Book Tag

Book Tag
Adam Ellis book tagged me, so I’m knocking the dust off my Blog with this one:

1. One book that changed your life:
Free in Christ by Cecil Hook. A lot of people could probably say this in the COC.

2. One book that you've read more than once:
Sit, Walk, Stand by Watchman Nee. It’s real rich and real short.

3. One book that you'd want on a desert island:
The Bible That’s my best Sunday school answer.

4. One book that made you laugh.
Far Side books by Gary Larson.

5. One book that made you cry:
What’s so Amazing About Grace? By Philip Yancey. It was when I was using Philip’s version of Jesus’ parable about the prodigal son (daughter in his modern day account) during a sermon. I couldn’t hold back the tears when her family celebrated her arrival at the bus station with party hats and banners in Traverse City, MI.

6. One book you wish you'd written:
Putting the Amazing Back Into Grace by Michael Horton. One of the best books I’ve read on God’s grace.

7. One book you wish had never been written:
Behold the Pattern by Goebel Music (its in my library next to Piloting the Straight)

8. One book you are currently reading:
Roaring Lambs by Bob Briner

9. One book you've been meaning to read:
Visioneering by Andy Stanley.

10. Tag others
Ana Barrington, Wess Howell, Jason Bennett, Carlos Isaziga, Keith Johnson, Brian Harrison, and Jimmy Cox.

Wednesdays are for Concrete

After today you can really see how it is all coming together. We mixed a lot of concrete and mortar. We poured the roof for the septic tank. And we poured a lot of side walk for the bathrooms and auditorium.

Jordan and Shawn got to go to Padre Island. We should have sent a camera with them. They left after lunch while the rest of worked. They didn’t go by themselves if that’s what you’re thinking. They went with some adults from Las Cruces, New Mexico.

For dinner we went to a restaurant called Garcia’s. It was nice – they had two bands. John got the Mariachi band to come play for us. John gave them a tip for playing thinking they might play some more. They didn’t. I guess the tip wasn’t good enough. I thought it was plenty.

I am falling asleep in this business center.

Grace and Peace!

Tedious Work

The work today was tedious. We laid block, poured forms and built up earth for handicap access to the auditorium. Everyone did a super job once again. Tomorrow we will pour concrete for most of the day. There is a little debate on whether we will only work half a day and then go to Padre Island for a little R and R. I guess we’ll see what happens tomorrow.

Only 14 of us worked today. Steven stayed in the hotel due to sinus congestion. Poor guy could hardly breathe. I really hope he feels better tomorrow. Make sure to check out the pics at www.myspace.com/bigjim1971 and www.myspace.com/jovanb! Continue to lift us up in prayer!

Grace and Peace!  

Hard Work

Today really broke everyone in. Today set the tone for the whole week. We dug trenches and filled them with rebar and cement. Tomorrow we will use them as a base to set our wall. I don’t remember it being this hot last year. I think maybe it was because we were under shade most of the time. It felt like it was 90 degrees. The day did start off kind of confusing. We had a problem in communication about who was who’s guide to the job sites; who was working with whom; and what tools needed to go where. There are at least three active builds in Matamoros and over 80 people here from the US to work. Rick (the coordinator) promised me that it would be hectic today and he was right. All in all everyone kept their cool and it worked out just fine.

Before the confusion and before we actually started working at our designated workplace, we visited the future home of a preacher training school (look in the pictures section at www.myspace.com/jovanb and if you want to see more pics go towww.myspace.com/bigjim1971. - read Jimmy's blog too). They were getting ready to pour the second floor of the school. It was a lot of concrete! We got the opportunity to walk up on the roof before the concrete trucks got there. Although I thought we would be working at this build helping with the concrete, Rick chose to send us to another place.

You would be so proud of everyone! They all worked so hard. Senor Bueno changed hands frequently. They also worked wise, taking brakes when they needed them and not over working their selves.

For dinner we ate at Café Paris in a square. There was a religious parade which I think had something to do with lent. Well, it really is time for bed! Dios te bendigos!

Grace and Peace!

Day Three

We crossed the Mexican border today. The fajitas are sooo good in Matamoros!  Crossing the border was really, really easy! There were zero checks. I brought all the necessary paper work for everyone and the vans and I was never asked to show them. I think there will be a border check about 25 miles into the US interior when we head back home Friday.

Garrett led “It is well with my soul” and I got to preach in Brownsville, TX this morning. It was such an honor. The title of my sermon was “God’s Full Salvation” – taken from the book of Ephesians. I love that book.

We just finished our nightly devo. We read the first chapter of Titus this evening. We discussed the qualities of an elder and the importance of sound doctrine. We invited another group to join us for our devo but they declined… bummer, cause the singing would have been really good.

Tomorrow we will eat breakfast at seven and leave for work at 8:00 pm. Everyone is probably getting ready for bed or either they are asleep as I type this. *yawn*

Oh yeah, Chase stepped in sewage tonight on the way back from Bigo’s (restaurant). His pinky toe looked like it was covered in tar (gross, I know). When he was cleaning it off he got some on his hands *gag*. We went back into Bigo’s only after I promised not to tell the Arkansas group what had happened to him.

Lift us up! Grace and Peace!