flying

Hope this note finds everybody doing ok. It's been a strange week for me and my family, taking me away from our community, so I don't have much to report. Others will have to share their experiences of the week with us.

Icee Joe and Ricky traveled around to the camps Saturday. Joe reporting, things went well, seeing a few of the guys. Gradually our camps are diminishing, which is great news, for most are finding housing or places to go, leaving the woods behind.

A crowd of kids on Monday, as Gabrielle and Joey played with them outside the center. Flying kites was on the agenda for Monday! The March winds were accommodating.

Tuesday evening, Noel led the men's Bible study. I asked one of the young men Thursday evening, how was Bible study?. He said it was great! Isn't that amazing, how the Holy Spirit is working in the hearts of the young men through the men of the circle.

Wednesday evening the young men of the Bright House hosted our family time.

Thursday evening, greeted by cloudy, rainy skies, we got started by Ms Abbie and Pastor Eddie's new friend Pastor Chester in chapel. TJ working all afternoon cooking up a storm, we had a great meal. Folks were slow to arrive, but they came, receiving their bags of groceries and checking out the clothing room.

Remember this Saturday, we will be one of the sites for Centenary's Big Event work day. Abbey is preparing all sorts of jobs for the students. She could use your help, please come if you can. The Big Event starts at 9 am.

While I was in Dallas over the weekend, I stopped by Sarah and Scott's church Sunday morning to say Hi. After walking through all of the buildings, I finally found them on their way to church. It was great to see them and they wanted me to tell you all Hi.

Continued prayers for my wife as she in the recovery phase from her surgery. The surgery was more involved than we had hoped but the doctors have corrected her problem, so now she is sore from all the work they did. Prayers for Momma T and the youth leaders as they travel to Dallas for a conference this weekend. Prayers for Dawn as she starts a new chapter in her journey. She will be leaving us and heading down to Florida. As I mentioned to the folks in chapel Thursday evening, I wish God would call me to Florida and the beaches! Prayers for Lomax, as he leaves us Tuesday for a month long visit to Lebanon. What stories he will have when he gets back. Prayers for the Hunter's new grand daughter arriving last Friday morning. Mother, baby, daddy and paw paw are doing fine! Paw paw has 962 pictures of the new grand daughter if you want to see any!

Life goes on. Community goes along. We sometimes make ourselves out to be more important than we really are. In our minds, we say to ourselves, this job can't get down, if I'm not around. Or, the meeting will go astray if I am not there to lead. Or thinking, they can't do it with out me there.

This past week of me gone to Dallas and then home taking care of my wife has showed me, things will be just fine without mr brian around. Why because, God is in charge. Why because others step forward and lead.

As we go through our journeys, we need to help others along the way. But just as important, we need to let them spread their wings and let them fly. There will be struggles but that is ok, because God will be there to catch us and put us back on the right paths.

God has given each of us unique gifts. We see things differently because we all come from different perceptives. We may not do it the same way, but as long as we are following the will of God it will get done. The same way we need to let go and let God in our lives, we need to let go and let others use their gifts. In the end, we will all be blessed beyond our imaginations. Amen.

Hope to see you all Saturday at the center. Have a great week, remembering it is not about me but about God!

pure heart and steadfast spirit

Writing this note from Dallas sitting with our grandson. So this note may not make any sense! Hope your week has been filled with adventures and blessings!

Another happening Saturday around the center. Visits to our friends who live outside was nice. Some drama with Robert and Brad going on, but that is nothing new! Pretty quiet at the other camps. Did get some good news, Tex from the macaroni camp has moved inside. Lots of activity with the children was happening all morning long.

Monday brought the beginning of the installation of our new floor. Wednesday they completed the flooring. It looks great. Thanks to Carl and Lisa for making it all happen.

Tuesday evening, Rickie led our discussions at our mens Bible fellowship reading from Psalm 51: 1-10. King David realizing he had strayed from his path, asked God for forgiveness. David knew where his strength came from and only God could give what he was desiring. We all can learn from David.

Our afternoon activities are going great. Lots of good help making learning fun.

Was out of town Thursday, so can't report on our evening. Others will have to do that.

Prayers for my wife this morning as she is having her surgery. Prayers for our son and our daughter-in-law as they prepare to give birth to our granddaughter this morning. Prayers for those traveling.

In  verse 10 in our discussions on Tuesday night, David asked God to create in me a pure heart and renew a steadfast spirit within me. In our humanness, our hearts are full of pride, jealousy, judgmental. On our own we can not take away those traits without God stepping in.

We must strive to allow God to take over our hearts in order that we lvoe unconditional. As we move along in our walks, real change, will only come when we allow God to take over our hearts. There will be no division between people only lvoe will abound.

The last part of the verse, David asks for a steadfast spirit within me. It is truly amazing, God lvoes us so much, he has given each one us a part of Him. He knew we were weak in our flesh, so He has provided away for us to walk a straight path. His Spirit is in our hearts ready to guide and instruct us in our ways. We just need to let go and let the Holy Spirit lead us. Something so very simple, we make it so complicated. Amen

It has taken 3 hours to write this short note, with lots of help from our grandson! Not responsible for anything that might be out or order!

Hope your week is full of joy and surprises! God is good and waiting on us to let go.

Won't you come

 you persevere, good things will come. We have suffered through one of the coldest, wettest winters and this week we got to enjoy God's majesty with some spring days. Feel like a bear who has been hibernating in his cave, great to be outside in the warm, sunshiny afternoons! Hope you week was a good one in your part of the world.

What a day we had Saturday. We waited, and waited, and waited for Vickie and Matts youth from Airline Baptist to join us! It was worth the wait. Some went with us on our visits while the rest worked around the center. All sorts of work was done in and around the center during the morning, followed by us all gathering in the sanctuary for a time of reflection. Did you see that last statement?! In the sanctuary! It was great to see the pews filled with young people as they listened to our stories of Common Ground and what Jesus is doing in our lives.

We made our rounds visiting our friends. Turner was fine. Robert has left again. Brad is hanging in there, not doing too well. Most of the guys at the Macroni camps were gone. Smokey as usual entertained the youth with his stories of living outside.

Forgot to mention last week, another milestone for Tim. His employer,  honoring Tim for his dedication to his job, arranged for housing for Tim. So now Tim and his dog friend, Buddy have their own place next to the Hope House. What an amazing journey Tim is on and we all get to see it unfold before our eyes. Keep up the good work Tim, we are very proud of you. God is doing great things through you.

Our afternoon activities continued this week. Good helpers, attending to the needs of our children. What a blessing to see it all.

Tuesday afternoon the youth group from Colonial Hills Baptist church arrived. We gave them a tour of our grounds, shared our story and introduced them to our community. We need to thank Grace Methodist for lending their facilities to them for their sleeping arrangements. Starting bright and early Wednesday morning, they have been working around the center and the gardens. They will be with us through Saturday morning. If you have a chance please, go by and give them a hug and tell them how much we appreciate all their hard work. Instead of going skiing or to the beach for their spring break, they decided to come to Shreveport and serve the Lord. Amazing young people.

A packed chapel Tuesday evening for our men's Bible fellowship. Guess the circle of chairs needs to be bigger! Matt read from Titus Chapter 3: 1-9. We were once lost but now we are found. Found by the grace of God. Not be doing good things. God saved us not by the righteous things we have done, but by His mercy. What an amazing God we have!

Wednesday evening we gathered at Ardis' house for our family Bible study time. Great food and good conversations. We had a special guest, Ms Abbie joined us. The highlight of the evening, Hat called William and we each got to speak to him. He sounded good, but lonely for his family. We talked about for our next upcoming Bible study. Joey will lead us in story form of the reading of the Bible. Everybody is welcomed to join us.

Thursday afternoon, the youth of Colonial Hills led our chapel time. Singing and sharing some of their thoughts about the week. Their pastor then spoke for a few minutes about the awesomeness of God. Then we were treated to a delicious meal provided by our friends at Calvary Pentecostal church. Lots of activity, lots talk, lots of good time was had by all. A great evening.

Following our meal, Ms Lisa had a short Board meeting. We talked about the upcoming fundraiser, the sanctuary, the new floor, the garden, upcoming Easter celebration. Waiting to finalize a place for the fundraiser before we set our plans. Discussions about opening the sanctuary for worship. The laying of the new floor will start Monday. New plans for the garden. We talked about having an Easter block party for our Thursday meal time.

With all the tables and chairs moved out of the fellowship hall and work going on in that area, we will not have our monthly breakfast time Saturday. We will try for next month.

Prayers for William. He is trying to recover from his stroke. His physical body will heal, his heart needs God's blessing. Prayer for Momma T as she travels to see Georgette. Prayers for Dawn's back. Causing her lots of pain. Prayers for mr brian's wife, Ginellen for surgery next Friday. Prayers the Hunters new granddaughter comes this week, so the grandparents can baby sit their grandson! Prayers for Charlie and Noel as they are attending a Kairos prison ministry this weekend.

Lots of exciting things about to happen around our community. God is at work. Please come and be a part of it. The Kingdom of God won't be complete until you come. You are amazing people, true servants of God. Amen.

See you this week around our community. Hope your week is full of blessings and joy.

Giving up?

The old saying, if you don't like the weather today in Louisiana, just wait, it will change tomorrow. Highs in the 70's last weekend, highs during the week in the 40's! Hope your weather was better in your part of the world.

We got our Saturday started off by visiting our friends. Turner is fine as usual. Brad brought a new friend Gabriel to meet us. Robert was a no show. The macaroni camps were active. Gradually we are seeing fewer friends, as Tim begins to make his rounds during the week checking on everybody. We are telling our friends, if they need help to go see Tim at the Hope House.

The center was a bee hive of activity as usual on Saturday. Wrapping bread. Walking the neighborhood. Picking up trash. Cleaning around the center. Bible study. Inspiring to see it all happening.

With the frigid cold weather on Monday, there was no afternoon activities. We did meet on Wednesday to full house of children. Lots of good interaction going on between the adults and the children.

Tuesday evening, the men were led by Brother Benny, reading from Colossians 3: 15-17. Good discussions on how we are called by God to follow the teachings of Jesus, giving glory to God for everything we do. It is not us who do the good works, but Christ within us.

Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Lenten season. Hope you were able to reflect on your relationship with Jesus and how we can all strive to a deeper, more meaningful relationship with Him.

Thursday, finally the sun came out, temperatures warmed up to the 60's for our activities. Chapel was led by our friends Derek and Heather, and their pastor at First Methodist also named Derek. Our first Thursday tradition has become the celebration of coming to the table for communion. Pastor Derek reminded us, it is an open table, open to all as you are, open to those who are broken, open to those who need healing, open to the table  where we are welcomed by our King. We also had the opportunity to reflex on this special time of year, by David McCormick marking us by the ashes of the cross. Special time.

Our meal was prepared by Ms Abbie and all her workers. Grocery bags were handed out. Clothes were given away. Children's church was happening. One of our smaller crowd in a long time gathered. Those who were there, needed to be there.

Don't forget to spring forwarded Saturday night. Don't want to be late for church services on Sunday!

We will have the youth from Airline Baptist with us this Saturday. Matt and Vicki will have their hands full! Come and meet all the young people.

Next week we will have a youth group from Tyler joining us. They will be arriving Tuesday evening at Grace and then working around the center the rest of the week. Lots of opportunities for you to come by and meet them all. Special young people, who will be spending their spring break with us.

Next Saturday will be our monthly breakfast, March 15th starting at 8:30. Come and enjoy the good food and good fellowship.

Prayer concerns for all who are not feeling well. Prayers for my wife, Ginellen who will be having surgery March 21. Prayers for Momma T and her mom. Prayers for all who are living outside in this long cold winter. Prayers for our community. Prayers for jobs for our community. Prayers for new babies being born, the Hunter's new granddaughter and the McCormicks.

It is time to begin collecting Easter eggs and candy for our annual Easter egg hide. I am guessing, maybe 8 years or so, we gather at sunrise Easter morning, walking the neighborhood spreading lvoe around through the eggs we hide. One of our favorite activities of the year. Everybody is invited to come and join in on the fun. It only takes an hour or so, leaving you plenty of time to make it to your church services.

Lomax asked me what I was going to give up for Lent. I told him, have been thinking about that. Maybe brussel sprouts or asparagus, or what about watching the news on TV. I don't know, shopping for clothes might be good to do or give up exercising!

Of course, giving up something I don't do anyway would not draw me closer to God, so what is the deal?

Years ago at Grace, I was asked to led a men's Bible group. I remember asking Sione to join me, because I said to him if they hear mr brian is going to lead, no one would be there! When the time came for our first meeting, I fasted for 24 hours, no food just water. For me to give up food for an hour is good, 24 hours is impossible!

What I remember during those times when the hint of hunger arose, I asked God to help, to take away those feelings, to let me move forward in the day without eating. I can tell you it worked! What a powerful 24 hours it was for me, fighting the feeling of hunger, but knowing God was with me every step of the day.

For the next 40 days we have the same opportunity. Jesus made the ultimate price for us, so that we may have everlasting life. How can we show Him, we truly lvoe Him? What can we do to grow stronger in our relationship with Him? Do less, be more quiet, slow down, talk less, listen more, pray more?

Just giving up something is not the reason for Lent. Giving up something, but replacing it with God's lvoe is. We are too weak to do it on our own, we need Jesus. No better way to become more dependent on Him than to start doing it right now during this season.

Hope we all let go and let God in our lives during these next 38 days. Realizing, it is not about us, but about Christ within us. Amen.

See you around the center Saturday and next week. Hope your week is full of joy and blessings! God is Good!