Wednesday

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name ‘Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us'” (Matthew 1:23, NKJV).

I missed seeing this update Sunday.
Update on Dustin Rosamond: Dustin is in ICU at Tulane Medical Center in New Orleans. Dustin had surgery to his lung yesterday (Saturday) to try to remove some of the “infection pockets” from his lung, he also has some bleeding and may have to have a transfusion, please continue to pray for him and his parents as they stay with him round the clock and for the rest of his family and friends as we all anxiously await his recovery. We know that God has a reason for allowing this to happen. Dustin is 13 and has his 14th birthday coming up in just days. Thank you for praying. I will keep you updated.

This is Tuesday’s update.
Update on Dustin Rosamond: Dustin is slowly continuing to get better followng surgery to his lung on Saturday. He still has a drain tube into his side and hopefully will get that out soon, they thought he would get that out yesterday but he keeps spiking a fever. He of course really wants to come home but pray for him to get really strong and healthy before he gets to come home and his patience so that he doesn’t end up having to turn around and go right back if he gets out too soon. Thank you all for all of your prayers. Please continue to pray for Dustin and for all of our family. Thank you again.

Mr. Cete Dillon’s medical procedure went well yesterday. The results also seem to be good. Thanks for praying for him.

Mrs. Faye Price continues her “roller coaster” ride to recovery. Please continue to pray.

Emily Panter is well enough to writer for herself now!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Hello World!

The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows those who take refuge in Him.

Nahum 1:7

Dearest Family and Friends in Christ,

How wonderful it is to be able to write to you. I apologize it has taken this long. I am trying to read the entire blog before I really express my heart to you, but I simply could not wait. We have dial-up so you know how that is, and there is just so much to read! (I am only to November 2nd.)

You all have blessed me more than you can know and I want to thank you for all of your thoughts, kindness, generosity, and above all for your prayers. “…and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” James 5:16b. I have felt your loving prayers and know that God has answered and shown Himself powerful and merciful, all for His glory. There were no circumstances or luck involved in this event, only the hand of our sovereign Father, lovingly answering the prayers of His people.

Please do not stop your prayers for me yet, as I face a long recovery and am very limited in the activities I am able to do. Pray that I am able to meet my children’s needs, and praise God for my wonderful husband who, through God’s grace, has been a rock through this whole ordeal.

I go for a follow-up cat-scan and visit with the infectious disease doctor, Dr. Spak, this Monday to see how effective the ONE antibiotic they have me on has been successesful at killing the infection in the left over liquid in my abdomen. Other than that it will just be a matter of regaining muscle tone, energy and an appetite.

Even through all the pain and frustrations, this has been a surreal and wonderful experience. What a privilege to be a tool that unites so many in one accord, agreeing in prayer. What a joy to see just how big my God is and how nothing surprises Him or can stand in His way! He has protected me and my family and touched many lives in the process. Nothing He does is without purpose, even if it does not make sense to us.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain and snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth, and making it bear and sprout, and furnish seed to the sower and bread to the eater; So shall My word go forth from My mouth. It shall not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the mater for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:8-11

I love you all and thank you again. I will write again very soon. ~Emily

P.S. I would like to thank Becky for all her hard work at keeping up this blog, It has been such a blessing, and will be a written account for my children when they are old enough to understand. Thank you, I love you.

Don Denton is now at home and having rehab three times a week. Please continue to pray for him and his family.

Ray Edwin Brock
(April 14, 1956 – December 14, 2008)
Ray Edwin Brock a wonderful, kind and loving father, son, brother, uncle and friend was born April 14, 1956 and passed away at 1:26PM, December 14, 2008 as a result of a massive heart attack. Ray was 52, a native of Magnolia, MS and a resident of Hammond.

He is survived by a son, James Barker Brock, Gardnerville, NV; his mother, Lina Brock Bernard, Amite; 3 sisters, Bettie Johnson and husband, Charlie, Thibodaux, Carolyn Helms and husband, Vernon, Schriever, Robbie (Ray’s twin) Davenport and husband, Ricky, Jonesville; a brother Lat “Bubba” Brock, Jr. and wife, Ceil, Hammond; 8 nieces & nephews and 7 great nieces and nephews.

Ray was preceded in death by his father, Latimer A. Brock, Sr.; his grandparents, Margaret & Holland Brock and Sally & Pierre Warren.

Ray graduated from Amite High School in 1974 where he played basketball, baseball and football. He attended Northeast LA University for two years before transferring to SLU. He graduated with a degree in Physical Education and Chemistry. He was a mud engineer for Magabar for several years before moving to Lake Tahoe, NV. He worked at Harvey’s and Harrah’s Casinos as a pit boss and dealer for many years. He moved back to Louisiana in 2006 to be closer to his family.

Ray loved watching all sports, especially LSU. He was a talented pianist and guitar player. He enjoyed entertaining the guest at the Heritage Manor Nursing Home in Hammond with his music.

Ray will be deeply missed by his family.

A private funeral service will be held at a later date at McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite.

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

McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, in charge of arrangements.

Baptist Press
December 16, 2008

WASHINGTON–Abortion bailout: Obama urged to use taxpayer funds for abortion. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29520

ALASKA–Palin’s church targeted by arsonist. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29521

TENNESSEE–Black leaders explore church growth strategies. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29522

TENNESSEE–Adapt to reach adults, speakers say. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29523

TENNESSEE–500 women’s leaders gather for training. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29524

VIRGINIA–FIRST-PERSON (Ken Connor): Attention Wal-Mart shoppers. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29525

If you are a interested in sports, you might want to bookmark this link and refer to it periodically.
http://www.bpsports.net/

KneEmail
Balance

WHEN THE RINGLING Brothers Circus went to New York City in April 2004, thousands of people jammed Madison Square Garden to see the greatest show on earth…

What they saw instead was a terrifying accident. A performer named Ernado Rangel Amaya, a thirty-four-year-old Venezuelan high-wire daredevil, lost his balance and plummented to the ground. The crowd gasped in horror as emergency workers rushed to his side. Rangel somehow survived the fall, but he taught us a valuable lesson: life is all about keeping your balance. (David Jeremiah)

During this holiday season, work on keeping your balance — financially (don’t over-spend), emotionally (don’t over-stress in purchasing and preparing), physically (don’t over-eat), and spiritually (don’t neglect your worship, personal study and focus on God).

“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” ( Luke 2:52).

Posted by Mike Benson at December 3, 2008 12:11 PM

Have a wonderful Wednesday remembering “Jesus is the reason for the season”.
Anna Lee

Tuesday

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:14)

Continue to pray for the Price family during difficult days. The last two weeks have been difficult for “Miss” Faye and for her family as they stayed close to the ICU.

Mrs. Catherine Yarborough will have a procedure on nerves in her back today to ease constant pain. Pray for her as she goes through the procedure and for good results from the procedure.

Mr. Cete Dillon will have a medical test today in McComb. Pray for him and for “Miss” Ruby as she waits.

Mr. Tut Young, father of Wanda Miller, is in the Louisiana Heart Hospital. Pray for him, his family, and the medical staff.

Pray for the KHS family as we continue to adjust to the aftermath of the fire and the news of the arrest of two of the students.

I attended the Living Christmas Tree presentation under the leadership of Dennis Walker at FBC, Amite last night. It surely had to be one of the very best of the thirteen years they have done this. If you have not attended this year and are available, please attend the last performance which is at 7 P.M. tonight. You’ll be richly blessed.

I’m including the quiz below to remind you of some of the details of the Christmas story. I hope reading this gets to to focus of what happened long ago and realize how significant it is in our lives today. If you do not have Jesus in your heart, please seek him at a church, through Bible study, or from talking with a Christian friend.

Christmas Scripture Quiz
http://www.makedisciples.com/Christmas/quiz.htm

Take this short quiz to test how well you know the Nativity stories in Luke and Matthew. How much of our traditional celebrations of Christmas is actually found in the scripture text and how much is tradition built up over the centuries?

1. How many wise men were there?
a. 3
b. 4
c. The Bible does not say.

2. Did Joseph meet the wise men?
a. Yes
b. No
c. The Bible does not say.

3. What animal did Mary ride to Bethlehem?
a. Donkey
b. Small horse
c. Llama
d. The Bible does not say.

4. The Holy Family named the child “Jesus” because:
a. An Angel told Mary to use the name.
b. An Angel told Joseph to use the name.
c. All of the above.
d. None of the above.

5. What type of building was Jesus born in?
a. Stable
b. Cave
c. Inn
d. The Bible does not say.

6. What animals were present at the Nativity?
a. Cattle
b. Sheep
c. Doves
d. All of the above
e. The Bible does not say.

7. Who besides the wise men saw the star?
a. The shepherds
b. King Herod’s astrologers
c. The Bible does not say.

8. How did the star compare in brightness with the other stars?
a. Brighter
b. Equivalent
c. A faint glow over the horizon.
d. The Bible does not say.

9. How soon after Joseph and Mary reached Bethlehem was Jesus born?
a. Within minutes.
b. That night
c. The Bible does not say.

Answers to Christmas Scripture Quiz

1. How many wise men were there?

c. The Bible does not say.

Although tradition suggests there were three wisemen, as in the carol “We Three Kings of Orient Are,” the Bible actually does not give the number of Magi. (Go to Biblical account of the Magi in Matthew).

2. Did Joseph meet the wise men?

c. The Bible does not say.

Matthew writes that the magi found the Child with Mary, but makes no mention of Joseph. Matthew 2:9-11. Of course, as a good parent, we would probably expect Joseph to have been there.

3. What animal did Mary ride to Bethlehem?

d. The Bible does not say.

Although it would be a long walk for a pregnant woman from Nazareth to Bethlehem, the Bible does not mention what animal, if any, Mary rode. Luke 2:4-6

4. The Holy Family named the child “Jesus” because:

c. All of the above.

In Luke, the Angel Gabriel tells Mary to use the name “Jesus.” Luke 1:30-31 . In Matthew, an angel tells Joseph to use the name. Matthew 1:20-21

5. What type of building was Jesus born in?

d. The Bible does not say.

Although Luke tells us that the baby was placed in a manger, there is no mention of where the manger was located. Luke 2:6-8

6. What animals were present at the Nativity?

e. The Bible does not say.

Despite the line in Away in a Manger that “the cattle were lowing, the poor baby wakes,” there is no mention of which animals were present at the Nativity. Luke 2:6-8

7. Who besides the wise men saw the star?

c. The Bible does not say.

Check Matthew’s account.

8. How did the star compare in brightness with the other stars?

d. The Bible does not say.

Check Matthew’s account.

9. How soon after Joseph and Mary reached Bethlehem was Jesus born?

c. The Bible does not say.

Although every Sunday school Christmas pageant has Mary deliver a baby moments after Mary and Joseph are turned away from the inn, the Bible does not specify a time period. Check Luke’s account.

May you be a blessing in someone’s life today!
Anna Lee

Monday

She will bring a son to birth, and when she does, you, Joseph, will name him Jesus — “God saves” — because he will save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:21

In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! Luke 1:42

Mrs. Faye Price continues to be in ICU. Her kidneys are functioning a little better. The medical staff continues to try to take her off the ventilator. Keep on praying.

Mrs. Annie Belle Harrell continues to have the same health issue that has bothered her for several months. She spent a couple days in the hospital last week because of this. Please continue to remember her in your prayers.

Pray for the faculty and staff of Kentwood High as they make adjustments because of the fire. Thank God for the quick response of the fire department which surely saved the whole building.

Thank God for the many men who are here to work on the power lines. Most of the people I have talked with now have electricity. Hopefully, the area’s power will soon be 100% restored.

FBC, Kentwood was the setting for two wonderful services yesterday. If you missed them, talk to someone who was there. Thank you to all who made the day so meaningful.

Today’s question:

2. Did Joseph meet the wise men?
a. Yes
b. No
c. The Bible does not say.

c. The Bible does not say.

Matthew writes that the magi found the Child with Mary, but makes no mention of Joseph. Matthew 2:9-11. Of course, as a good parent, we would probably expect Joseph to have been there.

MARY VISITS ELIZABETH
Because she was so excited and could not wait to see Elizabeth and share her own news,
Mary sets off to visit.

Mary in Hebrew means bitter.

Mary was to become the wife of Joseph and the mother of Jesus.

Both Mary and Joseph were from the line of David.

Background Reading:
Luke 1:39-40
Mary visits Elizabeth

39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.

ELIZABETH GETS A VISIT FROM MARY

Elizabeth welcomes Mary her cousin to her home.
Elizabeth is pregnant and the baby leaps for joy at the sound of Mary’s voice.

Elizabeth in Hebrew means God is my Oath.

Elizabeth is the wife of Zacharias

Background Reading:
Luke 1:41-45
Mary visits Elizabeth

41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.45 Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!”

More Information:
Elizabeth

Elizabeth (God is my Oath) like her husband, Zechariah (Jehovah remembers) were from the tribe of Levi.
Elizabeth was told to call her son John the shorten form of Jehohanan which means Jehovah’s gift or God is gracious. John was to become John the Baptist.

The Southern Baptist Convention collects an annual offering to support international missions. The offering is named in honor of Lottie Moon. Here’s her story:

LOTTIE MOON

Southern Baptist Missionary to China

Lottie Moon was born in 1840, third in a family of five girls and two boys, on the family’s fifteen-hundred-acre tobacco plantation known as Viewmont. Her father, Edward Moon, was the largest slaveholder (fifty-two slaves) in Albemarle County; he was also a merchant and a lay leader in the Baptist church. But Lottie was only thirteen when her father died in a riverboat accident.

The Moon family valued education, and at age fourteen Lottie went to school at the Virginia Female Seminary [e.g. high school] and later the Albemarle Female Institute, where she earned both her bachelor’s and Master of Arts degree in teaching. A spirited and outspoken girl, Lottie was indifferent to her Southern Baptist upbringing until her late teens, when God touched her heart during a spiritual revival at Albemarle.

There were precious few opportunities for educated females in the mid-1800s, though her older sister Orianna became a physician and served as a Confederate doctor during the Civil War. Lottie helped her mother maintain Viewmont during the war, once hiding the family silver in a field from approaching Union soldiers, but when the threat evaporated, she was unable to find it again.

After the Civil War, Lottie taught at female academies first in Danville, Kentucky, and later helped set up Cartersville Female High School in Georgia. The school was thriving academically (though not financially) under her leadership as associate principal when she felt a quite different call: to go to China as a missionary.

Single women on the mission field? Most mission work at that time was done by married men. But the wives of China missionaries T. P. Crawford and Landrum Holmes had discovered an important reality: Only women could reach Chinese women, and they needed help. To everyone’s surprise, Lottie’s younger sister Edmonia accepted a call to go to North China in 1872. Lottie followed a year later. She was thirty-three years old.

Edmonia didn’t last as a missionary, but Lottie did. She was a petite woman, only four foot three, but she had stamina, a lively spirit, vision, and a passion to win souls for God. Mission policies of the time limited what ministry women could do. But Lottie waged a slow, respectful, but relentless campaign to give women missionaries the freedom to minister and have an equal voice in mission proceedings. A prolific writer, she corresponded frequently with H. A. Tupper, head of the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board, informing him of the realities of mission work and the desperate need for more workers—women and men. She encouraged Southern Baptist women to organize mission societies in the local churches to help support additional missionary candidates—and to consider coming themselves. Many of her letters appeared as articles in denominational publications. Catching her vision, Southern Baptist women organized Women’s Missionary Unions (WMU) and even Sunbeam Bands for children to promote missions and collect funds to support missions. The first “Christmas offering for missions” in 1888 collected over $3,000, enough to send three new missionaries to China.

Raised in a family “of culture and means,” Lottie at first thought of the Chinese as an inferior people, and insisted on wearing American clothes to maintain a degree of distance from these “heathen” people. But gradually she came to realize that the more she shed her westernized trappings and identified with the Chinese people, the more their simple curiosity about foreigners (and sometimes rejection) turned into genuine interest in the Gospel. She began wearing Chinese clothes, adopted Chinese customs, learned to be sensitive to Chinese culture, and came to respect and admire Chinese culture and learning. In turn she was deeply loved and revered by the Chinese people.

Lottie began her tenure as a missionary by teaching in a girls school—but while accompanying some of the seasoned married women on “country visits” from village to village outside the bigger cities, she discovered her passion: direct evangelism. But there were so many hungry, lost souls, and so few missionaries! For forty years she kept up her not-so-gentle pressure for the Southern Baptists to become giving, sending, missions-minded people.

Lottie’s home base as a missionary was Tengchow (today Penglai) in Shantung Province in North China. T. P. Crawford was the senior missionary there, but he had a reputation among both missionaries and the Chinese as an inflexible, contentious personality. Lottie often functioned as a peacemaker, able to see both sides of a dispute. She had her own strong opinions about different things, but she always worked respectfully with the Foreign Mission Board and with her fellow missionaries. Eventually Crawford resigned from the mission and formed the independent Gospel Mission, taking several Southern Baptist missionaries with him. After Crawford’s death, however, Lottie encouraged the board to receive the remaining GM missionaries “back into the fold.”

Lottie extended her work into the interior, especially P’ingtu and Hwangshien, until additional missionaries arrived to carry on the work. Only then did she allow herself to take a much-needed furlough, the first in 1892, and the second in 1902. Lottie was very concerned that her fellow missionaries were burning out from lack of rest and renewal and going to early graves. The mindset back home was “go to the mission field, die on the mission field.” Many never expected to see their friends and families again. Lottie argued that regular furloughs every ten years would literally extend the lives and effectiveness of seasoned missionaries. (Today missionaries get a furlough roughly every four years.) She also took a month of rest during the year.

The War with Japan (1894), the Boxer Rebellion (1900), and the Nationalist uprising (that overthrew the Qing Dynasty in 1911) all profoundly affected mission work. Famine and disease took their toll, as well. When Lottie returned from her second furlough in 1904, she agonized over the suffering of the people who were literally starving to death all around her. She pled for more money and more resources, but the mission board was heavily in debt and could send nothing. Mission salaries were voluntarily cut. Unknown to her fellow missionaries, Lottie Moon—the Southern belle who was once described as “overindulged and under-disciplined”—shared her own meager money and food with any and everyone around her, severely affecting both her physical and mental health. In 1912, she only weighed fifty pounds. Alarmed, fellow missionaries arranged for her to be sent back home to the United States with a missionary companion, but she died on Christmas Eve on board ship in Kobe Harbor, Japan. Her body was cremated and the remains returned to loved ones in Virginia for burial.

Since her sacrificial death at the age of seventy-two, Lottie Moon has come to personify the missionary spirit for Southern Baptists and many other Christians, as well. The annual Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for Missions has raised a total of $1.5 billion for missions since 1888 and finances half the entire Southern Baptist missions budget every year.

I hope you learned something through reading this brief account of Lottie Moon’s life. Have a great Monday. (Don’t forget the Living Christmas Tree at FBC, Amite tonight and tomorrow night at 7 P.M.)

Anna Lee

Sunday

30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” Luke 1

Mrs. Faye Price continues to be in ICU at North Oaks. She may be a little better. As you pray for her, continue to pray for her family as they “hang close”.

There are still a number of people without electricity. The crews from the power company are working long hours to restore power. Pray for their safety as they work and for those without electricity to be understanding.

The Lottie Moon Christmas Tea was nice. If you missed being there, I hope you will attend next time.

The children of FBC, Kentwood will present their Christmas program at 6 P.M. tonight. You are invited to attend even if you don’t have a child or grandchild participating.

FBC, Amite will have four presentations of The Living Christmas Tree. The first performance is at 2 P.M. today followed by presentations Sunday through Tuesday nights. Bro. Dennis Walker and the choir always do a wonderful job. The lighting is spectacular.

Norma Marie Costanza
(November 1, 1923 – December 12, 2008)
Died at 9:38 a.m. on Friday, December 12, 2008 in Chesbrough, LA. She was a native of Picayune, MS and a resident of Amite, LA. Age 85 years. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 9 a.m. until religious services at 11 a.m. Monday. Services conducted by Rev. Mike Foster. Interment Amite Memorial Gardens, Amite, LA. She is survived by her daughter, Amy Smith, Kentwood; 2 sons, Louis Costanza, Amite and Anthony Costanza, Amite; 5 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Louis Costanza; mother, Amy Rosto; father, James T. Taylor.

Christmas Scripture Quiz
http://www.makedisciples.com/Christmas/quiz.htm

How many wise men were there?
a. 3
b. 4
c. The Bible does not say.

(Answer below)

How has the shrinking dollar impacted missions?

Over the past year the U.S. dollar has lost as much as 15 percent of its value in the world marketplace. That means Southern Baptists must give $1.15 to the Lottie Moon offering in 2008 in order to match the buying power of every dollar given in 2007. Though 15 cents may not sound like much, in the scope of the International Mission Board’s $300 million budget, those extra pennies add up to $45 million.

Why does this matter? Because God continues to call record numbers of Southern Baptist missionaries to reach the lost. This year we anticipate sending out more than 900 new missionary personnel. They are faithfully responding to God’s call to carry the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Will we be faithful to send and support them?

How many wise men were there?

c. The Bible does not say.

Although tradition suggests there were three wisemen, as in the carol “We Three Kings of Orient Are,” the Bible actually does not give the number of Magi.

Luke 1:26-38
The Birth of Jesus Foretold

26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.28The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month.37 For nothing is impossible with God.”

38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

Jesus is the reason for the season!
Anna Lee

Saturday Morning

Norma Marie Costanza
(November 1, 1923 – December 12, 2008)
Died at 9:38 a.m. on Friday, May 12, 2008 in Chesbrough, LA. She was a native of Picayune, MS and a resident of Amite, LA. Age 85 years. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 9 a.m. until religious services at 11 a.m. Monday. Services conducted by Rev. Mike Foster. Interment Amite Memorial Gardens, Amite, LA. She is survived by her daughter, Amy Smith, Kentwood; 2 sons, Louis Costanza, Amite and Anthony Costanza, Amite; 5 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Louis Costanza; mother, Amy Rosto; father, James T. Taylor.

Saturday

But the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. Luke 2:10 (NLT)

This is an update on Dustin Rosamond: Dustin was moved to Tulane Medical Center in New Orleans and has undergone a procedure to draw fluid from his lung and may have to undergo surgery to that lung to clean out “infection pockets”. He would like to be at home but the doctors have informed him that he would rather go ahead and take care of these problems rather than go home and have to turn right around and come back. Both of his parents are staying at the hospital around the clock so please continue to pray for Dustin and for his parents, Chris and Sherry and for the rest of his family as they anxiously await his recovery.
Please remember my Mom and Step-Dad, Ruby and Aubrey Stokes as they have been without phones and electricity for 2 days now and Aubrey is going through some continuing medical tests of his own which we pray for a good outcome and my Mom for her strength and health. Thank you for your continued prayers.
Sue Minor/Tucker

Emily Panter
Friday, December 12, 2008
It’s Hard for Emily
Emily called me this morning and told me she is having a hard adjustment. SHE CAN DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!! And this is per doctor’s orders—but she also feels it. She can do nothing. They still have a huge need. Emily cannot be left alone–at all! If any of you are available to help her by coming and staying with her, helping with kids, etc.—please sign up on the calendar. (We were getting hit by spammers on the calendar, so there may be an extra step in posting on the calendar)
Please, please pray for this family’s adjustment. It’s a struggle right now. I’m sure the kids are so excited to have mommy home–but just don’t realize mommy’s still not completely well.
Thank you!

Psalm 63:7
“Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.”

Don Denton
Wow….what a week! Today marks one week that Don has been home. It is still sinking in as we embrace life as we know it.

We have been welcomed in a warm, wonderful way by this community of believers. I was just talking with a colleague of Don’s about the outpouring of love and support that we have received. It is truly the church expressing Christ’s love in a beautiful way. We as a family continue to receive support in amazing ways. We are so grateful! We are so blessed. We see God in such a powerful way.

We could have never expected how helpless it feels to come home and realize that we have been so needy. This certainly continues to be a place where God is teaching me about His amazing love and my ability to accept from others.

I have been humbled to realize that I can’t do this all by myself. I continue to learn from this experience as well.

We have so much to give thanks for this week. I have some prayer requests and want to give times for visitation with Don. I hope to have pictures of Don’s flight soon on the sight.

Prayer requests and answered prayer:

* Equipment Don has needed has been loaned to us, which we are so thankful for.
* Others continue to provide food for us, and delicious home cooked food, yeah!
* My brother and dear friends of his came in to spend the day with us today. It is so good to see their faces and spend special time with them.

Prayer requests:

* Don’s parents left this morning back for Louisiana. We needed them a few extra days. Pray for a safe trip for them.
* Pray for Joshua as he adjusts to daddy being home and daddy not feeling himself. This is still very hard for him.
* Pray for me as we adjust. I am realizing that I can’t do it all.
* Pray for Don as he continues to improve. Today was a day where is was most tired and did not feel well. This has been busy week for him.

We continue to give thanks to our God for the body of Christ who has reached out to meet our needs. WE are most grateful!

Don will be taking visitors starting this week. This Sunday from 2 – 4pm. Please call ahead of time: 417-777-6612

Tuesday Dec 16th 2-4pm

Friday Dec 19th 1 -3pm.

Call me if you have questions.

Blessings to you our family and friends

Diane

George H. Will
(October 4, 1917 – December 11, 2008)

U.S. Veteran Mr. George H. Will passed away at 5:10AM, Thursday, December 11, 2008 at the St. Helena Parish Hospital, Greensburg. He was 91, a native of Lockhart, TX and a resident of Kentwood.

Mr. George is survived by his wife of 22 years, Lula Mae Needham Will, Kentwood; a brother, Ludwig Theodore Will, and wife, Jeanne, Denver, CO; 2 nieces, Dr. Patricia Wells, and husband, Jim, Sacramento, CA & Charlene Wright, Houston, TX; a nephew, Thomas Will, and wife, Donna, Houston, TX.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ludwig & Nellie Will; first wife, Iverina Will; & a sister, Louise Wright.

Visitation at the McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, on Saturday, December 13, 2008 from 9:00AM until Religious Services at 11:00AM in the Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Percy ‘Mac’ Frazier officiating. Interment in the Needham Cemetery, Kentwood, LA.

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

McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, is located at I-55N & Hwy 16W next to Coggins-Gentry Ford.

INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS PRAYERLINE
INTERNATIONAL MISSION BOARD
Friday, December 12, 2008

“Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will call His name JESUS” (Luke 1:31, HCSB).

Dear Intercessors, this is Eleanor Witcher of the International Prayer Strategy Office, encouraging you to pray for others as we move through this holiday season.

The lyrics, “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. . . “ and “It’s the most wonderful time of the year . . . ,” keep floating through my mind. We all have a mental image of the ideal holiday season. Americans have a distinctly cultural view of Christmas that includes presents, snow, and nativity scenes.

But Christmas looks quite different in Saudi Arabia! There are no Christmas trees for sale, and it is hard to find Christmas decorations–certainly no snow. Pray a special blessing for Christians living there. Many come from countries all around the world and they spend the holiday away from families. Others face persecution from fellow countrymen. Pray that their celebration will be rich as they focus on the real reason for Christmas.

In Durban, South Africa, international, national and local holidaymakers are visiting beaches and other attractions. Pray for safety for all, in what is not considered to be such a safe environment these days. Pray that missionaries and Christian groups will find opportunities to share Jesus without fear as they mingle with holiday-goers at a time when many are curious as to the reason for the season.

The Xhosa tribe of South Africa does not really celebrate Christmas. Since it is in the middle of summer, many of the church programs are suspended and many pastors take the whole month off–there are no Christmas plays, musicals or indigenous Christmas songs. Please pray for team members as they minister in the different communities, teaching the significance of Christmas.

* Please pray that the love of Jesus will shine and believers in Saudi will share the hope they have in Jesus with friends and coworkers.

* Pray for the Durban holiday crowd that they will call on the name JESUS!

* Intercede for believers in South Africa to find biblically and culturally appropriate ways to celebrate the Christ child.

Baptist Press
December 12, 2008

WASHINGTON–Obama & new Congress could set back pro-life movement decades. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29503

WASHINGTON–Quick order would belie Obama’s call for abortion reduction. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29504

WASHINGTON–Pro-life policies likely Obama targets. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29505

WASHINGTON–Cizik resigns after controversial interview. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29506

WASHINGTON–Land: Bush not ‘theologian-in-chief.’ http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29507

VIRGINIA–Hispanics aim for $1M Lottie Moon offering. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29508

TENNESSEE–INTERNATIONAL DIGEST: Orissa Christians fear violent Christmas. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29509

ALABAMA–FIRST-PERSON (Wanda S. Lee): The importance of missions giving. http://www.bpnews.net/BPFirstPerson.asp?ID=29510

LOUISIANA–FIRST-PERSON (Kelly Boggs): We need a character bailout. http://www.bpnews.net/BPFirstPerson.asp?ID=29511

EVERY SECRET THING

At the end of their first date, a young man takes his favorite girl home. Emboldened by the night, he decides to try for that important first kiss. With an air of confidence, he leans with his hand against the wall and, smiling, he says to her, “Darling, how ’bout a goodnight kiss?”

Horrified, she replies, “Are you mad? My parents will see us!”

“Oh come on! Who’s gonna see us at this hour?”

“No, please. Can you imagine if we get caught?”

“Oh come on, there’s nobody around, they’re all sleeping!”

“No way. It’s just too risky!”

“Oh please, please, I like you so much!!”

“No, no, and no. I like you too, but I just can’t!”

“Oh yes you can. Please?”

“NO, no. I just can’t.”

“Pleeeeease?…”

Out of the blue, the porch light goes on, and the girl’s sister shows up in her pajamas, hair disheveled. In a sleepy voice the sister says: “Dad says to go ahead and give him a kiss. Or I can do it. Or if need be, he’ll come down himself and do it. But for crying out loud, tell him to take his hand off the intercom button!”

How embarrassing to realize that a conversation you thought was being held in secret was known to everyone in the house! There are some things we say that we don’t want others to hear and some things we do that we don’t want others to know about (sometimes with good reason). But, the truth is, much of what we try to keep hidden from others is because we know that what we are saying and doing is wrong and we don’t want others to know about it.

If there’s something in your life that you’re trying to hide from others, you’d better be careful. And be reminded that there are no secrets we can keep from God. He sees all, He knows all, and He appreciates the person who is honest enough to allow God into every aspect of his life. For those who want to live in secret, the day is coming when those secrets will be revealed.

Paul spoke of “the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.” (Romans 2:16)

Solomon spoke of a time when “God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, whether good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:14)

May your live your life every day with the confidence that your hand is on the intercom button, God is on the other end, but you have nothing to be ashamed of.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Don’t forget the Lottie Moon Christmas Tea at 2 P.M. today at New Zion Baptist Church. It is for all girls and ladies! It doesn’t matter your age, size, church, or knowledge of Lottie Moon. Come, enjoy some tea (or hot chocolate) and some tea cakes made by Lottie’s recipe. You’ll learn more about her and her support of missions. Then, you will realize why our annual offering for International missions is named in her honor.
Anna Lee

Friday Evening

David and I were able to get out some this afternoon. We learned there’s a large number of people without electricity and/or phone service. Pray for these people as they make changes in their routines to stay warm and dry. Thank God for those who have been generous by providing for others during this time.

Mrs. Della McDaniel is doing much better. Thank-you for continuing to pray for her during her recovery period.

Mrs. Faye Price has been having more dialysis. Continue to pray for her, the medical staff, and her family as they stay close by.

Jesus is the reason for the season! It’s not a season to be selfish and think of ourselves.
Anna Lee

Friday

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Luke 2:11-12 (NIV)

Tangipahoa Parish’s 37 public schools ordered shut down as a result of Thursday’s snowstorm will remain closed Friday, the school district announced.

Emily Panter was about to go home late yesterday afternoon. She has fought for her life and the blessing of returning to her family since October. Thank-you so much for praying for her while she was hospitalized. Now, our prayers need to focus on her rehabilitation and her and adjustment to being with her family again. http://emilypanter.blogspot.com/

Don Denton went home last Friday. Please continue to pray for Don and his family during his continuing recovery at home. http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/dondenton

Mrs. Catherine Yarborough will have a procedure on the 16th to take care of some nerves in her back that cause constant pain. Please pray for “Miss” Catherine as she prepares for this.

George Will
(Died December 11, 2008)
Mr. George Will, a resident of Kentwood, passed away at 5:10AM, Thursday, December 11, 2008 at the St. Helena Parish Hospital, Greensburg.

Arrangements are incomplete at this time.

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

McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, is located at I55N & Hwy 16W next to Coggins-Gentry Ford.

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

SUMMERTIME CHRISTMAS

Are you ready for Christmas break? School will be out soon and you can help bake cookies, drink hot chocolate, and bundle up in warm clothes. Well, not all kids are wearing warm clothes this Christmas.

Did you know that spring is just ending and summer is beginning in Brazil? Yes! The children in Brazil celebrate Christmas during summer vacation. They spend time with their friends and family then have dinner at midnight!

In the United States, most people get paid for twelve months of work each year. But in Brazil and some other countries, they get thirteen paychecks. Every year at Christmastime, they get paid one extra time. The money is spent almost as fast as they get it—food for big parties, presents for the children and all the relatives, trips to see family.

Christmas IS a lot of fun! But do we get all excited and forget about what is important? It doesn’t matter if it is summertime or winter. It’s okay if we don’t get to buy lots of presents for all our friends. What is most important?

If you live in Brazil, in the United States, or any other country in the world—the most important part of Christmas is JESUS! Let’s pray for the children in Brazil. They are wearing bathing suits and playing on the beach. You are putting on your snowsuit and making snow angels. But they are kids just like you. They need to know about the love of Jesus too.

MORE PRAYER REQUESTS FROM MISSIONARY KIDS

Please pray for my dad—he is stressed about work. NATHAN, age 14, (Central, Eastern and Southern Africa)

Please pray that more people will come to Christ and pray that we don’t get sick or hurt. SOPHIA, age 11 (Pacific Rim)

My parents work with people who live in villages and in the bush. Pray for people to know the truth about God and Jesus. Pray for me at school—for my friends and teachers. ALLISON, age 5, (Central, Eastern and Southern Africa)

Please pray for Uruguay because it is very depressing country. The people in Uruguay are not looking for Jesus. They aren’t looking for God at all. Uruguay is the one top most countries in that allows abortion. So please pray for Uruguay! PLEASE!!! CORA, age 11 (South America)

Dear God, please take care of the city I live in. I hope my Mom and Dad will have a good day. Amen. ES, age 8 (East Asia)

Pray for my church. Pray for my cousin, he is in Texas. Pray for me in Sri Lanka to find a friend. JUSTIN, age 7 (South Asia)

Pray for us—the Lees—as we travel and share the gospel with the Mwera of Southern Tanzania. Please pray for my two national friends, AM and AD. Pray they will come to know the Lord and that they may step into the Light of Jesus. Also pray for the Mwera that they may have the burning desire to know the Lord. Once again, pray for us as we travel to reach the Mwera.

CHRISTIAN, age 12 (Central, Eastern and Southern Africa)

We live in one of the largest cities, so we are in a rather nice area. Dad teaches at the seminary, mom works 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 pray that my brothers and I will be able to reach the children in our school. They are well-off children, thus don’t really see the need for a God.

For some people, their living areas are often junk metal put together for shelter and the shelters often catch on fire. So please pray for their homes/housing.

My family is prone to sickness, so pray for our health. SYDNEY, age 15, (Central, Eastern and Southern Africa)

“Missionary’s Calling ‘Undeniable, Irresistible’ Force”
http://www.imb.org/main/news/details.asp?StoryID=7513&LanguageID=1709

KneEmail: Looks

THE BIBLE DOES describe the physical appearance of many people…

Moses was said to be a beautiful child. People spoke of King Saul as being handsome, standing a head taller than anyone in Israel. David and Solomon were both “ruddy,” handsome men.

But what of Jesus?

Nothing. Zilch. Zero. Not a word about a regal nose, handsome visage, or muscular body. In fact, the Bible tells us virtually nothing about Jesus’ looks. Only that he “has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him” ( Isa. 53:2 NKJV).

From those words we might presume Jesus wasn’t handsome, at least not in the way modern artists portray Him. Apparently, in the mind of God, this was a nonissue. Jesus’ words and character and love drew people to Him, not His dashing good looks. (Mark Littleton)

We probably put too much emphasis on a person’s outside.

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” ( 1 Sam. 16:7; cf. v. 12).

Posted by Mike Benson at December 5, 2008 11:58 AM

As far as I know, the Lottie Moon Christmas Tea scheduled for 2 P.M. tomorrow at New Zion is still on schedule. I’ll let you know if anything changes.

Be safe and warm today.
Anna Lee

Thursday Afternoon

Joan Hagan’s mother, Mrs. Betty Bethel, has been having several health issues lately. Please keep her in your prayers.

2 things: Update: Our customer’s son who had surgery yesterday to remove a tumor from his brain (it actually turned out to be one small orange sized tumor and one golf ball size turmor and it was located on the front left lobe of his brain which affects his speech and memory) surgery went well and if all continues to go well he will be able to go home in a few days and then has to start radiation, please continue to keep him and his family in your prayers and thank you so much for the prayers on his behalf already. 2: My sister’s grandson, Dustin Rosamond is in North Oaks with pneumonia in one lung and they are planning to transfer him to Tulane Medical Center (my sister, Pearl is very worried about him and is worried that this may affect his only kidney (he only has one)) he has been running a raging fever, been very weak and throwing up so I am asking for prayer for him and the doctors and techs caring for him and for his family. Thank you so much for always being there to pray for all the many needs.

Chris W. did leave Russia yesterday and is now in the Balkans.
The rest of the family is packing and distributing their household
goods to meet up with Chris in about a week. Please keep praying for
them diligently for their move, new ministry, team members being
reassigned and the ministry they must leave.

Thank you for praying for Chris and his family. Please continue to pray for
Jill as she packs up their belongings and she and Christian meet up with
Chris. Please also pray for the Russian officials that handle missionary
visas that they will come to know the Lord and let his light through them to
others.

Melinda

W B Travis
(April 28, 1943 – December 11, 2008)
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7. W. B. Travis went home to be with the Lord at 3:28 a.m. at his home in Kentwood surrounded by his loving family on Thursday, December 11, 2008. He was a dairyman and fence contractor for many, many years. He was a member of New Zion Baptist Church, Kentwood, and Masonic Lodge #98, F&AM, Greensburg. He is survived by his devoted wife, Joan Pittman Travis, Kentwood, and his six children, Lesia Jones and husband, Scott, Roseland-Arcola, Joanie Booty and husband, Johnie, Spring Creek, Penny Bates, Kentwood, and Sonya Williams, and husband, Fred, Gillsburg, MS, Clent Travis and wife, Erin, Kentwood, Brent Travis and partner, Charlie Tomkins, Loranger; two sisters, Mary Rose Mahaffey and husband, Roy, and Carlene Brownell, Gillsburg, MS; 14 grandchildren, Bridgette Jones, Cassie Jones, Danielle Jones, Jonathan Booty, Jacob Booty, Joanna Booty, Jace Booty, Barrett Bates, Chelsea Bates, Baylor Travis, Blake Bridges, Tristen Bailey, Travis Williams and Kirby Williams; 2 great-grandchildren, Alyvia Bates and Duely Deaton. He was preceded in death by his parents, Felder and Bulah Mae Travis; 2 brothers, Carl Travis, Irvin Travis and his two infants; a nephew, Wayne Mahaffey. Visitation will be held at New Zion Baptist Church, Kentwood, Friday December 12, 2008 from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. with a Masonic Service at 7 p.m. Visitation will resume at 8 a.m. on Saturday, December 13, 2008 with religious services at 11 a.m. at New Zion Baptist Church. Services will be conducted by Rev. Richard Sandburg and Rev. Danny Smith. McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, in charge of arrangements.

Baptist Press

December 11, 2008

WASHINGTON–House churches under new threat in China. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29491

MISSOURI–Appeals panel hears MBC/Windermere case. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29492

OHIO–Ohio Baptists recognize 30 new church starts. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29493

HAWAII–Hawaii Baptists welcome Korean church. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29494

VIRGINIA–Oldest IMB emeritus missionary dies at 102. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29495

KENTUCKY–Deaton elected Western Recorder editor. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29496

VIRGINIA–WORLDVIEW (Erich Bridges): Knocking at the gate at Christmas. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29497

FYI: As if this time, the parish school system is scheduled to reopen tomorrow after a day off due to SNOW!