We are closely monitoring the wildfires in the Los Angeles area. If you live in the area or have contacts in the area. Please give Mark a call with any information you have. 937-308-0035.
Monday, August 31, 2009
WILDFIRES
We are closely monitoring the wildfires in the Los Angeles area. If you live in the area or have contacts in the area. Please give Mark a call with any information you have. 937-308-0035.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
ACTIVE MIDWEST STORMS
Minneapolis, MN
Williamsville, IL
The following was reported through TV8 - Grand Rapids blog--
There was significant damage from a tornado in Chesterton, IN, which is just SW of Michigan City. A The roof was taken off an 8-unit apartment building at Brown and Third St. There was serious damage to the Middle School where the roof was taken off. Homes were severely damaged and debris was strewn across I-94 near Chesterton. Power was still out for much of the town this morning. One resident said “trees are down everywhere”. There was a report that a weathernet sensor recorded a wind of 105 mph in Chesterton. We also had a report of some damage in Portage, Indiana. Another one of these spin-up twisters along the warm front. At least nineteen reported tornadoes in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa. At least 6 injuries are reported in Williamsville, IL., where a convenience store, the Christian Church (one injury there) and an antique mall were destroyed. Also, 15-25 homes have been heavily damaged or destroyed. They report boards being driven into the side of buildings. Two motorcyclists were blown off their bikes. The whole north end of Williamsville has major damage and the town has been sealed off. Several hundred volunteers were working in Williamsville, which is just northeast of Springfield. At least one injury and 15 home with significant damage at Elkhart, Illinois. The town of Loami (SW of Springfield) also had significant damage with 10-15 homes heavily damaged or destroyed. Also, golfball-sized hail and gusts to 80 mph with this line. Building damage has been reported at several locations. There were a couple tornadoes near Minneapolis Wednesday PM, too. A good portion of the steeple was knocked off the Central Lutheran Church while 120 people were inside the church. Windows were blown out and trees toppled. A total of 19 tornadoes (inc. the Chesterton tornado) were reported on August 19.
**********************************************************************
CHESTERTON, INDIANA
The rough weather hit northwestern Indiana the hardest, leaving Porter County residents with a lot of clean-up.
When the wind, rain, thunder and lightning hit around 8:00 p.m. central time Wednesday, residents knew this was no ordinary storm.
Chesterton Police say it was a tornado that ripped through their town.....
The fierce winds left their mark in Chesterton and it only took a matter of minutes.
Town officials did their best to prepare, “we pretty much knew it was coming, you could see it on the radar and a lot of us were watching it and as always it hit pretty fast,” said Town Manager Bernard Doyle.
Many trees throughout the town were uprooted, power lines torn down and among the damage, the middle school, where the roof is gone.
“There was even debris that drove right into the ground and then flew off so it just happened very quickly, I think no one saw it coming this fast,” said Lela Schmidt, who had just gotten home when it hit. “It came out of no where, but I knew something wrong when I felt that force of the kitchen window going in and I knew that definitely something was going on.”
Schmidt said the storm may have caused a lot of damage, but she’s thankful to have her life, “what can I say, at least we're not hurt, they're material things and can be replaced.”
The electricity is out in most of the town and several streets are blocked off because of downed lines.
When the wind, rain, thunder and lightning hit around 8:00 p.m. central time Wednesday, residents knew this was no ordinary storm.
Chesterton Police say it was a tornado that ripped through their town.....
The fierce winds left their mark in Chesterton and it only took a matter of minutes.
Town officials did their best to prepare, “we pretty much knew it was coming, you could see it on the radar and a lot of us were watching it and as always it hit pretty fast,” said Town Manager Bernard Doyle.
Many trees throughout the town were uprooted, power lines torn down and among the damage, the middle school, where the roof is gone.
“There was even debris that drove right into the ground and then flew off so it just happened very quickly, I think no one saw it coming this fast,” said Lela Schmidt, who had just gotten home when it hit. “It came out of no where, but I knew something wrong when I felt that force of the kitchen window going in and I knew that definitely something was going on.”
Schmidt said the storm may have caused a lot of damage, but she’s thankful to have her life, “what can I say, at least we're not hurt, they're material things and can be replaced.”
The electricity is out in most of the town and several streets are blocked off because of downed lines.
The following is a reply to an email I sent requesting info. from Chesterton Tribune. -ed.
There is a press conference going on right now at the Chesterton Town Hall We may have homeless, not likely to be more than a dozen or so households, mostly in one apartment building.Several of the damaged buildings are commercial or schools, not dwellings.We are an afternoon paper. I'll be posting our coverage on the Web around 2 p.m.David Canright
The following is a reply to an email I sent requesting info from Phil Griffith, Director of EMA in regards to Chesterton, IN. -ed.
It appears as if we have 20 to 30 homes/aprtments affected, damaged, or destroyed. All occupants have found lodging with friends or relatives at this point. We started with 12,500 out of power and that is now down to about 400+-.
The Porter County Chapter of the American Red Cross is on scene and the Town of Chesterton has made a shelter of the Town Hall (no takers at this point). Clean-up kits are available and we are logging in volunteers.
Civil Air Patrol, CERT Teams, Boy Scouts, are now assisting.
Will know more as the event plays out.
Phil
WILLIAMSVILLE/LOAMI, IL
THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER
At least 19 people were injured and dozens of homes and businesses were destroyed as a line of severe weather spawning one or more tornadoes slammed into the Springfield area Wednesday afternoon. The Sangamon County communities of Williamsville and Loami were the hardest hit.
Two of the 12 people taken to St. John’s Hospital were admitted in fair condition, according to Roscoe Cook, nursing coordinator. One was injured when a car was flipped by the wind and the other was blown off his motorcycle, Cook said.The other 10 were treated and released.At Memorial Medical Center, seven people were being treated for weather-related injuries Wednesday night. None was expected to be admitted, a nursing supervisor said.The destruction in Williamsville, about 10 miles north of Springfield, appeared to be the worst.
The Porter County Chapter of the American Red Cross is on scene and the Town of Chesterton has made a shelter of the Town Hall (no takers at this point). Clean-up kits are available and we are logging in volunteers.
Civil Air Patrol, CERT Teams, Boy Scouts, are now assisting.
Will know more as the event plays out.
Phil
WILLIAMSVILLE/LOAMI, IL
THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER
At least 19 people were injured and dozens of homes and businesses were destroyed as a line of severe weather spawning one or more tornadoes slammed into the Springfield area Wednesday afternoon. The Sangamon County communities of Williamsville and Loami were the hardest hit.
Two of the 12 people taken to St. John’s Hospital were admitted in fair condition, according to Roscoe Cook, nursing coordinator. One was injured when a car was flipped by the wind and the other was blown off his motorcycle, Cook said.The other 10 were treated and released.At Memorial Medical Center, seven people were being treated for weather-related injuries Wednesday night. None was expected to be admitted, a nursing supervisor said.The destruction in Williamsville, about 10 miles north of Springfield, appeared to be the worst.
For Loami, about 10 miles southwest of Springfield, it was the second time in less than six months that a tornado, or suspected tornado, had struck.Authorities said 10 homes were destroyed, and another dozen were severely damaged.
IN SUMMARY
Williamsville
About 25 structures severely damaged or destroyed, mostly on the northwest side of town.
Williamsville Christian Church badly damaged.
Casey's General Store heavily damaged; Williamsville Route 66 Antique Mall destroyed.
Entire town without power.
Emergency shelter set up at Williamsville Community Center, 141 W. Main St.
Loami
Ten homes destroyed. Another dozen badly damaged.
Trees, limbs and power lines down throughout the area, limiting access to some sections of the community.
Scattered areas without electricity and phone service.
Springfield
Trees and power lines down along East Lake Shore Drive near Vivian Lane and Parkway Drive.
AreawideInjuries
Nineteen people treated at Springfield hospitals' emergency rooms for storm-related injuries. Two admitted in fair condition with the rest treated and released or expected to be.
Power failures
City Water, Light and Power reported 3,300 customers without electricity at the height of the storm at 3:30 p.m. That number was down to about 265 by about 9 p.m.
AmerenCILCO reported 1,137 outages in Sangamon County at 8:30 p.m., including 689 in Williamsville and 97 in Loami.
WILLIAMSVILLE: Storm leaves destruction, injuries
A church was damaged beyond repair, two businesses were destroyed, roofs were ripped off homes, and several people were injured, though none seriously.Recovering from Wednesday’s tornado is going to take some time.Early estimates were that 20 to 25 homes in the town of 1,400 that’s 10 miles north of Springfield were severely damaged or destroyed. The injuries included two motorcyclists caught in the storm, a worker at Williamsville Christian Church who was hurt by a collapsing wall and a man who was injured when the winds hit his house, said Sangamon County Sheriff Neil Williamson.“From my experience and what I’ve seen, it was a tornado,” Williamson said. “You can tell by the way the trees are bent, the roofs are taken off the houses, and the way the boards are driven into the sides of buildings.”Most of the damage was on the north and northwest sides of town. Rescuers, as well as concerned neighbors, went from home to home immediately after the storm, and the Sangamon County Rescue Squad conducted a second search with specially trained dogs.“We don’t have any reports of anybody who is missing, but again, somebody could be missing and we just don’t know about it yet,” said Bill Russell, deputy coordinator of the Sangamon County Office of Emergency Management
Williamsville
About 25 structures severely damaged or destroyed, mostly on the northwest side of town.
Williamsville Christian Church badly damaged.
Casey's General Store heavily damaged; Williamsville Route 66 Antique Mall destroyed.
Entire town without power.
Emergency shelter set up at Williamsville Community Center, 141 W. Main St.
Loami
Ten homes destroyed. Another dozen badly damaged.
Trees, limbs and power lines down throughout the area, limiting access to some sections of the community.
Scattered areas without electricity and phone service.
Springfield
Trees and power lines down along East Lake Shore Drive near Vivian Lane and Parkway Drive.
AreawideInjuries
Nineteen people treated at Springfield hospitals' emergency rooms for storm-related injuries. Two admitted in fair condition with the rest treated and released or expected to be.
Power failures
City Water, Light and Power reported 3,300 customers without electricity at the height of the storm at 3:30 p.m. That number was down to about 265 by about 9 p.m.
AmerenCILCO reported 1,137 outages in Sangamon County at 8:30 p.m., including 689 in Williamsville and 97 in Loami.
WILLIAMSVILLE: Storm leaves destruction, injuries
A church was damaged beyond repair, two businesses were destroyed, roofs were ripped off homes, and several people were injured, though none seriously.Recovering from Wednesday’s tornado is going to take some time.Early estimates were that 20 to 25 homes in the town of 1,400 that’s 10 miles north of Springfield were severely damaged or destroyed. The injuries included two motorcyclists caught in the storm, a worker at Williamsville Christian Church who was hurt by a collapsing wall and a man who was injured when the winds hit his house, said Sangamon County Sheriff Neil Williamson.“From my experience and what I’ve seen, it was a tornado,” Williamson said. “You can tell by the way the trees are bent, the roofs are taken off the houses, and the way the boards are driven into the sides of buildings.”Most of the damage was on the north and northwest sides of town. Rescuers, as well as concerned neighbors, went from home to home immediately after the storm, and the Sangamon County Rescue Squad conducted a second search with specially trained dogs.“We don’t have any reports of anybody who is missing, but again, somebody could be missing and we just don’t know about it yet,” said Bill Russell, deputy coordinator of the Sangamon County Office of Emergency Management
MINNEAPOLIS, MN.
MINNEAPOLIS - A tornado touched down just south of downtown Minneapolis on Wednesday, according to several reports. Several fire departments reported seeing a tornado near the area of 35th Street and Portland Ave. and 15th and Lasalle Ave around 2 p.m.
No injuries, lots of damage
As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, the city of Minneapolis has no reports of injuries, but downed trees and property damage have been reported along Portland Avenue and downtown at the Minneapolis Convention Center. The city is asking people to avoid traveling in the area.
No injuries, lots of damage
As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, the city of Minneapolis has no reports of injuries, but downed trees and property damage have been reported along Portland Avenue and downtown at the Minneapolis Convention Center. The city is asking people to avoid traveling in the area.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
This is the NHC path for TD #3 as of the 11:00am advisory this morning. Some models are predicting this storm to become a major hurricane.
Tropical Storm Ana is expected to reach the coast of S. Florida around Thursday.
Please continue to check this site as well as the DRT website for additional information.
Friday, August 14, 2009
DRT IS GROWING!!
PRAISE GOD DRT IS GROWING!!
So many of you have allowed GOD to work through you and we're thankful to our LORD for you! You have prayed, donated funding, over 6,000 of you have volunteered at disaster sites, written notes, transported trailers, made up "Packs of Love" care packs, worked on tools and equipment, donated tools, equipment, trailers, supplies... and the list goes on and on. We now have 3 semi trailers, 30' mobile kitchen, 30' shower trailer, John Deere Skid Steer, as well as many other trailers that are used as 1st Response Tool Trailers, 1st Response Supply Trailers, etc. ALL have been donated or had money donated for them.
We have needed a property to store these items for quite awhile. The Florida Bible Camp in High Springs, FL. is graciously allowing us the use of some of the property at the camp for our Florida location and we are so appreciative to them! A friend of ours has allowed us to store the items that are in Ohio on his property which is also wonderful! However, the weather in both locations is not good on the tools and equipment and we've been in need of property with barns/buildings in which to store and take care of the equipment and supplies that GOD has given through you. We've also been offered truckloads of new supplies for disaster survivors but had to turn them down because we had nowhere to store them.
Which brings us to the Exciting news!!
After much prayer, research and discussion a 2-1/2 acre estate property has become available in Tipp City, Ohio (near Dayton) This property is in an excellent location - 1 mile from I-70 and 2 miles from I-75 which will make it convenient for deliveries as well as expedient to "get on the road" to head to disasters.
It includes (3) barns: (1) 44 x 74 Pole barn, (1) 30 x 60 two story block barn and (1) two story 30 x 32 barn. It also includes a modest ranch style house (although some work needs done on the house) We feel this will serve the needs of DRT for quite some time. However if there becomes a need to expand more, there is plenty of room for expansion. After our initial offer and their counter offering several times we've agreed on a price of $142,500.00, which we feel is an extremely reasonable price for this property.
This is where YOU come in.... You are a part of DRT and have done so much to help in the past, now we're asking for your help once again. The Leadership of the Churches of Christ Disaster Response Team feel strongly about wanting the organization to continue to be debt free. ALL of us working together can provide a place to house the equipment, tools and supplies that GOD has provided. This will help keep them organized and in good working order so they can continue to be ready to immediately be put to use to help those in need following disasters. This is an urgent need so everything is finalized before the next disaster.
Please pray about giving for this need.
We have needed a property to store these items for quite awhile. The Florida Bible Camp in High Springs, FL. is graciously allowing us the use of some of the property at the camp for our Florida location and we are so appreciative to them! A friend of ours has allowed us to store the items that are in Ohio on his property which is also wonderful! However, the weather in both locations is not good on the tools and equipment and we've been in need of property with barns/buildings in which to store and take care of the equipment and supplies that GOD has given through you. We've also been offered truckloads of new supplies for disaster survivors but had to turn them down because we had nowhere to store them.
Which brings us to the Exciting news!!
After much prayer, research and discussion a 2-1/2 acre estate property has become available in Tipp City, Ohio (near Dayton) This property is in an excellent location - 1 mile from I-70 and 2 miles from I-75 which will make it convenient for deliveries as well as expedient to "get on the road" to head to disasters.
It includes (3) barns: (1) 44 x 74 Pole barn, (1) 30 x 60 two story block barn and (1) two story 30 x 32 barn. It also includes a modest ranch style house (although some work needs done on the house) We feel this will serve the needs of DRT for quite some time. However if there becomes a need to expand more, there is plenty of room for expansion. After our initial offer and their counter offering several times we've agreed on a price of $142,500.00, which we feel is an extremely reasonable price for this property.
This is where YOU come in.... You are a part of DRT and have done so much to help in the past, now we're asking for your help once again. The Leadership of the Churches of Christ Disaster Response Team feel strongly about wanting the organization to continue to be debt free. ALL of us working together can provide a place to house the equipment, tools and supplies that GOD has provided. This will help keep them organized and in good working order so they can continue to be ready to immediately be put to use to help those in need following disasters. This is an urgent need so everything is finalized before the next disaster.
Please pray about giving for this need.
- You can help in the following ways.....
- DRT can use your help with any amount whether its $10. $25. $50. $250.........
- Forward this email on to others in your contact list.
- Ask the Leaders of your congregation if the church is willing to help by sending a certain amount or having a "special contribution" for this need.
You can give in the following ways:
- PayPal on the DRT website: http://www.churchesofchristdrt.org/
- Donating through the DRT "Cause" on Face book (Help Rebuild Homes and Lives of Disaster Survivors)
- Postal Mail: Churches of Christ Disaster Response Team
C/O Church of Christ of Melbourne
810 Hollywood Blvd.
West Melbourne, Florida 32904
Thank you so much for your support over the past 5 years and for being part of The DRTeam!!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
TROPICS HEATING UP ~ WILDFIRES IN CAL
Well....I knew the "quiet time" in the tropics wouldn't last....
We are monitoring TD #2 which looks to become Tropical Storm Ana very soon. However the models seem much more interested in the Large, more vigorous tropical wave that just emerged off the coast of Africa. If you live along the coast, please be watching and be prepared. Everyone else.....Please keep checking our sites for more information....YOU may be needed to volunteer.
We are also closely monitoring the wildfires in California. We'll update on both of these situations as more info becomes available.
Below is an article from accuweather.com.....interesting.
According to AccuWeather.com Hurricane Expert Joe Bastardi, this summer's unusually wet conditions in the Northeast could lead to excess hurricane damage.Bastardi predicted earlier this summer that the hurricane season would kick in to high gear during mid-August. There are now two areas worth watching along the Atlantic Seaboard over the next couple of weeks and there may be more.
The cooler than average temperatures and precipitation this summer in the Northeast mimic the patterns of 1954, 1960, 1976 and 1985, Bastardi said.In relation to Bastardi's precipitation predictions for the upcoming snowy winter, his forecast for this year's hurricane season will also include an increased chance for more hurricanes to reach landfall.While this has been a great season for green lawns with an above-average level of moisture in the ground, trees have become waterlogged and top heavy. Soft, soggy soil has also made many trees unstable and more prone to tipping over in the right conditions.
Bastardi said the trees, which have adapted to the Northeasterly wind flow, are predisposed to leaning. This adds to the potential for strong wind gusts to cause the trees to uproot.What has this unusual weather meant for the Northeast, and New England in particular? According to AccuWeather.com meteorologist Jesse Ferrell, this July's ranked monthly soil moisture is higher than 95% of the recorded values in the last 30 years for most of New England. The soil in much of New England is wetter than average by at least 2 to 4 inches and is comparable to that of July 2000 and July 2006. In addition to the risk of trees crashing into homes and blocking highways, the saturated soil has already shone tendencies for mudslides, a phenomena more common along the Pacific Coast during the winter storm season. Mudslides have already disrupted travel along some of the major arteries in the Philadelphia area in recent weeks, including the Schuykill Expressway. Additional rain with or without tropical systems can lead to more problems in the Philadelphia area and other locations.
The cooler than average temperatures and precipitation this summer in the Northeast mimic the patterns of 1954, 1960, 1976 and 1985, Bastardi said.In relation to Bastardi's precipitation predictions for the upcoming snowy winter, his forecast for this year's hurricane season will also include an increased chance for more hurricanes to reach landfall.While this has been a great season for green lawns with an above-average level of moisture in the ground, trees have become waterlogged and top heavy. Soft, soggy soil has also made many trees unstable and more prone to tipping over in the right conditions.
Bastardi said the trees, which have adapted to the Northeasterly wind flow, are predisposed to leaning. This adds to the potential for strong wind gusts to cause the trees to uproot.What has this unusual weather meant for the Northeast, and New England in particular? According to AccuWeather.com meteorologist Jesse Ferrell, this July's ranked monthly soil moisture is higher than 95% of the recorded values in the last 30 years for most of New England. The soil in much of New England is wetter than average by at least 2 to 4 inches and is comparable to that of July 2000 and July 2006. In addition to the risk of trees crashing into homes and blocking highways, the saturated soil has already shone tendencies for mudslides, a phenomena more common along the Pacific Coast during the winter storm season. Mudslides have already disrupted travel along some of the major arteries in the Philadelphia area in recent weeks, including the Schuykill Expressway. Additional rain with or without tropical systems can lead to more problems in the Philadelphia area and other locations.
Friday, August 07, 2009
QUIET TIME AND REFLECTION.......
I apologize for not getting this posted sooner........I want to thank ALL of you who wished me a Happy Birthday through email, snail mail, Twitter, Facebook.........YOU made my day and I Thank You SO Much!!!!!!
Thankfully the "disaster season" has been extremely quiet so far. This has given us time to have some DRT work camps getting equipment and supplies ready for the next disaster as well as cleaning and servicing tools and equipment.
This "quiet" time has also allowed me to have some special time with my 6 grandchildren whom I absolutely adore as any proud Nana would. :-) They range in ages from (almost) 1-1/2 - (almost) 7. :-) So you can understand my extreme exhaustion after having all of them together for this past week!! We had such a great time and I'm so thankful to GOD for allowing me to have this time with them. I've had some minor health issues (nothing to worry about) and as a friend of mine said.....this was a great distraction from everything. I'm now spending some "alone" time at a campground after that wonderful week. :-) I also am only about 20 minutes from my mother, who as many of you know has had some health issues in the past so this is now giving me time to be with her.
I'm beginning to realize what I've been missing...... I'm one of those "always on the go......always have hundreds of things going on at once" type of person........My body has not been allowing me to continue with that pace (for now!) ;-) and I realize it's actually a good thing to be able to sit and reflect some, which is what I've been doing this week.
As I sit and reflect over the past year.......I think of so many good things that have been done by so many people, I'm extremely proud of all who are part of the DRT as well as those who may not work directly with us but who go out into their own communities as well as disaster areas and help those in need....all in the name of JESUS. Lives are changed because of people who care.
Speaking of which.....I want those of you who worked with us in Bridge City, TX. following Hurricane Ike to know what a HUGE impact you've made in that city! We received a call to get our address because the mayor wants to invite us to the open house for the Community Center now that it is being completed. They said they really wanted us there because of the impact you all have made and everyone that comes in to the community center talks about what a difference the Church of Christ has made in Bridge City. PRAISE GOD!! Now that does the heart good!
Speaking of Bridge City....I met such wonderful people while working there! There are some I met and worked with that I miss so much it hurts.
I've also had time to think over things that didn't go quite so good, things I could have.... should have.... done differently.....things I would change if I could.....things I wouldn't do.....things I would do......things I should have said......things I shouldn't have said..... I have so many faults, we "all" do.....don't we? What if we all took some "alone time" to reflect on our lives......good...bad...indifferent? It does a body good. Of course it doesn't help if we stop with reflection.....we actually have to work on the areas that need help.....AND.....PRAY.....ALOT!! :-)
I've realized in my own life that I don't take near the time to pray that I need to.....want to. I get so busy with all the "works" I'm doing that I tend to not take the time to stop and remember why and for who I'm doing them in the first place. I can't do it....definitely can't do it right...without GOD guiding me through each step.
Have you ever noticed yourself getting into a "rut" of saying the same prayer.....like before you eat? I am determined to "Pray"......not recite....I want to talk to GOD.....I need HIM. What about you?
Thankfully the "disaster season" has been extremely quiet so far. This has given us time to have some DRT work camps getting equipment and supplies ready for the next disaster as well as cleaning and servicing tools and equipment.
This "quiet" time has also allowed me to have some special time with my 6 grandchildren whom I absolutely adore as any proud Nana would. :-) They range in ages from (almost) 1-1/2 - (almost) 7. :-) So you can understand my extreme exhaustion after having all of them together for this past week!! We had such a great time and I'm so thankful to GOD for allowing me to have this time with them. I've had some minor health issues (nothing to worry about) and as a friend of mine said.....this was a great distraction from everything. I'm now spending some "alone" time at a campground after that wonderful week. :-) I also am only about 20 minutes from my mother, who as many of you know has had some health issues in the past so this is now giving me time to be with her.
I'm beginning to realize what I've been missing...... I'm one of those "always on the go......always have hundreds of things going on at once" type of person........My body has not been allowing me to continue with that pace (for now!) ;-) and I realize it's actually a good thing to be able to sit and reflect some, which is what I've been doing this week.
As I sit and reflect over the past year.......I think of so many good things that have been done by so many people, I'm extremely proud of all who are part of the DRT as well as those who may not work directly with us but who go out into their own communities as well as disaster areas and help those in need....all in the name of JESUS. Lives are changed because of people who care.
Speaking of which.....I want those of you who worked with us in Bridge City, TX. following Hurricane Ike to know what a HUGE impact you've made in that city! We received a call to get our address because the mayor wants to invite us to the open house for the Community Center now that it is being completed. They said they really wanted us there because of the impact you all have made and everyone that comes in to the community center talks about what a difference the Church of Christ has made in Bridge City. PRAISE GOD!! Now that does the heart good!
Speaking of Bridge City....I met such wonderful people while working there! There are some I met and worked with that I miss so much it hurts.
I've also had time to think over things that didn't go quite so good, things I could have.... should have.... done differently.....things I would change if I could.....things I wouldn't do.....things I would do......things I should have said......things I shouldn't have said..... I have so many faults, we "all" do.....don't we? What if we all took some "alone time" to reflect on our lives......good...bad...indifferent? It does a body good. Of course it doesn't help if we stop with reflection.....we actually have to work on the areas that need help.....AND.....PRAY.....ALOT!! :-)
I've realized in my own life that I don't take near the time to pray that I need to.....want to. I get so busy with all the "works" I'm doing that I tend to not take the time to stop and remember why and for who I'm doing them in the first place. I can't do it....definitely can't do it right...without GOD guiding me through each step.
Have you ever noticed yourself getting into a "rut" of saying the same prayer.....like before you eat? I am determined to "Pray"......not recite....I want to talk to GOD.....I need HIM. What about you?
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