PATRIOTIC JUNE! You've got the whole wide world in your hand.
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BayAreaHoustonMag.com
I just love a parade and the Fourth of July makes me so proud to be an American cat. My name is June, but I wish it were July. What a thrill to be able to curl up amidst all this red, white and blue. You know what would be better? To curl up in your lap. We can watch the parades and fireworks together. You can just bet I’ll be purring up a storm. I haven’t mastered the Star-Spangled Banner, but I’ll keep working on it with your love and encouragement. I’m also into toys and catnip, so I can also entertain you if you get bored. If you love America as much as I do, come check me out! The shelter is only open by appointment, but you can fill out an application on our website www.bayareapetadoptions.org. Once approved, you will receive a phone call to set up an appointment so we can meet me and get to know each other. If you have any questions, you can call us any day except Wednesday between 11 a.m. and 5p.m. at 281-339-2086.
Summer Stories By Pastor Brad Heintz
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very summer has stories to tell. Do you have a favorite one? What was your favorite summer growing up? Remember that summer when you were so busy, alone or overwhelmed? Or how about the summer you got away and had so much fun? Or how about the summer you stayed home? What is your COVID-19 summer story from last year? This summer is going to have a story also. As things open up, as we get to go, and as we experience summer, don’t forget to share a good, bad or even redeemed story! Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story— those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south. (Psalm 107:2-3) This verse is from Psalm 107. Psalm 107 is a poem about people with stories. Hebrew poetry
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Bay Area Houston Magazine | JULY 2021
doesn’t rhyme like we do in English poetry. Rather it creates a rhythm through repetition and patterns. There is a pattern that repeats in Psalm 107 painting a number of word pictures of people who have stories of being redeemed. Redeemed is a word that in our times usually refers to coupons and discounts. When we think of redeeming something, we think of getting a break on the price. We smile when the grocery store checkout person tells us how much we saved. In the Bible, redeemed means to be bought back for a price. Probably the word ransom and ransom payment are probably a better fit. To be ransomed from
enslavement or debt whether caused by self or others means to be redeemed. In the Bible, your closest relative had the right to buy you back. One of the greatest love stories in the Bible is the Book of Ruth, where Boaz buys Ruth back as one of her distant relatives because he loves her hates the situation, she was in. Their love story is the story of the redeemed. They told their story and it has lasted through the ages. In fact, their story has a great effect on all of us. See, Ruth and Boaz are the great, great grandparents of King David. It was through David’s family line that the promised Messiah, Jesus was born. Jesus is the greatest relative ever who, by giving his perfect life on the cross, paid the ransom price of our sins. He will redeem all who trust in Him and what He did. Now that’s the greatest love story every and we can be written into it. When we trust in Jesus, we are redeemed, our stories change, our lives change and even whatever we are going through this summer can change. Wouldn’t it be great, if this summer our stories are all stories of being redeemed? Wouldn’t it be great if “The Redeemed” go out and share their stories? Wouldn’t it be great if by the end of summer, we are all sharing our stories with one another? Have a great summer writing your story! Oh, and remember if you need a good summer story to read, try the book of Ruth or Psalm 107. Pastor Brad Heintz is the founding pastor of Living Word Church in Seabrook, Texas, a vibrant family-style,
