Heatwave continues but the Delta Breeze is helping

Since my last post we spent two days in the cooling centers set up by Stanislaus County and the American Red Cross. I was allowed to be the lead at the King -Kenedy Memorial Center. The two days I was there we had about 130 people come through and get water and take a break from the heat. So far in the county we have had over 15 deaths, with more people who have succumb to the heat waiting to be found. As Red Cross gigs go this one was pretty laid back. Our center saw a lot of latch key kids from the neighborhood. Normally they spend their days hanging out in the park doing City Recreation classes. Thank goodness they could come in and get out of the heat for a while.
My hats off to Pam Gonzales, Art Turgeon, Jim and Jackie Cole for volunteering to make a difference for God in this event.

Pray for a few weeks of cooler weather, we need a break!

make a difference

Buddy Gray

Modesto Heat Wave . . . A need for volunteers!

The extreme heat is causing problems with many in the central valley. Several nursing homes and assited living facilites are on the brink of losing their a/c. The Red Cross is opening up several places for people to come for respite from the heat. These centers will be open from 10 to 10 daily through Friday. This is a great potential for many to in distress by tomorrow afternoon. This is an urgent appeal! If you can help, call me after 8:00 am in the morning.

Buddy - 380-3851

Veggietales. . . .

We premiered a veggie tale movie on Friday. What a hoot. 211 people at the building mostly kids to watch a bunch of vegetables make a good point about temptations in life. BTW the temptress in the movie is an apple. We fed about two hundred fifty hot dogs, chips etc. and gave away 150 goodie bags with church info. Additionally alot of kids from the neighborhood were signed up VBS.

make a difference

Buddy

The Costs of Law Enforcement

I spent a few hours with Bob (not his real name) yesterday. Bob is retired from law enforcement work and from California Dept. of Corrections. Yesterday, he was contemplating checking out, that is moving on from this world to whatever is next. Bob carries a lot of burdens, a sick wife, a terminally ill daughter and a bunch of grand kids that need a male figure in their life. Bob has many illnesses that plague him also. During the course of the conversation Bob reminded me what a price our police and correction officers pay for keeping us safe from the criminals who want to prey upon us. Bob talked of graphic violent things that haunted him and how some days he cannot get away from these images. Bob needs peace. A peace that passes understanding. The kinda peace that only Jesus can give you. Pray for Bob and all the people protecting us from the bad guys. Pray that God will extend his hand to them and they will accept it.

make a difference by praying today.

Buddy

Training Institue

The American Red Crosshas asked us to cook a meal for them on Friday, August 25 at their regional training institue at the Red Lion Hotel. We will need 4-6 volunteers maybe more to prepare a meal for 150 + people that day. We need to clean equipment, load it and get ready to roll to the Red Lion. If you are interested, talk to me.

Buddy

Chaplain for a week. . .

Today started my week tour as a chaplain for Modesto P.D. Last weeks car vs. van was filling in for someone else. MPD has purchased a new Chaplains car for us to drive. Its a hybrid "prius". I spent my first ten minutes in it trying to figure out how to turn it on. It has no key! There is a power button like on your computer and a little gear shift on the dash. It is a cool tool for MPD and I am greatful to the city fathers for purchasing this for us.

Pray that God will allow us to do great things for him this week. Pray for peace in the city!

Buddy

Personal Response . . .

Today is the anniversary of my father's death. As a grief professional, minister/chaplain/spiritual care advisor and hospice grief group moderator, I always thought I had it together and under control. The last few weeks since dad's birthday have been miserable, in fact the last year has been melancholy at best. Today will be a day of reflection and a time to make decisions on how to get out of this funk or cloud that has enveloped my being. I am ready to move on, I hope I can get my emotions to follow. Today pray for me to be a better husband, father, minister and friend to all that I contact. Pray for me to stop procrastination. Pray for me to be mobilized in the war on Satan.

Car vs. Van . . .

I had a reminder today about how fragile life is in this world. A car pulling out of MMC failed to see the oncoming traffic and thus they collided. Somebodies Aunt/Uncle,sister/brother, son/daughter, dad/mom, left this world for the next realm.(Two fatalities) I do not know their next destination, I pray that they knew God and His son Jesus. One moment your day can be planned with all the details of life, the next moment your gone. Remember today what is important, Love the Lord your God with all your Heart, mind and soul and second like it, Love your neighbor as yourself.
Hug your wife, tell your kids you love them. Stop right now and pray, let God know how great it is to be His child. There are no guaranties of endless time, only the moment that you are currently living in use the moment to the fullest.

go make a difference for Him

Buddy

Del Puerte Canyon Fire . . .

Tonite Wayne Smith and I responded to the ICP(Incident Command) of the Del Puerte Canyon Fire. Their coffee maker went offline and the firefighters were in need of coffee. We scrounged up as many pots as we could and took them out to the command post. The ICP is a portable city of 2000 people. Shower trailers, kitchens and air conditioned tents. It was an amazing operation to see. Tommorrow morning the firefighters will have coffee with breakfast. . . .

Fire! Del Puerto Canyon

The Del Puerto Canyon fire is getting closer to subdivisions near Patterson, CA. We have been placed on standby for feeding and sheltering. The fire is a 3000 acre fire 20% controlled. I will keep everyone updated as I hear more info.

Buddy

DAT TEAM Meeting / Kitchen Training

The American Red Cross Disaster Assitance Team will meet at Davis Park Church of Christ tonight at 6:30 p.m. I have another engagement this evening and cannot make it. A couple of people will make sure the building is open and cool.

I will be scheduling a Disaster Kitchen Training Class in the near future if you are interested in being on the Kitchen Team let me know so I remember to include you in this activity.

No more news to report at this time.

Buddy

Scotland Mission Wrapping Up

Krista sends her greetings to everyone from across the pond. She and teammates have finnished the Holiday Bible School. The were having approx. 20 kids in the HBS. The campaign that work along side it with the adults has been met with good success also. All in all Krista's says that the trip has been a good experience. I can not wait for her to get home to me and Matthew.

Red Cross Appeal. . .

The American Red Cross is looking to deploy individuals to NY or PA for two to three week tours of duty. They will pay expenses to and from and cover your meals and lodging while you are on assignment. Think about. pray about it. This is a good oportunity to take Christ to the Crisis!.

Buddy

Davis Park Missions. . .

Krista Gray, my wife, arrived in East Kilbride, Scotland today and everything seems to be going well. They took a couple hour nap after arriving and went to the church building for food and fellowship. When I talked to her there was a lot of laughter in the background. Tommorrow(in just a few hours) they will go door to door to invite people to the Holiday Bible School and to the gospel meeting Dale Foster will be preaching. Let us hold them up in prayer as they bring Christ's message.

John Greff and Walter Leonard have headed for Guyamas, Mexico today. They will be there for a week working with a medical missions team from Nashville. Walter will preaching a meeting for the local church while he is there. John will help dispense glasses while there. Pray for them as they take the good news to foreign soil.

Matthew and I are doing well. He misses his mommy. He woke up crying in the middle of the night wanting Krista. He went back to sleep after a half hour or so. I remind him that we are doing our part this time by staying at home. Not everyone gets to go everytime.

The Red Cross is looking for some volunteers to deploy to the east coast immediately! They will pay airfare and expenses. They are accepting two week commitments or longer. This is a great opportunity to take Christ to a disaster zone.

Pray for our people on missions abroad, pray for ys to do our work here.

make a difference for Him,

Buddy

Responding to Family. . .

Krista left for Scotland today for a 13 day mission trip. What a switch for us? She is usually taking me to the airport for some type of mission adventure. The point of departure was filled with emotion. Matthew was crying, I started to cry, but Krista told me to stop. . . Matthew had tear stained cheeks when I let him off at Pre-school. I wonder what he thinks of us leaving home to take the message of Christ to someone new. I am excited that Krista ventured out to the mission field for a while. I pray that it is a time of renewal and a time that will build her zeal for serving God. Pray for her as she travels 8000+ miles over the next few days. Pray that those that are waiting to hear Gods word from her have hearts that are ready for change. Its time to change because the Kingdom of God is at hand

Buddy

Weekend on the Delta . . .

A family time on the Delta, more specifically, Brannan Island State Recreation Area. The summer campout for the Davis Park Church of Christ was a time of great fun in a time of adversity. Temps were above 100 degrees and the wind seemed like gale force winds. The water at the swimmin hole was 72 degrees. Most of the time I stood in the water up to my neck and just enojoyed the natural coolnes of the water. Matthew had a blast with the other kids, throwing mud, boatriding and ridge-running. Most of the my time was spent talking to my brothers and sisters in Christ that I usually do not have time to visit with.

Have a great day

Buddy

The Real Response

This past week was a reminder for me concerning what response is all about. Two souls were added to the kingdom. Cary Higginbothom and Art Walsh were both baptised into the Kingdom of God. Art is the husband of Debi Smith Walsh and the son-in-law of Wayne and Sheila Smith. It was my first baptism in a working hot tub. Choice was the 66 degree water of the swimming pool or a hot tub next to the pool. I choose the hot tub. After the immersion we kicked on the bubbles for a little while to experience some heaven on earth. Cary is a seeker from Modesto. Her and her husband Leonard started attending Davis Park a few weeks ago. We have had a few sessions of welcome covenant studies, after responding to the invitation on Sunday morning she asked Mike to baptize her. The angels rejoice for these two new souls saved from the world. Pray for them in the coming weeks . . .

Praise God for letting us make a difference for Him,

Buddy

Family Promise. . .

Family Promise tour # 5 ended for us on Sunday morning Many Thanks to Jennifer and Sheila Smith for all the work they put into this program. Sheila coordinated the 21 meals the families ate while we were sheltering them. Jennifer made sure someone was their to host the families during the night.
I know the two families that moved on to St Paul's Episcopal will do well. Both are on the verge of finding places to live.

7 different families stayed overnight this time and 5 different families cooked supper for the families, I wish to thank each of you for helping in the capacity that you helped. I also want to thank the ladies who helped wash laundry after the program concluded. Each time the families leave their is a mountain of of sheets, blankets and pillow cases to be laundered.

Thanks for making a difference!

Buddy

Family Promise . . . Last night

This is the last night of this rotation of Family Promise. It is always amazing to see how we respond to taking care of the needs of the families in FP. Tonight we have a family of four and a single mom who finishes her shift at 2:00 a.m. Our volunteers will get up when she arrives to let her in. I appreciate their dedication to this great work. I am always worn out by the last day and this is no different. Managing the familes and making sure our volunteers all have a good experience takes a little work. Sheila and Jennifer Smith are great volunteer managers for this program. They are dedicated to making Jesus available to the people in this program, I applaud the work they do God in this program. We wll have had over 30 volounteers involved by the end of tomorrow when we take the beds to the next Church.

I will blog more tomorrow about this great program. Pray for the families in the program.

Buddy

Family Promise Day Three . . .

Thanks to all who have voluntered to make life better for the two families we are caring for this week. I can see that they appreciate all that is being done for them. Pray for the Flores family, on Wed. they find if their application for housing will be accepted. The other family is closing in on housing also. Pray that God will work us out of a job.

Pray for the children in the program that lives are not disrupted while they are displaced from homes and moving from church to church.

make a difference for God,


Buddy