Merry Christmas!

Tomorrow, Sunday, we have our yearly Christmas celebration at the church. Our children and youth will exhibit some of the finest talent in christiandom here in the Rio Grande Valley. You'll not want to miss out on this celebration of our Lords birth. Remember we meet at 10:30am and start promply on time. Arrive early to find available seating. C u there........

What's a Pastor to do?

When I went into the ministry 30 years ago, I entered with the sense that I could do no wrong. There was a confidence, I beleive from God, to go and do impossible things. The Word says, that if you can beleive all things are possible to him that believes. With a tremendous desire to serve Him and to see His kingdom grow I defied the doubts and disbelief of men and went forward confident in His ability to confirm his word. There are casualties though along the way. Just like in war we see friendly fire, when soldiers from the same side accidently shoot and kill one another. There have been sadly to say, casualties in my ministry over the years. I can honestly say from my heart that there has been no malice to anything done intentional to hurt or harm Gods special people. I can see though that some have been wounded in my attempt to serve God. No pastor enters into the ministry will any desire less than to serve and be a blessing to Gods people. The problem is that pastors are fallible and make mistakes. I have made my share of mistakes along the way. It's possible that some of my readers have been offended by something I said or did along the way, if that is so, I apologize. Sometimes people have come to me in the past sharing something I said or done that hurt them while others just disappear without saying a word. My suggestion to anyone who has been offended by a minister or someone in leadership to at least send a note letting them know how you feel. Most leaders will make an effort to change the error of their ways if communicated with. Being a parent, I have made mistakes with my kids, as a pastor I have made mistakes with some folks in my congregation. There is not doubt though that in my heart there is a love placed there by God to love and serve His people. I'd like to hear your thoughts, drop in a comment, if you want to do it anonimously. Give your minister a break! He is not perfect.

Theraputic

I've been bloggin now for one year and two months. I almost feel like I'm in a twelve step program. "Hello, my name is Patrick and I'm a blogger." Bloggin has given me a way to communicate and share some of my thoughts, concerns and projects. Looking back, for me this has been theraputic. It's been fun, and for the first time in my life I've been able to keep some kind of journal. I would encourage you to blog and when you get your page up, let me know so that I can be amused by reading about what makes you tick.

House for sale

Yep, its time to sell. When I was a teen I remember hearing a green beret preach at our church and his title was, "Don't put your stakes down too deep, you might be pulling out tomorrow." Obviously in war one has to be ready to get his gear together and be ready to get on the move. God will allow some people to put down roots but others to be ready get moving. Our homes over the years have varied from real dumps to very nice homes. Like Paul we have abased and abounded and in everything and circumstance I've learned to be content. So, its time to sell, retrieve our capitol and see what to invest in next. If you are looking for a nice home in the country with the opportunity to raise horses or a couple of cows, look no further, this place is for you.

Heart breaking

It was brought to my attention that there is a 5-6 yr old girl virtually living with the pigs in a village in India. She was seen obviously abandoned by her parents, eating what she could with a momma pig and her ten babies. The girls leg was wounded by the adult pig biting her. She has been sleeping under bridges and other shelters to protect her from the elements. We in America cannot fathom a need like this. Our minds are clouded and our understanding altered to such suffering. I am trying to do something though to assist such tragedies. As I hear about this and see with my own eyes similar situations my heart breaks and I ask myself, what really is important in life? To date I have raised around $25,000.00 US dollars for our childrens home in India. I'm a quarter of the way there. The mountain seems at times too high to climb, but if I don't make an effort, who else will? I know that I cannot erase the human suffering of the world, and God doesn't expect me too but I can do a little bit. I can do what I can and invite others to join with me to make a difference in childrens lives in this part of India. A childrens home for 100 kids will soon get off the ground. Thanks for your prayers and support.

Christmas Season

Ready for not, the season is here! Where did the year go? My how time flys! I'm thankful that I live in the greatest country in the world. Gods blessings is truly on our land. As I stroll through the shopping centers watching people busy looking for gifts and spending their money, I'm amazed at how much we have in America. The craze to stand in line for hours just to be in the position to buy the latest electronic device amuses me. Having the privilege to travel internationally, I see the disparity and contrast between extreme wealth and extreme poverty. We have so much while others have so little. I'm trying to find the balance in my life. I do want to enjoy abundance and blessings, but I also want to be a blessing to those less fortunate than I. I know that I can't meet the needs of all the worlds poor, but the ones that I have contact with, I can help out. I asked the director of the childrens home what the custom is there for Christmas and I was told that it would be nice to buy or make some new clothes for the kids there. For about $200.00 we can buy new clothes for them. We are talking about eleven kids here. Some people in America will spend that or more on gifts for their dogs, cats and other pets.

Pics of trip to Seattle

Fall leaves before the snow










Beckys' parents, brother and sister








Icey Roads










Snowing on the Space Needle

Funds are Coming in!

Today we are going back to Portland to catch an early flight tomorrow morning back home. Hopefully the roads will be ice free as we make our way there. I want to thank the people and churches were I spoke last week for your generosity. If my figures are right over eleven thousand dollars came in to help build the childrens home in India. I am so thankful for all who desire to see these orphans and homeless children have a place to call home. Soon construction will start and we will be on our way to see God make a difference in these Childrens lives. Just one note, 100% of donations given to this project reach India, we don't use any for administrative costs or for any other costs, all of your donations will be used for this project. Thanks so much. As we approach Christmas, lets think about the less fortunate and do what we can to show them a little of Gods' love.

It's Cold up here

We flew Southwest airlines into Portland, Ore and rented a car to drive up to Washington. It was a beautiful day for a drive, sunny and cold! Not too cold for the locals, but for us who are used to 85-90 degree weather, it is cold. We stopped at subway to by dinner and a couple of girls come in dressed with shorts and flip flops. They must be used to the temp here. I am excited about the ministry coming up, I will be busy most every day sharing with a church or small group about our project in India. This is not a vacation, we will go back and rest up from the work we do here. It is a joy to serve others!

Time to Raise Funds for India!

This week Becky and I will be flying to Portland, Ore and from there drive to the Seattle area to minister in some churches and homes to raise finances for the Childrens home in India. As money becomes available construction will begin. The Total cost is around $100,000.00. Thats really not too much considering that 100 kids will be housed there. Here a family of five can build a home for the same price. We will take time to visit family and enjoy a Thanksgiving meal while enjoying the wintery weather of the Northwest. I want to find some snow, make a snow ball and enjoy some "cold" weather. Today in the Rio Grande Valley it is 90 degrees. What a contrast to the 45 degree weather there.

I just want to wish my readers a Happy Thanksgiving, eat lots of turkey and apple pies. We will be back shortly to get ready for the Christmas season.

Everybody suffers somehow, sometimes

Have you ever been in a situation where to feel like u are being abused and unappreciated? We all have to go through things that are uncomfortable at the time. After the inconvience though we see the benefit of the situation and we actually feel better having gone through it. Set backs are set ups for a come back!

More Flood pics of Chirala, India

Raju is feeding Muslim flood survivors. They are experiencing the
Love of God and are very grateful








This is Bubli feeding people at an Untouchable village.






Many people are suffering with feet fungus.
These waters breed deseases.








The smell is terrible and the mosquitos hungry.








According to the News paper there are 28 dead
and 245,000 homeless. Livestock is dead, harvest destroyed, people have lost hope.

Devestating Floods

This first picture was taken in Augest on my last trip. These huts were built by Muslims trying to find a place to live. During the last weeks of October, heavy rains have produced floods that have destroyed homes, killed livestock and devestated fields. The staff of our childrens home have moved to the church building that is higher up. There home is flooded. All their clothes soaked and belonging destroyed. Maybe the most scary part are the snakes that have come out from hiding. The second pic shows the effects of the flood on the same homes seen in the first picture.

Autumn in S. Texas

What a beautiful day in South Texas to cut the grass!

Teen Challenge

What a blessing it is to have a "Teen Challenge" in the Coastal Bend area. They recently purchased 90 acres in Driscoll, Texas and are already ministering to young adults and seeing awesome results. We were blessed to have some of the women with us last Sunday in our service. God's grace most definately was evident in the testimonies and lives of these young ladies. There is a verse that says, "translated out of darkness and into His light". That is the case for these ladies. Those of you who read my blog and live in the area having missed this service, shame on you. You missed out on a Big Blessing.

Trophies of Grace

On Sunday the 29th, a group of ladies from Teen Challenge in San Antonio will be visiting our morning service. You will not want to miss out on this special event. You will hear them sing, testify and share about Gods delivering power from Drugs and addictions. Bring a friend, come expecting to receive a miracle.

Anna Jewel

Here she is, Anna Jewel, she is about 8 weeks old and is here at grandpa's visiting for a few days. One thing about her is that she really is a sweetheart. She is going to be a singer by the sound of her voice. I was thinking about how bad we mess up by not caring for the new "spiritual" babies that come our way. This baby needs constant care, she consumes all of her mothers time both day and night. Momma doesn't have her life anymore, its been lost in service to her child. The amazing thing that I notice about momma is that she does all this work with out complaining about how this baby is consuming all her free time, about the inconvienences and all the work she demands. As cute as this baby is, she cries, dirties her diaper, eats on a regular basis. Let us pay the price for the new borns that come our way and be committed to them until Christ is formed in their lives.

Set Backs!

Last Friday, I went to a "returning to your roots" concert in San Antonio. Some of the Christian artists that were popular in the "70s" and "80s" were reunited to do a concert. It was great to see Barry Mcguire, Dallas Holm, Chuck Girard, Janny Grein and others perform their classic songs from the past. Leon Petillo participated, sang and did a comedy ruitine. Towards the end he said, there is something that all of us want you to know. "A set back, is a set up, for a come back". Those words exploded in my spirit. Then on Sunday, I was at the "Macedonia Baptist Church" in San Antonio to share a little about our mission work and the guest speaker as he was promoting one of his CD's said, this one is called, "A set back, is a set up, for a comeback"! It just about blew me away. Two times in three days in completely different arenas God spoke to me. It made sence as I thought about the set backs in my life and since then everywhere I go I find somebody who is going through some kind of set back. What about you? Remember, our setbacks of life are just preparing us for a comeback of somekind in the future.

Security Walls go up!

In spite of heavy rain and other obstacles, the walls have been erected for the security of the childrens home in India. These walls were built to last. Finances are slowly coming in and as soon as we have enough to do the foundation, we will begin. This is a faith project and as we use what we have, God will give more. It is exciting to see a vision take on shape and form. Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not yet seen. Heb 11:1. Here are a couple of pics for you to see and the evidence that God honors faith.

Still numb !!

A few days have passed since I heard the news about Babu. After trying to make some kind of sense from this tragedy, God has brought me a sence of peace and victory. I can't imagine the pain that Sudheera and her family feels with this loss. The children in the home really are "Sudheera's" kids. Her brother Bubli and herself are the only parents that these children have. Sudheera told me betwween sobs while we spoke on the phone that her heart feels very heavy and hurts. The secular authorities are investigating this situation and are trying to answer the question "why". Please pray for this family. They are facing a very dificult time and the trial is very hard. Society sometimes has a hard time understanding the motive and compassion that christians share with the less fortunate. They always look for an alterior motive. One thing remains true and will never change and that is "Jesus is Lord". Our plans to build a childrens home remains firm. We are raising finances to soon begin construction. As I write this the security wall is being built and progress is being made. Jesus said that in the world you would have tribulations but to be of good cheer for He has over come the world.