Friday Afternoon

From Mary Criswell

Some of you have probably heard that the biopsy Wayne had done on Jan. 30 was positive. We got the report on Feb.5. Blake came in from Denver on the 6th and through connections he has there we were able to get him into the University of Colorado Hospital which is part of the National Institutes of Health which also includes M. D. Anderson. We will leave here Saturday for an appointment on Tuesday Feb. 16. We will be staying with Blake’s family in Highlands Ranch. Wayne was able to get all of his medical records from North Oaks to bring with us. They feel that surgery is the most appropriate treatment for him. Brent will come out when they do the surgery.
Please keep all of us in your prayers and I will try to keep everyone posted as we proceed.
Thanks
Wayne, Mary, Brent, Blake and families

Mildred Eloise Parker Lambert
(November 6, 1926 – February 11, 2010)

Mrs. Lambert was born November 6, 1926 in Piave, MS and passed away at 8 p.m. on Thursday, February 11, 2010 at Kentwood Manor Nursing Home in Kentwood, LA at the age of 83 years. She was the daughter of Rev. Henry C. Parker and Eunice Knight Parker. She was a retired Secretary and Bookkeeper. She was a member of East Fork Baptist Church where she served as Librarian for several years. She is survived by her 3 sisters, Betty Bankston, Hammond, Ouida Dykes and her husband Charles, Kentwood, Patricia Rushing and her husband, Wilton, Tylertown, MS; 2 brothers, Harold Parker and his wife, Carrie, Independence and Charles Parker and his wife, Karen, Hammond. She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry Hardy “Hank” Lambert; her parents; stepmother, Ruby Addison Parker; sister, Doris Cabler; brother, Henry Clay Parker, Jr. Visitation at East Fork Baptist Church, Kentwood, from 9 a.m. until religious services at 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 13, 2010. Services conducted by Rev. Michael Shumock. Interment East Fork Cemetery, Kentwood, LA.

(We knew Bro. Parker, but not the Kentwood connection!)

Friday

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

Death will exist no longer;

grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer.”

~Revelation 21:4a, HCSB~

Mrs. Ruby Dillon had a better day yesterday.  She is expected to be released today or tomorrow.

Please continue to pray for the Pittman family.

CaringBridge

INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS PRAYERLINE
IMB
Friday, February 12, 2010

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will exist no longer; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer,” (Revelation 21:4a, HCSB).

Dear Intercessors, this is Eleanor Witcher of the Office of Global Prayer Strategy, continuing in prayer for the Haitian people.

One month ago, we watched the news in disbelief as images of total devastation were revealed. It is estimated that more than 230,000 people died, 300,000 were injured and one million left homeless.

Steve and Marilee Flook (Team Hispanola) ask us to pray for missionaries and teams traveling on very dangerous roads between Jimani, Dominican Republic, and Haiti. They also ask prayer for an extra measure of rest and strength. As many have experienced through a natural disaster, “you go until you can’t go any more.”

Strolling across the hospital grounds, Delores York spied three young people sitting, talking, and the middle one writing something on a pad of paper. “They smile as I greet them and we start just chatting. I ask the young girl what she is writing and she says it’s a letter to her mother. I ask what would seem to be the obvious, ‘Are you going to put it in an envelope to send it?’ She smiles a rather sad smile and says ‘No.’ I ask her where her mother is and she responds she thinks she is still buried under a large collapsed building in Port-au-Prince.”

Even as life continues and things appear fairly normal, deep pain remains. IMB counselors have taught grief counseling to a group of IMB missionaries, Dominican Baptist leaders, and Haitian leaders to help people deal with their grief. One pastor said the sick cannot help the sick.

* Please pray for pastors to be ministered to in order for them to minister to others.

* Give thanks for medical teams that have been working diligently, now witnessing the birth of new babies and many new births in Christ!

* Intercede for the Haitian people that they will receive the Lord’s healing–mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual.

Baptist Press Sports

Read some testimonies of the players who participated in the Superbowl last week.

http://www.bpsports.net/

The memorial service for Mary Frances Ashley McCullough is Sunday at the First Baptist Church at 2 PM.

(Mary Frances was one of David’s classmates at Amite High School.)

GIVE THANKS FOR YOUR FRIENDS

I heard about a farmer who was detained for questioning about an election scandal.   The attorney asked him, “Did you sell your vote?”

The farmer said, “No sir, not me.  I voted for that there fella ’cause I liked him.”

The attorney said, “Come, now, I have evidence that he gave you fifty dollars for a vote.”

The farmer said, “Well, now, it’s plain common sense that when a fella gives you fifty dollars you like him.”

I suppose that’s one way to define a friend.  In fact, Solomon said, “Many entreat the favor of the nobility, and every man is a friend to one who gives gifts.” (Proverbs 19:6).

But, a true friend involves a depth of relationship.  It’s someone you enjoy doing things with, someone you enjoy talking with, someone you wouldn’t hesitate to turn to in times of need.  I like how I once heard someone describe a friend as someone you could call at 2:00 a.m. if you needed something.  Solomon lets us know how important friends are in the difficult times of life:

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.  For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.  But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up.  Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone?  Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.  And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” (Eccl. 4:9-12)

Give thanks to God for the friends who are a blessing in your life.  And let those friends know how special they are to you!

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Stay warm and dry if possible.  Be safe.

Anna Lee

Thursday Afternoon – No. 2

Dr. Oscar Ramon Pereda
(November 18, 1938 – February 11, 2010)

“This is Oscar who loved the world”

He passed away at 4:10 a.m. on Friday, February 11, 2010 at St. Theresa Hospital in Metairie, LA. He was born November 18, 1938 in Camaguey, Cuba. Age 71 years. Dr. Pereda came to the United States in 1962 and graduated from Medical School in Zaragoza, Spain in 1970. He went into practice in New Orleans in 1974. After graduating from Tulane University, he worked until 2005 in his private practice in New Orleans. Hurricane Katrina moved him and his family to Kentwood where he resumed practicing medicine there. He was also an accomplished pilot and loved to fly with his best friend, the late Dr. Mohammad Shaik. He leaves behind his wife, Laurie M. Pereda, Kentwood; children, Oscar F. Pereda and his wife, Robin, Clermont, France, Ramon E. Pereda, Los Angeles, CA, Maria P. Pereda, New Orleans, Michelle M. Pereda, Kentwood, Olivia A. Pereda, Kentwood and Amanda M. DiGiovanni, Kentwood; 2 granddaughters, Anna and Sofia Pereda. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ramon and Ofelia Pereda; brother, Ramon Pereda.

Arrangements will be posted when finalized.

Thursday

“Teacher,” he asked,

“which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart,

with all your soul, and with all your mind.’

This is the greatest and the most important commandment.

The second most important commandment is like it:

‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’

~Matthew 22:36-39 (TEV)~

HAITI

Steve and Marilee Flook ask you to join with them in praying for our missionaries and teams traveling to and from Jimani, Dominican Republic, and Haiti. “Ask the Lord to protect them on these very dangerous roads. We also ask you to pray for an extra measure of rest and strength. As many have experienced through a natural disaster, you go until you can’t go any more. That is where God’s supernatural power comes in, and that comes through our prayers.”

CaringBridge

Good News Club

Ok, me again…I just received a call from the school secretary…. Not so good.

We cannot use the gym or cafeteria….only the library. This means we cannot provide a snack. We have to cap it to the number of chairs in the library—45. They may let those other few come who were there on Friday. There have been more slips turned in today, but I was told I’ll have to call these parents and put them on a “waiting list”. I was also told that “if anything is messed up in the library, the librarian will put a stop to this.”

I tried to discuss my idea for the future in recruiting more volunteers, using about 3 or 4 classrooms, dividing the kids by grade level and having the leaders rotate into the rooms to tell the story, do games, etc. That idea was shot down right away. We are not to use any classrooms. I have a friend who does this in Carrollton. She has 130 kids who come. Several of her volunteers are teachers. They meet in classrooms. Must be an evangelical staff at that school to accommodate. I thought ours was……maybe not.

I guess I’ll  for sure stick to outreaches in my home….without a cap!

Thanks for your prayers,

Tricia

Update from Samaritan’s Purse

Dear Friend,

I have just returned from Haiti, where Samaritan’s Purse is working non-stop to help survivors of the catastrophic Jan. 12 earthquake. It’s almost impossible to describe the scope of the tragedy—not just the endless devastation and the lingering stench of death, but the anguished faces of women, children, and others who are desperate for food, water, and shelter.

Our teams on the ground estimate that Samaritan’s Purse has been able to help close to 100,000 people since the quake struck.

Here are some of the ways we have responded:

  • SHELTER: Everywhere we went, I saw makeshift homes covered with heavy-duty blue plastic handed out by Samaritan’s Purse. Already, we’ve distributed enough plastic for about 20,000 families. In the coming days we will begin providing thousands more with transitional housing where they can live until they are able to rebuild a permanent house.
  • MEDICAL CARE: While I was in Haiti, Samaritan’s Purse reopened a clinic at one of the largest churches in Cite Soleil. It will be staffed by doctors who are volunteering through World Medical Mission, the medical arm of Samaritan’s Purse. We are also continuing to provide doctors and support for the Baptist Haiti Mission hospital, where over 1,500 survivors have been treated; and we sent in a helicopter this week to carry medical brigades into some of the most isolated and hard-hit towns.
  • FOOD: We have handed out 250 tons of rice and other staples to thousands of families, focusing on the needs of mothers and other women. Our teams have also delivered food to over 40 orphanages where children had gone hungry since the earthquake.
  • WATER: We have set up large-scale water filtration systems at 10 locations, providing more than 20,000 people with clean drinking water. More filters have just arrived and will be installed soon.

videoThis has been the most massive relief project in the history of Samaritan’s Purse. We have chartered eight cargo flights and two trips by an ocean-going barge that delivered over a million pounds of heavy equipment and construction supplies. We thank God for providing the resources and opening the doors for us to deliver help into the crippled country.

Click on the video image here to watch my report from Haiti.

We praise God for what He is doing through Samaritan’s Purse to meet the physical and spiritual needs of the people in Haiti. Your prayers and support are making a difference. Please continue to lift up our teams on the ground. They need God’s strength and wisdom as they help and minister to those who have lost everything. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble”(Psalm 46:L1).

If you would like to know more about what Samaritan’s Purse is doing in Haiti and how you can help, go to www.samaritanspurse.org or call us at 1-800-528-1980.

Sincerely,


Franklin Graham
President, Samaritan’s Purse

Baptist Press – Superbowl

February 8, 2010

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is a special bulletin from Baptist Press. The following three articles, featuring personalities and events surrounding Super Bowl XLIV in Miami, were released over the weekend. They will also appear in the regular BP HTML email this afternoon.

FLORIDA–Lauren Dungy says children supportive of ‘Coach,’ but grateful for ‘full-time dad.’http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=32240

FLORIDA–Michael Vick shares first-ever testimony of his faith in God.http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=32239

FLORIDA–Michael Oher talks football, ‘Blind Side.’ http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=32238

Have a great Thursday, but keep an eye on the weather conditions.

Anna Lee

Wednesday Afternoon

Please continue to pray for Mr. Billy Brabham and Mrs. Ruby Dillon.  He will spend another night at North Oaks.  She will be at Southwest another night.

Eunice A. Dykes
(April 22, 1916 – February 10, 2010)

A loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother went to be with her Lord on Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at North Oaks Medical Center in Hammond, LA. She was born April 22, 1916 in St. Helena Parish, LA and was a resident of Kentwood, LA. Age 93 years. She was married to Curtis “Son” Dykes, Sr. on July 16, 1937 and they celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary on July 16, 1987. She and her husband owned and operated the Kentwood Skating Rink from 1961 until 1988. She was a homemaker and a babysitter at the Skating Rink for nearly every kid in south Louisiana and Mississippi. She is survived by her daughter, Carolyn Dykes, Greenwell Springs, LA; son, Curtis Dykes, Jr. and his wife, Karen, Magnolia, MS; 3 grandchildren, Krista McCulley and her husband, Michael, Curt Dykes and his wife, Lesley, and Cal Dykes; 5 great-grandchildren, Brooke, Mallory and Wesley McCulley, Reagan and Addison Dykes; sister, Angie Redmond, Kentwood. She was preceded in death by her husband; parents, Hosea and Georgie Bridges Addison; 4 sisters, an infant sister, Kathleen Addison, Irene Dykes, and Cora McDaniel; brother, Hiram Addison. Pallbearers will be Curt Dykes, Cal Dykes, Michael McCulley, Jimmy Hatcher, Major Hatcher and Robert Hutchinson. Honorary Pallbearers will be Wesley McCulley, Bobby Hutchinson and Justin Hutchinson. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, from 10 a.m. until religious services at 1 p.m. Thursday. Services conducted by Rev. Lewis Morris. Interment Woodland Cemetery, Kentwood, LA.

William Roger Hallmark
(October 7, 1943 – February 10, 2010)

510866.jpg

William Roger Hallmark a loving husband, father and grandfather was born October 7, 1943 and passed away at 6:14 a.m., Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at his residence surrounded by his family. Roger was 66, a native of Lewisburg, AL and a resident of Amite.

Roger is survived by his wife, Jane Wood Hallmark, Amite; his daughter, Marie Clare Hallmark, Amite; son, Scott Hallmark and wife Wendy, Ponchatoula; Scott’s sister, Paula Bloomfield; step-son, Art Smith, Baton Rouge; step-daughter, Grace Wood Smith, Baton Rouge; 3 grandchildren, Braeden Hallmark, Evan Hallmark and Avery Hallmark; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Roy and Lyda Wood, Amite.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Marie Hallmark; sister, Ruby Jo Town.

Visitation at McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, on Friday, February 12, 2010 from 11:00 a.m. until Religious Services at 2:00 p.m. in the funeral home Chapel. Interment in Edwards Cemetery, east of Amite.

An on-line Guestbook and to view a Video Tribute is available at http://www.mckneelyvaughnfh.com

McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home is located at I-55N & Hwy 16W behind Mr. Tom’s Car Wash and Bill Hood Automotive.

Wednesday

Michael Smith is progressing.  He may go home soon and return to have another procedure in six weeks.  Sue thanks you for your continued prayers.

Mr. Billy Brabham stayed at North Oaks overnight and will have additional tests today.  Please continue to pray for him and for his family.

Mrs. Ruby Dillon stayed another night at Southwest.  Pray for her and for Mr. “Cete”.

Kathy Wales got a good report yesterday.  She can now put weight on her foot.  She will be wearing her “boot” for about six more weeks.

Tuesday Afternoon

Please pray for Mr. Billy Brabham.  He had to undergo some tests due to a heart issue.  He was still at North Oaks the mid-afternoon.

Please continue to pray for Bob and Diane Wagstaff.  They are still unable to leave the country they went to at Christmas to visit their son.  Health issues and paperwork delays are delaying their return to Romania.

Daisy Dean Alford Wascom

(September 22, 1939 – February 8, 2010)

A loving wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away at 8:38 p.m. on Monday, February 8, 2010 at Hood Memorial Hospital in Amite. She was born on September 22, 1939 in St. Helena Parish and was a resident of Greensburg. Age 70 years. She was a member of New Zion Baptist Church and The Order of Eastern Star in Greensburg. Visitation at New Zion Baptist Church, Kentwood, from 8 a.m. on Wednesday until religious services at 11 a.m. Wednesday. Services conducted by Rev. Richard Sandberg and Matthew Belser. Interment New Zion Cemetery, Kentwood. Survived by husband, Jule W. Wascom, Greensburg, 3 daughters, Glenda Rohner Wascom and her husband, Ricky, Greensburg, Jana Rohner Causey and her husband, M. L., III, Gillsburg, MS, Vicki Rohner Creager and her husband, Tommy, Vinton, son, Jeffrey Dean Rohner, Greensburg, 5 grandchildren, Colby, Chelsea, and Carson Causey, Ryan and Rusty Wascom, sister, Janis Lassiter and her husband, Mike, Greensburg. Preceded in death by parents, John Dean and Ida Perryman Alford. Pallbearers will be Colby and Carson Causey, Ryan and Rusty Wascom, Michael Smith, and Bobby Wascom. McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, in charge of arrangements.

Tuesday

Wise men and women are always learning,

always listening for fresh insights.

~Proverbs 18:15 (MSG)~

Continue to pray for Roger Pittman.  He will have his last procedure repeated on the 19th.  Pray for him as he deals with pain in the meantime.

Chuck Pittman‘s family is taking turns staying with him.  Pray for Chuck and his family as he continues his fight with cancer.

Pray for Bro. Butch Reviere as he continues to heal and as he learns the plan for his treatment.

Pray for Larkin Dorris as she has chemo.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/larkindorris/journal

From Trisha Wilson (Texas) – Good News Club

I hope you are not tired of hearing from me….I have been meaning to tell you about an answer we received in prayer just last Wednesday. One of our team members attends Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco. Stonebriar has a ministry called community outreach, and they are going to sponsor our club. We have spent much $$ out of our own pockets to get this club going. Now those expenses (snacks for kids, supplies, printing/copying, prizes, literature, etc.) will be funded in the future! I am so thankful for a  church willing to support ministry to those in the  public schools!

Grateful,

Tricia

Ok, me again…I just received a call from the school secretary…. Not so good.

We cannot use the gym or cafeteria….only the library. This means we cannot provide a snack. We have to cap it to the number of chairs in the library—45. They may let those other few come who were there on Friday. There have been more slips turned in today, but I was told I’ll have to call these parents and put them on a “waiting list”. I was also told that “if anything is messed up in the library, the librarian will put a stop to this.”

I tried to discuss my idea for the future in recruiting more volunteers, using about 3 or 4 classrooms, dividing the kids by grade level and having the leaders rotate into the rooms to tell the story, do games, etc. That idea was shot down right away. We are not to use any classrooms. I have a friend who does this in Carrollton. She has 130 kids who come. Several of her volunteers are teachers. They meet in classrooms. Must be an evangelical staff at that school to accommodate. I thought ours was……maybe not.

I guess I’ll  for sure stick to outreaches in my home….without a cap!

Thanks for your prayers,

Tricia

Charlene McKenzie Brisbois
(May 17, 1934 – February 6, 2010)

Died on Saturday, February 6, 2010 at Lane Regional Medical Center in Zachary, LA. She was bornMay 17, 1934 in Tylertown, MS and is resident of Kentwood, LA. Age 75 years. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, from 10 a.m. on Monday until 2 p.m. Monday followed by Graveside Services at Woodland Cemetery, Kentwood, LA. Services conducted by Rev. William Hyde. Survived by 3 daughters, Brenda Prudhomme and her husband, Michael, Greenwell Springs, Gina Carver and her husband, Chuck, Kentwood, Michelle Brisbois, Kentwood, son, Wesley Ryals, Kentwood, 4 granddaughters, Kellie and Wendy Prudhomme, Marta Sproles, Hannah Carver, 2 great-granddaughters, Sophie and Rylie Sproles, 2 sisters, Ruth Sorrell, Tylertown, MS, Allene West, Jarreau. Preceded in death by daughter, Deborah Ann Ryals, son, Jerry Jay Ryals, parents, Price and Maude McKenzie, brother, Jim McKenzie.

Please take time to read these articles about the Superbowl.

http://www.bpnews.net/BPCollectionNews.asp?ID=165

Here’s a link to a devotional that most of us can find meaningful to our lives.

https://www.upperroom.org/devotional/

Have a terriffic Tuesday!  Please let me know if you have a praise, a request, or an update to be shared with all the other prayer partners.

Anna Lee

Anna Lee