Friday Afternoon

The family of Sandra Birch Lee would like to thank everyone for the cards, telephone calls, food, money, words of condolences, but most of all for the prayers.  We still need your prayers to help us at this heartbreaking time.

Floyce Bates Harrell
(January 11, 1922 – July 10, 2009)

Floyce Bates Harrell

Died at 8:00AM on Friday, July 10, 2009 at her residence in Kentwood, LA. Age 87 years. Mrs. Harrell was born Jan. 11, 1922 in Amite County, the daughter of Calvin Monroe and Molly Frances Fluker Bates. She was a member of Osyka Baptist Church. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Friday and from at Osyka Baptist Church, Osyka, MS from 10 a.m. Saturday until religious services at 4 p.m. Saturday. Services conducted by Revs. Milton Kliesch, Merlin McCon, and Amos Ezell. Interment Osyka Cemetery, Osyka, MS. Survivors include three daughters, Helen Louise Ezell and her husband Amos of Leesville, LA, Bennie Mae Ezell and her husband Claudus of Walker, LA, Julia Anna “Judy” Jett and her husband John, of Hornbeck, LA, Also 12 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren. 5 great-great-grandchildren, and a number of nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Ben Harrell, two sons, Ben Junior Harrell and Robert Wiley Harrell, granddaughter, Mary Anna Harrell, daughter-in-law, Joyce Harrell Felder, three brothers, Claude L. Bates, James Calvin “JC” Bates, and Sitman Stewart Bates, two sisters, Bertha Jane Bates and Daisy Belle Varnado. Pallbearers will be Tim Ezell, Mike Ezell, Robert Harrell, John D. Jett, Joseph Jett, Rick Wentzel, and Philip Jackson. Honorary Pallbearers will be Charles “Deacon” Autrey, Chuck Autrey, Benje Autrey, Chase Ezell, Cody Ezell, Matthew Harrell and Blake Rainwater.

Friday

“Carefully consider the path for your feet,

and all your ways will be established.”

~Proverbs 4:26 HCSB~

Today’s focus will be on children.  Pray for children who have attended/will attend VBS this summer.  Pray for children who have attended/will attend a church camp this summer.  Pray for children who do not have these opportunities.  What can/will you do about this?

KOMpray

Kids on Mission Pray

Prayer requests

“Let the little children come to Me, and don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these,” Luke 18:16b

Happy and sad Have you ever been happy and sad at the same time? Maybe you are going to move to a new house. You get your own room and there is a great playground in the neighborhood. But moving means you won’t see some of your good friends as often as you used to. A move like that can make you happy and sad at the same time.   One grandmother is both happy and sad. Her grown children live in China, so their children are her grandkids.    She said: “Our love not only for the Lord, but for them, keeps us going. We support them in every way we can . . . prayer, care packages, and taking care of things here in the States for them. We never discourage them, and try to make things as easy as possible for them.”   She loves what they are doing and knows how very important it is. She’s just sad sometimes when she doesn’t see her grandchildren as often as she would like. Please pray for grandmothers and grandfathers who are living in the US while their family members are halfway around the world. Ask God to help them think of ways to stay connected—maybe twitter, Facebook, Skype, or sending videos to each other about what they are doing during the week.   Thank the Lord for all the grandchildren who are living in far away countries and sharing the love of Jesus.

MORE PRAYER REQUESTS FROM MISSIONARY KIDS

Dad teaches at the seminary, mom work with the immigrants that end up without proper jobs such as parking cars.  You can pray that we will be able to reach these people.  Also their living areas are often junk metal put together for shelter.  They leak and often catch on fire.  So please pray for their homes/housing.  Also pray that my brothers and I will be able to reach the children in our school.  They are well off children, they don’t really see the need for a God.  My family is prone to sickness, so pray for our health.  SIDNEY, age 14 (Sub-Saharan African peoples)

Twice a week, I ride on the back of my mommy’s bicycle and we go to my preschool. I don’t always understand my teachers since they speak Dutch but I like to play puzzles, play cars with my friends and sing songs that my teachers teach us.   Sometimes mommy invites my friends and their mommies over for coffee and cookies and that is a lot of fun. We eat cookies and lemonade and I’m learning to share my toys with them. Pray I will feel comfortable speaking Dutch with my teachers. JESIAH, age 3 (European peoples)

My grandpa is not a Christian. Pray for him. Pray too that year/grade 6 will be good for me. RACHEL, age 11 (Southeast Asian peoples)

Please pray for the Mozambiquan people that they would get to know about Jesus and obey him. BETHANY, age 10 (Sub-Saharan African peoples)

Pray for me to adjust back to school and for me to stay stronger/get stronger in my relationship with God. KK, age 13 (Southeast Asian peoples)

Please help Angola because there are a lot of robbers and many people are getting robbed and there are many gunshots. Please pray for the many Angolans who don’t know Jesus. ALEXANDRIA, age 11 (Sub-Saharan African peoples)

KneEmail

Lost

lost2.jpgSEVERAL YEARS AGO, my family was camping in the mountains of Colorado…

We have arrived there late in the afternoon, and we picked out a nice spot close to a beautiful river. While I was attending to the chores of setting up and organizing our camp, the children went off to play.

As the sun began to set, we started rounding up the children and hustling them back into our campground before it got completely dark. Our four-year-old son, Scott, was missing. The river was making so much noise that my calls were drowned out, and its roar was a constant reminder of danger.

Panic began to build. Where was he? Had he wandered out of the campground? Had he wandered up or down the river? The last time I saw him, he was playing at the edge of the water with a little boat he had made.

By now you could barely distinguish the camp as the rays of the setting sun were further blocked by the forest. A chilling reality gripped me. I only had a few minutes before darkness made my search nearly impossible.

What should I do?

First, I want to tell you some of the things I did not do.

I did not organize any classes on how to find lost children.
I did not hold any rallies to enlist volunteers to help me.
I did not wait until someone came along with was better qualified than I to search.
I did not fail to do anything for fear of doing the wrong thing.

Now, I want to tell you what I did do.

I acted immediately.
I ran around the campground.
I dashed up and down the river.
I called Scott’s name, in spite of the roaring river.
I searched the churning waters.
I stopped total strangers to describe him, and they joined in the search.

Nothing else mattered for that period of time. Finding him was my top priority.

After running all over the campground and up and down the river, I still could not find him. Not knowing what else to do, I decided to go back to camp to figure out what to do next. Scott and I arrived at the same time. He was walking nonchalantly into our campground, oblivious to everything; I was still on a dead run.

An old preacher once said, “If a man has a soul, and he has, and if that soul can be won or lost for eternity, and it can, then the most important thing in the world is to bring a man to Jesus Christ.” (Don Humphrey)

“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” ( Luke 19:10).

Posted by Mike Benson at April 13, 2009

Have a fantastic Friday as you think about and pray for children around the world.

Anna Lee

Thursday Afternoon

Please continue to pray for Landon and Alisha Estay.  Alisha has been admitted to the hospital.  Pray for God’s will with their unborn son and for strength for the family as they face an uncertain future.

Dukes

< forgetfulness. >
There are events in life you never forget. That trip with Dad when I was 11 to Cleveland, MS to see where I was born and where he went to college (we moved from there when I was two). Picking up pecans from the front of Seminary campus with Mom, so that we could make a fresh pecan pie. Playing basketball with Erik on mission in the Czech Republic in January of 95. I threw him an alley-oop. The day I overheard Jen tell her dad that she had found the man she wanted to marry. The day we were engaged. The day we married.

The day I held my newborn son. The day I held my 2nd child, my daughter Katey. The day I held my 3rd, Abby. The day I held my 4th, Ella. Wow. The day I thought, “Oh my word. I have to pay for three weddings.”

The first night we met as a brand new core group when we helped start Westpoint Church. There are many other events. And then there’s April 4th.

That night stands out. On the drive home down I-75 just over three months ago, two events happened. I had a “download” of sorts from the Lord about Westpoint that will likely shape some soon decisions. I had it while I was praying and driving and keeping quiet during a kids’ nap time. I shared it with Jen. We dreamed and imagined. We’ll see of the Lord brings it to fruition.

I also got a phone call. It said Mom’s cell, but it wasn’t Mom. It was her friend, using Mom’s cell to tell us Mom and Dad were struck by a car while walking across the street in front of the Seminary campus. She didn’t know what their condition was, but it was serious. I’ll never forget that night.

Or the next day. When, after having driven all night to New Orleans, I saw Mom and Dad. When I looked at my disfigured, tubed-up, swollen, unconscious mother in an ICU holding on to life. When Erik arrived, and we just held each other in Mom’s room weeping and wondering, not fully realizing what would lie ahead, not even knowing if Mom would make it. I’ll never forget.

At least I don’t think I will forget it. I am sure Mom felt the same way before the accident about those memorable events in her life. A brain injury changes everything.

Since she has been talking more, the evidence of an onset of forgetfulness is becoming more and more apparent. It is unclear whether the issue is purely neurological or whether her medicine is playing a heavy part. Either way, in the last three days, Mom has seemed more confused than clear and is seeing stuff that’s not there. The therapists are noticing the same thing. The doctor wrote the orders for a neurological consult yesterday.

Mom answers questions about family and her recent life and her not-so-recent life with about 60% accuracy. That’s down from last week a good bit. We understand there will be good days and bad days and good weeks and bad weeks, but this supposed dimensia worries both the therapists and us. We are hoping that it is just a heavy fog from the medicine they are giving her to help her left arm and left leg be more flexible. That combined with some slight confusion she already had shown makes sense. But we’ll see.

The plan right now is to put Mom’s skull cap back on sometime soon after July 15th, which is when her current strand of antibiotics runs it’s course. A neuro-surgeon from Ochsner is supposed to tell us any day now whether he will do it or whether we will send Mom back to University Hospital for the surgery. Once that happens and she recovers, the plan is to move her to Orlando to a long-term hospital there that will transition her toward the brain injury rehab center.

About Dad – he really is dealing with a lot of pain. Especially in his knees. I am wondering if he messed up his cartilege in his knees. A violent leg injury lIke he had can certainly cause that. Just speculation on my part, but I told him he should ask about it.

Other than that, he seems to be doing well. His spirits are holding up, mainly because of the trust he has in the Spirit of the One who came near to show us His love and restore us into daily love relationship with Him and each other. I am so proud of my dad.

He has fought hard and recovered well and been real about this whole thing. No super-spiritual I-have-it-all-together junk. He’s acted more like what the New Testament highlights about the life of someone who found that treasure of the Kingdom in a field and sold everything to burly that field. When I am weak, God is strong. I am completely dependent, in need of the great love of our great God. I am content in Christ alone and therefore can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, regardless of the circumstance. Those have been his banners. He has been an example to us all.

Thank y’all for your continued prayers and support. I am heading to do a wedding in North Carolina this weekend and will be back Sunday. Jen and Ella are going with me. We are excited about the time.

Love y’all. I’ll post at you later.
-jason

Thursday

“Guide me in Your truth and teach me,

for You are the God of my salvation.”

~Psalm 25:5a, HCSB~

Thank-you for all the prayers for Tiffany Bankston Currier.  She is doing very well at this time.  The family appreciates your prayers so much.

Hollie K. reports she is doing very well in West Africa.  She even had a former student to visit and be a “tourist” with her during her break before classes resume again.  Hollie is loving

Continue to pray for the youth and chaperones at Mission Fuge in Clinton, MS and for the children and chaperones who will be at children’s camp next week.

Mason and Adam Carter

I would like to thank everyone for praying for Mason. He did well and was home 1:00 Tuesday. He even made it to VBS that night.
Adam is doing a little better too.
Lawana

Mrs. Hellen Morris is having a heart cauterization and possibly a stent today.  Keep her and her family in your prayers.

From Lori Rhodes

Also, please pray for my sister and brother-in-law. He is building their house by himself. This morning, he fell from the roof. All of his ribs on the right side are broken, bruised his lung, crushed his collarbone and has a big cut on back of his head. His name is Mark. Thanks!

Landon and Alisha Estay learned their unborn baby son has spinal bifida but are still loving the baby and trusting God.  Keep them in your prayers.

Don Denton

It seems like it gets longer and longer in between the times that I post.  My life is soooooo full these days.

If you are still following us I thought I would update you on how we are doing.

It has now been over a month since Don has been in the hospital and that in and of itself is a miracle.  We are so grateful to God.

Don continues to get stronger.  He is still very, very thin, but that will take some time.  He is still in physcial therapy five days a week.  His physical therapist, Dot H. is amazing and so committed to helping him.  We are so blessed to have her here in Bolivar with her credentials.

Don is tappering at a very slow pace.  He is doing Ok.  Slow and steady is the plan.

Just last week and this week I have spent hours with the insurance company trying to get Don’s nausea meds approved.  I have now heard five different stories as to why.  The are allowing him less than the daily dosage.  One explanation was that the company entered information into the computer wrong.  And of course we have been told by them that Don is approved, but when the doctors sends in the request they deny it.

I have written letters to our senator, the National Assoc. for pharmacists, as Medco has pharmacist who basically determines the approval.  And I have written letters to a patient advocay group and of course Medco’s coroporate office.  Ugh…..

Don doctor continues to work with us and we are grateful for his committment to helping Don in this way.

I think we will celebrate the day that it gets approved.

Last week turned out to be a most challenging and difficult week for me.  I was overwhelmed with everything.  I found out that I have one car that needs tires, the other broke down on me, the clutch is out.  Then backing out of my driveway on the way to a doctor appointment for myself I “slammed” into our sitters car and dented it in three places.  I had grass to cut and weedead.  I had a mound of laundry, bills to pay, groceries to buy, perscriptions to pick up, house to clean, it looked like a tormado had hit.  And then find time to spend with Joshua and on and on.  I was a well, lets say feeling very discouraged.

And then something happened.  Our sitter has a room mate who had been praying that God would show her someone she could serve.  My sitter shared with her some of our situation.  And her room mate came over last week to help clean my house and then she brought another friend over the cut grass.

It is at these times, when I am most discouraged that God says to me, ” I have not left you”.  I am so grateful for you God’s people who pray for us and bless us in so many, many ways.

There are those days when Don and I feel that we just need to make it through the day.  WE don’t know what our future holds, we are so clueless.  We have had a few surprises that have taken us back some.  But the one thing we know is this.  We are a family, we have each other and we love each other.  And we continue to pray for God’s mercy and grace upon us.

Joshua still is struggling with some fears.  Some are age appropriate and some are fears of losing Don and I.  Pray for him in that way.

I continue to learn more of what it is to believe as a child.  Our son’s passion and love for his daddy is precious.  He prays for him everday.  And I find myself focusing on the precious gift of life we have.  In the quiet of the evening when everyone is in bed, I for a fleeting moment realize that we can’t take the “stuff” with us when we leave this earth.  Finding delight in the lives of people.  Valuing who God brings into our life as a gift from God is so important.  I saw an amazing example of what “delighting in others” looks like.  God taught me an important lesson through this women.  I hope to model her love for life and people.  It is such a gift to me and a blessing to us to have friends and family bless us in the way they do.

It is late.  Pray for Don, he has a CAT Scan tomorrow as a follow up.

Bless you our family and friends.
Diane

Lloyd Gullick

(June 19, 1931 – July 8, 2009)

Died at 7:30AM on Wednesday, July 8, 2009 at his residence in Roseland, LA. He was a native of Corinth, MS. Age 78 years. Graveside Services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Arcola-Roseland Cemetery, Arcola, LA. Services conducted by Rev. Danny Smith. Survived by Wife, Barbara Gullick, Roseland, daughter, Peggy Fuqua, Roseland, 2 sons, Jerry Gullick, Kentwood, Mike Gullick, Amite, 6 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by son, David Gullick, parents, Eli Gullick and Maudie Ethel Gullick, 1 sister, Willie Ruth Reynolds, 2 brothers, J. E. Gullick and Melvin Gullick, 2 grandchildren, Dusty Gullick and Timothy Gullick. McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, in charge of arrangements.

Baptist Press

(I hope you find time to read all of these, but if not, at least try to read the two I highlighted in red. Anna Lee)

July 8, 2009

TENNESSEE–Teen sex linked to children’s TV viewing, study says. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30846

ENGLAND–Lab-created babies, no male required? http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30847

MAINE–Maine effort to overturn ‘gay marriage’ near success. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30848

TENNESSEE–‘I Can Only Imagine’ marks 10 years. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30849

NORTH CAROLINA–SBC leader Ernest Mosley dies at 81. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30845

KANSAS–FIRST-PERSON (Phil Boatwright): Fireproof co-producer readies new film. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30850

As our friends and neighbors face the many trials of life, I think this devotional thought shows various perspectives.  I pray each one of us will face our trials like Landon and Alisha.

KneEmail

Viewpoint

grand canyon.jpgTHREE PEOPLE WERE visiting the Grand Canyon — a painter, a preacher, and a cowboy…

Looking over the massive canyon, each one verbalized his observation:

“Incredible!” the painter said. “I’d love to paint a picture of this!”

The preacher waved his arms and cried, “Glory! Look what God has done!”

The cowboy exclaimed, “I’d sure hate to lose a cow down there!”

What do you see when you look at your situation? An illustration of God’s handiwork, or just someplace to lose a cow? (Stan Towler)

“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.”

Phillipians 4:8

Posted by Mike Benson

Thankful for this Thursday!

Anna Lee

Wednesday

“But the basic reality of God is plain enough.

Open your eyes and there it is!”

~Romans 1:19 MSG~

I would appreciate if everyone would keep Nancy Carollo in their prayers. She is a friend of mine and she has breast Cancer. She is in the middle of 39 weeks of Radiation. Her last date will be on July 24th. PLease keep Her in your prayers that this radation treatment will cure the cancer she has. thanks for all your prayers for her

Faye Carney and Nancy Carollo

In New Orleans, Volunteers Still Needed

Posted on Jul 7, 2009 | by Mickey Noah NEW ORLEANS (BP)

–Almost four years after Hurricane Katrina brought New Orleans to its knees on Aug. 29, 2005, Southern Baptists continue to spend a week or so in the Big Easy, volunteering their time and skills to rebuild or refurbish homes devastated by the deadly storm.

But the number of Baptists who are volunteering is no longer enough.

Since May 1, 2006, under “Operation NOAH Rebuild” — a cooperative ministry of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans and the SBC’s North American Mission Board — more than 25,000 Southern Baptist volunteers have assisted in rebuilding 1,801 flood-damaged homes. These volunteers represent some 1,530 SBC churches from every state convention in the U.S., including Alaska and Hawaii. Operation NOAH also has assisted in the recovery of 32 churches and 15 other ministry centers or schools damaged by Katrina.

And as a direct result of Operation NOAH, more than 400 professions of faith have been recorded, according to the latest available statistics.

While an agreement has been reached to transition the day-to-day management of Operation NOAH to the Baptist association, the North American Mission Board has committed to extend its support of the ministry until year’s end, said Mickey Caison, NAMB’s team leader for adult volunteer mobilization.

“We will continue to work with [the association] to support and implement their ‘2020 Vision’ strategic plan,” Caison said. “Part of that plan is to address post-Katrina needs of the New Orleans community, and housing is still one of the critical needs there.”

Caison said 70 more homes remain in the Operation NOAH pipeline for reconstruction or renovation, and “we want to complete every one of them.”

“Some of the folks we still want to help have not received any assistance at all from their insurance companies or the federal government, and are the folks who’ve fallen through the cracks,” Caison said, noting that only 60 percent of the residents displaced by Katrina have moved back home.

But as NAMB’s time for involvement ticks down, Operation NOAH is not seeing the number of skilled volunteers the program needs to finish work on the 70 remaining homes, Caison said.

“We desperately need Southern Baptists who are skilled as drywall workers, plumbers, electricians, framing carpenters and finishing carpenters to volunteer to help us,” he said. “We can house up to 145 volunteers a week but we’re not averaging 145 a week. We only had 66 volunteers during May.” Caison said volunteers are housed in a volunteer “village” at Hopeview Baptist Church in nearby St. Bernard Parish.

David Maxwell, a pastor serving as coordinator for Operation NOAH Rebuild, echoed Caison, adding that “we want to do quality work for these last 70 houses — the same quality anyone would want for their own home. You just can’t do that with unskilled labor.”

As to the volunteer shortage, Maxwell attributes it to the fact that almost four years have elapsed since Katrina. Other disasters — like Hurricanes Ike and Gustav, floods in the Midwest and fires in California — have siphoned off some of the volunteer force needed in New Orleans.

“The bad economy and higher gas prices have also had something to do with the smaller number of people who volunteer. People are just staying closer to home,” he said.

“Operation NOAH Rebuild has given people hope where there was no hope,” Maxwell noted, “just like Jesus Christ does for all of us. There are literally thousands of homes and people in New Orleans who still need help. Contrary to what local politicians may say, it’s not over. We’ve just scratched the surface.”

(Mickey Noah is a writer for the North American Mission Board. For volunteer opportunities with Operation NOAH Rebuild, e-mail noah@namb.net or call 1-877-934-0808 (toll-free) or 504-362-4604.)

KneEmail

Carry

aaasa.jpgFOR THE FIRST time in her life, Western Oregon University’s Sara Tucholsky not only hit a home run in a game against Central Washington University, but she hit it over the fence…

She had passed first base and was on her way to second base when she collapsed. Something had happened to her knee and she couldn’t run. No one on her team could help her around the bases because if they touched her, she’d be out. That’s when her opponents from Central Washington picked her up and carried her around the bases and across the home plate. “My whole team was crying. It touched a lot of people,” says Tucholsky.

“Bear one another’s burdens,

and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

Galatians 6:2

Posted by Mike Benson at May 14, 2009 2:13 PM

Have a wonderful day!

Anna Lee

Tuesday Afternoon

From Dwayne and Tricia Wilson

Hi, Friends….we made it back late last night and are trying to process our time in El Salvador….hard to do with 4 very excited children who have not stopped talking since they woke up and saw us this morning! They seem to have grown some since we last left them, and Graham lost a tooth! Dwayne is also back to work today, and there is laundry, and a mountain of other things that have piled up since being away for 10 days. We thank you for your prayers and cannot wait to get a letter of some kind written about our trip. The kids did wonderfully while we were away, and I think Grammy and Poppy did as well! We sure do appreciate your prayers.….

Love,

Tricia

Here’s a link to the El Salvador trip blog on the GAIN website:  http://blog.gainusa.org/archives/category/el-salvador/

This is a link to some of the pictures from our trip on the same website:  http://blog.gainusa.org/wp-gallery2.php?g2_itemId=2275

Thanks for spreading the word on our trip through theprayerlink.com!

Dwayne

Please pray for my mother Billie Jean Booty. She broke her femur on Tuesday, June 30th. She had surgery on Thursday, July 2nd. She is currently at North Oaks and should start rehab pretty soon. Thanks! Brandi Booty Hartman and Family

Monday, July 6th. was my final of 43 Radation for my Prostate Cnacer. I am so glad to be finished, but we will not know the final results for another 30 days. With all of your prayers, the trips have been bearable. Thanks again and with your help, the end results will be the answer to our prayers. Luther (Ricks)

Dukes

< four things… >
Just wanted to post a quick update about four things.

1 – MOM.
She has really had two or three good days in a row. Now, by good, I mean more like herself. She is still not always lucid. But, when we keep her focused and less distracted, she really does interact well and remember things well. Her long-term memory is especially good. Her short-term memory is not as good. Please pray for the stuff with her cranium piece. We should hear soon what the doctor from Ochsner wants to do. Their neuro-surge

on is reviewing Mom’s case and making a plan for putting the bone back on. We are excited to hear what he has to say!

2 – DAD.
Dad is doing fairly well. We have had a good two days, and I know he had a great weekend with Erik. He continues to struggle with pain BIG TIME. It’s tough, because reality is that he will struggle with pain for a long time. Anybody with big rods down both lower legs would. And a bionic elbow. And a restored broken neck. And some other stuff. Erik looked at Mom and Dad’s records more closely recently – the ones from University Hospital where they were originally treated. Based on what he saw, some stuff that wasn’t communicated to us, his comment to Dad – “You should be dead.” Mom and Dad are both walking miracles. We are thankful for God’s love and nearness.

3 – JOSHUA.
Speaking of God’s love and nearness, YOU HAVE TO READ ERIN’S LATEST BLOG POST. It is a MUST READ.

to check it out. You will definitely be moved.

4 – CALEB.
My latest blog post isn’t near as moving or amazing as Erin’s, but we’re all family, and this isn’t competition. So, speaking of competition,

to check out my most recent blog post to see some sights and sounds from time at the race in Daytona for Caleb and me. Pretty cool.

Love yall. We will post at you tomorrow.
-jason

Tuesday

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest.”

~Matthew 11:28~

Thank God for the rain we received yesterday.

Pray for Lawana Carter’s two boys.  Mason is having sinus surgery in McComb this morning at 8 A.M.  Adam has a lingering summer cold.

Remember to pray for Shaun Bodin, Judy Easley’s son-in-law, as he sees doctors at Ochsner concerning his fractured neck.

Continue to pray for those at Mission Fuge at Mississippi College and for those having VBS this week.

Baptist Press

July 6, 2009

CALIFORNIA–NEA declines to remain neutral on abortion. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30833

WASHINGTON–Gallup Poll: U.S. adults growing more conservative? http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30834

MICHIGAN–Witnesses assaulted at Muslim festival, team members say. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30835

VIRGINIA–Appalachian Trail hike turns into spiritual journey. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30836

TENNESSEE–Research: Many say income not matching lifestyle. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30837

WASHINGTON–FIRST PERSON (Ken Connor): Bread and circuses: America’s cult of celebrity. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30838

KneEmail

Great

singlecandle2.jpgSo many celebrities have died recently, it reminds one of the death, in 1715, of King Louis XIV of France, after a reign of 72 years.
He had called himself “the Great.” The monarch had made the infamous statement, “I am the state!” (Grandiose political statements are perennial.) His court was considered the most magnificent in Europe, and his funeral was equally spectacular.

As Louis’ body lay in state in a golden coffin, orders had been given that the cathedral should be very dimly lit with only a single candle set above his coffin, to dramatize his greatness. At the memorial service, thousands waited in hushed silence.

Bishop Massilon rose to speak. Reaching down, he snuffed out the candle and said, “Only God is great.”/1

At the cross, and before the empty tomb, as the rich and famous and powerful wither and die, around the table of the Lord, we declare, “Only God is great!”

Or better, like Thomas who threw himself at the feet of the resurrected Christ, “My Lord and my God!” ( John 20:28). (J. Randal Matheny at: http://www.forthright.net/)

“Yours, O LORD, is the greatness,

the power and the glory,

the victory and the majesty;

for all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours;

Yours is the kingdom, O LORD,

and You are exalted as head over all.”

I Chronicles 29:11

Posted by Mike Benson at July 6, 2009 11:55 AM

Please share information you would like others to pray about.  Have a great day!

Anna Lee

Monday

OOPS!

I just realized I did not click on “publish” this morning!  I realized that just as I cleared what I had written.  Sorry!

We need to pray for our youth as they are at Mission Fuge this week at Mississippi College.  I know groups from several other churches who will also be there this week.  Pray they develop a closer walk with God and with each other as they learn to minister to needs.  Pray for them as they learn about the Roma and develop a better understanding of the lostness of people around the world.

Pray for Shaun Bodin, Judy Easley’s son-in-law, as he sees doctors at Ochsner again tomorrow.  A decision will be made about the way his neck has/has not healed since the boating accident.  Pray for Shaun and Kim as they work through this problem in their lives.

Judy’s son, Joffrey, is fine.  He has no problems from his injuries in the accident.

I’ll try to remember to click on “Publish” now and in the future.

I hope you got some rain and look forward to more this week.
Anna Lee

Sunday Afternoon Addition

Susan Rimes is much better.  Thank you for praying for her.

Dukes

He’s Bigger than the Battle

Erik left a little while ago to go home and help a longsufferi

ng boy momma with some sick boys. On his way he called me to share a song he heard on XM Radio.  Well, I think his main motivation was to make fun of one of my pet peeves: those 7-11 songs. You know. Those songs that have seven words repeated eleven times. I am never sure whether they are not smart enough to think of enough words or whether they are afraid they will not be able to remember the words. Anyway, that is my problem.

In this particular song the words that were repeated over and over were about God. The words were, “He’s bigger than the battle.” Now, those are words worth repeating over and over. God is bigger than any battle we face. He always helps us in the battle by taking us through it or ending it. Either way he decides, he takes care of his people.

I had a number of responses to my recent words about anger. Never let it be misunderstood. James said, “God’s righteousness doesn’t grow from human anger.” (James 1:20, The Message) I know that. But let’s remember that God is also bigger than our anger and is not intimidated by it. He is still God and he still loves us. That we have learned.

Not only is he bigger than our anger, he is bigger than any battle we face. That we are experiencing as well. Remember he is not surprisable He knows what is going on in all our lives. However difficult we may see the circumstances, we can see him as bigger and more powerful. I thank him and praise him for that.

Retia has had a good day today. She has been very alert and is working very hard to keep moving her arms and legs on the days she does not have therapy. She is fighting hard and has a strong desire to get better and get back to Orlando.

In spirt of the increase in cognitive problems, she tries hard to relate to us and often her personality and sense of humor are coming through clearly. We occasionally hear a “Whatever” and she often rolls her eyes at things she finds hard to believe. She still loves old movies, and still has a crush on John Wayne and “East Clintwood,” as she calls him. We try to keep the classic movie channels on for her when we are not here.

Two really encouraging things have happened in the last couple of days. The first has to do with Retia. That one is bitter sweet because the same medicine that increases the cognitive problems has also increased her flexibility in her left arm and leg. While she has had a lot of difficulty moving her left arm and leg in recent days, she is now moving it with much more ease. In fact, I noticed two days ago that she was scratching her head with her left hand. She has not been able to do that before.

The other thing has to do with freedom for me. When we left the hospital this morning, Erik handed me the keys to my truck and told me to drive. I think I must have felt like he did the first time I handed him the keys to a little red Ford Ranger and told him the same thing. Anyway, I drove from Kenner over to Clearview where we ate lunch. I must have done OK, because he let me have the keys when we got back to the Seminary. I was able to drive over to the hospital this afternoon. They may not get the keys back. This freedom will make it possible for me to be much more mobile and independent.

It is another small step that proves God is bigger that the battle. Our prayer is that we will continue to see those steps demonstrating his power as Retia continues to improve. Thanks for standing with us and for remembering to lift us up to the Big and Mighty Father.

Sunday Afternoon

Mrs. Betty Bethel will be having cataract surgery Monday, July 13th and Monday, July 20th.  Please be in prayer for her.

Some of the youth from the church will be leaving today for Missison Fuge at Mississippi College.  Please keep them in your prayers.

Andy Taylor’s mother passed away.  She will be buried from Magnoia.  Please be in prayer for the family.

LORETTA KING GINN

Loretta King Ginn, 81, of Magnolia, died July 4, 2009, at the Cardiovascular Institute of Mississippi in McComb.

Visitation will be Monday from 9 a.m. till services at 11 a.m. at Immanuel Baptist Church in Magnolia. Dr. David Millican and the Rev. Tracy Hipps will officiate. Burial will be at the Mount Zion Baptist Church Cemetery.

Mrs. Ginn was born June 15, 1928, in Crystal Springs. She was the daughter of the late Milladge and Eula Lea Roberts Nixon.

Mrs. Ginn was a bookkeeper and a member of Central Baptist Church in McComb. She was a lifelong member of Women of the Moose Lodge No. 1179 in Jackson. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

She was preceded in death by her brother, James Nixon, and step-grandchild, Rhonda Mapes.

Mrs. Ginn is survived by her husband of 16 years, Dale Ginn of Magnolia; two sons and daughters-in-law, Andy and Betty Taylor of Osyka, and Howard King Jr. and Teresa of Magnolia; four daughters and two sons-in-law, Cindy Juban of Denham Springs, La., Karen Hart and Dennis of Liberty, Penny Overby of Summit, and Pam Frost and Lance of Pearl; two brothers, Robert Nixon of Maywood, Calif., and Thomas Nixon and wife Charlene of Arkansas; 21 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mary Elizabeth Elliott

(December 1, 1934 – July 4, 2009)

Died at 5:55PM on Saturday, July 4, 2009 at Kentwood Manor Nursing Home in Kentwood, LA. She was a native of Tangipahoa, LA and a resident of Kentwood, LA. Age 74 years. Graveside Services will be held at Tangipahoa Cemetery, Tangipahoa, LA at 2:00PM Tuesday. Survived by 3 sisters, Caroline Kline, Tulsa, OK, Frances Nell, Greeley, CO, Clara Remelius, Kentwood. Preceded in death by, parents, Edward Rayburn Elliott and Zelma Lea Travis Elliott. McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, in charge of arrangements.

Lorelise Dykes

(July 17, 1922 – July 4, 2009)

Died at 7 p.m.on Saturday, July 4, 2009 at Beacham Memorial Hospital in Magnolia, MS. She was a native of Magnolia, MS and a resident of Kentwood, LA. Age 86 years. Mrs. Dykes was a retired registered nurse who worked at Beacham Memorial Hospital for 34 years. Fifteen of those years, she was Director of Nurses. She was the daughter of Clyde Bankston and Daisye Bryan Bankston. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband of 57 years, Ivy Dykes. She loved her family dearly and looked forward to their visits. Each minute she spent with them was precious. She enjoyed preparing their favorite foods. She is survived by 2 daughters, Charlene D. Waller and her husband, Floyd, Kentwood, LA, Sharon D. Venable and her husband, Mike, Kentwood, LA, 2 sons, Wayne F. Dykes and his wife, Jenny, Ponchatoula, LA, Wilton I. Dykes and his wife, Shera, Alpharetta, GA, 1 sister, Marilyn Strickland, Ruston, LA, 9 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren. Grandsons will be pallbearers. Visitation at Line Creek Baptist Church, Kentwood, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Monday and from 8 a.m. until Religious Services at 11 a.m. Tuesday. Services conducted by Rev. Ken Irvin. Interment Dykes Cemetery, Kentwood, LA. McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, in charge of arrangements.