Category: FBC

“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, . . . being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:3-6)

Update on Don Denton:

Pictures….from Thanksgiving Day! We have several pictures from our wonderful Day. It was Don’s first day from a hospital in 64 days!

Joshua was not sure that he was really going to see his daddy outside of the hospital. To a 4 year old two months is like 10 thousand years.

But when Joshua saw his daddy in the van, that child could have sprouted wings and flown to the car. Joshua was elated with joy! As I watched the two of them, tears flowed from me. The reality of Don leaving the hospital was actually happening.

Our day was a day sitting around the table just basking in the moment. It was a precious site to us. WE savored every moment.

As much as we tried to prepare Joshua for his daddy having to go back to the hospital, it still was very difficult.

But now we are counting down and only 6 days left till we come home to Bolivar and 7 for Don.

We still have a long road ahead of us once we get home. Don is looking forward to returning back to work. He misses his students, his teaching and his peers.

Please pray that upon our leaving Rochester that the weather will be good for traveling by plane and by car.

We have allot of work to do to the house to get it ready for Don.

* I need some volunteers to help me with making these adjustments. I will have the supplies. I would appreciate anyone who may have some time to help me.
* There is one more request that I have and this one is for Joshua. Joshua does not realize that his daddy will not be able to put up Christmas lights this year. I know this is probably a “wishlist” request. But I would welcome anyone who might be willing to help me with this too.

Since this will be our first Christmas staying in Bolivar this year, it would be really special to have some Christmas lights. We have them in our attic, I just would need some help putting them up.

Well just to be home will feel wonderful. We continue to be so grateful for you all and your kindness to us.

Love and blessings

Diane
( http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/dondenton)

Two of the recent updates on Emily Panter from http://emilypanter.blogspot.com/.

Thursday, November 27, 2008
THANKSGIVING
I called Luke just now and told him to tell Emily that we’re celebrating her life today! We know that many of you, just like us, have had losses—God doesn’t always answer our prayers with a “yes.” He does what glorifies Himself the most. But today, we have so much to praise and thank God for. And we’re praising Him and thanking Him for Emily’s life.
Luke said Emily had a good night. She has tolerated the cap on her trach for over 24 hours now!! YIPPEEE!! In fact, they changed out her trach this morning and it has helped her coughing alot, Luke said. He said she’s also eating well today. We don’t know what the plan is yet about Emily getting to stay off of the vent, etc. But….for where we are…we’re grateful!

Father,
We just want to praise and thank You for choosing life for Emily. Thank You for blessing Luke and her children and her extended family this way. Thank You for glorifying Yourself through her life. We come in agreement as her friends and family glorifying Your holy name—You’ve done all things well. We trust Your heart, Father. We love You!! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

I Chronicles 16:34
“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
Posted by Emily Panter at 11:44 AM 6 comments
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Quiet Night
I just talked to Luke and he said Emily has had a restful day. Her coughing has subsided considerably. She also still has the cap on the trach (which means the vent is off) and is doing well with that. Mike & Jonathan (Emily’s dad & brother) had gotten there and they had just left to go to Jeff & Kim’s, I believe.
Please pray that Emily does well all night long. Pray that her cough goes away completely. And pray that she endures the cap on the trach for 24 hours.

Psalm 17:8
“Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.”

Pray for the many families who have lost loved ones recently. The list is long!

Mary Louise Osborn-Hyde
(September 24, 1924 – November 28, 2008)
Died at 8:33AM on Friday, November 28, 2008 at North Oaks Medical Center in Hammond, LA. She was a native of Blox, TX and a resident of Roseland, LA. Age 84 years. Funeral arrangements are pending at McKneely Funeral Home of Amite & Kentwood, Inc., Amite, LA.

Eddie Joe Blanchard Sr.
Blanchard Sr., Eddie Joe Assembly of God of Kentwood at 10 a.m.

McNabb, Donald E. (Funeral Notice) – McNabb, Donald E. McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, at 2 p.m.

Herman Ray Harris
Harris, Herman Ray Graveside service at Tickfaw Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery, Bates School Road, Osyka, Miss., at noon.

Communicator

SCIENTISTS AGREE THAT the universe is constantly communicating with us…

When we hear this, most of us imagine some half-crazed researcher spending decades listening to static noise from outer space, waiting for some abnormal yet distinct pattern or variance.

For example, the 1997 movie Contact, based on Sagan’s 1985 book, gave us a glamorized version of the legitimate search for extraterrestrial intelligence. In it, Ellie (played by Jodie Foster) is monitoring radio waves and signals from outer space, listening for some sort of ordered, encrypted sequece in the midst of static. She and other scientists eventually decipher a signal that is, as they describe it, “not local.” As a result, they surmise that a complex, ordered pattern “can only come from an intelligent source.”

Such communication can be found in our everyday existence. Consider the fact that the blueprint for who we are is intricately coded within the DNA molecules of each of our bodies. In other words, the DNA contained in every cell within your body contains information. It’s filled with “instructions” — complex, coded information. Obviously, information can’t be communicated unless there’s a communicator — and in this case, an intelligent Communicator — delivering the information. (Alex McFarland)

“The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God'” (Psm. 14:1).

Start praying for your contribution to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for international missions. The week of prayer begins tomorrow.
Anna Lee

“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ love those who love them.” Luke 6:32 (NIV)

Carl Wayne Stevens is better and able to be out of ICU. Please continue to pray for him and his family.

It’s time to start thinking and planning for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for international missions. Sunday will begin the week of prayer for the LMCO.

Increased giving crucial to keep pace with record growth
While celebrating record growth and the largest number of missionaries under appointment in recent years, trustees of the IMB also heard some cautionary notes related to giving during their Nov. 10-11 board meeting in Houston. But some encouraging words from IMB president Jerry Rankin: “God has always proved His faithfulness through the giving of His people that His mission might be carried out around the world. Even in these austere economic times we must press forward in our vision to reach a lost world and be obedient to our Great Commission task.”

A challenge from
Jerry Rankin
The lost billions in the world are not just waiting to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They are dying without Him. Will we be found faithful to GO TELL the story of Jesus through our gifts to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering®?

KOMpray
Kids on Mission Pray

Prayer requests

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

GIVE THANKS

What if you were an American in a foreign country? What would you do for Thanksgiving? None of your neighbors even know it’s a holiday. And no one has jellied cranberry sauce at the store!

The turkey may have to be a chicken and the pies baked in a tiny toaster oven. It doesn’t matter. Americans living in other countries find a way to celebrate Thanksgiving. I remember the year we got all of our American friends together. Everyone made something and we had a big feast. Better than the food? We all loved each other. We were thankful for the family of Christian friends God gave us…AND for the jellied cranberry sauce sent from America.

Christians living in foreign countries can feel lonely on holidays. Ask God to give them good friends. Lots of Christians will invite their neighbors over for dinner. Please pray that they will be able to tell their friends and their neighbors about how God provides for them. Pray that they will be able to talk about Jesus. Give thanks for everything God has done for you!

MORE PRAYER REQUESTS FROM MISSIONARY KIDS

There aren’t a lot of Christians where I live, so good influences are hard to find. Pray that I can hold on to Christ as I minister to people because it is easy to be pulled down when trying to lift up others. RUTH ANNE, age 14, (Central, Eastern and Southern Africa)

I pray that I will meet new friends everywhere I go. And pray my grandfather’s hip to get healed very soon. JAROD, age 7 (South Asia)

Pray for my American friends

CHLOE, age 6 (Central, Eastern and Southern Africa)

Pray that my friends will become Christians. Pray for my sister and I to continue to learn French and Creole better. Pray for us to have a real fun time and to learn a lot at the schools we go to. Pray for my sister and me to meet and make more friends. SEAN, age 5, (Central, Eastern and Southern Africa)

Pray for the sick and poor and old and dying—that’s what I want you to do. ISAIAH, age 11 (Pacific Rim)

Please pray for my friends in Portugal to get to know Jesus. ELISABETH, age 10, (Western Europe)

I have some friends that are stuck in America because of visa problems. I miss them a lot and now I can’t see them until January. Please pray that they would be okay. KA, age 11 (East Asia)

In Indian families, the parents or grandparents are the head of the family. In our friend’s family, a woman is Christian and sharing to her husband; but the husband’s mom is a strong Hindu and against Christians. The man wants to be a Christian, but he will lose everything if he comes to God. Pray he will know God will provide if he believes and trusts in Him. Also pray that the man’s mom will come to Christ and accept them as Christians. AMANDA, age 12 (South Asia)

Reminder: Wednesday is the last day for bringing a toy for the migrant children or Christmas cards with stamps for the parish prisoners.

Randy Burnell Simpson
Simpson, Randy Burnell Kentwood First Baptist Church at 11 a.m.

Donald Emile McNabb
(December 1, 1938 – November 27, 2008)

Sign Guest Book

U.S. Veteran Died at 2:12AM on Thursday, November 27, 2008 at St. Helena Parish Nursing Home in Greensburg, LA. He was a native and resident of Kentwood, LA. Age 69 years. Mr. McNabb was as U. S. Army veteran and general foreman with Asplunda. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Friday and from 8 a.m. until religious services at 2 p.m. Saturday. Services conducted by Rev. Don Meadows. Interment Hutchinson Cemetery, Kentwood, LA. Survived by wife, Carolyn Pease McNabb, Kentwood, daughter, Bobbie Falco and her husband, David, Longview, TX, son, Joseph E. McNabb and his wife, Cindy, Grangeville, 2 step-daughters, Samantha Malone and her husband Scott, Carlyss, Robyn Fontenot, Houma, brother, Edgar M. McNabb and his wife, Kathryn, St. Helena Parish, sister-in-law, Eva McNabb, St. Helena Parish, 8 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by father, Edgar J. McNabb, mother, Helen Hutchinson McNabb Cossiboin, step-father, Joseph E. Cossiboin, brother, Bobby L. McNabb. The family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff of St. Helena Parish Nursing Home for their care and assistance.

The prayers of MK’s took me to this devotional. I hope you can see the link between the prayers of children for the lost and the devotional.

Ready

THERE IS COMING a day that won’t be followed by another day…Are you ready…?

There is coming a day when this earth, and all that is in it will be burned up and destroyed…Are you ready?

There is coming a day when all that you have been taught about the comingof Christ will culminate with the actual event…Are you ready?

There is coming a day when your beliefs and those of your friends with whom you disagreed will be tested…Are you ready?

There is coming a day when your faith will be transformed into sight…Are you ready?

There is coming a day when sins that have not been covered by the blood of Christ will be revealed and reckoning will commence…Are you ready?

There is coming a day when your opportunities to have obeyed the gospel will be all be past…Are you ready?

There is coming a day when you and everyone around you will be judged, each one according to his/her own works…Are you ready?

There is coming a day when heaven and hell won’t be just future possibilities, but stark realities…Are you ready?

There is coming a day when the dead shall rise and your loved ones who died in the Lord will be waiting to be reunited with you…Are you ready?

There is coming a day when all of your talk about earthly things “not meaning so much” will be validated…Are you ready?

There is coming a day when those burdens that are pressing so hard upon you will be lifted…Are you ready?

There is coming a day when the path you are now walking is seen by all to be what it truly is…Are you ready? (Lance Cordle)

KneEmail: “Therefore, you must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” ( Matthew 24:44, ESV)

Posted by Mike Benson at October 27, 2008 2:32 PM

Have a great day!
Anna Lee

“But how can they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe without hearing about Him?” (Romans 10:14a, HCSB)

One way children will “hear” is through the Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes. Our church is collecting them this morning and dedication them to “speak” to young hearts through the gifts and the printed words that Samaritan’s Purse will include in each one. Thank-you to those who have packed a box already. It’s not too late for those of you who have not done so already. Please let a church staff member or me know today if you wish to turn in a box later than today. You may go to http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/occ/ to learn more about Operation Christmas Child. If you didn’t participate this year, you can begin to make plans to do so next year.

The Georgia Barnette Offering for state missions is doing well. So far, we have collected $6,109.00 toward our goal of $7,500.00. If you have not given, please try to do so today. If you have already given, you might want to give more. It’s never too late to contribute. Be sure to mark your check and envelope with “Georgia Barnette”. The need to build and rebuild after recent hurricanes is great.

Bobbie Raborn and Frankie Gehringer will be the deacons of the week this week. If you have a need or know of a need, please contact one of these men.

Mrs. Annie Bell Harrell is doing better. Pray for her and Mr. Philip as she continue to work to overcome this health issue she has been dealing with this year. Thank God for the medical personnel who have worked so diligently to help her.

The WMU of FBC will meet at 4 P.M. today in the heritage room. If you are interested in missions, please try to attend.

The next two projects for our associational WMU will be stamped Christmas cards for the prisoners at the Tangipahoa Parish Jail and new toys for the children of migrants. You may begin bringing them to the church office at FBC, Kentwood.

Billy Thomas Whitaker
(September 14, 1934 – November 15, 2008)
Billy Thomas Whitaker born on September 14, 1934 and passed away at 9:55AM, Saturday, November 15, 2008 at his residence in Amite. Mr. Billy was the son of the late George B. & Viola Burks Whitaker. He was 74 and a native of Baton Rouge.

He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Edna Jones Whitaker, Amite; 4 daughters, Rhonda Knippers and husband, Chris, Loranger, Judy Miller and husband, Ronnie, Amite, Carolyn Spiess and husband, William, Independence, & Robin Clark and husband, Wayne, Bay Minette, AL; a son, Dennis White and wife, Susan, Lake Charles; 3 sisters, Loraine Ayer, Zachary, Irene Rogillio and husband, Ellis, Clinton, & Ola King, Baker; a brother, Edwin “Hunky” Whitaker and wife, Joyce, Zachary; 30 grandchildren & numerous great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents, 3 sons, Ray Whitaker, Kenny Whitaker & Lloyd Whitaker; 2 granddaughters, Lizzie Whitaker & Lacey Whitaker.

Visitation will be at the McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, on Sunday, November 16, 2008 from 6:00PM until 9:00PM and on Monday, November 17, 2008 after 8:00AM until Religious Services at 10:00AM in the funeral home Chapel with Rev. Mike Hegwood officiating. Interment will be in the Hillcrest Cemetery, Baker, LA.

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.

KneEmail by Mike Benson
Manual

HAVE YOU EVER tried to figure out the remote control for your television set…?

I find myself calling our cable company at least once or twice a year to say, “Hey, how do I make this thing work?” Inevitably, some techie on the other end of the line asks, “Well, Sir, did you read the instruction manual?”

You’re probably like me — you either can’t bring yourself to actually read an owner’s manual or you can’t decipher the hieroglyphics if you do read it. There is nothing more irritating than a manual for whatever gadget, gizmo, or appliance you might have.

During my research, I discovered one group of professionals tha apparently isn’t into owner’s manuals. A sign in an engineering firm’s reception area read: “Real engineers don’t read owner’s manuals. Reliance on a reference book is a hallmark of the novice and coward.” Another wall held the following sign: “Real engineers don’t seek technical support. To do so is a sign of weakness.” Engineers may be the only ones in our society who can comprehend gadgets and devices without some kind of manual. The rest of us need help to figure out all the buttons, blinking lights, and electronics that overwhelm us.

As frustrated as we might become with electronic devices, there’s something far more important we need help with: our lives and the problems we face, the challenges we encounter, and the sorrows we endure. Since we are created beings with a free will and a purpose for our lives, there must be some instructions for us somewhere that ensure we will function at optimal capacity. I would like to suggest that the Bible is just such a book, put here so you and I can live up to our maximum potential. In fact, if I were given the assignment of coming up with a new title for the Bible, it might very well be:

LIFE: AN OWNER’S MANUAL
Your Tiime-Honored, Time-Tested Guide to the
Here and Now
and the
Then and There. (Mike Macintosh)

“As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue” ( 2 Pet. 1:3).

Posted by Mike Benson at October 9, 2008 10:57 AM

Have a special Lord’s Day!
Anna Lee