Category: Baptist Press

Wednesday

“Lord, I have called daily upon You; I have stretched out my hands to You.” (Psalm 88:9b)

Glenn Magee, Sr. and Glen Magee, Jr. are leaving today for Florida where Glen, Jr. will have back surgery. If all goes well, they should be back in five days. Pray for them as they are away and for the family members who will stay here and continue their normal activities.

Mrs. Lee (Martina) Hall of Arcola is in the hospital at Greensburg. Pray the doctors will be able to give her the help she needs.

Pray for our country as we go through the transition to a new president and his administration.

WEDNESDAY WINDOW ON THE WORLD – November 5, 2008

MOSSI OF COTE D’IVOIRE (MOH-see). Thank you for interceding for those who are hearing stories about Jesus from missionary apprentices Mike and Heather McAfee. The McAfees write: “Some of the participants in our group should be able to complete the story set this month and will then be faced with a life-changing decision. Those who are eager to hear the Jesus stories have become especially dear to us. One man in particular never ceases to amaze us with his exclamations as the stories unfold. He gasped as Abraham drew the knife to sacrifice Isaac, he was horrified at the sins of Israel’s leaders, he wanted to know if the Messiah had come after hearing the prophecies of Isaiah, and he beamed with joy when the baby Jesus was embraced in joy before the temple as the promised Savior. He begs us to continue with the next story in the set. It is all we can do to keep ahead of him as we prepare each story in French. Pray with us that he and other Muslims in the city of Abidjan will come to see Jesus as their Savior and not just one among many prophets.” mhmcafee95@yahoo.com

RUSSIAN-SPEAKING PEOPLE OF UFA, RUSSIA (oo-FAH). Please pray for Team Ufa members as they turn in paperwork this month for new visas and work on paperwork to gain temporary residency that will allow them to remain inside Russia for up to three years without costly visa expenses, so that they can continue incarnating a Christian witness. http://www.hope4ufa.com/

PERSIANS OF IRAN (PURR-zhuns). A bill recently went before the Iranian parliament to mandate the death penalty for Muslims convicted of apostasy, and it passed by an overwhelming majority. Just days before the vote, two Iranian Christians were charged with apostasy. Denouncing Islam is now officially a capital offence, but judges are free to decide what penalty will be given. The lives of these two men and many others hang in the balance. Pray for these two men and countless others in Iran who follow Christ as they potentially face significant penalties. Ask God to protect Muslim-background believers in Iran, and pray that they will stand strong against tremendous pressure to return to Islam. http://centralasia.imb.org/

How will
your children remember you?
By Tim Ellsworth

JACKSON, Tenn. (BP)–An unusual obituary ran in a California newspaper in August.

It was an obit for 79-year-old Delores Aguilar in the Times-Herald of Vallejo, Calif. Her daughter Virginia Brown was the writer.

“Delores had no hobbies, made no contribution to society and rarely shared a kind word or deed in her life,” Brown wrote about her mother. “I speak for the majority of her family when I say her presence will not be missed by many, very few tears will be shed and there will be no lamenting over her passing.”

What a way to be remembered, huh?

A columnist from another local paper, John Bogert of the Daily Breeze, went searching to determine if the obit was legitimate or a hoax. Sadly, he verified its authenticity and even spoke to Brown about why she wrote what she did.

“I wanted to do the right thing, the honest thing,” Brown told Bogert. “When she died a co-worker gave me a copy of an obituary she wrote for her father as a kind of writing guide. What struck me was how my mother was none of the things I was reading. She was never there for us, she was never good and she left no legacy.”

The other day I picked up a copy of the book “A Nickel’s Worth of Skim Milk,” by Bob Hastings. Hastings was a Baptist minister and served for several years as editor of the Illinois Baptist newspaper. The book is the story of Hastings as a boy, growing up in Southern Illinois.

My childhood experiences differed considerably from his. He was a child of the Great Depression. I was a child of the 80s.

Still, there’s something warm about reading the stories of others as they were growing up — especially if the memories they are sharing are fond ones. While reading his book, I delighted to experience the accounts Hastings told of his boyhood. His parents made life happy for him, despite the tough economic circumstances.

Some of the stories he told made me smile. He recalled how at Christmas every year, his father would kill one of their chickens. His mom would dress it and dry it, and then they wrapped the bird up securely and packaged it in a box. His dad then took the chicken to the post office and mailed it to Hastings’ sister in St. Louis.

“We sent what we could, and I always sensed that the package was tied by cords of love,” Hastings wrote.

Reading Hastings’ childhood stories made me appreciate the fact that over the next few years, I’ll be largely responsible for the memories my own children will be making. Those memories will accompany them throughout their lives.

Will the thoughts they conjure up 50 years from now be recollections that make them smile? I’m fairly confident their memories will never be as bitter as Brown’s are of her mother. But am I doing all I can to brighten their days and fill their lives with joy?

Too often I find myself tempted to shortchange my children to pursue my own selfish interests. Rather than playing with my son, it’s easier for me to plop down and watch a ballgame. Rather than reading a Winnie the Pooh book to my daughter for the 52nd time, it’s easier for me to piddle around on the computer — doing stuff that I’d like to think is important.

As sad as Delores Aguilar’s obituary is, and as extreme of an example as it is, it’s a potent reminder nonetheless for those of us who are parents. What will our children say about us when we’re gone?

May my children never be tempted to say about me what Brown said about her mother at the obituary’s end: “There will be no service, no prayers and no closure for the family she spent a lifetime tearing apart. We cannot come together in the end to see to it that her grandchildren and great-grandchildren can say their goodbyes. So I say here for all of us, GOOD BYE, MOM.”

(Tim Ellsworth is director of news and media relations at Union University.)

Anna Lee

Saturday

An intelligent person aims at wise action,
but a fool starts off in many directions.
Proverbs 17:24 (TEV)

BAPTIST PRESS

October 29, 2008

MEXICO–Pastor still missing after Tijuana kidnap. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29222

SOUTH DAKOTA–ELECTION 08: S.D. again at center of abortion debate. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29223

WASHINGTON–Biotech firm hopeful for embryonic stem cell trials. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29224

TENNESSEE–IN THEIR OWN WORDS: Obama & McCain on humanitarian crises. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29225

PAKISTAN–Pakistan earthquake assessment underway. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29226

VIRGINIA–How are Lottie Moon dollars used? http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29227

TENNESSEE–FIRST-PERSON (John Revell): When Christians fail to vote. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29228

October 30, 2008

CALIFORNIA–Prop 8 supporters raise $5 million in one week. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29229

TENNESSEE–Poll reports on pastors & ballot box. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29230

ALABAMA–Study: Missions education lifts stewardship. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29231

GEORGIA–Baptists enhance missions learning options. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29232

GEORGIA–FIRST-PERSON (Jim Burton): Salad bar discipleship. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29233

ARKANSAS–Ark. Baptists focus on children, youth. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29234

TENNESSEE–RESOURCE: 7 ‘words of worship.’ http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29235

CALIFORNIA–FIRST-PERSON (David Jeremiah): Where in the world are you? http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29236

October 31, 2008

TENNESSEE–ELECTION 08: Calif. Prop 8 headlines a host of initiatives nationwide. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29237

WASHINGTON–FCC may impede churches’ wireless microphones. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29238

WASHINGTON–FCC bans some wireless microphones. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29239

ECUADOR–Former ranchers nurture Andean churches. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29240

ECUADOR–Cows, sheep & pigs help their outreach. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29241

ECUADOR–Airwaves reach hearts in Ecuadorean villages. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29242

ECUADOR–Barn rejuvenated in Andean village. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29243

TEXAS–GuideStone adds property & casualty ins. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29244

LOUISIANA–FIRST-PERSON (Kelly Boggs): Lay those experts end-to-end! http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29245

KENTUCKY–FIRST-PERSON (Russell D. Moore): ‘Judgment house’ evangelism. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29246

Sadie Russell Pevey
(July 17, 1923 – October 30, 2008)
Died at 12:02 p.m. on Thursday, October 30, 2008 at Willis Knighten Pierremont Health Center in Shreveport, LA. Age 85 years. Mrs. Pevey was a current resident of Shreveport, LA, previously of Grand Prairie, TX, Baton Rouge, LA and Roseland, LA. She was a lifelong member of the Church of Christ. She formerly worked as Recording Secretary for the Board of the Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana. She is survived by her 2 daughters, Eileen Pevey Vennum, Grand Prairie, TX and Carolyn Francis Pevey and her husband, Thomas J. Jones, Montgomery, AL; 4 sons, Joseph E. Pevey, Jr., Prairieville, LA, Cary R. Pevey, Holden, LA, Richard W. Pevey, Shreveport, LA and Jonathan B. Pevey, Brownsville, TX; 2 brothers, Cara “CB” Russell, Denham Springs, LA and Cleo Russell, Ponchatoula, LA; 9 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph E. Pevey, Sr.; father, Boliver Ray Russell; mother, Allene Lambert Russell; sister, Belle Russell Lanier; 2 brothers, Royce Russell and Dale G. Russell. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Sunday and at Big Creek Church of Christ, Russelltown, on Monday from 12 Noon until religious services at 1 p.m. Monday. Interment Big Creek Cemetery, Russelltown, LA.

NAMING THE SHEEP

The following story comes from Julie Helms in Christian Reader, “Lite Fare”:

My husband and I, with our two daughters, operate a small sheep farm. One day a non-farming friend asked, “How can you bear to slaughter those cute little lambs?”

My husband explained, “We don’t want to get emotionally attached to the ones we plan to eat, so we don’t give them names.”

Not satisfied, the friend probed, “What about your kids?”

Her husband quickly replied, “Oh, we name them!”

While very few of us are personally familiar with sheep and shepherds, the relationship between the two is one of the most powerful images in the Bible used to describe the relationship between Christ and his followers. The loving care shown by shepherds to their flock, and the willingness of sheep to utterly depend on what the shepherd can provide offer a glimpse of our personal relationship with the good shepherd. While it may seem to be a small thing, our name plays a significant role in that relationship.

“He who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” (John 10:2-3)

“He calls his own sheep by name.” Though there are many disciples of Christ around the world, we are not just “one of the masses”, not just a number. We are intimately known and loved by the good shepherd. He knows us by name. It tells us not only that he cares about us, but that he plans for his relationship with us to be a lasting one.

May the fact that your shepherd knows your name give you comfort this day.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

REMINDER:
Don’t forget to set your clocks back tonight or you’ll be late for church.

Make something of this beautiful day from the Lord.
Anna Lee

Saturday

If you wait for perfect conditions,

you will never get anything done.

Ecclesiastes 11:4 (NLT)

Update from Frann Clark:

My cataract surgeries were scheduled for Oct. 16 & 30. They did the one on Oct. 16 & all went great. The following Tuesday (21) the clinic called my daughter & asked if we could be there the next afternoon to do the right eye. I went for the day after checkup yesterday & he said that it was fine. Some pressure involving the right eye so he gave me drops & said to come back in a week.

Please pray that the pressure problem will be solved.

Tuesday, I hope to go to Jennings to see Riley at the VA home. Please pray for safe travel. I am still not able to drive but maybe soon.

God Bless You
Frann

 

 

Today’s the day! On Mission in Kentwood will meet at FBC, Kentwood at 8:00 this morning to complete acts of ministry in Kentwood. If you want a real blessing, take part in this ministry.

U.S. Condemns Beating of China Pastor’s Sons
By Staff of Baptist Press
BEIJING (BP)–The United States has voiced grave concern over the brutal beating Oct. 16 of “Pastor Bike” Zhang Mingxuan’s two sons by public security officials in China.

State Department spokesman Robert Wood released a statement Oct. 23 that specifically highlighted the “continuing official harassment of Pastor Zhang, … including his arbitrary detention and the forced relocation of his family.” The State Department called on the Chinese government to release Zhang immediately, permit his family members to return home, condemn the violent acts committed against his sons and bring the individuals responsible for the persecution to justice.

The statement came the day after two congressmen, Frank R. Wolf, R.-Va., and Christopher Smith, R.-N.J., issued a joint letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, asking her to call for Zhang’s release and demand that the damages inflicted upon his family be rectified. Both congressmen met with Zhang and his wife in Beijing this past July and heard firsthand about the abuses Christians in China suffer at the hands of Public Security Bureau officials.

Pastor Zhang was traveling when his family was attacked and efforts to contact him had been unsuccessful. On Oct. 22, however, he called his eldest son to say he was being detained by public security officers but was not allowed to tell anyone where or in what conditions he was being held, according to a report from the human rights group China Aid Association (chinaaid.org). Zhang’s wife and sister also reportedly have been detained in a Beijing hotel.

In order to receive medical reimbursement for his injuries, PSB officials coerced Pastor Bike’s eldest son, Zhang Jian, to sign a statement that he received only minor injuries in the beating, China Aid reported. Hospital records, however, indicated he received severe injuries that required complicated surgery.

On Oct. 10, police sealed the door of the house church where Zhang Mingxuan preaches and blocked it with two truckloads of garbage, even though the government just weeks earlier had given the church permission to meet, China Aid reported. Pastor Bike has been arrested 26 times, beaten and evicted from his home numerous times because of his faith.

China Aid, on the web at http://www.chinaaid.org, said it is assisting Zhang Jian and his family with medical expenses, legal help and other needs and urged concerned citizens to contact the Chinese Embassy by writing to 2201 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20007 or by calling 202-338-6688.

Compiled by Baptist Press assistant editor Mark Kelly.

If you are a collector of “stuff” (old stuff, new stuff, cheap stuff, inexpensive stuff), this devotional will make you think. (David and I are guilty of collecting the old, inexpensive “stuff”!)

TREASURE OR TRASH?

Years ago, there was a woman who went browsing through an antique store. While she was there, she found a piano that she fell in love with. It was a magnificent old mahogany upright with beautiful carvings across the front. Inside the top was a beautiful hand detailed painting along the back along with the serial number and name of the original maker. It had been made in 1901. It had a warm full tone and so she thought all it needed was to be tuned.

So she bought the piano, brought it home and called a piano restoration specialist to come out to tune it. But it didn’t take him long to determine that the pinblock had been “doped.” He explained to the woman that old pianos “die” when the pinblock dries out because the pinblock can’t keep the pins tight when they’re tuned. When this happens, if someone wants to sell a piano in this condition, they will sometimes dope it, which means they lay the piano on its back and pour a mixture of anti-freeze and water around the pins to swell the pinblock. Sometimes, it will add some life to an aging piano; in this case, it ruined it.

The woman was so disappointed and so angry that she put the piano outside her home and made a sign for it that said “Free: 500 pounds of firewood”. What she thought was a treasure had turned to trash.

Have you ever had something like that happen to you? You find something that you love, something you think is going your life so much better, but shortly after you get it, it’s destined for the trash pile. How many of you have corners in your garages and basements and attics where you keep all those so-called treasures? Yard sale lawn mowers that can’t cut a lick of grass, one of those slicer-dicers you thought your kitchen just couldn’t do without, maybe even your collection of 8-track tapes – now there’s a treasure!

We pursue many things in life hoping to gain a wonderful treasure. We spend our lives in the pursuit of “things.” But there are moments when we’re forced to stop and ask ourselves, “Is what I have really such a treasure, or is it nothing but trash?” The apostle Paul was a man who once faced this difficult question. Here’s the conclusion he came to:

“But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.” (Philippians 3:7-8)

Paul says, “At one time, I had it all. But the things that I used to think were important, I have weighed them, I have evaluated them, and I have come to the conclusion that they are absolute garbage compared to what I have in Jesus Christ.”

What were those “things”? In the first few verses of Philippians 3, Paul sets forth his credentials as a Jewish leader. Paul says, “If you were to look at me, you would assume, ‘Here is a man who has it all. He has prestige, he has honor, he has power. He has everything that a man could possibly want.'”

But, again, “What things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.” Everything he had as a Jew that he considered to be important, he re-evaluated and came to the conclusion that it really wasn’t all that important. “Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.” (3:8).

Now I understand that generally the things that are important to us are not the same things that were important to Paul, but they are “things” nonetheless. Maybe we enjoy living in our dream house. Maybe new clothes or jewelry excites us, maybe a new computer, maybe a new car. Maybe making it big in sports is our pride, maybe being popular and well-liked. Maybe those awards we’ve hung on our walls. But when you take all these things and you compare them to our blessings in Jesus Christ, they’re a pile of garbage, and we need to understand that.

Take a look around you. What do you see — treasure or trash?

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Trusting you have “the real treasure” in your live,

Anna Lee

Friday

“Bear one another’s burdens,

and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

~Galatians 6:2~

Please keep Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Harrell in your prayers. They both continue to have health issues.

Please continue to pray for the many people who have health issues.

It a fall Friday night, so pray for everyone involved in high school football events in our area. Many people participate in one way or another. Many miles are traveled to and from games. Pray for safety of all tonight. Pray Christians will be a strong witness at football games and other athletic events. You never know when or who you might influence someone.

Plan to participate in On Mission in Kentwood tomorrow morning. You can make a difference right here in Kentwood! Meet at FBC at 8 A.M. If you cannot attend, please pray for those who will be working.

Kidnappers Demand Ransom
for California Pastor
By Mickey Noah


TIJUANA, Mexico (BP)–Kidnappers are demanding $1 million for the safe return of Manuel Jesus Tec, a Southern Baptist pastor in San Diego who was kidnapped in Tijuana, Mexico, around 5 a.m. Oct. 21.

Tec, who lives in Tijuana, was driving across the border with his wife and one of his sons when gunmen stopped his car and forcibly abducted him. His wife and son were unhurt.

The pastor’s older son, Johnny Tec, who also is a pastor, said his father’s kidnappers have called the family three times, demanding a $1 million ransom, according to Richard F. Vera, multi-ethnic evangelism specialist for the California Southern Baptist Convention and a colleague of Manuel Tec.

“Johnny stated the last time the kidnappers called, they were very menacing and threatened to take Manuel’s life unless the family responded right away,” Vera said. “The family is projecting a strength and a trust in Christ that is admirable. They believe they will see Pastor Manuel Tec again.”

Tec is pastor of a new church plant in San Diego, Iglesia Familiar Amor y Vida, according to Hugo Campos, Hispanic ministries director for the San Diego Baptist Association and the Vision San Diego outreach in conjunction with the Strategic Focus Cities initiative of the North American Mission Board, the California convention, the San Diego association and local SBC churches.

Campos, who spoke to the Tec family on Wednesday, said the family now believes the kidnapping is a case of mistaken identity and that the pastor — thought to be around 60 — will be released once the kidnappers realize that.

“There’s a lot of praying going on all over the place,” Campos said.

(Mickey Noah is a writer for the North American Mission Board.)


KOMpray

Kids on Mission Pray

 

“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

HANDING OUT TRACTS

A 9-year-old missionary kid (MK) set up a “store” outside the elevators of her apartment building. She wanted to catch neighbors when they came home from work. She wanted them to buy some of her beads and craft projects. She didn’t want to miss any opportunity. So she put gospel tracts on the table too. She confessed later to her parents that she had some help with the tracts.

Some of her Hindu friends grabbed the tracts and handed them out. A couple of the boys even went outside on their bicycles. They gave away the tracts in the apartment parking lot. God wants everyone to know Him. He will use a little girl to tell others about His love at her store. Or He will get non-Christians to give away the story of Jesus in a little book.

How do you tell others about Jesus? Please thank God for this young girl’s faith and desire to share the gospel with the lost. Pray that she will get to lead her young friends to receive Jesus as Savior. Ask God to honor her efforts with a harvest in their apartment complex.


MORE PRAYER REQUESTS FROM MISSIONARY KIDS

Please pray for the people in Mozambique to be healthy and help the people to be strong. Pray that they will have Lots of water. Make them like the food that they eat in their Life. The kids have a good time at school. Help my pets be healthy. The End. ABIGAIL, age 6, (Central, Eastern and Southern Africa)

Pray for my neighbors to be become Christians and my piano teacher to become a Christian. EMILY, age 11 (Central Asia)

Dear God, thank you for our friends and our family. Please help us to make more Christians in our country. Thank you for the food and thank you for our teachers. I hope we can get along with friends. Amen. GM, age 8 (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)

Some of my national friends’ parents push them too much on good grades. Some ids in my class at my school are on probation (like when your mom and dad put you on restriction or tell you can’t go to a friend’s house). As my brother gets older, I hope he picks good friends and not bad stuff. Please pray for my friends and my brother. BELLE, age 9 (South Asia)

A week ago I was discussing with my friends if Jesus was the father’s son or not. I talked to them for a while and gave them a French copy of the Word to look at, then my dad came in and told them to ask their parents if it was OK if they watched the film. So the next day our friends watched the Jesus film. I would like you to pray for my friends. Well I will talk to you later. Your friend, NOAH, age 12 (West Africa)

6th grade at Faith Academy is a big change. Pray that I will be comforted in problems and that I will make the right choices. JOY, age 11 (Pacific Rim)

Please pray that the boys and girls get more toys. Pray they get more food because they are very poor. Please pray for the people to have better houses. CALEB, age 6 (Central, Eastern and Southern Africa)

I need to improve my memory. I would like you to pray for I need a confidence boost. Pray for my family too. THOMAS, age 12 (South Asia)


THE MIND OF CHRIST

 

I heard once about a man who went to the doctor after weeks of symptoms. The doctor examined him carefully, then called the patient’s wife privately into his office. He said to her, “Your husband is suffering from a rare form of anemia. Without treatment, he’ll be dead in a few weeks. The good news is, it can be treated with proper nutrition.”

“You will need to get up early every morning and fix your husband a hot breakfast-pancakes, bacon and eggs, the works. He’ll need a home-cooked lunch every day, and then an old-fashioned meat-and-potato dinner every evening. It would be especially helpful if you could bake frequently. Cakes, pies, homemade bread-these are the things that will allow your husband to live.

“One more thing. His immune system is weak, so it’s important that your home be kept spotless at all times. I can’t impress upon you just how important this is. If you don’t do these things, your husband is going to die. Do you have any questions?” The wife said, “No.”

The doctor said, “Do you want to break the news to him, or shall I?” The wife said, “I’ll do it.”

She walked back into the examination room. Her husband, sensing the seriousness of his illness, said to her, “It’s bad, isn’t it?” She nodded, tears welled up in her eyes. He asked her, “What’s going to happen to me?”

And, with a sob, his wife blurted out, “The doctor says you’re gonna die!”

While I would like to think that those of us who are husbands and wives would be willing to serve our mates in a situation like that, the truth of the matter is that we don’t really get too excited about the opportunity to serve someone else.

Paul says in Philippians 2:5 to, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus”. And the “mind” or “attitude that Paul tells the Philippian Christians to take on is the attitude of selflessness, humility, service. “Let nothing be done through selfish ambi¬tion or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:3-4). The attitude a Christian should have is one that focuses on the needs and interests of others.

That’s not something that comes naturally. When Christ came into this world, he brought into being a whole new approach to relationships with people. Listen to what he said to his disciples one day when they were arguing among themselves regarding who was to be greatest in his kingdom:

“You now that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave — just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:25-28).

Jesus says that in the Gentile world, in the world around us, there’s very little humility. People operate basically out of selfish motives. They have little or no interest in helping others to reach their goals — except when it might benefit themselves. The name of the game is to get power and authority and then to exercise that power and authority.

But that’s not how Christians are supposed to act. And Christ did more than just teach us that truth. He lived it out as well. He demands nothing of us that he wasn’t willing to demonstrate himself.

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Have a fantastic Friday!

Anna Lee

Thursday

“But as for me, my prayer is to You,

O Lord,in the acceptable time;

O God, in the multitude of Your mercy,

hear me in the truth of Your salvation.”

~Psalm 69:13~

 

Mrs. Della McDaniel and Mrs. Parmys Stegall have both fallen. “Miss” Parmys has had surgery and is in St. Tammany Hospital. “Miss” Della did not require surgery and is with Connie. Also, Mr. Bob Stegall is scheduled for eye surgery Monday. Please be in prayer for these special people.

Mrs. Blanch Wheat has been moved to a nursing home in Baton Rouge. Please pray for her as she makes this adjustment.

Mrs. Annie Bell Harrell has had another brief stay at the hospital. Please continue to pray for Mr. Phillip and “Miss” Annie Bell as well as their family and medical teams.

Kathy McDaniel Dyer

Kathy has been diagnosed with colon cancer and will begin treatment soon. Please continue to keep Kathy and her family in your prayers.

Linda Williams

Please update about our revival at Greenlaw Baptist Church. Dr. Victor Walsh will lead us in our revival services, Sunday at 11:00 AM, no Sunday night services. We will have dinner on the ground after the Sunday morning services. Then services again Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday night at 7:00 P.M.
Thank you,
Mary Ann Cutrer

On Mission in Kentwood will begin at 8:00 A.M. Saturday morning at FBC, Kentwood. Come out and join us as we “give back”. You’ll be blessed.

Operation Chirstmas Child is underway at FBC, Kentwood. This is coordinated by Samaritan’s Purse (Franklin Graham). You may contact the church office for information on how to prepare your box. Filled shoeboxes are to be brought to the church by November 16. What an opportunity to mininster to children around the world!

AWANA will have a Bible Character and trunk-or-treat night Sunday. For more information call the church office.

The Georgia Barnett State Missions Offering goal of $7,500.00 stands at about 65%. It’s time to push it past the goal!

Marie Louise Babin Ardillo
Mrs. Marie Louise Babin Ardillo was born on June 24, 1917, and passed away at 11 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008, at the D’Ville House Nursing Home, Donaldsonville. She was 91, a native of Morganza, a resident Donaldsonville and a former resident of Amite. She was the daughter of the late Marcel and Florence LeBlanc Babin. Mrs. Marie is survived by a niece, Patsy Babin O’Neal and her children, Scott Jarreau and Monique Renee Jerald, and husband Kendall, and their children, Jordan Guarisco, Patrick, Kellie and Kevin Jerald; another niece, JoAnn Cavaretta Booty and husband, Lindsey; and cousins, Doris LeBlanc Landry, Bernie LeBlanc and Thomas LeBlanc. Also preceded in death by her husband, Gandolfo N. Ardillo; brother, Arthur Babin; and sister, Ora Babin LeBlanc. Her body was donated to science at her request.

Martha Ann “Maw Maw Ann” Swinney
(February 11, 1931 – October 22, 2008)

Martha Ann “Maw Maw Ann” Swinney, a loving mother, grandmother, and friend to many people was born February 11, 1931 and passed away at 1:37AM, Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at the Lakeview Regional Center, Covington. She was 77, a native of Bonham, TX and a resident of Amite for 30+ years. Maw Maw Ann was the daughter of the late Irvin and Daisy Taylor Smith.

She is survived by 2 daughters, Elaine Liuzza, Amite & Kriss Ryals and husband, Terry, Amite; 5 grandchildren, Christopher Liuzza and wife, Connie Rene’, David Liuzza and wife, Stacy, Mellissa Liuzza, Cathy McCallister and husband, Roland, Stacy Herron and husband Randy; 8 great-grandchildren, Lindsey Bennett, Steven Liuzza, Carolyn McCallister, Connor Herron, Keira Herron, Jake McCallister, Cristian Hernandez & Brecca Liuzza; and lifelong friends, Nada Butler & Linda Husser.

Also preceded in death by her husband, F T Swinney.

Visitation will be at the McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, on Friday, October 24, 2008 from 9:00AM until Religious Services at the Funeral Home Chapel at 11:00AM with Deacon Mike Agnello officiating. Interment in the Amite Memorial Gardens.

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

McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, is located at I-55N & Hwy 16W next to Coggins-Gentry Ford.

 

 

Chinese Pastor’s Son Regains Consciousness
By Staff of Baptist Press


BEIJING (BP)–The oldest son of a prominent Chinese house church leader has regained consciousness and has spoken about his severe beating at the hands of government officials, saying he wanted to die if his story would cause people to grasp how shameless the persecution of Christians in China has become.

Zhang Jian, the son of “Pastor Bike” Zhang Mingxuan, chairman of the Federation House Church movement, was beaten by officers of China’s Public Security Bureau Oct. 16. The next day, he was able to speak with staff from China Aid Association, a human rights organization based in the United States.

China Aid reported that Zhang Jian’s right eye is severely wounded and doctors are unsure whether he will regain sight. His nose bone and eye bone are broken, and doctors have recommended further CAT scans and surgery. Despite his serious condition, the pastor’s son left the hospital because PSB officials were watching him there and he feared for his safety, China Aid said.

“I could not believe human beings could be so evil,” Zhang Jian told China Aid by phone. “Where is law, where is justice? I was crying out to the Lord. I felt I was dying and told the Lord, ‘Lord, please take my life as a martyr.

“‘Maybe this is the only way to awaken the conscience of the world and for the Chinese to open their eyes to see clearly that this is the religious freedom in China,'” Zhang Jian added. “‘I would like to die if my life could be used as a wakeup call and could help Chinese brothers and sisters further more freedom to worship the Lord freely — to demonstrate the darkness here in China.'”

Zhang Jian explained that his mother called him around noon the day of the beating and asked him to come to her apartment because plainclothes officers “along with hired thugs” had broken in and were throwing her belongings onto the street.

“When I got there, I saw my mom lying on the ground, being knocked down by these thugs who were led by a man who claimed to be the cousin of the property owner with whom my parents had signed two-year rental contract less than a month ago,” Zhang Jian told China Aid. “My younger brother Zhang Chuang was badly beaten up already with his mouth swollen bleeding.

“I asked, ‘How can you guys throw other people’s private items on the street?’ I tried to use my body to protect my mom from being hurt by them. Then this group of 15 officers and thugs immediately surrounded me and started beating my head and body with iron bars and said, ‘You are the one. We need to teach you a lesson as troublemaker.’

“I was very angry and upset in the beginning,” Zhang Jian said. “How could this happen in the daytime? My parents do not deserve to be treated like this just simply being preachers of the Gospel. My blood ran over from upstairs to the downstairs until I lost consciousness.”

Zhang Mingxuan, the pastor, was traveling in Yunnan province at the time and was unable to be contacted. Once Zhang Jian lost consciousness, his younger brother called 110, the Chinese equivalent to 911, but police did not arrive for more than an hour, Zhang Chuang told China Aid. Chinese law requires the police to arrive within 10 minutes of a call, and the PSB office is in close proximity to the Zhang residence.

“Ironically, seeing the police arrive, one of the guys who beat up my brother pretended to fall down, claiming he was beaten up by my brother Zhang Jian,” Zhang Chuang said. “Then the police even called in the ambulance to help that guy who was not hurt or wounded at all. But the ambulance refused to come to rescue my brother whose clothes were soaked with his blood all over after our repeated plea to 110. How could he or how dare he fight back when surrounded by 15 strong guys with iron bars? It’s very evil and is a joke to claim he could beat others at that time.”

Zhang Jian told China Aid that the doctors wanted him to have surgery to correct some of his wounds, but his family did not have the appropriate funds.

“I want to see some justice to be done and I want my father to be back home,” he said. “Where can we find a place to stay? No one in Beijing is able to host us. Pray for us, especially for my mom. She is exhausted.”

Chinese officials also have attempted to shut down the house church where Zhang Mingxuan preaches. On Oct. 10, police sealed the door of the church and blocked it with two truckloads of garbage. Officials were not letting anyone enter the church and had cut off electricity, even though the government just weeks earlier had given the church permission to meet, China Aid said.

“The physical assault on Zhang Jian is the most serious of the recent attacks on Zhang Jian and his family. During the past 22 years, Zhang Jian’s father, Pastor Bike, has been arrested 26 times, beaten and evicted from his home numerous times because of his faith,” the human rights group said. “Despite the persecution, this family continues to boldly preach and help the house church Christians.”

China Aid is assisting Zhang Jian and his family with medical expenses, legal help and other needs, the association said, and concerned citizens are urged to contact the Chinese Embassy by writing to 2201 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20007 or by calling 202-338-6688.

Compiled by Baptist Press staff writer Erin Roach.

Be thoughtful and prayerful of these needs this Thursday.

Anna Lee

Tuesday

You need to persevere

so that when you have done the will of God,

you will receive what he has promised.

For in just a very little while,

“He who is coming will come

and will not delay.”

Hebrews 10:36-37 (NIV)

 

 

 

Things to pray for today:

  • Those who need Jesus
  • Homebound
  • Residents of nursing homes
  • Those in hospitals or undergoing tests
  • Those who are suffering in any way
  • Prisoners
  • Missionaries – both long term and short term
  • Church staffs and volunteers
  • Teachers
  • Students
  • Our political and military leaders
  • Men and women of the armed forces
  • The election process
  • Political candidates
  • Individual voters



You can add specific names in these categories or pray for the groups as a whole.

Baptist Press

October 20, 2008

GEORGIA–SBC president urges prayer for awakening. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29159

TEXAS–Ed Young Jr.: Scripture is best voter guide. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29160

TENNESSEE–SBC leaders add praises, boost call for emails to honor Graham’s 90th. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29161

TENNESSEE–‘Fireproof’ passes $20M at box office. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29162

TENNESSEE–Urban Bible study aims for relevancy. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29163

NORTH CAROLINA–Southeastern enhances A.Div. program. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29164

TEXAS–FIRST-PERSON (Tamara Quintana): Winterize your walk. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29165

Ralph Owen “Man” Anthony
(February 16, 1965 – October 18, 2008)

Ralph Owen “Man” Anthony, was born on February 16, 1965 and passed away at 7:30AM, Saturday, October 18, 2008 at his residence. He was 43 a native of Independence and a resident of Greensburg. He was the son of Barbara Baham Anthony of Amite and the late M C “Bull” Anthony.

Ralph is survived by his mother, Barbara Baham Anthony, Amite; 3 brothers, Wilford Anthony and wife, Flo, Greensburg, Calvin Anthony and wife, Joyce, Loranger, & Tommy Anthony, Baptist; a sister, Lisa Anthony Treadway and husband, Matthew, Holden; devoted friends, John & Christine Brumfield & family; also numerous nieces, nephews, cousins & extended family.

Also preceded in death by 3 brothers, Donnie, David, & Pete Anthony; 2 sisters, Ophelia Elaine Baham & Rose Marie “Lady Bug” Anthony; a nephew, Thomas Troy “Tom Tom” Baham

Visitation will be at the McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, on Wednesday, October 22, 2008 from 9:00AM until Religious Services at 11:00AM at the Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Bobby Carroll officiating. Interment in the Briar Path Cemetery, Loranger.

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

McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, is located at I-55N & Hwy. 16W next to Coggins-Gentry Ford.

The Sunday school lesson Sunday was from I Samuel and centered on the friendship between Jonathan and David. It was a good reminder to us of the importance of Christian friendships. It also reminded us to stay faithful to our friends and be an encourager to them. Friendships are certainly worth the time and effort you put into them. I’m very thankful for my many friends. Each one is special to me. What about you?

Have a terrific Tuesday!

Anna Lee

Friday

Live together in harmony,

live together in love,

as though you had only one mind

and one spirit between you …

in humility think more of each other

than you do of yourselves.

~Philippians 2:3-4 (PH)~

From Becky Lindsey:

I recently learned of your site through my father, Larry Carruth. My mother has been in ICU at North Oaks Medcial Center for several days after a very extensive surgery. We realize the power of prayer and would request Judy Carruth be added to the prayer list. . . .

Please continue to pray for Debbie Miller. She is continuing to experience some health problems while resting at home.

Please don’t forget to pray for John Easley and his family as he has surgery this morning and goes through the recovery process in the next few months.


KOMpray

Kids on Mission Pray

“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

EXTREME MUD RIDING

For several weeks, some Christian workers and their children have gone into the countryside of Guinea-sometimes by foot, sometimes by truck, and other times by bike. They go to share the love of Jesus with the Fulbe Futa Jalon people (FUL-bay FOO-tuh jah-lone) people of West Africa.

The rainy season started and many of the fun excursions turned into ‘extreme mud riding.’ One day, one young boy looked like a spotted leopard by the time he got home! It had rained while the family was at a distant market, so the return trip was really muddy. Mud sprayed everywhere-especially from his back tire right up his back.

It took a lot of work to get their clothes clean! The family was so happy to go to another unreached village with God’s Word. At the local markets, the Christians have found a few people who are curious and many who are afraid. It is not always easy to walk up to others and tell them about Jesus. There are some people who do not want the Christians to talk about Jesus.

Please pray for the Christians who are going all over the countryside to tell the Fulbe Futa Jalon about Jesus. Pray they will laugh about the rain and the mud…and keep on going to the people. Ask God to help the Fulbe Futa Jalon not be afraid to hear about Jesus.


MORE PRAYER REQUESTS FROM MISSIONARY KIDS

Please pray for peace in Zimbabwe and pray for missionary growth. JASON, age 16, (Central, Eastern and Southern Africa)

Please pray for my mom-she has a skin cancer. My dad’s friend has a know on his leg. Pray for him too. MARK, age 8 (South Asia)

Our family works with the Zulu people group and they are very hard to witness to. Please pray for me to have the courage to witness.

Pray for wisdom for me and my sister with all the temptations that are around us.

CAITLIN, age 16, (Central, Eastern and Southern Africa)

I met a friend at the park named TR. He is really close to accepting Christ and even told my friend, “I envy you because you have something to believe.” Please pray that he will continue to be open to the Gospel. ASHLEY, age 13 (Pacific Rim)

My prayer request is for my friend. His nickname is Sam. He has baptized a lot of people, and we pray that more people in my country will know more about Jesus. BELINDA, age 10 (South Asia)


Baptist Press

October 16, 2008

NEW YORK–McCain, Obama have sharp disagreements in final debate. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29136

WASHINGTON–New law may reduce Down syndrome abortions. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29137

WASHINGTON–Abortion trauma hits both women, men. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29138

TEXAS–Baylor pays freshmen to raise SAT scores. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29139

OKLAHOMA–Okla. Baptist University names 15th president. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29140

TENNESSEE–‘Excellence in Journalism’ winners named. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29141

TEXAS–FIRST PERSON (Penna Dexter): Is the war over equal pay worth fighting? http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29142


Have a fantastic Friday. Thanks for praying each day.

Anna Lee

Thursday

“But certainly God has heard me;

He has attended to the voice of my prayer.” ~Psalm 66:19~

Debbie Miller is home, but doesn’t have a diagnosis yet. Pray for her as she awaits an appointment that may help determine her health problem. She is very thankful for your prayers and concern for her.

Mr. Phillip and Mrs. Annie Bell Harrell are both improving. They hope to be back in church Sunday. Please keep them in your prayers.

Frann S. Clark:

Having cataract surgery this morning (Thursday)

in Lake Charles. Didn’t knw until late yesterday afternoon that it would be at 6 am. Had an IVIG yesterday from 7:30 am until about 4:30 pm. Too tired to e-mail when I got home.

Pray for peace for me and skillful hands of those doing the procedure.

I wi;; have to go to LC tomorrow and next Thursday for followups.

Right eye wil be Oct. 30

Update on Charlie Banks:

Below is the latest update on Wes Bank’s father. Thank you for praying for him and the whole family as he recovers. Also attached is a picture of Wes’ parents. Please also continue to pray for Adrian, the young man that cause the accident that he will come to know the Lord as his Savior.

Melinda


Hey ya’ll,This is another update on Dad! He is doing great! Thank you for your continued prayers and support. Wes, Tamara and the boys were out of town last week with meetings in Prague, Czech Republic. Mom and Dad were in good hands, while we were away. They had meals provided by other M’s in the area and they were visited by some Romanian friends.

Now dad is able to wear pants and both shoes. He is also able to put just a little pressure on the toes of the injured leg. They have removed all bandages from the incisions. He still has the Velcro brace and he is still using the walker.

The doctor called today and set up an appointment for an x-ray next Tuesday (October 21). Once the doctor sees the x-rays, he will evaluate Dad and let us know when he can fly home. We are hopeful that it will be by the end of next week, but we have to wait and see.

We thank you again for remembering us during this time.

Pryr needs:

*Dad’s continued healing and recovery
*Doctor’s evaluation
*Details for flight arrangements
*Justice in legal matters
*Salvation for Adrian

Psalm 20
The Banks


Send a Message to Billy
Graham for His 90th Birthday
By Staff

Baptist Press


NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Do you have a story about how Billy Graham’s ministry has impacted your life? If so, his friends and family members would like to hear it — and then deliver your story to the evangelist, who turns 90 on Nov. 7.

The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association has set up a website — BillyGraham90.com — where people can send Graham stories, birthday greetings or simply a note of thanks to the man who likely has preached the Gospel to more people than anyone in history. (Messages to Graham also can be mailed to: Billy Graham’s 90th Birthday, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28201.) The deadline for submissions is Nov. 1. The website also has materials to help churches promote the opportunity.

“My father is a humble man who would never expect to be honored and recognized like this on his birthday,” Franklin Graham, the evangelist’s eldest son, said in a news release. “We urge all who made a commitment to Jesus Christ through my father’s ministry to share your story or simple greeting, as nothing could uplift him more on this special day.”

The news release added that “all who have been personally touched by an aspect of Billy Graham’s ministry are welcome and encouraged … to share a greeting or a personal story about his ministry they feel would encourage Mr. Graham at this milestone.”

All of the birthday messages to Graham will be compiled in books and presented to him during a tribute dinner with friends and family members.

The website already has posted some of the messages.

“Back around 1957 you were in Richmond, Va., in a Crusade, I felt the Holy Spirit and went forward and rededicated my life,” one message reads. “I have never been the same. I started reading my Bible and over all these years have fallen more and more in love with the Lord. God Bless You.”

In 60-plus years of ministry, Graham has preached the Gospel in person to nearly 215 million people, according to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

Compiled by Michael Foust, assistant editor of Baptist Press.


SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD

 

I heard about a group of Geography students who studied the Seven Wonders of the World. At the end of that section, they students were asked to list what they each considered to be the Seven Wonders of the World. Though there was some disagreement, the following got the most votes: Egypt’s Great Pyramid, the Taj Mahal, the Grand Canyon, the Panama Canal, the Empire State Building, St. Peter’s Basilica and China’s Great Wall.

While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one student, a quiet girl, hadn’t turned in her paper yet. So she asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list. The quiet girl replied, “Yes, a little. I couldn’t quite make up my mind because there were so many.”

The teacher said, “Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help.” The girl hesitated, then read, “I think the Seven Wonders of the World are to touch and to taste, to see and to hear . . . ” She hesitated a little, “and then to run and to laugh and to love.”

It is far too easy for us to look at the exploits of man and refer to them as “wonders” while we overlook all that God has done, regarding them as merely “ordinary.” May you be reminded today of those things which are truly wondrous.

“I will remember the works of the LORD; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. I will also meditate on all Your work, and talk of Your deeds…..Who is so great a God as our God? You are the God who does wonders.” (Psalm 77:11-14a)

Praise be to “the God who does wonders”!

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Thanks for praying today. You mean so much to so many!

Have a great Thursday!

Don’t forget the share group at 6:30 tonight.

Anna Lee

Tuesday

“All men shall fear,

and shall declare the work of God;

for they shall wisely consider His doing.”

~Psalm 64:9~

Mr. Phillip Harrell is home. Please continue to pray for Mr. Phillip and “Miss” Annie Bell.

Debbie Miller is still undergoing tests at North Oaks. Pray for a diagnosis so treatment can begin.

JAPAN. Please pray for a small house church meeting in Shizuoka, Japan. The group has been meeting together and has been receiving training on being believers, being church, and being witnesses for Christ in their own communities. Please pray that the training will take root and that multiplication of disciples will be the result. Pray that they will “catch a vision” for reaching their own people even without the assistance of a missionary.

ONESTORY: WEST AFRICA. When IMB missionaries in the West Africa region came together recently for their annual meeting, they participated in small-group sessions led by their “OneStory” missionary colleagues. These OneStory missionaries demonstrated how they use stories from the Bible, told in a simple way, to bring the lost to Christ. One missionary in Senegal reports: “Since this meeting, we’ve been inspired to practice Bible storying on a more daily basis and have had several wonderful opportunities to share Christ. Please pray for the Muslims of Senegal to come to know Jesus through these stories and for us to obey the Holy Spirit’s leading in sharing these stories every day.”

MISSIONARY PERSONAL NEEDS. As a final summer fling before school started, a 9-year-old MK set up a “store” outside the elevators of her apartment building. Her goal was to catch neighbors as they came home from work, hoping they would buy some of the beads and things she had made. Not to miss an opportunity, she also brought gospel tracts down with her. She confessed later to her parents that she had some help with the tracts. Some of her little Hindu friends decided they should grab the tracts and start helping to hand them out. A couple of the boys even distributed them around the parking lot on their bicycles. It seems like God intends to be known, and He uses a number of different ways of delivering His Message! What’s your delivery method? Please thank God for this young girl’s faith and desire to share the gospel with the lost. Pray that she will have the privilege of leading those young friends who helped her to receive Jesus as Savior. Ask God to honor her efforts with a harvest in their apartment complex.

William Reagan “Bill” Gallagher
(April 4, 1951 – October 13, 2008)


U.S. Veteran William Reagan “Bill” Gallagher was born April 4, 1951 and passed away October 13, 2008 in Amite, La. Bill was 57, and a native of North Riverside, Illinois and a resident of Amite. He was the son of the late Dudley Michael Gallagher and Mary Harriot Reagan.

He is survived by his wife, Glenda Russum Gallagher, Amite; 3 daughters, Jennifer Gallagher, Phenix City, Al., Megan Gallagher, Baton Rouge, and Emily Gallagher, Murfreesoboro, Tn.; 2 step-daughters, Brittany Kennedy, El Paso, Tx. and Ann Kennedy, Amite; a brother , Michael Gallagher and wife, Diane, of Opelousas, La.; 4 sisters, Jean Alford and husband, Jack, of Orlando, Fl., Patti Helm and husband Tom, of Austin, Tx., Peggy Isby and husband John, Alaska, and Kay Herrick and husband Bob, San Jose’, Ca.

A private Memorial Service will be held at a later date.

Donations may be made in Bill’s honor to Make A Wish Foundation or Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Awareness.

McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, in charge of arrangements.

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

FIRST-PERSON:
An Opportunity in Hard Times
By Joe McKeever

Baptist Press

NEW ORLEANS (BP)–An absolutely fool-proof way to stress yourself out is by staying glued to the television newscasts about the economy. “Wall Street dropped another 700 points today!” “Here is our panel of experts to tell you why the news is just going to get worse!” “Big Plants, Inc., is laying off another 4,000 employees!”

Oh great. Just what I needed to hear.

That’ll send your blood pressure through the ceiling, no matter your situation, but particularly if you are a heavy investor in stocks.

You’re not? Don’t be too sure. If you have a retirement account with some agency somewhere, you might be one of those (like me) who is being severely affected by the free-falling stock market. The headline on the front of Friday’s The Times-Picayune newspaper asked, “How Low Can It Go?”

Frankly, I don’t want to know.

Twenty years ago, when the market did a sort of “correction” — we’ll be generous and call it that — I recall someone asking either Ted Turner or Donald Trump, one of those big boys, “You lost a billion dollars. What do you have to say?”

He answered, “It was a paper loss. I’m not selling anything today. I’ll still be here tomorrow and first thing you know, I’ll have it all back.”

And that’s precisely what happened.

My neighbors, Bill and Sandra, are both retired from long careers in the commercial world, and this is scaring the daylights out of them.

A news report this week indicated that 80 percent of Americans say the economy is stressing them out.

The funny thing about this craziness in the economy is that we’re told the actual businesses of America are just fine. What is driving the roller-coasterness of Wall Street is a little thing called fear.

Remember FDR telling the nation at his 1933 inauguration, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself”? He was right then, and it appears that’s the problem today.

Novices like me are perplexed at how the stock market rises and falls based on fears. The Fed chairman makes some statement about the future, and depending on whether he was optimistic or pessimistic, the market fluctuates. We laymen would like to think the people handling our investments are knowledgeable about the true value of stocks and not given to reacting to the latest whim.

Apparently that confidence is poorly placed. It would appear our stock brokers don’t know much more than the rest of us, but wet their index finger in the morning and poke it heavenward to see which way the winds are blowing before risking the billions of dollars entrusted to them.

Jean Chatzky, a frequent authority on money matters for the networks, urges that we not “make the financial channel our home page.” That is, quit running to see what your stocks did every day. “Check on them once a week or so,” she said.

For what this is worth, here are my own personal conclusions:

— The people in the pews this Sunday need to hear the pastor deliver a word from God. That word would include commands like, “Don’t collect for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But collect for yourselves treasures in heaven … (Matthew 6:19-20).

The pastor will want to remind the people of the best bad-news text in all the Bible, Habakkuk 3:17-19: “Though the fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will triumph in the LORD ….”

— This crisis gives the pastor an opportunity to speak to the faith of the people in the pews.

“You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and new wine abound” (Psalm 4:7). Three kinds of joy are referenced here: Superficial (grain = money); artificial (new wine); and beneficial (the Lord’s presence). Only one of the three is constant and dependable. The other two are fleeting and of limited value.

— So, maybe the Lord wanted some of us to work a little longer before retiring. Perhaps He was not too excited about His people parking in the rocking chair on the front porch when He had more work for us to do.

Margaret and I are having that discussion since my employment at the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans comes to a dead halt next April 30. Since my retirement fund at GuideStone has lost some 40 percent from its peak a couple of years ago, ideally, I’d like to leave it alone for two more years before even touching it. Give it time to replenish itself.

So, that means, like a lot of others in the same boat, I will keep on working. Doing what is the big question, of course, and the subject of my frequent prayers to the Father.

— The Father is not particularly worried about any of this. He knows what He is doing and is not perplexed about matters that stress us out.

Sometimes when church members have found themselves in the difficult position of losing good jobs in their middle years — what should be their peak-earning period — as their pastor, I have counseled them to be strong and go forward. “It’s tough right now and it’s going to be hard getting through this. But I guarantee you, the day will come when you will look back and give thanks to the Lord for the experience and the lessons you learned.” (As my dad used to say about his six children, ‘I wouldn’t take a million dollars for any one of them, and I wouldn’t give you a dime for another!’ That’s how you will feel about this difficult and trying time.)

Randy and Charlene were reminiscing with some of us about that very subject recently. When a new owner took over the factories Randy was managing, he suddenly found himself without a job. One day, he heard Paul Harvey talking about ServiceMaster, the home-and-office cleaning business. Randy looked into it, decided this was the right thing for him, and bought the franchise for our area of the state. To raise the money, he sold his boat and borrowed money from family members.

Eventually — a lot of personal sacrifices and hard work were involved, I’m confident — this business became one of ServiceMaster’s great success stories. In fact, Randy McCall has spoken at the national meetings of their franchisees, giving his and Charlene’s testimony.

As the story goes,
the guest preacher arrived at the airport and was greeted by the church member who had been assigned as his driver. On the drive back to the church, the layman poured out his fears over the way the country is going, despair over the decline in morals, and disgust in the lack of leadership in high places. “Don’t you agree?” he asked the visiting preacher.

“I expect you may be right,” the man of God said. “But let me remind you, the last time I checked despair was still a sin and hope a virture.”

Good reminder for us today. “Why are you cast down, O my soul? Hope thou in the Lord.” (Psalm 42:5).

Joe McKeever is director of missions of the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans.

Have a tremendous Tuesday!

Anna Lee

Thursday Afternoon

Than Silver or Gold
By Erich Bridges

Baptist Press

EDITOR’S NOTE: An audio version of this column is available at http://media1.imbresources.org/files/61/6112/6112-33175.mp3
RICHMOND, Va. (BP)–Stock markets are tanking. Banks are struggling to survive. Credit has all but dried up. A worldwide recession looms as overseas economies react to the U.S. financial mess.

Whether the $700 billion bailout plan passed by Congress works or not, some tough days lie ahead — regardless of who wins the presidential election.

That business or personal loan you applied for may not come through. Your job might be on the line if your employer can’t meet expenses. Retirement? Don’t even look at what’s happening to your 401(k).

So what do you do now? Put your savings in a mattress — if you have any savings left? Most cool-headed financial advisors recommend sitting tight and riding out the storm. That’s usually good advice. We can only hope it works this time, and that the market implosion doesn’t drag down the economy itself.

But there’s no guarantee.

In the meantime, I’ve got an investment tip that can’t miss. It doesn’t come from a stock trader or a financial insider. It comes from a Gospel singer: George Beverly Shea.

If you watched or attended almost any Billy Graham crusade service since 1947, you know “Bev” Shea, now age 99. For some 60 years, he always sang just before Graham began preaching.

“When (Shea) finishes singing, I never feel like applauding,” Graham once said. “I feel like bowing my head in prayer.”

As a kid, I thought Shea was square when my grandmother made me watch Graham crusade broadcasts. No more. Not after I heard his voice — deep and wide as an ocean — sing these words:

“I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold;

“I’d rather be His than have riches untold;

“I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands;

“I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand

“Than to be the king of a vast domain,

“Or be held in sin’s dread sway;

“I’d rather have Jesus than anything

“This world affords today.”

This humble, heartfelt declaration inspired me and countless other listeners more than all the thousand-voice choirs and popular Christian bands that shared crusade stages with Shea over the years.

I was reminded in church recently that Shea set “I’d Rather Have Jesus” to music after his mother put the poem on the family piano one day. At 23, in the depths of the Great Depression, Shea was considering a career in popular music — and the money it offered. He was sorely tempted to pursue it, but a persistent inner voice whispered about a greater purpose. The answer to his struggle came when he read the words to the poem.

He chose Jesus rather than silver or gold.

That’s the most reliable investment advice you will find anywhere, whether the economy is up or down. Markets fluctuate based on confidence, fear, news, rumors and any number of other factors — some rational, some irrational. But Christ is a solid rock.

Now is a time to remember why we are here — not just to get and spend on ourselves, but to give ourselves and our possessions to God. That’s more valuable than anything this world affords.

“I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause;

“I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause;

“I’d rather have Jesus than worldwide fame;

“I’d rather be true to His holy name.”

Christ’s “dear cause” is the spreading of His name to every tribe and nation. George Beverly Shea has stayed faithful to the cause for a long and fruitful lifetime, glorifying God in song before millions in scores of countries. Southern Baptists, too, have long been faithful to give their time and money to help accomplish the worldwide missionary task.

How can we stay faithful in a time of deep economic uncertainty? As a season of international mission giving approaches, what would we rather have?

Bridges is global correspondent for the International Mission Board. Visit “WorldView Conversation,” the blog related to this column, at http://worldviewconversation.blogspot.com/.