“In the predawn hours of Sunday, August 27, I decided that I would peek outside. The torrential rains from Harvey had been pounding for several hours. Supposedly my house is not in the floodplain, but I poked my head out to see water halfway between … Continue readingWake-up call: cheese, cell service not that important
“I was pretty well known in junior high for my athletic ability. I’m not conceited, but people would tell me, ‘You’re tall, dark and handsome. Why shouldn’t a girl like you?’ I said, ‘Well, you don’t know me.’ “I never liked myself. I was real … Continue readingChurch journey leads to change for former bad boy
“You know, all of our lives we’ve given. Never been on the receiving end. Didn’t know what it was like. I’ve learned now why I give. Being on the receiving end, you understand what people go through. I don’t think I could have ever really … Continue readingCouple learns what it’s like to be on receiving end
“When I was growing up, I didn’t know God. But I didn’t realize I was living for the devil, either. “I’ve been through a lot of things in my life. I’ve walked down a lot of dark roads. I was strung out on alcohol and … Continue readingHe chooses good over evil, preaches ‘don’t give up’
“I used to be a pimp. I used to be a drug dealer. I used to be a gangbanger. I used to be a robber; it didn’t matter whether it was banks or other drug dealers. I’m a three-time loser. That’s a slang word. Anybody … Continue reading‘Today, I’m all about wanting to save lives’
“I’m one of the lay pastors with the Community of Hope at our church. We visit our sick people, and sometimes we get names of others who just need someone to come see them. “Some of them get very few visitors or none at all. … Continue readingLay pastor lends an ear to those in need
“I worked in health care for 12 or 13 years doing hyperbaric medicine. I finally got tired of that, and I decided it was time for a change. I went back to school, thinking I’d get a nursing degree. When I learned that my earlier … Continue readingTaking a positive approach to life’s twists, turns
“I’ve been a people person all of my life. I attribute that to the love God has placed in my heart. “I use my gifts to volunteer at the hospital. After my shift at the front desk, I walk around with one of the chaplains … Continue readingShe gets a ‘wonderful peace’ from volunteering
“It’s a very busy world that we live in, and we sometimes seem to put God on the back burner. Most moms work these days, so we’re trying to help them be able to go home, get their kids ready, come to church, have a … Continue reading‘Cafeteria ladies’ keep those hot meals coming
“When you get into heavy drugs like that, people are not going to give you money to go buy more drugs. So he would steal. That’s how he died. He and a friend broke into somebody’s house because they knew the woman was in a … Continue reading‘I think God took him out … so he wouldn’t be lost’