Clearing out the clutter in our lives!

GREAT BOOK: "Clutter's Last Stand," by Don Aslett.

This is a great book! Every once in awhile, we need to re-read it! (Excuse us now. We probably should tackle a closet or something...)

Here is an excerpt from an interview with this book's author. To read the entire interview, click here.

What advice can you give to those who feel completely overwhelmed by their junk and clutter? They don’t even know what color their carpet is anymore. They don’t know where to begin. Where should they start?

Go for your own stuff first. We have a tendency to worry about our neighbor’s junk or our spouses and children’s junk before our own. We always see people who are worse than we are. Get your own wallet, your own purse, your own bulletin board, your own tools, your own photo album, your own notebook, your own closets. It’s amazing how when you go after your own junk the world changes. It brightens up and there’s not nearly as many bad junkers as you thought after you get rid of your stuff. Dejunk alone. Do it in the morning. Do your own stuff first.

I got a call from a lady who was 65 years old. She said I’m sixty-five, I’ve had a lot of stuff, wealth and everything. I read Clutter’s Last Stand and dejunked my life. For the first time in my life I understood what living was like. Life for her before was tending her junk. We tend our jewelry, or our car, or our house. Tend all the excess we have. She got rid of all of that stuff, and finally she was able to tend to people instead.

It can change lives spiritually, physically, and emotionally. Get rid of evil thoughts, things, covetousness, disrespect, get the junk and excesses out of your life. Even doctors tell us to do it. When you think about it, It’s a truly exciting message…an overall cure for life. Throwing out everything on you, in you and around you…It’s a transformation.

A windy day in west Texas

This morning, Charles drove to San Angelo for a meeting of pastors/church professionals (in the San Angelo District). He was the preacher at the gathering's communion service, a treat for him!

________________

Before the service, Pastor Leigh Gregg (from First UMC - Menard) gave Charles a TCU Rose Bowl t-shirt and key-chain. She had gone to the Rose Bowl in January and knew that Charles was a TCU grad (class of '82) and brought him a thoughtful token of the game (which TCU won!).

________________

On his way back, Charles spotted some of the goats and sheep for which this area is famous. One of them posed for a picture, nice looking goat, eh?

Women's Study Club Tonight!

Belinda attended the Women's Study Club this evening. She had a wonderful time being with them. Tonight's program was about the history of Black History Month, i.e., how it came into being.

Lay Speaking Courses in Sonora Today!

Belinda attended the lay speaking course which was held at the Sonora First United Methodist Church today. She really appreciated the warm welcome extended to all participants. The fellowship and the learning were awesome! Praise God for folks willing to do what they can to enhance their God-given gifts and make the world a better place!

Friday was a "catch up" sort of day for us, lots of housework and rest! This afternoon, Belinda went with a church member from McCamey to spend the night in Sonora, where tomorrow they'll be attending a training session for lay ministry.

Charles had a "full" evening here in McCamey in Belinda's absence. First was the monthly gathering of UM's in McCamey for supper. Lots of fun with this group! After supper, Charles stopped by the McCamey HS where a girls basketball playoff game was being held. It was an interesting matchup between Bronte and Marathon (whose roster consists of only five players).

One Year Ago Today...

Can you believe it? One year ago today, on 17 February 2010, it was Ash Wednesday... the beginning of Lent!
----------------------
This year, Ash Wednesday will be 9 March 2011.
---------------------
If you want to know why Ash Wednesday falls on different days in the calendar year, click here!

A busy, busy week!

Our busy week in west Texas has been a full-court press, as soon as Charles returned from San Antonio on Saturday!

_______________

Sunday saw the regular activities of the three services; nothing slow there! The "work week" began in earnest on Monday with the United Methodist Women (UMW) gathering highlighting the evening. Tuesday saw two trips to Odessa, a meeting for Charles at noon and both of us attended the annual McCamey Chamber of Commerce banquet in the evening.

__________________________

At the chamber's dinner, Charles was asked to give the invocation again this year. And Belinda was asked to fill the role of event photographer. It was a great event, and it was nice to see so many of the people we've gotten to know since last year's chamber banquet. Charles was elected to be a board member for the chamber, and he began his 2-year term last evening.

_______________

Today was the monthly "Badgers for Christ" in McCamey at noon, a full-scale cleaning of the McCamey church kitchen in the afternoon and then choir practice tonight.

_____

Whew!

Charles returns from the big city

Charles was in San Antonio this week, attending the third week of the Two-year Academy for Spiritual Formation. It was a good week! On Friday evening, as part of the schedule for the week, Charles went with his covenant group for dinner in the historic "El Mercado" area of San Antonio. After supper, there was time for a walk along the Riverwalk, an enjoyable session at the famous "Landing" jazz club.

_____________

Two of his group had never seen the Alamo and so a short walk later they were standing in front of the iconic landmark. They also spent some time walking around the brightly lit San Fernando Cathedral (the oldest Roman Catholic cathedral in the US).

_____________
After a full-week, Charles is happy to be home!

Meanwhile... Belinda's Week Looked Like This!

Belinda helped with the funeral lunch that was held at the church on Monday the 7th.


Monday night, February 7th, Belinda attended the Delta Kappa Gamma dinner meeting/program at the McCamey First United Methodist Church.


Tuesday night, Belinda participated in the monthly Bunco party at the Santa Fe Depot in town.


Today the "Smiles on Wheels" (SOW) truck rolled into town. Dental and non-dental volunteers began to arrive for the day-long event, which starts tomorrow at 5:30 a.m.


The Park Building is the location of the "SOW" event tomorrow.


"SOW" volunteers will be wearing this shirt tomorrow, so they are easily identifiable.


Belinda took this picture at tonight's community thank-you dinner for the "SOW" volunteers, which was hosted by the 1st Assembly of God Church in McCamey.

Busy Times!

After a busy Sunday on the 6th and coordinating the logistics of a visiting pastor conducting a funeral at the McCamey FUMC on Monday the 7th, Charles departed for San Antonio. He has been there this week -- attending a 5-day spiritual formation retreat at the Oblate Renewal Center.

Happy Groundhog Day!

Punxsutawny Phil didn't see his shadow today, meaning an early spring is on the way!
It was 12F this morning when we got up, the poor birds were standing on ice in the bird bath!

Staying warm in west Texas

Our week is off to a great start, with wonderful worship services on Sunday and some great people to share our life with! Our weather isn't as bad as much of the rest of the country is experiencing this week and we are staying warm tonight at 18F! Sadly, we are not getting the moisture everyone else is getting though we are happy with our .09" of rain during the night last night. That was the first measureable moisture since before Halloween.

Hope you are having a safe, warm week wherever you are!