Hot here in Texas

Today on August 4, 2010, here in Texas, we are told to protect all human and pet life and be careful to stay properly hydrated. It is to be somewhere in the triple digets this afternoon and I believe every word I hear about it. When I left the office to go to the post office, my car was so hot, I could barely touch the steering wheel or the seats.

One of my friends who is somewhat of a comedian said, "Last time she checked, it was hotter than the hinges of hell's doors." Don't want to ever know about that heat...

Lots of exciting things going on right now...

Brendan, Nikki's youngest son, is visiting for two weeks and we are so happy to have him here with us. He flew in on Saturday and we picked him up at Hobby. He will be here through the 24th. He and PaPa Ted have gone to the skateboard park today and to get haircuts.

Working every hour I am off on the new book, "Wind Over Bolivar," and it is coming along great now. Should be out by Thanksgiving if we can stay on course.

Also working on two reunions - one for my CHS graduating class - the big 50th - to be held at Lake Lanier Island Resort on October 1, 2, and 3, 2010. We are so excited to see everyone and we have four lake houses reserved plus rooms at the lodge. Butch and the Buckheads will play music of our era and it should be a lot of fun.

The second reunion is one that a dear old friend of mine, Jackie Vickery, and I have put together for old friends of Forrest Hills Baptist Church in Decatur, Georgia. We have tried to reach out to all those who might want to attend. That one is October 9, from 1-3, 2010, at the beautiful Bethesda Park in Lawrenceville. We have reserved the Gwinnett County Senior Citizens Center for this event and are urging all of our old and dear friends to come on out and join us for the fun afternoon.

And, Nehemiah's Vision, where I serve as Site Director for Galveston County, is gearing up for a huge building project. It is anticipated that we will employ 80 people in the construction industry in conjunction with Texas Workforce. Interviewing, handling orientation, getting drug screening, and assignments to job sites will be hectic for a while, but will yield some wonderful results for the people of the area. We are so excited to see the hope of our people getting back into permanent housing after almost two years of waiting.

Steven will begin 10th grade in a few more days - Goodness, where did this summer go? I cannot believe how quickly time is flying by lately. My mother will be dead two years on August 26, and Hurricane Ike hit the peninsula on September 13, 2008. WOW!

Take care until the next page turns,

Brenda

Busy, busy, busy

Some of you know that I have started back to work, yet again, after retiring three different times. I had been talking with James Hall, Executive Director of Nehemiah's Vision, for about four months, here on the Bolivar Peninsula, concerning this position and praying about it with Ted and Steven. The home office located in Vidor, Texas, but we expect to keep the Galveston County office up and running for some three years. James is from Georgia originally, too, and last worked there for Through the Bible Ministries, where my nephew worked for a long time.

Nehemiah's Vision is a faith-based, non-profit organization that was initially begun by a group of Christian builders in the Beaumont and Southeast Texas area shortly after Hurricane Rita. They wanted to help in the disaster and recovery effort, but could not be away from their own businesses for long periods of time. They incorporated and employeed crew chiefs and builders and enlisted the aid of volunteers from across America to come into a disaster area and help to rebuild homes and clear debris.

Their efforts have been blessed of God and many people who literally have fallen through the cracks were helped to get back into suitable living quarters. The volunteers are simply wonderful people who also have a desire to help where needed most. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know each of them when they have come to Bolivar.

The organization needed someone who could help to write, do some marketing, publicity, case management, go out and meet the people, administer grants, keep records, and coordinate building efforts among many properties at one time. Living here on the peninsula and losing all we had to Hurricane Ike fitted me well to the task and I came on board full time on June 16.

It is so exciting to see a homeowner receive the keys to their newly refurbished home and know that they will no longer have to worry about where they'll be sleeping. God is good to this ministry.

I am also extrememly excited to be working on my class reunion planned for October 1, 2, and 3, at Lake Lanier Islands and Resort near Atlanta, Georgia. Many of my classmates from Clarkston High School's Class of 1960 (yes, I wrote that!) are going to be on hand and we have a fun weekend planned.

Following that weekend and while I am still in my home state of Georgia, several friends and I are planning a reunion of some of the old church family from Forrest Hills Baptist Church in Decatur, Georgia. More details to be forthcoming on this adventure. We are hoping for October 9 for this event.

Take care until the next page turns,
Brenda

Here we go again...

Hello friends and family members:

Life is so good and so much of an adventure if we simply let it be...

I have begun yet another new and excellent adventure in my life, and thus far, I am enjoying it very much.

Nehemiah's Vision is a non-profit, faith-based ministry operating here in Southeast Texas. Their mission and goal is to go into an area following a disaster regarding hurricane, tornado, fire, flood, or other, and help the people rebuild their lives and their homes. The ministry was created by a group of Christian builders in Southeast Texas following the devastation left in our area by Hurricane Rita. Since that time, it has grown and expanded and has several full time staff members.

James Hall serves as the executive director of the ministry, and guess what? He is from Georgia where he was on the staff of Through the Bible Ministries where my nephew worked. Jim asked me to come on board and help in the area of writing, publications, advertising, marketing and supervision of construction details in Galveston County. and particularly the Bolivar Peninsula, and work with his crews and the outstanding volunteer groups that come to us from across the state and around the country. Every person I have met on the staff of Nehemiah's Vision thus far is dedicated to his or her work, cares about the people they help, and are very diligent workers. Some homes are repaired through grant funding, while others are paid for by the homeowner. In some cases, it is strictly a volunteer effort.

Today, we have people working at 14 different sites across the peninsula doing debris removal, painting, sheetrocking, plumbing, roofing, wiring, putting down carpet, and many other tasks. I work closely with Thomas Raley, our building superintendent here on the peninsula, and thus far, we are doing great. Thomas likes it when I cook dinner and share with him. His home is over an over away and he often stays on the peninsula for four or five days straight. He is especially fond of Georgia recipe homemade chicken and dumplings and strawberry cobbler...

In my spare time, I keep up with my writing for three newspapers, the Yahoo Internet Group, Bolivar BLUE, work in my church, volunteer on the peninsula as needed, and am now busily planning our big 50th Anniversary of our High School Graduation from Clarkston High School in the Atlanta area. We will be meeting on October 1, 2, and 3 at Lake Lanier Islands and we are hearing from so many old and dear friends. We are very excited! And, Ted and I fish when we can get the boat in the water...

Steven completed ninth grade and is going to church camp next week at the East Texas Baptist Encampment in Newton, Texas. Many of his close friends are going on this exciting journey with him and I'm praying that God does a wonderful work in the hearts of all attendees. Summer camp can be a wonderful time for the Lord to work in a different environment and many of these boys and girls have lived on the peninsula following Ike and have adjusted to things being different in their young lives. Please pray for the workers and counselors, speakers, musicians, cooks, and managers during these exciting weeks of ministry.

Steven is also still very involved in his music and his little band, Seaweed, has been given several opportunities to play in the area. They opened our 25th Annual Crab Fest on Bolivar, played at a big Memorial Day gig at Laguna Harbor, and have done other smaller events. I had rather these kids be involved in making music than wondering around looking for something to do.

All of our grandchildren are growing so quickly now that it is somewhat frightening. Ted and I are well and happy here on the Gulf and feel that our lives are being used to help others.

God bless, and let's keep our eyes and ears open to those who need our help, love, and encouragement.

Until the next page turns,

Brenda

The power of the tongue

Words Fitly Spoken…

The power of the tongue

By Brenda Cannon Henley

Senior Correspondent to The Examiner

Man, words are powerful things. They can bring joy, pain, laughter, tears, fun, sadness, comfort, unhappiness, and they can ruin a person’s reputation with just a few of them hurriedly strung together and shared. Words can also be uplifting, edifying, teaching, complementing, and godly, according to Scripture. A friend’s words are pleasant, but an enemy’s word can cut to the heart and soul of a person.

The tongue and its power is discussed broadly in the small Book of James. In only five chapters, we are given more truth than we can probably handle.

The Book of James was written in A. D. 45 to Christian Jews scattered from Jerusalem. The author was not the brother of John, according to scholars who know a lot more than I do about the matter. It was instead “James, the Lord’s brother,” according to Galatians 1:19 and mentioned again in Matthew 13:55, along with Jonas, Simon, and Judas or Jude who wrote the Book of Jude. James presided over the council at Jerusalem, according to Acts 15:2, 13-21.

The Book of James includes themes of faith versus works, the sin of the tongue, and healing in answer to prayer. A brief outline of the book could include: Chapter 1, 2 — Faith tested and proved by tribulation. 3 — The evil of an uncontrolled tongue. 4 — The rich are warned. 5 — Affliction, patience, payer of faith for healing. Wow, that’s a lot to cover in five short chapters.

I particularly like the passage in Chapter 2 where we learn we are not to have respect of persons because they are wealthy, wear bright, colorful clothing, or can help us. We are warned about becoming judges of one another and ignoring the less fortunate among us.

James 3:3 tells us that men put bits in the horses mouth to tame them and that ships are guided by small rudders, and yet, our tongues are very small parts of our bodies that can cause great disturbances. We learn that the tongue is like a fire and an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Out of the same mouth comes forth blessing and cursing and that should not be so. “Does a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?”

Verse 16 teaches, “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.” Our busy tongues fan the flames of gossip, cheap slander, untruths, and hurt. Chapter 4 teaches a vital truth to real Christianity. “Draw nigh unto God, and He will draw to you.” If we are diligently attempting in our daily walk to draw nigh unto God, we will have to be busy guarding those wagging tongues and keeping those “potty mouths” silent.

Going back to Chapter 1 of the Book of James, again we read in Verses 5 and 6, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth (does not scold one for asking) not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering (not vacillating). For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.”

In Sunday school classes the world over, pre-school boys and girls are taught to sing, “Oh, be careful, little mouth, what you say. Oh, be careful, little eyes, what you see. Oh, be careful, little feet, where you go. Oh, be careful, little hands, what you do.” Might not be a bad song for all of us to sing again and mean it from the depths of our hearts.

Brenda Cannon Henley can be reached at (409) 781-8788 or at brendacannonhenley@yahoo.com.

Bio sketch: Brenda Cannon Henley is semi-retired from The Examiner and makes her home on the Bolivar Peninsula on the beautiful Southeast Texas Gulf Coast. She has enjoyed a long career in writing and has many awards and testimonies to her professional career. Read more at Henley’s blog spot at brendacannonhenley.blogspot.com. If your church is having a planned event or special speaker, please let Henley know and she will cover as many as time permits.

Dancing with the stars...literally By Brenda Cannon Henley Senior Correspondent to The Examiner This week's column is dedicated to the memory of Torchy Salter whose favorite parting to all was, "Wishing you the moon and stars." She's enjoying them now for herself. Buzz Aldrin, famed space pioneer, is best perhaps known to this generation as a beginning contestant on this year's Dancing with the Stars TV show. At 80 years of age, this true-to-life legend is a role model for seniors to get out there and do it...and enjoy doing it. Our school children know that forty years ago two human beings changed history on July 20, 1969 by walking on the surface of the moon. But what happened before Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong exited the Lunar Module is perhaps even more amazing, if only because so few people know about it. Buzz Aldrin took communion on the surface of the moon. Some months after his return, he wrote about it in Guidepost magazine. Others have told the story since that time, but it is still significant for all Christians to remember that this legend of our time thought it important to do. Aldrin was a dedicated elder at a Presbyterian church in Texas during this period in his life, and knowing that he would soon be doing something unprecedented in human history, he felt he should mark the occasion somehow, and he asked his minister to help him. And so the minister consecrated a communion wafer and a small vial of communion wine. Buzz Aldrin took them with him out of the earth's orbit and on to the surface of the moon. He and Armstrong had only been on the lunar surface for a few minutes when Aldrin made the following public statement: "This is the LM pilot. I'd like to take this opportunity to ask every person listening in, whoever and wherever they may be, to pause for a moment and contemplate the events of the past few hours and to give thanks in his or her own way." He then ended radio communication and there, on the silent surface of the moon, 250,000 miles from home, he read a verse from the Gospel of John, and he took communion. Here is his own account of what happened: "In the radio blackout, I opened the little plastic packages which contained the bread and the wine. I poured the wine into the chalice our church had given me. In the one-sixth gravity of the moon, the wine slowly curled and gracefully came up the side of the cup. "Then I read the Scripture, 'I am the vine, you are the branches. Whosoever abides in me will bring forth much fruit. Apart from me you can do nothing. "I had intended to read my communion passage back to earth, but at the last minute [they] had requested that I not do this. NASA was already embroiled in a legal battle with Madelyn Murray O'Hare, the celebrated opponent of religion, over the Apollo 8 crew reading from Genesis while orbiting the moon at Christmastime. I agreed reluctantly." Aldrin said that he ate the tiny host and swallowed the wine. "I gave thanks for the intelligence and spirit that had brought two young pilots to the Sea of Tranquility. It was interesting for me to think the very first liquid ever poured on the moon, and the very first food eaten there, were the communion elements." And of course, it's interesting to think that some of the first words spoken on the moon were the words of Jesus Christ, who made the Earth and the moon and Who, in the immortal words of Dante, is Himself the "love that moves the sun and other stars." The Bible teaches us in Luke 22:19, "As oft as you do this, you do it in remembrance of Me." What a place to remember the Lord Jesus Christ. Brenda Cannon Henley can be reached at (409) 781-8788 or at brendacannohenley@yahoo.com.

Well, hello out there...

OK, Millie, I apologize again for being absent from this blog, but with FaceBook, email, Bolivar Blue, and the like, and living in a

whirlwind, I just forget from time to time. FaceBook is the main stream it seems right now with all of my friends and believe me, I have been busy.

Things are really looking up on the Bolivar Peninsula. As I type, I can hear hammers and saws and other re-building and repair noises in the background. A group of 110 kids and adults are at the church next door. This volunteer group is with Nehemiah's Vision, an international group that has wonderful people go to help folks wherever there is a need or where a disaster has struck. They do their labor on a volunteer basis and these folks are kind-hearted and caring as they paint, nail, sweep, put up heavy sheetrock, clear debris and do whatever is most needed.

My cousin, Dr. Alan Baughcum, was here in February with a large group from the Belmont, Massachusetts Religious Council, where he pastors. Ted and I had the joy of spending with these 39 volunteers who gave up spring break to come and work here. I spoke to the group on Sunday night giving them a firsthand report of what it is like to have your home and all that you own destroyed by a major hurricane. Sweet, sweet people with big hearts.

Steven is still making his music and takes advanced drum lessons in Port Neches weekly and plays with his band, Seaweed, here locally for the residents and friends who come in to visit. He will be completing ninth grade at High Island High School in just a few weeks and is looking for a summer job (that he thinks he wants).

Take care and be safe until the next page turns,

Brenda

(Pictured above are my cousin, Dr. Alan Baughcum, and his volunteer group from Belmont, Massachusetts on Crystal Beach in Texas.)

Happy New Year from the Bolivar Peninsula of Texas

Ted and I trust that each of you had a very Merry Christmas and we wish you a Happy and Blessed New Year.

May God bless you in 2010 with health, happiness, enough income, something profitable and fun to do, and family members and friends to surround you and share your joys and trials.

Our weather is cool here on the peninsula and we heard last night that the forecasters are predicting the possibility of snow showers on Wednesday for us folks in Southeast Texas. How could that be? We are excited, of course, at the prospect and the kids think it is great.

For those of you who are keeping up, Ted and I, like so many of our neighbors and friends on Bolivar, are still waiting on Texas Windstorm Insurance Association to settle on our claim so that we can begin to rebuild our home and our lives. God has blessed our family with a nice leased home in Crystal Beach, and we realize we are so much more fortunate than many who cannot get back to the peninsula because of not having a home. It is been a long nearly 16 months now to wait this out, but we are trying to be patient. We, like most, have filed lawsuits now to try to get our money that is fairly owed to us.

Another body (or the remains of a body) was positively identified on Friday. It was Harry Bingham, 61, of Crystal beach, and his daughter in New Jersey has now been told. The Laura Recovery Center in Houston confirmed that DNA evidence made the news official and even though Harry's body had been discovered on September 8, 2009, near Smith Point, it took this long to get the confirmation. For many families, Hurricane Ike is still very close to the heart and not over by a long shot although it is considered "old news" to many now.

I have personally asked God to help me be more gracious to all I meet, keep my mouth shut more often, and to try to help those I meet along the way with a genuine and sincere spirit.

Steven has enjoyed his break from school and will go back on Monday. His band, Seaweed, played on New Year's Eve, after much practice here in our home. He loves music and is doing well on both guitar and drums. Callie Grace is also a budding musician and is now back home in Texas after a visit to Georgia over Christmas. Both Brent and Nikki now live in or near St. Petersburg, Florida, very near the Gulf. Brent pastors the Community Bible Baptist Church and Nikki begins a new job on Monday. Please pray for both of them and their families. Brendan is a fine young man and growing like a weed.

May God bless you until the next page turns,

Brenda