the Centrist

Dear Friends and Family;

Life isn’t about waiting for the storm, it is about learning to dance in the rain.

Prayer Requests and Praises from the Blog:

Norma’s requests:

Hola! Did you get e-mail about Tom’s wife, Donna, having surgery June 3 at Roswell Hosp. She has low grade cancer of the uterine lining. I will fly to BUF Thurs. to help out and tend to Wally Dog. Bruce has appt Fri with surgeon to find out when other hip will be replaced. His son, Cory, will have more tests to find diagnose GI problems. Hugs and prayers,

Norma

Tom and Bruce are Norma’s sons… Please pray for healing and travel mercies for Norma and family

From Twila… praises:

PRAISE GOD. KEITH IS FINALLY GETTING THE MEDICATION THAT IS HELPING HIM TO THINK AND ACT BETTER. PLEASE PRAY FOR ME WHEN I GO TO COURT NEXT TUESDAY, SO I CAN BECOME FULL TIME GUARDIAN, AND THAT I CAN FIND A PLACE FOR HIM THAT HE WILL FEEL GOOD ABOUT. WE CAN’T HAVE HIM IN A PLACE THAT HAS TOO MANY PEOPLE. HAVE A BLESSED MEMORIAL DAY. TWILA & THOM
OH, THOM IS FEELING MUCH BETTER AND WE THANK GOD FOR HIS DOCTORS AND THOM’S PERSISTANCE TO GETTING THE HELP HE NEEDS.

Keith is Thom and Twila’s son… both Thom and Twila are dear friends from Clermont Baptist and both have serious medical issues.

From Tricia in Hawaii:

Jorge’s brother Joe went home to be with the Lord. Please pray for his
family, he was only 57.

Aloha,
Tricia

From Big Jim
A small request… Just one line
Dear God, I pray for the cure of cancer. Amen

From California Clint (a viet Nam Vet)

DEAR BILL,

YOU MAY KNOW THAT FOR 10 YRS I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO LOCATE MY AMERASIAN SON. I HAVE PRAYED THAT I WILL FIND HIM BUT AS OF YET I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE HIM. SO I’M ASKING YOU TO SUBMIT THIS TO PRAYER REQUEST TO YOUR PRAYER WARRIORS MY HOPE IS TO FIND HIM AND LEAD HIM TO CHRIST. AS I GET OLDER IT WORRIES ME MORE AND MORE THAT I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL SO I WANT TO PUT IT IN GODS HANDS… I HAVE SOME SERIOUS MEDICAL ISSUES WHICH MAKES MY QUEST SOMEWHAT MORE URGENT. I WANT TO GET THIS DONE SO I CAN BE AT PEACE.

GOD BLESS YOU AND YOURS.
CLINT

Clint added these thoughts:

Revelations 3:8

When God leads you to the edge of the cliff, trust Him fully and let go, only 1 of 2 things will happen, either He’ll catch you when you fall, or He’ll teach you how to fly! ‘
The power of one sentence! God is going to shift things around for you today and let things work in your favor.

God closes doors no man can open & God opens doors no man can close.

Profound Side From Marilyn:

The brand new pastor and his wife, newly assigned to their first ministry, to reopen a church in suburban Brooklyn , arrived in early October excited about their opportunities When they saw their church, it was very run down and needed much work. They set a goal to have everything done in time to have their first service on Christmas Eve.
They worked hard, repairing pews, plastering walls, painting, etc, and on December 18 were ahead of schedule and just about finished.
On December 19 a terrible tempest – a driving rainstorm hit the area and lasted for two days.
On the 21st, the pastor went over to the church. His heart sank when he saw that the roof had leaked, causing a large area of plaster about 20 feet by 8 feet to fall off the front wall of the sanctuary just behind the pulpit, beginning about head high.
The pastor cleaned up the mess on the floor, and not knowing what else to do but postpone the Christmas Eve service, headed home. On the way he noticed that a local business was having a flea market type sale for charity so he stopped in. One of the items was a beautiful, handmade, ivory colored, crocheted tablecloth with exquisite work, fine colors and a Cross embroidered right in the center. It was just the right size to cover up the hole in the front wall. He bought it and headed back to the church. By this time it had started to snow. An older woman running from the opposite direction was trying to catch the bus.. She missed it. The pastor invited her to wait in the warm church for the next bus 45 minutes later.
She sat in a pew and paid no attention to the pastor while he got a ladder, hangers, etc., to put up the tablecloth as a wall tapestry. The pastor could hardly believe how beautiful it looked and it covered up the entire problem area.

Then he noticed the woman walking down the center aisle. Her face was like a sheet.. ‘Pastor,’ she asked, ‘where did you get that tablecloth?’
The pastor explained. The woman asked him to check the lower right corner to see if the initials, EBG were crocheted into it there. They were. These were the initials of the woman, and she had made this tablecloth 35 years before, in Austria
The woman could hardly believe it as the pastor told how he had just gotten the Tablecloth. The woman explained that before the war she and her husband were well-to-do people in Austria …
When the Nazis came, she was forced to leave. Her husband was going to follow her the next week.
He was captured, sent to prison and never saw her husband or her home again. The pastor wanted to give her the tablecloth; but she made the pastor keep it for the church.
The pastor insisted on driving her home, that was the least he could do.. She lived on the other side of Staten Island and was only in Brooklyn for the day for a housecleaning job.
What a wonderful service they had on Christmas Eve. The church was almost full. The music and the spirit were great. At the end of the service, the pastor and his wife greeted everyone at the door and many said that they would return.
One older man, whom the pastor recognized from the neighborhood continued to sit in one of the pews and stare, and the pastor wondered why he wasn’t leaving.
The man asked him where he got the tablecloth on the front wall because it was identical to one that his wife had made years ago when they lived in Austria before the war and how could there be two tablecloths so much alike.
He told the pastor how the Nazis came, how he forced his wife to flee for her safety and he was supposed to follow her, but he was arrested and put in a prison.. He never saw his wife or his home again all the 35 years in between.
The pastor asked him if he would allow him to take him for a little ride. They drove to Staten Island and to the same house where the pastor had taken the woman three days earlier.
He helped the man climb the three flights of stairs to the woman’s apartment, knocked on the door and he saw the greatest Christmas reunion he could ever imagine.
True Story – submitted by Pastor Rob Reid, Who says God does work in mysterious ways..

Prayer Requests and Updates:

David, Deanna, and boys all sick with temps … David attending important meeting while under the weather… please pray. All have recovered… PTL… and for the record… in Oct., Lord Willing… it will be a GRANDDAUGHTER … after 6 tries it was the Lord’s perfect number that became the charm!
Our sister Val called me and told me our brother Pat (Mary’s husband-liver transplant) is in kidney failure due to the liver medication he has been taking. He will likely begin dialysis soon, this is devastating news for him, please continue to pray. HE IS RALLYING AND HAS A POSITIVE ATTIDTUDE. No Change
Friend Brian has attempted suicide several times and is now facing tough decisions on how to beat depression (he is on proper medication)… pray that he makes the right decisions based on the Will of God… NO DECISIONS AS TO TREATMENT, PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY. No change
Brother Vincent (Wife Debbie, Marilyn’s brother) surgery was postponed once again. They found he had a bleeding ulcer and must be treated for that before he is healthy enough to undergo the heart surgery. He has been rescheduled for May 18th… this coming Monday. Please continue to pray. HIS SURGERY HAS AGAIN BEEN POSTPHONED… THE PROCEDURE MAY NOT BE NECESSARY. HIS BLEEDING IS UNDER CONTROL. Still awaiting doctors’ evaluation…

From our grandson Scott and granddaughter Chelsea… the baby seems to be fine, but our Chelsea is having a tough time ‘resting’ … as well as some medical issues… the first great grandchild will be … A BOY!. Please keep them in prayer.
Our Aunt Della had her ankle set, continue to pray for healing
We have been praying for Joanna, a missionary who has three children and recently undergone brain surgery for tumor removal. Please continue to pray.
Our Brother Pat (liver transplant) is still having problems with his liver disease. He is home but please keep him in prayer (see above).

Pastor Neil S. (long time close friend) has submitted his resume to 3 churches in the WNY area… we continue to pray for God’s Will in his ministry. Please continue to pray
Continue to pray for our daughter Deanna (David) who is still having a particular hard time with her pregnancy. No we do not know if it is a boy or girl, but just bet on a boy!

Cousin Pastor Sam (Prostate Cancer) will be seeing a surgeon this coming week-please continue to pray for guidance and healing… He is seeking a second surgical opinion. Keep praying please. He has not made a decision as of this date.
Niece Rhonda is still weak but continues to work… continue to pray for strength and healing.
Former patient and good friend, Mary C. was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer. No update, please continue to pray.
Mary-Ann, has been undergoing some medical tests and at the moment the probability of lung cancer seems great- no update.

Pastor Mark’s wife – breast cancer
Barbara – substance abuse, still not doing well
Keith – mental illness… update he has been placed in a great facility and is receiving the help he needs
David S. neighbors objecting to zoning of his business… he won this case and can continue his business in the present location… PTL! New update, neighbor is now harassing with another suit.
Brother Les is about the same, but gets disheartened. The burden is heavy and he has lost about 40 lbs. Please keep both Val and Les in prayer.
Transplants: Good Friend Keith – liver, Brother Pat – liver (see above); Good Friend Jim – kidney … please keep praying for their well being.
Sister Jane, Cousins Janet and Karen for strength. All suffering from MS. Janet is now in a nursing facility.
Unity for our family
Tolerance, Christ’s Love, and Understanding for our families, friends, and enemies
Newlyweds: Son Rand and wife Erin, niece Kassy and husband Tom, niece Julia and Steve, and grandson Scott and Chelsea for long happy and prosperous relationships centered on our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
Bonnie Erbie (author accusing Christians of being knuckle draggers), prayer for salvation.
Pray for wisdom and spiritual guidance in rearing children for our family as well as the renewal of the nuclear family; pray that marriage stays as one man, one woman, but rights are extended to same gender unions.
Pray for truth in education… i.e. AIDS, abortion, evolution, and American History

Pray for our troops each evening at 9:00 pm. every night … pray that America wakes up to evil before it is too late
Nephews John and Ryan – Ryan in Iraq and John in Virginia (both in the Navy) and grandson Scott (see above) who is a Marine stationed in Beauford Marine Base.
Prayer partners Bill, John, and Ron … for continued blessings
Please continue to pray for health issues for five of our nieces, sister Jane, and Marilyn.
Pastors: Dan, John, Tom, Lyell, Steve D, Ben, Estes, Gail, Sam, Whittikers, Neil, and Steve T for their ministries, ease of stress, and courage to spread the gospel; wisdom for all leadership at Yates, Greater Toledo 1st Baptist, Clermont Baptist.
Prayer Requests Yates Baptist:
Our Nation and special thanks to veterans
Marilyn bedridden last week has bounced back this week
Deedee’s Mom failing health will enter Nursing Home for rehabilitation
Meagan B undiagnosed problem (probable auto immune problem… cortisone is helping, but diagnosis not conclusive)
Peter C for healing and encouragement
Praise: Tammy B graduated (RN)… and was hired immediately at local hospital (Brockport)

Lighter Side from Jamestown Patti:
Some of the artists of the 60′s are revising their hits with new lyrics to accommodate aging baby boomers.
They include:
Bobby Darin —
Splish, Splash, I Was Havin’ a Flash.
Herman’s Hermits —
Mrs. Brown, You’ve Got a Lovely Walker.
Ringo Starr —
I Get By With a Little Help From Depends.
The Bee Gees — -
How Can You Mend a Broken Hip.
Roberta Flack—
The First Time Ever I Forgot Your Face.
Johnny Nash —
I Can’t See Clearly Now.
The Commodores —
Once, Twice, Three Times to the Bathroom.
Marvin Gaye —
Heard It Through the Grape Nuts.
Procol Harem—
A Whiter Shade of Hair.
Leo Sayer —
You Make Me Feel Like Napping.
The Temptations —
Papa’s Got a Kidney Stone…
Abba—
Denture Queen.
Tony Orlando —
Knock 3 Times On The Ceiling If You Hear Me Fall.
Helen Reddy —
I Am Woman, Hear Me Snore..
Leslie Gore—
It’s My Procedure, and I’ll Cry if I want To.
And Last but NOT least..
Willie Nelson —

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing,
Dr. B