Category: Praises, Requests, & Updates

Sunday

“God reigns over the nations.

God sits on His holy throne.”

~Psalm 47:8~

As we go through the wonderful Christmas season, let’s remember others who will be having a difficult time.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/adriannacavanagh

Week of Prayer for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering

Day 8

HIV/AIDS Ministry in Zambia

Troy Lewis has seen death. He’s also seen lives transformed physically and spiritually.

Troy and his wife, Tracey, are missionaries to Zambia. His primary focus involves ministering to those impacted by the AIDS crisis. More than 5,500 people die every day from this disease in sub-Saharan Africa.

Troy’s work has been both challenging and rewarding as he has labored alongside local believers to help the hurting.

“My heart has been touched and broken by seeing so many people suffering and so many people hurting,” said Troy, who hopes to “awaken the church … to go out and make a difference.”

Meanwhile, Troy is helping people hear about Jesus Christ every day — people like Collins.

A former street kid, Collins once sniffed gas fumes and lived in a graveyard. Through local believers and Southern Baptist initiatives such as True Love Waits, Collins gave his life to Christ. He turned away from a worldly lifestyle that leads many young people to become infected with AIDS.

“It gave him a vision … of what his life could be,” Troy said. “And quite literally that’s what Christ does with all of us. … He takes us out of the trash heap of life and sets our feet on a higher place.”

Pray the churches in Zambia will address the AIDS crisis and offer a Christ like response.

Churches will be celebrating with a missions march/collection day this month.  All the money will be used to fund the 5,000+ missionaries serving outside of North America.  Support those who have given up life here to go elsewhere to introduce others to Jesus.  Keep them in your prayers.  Knowing how important family time is during the holidays, pray for missionaries as they join together in celebration of Jesus’ birth.  Pray for their opportunities to share about Jesus as they explain their holiday celebrations to those who don’t know Him.

Jesus is the reason for the season!  Celebrate Jesus today in your church!

Anna Lee


Saturday

“God knew what he was doing from the very beginning.

He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him

along the same lines as the life of his Son ….

We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him.”

~Romans 8:29 (Msg)~

Jadon’t Story

Seizures, Seiaures, & Seizures

I don’t have much to report. My seizures haven’t gotten any better. I’m having them during the night again. I’m also having many intense ones all during the day. We don’t know an exact amount, but we do know its well over 100. It’s just impossible to count them every day. My mommy is off of work for the weekend so she is going to get a good count on them. All I can say is please continue to pray for me. My mommy called our neurologist and they said there isn’t anything that needs to be done right now. We just have to wait. Well waiting is horrible, especially when your having seizures all day and all night. Thank you all very much for praying for me. It’s the only thing that keeps us going.

Callie Cole

Good Morning,
Just wanted to say hello and let you know that we had a good trip to Atlanta.  It was fast and furious, but successful.  Doc was impressed with her intact, cognitive abilities.  Can’t wait to see how she will conquer this school thing.  Pray that this area will show the stamp of God and be glorified!!  There are issues with writing that in turn affect the arithmetic portion of the school work.  But, like all other areas of this recovery we will figure out what will work best for Miss Sunshine.  She desires to go to school with Jackson.  I can see her changing her mind once we were to get started.  Can’t you?  Afterall, she is a teenager.  Right now, homebound is good.
Hope you all are thinking up a great, radical, Jesus kiss for someone this month.  I will continue with the challenge to think outside the ordinary and remember that it is a secret!!  Allow the Lord to be glorified so you may receive rich blessings in Heaven.
Keep it real.

Love,
Frances

Harrell Sharkey is progressing well following his knee surgery.  Pray for him as he continues rehab.

Frances Gay got a good report yesterday after the procedure was done.  Thank God for the good report.

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering

Day 7

The Udmurts of Russia

Imagine loving someone you have never met, in a country 6,000 miles away. It happened to two American couples when God gave them a heart to reach the Udmurts, a minority people group in Russia, more than two years ago.

Charlie and Heather Murphy* met Will and Marie Thompson* while attending seminary in Texas. Today all four are Russian language students in Izhevsk, the capital city of Udmurtia.

“I loved the Udmurt people before I ever took a trip here, before I ever met one of them,” Charlie says. “And that really was just a love that came from God.”

Southern Baptists had prayed for the Udmurts during 2007 Day of Prayer and Fasting for World Evangelization.

Most Udmurts live as outcasts in rural villages where they eke out a meager existence from their family gardens.

“Without a doubt,” Charlie says, “the thing that burdens me the most about this people is just the depression. You can see it on their faces. … Some turn to the animism, some turn to the Orthodox Church, but right now very few are turning to Christ.”

Will echoes these sentiments. Udmurtia, he says, is “a place ready to receive the gospel … Hopelessness is just an open field—open soil for the gospel.”

Pray for Udmurts to put their trust in Christ and boldly share their faith in their villages.

*Names changed
———-

Lottie Moon Tea

East Fork Baptist Church

2:00 Today

All girls and women from 5 – 105 are invited

Mrs. Lucille Pledger

McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood

Visitation beging at noon today.

Service begins at 1 P.M.

THE BLESSING OF A MATE

Someone has compiled the following list of observations about married
life:

*  A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can
spend.  A successful woman is one who can find such a man.

*  Men wake up as good-looking as they went to bed.  Women somehow
deteriorate during the night.

*  A man is a person who will pay two dollars for a one-dollar item he
wants.  A woman will pay one dollar for a two-dollar item that she
doesn’t want.

*  To be happy with a man you must understand him a lot and love him a
little.  To be happy with a woman you must love her a lot and not
try to understand her at all.

*  When women are depressed, they either eat or go shopping.  Men
invade another country.

*  A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn’t.  A
man marries a woman expecting that she won’t change and she does.

*  A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.  A man
never worries about the future until he gets a wife.

*  There are two times when a man doesn’t understand a woman – before
marriage and after marriage.

*  Only two things are necessary to keep one’s wife happy.  One is to
let her think she is having her own way.  The other is to let her
have it.

*  Any married man should forget his mistakes – there’s no use in two
people remembering the same thing.

*  A man has six items in his bathroom – a toothbrush, shaving cream,
razor, a bar of soap, deodorant and a towel. The average number of
items in the typical woman’s bathroom is 437.  A man would not be
able to identify most of these items.

*  A woman always has the last word in any argument.  Anything a man
says after that is the beginning of a new argument.

Although I am sometimes accused of being personally responsible for the deterioration of relations between men and women in this country, my wife and I can joke about such things because, deep down, we realize how much we mean to each other.

Allow me to share some personal thoughts with you.  God has truly blessed me with the most wonderful woman on the face of this earth.  We have shared our lives together for over 33 years.  We thought when we first got married that it couldn’t get any better, but it has (and it continues to do so!).

I hold my wife personally responsibility for anything I may achieve in this life.  She is my source of strength and my encouragement when things are rough.  She is the one who knows me best, with all my shortcomings and failures, and yet still loves me.  She always sees the best in me, and always manages to bring out the best in me.  She is one I most enjoy talking to and spending time with.  She is my best friend.  How blessed I am!

“He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the LORD.” (Prov. 18:22).

“Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth.” (Prov. 5:18).

Those of you who are married, I encourage you to give thanks to God for the blessing He has given you.  Those who are not married (but hope to be), I pray that God will bless you with a mate as wonderful as mine.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Jesus if the reason for the season!

Anna Lee

Friday

“He has kept the promise he made to our ancestors,

and has come to the help of his servant Israel.

He has remembered to show mercy to Abraham

and to all his descendants forever!”

~Luke 1:54-55 (TEV)~

Pray for Frances Gay as she has a medical test today in Covington.

Pray for the Pledgers as they make final preparations for “Miss” Lucille’s service.

From Stephanie (and Joe) Cavanaugh:

Just heard the Beatles song….Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away……
I thought about not posting my feelings right now, but I hope that someone can relate and that others will just be grateful for all that they have right now.  We say that so many times, but then it’s funny how soon we forget it…..I guess it’s just human nature.
This coming Monday will be Adrianna’s birthday and I have just planned myself to pieces, trying to get ready for it.  We are going to have a balloon release, flowers in the church in memory of her on Sunday morning, and then we are planting a beautiful cotton candy pink colored Camellia tree at the cemetary.  Joe and I are going to get out of the house Monday and try to do something fun in honor of her.
But people, let me just be honest…I am a mess!!!
When you haven’t lost anyone close to you, you just don’t realize how awful it is for the ones who have.  Even now as I cry and beg God for mercy, I still think….how do people that have lost a WHOLE FAMILY get through???  It can always be worst…how do those people live through this pain?
I read the Bible and relate to many of the Biblical families who have lost so much and I realize that humans have not changed that much.  It’s still hard as hell to recover..it’s still emotional and crushing to lose your favorite people in this world.
So how do we move on?  That’s the question.
And I know that millions of people before me HAVE moved on.  It’s just HOW??
Every day is different.  Every day brings its own memories, doubts, confrontations, etc.
Joe and I grieve differently, as most men and women do.  That in itself is trying too.
Some days I am so strong that I can’t even believe I am in my own body…other days I wanna be distant from my own body.  The emotions are overwhelming.
But I guess what I want to say is that I do believe everyone gets through it from Jesus Christ and just believing in ourselves and keeping our faith.
I have to remind myself that ALL of the time.  The fact that I don’t have other children even intensifies the situation.  I have no one else that I can engulf myself in.  Other than myself and Joe, but that is not the same…Most of you know how easy it is to put all of your attention on your children.  It makes you feel special and it is a gift from God.
As we move into this weekend, I hope that you will remember us and pray for our strength and faith as always.  I know that the support we’ve been granted has always gotten us through the toughest times.
There are no words for the gratitude I have for each and every one of you….
On another note, I became a bone marrow donor this week in hopes to save another person’s life.  It only took a few minutes and while I was there I learned that nearly 80% of children DIE waiting on a bone marrow match….isn’t that just appaling?  I had no idea that many children were in dire need of a match.  I think if everyone knew that, they’d get off their lazy bums and march to their local blood centers and sign up.
That’s what I’m hoping people will do if they are capable.
I lie awake this week wondering how I would have felt if Adrianna had needed a bone marrow match and we couldn’t find one.  That would have just KILLED me, knowing that someone may could have saved her life…I don’t know how I would’ve lived after that.  Fortunately Adrianna was able to give herself her own bone marrow, but some children are not that lucky.
I found out at the drive that ANYONE can go to a blood center at any location and get their mouth swabbed.  Also, most of us don’t realize how much blood is needed for these cancer patients.  You can give blood each 4 weeks.  PLEASE make it a habit of giving and doing your part to help children…you never know when YOURS may need it!
Anyway, I just want to send a special prayer out to RJ Jackson and his family.  I surely hope they find a match and that they do all they can for RJ and know that they did everything they could possibly do for their beautiful son.  That’s the only way they will be able to get through this horrible situation.
Please keep them in your prayers and thanks for continuing to keep us lifted in prayer.
Adrianna sent me a beautiful butterfly on Thanksgiving day that swarmed around me over and over and even got so close to my eyes that I had to flinch!!  I know that was her sending her love.  It may sound silly, but it’s just a feeling you get in your gut….it’s not a coincidence!  God knows what He is doing!
With love,
Stephanie

Don’t forget the Lottie Moon Christmas Tea tomorrow at 2 P.M. at East Fork Baptist Church.  All ladies from 5 to 105 are invited.

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering Week of Payer

Day 6

The Zaza of Turkey

When a devastating earthquake shook northwest Turkey in 1999, more than the ground moved around Dr. Hamit Kaya*, an ethnic Zaza from Turkey’s Tunceli province. As he bandaged the wounds of Turks all around him, God moved Kaya to consider the spiritual devastation of his own people.

Today Kaya is the first indigenous church planter to the Zaza of eastern Turkey. He uses his medical training to minister to villagers’ physical needs, while using his understanding of the culture to communicate God’s love in a language the Zaza can understand—the language of relationships.

Kaya has a long-term vision for reaching the Zaza. Vital to his ministry are the days he spends making personal visits and drinking tea with villagers before he pulls out his medical bag. Then with help from Southern Baptists, he buys and distributes medicine. He is loved and welcomed by everyone, from the mayor to the poorest shepherd. This is the key to sharing the gospel, Kaya believes.

With a handful of believers and one outreach group, Kaya is seeing God work.

Pray for Hamit Kaya as he shares the gospel among the Zaza.

*Name changed

Don’t forget the missions march for the LMCO Sunday at FBC, Kentwood at 10:30.

KneEmail

“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” Philippians 2:10

Mike Benson, Editor

THIS PAST WEEKEND, Stevie Johnson, wide-receiver for the Buffalo Bills, dropped a perfectly thrown game-winning pass in overtime against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Because of the dropped pass, the Steelers were given new life and ended up winning the ballgame.  Stevie Johnson was distraught because of his costly mistake.  So following the game, Stevie tweeted the following message: “I PRAISE YOU 24/7!!!!!! AND THIS HOW YOU DO ME!!!!! YOU EXPECT ME TO LEARN FROM THIS??? HOW???!!! ILL NEVER FORGET THIS!! EVER!!! THX THO…”

As you can imagine, this foolish accusation against God has taken a lot of hits by sports and religious commentators.

Stevie made himself an easy mark.  But, lest I commit a “personal foul” by “piling on,” let me take this article another direction.  In the midst of receiving correction from thousands of people, Kurt Warner, former quarterback for the Rams, the Giants, and the Cardinals did a little tweeting himself.  He tweeted to Stevie and said: “I asked same thing when released in STL & benched 3 times, But then God did his thing… Be ready! Enjoy watching you play!”

Wow!  Isn’t that amazing?  Of all the things that have been said or written following Stevie’s tweet, I wonder how many of them were as kind and understanding as Warner’s?  Warner didn’t defend Stevie’s statement.  It was indefensible.  He didn’t try to legitimize it.  There was nothing legitimate about it.  But he did let Stevie know he could identify with the pain and hurt he was feeling, he validated his skills in spite of his costly error, and he gave him hope for the future.

Stevie Johnson spoke rashly and foolishly in his despair, and has since reflected on what he said and retracted it.  I’m glad to hear that; he needed to.  But I’m also glad for Kurt Warner’s response to Stevie Johnson.  Personally, I want to develop my ability to empathize with, affirm, and gently correct the mistakes I see in others.  What about you?  Steve Higginbotham at preachinghelp.org

“And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition…” 2 Timothy 2:24-25a

Jesus is the reason for the season!

Anna Lee

Thursday

“From now on, every generation will call me blessed!

For he, the Mighty One, is holy,

and he has done great things for me.

And God will show his mercy to every generation

who will worship and serve him.”

~Luke 1:48b-50 (NLT/NCV)~

Pray for the Pledgers as them make funeral arrangements and travel plans to Kentwood for “Miss” Lucille’s service this weekend.

THE BEST IS YET TO COME

I first used the following story (author unknown) in a Thought For The Day message several years ago, and have since used it in a funeral service.  It remains one of my readers’ all-time favorites.  I hope you enjoy seeing it again.

The sound of Martha’s voice on the other end of the telephone always brought a smile to Brother Jim’s face.  She was not only one of the oldest members of the congregation, but one of the most faithful.

Aunt Martie, as all of the children called her, just seemed to ooze faith, hope, and love wherever she went.  This time, however, there seemed to be an unusual tone to her words.  “Preacher, could you stop by this afternoon?  I need to talk with you.”  “Of course, I’ll be there around three.  Is that ok?”

It didn’t take long for Jim to discover the reason for what he had only sensed in her voice before.  As they sat facing each other in the quiet of her small living room.  Martha shared the news that her doctor had just discovered a previously undetected tumor.  “He says I probably have six months to live”.  Martha’s words were naturally serious, yet there was a definite calm about her.  “I’m so sorry to….”  but before Jim could finish, Martha interrupted.  “Don’t be.  The Lord has been good.  I have lived a long life.  I’m ready to go.  You know that.”  “I know,” Jim whispered with a reassuring nod.

“But I do want to talk with you about my funeral.  I have been thinking about it, and there are things that I know I want.”   The two talked quietly for a long time.  They talked about Martha’s favorite hymns, the passages of Scripture that had meant so much to her through the years, and the many memories they shared from the five years Jim had been with Central Church.

When it seemed that they had covered just about everything, Aunt Martie paused, looked up at Jim with a twinkle in her eye, and then added, “One more thing, preacher.  When they bury me, I want my old Bible in one hand and a fork in the other”.  “A fork?”  Jim was sure he had heard everything, but this caught him by surprise.  “Why do you want to be buried with a fork?”

“I have been thinking about all of the church dinners and banquets that I attended through the years,” she explained, “I couldn’t begin to count them all.  But one thing sticks in my  mind — At those really nice get-togethers, when the meal was almost finished, a server or maybe the hostess would come by to collect the dirty dishes.   I can hear the words now.  Sometimes, at the best ones, somebody would lean over my shoulder and whisper, ‘You can keep your fork.’  And do you know what that meant? Dessert was coming!  “It didn’t mean a cup of Jell-O or pudding or even a dish of ice cream. You don’t need a fork for that.  It meant the good stuff, like chocolate cake or cherry pie!  When they told me I could keep my fork, I knew the best was yet to come!

“That’s exactly what I want people to talk about at my funeral.  Oh, they can talk about all the good times we had together.  That would be nice.  But when they walk by my casket and look at my pretty blue dress, I want them to turn to one another and say, ‘Why the fork’?  That’s what I want you to say, I want you to tell them, that I kept my fork because the best is yet to come!”

Truly, for a child of God, the best is yet to come.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.” (I Peter 1:3-4)

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Jadon’s Story

Nov. 30th

My appointment went great today. The blood work before my appointment not so good. It took them 3 times before they were able to draw blood. Once we were done with that I was much better. My neurologist is back and we are very excited about that. She increased my banzel because my medicine levels showed we could go up on it and because it helped so much when I started it. Hopefully the increase in banzel will help these seizures go down. I’m having about 80 a day now. I’ve been sick so that’s why they are increased. I started another antibiotic yesterday. This is my 3rd one in the last month. This one is suppose to knock all this infection out. Time will tell. My neurologist also said once we are finished increasing banzel we will decrease topamax. I have to get more lab work done next Monday to see if my medicine levels are better. She said that I look great and she can tell I’m doing more. The dietitian saw us while we were there. My ketones were at 1.7 which means they are elevated but still low. She increased my ketogenic diet to the 3:1 ratio. I was on the 2:1 ratio. We are praying that these 2 changes will help control these seizures. They are starting me on carnitine because my blood work showed that mine is low. Carnitine helps the body metabolize fatty acids. Please pray that these changes will help control my seizures. It’s really time for these to go away. If you look at the bottom right hand side of my webpage, you will notice that I have reached over 10,000 views. How awesome is that. That means I have been prayed for thousands of time just from my webpage 🙂

Dec. 1

So today has not been a great day for me. I had about 150 spasms. We really don’t know why. Mommy called my neurologist and she said to give it a couple of days. We did increase my diet yesterday and we increased my banzel. It shouldn’t be the banzel because it decreased my seizures to 40-60. The neurologist said it shouldn’t be the diet but I’m not so sure yet. We will just have to wait and see what the next couple of days bring. I pray that it’s not the diet. I’ve read that about 10% of patients seizures increase on the diet and again I pray I’m not in that 10%. Now you see why I don’t want to try vigabatrin. Yes vision loss is only in 15% of patients but I’m always in that rare category. I had my well check today at my pediatrician’s office. She said my nose looks much better. So the antibiotic is working. I am now 21 pounds and 31 1/2 inches long. Yes I’m very long for my age. We decided not to do any vaccinations. My mommy doesn’t want them done and my pediatrician agreed with her. So no shots for me at this time. I really need your prayers right now. This increase in seizures is very discouraging for me and my family.

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering

Day 5

The people of China

Ray Aker* had spent two years sharing Jesus in a rural area of China, but no one responded.

Then he met Solomon* who lived in an isolated mountain village. Ray told the gospel story, and Solomon immediately believed. But what he said then amazed Ray.

“Twenty years ago, I understood in my heart that there was one God above all,” Solomon said. “But I didn’t know anything about Him. So, I prayed every day that He would send somebody to tell me Who He was. God answered my prayer today when He sent you to me.”

Immediately Solomon began telling others, and several believed. The local witchdoctor took notice.

He said Solomon would die in three days if he didn’t stop. Solomon refused, and on day four, the villagers wanted to know why he was still alive.

Solomon told the whole village about Jesus, and 80 people believed.

“These people live in daily fear of evil spirits,” Ray explains. “The fact that Solomon didn’t die rocked their worldview.”

In the past four years, God has used Solomon’s influence to bring 400 people to faith and start three churches.

“God had been preparing Solomon for 20 years,” Ray says. “I’m just thankful God allowed me to be a small part of it.”

Pray God continues to reveal Himself to Solomon’s people.

*Names changed

Have a great day!

Anna Lee

Wednesday Addition

Joanie and Stacey Scarle

Well just a note to catch you up on things. Stacey is doing better than earlier this week. This was the worst chemo for her but thankfully the last. She had a terrible few days her mouth and hands are the most painful and of course she has trouble eating. She was some better yesterday and should be even better today. I just hope she is recovered enough so that she is in good shape for the surgery and recovery period.

I finally got a diagnosis for my voice problem! I saw the vocal cord specialist yesterday. Its called MTD (muscle tension dysphonia). They did therapy to my throat and larynx and all of a sudden my voice returned. It was the most amazing thing. Pat and I just looked at each other in disbelief. I have some exercises to do but no meds and no return visit unless I need it.  I  can’t tell you what a relief that is after 5 months of no voice and lots of Dr appts.

Thanks to all of you for your concern and prayers. Please keep Stacey in your thoughts and prayers as she still has a way to go. God bless all of you and I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas.

Thank God for sticking by Joanie and Stacey through their health problems.

Wednesday

“Oh, give thanks to the LORD!

Call upon His name,

make known His deeds among the peoples!”

~Psalm 105:1~

Rev. Edison “Eddie” Elwin Morgan

(June 6, 1935 – November 28, 2010)

Rev. Edison “Eddie” Elwin Morgan, Jr. was born June 6, 1935 in Estherwood, LA and passed away Sunday, November 28, 2010 at M.D. Anderson Hospital in Houston, TX. He was 75, and recent resident of Ponchatoula, LA.

He is survived by wife, Jackie B. Graham Dieterich Morgan; children, Liz Mullins and husband Steve of Russellville, AR, John David Morgan and wife Natasha of Austin, TX, Dowd Dieterich and wife Terri Jo of Moss Bluff, LA, Destin Dieterich and wife Spill of Lafayette, LA, Derek Dieterich and wife Dianne of Knoxville, TN, Matthew Morgan and wife Taryn of Bradenton, FL; grandchildren, Katie Mullins, Hunter Mullins, Mason Mullins, Luke Morgan, Finn Morgan, Morgan Dieterich, Graham Dieterich, Dannon Dieterich, Dade Dieterich, Dutton Dieterich, Lauren Dieterich, Madeline Dieterich, Emerson Dieterich, Dax Morgan, and Zane Morgan; brother, Carroll Morgan of Crowley, LA; sister, Betty Steele of Bentonville, AR, and numerous nieces and nephews and extended family.

Preceded in death by parents, Edison & Leona Morgan and sister, Verdie Jones.

A servant of God and pastor in Texas and Louisiana for 55 years in the United Methodist Church.

Honoring his wishes, his body was donated for scientific research.

A celebratory memorial service is to be determined and announced at a later time.

Family requests memorial donations to be made to United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), PO Box 850, Baldwin, LA 70524-0850.

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

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

Baptist Press Stories for Nov. 30, 2010
—————————————
  • W.Va. church meets turkey drive goal in 10 minutes
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34171
  • Page announces Executive Committee staffing consolidation, reductions
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34170
  • Pakistan court blocks Asia Noreen pardon
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34172
  • Prop 8 court panel revealed — leans left
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34173
  • Groups pour over Pentagon DADT study
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34174
  • SBC regis. secretary Wells faces cancer
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34175
  • FIRST-PERSON: Why Lottie Moon matters
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34176
Don’t forget the Lottie Moon Tea.  It will be at 2 P.M. Saturday at East Fork Baptist Church.  You are invited!

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions

Day 4

Kabyle Berbers of Northern Africa

They broke in at night to finish the job they’d begun weeks earlier. A group of Muslim radicals doused everything inside the Kabylie church with gasoline and then set it ablaze.

Five years earlier, Karim* had started the church in his home with just three people. Now there were over 400 members. They had enjoyed the new building for only two months.

Such attacks are a frightening reality for many Kabylie Christians. The Kabyles are one of North Africa’s indigenous people groups; more than 10 million Kabyles call the region home. Most practice a mixture of Islam and traditional pagan beliefs.

Southern Baptist missionaries Sam and Rachel Houston* have spent more than 20 years working among the Kabyles. Today, research shows there may be 21,000 Kabylie Christians and 120 congregations. Sam credits the growth to the Holy Spirit — and decades of faithful prayer.

Despite the loss of his church building and threats against his life, Karim says he’s not afraid. He quotes Scripture about believers expecting persecution on Christ’s behalf and says no harm can come to him unless God allows it.

“We have decided to love them [the radicals] and preach the Gospel to them,” he says.

Pray the Holy Spirit will continue turning Kabyles to Christ, and they will endure and grow amid persecution.

*Names changed

Thank-you for praying each day.  Your prayers make a difference.

Anna Lee

Tuesday Afternoon

Request from Raymond Cutrer

Please forward this email to anyone you know who will pray for Mike Pyszka’s family.  (See email below).  Mike’s wife is expecting their first child in January.  Mike lived in Colorado and worked for Cam2 International.  Cam2 and Smitty’s has a very close business relationship and Mike worked close with many people here at Smitty’s.  He was fine a couple of days ago.

Hey gang,

I just wanted to alert you all that Mike Pyszka died this morning around 11:00AM Denver time.   As many of you know, Mike was a Brain Cancer survivor.   He had a tumor removed 5 ½ years ago….He did mandatory 6 month MRI’s as check up’s…his last being 5 months ago, and he was perfectly clean.   I just hung up with his wife and she told me that he had a tumor the size of a grapefruit in his head and there was nothing that could have been done.   I will find out funeral arrangements as soon as they are made for those of you who are interested.   Please pass along the information to anyone that I omitted from this email.

Thanks

Steve

Tuesday Addition

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering

Week of Prayer – Day 3

The Deaf of Czech Republic

Mark and Vesta Sauter came to the Czech Republic to start churches among the nation’s 50,000 Deaf. They never would have guessed 90-year-old Lillian Beard would be key to their work.

The child of Deaf parents, Lillian was a pioneer for Deaf work among Southern Baptists and longtime friend of Vesta.

Despite protests from friends, Lillian was determined to come help the Sauters. Vesta arranged for her to speak at a Deaf community center in Prague, where her testimony touched a particularly hard-hearted Deaf Czech named Anna Smolkova, who gave her life to Christ.

Anna became the Sauters’ church-planting partner. God used her to lead dozens of Deaf to Christ, including many of her own family. Six Deaf churches now meet across the country as a direct result of Anna’s efforts.

The Sauters also credit Southern Baptists’ commitment to pray when their ministry was a focus for the 2001 Week of Prayer.

Ten years after Lillian’s visit, Anna continues to share Christ among Deaf Czechs. Until Lillian’s death at 101 in June 2010, she had remained an active advocate for the Deaf and for her Savior. The Sauters now lead the IMB’s global efforts to reach the Deaf.

Pray God will give Southern Baptists a passion for seeing the world’s Deaf know Jesus as Lord.

Tuesday

“For he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.”

Luke 1:48a (NIV)

There will be an associational Lottie Moon Tea Saturday at East Fork Baptist Church at 2 P.M.  If you are a lady between 5 and 105, you are invited to come learn more about this great missionary and enjoy some tea cakes made using her recipe with a cup of hot tea or chocolate.  It will be fun and informative.  Call me if you need more information.  I hope to see you there.

From Action News 17 concerning Jon-Michael Williams

Williams continues to blink his eyes, move his toes, and give other indications that he is potentially aware of both physical and audio stimulus, sources told ActionNews17.com this week.

Friends and family breathed a sigh of relief after Monday’s perfusion tests came back with positive results for the teen, whom doctors say faces a long road to recovery but that with time it is possible.I have three obituaries today.  Please pray for the families.

Thank-you for praying for Jon-Michael as he had the tests yesteray.

I have three death notices today.

Edward Earl Montz, Jr.

(May 24, 1945 – November 28, 2010)

Edward Earl Montz, Jr. was born May 24, 1945 and passed away at 12:37 a.m., Sunday, November 28, 2001 at his residence. He was 65, a native of New Orleans and a resident of Ponchatoula. Edward served our country in the US Army during the Vietnam Conflict.

Edward is survived by his wife, Angela Ryals Montz, Ponchatoula; daughter, Jeanna Montz King, Shreveport; 3 sons, Edward E. Montz, III, Kentwood, Matthew Laros Montz and Jonathan Henry Montz both of Ponchatoula; 4 grandchildren, Joshua Brian King, Jennifer Nicole King, Edward Earl Montz, IV and Alexis Rachea’ Montz; 2 brothers, Larry William Montz and Richard “Rick” Henry Montz and wife, Vicki; numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.

Preceded in death by parents, Edward Earl Montz, Sr. and Blanche Hoffstadt Montz; 2 sisters, Jeanne Marie Montz Meyer and Sandi Elizabeth Montz.

Visitation at McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, on Wednesday, December 1, 2010 from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and on Thursday, December 2, 2010 from 8:00 a.m. until Celebration of Life Services in the funeral home Chapel at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Johnny Presley officiating. Interment in Hoffstadt Cemetery, Kentwood, LA.

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

McKneely and Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, is located at I-55N & Hwy.#16 West (Exit #46) next to Bill Hood Automotive and behind Mr. Tom’s Carwash and Holiday Inn Express.

Adam John Banas
(January 22, 1971 – November 25, 2010)

A resident of Amite, he died at 1:45 p.m. on Thursday, November 25, 2010 at his residence. He was born January 22, 1971 in North Hampton, MA and was 39 years of age. He is survived by his daughter, Tiffany Banas, Amite; father, John Banas and his wife, Karen, Queen Creek, AZ; sister, Karie Vasquez, Apache Junction, AZ. He was preceded in death by his wife, Kim Banas; and mother, Debra Banas. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, from 4 p.m. until memorial services at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 1, 2010.

James S. Lambert

(October 8, 1936 – November 28, 2010)

A resident of Kentwood, he died at 10:55 a.m. on Sunday, November 28, 2010 at Hood Memorial Hospital in Amite. He was born October 8, 1936 in Kentwood and was 74 years of age. He retired from the Forensic Unit at East Louisiana State Hospital. Survived by, 2 sons, James Lambert and his wife, Gwen, French Settlement and David Lambert and his wife, Delores, Abita Springs; 3 grandchildren, Nicole, Amanda and Randy. Preceded in death by his parents, Lonnie and Deanie Lambert. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 at Woodland Cemetery, Kentwood. McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, in charge of arrangements.

Be alert to the weather reports!  Say a prayer for those who have had homes damaged or destroyed this morning.  Help in any way you can.

Anna Lee

Anna Lee