Welcome to all of my dear brothers and sisters in Christ!

I do hope that you have all had fantastic week. My week for the most part could only be described as blessed. Thank you Lord Jesus!

I am still fighting my depression but thanks be to God it's staying at a level that I may have to force myself, but I'm still able to get around and do what I need to.I won't lie and say that I never have suicidal thoughts anymore, but I am able to overcome them. I will tell you that if you have depression problems that no matter how dark it seems if you have a talk with God and ask the Father for help and then lay it at His feet and leave it things will really brighten up.

I got the results from my physical although I could have done without them. It seems that I now have COPD. Guys, I know you've all heard this but take it from someone who has smoked for 38 years, if you don't smoke don't start. If you do then find a way to quit before it catches up to you like it has me. Anyway it seems that the COPD combined with my sleep disorders stops my body from building up the oxygen it needs during the day which is what causes me to just fall asleep without warning because I run out of oxygen to work with. So, now I get to go see a nurologist on top of all my other problems and probably go on oxygen.

Wenesday I went to the Bible study at my new church for the first time. I was kind of disapointed when I found out tha the only people who showed up besides me were my son whom I brought and the Pastor. This quickly changed though as I studied the book of john with them and we were able to go pretty in depth. I do hope to see more people comming and plan to try and get an evening study going as well for those who can't make it during the day, but I have asked Beautiful Becky to try and get her hours at work so that I can keep going I enjoyed it so much.

Where is the stimulus going? Where are the job creations? People and families are hurting and I'm uncertain that they will be recovering anytime soon. I half expected to see a bunch of new road construction projects going with this stimulus dough, but have not seen any increase. I have seen increases in job losses and it is published that the largest gap between men and women who are unemployed just occured with the rate hitting men by 2.5 points more women. I guess I wonder how this can be? I think I found an answer...in the stimulus package.
According to the GAO, the allocation of stimulus money now and for the forseeable future is largely being spent in fileds with higher rates of women employed, namely medical and education. Of the 28.8 billion spent so far this year, 74% is in Health (mostly Medicaid), 22% in Education and Training and a mere 4% in all "Other".

It really baffles me how spending in "Health" saves jobs? It would seem that health is a need, not a reason for stimulus and job creation. I do not question that there may be more of a need for health spending with job losses mounting, however, three-quarters of the amount in 2009 (and much much more in the future years)? This smells more like an increase in existing programs than stimulus and recovery.

Education of the unemployed for better career oppurtunities is a valid expenditure, however it appears that most of these funds are directed at sustaining local school district budgets and not training for the unemployed.

So that leave the 6 percent for those areas that typically get people working again, transportation and infrastructure. These jobs allow workers to providefor their families and local spending that keeps other people employed in retail positions, restuarants, gas stations, which in turns employs people in industries (that usually provide benefits to their workers) that supply these business.

So I am mystified how this helps stimulate the economy and provide oppurtunity for people to find employment. It seems to me we should be following the Heifer International model for stimulus instead of the one currently in place. I don't count giving everyone a mercury vapor spewing "spaghetti light bulb" in the same category as a cow. (I'm can't wait to hear the explanation for when the mercury counts begin pouring out of our landfills from those things).
But I guess there is an aluminum lining in this cloud...in 2012 the "Other" catagories grow to exceed the percentages of "Health and Education", but at extremely reduced funding levels. Funny how that happens to coincide with another presidential election cycle...

Thursday morning I was taking Beautiful Becky to work when I received a call from one of our local nursing homes. It seems that they had a place open in their preaching rotation from my old pastor moving from the area. So after talking with her I will now be preaching there about 4 times a year.

Thursday afternoon I went with Marvelous Mollie to a hearing about her benifits for Austin. I don't think I helped much but I will keep praying as this family needs our prayers for help. For details why see Mollie's blog here on G.L.O.V.E..

Thursday evening we had our 2nd of 8 community parties at my church. I believe that it was great success. We had some fantastic praise singers from another local church El Masias. (sp?) Also we had outdoor games that I brought which I had bought for my youth groups. The food was great as always and we had a devotion presented in Spanish by Ozmar one of our members and English by Rosalia one of the praise singers that was simply mind blowing. I'm telling you these two truly know the love of God and they enjoy sharing it. Everything went smoothly thank you Jesus. Next week we will be having a presentation from the children in the V.B.S. of a sister church.

Have yo9u ever wondered if your tithes truly make a difference? Here's a story gom the member of a church in our district telling just how much every dollar reeally does count.

The Difference a Dollar Makes

by Mark Conard

Three months ago, the financial condition of our congregation was bleak. There were those using the language of "impending doom." I attempted to use the language of "impending dawn" and to find encouragement in the words, "Lord, I believe, help my unbelief"(Mark 9:24).

We had a "negative cash flow" at the end of March of $6,722.91, which is a polite way of saying that we were nearly $7,000 below zero! Our pledged contributions had been paid at 81.0 percent. Even more ominously, we were actually $17,711 short of where we needed to be even to meet this year's budget. This was based on the three year Congregational Giving Profile that we had downloaded from the Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

We had essentially used up the budget reserve that had been generated by excellent receipts in December 2006 and January 2007. A few checks had been returned for insufficient funds. Things were not what we hoped, desired, or wanted.

Our Finance Committee shared our financial situation with the congregation. They invited the congregation to join them in renewed Prayers--for the life and work of the church, including its leaders, staff, and people; Presence--in worship, Sunday School, and in other ways on a routine and regular basis; Gifts--financially in support of the church budget, Service--to others in the congregation and community through sharing time and talent; and Witness--to faith in God by making sure to be current toward meeting "estimates of giving" and by making additional contributions in support of the church.

The Staff Parish Relations Committee began to look at personnel options, none of which were appealing. The staff made decisions about what could be reduced, eliminated, or adjusted.
I also did some figuring on my own and discovered the difference a dollar could make. The reality was that, if we received an average of $1.00 more each Sunday for each person attending worship, we would eliminate our cash flow deficit and be on course to meet the financial goals we set for ourselves this year. Not everyone could do so, of course, while others could do more than that.

We shared that news with the congregation, and it generated an immediate positive response that has continued, at least so far. We had the best months for giving in April and May in the last four years. At the end of May, our pledges had been paid at a 99.2 percent. We had an actual "cash flow balance" of $12,996.30!

We are not out of the proverbial woods by any means! But, we can focus on a different verse in the healing story, claiming in a new way the reality that, with God, "all things are possible!"(Mark 9:23) And, in many ways, it is the simple story of the difference a dollar makes!

I hope you don't mind but I really felt the need to share that example of what God can do through us. There truly is no end to hos power or his love.

Sunday I went to church services. We are still working on getting our two congregations into one so I went to the morning services which are in English. Also I video the services for our website for the church since I am the current webmaster. www.bvecum.110mb.com The serce was a terrific praise to God and filled me again with his miraculous love. After the service our Pastor told me that she will be out of town next week and invited me to speak for her. Needless to say I thanked Jesus for the chance to spread his love and agreed. God is good.

Sunday evening I attended the Spanish services. Now I admit tha the first time Beautiful Becky and I attended it was simply so that I could get the video for the website. After all I speak maybe 10 words of Spanish ant she knows even less. But even though we didn't understand the words we did the love and we now look forward to every service. Not to mention that even with the language barrier we have made friends with each and every one of them.

This week was different however. The Pastor is at seminary and the speaker was the same Rosalia that I talked about earlier. There were 4 of us there who did not speak Spanish and so she presented her message in both languages. Let's just say that when she announced alter call there was a line waiting.

More great news my friends. I spoke with Rosalia after services and she has agreed to share God with us with her own blog here on G.L.O.V.E.. I'll be putting up links to it on the site as well as all of the blogs as soon as it's up. Please watch for it and make her feel welcome here. Now if I can only convince Ozmar to join us as well.

I'll leave you with this week's prayer list:

Mollie, Craig, Austin, Teresa, Anne, the family of Teresa, Caroline, her daughter and grandchildren, Joe, June, Isidro, Becky, Joe, Emmy, Tom, Brookside Vida En Cristo United Methodist church, G.L.O.V.E. and all of our visitors here, our churches everywhere, our local and national leaders and our brave soldiers in the armed forces.

Father God you give us so much as you fill us with your love. Father God we thank you for allowing us to gather here in your sweet name. Lord watch over all of your children and help us to share your love with everyone we come in contact with. In your great name of Jesus the Christ; amen.

Thank you my friends and be blessed.