Weakest link

How was your week? Lomax, we want some of your California breezes! Or maybe we could all take a road trip and stay at one of your community houses!? Do they have 25 couches? Hot, hot, hot!!! around these parts, hopefully it is not as bad wherever you are.

Last Saturday morning, we were treated to a breakfast fit for a king. Gus and Joey cooked, scrambled eggs, biscuits, and gravy. Yummy! Thanks guys, very nice.

Mr Scott took us around on our visits with everybody doing alright for the most part. Richard said he was going to start saving his money and try and get him a place, we'll see if he is at his gas station this week? We then went by Dale and Tim's camp, to find no one. Through the help of Matt's wife Ms Vicki, Tim now has a steady job and doing great. He has gotten him a room, so he is not living outside right now. For those of you who have not heard, the police raided Dale's camp and put him in jail. Dale is out now and staying with Tim. We have not heard where Rebar is? When we pulled up to Smokey's camp, we were greeted with a crowd of folks. Obviously the word is out on the streets, the white van hands out underwear and batteries. It is becoming another Labor Ready stop. We need to talk about how to get back to visiting Smokey's camp.

John and Karl continued to work in the kitchen all morning long. Told John Wednesday evening, this place is beautiful. The stove is standing and thanks to our plumber hooked up with gas and ready to cook! The ceiling tiles are in. The gas is hooked up to the water and we now have hot water! Cabinet doors are in, or most of them, with their hardware provided by Momma T. We are close to our final inspection! Amen!

Monday afternoon, was headed into the center to do some painting and a couple came up behind me. They introduced themselves to me and the lady wanted me to look at her wedding photo album. They had come by a little earlier in the afternoon and was given a tour of the center by Allison. Come to find out, they were married in the sanctuary and grew up in the church. She had pictures of how the sanctuary looked 38 years ago. She had pictures of the church parlor and the fellowship hall. They want to come by and video the center and share it with their church in Houston so maybe their youth can come and help out. They want to buy one or two of our new pews when we have our auction. Pretty cool.

Tuesday evening, we moved our men's Bible fellowship from the chapel to the friendship room, too hot in the chapel. Mr Matt was on a much deserved vacation, so we muddled through our discussions. We read from 1st Timothy about what the characteristics of a deacon or elder of a church should look like. We talked about how we should practiced those attributes in our lives. What do people say about us? Do they see God in us or something else?

Summer camp has come to a close! Wow, that was fast. It seems like yesterday we were talking about our new interns arriving and now they will be leaving us. It has become a tradition the last couple of years, to close out camp by taking the children to Splash Kingdom. I know the children had a great time because they were worn out Thursday afternoon for our chapel and meal time. Thank you all so much for sharing your hearts, your passion, your lvoe with our children. You have made a difference in their young lives, something they will always remember.

Thursday, we were treated to Pastor Jackson singing and sharing the Word with us in chapel. It is amazing to me, Ms Abbie walks in, starts playing the piano, Pastor starts singing and praising begins! Haleuia. Thank you so much Ms Abbie for sharing your gift of music with us. Pastor and his wife stayed after chapel and prayed with some of the community.

Ms Judy prepared our meal and was enjoyed by all. We had  special guests attending, Ms Amanda called our local fire station and invited the fighters and they all came, trucks and all. I kind of wanted to climb into the trucks and turn on the siren and lights, but they wouldn't let me! Maybe next time! We hope they will come back as often as they can, it was very nice to have them. Thanks Amanda. Ms Abbie and her ladies handed out the grocery bags with lots of stuff in them.

We had a new visitor join us Thursday. Tim Barnes from St Luke's Methodist church. He is the youth pastor. He has been looking for ways to plug into folks who are reaching out and said he may have found a place. We will see how all of this develops.

After our meal and clean up, we gathered for our Bible study reading from John 5. We talked about Jesus asking the 38 year old paralytic, do you want to be healed? My first response, was, well duhh. But then we talked about, do we really want to be healed? What does that mean, what does that look like? If we are healed, changes need to take place, are we sure we want to do that? As Momma T said, living a life for Christ is much harder than dying for Christ. When you die for Christ, you make one decision to die. When you start living a life for Christ, decisions are made constantly. Are we sure we want to do that? It is hard, but what blessings come out of it.

Prayer concerns: continue to lift William up in his attempt to be healed! Joe Barfield continues to be in the hospital. Went by Tuesday evening to visit with him and Joe seemed to be doing ok, hoping to come home Wednesday. They determined Joe had pneumonia and he needed to stay in longer to get it under control. Lift up Carrie Bollinger, Pete's wife. They have a long battle in front of them and will need all the prayers and comfort God can provide. Icee Joe said, Little Joey is doing better, treating his condition with medication. Prayers for Big Joey. Joey has been accepted into seminary and will start classes in the fall. Pray Saturday morning our van continues to limp us through our visits. Mr Scott had challenges last week and Icee Joe will have those same challenges this week! Prayers for relationships with our children, that they become one that glorifies God not Satan.

Pastor Jackson talked about in chapel this week about the Body of Christ. Talking about no part is more important than the other. The head is not more important than the feet. Or the arms are not more important than the eyes. Have heard the story many times, but Pastor also talked about the weakest link. We are not complete if we do not help our weakest link. In our weakest moments that is where we find God working.  It says in 1st Corinthians 12: 26, If one part of the body suffers, all the other parts suffer with it. If one of us are going through trials, we all need to be there for each other. Being a part of community, when you suffer we all suffer. It is a blessing to me, knowing when I struggle, you guys are there for me. Thank you all for being the Body of Christ.

Hope you all have a great weekend and a great week. Amen!