Dear Mesquite Friends,
My posting today is not about the Valley View Heights Neighborhood work. Its not about any political issues. Its about unity!
One of the goals/purposes of the Nehemiah Mesquite Mission is to bring about unity in the City of Mesquite! For how can we solve our crime problems, or how to fund our schools, or fund important things like fixing streets and other infrastructure needs, helping put people back to work and most importantly--help the Gospel of Jesus Christ be spread throughout our city--if we are all at each other's throats and are in disunity?
Surely, surely, surely--there are important matters to every single one of our families in Mesquite--in which we can all come together and find common ground???
Helping the poor, helping make neighborhoods and apartment complexes safer for children in which to grow up, creating more jobs in Mesquite so everyone doesn't have to spend hours a day just commuting, helping the unemployed get back to work, helping families who rent one day be able to live the American Dream and own their home, and so many more critical issues--WE CANNOT ACHIEVE THOSE THINGS AND MORE--IF WE CANNOT WORK TOGETHER!!!
As I go around asking all kinds of Mesquite residents to join our effort--I have literally had a handful say "Well, if so and so is involved--I won't work with them!" Well, I love those folks and value all they've done for Mesquite. But honestly--anyone who says such things--I have to honestly question--is the cause of making our city better and doing what is right whats important? Or is pride and self-focus the main priority? I don't mean to offend anyone--but I vow to speak the truth and be honest!!!
IT REALLY DOES NOT MATTER WHO WORKED AGAINST WHO IN A PREVIOUS CITY COUNCIL, SCHOOL BOARD, OR STATE REPRESENTATIVE RACE!!!!
When I spend time at Allenhurst or Peachtree Apartments and try to encourage people, when I talk to the many unemployed friends I have around town, when I see people in neighborhoods concerned about their homes being broken in or people driving too fast on their streets, when I look into the eyes of the many children we minister to whose parents don't come to church with them--NONE OF THEM SEEM TO CARE ABOUT POLITICS OR WHOSE UP AND WHOSE DOWN AND WHOSE FRIENDS WITH SO AND SO!!! THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT WHOSE ALIGNED POLITICALLY WITH WHO!!! THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT WHO SAID WHAT ABOUT WHO IN THE LAST LOCAL POLITICAL CAMPAIGN!!! They don't care, God doesn't care--so why should we?
Mesquite has many wonderful things taking place and we are blessed in many ways! But like the rest of the nation, we also have our share of problems and struggles!
To face and deal with our many challenges, we need to find times where we are not Democrats, Republicans, Liberals, Conservatives, or a host of other labels--but instead--there must be times where we can come together and just be God's children and fellow neighbors who love each other and our great city who work together to help build a better future!
When Nehemiah realized how bad things were in Jerusalem, chapter one of Nehemiah's book says that Nehemiah wept. He then called on the Lord to help him go rebuild the destroyed walls and burned gates of Jerusalem! With God's help--we can do the same here in Mesquite--with our struggles and problems--IF WE CAN WORK TOGETHER!
During the 1860 Presidential campaign, Abraham Lincoln and Senator Stephen Douglas had a hard fought campaign against one another. But both loved this country deeply and saw a greater cause then themselves--this is one thing in which they found common ground--as all of us can. On Inauguration day--March 4, 1861--as President Lincoln walked up to the podium to give his inaugural speech, he realized he needed a place to sit his hat. Not seeing where he could put it, Lincoln then heard a voice behind him--Senator Douglas--who gently said to his once opponent and now his President--"I'll hold it for you."
Richard Nixon campaigned on a very important theme in 1968, with the country torn apart by war and civil unrest--his theme was simply "Bring Us Together." It was a good theme then and its a good one today!
John Kennedy said it best when he said: "For in the final analysis, our most basic common link, is that we all inhabit this small planet, we all breathe the same air, we all cherish our children's futures, and we are all mortal."
Remember September 11, 2001 when members of Congress--Democrats and Republicans--stood arm in arm on the Capital Steps and sang God Bless America? I get chills thinking about it. We need to have such an attitude of unity in Mesquite, Texas!
Let us be praying for unity. Let us reach out to one another. Let us love and serve one another. Let us disagree when we need to, but let us do it in an agreeable, Christ-like way. And let us come together and roll up our sleeves and rebuild and make our Mesquite better! Our children and grandchildren will be blessed by our common purpose and unity!
There is nothing wrong with Mesquite, that cannot be fixed with what is right with Mesquite!
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
FIRST CRIMEWATCH MEETING A SUCCESS IN VALLEY VIEW HEIGHTS!!
As of tonight--The Nehemiah Mesquite Mission moves forward! We had our first crimewatch meeting in the Valley View Heights Neighborhood--and it was A HUGE SUCCESS! With the weather, I honestly expected maybe 5-6 people to show up--but I think we had around 25 or so residents attend! I was so encouraged--and I think many of them were also! And just like in my neighborhood recently--kids were playing in yards all around us--and you could really feel community and the whole "Love Your Neighbor" concept Jesus talked about in Matthew 22:34! It gives me goosebumps just thinking about it.
Special thanks to my boys for helping set up chairs and all the fliers they handed out Saturday reminding everyone about the meeting. Special thanks to the family who hosted the meeting under their carport. Special thanks to Officer Don Williams for all his hard work all over Mesquite in setting up crimewatches. Special thanks to Rose Street resident James Wood for his leadership as crimewatch captain. Special thanks to Nadine Ward for helping us design some really effective fliers for the neighborhood. And special thanks to Councilman Brian Hutcheson for attending and showing his support.
I could see hope and encouragement in people's eyes tonight. I could see neighbors chitchatting who did not know each other prior to tonight. People are tired of just accepting things not being as they should!
I am also still seeing progress with code issues getting better around the neighborhood. Streets and yards seem cleaner.
The next couple of weeks, we will focus more on more progress with vacant houses that have been neglected and other code issues. We will also be looking to see if we can help any families who are unemployed--find any kind of work--especially with Christmas coming up.
We still need many more volunteers. And we need workers who can speak fluent spanish also--for many families who want to participate in bettering their neighborhood--but sometimes feel awkward because of their language barrier. God loves all HIS children equally!
Please continue to pray for the Nehemiah Mesquite Mission!
There is nothing wrong with Mesquite, that cannot be fixed with what is right with Mesquite!
Special thanks to my boys for helping set up chairs and all the fliers they handed out Saturday reminding everyone about the meeting. Special thanks to the family who hosted the meeting under their carport. Special thanks to Officer Don Williams for all his hard work all over Mesquite in setting up crimewatches. Special thanks to Rose Street resident James Wood for his leadership as crimewatch captain. Special thanks to Nadine Ward for helping us design some really effective fliers for the neighborhood. And special thanks to Councilman Brian Hutcheson for attending and showing his support.
I could see hope and encouragement in people's eyes tonight. I could see neighbors chitchatting who did not know each other prior to tonight. People are tired of just accepting things not being as they should!
I am also still seeing progress with code issues getting better around the neighborhood. Streets and yards seem cleaner.
The next couple of weeks, we will focus more on more progress with vacant houses that have been neglected and other code issues. We will also be looking to see if we can help any families who are unemployed--find any kind of work--especially with Christmas coming up.
We still need many more volunteers. And we need workers who can speak fluent spanish also--for many families who want to participate in bettering their neighborhood--but sometimes feel awkward because of their language barrier. God loves all HIS children equally!
Please continue to pray for the Nehemiah Mesquite Mission!
There is nothing wrong with Mesquite, that cannot be fixed with what is right with Mesquite!
Saturday, November 13, 2010
GETTING CLOSER TO THE GOAL--BUT MUCH WORK YET TO BE DONE!
Greetings Mesquite Friends,
The Nehemiah Mesquite Missioin had its most productive day yet I believe in the Valley View Heights Neighborhood today! I had Spencer Gunnels, one of our ministers from At The Cross and my two boys Jayden and Bryson and their buddy DeAndre.
Bryson picked up trash on each street--while the rest of us knocked doors handing out fliers and reminding everyone of our first crimewatch meeting coming up Monday November 15th on Rose Street. We had several good responses from neighbors who seemed excited about the possibility of things getting better. Several neighbors continue to tell me of a break in here and there, but overall they seem hopeful things can get better. And with the Lord helping us--IT WILL GET BETTER!!!
As always, we took time on each street to pray for those families who are unemployed or who are hurting financially--and for God to just bless every family in the neighborhood.
Overall, you can tell that the streets are cleaner and that code enforcement has been working with landlords to get those homes that had been under long term reconstruction--are now really getting worked on and rebuilt. I am hopeful that the more God's people can engage and encourage renters living in the neighborhood--the more landlords will have better long term renters who take better care of the homes--and perhaps some renters one day could actually buy the homes from the landlords. Surely one of the beauties of the American Dream is home ownership!
I met a young couple today who recently bought their house and they've already had a break in--but they seem resolved to carve out a good life in this neighborhood and they want to get involved. Such moments are priceless for me!
Besides break ins, I've had some different residents complain of some gang activity--which we will hopefully talk about at our crime watch Monday evening. Councilman Brian Hutcheson will be with us at our first meeting, which I really appreciate. Community Police Officer Don Williams will also be with us. Officer Williams is a HUGE asset to The City of Mesquite!
I was really proud of my boys and Spencer Gunnels. Everyone did a wonderful job. Lord willing, by February or March--we can have at least 2-3 crimewatch chairpersons set up throughout the neighborhood, more clean up can take place, more neighbors get involved and knowing each other--and we can move on to the next older neighborhood in Mesquite.
I strongly believe that GOD IS PREPARED TO DO GREAT AND AMAZING THINGS IN MESQUITE! With HIS help, we will rebuild every broken part of Mesquite--and thus rebuild people's lives just as Nehemiah did in Jerusalem! May God receive all the glory!
The Nehemiah Mesquite Missioin had its most productive day yet I believe in the Valley View Heights Neighborhood today! I had Spencer Gunnels, one of our ministers from At The Cross and my two boys Jayden and Bryson and their buddy DeAndre.
Bryson picked up trash on each street--while the rest of us knocked doors handing out fliers and reminding everyone of our first crimewatch meeting coming up Monday November 15th on Rose Street. We had several good responses from neighbors who seemed excited about the possibility of things getting better. Several neighbors continue to tell me of a break in here and there, but overall they seem hopeful things can get better. And with the Lord helping us--IT WILL GET BETTER!!!
As always, we took time on each street to pray for those families who are unemployed or who are hurting financially--and for God to just bless every family in the neighborhood.
Overall, you can tell that the streets are cleaner and that code enforcement has been working with landlords to get those homes that had been under long term reconstruction--are now really getting worked on and rebuilt. I am hopeful that the more God's people can engage and encourage renters living in the neighborhood--the more landlords will have better long term renters who take better care of the homes--and perhaps some renters one day could actually buy the homes from the landlords. Surely one of the beauties of the American Dream is home ownership!
I met a young couple today who recently bought their house and they've already had a break in--but they seem resolved to carve out a good life in this neighborhood and they want to get involved. Such moments are priceless for me!
Besides break ins, I've had some different residents complain of some gang activity--which we will hopefully talk about at our crime watch Monday evening. Councilman Brian Hutcheson will be with us at our first meeting, which I really appreciate. Community Police Officer Don Williams will also be with us. Officer Williams is a HUGE asset to The City of Mesquite!
I was really proud of my boys and Spencer Gunnels. Everyone did a wonderful job. Lord willing, by February or March--we can have at least 2-3 crimewatch chairpersons set up throughout the neighborhood, more clean up can take place, more neighbors get involved and knowing each other--and we can move on to the next older neighborhood in Mesquite.
I strongly believe that GOD IS PREPARED TO DO GREAT AND AMAZING THINGS IN MESQUITE! With HIS help, we will rebuild every broken part of Mesquite--and thus rebuild people's lives just as Nehemiah did in Jerusalem! May God receive all the glory!
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