Friday

But the Lord stood at my side

and gave me strength,

so that through me the message

might be fully proclaimed

and all the Gentiles might hear it.

And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.

2 Timothy 4:17 (NIV)

Frann S. Clark went to see the neurosurgeon Wednesday. The decision was made to not do surgery. Pray for Frann as she deals with the pain.

Tests for Romanian language:

Thank you all so very much for remembering us in prayer today as we took our final exam for Levels IA & IIA. We all wanted to do well, and finish strong. We were a bit anxious because we did not want a poor performance to reflect poorly on our Lord. All in all, it went well, and it was because of your prayers and His faithfulness.

I told Margie that I felt like my language skill was somewhat like a nicely arranged vegetable tray that I was carrying to the table, when I tripped. By the time the test was over—I had tossed salad for sure. It did not come out on to the test paper like our teacher put it in, but now we are ready to move forward with “some” language skill. Thanks for your support. See you soon!!!! Bob Craig

KOMpray

Kids on Mission Pray
Prayer

Prayer requests

May 23, 2008

“Let the little children come to Me,

and don’t stop them,

because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these,”

Luke 18:16b

SHE NEEDED JESUS

On a bright sunny day, a missionary in Paraguay met a little girl on the street. She was standing at a table with her mom. The girl is a 6-year-old with a sad smile, long black hair, and a very thin body. The table and a chair is the mom’s office-no walls or bookcases or cash register-just a table and chair. The little girl smiled at Iracema Kunkel, the missionary, when she stopped to talk to her mother. The little girl usually stayed beside her mother for 12 long hours, playing with some ragged and dirty dolls. Iracema Kunkel talked with her mother and just knew she needed Jesus.

The missionary told her about the love of Jesus and the mother asked Jesus to be her Savior! Now this little girl spends half a day in school and the other half at her mother’s ‘office.’ But now she has a beautiful smile (and her mother does too) because she is learning about Jesus. They keep a Bible on the table where everyone can see. They go to a Baptist church near where they live. Please pray for this little girl and this mother that they will keep on studying God’s Word and trust God to take care of them every day.

MORE PRAYER REQUESTS FROM MISSIONARY KIDS

Please pray for my sister who is going to university. I am homeschooled, please pray for my grades. MATTHEW, age 13 (Central, Eastern and Southern Africa)

Pray that more college students come to our summer program, SA101, and lots of people come to know Christ in India. ALLAN, age 13 (South Asia)

TR is my friend who lives in Japan. He has a younger sister and a younger brother. Please pray for them. He goes to my Japanese school and is in my class in 3rd grade. He’s funny. He loves nature and always talks about bugs and plants. We have a job in our classroom of taking care of all the nature stuff, like feeding the fish. I have been telling TR about Jesus, but he’s not interested in getting baptized. He doesn’t want to get baptized, because he doesn’t want to go under the water. I don’t know if he’s a Christian or not. I want him to be a Christian. Please pray for TR. RICKIE, age 8 (Pacific Rim)

My mom teaches my three brothers and me. Please pray for us and our homeschool. Pray for my dad. He is the Logistics Coordinator for Malawi-that means he helps other people who come to work in our country and he is really busy. ANNA, age 13 (Central, Eastern and Southern Africa)

Our next door neighbors have a daughter, AI, about fifteen years old. She and her family are Muslims and she goes to a school where she learns about the Koran. People have told AI and her family about Jesus, but they are still Muslims. Please pray that AI and her family will understand what they have heard about Jesus and that they would choose to believe in Him. ELIZABETH, age 17 (West Africa)

Please pray for me to learn more Thai and for me to read my Bible more. Ask God to help me to find a good friend. MORIAH, age 10 ½ (Pacific Rim)

Charles Eugene James
(January 16, 1947 – May 29, 2008)

Died on Thursday, May 29, 2008 at North Oaks Medical Center in Hammond. He was a native of Centreville, MS and a resident of Amite. Age 61 years. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 12:00 Noon on Saturday until religious services at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Services conducted by Rev. Field Thigpen. Interment Pine Ridge Cemetery, Tangipahoa, LA. Survived by 5 sisters, Juanita Pace, St. Amant, Rita Holden, Amite, Barbara Walker, Amite, Betty Phillips, Kentwood, Nancy Morris, Amite, 2 brothers, Paul James, Amite, James Walker, Amite, Preceded in death by, father, Sidney James, mother, Mary Parker James Walker.

Rosa Lee Edwards
(November 9, 1924 – May 28, 2008)

Died at 2:50 p.m. on Wednesday, May 28, 2008 at North Oaks Medical Center in Hammond. She was a native of Hattiesburg, MS and a resident of Roseland. Age 83 years. Visitation at Roseland Baptist Church, Roseland, from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Friday and from 8 a.m. until religious services at 10 a.m. Saturday. Services conducted by Rev. Mervin Strother. Interment Killian Chapel Cemetery, Amite. She is survived by her 5 daughters, Mavis Beasley, Avondale, Marilyn Dominano Bentivegna, Tickfaw, Barbara Louge, Columbia, MS, Glenda Bennett, Pumpkin Center and Debra Rowell, Albany; 1 son, Robert Edwards, Tickfaw; 1 brother, Lavon White, Roger, AR; 1 sister, Mrs. Roberta Babaz, Sulfur; 24 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; 9 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Edwards; parents, Herbert and Lucy White; grandson, Jason Bennett; great-granddaughter, Wendy Breaux; 4 brothers, Leon White, Paul White, Robert White and Hugh L. White.


THE INNOCENCE OF CHILDHOOD

Sometimes I want to be a kid again. I want to go back to the time when:

— Decisions were made by going “eeny-meeny-miney-mo.”
— Mistakes were corrected by simply exclaiming “do over!”
— “Race issue” meant arguing about who ran the fastest.
— Money issues were handled by whoever was the banker in “Monopoly.”
— Catching fireflies could happily occupy an entire evening.
— Being old referred to anyone over 20.
— The net on a tennis court was the perfect height to play volleyball and the rules didn’t matter.
— The worst thing you could catch from the opposite sex was cooties.
— It was magic when dad would “remove” his thumb.
— It was unbelievable that dodgeball wasn’t an Olympic event.
— Having a weapon in school meant being caught with a slingshot.
— Nobody was prettier than Mom.
— Scrapes and bruises were kissed and made better.
— It was a big deal to finally be tall enough to ride the “big people” rides at the amusement park.
— Getting a foot of snow was a dream come true.
— Abilities were discovered because of a “double-dog-dare.”
— Saturday morning cartoons weren’t 30-minute ads for action figures.
— “Oly-oly-oxen-free” made perfect sense.
— Spinning around, getting dizzy and falling down was cause for giggles.
— The worst embarrassment was being picked last for a team.
— War was a card game.
— Water balloons were the ultimate weapon.
— Baseball cards in the spokes transformed any bike into a motorcycle.
— Taking drugs meant orange-flavored chewable aspirin.
— Older siblings were the worst tormentors but also the fiercest protectors.
(author unknown)

There’s an innocence about childhood. As we grow older, we lose that innocence and life becomes more complicated. Like Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, we all live out in our own lives what it means to have sin affect our relationship with God and our relationship with one another.

“So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked…” (Genesis 3:6-7a)

Taking the fruit of a tree giving us more knowledge isn’t as wonderful as we think it will be. As we grow older, we know more and more, but often find ourselves wishing that we were younger when we didn’t know nearly as much. We can never regain that innocence, but thank God we can find forgiveness!

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Have a wonderful Friday!

Anna Lee

Thursday

At my first defense,

no one came to my support,

but everyone deserted me.

May it not be held against them.

But the Lord stood at my side

and gave me strength ….

2 Timothy 4:16-17 (NIV)

James Rimes said John Nototoria had surgery at SMMH and was in stable condition. Please continue to pray for him.

Ms. Jason “Bully’ Schwartz as been ill a number of times lately. He is not receiving care in Amite. Please pray for him, his family, and those caring for him.

Lisa Davis, sister of Susan Rimes, continues to need our prayers. Lisa lives in Arkansas.

Annie Armstrong Easter Offering

Goal: $13,000.00

Received: $13, 030.30

Deacons for the Week

Tom Tolar

Raymond Cutrer

Nursery Volunteers for Sunday

Velma Anthony

Jill Brister

Patty Hoffstadt

Emily Daniels

Baby Shower

Elisabeth H. Daniels

Sunday, June 1

2-4 P.M.

FBC, Fellowship Hall

Bridal Shower

KK Womack, Bride-elect of Job Hulkaby

Sunday, June 8

2 P.M.

FBC, Fellowship Hall

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


IN AUGUST OF 1799 a Frenchman named Bouchard discovered an ancient stone near the town of Rosetta, in Egypt, about thirty miles from Alexandria…

The stone contained inscriptions in two languages, Egyptian and Greek, and they were written in three different alphabets, including Greek and Egyptian hieroglyphic, a kind of writing using pictures as symbols.

Prior to the discovery of the stone, linguists were limited in interpreting hieroglyphics, for they had no key to their meaning. But now, with this passage in hand which contained the same words in hieroglyphics and in the known language of Greek, scholars were able by comparison to establish the meaning of the hieroglyphic signs and thus to read other Egyptian inscriptions written in hieroglyphics. The Rosetta stone, then provided the means of knowing what those ancient Egyptian writers had to say.

THOUGHT: In a similar way, the Bible serves as the Rosetta stone for knowing what God has to say, a message which we could not know without the Bible, for only through it does God communicate with man. By reading and studying it man can learn what God wants him to do for his happiness and salvation. (John Parker)

“But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1 Cor. 2:10-13).

Have a wonderful day. Please feel free to share praises, requests, and updates to be shared on The Prayer Link.

Anna Lee

Wednesday

Because of the service

by which you have proved yourselves,

men will praise God for the obedience

that accompanies your confession

of the gospel of Christ,

and for your generosity in sharing with them

and with everyone else.

~2 Corinthians 9:13 (NIV)~

Vesta Louise Gill Walker
(January 20, 1941 – May 26, 2008)

Died at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, May 26, 2008 at her Residence in Baton Rouge. She was a native of Tangipahoa and a resident of Baton Rouge. Age 67 years. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Friday and from 8 a.m. until religious services at 11:00 a.m. Saturday. Services conducted by Rev. Ray Varnado. Interment Mixon Cemetery, Tangipahoa, LA. Survived by, her daughter and son in law, Angela and Bart Wilson, Baton Rouge, her brother, Alfred “Buddy” Gill, Kentwood, her grandson, Evan Michael Walker, preceded in death by her parents, Layton and Winnie Ricks Gill

Catherine Eugenia Vining Thompson
(November 17, 1916 – May 27, 2008)

Catherine Eugenia Vining Thompson passed away at 5:23 a.m. on Tuesday, May 27, 2008. She was born on November 17, 1916, a native and resident of Amite. Visitation will be at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 9 a.m. until religious services at 11 a.m. Thursday conducted by Rev. Darrell Miller. Interment will be at Roberts Cemetery, Hwy 441, Amite. She is survived by two daughters, Marilyn Miller and her husband, Carlton Miller of Walker and Cherie Moss and her husband, George Moss of Hot Springs, Ark.; one son, Roy Galen Thompson and his wife, Susan Thompson of Amite; a daughter-in-law, Linda Ann Thompson Watts and her husband, C. L. Watts of Livingston; four granddaughters, Karen Thompson Boatner, Dara Moss Mooney, Heather O’Connell and Dallas Moss Pomeroy; five grandsons, Donald Earl Thompson Jr., Roy Anthony Thompson, Dana Thomas Boyd, David Keith Thompson and Jeremiah Thompson; nine great granddaughters; four great grandsons; and numerous dearly loved nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Roy Earl Thompson; her parents, John and Annie Elizabeth Vining; a brother, Thomas Vining; three half sisters; four half brothers; a son, Donald Earl Thompson; and a granddaughter, Catherine Elise Boyd. During World War II, she worked as a welder in the Avondale Shipyard in New Orleans. She retired from Hammond State School. She was a member of Hillsdale Baptist Church and the Eastern Star Organization. She was an avid sports fan, an excellent cook, and an enthusiastic traveler. One of her favorite quotes was, “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Rom. 14:12). She lived her life with that promise in mind. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Hillsdale Baptist Church, Hwy 1045, Amite, La. 70422. The family would like to thank the Staff of Landmark Nursing Home, North Oaks Medical Center and Hospice of Hammond for their dedicated care.

Baptist Press

May 27, 2008

VIRGINIA–Baptists respond to world hunger crisis. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=28127

KANSAS–Students focus on Christ alone at ‘Paradise.’ http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=28128

VIRGINIA–WRAP-UP: NAMB trustees review evangelism initiative. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=28129

IOWA–Iowa Baptist unit to aid tornado victims. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=28130

TENNESSEE–ELECTION 08: Obama’s extreme record on abortion could be issue. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=28131

TENNESSEE–Union graduation marks God’s grace. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=28132

LOUISIANA–FIRST-PERSON (Keith Manuel): ‘You visited me in prison.’ http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=28133

He Made Him

Billy Graham speaks about why

Jesus Christ went to the cross:

The Bible says that God gave His Son on the cross. And He made Him to be sin for us. You think of Jesus, now…He’d become sin. Not His sins, but yours and mine. And God had laid on Him the iniquity of us all, who His own self bear our sins on the cross. And the Bible says that if we are to ever get to heaven, and ever have the peace of God in our hearts, you’ll have to come to Him. Has that ever happened to you?

How do you answer Mr. Graham’s question? Have you ever come to Jesus Christ by faith? We’re the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. To begin a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, call us toll free at 866-JESUS-CARES.

Tuesday Afternoon

Bro. Joey sent two requests:

Please pray for Aubrey Perry (Karen’s brother) today. He goes back for a PET Scan to see if the chemo has been effective.

Thanks

Strength For Today
Daily Devotion
May 27, 2008

Be still, and know that I am God. -Psalm 46:10
A friend of mine who leads spiritual retreats once told me that not one person who has followed his regimen of a silent retreat has failed to hear from God. Intrigued and a bit skeptical, I signed up for a 5-day retreat. We had much free time and just a few requirements, such as the assignment to spend 2 hours praying each day.
I doubt I had devoted more than 30 minutes to prayer at any one session in my life. The first day I wandered to a meadow and sat against a tree. How long will I stay awake? I wondered. To my great fortune, a herd of 147 elk wandered into the very field where I was sitting. To watch 147 elk in their natural habitat is enthralling and, eventually, boring. Yet after a while the very placidity of the scene began to affect me. Over the next few days I said many words to God. I was turning 50, and I asked for guidance on how I should prepare my soul for the rest of life. Many things came to mind while sitting in a field for hours at a time. I had to agree that I had indeed heard from God.
When Elijah stood before the Lord on Mount Horeb, he didn’t meet Him in the wind, earthquake, or fire. Rather, God spoke in a “still small voice” (1 Kings 19:11-12).
I’m more convinced than ever that God finds ways to communicate to those who truly seek Him-especially when we lower the volume of the surrounding static.
Speak, Lord, in the stillness, while I wait on Thee;
Hushed my heart to listen, in expectancy. -Grimes
God speaks to those who are quiet before Him.

Keep praying for Linda (Longoria), we are back at MD Anderson for multiple myeloma tests this week.
Bro. Lyndon

Still Faithful
Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tuesday

Again Jesus said,

“Peace be with you!

As the Father has sent me,

I am sending you.”

~John 20:21 (NIV)~

 

Just as some of us were On Mission in Kentwood Saturday, you are called to be On Mission wherever you are.

 

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


IT DOESN’T TAKE much to convince most Christians that our country is in trouble…

The signs are all around us. Our culture seems to be disintegrating around us. The grossest immoralities are recast as tolerance. Christian conviction is tagged as intolerance. Honesty and integrity are forced to take a back seat to personal gain and self-gratification. We cry out, “Is there any hope at all?”

Sometimes we get nostalgic and talk about the “good ole’ days,” back when gasoline was 20 cents/gallon and nobody locked their doors. Yet, we know that the same evils that take place today were going on back then. There was immorality, drunkenness, wars, unfair and cruel treatment of other people, cheating, lying, and disobedience. Let us be careful not to paint a picture for our children that everything was wonderful then, and everything is terrible now.

Regardless of what the future holds for us, we can have confidence that our Lord is great and power. He is fully capable of helping us through every time period and every problem we face. “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.” (I Corinthians 10:13-NAS) Jesus taught us to ask the Lord to lead us from temptation and deliver us from evil. If we have this prayer in our hearts and actively seek His way of escape, He will deliver His people.

Sometimes the way out of evil is hard. He never promised us that the way of escape would always be easy. We must first commit ourselves to Him. Like Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, we must “purpose in our hearts” not to cave in to the temptations that we know are coming. We must have the attitude of our Savior, when in temptation He prayed, “Not My will but Thine be done.” We must guard our hearts against evil, for this is the place from which temptation turns into sinful actions. And we must be willing to crucify self and let Christ live in us. “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

Lord, deliver us and our nation from evil. Turn our hearts to You. (Roger Wright)


No temptation has overtaken you

but such as is common to man;

and God is faithful,

who will not allow you to be tempted

beyond what you are able,

but with the temptation

will provide the way of escape also,

that you may be able to endure it.”

~I Corinthians 10:13-NAS~

Monday Afternoon

Special Request from Mrs. Ann Chapman:
Precious “Prayer Partners” my family has just received word that my oldest brother, Charles Abernathy, has a tumor behind his heart. the doctors have already told him it is cancer. A biospy was done Monday and report should be in tomorrow. Cancer runs rampant in our family. I am a cancer surviver. My father, a sister and another brother already reside in heaven due to cancer. Charles is ready to meet our Jesus. He will be 80 in August. Please pray the prayer that never fails…for
God’s will to be done. His wife Betty and children, Barbara and Russell need your prayers as well as we the extended family as our family circle in Heaven will soon be larger.
I pray God’s blessings upon each of you.
Love, Ann

Monday

For the wages of sin is death,

but the free gift of God is eternal life

through Christ Jesus our Lord.

~Romans 6:23 (NLT)~

 

Mrs. Blanch Wheat is the oldest member of our church. Pray for her as she is experiencing some problems.

Pray for Jesse Dean’s sister, Patsy Beddenfield. She was taken to North Oaks for tests yesterday.

Pray for Tim and Charlotte Alford. Charlotte got sick while out-of-town and had to have surgery.


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


A FRIEND OF mine tells of the day he went with a group of people to a nursing home, to the ward that cares for those suffering from Alzheimer’s…

Most of the residents were, to put it as kindly as possible, no longer there. Their stares were vacant, their memory as empty as a Montana prairie. They remembered nothing, knew no one, not even themselves. It was a heartbreaking experience.

What could the visitors do? What could they say? Because they didn’t know what to talk about, they sang hymns – “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” and “Jesus Loves Me, This I Know.”

And something astonishing happened. These elderly people began to sing along! Silver heads perked up, feathery thin voices were raised in song. Apparently the earliest childhood memories are the very last to go, and these poor victims of this dreadful disease remembered the songs they sang in Sunday school. Their oldest memories, dating to before the Fireside Chats, before the Waffen SS, before that street in New York crashed – these memories still lit these otherwise dark minds!

And they say that children don’t learn anything!

Of course “they” must have never had a child. Children are high fidelity microphones, picking up every breath, every inflection, every tone they hear. When parents quarrel, they know; when ladies use language that once made sailors blush, they hear; when voices are raised in honor of an incomparable God, the sound and the words lodge deeply in the memory.

Tell an adult that God is right here, in our midst, and he will scoff. Tell a child, and he will say, “OK.” Tell an adult that he should forgive his brother, and he will set his face in stone and intone, “Never!” Tell a child to forgive his brother, and in moments they will be lost in their play again.

The Teacher said it best: “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:14).

We behave as if children are a barrier to worship, that their squirming and shuffling gets in the way of our time with God. Contrast this attitude with that of Jesus, who drew them into the very center of his activities. The disciples said, “send them away.” Jesus said, “bring them to me!”

Will you bring your children?

All of which makes me determined that we will put in our children’s memories things of substance, pieces of our spiritual heritage that have stood the test of time.

You see, the real tragedy is not when an Alzheimer’s victim forgets his childhood, but when a society forgets its conscience.
(Stan Mitchell at http://www.forthright.net/)

“Let the little children come to me,

and do not hinder them,

for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

~Matthew 19:14~

For those of you having a holiday, enjoy the break and remember why Memorial Day is celebrated. For those of you who work today, like school teachers, remember why we have Memorial Day as you work.

Anna Lee

Sunday

“Blessed be God,

who has not turned away my prayer,

nor His mercy from me!”

~Psalm 66:20~

Thank you for your continued prayers. I am improving daily. Go to see the neurosurgeon Wednesday and hope he has something else we can try. Still having difficulty walking because it hurts to put pressure on my left leg. My bag hurts if I stand too long-like cooking.

Riley continues to decline in his ability to do things. Continues to be pleasant and eats & sleeps well.

I am thankful for the beautiful sunny days but it is a little HOT in DeRidder and even hotter when the AC goes out. Thankful that we had a nice man who would get out on a Saturday of a Memorial Day Weekend & repair the AC. Surely did help my myasthenia. It was beginning to be a little uncorporative because heat & myasthenia don’t get along too well.
thanks for your prayers
Frann Smith Clark


JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (joh-HAHN-is-burg). “A Deaf believer shared her story of a recent encounter during a week-long literacy training seminar,” writes the Deaf Evangelism Team. “When one Deaf man mocked his Christian friend, she jumped in, saying that she was a believer too. The Christian friend tried to share the story about Paul from Acts 8 but mixed up some of the details. She shared the full story about Paul’s testimony with them, and the man who had mocked then said that every story from the Bible being told in sign language should be videotaped so that every Deaf person will ‘see’ God’s Word in a new light. God is moving, as a group of interested Deaf believers have now gathered and prayed about this possibility of videotaping the Bible stories in their heart sign languages. Pray that God will guide us and give wisdom, patience and understanding as we work with this group who are committing themselves to this project.” http://members.tripod.com/wret_za/

SOUTH AFRICA. Please be in prayer for the country of South Africa. South Africa has long been thought of as an economically and politically secure country. However, over the last several months, much change has occurred here. Due to various reasons, power supplies have reached a critically low point and now South Africa is suffering the power outages that often occur in other parts of Africa. It has reached such a critical level that the country is now experiencing daily, rotating power outages. Unfortunately, this has already had a devastating effect on small business and employment, in a country that already has a huge unemployment rate. Immigration requests from the country have quadrupled since November. There are also nervous “rumblings” about how this will affect the 2010 Soccer World Cup, since it looks like a solution will be years in coming. All of this has had an unsettling effect on all people and has started a time of economic as well as political unrest with the coming elections. Please be in prayer for South Africa. Intercede for the people as they struggle through difficult times. Pray for the government as they struggle to solve a seemingly insurmountable problem. Ask for the Lord’s intervention and care. Pray for many to seek the Lord’s hand and guidance in South Africa.

ZAMBIA. It might be a school break, but it’s no holiday. The students of the Baptist Theological Seminary of Zambia are on their “break” between terms–but no one would say that they are on holiday. Those who are full-time pastors are using this time to focus more of their time and energy on the churches that they serve. Others are in the process of planting a church during this break. One student is beginning to bring to reality his calling of building an orphanage/training center in the bush by surveying possible sites and purchasing the land where God directs him. Give thanks to God for students who see “holidays” as “holy days”–days set apart for His glory and honor, extra opportunities to follow Him in faithful obedience.

LAST FRONTIER. “I was recently again reminded of the privilege of growing up in a country, and in a family, where there was freedom to hear and share the Good News,” writes a worker serving among a Last Frontier people group. “Utilizing the help of a recent short-term volunteer team, we took the opportunity to share the Resurrection Story with multiples of people over a one-week period. These short-term volunteer friends and I were amazed at the number of people who had never heard the Story. In several situations, the hearers were visibly moved. We ask you to pray for those who have heard these Truths. Pray that the seeds of Truth will take root and begin to grow new life in their hearts. Pray that the enemy will not steal these seeds of life away.”

MUSLIMS: PRAYING BEYOND THE WALL. Pray for brothers and sisters who are experiencing persecution because of their commitment to follow and serve Jesus Christ. Pray for them to experience joy in Christ in the midst of treachery. Ask that they will be completely enveloped by God’s peace. Pray for wisdom, grace and courage to share God’s Truth with those who oppose them. Pray for those who are determined to torment believers to be won over and transformed by God’s love expressed through His children. http://btw.imb.org/


Baham, Julia Ann

(October 25, 1945 – May 24, 2008)

Died at 2:53 a.m. on Saturday, May 24, 2008 at Our Lady Of The Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge, LA. She was a native of Springfield, LA and a resident of Greensburg, LA. Age 62 years. Visitation on Monday, May 26, 2008 from 9 a.m. until religious services at 3:00 p.m. at Red Bluff Baptist Church, Greensburg. Services conducted by Rev. Starat Cleveland. Interment Red Bluff Cemetery, Greensburg, LA.Survived by, her husband, Douglas Baham, her daughter, Julie O’Brien, her sons, Pee Wee Baham, and Mickey Baham, her sisters, Ella Welch, Mable McMaree, and Dollie Frazier, all of Greensburg, her brothers, Albert Rodriguez and Dewitt Effler both of Livingston, 4 grandchildren, Amanda Allen, Bridgette Baham, Brittainy Baham, Stephanie O’Brien, great grandson, Micheal Ray Allen, numerous nieces, nephews, and step-grandchildren


On Mission in Kentwood

Yesterday, fifteen volunteers worked to help others in our community and let them know God loves them and we love them. It was a very heart-warming experience. You might consider participating next time. You will certainly be blessed.

KneMoonlite

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


LARRY AND JANE Hudson are dear friends from the Main Street church…

They recently invited me to Sunday dinner following the AM worship assembly. This special couple was celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary and so they asked me to go along and commemorate the happy occasion.

Our destination…? Owensboro, Kentucky and Moonlite Bar-B-Q.

Everybody in this neck of the woods knows about Moonlite. Think “casual dining.” Think “family feel.” Think “all-you-can-eat” BBQ buffet. Underline the word “all.” Hungry guests stand in line with a plate and then help themselves to a smorgasbord of tasty, home-style dishes.

Buffet. Choose what you want. Skip what you don’t want. Go back as many times as you wish. This is gastronomical heaven. I loaded my plate with country favorites — mashed potatoes, pulled pork, and green beans, but then skiped the macaroni and cheese, gravy and rolls.

I left the restaurant full as the proverbial tick. Okay, maybe not full — I stopped just one bite shy of gluttony.

The meal was great. The Christian company was even better.

It occurs to me that many preachers treat the Word like a trip to Moonlite. They fill their theological dinner-ware with perennial favorites. They “eat” what their doctrinal belly desires (Phil. 3:19), but then pass over those food items which their denomination deems unpalatable. For instance, some heap their plate with faith, but then consciously omit what the Scriptures teach about baptism. They select SOME of God’s word but not the SUM of God’s word. They claim to be “Bible-believing,” but then do a “Moonlite” on those passages which teach the necessity of immersion.

Does the New Testament require baptism? No? Look again. According to Matt. 28:19-20 baptism is involved in my becoming a disciple of Christ. According to Mark 16:15-16 baptism is something I must engage if I want to be saved. According to Acts 2:37-38 baptism is something I must undergo in order to be forgiven of my sins. According to Acts 8:12-13, 38 baptism is something I must submit to, even if it means changing my religion. According to Acts 10:48 baptism is something I must obey because it has been commanded. According to Acts 16:14-15, 33 baptism is something I will yield to — immediately — in order to be faithful to the Lord. According to Acts 22:16 baptism is something I must do if I desire my past sins to be taken away (cf. Acts 9:6). According to Rom. 6:3-7 baptism is that which makes a difference (slave of sin vs. slave of righteousness) in my life. According to 1 Cor. 12:13 baptism is the means by which I enter the body or church (cf. Eph. 1:22-23). According to Gal. 3:26-27 baptism is the way that I become a child of God. According to 1 Pet. 3:21 baptism saves.

Got your Bible handy? Read through Jeremiah 36. Jeremiah prophesied during the closing days of the Southern kingdom of Judah. On one occasion, the prophet received a divine message from God and then had the words written on a scroll (vv. 1-3). This inspired document was later read to king Jehoiakim by Jehudi (vv. 21). When Jehudi read that the kingdom-nation would be overthrown by the Babylonian empire, Jehoiakim decided he couldn’t “stomach” anymore. The arrogant ruler took a scribe’s penknife, cut up the scroll, and then cast it into the fire until it was consumed (vv. 22-24).

Jehoiakim would have liked Moonlite. Eat what you want. Skip what you don’t want. Mashed potatoes “yes,” dinner rolls “no.” Authoritarian rule “yes,” servile bondage “no.” Faith “yes,” baptism “no.”

Dear reader, the Bible is not a self-serve restaurant. We can’t pick out the parts that we like and then reject or cut out the portions that don’t strike our fancy. We must declare and consume (Jer. 15:16) the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27; cf. 2 Tim. 4:2-4), including those passages which teach the necessity of baptism. (Mike Benson)

“The sum of your word is truth,and every one of your righteous rules endures forever” (Psm. 119:160).


Have a wonderful Lord’s Day! Be sure you remember it is SONday!

Anna Lee