Home Depot 2008 Christmas Party. The best party we have had. Merry Christmas to all.

Several years ago, a preacher from out-of-state accepted a call to a church in Houston , Texas . Some weeks after he arrived, he had an occasion to ride the bus from his home to the downtown area. When he sat down, he discovered that the driver had accidentally given him a quarter too much change As he considered what to do, he thought to himself, ‘You’d better give the quarter back. It would be wrong to keep it.’ Then he thought, ‘Oh, forget it, it’s only a quarter. Who would worry about this little amount? Anyway, the bus company gets too much fare; they will never miss it. Accept it as a ‘gift from God’ and keep quiet.’

When his stop came, he paused momentarily at the door, and then he handed the quarter to the driver and said, ‘Here, you gave me too much change ‘

The driver, with a smile, replied, ‘Aren’t you the new preacher in town?’

‘Yes’ he replied.

‘Well, I have been thinking a lot lately about going somewhere to worship. I just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you too much change. I’ll see you at church on Sunday.’

When the preacher stepped off of the bus, he literally grabbed the nearest light pole, held on, and said, ‘Oh God, I almost sold your Son for a quarter.’

Our lives are the only Bible some people will ever read. This is a really scary example of how much people watch us as Christians, and will put us to the test!  Always be on guard — and remember — You carry the name of Christ on your shoulders when you call yourself
‘Christian.’

Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

If you don’t pass this on to anybody, nothing bad will happen; but, if you do, you will have ministered to someone.

The Will of God will never take you to where the Grace of God will not PROTECT you…

Stay FAITHFUL and Be GRATEFUL!

Have a nice day.

Click photo to see the entire album

My vacation was spent with my mother in Harvey, La. where I spent getting ready for the church fair. I began helping my brother Michael and cousin Vincent cooking 40 gallons on sauce to be served over pasta at the fair. Attending mass daily with my mother and eating breakfast at “Coffee Ann’s” we then began baking Italian cooking. Some 1200 cookies were baked between Tuesday – Friday. These too were donated to the fair as this is a tradition that my mother has done for as long as I can remember.

The photo project then was my opportunity to save these memories of the fair and the activities for years to come. I saw friends that I have not seen for many years which made this a very valuable week.

I thank the Lord for this time with my mom that will be remembered as a very special time that I will cherish for many years to come.

I had a great week and needed to come back to Dallas to rest from my vacation.

double click on photo to see the entire album

Bishop Farrell comes to Prince Of Peace to speak to the community answering questions about the Diocese Of Dallas.

As the officer from the Council looked around, a fascinating scene played before her. The television crew was busy going about its work of setting up generators, stringing cables, mounting cameras to stands, placing microphones. Hushed and standing back against the walls, were the monks. They seemed like guests from another century.

Something extraordinary happened as the scene played on. The technicians began to test the lights. The whole dark chapel flamed to light. Some of the monks looked up, nudged their brothers. Soon they were all pointing upward. The monks then vanished. Presently they scurried back bringing the entire community to see what they had seen.

On the ceiling was a painting. A member of their order, in a forgotten century long ago, had erected a scaffold. High there above the small sanctuary he had quietly painted by candlelight an unseen masterpiece meant for the eyes of God only. The lights of the television cameras had brought this ancient masterpiece into full view.

Christ did that to our knowledge of God. Who can know the mind of God? The wisest of minds among us have suggested that if we could capture God in our tiny brains, He could not be God. How then shall we know Him? Only one way. God has revealed Himself in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. What is God like? He is like Jesus. Loving, compassionate, merciful, forgiving. What an example to follow!

Dear God, thank you for revealing your love and forgiveness in Jesus Christ. Help me to live by his example. Amen.

Ron Newhouse

Jesus inspired action and change took place. We can change too, if we allow Jesus’ example, authority, and teaching to inspire us to live rightly. When I took Jesus seriously for the first time in my life, when I was a freshman in high school, I became a changed person. I don’t like to talk about my junior high school years, but to say the least, if there was something I could do wrong and possibly get away with it, I did it. But when a young beautiful girl named Carolyn Jennings make Christ real to me, and I asked Christ to live in me and help me, I became a changed person. And that process of being formed into Christ’s image is still at work in me today.

How is Christ changing you?

Loving God, please continue to change me into the image of your son. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Ron Newhouse

Remembering the source of our power and strength is also important to successful living. Unions have long recognized the importance of working together, so that they can get better working conditions and better wages. We, the church, are also more successful when we work together.

What can I do to strengthen the success of Christ’s church?

Dear Jesus, thank you for your church that has helped me grow in my relationship with you. Help me to do all I can to strengthen the church’s witness. In Jesus Name, Amen

Ron Newhouse