Nicholas

Just so you know. Nicholas had a good day in court. He received 1 year probation which I think means that he will meet with a probation officer for a year. He will have to take an anger management class and some kind of alcohol program or class. Please continue to pray for him. He is doing an online class (or classes) from Pulaski Tech. And he is going to actual classes there, too. That is a huge praise.

I heard from a little birdie that Jeremy had a good day at school yesterday..... Sherry will be writing about that.... but couldn't wait to say... PRAISE THE LORD!!!!! Let's keep holding him up to the Lord.

Birthday Bash

Well, I just have to tell you.... WE LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!! What a great group!!!! I came away from our time together blessed and energized for Him. (we are to stimulate one another to love and good deeds.. and you did) The time of sharing, prayer, and just plain laughter reminded me that He is really growing us into true "Community" relationship. As Donna said the other day, "And we all really like each other." Praise His Name!!!

Birthday Bash was a good name for our time together... and the cake. It looked like it had taken a hit (or a bash).... but it did taste good and gave us a good laugh. Three of the four September Birthday celebrants were able to come. We will catch Sherry later (maybe lunch with the girls???). Jim, Susan (we loved that you could come), and Dan were celebrated. Here they are below AND the cake. Still makes me smile.

The next community group meeting will be on Sept 24th. If anyone would like to host it, please let me know. We will go back to meeting at 7PM since we have decided not to do the Stewardship course as a group. Suzanne, more info on that later. We sure have missed you.

Another important date to mark on your calendar is Jim Cymbala's meeting Sept 30th at 7PM at 2nd Baptist Church. More info coming.

Also don't forget the memorial service for David Ludvigson next Wednesday at 2PM at Bible Church. David's exit from this earth was also his glorious entry into the presence of the Lord. Praise the Lord!! Pray for Dan's preparation for the eulogy that he will give and his presentation of it.... and for his brother, Tim, as he sings at the service. Also pray for the healing of the estranged relationship between Dorothy and Deb, Tim's wife.... may God do a miracle during this difficult time.

May the reality of His Presence and His purposes for your life cause you to focus on Him every minute and every second this week.... and cause you to live in His joy.

Dave Ludvigson's Memorial service

I would first of all like to thank each and everyone of you for your prayers during this time. With mother's hearing loss all communication has had to come through me. Dave went peacefully to be with his Savior on Saturday, September 4th at 5:30 am. Shortly after the call from the nursing home, I was able to be at his side and was able to have a "good bye and will be seeing you later" moment. During this time mother sat down at the computer and wrote out Dave's obituary and I was able to get it to the funeral home in time to get it in Sunday's paper. I thought I had told her it would be in the Sunday paper, but when she did her usual reading of obits she was shocked to see Dave's.

Yesterday, I was able to get a hold of the pastor that we would like to officiate at the memorial service and get the process of getting this event put together.

We have made plans for the service to take place next Wednesday, September 15th at 2 pm. at the Bible Church of Little Rock, located just accross from the Little Rock Christian Academy on Cantrell.

My brother Tim will be coming up and will sing at the memorial

I am in the process of getting a Eulogy written. Please, pray that I will have the courage to present it. The way it is coming out a stranger would not get the full unspoken message I pray this will be presenting. Pray for Gretchen, Dave's daughter, that she will be able to take some of the rough points in David's life that will need to be spoken as I wish to present the matchless grace of Jesus that was demonstrated in his life. I will be having a DVD made of the service for her. She will not be able to make it down here.

The one miracle that I pray God will allow to come to pass will be able to see my mother and Debbie, Tim's wife, reconcile. Most, if not all the problem in this relationship falls on Debbie. They will be staying with us for a day or two. That's all that Debbie can take.

Unless lightning should strike me, I plan on seeing you'll this Friday.

Take care,
Dan

Community Group Meeting

Ahhhhhh cool weather and the beginning of regular meetings of our Community Group.... standing in the GAP and gathering to pray and praise Him.

As you know the church has suggested that the community groups do a DVD series on Stewardship. There will be messages (from the teaching elders) about that subject starting on Sunday, Sept 12th. We are going to begin the DVD series with the intro DVD on Friday, September 10th at the city Smiths (that would be Jim and Linda's house). We have decided to start the meeting at 6:30PM so that we can begin the DVD by 6:40 or 6:45. That will give us time to visit a short time about it and then go to prayer time, which could include prayer on what we have just seen on the DVD. Side note: There is a book available at the bookstore for $10 that goes along with this study. It has blanks to fill in the info that we get during the DVD and more info pertaining to our finances... worksheets, etc.

Now... if that is not enough to excite you about coming on that Friday night.... we will be celebrating two birthday boys... Jim and Dan. So you all come!!!! AND could you please let me know if you will be able to attend. Thanks!!!!

Community Group

Just a reminder. We have the amazing privilege to assemble for prayer this Friday night at the Brown's home... thanks, Jim and Susan. .... a time to praise Him for Who He is.... for all He is doing and has done.... to bring our requests to the throne of grace as we are directed by His Spirit.... and to rejoice together as a family... the family of God. Please let Susan and Jim know if you can't make it.

A scripture God reminded me of today... Exodus 15:11 Who is like You among the gods, O LORD? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in praises, working wonders?? My answer..... There is NONE LIKE YOU, O LORD!!!!!

Update and Community Group meeting

Update of Suzanne's brother, Jerry, with cancer of the bladder.... "Jerry saw his doctor on Friday and he got as good a report as he could get under the circumstances. It is a low-grade carcinoma and the doc thinks he got it all. He will be followed every three months and will have chemo and radiation if it returns." Please keep praying and also for his salvation... the ultimate healing!!!!

AND... Community Group will meet on Friday, August 27th at the Browns home (thank you so much). We will meet at 7PM. Please let me know if you will be able to attend. We have much to give Him praise for and much to lift to the throne of grace... for help in time of need...

He is worthy of praise.... all of our praise.

Suzanne's brother

Please pray for Suzanne's younger brother that lives in Floriday. He has been diagnosed with cancer of the bladder and will have surgery on Tuesday to remove the tumor. Suzanne does not believe that he is saved so please make that part of your prayers for his healing.... physical and spiritual healing. And that it all will bring glory and honor to His name!!! Side note.... they are not telling Suzanne's dad about his son's cancer so be careful when you talk to her at church.

Community Group Meeting

Well, praise the Lord, Kase is doing well after surgery to remove the benign fibrous tumor from right above his clavicle. Thanks so much for your prayers.
Don't forget to continue to pray for Dorothy Ludvigson. She is having some dizziness and nausea which may indicate painless migraines. And, of course, pray for her hearing problems.
AND lift up Jeremy as he teaches!!!!

I just want to remind you that there is a kick-off for Sageworks on August 15th at the Warehouse from 6PM to 7:30PM. Jim and I will not be in town so take good notes to share with us. Joshua will be baptized that day in Mississippi.

Now.... am looking at Aug 20th or 27th for our next Com group meeting. Please let me know if you have a preference between the two dates.

We love and appreciate you all.

Kase

Kase is out of surgery and got a good report----fibrous cyst. They will still send the tissue sample off for verification. Thanks so much for your prayers.

Couple prayer requests

Not sure who I told what so here goes. Not sure if I told you but Kase committed his life to Christ a week or more ago. Then last week Kristin noticed a lump on his collarbone. The doctor xrayed it... inconclusive. So Monday he had an MRI.... inconclusive. So on Tuesday he will have the lump removed and find out what it is. Please pray for him. He is a little nervous about the procedure... will be put to sleep. We are a little nervous about what it is.... hmmm!!!! Glad that we rest in HIM.

Also Kristin had an MRI for her back at least three weeks ago, and they found that she has severe arthritis, but no new ruptured disc. Glory!!!! PT is supposed to help it. BUT they also found a cyst on her kidney but they could not see all of it(whatever that means) so she needs a untrasound to determine if that is all it is..... but has put it off to take care of life as the mom of 8 kids... I won't go into what that all entails but you can only imagine. Who plans to do that when school starts.

Thanks for praying..

Just a quick update

Just a quick update. Donna sent me a text that Ernie's computer part came in by 10:30AM Sat morning and then they were off to the BEACH!!!!! God is so good.

GLORY TO GOD!!!!

Yes, it is me AGAIN!!!!

Okay.... God is soooo good to answer our prayers. Suzanne received a call Sunday that Nick indeed was at Harbor House in Ft. Smith to Detox after he had told her he was NOT going to go there but do it on his own!!!!! They told her they would keep him until he was off alcohol and prescription drugs. This in itself is a huge prayer because they had told Suzanne earlier that they could not keep him but would let him detox there. ALSO he got his old job back at the car dealership!!!!!! Suzanne is not sure how that all happened or who intervened for him but God was surely in it. One thing that is different this time is that for the first time, Nick has said that he does not want to end up on the street.... (that is not the wording that he used I am sure but Suzanne will clear it up on Friday night....) this is the first time that Nick has ever said that he wanted to change.... So continue to pray for him in his detox AND that he come to know the LORD in it all. God is sooooo good. He is worthy of all of our praise.

Jeremy

Some of you may have a more recent update, but Sherry called after first service to say that Jeremy had a very painful and stiff neck... (sorry I am late getting this to you) He was to have Open House this afternoon at 3PM and of course, starts with his students tomorrow. Last I heard they were giving him meds and might go to a clinic for more help and to the chiropractor at 6:30 tonight. If you have more info please put it on this blog.

Please pray diligently for him!!!!!! That God would relax that stiffness and make it possible for him to be in class tomorrow....

Thanks to the Peters for all their help with Jeremy's room. They were not able to even get in it to move desks, etc until 4:30PM yesterday. But God knows and will accomplish all that concerns Jeremy. Praise His Name!!!

Today was mother's doctor appointment with the "hip" doctor. Mother dodged a bullet. The doctor was amazed that Mother is not in extreme pain seeing she broke the ball of her left hip joint. The x-ray he took showed the break in a little better detail than the one taken at Baptist ER on 06/23/10, but the doctor did not excuse the ER doctor for missing the break. He is giving mother 2 weeks to drastically improve in the healing process, which means her pain levels must greatly decrease in order to convince the doctor that blood is getting to the broken portion of the ball joint and that, in fact, healing is taking place. If not, hip joint replacement is in her future.

Please, prayer that it is God's will for mother to bypass this painful cup and will heal under her own body's strength.

Thank you.

Dan

Glory to God and let's pray

FIRST!!!! Cecilia had her routine 6 month MRI... it always is a little scary for her (and us). BUT God in His mercy gave her a clear MRI and the doctor said that she does not need to come back for ONE YEAR!!!!! (sorry I shouted)

Now.... some things to keep in mind to pray for.. Oh, forgot.... do you believe that prayer changes things... because God changes things... okay, then let's pray without ceasing... okay??
THE USA..... beginning with revival and repentance in our own hearts.
North Korea... one of the worst offenders in the persecution of believers.
Dorothy Ludvigson.... Appointment with a surgeon for her hip
Mark Brown..... still about the same... needs our prayers.
Jeremy Smith.... God is able to accomplish all that concerns Him.
Nick Patton.... supposed to be going to detox today.. please God... meet with him in this place and reveal yourself to Him.
Jennifer (Suzanne's daughter) needs a JOB... and wisdom in other things... She has an interview coming up.
Nicholas Patton... signed up for some classes... some online... Also has lost his lawyer since he cannot pay him... pray that He will see the LORD in all this and fall in love with Him.
David Ludvigson.... and DAN... (we are blessed by the testimony of Jesus in you through all that is going on in your life.
Betsy Parkinson.. continues healing and recovery
And on and on.
Love you all..... there are so many more requests..... God will show us all who and what to hold up to Him

I could say something about Linda's last entry but I won't. I will just pray for her and Jim.

Hello everyone,

First of all, thank you for all your prayers. The saga goes on.

The doctor at the Baptist ER did not ready the x-ray correctly. Mother did break her left hip bone, the ball part of the joint. We found out on Monday, 07/12/10. It was a hair line fracture that would normally not need any surgery, but because mother has osteoprosis, she will probably have to have a pin placed in the hip bone for reenforcment. That will be confirmed by a "hip" doctor she will be seeing this Friday, 07/16/10. It is my prayer that she will be able to get up and around within a day or so of the surgery.

Please, prayer that I will have the strength and endurance to take care of her and patience and endurance for Mother. This has really made my mother feel her age and she is not enjoying being suddenly jerked from feeling like a 19 year old. She is also depressed over Dave conditon

David's condition is one of a weaker state. He lost his appetite last month and only through drugs is he just begining to eat properly again. This has helped him get his diabetes in better control. Opps!!!! just got a call from Pleasant Valley Living Center. His blood sugar is at 408. He is a brittle diabetic and there is no rhyme or reason for this large flucuations in his blood sugar levels. He sleeps most of the time now.

Thank you for your ear,

Take care,
Dan

Community Group

Yikes.... Jim said I was time traveling and came home a week early.... Community Group is NEXT week.... the 23rd. I am soooo sorry if I caused Suzanne heart palpatations and any of you confusion. My mistake!!!!!!!! Thanks for your patience.

Community Group Meeting and other info

Well, just wanted to remind you that Community Group will meet this Friday at Suzanne Patton's home (thanks, Suzanne). It will be great to be together and catch up on things AND PRAY together. Lots to pray and praise about. Please let Suzanne know if you will NOT be able to come on Friday..

I was with someone today that is close to Betsy Parkinson. She said that the surgery on the bones in her face was really confined to one area to the side of her eye because all the other bones were in place and just need to heal and fuse together. Can I hear an "AMEN!!"... or a "GLORY TO GOD!!""?? All of her injuries have been repaired and now she is going home to recover. We serve a good and amazing God. She did lose her sight in the affected eye. Since that wasn't on caringbridge (or I didn't see it... but I have been gone) so let's just keep that to ourselves.

Betsy Parkinson

Betsy has reconstructive surgery on her eye socket at or around noon today July 9th. Remember her in prayer around this time. Sounds like God is working as she is continually improving. Praise Him and keep holding her up in prayer.

Jeremy and His New Job

via Suzanne, Linda has asked that we continue to remember Jeremy Smith as he has begun his new job as a teacher with the Urban Collegiate Public Charter School. He started Tuesday and needs prayer that he may be able to adapt to the job demands and be able to deal well with the stress. Please hold him up to the Lord that God may strengthen and encourage him and give him peace! Thanks.