Wednesday – Baptist Press

February 25, 2008

TENNESSEE–LifeBoxes show soldiers that churches care. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=27486

TENNESSEE–Soldier: LifeBox made a difference. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=27487

TEXAS–ELECTION 08: Huckabee’s hopes in Texas no joke. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=27488

TENNESSEE–Drought-stricken farmers get Baptist hay lift. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=27489

VIRGINIA–Discipleship fuels new mestizo churches. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=27490

TENNESSEE–FIRST-PERSON (Thom S. Rainer): When ‘Kindle’ comes to church. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=27491

February 26, 2008

GEORGIA–Church takes action after refinery explosion. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=27492

GEORGIA–One disaster, many responders. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=27493

GEORGIA–Memorial service honors sugar refinery victims. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=27494

MASSACHUSETTS–Mother speaks for life after daughter’s death during abortion. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=27495

WASHINGTON–Abortion doctor gives up license. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=27496

INDIANA–NFL reversal shows value of taking a stand, pastors say. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=27497

KENTUCKY–Mohler: Pew study should challenge evangelicals. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=27498

LOUISIANA–FIRST-PERSON (Keith Manuel): Praying for the unbeliever. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=27499

Tuesday’s Devotional

KneEmail

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

Mike Benson, Editor

 

Change

OFTEN WE HEAR that “prayer changes things…”

I have only one question. It deals not with what prayer changes, but whom.
Perhaps we are under the illusion that it is the role of prayer to change God’s mind. The astounding thing is that there are indeed times when frail flesh can change the intention of eternal Deity! Moses averted God’s anger against Israel ( Exodus 32:11-14); Hezekiah bought extra time ( Isaiah 38:1-8). These incidents remind us that “the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” ( James 5:16). Talk about friends in high places, the child of God can go to the most powerful figure in existence, and be heard!

But the marvel of prayer lies not in our ability to change God, but in his ability to change us. When we pray, we admit that we need his help; we express humility and dependence with regard to the course of our lives; we throw ourselves on his mercy; we seek his wisdom, his strength, his love.

When we pray, the universe is reoriented. Our universe!

Prayer isn’t about changing God’s mind; it’s about changing ours! “God,” someone has said, “never alters the robe of righteousness to fit a man; he changes the man to fit the robe.” God seeks to mold us, change us, make us something wonderfully better. And the process begins when our posture changes from standing to kneeling.

“O house of Israel,

can I not do to you as this potter does?”

declares the Lord.

“Like clay in the hand of the potter,

so are you in my hand,

O house of Israel”.

~ Jeremiah 18:6~

Prayer won’t change things until we allow it to change us. (Stan Mitchell)

Prayer changes things – us!

Anna Lee

Tuesday

“Be patient with each other,

making allowance for each other’s faults

because of your love.”

~Ephesians 4:2b NLT~

Please pray for my 22-yr-old grandson Dusty who had to go to ER yesterday (Monday) because of bleeding. The scans showed polyps in his colon. He will call a doctor today and I will let you know the date of the appointment.

…
Frann

I received an e-mail from Frann a short while ago and she was asking for prayers as the pain is in her side now and she states it is almost unbearable.
Please remember her in your prayers.

Mary Ann Cutrer

Tuesday – Obituary

Juanita Canton Ridgedell Blount

(December 21, 1914 – February 25, 2008)

Died at 10:10 a.m. on Monday, February 25, 2008 at the home of her daughter, Belle Davidson, in Roseland. She was 93 born December 21, 1914, daughter of Lyle and Lillie Grantham Canton. She was reared in Canton, MS and a former resident of Montpelier. She was retired from Lallie Kemp Hospital where she was a Labor and Delivery Nursing Assistant. She was a member of Magnolia Baptist Church in Montpelier. Survivors include her daughter, Clara Belle Ridgedell Davidson, Roseland, who cared for her for the past two years until her death; son, Joseph P. Ridgedell, Pensacola, FL; 8 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Lyle and Lillie Canton; daughter, Lydia Madge Davis Law Musgrave; 4 sisters; 1 brother; first husband, Percy Ridgedell; second husband, Henry Blount. Special thanks to Vital Hospice Staff, Kimberly Hart, Susan Johnson, Brother Leon Dunn, Tom Grosz, Dr. Anthony Zerangue, Tom Terrall with Tangipahoa Parish Coroner’s Office and also to family members who gave unconditional love and care through her illness-Dustin and Mindy Fitch, Danielle Gill, Rhonda Chandler, Brandy Smith and Donna Davidson. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be mad to Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center of Hammond or the charity of your choice in her memory. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 10 a.m. until religious services at 1 p.m. Wednesday. Services conducted by Rev. Leon Dunn. Interment Union Baptist Church Cemetery, Loranger. Pallbearers will be Dustin Fitch, Ralph Chandler, Larry Johnson, Nicky Hayden, Joey Davis and Kevin Washington.

Monday’s Devotional

KneEmail

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

Mike Benson, Editor

 

Towel

 

THE IDEA IS shocking…

It is a thought many people have never even entertained. What is it that is so astounding? It is the fact that God hates. Most often we think of God as love (1 John 4:8). Love eliminates hate, right? Wrong. As a matter of fact, appropriate hate is a result of love. For instance, Psalm 119 is a very lengthy expression of love and appreciation for God’s word. It is as a result of that love for God’s instruction that the Psalm expresses hatred for “every false way” (Psm. 119:104, 128).

 

God is love. He loves us as His creation and above all else desires close fellowship with us. That fellowship is destroyed by sin. Sin taints and tarnishes His people and makes association with a holy God impossible. That is why God hates sin. It destroys those whom God loves. How tragic when people become enamored with the very things that ruin their relationship with God, the very things God hates. So, in Proverbs, seven objects of God’s hatred are listed:

  1. haughty eyes
  2. a lying tongue
  3. hands that shed innocent blood
  4. a heart that devises wicked plans
  5. feet that run rapidly to evil
  6. a false witness who utters lies
  7. one who spreads strife among brothers.

 

Yes, God hates these things. And, if we love God, we’ll hate them too. It is no virtue to love everything. If we love what God hates we are estranged from Him (1 John 2:15). That’s the very problem Jesus died to fix.

So, what do you hate? (David Deffenbaugh; Bill McFarland)

“These six things the LORD hates,

Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:

a proud look,

a lying tongue,

hands that shed innocent blood,

a heart that devises wicked plans,

feet that are swift in running to evil,

a false witness who speaks lies,

and one who sows discord among brethren.”

Prov. 6:16-19

 

Don’t let these things get in the way of the service He has called you to do.

Anna Lee

Monday – Travel Schedule

Hatchel Family

  • New Orleans -> Chicago (2:42 P.M. -> 5:09 P.M. Friday)
  • Chicago -> Frankfurt (6:53 P.M. -> 10:15 A.M. Saturday)
  • Frankfurt -> Prague (11:50 A.M. -> 12:55 P.M. Saturday)

All times are local to the city they will be in, not our central time.

Pray for them as they:

  • Complete packing and other final tasks here
  • Travel across seven time zones
  • Go through customs in the States and in Europe
  • Travel through four airports
  • Try to make all connections on time
  • Have seating that does not always keep the family together
  • Try to keep up with the maximum amount of luggage
  • Meet colleagues who will bring their vehicle and help with luggage
  • Make a two-hour drive to Brno
  • Adjust to the change of time zones
  • Continue their ministry in the Czech Republic

Monday – FBC

Deacons for the week:

  • Smiley Conerly
  • Roy Turner

Two names to add to the list of people going to the conference next weekend:

  • Jonathan Hoffstead
  • Amber Bell

March 9th

  • Foods Across America
  • Kick-off for the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering.
  • FBC Goal: $13,000.00

Beth Moore Bible studies continue:

  • Tuesday mornings
  • Thursday nights
  • Sunday afternoons

Coming in March: Lunch for BCM students at SLU

Monday

Bro. Butch Reviere was able to be back at church yesterday. Thank God for the progress he has made, but continue to pray for him. Your prayers will be appreciated.

Pray for three local men who are recovering from surgery and/or facing treatment:

  • Sammy Broyles
  • Randy Fairburn
  • Ronnie Cutrer

Mrs. Katherine Sanders was unable to be at church yesterday. Pray for her to be relieved of some of the pain she endures.

Charles Houeye of Roseland is back in North Oaks. Please add him back to your prayer list.

Pray for Boyd Hatchel as he leaves New Orleans today to take some items to Bro. Brady Haynes in Birmingham and then travels on to Memphis tomorrow to sell his vehicle back to the man he purchased it from. He will fly back to New Orleans later Tuesday. Thank God for men who are able and and willing to support missionaries in various ways.

Sunday Evening

I learned I was receiving emails though “Contact” on the new site and not being notified. Jason corrected that today so in the future that should not be a problem. Here are two of the requests that were sent in the last couple of days:

Could you please post something for me? My Aunt by marriage died today of cancer. Her name was Barbara Meiners from Mandeville, LA. I would like to request prayers for her family in their time of need. She lost her daughter on New Years Eve of this year in a car accident so this family has suffered a great loss. Her husbands’ name is Fred. I would appreciate it. She had open heart surgery back in October I believe and ever since then her health declined. We found out yesterday that she was in stage 4 of cancer and today she died.

Thanks
Debbie C Powers

(Feb. 23)

Kirk Lee is having health problems. He has been to the Emergency room and had test in New Orleans yesterday, and will have more today.Please put him on the prayer request and hope that he can be healthy again.

Angela Shockley

(Feb. 20)