Do you need a sign?

We are in the fall season, or so it says on the calendar. Our weather still believes it is summer! Hopefully you have gotten to experience some fall in your part of the world.

Being gone this past Saturday, don't have much to report on. Basketball, bread, visits, garden work all continued.

Monday and Wednesday afternoons you will find us busy with our children. Allison puts out a nice spread of healthy snacks for the children to enjoy when they arrive. Joey leads the children in a time of prayer. Chuck gets them to do some exercises. Then they break into small groups for their reading training. Great to see so many friends willing to take their time out to help our children. You will find groups of children in just about every room of the building!

Tuesday evening, Noel led the men's Bible fellowship reading from Colossians 1. Paul writes to the church in verse 3 and 4 saying, "We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God's people." Isn't that nice to be thought of like that, a community made up of believers and lvoing others! Sounds like you all!

Thursday was filled with a packed house. Being the end of the month, there were no room in the inn! Chapel was full as we listened to Brother Chester and a new friend from another community, the Yellow House. Bryce led us in music and praise. We had Matt's nephew and his friends from Barksdale Air Force Base cook our meal, serve and cleaned up afterwards. Then we had Centenary men's basketball team join us to help out in the Market and work with our boys on the court. We had a nice visit with Pastor Juan's father, who was in town for a short visit. It was a packed house, full of joy and excitement. As one of our pastors would say, this was church!

Please keep Lisa and her family in your prayers as they deal with the passing of her mom. With family all over the country, the funeral will not be until Saturday, October 10th in Ringgold, LA. Visitation will be in Ringgold on Friday. Lisa can fill us in on the place and times of both as we get closer to that weekend.

Bare with me, I do have a point to this story. Do you need a sign?  I drive every day with a sign on my truck. This week I drove over to Bossier City with my signs on my truck. After I was finished with my job, I took my signs off and drove to the center. I caught myself driving different on the way back, why?  I find myself in traffic, making decisions that if they are wrong will affect more than just me. When I take my signs off the truck, then it is just me or is it?

If I run a red light, honk, don't let somebody in, drive fast when I have my company's sign on the truck, I represent more than just me. I let down my wife, my in laws, my extended family. I don't want somebody calling my wife or my mother-in-law saying, I saw one of your trucks run a red light! Or he cut that driver off going down the highway!

Why is it when my signs are not on my truck, I sometimes deviate from the way I drive? I caught myself saying, while driving back without my signs on the truck, wouldn't Jesus be sad in the way I am driving? You see people with a cross dangling from their rearview mirror or a fish decal on the trunk to signify they are Christians, but are they driving that way? Do I drive like I am a Christian, representing Jesus to everyone?

We are all children of God. We are His hands and feet in this world. He lvoes us. We are His. No greater community to be a part of then the family of believers. Paul prayed for the folks in Colossians because of their actions. Paul knew because of their faith they lvoed God. That is what can be said about our community of common ground. 

Let's not forget this week, who we are, whose we are! Let our actions let others know, we are children of God. Let our driving skills, let our life skills make someone call our office and say, that person must be a Christian!  Amen!

Hope you have a great week. God will be good because His is always good!

Busyness

We have come to the end of another week or I guess I could say, the beginning of a new week. I like the latter better, the beginning! Our summer weather has creeped back into our world, hopefully it hasn't in yours!

We got started off our last week, with some new friends from First Methodist joining us Saturday morning. This is the first time we have had adults join us. They worked hard all morning long in and around the center. Hopefully this is only the beginning of this relationship. Our visits went well, everybody trying to stay cool and keep hydrated. 

Sunday night we hosted Grace's Discovering Discipleship class. A good way for us to be able to share our community with others.

Monday and Wednesday afternoons you will find us busy with our new group of children from Atkins Elementary. We have been testing them so we can put them into groups. While they were being tested, others were involved in games, exercises and challenges. A new beginning of working with little ones wanting to do better in the classroom. We can always use your help. Please join us between 3 - 5 in the afternoons.

Tuesday evening, Rickie led our men's Bible study reading from James 1: 1 - 8, trials and temptations.  Verse 2 begins by saying, consider it pure joy, whenever you face trials of many kinds . . Where does the joy come from when we are in the mist of our struggles?

Thursday evening was packed full of adventure and fun. Brother George, Spencer and his friend Zach led us in chapel. Our long time friends from Clearview Church brought food, served and cleaned up. The Market was full of shoppers. The Clothing room was overflowing with community looking for bargains. A very nice evening.

The Hunters will be headed to Dallas, prayers for safe travel. Prayers for God's direction in our lives and in our community.

In one of Max Lucado's devotionals this week, said, "The key to spiritual growth isn't increased church attendance or involvement in spiritual activities. People don't grow in Christ because they're busy at church. They grow in Christ when they read and trust their Bibles".

Are you all a part of a Bible study group? Do you read your Bible every day? Do you take time to listen to God? Do you have quiet time with just you and God?

You all are such caring people, I worry you do not take time for yourselves. You are part of a community that puts you in the middle of the struggles of living in poverty. Because of your compassion for others, you want to help everybody, but you don't take time for yourselves. The demand on your time, your resources, your family can become overwhelming. It is easy to loose focus on where God is leading you and focus on the despair of your community. We must stay focused on God and His way for our lives.

In verse 5, "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God . . . We need to go to God for our answers, not others. We need to seek after Him through His Word.

Not taking anything away from what you all do, you are truly servants of Christ, but don't let your lvoe of others surpass your lvoe of Christ. We must stay grounded in our Lord, and His Word, then all things will be given to us. Amen.

In the coming week, let's find something in His Word, we have not read before. Let's find time to spend with Him. Amazing things will happen to us all! God is good . . . 

Doubt

It's Friday! How was your week? Has the weather cooled down a little in your part of the world? What blessings did God share with this week?

Our Saturday was a busy one last week. We had some new faces join us for our activities. Our new friends, tried to do it all, so they joined Scott on his first couple of visits, found their way back to the center to help Ardis and Ms Abbie finish with the bread wrapping, finishing up the morning helping Vickie serve lunch to the basketball team! Momma T and Tim were busy in the garden, John and his band of servants continued their work on the Bright House II. Lots of fun things to do every week, come by and join in on some of the fun!

Later that afternoon, our center hosted a family gathering of one of our community celebrating the passing of a family member. We received a nice thank you note from the family. I wanted to share it with those who made our center feel like home. From the Morgan family: "To the Common Ground Community Center, Friends, we the Morgan family thank you for your support of love and concern for our family during our bereavement. We will forever be grateful for your love and kindness."

Tuesday evening, Rickie led our men's Bible fellowship reading from Matthew chapter 8: 23-27, Jesus calms the storm. The disciples were scared for their lives as a furious storm came upon them out in the lake. They immediately went to Jesus and asked for help. Do we do the same, or wait to try and solve the problems ourselves?

Wednesday afternoon, Allison and Lisa hosted a gathering of our tutors for the coming school year. Following the session, Allison and Lisa hosted an open house for the parents of the children. Exciting times to get back with the little ones again. We will be hosting around 20 children with a long waiting list of others who want to come. We will start this coming Monday, with the children arriving around 3 until 4:45. Please join us, enjoying the energy and excitement our young children bring with them.

Thursday got started off with Willie and Wes sharing their gifts of song and Word.Willie shared his anxiety of having an operation this month and how God got him through it, inspiring. A long time friend of ours and his men's small group provided the food and service for the evening. Jennifer and her band of servants kept the clothing room organized and flowing. Pam and her shoppers kept the Market stocked and lively. Great to see our community coming and going all through the center finding treasures around every corner.

Where were you today, 9/11? Prayers for all who lost a love one, who continue to struggle with grief and trying to find answers. Prayers for one of our own, Allison Sauls or I should say Pastor Allison! Her brand new church will have their first worship celebration this Sunday! Prayers for our community, who continue to struggle with the challenges of living in poverty. Prayers for our children and tutors as we begin a new year of relationships.

Several weeks ago, I asked a pastor, what his sermon was going to be about. He answered, "doubt". Been thinking about that word and how it has not entered my mind? Doubt was is it? How does doubt play a part in our lives? Where does doubt come from? How doe we get rid of it? Is it of God? or Satan?

It maybe my simple mindedness but, can't say doubt has a hold of my life? I have no doubt the sun will come up in the morning. I have no doubt the birds will fly each day. I have no doubt our dogs will eat and bark today. I have no doubt, it's Friday and we will play golf this afternoon! So where does doubt come from? Why does doubt cripple us so in our daily journeys?

I was thinking about Moses. Didn't he argue with God, I am not worthy to lead my people, but he did not doubt? Noah being asked to build a boat out in the middle of nowhere. He questioned God but didn't doubt Him. Job, going though all his trials, he never doubted God. We have had a thousand questions as we have made our way along our journey, but have we doubted God's plan?

I clicked on "doubt" in my Bible app and up comes 20 different verses of doubt being used in the Bible. Willie shared in chapel, he has been a pastor for over 30 years, talked to God for hundreds of people, seeing miracles happen to them. Now when he faces an operation, doubt creeps into his mind of what is about to happen! Each one of us, has stories of what God has brought us through, but sometimes when the storms of life come upon us, doubt takes over and we loose our focus.

When I got back into reading the Bible, I could always identify with Thomas. He had been following Jesus during his ministry, knowing Jesus was going to die, realizing at some point Jesus would come back, but he didn't believe. In John 20, Thomas hears others has seen Jesus, but still he has his doubts. Unless I see Jesus, I won't believe. So in verse 27, Jesus says to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."

Willie said, God has brought us this far, He won't leave us now. That can be said for common ground. We have come along way in a short amount of time. From giving out groceries in the back of our cars, to having a Market where our community can shop! From eating outside on the driveway to a building where there is air conditioning and heat. From being homeless, to a center where we can share God's lvoe with others. 

Looking through the verses with doubt in it, faith has a big part to play with how we deal with doubt. Matthew, you of little faith, he said, why did you doubt. James, you must believe and not doubt. Luke, why are you troubled and why do doubts rise in your minds. God has been with us every step of the way. He has brought us through the trials and will continue to do so. He has made a way for us, where there was no way to go.

 Believe! Faith! Perseverance! Obedience! Prayer! Relationships! Doubt has no room in our hearts to live! Amen.

 

Hope you can join us this week. If not please pray for us. Hope your week will be filled with faith and belief with no doubts!

What's important?

Another week in the books. Hope your week was filled with blessings and surprises!

Our week got started off last Friday morning with a bang! We had our first group of students from Centenary join us to organize, clean, paint, pull and laugh around the center. A great morning of relationships being formed. More trips will be coming.

Saturday was busy as usual. Visits, bread wrapping, gardening, practices, craft activities, lunch were all going on. Come and join us every Saturday morning for some fun.

Tuesday evening, Noel led the community men's Bible fellowship, reading from 1 Timothy chapter 4, talking about us following false prophets who look good, sound good, act good, but are not of God. Are we following the Holy Spirit or following our own desires? Timothy also wants us not to only be hearers of the Word, but doers of the Word. Verse 6 says, "if you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus. . . " Verse 12 says, ". . . but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity." Our actions and words should lead others to Christ, do they?

Wednesday, we said goodbye to one of our community. Dawn had the opportunity to get a home of her own, the only problem, the home was in Florida. God's blessings to you Dawn, as you start a new chapter in your journey, you will be missed by us all.

Thursday was a day filled with laughter, joy and blessings. We had our old friends from First Methodist church, Derek and Heather and their pastor lead us in worship. Great to have them back and hopefully they will be joining us more often as time allows. The community was treated to a scrumptious meal prepared by Allison, Ms Abbie and Vickie. The clothing room was packed with community as well as the Market.

We are making preparations for our afternoon learning activities to begin. Allison and Lisa are busy putting the final touches on our schedules. There will be a training session Wednesday afternoon, September 9th.  The kids will start back Monday September 14th. There is a waiting list of children who want to come, so we can use all the help we can get. Please let Lisa know if you would like to become involved.

Prayers for our community who are beginning the school year. Prayers for all who seek violence to solve their problems and those families who suffer with those decisions. Prayers for Chris Broadwell and his family with the passing of his dad.

Last week we heard the media talk about it being 10 years since Katrina hit the New Orleans area. Saturday morning, Scott asked Turner about his experiences. Turner talked more than we have ever heard before. He was living in the 5th Ward area. The water started rising and they had to get out in a hurry. He said his area ended up with 20 feet of water. He made his way to the Superdome, spending several days there. Then when the authorities said it was time to get out of the Dome, he happen to get on a bus headed to Shreveport. He ended up at Hirsch Coliseum for a few days, then to the mission and then under the bridge where he is now.

Scott and I talked about his experiences, how sad  not knowing any one in Shreveport, fending for himself and trying to survive. We asked the question to ourselves, could we do it? Leading us to ask, if we had water coming into our houses and had a few minutes to get out, what would we take with us?  What is important to us? After the kids and our pets, what would come with us? The big screen TV, our car, our clothes, our jewelry, our golf clubs, our gun collections, what is important to us?

Several years ago, we had the opportunity to visit the memorial in Oklahoma of the office bombing. Very sad all those people loosing their lives. One room in the memorial is a room filled with individual glass cases of each person who died. These small cases were filled with items that were important to that person. God forbid, something happen to us, what would go in your glass case?

I remember a pastor saying, when he was asked to perform a funeral of someone he did not know, he would go to the house and go into the bedroom looking for the person's bedside table. The pastor would check out what was on the table. He said, usually what is important to that person would be there. What is on your bedside table?

What is important to you? Is it things or Christ? Does our lives reflect that? Do we lead others to Christ by what we do every day or turn them off? One of our men on Monday night said, as a child he went with his parents to visit one of the leaders of their church at work in the oil field. He was cussing, swearing, being a bully to others. He said, that made an impression on him, saying to himself why should I go to church if you end up talking and working with others like that? It took him a long time to get back into the Word.

The last verse in chapter 4 says, " watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers." It is easy to fall from grace. It is easy to follow someone who is saying what we want to hear. It is easy for us to follow our pride and egos. But Christ is asking us to persevere, stay strong in our faith, live pure lives, be uplifting in our speech, slow to anger and lvoe, love, lvoe. If we do, great rewards will follow! Amen.

In the coming week, let's show others we are children of God by our words and actions. Have a blessed and joyous week!