Thursday

“And they continued steadfastly

in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship,

in the breaking of bread, and in prayers…

and the Lord added to the church daily

those who were being saved.”

~Acts 2:42-47~

Joan Hagan is hoping to be able to come home today.

Kenneth Birch has had gall bladder surgery and is already home. Pray for him as he recovers.

Mr. Henry Harris continues to be in ICU at North Oaks. Your prayers will be greatly appreciated.

Mike Nason is in Our Lady of the Lake in Baton Rouge. Please remember to pray for him.


This email from my cousin’s wife was sent out yesterday. My aunt and uncle sent it onto me. Please continue to pray for M as she waits to hear about the body scan, as she takes college finals this week, and as she is a mother and wife.

Thank you for praying!

Melinda

I have had several e-mails over the last couple of days so if you are wondering what is happening with me I am unfortunately in a holding pattern. I had my full body scan last Friday which I thought went great. I was in and out very quickly. I have my appointment with the oncologist this coming Monday the 5th to get the results and he will tell me what is next. Please pray that the cancer is contained and has not spread. The worst part right now is just knowing that it is there and no one is doing anything to stop it yet!!!

I am in the middle of finals week at school and cramming like crazy! Please pray I can stay focused on my school work and not think about the cancer….I can not even begin to tell you how hard that is!

Thank you all so much…I love you all and I am strong and positive because I have Jesus and all of you!!!

M


Bobby Lee Kirby
Bobby Kirby died Tuesday, April 29, 2008, at Lakeview Regional Medical Center in Covington. He was 78, a native of Osyka, Miss., and a resident of Greensburg. He worked as a machinist at Exxon for 10 years and worked at Gulfsouth in Ponchatoula for 17 years. Visitation at Amite Church of Christ, Amite, on Friday, May 2, from 9 a.m. until service at noon, conducted by Brother John Fulda. Interment in Greensburg Cemetery, Greensburg. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Myrtle Willis Kirby, of Greensburg; daughter, Carolyn Beth Kirby Blouin and husband Selwyn, of Gurley; daughter-in-law, Kathy Kirby; and four grandchildren, Katie Kirby, Zane Kirby, Lex Blouin and Beau and wife Andrea Merritt Blouin. He was preceded in death by his parents, John V. and Mamie Frazier Kirby; two brothers, Johnny Edward and Zelion Quinn; infant daughter, Madeline Gail Kirby; and son, Timothy Randall Kirby. Pallbearers will be Selwyn Blouin, Beau Blouin, Lex Blouin, Zane Kirby, Dennis Kirby and Bob Harvin. Honorary pallbearers are Carlton Drew, Roger Navarra and Emerson Newman. Bobby Kirby served in World War II as an airplane and engine mechanic in the U.S. Army. He was a member of the Amite Church of Christ and on the board of directors of the Amite Church of Christ Daycare. Memorial donations may be made to The Crossroads Youth Ranch, 62300 Russell Town Road, Roseland, LA 70456 or St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Share sympathies, condolences, memories at http:// http://www.charletfuneralhome .com.

‘Saw Man’ Shares Jesus After Disasters
By Mickey Noah
VANDUSER, Mo. (BP)–As the guys on the Arkansas disaster chainsaw team — tired after a long day of working a recent Missouri storm — ate their dinner at a local Southern Baptist church, the big, burly man who came in was impossible to miss. Imagine John the Baptist with a Stihl chainsaw.

Dressed in blue denim, with a full, graying beard and huge hands, Tom Stanton dropped by their table and asked if they needed any chainsaws sharpened.

“The Saw Man,” as Stanton is called, didn’t have to ask twice. Any operator of a chainsaw knows that a dull chainsaw is useless, and sharpening chainsaws is a prickly job best left to experts. And The Saw Man is just that.

Stanton’s unique chainsaw-sharpening ministry is valuable to Southern Baptist disaster relief chainsaw teams who respond to ice storms, tornadoes, hurricanes and other disasters.

Stanton, 53, calls Deer River, Minn. — about 100 miles south of the Canadian border — home. Until last October, he pastored a small church there.

Now, his “day job” is running a shear/scissor sharpening business.

Stanton’s disaster relief ministry began 2001 when a major tornado hit Siren, Wis. The following day — after a sleepless night — he felt “called” to go to Wisconsin.

“I had no clue what I was going to do,” said Stanton, who first learned to sharpen chainsaws as an 18-year-old logger in Montana. “My first paycheck was a chainsaw.

“In Wisconsin, I found guys who didn’t know how to file chainsaws. So I volunteered and started sharpening. People came out of the woodwork. I sharpened chains with a file for three days until a preacher got me a 12-volt rotary tool. Then I sharpened for another 10 days.”

That was the beginning of Stanton’s chainsaw-sharpening ministry. He doesn’t know for sure but figures he’s sharpened thousands of chainsaws in the wake of disasters, including Hurricane Katrina. He doesn’t charge a penny.

Financially, how does Stanton cover his expenses? What about $3-plus-a-gallon gasoline for the Ford pickup truck he must drive to disasters? What about tools? Lodging? Food?

“God provides,” Stanton said. “The people are really generous with me.” He said God gave him his sharpening business back home, which provides most of his day-to-day financial needs.

“Through the years, God has provided for me miraculously with a small camper/trailer, a generator and even with my truck, given to me by a Christian friend from my hometown. Last year, someone gave me a GPS so I won’t get lost!”

These days, Stanton is too professional to use files or even his original rotary tool to sharpen saws. Now he uses a Dremel tool.

“Dremel Company now provides me with all my tools. In fact, I was invited to their plant in Racine, Wis., to teach their people how to use their tool.” With the Dremel device, Stanton does not have to remove the chain from the chainsaw to sharpen it, which saves significant time and effort.

During the first two weeks after Hurricane Katrina, someone estimated that Stanton sharpened 2,000 chainsaws in Louisiana and Mississippi. He worked as many as 20 hours a day.

“Since I can leave the chain right on the saw, I can pull up to a bunch of guys and easily sharpen 10 saws an hour,” Stanton said. “When I have someone to hand me the saws, I can do 16 an hour. Hand-filing takes up to 20 minutes apiece. This helps the disaster relief teams get back to work faster.”

Why would a man who’s had both hips replaced — and who last year suffered a heart attack requiring 10 stents — chase natural disasters around the country to sharpen chainsaws for strangers?

“It’s really hard for me to stand back and see somebody else hurting,” Stanton said. “I’ve been crippled up through the years. Since 1997, I haven’t been able to do much physically for people except for chainsaw sharpening. It’s a tremendous need.”

Stanton even has a Bible verse, Ecclesiastes 10: 9-10, that reflects his ministry: “… the one who cuts wood may be endangered by doing it. If the axe is dull, and one does not sharpen its edge, then one must exert more strength….”

“God has allowed me to see many people make professions of faith in Jesus Christ. I go to disasters, sharpen chainsaws and tell people how to avoid the world’s greatest disaster,” which Stanton says is rejecting Christ.

At a disaster site, Stanton witnesses to the public during the day as he sharpens their chainsaws. He gives out tracts and New Testaments from a five-gallon pail he calls the “Bucket of Hope.” At night, he sharpens chainsaws for disaster relief workers, including those from Southern Baptist teams — counseling, challenging and encouraging Christian men in their walks with God.

Stanton would like to see his chainsaw sharpening ministry go full-time.

“I’d love to go to fires, ice storms, snowstorms — do it full-time if the Lord opened up the door for it.”

He’s also eager to train others on the fine points of chainsaw sharpening. In fact, he’s taught two classes for the Mississippi Baptist Convention.

“I’d love to teach chainsaw sharpening as an evangelistic ministry to every association — just to equip people to get out there. I’m just praying that God will raise up more people to do what I do.”

Fritz Wilson, Florida Baptists’ director of disaster relief and recovery, has known Stanton for several years, working several hurricanes and other disasters with him. He calls Stanton a “super” Christian with a unique ministry.

“He comes in and sharpens our saws, and then goes out in the community and offers to sharpen anyone’s saw,” Wilson said. “Tom has a unique ministry and uses sharpening to parallel the Christian life and walk. He tells people that we can’t be good tools for Christ unless we stay sharp.”

In 2007 alone, the North American Mission Board tallied thousands of tree-removal jobs performed by disaster relief volunteers throughout the United States. While state Southern Baptist conventions provide the manpower and most equipment, NAMB coordinates multi-state disaster responses and partners with national relief groups like the American Red Cross and Salvation Army to ensure vital services reach the most critical-need areas quickly.

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


AT THE END of her first quarter at the university, Lenora came home and announced: “I am not going to church anymore…!”

Her parents were shocked. “Lenora, what happened?” wailed Mom. “You have all those awards for perfect attendance! And you’ve always seemed glad to worship God.”

“I no longer believe in God; he is a myth,” she replied bluntly. “Dr. Phillips has taught me the truth.”

“How did Dr. Phillips teach you that God is a myth?” asked her dad.

“It really wasn’t hard. He pointed out that apples do not grow in the Tigris-Euphrates Valley.”

“Well?” Lenora’s father was inquisitive.

“Dad.” Lenora was impatient. “That being true, the first story in the Bible, the creation story, is a myth. The Garden of Eden was in the Tigris-Euphrates Valley, so Eve could not have eaten an apple as the Bible says. And if that story is a myth, what not all the others?”

“Hold on a minute, Lenora. Let’s answer three questions. First, do we know the location of the Garden of Eden? No. Second, do we know the nature of the climate in the Garden? No. And third, what kind of fruit was forbidden? The Bible does not say. The myth here is the apple. Did Dr. Phillips read the Scriptures?”

Lenora shrugged her shoulders and walked away. To Lenora, her dad was a good, old-fashioned man. Dr. Phillips was her authority. Facts no longer mattered to her. She had decided that all truth is relative, and what she had come to believe was right for her. Nothing else mattered. (Robert L. Waggoner)

KneEmail: “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God” (Heb. 3:13).

Today is the National Day of Prayer. In Kentwood, the event will be celebrated at the City Hall monument at from 12:30 – 1:00 this afternoon. You are invited to attend and bring others with you. You can find more information at http://www.ndptf.org/home/home.html

If you are unable to attend a prayer rally, you can have prayer wherever you are. The main point is to pray for our great nation!

Anna Lee

Wednesday Addition

Mrs. Velma Anthony is in North Oaks. She had to have a stent. Her husband has been having some problems too. Pray for both of them. Thank-you.

The latest word is that Joan is doing well. If this continues, she may be able to come home tomorrow. Keep praying for good progress.

David was involved in a fender-bender about noon today when a man ran a red light. Nobody was hurt. Thank God for His protection for David and the other man too!

Wednesday Addition

Please put the family of Jonathan Owens on the Prayer Link. Jonathan, a 17-year old senior who would have graduated on May 20, was killed in a car accident on his way to school yesterday. He was the son of Rev. and Mrs. George Owens of the Mt. Hebron, MS community. Bro. George and Kenny are very good friends and hunting buddies. Thanks. Janet A. Hammons

Kenny is Jan’s brother-in-law.

Wednesday

“But you will not even need to fight.

Take your positions;

then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory.

He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem.

Do not be afraid or discouraged.

Go out there tomorrow, for the Lord is with you!”

~2 Chronicles 20:17 (NLT)~

Joan B. Hagan’s surgery has been changed from 7:30 to 8:30 this morning. Joan expects to be in the hospital overnight and return home tomorrow. Please pray for Joan today.

Mr. Henry Harris continues to be at North Oaks. As you pray for him, pray for “Miss” Emma as she faces the days before her.

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


“HERE IS A great eternal truth…

Life cannot be divided into compartments in some of which God is involved and in others of which He is not involved; there cannot be one kind of language in the church and another kind of language in the shipyard or the factory or the office; there cannot be one kind of conduct in the church and another kind of conduct in the business world. The fact is that God does not need to be invited into certain departments of life, and kept out of others. He is everywhere, all through life and in every activity of life. He hears not only the words which are spoken in His name; He hears all words; and there cannot be any such thing as a form of words which evades bringing God into any transaction. We will regard all promises as sacred if we remember that all promises are made in the presence of God.” (William Barclay)

“That you may approve the things that are excellent,

that you may be sincere and without offense

till the day of Christ.”

~Philippians 1:10~

Tuesday Afternoon

Claudie Mae Harrell
(May 9, 1935 – April 28, 2008)
A loving and dedicated wife, mother, sister, grandmother and great-grandmother, she was a housewife in Amite County for 30 years and a native of Kentwood, LA for 10 years. She was born May 9, 1935, and passed from this world to the arms of her Savior on April 28, 2008. She was 72 and a member of Line Creek Baptist Church. Visitation at Line Creek Baptist Church, Kentwood, LA on Tuesday, April 29, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Visitation resumes at the Line Creek Baptist Church on Wednesday from 9 a.m. until religious service at 11 a.m. conducted by Pastor Ken Irvin. Preceded by husband, Robert Lane Harrell, Sr. and grandson, Matthew Harrell. Survived by 2 sons, Robert Lane Harrell, Jr., McComb, MS and Hansel Harrell, Springfield, LA; a daughter, Rachel Harrell, Osyka, MS; 8 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren. Also survived by 2 sisters, Doris Davis, Hillsdale, LA and Pauline Wayne, Amite, LA; brother, J.P. Nobles, Walker, LA; and several nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Charles Harrell, Joseph Harrell, Jeremy Stewart, Hansel Harrell, Jr., Jason Harrell, Dustin Fair, Kenneth Phillips, and James Dillion. In Lieu of Flowers, please make donations to the Heart and Lung Foundation.

Tuesday

“Ask, and you will receive,

that your joy may be full.”

~John 16:24~

Mr. Jimmy Tolar is home and doing better. Thanks for your prayers.

Mr. Gene Ott of Osyka has cancer. Pray for him as decisions are made regarding his care.

Mrs. Gloria Boone has moved in with Wade east of Arcola. Pray for them as they make adjustments to living together again.

Joan Hagan had her pre-op visit yesterday. She is scheduled to have surgery at 7:30 Wednesday morning in Slidell. Joan is very happy to be having this surgery. Pray for her and all those caring for her during this time.

 

Joan’s lifelong friend, Charlsee, was planning to take her to Slidell Wednesday, but has pneumonia. Pray for Charlsee to get well soon.

Annie Armstron Easter Offering

FBC, K Goal – $13,000.00

Received so far – $11,181.85

 

 

DAILY RESOLUTION

 

At the beginning of a New Year, a high school principal decided to post his teachers’ New Year’s resolutions on the bulletin board.

As the teachers gathered around the bulletin board, a great commotion started. One of the teachers was complaining. “Why weren’t my resolutions posted?” She was throwing such a temper tantrum that the principal hurried to his office to see if he had overlooked her resolutions. Sure enough, he had mislaid them on his desk. As he read her resolutions he was astounded.

This teacher’s first resolution was not to let little things upset her in the New Year.

Maybe this is a good time to see how you’re coming on your New Year’s resolutions (if indeed you made any). The above story demonstrates why making resolutions may not be such a good thing and, in fact, may be detrimental to our spiritual growth. What happens when we make resolutions? At some point, the resolution is likely going to be broken. It may be a matter of days, weeks, or months, but eventually we tend to falter.

If your resolution involves dieting, there will likely come a day when you’ll sneak a piece of fudge. If your resolution is quitting smoking, there will likely come a day when you’ll reach for that cigarette you’ve been craving. If your resolution is reading the Bible every day, there will likely come a day when things are so hectic that you miss your reading.

And once the resolution is broken, it becomes even easier for it to crumble further. The incentive that kept you going (“I’ve maintained my commitment to this point”) is now gone. One slip leads to two which quickly leads to three, and before long we have the attitude, “I’ve messed up so much that it’s not even worth continuing to try.” So what is there left to do? For most of us, we set our sights on January 1, 2009 and determine when that day rolls arounds, we’ll try it again (“and NEXT time I’ll do it!”).

Allow me to suggest an alternative. Instead of yearly resolutions, what if we made daily resolutions? Begin each day with this prayer:

“Father, today I want to live for you. I want to dedicate to you my time, my energy, my passion and my resources. Today, I will seek to add one quality that will make me more like You. Today, I will seek to eliminate something in my life that doesn’t please you. I will seek to be more conscious of You in my life. I will try to be more appreciative of the blessings I receive from Your hand, and I will look for opportunities to show You glory in the way I deal with people and in the way I react to situations I face.”

Make it your resolution to end the day a little bit closer to God than you began. The goal is spiritual growth…

“…Till we all come to the unity of the faith

and of the knowledge of the Son of God,

to a perfect man,

to the measure of the stature

of the fullness of Christ…

speaking the truth in love,

may grow up in all things into Him

who is the head — Christ.”

~Ephesians 4:14,16~

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Grow some today! That’s grow in the Lord today!

Anna Lee

 

Monday Afternoon

Dear prayer partners, Joe and Julie Silby and their children were scheduled to start orientation at the International Learning Center (ILC) this week. However there was an outbreak of the Noro virus at ILC recently and more than 70 people became ill. Directors of ILC have made the decision to close ILC for two weeks to completely disinfect it before beginning a new orientation session. Please pray for the Silbys and others during this delay.

Jennie

Please pray for missionaries and others that recently became ill with the Norovirus (virus that cause the “stomach flu” or gastroenteritis). They were at the International Learning Center going through orientation. Pray for the ones that are sick that they will recover without any lasting problems. Pray for the cleanup crew that will be disinfecting the ILC buildings. Pray for families waiting to attend orientation that they will not get stressed out by this and as they prepare to head out to all corners of this world to be used by the Lord in his ministry.

Thank you for praying!

Melinda

Monday

Sometimes it takes a painful experience

to make us change our ways.

Proverbs 20:30 (GNT)

 

Thursday, May 1, 2008 has been set aside for National Day of Prayer. The official website is located at http://www.ndptf.org/home/index.cfm?&Flash=1 Spend a little time on the site to learn various ways you can become involved in praying. In Kentwood, you can join others at te monument by the city hall at 12:30 Thursday. If you cannot be there, pray wherever you are.

Mrs. Micky Cade’s grandson, James (21), had an accident in the fog Friday morning. Pray for him as he receives treatment for his injuring.

Curt Martin was able to work on his job and with On Mission in Kentwood. He said the problem in his leg is much better. Please continue to pray for complete healing.

Jesse Dean is about the same. Pray for him as he continues therapy.

The youth of FBC, Kenwood will have a spaghetti fund raiser to earn money for summer camp. It will be takeout only and donations only.

If you have not already volunteered for VBS, please contact the church office or Judy Fowler. Mark your calendar for June 9-13 8:30-11:30 A.M.

Deacons for the week will be Robert Callihan and Bubba Hulkaby. Please feel free to call them if you need them.

 

 

Honesty

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

“Truth is so scarce that nearly everyone is suspect…

Business people, advertisers, commentators, clerks, salesmen, lawyers, doctors, tradesmen, teachers, writers, politicians, and even many, if not most, preachers are suspect. Our whole society is largely built on a network of fabrication, of manufactured “truth.” We shade the truth, we cheat, we exaggerate, we misrepresent income tax deductions, we make promises we have no intention of keeping, we make up excuses, and betray confidences-all as a matter of normal, everyday living.” (John MacArthur)

“But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one” (Matt. 5:37).

 

 

Have a wonderful week.

Anna Lee

Sunday

People who cover over their sins will not prosper.

But if they confess and forsake them,

they will receive mercy.

Proverbs 28:13 (NLT)

Thanks to all of you who participated in On Mission in Kentwood. It was a very meaningful day for those volunteered and for those whose homes and yards were improved in any way.

Please pray for Glenda Schilling. She has several health issues and still manages to check daily on her mother in the nursing home.

Please pray for Frann Clark, a native of Kentwood.


I have five of my 18 sessions of the prescribed physcial therapy remaining. It has definitely not helped me. In fact, I am not doing as well as I was at my first session. Hopefully, the remaining ones will help me. Please pray for this to happen.

May 6 I will see an eye doctor to discuss cataract surgery. William Mixon “Bill in Lake Charles” is in the clinic. Unfortunately, he is not the one who does the surgery. Please pray for me, the doctor, and the staff as these plans are made.

Pray for all of us as Riley continues to need more care. I need to be well so I can provide more assistance to him.
thank you for praying
Frann Smith Clark


Gary Virgil Travis died at 9:15 a.m. on Friday, April 25, 2008, at North Oaks Medical Center in Hammond. He was 66, a native of Roseland and a resident of Kentwood. Mr. Travis was a class of 1959 graduate of Amite High School. He received a degree from LSU School of Banking. His banking career began at First Guaranty Bank, Amite, in 1966, and spanned 42 years at Central Progressive Bank, Kentwood and First Guaranty Bank, Kentwood, as manager and vice president. He was a member of Amite City Lodge 175, F&AM and was owner of The End of the Lane Mountain Biking Trail, Kentwood. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday and at Roseland Baptist Church, Roseland, from 9 a.m. until religious services at 5:30 p.m. Monday. Services conducted by the Rev. John Scaffner, the Rev. Gary Wieborg and the Rev. Neal Barr. Special music will be performed by Denny Barr. Sunset service will be held at Arcola-Roseland Cemetery, Roseland. Survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Gilbert and Susan Travis, Fort Smith, Ark.; nephews, Mark Travis and his wife, Jennifer, Fayetteville, Ark., and James Travis and his wife, Sarah, Fort Smith; great-nephew, Luke Travis, Fayetteville; great-niece, Helen Travis, Fayetteville; longtime family friends, Craig T. Martin, Connie Thomas and Candy Dyson; and man’s best friend and faithful companion, Sweetie. Preceded in death by wife, Joyce Wynn Travis; and parents, Hardy Virgil Travis and Ethel Rutland Travis. Pallbearers will be Mark Travis, James Travis, Chuck Reid, Peyton Travis, Tom Evans, M.D., Advell Ricks, Stan Dameron and William L. Travis III. Honorary pallbearers are Danny Richardson, Wayne Verbene, Ronny Hayden, Mitchell Massey, Frank Broussard and Michael Lofaso. Memorial contributions may be made to Joyce Travis Memorial Scholarship Fund at Southeastern Louisiana University.

Decision Magazine Weekly E-mail Devotional


He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved (Psalm 62:2, NKJV).

A Word From Billy Graham

If you are saved from sin, you are saved through a personal faith in the Gospel of Christ as defined in the Scriptures. Though it may at first seem dogmatic and narrow to you, the fact remains that there is no other way. The Bible says, “I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you. … For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:1, 3-4, NKJV).


Have a wonderful Lord’s Day!

Anna Lee