Why do we often take the long way home? For we do, returning, only after much wandering, to the abiding realities of living. Perhaps this is one reason we are brought again and again with certain inevitability to the story of the Prodigal Son. We walk searching for fulfillment. Our personal fulfillment often takes us the way we walk. We can see in his unfolding experience the assurance of God at work in every life, making for that fulfillment for which we hunger.

Our story begins with the right claim, “I want my share.” The awakening of want is a time of great significance in all of our lives. The awareness of a new want often may be clearest evidence of God’s dealing with us. Most add whole dimensions to our lives by these moments of wakening. We may see a life of fruitful service and know that all our years we must seek to walk a similar way, like I did 61 years ago when I was credentialed to be a minister. “I want my share” may be God’s working in us, calling out the response that we might begin asking of Him to seek as He already is seeking.

This is a constant part of Biblical understanding of life. He reminder that God’s provision is prior to our asking. We want what the early Christians experienced, like joy, love, and peace. We may be certain that such gifts have not been withdrawn but wait for the day when we know our need, take up our claim, and move into the possession of which God has provided. We begin the journey to fulfillment with the plea, “I want my share.”

What makes us a Prodigal is when we say, “I want my way.” We must understand the subtlety and subterfuge by which we insist upon our way at the very time when we are claiming that our devotion is to God. We try to use God rather than serve Him, insisting on our way while calling it His Will, and seeking the far country in us when He is calling us home. One of the hardest words for us to submit to is “Nevertheless!” Not my will but Thine be done does not come easily for neither Jesus or us!

Soon the Prodigal comes to say, “I want!” The younger brother knew what emptiness was all about. There was plenty of husk, but he knew there was better at the Father’s house. Our emptiness is not when we are deprived, but when we have arrived. The poverty of those despised goods make life seem understandable and is a quite logical failure of supply and demand.

The real story is summarized by “I am wanted.” While he was yet at a distance his father saw him and had compassion and ran and embraced him. God has seen us from a distance and in compassion He has come to us. It is the words that is found when we have come the long way home. It is the kind of wholeness we see in lives centered down in God’s house. We never set out to deliberately take the long way home, but when we find ourselves away from God’s house, we should return as quickly as possible! The story of our lives will turn out to be like that of other Prodigals – home is always better than any far country! Get back home!

Beloved former Port O’Connor teacher, LeAnn Ragusin reads 10 Apples Up on Top to a group.

Bobbie Smith and Adalynn McCabe show off their Mardi Gras masks in Ms. Peters POC Kindergarten.

Osvin Guiterrez tries on some horns in the Game Warden station manned by Jared Lewis and Casey Whillmon.

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On September 1, 2024, the Matagorda Bay Mitigation Trust published a Request for Proposals for coastal environmental projects in five categories: habitat restoration, environmental research, public education, improving public access, and youth camps. In response to the published advertisements a total of 60 proposals, from 29 entities, totaling 27.3 million dollars, were received. Today, Steven J. Raabe, P.E., Trustee of the Matagorda Bay Mitigation Trust, announces that 31 projects, from 21 entities, totaling over 16.2 million dollars have been approved for funding. Three of the awarded projects, for major coastal restoration projects totaling 5.5 million dollars, were approved contingent upon the recipient’s raising of matching funds within three years. Raabe stated, “We are so fortunate to have received some wonderful project proposals. The selection committee had a very difficult time making their final recommendations. But we are extremely pleased with the quality, scope, and cost effectiveness of the proposals selected.” Since its inception in 2020, the MBMT has entered into contracts totaling $64.8 million dollars. “All of this makes for a very significant step forward in the mission of the Trust to research, restore and improve the Matagorda and San Antonio bays environment,” Raabe added.

The thirty-one 2024-2025 RFP projects being funded, by category, are: Habitat Restoration (Eleven projects totaling $7,459,000) Derelict Crab Trap Removal Project: Texas Mid-Coast-2026, San Antonio Bay Partnership, ($30,000) Protection and Restoration of Ayres Point Oyster Reefs: Final Engineering/Design and Bid Package Development, Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program, ($200,000) Oliver Point and Oliver Reef Restoration Project – Phase I, Matagorda Bay Foundation, ($2,000,000) Dressing Point Island Restoration Project Phase 2, Ducks Unlimited, ($2,000,000) Acquisition and Restoration of ICF’s Texas Flagship Property, International Crane Foundation, ($380,000) Little Bird Island North Permitting and Final Design, San Antonio Bay Partnership, ($443,000) Swan Point Resiliency and Restoration, Calhoun County, ($1,500,000) San Antonio & Espiritu Santo Bay Shorelines Cleanup and Reduction, San Antonio Bay Partnership, ($36,000) Habitat Restoration of the Hog and Schwing Bayou Preserve-Phase II, Guadalupe-Blanco River Trust, ($500,000) Clive Runnells Family Mad Island Marsh Preserve Management and Shoreline Protection, The Nature Conservancy, ($200,000) Cedar Bayou Maintenance Dredging Permit Amendment to Create DMPA on Matagorda Island, Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program, ($170,000) Environmental Research (Four projects totaling $1,589,918) The Status and Historical Trends of Estuarine Organisms of the Colorado-Lavaca Estuary Effects of Anthropogenic, Hydrologic, and Climate Related Influences on Species Abundance and Community Composition, Matagorda Bay Foundation, ($446,981) Managing for Gulf American Oystercatchers: Monitoring the Gulf Coast Populations and Investigating Wintering and Foraging Behaviors, Gulf Coast Bird Observatory, ($246,723) Assessment of groundwater quality and dynamics near Formosa plant and Alcoa Superfund Site, Lavaca Bay, Texas A&M University – Galveston, ($470,925) Trace element concentrations in sediment from the Alcoa (Point Comfort)/Lavaca Bay Superfund site, Texas State University, ($425,289) 2 Public Education (Four projects totaling $1,296,186): Nurdle Patrol Citizen Science Project, Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi, ($749,999)

Public Education (Four projects totaling $1,296,186): Nurdle Patrol Citizen Science Project, Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi, ($749,999) City of Port Lavaca Mid-Coast Birding Festival Boat Tours, City of Port Lavaca, ($16,250) YMCA Field Education Transportation Initiative, Calhoun County YMCA, ($465,510) Calhoun County Extension Office Truck for Public Education on Waterbodies and Surrounding Ecosystems, Calhoun County, ($64,427) Improving Public Access (Nine projects totaling $4,694,735): Expansion of King Fisher Beach Park, Calhoun County, ($480,000) Purchase of Kitchen Tract on Lavaca Bay for Conservation and Improve Public Access to the Waterfront, City of Port Lavaca, ($479,500) Port Alto Shoreline Restoration and Habitat Protection, Callhoun County, ($2,000,000) New Matagorda Harbor Boat Ramp, Port of Bay City Authority, ($338,500) Seadrift A. D. Powers Bayfront Park Improvements, City of Seadrift, ($335,000) Adopt-a-Beach: Magnolia and Indianola Beaches, Magnolia Beach VFD Auxiliary, ($15,000) City of Point Comfort – Public Access to City’s Waterfront Park & Boat Ramp, City of Point Comfort, ($457,129) Little Chocolate Bayou Park Restrooms, Calhoun County, ($249,926) King Fisher Pier Project, Calhoun County, ($339,680) Youth Camps (Three projects totaling $1,219,500): Matagorda Manana, Texas Floating Classroom, Inc., ($94,500) Port Lavaca YMCA Summer Camp, Calhoun County YMCA, ($750,000) Bay City YMCA Summer Camp, Calhoun County YMCA, ($375,000) “The significance of these projects to public access and enjoyment of the bay area cannot be overstated. In conjunction with our efforts to study and improve the bays’ environmental health, these projects will serve our state and our coastal community well,” Raabe stated.

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“April Fool’s and Easter Bunco Fun”

Tuesday, April 1, 2025 – 6:30 PM

POC Community Center

$5.00 To Play-All Ladies are Welcome!!!!

This story is fictional, but based on scripture found in 2 Chronicles 1:13-17, 2 Chronicles 9:25, Psalm 20:7, and Psalm 33:17-20 Jacob means: “may God protect”

From the time he was twelve years old, he had been trained in the art of combat. He was well mastered in both sword and spear weaponry. He was also a skilled horseman which included knowing how to drive a chariot. He had to know how to harness his war horse to the chariot and how to take care of the tack as well as the horse itself. Everything had to be in top-notch condition so that it would be ready to withstand the heat of battle. He was now twenty.

King Solomon had just received a new shipment of the most well-bred horses ready to be trained for war. This particular shipment was imported from Egypt and Jacob and his comrades were in charge of unloading the beasts from the ship. It could be a dangerous job depending on how skittish the horse was, but something within Jacob challenged him to always rise to the occasion. Ever since he was a young boy in military training, for some reason, whenever he felt like his courage was being called upon, he had to answer. He could never let himself back down from a daring challenge. He felt he must come out the victor. Today was just another private fight warring within himself. He would always tell himself he must conquer his fears, which he knew were only a vapor imposed upon him for but a moment.

Jacob and his comrades had been unloading horses for the better part of an hour, when Jacob saw him. He was black as mid-night during a new moon and Jacob could tell that this horse flesh was fast. His coal black eyes bored into Jacob’s own, defiantly challenging Jacob to tame his unbroken spirit. One word that came to Jacob’s mind about this horse, “obstinate”. This horse was obstinate. However, he was a beautiful horse with features to astound. He was a lighter-framed horse with a sleek shiny coat and that was even after the long boat ride. This observation suggested that the horse was healthy. His chest was deep, indicating the horse had great stamina. Moreover, his legs were straight. His body was slender, but with well-honed muscles.

Jacob could tell this horse had had a lot of physical training before coming to Jaffa. Jacob took this all in in just a few seconds. He thought how he would love to work with this horse. However, what were the probabilities that he, merely a horseman in the Israeli military, would end up with the privilege of training such a great horse to become a war horse? No, it wasn’t likely, Jacob thought. He stepped up to take the reins of the beauty, when the horse spooked and reared up. Jacob calmly and firmly held the reins without letting go. He knew this horse required a firm hand to steer him in the desired direction. It wasn’t going to be easy to train this horse, whoever he was. However, Jacob decided right then that if he could persuade his commanders to let him train the horse, he would relish the challenge.

Jacob fearlessly stood still as the horse lowered himself back to the ground. Jacob gave him a long look, letting the equine know that he was not the master. The horse returned Jacob’s stare, unbroken until Jacob felt they had come to terms. Jacob then, gently tugged on the reigns instigating the horse to move forward. The horse obeyed and stepped forth as Jacob fluidly turned and they began to walk toward the unloading ramp. The transition from the ship to land was smooth and Jacob breathed a sigh of relief. In consequence, the horse was a stallion, making him very unpredictable. However, he had to learn to submit to human authority just like any other horse. After all the horses were taken care of,

Jacob was finally able to bed down for the night. It had been a long day and he was exhausted. As he lay there, he determined that he would make an effort to request if he could be commissioned to train the black stallion.