Tuesday Evening

You may want to begin praying for these people.  They will depart for Canada at 5:00 in the morning.

Mission Canada Volunteers

  1. Joey Miller
  2. Bucky Erwin
  3. Butch Reviere
  4. Judy Fowler
  5. Francis Gay
  6. Wendell Rhodus
  7. Don Schneeweiss
  8. Firma Kay Schneeweiss
  9. Danny Hayden
  10. Dawn Hayden
  11. Kelsi Hayden
  12. Hunter Hayden
  13. Jacob Moore
  14. Ruby Schwartz
  15. Linda Boudreaux
  16. Evelyn Bridges
  17. Barbara Hutchinson
  18. Gail Brister
  19. Haley Brister
  20. Jan Hammons
  21. Kaye Roberts
  22. Kristi Womack
  23. Justin Morgan
  24. Cacy Morgan
  25. Nancy Stokes

Tuesday – Midday

Ferrie Gene Blackmon

The doctors are waiting on MRI results to determine what treatment is appropriate.  Ferrie Gene is feeling okay.  Please continue to pray.

Dukes Update Written by Dr. Jimmy Dukes

Well, when I agreed to write an update, my purpose was to express thanks to all of you who have been so thoughtful, generous, and persistent in praying for us and supporting us. We will be eternally grateful to you. I certainly cannot even remember who all to thank, so please allow me to just say thanks to all of you for all you have done.

One thing we have learned about God in this experience is that he is still God and he has a lot of people out there who are being the church in their daily lives. Thanks to you for your faithfulnes

s and obedience. I certainly would not like to go through this again, but so many good things have come out of it that I must express my thanks to God for his goodness.

My family has been so supportive. I have told them that they have behaved in this exactly as I expected them to. I am thankful for that.

Retia had a great birthday yesterday. Thanks to all of you who visited and all of you who sent her greetings on Caring Bridge. I will read those to her when we get there this afternoon.

We are looking forward to attending a meeting tomorrow morning of all those who are caring for her. We will give you an update after we hear the results of that meeting.

Today has been a good day for me. I went to the orthopedist this morning and he told me both my legs, my wrist, and my elbow are healing well. The best news is he allowed me to take off the fracture boot and wear regular shoes on my left foot for the first time in almost three months. If you are not familiar with a fracture boot, let me tell you it is heavy and cumbersome. It is designed to keep the leg stable, but it has a rounded sole and is not easy to walk in. Now, since I can put full weight on both legs, I can take it off and get used to walking in regular shoes again. In addition, I was able to remove the platform from my walker. That platform is designed to allow the left elbow to carry some of the weight I have not been able to bear on my left leg. It makes walking on the walker much easier.

However, the best news for me is that I can begin to transition from the walker to a cane. (I think it will be a fast transition. In fact, I am going to get one today). All of this means that I am several steps closer to normal walking.  I forgot to ask him if I could drive. I am sure he would have said OK, so if I can convince Erik and Jason, I will try that too.

We still do not have any solid information on when we will be able to return to Orlando. We hope to know more this week. I assure you we will let you know as soon as we know. In fact, you may hear us from here when that happens.

I want to say thanks again to all of you. Your response to us has been overwhelming. We will never forget it. My hope is that it will make us more aware of the needs of others and more willing to be involved in their lives as you have been in ours.

Please continue to pray for us and for Justin, Jennifer, and Caroline Taylor. Check out Jason’s blog, jasoncdukes.com, for some pictures, Mary Caroline Taylor’s Caring Bridge page address, and a video of Gracyn DenBesten singing at FBC Orlando.

Love you all.

blessings

jdukes

Tuesday Additions

I forgot to give a report on two missions trips.

Bro. Ronnie Nielsen is home from Romania.  He had an awesome trip.  He hopes to go back and take some of his family members with him next time.  We’re thankful for his willingness to go and to minister there.  I’m sure the people there are changed, just like Bro. Ronnie.

Bro. Deloy Chapman and Gracie got to fly into the jungle yesterday.  Deloy said they were in the area where missionary Jim Elliott was killed.  He said the trip was very good.  He’ll also be changed forever and will plan to return next year.

On a different note, Mrs. Nadine Council will have hip surgery July 15th at North Oaks.  Please be in prayer for her.

Tuesday

“This, then, is how you should pray:

‘Our Father in heaven:

May Your holy name be honored.'”

~Matthew 6:9 TEV~

Susie Eads’ mom got a wonderful report – scar tissue!  Thank you for praying.

Pray for the mission team from FBC, Kentwood as they prepare to leave in the morning for Canada.  May they be a witness in all they say and do.  As you pray for them, pray for those they will come in contact with during their ten day trip.

Mt. Nebo Baptist Church started out their VBS week with 106 children.  Pray children will learn about the Bible and come to know Jesus.  VBS at New Zion last week was interrupted by funerals.  Pray  the children will still be impacted by what they saw and heard while there.

Baptist Press

June 22, 2009

KENTUCKY–Crossover draws 3,000 volunteers for 95 projects. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30730

KENTUCKY–Southern Baptist EC recommends ceasing relationship with church over homosexuality. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30729

KENTUCKY–Pastors called to God’s glory, love for others, discipleship. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30731

KENTUCKY–Evangelists look to Christ’s return. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30732

KENTUCKY–28 students turn to Christ. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30733

KENTUCKY–Gratitude voiced to Woman’s Missionary Union. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30734

KENTUCKY–New seminary history tells comeback story. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30735

KENTUCKY–Biography relays seminary president’s legacy. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30736

KENTUCKY–Classical ballet at Pastors’ Conference. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30737

KENTUCKY–BP blogging & Twittering from SBC meeting. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30728

TENNESSEE–‘Saddle Ridge Ranch’: 2010 VBS theme. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30738

VIRGINIA–Retirees’ 1,576 years in missions celebrated. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30739

ALABAMA–FIRST-PERSON (Rick Lance): Whatever happened to old-fashioned respect? http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30740

MISSOURI–Royals shy away from ‘everyone is welcome’ policy. http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=30727

Mrs. June Russell was a wonderful Christian, mother, grandmother,  and friend.  She will be missed by many.  Pray for her family as they celebrate her life at the funeral service today.

Cost

A 7-YEAR-OLD GIRL named Jessica was playing outside of her house one day when a pit bulldog came up in her yard…

She went over to pet him and he attacked her–knocking her down and immediately clamping down on her throat. Hearing the commotion outside, her 2-year-old labrador retriever, Sam, came barging out of the house, threw his weight into the attacking dog and knocked it off of Jessica.

After a few days in the hospital, Jessica finally got to go home. When she walked into the house, she started calling for Sam…only he didn’t come. Her parents sat her down and told her how Sam had saved her life, but it cost him his own. (via Mark Burleson, Kensington Woods church of Christ)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

Posted by Mike Benson

Be careful of the heat today!

Anna Lee


Monday Update

Dukes Family

< Happy Birthday to Mom!!! >
Today Mom is 29 for the 39th time (aka 68). Mom looks about 40, even in her current state. Mostly red hair is growing back, and her skin remains unwrinkled and healthy. Her fatigue and atrophy leaves a frown as the natural look rather than a smile, but she is still beautiful, inside and out.

Just wanted to post a quick update. I was out last week. Erik was in. A BIG THANKS to him for changing his schedule to come down for the whole week. I had committed to speak at a student camp in Panama City Beach a while back. Jen and the kids and I trekked over there from Monday to Friday. We were in New Orleans together the week before, so we drove over from here and returned here. We were back Friday evening. AND, Jen and the kids are with me again this week!!! I will drive them back home this coming weekend, when Erik returns.

Erik and I have very different schedules and very different demands from our respective vocations. Me being here on the weekdays and him being here on the weekends has worked well. However, pray for our families. I have a whole day on Saturdays to be with my family (flying in Friday night and flying back Sunday night). Erik has evenings with his family Sunday to Thursday nights. However, he doesn’t really have a full day with them. So, even though I am here more days technically

, it is actually tougher on his schedule.  I am praying for resolve and strength for him and our wives and our kids. Thanks for praying for us. I am thankful to be walking through this with my amazing brother.

All this to say, it’s going to be a full week. We are going to try to make sure Mom’s therapy is moving forward and that she is getting fed well. We are going to hang and converse with her, too. Several times a day. And bring her some black iced tea, sweetened with classic syrup, light on the ice. Dad has two therapy appointments, one wound care appointment for the wounds on his foot and leg, and one appointment with his orthopedic doctor. And, Jen and I are talking about taking the kids for a trolley ride and to get beignets at some point. We may take the older two to the Insectarium. Well, Dad and I may. I don’t think Jen wants to be in the middle of that many bugs at one time. Too Indiana Jones like.

We will post at you later. Look for a post this week from Dad, too.

Love yall.

-jason

Don Denton

The most wonderful gift for us as a family this Father’s Day was that Don is home and we celebrated it at home.  And of course the shear fact that we are celebrating Father’s Day is a miracle.

Thi

s illness has made us so aware of what we have with each other.

Don is stll on his meds and he will begine to taper down next week.  He is doing so much better with these new meds.

I on the other hand still have sinus problems and a sore throat.
I cut the grass in our yard this weekend, I should have worn a mask.

We have a new addition to the neighberhood.  There is a fox living in one of the culverts.  We see him often.  So we are hoping that animal control will relocate him to a place more suitable for him.

Don continues to go rehab and I see progress. It is really nice for a change to see improvement.

We are continuing to have to deal with the insurance company over payments to the hospital and of course trying to get the meds that Don so needs.  Please continue to pray that we will be able to make strides in this way.

I will keep you all posted soon.

Bless you our family and friends.
Diane

Monday

Talk

talk.jpgWHEN A MAN says…

When a man says “IT WOULD TAKE TOO LONG TO EXPLAIN”
He means: “I have no idea how it works”

When a man says “TAKE A BREAK, HONEY. YOU ARE WORKING TOO HARD”
He means: “I can’t hear the game over the vacuum cleaner”

When a man says ‘THAT’S INTERESTING DEAR.’
He means: “Are you still talking?”

When a man says: “IT’S A GUY THING”
He means: “There is no rational thought pattern connected with this, and you have no chance at all of making it logical”

When a man says “CAN I HELP WITH DINNER”
He means: “Why isn’t it ready yet?”

When a man says “UH HUH, SURE HONEY,” or “YES, DEAR”
He means: Absolutely nothing – It’s a conditioned response.

When a man says “YOU KNOW HOW BAD MY MEMORY IS.”
He means: ” I can remember the theme song to ‘Hogan’s Heroes’, the phone # of the first girl I ever kissed & the vehicle identification numbers of every car I ever owned – but yes, I forgot your birthday”

When a man says ‘OH, DON’T FUSS, I JUST CUT MYSELF. IT’S NO BIG DEAL”
He means: “I have probably severed a limb, but I will bleed to death before I admit I’m hurt, so get over here and help me!”

When a man says ‘I CAN’T FIND IT.”
He means: “It didn’t fall into my outstretched hand, so I’m completely clueless”

When a man says “I HEARD YOU.”
He means: “I haven’t the foggiest clue what you just said and I am hoping desperately that I can fake it well enough so that you’ll not spend the next 3 days yelling at me.”

When a man says “YOU KNOW I COULD NEVER LOVE ANYONE ELSE”
He means: “I am used to the way you yell at me and realize it could be worse.”

When a man says “YOU LOOK TERRIFIC!”
He means: “Oh please don’t try on one more outfit, we’re late and I’m starving.”

When a man says “I’M NOT LOST. I KNOW EXACTLY WHERE WE ARE.”
He means: “No one will ever see us alive again.”

When a man says “I don’t think I can go today.”
He means: Shopping is NOT a sport, and no, I am never going to think of it that way.

When a man says, “I don’t remember saying that.”
It’s because he means: “Anything I may have said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all past comments become null and void after 7 days.”

When a man says, “that’s not what I meant.”
He means: “If something I said can be interpreted two ways, and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, I meant the other one.

If your husband says, “honey, what color is this?”
He means: ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not a color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. I have no idea what “taupe” is

“So then, my beloved brethren,

let every man be swift to hear,

slow to speak,

slow to wrath.”

James 1:19


Posted by Mike Benson

Sunday Afternoon

New Concerns for Scott Lindsey

Scott Lindsey underwent Crainioplasty on Tuesday at Our Lady of the Lake. He went through the procedure like a trooper. We brought him home on Thursday. On Friday afternoon, he had a seizure and was transported back to Our Lady of the Lake. He had two additional seizures, one in the ambulance in route and another after we arrived in the Emergency Room. He is currently in ICU at the Lake. Please keep Scott and our family in your prayers.

At this time the doctors are uncertain as to the cause of the seizures. Hopefully, they were isolated since he has not had any seizures after they started him on medication.

Becky C. Lindsey (Mom)

Dorrit S. Rick showed us a picture of her grandson, Sonny, who was born this week.  He weighs 2 lb. 2 oz. and is in North Oaks.  Brittni is home and doing okay now.  Please be in prayer for the Chandler and Rick families as they are so concerned for the new baby.

Pray for Scooter and Karen Pittman Lane as the time for their little girl’s birth is fast approaching.

June Russell

(February 27, 1922 – June 20, 2009)

Died at 11:47 a.m. on Saturday, June 20, 2009 at North Oaks Medical Center in Hammond. She was a native of Minneapolis, MN and a resident of Roseland. Age 87 years. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Monday and from 8 a.m. until religious services at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Services conducted by Rev. Brent King. Interment Arcola-Roseland Cemetery, Arcola. She is survived by her daughter, Susan Pritchard and her husband, Tom, Prairieville; 2 sons, Vernon Russell, Jr., Roseland and Ricky Russell and his wife, Brenada, Roseland; 7 grandchildren, Gretchen Schmidt, Karen Mason, Amanda Pritchard, Erica Russell, Kristen Hogan, Shawn Hima and Jeana Newton; 10 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Vernon Russell, Sr.; sister, Dorothy Conley; brother, Buddy Withiam.

Johnathan Thomas Tidwell
(August 25, 1982 – June 21, 2009)

Johnathan Thomas Tidwell

Johnathan Thomas Tidwell was born on August 25, 1982 and passed away at 12:30 a.m. on June 21, 2009 in Greensburg, LA. He was 26, a native of Independence and a resident of Greensburg, LA. Johnathan was a St. Helena Parish District #4 Volunteer Firefighter.

Johnathan is survived by his mother, Wanda Ann Ficklin, Greensburg; 2 daughters, Callie Nicole Tidwell, Greensburg and Irish Eyze Jenkins, Covington; 2 brothers, Micah Little and Cody Little both of Roseland; paternal grandparents, Cleve and Sybil Tidwell, Greensburg; and numerous aunts, uncles and extended family.

He is preceded in death by his grandmother, Mrs. Myrtle Ficklin Fiorello and grandfather, D. L. “Bang” Ficklin.

Visitation will be at the McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. until Religious Services in the funeral home Chapel 11:00 a.m. with Bro. Joe Day officiating. Interment in the Greensburg Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made to the Johnathan T. Tidwell Memorial Fund %Bank of Greensburg, Greensburg, LA.

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

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

Sunday

“And, ye fathers,

provoke not your children to wrath:

but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”

~Ephesians 6:4~


The following information is from http://www.history.com.

The History of Father’s Day

The first known celebration of Father’s Day was on July 5, 1908 in Fairmont, West Virginia, where it was commemorated at William Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church South – now known as Central United Methodist Church. Grace Golden Clayton is believed to have suggested it to her pastor after a deadly explosion in nearby Monongah in December, killing 361 men.

In the Store!

Find the perfect Father’s Day Gift!

Officially licensed Major League Baseball DVDs!

It was also during a sermon in 1909 that Sonora Smart Dodd became inspired by Mother’s Day. After the death of her mother, Sonora and her siblings were raised by their father William Jackson Smart, a Civil War veteran. Sonora wanted to show how thankful she was to her father and, because William was born in June, she worked to have the first Father’s Day celebrated on June 19, 1910.

In 1924, President Coolidge recommended that Father’s Day become a national holiday. President Johnson designated the third Sunday of June to be Father’s Day in 1966. It was not until 1972 that President Nixon instituted Father’s Day as a national observance.

Did You Know – Roses are the official flower on Father’s Day, red for fathers who were still living and white for those who have passed on.

Father

MARCH OF THE Penguins follows the Emperor Penguins of Antarctica on their incredible journey through ice and snow to mating grounds inland…

This beautiful documentary captures the drama of these three-foot-high birds.

Once the penguins have made the trek and the females have produced their eggs, a remarkable exchange occurs. Through an intricate dance, each mother swaps her egg into the father’s care. At this point the father becomes responsible for the egg and must keep it warm and elevated off the ice for weeks on end.

The camera shows the father securing the eggs on top of their feet and sheltering them against the cold. Morgan Freeman narrates: “Now begins one of nature’s most incredible and endearing role reversals. It is the penguin male who will tend the couple’s single egg. While the mother feeds and gathers food to bring back for the newborn, it is the father who will shield the egg from the violent winds and cold. He will make a next for the egg atop his own claws, keeping it safe and warm beneath a flap of skin on his belly. And he will do this for more than two months… By the time their vigil on top of the egg is over, the penguin fathers will have gone without food for 125 days and they will have endured one of the most violent and deadly winters on earth, all for the chick.” (Leadership)

“And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4).

Posted by Mike Benson

Provoke

STUDIES SHOW THAT entire families who begin the day with hot food, encouraging words, and affection do their respective tasks more efficiently during the time they are apart…

The unfortunate ones who leave each other after a quarrel do not fare as well. Unhappy or stressed students make poorer grades in school and do not get along with others as well as children who leave home with a positive attitude. It is the responsibility of parents to instill in their children positive attitudes, as well as a depth of love and forgiveness that make for peace in families. This is best done by example. Be before them what you want them to become. (Frances Parr)

“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works…” (Heb. 10:24).

Posted by Mike Benson

Father

GENERAL DOUGLAS MACARTHUR once said, “By profession I am a soldier and take pride in that fact…

But I am prouder – infinitely prouder – to be a father. A soldier destroys in order to build; the father only builds, never destroys. The one has the potentiality of death; the other embodies creation. . . . It is my hope that my son, when I am gone, will remember me not from the battlefield but in the home repeating with him our simple daily prayer, ‘Our Father who art in Heaven.'”

You can not just accidentally be a good father; you’ve got to be proactive about it. You’ve got to plunge into the task of fathering with the same kind of energy and drive you apply to your corporate goals, your business goals – or your golf game. It’s great to try to influence the culture, but the best way of influencing the culture is to influence the home and raise your children in the nurture and instruction of the Lord.

Is there something you need to cancel in order to be with your kids this week?

Small boys become big men through the influence of big men who care about small boys. (Anonymous)

“And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4).

Posted by Mike Benson

Cheryl Hughes Green shared the following:

F.A.T.H.E.R.S.:

“F”aithful

“A”lways there

“T”rustworthy

“H”onoring

“E”ever-loving

“R”ighteous

“S”upportive

Author Unknown

Thank God for Fathers!

Anna Lee