Back-to-School 2009

Here's a video that my son, Cameron, put together for our Back-to-School service this year! It is time for us to "Stand Out" for the Kingdom of God!

Our children and youth committed Sunday night to be what God has called us to be. We are looking forward to what God has in store for the 2009-2010 school year!

Homecoming makes the paper today...

Just wanted to let you see the newspaper article about our 1960's-70's Homecoming. It is great coverage and we are thankful to Sarah Johnson for getting it published. We are continuing to receive notes from those who attended letting us know how much they enjoyed themselves. We are so happy that it was such a blessing to everyone as it was to us also! You can click on these images and they will open in another window at a larger size enabling you to read the article. The first page is pictures about it and the story is on the second page...

"He A-wose"

This is the cutest thing I've seen in a long time, so I wanted to share it with you all.
(Thanks to Janet Anglin for sending it to me.)

Have a great day!

How Much More?

During the homecoming on Saturday, Bro. Danny Johnson sang the song "How Much More" by Rusty Goodman. I've always loved this song but had forgotten about it. I purchased it on iTunes today and have listened to it over and over. There's a special message here. I'm so thankful for the love of God.

"If He knows when a robin falls from its nest... if He grieves when He sees it die... I wonder how much more does He love you and I...
If He cares for the lilies in an open field... if He acknowledges a tree when the winds make it kneel... how much more does He love me and you...

How much more than a fragrant rose that He gives life in the Spring...
Or does He love me less than a bird in a nest that never sows yet he soars on the wing...
If He can speak a simple word and calm an angry wind...
Peace, be still, He can calm a rolling sea...
Then He can speak peace, be still to the storm that's within...
That's how much that He really loves me!"

I've posted the video here for someone to hear. He has your life in His hands, and He loves us more than we could ever comprehend.

More Homecoming pics...

Sorry that it has to be in a slideshow. There are just too many pictures to upload individually. There are MANY more on Facebook, if you would like to join us there...

The play button above will take you to another webpage for these pictures.

Enjoy! We sure did.

A few pictures to begin with...

I will have to post more about this because there is so much to tell.  But, first, here are three pictures to get started!  My wife snapped some pictures with her phone, but there are THOUSANDS of other pictures out there and we will be posting more.  

I never dreamed that the Homecoming would be as large and as fun as it was!  We ended up with 256 registered on Saturday at the Convention Center.  We spend 6 hours there and it was not near long enough.

Registration

Greeting everyone on the hallway into the convention center!

Gathering for the meal

There will be more to come about Saturday and Sunday.  Just wanted to put something up about what a huge success the weekend was.  Thanks to everyone for putting the time aside and joining with us.  You made it what it was!

You can help...

My cousin James' wife, Janet Holley, sent an email to get the word out about the upcoming parole hearing for the murderer of her sister, Sandy Dial.  I thought I would pass it along to all of you and ask you to take a moment to do the right thing.  We sang at Sandy's funeral and remember the devastating pain this senseless murder caused in Janet's family.  Janet spent countless hours to bring justice for this crime and it would be a shame for it to go to waste and possibly have this type of thing happen again.

Background
In May, 1991, DeEllen Bellah, along with co-conspirator Don Dial (Sandy's ex-brother in law), fraudulently obtained a $100,000 life insurance policy on Sandy Dial's life. On Friday, December 13, 1991 their murder plan was carried out in an effort to collect the insurance proceeds. Sandy Dial, 34 years old, was found dead in the back seat of her car with a single gunshot wound to the head.

In 1998, DeEllen Bellah was sentenced by a Hunt County jury to 50 years in prison for Conspiracy to Commit Capital Murder. Sandy left behind 2 young daughters, a devastated family and host of friends. It is clear that Bellah presents a continuing danger to society. Her crime was obviously premeditated; she had plenty of time (6 months) to plan this murder. Please help us keep DeEllen Bellah, the mastermind of the murder scheme, in prison where she belongs.

Bellah is currently up for Parole review. Please write ask that she be made to serve her entire sentence. In addition, to lessen the emotional trauma the parole review process has on the victim's family, please ask for the maximum set-off for any future parole reviews. 

Send letters, emails, or faxes protesting the parole of De Ellen Bellah. You can get all the information about sending in a protest of parole at:  www.paroleprotest.org/ 

Home Missions Service

We enjoyed a great service last night in Ranger, Texas. Karla and I went with Sharon Bivens and got to drive her wonderful new car. Our chorale sang and did an awesome job. The Ranger church did some great praise singing and another wonderful special. Bro. Carl McLaughlin was the speaker and two were filled with the Spirit for the first time! The evening was topped off with a time of fellowship and brisket with Carl McLaughlin, Greg Hardin and Lindsey and the Whitmire's. It's always great to get with friends.

(Missy, I included your arm and the back of your head - just for you.)

This is just a short update for those who are complaining about posts being sparse!

More Homecoming Details

Invitations have gone out to those whose addresses we had. If you know of someone who attended the First UPC of Wichita Falls in the 1960's and 1970's, please forward this information to them and email our secretary their address. We will make sure they receive an invitation in the mail. Her email is: prvenegas@aol.com. We are excited about all those who are attending and want to see as many as possible come be a part of the celebration! You can click on the invitation images below to get more details.

New Sunday School Bus

We are so excited with what the Lord has blessed us with!  A month or so ago, I asked the church to be in prayer about a bus for our new Sunday School route in Sunnyside.  Within a week, we ran across a fleet that was being sold in Garland, Texas.  It required a bid process, so the church board got together and decided what our bid would be and it was submitted.  It is definitely a blessing from the Lord.  It looks new!  The seating is immaculate.  It was used as a special needs bus, so it has not had the normal wear and tear the a school bus has.  The maintenance man at the school system really wanted our church to have the best and even prayed for us the night before the bids were opened!  Today, as they picked up the bus, there were extra parts that they will not be needing already loaded on the bus for us to have when they are needed.  They have replaced the batteries, there is a new tire, and more!  It is air conditioned, has a wheelchair lift and has only 80,000 miles on the Freightliner engine.

Sunnyside is an area that Monroe Bivens has had a burden for and it was where our community was held.  Following that event, they have been going through the neighborhood picking up children for Sunday School and inviting more.   This gives them the ability to really work this route.  Bro. Bivens went along as they picked up the bus today.  When he saw it, he said as he began to cry, "God really does care about us, doesn't He?  He saw that we mean business about winning our community and look what He has provided!"  It is so true.  

"Walk up and down the streets.... I have given you this city," the Lord said.  Now we have a way to pick more of them up and bring them where they can find LIFE!  Pray that we continue to follow Him.