Updates

It is hard to believe it has been over 2 weeks since I last made a post. Time sure flies.

Last time I wrote about the newsletter Healing God’s Way. I am pleased to report that just this week another person signed up for the newsletter. I have to wonder how many people tried to sign up when I was using Topica, but failed? If you receive the newsletter, I would like your feedback. I am open to ways to make it better. If you have never subscribed, you might consider doing so. If you don’t like it you can always unsubscribe.

Earlier this week I discovered a wonderful and easy way for AOCCCI to raise funds. GoodSearch.com is a yahoo based search engine that donates about half its revenue (about a penny) is donated to your favorite non-profit. You can make it your homepage or you can download a toolbar. Either way, each time you use GoodSearch for your Internet searches, you are contributing to AOCCCI.

If Alpha Omega Christian Communities For The Chemically Injured does not automatically show up in the Who Do You GoodSearch For? box, please add us.

I spent much of the day making minor changes to AOCCCI’s web site. Mainly I added links to GoodSearch and Amazon. Amazon is another excellent way to give to AOCCCI. When you shop Amazon from the web site or from the link provided on this blog (look under Links), a percentage of what you spend is donated to AOCCCI.

Now for an update on Sphere of Faith Community Church. I first wrote about Sphere in April. At the time we were meeting in a community theater which was in the process of being renovated in between musical performances. When the owner sold half his interest in the theater, we were told we needed to move. The new partner wanted to speed up the renovation. Pastor Bill learned all this on a Friday. Since he is human, panic set in. But God already had a plan for Sphere and by Sunday morning we had a new home to move too. We now meet at the Ruble Center, about 2 miles (3 km) from the previous location. This facility is a huge improvement and a real blessing.

Besides the Sunday evening services, we now meet Thursday evenings for Bible Study. We have a wonderful time. The first Thursday our youngest member, a 14 month old boy, came to the study. We shut him in the room and allowed him to roam freely. He had some giant legos and other toys to play with. One toy played digital music. Just as we adults bowed our heads for a time of prayer, the music toy started playing the Lone Ranger theme song.

Dear Heavenly Father, please bless each person who reads this blog. Amen.

Healing God's Way Newsletter

I have been publishing an on-line newsletter, Healing God’s Way, since the late 90’s. I am always blessed when someone tells me they have been helped by what I have shared.

Earlier this year I started encountering a lot of problems with Topica, the free newsletter service I was using. I suddenly started having problems receiving my own newsletter. A little investigation revealed I was not the only person. So in June I started searching for a new home.

For the last few weeks I have been busy setting everything up. I am now using GraphicMail, which does cost a little bit, but unlike Topica allows graphics. It has been hard work but so far I think it is worth it.

I think having to move Healing God’s Way may be an answer to prayer. People used to sign up all the time but not a single person signed up in 2006 or most of 2005. I made some changes to the web site and prayed a lot but still no one signed up. It really baffled me.

When I decided to start looking for a new service I needed to change the web site page where people can sign up for the newsletter. Since making the change two people have signed up to receive Healing God’s Way. Makes me wonder if Topica is the reason I was not getting new subscribers.

If you have never subscribed to Healing God’s Way, why not consider doing so. It is free, though donations to cover the cost are always welcome. Just go to: http://www.aocommunities.org/newsletters.htm

Since the beginning of the year I have sent out the following newsletters:

The Dangers of Fantasy, Part 1 http://www.aocommunities.org/letter1.htm
The Dangers of Fantasy, Part 2 http://www.aocommunities.org/letter2.htm
Fear vs. Faith http://www.aocommunities.org/letter3.htm
Faith On The Mission Field http://www.aocommunities.org/letter4.htm
It’s Cold and Flu Season http://www.aocommunities.org/letter5.htm
The Three-legged Stool Of Health http://www.aocommunities.org/letter6.htm
God Is The Same… http://www.aocommunities.org/letter7.htm
The Prayer God Loves To Answers http://www.aocommunities.org/letter8.htm
Train Wrecks http://www.aocommunities.org/letter9.htm
Temptation http://www.aocommunities.org/letter10.htm
Women’s Neighborhood Prayer International http://www.aocommunities.org/letter11.htm
Type C Personality http://www.aocommunities.org/letter12.htm

I don't usually post old newsletters on the web site, but since I know I was not the only person to have a problem, I took the time to post them. I don't usually post old newsletters on the web site, but since I know I am not the only person to have a problem, I took the time to post them.
They will not stay in the web forever, so if you want to read these old newsletters I suggest you do it now.

San Antonio Celebrates Spurs Championship 2007

What A Way To Spend Father's Day

San Antonio River Walk:
Our floats actually float

Inside The Alamo Dome

Spurs Win Championship

Congratulations San Antonio Spurs
NBA World Champions:
1999, 2003, 2005, 2007...

Prayer Requests

Back in the spring of 1999 I felt a strong call to attend Seminary. By autumn I was enrolled and attending my first class. For a number of years I took one or two classes a semester. By spring 2004 I had completed half of the required 93 hours to receive my Masters of Divinity. Then two major problems occurred. First, I ran out of scholarship money. Second, I injured my right hand on June 15, 2004. The lack of scholarship money was a serious problem, but the injury forced me to drop out all together. After nine months of therapy my hand was much improved but my financial situation was now much worse then it had been before, I had incurred some medical expenses which I still have not paid off. I simply do not have the needed cash to attend graduate school. I have searched for scholarships but they simply are not available when it comes to religious degrees. My hearts desire is to return to Seminary and finish that degree. The only thing stopping me is a lack of finances. Please join me in praying for this need.

Back in the mid 1990’s the Holy Spirit gave me and some others a vision of a community out in the boondocks where people who have Multiple Chemical Sensitivities and/or other diseases can live, learn about Jesus, and find healing. Over time the others given this vision have left to do other things, leaving me all alone to run Alpha Omega Christian Communities For The Chemically Injured (AOCCCI). I have prayed for others to help in this work. Board members are needed. Volunteers with a variety of skills are needed. Over the years people have come, but usually not for very long. The need is great. Please pray for this situation. And if the Holy Spirit may be leading you to join the work, please let me know. I am more then happy to discuss how and in what ways you may be able to serve God through the work of AOCCCI.

Hey, Only paying guests can swim in the hotel pool.

Spent Time With My Mother

If you get Healing God’s Way newsletter you know my mom isn’t doing well. She lives in a Living Assisted Facility, Alzheimer’s Special Care Unit. About a year and a half ago she stopped talking. They also put her in a wheelchair so she wouldn’t fall. For a variety of reasons, including breaking a rib, I have been unable to visit her for a little over a year. So when I made my airline reservations last month I wasn’t sure if she would remember me. On Tuesday, May 15, I walked up to my mother and greeted her. Every day I would say hi, then tell her my name and that I am her daughter. Her face didn’t tell me if she remembered but her behavior sure did. She quickly grabbed my fingers and refused to let go. Whenever her grip would loosen and I would try to pull away, she would grab on again. By the end of the day my left arm hurt from all the strange positions it had been in. The staff noticed my mom seeded really happy all day. The rest of the week she didn’t grab me much but smiled at me whenever I told her "I love you", which I did repeatedly. She seemed a lot more engaged, that is when she wasn’t falling asleep, and even chucked a little bit. Clearly she remembers me and benefited from my visit. It saddens me I can’t visit her more often and that there are over 1,700 miles (2,736 km) between us.

While in California I purchased some clothes for my mother. All of her clothes were several sizes to large. Tough buying winter clothes in May, but with the help of others I found a very large thrift store where I was able to get some long sleeve shirts for her. I also got her some slacks.

I won’t mention where I stayed but I have to say it was the worse room I ever been in. The décor was bad enough (San Francisco 49er's football wallpaper and furniture) , but finding a spider in my bed when I got up in the morning and another baby spider in the bathroom sink didn’t make me happy either. There were other problems with the room, which I sure hope they fix. Fortunately after finding the spiders they moved me to a much better room.

I flew on ExpressJet, a new airline that has non-stop flights. No other airline flies from San Antonio to Sacramento without forcing me to change planes. I got a little meal and was able to listen to XM Radio. I have no reservations of flying with them again. The plane held about 50 people, so it is small, but the flight was enjoyable. The only warning I have for others is we had to climb down steps, then walk over to the plane, and walk up more steps to get into the plane. They do have a way to get passengers in wheelchairs onto the plane, but be sure to let them know ahead of time if stairs are a problem for you.