9/11 (9th Anniversary)

“Cast all your anxiety on Him,

because He cares for you.”

~1 Peter 5:7~

Please pray for the families who suffered losses nine years ago today and for the families who have suffered losses because of someone who helped in the aftermath of 9/11.  Pray for our country!

Robbie Lynn C. Kirby and Erin Evanoff are both working to get their pain eased following procedures done Thursday.  Pray for both of them to have a good day today.

Pray for Rev. Bobby Eads as he continues to have heart issues.  He is wearing a monitor so the doctor can assess his situation better.

My cousin, Scott, has been taken to a hospital in Alexander, LA.  He will not be near any of his family.  Pray for Scott and his family to depend on God to get them through this very difficult time.

KneEmail

“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…”

Philippians 2:10

Mike Benson, Editor

IMAGINE HAVING THE world’s most valuable masterpiece, a work of art that would bring thirty or forty million dollars if you auctioned it…

Then imagine that instead of taking that masterpiece to the auction, you took it to a pawn shop, pawned it for twenty bucks, and blew the whole wad on crayons and paper so you could decorate your own walls.

Or imagine being offered a lifetime pass to the city’s best buffet spread, only to reject it in favor of one meal at a truck stop.  Silly?  Ludicrous?  Absolutely insane?  All of that and more.   People with even an ounce of sense don’t squander glory on garbage.  But that’s what idolatry is.  That’s what the people of Judah were doing in Jeremiah’s day, and that’s what we do with alarming ease today.

Think about how much God is worth.  He can create anything, so whatever we have, He has something better.  He governs and sustains everything, so every circumstance we encounter must bow to Him.  And He has promised lavish blessings for eternity, so all our cravings will be exgtravagantly exceeded by His good gifts.  Logically, there’s nothing we would take in exchange for a relationship with this God.  Practically, that’s exactly what we often do.  Chris Tiegreen, “Garbage and Glory,” The One Year Worship The King Devotional, June 5

“Has a nation changed its gods, which are not gods?

But My people have changed their Glory for what does not profit.”

~Jeremiah 2:11~

Baptist Press Stories for Sep. 10, 2010
—————————————
VIEWPOINT: To reach Muslims, trade fear for love
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=33670
Judge overturns ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=33671
2nd state exec questions Ezell nomination; 2 NAMB trustees counter with support
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=33669
Kan.-Neb. reduces CP allocation; economy, ‘direct missions’ giving cited
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=33672
INTERNATIONAL DIGEST: Venezuelans protest land seizures, street violence; …
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=33673
Student marvels at Hugo’s transformation
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=33674
FIRST-PERSON: The secret to praying for Muslims
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=33675
FIRST-PERSON: Deciding what and what not to cover
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=33676

Have a blessed day!  Plan some time to prepare your heart, your body, and your schedule for the Lord’s Day!

Anna Lee

Friday Evening

Mrs. Annie Bell Harrell is hospitalized in Covington.  Please keep her and Mr. Phillip in your prayers.

Don Goynes
(October 5, 1940 – September 9, 2010)

A resident of Montpelier, he died on Thursday, September 9, 2010 at his residence. He was born October 5, 1940 in Pine Grove and was 69 years of age. Mr. Goynes was a life long member of Shiloh Baptist Church and a truck driver. He is survived by his wife, Kathy Goynes; 5 sons, Duane, Tim, Troy, Buddy and Dylan Goynes; 5 grandchildren, Corey, Laura, Kayla, Megan and Colton Goynes. He was preceded in death by his parents, Denzil and Ruby Goynes; 3 brothers, Lee, June and Jay Goynes. Visitation at Shiloh Baptist Church, Pine Grove, from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Sunday and from 10 a.m. until religious services at 1 p.m. on Monday, September 13, 2010. Services conducted by Bro. Laverne King. Interment Shiloh Cemetery, Pine Grove. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to Angel Tree Prison Fellowship, P. O. Box 1550, Merrifield, VA 22116 or atwww.angeltree.org.

Friday Afternoon

U.S. VeteranCharles Murry Stogner, age 75, a former resident of Bogalusa, LA, passed away on Thursday, September 9, 2010 at his residence in Kentwood, LA.

He was the owner and manager of City Air Conditioning for 37 years. He was a member of Eastfork Baptist Church.

He is survived by His Wife, Peggy Stogner of Kentwood, LA;

1 Daughter, Rhonda Stogner (Lonnie) Miley of Bogalusa, LA;

3 Step-Children, Kim Garner, Lisa Terrell and Donna Meredith;

6 Step-Grandchildren, Whitney Downey, Adam Garner, Reagan Meredith, Sarah Meredith, Jennifer Morton and Hannah Terrell;

1 Sister, Charlene Corkern;

1 Half Sister, Marguerite Lee;

Numerous Nieces and Nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Charles Stogner and Nova Stogner; 2 Sisters, Nell Hardison and Oneita Jenkins.

Visitation will be held at Eastfork Baptist Church in Kentwood, LA from 6:00 P.M. until 9:00 P.M. on Thursday, September 9, 2010.

Visitation will continue at Poole-Ritchie Funeral Home at 10:00 a.m. until the Funeral Services at 2:00 P.M. with the Rev. Michael Shumock and Rev. Clay Norwood officiating. Interment to follow at New Zion Cemetery in Tylertown, MS on Friday, September 10, 2010.

Friday

“My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness

And Your salvation all the day . . .

I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD;

I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only.”

~Psalm 71:15-16, NKJV~

CaringBridge

I don’t know about you, but I have learned so much about faith as I have followed the posts written by Callie’s family.

Since today is Friday, let play for all those involved in high school football games. We can pray for players, coaches, refs., bus drivers, bands, cheerleaders, dancers, and fans.  Pray for safety of all and for good sportsmanship as they participate or watch the game.

SELLING OUR SOULS


You may have read this unusual story that was reported through the AFP news organization several years ago:

A 24-year-old man in Shanghai tried to sell his soul on China’s most popular auction website and managed to get 58 bids before operators pulled his ad.  The man posted his announcement on Taobao (a site similar to eBay) last week asking a starting price of 10 yuan ( 1.23 US dollars).  But the company decided that selling one’s soul was inappropriate and deleted the ad on Friday.  By then there were 58 bids from people with the highest at 681 yuan (84 dollars).  “We pulled down the posting because we think only God can control souls,” said Taobao’s public relations manager Tao Ran.

Why would a man agree to sell his soul for as little as a dollar and a quarter?  The truth is, I’m not all that surprised because I know of others who were willing to sell their souls for a measly amount.  Judas was willing to do it for thirty pieces of silver.  For Achan (Joshua 7), it was a robe, five pounds of silver and a bar of gold.  For Elisha’s servant (I Kings 5), it was 150 pounds of silver and two sets of clothing.  For Esau, it was a bowl of soup.

If you’re willing to be even more honest, you know that there are people all around you who have sold their souls for something of little value.  Maybe you’ve even done it yourself.  Maybe you’ve spent so much time making money to gather “the finer things of life” that you have no time or energy left for God.  Maybe you’ve cheated others (like the IRS or health insurance companies) thinking they’ll never miss it and no one will ever be the wiser.  Maybe your desire for riches has clouded your judgment and caused you to do something that has damaged your integrity.

Jesus once said,  “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26)

The question was intended to be rhetorical.  There’s nothing in this world (nor everything in the world combined) that begins to equal the value of your soul.  Bill Gates and all of his fellow billionaires don’t have enough money to even make an opening offer.  So, don’t ever put a price tag on your soul.  Not on eBay.  Not in your workplace.  Not in your daily life.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

You man be interested in reading this Baptist Press article, “Restoring Honor”.

Have a great day!  Please take time today to “Count Your Blessings” and thank God for them.

Anna Lee

Thursday Evening

Erin Evanoff‘s biopsy well well.  Robbie Lynn Kirby‘s surgery went well.  Please pray for both of these young women as they await lab reports next week.

Mr. Charles Bridges has a stent now for a heart blockage.  He did well.  Pray for him as he continues the recovery process.

Mr. Jimmy Tolar continues to need our prayers.  His health problems seems to come on suddenly and in unison.  Pray for him and “Miss” Naomi as they get through a difficult time.

Steve Sanders said his grandpaw, Mr. Clifton Womack, is doing well.  He will be in rehab in Hammond for about ten more days.  Pray he continues to do well.

Pray for Whitney Kliesch as he continues to heal at home with his family.

Mr. Charles Stogner passed away.  Arrangements are incomplete at this time.

Thursday

Whoever wants to be great must become a servant.

~Mark 10:43 (MSG)~

Pray for the family and friends of Caroline Crouch as they celebrate her life today.

Pray for Robbie Lynn C. Kirby as she has surgery again.  She is already at the hospital this morning.

Pray for Erin Evanoff as she has a biopsy today.  This will help determine the extent of her cancer.

Continue to pray for my Tolleson relatives.  Scott is home.  He will receives some health services there.

mail.jpg

KneEmail

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

Mike Benson, Editor

A COUPLE FROM Bakersfield, California had just purchased a new boat, but were experiencing some serious problems…

No matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t get their 22-foot boat going.  It was very sluggish no matter which way they turned, no matter how much power was applied.  After about an hour of trying to make it go, they made their way over to a nearby marine, hoping someone there could tell them what was wrong.

A thorough check on the topside of the boat revealed that everything was in perfect working condition.  The engine ran fine, the out drive went up and down, and the propeller was the correct size and pitch.  Then, one of the marina guys jumped in the water to check underneath.

He came up choking on water because he was laughing so hard.

Under the boat…still strapped securely in place…was the trailer…

When God looks “under” your life, what does He see?  Are you strapped to some sin that is slowly pulling you under?

“Blessed are the pure in heart,

for they shall see God.”

~Matthew 5:8~

Make this day, a gift from the Lord, meaningful!

Anna Lee

Wednesday Afternoon

Pray for Erin Evanoff as she has a biopsy tomorrow.

Pray for Robbie Lynn C. Kirby as she has surgery tomorrow.

Robbie Lynn will be having her next surgery in the morning to remove her cervix and hopefully any cancer that may be there. Her doctor is a specialist in the field of robotic surgery and will be removing it robotically. Should all go well she will maybe go home the next day on Fri. Regardless of how good the doctor is she could use everyones prayers and God’s help in performing the surgery and pray that this will remove any cancer that is left. We will give God the praise and glory. Thanks for your prayers.

Robert Callihan

Wednesday

“Rejoice always,

pray without ceasing,

in everything give thanks;

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

~1 Thessalonians 5:16-18~

My cousin, Scott Tolleson, was released from the hospital yesterday.  He will receive assistance, like OT and PT, at home.  Please continue to pray for Scott’s immediate and extended family.

Baptist Press Stories for Sep. 7, 2010

—————————————
  • Preaching, fellowship highlight LifeWay’s Black Church Week
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=33644
  • Legalism vs. grace: Pastor recaps JBS
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=33646
  • A vision for Africa & the local poor
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=33645
  • Quebec strongly favors euthanasia
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=33647
  • Survey: Nonreligious doctors more likely to hasten death
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=33648
  • FIRST-PERSON: No need for God? Stephen Hawking defies divine creation
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=33649

David’s uncle

“Gene” Willie Eugene Russell

(November 28, 1932 – September 6, 2010)

A resident of Zachary, he died at 6:15 p.m. on Monday, September 6, 2010 at Baton Rouge General Medical Center – Bluebonnet in Baton Rouge. He was born November 28, 1932 in Russelltown and was 77 years of age. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Sunday and from 8 a.m. until religious services at 10 a.m. on Monday. Interment Arcola-Roseland Cemetery, Arcola.

KneEmail

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

Mike Benson, Editor

A FIREMAN I KNOW once got trapped in a burning house…

He had gotten disoriented in a hallway when fire broke out at both ends of the hall.  He believed that he was going to die that day.  With smoke and flame all around him, he simply did not know which way to go.  All he knew was that he did not have much time.  At what seemed to be the last second, the smoke cleared a bit, and he saw sunlight coming into a window at one end of the hall.  He ran to it, broke it out with an ax, and climbed to safety.  His fellow firemen treated him as if he had returned from the dead.

Someone who has tasted death has a way of grabbing our attention.  No wonder, then, that King Nebuchadnezzar was so amazed when the three young Hebrew men emerged alive from the furnace.  Everyone in the palace knew what had happened.  This was not some fluke in which the men managed to find a way out of danger on their own.  Only God could have brought them out.  The Scripture says that it was as if they had never gone into the fire at all: “there was no smell of fire on them” (v. 27).

The king was moved to praise the one true God who had saved the men from the furnace.  He even decreed that no one could even so much as speak against their God.  Don M. Aycock & Mark Sutton, “Dead Men Walking,” Still God’s Man, 220-221

God still saves (cf., 1 Peter 3:20-22) from the fire (Jude 1:2-3).  He still resurrects (cf., Romans 6:5) from the dead.  Do you know Him (1 John 2:3-4; 3:1; 5:20; Philippians 3:10)?
26 Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here.” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire. 27 And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them. 28 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God! 29 Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this.” 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.  Daniel 3:26-30
Thanks for taking time to read this post and for praying.  You can also pray for those who have been listed lately and for others who were not listed.  If you wish, you can send me information to post so others can pray along with you.
Anna Lee

Tuesday Afternoon

I saw Bonnie K. Kelsey today.  She had some medical tests today.  If the results of the test allow her to take medication for her thyroid problem, she will do that rather than have surgery.  Pray for her as she waits for an opinion on what is the best treatment for her.

Caroline Alyse Crouch
(March 28, 1955 – September 5, 2010)

A resident of Amite, she passed away at 7:46 p.m. on Sunday, September 5, 2010 at Children’s Hospital in New Orleans. She was born March 28, 1995 in Covington and was 15 years of age. Caroline attended Oak Forest Academy and was a member of St. Helena Catholic Church, Amite. She enjoyed playing the piano, dancing and listening to music, swimming, shopping, caring for her dogs and most of all, spending time with her family and friends. She is survived by her mother, Mary Ann Crouch Goldsby, Amite; step-father, Daniel Goldsby, Amite; 2 sisters, Mallory Crouch, Amite and Ashli Passey, Pensacola, FL; brother, Hardy Goldsby, Amite; grandmothers, Ursula Sherman, Amite and Sylvia Crouch, Amite; step grandparents, Gloria Knapps, Jackson, LA and Mr. & Mrs. D. H. Goldsby, Jr., Jackson, LA. She was preceded in death by her father, William Bryan Crouch; grandfathers, William Franklin Sherman, Sr. and Quitman Crouch; great-grandmother, Mary Ann Cefalu. Visitation at St. Helena Catholic Church, Amite, from 9 a.m. on Thursday until Mass of Christian Burial at 4 p.m. Thursday. Services conducted by Fr. Joe Camilleri . Interment Amite Memorial Gardens, Amite, LA. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 6931 Arlington Road, 2nd floor, Bethesda, Maryland 20814 or at www.cff.org.

I think Caroline’s brave battle with cystic fibrosis reminds many of us of Corey Diddon and others who have fought that battle.  It’s a real blessing for family and friends to look back thanking God for all the sweet memories we have.  Continue to pray for Caroline’s family and many friends as they face the coming days relying on those sweet memories and looking forward to seeing her again in heaven.  Thankfully, cystic fibrosis and many other terrible diseases do not exist in heaven.  We have a lot to look forward to if we choose to join them in heaven.  I trust you have made that decision.  If not, it’s not too late.

Tuesday

“A fool gives full vent to his anger,

but a wise man keeps himself under control.”

~Proverbs 29:11 (NIV)~

Prayer is important for the one who is praying and for the one who is being prayed for.  I’ll let you select you own list this morning.

KneEmail

“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…”

Philippians 2:10

…WHAT IF YOUR job were to find a gun…?

Or a tumor? Both baggage screeners at airports and radiologists at hospitals spend the bulk of their time looking for things they rarely see.  In the case of radiologists, routine mammograms reveal tumors only 0.3 percent of the time.  In other words, 99.7 percent of the time, they won’t find what they’re looking for.  Guns are even rarer.  In 2004, according to the Transportation Security Administration, 650 million passengers traveled in the United States by air.  But screeners found only 598 firearms.  That’s roughly one gun for every million passengers — literally, one-in-a-million odds.

Both occupations, not surprisingly, have considerable error rates.  Several studies suggest the “miss” rate for radiologists hovers in the 30 percent range.  Depending on the type of cancer involved, though, the error rate can be much higher.  In one especially frightning study, doctors at the Mayo Clinic went back and checked the previous “normal” chest X-rays of patients who subsequently developed lung cancer.  What they found was horrifying: up to 90 percent of the tumors were visible in the previous X-rays.  Not only that, the researchers noted, the cancers were visible “for months or even years.”  The radiologists had simply missed them.

As for the nation’s fifty-thousand airport screeners, the federal government won’t reveal how often they make mistakes.  But a test in 2002 indicated that they missed about one in four guns.  During a similar test two years later at Newark’s airport, the failure rate was nearly identical: 25 percent.  More recently, 60 percent of bomb materials and explosives hidden in carry-on items by undercover agents from the TSA were missed in 2006 by screeners at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.  At Los Angeles International Airport, the results were even worse: screeners missed 75 percent of bomb materials.

And keep in mind, these are trained professionals dealing with life-or-death issues.  Joseph T. Hallinan, “We Look but Don’t Always See,” Why We Make Mistakes, 23-24

What happens when radiologists don’t find tumors and airport screeners don’t find weapons?  People die.  But what happens when Christians aren’t watching for, or don’t locate, false doctrines that are secretly smuggled into the local body of Christ? Give it some thought.

“And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in

(who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty

which we have in Christ Jesus,

that they might bring us into bondage).”

Galatians 2:4; cf. Matthew 7:15-20

Have a great day!

Anna Lee