all for the prayers.
Sue Smith

Grant Smith

My dad, Grant Smith, will have an outpatient procedure today in Hammond. Pray for him and the medical staff caring for him today.

Thank You For Life!

from Emily Panter by Emily Panter

I was privileged last week to celebrate another year that God has given me. It was a very special birthday, and I can’t help but think that I have learned to appreciate every single day He gives me to watch my children grow a little bit bigger and to see them figuring new things out. I am so grateful for every hug I am able to enjoy from them and from Luke, my tangible rock, who had to endure so much this past year. I hope we can all realize that each day we are given is a day that we remain useful for God’s kingdom. I hope that even on those ‘bad’ days we can all still appreciate that life is beautiful. He was so wonderful to give us so many pleasures in life. What a gift it is to experience it with our senses, our thoughts, our emotions, and our memories. Let me encourage you to give someone a hug today and tell them that you are glad that they are here, and that you have the joy of knowing them.


Baptist Press

March 17, 2009

WASHINGTON–Ban on embryo destruction funds renewed for time-being. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30083

GEORGIA–Ga. may pass nation’s 1st embryo adoption law. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30084

LOUISIANA–Patrick of Ireland: an evangelical hero. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30085

TENNESSEE–RESOURCE: Mother of special needs child offers hope to others. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30087

TENNESSEE–Faith plays little role in Christian parenting. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30088

TENNESSEE–FIRST-PERSON (Gene C. Fant Jr.): Why worldview matters. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30089


Annie Armstrong Easter Offering

Annie Armstrong

Annie Walker Armstrong was the first corresponding secretary of Woman’s Missionary Union. Born on July 11, 1850, in Baltimore, Maryland, to a prominent family active in Baptist life, Annie accompanied her mother to the missionary meetings of Woman’s Mission to Woman where she learned the importance of giving and praying for missions. Having a heart for home missions, Annie worked with Indians, immigrants, Blacks, and children. In 1882, Annie helped organize the Woman’s Baptist Home Mission Society of Maryland. She was this society’s first president.

Missions work among women’s groups had grown as an endeavor in other states as well. In conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention of 1888, women from 12 states met on May 14 in Richmond, Virginia and formed the Executive Committee of Woman’s Mission Societies, Auxiliary to the Southern Baptist Convention. Annie Armstrong was elected corresponding secretary, a position equivalent to executive director today. In 1890 the name Woman’s Missionary Union was adopted. Annie Armstrong served as corresponding secretary until 1906 and always refused a salary for the work she did through WMU to further the gospel. In 1934 the offering that was collected annually for the Home Mission Board was renamed the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for Home Missions. Annie Armstrong died on December 20, 1938, the year of WMU’s 50th anniversary.

WMU events that occurred during the tenure of Annie Armstrong:

1) WMU recommended that churches adopt a graded system of missionary education with organizations for all age levels, beginning with Baby Bands. (1899)
2) WMU began the process of legal incorporation. (1906)
3) WMU began publishing literature for sale. (1906)
4) The organization became officially named Woman’s Missionary Union, Auxiliary to Southern Baptist Convention. (1890)
5) WMU adopted Sunbeam work at the request of the Foreign Mission Board. (1896)
6) The motto “Go Forward” was chosen. (1888)

The SWAP Shop was one think I missed being about to support when the Hatchels where at NOBTS for the last stateside assignment. I’m thankful it is now open and look forward to being able to contribute to the needs of the seminary students again.
NOBTS S.W.A.P. Shop Reopens, Provides Boost for Seminarians
March 12, 2009
By:Gary D. Myers
Baptist Press

NEW ORLEANS – New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary students and student families have a new place to “shop” on campus. Best of all, it is a place without price tags.

On Jan. 30, NOBTS President Chuck Kelley cut the ribbon on the seminary’s brand new S.W.A.P. (Surplus with a Purpose) Shop. The shop is designed to meet immediate needs for seminarians free of charge. Since 1989 the S.W.A.P. Shop has helped students outfit their apartments, clothe their families and make ends meet. The ministry relies entirely on donated items.

Hurricane Katrina forced the closure of the S.W.A.P. Shop. The shop’s original location, flooded by Katrina, was damaged beyond repair. Now the S.W.A.P. Shop is once again open ready to serve the seminary community.

Thanks in part to a generous hurricane recovery gift from the Georgia Baptist Convention, a new metal building was built at the rear of campus to house the S.W.A.P. Shop. And with the slumping economy, the reopening could not come at a better time.

“The S.W.A.P. Shop is one of my favorite things to reopen after Katrina,” Kelley said. “Georgia Baptists are the ones who made this possible. We want to dedicate this with the promise Paul gave us under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in the book of Philippians: ‘My God shall supply all of your needs out of His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.’”

“Thank you for God’s pantry which is being opened once again for the needs of our seminary family,” he continued. “We thank Georgia Baptists. We are celebrating God’s faithfulness to the NOBTS family.”

Filled with gently worn children’s clothes, men’s suits, toys, dishes, books and small appliances, the S.W.A.P. Shop provides a vital link between Southern Baptist churches and the seminary family. Churches and individual church members have long helped students meet their basic needs by donating quality used items.

“The S.W.A.P. Shop is an exciting ministry that provides for the practical, day-to-day needs of our campus family, and our students have been waiting expectantly for its reopening,” said NOBTS Dean of Students Craig Garrett. “ Through the generosity of the Georgia Baptist Convention, which funded the building, and the countless donors of everyday items, our students are now able to give and receive the sorts of things that make a difference in their quality of life.”

“I’ve heard countless stories of God’s provision through the S.W.A.P. Shop in the past, and I look forward to witnessing many more to come,” he said.

The metal building took six months to complete and offers 1200 square feet of space.

Kelley closed the ceremony with a prayer of blessing. He also prayed for those who will donate items to the S.W.A.P. Shop and for the students who will benefit from the gifts.

ARE YOU STARTING TO FORGET?

There’s a beautiful story about a little boy who couldn’t wait for his new baby sister to come home from the hospital. He couldn’t wait to be near her, to talk to her. But his parents didn’t want him to be left alone with her. After all he was only four years old, so they wanted to supervise his visits. He kept begging to be alone with her, so one night his parents finally relented. The boy tiptoed into her room, stood next to his sister’s crib and said: “Tell me about God – I’m starting to forget.”

There are times when we as adults get so caught up in the “rat race” and all of our responsibilities. Perhaps we need to go to the children around us and say, “Tell me about God — I’m starting to forget.”

There are weeks when we’ve been dealing with irate customers and heavy traffic. We need to fellowship with the saints and worship God together because “I’m starting to forget.”

There are weeks when we’ve had to focus on crying babies, the paying of bills and doctors’ appointments. We need the reminder of the Lord’s Supper to see God’s love and grace because “I’m starting to forget.”

There are days when we’re so caught up in deadlines at work and getting the kids to soccer practice, days when we need to slow down a bit and spend time with God in prayer because “I’m starting to forget.”

“Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life.” (Deuteronomy 4:9)

Are you starting to forget? Ask someone to tell you about God once more.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Thank-you for praying. You make a difference!

Anna Lee

Saturday

“In response to all he has done for us,

let us outdo each other

in being helpful and kind to each other

and in doing good.”

~Hebrews 10:24 TLB~

Don and Joshua Denton

We met with ENT for Joshua this morning. The ENT said that he does not usually recommend surgery for a child this age with broken nose, but he is strongly recommending surgery for Monday morning for Joshua.

This ENT is not a pediatric and when asked he does not have allot of experience preforming surgery on one so small. So we have a surgical consult at Childrens Hospital in St. Louis on this Monday. If this pediatric ENT surgeon recommends surgery is will happen this next week. So we will head up to St. Louis on Monday.

Also the specialist at Washington University wants to admit Don in the hospital up there for one week. Once we have all of records from every doctor and hospital, we will call her and she will start the admit process. They will bring specialist in to investigate the level of dizziness that Don has that does not diminish. So we will go this Monday for Joshua and then wait till all records come in for Don.

We feel really good about this. We believe we will find answers and feel there may be some resolve.

Please pray for Joshua. This is a very scarey thing for all of us if the doctor at Childrens says he needs surgery. It will be a somewhat simple procedure and he will be home from hospital within a day if all goes well.

I am really feeling like Job these days. Please pray that the surgeon for Joshua will have wisdom he needs.

Bless you all our family and friends.

Diane


Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions

NAMB Missionaries—On Mission To Share Christ

More than 5,500 missionaries serve through the North American Mission Board in the United States, Canada, and their territories. Though their areas of service differ, they are all on mission together to share the love of God with all people.

Church Planting

The largest number of missionaries are starting new Southern Baptist churches, more than 1,450 churches were started in 2007. Mission pastors serve English-speaking and language churches in rural and urban settings.

Evangelism

Sharing the gospel by ministering to people’s needs in church and community settings, including senior adults, nonreaders, non-English-speaking people, substance abusers, families, people in the criminal justice system, homeless people, disabled people, migrant workers, and even vacationers.

Mission Service Corps (MSC)

These missionaries serve more than two years and provide a majority of their own funding although they may receive some NAMB support through the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering®.

Chaplains

In addition to missionaries, Southern Baptist endorsed chaplains minister in many of the same ways as do missionaries. Almost 2,500 Southern Baptist Convention chaplains serve in the military, institutions such as prisons and hospitals, and in corporate settings.

Mission Volunteers

Our mission efforts are also supported by more than 450,000 missions volunteers each year, including adult and youth mission teams, and World Changers groups.


Pastor’s Widow Points to ‘Celebration Day’

By Martin King
Baptist Press

MARYVILLE, Ill. (BP)–Cindy Winters, widow of slain Illinois pastor Fred Winters told 1,900 people who attended his funeral that Sunday, March 8, was “celebration day” for her husband and that she refuses to harbor hatred.

“Fred and I talked so many times about how God is at work here in this church doing incredible things,” she said during Winters’ March 13 funeral at First Baptist Church in Maryville, Ill. “Nothing has changed. Our vision and purpose are the same. I refuse to let Satan win. He is not going to steal my passion and my joy.”

Winters was fatally shot while preaching at the 1,500-member Southern Baptist church east of St. Louis.

Speaking for 20 minutes during a two-hour funeral service, Cindy Winters said, “Our vision and our purpose still remains the same. … I refuse to let Satan win. … He’s not going to steal my joy. He’s not going to steal my passion. He’s not going to steal my desire to spread God’s Word. I’m not going to hate.

“And I will work to carry out the mission of this church and I know all of you will too,” she said. “And I’m not going to survive this thing; I’m going to be a better person because of this thing.”

She quoted one of her two daughters, ages 13 and 11 years, as saying, “I want to be just like my daddy. I hope the man who did this learns to love Jesus.”

Winters refuted a note the man accused of the shooting left on his calendar labeling March 8 as “death day.” She said, “Sunday was not death day, but celebration day — the best day of Fred’s life. On Sunday, my husband did not die, but got a promotion,” as she pointed upward to heaven. Then, the words of the theme song from the television show “The Jeffersons” — referring to “movin’ on up” — played throughout the church building as the congregation stood and applauded.

She told those in attendance in the 900-seat sanctuary and another 1,000 overflowing into the gymnasium as well as those viewing the service on the Internet a number of humorous stories about Winters that illustrated his reputation for being thrifty, athletic, intelligent and passionate about his ministry.

“Fred loved being a pastor. He had a pastor’s heart. When you hurt, he hurt, and when you were happy he was happy. He never got tired of being your pastor,” she told the First Baptist members attending the funeral.

Winters brother and father-in-law also spoke during the service, while three former staff members brought messages.

Bob Dickerson, pastor of First Baptist Church, Marion, Ill., who met Winters in seminary, held his Bible aloft and said, “If Fred were here, he would speak from the Word of God, so that’s what I will do.” Dickerson read from Genesis 50:20 quoting Joseph speaking to his brothers, “What you intended for harm, God intended for good to accomplish the saving of many lives.”

“Fred was intense about sharing Christ. He wanted everybody to know Jesus, and good will come if 100 people, or 1,000 people or 10,000 people, will help others find God” because of what has happened, Dickerson said.

“Evil did not take Fred Winters life because he gave it to Christ many years ago. Evil did not stop the message that Jesus saves,” Dickerson said.

Adam Cruse, pastor of First Baptist Church in Mt. Zion, Ill., another former staff member at First Baptist Maryville, said Winters “was always there for us. He was a rock for us. He cared for us. I know you are hurting and sad, but this is not a time of defeat or surrender because the mission that we shared with him is still our mission.”

The service ended with a video Winters had made several months before his death answering the question, “Why do you exist?” as a way to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In the videotape, which had been on the church’s website during the week, Winters gave the “A-B-Cs of salvation” and ended with an invitation to pray to accept Christ.

Following another presentation of the Gospel by First Baptist’s minister of worship, Mark Jones, the service ended on what Jones called “a note of praise” as they sang “My Savior Lives.”

(Martin King is editor of the Illinois Baptist, newsjournal of the Illinois Baptist State Association.)

Vyette Baham Reid
(August 20, 1928 – March 13, 2009)

Vyette Baham Reid

We will miss our wonderful mother, Nanny, and friend who died at 9:00AM on Friday, March 13, 2009 at St. Tammany Parish Hospital in Covington, LA. She was a native of Folsom, LA and a resident of Loranger, LA. Age 80 years. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Sunday and at Lee Valley Baptist Church, Uneedus, from 10 a.m. Monday until religious services at 2 p.m. Monday. Services conducted by Rev. Johnny Shaw. Interment Noah Cemetery, Loranger. Survived by children, Richie Reid, Husser, Patsy Husser, Omaha, AR, Weda O’Keefe, Bush, Kimberly Gray, Moffatt, CO, Cherrie Humphries, Bush, sister, Inez Pelitere, Madisonville, 13 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by husband, Hulon Reid, parents, Forrest Baham and Bella Baham, brothers, Virgil Baham, Ernest Baham, Wade Baham, Arlee Baham, Ancil Baham, sisters, Weda Willie, Phine Couget, Dorothy Rainey.

Lillian Williams Harper
(October 25, 1921 – March 12, 2009)

Died at 8:52 p.m. on Thursday, March 12, 2009 at North Oaks Medical Center in Hammond, LA. She was a native of Red Bay, AL and a resident of Amite, LA. Age 87 years. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, 9 a.m. on Monday until religious services at 12 Noon Monday. Interment Killian Chapel Cemetery, Amite, LA. Survived by daughter, Ivies Fay Harper, Amite, son, Charles Harper, Amite, 5 grandchildren, Michael Harper, St. Amant, Crystal Brown, Amite, Shannon Husser and husband, Shelby, Husser, Kimberly Bankston and husband, Josh, Husser, Blake Harper and wife, Jessica, Tickfaw, 6 great-grandchildren, nephew, Carlton Williams and wife, Audrey, Greensburg. Preceded in death by husband, Doris “Buddy” Harper, son, Johnny Lee Harper, parents, Sam and Nellie Williams, brother, Dossie Williams.



Pray for Mansell’s family.

Jessie Mae Wells
(July 14, 1929 – March 9, 2009)

Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 9 a.m. on Saturday until religious services at 10 a.m. Saturday. Services conducted by Rev. Butch Revere. Interment Amite Memorial Gardens, Amite, LA.


Pray for “Miss” Ann’s family.

Ann L. Schilling

 Visitation will be held at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 1 p.m. until religious services at 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 14, 2009. Interment will be at the Mulberry Street Cemetery in Amite.

Set construction for the Easter drama at FBC, Kentwood will begin this morning. Work if you can, if not pray for those working, those who will participate in the drama in any way, and for those who will worship with us by viewing the drama.

Have a fantastic weekend!

Anna Lee

Wednesday


“I have told you these things,

so that in me you may have peace.

In this world you will have trouble.

But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

~John 16:33, NIV~

Don Denton Family

Ok…..I need prayer more than ever.

Joshua fell here at home this afternoon, took him to the ER, he has a broken nose and a slight concussion. Arrived home with him about 9pm tonight. If his nose does not stop bleeding, I will be taking him back to the ER. Won’t know till swelling goes down if he will need surgery.

Don is not feeling well. He has become more fatigued over the past couple of days and he is somewhat congested. WE will see his doctor first thing tomorrow morning.

I feel like we are being attacked. I don’t understand why things keep happening.

Our sitter was here this afternoon and I was here too. I was trying to catch up on all my paper work for providers and insurance company. Josh was chasing a small ball in our den. It has a wood floor. Lauren was in the kitchen for a moment. It happened so fast. I could tell by his cry that something was broken.

Lauren, our wonderful sitter has been with us through everything. She is a precious blessing to us and she came to the ER with me this evening. Pray that she will get good rest tonight too.

I will be up with him every four hours checking is alertness.

Pray for me as I don’t “feel” like praying these days. It is really discouraging. I am discouraged to be honest.

I am asking that you all pray for resolve for Don. WE are hoping to get word this week about a specialist in ST. louis.

My sweet, sweet son just this morning cried not understanding why his daddy could not play with him. His little spirit is so discouraged too. WE just hugged and he cried and I too said, mommy is sad too. And daddy is sad too that he is not able to play with you the way he use to. We both just sat there on the floor and held onto each other. It crushes a mother’s heart to see her child like this. WE just have our moments and today was one of them.

Please continue to pray for us. WE so need it more than ever.

love

Diane


Annie Armstrong Easter Offering®

2009 National AAEO Goal: $65,000,000

Offering Overview

The Annie Armstrong Easter Offering® is much more than an offering envelope and an annual missions-giving emphasis. When people give to the offering, 100 percent of their gift will be transformed into missionary salaries and ministry supplies. Those missionaries and supplies will help others hear the message of Christ and respond in faith to His offer of salvation. Time and again our missionaries relate how the offering is their lifeblood. They know that behind each penny given, there is a Southern Baptist who believes in what they do and are affirming the need to equip them to share the gospel with those who need a Savior.




Beverly Ann McIntyre
(September 30, 1940 – March 10, 2009)

Died on Tuesday, March 10, 2009 at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge, LA. She was a native of New Orleans, LA and a resident of Kentwood, LA. Age 68 years. Graveside Services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at McIntyre Cemetery, Kentwood, LA. Services conducted by Rev. Danny Smith. Survived by 3 sisters, Clodye McIntyre, Kentwood, Donis Blades, Kentwood, Joan Bartlette, Kentwood, and Sue Blades, Kentwood, 9 nieces, 4 nephews. Preceded in death by father, Coy McIntyre, mother, Mattye Booty McIntyre, 2 brothers, and Muriel McIntyre, William McIntyre, 2 sisters, Doyce McIntyre, and Glynn McIntyre. McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, in charge of arrangements.


Baptist Press

Tuesday 03/10/09

March 10, 2009

WASHINGTON–Congress refuses to ban funding of forced abortions.
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30037

ILLINOIS–Funeral set for slain Ill. Pastor.
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30038

TENNESSEE–Trusted neighbors can take kids to church.
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30039

TENNESSEE–In Memphis, they’re ‘in the middle of spiritual warfare’.
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30040

TENNESSEE–Elliff: Economic crisis stimulates faith.
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30041

CHICAGO–FIRST-PERSON (C. Ben Mitchell): Why the new stem cell policy is wrong.
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30042

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor
ONE SUMMER I had the privilege of hearing a concert on the Potomac River in Washington, D.C…
The orchestra was performing the 1812 Overture. At one point in it there was cannon fire. The cannons didn’t try to hit anything; they just fired “for effect.” It added drama and excitement to the overture.
I recall my days in the Marine Corps during WWII as a forward observer in an artillery unit. One of the pieces would fire a round, and I would observe where it landed in relationship to the target. I would then radio a message to raise or lower, go right or left. They would fire another round, and I would give new instructions. Finally, I would give the final instructions and call on them to fire “for effect.”
So it is in the parable of Jesus. The Pharisee was merely praying “for effect, ” as a means to impress. Jesus said, “He prayed thus with himself.” The publican, on the other hand, did business with God. He prayed for effect, to accomplish something. This is the kind of prayer we should offer to God. (LeRoy Eims)

“The prayer of a righteous man
is powerful and effective.”
~James 5:16~
Thank-you for praying. Your prayers mean so much to so many!
Anna Lee

Tuesday

“Surely your goodness and unfailing love

will pursue me all the days of my life,

and I will live in the house of the LORD

forever.”

~Psalm 23:6 NLT~

Peyton Alford went to the specialist yesterday. Her spine is okay. The break was clean. She doesn’t have to wear the brace any more. Thank God for the way he answered our prayers for Peyton.

The Annie of the Offering

North American Mission Board

Each year, we honor the life and work of Annie Walker Armstrong (1850-1938) when we give to the annual offering for North American missions named after her. As a tireless servant of God and a contagious advocate and supporter of mission efforts throughout the world, Annie Armstrong led women to unite in mission endeavors that ultimately led to the formation of Woman’s Missionary Union, for which she served as the first corresponding secretary.

Annie believed in Christ with all her heart, but it was her hands that expressed that belief in tangible ways. She spent a great amount of time typing and handwriting letters in support of missions. Many of these letters were quite lengthy and all were filled with conviction that more could and should be done in our mission efforts. In 1893 alone, she wrote almost 18,000 letters! Annie also never hesitated to use her hands to reach out to hug a child or distribute food and clothing and the Word of God to those in need. Her hands held her own Bible as she studied to know how best to share Gods love with others. And, most important, Annie was a woman of prayer, folding her hands in prayer to intercede for the missionaries and for those they were helping discover Christ.

Annie rallied churches to give more, pray more, and do more for reaching people for Christ. As we continue to unite to make her vision a reality in North America today, we can be confident that her legacy will also be ours.

Baptist Press

Monday 03/09/09

March 9, 2009

WASHINGTON–Critics: Obama stem cell order unethical & unnecessary.
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30031

WASHINGTON–Q&A: Frequently asked questions about stem cells.
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30032

ILLINOIS–SBC pastor killed in church shooting.
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30033

MASSACHUSETTS–Reaching Hindus, Muslims in New England.
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30034

ALABAMA–12-foot cross now beckons collegians.
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30035

KENTUCKY–FIRST-PERSON (R. Albert Mohler Jr.): A monumental moral shift.
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30036

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor
IT WAS A fog-shrouded morning, July 4, 1952, when a young woman named Florence Chadwick waded into the water off Catalina Island…
She intended to swim the channel from the island to the California coast. Long-distance swimming was not new to her; she had been the first woman to swim the English Channel in both directions. The water was numbing cold that day. The fog was so thick she could hardly see the boats in her party. Several times sharks had to be driven away with rifle fire. She swam more than 15 hours before she asked to be taken out of the water. Her trainer tried to encourage her to swim on since they were so close to land, but when Florence looked, all she saw was fog. So she quit. . . only one-mile from her goal. Later she said, “I’m not excusing myself, but if I could have seen the land I might have made it.” It wasn’t the cold or fear or exhaustion that caused Florence Chadwick to fail. It was the fog.
Many times we too fail, not because we’re afraid or because of the peer pressure or because of anything other than the fact that we lose sight of the goal. By the way, two months after her failure, Florence Chadwick walked off the same beach into the same channel and swam the distance, setting a new speed record, because she could see the land!
“…I press toward the mark
for the prize of the high calling of
God in Christ Jesus.”
~Philippians 3:14~
Blessings on you today.
Anna Lee