What do you want me to do for you?

Another summer week has come and gone. Was your week a good one? How did God bless you this week?

Not being around Saturday, I can not report on our activities. In addition to all our regular activities on Saturday, bread wrapping, basketball, garden work, visiting we now have Bright House II goings on! The Church at Red River, John Williams' church, is beginning to host Saturday events there each week. If you are looking for something to do and want to meet some great folks, please join in.

Summer camp concluded week number 2. It was a great week of fun and activities, concluding with a trip to a skating rink! Please come by for a visit and see what great fun is happening.

Tuesday evening, the men of the community gathered for Bible fellowship as Rickie led in reading from Luke 18: 35-43, the blind beggar receives his sight! We talked about an individual in society who was the lowest of the low, not just a beggar but a blind beggar! Having the boldness to speak out to Jesus. Can't we all have the same type of faith!

Also on Tuesday, if I may boast for a moment, Ginellen and I celebrated our 42 wedding anniversary! How time flies when you are having fun! Hopefully we can have 42 more years of wedding bliss!

Wednesday evening, our family gathered at the Bright House for family time. It was been many months since we gathered. Thanks to Joey and his passion for community, many of us were able to come together to share bread and share the Word. It was good to be together.

Thursday is always a special time of the week, starting off with our long time friend Spencer and one of our pastors George, leading our chapel time. I think we have found a new them song for our community, Lean On Me. The song seems to get out juices flowing and the Spirit moving! Our longtime friends from Clearview church helped us in the kitchen, dining hall, clothing room and Market place. People were everywhere enjoying the evening. What a blessing.

Prayers for the week. Continue to lift up Ginellen. The doctor was pleased in what he saw and what he did. He said, now it is time for healing. We know who the best healer is, don't we!! Pastor Willie called and said, his kidney functions are declining to a critical stage. Discussions going on what the next steps should be. Our long time friend Izzy continues to have severe back pain. Looks like surgery is in his near future. Continued prayers for our community. Life is hard, even more so when you are faced with poverty.

Lisa has worked her magic again and obtained the property behind the parking lot in the back. There were some issues of parking and this area should help with that situation.

Just want you all of you to know, God is at work in our community. There are people, churches, organizations who are becoming aware of what Common Ground is about and wanting to be a part of our community. Very exciting times ahead for us all.

I am always amazed at God's Word. His Word has such an impact on us, we can read about a blind beggar getting his sight back, 8 short verses and talk for an hour about it!

The verse that stills haunts me this morning, is verse 41. After the beggar shouts above the crowd noise to Jesus as he walks by. Was told by others to be silent and not bother him. The beggar ignores the crowd and shouts even louder to Jesus. Jesus stops, calls out to the crowd to bring this man over to him. Jesus looks at him and asked him, What do you want me to do for you? The beggar says, Lord I want to see.

I got to thinking, of course the blind beggar wants to see. The lame wants to be healed and walk. The man wants the demons out of him. The women wants the bleeding to stop. But when I call out to Jesus and Jesus sees me and asks, What do you want me to do for you? What do we say?

Do I say, heal my wife? Take care of my family? Aliveate poverty? Increase my faith? Be more like you? Make our community stronger?  I don't know, what would you say?

What is most important in your life? What is keeping you away from the relationship with Jesus He so desires for us? The blind beggar risked everything to be with Jesus, can we do the same? Can we let go of what is holding us back?

The blind beggar showed his bold faith to Jesus and in verse 42 Jesus says to him, Recieve your sight, your faith has healed you. Will Jesus say the same to us? Let's hope so! Amen.

See you Saturday at the Bright House II or in and around the center. See you at camp. Lots of God's work going on, come and join in on the fun. Have a great week and may we all have an answer for Jesus when He asks, What do you want me to do for you?

Serving the Lord

Another week in the books! Here's hoping your week was full of many joys and blessings.

Saturday was filled with excitement in and around the center. Our youth from Luke Simpson were with us to go on our visits to see our outdoor friends. What an impact the children have when our friends can visit with them and let them know, they are being prayed for all across the state. Basketball and bread wrapping was going on in full force.

Sunday evening, we attended part of the Methodist Conference. Some of us attended the opening ceremonies, while others attended the closing part. Some of our children were participants in the opening ceremony. Common Ground was asked to receive the bread brought by the churches to the conference Sunday night. We kept some of it, but also shared our blessings with other organizations around the city.

Tuesday at lunch time we hosted a small gathering of folks. We had the opportunity to with Dr Elaine Heath, she was one of the speakers at the conference. She wanted to see what the Common Ground place was all about. We shared some stories of our beginning and showed her around the campus. She was so impressed by what she saw, she talked about us and Grace in her talk on Wednesday at the conference.

Tuesday evening, the men gathered. Rickie led us in the reading of Joshua 24: 1-16. We had a special guest. Sione joined us for the evening. Joshua was sharing with his people, God has brought you out of captivity, fed you, kept you safe and still you worship your idols. What other gods do we worship, that takes us away from our God?

Thursday evening, we gathered in chapel as Willie and Ms Abbie shared their gifts. Our food was prepared by Brother George's church. Our market was busy all night long. Our clothing closet was full. A good evening of fellowship.

This morning and Saturday morning, Lisa and Momma T will be hosting our summer camp orientation. It was great to see Thursday evening, some of our returning interns. Can't wait to see how God will us our camp to build relationships.

Summer camp will begin Monday. Lunch will be at 12:30, with camp starting at 1. We have a full compliment of children and interns. Exciting times ahead for all involved. Come by and check out camp, guaranteed you will have a good time.

This coming week we have basketball games happening. If you can make it, the boys and Matt and Vikki would really appreciate it. The 14 year old games will be Monday June 15th at Princess Park. The game will start at 10pm. Their next game will be Thursday evening at Princess Park, starting at 9pm. The 12 year old games are Tuesday June 16 at Southern HIlls starting at 8pm,  Wednesday at Bill Cockrell Park starting at 7pm and Thursday at Airport Park, starting at 8pm.

Prayers for my wife Ginellen for her upcoming surgery this coming Friday. We knew this may happen, but it is still a shock to your system when the doctor says, I need to do more work. She has come a long way in her recovery and to hear more surgery is needed has been hard on both of us. Prayers for Sunday afternoon at 2pm as a new church family will be meeting to determine if they want to support our community both financially and prayerfully. Prayers for our upcoming camp, that it is not about all the stuff that will happen but about the relationships that will occur. Prayers for the Methodist pastors as they can take back what they heard and saw and are able to share that with their congregations.

Joshua says in the last part of verse 15, "But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord". Famous line, good one to remember, but do we do it? Joshua is sharing with the people, you and your ancestors have been brought out of bondage, given fertile land to grow crops on, protected from their enemies and still you turn away from the Lord. How could they?!  How could they worship other gods? But don't we do the same thing today?

The questioned was asked Tuesday night, what gods are we worshipping? Are we after that pot of gold? Fighting to get that bigger house? Allowing our egos and pride to dominate our lives? Trying to get more stuff, to make us happier?

God has brought us this far and still we turn away from Him. We take over our lives, because we think we can do it better. We make decisions concerning our families without going to God in prayer. Willie asked in chapel, does your God talk to you? Does your pot of gold, does your new car, or your bigger house bring you comfort and peace? Do they answer you?

But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. No better way to live our lives. No better way to find comfort and peace. No better way to let go of our trials and obstacles, our anxieties and frustrations. Only one way to find joy in your life, serving the Lord. Amen.

May our prayer be this week, letting go of those gods we might be holding onto and let's serve the Lord. Amazing things will happen. See you at camp this week. God is good!

The little things

Let the flooding begin! I guess it won't be as bad as Noah had to face, but . . . With all the rain in our part of the country, the river that runs through Shreveport is overflowing it's banks. Please pray for those who are having to move out of their houses and dealing with this disaster.

With me out of town, this past weekend can't report on our Saturday activities. Others will have to fill in the blanks. I do know, the basketball team is in a SPAR league, that plays most of it's games late at night. The City is trying to give the boys a place to go that is safe and a place where the boys can get off the streets. I know they had a game Monday night. Matt and Vikki are doing their part by being there for the boys.

Tuesday evening, the men gathered for Bible fellowship. Always a good time to hear what God is up to in the men's lives. It is a time where men, who may not have a place to go, can come, eat and be welcomed to share their stories.

Wednesday evening, Lisa had a Board meeting. Lots going on in our community. We were introduced to a new ministry partner, KC and the Geaux Bags partnership. KC provides bags filled with the essentials to families who are sheltering children displaced from an abusive situation. She has served over 900 children these past two years. She has a great story and a huge heart for the children.

Our summer interns will be arriving this week, with our orientation taking place, next Friday and Saturday mornings. Then camp will start the following Monday, June 15th. Camp will start with lunch at 12:30 prepared by Ms Abbie and Peaches. Activities will start at 1 going through 4, Monday through Thursday. Most Thursdays, the children will go a field trip. The Bright House will house the boys. Bright House III will house the girls. Exciting times, new relationships being formed, lives changed. You are always welcomed to come by and join in on the fun and magic that will be happening.

Shannon shared a new idea of filling our Food Market, "Adapt an item". Your Sunday school class, small group, work, adopts a food item like a can of beans, corn, peanut butter, whatever, each time you gather as a group, you bring your food item with you! Isn't that cool! Start it with your group and report on how it goes.

Shannon and Vikki talked a little about their visit with a community in Detroit, Cass. This community is always on the lookout for things that will help their community. Their community needed jobs, so they created two unique opportunities for them, picking up old tires and shredding papers. Started very simple and now has grown into big businesses. The key, is to just do it, start small and see where God leads you.

We have another new partnership as a part of our community. Shannon will now be employed by a counseling service called Family Plus. They will be housed in the Friendship room during their sessions. Another tool for our community in helping them cope with their environment.

The Board was presented with two new ideas. One for the potential funding of the restoration of the two story and the other a church family adapting the Bright House II. Please put these two proposals on your prayer list and let's see what God can do! Very exciting!

Thursday afternoon our youth group from Luke Simpson showed up and got started right away in helping us out. They attended chapel hosted by Ms Abbie and Joey. Then they helped with the meal provide by First Methodist, served, cleaned up, were shoppers in our Market, and played with the children. A great night for everybody. It was also great to see our long time friend and almost official minister, Allison Thursday evening.

Allison is back in town, about to be ordain as a Methodist minister. Her ceremony will be at First Methodist church, Monday night at 7:30. Please come and cheer her on!

Joey's birthday is today! He has been with us for 8 years. Can't imagine our community without Joey's heart and prayers for our community. Please stop for a moment and send our Joey a note. And as he told me this morning, it is also National Doughnut Day! Doesn't get any better than that.

Prayers for our community, that we stay focused on God's direction in our lives and the lives of our community. Prayers for Ginellen as she meets with her doctor Tuesday afternoon to determine the next course of action for her.

We heard a story at our Board meeting that brought tears to our eyes. A person, who was down and needed help, was  told they couldn't get food because they didn't have all the paperwork needed at a food bank in town. They were very discouraged, distraught, filled with fear and anxiety, overwhelmed with emotion, came to us and was treated with respect, lvoe and went away with everything she needed. Now back on their feet, never forgetting what they received from us, wants to give back to us for our kindness.

We did nothing special. Offered them some food, a lvoing hug, treated them as a person, not an object, and they went away with a new self esteem of them self. It is the simple things in life, that often has the greatest impact on people. Always showing God's lvoe and spirit in our every day lives will have the greatest impact on God's Kingdom.

It is hard sometimes to feel lvoing when your world is crashing around you, but that is when God's light and mercy needs to shine the brightest. Your smile, an extra spoonful of food, a new shirt off the rack, a cup of coffee in the mornings, helping a friend shop, all makes a difference. We may never see the impact of our actions, but that is ok, that is not our job. Our job is to lvoe, plant the seed and let God take over. Amen.

Let us be able this week to show God's lvoe in the simple things we do each day and brighten someone's life tomorrow. Have a great week. All the time, God is good!

What is "lvoe"?

Very late in getting this note off. We again are having to watch our grandchildren in Dallas! Sacrifices grand parents are forced to do! Hope everybody had a great week and staying dry! In this part of the world, seems like the rain does not want to stop.

With being out of the town last weekend and this weekend, not much to report. Scott said, Robert was feeling no pain last Saturday. Sad to hear because he has been doing so well. Robert did say, in two weeks he should be "inside". Let's pray that happens.

What a treat to see every Tuesday evening, as you turn into to the campus, seeing the basketball court full of boys enjoying themselves with Matt and Vikki over seeing the activities. Lives are being transformed before our very eyes.

Tuesday evening, the men met for Bible fellowship, exploring ways to love. We read from 1 Corinthians chapter 13 1 - 13, the love chapter. Talking about love being indispensable. Being the strange person I am, reading the chapter seeing love talked about, I said, I wish the Bible folks would spell love correctly! It is not our love that is indispensable but God's "lvoe"!

Shawanda Jackson, Willie's wife asked for prayers for God's direction for a women's Bible study. Prayers for our summer camp, happening just around the corner. Prayers for Lauren as she starts a new chapter in her life, with her upcoming wedding.

All hands on deck for next weekend as we have a returning youth group joining us. Our friends from Lake Charles, Luke Simpson will be arriving Thursday afternoon. This maybe their third trip with us. They will bring lots of energy and enthusiasm for the Lord. Come and meet them and enjoy their time with us.

Paul shares with us, if you do not have love in everything you do, I am nothing, everything! Not the things we enjoy doing, but the things that maybe don't give us much joy in doing.

As verse 4 says, love is patient, love is kind, does not envy, does not boast, is not proud. All things we are not! We can't dishonor others, be self seeking, slow to anger if we have to depend on ourselves to do it!

Only through the Holy Spirit can we provide lvoe that does not delight in evil, but rejoices in the truth. In a lvoe that will always protect, always trusts, always hopes and always perseveres.

In our community, you can see God's lvoe in everything we do through all of you. God's lvoe is why our community exists. One of our youth groups from south Louisiana told me last year, we have taken what we experienced at Common Ground and shared it with our church, even going to the extreme by painting "lvoe" all over their classrooms!

The "lvoe" chapter concludes with verse 13, And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. We exist for God's lvoe to drown out the darkness of our community. Faith is important. Hope is something we can provide. But God's lvoe will change hearts and change our community for years to come. Amen.

In the coming week, may we share God's lvoe in all aspects of our lives, in everything we do, to everybody we meet, realizing we will gain everything in God's Kingdom!

Getting away

Another fun filled week of God's blessings. Hope your week was just as exciting.

Saturday, Scott and Dawn visited the camps. Robert swears he has new camp visitors. Some monkeys! Of course Robert was feeling no pain when he said that! He is trying to get some pictures! At another camp, Scott and Dawn were introduced to a new visitor, Ocean! What a cool name! Bread, basketball and garden work were busy in and around the center.

With school just about out, there were no activities around the center. Not sure I like this time of year, miss the children and the energy they bring.

Joey led prayer each morning at the Bright House.

Tuesday evening, the men gathered, a big circle of guys enjoying what Jesus has done in their lives. Rickie read from Psalms 55 1 - 6 and verse 22. David talking about all the stuff he was having to deal with and wanting to take flight to get away from the madness. Don't we feel like doing that sometimes?

Thursday was filled with song, words and food. Spencer and Brother George led chapel. A buffet of food was given away. The market was busy all night long. The clothing closet was full of shoppers. The basketball team helped clean up. A good night of fun and fellowship.

Prayers for Ardis' grandson. Doctors are trying to determine what course of actions to take for him. Prayers for our community. Prayers for summer camp. Prayers for those who are traveling this weekend. Prayers for Ms Abbie recovering from cataract surgery. Prayers the rain stops and the banks of the rivers and bayous don't over flow.

Prayers for Byron. He is leaving us. He wants to start a new life with his new family and moving to Houston. We have been through a lot with Byron. From one extreme to another, but in the end, with the help and support of all of you, he has become a man of God. Let's hope he will be able to find a community of support in Houston, but if not, he knows he will always have our lvoe and support here.

Psalm 55 starts off by King David saying, listen to my prayer, O God, . . .  verse 2, My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught . .  David knew where to turn to in his times of trouble. Do we? Verse 5 Fear and trembling have beset me . . , oh my, have we been there?

In verse 6, David says, if only I had wings like a dove, I would fly away . . . Don't we say, if only I could get away, things would be different. How many times during Jesus' ministry, did he say, we need to get away to quiet place and go to my father.

Life is hard. We live in a world full of conflict, trouble and confusion. If we let it, a lot of the world will rule our lives. We will get caught up in the challenges and the obstacles the world brings and turmoil will become the norm in our lives.

We need to do what David learned in verse 22, Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. No matter how small or how large our troubles get, God is there for us. He will always be there for us. We need to turn to him. Let Him be our comfort. Amen.

Hope this next week, as we face life together, we will be able to turn things over to Jesus. He is there for us, if we only let go! Have a great week, God is good!

fruits

Another week is in the books! Time is flying by! How was your week? When were you closes to God?

Saturday was filled with excitement! Scott and Dawn visited our friends, finding everybody doing well. Ardis and Heidi wrapped bread. Matt and Vicki mentored the team. We worked most of the day to get the Bright House move in ready for Joey.

Monday we had our year end party for our learning program children. In some of the children, you can see real progress. Wish we had them all year long! Pizza, games, and fun activities were big hits with the children. Hopefully we will be hosting them again this fall. Put on your calendars to join us.

Monday, we had our Joey move back into "his" house! So nice to have him back, sitting on the porch, praying for us all. It's been too long!

Tuesday evening, the men gathered for Bible fellowship reading from Galatians 5: 16 - 26, talking about the flesh and the Spirit. Do we walk by the flesh or by the Spirit?

Thursday evening, chapel was led by Ms Abbie and the choir, singing praises of lvoe and Willie shared the Good News. A delicious meal, a full Market, lots of clothes was enjoyed by all.

Prayers for Lisa and her husband Mark, in the loss of his sister. Prayers for our upcoming Summer Camp. Prayers for those traveling over the weekend. Prayers for our community children. They fight for everything they get, sad to live that way.

Walking by the Spirit versus the flesh. When I was not of God, I could indentify with the characteristics of the flesh. When I found God, the fruits of the Spirit began to take over. Enjoying the fruits of the Spirit are so awesome, you wonder why more do not turn their lives over to God?

Simply going to church will not give you the fruits of the Spirit. It is not your inner self creating the fruits. It is the Spirit of God creating the fruits within you. We need to let go of our egos and pride and let God into our lives, allowing the fruits of lvoe, peace and joy to take over. Amen

Hope you have a great week. May our Spirits rise up to produce, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control!

Contentment

Another week is in the books! Not sure where the time goes?! Hope your week was full of God's mysteries and blessings!?

Being out of town last weekend, missed our Saturday activities. Scott and Dr Phil visited the camps finding everybody doing well. Basketball action continued, as well as the garden work. Bread was wrapped. Bright House continues to be improved.

Monday and Wednesday was our last full week of our learning program. Monday we will have our end of the year party with our children. It has been a great year, meeting our new children, with relationships being formed. Thanks to all our helpers, support team and prayers, it has been a great experience.

Tuesday evening, the men's Bible fellowship met reading from Philippians 4:13, I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Nothing to too great for God, if we just put our faith in Him! Will you?

Thursday evening got started off with a special chapel appearance. Our friend Derek and his friend Jonathan began chapel with inspiring songs. Then our Joey shared a few words of faith. Yes, Joey! Heees back!! Great to see Joey, great to get one of his famous hugs! Our basketball team helped in the kitchen, our market was well attended, clothing room was full of visitors. An inspiring evening.

Prayers for those who are traveling. Shannon, Vicki and their group returning from Detroit. Momma T as she visits Georgette. Prayers for our community. Prayers for upcoming summer camp. Prayers for God's direction in all our lives.

Summer camp is fast approaching.Lisa and Lauren have already been busy planning for the summer. We will have a full crew of college students to lead. Most of them will be living with us. What a joy to have our young leaders back and a part of our community. They bring such energy and lvoe to us all!

Want to say happy Mother's Day to all our mom's of our community. For the most part, it is our mom's who provide the patience, the support and the lvoe to our community. Without you, Common Ground would not exist. Thank you! All of you are very special people!

In Philippians 4 verse 11, Paul shares, . . I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. Verse 12, I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation . . 

What is Paul telling us? Where does his contentment come from? We hear everyday, in order for you to feel contentment, you need a bigger house, more money, fancier clothes, a fast car. Where does it end? When does the contentment check in?

I worry sometimes, we do the same with our families. If we are not going to a soccer practice, ballet performance, band rehearsal, baseball game, swim meet we are not accomplishing anything? When do we have time to find our contentment?

Where do we find our contentment? Of course we all know, it comes from our relationship with Jesus. So, when do we find time to be with Him? Following chapel, after everybody had left, with all the noise outside, Joey and I closed the doors to the chapel and sat for awhile. Sometimes talking about Jesus, sometimes not talking at all, just being. It was nice.

We will never find contentment, if we do not take time for Jesus. We will always be searching, if we do not surrender ourselves to Him. How many times did Jesus in his ministry, tell his disciples, we need to take time for ourselves. Jesus would seek a quiet place and go to God. We need to do the same. Amen.

Have a great week. Hope you will find your contentment this week as you take a moment to find Jesus.