Family Promise. . . Next Week

Time flies by so fast. It just seems like a few short days ago that we were winding down from our week with the families from FP. Now it is our turn again. It is with some excited expectation that I approach this each time I know that our week is finally here. Since last time two of the families have found homes. How exciting to be a part of a program that helps people move from homelessness to a home, with the aid of God's people. If you have time to spend the night as a host, prepare a meal for the families or spend time in the evenings with the families let me know, I set it up for you.

make a difference,

Buddy

Debi Smith's wedding. . . local response

I just returned from two days in San Jose, CA. San Jose is abeautiful city next to Fremont and San Francisco. It was our honor to officiate at the wedding of Wayne and Sheila's daughter, Debi. It is a lot of work for parents to put on a wedding 90 miles from home. Alas, the Smith's pulled family and friends together to pull it off. This is one part of being a minister that is fun, watching a new family form in front of your eyes. Seeing two young people trembling before God and the crowd as they pledge their love for one another.

The week of chaplaincy was uneventful, which is a good thing. Peace in the city of Modesto is always a good thing.

Pray for us as we attempt to put together a trip to Pascogoula. We will begin a planning process this week. 4 people are interested at this time. We will see what develops.

Buddy

Pascogoula, MS

John Dobbs has made an appeal for ministers to come to Pascogoula to share the gospel of Jesus Christ to approximately 1000 families who have been touched by the physical work of many brethren who have worked there in the wake of Katrina. This is his second appeal for workers for the harvest. I am praying for an open door for me to be able to work there for a week. I am also praying for others to join me in this effort. Physical work has laid a foundation in this community to show them Christians care, now that the door has been cracked and their curiosity is peaked, its time to show them why we care. Jesus did the physical work for us by beaten, scourged , spat upon and crucified. He completed the work by His resurrection. Its time to tell the story in John's town. Who wants to go?

make a difference,


Buddy

Zoe Rosenberger : A local time of response

My friend and former Church Secretary Zoe passed away yesterday. She fought cancer with all energy for many years. Many prayers have been offered for over the past 4 or 5 years, God heard them all. Zoe left work a few years ago to make the most of the time she had left. I know her children will appreciate this in the future. In the coming days we have the opportunity to respond with in our congregation and make a difference for God. Some are writing letters and cards right now, others will send an encouragement card from the back of the pew. My guess is many will send beautiful flowers and plants. Food will be prepared with loving hands and placed before us while we fellowship remembering Zoe.
Today our hearts hurt with Jim and Anna Alvis, Brain, Lauren and Collin Rosenberger and the rest of Zoe's family. We pray for their comfort from God who heals all wounds.

Be God's Hands today.

Buddy

Fifteen Days. . .

Are we ready? Just fifteen days until the 2006 hurricane season. My prayers are for a light year, a year of rebuilding for the Gulf Coast. We can only wait and be as prepared as we can be. Many response organizations have not rested since Katrina and are still deployed after the many months following the storm. In the coming weeks the community response team will check our gear, replenish what we need to and be ready to deploy when needed.
Training is a never ending process, soon we will have some much needed cpr and first aid course. Some of our folks are way ahead in that they have taken First Responder courses and the CERT class.

I am rambling, so I will stop for now. If anyone has suggestions for classes please call me.

Buddy 380-3851

Ministry in Modesto. . . .

I am finally settling back into the routine. Monday night elders meeting. Tuesday evening visits at the hospitals. Wednesday evening at church. Thursday is bible study day. One in the morning and one in the evening. Friday is kind of a day off, although I find myself sitting in my office. Two of our Response Team members house got hit by a car last night. No major injuries to report right now, but they have a big hole in the front of their house covered by plywood. It had to be scary, one moment sleeping, the next a car coming throught the wall. I am about to go over and visit with the two of them. This weekend is Mother's Day -- husbands do not forget your wives, take care of them and get those kids to the store to buy something or set them down and make a crafty item with them. Matthew got MOM a doz. roses for Nurses Week and Mother's day this morning. I do not know who enjoyed it the most, her or him. He was so proud of the flowers he picked out. Tomorrow is T-Ball for the first time, pray for us. Next week we are on call at MPD, pray for peace in Modesto, or pray that God's message is brought to new places. Thanks for the comments, thanks for reading, I will write more as we respond to this community with the message of Christ.

go make a difference,

Buddy

Back at Home in Modesto. . . .

Lots of good speakers, lots of praise and worship and the most beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean. Pepperdine is an interesting experience to say the least. Many compelling arguments made to do more good for God. The experience leaves one exhausted in many ways. Physically because of the terrain that challenges you as you go from one class to the other. Spiritually, because the ideas presented are not always the same ideas I am used to. Mentally, because I have to process the information and compare it with the Bible to determine if it is truth.
The best part of Pepperdine is the fellowship. Spending time with folks from Modesto in the dorm is always fun. In a lot of ways its like fishing, trying to tell each other the stories and things you learned and are excited about. My son likes the childcare there. He made friends and when we had to go he cried when he was separated from them. Seeing the Machen family from Slidell was an indescribable treat.
The new friends I met in the arena of Disaster Relief are tremondous people. Great servants wanting to express the love of Christ in the midst of tragedies. Great servants who are willing to be the hands and feet for Christ in the midst of challenging situations. John Dobbs, Carla Calhoun, Savita Devlin and Laura Cremeans it was wonderful to meet each of you for the first time. Too bad we will probably meet next time as we are face to face with tragedy and trying to make the best of it for someone.

make a difference for God today!

Buddy

Pepperdine Lectures . . .

This week we will attend the Pepperdine Lectures. I look forward to the view of the ocean, however I do not look forward to walking up and down the hills. I am scheduled to be on a panel with Carla Calhoun and John Dobbs if everything goes as scheduled Friday.
My dream is to have a network of response teams nationwide to work with. Imagine getting the call to come and help from another team close to an event instead of getting called by the Red Cross. I have an awesome sermon title waiting to be preached: "The Red Cross or the Real Cross." I am not knocking their mission in anyway, it is flawed, but they are placing people to feed, clothe and shelter in times of disaster. Which is the mission of the local church! Which Cross would you chose the eternal cross of Jesus or the cross that is a temporary organization.
I look forward to bing moved by God during this lectureship, I hope Mike Cope, Jeff Walling, Randy Harris and all the speakers are taking in a full supply of word of God and Holy Spirit to share with us. I will give updates from P.U. during the week.