Water Baptism

Thirteen adults and children were water baptized on Easter at the Seadrift Community Church in Seadrift. Every time someone is water baptized not only are they impacted, but the community is as well. Water baptism has been a long-held tradition in the Christian Church dating back to the time of Christ when Jesus’ disciples were water baptizing. Jesus Himself spoke to His disciples and commanded them to make converts, baptize them, and teach them to observe all that Jesus commanded them. (Matthew 28:9)

At the Seadrift Community Church those water baptisms were a church community event where church members baptized their loved ones all in accordance with Matthew 28:9. Pictured is a grandmother (Jennifer Bernal) baptizing her granddaughter (Kambrie Morales) while Pastor Mart Maxwell was looking on. Pastor Mart made this observation about the baptisms that Easter by saying, “With the founding members doing the work that Christ called them to do, it causes the movement of the Holy Spirit in their lives from baptizing the young people to change the hearts of the congregation.”

Kambrie Morales who was baptized in the picture commented about her baptism by saying, “I wanted to go to “God’s lead.” I wanted to tell God that I don’t want to do any bad stuff anymore and I want to be blessed.”
For three or four months, Kambrie related to me, she was waiting to be baptized. She was very excited for the day to come and wouldn’t stop talking about it. Her grandmother wanted to baptize her because she was excited for her, Kambrie said. Kambrie’s family members were baptized and some of her friends, too.
-Tanya DeForest

From Michael Cloud, US Congressman, Texas District 2.
I wanted to give you all an update on an issue I’ve been asked about several times lately, which is the bill I recently had to vote NO on in the House. It was a bill called the “Antisemitism Awareness Act,” but truthfully, the title was misleading.

Too often, Congress speedily advances well-intended but poorly drafted legislation that actually does more damage than the issue it attempts to address. That was the case with this bill. It may have been well-intentioned, but it contained language that was way too broad and I believe violated free speech rights. In trying to condemn antisemitism, the text went so far as to list things that could be labeled as “hate speech.” Under this bill, even someone reading Biblical passages talking about Jesus’s crucifixion could be accused of “hate speech.”

These were issues that could have been fixed had House Leadership allowed for Member input, but as we were working to solve the problems, leadership steamrolled us and scheduled the vote anyway. That’s not the way the people’s house should work.

What’s happening towards our Jewish brothers and sisters is shameful and should be dealt with. It is indicative of a much bigger problem and a sickness within our country that leaders need to deal with head-on. But playing leftist games and labeling things “hate speech” not only violates free speech rights, it pretends we’re doing something useful when we really aren’t.

Instead, we should be focusing our attention on using Congress’ Constitutional power of the purse to defund taxpayer-funded institutions pushing ideologies like antisemitism. We should also block President Biden’s bureaucracy from getting more funding after he, once again, ignored clear Congressional direction (also known as the law) to speedily deliver military aid to Israel. Let’s actually use our leverage to implement consequences and change – not just push talking points.

I hope that explains my position for those of you asking.

Louis “Butch” Franklin Hodges Jr., age 80, of Seadrift, Texas passed away on Thursday, May 2, 2024. Louis was born June 3, 1943 in Seadrift, Texas to the late Dorothy Lee Grimes Hodges and Louis Franklin Hodges, Sr. He served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. After the war, he worked at Union Carbide until his retirement. His hobbies included fishing and hunting. He enjoyed spending time at The Barn, which he and Sam Marshall established in 1989. He would always say it was the only museum in Seadrift. He was an escort for Combat Marine Outdoors. He enjoyed helping other combat veterans heal and loved bringing them to Seadrift for outdoor therapy. In his time with CMO, he helped thousands of people heal. He was also a past commander of VFW Post 4403 and a member of the DAV (Disabled American Veterans). One of his many accomplishments was setting the Guiness world record for the Texas Water Safari, the world’s toughest canoe race, in 1976. He was able to finish the race in 37 hours and 18 minutes.

Butch is survived by his wife, Mary Hodges; daughter, Katrina Pokluda (Allan); brother, Ronnie Hodges (Susan); sisters, Debbie Kirchner (Gary) and Linda Clements (Roger); grandchildren, Brent Carpenter (Tayler) and Mikaela Morris (Nathan). He is also survived by his great-grandchildren, Khloe, Harper, Case, Greyson and Charlie.

He was preceded in death by his father, Louis Franklin Hodges, Sr.; mother, Dorothy Lee Grimes Hodges; and sister, Sharon Hodges-Mahon.

Graveside services were held Saturday, May 11, 2024 at Seadrift Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers were Brent Carpenter, Ardie Hodges, Marcus May, Jonathon Davenport, Randy Spencer and Casey Carter. Honorary pallbearers were Ricky Carter, Louis “Buzzy” Dillon, Neal Crumley, Sam Marshall, Allan Pokluda, Combat Marine Outdoors and American Legion 177.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Butch’s memory may be made to Combat Marine Outdoors, 750 Town and Country Blvd #800, Houston, Texas 77024 or online at www.combatmarineoutdoors.org/#donate.

Thoughts and memories may be shared at www.richardsoncolonial.com.