Thursday

“Bear one another’s burdens,

and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

~Galatians 6:2~



Pray as the swine flu continues to spread. Pray for wisdon as decisions are made concerning preparations, closures, and treatment. Pray for each person to act responsibly so this problem does not get worse than it already is.

Pray for Wanzie Williams. She fell and injured her shoulder while in New York with family and will have surgery at Our Lady of the Lake this afternoon.


Also, pray for Tracy Williams who will have surgery at Tulane today.


Mrs. Lois Bridges passed on a request for prayer for a four year old who is in Children’s Hospital in New Orleans. Haley Melder, who is Bob Pezant’s great granddaughter, the granddaughter of Arnold and Gwen Pezant, and the daughter of Erin is undergoing tests to diagnose her problem.

Jimmy and Retia Dukes

the hospital hokey pokey
Jen and I were riding through Orlando a few years back, and we saw (in my opinion) the funniest bumper sticker in the history of bumper stickers (and bumpers, for that matter). It simply said:

“What if the hokey pokey IS what it’s all about?”

Fortunately for all of us, it ISn’t what it’s all about. But with Mom and Dad in two different locations now, it sure seems like it. I put one foot in and then take it right back out and turn myself around to cross the Huey P Long Bridge or the Crescent City Connection (whichever one looks clearer traffic-wise on Google Maps) to head to the other hospital. It’s fun! If you haven’t been on the Huey P lately and you are in need of growing in patience or getting over a fear of heights, I steadfastly and highly recommend it.

Enough of all that nonsense. How are Mom and Dad?

Well, I have to say I am super excited about the progress Mom seems to be making. I continue to remind myself that this will be a long road of recovery for Mom, but every little improvement seems like such a HUGE step when we’ve watched her endure the stillness of a coma.

Yesterday morning, after I posted the Caring Bridge post, I headed to see Mom. I was there for over two hours. During that time, she was awake for a sum total of over an hour!!! When I say awake, I mean eyes open and at least looking around. Still kind of in and out sleeping, but interactive.

I reminded her what was going on (why she is in the hospital). I assured that Dad is doing well. I told her about Erik and Erin and the boys. I told her about Jen and Caleb and the girls and me. I told her about people praying for her all over everywhere. I told her that she had been in a coma for 3 weeks. She got a little emotional at that – tearing up and sobbing / coughing a bit.

I began to ask her a series of various questions. Did she remember anything about the accident? She shook her head no. Did she remember listening to music while she was in a coma? She nodded yes. Did she remember me playing for her Caleb and Katey and Abby singing “My God Is So Big?” She nodded yes. Was she hurting anywhere? She shook her head no. Did she like my beard (I asked that again, because a few of my friends back in Orlando texted me yesterday teasing about whether Mom liked it or not)? She nodded YES – there you go guys! Did she remember my birthday? She nodded yes, but when I gave her some multiple choice, she didn’t get it. Today she did, though. She just needed to sleep on it.

If you didn’t notice in that last paragraph, I mentioned that Mom shook her head no. She had not done that yet to me. So that’s a first and a positive sign. Before I headed over to see Dad, I told her how much I loved her and was so proud of her for how well she was doing and how beautiful she was. She mouthed back, “I love you.”

Today, Mom had several treatments and tests and lots of visitors. She interacted with all of them in some way. A nod of the head. An attempt to mouth something. Open eyes looking around.

They did another CT today. There’s something going on there for them to do another one so close to the one they did Monday. I haven’t gotten the answer on it yet, but I will let you know when I do. I asked Erik to call, too. He understands all that stuff much better, obviously. Please keep praying.

Dad had a great day both yesterday and today. He is doing especially well as I type this. We were about to dive into some amazing dumplins when a friend called and said he was bringing us something. He is bringing us take-out from a local French restaurant. The special tonight is scallops. I am not eating that, but of course Dad is. I ordered butternut squash soup and some salmon.

It was a tough choice. One of our family friends who is an amazing cook brought us two containers of chicken and dumplins. Her dumplins are something special, I tell you. Really, really, really, really good. When the other friend called to tell me the special at the French place (that’s French for “place”) was scallops and he wanted to bring Dad some, I said go ahead. I know how amazing those dumplins are, and since they are in containers I refrigerated them for Dad to have for lunch tomorrow. That’ll be good and give him something culinarily exquisite to look forward to midday tomorrow after therapy.

Besides food, which is a big deal in New Orleans, Dad is really doing well. He is dressed today in a brand new New Orleans Hornets T-Shirt (to commemorate their 58 point loss and hopefully a win tonight) and a brand new pair of Mickey Mouse pajama pants (to commemorate missing Orlando – picture attached I caught while he was napping).

Therapy was tough on him this morning, but he is making progress. He told me his legs were really sore, which is a good thing. His wrist hurt a lot today. They will assess it in two weeks and then, more than likely, do surgery to repair it. The skin will be good and healed by that point.

Please keep praying for logistics to work out favorably. We are trusting the Lord on all that for sure and doing due diligence as needed (along with the help of Uncle Danny, our friend Don, and the Seminary leaders). We should know more in the coming week.

Well, Dad’s scallops just arrived. The dumplins are labeled and secure in the pantry fridge just down the hall. Gonna enjoy a meal with my Dad. Thanks Don and Joyce for a great supper and lunch, respectively. Very thankful that I am able to be here with Dad and enjoy this meal.

I really miss Jen and the kids. BIG TIME. I will fly home again Friday. Erik will be down this weekend. Looking forward to seeing him before I fly out.

Please, please pray for our close friend Becky and her Dad – Mr. Harry. He recovered from cancer a few years ago, but this past Sunday he let his family know the cancer was back. It seems to be far-reaching. He is getting a second opinion on what to do. You may remember Chris from an earlier post – the one who drove with me all night to New Orleans the night of the accident. Well, Mr. Harry is his father-in-law. Please pray for Mr. Harry and his wife Mrs. Dale and Chris and Becky and their three kids at this time. The effective prayer of the righteous accomplishes much, as James wrote. Your prayers would mean so much to them.

Looking forward to seeing how Mom interacts tomorrow. Looking forward to the drive between hospitals. I have more voice mails than I know what to do with, so I use that time to attempt to return them. They keep stacking up. Thanks for being patient with me on that stuff.

Very thankful for all of you. Very thankful. Post with you tomorrow.
-jason

Outlaws at sea, chaos ashore

Erich Bridges
Outlaws at sea, chaos ashore

Listen to an audio version of this post at
http://media1.imbresources.org/files/70/7023/7023-39678.mp3

Those pirates tormenting ships off the coast of Somalia are no isolated band of cutthroats on an otherwise placid horizon.

They represent what author William Langewiesche calls the “outlaw sea” — global coastlines and deep waters increasingly plagued by buccaneers, hijackers, drug runners, smugglers and terrorists.

In his 2004 book of the same name (“The Outlaw Sea: A World of Freedom, Chaos, and Crime,” North Point Press), Langewiesche explored the vast expanses of blue. It’s a place where hundreds of pirate attacks occur each year from Southeast Asia to the Caribbean, where thousands of unsafe, unregulated merchant ships sail the globe under so-called “flags of convenience” to mask their origins and owners. This region beyond nations, which covers three-quarters of the earth’s surface, is a “reminder of the world as it was before, but also quite possibly … a harbinger of a larger chaos to come,” Langewiesche observed.

What “larger chaos”? The Somali pirates reflect what’s happening on dry land: “Failed states” continue to threaten not only their own people but the peoples and nations around them.

Somalia is the poster child for “failed states.” It fragmented more than 20 years ago amid clan wars. No stable national government exists. The chaos has sent throngs of refugees fleeing into other countries, subjected those who stayed behind to terrible suffering at the hands of thugs and warlords — and attracted foreign terrorists looking for bases of operation.

There are worse things than bad government. Anarchy, for instance. Ask the Somalis. Ask the people who endure seemingly endless violence in parts of Afghanistan, Pakistan and other places.

Nuclear-armed Pakistan, in particular, teeters on the edge of instability as radical Islamists wield expanding influence. Its neighbor and longtime enemy, India, watches with growing alarm.

“As much as India fears Pakistan, it fears Pakistan’s collapse even more,” reports Robert D. Kaplan in The Atlantic magazine. “The threat of Islamic anarchy in the region is perfectly suited to the further consolidation of Hindu nationalism.” Hindu nationalism, in turn, increases extremism and violence against millions of Muslims and Christians in India.

Everything is connected in a globalized, essentially borderless world. The current global economic crisis proves that proposition beyond reasonable doubt. That’s why Christians in safe, quiet places should be concerned about “failed states” and chaotic areas within states. Not only do they destabilize whole regions and cause massive human suffering, they directly affect the church and the transmission of the Gospel.

Many unreached and unevangelized people live within unstable nations and regions. Reaching them with the message of God’s love becomes all the more difficult where chaos reigns. Missionaries who set out to work in such places often never reach their destination because of risks and barriers. If they do get there, they may find themselves targeted as easy prey. Or, they may be unable to minister effectively because of ongoing danger and disorder.

Believers living in chaotic places also are vulnerable to violence and persecution. However, like the early Christians who evangelized the known world amid a crumbling empire, they find many opportunities to minister to desperate people and guide them toward Christ, the only true source of peace.

People who flee chaos for freer, more peaceful areas often encounter the Gospel for the first time. Somali Muslims who might have faced instant martyrdom for seeking Christ in their homeland can learn about Him elsewhere.

More than 150,000 Somalis have streamed into the city of London as refugees and asylum seekers since the early 1990s. They remain clan-oriented, wary of outsiders and strongly Muslim. However, they are finding friends among London Christians who help them with education, finding jobs and recovering from the traumas they have experienced.

Farah,* a respected leader in London’s Somali community, has a close Christian friend. Farah hasn’t decided whether to follow Christ as Lord, but he believes all Somalis should have the right to understand and freely choose their own religious beliefs.

“This is a man of influence, a man of peace, a man who desires to see better days for his people” wherever they are, says his Christian friend. One day, Farah hopes to return to his homeland and help rebuild it.

One way or another, God reigns over all nations — even the failed ones.

(Reblogged from World View Conversation)
KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor
I SAW THIS sign at a gas station while I was traveling…
It made me think about instances when I’ve had to deal with “gunky build-up” in my life. For me, gunky build-up occurs when I let less important stuff squeeze out the real priorities in my life. Maybe you’ve experienced it too:
. Sometimes I believe the lie that I can’t afford to take a break and rest. The reality is that I’m far less effective in my family and leadership roles when I’m tired and grumpy.
. Sometimes I believe the lie that I’ll spend quality time with my wife at the end of the day after everything else is done. The reality is that the last things on my priority list rarely get done.
. Sometimes I believe the lie that I’ll get to the next big projects after I knock out the more routine tasks. The reality is that there will always be other routine tasks to complete.
. Sometimes I believe the lie that the more I do, the more valuable I am to the team. The reality is that I’m not being effective if I’m busy doing the wrong things.
. Sometimes I believe the lie that the little problem I have isn’t jeopardizing my leadership. The reality is that most times everyone else is already being impacted by my little problem.
. Sometimes I believe the lie that I need to correct every false statement and negative comment. The reality is that many times those faint voices become a distraction when I draw attention and make them loud.
. Sometimes I believe the lie that goals will be accomplished without a plan if I’m just patient and faithful. The reality is that most goals worth pursuing require counsel and strategy and hard work and commitment.
. Sometimes I believe the lie that I need to jump at a good opportunity. The reality is that someone will always have a good opportunity for me to pursue, and many times those good opportunities squeeze out time and energy needed to fulfill a greater mission and calling.
Do you know that I’m talking about? Have you dealt with similar cases of gunky build-up? I’m still trying to learn how to deal with this, but along the way I’ve also learned some preventive maintenance that helps clean up my engine. Here are some things I’ve learned I need to do to “de-gunk” my life:
. Schedule my week in advance, including scheduling time to work on major projects.
. Prioritize time with my wife.
. Surround myself with friends who will push back when needed.
. Stay disciplined about my faith, my exercise, and my eating habits.
. Learn to say no.
. Decide in advance what I hope to accomplish.
So is it time for you to stop the gunky build-up in your life? Now is the time to do something about it. Don’t delay. (Tony Morgan)
“But one thing is needed…” (Luke 10:42).

“. . . I . . . do not cease to give thanks for you,
making mention of you in my prayers:
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of glory,
may give to you the spirit of wisdom and
revelation in the knowledge of Him.”
~Ephesians 1:16-17~

Anna Lee

Wednesday Afternoon

Stan and Bethany Simmons

Bethany is out of the hospital and resting at home. Please continue to pray for this couple as they look forward to a new baby this summer.



Kathy Jo Thompson

I’m home! We flew home on Monday around 2pm. The flight and the drive back home was horrible (PAIN!!!) but the wheelchair people at the airport were nice. Before we left Washington, Mom found a little pizza place in the airport and told me I had to eat, she was pulling rank. She bought me a slice and I don’t know if it was because I had been eating hospital food or that I was hungry but man tha was the BEST pizza I ever had. I was hurting so bad that when we got home I took a pain pill and went to bed. I woke up once to put more ice on my back and to take more medicine but slept til about 7am. It is good to be home! I can’t do much and I feel bad because the house is a wreck and mom is trying to clean it and keep up with me. It is stressful on her but I am very thankful. Dad is working, making money and he checks on me too!

Now I am dealing with my school and trying to get exams situated so I can graduate in May but I may have to finish in the summer. I can’t go very far with out my back hurting so I can’t exactly go to LSU and take my finals. Pray that God will take care of that because I only have two classes out of six left that say that I have to take the final in order to pass the class.

I get my staples out either today or tomorrow, just depends when the physician can see me. I am not sure if they will give me local anastesia or not but I hope so. Mom says oh you can do it there aint nothing to it. Um mom have you ever accidently stapled your finger, it kinda hurts and I have 27 of them. They aren’t like stitches, I’ve taken them out of football players before, there isn’t anything to it but staples are different.

Dad talked to Mr. David, Mrs. Sandra’s husband, this morning and he said that she gets a little better each day but she still has a long way to go. I called him today but didn’t get any answer, when I talk to him I will let people know. There is also a little boy by the name of Olsyn Davis that I want everyone to pray for. He is 2 months old and the doctors have done everything they can for him but say that he will not live. My aunt DC and uncle Will met them in a waffle house in Washington or Maryland and said that he looked really bad. He can’t keep anyhting down and his parents are a new young couple that is devistated. Please pray for these people.

Wednesday

“We love because He first loved us.”

~1 John 4:19 NIV~

Joyce Cole

I accessed “prayer for the elderly” and came up with your address. At any rate, my mother needs abundant prayer. She’s 81, recovery from a very recent mild stroke and she has become quite vulnerable to severe colds and congestion. Can you put Joyce Cole 81, on an official prayer list?

Don Denton

Don’s test results have come back from the CAT Scan and the lumbar puncture. They look normal. The cultures fromthe lumbar puncture they are still waiting on.

Don will have a test on Thursday of this week as well. The doctors have pushed back the biopsy until they get the results of this next test. This test will look for a disease called Sarcoid. It is very rare if found in the brain and spine. I believe they want to rule this disease out before doing the biopsy.

Don is still considered stable, although he is not able to eat any type of food. Lately the liquid supplements he is not keeping down either.

We have concerns about nutrition and malnurishment. I hope to talk with doctors tomorrow about that.

We are hoping to see results by Thursday and hopefully, they can do the biopsy by Friday so Don won’t have to wait through the weekend.

Although given our experience with “waiting” this could go into next week.

As I am not surprised, my two precious ones, my husband Don, well, he is tired of this. This has been a painfully, long road for him. He is pretty weary.

And then our little one Joshua is more than ever fearful of his daddy dying. He talks about it often. I would give anything in this world for these two to not have to suffer like this.

Please pray as you feel lead to pray for us. We are most needy these days. I find myself pretty vulnerable most of the time. Emotionally it has taken a toll on all of us.

I have heard some of you all say how strong I am. It is only by the grace of God. And when you love someone, like I loves the two men in my life,…Don and Josh….holding onto hope. Believing is where I have to stand. I believe in the God who says don’t quit asking. I believe in the God who still performs miracles.

I am not strong….I most of the time am a child myself asking God for help. I am pretty needy these days. But I am not ready to quit fighting in what I believe in.

I don’t know what tomorrow is going to bring for us. I pray that God will use the doctors to bring answers and treatment. I pray for peace in Don, Joshua, and my heart.

And I continue to ask God to restore Don’s health. I am asking for a miracle.

We are so very thankful for a most peaceful place for Joshua and I to rest our heads. It is truly a place of peace for us. We could not have imagined a more precious place to stay while we are here in St. Louis. It is a place that Joshua can feel safe too.

I will close for now. I will do my best to update you all tomorrow. The hospital computers don’t always work.

We pray for a new day of restored hope.

INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS PRAYERLINE
INTERNATIONAL MISSION BOARD
Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Jesus answered, “If you knew the gift of God, and who is saying to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would ask Him, and He would give you living water” (John 4:10, HCSB).

Dear Intercessors, this is Eleanor Witcher of the Office of Global Prayer Strategy, joining you in prayer for pure, living water.

During the month of April, the entire country of Myanmar celebrates Water Festival. Originally, it was a festival in which the people worshiped many different spirits. Later, it became a Buddhist festival where people throw water on each other to wash their sins away and celebrate the new year. Water Festival is a reminder that the Bhama people have no hope.

The 20 million Fulani people of West Africa are not celebrating a water festival but are traveling constantly, seeking water for their livestock. Through the centuries, their tireless search has dispersed the Fulani into some 18 African countries. Pray for the Fulani to discover the Living Water, who alone can quench their soul thirst.

Over the past several years in Guinea (also West Africa), with the help of many churches, many wells have been dug in Susu villages. These wells have been instrumental in opening doors to sharing the gospel. Pray for new wells that will be dug in the months of April and May. Ask that the people of these villages will open their hearts to learn of the Living Water as they enjoy the health and convenience of clean drinking water.

After multiple delays, the water well at the new church near Leogane, Haiti is finally finished and the pump is installed! Thank you for your faithful prayers and for generously giving to the IMB’s hunger and relief fund to make this possible.

* Please pray that these wells will be both a source of clean water and a source of living water for this community.

* Intercede for the believers to be bold in sharing their faith, the great hope they have in Jesus.

* Pray that the lost of Myanmar, West Africa and Haiti will realize that the only way to have their sins washed away is through the living water Christ alone can provide.

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor
HOW DO YOU build a “sanctuary” in your busy life; a place where you can meet with God…?
Build a “closet.”
Isaac’s closet was in a field (Genesis 24:63). Peter’s closet was on a housetop (Acts 10:9).
You must fashion your own.
It may mean leaving the kids with your spouse, while you sit out on the back porch with a cup of coffee and your Bible for fifteen minutes.
It may mean snatching a few minutes when your baby is taking his or her afternoon nap.
For those who have a long drive to work, your sanctuary may be in your car with a CD player. It may mean posting a passage of Scripture near your steering wheel, where you can meditate and pray about it during the time that you drive.
It may mean reading your Bible during your lunch break at work.
It may mean taking the first ten minutes to read and pray in your office each morning.
It may mean putting your tennis shoes on and going for a walk with your Bible in hand.
It may mean sitting in your garage or workshop with a CD player to listen to sermons.
It’s not what the sanctuary looks like or where it is that matters. It’s what you do there that makes it a meaningful place. The sanctuary does not provide rest. What takes place there in the desert is what refreshes the inner man. (Steve Farrar).
“But you, when you pray, go into your room,
and when you have shut your door,
pray to your Father who is in the secret place;
and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”
Matthew 6:6
Have a wonderful day!
Anna Lee

Tuesday Evening


Joan Hagan called to ask for prayer for her brother-in-law, Greg Corkern, who had a heart attack this morning. Greg is in his 30’s. Greg is hospitalized in Mandeville where he had surgery this morning and was given a stent. He will have another surgery tomorrow and a third surgery some time after that. Please be in prayer for Greg, Sharon, and their family as they go through this time.


Joan also asked for prayer for her aunt, Elaine Bennett, who has become more homebound lately.

Tuesday Afternoon

Margaret Huber

Just wanted to let you know that I am home from the hospital and recuperating. I was found to have colon cancer but I will go Friday to St. Lukes Surgery Center to have a port put in and then I will go to Baton Rouge next week to see an Oncologist to start treatments. Keep me in your prayers and hopefully soon I will get over this and get back to work. GOD IS SO GOOD!
Lots of prayers have been answered already and I want to thank everyone from praying for me and my family, thank them for the food, phone calls, visits, flowers and gifts. Friends are so special.
Mrgaret Huber






Jimmy and Retia Dukes

Monday was a good day. I had flown back into town Sunday night in time to go and be with Dad for a while. We watched the Red Sox sweep the Yankees, which I didn’t like, and then we watched the highlights of the NASCAR race from Sunday. Caleb, Dad’s NASCAR-loving grandson, has influenced his grandfather and father to pay attention to the sport, especially Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson. They didn’t fair as well as we would have like, but the Carl Edwards crash was dangerously entertaining. Dad seemed to enjoy the company and the highlights. I certainly appreciated seeing him again.

I had flown home for the weekend. Erik and Erin had driven down. They helped Mom and Dad settle into their new facilities. We are very pleased and very thankful with both so far. It is such a blessing not only to know my brother as brother, but also to know him as a best friend. And his sweet wife – we both over-married. Jen and I are thankful to be walking through all of this with them, and with all of you.

Monday morning began with “Westbank” traffic. I google-mapped my way to West Jefferson Hospital in Marrero. When I found Mom, she was asleep. Just so you know, she still is doing that more than anything – sleeping, resting, much like when she was in a coma. The difference, thankfully, now is that every now and then when you try to wake her, she actually wakes up. Sometimes for a minute or so. Sometimes for a little longer. I was with her for about 2 hours and 15 minutes yesterday morning. Sum total during that time we interacted approximately 20 minutes.

By “interacted” I mean she opened her eyes and looked into mine. Her expression, while still very much not her usual look, demonstrated that she recognized me, even with my new beard. I asked her if she liked it. She actually nodded. Between periodically slipping back off to sleep and intermittently returning to the conversation, Mom “conversed” (you might say) without saying a word. I tried to ask questions that only required a blink or a nod or a movement of the toes. She did move her toes on her right foot when I asked her to move her feet. Not her left foot. When I asked her to move her hands, she didn’t. Can’t do that yet. Hopefully soon. Hopefully she will again.

What killed me as her son and yet cause me to rejoice objectively all at the same time was when she was listening to Abby on the phone. Our two-year-old and Mom have spent a lot of time together. I called Jen while I was in the room with Mom just to give her an update. I asked Mom if she wanted to “talk” to Jen (that’s code for listen since she is not speaking yet). She nodded her head. Jen spoke to her over the speaker phone. Mom seemed to appreciate it, listening intently. Then I asked Mom if she wanted to “talk” to Abby. She nodded again. Abby got on the phone.

“Hey Ammaw…hey Ammaw!!! Is she derr? You derr Ammaw? I wuv you. Come over, ok!”

I told Jen I would call her back. Upon hearing Abby, Mom began to convulse, as though sobbing uncontrollably. She teared up. I supposed she was crying and gently stroked the left side of her shaved head and tried to calm her down. I told her I was sorry for making her sad. After she calmed, I asked her if that was okay that she “talked” to Abby. She nodded. I quit crying, too, and rejoiced inside that Mom had reacted emotionally like she did. She is still in there, even though her body is not responding yet like we hope it will.

Mom had a very busy day. Not only did she respond to some of the visitors who came and interacted with and sang over and prayed for her, but she also went through a series of procedures. The doctors at her new facility wanted to recheck everything. Mom had another CT on her head. Both arms were x-rayed. A new central IV line was placed. She had respiratory treatment several times during the day. They ordered her a special bed. Her staples were removed from the large incision on the right side of her head. They took blood and urine for cultures and brought “infection control” into the picture to monitor her. The therapists came and worked with her some with range-of-motion exercises. And she got a little morphine. She has had very little pain medicine this whole time since the accident. She has only been sedated for procedures. For her to need pain meds and to be sedated for them to place the central line was actually a positive sign of progression.

We are thankful. Test results on all that stuff should be communicated with us today, tomorrow, and Thursday. I will let you know.

Dad had a really good day. He woke up to breakfast in bed (he’s getting spoiled with that). He fed himself, although with his right hand since his left arm is still healing (he’s left-handed). He put on his “superhero” T-shirt that Erin got him over the weekend (he and mom both are superheroes to us). And the therapists came and got him for therapy.

They worked him hard, he said. For about an hour and a half. He was sore by the afternoon, but happy about it.

I got there to see him close to lunch, Decaf Tall in hand, after I had left Mom’s place. Some friends brought lunch, special for Dad. it was soooooooo good. Yummy country cooking. After lunch, we talked and visited for a while. He shifted back into bed for a nap. I headed to sip some coffee at Starbuck’s (just across the street from his place, which is pretty cool) and bring him back his afternoon latte.

When I returned, we slid him out of bed into his wheelchair, and I took him for a walk. Outside. He said the sun felt good. Clouds rolled in, and rain rhythmed on the tin roof of the awning under which he sat. He likes that a lot. And I so enjoyed seeing him relax and smile the way he did.

“That rain smells and sounds so good,” he said. It was refreshing, for the ground and for Dad.

He said he wanted La Madeleine for supper. Probably because it was in view across the street. But it has always been one of his and mom’s favorites. A “croque monsieur,”, which is a posh way to say ham sandwich. I called it in. I asked him if he wanted to sit there (wheels locked of course) while I went over and picked it up. I trusted him to be good.

He wasn’t.

It was no big deal in the end. I was only gone for like 5 minutes. But while I was acting as his French catering service, he was overcome with Napoleon-Like courage (although a bit taller even sitting down), unlocked his wheels (somehow), and began to wheel himself along the sidewalk with one hand. Thankfully it was level. I know where I get my sense of adventure from, I guess. He is such a determined, stubborn, impatient, gracious, fierce, tender man. I love him.

Two friends arrived and sat with him while he ate and conversed for a while afterward. I headed back over to be with Mom. No response this time. Still sedated from them putting in the central line. So I sat with her for a while and left to let her sleep.

Uncle Danny, who had so kindly given Erik and Erin Hornet’s playoff tickets on Saturday, was able to grab two for me. Dad heavily encouraged me to go. I thought it would be fun and a bit of an escape. I tried asked three friends here to go with me, but all three were busy with family plans. I got there about 7:30 just in time for pre-game announcements. I befriended the two guys sitting next to me. One of them actually had a friend who was starting a church in Orlando near where we did. Small world – crazy. Gonna check in on the guy he told me about when I get back to see if we can connect.

Anyway, right before the tip, someone grabbed me from behind. It was one of my youth ministers from high school growing up here! She and a friend were sitting right behind me and had an empty seat. That was a treat. Then, she introduced me to some people behind us whom she said had been praying for Mom and Dad since the accident. Their compassionate concern overwhelmed me.

I am amazed at all the people who are praying and caring. We can’t thank you enough.

Oh yeah – Hornets actually set a new NBA playoff record last night. I was so happy to be there! They got beat down by 58 points, tying the largest loss margin in playoff history. Great record to hold! Seriously, it was a blast. A great escape. Thanks Uncle Danny and Stan. I really appreciate it.

So, here’s hoping today goes well and all the tests come back showing progression. God has so shown Himself as near and active in all of this. Through all of your love and through awakening Mom and through healing Dad so rapidly.

Please keep praying. Dad is beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel with regard to his neck collar and not being able to walk. Mom has a very long road ahead. I pray that she will have complete ability to hold her grandchildren again. I pray that dang SUV didn’t steal that from her. I will be thankful, though, to simply see her do more than “talk” to Abby. I pray we will see Mom smile as she actually talks to Abby. I pray we will see Abby’s beautiful smile that mirrors Mom’s when she tells her face-to-face, “I wuv you, Ammaw.”

Can’t wait…

By the way – I think Erik is an amazing writer. I look forward to reading his next post. I love you, Bub.

OH YEAH – pretty amazing weekend home with my family. If you want to read a post and see a small video about my precious weekend with my family, http://jasoncdukes.wordpress.com/. Special visit to EPCOT. Awesome celebration of how “My God Is So Big” at worship gathering. Hope you enjoy it. Love y’all.


Be sure to go to Jason’s blog and watch the video and read the post.

Tuesday Addition

I forgot to include this:

Kolby Blake Simpson was born Friday at 6:01 p.m. and weighed 8 ½ pounds and was 21 ½ inches long. The son of Matthew and Celeste Simpson and grandson of Martha Simpson and the late Randy Simpson.

(I cannot post this picture, but will gladly forward it to those who request me do to so.)

Thank God for this baby born to a family suffering from a loss. May the baby give new meaning to life for the family!

Tuesday

Lloyd Alton “Preacher” Carruth
Lloyd Alton “Preacher” Carruth passed away on Monday, April 27, 2009, in Zachary. He was 91, born in Liverpool on Oct. 17, 1917. He graduated from Oakland High School in 1928 and served in the U.S. Army as a corporal during World War II. He was a pipe fitter by trade but held lots of interesting positions until he had to retire due to health reasons. He was a member of Masonic Istrouma Lodge 414. He is survived by his son, Donald Carruth, of Walker; daughter and son-in-law, Sharon and Homer Hopkins, of Zachary; grandson, Justin Hopkins and his wife, Brittany, of Zachary; granddaughters, Amber Hopkins, of Zachary, and Jenna Sawyer, of Baton Rouge; and two great-granddaughters, Sophie and Vivienne Hopkins. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 58 years, Frances Sanders Carruth; parents, Marshall and Georgie Yarborough Carruth; brothers, Thomas, Stewart, Edward, Ransom, Horace, Bill and Marshall L.; and sister, Margaret Frazier. Visitation will be at Charlet Funeral Home Inc., Zachary, on Tuesday, April 28, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., with a 7 p.m. Masonic service. Visitation on Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. until a 10 a.m. service, conducted by the Rev. Darwin Hall and Dr. Brythel Brantley. Burial will be at noon at the Pine Ridge Cemetery in Kentwood. Lloyd lived a full life. He and his wife got to travel a lot and he loved to spend time with family and friends and especially his great-granddaughters. He treasured those moments. He loved to share stories with such a wonderful memory and so many details of the past. He will be truly missed. Friends wishing to make memorial donations in his name may make them to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Share sympathies, memories, and condolences at www.CharletFuneralHome.com.

This obituary seems to want to be first today. David and I met and enjoyed talking with Cathy Wales’ “Uncle Lloyd” on their back porch. He was indeed a special man.

Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother,

spoke up.

‘There’s a young boy here

with five barley loaves and two fish.

But what good is that with this huge crowd?'”

~John 6:8-9 NLT~

I think this verse reminds us of God’s ability to more than meet our needs!

The Duke’s daughter-in-law, Erin, gave me permission to share this from her blog:

A New Kind of Therapy. . .

I like to call it. . .

Baby Therapy. . .



And, it does the heart good. Just look at Pop’s face. . .


I tell you this kind of therapy is better than any medicine. . .


At least it is with this grandchild loving Pop!


I kept worrying that Erik Daniel might hurt Pop with all of his wiggling, but Pop insisted that he was fine. And, he wanted to be close to this sweet little boy. And, my little boy wanted to be close to his sweet Pop.

Here is my favorite picture of them. . .

Precious.

Now, don’t you think that made him feel a little better?

I do.

As you can see, Erik, Erik Daniel, and I went to New Orleans for the weekend. And, it was an amazing trip for so many reasons!!! So, let me tell you why. . .

I think we were about 45 minutes from New Orleans when Erik received a call from a man who was assessing Mom for admittance into a long term acute care facility. He informed Erik that she had moved her toes on command for him.

What?????!!!!!!????

For the first time, my husband lit up with hope! She had responded to a verbal command. This was huge. HUGE.

We got a little further down the road ~ actually we were on that really long bridge that goes from Slidell to New Orleans ~ when Jason called. He and Erik had previously decided that we would meet at the Praline Connection to eat before Jason had to fly home. But, Jason was suggesting that we meet at the hospital instead. Erik was afraid that going to the hospital first would take too much time and that Jason would be miss his flight. But, then, Jason explained. . .

Mom opened her eyes!!!!!!!

She looked at Jason and mouthed the words, “I love you,” to him!!!!!!!

Erik said, “Okay, yes, then we will meet you at the hospital!”

It was a miracle weekend. She didn’t open her eyes again that day, but the next morning she opened her eyes for Erik and mouthed his name. Unfortunately I wasn’t with him!!!! But, later that night I got to see those brown eyes myself!!!!

We went to visit her, and Erik is ruthless, I tell you. He rubs her shoulder and talks loudly in her ear, “Mom, it is Erik. I love you. Erin is here with me. She wants to see your brown eyes. Show her your pretty brown eyes, Mama. Show them to her. Open your eyes, Mama. Open your eyes and look at Erin. She is standing right in front of you. She wants to see your pretty brown eyes. Hey! Hey! Hey, brown eyes, open your pretty brown eyes, Mama. We love you. We’re praying for you. Now, open those pretty brown eyes and look at Erin.” And, finally after the one millionth time he asked her, a little miracle happened, and she ever so slowly, as if her eyelids weighed a ton, with great concentration and inner strength, she opened up her pretty brown eyes and looked at me.

And, I couldn’t help but cheer for her! “Good job, Mom. Good job! You did so good! Thank you for letting me see your eyes! You are so strong! You are getting better every day! Good job, Mom! I love you.”

I can’t tell you the pride that welled up in me when I saw her open her sweet eyes!!!

And, because I need to go to bed, I am going to come full circle and end this post. We went back to see her today. She is in a new hospital, and I didn’t know the rules about babies. So, rather than ask, we just decided to take Erik Daniel and see what would happen.

No one said anything to us. We walked right by several staff members and into Mom’s room.

Erik did his little number where he asks her over and over again to open her pretty brown eyes while he rubs her shoulder with gentle force. He told her that Erik Daniel was with us, so she should open those pretty brown eyes and look at him. Erik Daniel cooed and giggled in my arms. And, I knew she could hear him, and I know what those sounds do to me, and I prayed that they would have the same effect on her. After several minutes of trying so hard to open her eyes, she finally got them about halfway open. So, I held Erik Daniel like superman in the air, so he would be in her line of vision. After that she mouthed a sentence or two that we couldn’t make out for sure, and then, once again, she drifted back into a peaceful sleeping state.

Baby Therapy.

It is a good thing, just ask Pop!

And, speaking of Pop I must throw this picture in. . .

Erik and I bought him this shirt because we think he is Superman, and we love him sooooooo much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




Mrs. Ruby Dillon saw one of her favorite doctors, her nephew Rusty Stevens, yesterday. He said she was doing very well and did not need the procedure he was planning to do for her. While there, the Dillons also got to see Carl Wayne and Nora Stevens. They enjoyed a great meal “Miss” Ruby prepared and shared with them in Hattisburg. Carl Wayne is improving. Thank God for “Miss” Ruby’s and Carl Wayne’s good reports.
Continue to pray for Stan and Bethany Simmons. Your prayers will be greatly appreciated.
Carol Brooke reports her grandson is making wonderful inprovement. Thank God for this!



From Tisha and Dwayne Wison:

Hi, Friends, as I looked at my calendar today, I realized we are leaving for El Salvador (mission trip) in 8 weeks. The time will be here before we know it. I thought of a few prayer requests….

· This Sunday afternoon (May 3rd) we will have a “team meeting” via conference call with our team leaders and fellow team mates. Please pray for a productive meeting.

· Team unity, health, preparations

· Please pray that we won’t rely on past trip experiences or our own strength but solely on Him

· Creativity and wisdom

· Trust Him to do great things in and through us

· Smooth logistics

· Safe travel

· Open doors and hearts

· Clear presentations of the Gospel at each site, with each group

· Our 4 Little Ones back home while we are away for 10 days and their caretakers

These are just a few things that came to mind today as I thought about our trip. Dwayne and I are currently working on individual presentations that we were asked to prepare to share while we are there. Please pray that we will not procrastinate but get this done and also pray for creativity as we prepare these 3-5 minute presentations.

Thanks for your partnership,

Tricia and Dwayne

Holly K. reports that she is melting in the heat and learning to ride her own little motorcycle. Continue to pray for her as she teaches MK’s in West Aftica.

Update on Don Denton

We are so glad that Monday has finally come.
Don is scheduled for many tests throughout the day.

Don is stable, yet he is not eating or drinking fluids since he got here. He is on allot of pain medication as well to manage the pain.

There have been some obstacles to overcome. The hospital is short on nurses and that means mistakes. We have encountered some concerns.

But in saying all of that, we still feel he is in good care.

Don’s parents arrived on Saturday night.

We hope to have some more answers on these tests they are currently conducting by the morning.

Please pray for the following:

Don’s doctors have widsom, and passion about his case.

Don get a private room. They are hard to come by here. He has severe headache pain and when one shares a room with another patient he is subject to TV, etc.

Pray that they will find answers.

Pray for Joshua – the trauma of all of this is hard. Abandonment issues are fears I am always working to assure him that we love him and will never leave him. And there is a fine line there. We don’t know what the outcome of Don will be here. Pray for me for honest assuring, age appropriate words for our little one.

Pray specifically that Don will have a doctor who is passionate about the outcome. A doctor that will be “present with him and us”. I am talking about a neurologist. His neurosurgeon is really good.

Pray for me that I wll have the wisdom and discernment to know when to push and when to stop.

Josha and I are well taken care of here. We are so blessed.

Thank you for being with us. Thank you our family and friends.

Diane

Sidney Wayne Polezcek
(August 14, 1966 – April 26, 2009)

Sidney Wayne Polezcek a loving husband, father, son, and brother was born August 14, 1966 and passed away at 5:43PM, Sunday, April 26, 2009 at the Ochsner Medical Center, Baton Rouge. Wayne was 42, a native of Independence and a resident of Amite.Wayne is survived by his wife Rhonda Seal Polezcek, Amite; 2 daughters, Jamie Polezcek, Independence, Kerri Polezcek, Amite; a son, Virgil Polezcek, Amite; mother, Linda Holden Easley, Amite; father, Sidney Polezcek, Jr. & step-mother, Jeanette Polezcek, Albany; 2 sisters, Tracy Polezcek, Amite & Gadonya Keating, Bogalusa; 2 brothers, Ronnie “Pudge” Polezcek and wife Sabrina, Amite, & Lavon Smith and wife Maria, Jacksonville, FL; a granddaughter, Jazmyne Polezcek, Independence; maternal grandmother, Virginia Birch, Greensburg; mother-in-law, Dorothy Baham, Roseland.

He was preceded in death by maternal grandfather, Murphy Holden, Sr,; paternal grandmother, Della Hardy; paternal grandfather, Sidney Polezcek; step-grandmother, Maudie Roberts; infant brother, Sidney Polezcek, III.

Visitation will be at the McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 from 5:00PM until 9:00PM and on Wednesday, April 29, 2009 from 8:00AM until Religious Services at the funeral home Chapel at 10:00AM. Interment in the McMichael Cemetery.

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

McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, is located at I-55N & Hwy 16W behind Bond Eye Clinic & Grand Prix Car Wash.

Solitude

KneEmail

“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor
HE HAD WORK to do…
He was active and involved. But He also knew that He couldn’t do it all without meeting alone with the Father.
He refused to be tyrannized by the immediate and urgent.
He knew that the needs of His disciples and the multitudes would always be there. He knew that even if he went 24/7, people would still beckon. (Steve Farrar)
“Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them.” Luke 4:42; cf. Matthew 14:22-23; Mark 1:35



“But as for me, my prayer is to You,

O Lord, in the acceptable time;

O God, in the multitude of Your mercy,

hear me in the truth of Your salvation.”

(Psalm 69:13)

Dakota Brooke is better. Keep praying for this baby. He will be a week old tomorrow.


Please keep the family of Rae Baker in your prayers. She passed away Sunday morning in Salt Lake City Utah with her family by her side. She is survived by her husband Don, daughter Dayna and two sons Bruce and Craig.
Thank you
Pam Sellers

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor
MANY OF US indulge at every opportunity…
We gorge ourselves with good, drink, clothes, television, sports, etc. Moderation does not come easily to us. Yet the foundation ethic of talk is self-control. Whoever we are, wherever we are, whatever we do, we must control our talk.
Disciplining our talk may be the ideal place to being disciplining ourselves in other areas. I have heard of desperately obese people having their mouths wired shut to allow them to lose weight. I suppose we could do that to improve our speech ethics too. But such an approach to control would deal only with mechanics. It does not deal with the lack of discipline in our character. (William Baker)
“He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.” Proverbs 13:3; cf. Matthew 12:33-35; 1 Peter 3:10; Psalm 34:12-13

Don’t dread the week ahead. Look at it as an opportunity to share the Good News by words and deeds.
Anna Lee

Sunday Evening

June Russell (Chesbrough)

We passed by David’s Aunt June’s house this morning as we were taking a friend to North Oaks and saw an ambulance in the yard. Aunt June was taken to North Oaks and admitted due to complication of the hip surgery she had a few months ago. David got to see three first cousins he doesn’t see very often. Please pray for them and others as they care for Aunt June.

Jimmy and Retia Dukes

Well this time I will apologize on the front of the update. I said I was sorry for being tardy before about 8oclock, before i hit save and was told I had no connection.

It was a good post but I will try to reconfigure. I also apologized for the length of the post, stating that this may be my only chance to write since my almost published really good writer brother is returning today. Did I mention jason has a book coming out soon. Remember, I am not a wordsmith for my job. I could write you a perscription, not an essay. For sure I am neanderthalic when it comes to tech as my post would not save and I am not on Facebook and don’t have an iphone. I am writing it over so it will look even more tardy.

I was worried that this weekend would be real hard for my wife. I am glad she and Erik Daniel came with me but I was concerned. But this has been a weekend filled with praise, a wonderful weekend with my parents. On friday as you remember, mom mouthed i love you to jase after opening her eyes and their transfers happened to Ochsner elmwood off clearview for dad and west jefferson hospital room number 7103 for mom, this is off barataria on the west bank. They settled into their rooms and have some wonderful nurses and doctors caring for them. Mom’s nurse yesterday stated that her doctor was very caring and attentive and thorough. I have not met dad’s but it is providence that got him to ochsners, so i will not worry.

Friday i was disappointed, jealous, and little hurt that she did not show me the same courtesy and open her eyes and tell me she loved me. However, on saturday, I had been there talking to her and singing and praying over her and she would do nothing but some straining attempts to open her eyes, then i went to talk to her nurse they paged her to mom’s room. I returned to the room to wait on her and as I entered I noticed mom was staring at the ceiling. I leaned over and said “were you playing possum with me before” and she mouthed “erik”. I cant explain the feeling of praise, and excitement that overcame me, we talked some more and I assured her that I loved her and told her about all who are praying. We also told her she had a bud on the tomato plant at home in orlando. Last night Erin and I went back to tell her good night and I did not think she would respond as she is not a early morning or late night person. But she did, she opened her eyes after much prompting, I did all but drop an elbow off the top rope, and then I called her “brown eyes” and she opened them and Erin got to witness an awakening. I asked her to respond with a blink if she understood me as I told her some things, and she did. We talked to her some more and she opened and closed her eyes off and on and I assured her she was a vardaman sweet potato but she was a tough one. We said good night.

I saw my first NBA playoff game with my wife yesterday. The Hornets one! Thanks Uncle Danny for the escape. Thanks to all of you who have given us a place to stay, washed our clothes, kept our children, bought airline tickets, bought us food, and put cold hard cash in our hands (jasons favorite). We have been overwhelmed with your kindness, and love and the sheer volume of prayers being spoken to the Father. Thank you so much

We all must keep praying, this journey is far from over and this is an important time to pray. Pray for dad to heal, bones and all and for strength if they do the surgery on his lower arm. Pray for patience and peace for him as the Father’s spirit fills him with those. Pray for mom that she will continue to progress and heal up and that no further skin breakdown will take place. Pray for the people caring for them that they will do so as if they are their own parents.

We go back today and my excellent writer/preacher brother will be back so he will post later today. He had a great visit with his kids and mickey and saw a great football game. He is not only a great writer, did I tell you he has a book coming out and I expect all of you will want to buy it, but a great father son brother and friend. He has done a great job taking care of mom and dad and handling all of the logistics last week. So continue to enjoy with me his scribing of this journey and buy his book. It is about living sent, since you asked. He has gotten some hard research done these last few weeks as we have watched God’s church living sent as they have cared for and prayed for our family.

I have learned or been reminded of a few things during the last three weeks. As one of my wisest friends told me once, all manner of things are well. Live today: yesterday is gone, tomorrow may or may not come, today is all we have. Live with Him as he lives in you and through you for he is not always safe but He is always good.