Wednesday

“Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice!

Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.”

~Psalm 27:7~

Mrs. Nadine Council is doing much better.  She is up and about a little.  Please pray for her continued progress.

Deloy’s Update on the Chapman Family

  • Pretty tired today. Here’s a quick update.
  • Dad – the same, but did get several hours sleep today (1st since Wed. night).
  • Mom – transferred to room 375, rehab floor at Our Lady of the Lake. As of 9:00 tonight no hallucinations. Rehab begins tomorrow, will be here about 3 weeks.
  • Krisa – doctor said she needs more bed rest, so she’s gotta stay home more and take it easy.
  • Emma – in room 307 now, but being DISCHARGED tomorrow. She’ll have plenty of limitations, but she’ll get to be with her momma!
  • Thanks for praying, please keep it up!

Thank God for his watchcare over the Chapmans.

Maggie Lee Henson

Tuesday, August 4, 2009 3:20 PM, CDT

We are back in Shreveport now and making preparation

s for Maggie Lee’s Celebration of Life, which will be this Thursday at 1:00 pm in the Sanctuary of First Baptist Church, Shreveport.

Alan Hendrix from Broadmoor Baptist Church of Shreveport has graciously offered to have a camera crew there to provide a live feed of the service at 1:00pm Central.

To access the live feed at that time, visit First Baptist Church’s website on Thursday and you will find instructions.

Once again, Jinny, Jack and I are so grateful for your Guestbook entries, your prayers and your constant encouragement.

Retia Dukes

There will be two memorial services for Mom, as you may have read on an earlier post. Here are the details:

NEW ORLEANS
Wednesday, August 5th, 2009
11:00am @ the Leavell Chapel on the
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary campus
(family greeting at 10:00am)

ORLANDO
 Tuesday, August 18th, 2009
3:00pm @ the main auditorium on the
First Baptist Church Sweetwater campus
in Longwood, FL
(family greeting at 1:30pm)

Baptist Press

August 4, 2009

PAKISTAN–Pakistan Islamist riots leave 14 Christians dead. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31012

WASHINGTON–Sotomayor vote near; ERLC urges ‘no.’ http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31013

TENNESSEE–CULTURE DIGEST: Moviegoers reject boundary-crossing ‘Bruno.’ http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31014

OKLAHOMA–Tulsa church gives building to another congregation. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31015

LOUISIANA–Retia Dukes dies after 4 month battle. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31016

TENNESSEE–FIRST-PERSON (Lisa Huddleston): Growing pains. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31017

Anne Cittadino Guzzardo
(December 4, 1916 – August 3, 2009)

Anne Cittadino Guzzardo

On August 3, 2009, Anne Cittadino Guzzardo, born December 4, 1916 in Addis, LA, went to be with the Lord. She was preceded in death by her husband of 70 years, George Thomas Guzzardo; parents, Silvestro “Sam” and Vincenzo Tortorice Cittadino; 7 brothers; 2 sisters; and 2 grandchildren, Julie Anne Patanella and Mark Anthony Mannino. She is survived by her four loving daughters Antonino Mannino and her husband, Mike, Walker, Virginia Patanella, Independence, Joan Arnone and husband, Pete, Independence and Georgiana Guzzardo, Baton Rouge; 9 grandchildren, Michael J. Mannino, Philomena Martrain, Dennis Mannino, Matthew Mannino, Jo Ellen Marten, Rhonda Jo Martin, Roxanne Ridgel, Rebecca “Becky” Gonzales and Larry Touchet, Jr.; 24 great-grandchildren; 7 great-great-grandchildren. She was a retired employee of Lallie Kemp Hospital, a member of Mater Dolorosa Catholic Church, Eucharistic Minister, member of the Dominican Laity professed for life, member of St. Joseph and St. Mary Societies. She and her husband owned and operated the Liberty Theatre and later Guzzardo’s Grocery in Independence. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Thomas Aquinas, Holy Ghost, Mater Dolorosa Catholic Schools or Generations Hospice. A special thank you to the employees of Heritage Health Care Center of Hammond for the love and support shown to our mother and the family during this difficult time. Visitation will be at Mater Dolorosa Catholic Church, Independence, from 9 a.m. until Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Thursday, August 6, 2009 conducted by Fr. Howard Adkins. Burial will follow in the Colonial Cemetery, Independence. McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, in charge of arrangements.

KneEmail

Value

toothbrush.jpg
POSSESSIONS OF THE powerful, wealthy, or famous, no matter how common, can become extremely valuable, even priceless…

Napoleon’s toothbrush sold for $21,000. Can you imagine paying thousands of dollars for someone’s cruddy old toothbrush? Hitler’s car sold for over $150,000. Winston Churchill’s desk, a pipe owned by C. S. Lewis, sheet music handwritten by Beethoven, a house once owned by Ernest Hemingway. At the Sotheby’s auction of Jackie Kenndy Onassis’s personal belongings, her fake pearls sold for $211,500 and JFK’s wood golf clubs went for $772,500. Not because the items themselves are worthy but because they once belonged to someone significant.

Are you ready for a surprise? We fit that bill too. Think of the value of something owned by God. What incredible worth that bestows on us, what inexplicable dignity! We belong to Him. (Charles Swindoll)

“But you are a chosen generation,

a royal priesthood,

a holy nation,

His own special people,

that you may proclaim this praises of Him

who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

I Peter 2:9

Posted by Mike Benson at August 4, 2009

Thank you for praying today.  Your prayers mean so much to so many.  Please feel free to share praises, requests, and updates.

Anna Lee

Tuesday – Midday

Retia Dukes

Tuesday, August 4, 2009 12:29 PM, EDT

< remembering Mom. >
We awoke this morning with both gladness that Mom is no longer suffering and sadness of the reality that she is gone. I wanted to post a quick note on Caring Bridge this morning, just to share with you guys two blog posts and the details about the two memorial services for Mom.

You can find an amazing post that my sister-in-law Erin wrote on her blog (http://embracingmycup.blogspot.com/).  You can find the post I wrote this morning called “remembering Mom” on my blog (http://jasoncdukes.wordpress.com/). Please leave comments there or on the guestbook here of your memories of Mom, if you can. We’d really appreciate getting to read them.

There will be two memorial services for Mom, as you may have read on an earlier post. Here are the details:

NEW ORLEANS
Wednesday, August 5th, 2009
11:00am @ the Leavell Chapel on the
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary campus
(family greeting at 10:00am)

ORLANDO
 Tuesday, August 18th, 2009
3:00pm @ the main auditorium on the
First Baptist Church Sweetwater campus
in Longwood, FL
(family greeting at 1:30pm)

We will be posting a few more updates in the days to come about Dad’s recovery, the new normal, and other family activities. We can never thank you enough for all of your prayers and support. We love you.

-jason, erik, and dad

Tuesday

“Be happy with those who are happy,

weep with those who weep.”

~Romans 12:15 TEV~

Retia Dukes

Tuesday, August 4, 2009 1:10 AM, EDT

< memorial. >
Erik, Dad, Mom’s sister, Dad’s brother, and I together stood around Mom’s bed Monday evening taking in the vacant body before us. Mom was gone. What remained was the shell of a woman whose beauty was stunning and whose compassion was life-changing. Both have been affirmed over the last four months of a journey that still seems a bit surreal and unbelievable to me.

I plan to blog about it tomorrow – remembering Mom. For tonight, please let it suffice to simply give you a few details. Frankly, I am spent. Erik and I are about to get some sleep. Hopefully Dad is sound asleep by now, especially after only three hours of sleep last night while he waited in the hospital.

THERE WILL BE TWO MEMORIAL SERVICES for Mom. There will be one this coming Wednesday, August 5th, at 11am on the New Orleans Baptist Seminary campus in the Leavell Chapel. There will be a second memorial service on Tuesday, August 18th, in Orlando. We will get you the details for that one.

IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, please donate any gifts to the fund that New Orleans Baptist Seminary set up for Mom and Dad.

Dad, Erik, our family members, and I cannot express in words our deep gratefulness for all of you and the way you have prayed for and stood beside us during these last four months. There is still a journey ahead. Not only the steps of grieving Mom’s departure, but also the new normal for Dad and his continued recovery. Please keep us in your prayers.

We love you.
-jason

Chapmans

  • Mom: had a tough night last night, doing well today, begins therapy tomorrow. Pray that she will rest well tonight.

  • Dad: same, but doctors are trying hard to figure out what medicines may help him rest without adding to his confusion. Pray that he will rest well tonight.

  • Krisa: overdid it yesterday, paid for it last night, but doing well today. I MISS MY SWEETHEART!! Pray for her neck and head pain.

  • Emma: tough night last night, but something clicked this afternoon and outwardly she is doing 100% better. Lungs problems won’t let her out of the ICU, so pray for that.

  • Me: I wish I could be in four places at one time, but I’m thankful for sisters and church family and other family and friend that are awesomely loving and helping in every way possible. I’ve been resting under the shadow of the Almighty (Psalm 91), and He is GOOD.

KneEmail

Bounce

business-man-bounce.jpgGENERAL GEORGE PATTON argued, “Success is measured by how high you bounce when you’ve hit bottom…”

Simon Peter is a perfect illustration of this truth. He forsook his Lord and Friend in the garden. He even denied that he knew Jesus when identified by a young maiden around the fire. He hit bottom. However, he didn’t stay on the bottom. He bounced, and he bounced high. He would preach the gospel powerfully on Pentecost just a short time later  (Acts 2). He would be a catalyst in the growth of the early church (Acts 3-12).

The question is not whether we are going to fail; but rather, how high we are going to bounce once we do. (Wade Webster)

“Peter answered and said to Him,

‘Even if all are made to stumble because of You,

I will never be made to stumble.'”

Matthey 26:33

Posted by Mike Benson at August 3, 2009 3:26 PM

Thank you for praying.

Anna Lee

Monday Evening Update

Retia Dukes

Jason asked that we share this word with those of you who have been praying for the Dukes family…

Retia Dukes passed away this afternoon. She is now in the presence of her Savior. Her heart stopped just before 4:20.

Please continue to pray for the family. Thank you for how you have loved and given to them.

Retia is healed, and she is whole. And there will be a wonderful reunion one day soon.

Love to you all,

Jim Collins
Westpoint Church

Susan Belgard just updated me on the Chapmans with information from Debbie, one of Deloy’s sisters.

  • Quincy – fractured back; still disoriented (trauma or medication)
  • Ann – hallucinating; beginning therapy 2x/da for 3 hr.
  • Krisa – home; tears in stomach
  • Emma – more responsive after seeing her mother yesterday; broken ribs

Monday Evening

Baptist Press

August 3, 2009

WASHINGTON–House panel nixes another pro-life effort on health care. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31005

MISSISSIPPI–Second victim of church bus crash dies. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31006

TENNESSEE–GCR website goes live at pray4gcr.com. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31007

LOUISIANA–From New Iberia to Brazil, La. church reaches world. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31008

TENNESSEE–CP down 2.69%; off ’09 budget by 2.65%. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31009

CALIFORNIA–TRUSTEES: GuideStone trustees receive positive report. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31010

LOUISIANA–FIRST-PERSON (Jerry W. Pounds Sr.): Drive-through weddings? http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31011

Mrs. Lula Mae Needham Will
(February 25, 1925 – August 2, 2009)

Mrs. Lula Mae Needham Will
Mrs. Lula Mae Needham Will was born February 25, 1925 and passed away at 6:43 p.m., Sunday, August 2, 2009 at the St. Helena Parish Hospital, Greensburg. She was 84, a native of St.Helena Parish and a resident of Kentwood.Mrs. Lula is survived by 2 sisters; Mildred Needham Birch, Kentwood and Helen Needham Caston and husband, Edgar, Baton Rouge; a brother, John Needham and wife Judy, Gainsville, FL; a godchild, Janet Glascoe, and husband, Larry, Winston-Salem, NC; a nephew, Kenny Aron and wife, Betty, Roseland; numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.

Preceded in death by: 1st husband, Ray Floyd Copeland, 2nd husband, George H. Will; parents, Jule Pierce and Mae Felps Needham; 2 sisters, Daisy Lee Needham and Mary Needham Roberts; and special niece, Sandra Birch Lee.

Visitation will be at the McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, on Thursday, August 6, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. until Religious Services in the funeral home Chapel at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Percy “Mac” Frazier & Rev. Richard Sandberg, officiating. Interment in the Bond-Needham Cemetery, Kentwood.

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 and Hwy 16W behind Mr. Tom’s Express Car Wash & Bond Eye Clinic.

Monday Afternoon

Momma Dot

My mother had two wisdom teeth removed this morning.  All went well.  Momma is at home in Roseland.

Retia Dukes

< the ICU again. >
Mom is not doing well. Seeing her this morning brought back a flood of memories from when she was in a coma in the University Hospital ICU. She is that critical. Technically more critical than then.

Her condition from mid-week this past week to Saturday morning to what happened last night has only worsened. Her blood pressure is very low, and her heart is working very hard to keep blood flowing. The doctors believe she is now septic (infection all through her blood), and it is also possible that she passed a blood clot into her lung.

Whatever the cause was of Mom’s sudden decline last night, her blood is as a result very acidotic. The high level of acid has caused her kidneys and liver to begin to shut down. Along with the other medication she is on to help with her various issues, the critical care doctor is now saying that the only hope she has to have a chance to see if the infections that are plaguing her will clear is to go on dialysis. It is simply to try to help clear her blood and help her kidneys function again.

There is a chance she can rebound and fight back against her serious infections. That chance will depend upon how her kidneys respond to the treatment. In the meantime, pray not only for that to work, but also for her heart to hold up to the extra load required right now.

Dad and I and Dad’s brother are here. Erik will be here soon, as will a few other family members. We can’t thank you enough for your continued prayers and support.
-jason

Maggie Lee Henson

Dear Friends-
We are headed home. Maggie Lee’s miracle did not arrive in the way we would’ve wanted but through her organ donation, she gets to be the miracle for two other children which is incredible.
We will have visitation for her on Wednesday Night at Rose Neath on Marshall Street in Shreveport from 5-7 p.m.
Maggie Lee’s Celebration of Life will be Thursday, August 6th at 1pm at First Baptist Church, Shreveport. We will have a private graveside service for family afterwards.

Monday

“Pray also for us that God may open a door to us for the message,

to speak the mystery of the Messiah …

so that I may reveal it as I am required to speak.”

~Colossians 4:3-4, HCSB~

Elizabeth H. Cooper

Elizabeth received an injury for a ball a couple months ago.  She looks great and will be able to return to teaching this month.  Thank God for the progress she has made.

Rusty Benoit

Rusty has a thickening of the heart wall and will be having additional tests soon.   Please add Rusty, Jana, and their family to your prayer list.

Dot Smith

Pray for my mother as she has oral surgery this morning in Hammond.

Several people will be having check-ups for various problems tomorrow.  Among these are Jared Prescott, Mason Carter, and Faye Price.  Please remember them in your prayers.

Don Denton

Sunday, August 2, 2009 10:36 PM, CDT

Here we are at the first of August.  And now it has been almost 8 weeks since Don has been in a hospital.  This is such a good thing!  Thank you God.

This September will be one year since Don got ill.  Life has changed in so many ways.  And we are so praying that Don will continue to get well.  We are beginning to do some things we have not done in almost a year.  WE had supper at the park tonight and then watched the sunset.

We will see Don’s doctor for a follow up in St. Louis this week.  She will be key to getting us to Mayo sooner.  Hopefully we will know something soon.

Joshua will start school the 17th of the month.  He is excited.  We would love to be back from Mayo by then.  It does not look like we will even get there before then, unless something changes.

We had a surprise visit from my brother Steve and his wife Lynn.  Not completely a surprise….we spoke a few days ahead.  I loved every minute of our time together.  Joshua just loves his uncle Steve and aunt Lynn.  He has a special bond with them.  They have been here several times this year to see Don and help out.  Steve worked on both the cars while he was here and helped so much.

My other brother said that we should not drive our car to Mayo.  It has allot of miles on it and needs even more work to it.  He may be the “over protective brother”.  Actually having my brothers support means so much to us during this time.  It is precious to me.

I have yet to make a “lemonaide stand” this summer.  I have good intensions.  I am going to make that happen before school starts or do my best.

I am tired.  Life is so busy.  I need to find work soon.  Please pray for us as we try to make decisions for our future.  We keep talking about having to sell our house.  We will be making a decision soon.  Pray that we will have wisdom and discernment.

We are so grateful to you our friends and family.

– Pray for Don that he continues to get better.
– Pray that we will get an appointment at Mayo soon.
– Pray that we will have wisdom and discernment regarding our future.
– Pray that Joshua will transition to pre-school easily.

Diane

Retia Dukes

Sunday, August 2, 2009 11:45 PM, EDT

Keeping you informed and asking for your prayers – Mom has had another tough go the last two days. After a tumultuous Saturday, Dad and Erik and Mom’s sister were hoping to awaken this Sunday morning to find Mom doing much better. She was not. In fact , tonight, after Dad had left the hospital to go to his room to rest for the night, the nurses called him back to the hospital due the worsening of Mom’s condition. Even with the help of oxygen, they were only able to get her SATs up to a little over 80.

Still not a lot of information, yet. We just wanted to communicate it with you to ask you all to be praying. They are going to transfer Mom out of the 5th floor Long-Term-Acute-Care hospital she is in now and move her downstairs to the ICU. We will keep you posted of any new developments.

Thanks so much for your prayers.
-jason

Mrs. Lula Mae Needham Will

(February 25, 1925 – August 2, 2009)

Mrs. Lula Mae Needham Will was born February 25, 1925 and passed away at 6:43 p.m., Sunday, August 2, 2009 at the St. Helena Parish Hospital, Greensburg. She was 84, a native and resident of Kentwood.

Arrangements are incomplete at this time.

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

McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, is located at I-55N and Hwy 16W behind Mr. Tom’s Express Car Wash & Bond Eye Clinic

I hope you have had this sorrow in your life.

KneEmail

Repentance

WHEN BABIES ARE born prematurely, one of the most common critical problems is with their underdeveloped lungs…

In September 1996, the New England Journal of Medicine reported the results of a pilot study that offered hopeful treatment. The treatment is surprising. In the study, doctors filled the lungs of critically ill premature babies with liquid — an oxygen-rich liquid. Through this liquid the babies actually “breathe.”

Normally, when fluid fills the lungs, people drown. But this special oxygen-filled fluid actually saves lives.

In a similar way, there is a sorrow that kills and another sort of sorrow that brings life.  Sorrow because there are consequences for my sin drowns my spirit and brings death;godly sorrow that produces repentance brings life.

“For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation,

not to be regretted;

but the sorrow of the world produces death.”

2 Cor. 7:10

Posted by Mike Benson

Thank-you for praying today.  Your prayers mean so much to so many!

Anna Lee

Sunday Evening

From Rev. Milton Kliesch

My son whitney’s vehicle ran over a road-side bomb in Iraq. He and his crew are okay. He is being checked for head damage from the blow. I am thankful for the new troop carriers built to withstand the roadside bombs. This is his third IED.


Chapmans

Thanks, Lord, for the sounds of the night. It looks like it’s going to be a quiet one. The doctors are slowly relaxing some of Emma’s aggresive procedures (took her cath out, allowing her to be off her bipap–oxygen–an hour at a time, allowing her to sit up in a chair, switched her morphine to a less stronger pain killer). She just this second figured out a way to lay on her side to sleep! Go, my Butterbean!

Krisa was able to spend several hours up here in PICU with Emma. It was good for both of them!

Momma loves being out of the ICU, even if that means painful days of therapy are around the corner. She looked so much better today! Pray for her pain tolerance as therapy begins.

Dad is still about 99% disoriented, confused, and hallucinating. But he’s safe and being taken care of! They’ve done more tests to try to determine what’s causing this. His sister, my Aunt Nan, has been such a blessing to us. She’s hardly left his side. Pray for his mental and emotional well-being. But also join us in praising God for how he’s taken care of us and walked us through all of this. We have the absolutely best friends and church family in the world! “Oh God, You are my God, and I will ever praise You…”


Maggie Lee Henson

At 6:30 pm tonight, our precious Maggie Lee was carried into the arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  For these last three weeks, she fought for her life courageously, with the skillful help of the medical staff at Batson Children’s Hospital here in Jackson.  She was blessed to have thousands of people praying and pulling for her.  We celebrate her eternal life in the presence of her Creator tonight.

We gathered around Maggie Lee with this beautiful prayer from the Book of Common Prayer:

Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your
servant Maggie Lee. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of
your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your
own redeeming. Receive her into the arms of your mercy,
into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the
glorious company of the saints in light. Amen.

May her soul and the souls of all the departed, through the
mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

We will be posting plans for her Celebration of Life in Shreveport, LA as details are completed.  Thank you for your constant love and support.

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

Please check out the beautiful pictures and Maggie Lee and then thank God for the precious life he gave the Hensons.  God has got her safely in his arms now.

Sunday Addition – A Big “God Hug”

Whitney Kliesch, son on Rev. Milton and Mrs. Pam Kliesch of Osyka and Mr. Harley and Mrs. Mary Nell Kliesch of Kentwood, called his parents today to say he surviced a roadside bomb in Iraq today.  Whitney is on his second tour there.  He will have some x-rays tomorrow to make sure there is no schrapnel in his head.  For now, he is just sore on his left side.  Thank God for protecting Whitney today!  As you thank God for protecting Whitmey, pray for his continued safety and for that of all the other men and women serving there and in Afghanistan.

Sunday Afternoon

Please add Marilyn Lafield to the prayer list, she is in ICU in Baton Rouge and the doctors don’t know what is wrong with her.

Thanks Bill (Frazier)

Jimmy Dukes was scheduled to preach at Line Creek (Kentwood) this morning.  I know the service surely was a blessing to him and to the church.

Maggie Lee Henson

Sunday, August 2, 2009 12:40 PM, CDT

We attended worship at Northminster Baptist this morning, which is just across the street from the home we are staying in currently.  Today was Communion Sunday and we drew strength from centering ourselves around the table of grace, remembering the length to which God has gone to demonstrate eternal love.  We also drew strength from being with some of the many brothers and sisters in Christ we have met in this caring city.

I also took great comfort in the familiar words to Harry Emerson Fosdick’s, “God of Grace and God of Glory,” particularly from the words,

God of grace and God of glory
On Thy people pour Thy power
Crown Thine ancient church’s story
Bring her bud to glorious flower
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage
For the facing of this hour
For the facing of this hour

While Fosdick wrote these for the church, I received them today for me, for the facing of this hour.

Chapman Update
  • Emma – slept well; one lung clearing; sitting; eating (1/3 cup yogurt)
  • Ann -moved to regular room (better for family to visit)
  • Quincy – disoriented
  • Krisa – will see Emma today for first time since wreck Wed. night
  • Chelsea and family plus family from another care in accident – in worship at Amite Baptist Church
  • Deloy – being the caring son, husband, and father he always is