The World According To Chris Brewer

So it’s 91 degrees out here, but thank God that the humidity is nonexistent. We’ve been helping one of Mark’s coworkers clean up a bit by moving some plywood boards off the windows, handing out some Salvation Army meals and just chatting it up with folks who have a good story to tell.

I’ve got some good photos — seen some unbelievable stuff so far like yachts resting against houses, piles and piles of personal belongings on the streets, etc.

But everyone’s persevering through this okay…I thought this was pretty neat.

I arrived in Houston around 6:45 and I knew I was getting closer when I passed FEMA, Red Cross and OEM trucks on I-45.

Coming into Houston was weird…there wasn’t much traffic but there is still the snapped power pole here and there…and even a few billboards ripped.

Haven’t seen the damage down here on the waterfront yet but we will be helping some folks tomorrow.

As for right now, I am sitting in Esteban’s Cafe and Cantina with Mark and I just polished off three enchiladas, and no mom, I am not at the cantina.

5:05 pm, Huntsville, TX — I am about 60 miles away from Houston at this point.

Just filled up the car with gas at $3.70/gal for premium. That is not bad considering what happened here a couple weeks ago.

605 miles loggged, I can taste it now.

11:34 am, McAlester, OK — I just passed an exit for Electric Avenue. I am not kidding. Guess I better rock down there.

258 miles logged so far, nearly 480 to go. Wheeeeeeeee. 170 miles to Dallas.

Here is the Fail of the Afternoon, if you can make out what the message under the Phillips 66 sign says. Whoever buys three hot dogs for that price is getting a raw deal

6:38 AM, Springfield, MO - Beautiful morning here in Springfield, and the sun is just coming up to the east. It’s gonna be a nice drive.

Overheard at Colton’s Steakhouse last night during the JRA men’s choir gathering, which I was invited to and accepted:

Sam Coryell: “The route you’re gonna want to take is I-44 to Big Cabin, then go south.”
Wally Davenport: “Do you think the people of Big Cabin watch a lot of Little House on the Prairie?”

Only Wally. Sheesh.

In just a few hours, I will begin my roadtrip to League City, Texas — at 6 AM to be exact. I’m packed and ready, except for my electronic and photographic gear. The back seat of my car is packed with school supplies to be delivered, and I’ve packed a bunch of old clothing to wear while working. I’m excited but I’m beat so I think I’ll sleep well tonight.

My route will take me west on Interstate 44 from Springfield to Big Cabin, Oklahoma — where I will exit south onto US Highway 69 and follow it to its merger with 71, then continue on 71 into Dallas…and from there it’s I-45 southeast from Dallas to Houston and then League City. The trip should take around twelve hours, not including food and rest stops.

I will also be liveblogging from my iPhone, which means that I can also upload photos as well. Be sure to check the blog frequently this weekend as I will be updating it every couple hours or so.

Keep me in your prayers tomorrow and through the weekend as I do what I feel the Lord telling me to do!

Kelly Ripa didn’t know where his hands have been, but we all had a good idea and now we’ve officially heard it from the horse’s mouth.

Shocker: Clay Aiken is gay.

We now return you to your regular scheduled programming and actually apologize for interrupting it to bring you this irrelevant news.

Listen to this message from Mark Driscoll, the pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle. I am shocked — this is the first time I have ever agreed with anyone from the Emergent movement on anything. I don’t agree with the rest of Driscoll’s stuff but regarding the Shack I believe he is spot on.

I’ll quote a portion of the upcoming video — if you haven’t read “The Shack,” DON’T.

Great theological points, and those of you who have bought into theology of a book that is clearly FICTION should consider yourself warned.

Last night I went back to Crimson House for church and it was good. COGOP churches here in Missouri and Kansas held their regional yearly convention this weekend at the Oasis Hotel and Convention Center over the weekend, so as expected a lot of the folks at church were a bit tired — but the message and the focus of the evening was great. It was also great to see a couple of new faces…

…one of which was Wally, the self-described “youngest old guy you’d ever meet” and a member of the James River Choir of which I was a part. Boy, was I shocked when I looked over to the right and two pews across from me, there was Wally.

He told me he had talked to Rich (who also is previously a member of Crimson House) and found the church’s info on the Internet. He skipped out of the last part of his Life Group, as he said, to come check up on me and see how I was doing. He also wanted to check out the church too.

It was such a pleasant surprise to see Wally there and it reinforced the bond that I still have with many people at JRA. I can honestly say I have never had someone go out of their way like that to let me know I have been missed, and that spoke volumes to me. What a tremendous blessing from the Lord.

Wally didn’t hesitate to meet the church folks, and he said he’d be back when he could make it. Not leaving JRA…just visitin’ every once in awhile to worship and enjoy the Word.

Wally if you read this, I definitely appreciate you coming to CH last night and it spoke volumes to me!

Thanks to everyone who has already, within the last 24 hours of me announcing I am heading to Houston, pledged to donate school supplies for the kids in my friend Mark’s school district. I am wanting to fill the back seat of my car with school supplies, and much more is needed, so if you’d like to help please email me (chris -at- chris-brewer -dot- com) and we can make arrangements for me to pick up the supplies before I leave, or coordinate a delivery point.

The supplies that are needed are:

Backpacks
School clothes
Pencils, pens, paper, binders, etc.

If you could box it up, it’d be much easier to load and unload. Thanks in advance and please pass the word along…bear in mind I’m driving an Acura TL with limited backseat and trunk space, but I’ll bring what I can.