Monday Evening

It didn’t take long to learn of two deaths and two families you may wish to pray for.

Johnny Hurst passed away Saturday. His services will be Wednesday. I’ll post more information later. In the meantime, pray for the Hurst family.

Randy Simpson passed away this afternoon. Please pray for the Simpson family as they begin to deal with this loss.

Monday Afternoon

We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19 (NIV)

We made a “flying” trip to Rome (Georgia) to be with Jason’s family. We enjoyed seeing all of them and doing some fun things together – feeding ducks, geese, and a swan at Berry College, seeing many, many deer at Berry College, putting together a 500 piece puzzle, eating and more eating, attending worship at West Rome Baptist church where we witnessed 15 baptisms and heard 3 awesome testimonies of thanksgiving, attending the reveal of an extreme makeover (by West Rome Baptist Church and XL (their alternative church) and witnessing the wedding of the lady whose family benefited from the makeover. Sunday was a day I’ll probably remember with chill bumps for a long time! That was all of top of receiving some hugs and kisses from some of the most special people in our lives!

You can read the story of the makeover in this online newspaper article.
http://news.mywebpal.com/partners/680/public/news937152.html
Take time to view the video. You will be amazed!
Many people said you needed to see the before and after pictures to really appreciate the love and work this family benefited from.

XL:http://www.xlwired.com/
West Rome Baptist Church:http://www.westrome.org/
There were approximately 1,000 in worship service yesterday morning. What a spirit of excitement about what God has done!

Some of you please call or email me and let me know what I missed here in Kentwood that needs to be shared on The Prayer Link. I have no current information at this time.

Jennie and Boyd also make it safely home today from a trip to Paris. Thank God for his traveling grace for our family over the last few days.

Read the updates on Emily Panter @ http://www.emilypanter.blogspot.com/. Continue to pray for Emily and her family.

You can read the updates on Don Denton @ http://www.caringbridge.org/cb/viewJournal.do?method=executeInit. Pray for this family too.

Ray Wilburn Tompkins
(March 7, 1942 – November 23, 2008)
U.S. Veteran Ray Wilburn Tompkins was born on March 7, 1942 and passed away at 10:37AM, Sunday, November 23, 2008 at his residence in Greensburg. He was the son of the late Roy and Mona Sharp Tompkins. Ray was 66 and a native of Paradise, MT. He was a Veteran of the United States Air Force where he was awarded the Air Force Good Conduct Medal and the Air Force Longevity Service Award.

He was survived by his wife, Mrs. Katherine Tompkins, Greensburg; 3 daughters, Shelia Simmons, Osyka, MS; Karen Barkman and husband, Kenneth, Carriere, MS; and Amanda Hilton and husband Christopher, Greensburg, LA; 2 sisters, Nancy Bradshaw, Morganton, NC & Rose DeNu, San Jose, CA; a half sister, Martha Good, Paradise, MT; step-mother, Mrs. Maxine Tompkins; 7 grandchildren & 2 great-grandchildren.

Preceded in death by parents, 2 brothers, James Frank Tompkins & Gary Wayne Tompkins; a half sister, Betty Lou Moore.

There will be a memorial service at a later date in the Day’s Cemetery, Liverpool.

In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made to: Community Care Hospice, 1007 W. Thomas St.,Suite A, Hammond, LA 70403.

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

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

Chief John J. (Bacile) Polito, Sr.
(January 14, 1940 – November 23, 2008)
U.S. Veteran Died at 10:07 p.m. on Sunday, November 23, 2008 at his residence in Independence, LA. He was a native of Kenner, LA. Age 68 years. He was member of Independence Fire Department for 45 years where he served as chief for 37 years. He also served as an Alderman and was the current Mayor Pro-temp of Independence. He was the Chief of District #11 Volunteer Fire Department in Livingston Parish where he was responsible for chartering their department. He was a life member of the Louisiana State Fireman’s Association, a member of the Louisiana Municipal Association, an employee of Tangipahoa Parish Council, a member of the Advisory Committee for Central Tangipahoa Head Start, was an avid farmer and loved to spend time with his family. He is survived by his wife, Congetta Drago Polito, Independence; 2 daughters, Mary Polito Spencer and husband, Tommie, Independence and Patricia Polito Sparacello and husband, Sammy, Independence; 2 sons, John J. Polito, Jr. and wife, Dianna, Independence and Michael A. Polito and wife, Missy, Tickfaw; 7 grandchildren, Lauren Spencer Hardy and husband, Christopher, Jessica Polito, Brandi Polito, Sam Sparacello, Jr., Bridget Polito, Tommie “TJ” Spencer and Stephani Sparacello; 2 great-grandsons, Brayden Polito Carlisle and Christpher D. “CJ” Hardy, Jr.; 5 brothers, Nick Bacile, Jr., Baptist, John Bacile, Metairie, Anthony Bacile, Baton Rouge, Nace Bacile, Walker and Charles Bacile, Walker; sister, Camilla Bacile, Independence; numerous nieces and nephews, family and friends. Preceded in death by his brother, Vincent Polito; father, Joseph Polito; mother, Mary Mitra Polito Bacile; step-father, Nick Bacile, Sr. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Tuesday and from 8 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday. Religious Services at Mater Dolorosa Catholic Church, Independence, at 11 a.m. Wednesday. Services conducted by Deacon Roger Navarra. Interment Colonial Cemetery, Independence, LA.

Courage

PETER CARTWRIGHT, A nineteenth-century, circuit-riding preacher, was an uncompromising man…

One Sunday morning when he was to preach, we was told that President Andrew Jackson was in the congregation. Cartwright was warned not to say anything out of line.

When Cartwright stood to preach, he said, “I understand that Andrew Jackson is here. I have been requested to be guarded in my remarks. Andrew Jackson will go to hell if he doesn’t repent.”

The congregation was shocked and wondered how the president would respond. After the service, President Jackson shook hands with Peter Cartwright and said, “Sir, if I had a regiment of men like you, I could whip the world.”

“In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” ( Matt. 3:1-2).

I’m not sure my courage would be equal to that, but I pray for more courage to speak up with the appropriate words at the appropriate times.

Anna Lee

Friday Afternoon

The senior adults said the Thanksgiving luncheon Wednesday was delicious. Enjoy some good holiday meals during the next week.

Lauree said the final shoebox (Operation Christmas Child) count was 144. Thanks to all who had any part in making this mission project such a success. Lots of boys and girls will be blessed by the shoeboxes they receive at Christmas.

Have a great afternoon and evening.
Anna Lee

Friday

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. James 1:19 (NIV)

Deacon Hospital Ministry:
Nov. 16-22: Bobby Raborn & Frankie Gehringer
Nov. 23 – Nov. 29: Andy Taylor & Mike Estay

Nursery Workers for Sunday, Nov. 23:
Carol Jean Conerly
Wanda Miller
Ora Lee Wilson
Lily Edwards

Community Thanksgiving Service
Sunday, Nov. 23 @ 6:30 P,M,
FBC, Kentwood
Message by Rev. Percy Frazier
Fellowship

“Hope for the Holidays”
Thursday, Dec. 11
Seminar dealing with loss, sorrow, loneliness, & grief

“Men of the Bible”
Begins , Sunday Dec. 7
Friendship Circle Sunday School Class
9:15 A.M,
You are invited to attend.

Current Projects due to church office by wed., Dec. 3rd:
Christmas Toys (new) for Migrant Children
Christmas Cards w/Stamps for Prisoners

KOMpray
(Kids on Mission Pray)

“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

GOOD NEWS NOW

A 15-year-old girl in Sri Lanka asked God to help her learn how to tell others about Jesus. Sri Lanka is an island nation in South Asia near India. God heard her prayer and gave her a chance to go to a class called “Good News Now.” She learned how to tell others about Jesus then went out to tell her friends and neighbors. She led more than 20 people to the Lord in just three months!

Not only that—she had a chance to tell all of her classmates in front of the entire school during story time. She shares the love of Jesus with her teachers and one of them is now a Christian. Please pray for this 15-year-old girl. Pray that she will keep on telling everyone about Jesus. Pray that many people will want to become Christians. And ask God to help this young girl teach new believers how to share their testimony too.

MORE PRAYER REQUESTS FROM MISSIONARY KIDS

Pray that I will glorify God in all I do. ANDREW, age 15, (Central, Eastern and Southern Africa)

My sister will get braces and she is afraid if she gets braces. Pray she will have a safe fit. TONYA, age 8 (South Asia)

Pray that the people of Kenya will accept and know God. Pray that all of the missionaries won’t to give up hope in God. Pray that Jesus will be with us.

The culture I live in is where some of the worst traffic in the world originates from. Our culture speaks Swahili and some are eager to see the Lord. Our culture is a culture of many ethnic groups, and people who are lost.

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

I have 2 friends who live in a village close to where I live who don’t know Jesus as their Savior. Please pray that TM and KJ will listen to the word of God and then give their lives over to Him. Thank you. REBEKAH, age 14 (West Africa)

Pray for my grandfather, K, he is not a believer! CHANG, age 10 (Pacific Rim)

Please pray for our people group. Many don’t know Jesus. Not many people know about them (our people group) or where they live. Also, please pray more people will come and help the people of our group. TH, age 9 (East Asia)

We are in the United States for a little while. Please pray for our family as we try and settle in and try to keep up with the school work that I am going to be missing. ROBERT, age 15, (Central, Eastern and Southern Africa)

Pray for everyone in Nepal because they are Hindu. Pray they will become Chrisitans. LEVI, age 11 (South Asia)

KneEmail
Mike Benson

Hope

IN 1997 THE JOURNAL of the American Heart Association reported on some remarkable research…

According to the Chicago Tribune, Susan Everson of the Human Population Laboratory of the Public Health Institute in Berkeley, California, found that people who experienced high levels of despair had a 20 percent greater occurence of atherosclerosis — the narrowing of their arteries — than did optimistic people. “This is the same magnitude of increased risk that one sees in comparing a pack-a-day smoker to a non-smoker,” said Everson.

In other words, despair can be as bad for you as smoking a pack a day.
That is just one more reason to choose hope and and faith. The Christian life contributes to good health today, and eternal life tomorrow.

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day” ( 2 Cor. 4:16).

We all need hope. Pray for those who have to deal with lots of problems will not lose hope.
Anna Lee

Thursday

“Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear.” (Isaiah 59:1)

Several people have had good reports. We thank God for each one.

J.D. Smith was able to come home with medication for his treatment. Pray that will be sufficient to meet his needs.

Mrs. Margaret Callihan is home again. Pray for her as she adjusts to being back at home.

Glen Magee, Jr. continues to do very well following his back surgery in Florida as week. Thank God for this new process that may be able to help countless people.

Mr. Orin Davidson continues to be at rehab and is expected to be able to return to the Tolar household in the near future.

Mrs. Faye Price was not able to have her heart procedure. She will have heart surgery in a couple of weeks. Pray for her as she prepares for surgery.

Nedra Hurst Carter did not have her surgery yesterday because her brother had complications after his surgery Monday. Johnny’s colon surgery went well, but he had a stroke later and is in ICU. Please pray for the Hurst family during this difficult time.

Remember Barbara Hutchinson and Susan Rimes in your prayers. Susan will be returning to her normal schedule after burying her sister, Lisa Davis. Barbara will be facing the wake as funeral services for Mr. James Lee.

Pray for those who already started traveling or will do so in the next few days for their holiday activities. If you know of someone who might be alone for Thanksgiving, include them in your plans. You’ll be so glad you did.

KneEmail
Mike Benson

Important

IT WAS A 99 degree September day in San Antonio, when a 10-month-old baby girl was accidently locked inside a parked car by her aunt…

Frantically the mother and aunt ran around the auto in near hysteria, while a neighbor attempted to unlock the car with a clothes hanger. Soon the infant was turning purple and had foam on her mouth.

It had become a life-or-death situation when Fred Arriola, a wrecker driver, arrived on the scene. He grabbed a hammer and smashed the back window of the car to set her free.

Was he heralded a hero? “The lady was mad at me because I broke the window,” Arriola reported. “I just thought, What’s more important — the baby or the window?”

Most questions of priority are not between something important and something trivial; rather, between the important and the most important. (Craig Larson)

“…Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” ( Matt. 6:21).

Posted by Mike Benson at October 16, 2008 1:40 PM

Let’s make sure we think about what we give priority in our lives.

Don’t forget the share group at the Alford cabin tonight at 6:30. Jan Hammons will be giving the devotional. She always does a great job.
Anna Lee

Wednesday Afternoon 2

Please pray for me to heal quickly and to endure the pain during this time of healing. I fell Sunday night and broke my breast bone. Came home Tuesday afternoon. Nothing they can do for the break. Break and upper body very sore.
Thanks for your prayers
Frann Smith Clark

Lawrence E. “Larry” Randall, Jr.
(May 28, 1949 – November 18, 2008)
Died at 5:20 p.m. on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 at his residence in Amite. He was a native of Hammond, LA. Age 59 years. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 9 a.m. until religious services at 11 a.m. Friday. Services conducted by Rev. Marshall Wallace. Interment Amite Memorial Gardens, Amite. He is survived by his 2 daughters, Danna McDaniel and husband, Jim, Franklinton and Shelby Simpson and husband, Chad, Loranger; mother, Sarah Inez “Nezzie” Randall, Amite; 2 sisters, Mary R. Morgan and husband, John, Amite and Melissa R. Wallace and husband, Marshall, Amite; brother, Glenn T. Randall and wife, Janelle, Amite; 5 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father, Lawrence Randall, Sr.; sister, Bobbye R. Bond; 2 nephews, Carlton “Chip” Bond and Jason D. Randall.

Wednesday Afternoon

Ronald’s surgery is over. All went fine. The next few days ahead he must be careful. We felt each and every prayer. Thanks so much and please continue to pray for him.

Lawrence Randall
(May 28, 1949 – November 18, 2008)
Died at 5:20 p.m. on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 at his residence in Amite at the age of 59 years.

Arrangements are incomplete at this time, but the online guestbook is available.

Wednesday

“So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent.” (Isaiah 55:11)

Mary Broussard works with the Tangipahoa Parish School System and with me through the KHS PBS (Positive Behavior Support) team. Her brother, Stephen Broussard has liver failure and is hospitalized in Abbeville. Mary would appreciate prayers for the family, especially her 90 year old mother, as they face losing Stephen.

Here is an attached news story about a recent outreach in north Czech Republic.

Thank you for continuing to pray for peoples others have forgotten.

Thank you for pressing forward.

Blessings,

Boyd H.

Litvinov Outreach – Czech Republic

November 17, 2008

North of Prague, near the German border, is the industrial town of Litvinov. In Litvinov, the majority of Roma live in a section of the city called Janov. This ghetto is the run-down, neglected part of town, where no one wants to live or even visit.

In October, more than 300 extremists, held an unauthorized anti-Roma rally in downtown Litvinov. At the conclusion of the rally, the emotional mob marched and rode on horseback to the Janov neighborhood. They attacked local Roma with sticks and stones. Police successfully stopped the raid, but not before three police were injured.

Last week, IMB personnel visited the Janov neighborhood. They distributed tracts, brochures, and evangelistic CDs. They listened to the concerns and fears of residents. They prayed with family members.

“They came in here to our homes and treated us like dogs. We have lived here all our lives. What did they want us to do? What have we done to them?”, asked Petra, a 40-year old mother from Janov.

“Has anyone from the church visited your area since this took place?” asked the IMB missionary.

“No one knows we’re here, except those people (extremists),” commented Jan. “The government wants us to leave, but we have no place to go.”

Your prayers gave missionaries the courage to go into an unknown neighborhood. Your gifts and resources provided the means for missionaries to travel to another section of the country. Your prayers will provide the direction for future ministry in this area.

Thank you for your partnership and prayers. Thank you for your gifts and generosity to reach those who feel forgotten.

WEDNESDAY WINDOW ON THE WORLD – November 19, 2008
International Mission Board

APPLE DISTRICT OF INDONESIA. You asked God to bless a project intended to bring water to a village that had none, and He did. You prayed for S to have opportunities to share his faith, and God brought another person, J, to share as well. J got to stay in the village while the project was being done and began sharing Bible stories from day one. There is great interest in the stories, and S and J have been very encouraged by the openness of the community toward spiritual things. The water project has gone amazingly well, and phase one has been completed. Now more than 70 families have water available to them without having to carry it for long distances or waiting for it for hours. The community was totally behind the effort, and more than 100 men turned out every night from 7-12 p.m. to dig the trench for the pipe until the work was completed. Please pray for the continued openness of the community and for S and J to have more opportunities to share their faith. Pray for phase two to go well. Also pray for S’s father to come to faith.

DEAF OF URUGUAY. Jesus said that in this world we will have trouble, but we are to rejoice, for He has overcome the world. Troubles are falling hard on a deaf mother church in Montevideo, where leaders are being attacked, vicious rumors abound, and there is an active movement to close the church. Please pray for the faithful members and especially the leaders. Ask the Lord to give them wisdom, discernment and strength. Pray for the survival of the church, asking that it will come through this time of testing pure as gold, stronger than ever, and reaching thousands for the Lord.

BERLIN, GERMANY. Workers in Berlin are thrilled with a wonderful start to a new immigrant fellowship meeting. The meeting is held every two weeks on Sunday afternoon, and is led by four men. This is the first fellowship that is held in the mother tongue of the largest immigrant population, and is co-led by men who are immigrants from this large Muslim country. Thank the Lord for those who have attended and that the numbers are growing. Pray for the fellowship to be a safe place where people can come and hear in their mother tongue the good news of Jesus Christ. Pray that the Lord will lead and guide the four men who lead this fellowship. Thank Him for the unity that these men find in Christ. Give thanks also for those who give to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, as some of that money was used to provide chorus books and Bibles in the mother tongue of this immigrant population.

MISSIONARY PERSONAL NEEDS. West Africa’s Financial Facilitators rely heavily on Internet and e-mail services to support missionaries who are spread over an area approximately the size of the United States. However, much of West Africa has an underdeveloped infrastructure. Additionally, some information is difficult to communicate appropriately by e-mail. Pray that the team of Financial Facilitators in West Africa will be able to communicate effectively with those whom they support and that they will have wisdom and discernment to know how best to share information.

Baptist Press
November 18, 2008

ENGLAND–Multicultural London: ‘capital of the world.’ http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29355

ENGLAND–Coffee shop prayer yields fruit in London.http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29356

ENGLAND–Vietnam refugee fulfills vow in London.http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29357

ENGLAND–Brit returns to a new mission field.http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29358

TENNESSEE–Huckabee: Social conservatives key to GOP’s future.http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29359

CALIFORNIA–Calif. Southern Baptists affirm Prop 8 support.http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29360

VIRGINIA–BGAV adopts reduced budget; Campolo criticizes Prop. 8.http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29361

ILLINOIS–Ill. Baptists increase CP giving again.http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29362

TENNESSEE–TN Baptists approve W. Africa mission.http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29363

VIRGINIA–London (Erich Bridges): End of ‘Christian civilization’?http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29364

KneEmail by Mike Benson

Identify

IN THE NEW York Times Magazine, Nancy V. Raine told a story she heard twenty-five years earlier from a friend named George…

In those days, work crews marked construction sites by putting out
smudge pots with open flames. George’s four-year-old daughter got
too close to one and her pants caught fire like the Straw Man’s
stuffing. The scars running the length and breadth of Sarah’s legs
looked like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. In the third grade she was
asked, “If you could have one wish, what would it be?” Sarah wrote:
“I want everyone to have legs like mine.”

When we suffer pain, we want others to understand. We want others to be like us so they can identify with us. We don’t want to be alone. God does understand. When Jesus became a man, he did something far more difficult than having legs like Sarah’s. (Craig Brian Larson)

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” ( John 1:14).

Posted by Mike Benson at October 14, 2008 12:54 PM

Face this day with a smile.
Anna Lee