Jeff started a class for the International Students this morning they started in Genesis 1. Julian is taking over the High School class.
We had six students this morning including one new young man from Vietnam. Sunday night we had two new Vietnamese girls at services.
Ken and Sandy Case picked up all the students (6) from the university this morning and took them all to lunch. They had to drive two cars to services this morning.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Perkins' Expecting
No not Julie... it's Walker and Jo Len, but Julie and I get to be grand parents. Hooray!
Some have said, now maybe we can get some upgrades to the "cry room". Hey! I cry foul, but OK we'll put in there whatever you want... maybe even a pony.
Some have said, now maybe we can get some upgrades to the "cry room". Hey! I cry foul, but OK we'll put in there whatever you want... maybe even a pony
Pat Farish Update
Pat has been on our prayer list for awhile and I got this update from Dot Miller...
"Had his hip removed July 22, put back in Sept. 28, treating the infection during this time. He can sit up but no weight on leg for 2 months. In good spirits."
(972)576-8222 (home)
(972) 217-9626 (cell)
Dot says Pat would love to hear from his old friends.
"Had his hip removed July 22, put back in Sept. 28, treating the infection during this time. He can sit up but no weight on leg for 2 months. In good spirits."
(972)576-8222 (home)
(972) 217-9626 (cell)
Dot says Pat would love to hear from his old friends.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
International Students
We had six international students at services on Sunday. Jeff tells me to expect seven this Sunday. Initially Jeff was picking them up on campus but when the numbers started increasing he had to get Ken and Sandy to help in the transportation. This effort is growing and we're going to need more help.
Whenever these students come I try to take them out to eat and show them hospitality.
In New Testament times the Gospel was more effective when coupled with other things. For instance; preaching accompanied by miracles or preaching coupled with Christian fellowship (Acts 2, being in each others homes, selling things to help each other).
It's no different today, teaching God's Word coupled with personal sacrifice... hospitality etc.
One of the reasons Jeff and others are so effective in this ministry is because they help these students with their needs during the week.
Be a part of that, we need you.
Whenever these students come I try to take them out to eat and show them hospitality.
In New Testament times the Gospel was more effective when coupled with other things. For instance; preaching accompanied by miracles or preaching coupled with Christian fellowship (Acts 2, being in each others homes, selling things to help each other).
It's no different today, teaching God's Word coupled with personal sacrifice... hospitality etc.
One of the reasons Jeff and others are so effective in this ministry is because they help these students with their needs during the week.
Be a part of that, we need you.
Nehemiah: Prayer, Planning and Preparation
Nehemiah wanted to rebuild the wall surrounding Jerusalem. Here are the problems he faced and overcame.
- He didn’t have the resources or the political backing he needed.
- He had non-Jewish enemies who were powerful and ridiculed him and plotted against him.
- He relied upon a volunteer labor force that was discouraged and poor and oppressed.
- He had Jewish enemies who fed information to his non-Jewish enemies and who conspired with them to bring him down.
Nehemiah was able to get the walls rebuilt in 52 days in spite of the great odds against him. He didn’t just pray about it but also planned and prepared. Let’s use that same formula to convert the world.
- He didn’t have the resources or the political backing he needed.
- He had non-Jewish enemies who were powerful and ridiculed him and plotted against him.
- He relied upon a volunteer labor force that was discouraged and poor and oppressed.
- He had Jewish enemies who fed information to his non-Jewish enemies and who conspired with them to bring him down.
Nehemiah was able to get the walls rebuilt in 52 days in spite of the great odds against him. He didn’t just pray about it but also planned and prepared. Let’s use that same formula to convert the world.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Thank You Notes
About 25 years ago one of our neighbor’s health was declining rapidly. On one of my visits to her she asked me if I would do her funeral. I was a little nervous about that because I had never done a funeral before, but I could see that it meant a lot to her and agreed to do it.
After the funeral I received a note from someone who had been in attendance. It was written by Ed Harte who among other things was the publisher for the Corpus Christi Caller –Times… a complete stranger to me. He had several nice things to say. I still have that card as well as other cards (birthday, anniversary, etc.) that have been meaningful to me. Sometimes the messages are hand written and other times the messages have been carefully selected to reflect that person’s feelings.
Recently several of you in the congregation helped Darlene Mesa with some household furniture. Darlene sent out some really well written thank you notes. Among the comments I received were how much those notes were appreciated along with some “pet peeves” about thank you notes, notably that sometimes people don’t send thank you notes and that when they do there is not much thought put into them. Darlene exceeded expectations.
We should always be thankful when people do things for us because when we are not people get discouraged and quit trying and then we have a congregation of people who seem to have little care for each other.
A thank you note is so much better than a simple verbal thank you because it demonstrates a higher level of effort.
Who knows what happens to those thank you notes? It may be that like with me they are kept and treasured and reread occasionally.
After the funeral I received a note from someone who had been in attendance. It was written by Ed Harte who among other things was the publisher for the Corpus Christi Caller –Times… a complete stranger to me. He had several nice things to say. I still have that card as well as other cards (birthday, anniversary, etc.) that have been meaningful to me. Sometimes the messages are hand written and other times the messages have been carefully selected to reflect that person’s feelings.
Recently several of you in the congregation helped Darlene Mesa with some household furniture. Darlene sent out some really well written thank you notes. Among the comments I received were how much those notes were appreciated along with some “pet peeves” about thank you notes, notably that sometimes people don’t send thank you notes and that when they do there is not much thought put into them. Darlene exceeded expectations.
We should always be thankful when people do things for us because when we are not people get discouraged and quit trying and then we have a congregation of people who seem to have little care for each other.
A thank you note is so much better than a simple verbal thank you because it demonstrates a higher level of effort.
Who knows what happens to those thank you notes? It may be that like with me they are kept and treasured and reread occasionally.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Important Dates
Saturday, November 20, 2010. Annual Cargile Hayride in La Garto, Texas.
Sunday, November 21, 2010. Group photo Sunday morning after services in the courtyard for all the members.
Saturday, December 4, 2010 9:30 am - 1130 am. Ladies annual ornament exchange
Sunday, November 21, 2010. Group photo Sunday morning after services in the courtyard for all the members.
Saturday, December 4, 2010 9:30 am - 1130 am. Ladies annual ornament exchange
A Few Notes
From Wayne Davis...
"My uncle, Curtiss Neal Washington, was stabbed and his truck was stolen and crashed into a building. He is in ICU. He is a member of South union Church of Christ in Houston, Texas. All of this happened on Thursday night."
Judy Shelton sent me this about our former member, Jerry Pate...
Jerry Pate began radiation treatments for a cancerous tumor on his lung this past Monday.
Oliver Murray passes...
It is with sadness and joy I report the passing of Eugene Oliver Murray early this afternoon. Brenda and Roberta were with him as he departed this life, to begin the life he so desired. While we have missed the authentic "Oliver" for some time, due to his diminished mental capacity, and the quality of life had escaped him, it is still hard to let go of such a wonderful man. Yet, I don't recall in my years, one who so energetically desired to reside in heaven. So there is joy in this news. I wonder who's pitching silver dollars with Oliver right now.
Kurt Martin
"My uncle, Curtiss Neal Washington, was stabbed and his truck was stolen and crashed into a building. He is in ICU. He is a member of South union Church of Christ in Houston, Texas. All of this happened on Thursday night."
Judy Shelton sent me this about our former member, Jerry Pate...
Jerry Pate began radiation treatments for a cancerous tumor on his lung this past Monday.
Oliver Murray passes...
It is with sadness and joy I report the passing of Eugene Oliver Murray early this afternoon. Brenda and Roberta were with him as he departed this life, to begin the life he so desired. While we have missed the authentic "Oliver" for some time, due to his diminished mental capacity, and the quality of life had escaped him, it is still hard to let go of such a wonderful man. Yet, I don't recall in my years, one who so energetically desired to reside in heaven. So there is joy in this news. I wonder who's pitching silver dollars with Oliver right now.
Kurt Martin
Monday, October 11, 2010
The Parable of the Fat Guy
There was this fat guy who realized that he had become really obese, so he determined to join a gym and get in better shape. The next morning he got up and ate a cookie and went to work and forgot all about losing weight. Later in life he developed type 2 diabetes, had to have one leg amputated and went blind from retinal microangiopathy.
There was another fat guy, he determined to join a gym and get in better shape and the next morning scheduled an appointment, joined the gym and went through his first workout. He got all out of breath and felt embarrassed at the way he looked and got really sore the next day and never went back. He too developed type 2 diabetes with all its complications.
There was a third fat guy. He joined the gym and started getting in better shape but didn’t do it consistently and although he got in better shape eventually he developed cardiovascular disease and lived the rest of his days in poor health.
There was a fourth fat guy. He joined the gym and consistently worked the program. While there he made friends with more experienced members who gave him advice not only about exercise but also about nutrition. These friends were very encouraging and he felt good about his new improved health and his new friendships. One day he saw some fat guys coming into the gym and he determined to help them just like others had helped him. He led a long, healthy and fulfilling life.
The meaning of the parable is this. The fat guy is a guy whose life is filled with sin. The gym is the church where God’s word is taught and where Christians help each other to grow.
The first fat guy determined to visit a church to get better but never did.
The second fat guy visited a church but didn’t feel comfortable there so he never went back.
The third fat guy joined a church but never really got involved… he was just there every once in awhile. He learned some of God’s Word but never really eliminated sin in his life and never got involved in helping others.
The fourth fat guy joined a church, loved the teachings from God’s Word and allowed it to change his life. God gave him many blessings and he inherited a home in heaven for eternity.
There was another fat guy, he determined to join a gym and get in better shape and the next morning scheduled an appointment, joined the gym and went through his first workout. He got all out of breath and felt embarrassed at the way he looked and got really sore the next day and never went back. He too developed type 2 diabetes with all its complications.
There was a third fat guy. He joined the gym and started getting in better shape but didn’t do it consistently and although he got in better shape eventually he developed cardiovascular disease and lived the rest of his days in poor health.
There was a fourth fat guy. He joined the gym and consistently worked the program. While there he made friends with more experienced members who gave him advice not only about exercise but also about nutrition. These friends were very encouraging and he felt good about his new improved health and his new friendships. One day he saw some fat guys coming into the gym and he determined to help them just like others had helped him. He led a long, healthy and fulfilling life.
The meaning of the parable is this. The fat guy is a guy whose life is filled with sin. The gym is the church where God’s word is taught and where Christians help each other to grow.
The first fat guy determined to visit a church to get better but never did.
The second fat guy visited a church but didn’t feel comfortable there so he never went back.
The third fat guy joined a church but never really got involved… he was just there every once in awhile. He learned some of God’s Word but never really eliminated sin in his life and never got involved in helping others.
The fourth fat guy joined a church, loved the teachings from God’s Word and allowed it to change his life. God gave him many blessings and he inherited a home in heaven for eternity.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Esteban, Kevin, Hien and Ming
Kevin was at services for the first time. He is from Indonesia and was invited to services by Hien (Hilary).
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Leadership: Knowing Your Enemies
The rich Jews had oppressed Nehemiah’s poor Jewish workers by charging them interest on loans and selling their children as slaves to foreign nations. When Nehemiah assembled the people and charged the rich Jews with their sin this was their response…
"We will give it back, they said. And we will not demand anything more from them. We will do as you say."
Okay… so far so good, the only thing was that Nehemiah didn’t take them at their word so he called in the priests and made the rich Jews swear an oath that they would do exactly what they said they would do…
“Then I summoned the priests and made the nobles and officials take an oath to do what they had promised.”
Nehemiah must have really distrusted them because their oath was not enough… he issued a curse against them if they went against their word…
“I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, "In this way may God shake out of his house and possessions every man who does not keep this promise. So may such a man be shaken out and emptied!"
Like Nehemiah, today’s leaders need to “know their enemies” many times we can take people exactly at their word but frequently people need to be watched to make sure they do exactly what they say they are going to do.
Someone told me once that the best Veterinary diagnosticians have an acute sense of paranoia. Leaders need to be a little paranoid too.
"We will give it back, they said. And we will not demand anything more from them. We will do as you say."
Okay… so far so good, the only thing was that Nehemiah didn’t take them at their word so he called in the priests and made the rich Jews swear an oath that they would do exactly what they said they would do…
“Then I summoned the priests and made the nobles and officials take an oath to do what they had promised.”
Nehemiah must have really distrusted them because their oath was not enough… he issued a curse against them if they went against their word…
“I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, "In this way may God shake out of his house and possessions every man who does not keep this promise. So may such a man be shaken out and emptied!"
Like Nehemiah, today’s leaders need to “know their enemies” many times we can take people exactly at their word but frequently people need to be watched to make sure they do exactly what they say they are going to do.
Someone told me once that the best Veterinary diagnosticians have an acute sense of paranoia. Leaders need to be a little paranoid too.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Soccer Team
Joey, Esteban and Jeff Carr coaching the kids soccer team. I've got a feeling that Esteban has the most soccer knowledge (being from Bolivia)
Men’s Retreat
Jeff Carr and I have been working on having a “Men’s Retreat” at Camp Zephyr (Lake Corpus Christi).
This would be a Friday afternoon through Saturday afternoon affair. We would arrive on Friday afternoon, spend the night and have a mixture of spiritual (prayer, study, etc.) and physical (sports) activities.
The cost would be $25 per person for dormitory style housing and meals would be extra.
I need some feedback. First of all is there any interest in this kind of activity and secondly, what time of year would you like to do this?
Check out Camp Zephyr’s website
http://www.campzephyr.org/index.php
This would be a Friday afternoon through Saturday afternoon affair. We would arrive on Friday afternoon, spend the night and have a mixture of spiritual (prayer, study, etc.) and physical (sports) activities.
The cost would be $25 per person for dormitory style housing and meals would be extra.
I need some feedback. First of all is there any interest in this kind of activity and secondly, what time of year would you like to do this?
Check out Camp Zephyr’s website
http://www.campzephyr.org/index.php
Mark Your Calenders
Saturday, November 20, 2010. Annual Cargile Hayride in La Garto, Texas.
Sunday, November 21, 2010. Group photo Sunday morning after services in the courtyard for all the members.
Saturday, December 4, 2010 9:30 am - 1130 am. Ladies annual ornament exchange
Sunday, November 21, 2010. Group photo Sunday morning after services in the courtyard for all the members.
Saturday, December 4, 2010 9:30 am - 1130 am. Ladies annual ornament exchange
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