Local Response. . .

This week has turned out to be busy. Not a record pace by any stretch of the imagination. One of the dear ladies in my Thursday bible study passed away and another had surgery for cancer . Both of these are great Christian models for their families. Betty Scofield life's celebration will be tomorow at 10:00 am. Rubye Long remains in the hospital today recovering from the surgery. Keep her in your prayers.
So far I have been on a few Chaplain calls this week each of these calls presents difficult situations and future difficulties for all the ones involved in very complicated situations. No names or descriptions of events at this time, maybe in the future after some reflection we will be able to talk about these life situations that seem to ensnare people.
Great news, Leonard Higginbotham was baptized into Christ last night after evening services. Leonard was baptized as a young child and did not have peace with how he had lived his life afterward. Leonard is excited and ready to dedicate his life to God. His wife Carey was baptized a few months ago. What an exciting time for them and their families.

God is awesome. Read His word. Live by it.

Go make a difference today!

Buddy

Family Promise next week/ Chaplain on call this week

Our next response possibility for everyone is a week from today. Family Promise families will cycle through for a week at the building. It is always a fulfiling week with plenty of challenges and minstry to be done. Make sure sign up for a sleep over/ host night or for meal host.
This is my week as on call chaplain, pray for peace in the City of Modesto this week. Pray for me to exploit opppotunities for God's Kingdom this week.

make a difference

Buddy

Chris is finished . . . maybe

Here is this mornings discussion from the NHC:

"THIS IS GOING TO BE SHORT AND SWEET. SATELLITE IMAGES AND SURFACE OBSERVATIONS INDICATE THAT CHRIS IS BECOMING A BROAD AREA OF LOW PRESSURE DEVOID OF THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY. THE LOW WILL LIKELY CONTINUE TO MOVE WESTWARD UNTIL DISSIPATING LATER TODAY.GLOBAL MODELS WERE CORRECT INDEED IN FORECASTING DISSIPATION OF THE CYCLONE OVER CUBA. THIS WILL BE THE LAST ADVISORY ON CHRIS UNLESS REGENERATION OCCURS."

Buddy

Chris may be dissapating. . .

Here is the latest info on Chris :

DATA FROM THE LAST AERIAL RECONNAISSANCE MISSION SUGGESTED THATCHRIS MAY HAVE ALREADY DROPPED BELOW TROPICAL STORM INTENSITY. IF IT HAS NOT...IT WILL LIKELY DO SO VERY SOON UNLESS SOME DEEPCONVECTION REDEVELOPS NEAR THE CENTER. THE FORECAST RETAINS THESYSTEM AS A DEPRESSION THROUGH THE FORECAST PERIOD. THIS IS APRECAUTION THAT ALLOWS FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF REGENERATION...SINCETHE SHEAR COULD RELAX AND THE THERMODYNAMIC ENVIRONMENT BECOME MOREFAVORABLE OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS. HOWEVER...IF PRESENT TRENDSCONTINUE...CHRIS COULD DISSIPATE AS A TROPICAL CYCLONE FAIRLY SOON.

Keep praying that this will continue and that Chris will not inflict damage and hurt lives.

Buddy

2 pm cone of uncertainity . . .

More info can be found at the National Hurricane Center.

Buddy

Tropical Weather Heating Up . . . .

A new blog to monitor for storm info is http://crisisresources.blogspot.com. It is run by John Dobbs of Pascagoula, MS. He has info on the storm soon to be Hurricane Chris. It is time to make sure deploy bags are packed and ready yourself to go to gulf coast to help people who will be in neeed if the storm hits. If you live on the coast, make preparations now and avoid the lines at the stores that will occur around Monday. Let us all pray for wind shear to tear up the tropical storm before it comes ashore.

Buddy

An evening at the park . . .

The Cobleighs, the Kelleys and the Grays (my family) decided to meet for some fellowhips at Graceada Park on Saturday evening. We set up the grill and carried in all the gear and kicked back for a while. As we began to cook a bunch of kids (5) were hanging out near us. It turns out they were some kids from Family Promise, whom we had hosted a few months ago. I was recognized as the guy who cooked them pancakes. OK, guilty, every Saturday at Family Promise, I cook everyone their favorite breakfast. The kids were at the park so their mom and dad could have some quiet time together, age range of the kids was 13-18. Finally, I ask them if they were hungry and if they wanted to eat with us. They were hungry and we fed them.
Sometimes God places you at the right place at the right time to minister, this was the time for us (three families) to step up to the plate. At first glance they were kids with another group at the park, upon further review they were kids in need of food and safe company. I thank God for placing us there at that time. We went there to have a good time of family fellowship. God wanted us there for other reasons. Pray for these kids and their parents. They are living in a motel. My guess is the room is full there with five kids and two adults. Pray for their safety, the Inn they are living in is a rough place.
Remember, to be open for the service that God places near you.

make a difference for Him today,

Buddy

Cooling Centers Close. . .

The cooling centers of Stanislaus County are closed as of this morning. Tempuratures dropped into more normal like ranges today. This morning at my house it was a crisp 60 degrees. What a blessing that the heat wave is taking a break. What a mixture of weather events we have had so far this year. Floods, Fires and now unrestrained heat. Jesus tells us to be ready to provide a glass of water to the thirsty. . . What a great opportunity to go and do His work this week.

Buddy

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.