WHO CAN WE SEND?
‘Don’t send me. I don’t want to go. I don’t even like homeless people.’ Those were the thoughts that ran through David Hill’s mind when he knew God was asking him to take the message of his love to the homeless.
David had been a sergeant with HPD and had seen enough of homeless people. God spoke to David’s heart, ‘He did not need David’s love but He would plant His love in David’s heart for the homeless.’
But how do you reach the homeless? David went to a place he knew they hung out, under the Pierce Elevated Bridge. He took a trash bag and started picking up trash under the bridge. They thought he was crazy and started following him and he started telling them that Jesus loved them. Some of them didn’t appreciate his message, but the more they expressed their distaste for him, the more he loved them.
One night, David and another man he was training went to the regular place where they met.. It was a miserable cold rainy night. David started preaching. The other man tapped him on the shoulder and pointed out that no one was there. David replied that God sent him to preach and he was going to preach. Later three people walked up and that night two homeless people were saved. A home in heaven is being prepared for them.
Since David started 13 years ago, he has planted 20 churches in the Houston area. You won’t find these churches in the telephone book because they are located under bridges, in parks, a vacant lot, or on a street corner.
You might have seen his trailer with the sign that says, 1,000 Hills Ministry - Church Under the Bridge. Now he has a way to haul chairs, lights, and a sound system. He also has 14 formerly homeless men who he is training to use their gifts, which the Holy Spirit has given to them. His training program is set up much like the system HPD uses in training police officers. The 20 churches, which have from ten to 150 in attendance, now have pastors. Seventy six services are provided each week. Most places have a service every night or every morning. No AC , no heat, no roof or walls.
The first thing on the agenda is to nourish souls with singing and preaching and an opportunity to give back to God. Most every one in attendance walks up front to drop something in the bucket, depending on God to multiply it. The gift might be a dime or even a button, and sometimes it might be a drug given to God for Him to take away an addiction.
David has hundreds of volunteers and help from the churches that have buildings. He needs plenty of help as he provides 4,500 meals a week. A lot of meals are beans and rice or meat and spaghetti, but one church provided a special treat, a meal from Chick-fil-A.
Besides meals for the body and soul, 1,000 Hills Ministry also passes out clothing, provides eye examinations, long distant calls to family and info on how to get the help they need.
When David chose a name for his ministry he thought since God owns the cattle on a 1,000 hills (Psalm 50:10) God would provide. Later, he thought maybe God wanted him to chose that name because a 1,000 generations of the Hill family would serve him. Then about six years ago David felt that God wants that name to represent a 1,000 churches for the poor and homeless. Besides 20 church plants crisscrossing Houston, David has personally set up 100 churches in Guatemala, Colombia, and from Reynosa to Chiapas in Mexico. It costs about $200 a month to plant and support a church in Mexico. It doesn’t cost a whole lot more in Houston as they know how to cut expenses to the bare bone. The money the homeless put in the bucket does have a way of multiplying. To learn more about the 1,000 Hills Ministry go to www.1000hills.org or call David at 713-979-6489. He just might find a spot for you or your church to serve.
Merry Christmas
First Baptist Church Fresno invites everyone to a Christmas Concert featuring Paul’s Journey quartet followed by Compassionate Friends World Wide Candle Lighting Service. The service unites family and friends around the globe that have lost the lives of a child no matter the age or cause. Compassionate Friends is now believed to be the largest mass candle lighting on the globe. Please bring a photo of your child (4x6) for display so that all of us may honor each child. The candle lightning also gives families a way to remember their child so that their light may shine forever. The service will be held December 12th at 6pm 4501 FM 521 You are also invited that morning at 10:45 am to the annual Christmas Choir Cantata. Call Pastor Harvey Abke at 281-935-3969 or 281-431-4244 if you need info.
WANT MORE CHRISTMAS MUSIC?
KHCB radio station at 105.7 FM will play Christmas music continuously, no commercials, for five days before Christmas.
THE FIRST AND LAST CHRISTMAS
It was the first Christmas since Roy, our son, had died. The Christmas decorations were on the table but I sat staring at Roy's Christmas stocking, when his little sister bounced in and said, "I bet Roy is having a wonderful Christmas. I bet there are thousands and thousands of lights and millions of angels singing."
"And you are going to have a miserable Christmas if I don't snap out of it," I thought.
December 24th - K-Mart - Five Kids - $100 for food and presents. Frank, the oldest, is drooling over a shotgun he had wanted for years so he could go hunting with his uncle. He begged, "Mama please, can I borrow some money." His share of the Christmas money was not enough but his brother said, "He can have my share. More money for food when he pays you back." Ruth and Mary joined in and Frank, grinning from ear to ear got his gun. He was so happy, we were all happy. That year, we celebrated the birth of Jesus and the blessed hope we have in Him. We truly had a good Christmas. Something I will be forever grateful for that was the last Christmas we would ever spend with Frank on this earth.
“Because He lives, we can face tomorrow.”
APPLICATION FOR WASTE TRANSFER STATION
Delta Waste Services, LP has applied for a permit to construct and operate a Type V municipal solid waste transfer station which includes household waste. The transfer station would be about 750 feet south of Beltway 8, west of FM 521, east of the future extension of Hiram Clarke.
The household waste would be dumped out on concrete, recyclable items picked out, the rest shoved into a container and compacted. Then it would be transferred to another location which has a permit for Type 5 waste. The liquid will be drained off and the way the permit now reads , it will be put into a public drainage system, although at the present there is no public drainage system available.
This location has a huge hole and a permit to dump construction material etc. but not household waste. If you would like to make public comments, request to be placed on the mailing list, or have a public meeting concerning this application, go online at heep://www10.tceq.state.tx.us/epic/ecmnts/ or call 1-800-687-4040. You may also call Golder associates at 281-821-6868 to learn more about their plans. the account # is 40249.
GET TO KNOW PEOPLE WHO MAKE LAWS
Dr. Alma A. Allen represents those in the Almeda area in the Texas House of Representatives. Allen retired after 39 years with HISD. Part of those years she spent as the principal at Windsor Village. She was also an Adjunct Professor at TSU and Prairieview. Allen served for ten years on the State Board of Education. She is currently a motivational speaker and an educational consultant. In Nov. 2004, she was elected to the Texas House of Representatives, District 131 and has remained in office.
District 131 according to the 2000 census has 132,824 people. 100,746 were born in the U. S. and 76,514 of those were born in Texas. Foreign born were 32,232 and 22,474 are non-citizens. At home, 57,276 speak a language other than English. In District 131 only 699 live in a rural area. She and her husband, Lawrence A. Sr. have two children and five grandchildren. She lives in the 77047 zip code. To reach her call 713-776-0505 or 512-463-0744.
Ron Reynolds won in the Democratic Primary to unseat Doro Olivo as representative for District 27, which includes Fresno and Arcola. In the 2000 census, District 27 has 145,987 residents. Those born in the US are 123,402. Of those 95,370 were born in Texas, 22,399 are foreign born and 14,300 non citizens.
Reynolds lives in Missouri City with his wife Jonita and daughter. They are members of Brook Hollow Baptist Church. Reynolds is a personal injury and employment law attorney. He is the president of the Fort Bend Branch of NAACP His email address is ron@brownreynolds.com Phone 832-721-2667.
Texas representatives serve for a two year term and meet once for a regular session January 2, 2011. A session lasts 140 calendar days. The governor
can also call for 30 day special sessions. There are 150 representatives and 31 senators and each are paid $7,200 a year plus $128 a day for each day they are in session.
Jean and Edesal McQueen frequently hear coyotes howl near their home just east of 288 and south of Hwy 6, but they were surprised to see a bob cat in their daughter’s driveway. Edesal used a scope on his 308 deer rifle. Their fenced in poodle and Chihuahua puppies are safe from that cat.
FEEDBACK
In response to the views of Rodrigo Carreon concerning the blue pressure tanks, David Stoneham, a member of the water board says that it is a matter of safety. None of the Teal Run homes have their own water wells whereas many of the residents in Fresno do and some want to use their own well water plus the water provided by the Fresno Fresh Water District. Although residents are suppose to use their own water for outside use only, there is no way to be sure they do. To make sure no one contaminates the public water from their own well, the water board had to put in one way meters. When the heat from a hot water heater causes the water to expand because of the one-way meter there is no place for the water to go, but the blue pressure tanks absorb that expansion preventing an explosion or burst water pipe.
Dennis Bailey would appreciate your thoughts and prayers for Janice, his mom. She is at his home in hospice care as pancreatic cancer has spread. Janice spends most of her time looking out across Canyon Lake and feeding carrots to the deer.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
We wish Rose Buell Andrews a happy 91st birthday on December 5th.
.FISHING IS GOOD
According to the National Review Online.com, sea life flourishes in the Gulf. Seems the oil spill kept the fishermen from fishing giving the fish a chance to multiply. Blackwater Subsea, LLC has found over 200 new species off the Gulf coast in the last 10 years.
ANNEXATION HEARINGS
On December 6th and again on Dec. 20th hearings will be held concerning the annexation of New Point Estates at the regular Missouri City Hall Council meeting.
Winfield Lake 'Traffic Control Hearing' is scheduled for Dec. 21st, at 1pm at Commissioners Court.
Santa is coming at 10:30 December 15th to the Vinson Library during the regular Story Time. After School Zone provides something different, from crafts to an anime club for teens Mon. thru Thursday at 4pm. Computer classes for the 50-plus folks are available every Wednesday at 10:30. Sewing classes from 11am to 1pm on Thursday and at 4pm a needle work or knitting class. Spanish classes from 11 to 1 on Mondays.
A 160 page book with 19 photos with excerpts from people who lived here in 1900, and official records about Almeda’s history. Founded in 1892, Almeda was a town 11 miles from Houston’s city limits. Send a $14 check to Our News P.O. Box 450336 Houston, 77245 to have a copy mailed anywhere in the US, (allow at least a week to deliver in time for Christmas) or pick up a copy at Debbie’s Barbara Shop next to Parker’s Hardware in the 14000 block of Almeda Road or at BOB’S State Inspection 14910 Almeda Rd.
Moe is stopped by the police after midnight and asked where he is going at this time of night. Moe stammers, “I... I... I am going to a lecture … about alcohol abuse... and the effects it has on the human body.” The officer then asks, “Really? Who is giving that lecture at this time of night?”
Moe slurs, “My wife.”
PRAY AND OBEY
I stay on my knees and pray
And obey God’s word everyday.
© Emmaline Wiley 713-434-0664
I Thessalonians 5:17 & 18: “Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
RANDOM THOUGHTS
Dolphins are so smart that within a few weeks of captivity they can train people to stand at the edge of the water and throw fish to them.
You are never too old to learn something stupid.
If the government was in charge of the Sahara Desert, in five years there would be a shortage of sand.
Milton Friedman
In the Fort Bend County race for county judge a Fresno man with only $500 in campaign money received 40% of the vote. Rodrico Carreon received 54,000 votes running against the incumbent Robert “Bob” Hebert who received 81,000 votes. Carreon believes his stand against the toll road helped gain votes as well as many who voted straight ticket. He passed out almost 6,000 business cards at Mustang Park and shopping centers. The rest of his campaign money went for gasoline.
Carreon was born in Mexico, although his mother was a U. S. citizen. He came to Fresno when he was six years old, attended Blue Ridge School, Quail Valley, Dulles (class of ‘87) and got an associates degree for computer repair and electric technology at Alvin Community College.
The results of his bid for a county wide position show that it doesn’t necessarily require a lot of money. In the governor’s race, White got 48% of the vote in Fort Bend County, only eight per cent more than Carreon. You don’t have to be a lawyer or rich to run for an office.