Monday, November 30, 2009

Adult Classes - Winter Quarter

Sunday/Wednesday

Auditorium class
- Raul Torres.

Adult 1 (large classroom)
- Smitherman. Jeremiah and Lamentations

Sunday Morning only

Adult 2
- Perkins. “Proverbs”

Wednesday Only

Adult 2
- Joey. “A Walk Through the New Testament”

Sunday Night

Auditorium class
- Various speakers – subject mirrors children’s classes.

Adult 1 (large classroom)
- Smitherman. Dealing with adversity & tragedy (first 6 weeks). Controversial topics (second six weeks).

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Meet Your New Parkway Members



Don and Hope Mosley
1025 Barracuda
Corpus Christi, Texas 78411

Don and Hope have been married 38 years. They met in Billings, Montana while Don was in the Air Force and Hope was teaching. They lived there for 5 years and have been in Corpus ever since. They have two daughters, one son and one grandchild. They both work for Carlisle Insurance where Bob is a producer and Hope is a CSR (Customer Service Rep.)

Bob Bickle Funeral Service

We had Bob Bickle’s funeral today. About 5 years ago some of the members of the Ayer’s street congregation approached us. The congregation was going to disband and they were looking for a place for their members to go. Bob was preaching there at the time. When David, Gus and I met with Bob we knew that Bob was the kind of guy that we would like to work with. His calm demeanor and wisdom came out during those meetings. We certainly had some differences but we all felt like we could work with each other for the greater goal of building the congregation and reaching out to the “lost”.

We decided to financially support Bob as he worked with the congregation here. It was probably one of the best decisions we ever made. Bob took us in a direction that without him we never would have gone; Prison work and Counseling.

Bob was very active in prison work. Every Tuesday he would drive to the prison unit in Beeville to teach an anger management class to the inmates there. Prison work is the kind of work that you don’t see immediate results with. It is an investment in the future. I was touched by what one of Bob’s co-workers said today, that two thousand prisoners had been praying for Bob while he was in the hospital.

Bob also was very active in counseling. We advertised “Free Christian Counseling” with Bob’s cell phone number on our message board at the building. Many took advantage of that. Bob was able to counsel folks about the problems they had because of sin in their lives. We have members at Parkway because of Bob’s counseling.

Bob was such a hard worker. He was always looking for ways to promote his free counseling service and he was always looking to increase his knowledge by going to counseling seminars. He maintained a counseling website. Pretty amazing for a man of his age and health to be so active.

When he was admitted into the hospital with his cardiac condition he was in a hurry to get out because he and Janet had planned a trip to go to Florida for a counseling seminar that he didn’t want to miss.

Bob and Janet were especially gifted at helping the older members and visiting the sick in the hospital. There is a lot more that could be said about Bob.

Bob will be missed by all. He made Parkway a better place.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Church News. November 22, 2009

Howdy!

Janet Bickle was at services and says Bob is “up and down”. They are very thankful for the concern and prayers. Bob is still in ICU and cannot have visitors.

My step father Darell Roberts has passed on. Funeral services were on Saturday in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Services in Houston will be Tuesday night at 7 pm.

Brandy Torres will be having her kidney biopsy tomorrow.

Michelle Christie had a visitor today…

Mable Joseph
3333 South Alameda, #13J
CC, TX. 78411

Like Michelle she is a nursing student.

Also visiting…

Robert Lee Torres
4224 Ocean drive #351
CC, TX. 78411

Robert moved here from Del Rio, TX.

Cowboy Church and Dogs in the Assembly

One of my employees has been attending a “Cowboy church”. If you’re not familiar with “Cowboy churches” they are basically a thematic Baptist church. The sermon usually is on a cowboy theme. People bring their horses and their dogs, etc. After services they have rodeo-like activities.

Anyway, when my employee mentioned she was taking her dog to services I commented that I thought that was inappropriate. I reasoned with her that some things could be right and proper but… inappropriate. As an example I cited Jesus’ righteous anger at finding money changers in the temple. Nothing wrong with the activity but it was in the wrong place. Jesus threw them out.

My employee accepted that and quit bringing her dog to church. She quit attending for awhile and has now gone back. Her daughters upon seeing all the dogs in the assembly asked if they could bring their dog next Sunday. She told them no because as she explained to me… she could tell the dogs were a distraction in the service.

I think that if Jesus were to visit a service with dogs in attendance he might with righteous anger cast them out. That seems obvious. What may not seem obvious is that Jesus would also be angry if we allowed anything to distract us from our service to him. He expects and deserves our full attention and service.

Jennifer Storm Nuckels with New Baby and Fans

New Baby Morgan Vasquez and Mom.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Updated Prayer List

Prayer List – members

Bob Bickle (heart surgery)
Brandi Torres (surgery on 11/16/09)
Cyndi Garcia (shoulder injury)
Lois Gilliam (loss of Dave)
Vivian Meeker (Macular degeneration)
Virginia Lawler
Jean Cave (complications with pacemaker)
Syble Peterson (hip problems)
Amanda Drum
Becky Garcia (Her mom, Cyndi, requests prayers)
Dan Graf (Sarcoidosis)
Dwayne Murphy (Pemphigus vulgaris)
Liz Graf

Family and Friends

Roberts/Perkins families - loss of Darell Roberts
Randall Chisamore (Graf friend - fell from a three story balcony. Massive injuries)
Serenity & Michaela (Arlie’s grand daughters – family problems)
Jeremy Graf (recuperating from severe infection)
Kevin Brown (Automobile accident)
Jenny Washington (Bonnie Davis’ sister – sick)
Scott Perkins (ask God to help him find his faith)
D.L. Hutchins (spiritual - illness)
Elizabeth Robles (Her mom, Priscilla Guel, asks prayers for spiritual weakness)
Ofelia Guzman
Mike Garcia (Lucas requests prayers for his dad - spiritual illness)
Tim and Ben Bueno (Patsy requests prayers for her sons - spiritual illness)
Manuel Perez Jr. (parents ask for prayer - spiritual illness)
Dennis Bailey (Fred’s brother-in-law – kidney problems)
Ardelle Sumter (Arlie Cooksey's mom, dementia)
Valerie Yates (George Stan's friend - cancer)
Nelda Davila's mother (Alzheimer's)
Elna Walker (Donna Morgan's mother - Congestive Heart Failure)
Gene Mabry (Amy Torno's dad - liver transplant candidate)
Cyndi Garcia's dad (breathing problems)
George Stan (Julie's cousin)
Nora Phillips (Cindy Graf's mom at home on oxygen)

If you want people added to this prayer list, let me know.

Monday, November 16, 2009



Here's a picture of Darell and mom at Walker's graduation back in May. Darell is a great man. He made mom happy and did a lot for our family. A side blessing has been getting to know Darell's four sons and their families. Unfortunately we haven't had the opportunity to meet Darrel's daughter Julie. Darell has fought cancer for awhile now and doesn't have much time left.

God bless you Darell... enjoy eternity.

Church News. November 15, 2009

Howdy!

Here’s the latest I have on Bob Bickle and I think we got this on Saturday from Gay…

“Hello. Janet just called and wanted to thank everyone for their love and support and that Bob is still very weak and unable to have visits but would appreciate cards. She is still not up for visits or phone calls now but does want everyone to know she appreciates everyone’s concern and prayers. She did say the therapist wanted Bob to sit in the chair a certain time frame and he could not do it… too weak. She said he has had a lot of trouble with his heart rhythm and it is just a very slow process now for his recovery. He is still in the cicu. thanks Gay”.

I was in Houston on Friday and Saturday. My step father, Darell Roberts, who has been in the hospital for 6 weeks has decided that he’s ready to go home to God. He is refusing any more treatment. I don’t expect that he’s going to live very long. Mom is a wreck. Please pray for them.

Julie got this note from Cyndi Garcia…

"Looks like I have a pretty bad tear in my (shoulder) tendon. It’s 75% torn with only a few fibers remaining intact. They made an appt for me for next week w/ a surgeon so we'll see if he agrees with the pcp that surgery is the only option. Right now, my shoulder is pretty useless and making simple everyday things very difficult.”

David Smitherman sent me this note about Darrell Hymel…

“Darrell called and wants to reschedule his trip here and come in Jan. instead of Dec. It’ll be Jan. 10. He has an opportunity to return to China to do some work and wants to take advantage of it. On this last trip he studied with a retired army general who had worked for and knew Chairman Mao.”

Kirby and Gabby Crabtree sent me this note…

“Hello my friend I hope all is well. I thought I would let you know that me and Gabby will be staying in Tennessee for a few months. Looking forward to returning to Parkway. Hope to see you soon. Your friend Kirby.”

Here’s a note from Trey and Marlena…

“Here's our new address. Use pencil in your address book though because it's going to change again when we move to NC in June!”

Marlena & Trey Williams
P.S.C. Box 1594
LRAFB, AR 72099

A big thanks to RD for doing the stenciling work necessary to make four more handicapped parking places.

Industrial Fabricators is making cages to go over our AC units. Hopefully this will prevent more theft.

Hubert and Anne Foster will be celebrating their 75th wedding anniversary this Wednesday.

Monday, November 9, 2009

Another Hayride Picture



Photo by Glenn Madden.


MacKenzie Snively feeding a cow. Miss Julie in the background. Photo by Elizabeth Neubauer.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Old Friends

Sometimes our past comes to visit us. You build your life and get used to it and live in it everyday, and get comfortable with it and then unexpectedly your other life pays you a visit.

That has happened to me at least three times that I can remember. The first time was when David Banning came for a gospel meeting. It wasn’t David who shook me up, it was his dad who came with him… Robert Banning. I nearly cried when I saw Robert. The Banning family has always been close to our family. Robert helped me get a job at Daniel Industries in Houston when I was in high school. My first car was a 1965 Pontiac Lemans. Robert worked on it for me. Robert served as a deacon with dad at Spring Woods. Later Robert was an elder at Kleinwood. I guess the last time I saw Robert was at my dad’s funeral.

The second time my past visited me was a few years ago when Kent Ellis walked in the church building unexpectedly… again overwhelming emotion. Kent preached and served as an elder with my dad at Spring Woods church of Christ. Kent along with Robert Harkrider preached at my dad’s funeral.

The third time was this past Wednesday night. Flo and Gerald Clanton visited. I didn’t even recognize them. I guess it’s been at least 30 years since I’ve seen them. Gerald was a deacon with dad at Spring Branch church of Christ. Later Gerald was an elder at Frey road in Houston. Their oldest son Brent was my good friend and dated Julie’s sister Becky. In fact, when the Bedwells moved to Houston they stayed for a month at a motel on the Katy freeway (I-10). Brent and I had the bright idea of sneaking out and riding our bicycles to go see Julie and Becky. After the visit as we were pulling out on our bicycles Brent’s parents and my parents pulled into the parking lot and caught us. Mom’s maternal instincts had caused her to wake up and check on us. Her instincts also caused her to wake the Clantons up and surmise where we might be.

I guess the common denominator in all this is a Christian heritage. Godly parents who were committed to Christ and his church. I guess I didn’t know at the time when I was growing up how important fellow Christians would be to me. I know now.

Church News. November 8, 2009

Howdy!

Bob Bickle continues to be in ICU at Spohn Shoreline. I got this message from Gay West today…

“Spencer, the Bickle’s grandson, called me and said the decision was made at the nine am meeting with the doc that they would wean Bob off that balloon pump which is helping him breath. The doc should be in around five today again, he will call me back with an update, he said he did eat a bit today and has the football games on. Janet is still very fragile and unable to take calls, etc.”

Bob and Janet’s daughter put this message up on Facebook…

“Bypass Surgery is not an option, he is too high risk. They are trying to wean him off the balloon and see if he stays stable then they will send him home. There isn't anything else they can do for him”.

We had a prayer service tonight on Bob’s behalf. Please continue to pray for him.

We had several old members visiting with us today including; Crystal Chester, Ryan Torres and Bill & Patty Chambers.

We had an out of town visitor today…

Adria D. Miles.

Adria is stationed here in Corpus and has had tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. She indicated on her visitor card that she is looking for a church home.

Don and Hope Moseley placed membership today. We’ll get their contact information out soon.

Maria Vasquez is scheduled for a c-section this week. Please pray.

Monday, November 2, 2009

John's Message

Mark 1:4 states that “John came and preached the baptism of repentance unto the remission of sins”.

John’s message was basically to identify how godly people should act… specifically which activities they should and should not engage in (Luke 3:10 -14).

The activities (sins) that they shouldn’t be engaging in had to be repented of and the guilty would have to be baptized in water to be made right with God.

In addition to teaching them how to live John prophesied that the Christ would come and baptize them in the Holy Spirit. So it was a message of preparing people in anticipation of the coming of the Christ and the blessings of the Holy Spirit.

The message being that if they failed to repent and be baptized they not only would miss out on the blessings of “the baptism in the Holy Spirit” and acceptance into the “kingdom of God” but also receive punishment in the form of “baptism in fire” and rejection.

That message was preached a long time ago but it really hasn’t changed. We need to take a close look at how we’re living and make the choice to reject sin and live godly lives so that we can receive the blessings he has promised and escape his wrath.

Church News. November 1, 2009

Howdy!

I just got off the phone with Janet Bickle (Monday 12:10 pm) and she said Bob’s defibrillator went off again this morning. The docs want to run more tests so he has to stay in the hospital until Weds. Spohn Shoreline room 614.

Remember the Hayride/Weenie roast at the Cargile’s La Garto Ranch this Saturday (Nov. 7).

The Ladies are having a Brunch at the Neubauer’s home December 5th from 9:30am to 12pm. Details to follow.

I talked with a visitor Sunday night from a local church of Christ. He said the reason he was visiting was because he ran across a few acquaintenances who said they attended at Parkway and loved it. So he decided to visit. Someone must be doing something right.