The Prayer Link

Wedenesday

“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me,

for I am gentle and lowly in heart,

and you will find rest for your souls.

For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

~Matthew 1:29-30~

Update on Mrs. Faye Price

Hi, Just wanted to let you know Faye is not off the ventalitor just yet. She has periods of time that she off, but she is not completely free from the vent. Keep praying for her complete healing and for her to be rid of the vent. Also pray for her family and medical staff.

Thanks

Laura

Update on Don Denton

Don is home after a very long day….Don being released from the hospital this morning but not getting to leave until around 7:30pm this evening, ugh! We are home….Yeah! and tired.

We are so very very glad that Don is home. He is very tired and weaker of course. He has taken a few steps back, but hopefully not for long.

Today started with good news at the homefront here, the dishwasher manufacture is going to replace our kitchen floor for us. There was damage from the leaking and small fire that we had from the “dishwasher recall”. So we are excited that we will have a new kitchen floor sometime in the future. We are not at a place where we can have someone come in and work in our kitchen now. Life is too busy these days.

The even better news is that this hospital stay of six days was about a separate illness and not a relapse.

WE are going to have to be much more careful about doctor visits and physical therapy. Don may have to wear a mask and gloves. when out, especially doctor appts. He will need to be treated like a “cancer” patient, because he is still on steroids and his body is very compromised.

We continue to learn more about what we need to do.

Pray for us, we are still struggling with the insurance company. I have spoken to them and they claim not to have approved a “in network gap exception” for Don at Mayo. They told me that they don’t have a record of approving this. Although when I give them name of person, date and time, they still are claiming I am wrong. I spent almost 3 hours on the phone between Mayo and our insurance company working at trying to get this resolved. Unfortunately I will need to file an appeal. WE have wonderful advocates trying to help us from the church and school and I am so grateful for their advice. I could not do this without them.

We saw neurologist about 6pm this evening and she is going to help us along with our ID doctor to get Don the help he needs for the severe vertigo. It may take a few weeks, but we are hopeful.

Your cards and letters and encouragement are amazing words of hope and love. WE continue to be strengthened by your prayers and by the words from scripture and encouragement. Don and I are so blessed by you all. I have found myself again at this place where I did not think I could do one more thing. I have been so discouraged and God has used you to encourage Don and I.

You can’t begin to know what this has meant to us.

This time of illness for Don has been a test of my faith, not understanding why. My precious husband who is a man that knows God and seeks to know God in a deeper way, who has been a model for me and our son. In a way that is full of grace and patience. God uses this man to show me unconditional love. He is the one that has this quiet trusting faith.

I continue to come to this place of having to trust even when I don’t understand. If we never have answers as to why, it is OK. Hard stuff happens in life, very hard stuff. It could be allot worse. I get that. I see others who suffer, really suffer. God has been a constant even when I am at my weakest. Even when I have been weary and not wanting to talk to God about this. God has never left.

I am so thankful that is not up to me to get it all right and I can rest in that truth. Christ in me the Hope of Glory. I have understood this truth for sometime now. And as I continue to grow in Christ I can see how “Resting” in what I can’t see is so important. It does not make the pain easier, it does not make the grieving easier, but there is comfort in Knowing that my God has not left and never will.

Well it is late and I have a mound of clothes to fold. But the good news is my two favorite guys are here at home. I am a tired happy camper.

God bless you our friends and family,

Diane

Baptist Press

February 10, 2009

INDIA–Life improving for destitute Bengali women. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29843

CALIFORNIA–Pastor, wife returning home, await reuion with daughter, son. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29844

TENNESSEE–Ken Starr gives Prop 8 argument preview. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29845

TEXAS–RecLab combines physical & spiritual. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29846

TEXAS–There’s a purpose to ‘games, games, games.’ http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29847

MICHIGAN–FIRST-PERSON (Bob Carpenter): When to leave your church. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29848

KneEmail

“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).

Mike Benson, Editor

NEHEMIAH RETURNED TO the ruins of Jerusalem to restore the city…

He rallied the remnant people of Israel, and they immediately began rebuilding the wall. Several naysayers and antagonistic groups attempted to intimidate the workers and stall the work. Then word came to Nehemiah and his workers that the enemies were about to attack. Listen to the anxious voices around Nehemiah:

We are exhausted: “The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot build the wall.”

We are doomed: “Our enemies said, ‘Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work.'”

We are outnumbered: “Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over ‘Wherever you turn, they will attack us.'”

The situation became highly charged with anxiety: Nehemiah’s workers were anxious. The antagonists also became anxious, fearing the Jews might actually succeed in rebuilding the wall and take power.

However, rather than joining in the anxious fray of his people and of their enemies, Nehemiah remained calm, creative, and focus on the goal. He calmed his people’s fears and then galvanized them to action. In fifty-two days the wall stood at its full height. Rather than freeze, flee, or even fight, Nehemiah led his people through the emotional pain to which they subjected themselves and accomplished the task. (Jon Mullican)

“But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying,

‘Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.'”

~Matthew 14:27~

Have a wonderful Wednesday and “be of good cheer”!

Anna Lee

Tuesday

“Come to Me,

all you who labor and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest.”

~Matthew 11:28~

Big 10 from teamromany

February 2009

This will be the final Big 10 from teamromany. In March, the International Mission Board will be implementing reorganization plans that have been underway for several months. All of teamromany members will still be working with Roma. We are excited that we will now be clustered with additional colleagues who are working with Roma in other countries. We will still be sharing prayer requests with you, but they will come in a new format and include prayer requests for Roma and those serving among them throughout all of Europe.

1. Thank you for praying for International World Changers leaders who traveled to Prague in January for planning and then on to ministry sites across Europe. Leaders were able to meet with teamromany missionaries to make plans for projects this summer. Please pray for the hundreds of college and high school students who will serve with us this summer through IWC projects.

2. Bob and Gayle are in Prague for team leader training. Pray for them as they complete assignments this month. Pray that the training will help better prepare them for their role in ministry. Boyd will lead one of the training sessions today. Please pray for him as he encourages and equips new team leaders.

3. Please pray for Boyd as he attends the first Cluster Leaders’ meeting Feb. 18-21. The leaders will be working on details of the new reorganization. Please pray for all those affected by the changes.

4. Last weekend Boyd and the Silbys made a visit to Slovakia. They were able to meet pastors and church planters who are working among the Roma. Pray for the Silbys as they make decisions about moving to Slovakia in the future.

5. Please pray for a team of students from Union University who will volunteer in Romania in March. Thank God for these students who are using their spring break for ministry.

7. Please pray for the village of Macin, Romania. The Hills and Banks have begun ministering in this area. God is beginning to open doors in this village. Pray that the Hills and Banks would know how to encourage the people there to grow in their relationships with Christ.

8. While in Slovakia, Boyd and the Silbys visited the village of Cino Bana. Fifteen Roma were baptized there last fall. Thank God for working in the lives of the Roma there and pray for these new believers to grow in discipleship.

9. Please pray for Daniel as he works with youth in villages around Cluj, Romania.

10. Please pray for Mirek, a Romany believer in Prague. He is considering moving to Brno to lead the Bible study. Until this time, a faithful Czech believer has led the group, but the Roma are very excited about having a Roma lead them. Thank God for the faithfulness of Mr. Smilek, the Czech man who had been open to serving among the Roma and pray for Mirek as he accepts this leadership role.

Thank you for praying with us and for us.

Daniel Byrd – Romania

Boyd and Jennie Hatchel – Czech Republic

Bob and Gayle Hill – Romania

Joe and Julie Silby – Czech Republic

teamromany.com

Don Denton

It looks like Don may be coming home tomorrow. We will know in the morning.

. . .

WE are so excited that Don is coming home. It has been Saturday since I have seen him and last Friday since Joshua has seen him.

Thank you for your help.

Bless you our family and friends

Diane

About the same time that we began praying for Don Denton, we also became aware of the need of Emily Panter through Frann S. Clark. Emily posted a picture of herself, her mother, and the baby that was only a couple days old when Emily became seriously ill. As you can see, God had really answered the many prayers for Emily.

Mom was just able to spend the past two weeks with me. It was a wonderful visit. I assume it was more like what she had expected the visit to be back in october. Thanks for coming mom! I love you.

I received word that Mrs. Faye Price is continuing to improve and is now off the vent. Please continue to pray for her, her family, and the staff at the rehabilitation hospital.

RENAMING SIN

Someone has come up with the following list of “politically correct” terms for teenagers:

* No one fails a class anymore, he’s merely “passing impaired.”
* You don’t have detention, you’re just one of the “exit delayed.”
* Your bedroom isn’t cluttered, it’s just “passage restrictive.”
* These days, a student isn’t lazy. He’s “energetically declined.”
* Your locker isn’t overflowing with junk, it’s just “closure prohibitive.”
* Kids don’t get grounded anymore. They merely hit “social speed bumps.”
* Your homework isn’t missing, it’s just having an “out-of-notebook experience.”
* You’re not sleeping in class, you’re “rationing consciousness.”
* You’re not late, you just have a “rescheduled arrival time.”
* You’re not having a bad hair day, you’re suffering from “rebellious follicle syndrome.”
* You’re not shy. You’re “conversationally selective.”
* You weren’t passing notes in class. You were “participating in the discreet exchange of penned meditations.”
* You’re not being sent to the principal’s office. You’re “going on a mandatory field trip to the administrative building.”
* It’s not called gossip anymore. It’s “the speedy transmission of near-factual information.”
* The food at the school cafeteria isn’t awful. It’s “digestively challenged.”

We have become experts at using language to hide the reality of our situation. We don’t hear much about homosexuals; instead we talk of those with an “alternative lifestyle.” Fornication is now referred to as “cohabiting with a significant other.” We rarely sin; we merely “fail to live up to our full potential.” It’s not a new game — the Pharisees neglected the welfare of their parents, but called it “Corban” (dedication to God).

Changing the wording doesn’t change the sin. “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20).

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Thank you for being there to pray today. Your prayers make a difference to many situations and many people.

Anna Lee

Monday Afternoon

[The boy’s father said,]

“… If you can do anything, do it.

Have a heart and help us!”

Jesus said, “If?

There are no ‘ifs’ among believers.

Anything can happen.”

No sooner were the words out of his mouth

than the father cried,

“Then I believe. Help me with my doubts!”

Mark 9:22-24 (MSG)

David Gullota update from Angela Shockley:

Thought you would like to know that David came home Fri. He is staying with his grandparents in Tylertown, MS. His mother would like to thank everyone for their prayers and concerns. She ask that we continue to pray for him as he recovers

You’ll see why I chose this verse when you read the updates on Don Denton (Friday, Saturday, Sunday, & Monday).

Don is not coming home this weekend. He is too sick. His body is so compromised. The doctors are treating this as a separate illness. His right arm is swollen, they did an Ultra sound and found the beginnings of a blood clot. They are taking the necessary steps to treat it.

He is unable to eat at this point. So looks like he will be there for several days. We will know more by Monday.

Ugh….Ugh…Ok, that is just where I am at. This is hard and for Josh, well he just wants to be with his dad. So today I brought our portable dvd player to hospital and Joshua was perfectly content sitting there by his dad.

I won’t complain, it won’t do any good. And I have to hold onto the fact that he is not relapsing. I am most thankful for that. Josh and I just really miss him.

The days seem so long. I need to keep focused on how blessed we are. Because we are. Don could be allot worse and that I am so thankful for that he is not.

Thank you…thank you for your love and care and support of us.

Diane

Well Don is looking better this morning. He still has a high level of nausea, dizziness and headache.

He has a superficial blood clot, meaning not a deep thrombois. He is on clear fluids and not able to eat that at this point.

Hopefully we will see improvement today and tomorrow. I am so grateful to Mary Ann Smashey for staying with Joshua so I could spend the night at the hospital last night.

Bless you

Diane

Blessings

I now have this virus that Don has. What a life… So I am home sick, trying to take care of Josh and Don is at the hospital. What a story. Don’s IV dislodged in his left arm and now his left arm is swollen. They had to put the IV back in the right arm with the superfical blood clot.

Can you tell, I am not having a good day today. I am pretty tired myself. Hopefully my symptoms will get better. I was suppose to take Joshua to his best buddy’s birthday party today. I don’t think I am going to make it.

Sorry for the complaining. It is just a bad day. Pray that the nursese seeing Don now will be on top of this issues. I have had to be the one to bring things to their attention. I am beginning to be concerned over their ability to take care of him.

Ok, so there you have it. Life in the Denton house is pretty discouraged. Please pray for all of us, we really, really need it.

Bless you our family and friends

Diane

I am feeling somewhat better. I have not seen Don since Saturday morning. I have spoken to him. He still has headache pain, but he is starting to eat. He still has swelling in both arms.

I have spoken to the nurse. She does not seem concerned about this. The night nurse was not aware of the superficial blood clot in his right arm.

I will be talking with his doctor sometime this morning. He is to call me. I am not well enough to go up to the hospital as of yet and of course I don’t want to spread my germs to Don.

The good news is that Don is able to keep his food down. He sounds somewhat better too.

It hurts my heart that Josh and I can’t be there to show support to him.

I am thankful that he has an excellent doctor in Dr. Trotman. He is present and passionate about Don’s case.

Pray that Don’s headache pain resolves itself. Pray that he will be able to get up and move around some today. If I am feeling well enough and my doctor says it is OK, I want to go see him this evening.

Joshua got to go to his friends Elijah’s birthday party yesterday and I could tell that he had the best time. We have such good friends that care so much about him. I am so grateful.

This has been a very long journey, going on 5 months now. Thank you to those of you who are sticking with us through this roller coaster ride. Thank you for your continued love, care and support of us. I could have never imagined our life being turned upside down like this.

I bought a causal necklace to support the childrens network at Cox South Hospital. It is a simple round copper piece with the word” believe” in the center. Joshua asked me….mom what does it say. And I told him, “Believe” I wear it because I believe in you, I believe in daddy, I believe in our family and I believe that we are going to make it through this and I believe in God that he is with us through all of this even when it is hard.

Joshua then said to me, “Mommy wear it on the outside of your shirt, so everyone can see that you believe in us”.

Pray for us. Thank you so much for walking with us and being with us, we need you all.

love,

Diane

Linda Greenhill Simms
(July 27, 1940 – February 7, 2009)

Linda Greenhill Simms went to meet the Lord on February 7th peacefully at home in her sleep. A resident of Amite, LA, Linda was born in Clarksville Tn. She moved to Amite when her mother married Rich Hellmers, pharmacist and owner of People’s Cash Pharmacy. She was a retired nurse having graduated in 1962 from Baylor University in Texas. Linda spent many years working for long term care organizations such as Hospice. Linda blessed many lives during her career and believed it was her calling to care for people in need and spent much of her career working with individuals who were terminally ill.

Linda was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Amite. She touched many lives by her compassion and acts of selflessness. She never knew a stranger and was a constant witness for Christ in both her speech and actions. She will be missed by her neighbors, friends, and family, especially her four children.

She is preceded in death by her mother, Jane Hellmers, her step-father, Rich Hellmers and her father, James Edward Greenhill of Clarksville, Tn. She is survived by one sister, Bertie Jane Greenhill Kilpatrick and husband John, her four children; Chuck Simms and wife, Vicki, Will Simms and wife Elizabeth all of Gatlinburg, Tn., Meg Sharkey and husband Michael of Amite, La., and Barry Simms and wife Sue of Bristol, Tn. and her grandchildren, Chaz Simms V, Gary Richoux, Tilon Simms, Noah Simms, Mandy Sharkey, Jacob Sharkey, and Stella Simms.

Pallbearers will be Buck Cefalu, Tom Ed Brumfield, Richard Kilpatrick, Gradon Clemons, David Vining, and Jerry Lewis. Honorary pallbearers are Leroy Wilkinson, Shelby Reid and Delos Jones.

Visitation will be from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm on Monday, February 9th at McKneely Funeral Home in Amite and from 8 am until Religious Services at 9:30 am on Tuesday, February 10th . Service conducted by Rev. Dennis Walker. Interment will follow in the Amite Cemetery, Amite.

Donations may be made to First Baptist Church of Amite.

Obituaries Dorothy Bennett Husser
(April 14, 1924 – February 8, 2009)

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Dorothy Bennett Husser

Died at 2:34AM on Sunday, February 8, 2009 at Lallie Kemp Regional Medical Center, Independence, LA. She was a native of Tangipahoa Parish, LA. Age 84 years. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Monday and from 8 a.m. until religious services at 10:30AM Tuesday. Services conducted by Bro. Dale Ziebarth. Interment St. Dominic Cemetery, Husser, LA. Survived by 5 children, Jimmie Husser and his wife, Shirley, Independence, Wayne Husser, Independence, Kenny Husser and his wife, Micaleen, Independence, Pat Shockley and her husband, Thomas, Loranger, and Sharon Kay Lee and her husband, Sidney, Independence, 1 sister, Doris “Johnnie” Stanfield, Independence, 6 grandchildren, Charla Yarbrough, Marcie Chadwick, Charity Gay, Jessica Kyzar, Brittany Shockley, and Riggin Lee, 3 great-grandchildren, Cameron and Corey Yarbrough and Leah Chadwick. Preceded in death by 1st husband, Wilson Husser, 2nd husband, Ervin Husser, and parents, Harry and Doe Bennett.

Wanda Brunet Harden
(May 12, 1961 – February 7, 2009)

Wanda Brunet “Sweetie” Harden a devoted wife, mom, and Christian to all was born May 12, 1961 and passed at 7:13AM, Saturday, February 7, 2009 at the North Oaks Medical Center, Hammond. She was 47, a native of New Orleans and a resident of Amite. Wanda is survived by her husband, James B. “Jim” Harden, Amite; 3 daughters, Missy Brunet Bennett, Amite, Mindy Brunet Fitch, and husband Dustin, Amite, & Melinda Brunet Bennett, Amite; Mommie, Velma Brunet Noel, Amite; 2 sisters, Connie B. Lee and husband, Norman, Jr., Larose, Pamela B. Rousse, and husband Carl A., Amite; 3 brothers, Alfred Brunet, and wife, Barbara, Larose, Joey Brunet, and wife, Kim, Amite, and Mark Brunet, Amite. 5 grandchildren and numerous extended family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her father, Herman Peter Brunet, Sr. and a brother, Herman Peter Brunet, Jr.

Visitation will be held at the McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, on Monday, February 9, 2009 after 10:00AM until Religious Services at the funeral home Chapel at 2:00PM with Bro. James Downing officiating. Interment in the Colonial Mausoleum, Independence.

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.

KneEmail

“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).

Mike Benson, Editor

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN IS accredited with saying that there is nothing in this life that is certain except death and taxes…

Funny, is it not, how neither seems to come at an opportune time? Death is something that we never come to grips with. We deny that it happens. We put it off until another day. We try to run ahead of it to ensure that it never catches up. Some even try to buy it off but they never succeed for death comes to us all.

However, this isn’t much comfort when our loved ones pass on. We have all lost someone near and ear to us. A grandparent. An uncle or aunt. A parent. A sibling. A close friend in the prime of life. And when these deaths occur in trivial circumstances, the pain is almost suffocating. A friend commits suicide. Another is taken in an automobile accident. A grandparent or parent who develops cancer is given only two weeks to live. An uncle is murdered.

It happens.

It shouldn’t.

But it does.

The pain that comes from death is worse than anything else that humanity can imagine or create. You see, death represents finality. That’s it. It’s the end of the line. They are gone. Your loved one is now only a memory. At least that is true for those who never know Christ. But for the ones who do, death is only a brief milestone between earth and eternity. (Michael Whitworth)

“…It is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).

David and I are thankful we were able to with family for the baptism our our grandson, Braden Alford (6). What a joy!

I hope you have have a great day! Please feel free to call or email your praises, requests. and updates you wish me to share.

Anna Lee

Monday (Early Edition)

Cissy Cutrer requests prayer for Kathy Jo Thompson, a 23 year old LSU student. Kathy Jo’s father, Mr. Delos Thomspon, requested prayer for her. She will have brain tumor surgery soon.

Debbra Smith requests prayer for Mr. Robert Phillips who is hospitalized in Baton Rouge.

I found death notices for Dorothy Bennett Husser and Linda Simms on the McKneely website and for Wanda Brunet Harden on the McKneely-Vaughn website.

I’ll post more Monday afternoon.

Sunday

For God so loved the world

that He sent his only begotten Son

that whosoever believeth in Him

should not perish,

but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

Don Denton is still hospitalized with a blood clot, nausea, dizziness, and headache. Pray for him, his family, and the medical staff as he receives treatment. Thank God for the progress he has made in the last few months.

Many requests have been posted in the last week. Please pray for each one.

Have a meaningful Lord’s Day!

Anna Lee

Saturday

Reminder: Tomorrow, FBC, Kentwood will be celebrating Lauree Titus’ thirty years as church secretary with a covered dish meal after morning worship. You are invited to participate in showing your appreciation to her.

Friday Addition

Schauwanna Brooke Myers
(December 22, 1976 – February 3, 2009)

Died at 10:28PM on Tuesday, February 3, 2009 at University Hospital in New Orleans, LA. She was a native of Independence, LA and a resident of Kentwood, LA. Age 32 years. Visitation at Lewiston Baptist Church, Kentwood, from 10 a.m. on Saturday until religious services at 2:30PM Saturday. Services conducted by Rev. Russell Kirkland. Interment Lewiston Cemetery, Kentwood, LA. Survived by father, Joe A. Myers, Jr., Magnolia, MS, daughter, Tasha Rae Myers, Kentwood, 2 sons, Jasper Bassemier, Kentwood, and Russell “Smiley” Rand, Jr., Kentwood, 2 sisters, Jackie Graham, Baton Rouge, and Rochelle Simoneaux, Hammond, 1 brother, William Joe Ray Myers, Magnolia, MS, step-father, Dale Pigott, Waveland, MS, grandmother and step-grandfather, Viola Schenk and James Miller, Kentwood, grandmother, Dorothy Marie Myers, Magnolia, MS, numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, and newphews. Preceded in death by brother, Darvin Schenk, mother, Elizabeth Schenk, McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, in charge of arrangements.

Friday (early)

God has reserved a priceless inheritance

for his children.

It is kept in heaven for you,

pure and undefiled,

beyond the reach of change and decay.

1 Peter 1:4 (NLT)

Mrs. Ruby Dillon called to say Carl Wayne Stevens made it through surgery well. The upper right lobe of his lungs was removed. He will not require additional treatment. Thank God for this good report.

Ronald Putman is doing much better. He may be able to come home as soon as he accomplishes his rehab goals. Please continue to pray for him.

Don Denton

Don was admitted to the hospital at Cox South this morning. He woke up about 1:30 Thursday morning very sick to his stomach, low grade fever and headache. I called doctor on call she said if he gets sicker bring him in to the ER. So about 3:30 this morning I started to prepare to find someone to come and stay with Joshua, so I could take Don in to the ER.

Don is severely dehydrated and his potassium level is critically low. At this point his doctors are treating this as a separate illness. His body is so immune-compromised that he is susceptible to illness easily.

The good news in all of this is that he has not had a relapse at this point. As a matter of fact, if they can get him hydrated, fever under control and get him eating, he may get to come home tomorrow or Saturday.

He is very discouraged, so please pray for him. He just needs encouragement. I have been up since about 1:30am this morning, so I will close for now.

I will keep you all posted once I know. I will be back at the hospital in the morning. Joshua is having a very, very hard time with this hospital stay. He wants to be with Don and I and he does not want to stay home or be with friends.

Pray that Don will be well enough to come home tomorrow.

Bless you our family and friends.

Diane

Mrs. Jewel Allen Easley
(February 4, 1924 – February 5, 2009)

Mrs. Jewel A. Easley a loving mother, wife, sister, and grandmother, was born on February 4, 1924 and passed away at 10:37AM on Thursday, February 5, 2009 at Southwest Regional Medical Center, McComb, MS. She was 85, a native of Liverpool and a resident of Kentwood.

Mrs. Jewel is survived by a daughter, Carolyn Geter Troquille and husband, John, Jackson,LA; a son Joe Allen Easley and wife, Jean Clark, Kentwood; a sister, Sybil Allen Marcantel, Clinton; 3 sisters-in-law, Mary Joyce Allen, Baton Rouge, Willie Jean Allen, Jackson, & Jeannette Allen, Clinton; a son-in-law, Michael Bracy, Spring Creek; 9 grandchildren, Walt Geter, Julie Geter Netterville, Vonda Geter Cain, Jody Easley Davidson, Stacy Easley Cassel, Buddy Lynn Easley, Joe Allen Easley II, Byron Bracy and Chris Bracy; 14 great grandchildren, Ron Netterville, Lindsey Netterville, Orry Cain, Olivia Lynn Cain, Trenton Scott Bailey, Thomas Trey Bailey, Drew Allen Davidson, Matthew Bridges, Ethan Michael Cassel, Isabella Fisher, Carter Douglas Easley, Kennedy Marie Easley, Brennan Bracy, Abigail Bracy and a great-great grandchild, baby Bailey to be born in June 2009.

Preceded in death by her husband, Walter “Buddy” Easley; parents, Charlie & Minnie Hurst Allen; a daughter, Donna Lynn Easley Bracy; 2 sisters, Lorena Allen Weegan & Robbie Allen Bueche; 4 brothers, Charlie Ray, John Freeman, Felix Warren “Pete”, & Billy Roy “Woodsie” Allen.

Visitation will be held at The Lord’s Church, 1936 Hwy 440, west of Tangipahoa, on Friday, February 6, 2009 from 6:00PM until 9:00PM and on Saturday, February 7, 2009 after 8:00AM until Religious Services at 11:00AM with Rev. Don Meadows officiating. Interment in the New Zion Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Walt Geter, Buddy Easley, Joe Easley II, Byron Bracy, Chris Bracy, Billy Allen, Jr. and Al Travis.

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

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

Nancy Sue Morgan
(May 18, 1948 – February 3, 2009)

Nancy Sue Morgan

Nancy Sue Morgan was born on May 18, 1948 and passed away at 8:51AM on Tuesday, February 3, 2009 at her residence. She was 60, a native of Parchmen, MS and a residence of Independence.

She is survived by her husband, Windle B. Morgan, Independence; a daughter, Wendy S. Nunez and husband, Donald, Independence; a step-daughter, Lisa Gillam, Slidell; a son, Michael D. Morgan, Independence; 2 step-sons, Harry J. Morgan, Slidell & Darryl Morgan, Mississippi; 2 sisters, Linda K. Brown & Stella M. Swaim both of Mississippi; a brother, David W. Sanders of Texas: 15 grandchildren & a great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her parents, James K. & Lavora Goodwin Sanders; a son, James Adrian Jones, Sr.; 4 brothers James K., Stephen J., William P., & Charles Sanders.

Visitation will be held at the First Baptist Church of Independence on Saturday, February 7, 2009 from 12:00NOON until Religious Services at the church at 1:00PM with Rev. Mitch Williams officiating.

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

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

Movie

“Fireproof”

6:30 P.M. Friday

FBC, Kentwood

On Mission in Kentwood

Saturday @ 8 A.M.

Help someone in our community.

A DIFFICULT WORD

I heard about an office whose answering machine was set up to instruct callers to leave their name and address, and to spell any difficult words.

Early one Monday, when the secretary was reviewing the weekend messages, she heard an enthusiastic young woman recite her name and address, and then confidently offer, “My difficult word is reconciliation. R-E-C-O-N-C-I-L-I-A-T-I-O-N.”

Reconciliation can be a difficult word. It’s not that it’s difficult to understand. Webster defines the word “reconcile” as “to restore to friendship or harmony, to settle or resolve.” The word can be used in a variety of ways, but when it’s applied to people it basically means to get two separated people back together again. So we talk about a husband who wants to be reconciled to a wife who has left him. A father who wants to be reconciled to a wayward son. And a lost sinner who needs to be reconciled to God.

While not difficult to understand, reconciliation can be a difficult word to put into practice. It can be very difficult to get two family members who are at odds to be reconciled. And it can sometimes seem very difficult for us (or for others we know) to be made right with God.

A man once went to a preacher because he was having some family problems. He wasn’t a very well-educated man and sometimes got his words confused. He said, “Me and my wife need a re-cancellation.” What he meant to say was reconciliation, but the word re-cancellation wasn’t a bad choice. Because there can be peace for those who have been separated only when sin has been canceled. As sinners before a righteous God, we need a “re-cancellation”. And that’s exactly what Jesus made available when he died on the cross.

“….by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight.” (Col. 1:20-22)

Thanks be to God for making this difficult word a reality in our lives.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

May you be able to count numerous blessings in your life today.

Anna Lee

Thursday

“Then He said to His disciples,

‘The harvest truly is plentiful,

but the laborers are few.

Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest

to send out laborers into His harvest.’”

~Matthew 9:37-38~

From Hannah Tate:

Hey again everybody! We decided on a name for her today and it is, Laura Joy Tate. She is such a sweet baby, and we love her so much! The only danger she is in is that of over handling, while she has seven siblings to hold her! We are hoping Mama and she can come home tomorrow, though they may have to wait till Friday. Mama is recovering very well.

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.

~ Hannah

Standing on the Promises~Jeanne Tate, wife to Wonderful Chuck

Mama to 8 Awesome Tater Tots~

Hannah 15, Rebekah 12,

Elizabeth 10, Benjamin 9,

Sharon 7, Abigail 4,

and Joshua 2, and Laura 2 days!

Updates on others:

Mrs. Faye Price – Progressing in Regency Rehab in Covington

Kitty Bennett Lapreyrolerie – Doing much better in B.R.

Carl Wayne Stevens – Surgery in Jackson, MS at 7 A.M. today

Frann Smith Clark – Still in ICU in Texas; Many concerns; Improving

Walter Dykes – Surgery went well; Waiting for lab report

Bobby Simpson – Waiting for lab report

Jimmy Schwartz – Doctor appointments and tests

Annie Bell Harrell – Better; Still needs prayers

Cliff and Lauree Titus – Appointments Friday

Lauren Fowler – Baby within two weeks

Wade Boone – Surgery soon

Stacey Tolar – Surgery soon

Hellen Morris – Back/leg issues & tests

I.W. Simmons – Treatment completed; Home

Bennie Simmons – Home; Prayers needed

Aubrey Perry – More concerns; Additional treatment

Tracey Williams – Rehab in Gonzales; Much bette

Greg Fortenburry – Home

Orin Davidson – Hanging in there; At Naomi’s

FBC Announcements:

Beth Moore Study “Stepping Up”– Tonight at 6 P.M. or Sunday at 4:30 P.M.; Book $13.oo

Movie “Fireproof” – Friday @ 6:30 P.M.; Invite your friends & family

Easter Drama – Now signing up

Gaither Homecoming – March 21st in Jackson, MS; Sign up by Feb. 15th

On Mission in Kentwood – Saturday at 8 A.M.; Minister to someone else and receive a blessing

Church-Wide Valentine Banquet – Youth fund raiser; February 13th @ 7 P.M.; Tickets $15.00

Canadian Mission Trip Meeting – Sunday, Feb. 15 @ 4 P.M. for those interested

OLDER THAN DIRT?

Today’s humorous story actually comes in the form of a quiz. How many of these do you remember ?

1. Bazooka chewing gum
2. Little wax Coke-shaped bottles with colored sugar water inside
3. Television broadcasts ending at night and not coming on until late morning
4. Soda pop machines that dispensed bottles
5. Hamburger joints with table side jukeboxes
6. Home milk delivery in glass bottles with cardboard stoppers
7. Telephone “party lines”
8. Newsreels shown before the movie
9. Butch wax
10. Telephone numbers with a word prefix (Olive-6933)
11. Peashooters
12. The Howdy Doody Show
13. 45 RPM records (and record players)
14. S&H Green Stamps
15. Television test patterns
16. Metal ice trays with levers
17. Mimeograph paper
18. Blue flashbulbs
19. The Amos and Andy show (radio or TV!)
20. Roller skate keys
21. Cork popguns
22. Drive-in theaters
23. Studebakers (they were automobiles)
24. Wash tub wringers
25. The television day beginning and ending with The Star Spangled Banner

If you remembered 0-7, you’re still young (ish)
If you remembered 8-14, you’re getting older
If you remembered 15-20, don’t tell your age
If you remembered 21-25, you’re older than dirt!

I remember the first time I started feeling really old. My wife and I were playing a game with some college students and Johnny Carson’s name came up. One of the students asked, “Who’s that?” Suddenly, I realized that I was a member of “another generation”!

The things on the list above are things I don’t expect my children to be familiar with. They’re too young. They weren’t around back then. In fact, I wasn’t even around for some of those things!

There once was a conversation between Jesus and the Jewish leaders in John 8. Jesus made a reference to Abraham, and the Jews were amazed. They said, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” (John 8:57). He was too young to know such things — over a thousand years too young.

But, though they could not understand it, Jesus had indeed seen Abraham. “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” (John 8:58).

What the Jews failed to realize (and what we must acknowledge) is that Jesus was not just a man. He was God and had been in existence for all eternity. In fact, he is the only person who ever lived who you could honestly say was “older than dirt”! All praise be to the God who took on flesh and blood for our sakes!

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Enjoy this Thursday, a gift from God!

Anna Lee

Wednesday

“We give thanks to You,

O God,we give thanks!

For Your wondrous works declare

that Your name is near.”

~Psalm 75:1~

New baby in Tate family

Hello everyone! We are happy to announce the birth of our little sister! We don’t have a name yet but will soon.
She was born today ( 2/3/09 ), by C-Section, at 12:10 p.m. and weighed 8lbs. 14oz. and was 21” long!
She and Mama are doing well and hope to come home on Thursday. Thanks for your prayers! We will try to get a name for her soon!

She is so sweet!

Hannah

(Hannah Tate, oldest daughter of Chuck and Jeanne Bond Tate)

Kathy Dyer’s surgery was successful in that the tumor in the colon was removed. However, 3-4 small tumors (of the same type as the original one)were found in the small intestine and could not be removed during this surgery. She is to have 6 more months of chemotherapy. Kathy is recuperating well and thanks everyone for the prayers. Please continue to lift Kathy and her family up in prayer.

Don Denton

We were up at 6am this morning. Don and I headed down to Springfield for his Lumbar puncture. We did get very good news. The opening pressure of the brain is normal! We feel really good about this. It means that healing is happening. He still has Hydrocephalus and inflammation, but it is getting better.

WE have more doctor appointments this week and next. No improvement with the vertigo that continues to be a source of discouragement for Don.

No news as of yet with respect to the insurance issues, but I did get some good advice today from one of Don’s students mother. I am so grateful to her for the advice.

There are two special prayer requests that I have today. When Don, Josh and I were up at Mayo our friend Arwen introduced me to a friend of hers whose son has had brain cancer. I saw allot of hard things that families go through while at Mayo.

This young man’s name is Will. He is 10 years old. The doctors believe his cancer has returned again. He has medulloblastoma. Please pray for this boy and his family.

Also please pray for my brother’s wife Lynn. Her cancer has returned and it looks like they won’t be able treat her with anything other than a hormone drug.

Joshua continues wake up every night. But he is wanting to play with his friends more and that is huge. Well, I better go….I get to put dishes in my new dishwasher that came…..yeah! Whirlpool replaced it for us.

Don gets his new glasses tomorrow. Hopefully that will help him see better so he can read.

Take care,

Diane

MISSIONARY PERSONAL NEEDS. “Family members of several of our team members are suffering from major health issues. Pray that the Lord will provide His peace and comfort for everyone involved. Pray that team members can continue to focus on their work in spite of their desire to be with family to offer support. Ask the Lord to send others to minister to these families in the place of team members who are so far away.”

Nancy Sue Morgan
(May 18, 1948 – February 3, 2009)

Nancy Sue Morgan

Nancy Sue Morgan was born on May 18, 1948 and passed away at 8:51AM on Tuesday, February 3, 2009 at her residence in Independence, LA. She was 60 years old.

Arrangements are incomplete at this time.

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

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

KneEmail

“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).

Mike Benson, Editor

HE SAT ALONE in the right hand corner of the front pew — just left of the pulpit…

As I recall, he was a relatively short man in terms of physical stature. He wore thick, black-framed glasses and had a red flat top hair cut. He had a broad smile. He always wore a dark suit on the Lord’s Day to the worship assembly. He sang bass — I mean real d-e-e-p bass. His loud voice would resonate throughout the auditorium during services. I learned to love singing bass largely because of Joe. He sang well, and it was obvious that he loved to lift his gift of praise to the Father.

Joe was my Wednesday night Bible class teacher one year. Always prepared. Very knowledgeable. Concerned about his students. Friendly. Supportive. Personally interested.

One of Joe’s classes sticks out in my memory above all others. For some reason, the rest of my fellow students didn’t make it to Bible study this particular night. So this evening I was Joe’s only pupil. Other teachers might have been tempted to send me to another classroom, since I was the sole student. Not Joe. Like I said, he took a personal interest. To him Bible class wasn’t just about imparting information, it was about making connections with people. Nobody had to “strong arm” Joe to teach the Word; he did so gladly. Well, he sat down with me that night and talked to me about my soul — about my salvation. We didn’t go through the Bible class workbook, we just talked about how to become a Christian — what I needed to do to be saved and why. A few days later — May 17, 1972 — I put on Christ in baptism (Gal. 3:27). Much of the reason I did so was because of Joe Flannary and out little one-on-one Bible study that one Wednesday night at the Overlook church in Dayton, Ohio.

Observations:

Jesus valued people as individuals. He talked one-on-one withe Zacchaeus (“…For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost”– Luke 19:10). He held a night study with the Pharisee, Nicodemus (“…Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”– John 3:3). He conversed with the Samaritan woman at the well “…Whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst”– John 4:14). It’s not surprising that Jesus gave His attention to individuals like these; He knew the worth (cf. Matt. 16:26; 10:29-31) of one soul.

Like the Master, Philip knew the worth of one. Remember Philip (Acts 8)? He left his work with many in Samaria (Acts 8:6, 12) to speak to just one from Ethiopia (“…Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him”– Acts 8:26ff). It has been suggested by some that the eunuch made his way back home to Ethiopia following his conversion and then, in turn, preached the Word to his fellow-countrymen and spread it through the region. I have no way of affirming or denying that proposition, but I do know that even if the eunuch lived and died the only Christian in Ethiopia, it was worth Philip’s efforts and time.

What if only one student came to your Bible class this week? Like Jesus, would you give him your individual and undivided attention? Like Philip, would you get in your vehicle and drive a long distance, even if you knew only one person would be present to hear God’s message? Like Joe, would you stay with him in class and talk to him about eternity and his soul, or would you send him over to another teacher because you only had one student?

Jesus practiced one-on-one teaching. So did Philip. So did Joe. All three were effective. What about you, dear Christian…? Would you be willing to teach just one…?

“Go thereforeand make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen (Matt. 28:19-20).

The movie “Fireproof” will be shown at 6:30 P.M. Friday night. It’s free! The story is about a fireman and his wife. You will cry and laugh while you are crying. You will also learn to work to strengthen your marriage. I suggest you make plans to attend if you have not already seen the movie.

Have a wonderful Wednesday. May you be a blessing to someone today.

Please feel free to share requests, praises, and updates. Many others are willing to pray with you.

Anna Lee