Hope you all had a great week. mr brian was doing good Thursday night making notes of our conversations around the table of the week, but being mr brian, he forgot his notes at the center, so please feel free to fill in all the left out items!

We can start off from last Friday and Saturday. Gus and I met a group of youngsters from across Texas as they came together to share their time with us. I left Gus in charge for the two days and he did a great job. We started off with 8 young people, but as the day went on Saturday, more and more groups showed up. The biggest task was the painting of the walls in the chapel. It was completed and looks great. Some painting was done outside on the breezeway. Thanks Gus for being there.

Sunday afternoon was the Women's Tea Party hosted by Kelli and her sister Molly. I asked one of the ladies Wednesday about her time with them and Ms Betty said she had a great time.

Sunday evening, the Board met to talk about where Common Ground is going. Mr Scott led the discussions on our various ministries and what we felt Common Ground should be doing. When some of us met Cassie from The Hub, the first thing she asked, where is your ministry focused? Good question and one that led most of our discussions for the evening.

The Wednesday meal will continue but maybe look different in the future? Maybe change to another day? Thinking back over the years, can't tell you how many folks wanted to help or be a part of our meal, but their church obligations prevented them from helping out. Don't really remember why we chose Wednesday other than that was the only night we were not doing something?

With the chapel coming back to it's glory, chapel time will become a part of our meals. How that looks and who leads it was discussed. Several years ago, while we were still in the building, the chapel was left open most all day. Several of us would start our days there, in prayer, in silence. mr brian mentioned he would like to see the door never locked once they are opened?

Our outdoor friends visits were discussed. Most of those who participate on Saturdays, do not like the way we have become a traveling road store. There is a need for helping the guys on the weekends, but we have been trying to come up with a way to do that? With Cassie's offer of opening up the "new" Basement on the weekends, that may be a way to solve our situation? I emailed Cassie further about this possibility and she is all for it. She would like to meet with us to discuss how they handle situations but other than that she is welcoming us. Be thinking of someone who might like to lead this new adventure? Our young people continue to visit during the week and for those of us who would like to go, we would have that opportunity.

One of our main topics, was how do we become more involved in our neighborhood? Once the "new" Basement is open on Saturdays, that would free us to begin to visits with our neighbors on Saturday mornings. Several different organizations are beginning to move into our neighborhood and we need to be a part of that and lead the way for a better community. When the neighborhood needs help, they need to know Common Ground is for them and will do whatever we can to help them out. One of our challenges, is a lot of the neighborhood does not know us but they know the building and the hurt feelings they experienced there in the past. We need to let them know, we are different, we are there for them, we are there to lvoe.

We were challenged to bring new people to our community and see what we are doing. Will you help us in this challenge?

We will come together next month and talk more about where Common Ground is going. Please send emails to Ms Lisa of your thoughts and dreams for our community.

Thanks to Allison, we began our name tags for our Wednesday meals. I walked around meeting folks and putting names to faces, it was great. I told the folks, my challenge is for me to write their name on a tag as they walk through the doors! One of our children, took some of the name tags and starting "working" the room also. It was good to see. Ms Sarah asked some of the adults to help, but got no response? Several of the children jumped in and helped Michele wash the dishes, clean the tables and chairs, very, very heart warming to see.

We had two members from Clearview church come and helped serve the juice. We hope to develop a relationship with them and see where things may go?

On Thursday, John Sauls and Momma T met with Lee, our design person about the kitchen update. Lots of good ideas were flowing. excited to see it come to fruition.

Thursday, we had a big crowd around the table for supper and Bible study. Curtis, James, William, Henry, Macy, Ellen, Charley, Beth, Hat, Momma T and Joey. Hat provided the salad, Brookshires provided the chicken and Momma T provided the dessert. We started reading Acts 2: 42 and the first part of Chapter 3. We read about the disciples forming a family of believers, giving what they had to those in need. Gathering around the table after going to church. And God blessing them by bringing more followers. Questions were asked, where did we get off tract? Worshiping traditions instead of God. Serving ourselves instead of others. Becoming independent instead of dependent on community. And how do we get back on tract?

Just as we were talking about family and community, we had one of those God "coincidences". Dr Phil walks in with most of his children and their significant others. Matt from the Rutba house in North Carolina and his girl friend, Philip and his community friends from San Antonio, and Charlotte from France and her boy friend from ? It was great to see his children together and reminded us, how important family is and should be in our relationships with others. Also, I think it is Dr Phil's birthday today!!

Following our discussions, Joey led our saying of goodbye to one of our college family members. Macy will be in another camp next week and then begin training for resident hall  leader as she prepares for her last year of college. It has been great to have you with us this summer Macy. Your smile, your compassion, your calming presence, your lvoe for our children has been an inspiration to us all. Thank you so much for being a part of our summer.

Guess who we found as we were leaving the center Thursday night? Our Lomy was standing outside! looking as lost as ever! It was great to see him. Can't wait to hear about his adventures.

Got of phone call from one of family members who is a member of Brookwood. Really got several phone calls over the weekend, but since I was out of town, did not call him back until Sunday evening. Don't want to say too much yet, but they are planning a unique, special event for our community for the fall. It will be a good way for us to begin our presents felt in the neighborhood.

Also, Ms Abbie and I are planning to take Gus to experience Brookwood's Saturday night worship time this weekend. Worship time starts at 6pm. Spencer will be playing. Come and hear what we maybe able to hear on a regular basis?

One more note on Brookwood. Got an email saying they are starting back the Second Saturday work days and we will again be one of their sites. They will begin coming back in August on the 13th.

Gus applied for a full tenure professorship position at Kilgore Jr College last week. They called him back for a second interview and to show them his teaching techniques. Not sure he was able to get in the car before they called him and offered him the position! Congratulations Gus or I should say Professor Gus! Now we will have him just 45 minutes away! Awesome!

Ellen is having some of her friends from Alexandria join us this weekend. They will be here working around the center. Come by and visit with them.

This Saturday is our breakfast morning. Biscuits, gravy, bacon, scrambled eggs, coffee are on the menu. Come and join us at 9am in the center.

Prayer concerns. Ellen's brother is a Boy Scout camp in New Mexico called Philmont. My son went there and what an experience it is. They hike for two weeks, carrying everything on their backs, food, water, tents.

Prayers Kelli for travels home. Mary not feeling well. Blessings for Krysten making it home safely. Prayers for our children in the neighborhood. Tootie Rootie cried for 45 minutes on Ellen's lap Thursday afternoon. Worm was not herself. We have no idea what is going on in their little lives, what they are having to deal with, it is such a tragedy for children to deal with such drama in their little lives. Prayers for Charley as the doctors try to determine what is going on with him. Prayers for all who are dealing with this oppressive heat and not being able to get any relief from it.

I know I left out things that happened through the week. So much going on and more exciting news in the future. I think back on what we read in our study, God blessed the disciples as they continued in God's plan bringing more and more followers to them. As we continue to talk about the direction of where Common Ground is going, as long as we stay focused on God's plan for us, He will provide, He will bring those who need to be here, He will provide a way. We need to be obedient, we need to pray, we need to be faithful, we need to be patient and we will get to experience the amazing majesty of God.

Hope you all have a great weekend and an even better week. See you Saturday morning. Amen.