the Centrist

Life is not about avoiding the storms, it is about learning to live in the rain.

Dear Friends and family

The Lighter Side:

From Bob:
This is one of the most interesting signs I have been informed about.
Sign in an INDIANA store front window:
‘WE WOULD RATHER DO BUSINESS WITH 1000
AL QAEDA TERRORISTS,
THAN WITH ONE SINGLE AMERICAN SOLDIER!’
This sign was prominently displayed in the window of a business in Whiting, Indiana. You are probably outraged at the thought of such an inflammatory statement.
However, we are a society which holds freedom of Speech as perhaps our greatest liberty.
And after all, it is just a sign.
You may ask what kind of business would dare post such a sign.
Answer: Owen’s Funeral Home
You gotta love it!!!
God Bless America

A Church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday. “I’ve gone for 30 years now,” he wrote, “and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can’t remember a single one of them. So, I think I’m wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all.”
This started a real controversy in the “Letters to the Editor” column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher:
“I’ve been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this.. They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!” When you are DOWN to nothing….. God is UP to something! Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible! Thank God for our physical AND our spiritual nourishment!

From the Blog:

Marcel:
Subject: New Area Code
New Area Code – PLEASE READ
I checked it out with AT&T and snopes – it’s true. Please read all of this.
809 Area Code
We actually received a call last week from the 809 area code.. The woman said ‘Hey, this is Karen . Sorry I missed you–get back to us quickly. I have something important to tell you.’ Then she repeated a phone number beginning with 809We did not respond. Then this week, we received the following e-mail:
Do Not DIAL AREA CODE 809, 284, AND 876
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION PROVIDED TO US BY AT&T. DON’T EVER DIAL AREA CODE 809

This one is being distributed all over the US … This is pretty scary, especially given the way they try to get you to call.
Be sure you read this and pass it on.
They get you to call by telling you that it is information about a family member who has been ill or to tell you someone has been arrested, died, or to let you know you have won a wonderful prize, etc..
In each case, you are told to call the 809 number right away. Since there are so many new area codes these days, people unknowingly return these calls.
If you call from the U.S. , you will apparently be charged $2,425 per-minute (ATT site says that this is an exageration).
Or, you’ll get a long recorded message. The point is, they will try to keep you on the phone as long as possible to increase the charges. WHY IT WORKS:
The 809 area code is located in the Dominican Republic ..
The charges afterward can become a real nightmare. That’s because you did actually make the call.. If you complain, both your local phone company and your long distance carrier will not want to get involved and will most likely tell you that they are simply providing the billing for the foreign company. You’ll end up dealing with a foreign company that argues they have done nothing wrong.
Please forward this entire message to your friends, family and colleagues to help them become aware of this scam.
AT&T VERIFIES IT’S TRUE:http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=6045
SNOPES VERIFIES IT’S TRUE: http://www.snopes.com/fraud/telephone/809.aspWhy Go To Church?

Prayer Requests:
Pastor Steve’s mother is in the hospital (Hawaii). They are going to put in the shunt and then do a half dialysis. She has lost 9 pounds since Steve was there
which is not good. Please keep them in your prayers… no update
Update: Steve’s mother is back home and doing fairly well. The dialysis has
helped. They did get her a hospital bed so it will be easier for her to
get in and out of bed. She is eating more which is good. 89 pounds is
too thin! Thanks so much for your prayers. aloha, tricia

AE for strength to face his dilemma

Prayer for David S… wisdom in working with employee and former owner
Bless and pray for our service men and women as they seem to have fewer and fewer options as they deal with the enemy.
Deanna now on complete bed rest… having premature contractions, would be difficult for the baby if she is born in next few weeks, needs about another month… please pray for our Deanna and Vivienne… no change.
Friend: Shannon B had biopsy, please pray for negative results… no update
Friend Gary W to have biopsy (prostate) in two weeks… please pray for negative results… no update
Friend Jimmy W having back problems… no update
Hal… prayer partner John’s brother-in-law recovering from intestinal surgery has had a setback and is in ICU… please pray for recovery… no update
Friend Eric recovered from peritonitis… PTL!
Cousins Dan and Sharon (husband and wife): Dan has just received a pace maker and Sharon is planning on her second knee replacement, no further news.

Continue to pray for missionary Curtis and his children Natalie, Reuben, & Kaylie Bergman as they lost their wife and mother two weeks ago.

Maria – diabetes is critical. She had a skin and muscle biopsy and suspect small nerve neuropathy. Please continue to pray no change in her condition.

Clint: to find his son in Viet Nam and have the opportunity to present salvation to him. Clint is in hospital for esophageal bleeding, please keep him in prayer.

Pastor Neil S. (long time close friend and prayer partner) pray for God’s Will in his ministry.
Niece Rhonda is still weakened condition, but continues to work… continue to pray for strength and healing.

Brother Les is about the same, but he continues to have a Godly attitude. Yet the burden continues to be heavy on both he and Valarie. Please keep both Val and Les in prayer.

Transplants: Good Friend Keith – liver, Brother Pat – liver, Good Friend Jim – kidney … please keep praying for their well being; they all are doing well as of this printing

Sister Jane, Cousins Janet, and Karen for strength… all are suffering from MS. Janet is now home from rehab. with cousin Tom caring for her.

Unity for our family

Tolerance, Christ’s Love, and Understanding for our families, friends, and enemies

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

Pray for Nephews John and Ryan – Navy and grandson Scott a Marine.

Pray for healthy babies: Son David/Deanna – due in Oct.; Grandson Scot and Chelsea – due in Nov; Nephew Kris and Becky expecting second set of twins (girls) on Christmas Day!

Prayer partners John and Ron and family. For my dear friend Bill and Rita M’s family see above (Bill went home to the Lord in May; Rita last month)… pray for strength and blessings

Please continue to pray for health issues for five of our nieces 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 First Baptist.

Billy Graham’s Prayer For Our Nation
‘Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, ‘Woe to those who call evil good,’ but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem. We have abused power and called it politics.. We have coveted our neighbor’s possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and Set us free. Amen!’

Clermont Sunday School: Prayer Requests:
Update: Chris’s sister had surgery last Wed… She passed away soon after this surgery; please pray for this family and especially Chris… she is in deep mourning.
Twila sent me the prayer list from yesterday. It follows:
Bill and Marilyn Bellavia health issues
Ken has a friend who has leukemia. Pray for his salvation.
Nedy’s daughter Linda is not feeling well. She has a stomach blockage.
Chris and Bob Steward and family. Her sister died last night.
Sale of Dave and Shelia D’s property in Maryland.
Thom and Twila have a friend, Kathy, who has bone cancer, but she wants prayer for her husband and mother. Kathy is at peace with whatever happens.
Pray for the Gideons and their success in giving out Bibles.
Thom and Twila’s cousin died Tuesday. Pray for her husband, Lester.
Ron and Elaine G — they’ve been very busy with family this summer but will be back soon. They have missed everyone.
Praise for Vicki and Ken’s niece Nikki’s operation, but still pray for healing and chemo.
Praise for Jack and Linda’s son-in-law who has a job, but their daughter Laura needs to find work close to home.

Yates Sunday School Requests:
Jenine – severe headaches… has improved
Doug G. dialysis
Jim- sister in dialysis
Aaron- Job hunting
Marilyn B… yea that is our Marilyn… stress test, having chest pain regularly along with a dear friend of ours Wilma B… please keep them both in prayer… Update: Both have no discernable problems, but still have symptoms.
Praise found Wed. PM leader for Family Night at Yates… thank you Mike and Darlene
Praise: Cathy’s nephew back from Iraq safe and sound
Andy Z’s co-worker Chris… searching for salvation… pray
Travel mercy and safety for Neals
Cathy’s friend to go to surgery for carotid blockage… very frightened and not a believer… she has asked Cathy to take her to hospital… pray
Joan (Jim’s sister) traveling mercies
Joyce and Shirley placed mother in nursing home…