Jan Hammons just called to say Slater Brown, a former Sumner student, was killed last night. He wife is the former Becc Huber. Arrangements are incomplete at this time.
Jan said Josh Lampton, a current Sumner student, was killed in a motorcycle accident.
Please be in prayer for the families involved as well as the entire Sumner High family as they deal with two deaths.
Then Jesus said,
“Come to me, all of you who are weary
and carry heavy burdens,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you.
Let me teach you,
because I am humble and gentle,
and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke fits perfectly,
and the burden I give you is light.”
~Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)~
Jesse Dean was in the emergency room until a room became available yesterday afternoon. He’s in room 4015 and is feeling much better. Keep praying for Jesse, Majel, and the family as well as the medical staff at North Oaks.
He is doing fine. He will need to be on the blood thinner for 5 days then he can go home. So far everything else is fine. All of his doctors have been by to see him.
Thanks,
Jennifer
Mrs. Jeanette Rhodus came home briefly, but is back at North Oaks. She is scheduled to begin chemo soon. Please put “Miss” Jeanette on you daily prayer list if she is not already there.
Donald Garner’s gall bladder surgery is scheduled for today at Lacombe. Please pray for all involved.
Please continue to pray for the Hill family of the Jackson, MS area as they prepare for the funeral for little Aaron. Once again, if you have not already done so, please check out Aaron’s web page.
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/aaronhill1
Joan Hagan’s surgery is scheduled for April 30th. It is not too early to begin praying for that!
Chuck Pittman will have a PET scan today. He only has one more chemo treatment scheduled. Pray for Chuck and his family as they fight this battel together.
Chuck’s mom, Mrs. Bertha Pittman, is still at North Oaks. She is about the same. Please pray for her and for her family as they help the medical staff care for her.
Mr. Henry Harris is feeling better and able to get out some. Please continue to pray for Mr. Henry and “Miss” Emma.
Annie Armstrong Easter Offering
Goal: $13,000.00
Received so date: $9357.85
Big Ten from TeamRomany, April 2008
1. Please pray for Gayle as she makes plans for a ladies’ conference with the women of Isuratei, Romania. The conference will be held in May and Gayle will be busy working out details of the event this month.
2. Please pray for youth who meet for Bible study in the Hill’s home on Monday nights and at Lacul Dulce on Friday nights. Thank God for their faithfulness to attend. Pray that they would grow in their walk with the Lord and that their lives would be a testimony of Christ’s transforming power.
3. Please pray for those seeking the Lord’s will about their place in Romany mission work.
4. Bro. Petrache, a Romany pastor from Lacul Dulce, Romania recently suffered a stroke affecting his left side. He is better and we ask that you pray for his complete healing. Pray also for his family during this difficult time. Pray for his needs to be met. Medicines and healthy foods can be both challenging to access and expensive for Romany families.
5. Pray for the Hills as they are evaluating some of their ministry habits and assessing their goals and objectives. Please pray that God will bless them with wisdom and show them how he wants them to focus their time and efforts.
6. Please pray for the Hill’s 8 year-old granddaughter, Madison. Please pray that God would meet her needs.
7. Please pray for Joe and Julie Silby and their children Ryan, Avery, and Hannah. They are being appointed in Dallas, Texas this week to join teamromany. They will arrive in the Czech Republic in early July. Please pray that their house and car sell.
8. Please pray for the Hatchels as they make plans to host a Disciple Now weekend for elementary aged MKs (Missionary Kids) in the Czech Republic. The event will be in early May, but they are making plans for the Bible studies and activities now.
9. Pray for Boyd as he meets with Romany teenagers on Friday evenings for soccer and Bible study. Pray that the teens would be open to the message he shares.
10. Pray for Jennie as she meets with women on Tuesday night for encouragement, fellowship and discipleship. Pray that the time she spends will help the women grow in their relationships with Christ.
CARPENTER
KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor
THAT’S PROBABLY WHAT Joseph and Mary’s neighbors said many times…
What was he like as a child? There are some fanciful and apocryphal stories about Jesus performing various miracles as a child. On one occasion, supposedly, he didn’t feel like building the piece of furniture his father had asked him to build, so he enlisted the aid of squirrels and birds to hammer the nails and shape the wood.
But if that was all there was about Mary’s son Jesus, then he wouldn’t have been very special, would he? We get only glimpses of him as a young man. There is the self-assured twelve-year-old who sat with theologians and scholars discussing God’s law (Luke 2:41-49). When his frantic parents scolded him, he made that enigmatic statement about “being in my Father’s house.” Somehow the carpenter’s shop did not seem to be his destiny! His answer verged ever so closely to a scolding in return, and remarkably, his parents let it pass.
They knew there was something about their son.
There is so much that we are curious about. Did he play with neighborhood friends? Probably. Did he go to a local synagogue school and become a bar Mitsvah, a son of the covenant? Yes, all Jewish boys did. The Bible tells us that he grew “in wisdom and stature, in favor with God and man.” Obviously it is vital to grow in favor with God, but it is impressive that he earned the respect of the community, too. Young men seem to work so hard at earning the community’s fear and disrespect these days!
And we wonder when exactly it became clear to Jesus that there was something about him that was unique. When he proclaimed his message as an adult, he was fully conscious of his uniqueness. “Anyone who has seen me has seen the father,” Jesus declared (John 14:9). To see Jesus act, and hear him speak was to catch a glimpse of God himself.
This was no mere magic act. This was God himself, with us (Matthew 1:23). Yes, there really is something about Mary’s son. Come and see him. (Stan Mitchell)
“Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him” (Mark 6:3).
Thanks for being there to pray each day. You and your prayers mean so much to so many! If you have a praise report, a prayer request, or an update to share. please feel free to do so. Others will pray with you!
Anna Lee
“In my distress I called upon the Lord,
and cried out to my God;
He heard my voice from His temple,
and my cry came before Him,
even to His ears.”
~Psalm 18:6~
Please continue to pray for Scott and Faith Hill, their extended families, and their friends in the loss of little Aaron.
Praise report from Selena Morgan on Kaden Underwood
Thank everyone for their prayers for Kaden Underwood. His heart surgery went well. He has had a wonderful recovery and is home a week earlier than expected. Thank you all so much for praying for him and his family through this very difficult time.
Jesse Dean
Dad is back at the hospital with a blood clot in his right lung. They are watching it closely and have him on medication. He will be there for at least 5 days. Please keep him in your prayers.
Thanks,
Jennifer
Jennie served as a MK teacher for two years in Santa Catarina.
SANTA CATARINA, BRAZIL (sahn-tah cah-tah-REE-nah). In February, you prayed for the need for more workers in the Frei Damiao “favela” (community), not knowing that during that same week, the entire community was attempting to recover from severe flooding that left 800 families homeless and sent water surging through other homes at heights of 5-6 feet. Local workers praise God that the Jardim Eldorado congregation and staff members at their community center (CADI) in Frei Damiao were able to provide immediate shelter for 60 families, feed more than 400 people three times a day for several days, and provide emergency first aid. Thanks to financial aid from the IMB disaster relief funds, families who still had homes and cooking facilities received food baskets, mattresses and cleaning supplies. Those whose homes were destroyed are receiving concrete blocks to rebuild a basic framework for their home. Staff members from the CADI and volunteers have worked long hours to match donations of clothing and furniture with the long lists of needs they compiled in the days following the flooding. God has provided opportunities during this crisis for Pastor R, his congregation, and new believers within the community to show Christ’s love to thousands. They ask you to pray that many lives will be permanently changed through Jesus as a result of these contacts.
http://ronalana.wordpress.com
PAKISTAN. R, an Urdu literacy teacher, has been facing threats and persecution recently. Last month you were specifically praying for the five students who said that they believed that Isa is who He says He is. R was trying to meet with each one individually to talk more about this truth. She was meeting with BB, one of the five, in BB’s home. BB’s husband came home while they were meeting, and he became very angry at R for being in his home and meeting with his wife. He told her that he knew what she was doing–trying to change his wife’s beliefs. He told her never to come back to his house again and that he knew where she lived. Please pray for BB to be safe, and pray that what she has learned about Isa will lead her to a saving faith in the one true God. Pray for some way that R may be able to see BB and make sure she is all right. Since this has happened, R has had to stop the Urdu class in that area. But God has already opened another door for a new class to be started in another area, this time with 16 women! These women are eager and excited to learn. Please pray that they will be excited and open to hearing stories from the Bible three days per week as well. http://www.go2southasia.org/
MISSIONARY PERSONAL NEEDS. Please lift up two semester student workers on the island of Mauritius. Pray that they will adjust well, form lasting friendships, build relationships with the university students with eternal results, and continue to seek the Lord daily. Pray that they will be encouraged by God through His Word and reminded of their call. Ask God to bless the ideas, visions and goals they instill in the lives of all whom they come in contact with, and pray that they will function well with the other workers on the island.
Christy Quin Wharton sent new pictures of her children. Let me know if you would like me to send them to you.
One of the coaches at school shared this:
Daily Rules from God for 2008
1. Wake Up!! Decide to have a good day. ‘Today is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.’ Psalms 118:24
2. Dress Up!! The best way to dress up is to put on a smile. A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks. ‘The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward appearance; but the Lord looks at the heart.’ I Samuel 16:7
3. Shut Up!! Say nice things and learn to listen. God gave us two ears and one mouth, so He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as talking. ‘He who guards his lips guards his soul.’ Proverbs 13:3
4. Stand Up!!… For what you believe in. Stand for something or you will fall for anything.. ‘Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good…’ Galatians 6:9-10
5. Look Up!!… To the Lord.
‘I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me.’ Phillippians 4:13
6. Reach Up!!… For something higher. ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, And He will direct your path.’
Proverbs 3:5-6
7. Lift Up!!… Your Prayers.
‘Do not worry about anything; instead PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING.’
Philippians 4:6
God answers Knee-Mail.
Have a great day!
Anna Lee
Our Aaron is at home with the angels held tightly by our Lord. We got to hold him and rock him as he left this earth for a much better place. One of our doctors even rocked him with us and several cried with us. No more pain and suffering. We had not held him in 3 weeks, so we were thankful for this last opportunity on this earth. He only knew 2 weeks away from the hospital and we are thankful for each minute we had him.
We came here with Aaron to get a “new” heart for him. On Friday, he got this heart after 2 open heart surgeries and 2 heart caths. Some time between Saturday and yesterday morning, Aaron sustained a massive brain injury. No one knows the cause except our Lord. All the doctors are baffled and said it was not a clot or bleed, but severe swelling. The swelling was too much for Aaron to handle.
We can’t begin to express our gratitude for all your prayers. We know our Father heard each one and they gave us comfort. Aaron felt peace from them as well. Even though we did not get a miracle healing of our son, we were blessed to have him with us for just over 7 weeks. Maybe that was our miracle.
We love you all.
Aaron touched many lives during his few weeks on earth. I know many of you have sent emails or talkes personally with me about Aaron. His short life reminds me of the Dale Evans Rogers book, Angel Unaware. You can also see for yourself by going to caringbridge.org and typing in aaronhill1. You see see that thousands followed his short life and many wrote notes of encouragement. Some of you may want to do the same.
“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father …
[I pray that] you,
being rooted and firmly established in love,
may be able … to know the Messiah’s love
that surpasses knowledge,
so you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
~Ephesians 3:14, 17-19, HCSB~
Jesse Dean is doing well. He is working to gain back his strength now.
Kentwood Police Officer Donald Garner will have surgery in Lacombe Wednesday. Please be in prayer.
Mrs. Jeanette Rhodus will have surgery this morning at North Oaks. She was just found to have cancer. Please pray for “Miss” Jeanette and her family.
Jennie Stegall and her family continue to need our prayers.
Pray for Tina Cox and her family as Tina undergoes cancer treatment.
Several people have medical procedures or important appointments today. Please be in pray for each situation.
Lee Thomas Bartholomae Sr.
A retired safety and security director for the U.S. government, he passed away Saturday, April 5, 2008, in Baton Rouge. He was 84, a native of Jacksonville, Fla., and resident of Baton Rouge. He was a U.S. Army veteran, having served in the Normandy invasion. Visitation at Ourso Funeral Home, Gonzales, on Monday, April 7, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Visitation at St. Stephen’s Catholic Church, Whitehall, on Tuesday from 9 a.m. until Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m., with Monsignor Gerald Lefebvre, celebrant. Burial in Whitehall Cemetery. Survived by his wife, Belva Delatte Bartholomae, Baton Rouge; daughter and son-in-law, Loretta B. and William Jeter, Baton Rouge; two sons and daughters-in-law, Lee Thomas “Tom” and Charlene Bartholomae, Kentwood, and James Frederick “Jimmy” and Cindy Bartholomae, Chalmette; and seven grandchildren, Nathan, Katie, Grace, Jamie, Michael, Theresa and Mark. He was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion and NARFD and an avid woodworker. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Hospice of Baton Rouge, 9063 Siegen Lane, Suite A, Baton Rouge, LA 70810.
Deacon Hospital Ministry – April 6-12
Two Rivers Associational Semi-Annual Meeting
KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…”
(Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor
APOLOGIZING DOESN’T COME easy for some of us…
We sometimes choke on the words, “I’m sorry.” Well, in fact, sometimes we speak the words, but we do so with such animosity, the message is lost.
I can illustrate. Being a parent of four children, I have had to “moderate” a good number of apologies. On many occasions, I have told one of my children, “Now you tell your brother/sister you’re sorry.” What then comes out of their mouth sounds more like a child who is demon possessed than a sincere apology. Teeth clenched…jaw set…and the words, “I’m sorry” are spoken in a forceful and almost growling tone. (If you have children, you know exactly what I’m talking about).
But now, that’s just kid’s stuff right? Adults don’t behave like that, now do we? Well, maybe we’re not so obvious, but we still have ways of speaking those words with less than sincerity. For example, how many times have you heard people say things like…
— If I have done anything to offend you, I’m sorry.
— I’m sorry, but if you wouldn’t have…
— If you’ll apologize to me, I’ll apologize to you.
Isn’t it time we quit pretending to be sorry? Let us discipline ourselves to be humble enough to graciously and freely say we are sorry when we have offended others. When confronted with his sin, King David didn’t make any excuses, but simply admitted his wrong by saying, “I have sinned against the Lord” (2 Samuel 12:13).
Next time you need to say you’re sorry. Humble yourself and do so, and say it like you mean it. (Steve Higginbotham)
“I said, ‘LORD, be merciful to me;
Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You.'”
~Psm. 41:4~
Make today a magnificent Monday!
Anna Lee
Aaron Hill – 2:29 P.M. Post
Good afternoon to everyone. Aaron is holding firm with good heart function today. The doctors are working on weaning Aaron’s heart off the ECMO machine a bit today with the hope of taking him off tomorrow sometime. Whether they actually do this depends on how well his body tolerates the weaning today. Please pray for the strength of his heart and body as this process continues. If the doctors do take him off the ECMO tomorrow, it is somewhat of a surgical procedure done at the bedside. They actually remove the cannula (tubes) that are moving the blood through the machines and in and out of Aaron’s body and close the holes in his heart where the tubes are inserted. Like everything here, it is a dangerous procedure, so please pray that Aaron will tolerate it well and there will be no complications.
Aaron has had some blood pressure issues yesterday and through last night. The doctors are concerned that he might be having seizures. They have hooked him up to a ton of wires to do a 24 hour EEG on him. Please pray that God will heal any seizures that he may have had.
Earlier today Christi and I packed up our things in Camden and we have again moved to the Philadelphia RMH to be closer to the hospital. Scott and I are blessed to have our friend here to help us and to have the prayers of so many friends for our son. Please continue to pray for Aaron.
Henry McKenzie brother’s
great-grandson
who was two months old died suddenly. This baby was born about the same time as Laura and Jody’s Allye. Please be in prayer for the family during this very difficult time.
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock.
If anyone hears my voice and opens the door,
I will come in to him and eat with him,
and he with me.”
~Revelation 3:20, ESV~
Joan Hagan likes to say she keeps “life interesting”. She broke her big toe this week and had a flat tire on her wheelchair yesterday. She needs a new tube (4.0 x 5). She was unable to get one yesterday. Please pray for her. Surgery is only three and a half weeks away.
Jannie Jarreau Allen
Jannie Allen died on Saturday, April 5, 2008, at her residence in Kentwood. She was 50 and a native of New Roads. Visitation at Living Word Christian Centre, Grangeville, on Monday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Tuesday from 8 a.m. until religious service at 10 a.m. She is survived by her husband of 24 years, Roger Dale Allen, of Kentwood; son, Everett Dale Allen, 24 and of Kentwood; granddaughter, Dana Marie Allen, 2 years old and of Kentwood; two brothers, Donald Jarreau, of Central and Joseph Jarreau, of Walker; and sister, Resa Odom, of Central. She was preceded in death by her mother, Vernice Marie St. Romain Jarreau; and father, Joseph Harris Jarreau. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Living Word Christian Centre, 2496 La. 63, Pine Grove, LA 70453. McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, is in charge of arrangements. For information, visit http://www.mckneelys.com.
Baptist Press had some very interesting articles last week. You may want to use the link on the right side of this page to read some of them.
The ladies’ prayer group will meet at 6:30 in the morning at Mojo’s. Please feel free to join us. We will be finished before 7:00 so you will have plenty of time to get to work.
HOW MUCH DO YOU OWN
IN THAT DIRECTION?
George Washington Truett was a preacher in Dallas for 47 years. He once visited a wealthy West Texas rancher and had dinner in his huge ranch home. After dinner, the rancher took Dr. Truett up to a veranda on top of his house, and lit up a big cigar. The sun was setting, and if you’ve ever been to West Texas, you know you can see a long way out there. The man pointed to the south toward some oil rigs and said, “I own everything in that direction as far as you can see.” He pointed east toward some cotton fields and said, “And I own everything in that direction, too.” He pointed north toward a huge herd of cattle and bragged, “And, preacher, I own everything as far as you can see in that direction.” He turned to the west, and said, “And I own everything you can see in that direction, except the sun, of course.”
Dr. Truett turned to the man and pointed straight up the sky and said, “And how much do you own in that direction?”
It’s a sobering question for all of us. We are surrounded constantly by the “things” of this world, and it is so easy to think that these “things” are the things that matter most — a nice car, a nice home, nice clothes (and don’t forget all the necessary electronic gadgets!). And so, if we’re not careful, we may seek to accumulate more and more, without regard to our relationship with God. As the rich fool discovered in Luke 12, we will all one day be forced to recognize that the material things we have accumulated have no eternal value.
Jesus said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)
How much do you own in that direction?
Have a great day!
Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina
“How much do you own in that direction?”
That’s a good question we should all ask ourselves!
Anna Lee
“The Lord is merciful and gracious;
he is slow to get angry and full of unfailing love.”
~Psalm 103:8 (NLT)~
Rapid Response Team Deploys to Flooded Missouri
The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team has deployed their crisis-trained chaplains in response to the recent floods across the nation’s midsection. A total of four chaplains are currently working with victims in the area of Piedmont, Missouri.
Chaplains are already on-site and praying with those who are going through this tragedy in their lives, says Jack Munday, director of the Rapid Response Team. Pain and despair increases as the flood waters rise. We want to bring hope and support into this unbearable situation.
Prayer
Chaplains have already spoken and prayed with nearly 75 people in this town of 2,000. They are in communication with local law enforcement and area pastors.
As in past disasters of this magnitude, RRT chaplains are working alongside Samaritans Purse, a disaster relief organization headed by Franklin Graham, who also heads the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. While Samaritans Purse volunteers meet the physical needs of the victims, the chaplains will address the emotional and spiritual needs brought about by the floods.
Meeting Needs
Often in these situations, the immediate need is physical: What do I do about my house? What about my possessions? says Munday. However, after the immediate physical trauma, the questions start to come: Why did this happen? The chaplains will be there to help them as they work through those questions.
This is the Billy Graham Rapid Response Teams third deployment of 2008 and its 22nd deployment overall. Earlier this year the chaplains deployed to Tennessee and Arkansas following the deadly tornadoes in the region and to Northern Illinois University following the Valentines Day shooting of several students.
Mrs. Berta Pittman is still at North Oaks. Diagnosis has been made and treatment started. Pray for her as she continues to improve.
Frank Williams
A retired manager of the Florida Boulevard Piccadilly Cafeteria and a proud Vietnam War veteran, he died Sunday, March 30, 2008, at his home in Baton Rouge. He was 65 and a native of Kentwood. Visiting at Magnolia Baptist Church, 960 E. Buchanan St., on Saturday, April 5, from 9 a.m. until religious service at 11 a.m., conducted by the Rev. J. Bertell Davis. Interment in Roselawn Cemetery.
EXPECTATIONS OF JESUS
After being with his blind date all evening, the man couldn’t take another minute with her. Earlier, he had secretly arranged to have a friend call him to the phone so he would have an excuse to leave if something like this happened.
When he returned to the table, he lowered his eyes, put on a grim expression and said, “I have some bad news. My grandfather just died.”
“Thank goodness,” his date replied. “If yours hadn’t, mine would have had to!”
I am so glad that I don’t have to deal with the “dating scene” — worrying about making a good first impression so that I can meet her expectations and trying to deal with the awkwardness of the situation if she’s doesn’t meet my expectations. That’s especially the problem with “blind dates”, something I managed to avoid altogether in my dating years. You get an image in your mind of what your date is going to be like (or what you hope she’s going to be like), and it often doesn’t take much to shatter that misconception. Granted, your date could possibly turn out to be better than you expected, but it seldom seems to work out that way.
That was a problem that Jesus faced when he came to this earth. He should have been greeted with open arms — after all, he was the long-awaited Messiah. The problem is that the Jews had expectations of what the Messiah would be like. For most of the Jews, that preconception involved an earthly king who would boot the Romans out of the land and assume control. In fact, they were quite prepared to make Jesus that king (John 6:15).
Even without that misconception, though, none of the Jews could imagine a Messiah hanging on a cross. So the cross became a “stumbling block” to the Jews and “foolishness” to the Greeks (I Cor. 1:23). Jesus didn’t meet their expectations and they hurried to find a way to end the relationship.
Philip Yancey deals with this topic in his book “The Jesus I Never Knew”. He speaks of his own misconceptions of Jesus at an early age: “I recalled the Sunday school image of Jesus that I grew up with: someone kind and reassuring, with no sharp edges at all — a Mister Rogers before the age of children’s television.” Certainly Jesus was kind and reassuring, but he was so much more than that — he was a man who was strong (physically and emotionally) and passionate.
What’s important is that we allow the Gospels to define who Jesus was, and not expect him to measure up to our preconceived ideas. I challenge you to read the Gospels in a fresh light. Remove all expectations and allow the Word of God to define and shape who Jesus was. I guarantee the Messiah will turn out to be better than you expected!
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
Have a great day!
Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina
There not a new post of Aaron Hill this morning. I’ll post one when it is available.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Anna Lee
Aaron Hill
Please begin now to pray for this baby, his family. and the medical staff who will minister to Aaron and his family today. God has touched many lives through the life of one sick little boy. Pray that no matter how the surgery turns out today, lives will continue to be touched and blessed. Pray Aaron and his family will feel the love, support, and encouragement of many people as well as the peace and endurance from God for whatever they face today.
I thank all of your for the many prayers you are lifting up for Aaron. Each message has truly blessed me today. We cherish each new friend we are making through this process (we can’t wait for Aaron to thank you himself for your prayers one day!), those of you whom we haven’t seen in years and those friends that we just haven’t seen since leaving for PA. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Aaron will be the second surgical case tomorrow. They anticipate coming to take him to the operating room about 10 a.m. We will spend the morning with him and let everyone know when the surgery begins. Please pray for the hands of the surgeons, for Aaron’s peace and pain, that intubation will be easy and all toxins will stay out of Aaron’s body, that the holes will be easily located and repaired, that Aaron will have no trouble coming off the bypass machine and that his heart will not misfire when it begins working again. Pray for healing after the surgery.
We love you all.
Billy Wilkinson
I saw Billy Wilkinson of Fluker last night. He continues to have treatments at Mary Bird Perkins in Baton Rouge. Please pray for him as he continues his treatments.
Paul D. Morel, DMD
Paul Douglas Morel, DMD, died April 1, 2008, at his residence.
Visitation is 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Hartman-Sharkey Funeral Home in McComb. Services are 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home chapel with Dr. David Millican officiating.
Dr. Morel was born April 26, 1958, in Pasadena, Calif. He was the son of Jo Blades Morel of Magnolia and the late Paul Francis Morel. He was a practicing dentist in Magnolia.
KOMpray
Kids on Mission Pray
Prayer requests
April 4, 2008
“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
EIGHT-HOURS TO THE OASIS… A team of volunteers went from the United States to West Africa to tell the Kanuri people about Jesus. They wanted to go prayerwalking-you know, praying while walking. You can walk through your neighborhood too and begin praying for your neighbors. Well, these volunteers wanted to pray for the Kanuri people. Sad to say, they weren’t allowed to go to some of the villages they hoped to visit. So, the missionaries took them on an eight-hour trip to a desert oasis. Make a picture in your mind-hot sun, huge sand dunes, and water for thirsty travelers! The volunteers were very excited about the trip. They planned to do some prayerwalking in the desert and definitely wanted to tell someone about Jesus.
Whew, eight-hours riding through the desert! At the oasis, they climbed to the top of huge dunes to look out and pray for the desert peoples. The volunteers asked God to show them people who wanted to hear about Jesus. Even before the volunteers left the United States, they thought about that. They used the church’s Vacation Bible School missions offering to buy some very special, small media players. They have four-hours of Bible stories on them-sort of like Sunday School lessons-from Creation through Jesus. The stories were in seven different languages so everyone could understand. Everyone who lives in the Saharan desert that is!
After praying on the sand dunes, the volunteers started back. And what did thy see? A camel caravan! Yes, they were in the middle of a caravan of 150 camels and 30 drivers. The camel drivers were excited to take the media players and listen to the stories in their language. Please pray for these camel drivers (kind of like West African cowboys). Pray for them to listen to the stories many times and become Christians. Pray that they will share the stories with their families and others they meet on the trail.
MORE PRAYER REQUESTS FROM MISSIONARY KIDS
My prayer request is that God will help me reach more and more hearts of people. LS, age 10 (East Asia)
Pray that other people would love me. THAD, age 5
Please pray that I would have more girls to play with in my neighborhood. DANIELLE, age 9 (Pacific Rim)
Dear God. Please help my great grandma to stay healthy. RAYMOND, age 7 (East Asia)
Please pray for my strength as I try to lose weight and exercise more. Pray that I will have faith that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. AP, age 15
Nanna was born with only half of a heart in Scarborough, East Toronto, Canada. Her church (Iglesia Bautiste Betel) prayed for her survival as a testimony to Jesus’ love for children and His power as the Great Physician to keep her alive. She has been alive longer than anyone else in her condition, but the more she grows, the more she needs a whole heart. Please pray that she will be put on a list to receive a heart transplant. Please ask Yahweh the Father to let this little vivacious girl with an infectious smile and lots of joy in the Lord continue to live as a testimony to Jesus’ love for children. NANNA, age 7 (Middle America and Caribbean)
KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor
LEADERSHIP OF THE Democratic Party in Michigan and Florida is in a quandary…
In the past, the presidential nomination process has been settled by the time their primaries were held. In an attempt to make their primaries more meaningful, they scheduled the events for an earlier date. The national party leaders warned them not to make those changes, or their votes would not be counted. The warnings went unheeded.
The closeness of the 2008 Democratic presidential campaign has surprised many. The delegates that would have been chosen in the Michigan and Florida primaries might have made a distinct difference. In hindsight, all wish that they had left the schedule alone. Now there is discussion about redoing the primaries. Many oppose such efforts, however, saying that rules can’t be changed after the fact. It will be interesting to see how all of this develops.
Attempting to change the rules is an ancient practice. Esau, described in Hebrews 12:16 as a “profane person” (NKJV), made an impulsive decision to sell his birthright in order to satisfy his physical hunger. Later he begged his father to reverse the blessing he had given to Jacob, or at least to pronounce a second blessing. His words in Genesis 27:38 reveal his desperate situation: “And Esau said to his father, ‘Have you only one blessing, my father? Bless me — me also, O my father!’ And Esau lifted up his voice and wept.” But it was too late. There was no blessing for one who had thought so little of his spiritual heritage. The rules would not be changed for Esau.
Similar desperation can be found in Matthew 7:21-23, words which will surprise many religious folks: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my father in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name, cast out demons in your name, and done many wonders in your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness!'”
God’s will had been given to these startled souls. They could have known and obeyed the will of God if they had so chosen. Instead they launched out on their own wisdom, doing whatever seemed right and religious to them. In the end they were lost because they had not obeyed God’s rules. No amount of pleading would change what God had laid down in scripture.
Let us learn from the mistakes others have made. Let us be thankful that God has given us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:2-4), and then let us be intent on knowing and doing those things. One thing is certain: We’re not going to change what God has said! (Tim Hall)
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
shall enter the kingdom of heaven,
but he who does the will of my father in heaven.
Many will say to me in that day,
‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name,
cast out demons in your name,
and done many wonders in your name?’
And then I will declare to them,
‘I never knew you; depart from me,
you who practice lawlessness!'”
~Matt. 7:21-23~
Have a great Friday!
Anna Lee
Jamie Paul Johnson
Jamie Paul Johnson, 54, of Jayess, died March 29, 2008, in a house fire at his residence.
Visitation is 5 to 9 tonight at Providence Baptist Church in Jayess. Services are 11 a.m. Wednesday at the church, with the Revs. Steve Smith and Will Wall officiating. Margaret Ard and Mendy Johnson will provide music during the service. Burial will be in the church cemetery, with Wilson Funeral Home in Monticello in charge.
Mr. Johnson was born Jan. 30, 1954, in McComb, to James Herman and Frances Fenn Johnson of Summit.
He was a retired conductor with Illinois Central Railroad and a member of Providence Baptist Church. He graduated from North Pike High School in 1972 and still holds the record for most points scored in a single basketball game. He attended Southwest Mississippi Junior College before going to work with ICRR on Feb. 9, 1973. After retiring from the railroad, his job was to be a great, loving “pawpaw.”
Mr. Johnson was preceded in death by a son, Jeremy Paul Johnson; a brother, Jackie Darryl Johnson; grandparents, Hilton and Myrtle Fenn, John Lewis Johnson, and J.W. Bales and Ethel Roberts Johnson Bales; two nephews, Josh and Dustin Johnson; and his parents-in-law J.W. and Irma Niece Miller.
Survivors include his parents; his wife, Judith Kay Miller Johnson of Jayess; two sons, Randy Johnson and friend Tracey Clower, and Scott Johnson and wife Mendy, all of Jayess; three grandchildren, Haven, Heidi and Hib Johnson; five step-grandchildren, Katelyn, Josh and Chris Reid, Logan Costilo and Rylie Clower; one sister, Sondra J. Bell and her husband Randy of North Carolina; four nieces, Brooke and Kayla Johnson, Brandi Walker and Jamye Bullock; a brother-in-law, Larry Miller and his wife Linda; and a sister-in-law, Clara Miller Herrington.
The Prayer Link 
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