Sunday


Though he was God,

he did not demand and cling to his rights as God,

but laid aside his mighty power and glory,

taking the disguise of a slave and becoming like men.

Philippians 2:6-7 (LB)

Floyd and Freda Angeletti (Budapest, Hungary)

Dear Friends and Family,

Thank you so very much for going before the throne of God on our behalf. Unfortunately we have been unable to send regular updates, but as each of you have written encouragements, you received a reply with your questions answered and an update given. The exception is those of you who have written in the past couple of days. Below we have listed the answers to your prayers.

On Friday evening the 13th, Freda had the opportunity to ride in a ambulance in Budapest expanding her list of adventures. She was admitted to the neurology hospital and you can be sure she could write several interesting chapters of her opportunities to be a servant and exhibit Christ likeness. The hospital provides nothing much except a bed and medical care. Your level of expectations will change quickly in such a place and therefore your level of appreciation when you begin to have need of such things such as water and toilet paper. The hospital was also under quarantine because of the flu epidemic in Budapest and there were times no one could get in to visit her. She was blessed to have a cell phone provided by our member care staff, and therefore she could call to make her needs known but often it could not be arranged in time to fill her needs. It was not until Wednesday that they did a brain stem electrode test and on Thursday evening she finally was given the long promised MRI.

On Friday morning, February 20, colleagues and I were able to take her clean towels, wash cloth, bed clothes, and other needs. Upon returning to the Eden House we received a call from Freda saying that she had been released. I was unable to go with the colleagues to pick her up or to go to the clinic for a evaluation visit with a neurologist at 5:30 PM and the general doctor at 6 PM. The second doctor said, “I understand that after two days you were up assisting other patients in your ward”. That was true and one day Freda may have an opportunity to tell you how God burdened her heart and used love to communicate when there was no common verbal language. In the middle of the night Freda was found to be helping a elderly lady with Parkinson’s down the hall to the bathroom when she had been told to not get out of bed herself. Freda made many trips each day with that lady and even gave her a warm water foot soak and washed her feet when she complained of her feet hurting. I will leave additional stories of this lady and the others to Freda to share with you.

The results of the evaluation are that Freda had a light stroke – that the Lord apparently healed except for a little balance problem that should resolve itself in time. It could be a few weeks or a few months before she is back to normal balance. We believe that this is a direct result of your prayers. It was determined that the pain in the side of her head and the very sore spot under her jawbone is a stopped up saliva gland and she has a scan scheduled for that on Monday the 23, unless she can clear it with lemon and sucking as saliva flows.

As previously shared, Freda got excellent reports on all other test except for having a very low iron level, and the problem with the Trolov Cysts on her spine. She has an appointment at Johns Hopkins Medical Center on April 23 to do a final evaluation to determine the steps they will take in correcting the problem.

My surgery was not the normal procedure but much more extensive. The doctor had said that he would only do half so much and that the remainder would have to take place a few months from now, but the doctor decided to go for 90% of the process and it was almost too much. Last Tuesday I had a follow up visit and the same evening began to pass huge amounts of blood and had the presence of mind to take pictures of the results keeping the reputation of taking pictures of unique subjects. On Wednesday I went to the clinic for a blood count test but the doctors wanted to quiz me first and upon seeing my pictures got very serious. The surgeon was called and Thursday morning at 8 AM, I met the surgeon at the hospital where I was examined with a scope and it was determined that during the surgery and in the hours following the surgery I had accumulated a great deal of blood in my colon. I was told that to expect blood (in much lesser amounts) for up to six weeks. I continue to experience pain, discomfort and inconvenience. The surgeon discharged me but suggested that I spend a week in the city before departing and try to restore my system to normal as healing takes place. Now I suspect that there might have been a hidden thought that something could still go wrong, but trust that the Lord will continue the healing process. This has been a very humbling experience and I have grown through it in many ways. Not only will I have better health but will have grown as a person. “But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6)

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Cor. 5:7)

We praise God for our good health because we actually are healthy and able to serve Him. Thank you for keeping us lifted before His throne.

Please pray for continued healing; opportunities to witness; that we will know His will for our lives and that all our decisions will honor Him and His perfect will.

Praise Him for the blessing of confidence in His promises; For the healing and protection He has provided; That we are allowed to call Him “LORD“, and have the opportunity to serve Him: Praise Him for the many ways He reveals Himself; Praise Him for the assurance that He hears and listens when you pray and for answering your prayers.

May He bless you with His joy.

In Christ’s love,

Floyd and Freda

Soup & Salad for senior adults after morning worship at FBC, Kentwood (Provided byFriendship Circle Sunday School Class)

TWO VERY DIFFERENT KINGDOMS

A number of years ago, I received the following letter from one of my subscribers in Great Britain. Since many of you were not subscribers at the time, I thought you might appreciate this “repeat TFTD”:

To the citizens of the United States of America,

In light of your failure to elect a new President of our former colonies, known more recently as the U.S.A., in order to govern yourselves and that which you habitually refer to as the free world, irrespective of his ability to govern himself, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective today.

Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will assume monarchical duties over all states, commonwealths, former colonies and other territories (including New Jersey).

To aid in the transition to a British Crown Dependency, please comply with the following acts:

1. Look up “revocation” in the now official Chambers English
Dictionary.

2. Start spelling (and pronouncing) correctly all English words.

3. Learn at least the first 4 lines of “God Save The Queen.”

4. Start referring to “soccer” as football and admit that American
football isn’t.

5. Immediately declare war on Quebec (and France). You may use our
air space.

6. Enjoy all cold beverages at room temperature and insist that your
tea be served hot.

7. Learn to enjoy delicacies such as steak and kidney pudding and
Marmite.

8. The Fourth of July is no longer to be observed as a public
holiday. This has been replaced with 5th November, also known
as Guy Fawkes Day (he was the roguish chap who tried to blow up
the Houses of Parliament).

9. All members of this British Crown Dependency will be required to
take 6 weeks annual holiday and observe statutory tea breaks.

10. Driving on the left is now compulsory – recall all cars to effect
the change immediately.

11. Car parts will be referred to by their proper names (bonnet,
boot, etc.) and a more healthy level of tax will be applied to
petrol and diesel fuels.

12. All citizens are to report to our Consulate General in NY for the
issue of new passports and work permits. Please ensure that
orderly queues are maintained.

13. Add the Royal insignia to the top of the Washington Monument.

14. Assemble a national cricket team in preparation for a world tour
next summer.

15. Stop referring to a “World Series” of baseball and instead call
it the National Series of USA, Cuba and Japan.

16. Recall all currency and replace with new coins and notes bearing
an image of monarch’s head.

17. Increase all domestic power supplies to 240 volts with immediate
effect.

Tax collectors from Her Majesty’s Government will be with you shortly to ensure the acquisition of all revenues due (backdated to 1776 with interest).

Thank you for your cooperation and have a nice day!

Aside from the humor (which I enjoyed immensely), the above letter served to remind me of the great difference between our two “kingdoms”. Transferring from one to the other would indeed involve a lot of changes.

In a similar manner, those of us who are Christians have changed kingdoms. In the Colossian letter, the apostle Paul describes what God has done for us:

“He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.” (Col. 1:13)

Allow the significance of that statement to settle in. We used to be a part of Satan’s kingdom; now we are a part of God’s kingdom. We used to be “aliens” (Eph. 2:12); now we are “fellow citizens with the saints” (Eph. 2:19). Things are different now. Very much different!

With no disrespect intended toward Great Britain, I consider it a blessing to be a citizen of the United States. But that blessing doesn’t begin to compare with the great privilege that God has provided in allowing me to be a part of HIS kingdom.

Have a jolly good day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Have a wonderful Lord’s Day!

Anna Lee

Friday Afternoon

Caroline Williams

Caroline’s surgery went well and she is in her hot pink spica cast from her chest to her knees. The family appreciates all the prayers and feels that the good outcome was due to your intercession. We know that God will continue to care for her during the next 3 months of healing in the cast.



Faith Brynn Fowler

2-20-09

5 lb. 15 oz.

17 1/2 in.


Alice Faye Lee came home last night. She had some blockages that will be treated with medication for now. Keep her in your prayers.


The family of Billie Jean Booty requests prayers for her as she deals with several health issues.



Dear Prayer Partners,

In our last “Big 10” we asked you to pray for Bob and Gayle Hill while they participated in Team Leader training in Prague for 3 weeks. Today, during the last day of the training, Gayle fainted. An ambulance was called. Paramedics detected an irregular heart beat and decided to take Gayle on to the hospital. An EKG there was normal. The doctor said that she had a “normal collapse” which we think means she fainted. He is continuing to observe her, but expects to release her later tonight. He said that if she is able to get some rest and a good breakfast, it would be fine for her to travel tomorrow as planned. Thank you for praying.

—
Blessings,
Jennie


Billie Jean Pearson Robinson
(March 17, 1938 – February 19, 2009)

Died at 5:10 p.m. on Thursday, February 19, 2009 at North Oaks Medical Center in Hammond, LA. She was a native of New Orleans, LA and a resident of Kentwood, LA. Age 70 years.

We are grieving the loss of our beloved Billie Jean, wife, mother, grandmother, and care giver to all. Our mother appreciated and loved life itself. She had a deep spirituality and was a member of First Baptist Church of Kentwood. Our memories are filled with her love of music and her great love to dance. Everyone who knew Billie Jean were touched by her kindness, her laughter and joyful spirit. There is no one left behind she did not love deeply.

She leaves behind her husband, Ben T. Robinson, Kentwood; 3 daughters, Tanya Gilliland, Lafayette, Denise Maneely and husband, Roy, Wadsworth, OH and Betsy Hinson, Denver, CO.; 2 sons, James Hinson, Lafayette and Jack Hinson, Kentwood; 1 sister, Sheila Pearson, Baton Rouge; 2 brothers, Clovis “Al” Pearson, Cecilia, and Clyde Wayne Pearson, Baton Rouge. She was preceded in death by her father, Clarence Pearson; mother, Florence Brown Smith.

Visitation at First Baptist Church, Kentwood, from 9 a.m. until religious services at 11 a.m. Monday. Services conducted by Rev. Joey Miller. Interment Woodland Cemetery, Kentwood, LA.


John Henry Jarrell, Jr.
(September 25, 1949 – February 19, 2009)

John Henry Jarrell, Jr.

U.S. Veteran Died at 12:30PM on Thursday, February 19, 2009 at his residence near Kentwood, LA. He was a native of Clarksville, GA. Age 59 years. Survived by Wife, Peggy Sylvest Jarrell, Kentwood, son, Shane Jarrell, Kentwood, 5 sisters, Melody Fletcher, Ponchatoula, Kim Chance, Ponchatoula, Gina Zahn, Ponchatoula, Fran Bauer, Ponchatoula, Jan Jenkins, Ponchatoula, 2 grandchildren, Shaneah Ellen Jarrell and Kelsey Denise Hilbun, step-mother, Betty Jarrell, Ponchatoula. Preceded in death by mother, Ellen Adams, father, John Henry Jarrell, Sr., father-in-law, Douglas Vining, and father-in-law, Marvin Sylvest..

Friday

“But know that the Lord

has set apart for Himself him who is godly;

the Lord will hear when I call to Him.”

~Psalm 4:3~


Continue to pray for some who have been on our prayer list.

Caroline Williams – surgery yesterday

Alice Faye Lee – cath. yesterday

Floyd and Lauren Fowler – baby

Aubrey Perry – Alabama

Riley Penney – needs a miracle by tomorrow

Don Denton

Something pretty amazing happened yesterday…..

Don told me that for “a brief moment” yesterday he did not have any dizziness. He thought that maybe he was just imagining it. It only happened once yesterday.

Today I brought Don back into the office – He was there for 7 hours today.

During that time at the office, he experienced intermittent times of less dizziness and times of extreme dizziness. I can’t help but believe that the nerve endings are beginning to heal.

Don will taper down to 25mg of prednisone this Saturday. He will be on that for 2 weeks. WE are taking this much slower in hopes that he will not relapse.

Keep praying……I believe that we may have turned the corner here. This is exciting and a little scarey.

Don still has not heard results or follow up as of yet for the specialist in Kansas City.

We should get results about our dog tomorrow too.

Keep praying please. This would be a miracle if this dizziness would subside.

Please also pray for me as I try to work through all that needs to be done in dealing with the insurance company and providers. It is a “full time job”. As you can imagine, we have now 85 days of hospital stays and dozens and dozens of doctor visits and diagnostice tests from many different facilities. I am having to sort through what feels pretty overwhelming. Trying to find the time to fit this into our schedule makes it very tough. Pray that I will have the wisdom I need as well.

Bless you our family and friends

Diane

Sami Dobre

Hello all,

Sami is still in the hospital in Ploiesti, but he is doing better. He did not have fever today and is getting his appetite back. There is a possibility that he may get to go home tomorrow, Friday. Ovidiu and Monica want to thank everyone for their prayers.

Blessings,

Donna Brown

Mrs. Ruby Dillon – Appointment Monday

Mrs. Faye Price – Covington

Ronald Putman – coming home today

Numerous people with colds, flu, sinus problems, & pneumonia (including Mr. Ed and “Miss” Jeanette McGhee

Robert Lee Young
(April 16, 1930 – February 18, 2009)

Died at 8:33PM on Wednesday, February 18, 2009 at St. Helena Parish Nursing Home in Greensburg, LA. He was a native and resident of Kentwood, LA. Age 78 years. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, from 9 a.m. on Saturday until religious services at 11 a.m. Saturday. Survived by 4 sisters, Ernestine Blades, Baton Rouge, Shirley Turner and her husband, Jimmy, Walker, Betty Hunt and her husband, Lionel, Gillsburg, MS, Rita Phillips and her husband, James, Walker, 1 brother, Richard Young, Baton Rouge, a number of nieces and nephews, Preceded in death by parents, Melton and Eva Day Young, brother, Earl Young.

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor
IMAGINE YOU’RE SITTING in your living room, enjoying a peaceful afternoon while reading the paper…
Suddenly, a baseball flies into the room, shattering your window. Obviously, your first question wouldn’t be, “How did it get here?” It would be, in a highly bothered tone, “Who did this?!” The baseball didn’t just smash through your window for no reason. Some agent acted upon it, causing a “disturbance in the force” that ruined your perfectly good afternoon.
The universe couldn’t have just “arrived” without a force behind it. And unlike the remote possibility that a pitching machine spat a baseball into your living room instead of an actual person, it’s impossible that a universe was just spat out by an inanimate force. It took a Person, a Someone. Holding the Bible at its word, we Christians believe that Someone to be God, the Great Cause. (Alex McFarland)
“This is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens” (Genesis 2:4).

Don’t forget the Friendship Circle Sunday School class is preparing Soup and Salad for Senior Adults Sunday.

Have a great weekend! Feel free to share your praises, requests, and updates.
Anna Lee

Thursday

Quit quarreling with God!

Agree with him and you will have peace at last!

His favor will surround you

if you will only admit that you were wrong.

Job 22:21 (LB)


Continue to pray for Alice Faye Lee as she has a heart catherazation today.


Pray for little Caroline Williams as he has surgery today and goes through months in a cast.


Pray for Floyd and Lauren Fowler as she is admitted to the hospital for the birth of their first child.


Don Denton

Just a quick update: Don went into the office yesterday for almost 6 hours. He did better than he had expected.

This is a wonderful step in the direction of getting back to what we know as normal. He will be going into the office several days a week hopefully. We have set goals not too aggressive.

No updates as of yet for tests results.

Bless you our family and friends.

Diane

Food, fellowship, and devotional time tonight at the Alford cabin at 6:30.

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor
MANY YEARS AGO I attended a gospel meeting…
For several days the truth went unheeded. Near the close of the meeting I saw a young man push his way to the isle and courageously walk down to obey the gospel. Of those present, he was considered least likely to take that action. The impact of that young man’s decision as felt over the entire assembly. Thirty-two other friends followed him down the aisle. It would be interesting to know how many hundreds of people those 32, in turn, have helped down some aisle somewhere in the intervening 30 years. The influence of that one boy who led the way will live after him.

Someone could be walking in your (or my) footprints. Are you (or Am I) leading in the right direction?
Anna Lee

“Because lawlessness will abound,

the love of many will grow cold.

But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached

in all the world as a witness to all the nations,

and then the end will come.”

~Matthew 24:12-14, NKJV~



From Linda Williams

Please pray for my granddaughter, Caroline Williams, age 15 months, who will have hip surgery Thursday, Feb. 19, at Baptist Hospital in Jackson, MS. She will be in a body cast for 6 weeks with another surgery and 6 weeks of cast to follow. Please pray for her family as they care for her.


Lauree Titus will have a MRI today to try to determine her problem. Pray her to be able to learn the nature of her problem and receive proper treatment.


INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS PRAYERLINE
INTERNATIONAL MISSION BOARD
Wednesday, February 18, 2009

“At one time the whole earth had

the same language and vocabulary.”

~Genesis 11:1, HCSB~

Dear Intercessors, this is Eleanor Witcher of the Office of Global Prayer Strategy, asking you to pray for missionaries in language training.

At this time last year, certain workers among the Aegean (ah-JEE-an) Turks of Turkey had only been in their country of service for approximately two months. Now that they have passed the one-year mark, they look back and see many ways the Father has patiently cared for them. He has provided local friends, a great language teacher, supportive co-workers, and many opportunities to learn how to share most effectively the hope of Jesus with those who have never heard it. What incredible resources are at the tips of His fingers!

For the past several months, Senufo Supyire (SIN-oo-fo su-PEER-ay) Team members in Mali have had a busy schedule of travel, visitors, and various meetings. They are now able to slow down a bit and are planning to spend more time immersing themselves in village life to focus on language learning. Each week they will spend several nights and days in a rural village and then return to their house in town to rest and accomplish other tasks that need to be done. Language learning in and of itself can be draining, but adding the difficult living conditions makes it even more stressful.

Transitioning from their home culture to the culture of their people group is often a struggle for missionaries. Language missionaries have recently arrived in Costa Rica and are attending the Spanish Language Institute. A couple in the Last Frontier asked for prayers as they study a particularly complicated language. Pray also for missionaries among the Tuareg of West Africa to develop a clear understanding of Tuareg culture and language.

* Please pray for missionaries to whole-heartedly devote their energies to language learning and ask God to help them retain the lessons learned.

* Pray for adequate rest and continued health during their studies.

* Intercede for language “graduates” to continue growing in their understanding of the Father and of the people and culture among which they live and speak.


Baptist Press

February 17, 2009

TENNESSEE–Hunt: Financial turmoil can yield revival. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29898

TENNESSEE–In financial crisis, show faith, Chapman urges. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29899

TENNESSEE–Open letter to Southern Baptists: ‘dark day may be brightest day.’ http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29900

SOUTH CAROLINA–Revving up for bikers in Myrtle Beach. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29901

LOUISIANA–Graham slates Miss. River ‘fishing trip.’ http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29902

TENNESSEE–‘Fireproof,’ ‘Love Dare’ high on sales charts. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29903

LOUISIANA–FIRST-PERSON (Keith Manuel): Recapturing a sense of lostness. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29904

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor
JESUS HAD POWER (Colossians 1:16, 17)…
“Wonder-working” power (Luke 5:17). He could walk on water, raise the dead, and instantly heal those afflicted with horrible, life-long disease. He could cast out demons, feed thousands with but a few loaves and fish, and transform water into wine. He could rebuke the storm and calm the sea. He had power (Acts 10:38).
And yet–perhaps his most surprising manifestation of power was the intentional failure to employ it (1 Peter 2:21-23; cf. Isaiah 53:7; Mark 14:61). Despite the unlimited miraculous resources at His disposal–when faced with Calvary and all that entailed–Jesus restrained His own mighty hand.
Has it ever occurred to you that one of the Lord’s most significant displays of power was expressed in a non-miraculous way? (Mike Benson)
“And while He was being accused
by the chief priests and elders,
He answered nothing.”
~Matthew 27:12~

May you recognize the blessings in your life today.
Anna Lee

Tuesday


“I cried to the Lord with my voice,

and He heard me from His holy hill.”

~Psalm 3:4~

Mrs. Ruby Dillon

“Miss Ruby” has been undergoing some medical tests recently. Please pray for her and her family as her tests continue.

Ronald Putman

Ronald Putman continues to progress in rehabilitation in Baton Rouge. He is scheduled to come home Friday. Thank you for your continued prayers for him.


Update on Don Denton

Tomorrow will be one week that Don has been out of the hospital. He is doing well. He continues to gain strength. WE are most hopeful that Don will just continue to get better. He has a few more weeks on his steroids before tapering to the dosage that he has relapsed twice before.

So as you can imagine, we are asking God that Don not have another relapse. I can see changes for the better in Don. Although his dizziness does not change for the better at this point, I can see physical changes.

He will start going into the office tomorrow. He can’t wait. He is so ready to be back at work. He just will go in for a few hours to see how well he is able to get around and do some work at his desk.

We have not received results as of yet on MRA. We are hopeful that the hole will have healed in the artery. WE will find out further this Wednesday about the specialist in Kansas City as well.

And we have yet another big prayer request. For those of you who are not animal lovers, please bear with me on this one. We have a dog. Her name is Quequag. That is another story as to how she got her name. But she is a about 2.5 years. We adopted her a few months after we had a failed adoption. We had a painful loss back in March of 2007 after seven months of a toddler-girl- living with us in hopes of adopting and it failed. So, a few months after that, I found this dog and well there you have it, we have had her for almost two years now.

I took her, our dog to the vet for a regular check up a few weeks back. The vet found a lump. The dog had surgery to remove it last week. The vet tells me that it went very deep and it does not look good. WE will find out on Friday whether this is cancer. This just feels like too much sometimes. WE just need some good news here. And although this may sound insignificant, as you know, life has been very difficult for the past five months. So please pray for us in that way if you feel lead. She is a beloved pet. Have you ever felt that if “just one more things happens” kinda thing. It is how I feel. Truth is I know one more thing could happen. It is life. We are not promised a perfect life.

Joshua seems to be doing better in some ways since Don came home from the hospital. It just will take time. As Don progresses I think Joshua will too. Well, I have promised myself that I will get to bed earlier tonight.

We had a precious Valentines Day. Just simple and precious. It truly is a miracle that Don is with us. WE really have so much to celebrate.

Please keep praying for us. We have some big hurdles to overcome these next few weeks.

Thanking you again can’t begin to say what you all mean to us. Thank you for continuing to lift us up before our heavenly Father. Thank you for continuing to reach out to us on this long journey and season of our life. Thank you for your grace and acts of kindness.

And if anyone ever wants an amazing muffin – Barbara Smith – makes the best muffins I have ever had! I have savored every one of them and worked hard at sharing them with Don and Josh.

Bless you our family and friends.

Diane


KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor
THE SALMON NEARLY leaped onto to their hooks…
That was a far cry from the day before when the four anglers couldn’t even seem to catch an old boot.
Disappointed but not discouraged, they had climbed aboard their small seaplane and skimmed over the Alaskan mountains to a pristine, secluded bay where the fish were sure to bite.
They parked their aircraft and waded upstream, where the water teemed with ready-to-catch salmon. Later that afternoon, when they returned to their camp, they were surprised to find the seaplane high and dry. The tides fluctuated twenty-three feet in the particular bay, and the pontoons rested on a bed of gravel. Since they couldn’t fly out till morning, they settled in for the night and enjoyed some of their catch for dinner, then slept in the plane. In the morning the seaplane was adrift, so they promptly cranked the engine and started to take off. Too late, they discovered one of the pontoons had been punctured and was filled with water. The extra weight threw the plane into a circular pattern. Within moments from liftoff the seaplane careened into the sea and capsized.
Dr. Phil Littleford determined that everyone was alive, including his twelve-year-old son, Mark. He suggested that they pray, which the other two men quickly endorsed. No safety equipment could be found on board–no life vests, no flares, nothing. The plane gurgled and submerged into the blackness of the icy morning sea. The frigid Alaskan water chilled their breath.
They all began to swim for shore, but the rip-tide countered every stroke. The two men alongside Phil and Mark were strong swimmers and they both made shore, one just catching the tip of land as the tides pulled them out toward sea.
Their two companions last saw Phil and Mark as a disappearing dot on the horizon, swept arm-in-arm out to sea. The Coast Guard reported they probably lasted no more than an hour in the freezing waters–hypothermia would chill the body functions and they would go to sleep. Mark, with a smaller body mass, would fall asleep first in his father’s arms. Phil could have made the shoreline, too, but that would have meant abandoning his son. Their bodies were never found. (Patrick Morley)
“For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8; cf. Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34

Smile first, then think.

MISSIONARY PERSONAL NEEDS. Don’t you just love hearing how children twist the words of familiar songs? A 5-year-old MK (missionary kid) was prancing through his house one day, singing at the top of his lungs, “He is exhausted, the King is exhausted on high. . . .” Hallelujah that our King is never exhausted and He receives our prayers and petitions gladly! Give thanks that your prayers are a vital and active part of each missionary’s ministry. One couple writes: “We would not be able to continue without your active participation in our lives. We thank God for you!”

Have a terrific Tuesday.

Anna Lee