The Prayer Link

As an employee of the Roman government who made himself rich by skimming the tax money, Zacchaeus was ostracized from Jewish society. He’s scum. And since he manages the local tax collectors, he’s a crook managing other crooks. His mere presence disgusts his fellow Jews because he is a reminder that they are an occupied country. Roman soldiers stand next to his tollbooth, enforcing his collections.

But Jesus boldly intrudes into Zacchaeus’s life. He stops and looks up at him, and then invites Himself over for dinner and to stay the night. This is similar to the President stopping his motorcade to say he’s coming to your house–Jesus is the hottest thing to hit Israel in a few hundred years. If you were Zacchaeus, you’d be honored. Yet I doubt the President would say “I must stay” or “come down immediately” (literally, “hurry up”).

But in the first century “good people” didn’t eat with tax collectors because a meal was not just about eating; it was a sharing of life. Jesus’ willingness to eat with Zacchaeus told everyone that Jesus not only accepted the tax collector, He also forgave him. This disgusted the crowd. Jesus had broken a social taboo.

When we love, we get dirty. Here the dirt comes the opinions of people who look down on Jesus for associating with someone who has stolen from his fellow Jews and divided their money between himself and the Roman government.

Why does Jesus intrude? He’s on a God-directed mission to seek and save what was lost. Jesus sought out Zacchaes. He didn’t just wait for people to come to Him. He is an invading king. But what a strange kingdom: the poor, outcasts, prostitutes, Samaritans, and women! No wonder Jesus told Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36). Paul E. Miller, “Saying ‘Yes’ To Gentle Intrusion,” Love Walked Among Us, 149-150

“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save

that which was lost.”

Luke 19:10

Have a super day as you prepare for the Lord’s Day!

Anna Lee

Friday Afternoon

Betty Trammell
(March 28, 1937 – July 23, 2010)

A resident of Kentwood, she died at 2:43 a.m. on Friday, July 23, 2010 at North Oaks Medical Center in Hammond. She was born March 28, 1937 in Poplarville, MS and was 73 years of age. McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, in charge of arrangements.

CaringBridge

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/calliecole/journal?jid=5840672

Mission Trips

FBC. Amite leaves tomorrow for Mexico
FBC, Kentwood leaves Sunday for Canada

Friday Addition

I just looked at my “Baptist Message”. Page 12 is about Kathy Jo Thompson. We have been following her physical and spiritual journey on CaringBridge. If you get a chance, please read the article. Then. pray for the continued witness of Kathy Jo and her family.

Friday

From now on if you listen obediently to the commandments

that I am commanding you today

, love God, your God,

and serve him with everything you have within you,

he’ll take charge of sending the rain at the right time ….

Deuteronomy 11:13-14 (MSG)

Make preparations today in case “Bonnie” decides to visit us Sunday. We all need to be prepared. Pray for those she will “visit”.

Jennie said it rained and was cooler last night. Everyone slept much better. Thank you for praying for them.

Baptist Press Stories for Jul. 22, 2010

—————————————

Medicine and missions get together at IMB summit

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=33392

Equestrian Games shapes mission project

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=33393

Rick Warren has sight loss; expects recovery

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=33391

ERLC’s Josiah Road extends its reach

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=33394

EDUCATION BRIEFS: Bush to speak at Univ. of Mobile; 2 schools changing names …

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=33395

FIRST-PERSON: We must not be silent on North Korea

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=33396

WORLDVIEW: Three ‘lies’ about reaching Muslims

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=33397

PLEADING WITH THE LORD

I heard about a youth minister who sent a thank you letter to those adults who had served in some way throughout the previous year. His letter began: “Last summer I asked you to consider working as a youth coach in our church’s junior high youth group. I am thankful for your acceptance of that challenge over this past school year. You may have felt extremely incapable as you thought about working with junior highers, but you claimed 2 Corinthians 12:9 nevertheless.”

Part of this verse says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

However, his secretary made the mistake of typing 2 Corinthians 12:8 as the scripture reference instead, which reads, “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me!”

Though the particular verse quoted may not have conveyed the proper thought, that whole passage in 2 Corinthians is a powerful lesson to us. Through it, we learn that God does not always grant us what we request in prayer. Sometimes he sees that what would be best for us is not the same thing as what we believe would be best for us. We want the problems to disappear; God wants us to grow closer to him. We want life to be easier; God wants us to mature and be strengthened. Listen again:

“Concerning this thing [the thorn in the flesh] I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Cor. 12:8-10).

Perhaps there is a trial in your life that you are praying for God to remove. He may do so. But if he does not, may God bless you with grace and strength.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Have a great day!

Anna Lee

Thursday Afternoon

Robbie Lynn (From Robert Callihan)

Surgery went off without a hitch. Doctor said everything went as planned and no problems. Had two large cist on her ovaries. Doctore said that was more than likely causing all her pain. Will probably stay overnight and be back at her house in Jackson tomorrow. Linda will stay with her through Sunday. Thank everyone that prayed for her. I am thanking him over and over for it was definitely God that allowed it to go so well no doubt about it. And all due to the prayers of many.

Please be in prayer for a former student Randy Relan who is very ill.

Thursday

A man’s heart reflects the man.

Proverbs 27:19 (NIV)

Mr. Billy Brabham is doing somewhat better. Please continue to pray for him and his family.

Pray for Mr. James Miller’s granddaughter who is 5 1/2 months pregnant and undergoing gall bladder surgery.

Pray for Robbie Lynn Kirby as she has surgery today. Pray her other health conditions do not complicate the surgery or the recovery.

Continue to pray for Mrs. Catherine Yarborough as she faces surgery. Pray for her family too.

Pray for Mrs. Mildred Birch as she undergoes knee surgery.

Continue to pray for Stacey Scarle as she completes a busy week of treatment for her cancer.

Pray for the Hatchel children. Their bodies are having a hard time adjusting to being back in a different time zone.

CaringBridge – Please read and pray accordingly

VBS at Roseland is going well as is MissionFuge for the Osyka youth. Please continue to pray for both of these churches.

Greenlaw Baptist Church will have their VBS beginning July 26, 2010 thru July 30, 2010 beginning at 6:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. Please try to come if possible.
Greenlaw Baptist Church (Mary Ann Cutrer)

KneEmail

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

Mike Benson, Editor

WHEN WE READ a myth or legend, we instinctively understand that we are in the world of fable…

We switch gears when we read it; in the words of the poet Coleridge, we “suspend disbelief.” But the Gospels are set in a real world of needs: wine running out at a wedding; hungry crowds with not enough food; fruitless fishing trips; and no money for the tax bill. Into this world quietly breaks the miraculous, which seems as ordinary as the hassles. In myth, extraordinary people in an extraordinary world do extraordinary things. In the Gospels, the extraordinary love and compassion of a remarkable Man radiates and illuminates an ordinary world. Paul E. Miller, “Who Is Jesus?,” Love Walked Among Us, 19

“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healling all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” Acts 10:38

Have a great day! Thanks for praying for these needs and others that were not mentioned here.

Anna Lee

Wednesday

“A spiritual gift is given to each of us

as a means of helping the entire church.”

~1 Corinthians 12:7 NLT~

Nikki

Will you please add my niece to the Prayer Link. She has been siezing for the last 3 days. Today has been the worst for her. She has siezed 15 times so for and they are lasting 4 to 12 mins. The doctors are not sure what is wrong.
Thank you,
Lawana

Mrs. Lois Bridges called for a friend, Bonnie Cooper, to request prayer for her pastor, Rev. Ed. Griffin who pastors in Greensburg.

My cousin, Micah Tolleson, continues to have seizures. Please read the last few posts on his CaringBridge page.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/micah_tolleson/journal?jid=5826161

ONE

TO GIVE MY readers an idea of how many people on the Internet one member of the Lord’s church can influence — since January 1, 2009 until today, July 19, 2010, my article blog tracker tells me that I’ve experienced 41,975 visitors and 184,257 page views…

I’m averaging 69% new visitors and 31% returning visitors to the article blog, which tells me that there are folks out there in our world who are looking for God’s truth ( John 17:17). The site has now been viewed by some individual (or individuals) in 175 countries around our world.

With God’s help and a whole lot of fortitude, this is what one member of the Lord’s church can do. Just think what 100 members could do with 100 Bible article blogs.

Plus, think of the fact that we have the capability of teaching God’s word seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day — the World Wide Web never sleeps; never calls in sick; never takes a vacation; never gripes or complains — a wonderful medium and tool for spreading the saving gospel of Christ to a world lost in sin ( Romans 3:23).

Also, think of the fact that as we are teaching others the saving gospel of Christ, we are teaching ourselves as well ( Romans 2:21). In the process of teaching others, we will increasingly “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ” ( 2 Peter 3:18), thus making ourselves “sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work” ( 2 Timothy 2:21).

If any member of the Lord’s church would like to know more about how to set up your own blog, or a blog for the congregation of which you are a member, please contact Brother G.E. (Eddie) Watkins, owner and administrator of “The Preacher’s Files.” He will be more than happy to assist you in that effort.

Brethren, as “fellow workers” with God ( 1 Corinthians 3:9; cf.1 Corinthians 15:58), we can “turn the world upside down” for the cause of Christ ( Acts 17:1-6; cf. Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16; 2 Timothy 2:1-2). Mike Riley at: http://mbriley.preachersfiles.com/2010/07/19/what-one-member-can-do/

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”Matthew 5:16

Posted by Mike Benson

Like Mike Benson, I encourage you to use your abilities, talents, and gifts to spread the Good News. You might be best at writing calls, making phone calls, teaching a class, singing in the choir, greeting visitors, visiting, or any one of a number of things. Use thing things for God’s glory!

Anna Lee

Tuesday Addition

Prayer request for Robbie Lynn Callihan Kirby from her dad

Robbie Lynn is scheduled to have a hysterectomy Thurs. morning. Due to all her many health problems things do not always go well for her. They are doing the procedure laproscopicly and we are praying and asking for others to pray that it will go off without complications and without them having to open her up. Pray for the doctors and Robbie Lynn. If they have no problems she could be going home the next day. Linda will be with her. Thanks for the prayers.

Tuesday

“And they continued steadfastly

in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship,

in the breaking of bread,

and in prayers…

and the Lord added to the church daily

those who were being saved.”

~Acts 2:42-47~

Callie Cole

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/calliecole/journal?jid=5820133

Pray for Stacey Scarle as she has a treatment today and sees the oncologist Friday.

Jennie, the children, and all the luggage have arrived at their home. Thank you for your expressions of love and prayers for them.

Services for Jimmy Wayne Dykes will be today from Angelic Funeral Home in Roseland. Please continue to pray for the family.

Thanks for your prayers today. They mean so much to so many.

Anna Lee

Monday Night

From Melissa Johnson

Please pray for Mr Delton Davis, I spoke to his grandson Brad and he said he is out of ICU but still at North Oaks and needs our prayers.

Jennie and the children are still flying. I trust you are still praying.