Hello George! Some of the customers who saw Georgio Vloutis day after day for 19 years at Beef & Bun thought he might have gone back to Greece where he was born and had studied Naval Architect. But George was working for a man he knew, Kamel Baki, who owned Hungry Farmer. When Baki opened up his 3dr outlet on the corner of South Post Oak and Brookfield, George returned to serve some of his old customers and get acquainted with new ones.
After 19 years of serving BBQ, George enjoys the variety that Hungry Farmer provides to their customers and he continues to enjoy seeing the many faces he has recognized for two decades.
Good bye Mrs. Wofford
As students walk in the door at Almeda Elementary, the first person they see is Cecilia Wofford. Cecilia first came to Almeda when her daughter, Valeria, started Kindergarten. As a stay-at-home mom with too much time on her hands, Cecilia used that time and energy to serve as an Officer of the PTO, and as a Parent Volunteer . In Feb. of 1993 she was offered a job as a Title 1 Teaching Assistant.
Ten years ago she transferred to the front office serving as a receptionist. Her duties have included translating, assisting with registration, coordinating student incentives, and the Parent & Community Volunteers.
What will she do with all of her free time? A few projects at home, traveling & spending more time with family & friends are at the top of her list. Actually she hasn't even made a list. Her only goal is to make these the best years of her life. None of her plans include waking up to an alarm clock. Her husband Wes, (the son of Virginia Whitley, a former Almeda student) is thrilled his wife is starting this much deserved, new chapter in her life. Daughter Valerie has a feeling mom might actually be busier now she doesn't have to follow a schedule.
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY
MAY 12, 2013
One of the nicest presents a mother can get from children young and old is the gift of time.
Most Arcola Residents Missed It.
The Pate Brothers hosted a Meet-the-Candidates at Arcola City Hall and provided free B B Q. All but one candidate attended but very few voters. Early voting: April 29-May 7, Election Day: May 11, 2013
HELP
The Association of the Fresno-Arcola Cemetery are in dire need of lawn equipment, such as a commercial riding mower and dirt mover, weed eater, hedge cutter, etc. Also, we need for family members of the loved ones buried at the cemetery to come forward and help out in cleaning their loved ones plots. This Cemetery needs everyone’s cooperation. For information or donations call 713-820-1358.
53 Senators Voted to Uphold Our Rights
In a 53 to 46 vote the U S Senate narrowly passed a measure to keep the US from entering into the UN Arms Trade Treaty. The Statement of Purpose from the bill read: To uphold Second Amendment rights and prevent the United States from entering into the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty
The U.N. Small Arms Treaty, which has been championed by the Obama Administration, would have effectively placed a global ban on the import and export of small firearms. The ban would have affected all private gun owners in the U.S., and had language that would have implemented an international gun registry on all private guns and ammo.
The 46 senators that voted to give a way our rights to the U.N. should be required to study the Constitution which they have sworn to uphold.
Elta Alvarez Is Also Leaving Almeda School
In 1981, when Alvarez’s son started to kindergarten she became his homeroom mother. As her other children started to school she served in three different classes, worked long hours in the Halloween carnival, and stepped in when they needed someone to translate to Spanish speaking parents. The principal, Nancy Nichols, asked her to be a cashier in the cafeteria. Later, she was asked to be a teachers aide which she continued to do under Mrs. Schilette
In 1995, she began her student teaching when Ann Harvey was the principal and finished when Gail Wolfe assumed the role because Harvey went to the hospital.
In December 1996 she became the third grade bilingual teacher. The students had had a semester of substitutes and were on a second grade level but she managed to bring them up to their grade level. Alvarez enjoyed teaching. In 2002 she became the Title I Coordinator and the Instructional Coordinator. One of her duties is to appraise the teachers, a job she does not like because she sees teachers doing an awesome job but not according to HISD. To her, teaching was fun, but now instead of teaching to learn, students are taught to pass the test format and every few years the format changes.
Alvarez got her very own office when the new school was built. After six years of being a volunteer, earning a college degree, 25 years on the HISD payroll, raising four children and keeping her husband happy for 39 years, Alvarez is retiring. Not exactly. Besides keeping her husband happy she plans to take training so she can teach computer programming to teachers. And she may do a little traveling, but Almeda will still be her home base.
POLITICS OF JESUS
The first time Pilate, the Roman ruler, asked if JESUS was a king the question was dripping with the politics of the day – “art thou the king of the Jews”, to which JESUS replied, “My kingdom is not of this world”.
Pilate’s next question was subtly different than his first. He realized that JESUS had not denied being a king while rejecting the political limitations of Pilate’s first question. JESUS would not allow Pilate to paint HIM into a corner. If JESUS were to be king of the Jews, which sect would HE favor. At the time there were several factions among the Jews each seeking to dominate the other. There was not a possibility of compromise between any of these group. It’s interesting to consider how similar those various Jewish factions of 2000 years ago were to the dominate political parties in the U.S. today.
Our modern Democratic party might feel comfortable with the politics of the Sadducees. They held to a generally humanistic world view and discounted the possibility of a supernatural personal god. Religion for them was a useful tool for controlling people while enriching themselves. For the Sadducees, faith except in one’s self was unnecessary.
Next the party of the Pharisees. They were the God bless America party of JESUS’ time. They would have easily aligned themselves with the Republican party here in the U.S. They saw some benefit from applying Biblical principles to their personal and social life. They probably also recognized the logical necessity for a transcendent GOD. But they weren’t able to allow that logic to lead them to giving up control of their lives and allowing GOD to be their personal “LORD”. When it became clear to them that JESUS could not be controlled for their interest, they found an alliance with the Sadducees was their only hope of retaining any control.
Lastly, a new group was emerging. These were from among JESUS’ own disciples. They were a small group though probably representative of the disenfranchised masses oppressed and manipulated by the two “officially” recognized parties of the Sadducees and Pharisees. This small movement would likely have been attracted to the politics of the “Tea Party” that has recently gained the attention and scorn of the “officially” recognized Democratic and Republican parties. These sword wielding Christians like the Apostle Peter wanted GOD’s rule in everyone else but weren’t willing to trust GOD enough to allow HIM to have complete rule in their own lives.
Each party made a claim that their Jewish heritage entitled them to decide what was best for all present and future Jews.
Pilate must have realized the difference between the kind of king JESUS is and the kind of king the Jews wanted him to be because he said, “I find in HIM no fault at all”.
The distinction was made clear by JESUS to the Pharisees in Luke 17:20-21. The Pharisees demanded of JESUS, when the kingdom of God should come? HE replied, “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you”.
The Pharisees wanted to know when GOD would drive out the pagan Roman oppressors, convert the unbelieving Sadducees, and put them, the worthy Pharisees in charge of everything. JESUS’ answer exposed their selfish ambition for power. The kingdom
There are some today who would ask JESUS, are YOU King of the Americans. Will you make everybody else in the world live the way we want them to? But HIS answer is still the same. MY kingdom is not of this world, I am not interested in controlling this group or that group of people. I want to have complete trusting obedience from each individual. MY kingdom is not about the group, it’s about the individual.
So where does that leave me in 2013? It leaves me more focused on trusting GOD to change me than on trusting a political party to change everyone else to be like I want them to be. For the last 2000 years nations have risen and fallen while the kingdom of GOD has never been diminished. In feast and famine, peace and war, GOD’s kingdom has grown to fill the whole earth, not by political cunning or military might, but by yielded individuals, one person at a time allowing the kingdom of JESUS to direct their lives.
By Robert Andrews
ARCOLA FEED TRADE DAY
May 18th, 2013 9am—4pm Buy, Sell, Trade with your neighbors
At 6215 FM 521 281-431-1014
Biggest Energy Breakthrough in Our Industry
Shale gas has been one of the biggest breakthroughs in the history of our industry and it has happened really fast. Shale gas has risen from two percent of domestic production a decade ago to 37 percent of supply today. US output has increased by 38% in five years, now equal to that of the 7th largest OPEC Producer. This boom is supporting 1.7 million jobs, direct and indirect. It provided $62 billion in revenue to the local, state and federal governments just last year.
This info came from BLACKWATER SUBSEA, LLC website
MEGABUS
Eva Epps’ niece recommends the Megabus.
It cost $7 from San Antonio to Houston and $14 to return. Eva says it is a little difficult the first time to find the spot to pick up passengers. She didn’t see a sign nor a building but when she saw a Megbus pull out of a fenced lot at 815 Pierce she drove around the block and pulled into a lot with an open gate where she was able to wait for her niece. Although she doesn’t understand the price difference in the return trip, she thinks it is a bargain.
>A newcomer called Moe and said I hear you handle all kinds of wild animals. I know it is hard to believe but I got a bear on my roof. “No problem. I’ll be right over says Moe. When Moe arrives he unloads his equipment and explains to the homeowner that his ladder is so he can get up on the roof, his bat is to knock the bear off the roof, and his pit bull dog is trained to grab the critter by the testicles and never let go until he can load the bear in the pen in his truck.” “What about the shotgun,” asked the homeowner. “That,” replies Moe, “is for you. If the bear knocks me off the roof, shoot the dog.”
Notice for John Breckenride please call Sis at 713 433 1098
Commissioner Richard Morrison, Precinct 1, will be hosting a Town Hall Meeting in Fresno on May 2nd at the Mustang Community Center located at 4525 FM 521 North 6:30 P.M.8:00P.M
Http stands for Hyper Text Transfer Protocol. It is not protected from others seeing your info. An https website does protect you. The s stands for secure. Never enter your credit card number or info you want to keep personal on a web site that is not https.
Condolences
FEDERICO ROLANDO GARZA December 10, 1973– April 6, 2013
Rolando attended Madison High School and St. Benedicts Church. He worked at Beck and Masten as a car salesman. He is survived by his wife, Frances M. Garza; parents, Federico and Ophelia Garza, and his mother-in-law, L. Fay Marshall, who wrote the following:
Dear Son-in-Law,
Your love and cheerful heart radiated so much love for my daughter and that was always enough for me. Whenever we were together you were so proud to tell everyone, “That’s my mother-in-law, so make sure you don’t mess with her”. Assuring everyone you were there to protect me. I will forever cherish our crazy laughs together because we just understood each other without saying anything. Roland you became a part of our family. Everyone just loved you and loved you being around to share your love and joy. I am assured that you are resting in the palm of Jesus’ hands, so I whisper to you my second son, “See you soon. I love you my second son and have my smoked fish ready”. Ma His loving, happy spirit will be missed by many.
JAMES POTTER
October 14, 1934– April 17, 2013-
James and his wife came to Almeda in 1963. He never missed work as a welder. He loved animals and gardening. James shopped at Pyburns so often, other customers thought he worked there. His wife, Barbara, says “James was a selfless, hard working, wonderful husband, father, grandfather of eight, and great grandfather of four. Before he died, he accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior. He’ll be waiting for his family in heaven. Praise God.”
James is also survived by his four children: Michael, Dory, Jeff, and Chris. God blessed James with 78 years of life, most were lived in Almeda.
Memorial Services will be held at Second Victorian Village Clubhouse, 10500 Hammerly Blvd., Houston, TX 77043 on Saturday May 4, 2013 from 3 P.M. to 6 P.M. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice Brazos Valley, 1048 N. Jefferson St., La Grange, Texas 78945.Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Koenig & Strickland Funeral Home 208 W. Pearl, La Grange, TX.
Dear Editor,
This is a response to the biblical challenge from Jason and Ron Carlson in “Our News” of March 2013. This may be reprinted, if you so choose. If not, I understand, as the response is contrary to the “Our New” view of religion.
In a recent “Our News” Jason and Ron Carlson issued a biblical challenge defending the idea that the Christian bible is “the inspired word of God.” The challenge fails because the bible cannot meet their standard of having no contradictions.
One biblical contradiction is a disagreement between St. Paul and Jesus.
In Exodus 34:29-35, we read that the face of Moses shone with the reflected radiance of seeing God face-to-face. Moses some times covered his face with a cloth because that reflected radiance disturbed the Hebrews.
In Matthew 5:17-19, Jesus says he comes to fulfill, not abolish, the Mosaic Law. Jesus says not a single letter of the Law will pass away as long as heaven exists, a nice way of saying forever. Jesus strongly reconfirms the Law He gave to Moses, since Jesus is God.
In Corinthians 2, Chapter 3, Paul says nasty things about Laws written on stone, arguing that you can break the Mosaic Law and be a good Christian. Paul then says Moses put a cloth over his face to hide the fact that Moses’ face did NOT shine, meaning Moses was a liar who did not get laws from God.
So, Jesus/God says He upholds the Law He gave to Moses, yet Paul says that Law is dead. Both things cannot be the inspired word of an all-powerful, all-knowing, perfect god that does not make the mistake of telling Paul something different from what He told Moses and what He came to earth to tell his chosen Apostles.
The usual defenses against this contradiction, such as the “until all is accomplished” phrase, create new contradictions, such as Jesus saying the Law lasts forever, then immediately saying it will have an ending.
Sincerely,
H. M. Thompson
A pastor from a local church, Sean Nelson’s reply to H.M. Thompson's letter to the editor. The response provided by H.M. Thompson, is a disconnect between the interpretation given of Paul’s words, and the text of 2 Corinthians 3 itself. He claims that Paul says “nasty things” about the Mosaic Law, yet Paul wrote that the Law is “holy and righteous and good,” (Rom. 7:12) and to “delight in the Law of God.” (Rom. 7:22)
Perhaps Thompson is referring to 2 Cor. when Paul speaks of the Law as a “ministry of death.” He is not denouncing the Mosaic Law but contrasting the effects of the Law (which declares God’s perfect and holy standard), and the effects of the Spirit’s work in the believer’s life (which enables God’s people to obey His commands).
The Law is a “ministry of death” because it declares God’s righteous requirements to a sinful people. That same sinful people are unwilling to submit to God’s commands, and found themselves under judgment. When the command comes, our sinful hearts drive us toward disobedience. Apart from the gracious work of the Holy Spirit, who transforms our hearts and teaches us to forsake ungodliness, the Law will only be a source of condemnation. This is why Paul wrote: I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. (Rom. 7:9-11) Still Paul affirms that even in its “ministry of condemnation” the Law brought glory to God. (2 Cor. 3:9)
Thompson also claims that Paul argued that “you can break the Mosaic Law and still be a good Christian.” Nothing in 2 Corinthians 3 nor in the rest of scripture suggest that this was Paul’s viewpoint. (See Rom. 13:8-10; Gal. 5:13-14)
Next he claims that Paul said Moses “put a cloth over his face to hide the fact that Moses’ face did NOT shine, meaning Moses was a liar who did not get laws from God.” This contradicts what Paul actually said, that the “Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory.” (2 Cor. 3:7) And that he put the veil over his face so that the Israelites would not have to look upon the fading reflection of God’s glory. (2 Cor. 3:13)
Finally, he claims that there exists a contradiction between the words of Jesus and those of Paul. In Matthew 5:17-18, we read the words of our Lord: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.”
Here we see Christ affirm the continuing authority of the Old Testament scriptures. “The Law and the Prophets” is a summary of the entire contents of the Old Testament. Though Christ came preaching a “new” gospel of the Kingdom of God, that gospel did not negate or set aside the Old Testament. But is any of this in contradiction with Paul’s teachings?
Not at all. Paul writes, All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, correction, and training in righteousness. (2 Tim. 3:16-17) Paul affirms that the Law is righteous and holy, revealing God’s good commandments to humanity. (Rom. 7:12) He also believes that Christ is the fulfillment of the law on behalf of His people. (Rom. 8:1-4) And as we have already seen, much of Paul’s moral instruction to the church flows out of the Old Testament Law.
So why does Thompson believe that Paul contradicts Jesus? Contrary to what is claimed, nowhere in 2 Corinthians 3 does Paul say that “the Law is dead.” From what I am able to tell, the only support for this idea comes from the fact that Paul speaks of the transition between the Old and New Covenants. In the coming of Christ, the ceremonies, the shadows, and the prophecies of the Old Covenant ministry find their fulfillment. But as Calvin helpfully points out, this does not take anything away from the authority of the Law or the Prophets. Instead, it confirms their authority by displaying the fullness of truth to which they pointed.
If you would like to respond to anything in the Our News Almeda blogspot, just email siskeyworth@att.net
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