Sunday

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion?

Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life.

I’ll show you how to take a real rest.

Walk with me and work with me-watch how I do it.

Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.

I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.

Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

~ Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG)~

Ethel Mae Durbin Bourgeois
(September 26, 1923 – December 4, 2009)

Died at 7:00PM on Friday, December 4, 2009 at Lane Regional Medical Center in Zachary, LA. She was a native of Montpelier, LA and a resident of Zachary, LA. Age 86 years. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Sunday and from 8 a.m. until religious services at 10 a.m. Monday. Services conducted by Rev. David Luce. Interment Montpelier Cemetery, Montpelier, LA. Survived by her husband, Percy Bourgeois, Zachary , 2 daughters, Gloria Mobley and her husband, Andy, Calhoun, and Susan Durbin, West Monroe , daughter-in-law, Jennifer Bigner Durbin, Amite, 2 step-daughters, Linda Redden, Watson, and Susan Simpson, Baton Rouge, grandchildren, LaDonna Coleman Bender and her husband, Mike, Keller, TX, Clint Coleman and his wife, Tammy, Calhoun, Scott Coleman and his wife, Tracey, Plattsburg, NY, Mellissa Durbin Leto and her husband David, Sr., Amite, Kimberly Durbin Curry and her husband, Stephen “Nim”, Hillsdale, John Daniel Durbin and his wife, Andrea, Gulfport, MS, Ken Rogers, West Monroe, and Nichole Smith and her husband, Cody, West Monroe, 18 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great-grandson, Preceded in death by, first husband, Leland J. Durbin, Sr., and son, Leland J. Durbin, Jr. Pallbearers will be grandsons, Clint Coleman, Scott Coleman, Ken Rogers, John Durbin, David Leto, Jr., and Clinton Coleman.

Who's Missing? Whose Mission?
Peoples of the Canary Islands

Pepe and Shari Lopez (names changed) rely heavily on relationship-building to enhance their ministry opportunities in Fuerteventura, one of seven Canary Islands located off the west coast of Africa.

Many islanders are immigrants from northwest Africa who have come looking for a better life in the European Union. Some enter the country legally, while others go a more dangerous route on rickety boats or makeshift rafts.

Earning these people’s trust is a lengthy process, but the Lopezes have found that providing free, no-strings-attached services — such as teaching — help tremendously. Shari leads multilingual children’s camps, and Pepe teaches a free Spanish class. Omar, a Muslim, is one of Pepe’s most dependable students. Because of Pepe’s dedication and free teaching, the trust level among his students has skyrocketed — especially with Omar.

The friendships built during the classes and camps have helped Pepe and Shari reach areas of the community that previously would have been nearly impossible.

Pray
Pray that Pepe and Shari will continue building deep relationships with fellow islanders.

Because you give
“The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering is our ‘life support.’ We could not live, function or remain here should Southern Baptists not be praying for us all the time,” Pepe says. “We are the tangible extension of your life and your ministry. So much of what we see around us — schools, hospitals, people and government … they are all in dire need of the Gospel. How could we continue to reach out to them if you do not pray and give?”

Don’t forget to bring your blankets, hats, and gloves to me so I can pass them on to Dena P. Simmons.  She’s going to work through BrownBagsandJesus.com to get these into the hands of the homeless in New Orleans who live under a bridge.

Catalog

TIS THE SEASON to receive catalogs in the mail….
Every trip to the mailbox ends with an armload of slick holiday catalogs. Each one claims to offer me something I need–immediately. “Don’t wait!” “Limited offer!” “Order now!”

The lure works. I open the pages to discover what I didn’t know I needed. Sure enough, I see things that suddenly seem essential, even though a few minutes earlier I didn’t know they existed. Manufacturers use catalog illustrations to create desire for their products.

In a way, Christians are God’s catalogs. We are His illustration to the world of what He has to offer. His work in our lives makes us a picture of qualities that people may not know they need or want until they see them at work in us.

As you browse holiday catalogs, consider what the “catalog” of your life says about God. Do people see qualities in you that make them long for God? (Julie Ackerman Link)

“You are our epistle written in our hearts,

known and read by all men.”

~2 Cor. 3:2

Posted by Mike Benson

Jesus is the reason for the season!

Anna Lee

Saturday

“Your generosity …

not only provides for the needs of God’s people,

but also produces prayers of thanksgiving to God.”

~2 Corinthians 9:12~

From Trisha (Mrs. Dwayne) Wilson

Thanks, again, my friends for your prayers. Today’s outreach with Graham’s class went well. 10 kiddos came, along with 5 moms, a friend from my Community Bible Study (wanting to get ideas for her outreach next week) a 2 yr. old, and a 5th grader (came to help out a bit)….quite a houseful including my 4 kids!

Love and appreciate your support!

Tricia

Caring Bridge Sites

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” Philippians 2:10
Mike Benson, Editor

VICTOR FRANKL COULD have been forgiven if he had displayed a bad attitude…
As a prisoner in a Nazi concentration camp, he was witness to some of the most indescribable horrors in human history.

How, then, did Frankl avoid the fate of pessimism and bitterness? He wrote: “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s way.”

Our attitude is a matter of choice? Few ever come to that realization. They merely take the mood that comes with the events of their day and act correspondingly. If someone cuts me off in traffic, I’ll be in a foul mood for awhile. If I get that promotion, I’ll be on top of the world. If not, stay out of my path!

What can a person do to test Frankl’s theory of choosing one’s attitude? Here are some ideas from one who was described as having a heart like God’s (Acts 13:22):

• Practice Praise: “Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together” said David in Psalm 34:3 (NKJV). When we take time to realize how much greater God is than the problems of our world, we’ll be encouraged. Life won’t seem so dismal to one who is a child of the Omnipotent Father!

• Try Thankfulness: In Psalm 103:2, David gave this admonition: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” After writing that, he listed some of his many blessings. It will work the same for us. When we count our blessings, we remember that God has not forgotten us. Every day his mercies toward us are rich.

• Break Out The Blinders: Hear David again in Psalm 101:3: “I will set nothing wicked before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me.” Is television filling our souls with discouraging images of problems or with scenes of wickedness? Would our attitudes improve if we spent time meditating on good, wholesome ideas and images (cf. Philippians 4:8)? “Garbage in, garbage out” was first applied to computers, but it also explains many a bad attitude.

Christians should demonstrate attitudes that are markedly different from those of the world. Jesus said so in John 15:11: “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” Ask someone close to you: “Does my joy show?” If it doesn’t, it’s time to choose a better attitude – with God’s help.  Tim Hall at http://www.forthright.net

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true,
whatever things are noble,
whatever things are just,
whatever things are pure,
whatever things are lovely,
whatever things are of good report,
if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—
meditate on these things.”
Philippians 4:8
Lottie Moon Christmas Tea
First Baptist Church, Amite
Saturday, December 19
2:00 P.M.
All ladies and girls are invited.
Sign up at your local church or here on The Prayer Link.
Come and learn more of Lottie Moon
and her commitment to missions.

Jesus is the reason for the season.

Anna Lee

Who's Missing? Whose Mission?
Lost cities of China

During the past two decades, central China’s urbanization has grown at full-throttle. Workers migrating from the countryside to new urban centers have transformed 223 towns into cities, each counting more than 1 million people.

The lure? Money. A city job pays three to four times the salary possible in villages. But in the past, moving to find that job put rural people at risk because government policies denied them the documentation they needed to work in the cities. Last year, thousands of Chinese took to the streets to protest their dire economic situation. The government responded by allowing 20 percent of them to move into cities — cities with insufficient housing, factories and roads.

And little Christian witness. As these metropolitan areas continue to sprawl, there’s a growing concentration of people who don’t know Jesus and have little opportunity to meet Him. In essence, they are a collection of lost cities.

Finding a way to share Christ’s love, developing a plan to reach these urban centers is critical. Now is the most opportune time as workers arrive and struggle to find their way. They — and the relatives they left behind — need the stability found only in Jesus.

Pray
Pray that God will call more Christian workers to take the Gospel to these unreached peoples.

Friday Night

Kenneth Wayne Morris, Sr.
(August 20, 1941 – December 4, 2009)

Kenneth Wayne Morris, Sr.

Kenneth Wayne Morris, Sr. 68, passed away peacefully in the early afternoon of December 4, 2009 surrounded by his family at his home in Amite. He was born in the Woodland Community August 2, 1941. Mr. Wayne served as a Deacon of Kedron Baptist Church, a graduate of SLU with a degree in Biology and a Master’s Degree in Administration and Supervision, and was a retired dairy farmer.

He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Cora Strahan Morris, Amite; 3 daughters, Debra Morris Pizza and husband Joey, Hammond, Donna Morris, Amite, and Kim Morris Sims and husband Shane, Brandon, MS; 12 grandchildren, John, Joede & Little Joey Pizza, Ricky LeBlanc, Gabbie Morris, Trey, III, Kaitlin, Nicole, & Austin Morris, TJ, Tyler Grace and Baby Sims; numerous niece & nephews.

Preceded in death by a son, Kenneth Wayne Morris, Jr.; parents, Alton and Alma Lee Sharkey Morris; 2 brothers, Alton Morris, Jr. and Danny Morris.

Visitation will be at McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, on Sunday, December 6. 2009 from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and on Monday, December 7, 2009 at Kedron Baptist Church from 8:00 a.m. until Religious Services at 11:00 a.m. with Bro. Jake Williams officiating. Interment in the Kedron Cemetery.

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

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

Pray for this sweet family.  Wayne fought a long hard battle.  He’s now in his heavenly home!

Friday – Urgent Request

URGENT PRAYER
IMB
DECEMBER 4, 2009

AFRICA. Urgent prayer is needed for a situation involving a Baptist convention in an unstable country in southern Africa. Attempts are underway to discredit convention leaders and have them arrested on fabricated charges. Pray for the protection of everyone from threatened physical harm. Pray for wisdom and safety for national believers and missionaries as they work to resolve these issues. Pray that Satan’s schemes will be revealed. Pray that national believers will stand against these schemes. Pray that they will remember that a believer’s armor does not protect their backs, teaching us that we are not to retreat from evil. Pray that truth will be known at every turn, exposing all lies.

Friday Afternoon

Pray for the Carter family  as they travel to Kentwood for the memorial service of Jean C. DeMauro.

Will you please add our family members that will be traviling tomorrow in the rain/snow that will be coming for the service.

Just a rmember that the memerial service will be tomorrow at 2 at Woodland.

Thank you ,
Lawana

Two requests from Melissa Johnson

Please pray for Morris Stickland and Timothy (Bull) Popwell. Mr Stickland is in a Covington, La Hospital and Bull is in a Hattisburg Ms hospital.
They need our prayers……

Friday

Please continue to pray for Mrs. Jeanette McGehee as she and her doctors plan the next steps in her treatment.

Continue to pray for Mrs. Faye Price and her family.  “Miss” Faye’s heart surgery was a year ago yesterday.  It has been a difficult year for her and for her family.  God continues to walk by their side day-by-day.  Pray for the medical staff as they work to overcome an infection.

Dr. Earl Council’s test Monday did not show a problem.  The current plan is to give him more blood Monday.  Keep praying for his return to good health.

Caleb Estay is doing well following his surgery Tuesday.  God has faithfully answered many prayer on Caleb’s behalf.  He will be carefully monitored in the hospital for a while longer.

Bro. Butch Reviere has one more day of medical tests today.  Next week he has another day of tests and meets with the doctor to learn the “game plan”.  Continue to pray for Bro. Butch and his doctor.

Who's Missing? Whose Mission?
Peoples of Iran

Tucking away a JESUS film and a few Bibles in her belongings, Zahra* boards a bus in the capital city of Tehran to share the Gospel with relatives in the Iranian countryside.

Zahra is taking a risk by carrying evangelistic material in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Publishing and distributing Bibles is illegal. Converting to Christianity and sharing the Gospel can be punishable by prison or death.

Despite the risks, Zahra felt burdened to act after seeing her tribe — the Bakhtiari — listed as an unreached people group in International Mission Board material her house church pastor had given her.

While it is safer to share the Gospel in small home groups to escape notice, the Lord gave Zahra boldness when the movie being shown on the bus malfunctioned. She handed the JESUS film to the driver, who played it all the way through.

Eight of the 40 people on the bus told her they were interested in becoming Christians. During home visits, Zahra led the driver, his wife and their three grown children to the Lord — as well as her own sister.

Though there are restrictions against Christian workers living in Iran, giving through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and the Cooperative Program enables personnel to share the Gospel with Iranians living in various parts of the world, disciple Christian refugees and train house church leaders when they can travel outside their country.

Pray
Pray for Christians who risk their lives to share the Gospel in Iran. Pray for the peoples of Iran to be able to hear and read God’s Word. Uplift workers as they find ways to help Iranians know Jesus as Lord and Savior.

From Trisha (Mrs. Dwayne) Wilson

Thanks, Friends, for praying for the outreach in our home for Abby Grace’s class. Eight kids came,  2 moms stayed, and the rest of the moms dropped their kiddos off  at our house. Things went well except for some minor distractions from one of my twins….I’ll let you guess which one. Praying my kids will be the well behaved ones for our outreach to Graham’s class tomorrow! Please pray for us tomorrow at 4!

Love,

Tricia

CHARGED, BUT JUSTIFIED

A local policeman had just finished his shift one cold November evening and was at home with his wife. “You just won’t believe what happened this evening.  In all my years on the force I’ve never seen anything like it!”

“What happened?”

“I came across two guys down by the canal, one of them was drinking battery acid and the other was eating fireworks.”

“Drinking battery acid and eating fireworks!!  What did you do with them?”

“I charged one and let the other one off.”  <insert GROAN here>

Spiritually speaking, those of us who are Christians have been both “charged” and “let off.”  We are charged with sin (and rightfully so, for we are guilty).  “For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.” (Rom. 3:9)

But, those of us who are Christians who have put on Christ have also been “let off” because Jesus Christ has paid the price for our sins.  We have been justified, “just as if I’d” never sinned.  “Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.” (Acts 13:38-39)

To be charged is a frightful thing (those of you who have received tickets can vouch for that).  To have a judge say, “I find you guilty, but I’m going to pay the fine for you” is inconceivable.  Yet, that’s exactly what has happened!  May our lives demonstrate the gratitude we feel.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Have a great day!

Anna Lee

Thursday

In response to all he has done for us,

let us outdo each other in being helpfuland kind to each other

and in doing good.

~Hebrews 10:24 (TLB)~

David Allen got a release to go back to work.  Thank God for his return to better health. Pray he gets better and better.

Mrs. Ann Chapman had her halo removed yesterday.  She still wears some of the other “equipment”, but will get her next halo in heaven.  Thank God for her progress.

Mr. Cete Dillon is doing better.  If all goes well today, he may come home today or tomorrow.  Keep him in your prayers.

Pray for Robby Lynn C. Kirby.  She’s been having health issues again.

From Faye Raborn

Update on Malaysia Garner..remember she was born October 1 and weighed 1# after losing some ounces in the first few days and now tops the scales at 3# 6oz. The Lord surely has His hand on Malaysia and the medical staff in Jackson who care for her 24 hours a day. Many medical problems still prevail. We know God performs miracles far beyond our understanding. Bryan and Donisha THANK everyone for prayers that have been sent up for their precious little baby girl. Please continue praying and believing in the days ahead as Malaysia faces her struggle each day.

CaringBridge

Another former student:

William Charles Langston, Sr.
(December 11, 1958 – December 1, 2009)

William Charles Langston, Sr.

U.S. Veteran William Charles Langston, Sr., 50 years old, was born December 11, 1958 and passed away sometime in the early morning hours on December 1, 2009. As my father’s daughter, I know that if he had the chance, these are the words he would say in parting: To my darling wife of 24 years, Lydia Ockman Langston, you are the love of my life. You made me the man I am today, a man I hope you were proud to call your husband and the father of our children. To my son, William Charles Langston, Jr., you have made me prouder than you will ever know. No father could ask for a better son. Give Heather Bentivegna Langston, my daughter-in-law, a kiss and always treat her right. To my daughter, Evangeline Alanna Langston, Daddy’s Baby Girl, I have not abandoned you. Just wave when you pass over a bridge and know I’m waving back. To my step-daughter, Melanie Howell Foreman, her husband, Tommy Foreman, and my four grandchildren, Layla, Morgan, Elizabeth and Johnny, I’m watching over you. To all of my family: I know you’ll cry. I know you’re sad, but I’m Home now with my Maker and Protector. I love you and will miss you. One day, I’ll welcome you Home, too. Also lovingly survived by mother, Annie Juanita Langston, 79, and two brothers, Carl Benjamin Langston, Sr. and Donald Langston, two sisters, Carloyn Langston Athey and Catherine Langston Thomas, mother-in-law, Helen Price Ockman, 79, and many nieces, nephews and in-laws. Preceded in death by father, Carl Avery Langston, Sr., one brother, David Langston, and father-in-law, Earl Antoine Ockman. He was a U. S. Navy Veteran and for the past 12 years was a Tug Boat Captain for River Parish/Moran Towing Company. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m. on Thursday and from 8 a.m. until religious services at 10 a.m. Friday. Interment Amite Memorial Gardens, Amite, LA. He was a Husband, Father and so much more. Daddy, we love you.

Who's Missing? Whose Mission?
Vietnamese of Cambodia

Tonle Sap, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, is dotted with numerous floating villages occupied by much of Cambodia’s Vietnamese population. Because so many Vietnamese are fishermen and find it difficult to gain land rights in Cambodia, they prefer to live on the water in tight-knit communities. They take care of each other — from sharing generated electrical power to caring for one another’s children.

Most residents in the floating village of Kbal Taol had never heard the name of Jesus — but that changed in March 2008. A Christian worker named David* visited the villagers to tell them about the One who is a fisher of men. During one of David’s many visits a Vietnamese man named Tim* became especially interested, so David gave him a Bible. On one of David’s subsequent visits, Tim invited David to his home for dinner.

After dinner, the talk turned to spiritual things. Tim had begun reading the Bible David gave him and had many questions. Around 3 a.m., Tim accepted Christ.

“That is the longest visitation I’ve ever had,” David said with a smile.

Tim is the first believer in Kbal Taol. By God’s grace, he will not be the last.

Pray
Pray that other Vietnamese in Kbal Taol and surrounding villages will be open to the Gospel and will put their faith in Jesus Christ.

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” Philippians 2:10
Mike Benson, Editor

J. EDGAR HOOVER ran the FBI, no question about it…
As a result, almost all of his subordinates were on the lookout for ways to impress their powerful boss. A young FBI man was put in charge of the FBI’s supply department. In an effort to cut some costs and impress his boss, he reduced the size of the office memo paper. One of the new memo sheets soon ended up on Hoover’s desk. Hoover took one look at it, determined he didn’t like the size of the margins on the paper, and quickly scribbled on the memo, “Watch the borders!”

The memo was passed on through the office. For the next six weeks, it was extremely difficult to enter the United States by road from either Mexico or Canada. The FBI was watching the borders. Why was the FBI watching the borders? They thought they had received a warning from their chief. But they hadn’t. They had transformed an innocuous comment into a solemn warning.  Steve Farrar

“Therefore each of you must put off falsehood
and speak truthfully to his neighbor;
for we are members of one body.”
Ephesians 4:25 NIV

Have a great day!

Anna Lee

Wednesday

“But Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to Me,

and do not forbid them;

for of such is the kingdom of heaven.’”

~Matthew 19:14~

Sydney Dixon has been at home one week.  She and her parents are doing well.  Thank you for praying for her.

Dr. Earl Council is home again.  His test went well, but the results won’t be available until next Monday.  Pray for him as he waits.

Rev. Butch Reviere’s has three days of medical tests that begin today.  Pray for him as he undergoes tests and continues to seek a diagnosis and treatment plan.

CaringBridge

Who's Missing? Whose Mission?
Berber people of North Africa

Keith Jones (name changed) often stopped in at the small shop across the street from his home in a North African city.

Sometimes it was just to pick up bread or fruit, but Keith always tried to share Gospel truths with the Berber shop owner, practicing the Berber language he was learning.

He and his wife, Susan (name changed), both from South Carolina, say the shop owner viewed Keith as a “person of God” because of his conversations.

One day the shopkeeper told Keith that he should be an imam, a spiritual leader in a mosque. The Berber man explained: “We live up here and we speak [the Berber language], and these imams come here and they preach to us in Arabic … and we don’t understand a word that they are saying.

“But you come and talk to us about God and you’re doing it in our own language.”

“It was as if, for the first time, he realized that God could speak his own language, too,” Susan recalls.

Keith and Susan are Bible translators, working to complete a translation of the New Testament into the Berber heart language — something the Berber people have never had. Southern Baptists play a vital role in getting the Gospel to the Berbers through their gifts to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.

Pray
Pray for Keith and Susan’s team to develop relationships with more Berber men and women with whom they can test these vital materials.

Pray that they and other translators will be able to quickly complete their New Testament project, communicating in language that is clear, natural and accurate.

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” Philippians 2:10
Mike Benson, Editor

A COUPLE MARRIED for 15 years began having more than usual disagreements…

They wanted to make their marriage work and agreed on an idea the wife had.  For one month they planned to drop a slip in a “Fault” box.  The boxes would provide a place to let the other know about daily irritations.  The wife was diligent in her efforts and approach: “leaving the jelly top off of the jar,” “wet towels on the shower floor,” “dirty socks not in hamper,” on and on until the end of the month.  After dinner, at the end of the month, they exchanged boxes.  The husband reflected on what he had done wrong.  Then the wife opened her box and began reading.  They were all the same, the message on each slip was, “I love you!”

4 “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;
6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Thanks for praying today!
Have a great day!
Anna Lee

Tuesday Evening

Mr. Cete Dillon has been admitted to the hospital in McComb.  Pray for him and his family.

David Allen still is not feeling 100%.   Keep praying for him.

Curt Allen had surgery and is still hospitalized.  Keep Curt and his family in your prayers.

Bert Newton has several blockages.  The surgeon said it is urgent, not an emergency, to have surgery.  A second opinion  will be obtained.  Pray for Bert and his family as they make important decisions.

Pray for Wayne and Cora Morris and their family.  May they know the peace and the presence of God each day.

Caleb Estay’s surgery was delayed, but went well.  He’s out of surgery.  His mom and dad will be able to visit him soon.  Grandma Annette has Abigail tonight.  Continue to pray for God’s hand on Caleb and his family.

Thank God for walking with each of us through the dark, dreary days we face periodically.  He is the Light, the Comforter, and the Friend we need is such times!