National Day of Prayer in League City

I got a call from a League City resident named Becky Gualt this morning. I have never met Ms. Gualt. She called to inform me of a plan that she and a number of ladies with whom she meets to study the Bible have developed for the National Day of Prayer that is scheduled for May 6. I liked her plan and her approach to the whole matter and thought you would like to know about it.

First, they have reserved the club house in the Magnolia Creek subdivision, 4752 League City Parkway, for the day. It will be open from 6:30 am till 7 pm, in order to accommodate commuters who leave early or get home late. They are making a true DAY of prayer rather than a short gathering. It is a non-denominational activity.

Second, they have set as their purpose to Pray for our families; Pray for our schools-Administrators; Teachers; Students; Support Personnel; Pray for our community – Local Businesses; Civic Volunteers; Pray for our churches – Pastor and family; Pastoral Staff; Congregations; Pray for our Law Enforcement Officers Pray for State and Local Government; Pray for the three branches of our Government –Legislative; Executive; Judicial; Pray for the Armed Forces; Pray for the media

Ken Clark, a county commissioner, has agreed to take part, though the schedule has not been set as of this writing. I have told Ms. Gualt that I will participate as a concerned citizen, but not as a representative of the congregation here. Whether you want to participate in the community effort, please make a special effort in your personal prayers to lift up acknowledge the power of God and our need for Him.

Hope For Haiti's Children!!!

Yesterday at the preachers’ luncheon we learned about the work of a faith based group called Hope for Haiti’s Children. This group feeds, educates, and for some orphans, houses children in the outskirts of Port Au Prince. They can fully fund that work for about $40 per month per child. They were already in Haiti before the earthquake and their students were among the top in standardized testing for the whole country. In the aftermath of the quake they have been distributing food and supplies to other organizations—no strings attached.

One of the things that really caught my attention is that the folks who set the ministry up established a separate fund for administrative costs. It is supported by folks who want to assure the work will continue. And that allows that every donation that is made for the children goes, 100 cents of every dollar, directly to the needs of those being helped! Rainy season began about two weeks ago, with most folks living in tent cities with little or no sanitation facilities. To take a look or to donate, go to http://hopeforhaitischildren.org/

Opening Day At Minute Maid '10!!!

Opening Day has been a huge part of life for my wife and I. We have celebrated 43 anniversaries, 42 of them at Opening Day for the Astros. The only time we missed was when we celebrated our 35th in New York City. We just returned from the 2010 edition.

Roy Oswalt started for the 'Stros against Tim Lincecum of the San Francisco Giants, the reigning back to back Cy Young winner. Oswalt pitched creditably, but not well enough to avoid the loss. He gave up three runs in his six innings of work, while Lincecum did not allow a run in his seven innings of work.

Houston did not hit the ball hard very often tonight. Carlos Lee had a line drive off the wall in left, but the next well struck ball was in the 9th inning when J. R. Towles had a double to left center field to drive in the second run of the evening for Houston.

There were not too many bright spots for the over 43,000 in attendance. I wonder how many fans will be in the stands tomorrow.

Farewell, Mike Cuellar

When I was reading the sports section of the paper this morning I was saddened to read of the passing of Mike Cuellar. He died of stomach cancer at the age of 72. Seeing his name again reminded me of what a great pitcher Cuellar was, and that he was part of the worst trade in the history of the Astros.

Cuellar came to the Astros in 1965, as the team was moving into the Astrodome and became know as the Astros, after their first three seasons as the Colt .45’s. Mike was a left handed pitcher with a truly wicked screwball. I loved to sit in the bleachers in center field next to the tunnel when he pitched, just to watch the ball dance! Cuellar was a 16 game winner for one of the most woeful teams in the league, in those days after the MLB expansion that brought them into the National League.

I the winter of 1968 the Astros traded Mike Cuellar to the Baltimore Orioles for a first baseman named Curt Blefry. I was outraged at the time. And time only confirmed that the trade was worse than any in team history, worse that Joe Morgan going to the Reds, worse than Kenny Lofton for Eddie Taubensee, the absolute worst! By 1970 Blefry proved to be so worthless that he was traded for a washed up Joe Pepitone!

Cuellar went on to help take the Orioles to three World Series appearances and to be a part of a staff that had four 20 game winners in one season. If Mike had been with the Orioles his whole career he would be in the Hall of Fame.

Farewell, Mike Cuellar.

Quitting Too Soon?

In Genesis chapter 18 we have an account of a visit God made to Abraham by the Oaks of Mamre. That's the day that Abraham was told that a year later he and his wife Sarah would have a son, despite the fact that they were well past the age of childbearing. As the visit was ending, God told Abraham that he was about to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah.

There is an interesting dialogue that takes place between Abraham and God beginning in verse 22. Abraham calls on God's righteousness, suggesting that he wouldn't wipe out the silly survey found 50 righteous people within them. God agrees that he will not destroy cities for the sake of 50 righteous. Abraham then asks if he would spare them if they found 45 people who were righteous. God says of his 45 righteous that the cities would not be destroyed. Abraham then appeals to God not to destroy the cities if 40 righteous were found. God agreed. Abraham proceeded, asking that the cities be spared if only 30 righteous were found. Again God agrees. Abraham persists. This time asking that if 20 righteous were found that the cities be spared. And God agreed.

Abraham comes to the end of his admonition and says to God, "Oh let not the Lord be angry and I will speak again but this once. Suppose 10 are found there." And God consents to this request as well, saying "For the sake of 10 I will not destroy it."

The question I want to ask here is "Did Abraham quit praying before God quit answering?"

What Did You Do For Fun On The Weekend, Johnny?

This is the favorite joke I heard at the Get Motivated seminar on Monday. I believe Rudy Giuliani was talking about integrity when he told the story.

A first grade teacher told her class on Friday afternoon to have some fun on the weekend, and to remember what that fun was because on Monday they would each have a turn to tell what they did for fun on the weekend.

When they all assembled in class on Monday morning, the teacher began to ask students what they had done for fun and each one told their story in turn. When she got to Johnny, she asked him what he had done for fun. He said "My father and I went fishing, we caught 75 catfish and each of them weighed 75 pounds." The teacher said, "Johnny, this is not a time for make believe this is a time for telling what you did for fun on the weekend."

Johnny said, "We went fishing, we caught 75 catfish and each weighed 75 pounds." The teacher told Johnny, "now that's just not possible, and I want you to quit telling stories and tell us what he really did this weekend." Johnny repeated his proclamation. In exasperation the teacher said, "Johnny, if I told you on the weekend I was in my yard and a big grizzly bear came into my yard was about to attack me, but a big yellow dog came and grabbed that grizzly bear by the nose and slammed him to the ground on one side and then slammed into the ground on the other side and when he let him go that grizzly bear ran away. Would you believe that, Johnny?"

Johnny said, "Yes Ma'am. That was my yeller dog!"

Get Motivated!

We had a great day today, a bunch of us from the congregation went to a seminar called Get Motivated. It was aimed at business people and entrepreneurs, but I thought anyone would have benefited from hearing the messages from the speakers. The line-up included Sarah Palin, Rick Belluzo (former COO of Microsoft), Rudy Giuliani, Colin Powell, Lou Holtz, and four others.

We heard a lot of things that could make a difference, if we will act rather than just having enjoyed the speakers. My favorite over all was Colin Powell, he stood out among those giants. His practical solutions to problems of life and common sense were very uplifting and inspirational.

The one thing I want to give some thought to was asked by Lou Holtz--"If you were to never make it home again, who would miss you and why?"