Monday, March 26, 2012

It's not just Texas News, Yes it happens in Good Ole Abilene too.

Much of my life I have lived my life like many, oblivious to the issues that surround me. Living with such a mindset could cause one to think, "this is good ole Abilene, violence doesn't happen here,"BUT IT DOES! If we don't acknowledge our city has issues of violence, who will speak up for the innocent? The answer is simple. NO ONE! I pray that you do all you can to make some NOISE today. According to KTXS An Abilene man charged with the death of a 2-year-old boy was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Friday. Franklin Ramey Jr., 32, was scheduled to stand trial today. Last year, Ramey went on trial in connection with the death, although a mistrial was declared after jurors said they could not reach a verdict. Ramey was convicted in connection with the Feb. 2011 death of Hayden Vickers. During the trial held last year, Taylor County Assistant District Attorney Joel Wilks told jurors Ramey injured Vickers the morning of Feb. 18 and the boy had injuries consistent with “abusive head trauma.” The boy died a day after the incident. Amber Vickers, the mother of the boy, told jurors she left the house that morning of the incident to borrow money to buy cigarettes. Instead of making a quick trip, she said, she instead stayed at her grandmother’s home for two hours before receiving a phone call from Ramey, her then-boyfriend. Ramey during the trial maintained he was innocent and the boy’s death was an accident.

Texas News

Just a quick observation of today's Texas news on KTXS makes me angry, makes me want to cry, and even throw up all at the same time...when will it stop? It will stop when each of us choose not to be silent! SAN ANTONIO (AP) - An 18-year-old San Antonio teenager has been accused of fatally injuring his girlfriend's 5-month-old infant boy. Antonio Santos Garcia-Vera has been charged with knowingly injuring a child, causing serious bodily injury, the San Antonio Express-News reported Sunday. Bail has been set at $1 million. Police said Remii Apollo Shaw-Antwine died three days after he was left alone with Garcia-Vera. Police said Garcia-Vera told them he got frustrated with the crying infant at about 7 p.m. Wednesday. According to the arrest affidavit, Garcia-Vera lifted the baby to his chest and patted his back vigorously and "causing the victim's head to bounce back and forth." Police said Remii's mother reported the baby wasn't breathing late Wednesday. He remained on life support at University Hospital until Saturday, when he was pronounced dead. Mar 26, 2012 7:21 a.m. HOUSTON (AP) - Houston police say a man killed his wife and left her body in a car parked in a Walgreens lot before turning himself in. Investigators said the man turned himself in around 8:30 a.m. Sunday. They said the man told police where the body could be found, according to a KTRK-TV report. Police said the Walgreens didn't open until a half-hour later, and there didn't appear to be any witnesses. The names of the suspect and the victim have not been released. Mar 26, 2012 8:21 a.m. ENNIS, Texas (AP) - One of two people suspected in the death of a 15-year-old girl whose body was found burning by an Ennis road this month has been arrested. Ennis Police Chief John Erisman said Sunday that 29-year-old Jose Manuel Alvarado was arrested Saturday in the Dallas suburb of Grand Prairie. Alvarado, charged with murder, remained in Ennis police custody Monday. No bail has been set. Police did not have attorney information. The Dallas Morning News reported that the Dallas County medical examiner's office confirmed Moriah Gonzales' body was found March 17. Authorities said the teen from Waxahachie wasn't attending school and had been staying with her sister in Ennis, about 35 miles south of Dallas Police said Gonzales and Alvarado were former co-workers. A woman also wanted is still at large. Make some noise. C

Thursday, March 22, 2012

I AM ONE

I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.  -Edward Everett Hale

World Water Day

Today, March 22, 2012 is world water day. Recognized by the United Nations and the global community, World Water Day reminds us that much of the world still faces a global water, sanitation and hygiene crisis, and that it is our urgent obligation to act. A coalition of diverse US-based groups is calling for increased commitments by the US government and private citizens to reduce poverty, disease and hunger by helping to improve sustainable access to safe drinking water and improved sanitation for many millions around the world.

Will you  make this world a better place than you found it?

Don't forget to join us this Sunday as we explore the recent efforts of livingwaterbrazil.com and our church.

Make some noise.
C

Friday, March 16, 2012

Nothing like home

Currently I'm out of town closing out the Spring Break week with my family. Usually as a result of our schedules we rarely find ourselves out of town. But when we do travel it is quite the event as a result of the great amount of stuff we have to take with us to make sure lil Sadie's needs are taken care of. Yet beyond the mass preparation it takes to travel, the lengthy hours in a car with a toddler and a pre-teenager, and the unfamiliarity with the things that surround us there is always something that is never quite right. Even as I type, once again I'm surrounded with that "it's not quite right" feeling as a result of being in an uncomfortable hotel room that never feels like home. My home is a place of comfort, security, and refuge. Over the years I have slept in countless hotel rooms as a result of being blessed to speak across the U.S, yet not one time has one of those rooms I stayed in felt like "home."
Much like an average hotel room that just never feels like home, is our life when we step outside of God's will. It just doesn't feel like home. I pray as you close out your week, regardless how far you have traveled away you will remember theres no better feeling than being at "home," right where our Creator wants you.

Make some noise.
C

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Invisible Children

My wife and I have supported Invisible Children for several years. Here is a new video that they recently released...If you get a chance take the time to check it out. More than anything, please don't ever get quiet, stand up and make some noise. Make some noise. C

Locked

Although The Stop The Violence Movement is an event, it is so much more than an event, it's a movement.

After meeting with Sari David this morning I am excited to say that there is major development on the horizon for STV and the city of Abilene.

I also want to acknowledge a new facet of STV. STV will assist  those found to be victims of family violence and assault with changing their locks to their residence. This is a unique way that STV can help bring a sense of security to victims.

If you are interested in helping out with this cause please contact our offices

Make some noise.
C.


Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Capable of Becoming


"It is my daily mood that makes the weather. I possess tremendous power to make life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration, I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis is escalated or de-escalated, and a person is humanized or de-humanized. If we treat people as they are, we make them worse. If we treat people as they ought to be, we help them become what they are capable of becoming.”
— J. W. Goethe

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

SPRING FORWARD

Don't forget to change your clocks this Sunday. 

15 years in the making

It's official, this Easter will be special for two reasons. First and foremost we are going to celebrate the Resurrection of our Savior. Secondly, we are going to celebrate 15 years in the making...

What is 15 years in the making? It's the 15 year anniversary of The Mission/Mission Abilene. Join us as we bring back some folks that were incredibly instrumental in the development of church to celebrate this historical event. This will be  a Sunday you will never forget.




Mission Abilene
(corner of N.3rd and Mockingbird)
April 8th, 2012
10:45AM

Make some noise.
C

Sunday, March 4, 2012

You responded

It's official Mission Abilene you raised almost 1500 dollars today in change to fund the installation of two water filters that are being installed as I write. I am so grateful to be able to watch God move through each of you. Because you responded, people in Brazil will have the opportunity to taste a clean drink of water for the first time.

Thank you for responding.
C

Thursday, March 1, 2012

End of our lives

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
Martin Luther King, Jr


Make some noise.
C