Thank you for your continued prayers. I am getting stronger, but not fully back yet! Pastor Joane is doing a fantastic job ministering the Word in our services. Right now, she is going through the Beatitudes from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. There is such a wealth of knowledge that if you can not be present, be sure to get her notes.

This past Sunday, we enjoyed an All Church Fellowship in honor of Pastor Joane’s birthday. We had a “pot luck” meal, followed by a devotional. We had a great time of fellowship. Then, on Pastor Joane’s actual birthday, January 13, we honored her again with sandwiches, cake and ice cream.

We are looking forward to the second Sunday of February as a Chapel Anniversary. It was on that day that I came to Port O’Connor at the invitation of six people to help begin a church here. Our first building was on Adams and we were there for almost a year. Then we learned that Mr. Joe Bright was going to begin closing down his businesses, We contacted him and before long, we had purchased our present building, which had housed the Intercoastal Lumber Company and Mr. Bright’s office for his contracting business. It was a great blessing to this young congregation when Mr. Bright asked if he could rent our former church building on Adams. We sincerely appreciated his help in getting us started as a church. That was 1995. We have been here for 25 years and have seen a lot of changes.

Probably the greatest impact on the Chapel, and I know upon my personal life, happened on January 8, 1996. On that evening, at the Chapel, when one of the front doors had been installed that morning, Pastor Joane walked the isle and promised she would marry me! That day is not just a yearly milestone for me, but every day I am blessed by the events of that evening! I would never be who I am today if she had not been willing to move to Port O’Connor and become my wife. The Chapel would not have the benefit of her anointed preaching and teaching. The community would not have been blessed with her counseling and hard work to further the work of the Lord here. She has been a blessing to us all and especially to me, and I love her more today than I did 25 years ago!

This building had to be repaired and cleaned as our first project. We bought pews and carpeted the building and built a platform. Soon, we realized that we needed additional restrooms and space for our grown youth group, which was blossoming under the leadership of Pastor Joane. We knew that our family needed something better than the 10 X 40 trailer that we were living in next door to the Chapel.

We got in contact with the President of the Bank of Goliad and were trying to get him interested in helping us build a parsonage. There were all kinds of delays because we were such a new congregation that it looked like it might not happen for years. A lot of congregational prayers went Heavenward as we asked for Divine Help! It was on a Sunday evening when our friend, Reverend Larry Lamphier, came and dedicated our new Youth Room that we got breakthrough. The next morning, I got a call from our banker friend who told me, “Preacher, start your parsonage! Funds are now available!”

The parsonage was not the only building addition for the Chapel. We had a large “dry storage” building at the back of the property that everyone suggested that we just tear down. But, I could not get a good feeling about destroying something that I believed had such good potential. With the help of my father-in-law, Papaw, we remodeled that old building and made it into a Retreat Center that has been a great blessing to many people from all over Texas and several other states as well.

Year before last, we had an opportunity of buying a former “Army Officers’ Quarters” in the form of a 16X80 trailer. Personally, I was not for such an investment, but Pastor Joane got it it done! We have housed several ministry teams and others in those nice facclities. Right now, Tom Kasti is working to ready me a new office in that building and then we will transform the present office into Pastor Joane’s. We are installing “mini-split” air condition units in the trailer to make it as comfortable as possible.

The work of the Kingdom has not stopped from the day we arrived. Our efforts have not only been to see buildings readied for visitors, but we have done our best to see the spiritual climate of our Community changed. Whether it has been our efforts with the Chapel Pantry, the Community Thanksgiving Service or the Community Sunrise Service, we have always tried to help the needy of our area. We have also been instrumental in bringing the Sea Academy with Captain Robert here about four times each year for Captain classes. Thank you for helping us! We cn do no more than you will assist us with!

I do not know how long I will serve this community, but I plan to be planted in our community’s cemetery within the next 50 years! Pastor Joane and I could never thank you enough for your acceptance in this Community and your undying help and love you have shown in so many areas!

We were not born in Port O’Connor, but we got here as soon as we could!

One will always find a warm welcome at the Chapel. Everyone is urged to, “Come, grow with us!”

Best Overall—-Joey & Katelyn

Best Overall—-Joey & Katelyn–2785 W. Harrison

Most Unique—Mike & Ronn–Two RV Park #41–1402 W. Harrison

Best Coastal Theme–Karen Smith—310 N.10th Street

Best Christmas Theme—Joe & Patty Kallus- 17th & Scarlett

Best RV—–Joe & Sherry Hoffman—POC RV Park #7–110 Steve Street

Best Commercial &Most Colorful—Coastal Boat Services/ Chuck Carter

Most Decorated—Arnold & Melanie Martinez—1508 W. Van Buren

A Canyon Towhee fluffs up its feathers to trap warm air close to its body. Photo by Mike Williams

In this part of Texas, we can generally wear shorts in the winter. But there have been a few cold spells lately that have forced me to bundle up when I go outside. This got me thinking: how do animals, especially birds, keep warm in cold weather?

Birds have several adaptations that help them survive the winter in relative comfort. One of the most obvious ones is their downy feathers. Humans use down feathers to make warm coats and other clothing, so it makes sense that down serves the same warming purpose for birds. Down feathers are fluffy, small, and can be found down below the bird’s other feathers, close to the skin.

The fluffy down traps warm air next to the skin, insulating it against the cold outside. Birds can multiply this effect by fluffing up their feathers to create more pockets for warm air. If you see a particularly round bird this winter, it hasn’t eaten a baseball, it’s just fluffing up to keep warm.
Another source of insulation is fat. Birds who will need extra padding or energy are able to store fat reserves on their body. Before long flights or cold winters, birds will bulk up and eat even more food than usual. The fat reserves provide an additional layer between their core and the cold weather, plus more energy to create body heat.

But what about those parts of the body that don’t have much fat or feathers, particularly the legs? Birds lose vital body heat as warm blood circulates through their exposed legs, cooling as it goes. They can combat this problem by tucking their legs in close to their body to keep them warm, and with what’s called countercurrent heat exchange.

Warm blood enters the legs through arteries. Cooler blood exits the legs through veins. With countercurrent heat exchange, the birds have adapted to have arteries that touch the veins in the legs. This transfers heat from the blood coming into the legs to the blood exiting. It keeps more warmth in the body core and less heat enters the legs and feet to be leeched out by the cold.

Another cold weather adaptation can be found in a bird’s metabolism. Birds generally have a high metabolism and run a body temperature slightly higher than ours, about 105 degrees Fahrenheit. This internal temperature helps them keep warm in the winter, especially with those downy feathers and fat reserves keeping the heat in.

Finally, there are several behaviors that birds can practice to stay warm. If they have a flock, they can roost together, standing or sitting close to each other to keep the heat in. Those birds in the center of the group will be nice and toasty when they’re surrounded by down and 105 degree bodies! Another beneficial behavior is sunning. When the sun comes out, birds sit out and soak up the rays, saving their energy to make more heat when the clouds roll in.

So the next time you go outside and shiver, don’t worry about our downy feathered friends. With all of these awesome adaptations, they’re far better equipped for the winter than we are!

December 7, 2020

The year 2020 was a very tough year.

Are we agreed?

No one has been exempted from the impacts of this year’s events. Our country is experiencing the broadest hardship and suffering, the most environmental destruction, the most death and the most personal isolation since WWII. We have seen our great Republic teeter on the brink, and we have been reminded of the incredible fragility of civil rest. Perhaps we can also all agree that, in some ways, we have looked into the proverbial mirror and have seen the best and the worst of our collective selves.

But I have a theory that we are, in fact, living out what will become known as The Great Paradox of 2020.
A paradox is a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or theory that, when investigated or explained, may prove to be true.

At the center of my Great Paradox theory is the human spirit. On top of that we can, I believe, stack a resolute and distinct American spirit. If we can consider 2020 as a learning moment in time perhaps we can bring to our forward consciousness some important lessons that we might not have otherwise considered about ourselves, about others, and about our country and world. Paradoxically, the hardest times can often birth our greatest human advancements.

As we consider this question it is so important that we not, in any way whatsoever, trivialize the very real loss, pain, suffering and isolation of so many people near and far. But we all have a responsibility to learn from these events that have come to pass.

As the hope for 2021 dawns, the old year calls us to personal re-evaluation and to a mindfulness of the people that bring definitive meaning to our lives. We are called to use our time formed by re-shaped schedules and circumstances to consider those foundational virtues that are good, decent, beautiful, admirable, and truthful. We are called to the recollection of family and friends we may have let fade away in time and memory. We are called to take deeply to heart the plight of those who are suffering, whether we know them or not, recognizing that one of the paradoxical lessons of 2020 is that we are not as detached as we might like to think we are. In fact, in so many important ways, we are forced into the realization that we are all in the same proverbial boat, breathing the same air, and trying to ride-out the same stormy sea.
We can each decide for ourselves if 2020 has caused our hearts and minds to broaden or to become narrower. What good, if any, can possibly come from the despair, unkindness, death, and division of this past year? How about hope, kindness, justice, and more meaningful lives? Will we be capable of forming such a response from these dire circumstances? I surely would not bet against the American spirit which has been well known to dare greatly in a defining moment.

In that sense what might these narrow straits of 2020 teach us about moving forward?

First, we may have learned that we each have a quiet power within and that from the depths of our hearts and minds can emerge the source of a better world. Second, we are not as separate as we thought, because it is now clear that we are all in this together – like it or not. Third, we are not all called upon to accomplish great achievements, but we are all surely called upon to be great in everything that we do. Fourth, we are reminded of the incredible power each of us possesses to extend our inner greatness by simply lending a hand, taking a moment, offering a kind word, or gifting a simple smile. Finally, it is time for each one of us to reflect seriously on the historical role of the gift of faith and what it means when it comes to the fragility of our lives and nation.

Upon considering these things we should be able to discover some great truths about ourselves. On the other hand, maybe we will discover some self-truths that are not so great. Either way, our thoughtful encounter with the painful events of 2020 has the potential to bring us much wisdom, individual growth, and a renewed collective national spirit. And to that, let us all say Amen.

Robert Aguirre is resident of Pipe Creek, Bandera County, Texas.