Caring Hearts Ministry seems to be getting back on track, as best we can during this Covid epidemic. On Tuesday we delivered produce enough for 35 families ( our smaller distribution) and on Friday our faithful, wonderful ladies showed up to help with the big distribution. In addition to the normal produce, we also had 25 boxes of surplus donations containing 1 Gal. of milk!, cream cheese, mozzarella cheese, salsa, apples, potatoes, and sour cream, as well as flatbread and kolaches. What a blessing. As some of the kiddos are homebound, doing their studies on line, the milk, apples, and kolaches will be a great snack to keep them alert and ready to learn. We also discovered that during the hurricane, part of the rear roof of the shed was damaged - about $200 worth of material needed to repair it. The men in the colonias will do the labor and CHM donated funds ( thanks to many of you for your donations) to help rebuild the roof. In the picture, the lady to the left of Fred is Magdalena. She and her husband (on the right in front) have stepped up to head the distribution as our Ida is busy homeschooling her grandchildren for now as their parents work to support the family. Every time we distribute, Magdalena brings us breakfast - I am assuming that is what the family has had for breakfast. Magdalena and Jose are raising their grandchildren, as well as being very involved in the ministry.
The weather has again been cooler and less humid which really helps. Hopefully we will have normal fall weather here in S Texas for the next few weeks.
We still have our place here for sale, as we are still convinced the Lord is calling us back to Arkansas - we really can feel that right now we are getting to the age that we need to tone down the physical part of ministry. We will continue to work in ministry in Arkansas, but in a less physical manner. Please pray that if it is God's will, he will release funds to the folks who want to buy our place and make it possible for them to purchase it. The Winter Texans that are planning to return to the Valley this fall (many of them are holding off for awhile, or canceling their plans until next year) will decide to buy this year!
Pastor Vance has chosen to preach about the Biblical stand as far as voting is concerned. He does not tell us how to vote, only preaching what the Bible says about living in this world today. Don't you wonder what the historians write about the year 2020 50 or 100 years from now? What a year it is. Our church in today's culture is caught in the tension of grace and truth. We have to speak truth in a loving way. "Woe to those who call good evil and evil good. who put darkness for light and light for darkness. and who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight". Isaiah 5:21-21. We are faced with our own culture today as we try to be Biblical correct. "Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind". Romans 12:2. We have a constant pressure today to conform to the world we live in today. It is our duty to hold to the morals of Christianity. For this reason, Christianity today does not seem to be Biblically correct. Are we the ones who are crazy or wrong?? God says His word will not pass away. The courts of our land are being used to change the culture of our country. All laws come from someone's moral code. In reference to abortion, our culture today is far from the Biblical view and the sanctity of life. God says in Deuteronomy that we need to choose life because it pleases the Lord. Life is a gift from God. At 3 weeks a fetus has a heartbeat - a living being. Fetus is just a technical word - a fetus is a human bring. We all need to work for legislation that eliminates abortion on demand. Work to develop laws to protect the unborn. Abortion is not about birth control but the protection of human life. As we vote, the abortion issue is very important as it shows the value of the political party. Courts can make abortions legal but the churches looks at them Biblically. We need to allow men to become a partner in pregnancy Too many times a woman or her parents or advisors lead her to the abortion decision without any input from the father. 4 out of 10 women who have has abortions attend church - although many of them who attend are living with guilt and regret and do not know who to confide in. We have to change the atmosphere of how we treat unwed mothers. One way is to Embrace Grace (there is an organization in NW AR by this name which helps these pregnant girls). Offer them help and love, pray for for them as they often have no means of support - .provide for their needs. Abortion is a response to panic, a split second decision because they feel they have no other place to turn. Let the church be the place for them. It is hard to believe, but statics show that 43% of women have had an abortion by the time they are 40, an astounding percentage. We need to speak the truth and stop abortion. We pray we can become a civilized country for the sanctity of life.
Continue to pray for all of those affected by Covid, especially our president and first lady, as well as all of our elected officials.
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