Post Time!

Haven't really felt that much like posting lately. It's been hot and hectic here in H-town. Last year we had a 25 year hurricane, ya'll remember hearing about hurricane Ike, right? That was the one that may have caused more damage than Katrina but went suddenly left the airways after 3 days. Oh yeah, now I recall, that was the one. Once in hopefully 25 years or longer will we ever experience that kind of thing again. Truth be told I'll be good if I never go through that again, ever. In lots of ways we're still recovering from that storm and lots of folks in our area will never be the same. In my afternoon walks, I take S Burnet drive all the way to the end and the bay. It takes me about 5 minutes to reach the part of the street where homes once were before Ike. The majority were damaged beyond repair and demolished. A number were gutted to the studs and the roof and rebuilt. Several new homes, all on tall stilts are beginning to be rebuilt. It's slow but its coming back.

Now we're in the midst of a 29 year spell of heat and drought. Not since 1980 has the Gulf Coast and this area seen the kind of heat and dry we've got now. It just so happens we planned a door knocking campaign in our area. Yep, that's right, every afternoon since Thursday about 20 of us head out to knock doors and tell people about our "Prayer Works" campaign. We're working in Mt Belvieu, about 10 miles to our east where there's no mainline church of Christ. There's a couple of small ones but nothing really to serve the numbers of folks that live out that way. This is Texas so there's lots of Baptists and they are going great guns. The other truth be told is that many who likely grew up CofC and moved out to that area now attend a Baptist church because its more convenient. But that's another blog maybe.

So, we've been out, introducing ourselves to folks, asking them if we can pray with them and for their needs. The response has been good. Of course, lots of folks are not home, some don't answer the door, some don't need prayer (right), some declare their faith to us, and some are open, honest, and tell of their hurts and needs. There's lot of hurt and fear out there right now, with jobs, families, children, multiple marriages, well...you know. But sometimes we forget.
A couple of folks wanted to study the bible with us, yes! Those are ongoing.

I know, I know, you thought the days of door knocking were over. And for some folks they are over with. Some of us are too afraid, still. But "perfect love drives out fear" the book says. And when you go to a home and someone comes to the door, hurting about job, family, health, whatever and they say they've been living there for two years and you're the first person to come to their door and ask to help by praying...well its worthwhile. Or when you go to the door and the couple says, "we were planning to be at your church on Sunday," and they actually come...thats exciting. Or when a young lady answers the door and quickly begins to share her concerns and fears and says..."please pray" and by the time you leave, she's weeping...you know that God sent you to that door, to that young lady, that day.

Yeah, its hot, really, really hot...but that hasn't stopped us. Three more days to go. I know the Lord will bless us by hopefully being a blessing to those behind those doors. We're planting seeds, not likely watering yet, its too hot...but the rain will come...and God will give the increase. He always does.

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We prayed last evening for over 100 different prayer requests given to us by Mt Bel folks.

My Life in T-shirts, coming soon!

Got my next blog in mind but don't have time to write til later or tomorrow. It's called "my life in tshirts." It was an interesting afternoon that sparked the idea. Coming soon.

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Blogging Goes All Over the Place

Most blogs I read tend to have one particular flavor or direction. I think you get my meaning...its all Astros...or politics...or religion...or family stuff. Certainly not to dismiss the validity or importance of any of those...from time to time I'll cover most any of them. But me, I like to venture out and about and go different directions...sometimes sharing my humor...other times probably my ignorance.

Today the topic is PC's. I'm really probably considered a novice as I have no formal training but I have been around since the Commodore 64 and Texas Instruments machines...booting from 7 inch floppies and formatting your own hard drives and machines with a whopping 64k of memory...I think...its hard to remember exactly...I think my hard drive is full.

I do like to think that I keep my PC's in pretty good shape and long lasting. Can't recall the last time I had a problem with a virus or much...beside my cable modem several weeks back...but that wasn't my problem...that was Comcast...but I digress.

Came across an article the Worlds Most popular freeware. I use freeware, mostly because its free. I like free...don't you? I currently run numbers 1-6 and number 8 on all my pc's. I'm responsible for several. Check em out...they are all worthwhile.

Only one thing...you gotta get em, keep em updated, and run em regular...say once a week. How's that for all over the place? See...keeps me from bragging on my newest grandson.

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You Matter -

Here's something I came across today. Thought it was worth sharing. By Seth Godin

You matter

• When you love the work you do and the people you do it with, you matter.
• When you are so gracious and generous and aware that you think of other people before yourself, you matter.
• When you leave the world a better place than you found it, you matter.
• When you continue to raise the bar on what you do and how you do it, you matter.
• When you teach and forgive and teach more before you rush to judge and demean, you matter.
• When you touch the people in your life through your actions (and your words), you matter.
• When kids grow up wanting to be you, you matter.
• When you see the world as it is, but insist on making it more like it could be, you matter.
• When you inspire a Nobel prize winner or a slum dweller, you matter.
• When the room brightens when you walk in, you matter.
• And when the legacy you leave behind lasts for hours, days or a lifetime, you matter.

Let's all matter today, ok?
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Blogging From Forneytown!

It was a normal hot afternoon this past Sunday in H-town. The bride, son, and I were trying to cool it by spending some time in the pool. I decided to go in a bit early to dry off before going to our Sunday afternoon Life group when the phone rang. Aaron is calling to let us know his bride called him back from Praise team practice because her water broke. How exciting, Cohen has officially decided to kick himself out of the water and into the family. I called the troops in from the pool, called Lynne, our LG host to tell her we weren't going to make it, and hurriedly packed up for Forneytown. Within an hour we're off headed north to Presbyterian Hospital to welcome our newest grandson.

He managed to get here only a bit more than an hour before we arrived and all are well. He was scheduled a c-section because that's how his brother was born. We hoped we'd be there before he arrived but no cigars...until after the birth. He weighed in at 7 lbs. 7 oz. and as of today, Tuesday he and his momma are doing great...the rest of us doing great too. I'd like to say I could post some pics but couldn't find camera before we ran out the door. :(

If you want to see some pics Kim posted a couple to her facebook page from her new Verizon Storm phone. She ditched her blackberry world phone for one that takes pics and does all that other cool stuff including post pics to facebook. For now, we're on Noah duty along with Allisons folks. The rest of the fam comes home from the hospital tomorrow. It's a world away from Noah's coming 5 weeks early and spending 9 days in the NICU. Aaron commented that after he was born they just handed him over to his parents and "let em hang out." Pretty nice having things go pretty normal this time. Last time the same call came we were in Cooperstown for Thanksgiving and tried to figure out how to get back to Dallas. We did but it was quite a stressful several days. They whisked Noah off to NICU and monitored him closely for that first stretch and it was all quite stressful. Cohen arrived much more low key and fully ready for life in the world. By the time we got to the hospital and got to see Aaron he was beaming, ear to ear.

They are all enjoying a restful start to the first couple of days and Kim and I enjoying Noah. Unfortunately Kim had to fly out today for work. She'll miss their homecoming tomorrow but so far...all in all...Cohen's off to a great start. Thanks for all your prayers and text msgs. We're proud grandparents again!! Praise God for Cohen Thomas Ellis. We think he's just about the best thing going...along with his brother of course.

Here's a couple pics I stole from Kim's facebook. :)

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Great Weekend in H-town.

It was good to be home for several days in a row finally. Even late in the week this week it was difficult to know what day was what, one of those times when you're not sure what day it is because it doesn't feel like it should be...uh...Friday. That's what happens when you're out for awhile, then in for a day, then out, etc. That was our schedule for about 3 weeks. We finally got back to the E-house just in time for summer and mosquitoes....hayaaw. I never know how to spell those sounds that you make...like at the end of the Mini sirloin burgers song....you "mini sirlion burger...hyahh! It's my favorite jingle these days. Finally ate some MSB yesterday on the way to H-town. They were ok. Probably wont' be eating them again any time soon. They did have a good flavor. The only reason we ate them yesterday was because I had a coupon for buy 1 get 1 or was it buy 3 get 3. Buy an order get an order. Little meat, bread, cheese, grilled onion, they were ok.

Spent Saturday working on our slate flooring. We've got it in the entry, kitchen, by the patio door and back door. It took a pretty good beating during ike and the construction to follow. We had cleaned it pretty well but there was still some leftover, sheetrock spots, paint spots, etc. Saturday we cleaned the beejeebers out of it, sweep, sweep again, scrub by hand on your hands and knees. Turned out clean for sure but needing a good sealer coat or 3 or 4. Did that last night for the most part.

That was after a really enjoyable Sunday morning service. Singing was good, preaching...well...so, so I guess. One of our Life group members came and asked for prayers...an answer to our groups prayers for sure...another (Tasha) came to give herself to Christ in baptism. That makes any Lords day a great one.

After that the bride and I headed to H-town, past Jack for MSB, and to MD Anderson to visit Kim's best childhood and teenage friend, Ann from OK. Ann has a totally rare kind of cancer and started chemo this past week. Put her in on your prayers some time. Her mom died of cancer at about our age. Make this difficult to deal with....but she's dealing pretty well. Had to totally gown, glove, mask, hairnet, shoecover up to go in to see her...couldn't touch her either. They are pretty much killing her bone marrow and letting it come back clean I would assume. It was great to see her but quite emotional for my bride and Ann.

Then it was back for Life group and one of the worlds best cinammon rolls, and home to seal the floor. All in all it was a really productive and good weekend. Now if I can be that productive this week. What day is it anyway?

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