Wednesday Afternoon

Michael Douglas Hyde
(July 31, 1958 – June 5, 2008)

Michael Douglas Hyde, 49, died at his residence in Delray Beach, FL on June 5, 2008. He is survived by a son, Michael Devin Hyde, a daughter, Calyn Virginia Hyde, and a grandson, Connor Gage Hyde, all of Folsom, a step-son, Bryan Tyrney of Mobile, AL, two sisters, Cheryl H. Pierre of Loranger and Miriam “Patti” Tyler of Kentwood and two nieces, Michelle Carrier and Claudia Pierre of Loranger. He was preceded in death by his father, Sgt. Oliver Douglas Hyde and mother, Virginia Till Hyde. Graveside services will be held on Friday, June 13, 2008 at 10 a.m. at Hyde Cemetery, Chesbrough.

Russell Joseph Johnson, Jr.
(July 28, 1951 – June 10, 2008)

Russell Joseph “RJ” Johnson, Jr. passed away on June 10, 2008 at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge. He was an avid soccer and baseballe coach in the Independence area. He was a graduate of Independence High School and Southeastern Louisiana University. he was employed for 35 years with AT&T. He was the owner of Johnson’s Trophies and Gifts. He is president and co-founder of the North Tangi Youth Soccer Association. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus, Independence Council #5627 and Telephone Pioneers. He was also the soccer coach for Independence High School. He is the beloved son of the late Russell and Anna Bravata Johnson of Independence. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Adra Ledbetter Johnson of Independence, two sons, Russell Johnson, III and Brett Adam Johnson, two daughters, Lauren Wong and Megan Orlando, all of Independence. He is also survived by his aunts and uncles, Mary Grace Bravata, Joyce and Leon Chambers, Davis Johnson, Joe John and Virginia Bravata, Philomena and Red Bravata, Bertha Rochefort, Kenny Johnson, and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law. He will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Thursday and at Mater Dolorosa Catholic Church, Independence, from 9 a.m. until religious services at 11 a.m. Friday. Interment Colonial Cemetery, Independence.

Wednesday

“Lord, I have called daily upon You;

I have stretched out my hands to You.”

~Psalm 88:9b~

INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS PRAYERLINE
INTERNATIONAL MISSION BOARD
Wednesday, June 11, 2008

“[I pray] that the eyes of your heart

may be enlightened so you may know

what is the hope of His calling,”

~Ephesians 1:18a, HCSB~

Dear Intercessors, this is Eleanor Witcher of the International Prayer Strategy Office, asking you to pray for our field personnel that they will stay focused on their high calling.

Recently, I had the glorious and exhausting experience of cooking a three-course international meal from scratch. As I prepared, God reminded me of life on the field. On the one hand, I did have to be extra creative to find the right ingredients or substitutes that would not spoil the overall effect. On the field, the unusual foods were right there in the market. However, that other hand kept smacking me in the face.

Here, I drove from store to store locating chickpeas that can be eaten like nuts and the variety of fruits, vegetables, and herbs that made the table pop with color. On the field, I walked to the market, went to several different vendors, and slowly carried the heavy bags home. The fresh foods were cleaned in bleach water. Here, I bought meat wrapped in cling wrap and felt confident the meat was fresh. On the field, I looked for the hoof of a cow or a sheep to identify the slab sitting out under the hot sun. The meat was hacked off with an axe, and I lugged it home to clean out the bone shards and trim the fat. Here, it got pretty hot in the kitchen as I prepared soup, baked bread, seared the meat; but all I had to do was lower the thermostat to make things comfortable. On the field during the one hundred degree days, there was no air conditioning and frequently no electricity to run a fan.

God reminded me of the challenges, but He also kept placing the faces of national friends on my heart. They struggled daily with financial and physical strain but were only beginning to understand their spiritual weakness. These friends had heard the name of Jesus; but before field personnel came to their city, they had not heard the Truth.

* Please pray for the lost that their hearts would be open to hearing God’s Word.

* Ask God to bring a cooling breeze into the lives of those living in harsh summer conditions.

* Intercede for missionaries that their focus will remain on Jesus rather than circumstance.

PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC (prahg). Members of the Prague Mega-City Team will join others from the Central Europe Field (CEF) this month for their annual general meeting. This will be a time of worship and fellowship together and opportunities to become better equipped for future ministries. As these IMB representatives meet, pray that their hearts will be ready to hear a word from the Lord, that they will be encouraged, and that they will have wisdom as they make strategic plans for starting churches. Pray for the volunteers from the United States as they prepare to minister. Pray also for the volunteers who will care for the children of the representatives. Pray for safety for IMB representatives and volunteers as they travel to and from this meeting. Pray that they will return to their areas of ministry refreshed and renewed, and ready to face the tasks God has given them. http://www.pragueteam.org/

Please be in prayer for the US volunteers flying to Hungary to minister to our children and us at our annual meeting. We just received the prayer request below for one volunteer’s son. Please pray for the Zinke family and the son as he recovers from a motorcycle accident. Thank you!

Melinda

Regina Zinke who was coming to work with the 7-9 year olds (Miles Haltchel’s class) is not able to come as her son was in a serious motorcycle accident yesterday. He has been unable to move his legs and that is all we know at this time. Please be praying for his complete recovery.

KENYA. “A miracle unlike anything I have ever known” is the way that one woman displaced by the recent post-election chaos in Kenya describes her return home last month. This woman, who has been attending a church in Nairobi during her time of being displaced, shared this testimony one week with the church that has offered her a temporary home: Trusting God that it was safe, she travelled last month to check on her Rift Valley farm for the first time since fleeing for her life in January. As she approached her house, a member of the ethnic group that had caused her to flee ran to meet her. Asking for her forgiveness, he said he had taken her donkeys, mattresses and chickens. With a repentant heart, he asked to return all her things at once. Accepting his apology, the woman shared that she had only come to see if she could return, which she now knew she could do! The man agreed to continue caring for her things until she returned home permanently. In this beautiful part of Kenya, where one can see for miles on a clear day or night, pray that this Christian woman will truly “shine like stars in the universe” as she holds “out the word of life” (Philippians 2:16) when she returns home to live among those who caused her to flee. http://omba4kenya.blogspot.com/

Big 10 from teamromany June 2008

1. Please pray for Lisa Kail and her team from Gibson County, Tennessee who will be leading a camp from Romany youth in Romania June 29-July 5. Pray that the teens who will attend will be encouraged and challenged to grow in their faith. The campers will be sharing their faith in communities near the camp. Please pray that those who hear the gospel will respond in faith.

2. Please pray for our team as we make final preparations for FARM 2008. Pray that the summer missionaries will be blessed and will be a blessing to others in the areas where they will serve.

3. International World Changers volunteer teams will serve with teamromany in both Romania and Czech Republic this summer. We will have nearly 300 students serving alongside us. Pray for us and for the leaders in the US as we make final preparations for these events.

4. Please pray for the Banks family as they move to Braila and begin serving with teamromany. Thank God with us that He provided a nice apartment for them. Pray for the Hills as they help the Banks in this time of transition.

5. The enemy is working hard to destroy, discourage and divide some of our national partners. Please pray that God would reconcile, rebuild, and restore.

6. Please pray for Katie Steele, a student summer missionary from Missouri who will serve in the Czech Republic. Pray that she will develop meaningful relationships with Romany girls that will allow her to share her faith.

7. Pray for the Silby family as they continue orientation in Virginia in preparation for joining us in the Czech Republic. Pray for them as they say good-bye to extended family and friends in the US.

8. Pray that we will be able to find a suitable apartment for the Silby family. Rental property in Brno is scarce.

9. Please be in prayer for American students who will attend Lifeway’s Centrifuge camps this summer. Their missions’ emphasis will be on the Roma. Pray that those who attend will learn more about the Roma, be encouraged to pray more for the Roma, and will give generously to the missions offering.

10. Please pray for Daniel as he returns to Romania. Thank God for the opportunities he has had to share about God’s work among the Roma while in the US. Pray for Daniel’s strength and energy as he will be hosting 3 volunteer teams in the first three weeks he is back on the field.
—
Blessings,
Jennie

‘Give It Away,’Gaither tells Baptists
By Erin Roach

INDIANAPOLIS (BP)–Bill Gaither of gospel music’s Gaither Vocal Band told Southern Baptists the answer to the nation’s economic pressures is not a political solution but a spiritual solution based on God’s people learning to “give it away.”

“I think it starts with us, and I think when the church of Jesus Christ gets organized, we’ve got the resources to do it, and we can do it when we put our heads together,” Gaither told messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting in Indianapolis June 10.

As part of the Executive Committee’s morning report, the Gaither Vocal Band emphasized stewardship by singing their hit song “Give It Away,” and then Gaither spoke briefly about the importance of giving.

He said he and his wife Gloria still live in the same house about 50 miles north of Indianapolis where they lived as schoolteachers during the first decade of their 45-year marriage.

“We’ve tried to model for our three kids and now they’re trying to model the same thing for their kids the joy of giving, and I’m convinced that when we find the joy of giving we will find the joy of living. It’s built into the universe,” Gaither said.

“My granddad told me this years ago and my dad told me the same thing, ‘Bill, you’ve got to make up your mind. There are two kinds of folks in the world, takers and givers,'” he added.

The lyrics to the song Give It Away include: “If you want less lonely and a lot more fun and deep satisfaction when the day is done, throw your heart wide open and give it away. If you want more happy than your heart can hold, if you want to stand taller, if the truth were told, take whatever you have and give it away.”

In remarks to Baptist Press backstage, Gaither, a member of the Church of God, said he has “felt right at home” with Southern Baptists since the beginning of his singing career and didn’t mind emphasizing stewardship during his time at this year’s convention.

“You don’t follow Jesus very long until you get into the area of giving. It’s all about giving. In fact, He says, ‘Come follow Me and die,'” Gaither said. “By the time we’re done, we’ve given it all away. We’ve spent everything we’ve got. We’ve spent every bit of energy we’ve got, we’ve spent every bit of resources we’ve got, we’ve spent every bit of health we’ve got.

“It’s over, and we go home to be with Him,” Gaither said. “That’s the basis of it. That sounds rather tough, but in the long run it’s the only way to joy and real happiness and total fulfillment.”

Gaither said he is grieved by what he called the tragic pursuit of happiness at all costs that is so evident in today’s culture. Jesus, he noted, said anyone who wants to save his life must lose it.

“That is total giving,” Gaither said. “I think somehow we’ve got to start teaching our young kids at a very, very early age the importance of giving. We’re not going to live until we learn how to give.”

A model for giving was set by his father and grandfather as he was growing up, Gaither told BP.

“I never saw two people who lived for others like they lived for others,” he said.

Gaither remembers witnessing his grandfather signing his name to the church mortgage note, taking responsibility to keep the doors of the church open, he said.

“But it didn’t stop at the church. It went home with little deeds of kindness in the community,” Gaither said. “When my dad passed away at 91, the community people said, ‘I don’t know what we’re going to do now without George here removing our snow during winter.'”

Onstage, Gaither told Southern Baptists he often advises young musicians to examine their lifestyles and make sure they don’t buy cars or houses they can’t afford.

“Save something to give away. A tenth is just the beginning, and after that there’s so much joy in learning how to give,” he said.

At Gaither Vocal Band concerts, Gaither said they’ve been giving away $1,000 each night to five different people, and they ask those people to take the money back to their communities and give it away.

“Giving is the Christian theology lived out at its fullest,” Gaither told BP.

The SBC Executive Committee’s stewardship division has emphasized in recent years “It’s a New Day,” a financial freedom initiative intended to help church members get out of debt and learn to manage their finances according to the counsel of God’s Word.

Erin Roach is a staff writer for Baptist Press. For more information, visit www.sbc.net/newday.

If you are interested in reading about the SBC annual meeting, click on “Baptist Press” at the right.

Pray for day 3 of VBS. All seems to be going well. I’m having fun in the missions classes.

Anna Lee

Tuesday Evening

Russell Joseph Johnson, Jr.
(July 28, 1951 – June 10, 2008)

Died on Tuesday, June 10, 2008. He was a native and a resident of Independence, LA. Age 56 years. Arrangements are incomplete at this time.

Charles Joseph O’Malley, Jr.
(April 10, 1924 – June 9, 2008)

Died at 3:36 p.m. on Monday, June 9, 2008 at his residence in Montpelier. He was a native of Morgan City. Age 84 years. Visitation will be held at St. Helena Catholic Church, Amite, from 10 a.m. on Wednesday until religious services at 10:30 a.m. Services conducted by Fr. Joe Camilleri. He is survived by his daughter, Anna M. Mumfrey and her husband, David J., Metairie; sister, Margaret Hingle and her husband, Walter, New Orleans; 2 brothers, Gerald O’Malley and his wife, Mary, Montpelier and Floydd McCann and his wife, Marie, Chalmette; 2 sisters-in-law, Beverly O’Malley, Oklahoma and Karen O’Malley, Missouri. He was preceded in death by his 3 brothers, Melvin O’Malley, Nickie O’Malley and his wife, Virgie and Pat O’Malley.

Wednesday

Mary Lanell Brister Chadwick
(September 15, 1930 – June 10, 2008)

Died at 8:05 a.m. on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 at Harvest Manor Nursing Home in Denham Springs. She was a native of Arcola and a resident of Roseland. Age 77 years. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 8 a.m. until religious services at 1 p.m. Thursday. Interment Arcola-Roseland Cemetery, Roseland. She is survived by her daughter, Dianne Roberts and husband, Maurice, Amite; 3 sons, Jerry Chadwick and wife, Brenda, Amite, Robert Chadwick, Robert, Alan Chadwick and wife, Kim, Kentwood; daughter-in-law, Judy Chadwick, Robert; brother, J. B. Crain, Roseland; 12 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Guycell Chadwick; son, Ronald “Buddy” Chadwick; parents, Louis and Florence Brister; granddaughter, Ashley Chadwick; 4 sisters, Agnes Landry, Algie Schumacher, Betty Spears and Florence Louise Brister; 3 brothers, Louis Brister, Jr., Elmer “Baby” Brister and Bobby Ray Brister.

Tuesday

You need to persevere

so that when you have done the will of God,

you will receive what he has promised.

For in just a very little while,

“He who is coming will come and will not delay.”

~Hebrews 10:36-37 (NIV)~

 

VBS – Day 2 – FBC, Kentwood – 8:30-11:30 A.M.

Dear Prayer Partners,

Please take time to pray for a very dear friend of ours. Beverly Coleman, 44, was injured in a car accident on June 6. She is currently undergoing her 3rd surgery in 3 days. She has a tear in her aorta, both thigh bones are broken, and both arms are broken. She also has a fracture at the base of her skull. Two of her daughters, Heidi (around 11), and Marta (around 7), were also injured though not as severely.

We spoke with her husband and he reported that Beverly has been alert, awake, and seems in good spirits. She is a strong Christian and has recently surrendered to the chaplain ministry. She is a hospice nurse in the Jackson, Mississippi, area.

Please pray that God will continue to use her during this time as He has used her daily to minister to those in need. Pray for successful surgeries that will allow her to continue to be mother, wife, and servant of the Lord.

Blessings,

Donna


California Baptist University Volunteers’ Mission Trip

The team got in last night and all went well on their trip. Thank you so much for all your prayers! Please continue to pray as we head for the orphanage today and later try to figure out public transportation together! That will be quite the adventure 🙂

For updates from the team you can visit the California Baptist University ISP website: http://www.calbaptist.edu/isp/default2.aspx?id=7370
This should lead you to the Romania team, but if for some reason it doesn’t, click on Romania in the left column where all the countries are listed.

Be blessed,
aura

TODAY’S PRAYER
INTERNATIONAL MISSION BOARD
JUNE 10, 2008

“And take the helmet of salvation,

… praying always with all prayer

and supplication in the Spirit,

… that utterance may be given to me,

that I may open my mouth boldly

to make known the mystery of the gospel,

… that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” ~Ephesians 6:17-20~

Some of the IMB requests:

LAST FRONTIER. A worker among a Last Frontier people group writes: “God has been faithful! I appreciate your prayers very much! God has been blessing us so much by having the ‘JESUS’ film in the language of the P people. We have a P team of translators who are doing a version of the New Testament in their own language and also preparing P discipleship material. Also, Bible stories need to be recorded in their own language so that people who cannot read can have access to God’s Word. A three-and-a-half-month training session will be held in another country, and we need to send one person or a couple to that session. This training will be wonderful, because the P will then have everything they need to reach their own people–but I need your prayers. My prayer is this: That the Lord will raise up a P young man or a couple who will be willing to do this ministry for His glory! The first part of the training session will start in July, and the rest will take place in October. Please help me to pray for this urgent need.”

MISSIONARY PERSONAL NEEDS. “‘Watch for moving personnel.’ We have several in our area who are moving country to country, town to town, and street to street. This can often be a time of stress and chaos. Pray that there will be minimal distractions and that rough ways will be made smooth!”

MUSLIMS: PRAYING BEYOND THE WALL. Last summer, a 50-year-old Tatar woman made the decision to follow Jesus, and to show everyone her loyalty by being baptized! She loves the Lord and continues to be devoted even though she is the only follower in her town. While her father-in-law and her children are open to hearing the Truth, her husband is not interested at all. Ask that her devotion and understanding will grow so that her family and others who live in her town will also believe, and pray that a church will be started.

Billy Graham Rapid Response Team Newsletter Update

https://mail.google.com/mail/#inbox/11a6ddcf99fb03e3

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor
WE WILL PUT up with things in the world that we cannot tolerate in the church…

We do it because we have been sent into the world to preach the gospel of salvation.

Jesus ate with publicans, prostitutes and sinners, not because he was greedy, sensuous or sinful, but because the doctor went to the patients.

The Corinthians misunderstood Paul’s instructions in a previous letter. Others have also read the Bible wrong and tried to flee the evils of the world in monasteries, on tall poles or lonely mountains.

The whole sense of Scripture, the whole character of God, the entire mission of the Lord, is to go after rebellious man, to pursue the fleeing sinner, to enter the fray of frantic mankind and pull him back to his original design for divine fellowship.

The direction toward the immoral and sinful is demanding. The heart breaks in the presence of distorted souls. The saint wants to shrink from the filth that flows from mouths, the degradation of sex, power and possessions.

But more overpowering than the stench of moral corruption or the decay of spiritual death is the love that wants to revive a lost person for his true destiny, the compassion to rescue the perishing, the drive to save as we have been saved.

To go out of the world was unthinkable to Paul.

Such a worldly exit is no more an option for us.

Because Jesus came into the world. Because he sent us into the same world. Though divided by millenia and separated by language and technology, the world is still the world.

And salvation still comes exclusively through the message that Jesus Christ died to give life to all. (J. Randal Matheny)


“I wrote in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people. In no way did I mean the immoral people of this world, or the greedy and swindlers and idolaters, since you would then have to go out of the world” (1 Corinthians 5:9-10 NET).

Go out into the world today to share the Good News!

Anna Lee

Monday Evening

Jan Yarborough just called to say thank-you for the prayers for her sister. The surgery had been postponed a couple of time, but finally took place this afternoon. Jan’s sister did well and will be at home later tonight. Jan is very appreciative of your prayer for her sister and brother-in-law during the last couple of weeks.

The funeral for Justin R. Mixon has been changed from Wednesday to Tuesday @ 11:00 A.M. east of Amite.

http://www.edailynews.info/articles/2008/06/08/news/news03.txt

http://iraq.pigstye.net/article.php/JustinRMixon

http://www.patriotguard.org/Forums/tabid/61/postid/888075/view/topic/Default.aspx

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/6/4/21440/19578/307/527510

http://www.strykernews.com/archives/2008/06/03/spc-justin-r-mixon.html

Raymond Servant
(February 21, 1943 – June 4, 2008)

Died at 9:40 p.m. on Wednesday, June 4, 2008 at his residence in Independence. He was a native of Rhode Island and a resident of Independence, LA. Age 65 years. Graveside Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday. Services conducted by Rev. George Anthony. Interment Tangipahoa Cemetery, Tangipahoa, LA. He is survived by his wife, Frances Corkern Servant; 2 step- daughters, Peggy Sue Landry and Donna Marie Landers; 2 step-sons, James Johnson Thomas Johnson and his wife, Elizabeth; 5 grandchildren, J. R. Johnson, Steve Landers, Michael Landers, Tammy Mason and Sam Brooks; 1 niece, Peggy Cox. He was preceded in death by a step-daughter, Frances Ann Golmon.

Jesse C. LeBlanc, Jr.
(December 29, 1942 – June 8, 2008)

Died at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 8, 2008 at his residence in Greensburg. He was a native of New Orleans. Age 65 years. Arrangements are pending at this time.

Monday Afternoon

This is a request for Prayer of Thanksgiving. Mr. Aubrey Stokes had his test on Friday and it came back with no reoccurrance of his cancer, thank God! Thank you all so much for praying and continuing to pray every day for needs such as these. He, Mama and Pearl all still have health issues to deal with and I ask continued prayer for all of them but thank God no cancer now! Wow!
Thank you all again.
Sincerely,
Sue Minor

Monday

 

 

 

“Now to Him who is able to do

exceedingly abundantly

above all that we ask or think,

according to the power that works in us,

to Him be glory in the church

by Christ Jesus to all generations,

forever and ever.”

~Ephesians 3:20-21~

Randy Taylor of St. Helena Parish is going back to M.D. Anderson today. Please pray for Randy, his family, and the medical staff as they consider new problems and how to treat them.

Vacation Bible School begins at 8:30 this morning at FBC, Kentwood. Children from four years old to those who just complete the sixth grade are invited to attend.

INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS PRAYERLINE
INTERNATIONAL MISSION BOARD
Monday, June 9, 2008

“So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another” (Romans 12:5, NKJV).

Dear Intercessors, this is Eleanor Witcher of the International Prayer Strategy Office, asking you to pray for isolated believers.

Have you ever gone to bed at night with the heaviness of loneliness in the pit of your stomach? Isolation is one of the hardest phenomena for the human psyche. We need a support system. Yet H and M, Mbunda believers in Western Zambia, have taken up the cross of isolation for several years now, as they have lived far away from their homes and families. After H and M believed on the Lord, they felt His strong calling to be missionaries to their own people and live in a remote area, where they have sacrificed much to teach Mbunda people the truth of Jesus.

In Morocco a young man huddled by the radio in his bedroom, tuning into the frequency that he has listened to every week for a year. On this program he learned the truth about Jesus, the Messiah, and accepted the invitation to follow Him. His family does not know of his decision, and he feels alone-knowing no other Christians. In the same city, S. furtively glances over his shoulder as he enters the address of a website. Six months earlier, he dreamed of a man in white robes proclaiming Himself as God’s Son and telling him to believe the Bible. S. struggled with questions about Christianity, and found this website one night at an Internet cafe. Questions satisfied, he trusted in Jesus; but S. has never heard of another Moroccan Christian. So he keeps his faith a secret and reads an online version of the Scriptures.

*Please pray for isolated believers that they will find fellowship in the Lord.

*Pray for national workers, H and M, that when they call out to their Abba Father, He will hear and ease the pain of their loneliness.

*Give thanks for your own church family and for the body of Christ around the world.

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor

“LET EVERY SOUL be subject to the governing authorities…

For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil” (Romans 13:1-4 NKJV).dynasty, Nepal’s newly elected government declared the country to be a Republic, abolishing the throne and deposing the reigning King. The precise nature of the new government has not yet been completely determined, as a new constitution is scheduled to be written. It will be different however from what has existed before.

Changes in government will take place in many nations over the next months. Elections will be held in the United States as well as in a number of other countries. People are understandably concerned whenever change comes. What will a new president, congress, prime minister, parliament, etc. bring about? Will peace continue? Will the economy be strengthened or will hard times prevail? What about personal liberties, human rights, environmental protection, international relations and a host of other legitimate concerns? Will our way of life continue as it is or will drastic change occur?

The fact is that all human conditions and institutions are temporary. “Nothing is constant except change” is a historic fact. We have no certainty regarding security or stability. But that does not mean that we must be fearful, pessimistic, or paranoid about our future. God is sovereign. He is in control. Whatever comes will be in accordance with his eternal will and purpose. That does not mean that we will always have the prosperity or freedom that we desire. He does not guarantee those things. But we will have circumstances in which we can serve him, and in which he can bless us. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

It is interesting that Paul wrote the book of Romans on his third missionary journey, probably only months prior to being arrested in Jerusalem by Roman authorities. He would spend more than 4 years in Roman prisons before being set free to preach again (as many New Testament scholars believe), but then would evidently be arrested once again and finally executed under orders from Nero (according to early Christian sources). The man who stated that those who do good have nothing to fear from government was put to death by that same government for preaching the gospel of Christ. Was Paul mistaken? Is this a conflict or an untruth? It depends on one’s definition of good or of fear. Jesus taught, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). Paul himself considered that “to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). He saw no threat in the prospect of going to be with Christ in Heaven.

If our trust is in God, and our primary goals and concerns are spiritual, then our attitude toward government can be that of confidence. We will do what is right, what honors God and serves our fellow man. We will trust God to provide for us and to protect us eternally. We will not fear. This does not mean that we cannot or should not work and pray for good government that is sensitive to and supportive of human needs, and that promotes Biblical values. Certainly those things are greatly to be desired. But in places or times where those are not available we still may trust in God. For that we are grateful. (Michael E. Brooks @ http://www.forthright.net/field_notes/gods_ministers.html)
KneEmail: “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil” (Romans 13:1-4 NKJV).

Make this a great week!

Anna Lee

Sunday

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth,

where moth and rust destroy

and where thieves break in and steal.”

~Matthew 6:19, NKJV~

The California Baptist University team is all packed up and ready for their 3 week trip to Romania!
Please pray for them as they get ready to get on a plane this afternoon. Pray that all of their flights will be on time so that they can make all of their connections and also pray that all of their luggage will make it here at the same time as them!
Pray for them as a team will they are here. Pray that they will be flexible and open to learning what the Lord wants to teach them during this time. Pray for us as we travel around the city and outside the city. Especially be praying for the team for the few days they will be here on their own and their time at camp when they will be away from every kind of modern convenience and technology!
Pray for us as we continue to plan on this side of things and that everything will come together and that glory will be brought to His name through everything that we do. Pray for my neighbors as the 7 girls will be staying with me in my apartment. Overall I’ve gotten along well with them, but we’ve had our moments.

Thank you so much!
aura

A HEAVENLY PERSPECTIVE

It is reported that the German controllers at Frankfurt Airport expect pilots to know their gate location and how to get there without any assistance from them. This conversation is said to have taken place between the control tower in Frankfurt and a British Airways 747 (radio call Speedbird 206) after landing:

Speedbird 206: “Good morning Frankfurt, Speedbird 206 clear of the runway.”

Ground: “Guten morgan, taxi to your gate.”

The British Airways 747 pulls onto the main taxiway and stops.

Ground: “Speedbird, do you not know where you are going?”

Speedbird 206: “Stand by, ground, I’m looking up the gate location now.”

Ground (with impatience): “Speedbird 206, have you never flown to Frankfurt before?”

Speedbird 206 (coolly): “Yes, in 1944. But I didn’t stop.”

Things look different from the ground than they do in the air! (especially when the view from the air has crosshairs that get in the way 🙂 Our perspective makes all the difference in the world.

Which raises an interesting question — what is our perspective? Do we tend to look at things from an earthly point of view or from a heavenly point of view?

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:1-2)

Erwin W. Lutzer once said that, “Worldliness is excluding God from our lives and, therefore, consciously or unconsciously accepting the values of a man-centered society.” If things in your life aren’t looking so good from “ground level”, perhaps it will help to take a look at things from a heavenly perspective.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

There will be no activities or services at FBC, Kentwood tonight.

There will be a bridal shower for K.K. Womack, bride-elect of Job Hulkaby, this afternoon at FBC, Kentwood.

Keep the Lord in the Lord’s Day.

Anna Lee

Saturday Afternoon

An American Hero in Life and in Death

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Spc. Justin R. Mixon, 22, of Bogalusa, La., died June 1 in Baghdad Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany.

Stryker soldier’s courage, outlook recalled

at Vilseck memorial service


By Seth Robson, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Saturday, June 7, 2008

Seth Robson / S&S

A memorial ceremony was held Friday at Vilseck’s Rose Barracks Chapel for Company C, 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment soldier Cpl. Justin R. Mixon, 22, of Bogalusa, La., who died June 1 in Baghdad Iraq.
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VILSECK, Germany – For almost 10 months, Cpl. Justin Ray Mixon climbed into the forward compartment in a Stryker armored personnel carrier each day and drove his comrades through Baghdad’s dangerous streets.

On Sunday, during a patrol on the outskirts of Sadr City, a roadside bomb blasted through his vehicle, killing the 22-year-old soldier and injuring another.

Lt. Col. Daniel Barnett, commander of the 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, paid tribute to his young soldier’s courage during a memorial ceremony Friday at Vilseck’s Rose Barracks Chapel.

“He did his job without fear. He sat in the face of an extremist enemy day in and day out. Every day he climbed into the driver’s compartment of (Stryker) C 3-3, Barnett said.

“It is a restricted space. You can’t see anyone. His friends riding just feet behind him in the troop compartment relied on him to get them from point A to point B,” said Barnett, who was in Vilseck on mid-tour leave on the day of the ceremony.

In Iraq, Mixon, of Bogalusa, La., had a reputation as someone with a positive outlook.

“He never had a bad day. He always had a smile on his face and he was always positive. I and everyone who served with Cpl. Mixon will be a better person for having shared life with him,” he said.

Soldiers’ families rarely get a glimpse of the people they become when they walk out of their homes and deploy to places like Iraq, Barnett said.

When he was downrange Mixon talked lovingly about his wife, Tia Marie, and son, Tony Ray. Platoon-mates also found out a lot about Mixon’s home state of Louisiana, Barnett said.

It was fitting that Mixon was honored on the anniversary of D-Day, he said.

“Cpl. Mixon is also part of a great generation of American soldiers.”

Mixon enlisted in the Army in May 2005 and trained as an infantryman.

“It takes a special kind of courage to serve our nation in uniform. It takes even more courage to enlist knowing the Army is committed in combat in Afghanistan and Iraq,” 2nd Cav Rear Detachment commander Lt. Col. Thomas Rickard said at the ceremony.

Rickard also talked about the courage of Army spouses while Tia Mixon and other soldiers’ wives sat weeping quietly at the front of a packed chapel.

“It takes a big heart and true grit to marry a soldier and support that soldier during deployment. Thank you, Tia, for your courage and support for your husband,” he said.

Americans are the victors, not the victims in the fight against an enemy that kills children and wants only suffering instead of suffrage, he said.

“Because of Cpl. Mixon and others like him, Iraqi women cast ballots in an election, a dictator was overthrown, and thousands of Iraqis will soon vote in free provincial elections,” Rickard said.


Thank God young people like Justin continue to volunteer to protect our great country and all of us. Pray for those who continue to serve around the world so the rest of us can have freedom like people in other nations have never imagined.

Justin’s dad is pastor of Friendship Baptist Church, east of Amite. Please be in prayer for Justim’s family, friends, and fellow soldiers.