Just like me, if you heard them once, you heard them a thousand times: “Wake Up! It’s time to wake up.” Those unwelcomed words signaled the beginning of a new day, with all of its duties and responsibilities.

However, there’s another connotation that can be derived from those words. Sometimes the words “wake up” imply the need to stop daydreaming; to pay attention to what’s going on around you. Don’t be taken unawares. Viewed in this way, the insistent words “wake up” are certainly applicable to our modern-day world.

Today’s world is fraught with social upheaval, and troublesome unrest and chaos. Jesus, speaking of the final judgments of God, said that men’s hearts would be “…failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken” (Luke 21:26). Though I believe the actual fulfillment of this verse will take place in the future, it would certainly seem that we are seeing the foreshadowing of it. That being said, it would be prudent to heed God’s Word, which says, “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:6-7).

I believe the need for individual and national repentance before God is urgent, for the ominous clouds of judgment are already on the horizon. I wish to illustrate my point with this true account:

Danny Waters is on the staff of the Georgia Baptist Convention. In a meeting I was attending at the convention headquarters this week, I heard Danny describe the apprehension he experienced when a tornado passed over his home last week. He awoke from sleep during the night and heard the foreboding sound like that of a train, and the wail of nearby tornado sirens, and knew that danger was imminent. He woke his wife and said, “Honey, get up, there’s a storm.” He reported that she rolled over in the bed and said, “Wake me up when it gets bad!” There was laughter when Danny pointed out that her sleep kept her from seeing the immediate danger. Then Danny continued. He said to his wife, “Get up, now! We have to get into the basement—IT’S BAD RIGHT NOW!” They found safety in the basement even though their house was damaged in the storm.1

It is dangerous to sleep when hard winds are blowing. I am reminded of the Scripture passage found in 1 Thessalonians 5:5-6, “You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.” (NKJV).

If you are waiting for things to get worse in our world before you wake up, you need to WAKE UP NOW! IT’S BAD RIGHT NOW!

1 J. Mike Minnix, former editor of pastorlife.com.

Alton “Mack” Elliott, Jr. of Port O’Connor, Texas, passed away August 25, 2015 after a long battle with cancer at the age of 71. Mack was born on August 30, 1943 and was raised in Houston, TX and retired to Port O’Connor in 2007.

Mack served in the U. S. Navy for 4 years. He was a proud member of the Eastwood Lodge AF & M, Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, and Arabia Shrine Temple. Mack worked at Johnson Controls as a project manager for 25 years. When not working, Mack enjoyed spending time with family and friends. He was an avid fisherman, airplane pilot, enjoyed camping and hanging out at the river or going to the Ponderosa to visit with friends and family. The first time you met Mack you were a friend for life and you may have even called him Mack Daddy or Captain Mack.

Mack is preceded in death by his parents, Alton Mack Elliott, Sr. and Jessie Louise Elliott, sister Betty Lomas, son Stephen Brandon, and niece Kelly Quinn.

Mack is survived by his wife of 36 years, Peggy Elliott; his daughters Cindy McCann and husband Richard, Christi Parham and husband Charles; his son Michael Brandon and wife Peggy. He also leaves his sister Barbara Quinn and husband Kenneth; nieces Betsy Medieros and Pam Bordovsky; his sister-in-law Charlotte McCain and husband Guy; his brothers-in-law Richard Crone and wife Nancy, Roger Crone and wife Judy, and Ronnie Crone and wife Sharon. He was loved by his seven grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

PORT LAVACA – Cresencia P. Gubara, age 92 of Port Lavaca passed away on Thursday, August 20, 2015. She was born on June 15, 1923 in McAllen, Texas to the late Joaquin Prado and Dolores Huerta Prado.

She is survived by her daughter Elida (Joseph) Ragusin of Port O’Connor; sons, Joe E. Gubara of Port Lavaca and Billy (Darlene) Gubara of Roswell, New Mexico; brother Fidencio Prado of San Juan, Texas; sister Pauline Lerma of San Juan, Texas. She is also survived by 5 grandchildren JoAnn (Arthur) Garcia, Joseph (Jessica) Ragusin Jr., Louis Ragusin, Shelley Gubara, and Christina Gubara and 9 great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents and husband Louis Gubara.

Funeral mass was celebrated on Monday, August 24, 2015 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Tivoli, Texas. Burial followed at Tivoli Catholic Cemetery in Tivoli, Texas.

Pallbearers were Joe Gubara, Billy Gubara, Joseph Ragusin, Joseph Ragusin Jr., Louis Ragusin, and Arthur Garcia. Honorary pallbearers were her great-grandchildren.

PORT O’CONNOR – Debra Iletta Gayle, 55, of Port O’Connor, passed away Sunday, August 30, 2015.

Debbie was born on April 21, 1960, in Victoria, Texas. Her parents, Richard and Jenny (Ramos) Scott raised her in Port O’Connor, Texas, where she enjoyed growing up in the coastal lifestyle with a close extended family. She married Daniel Gayle on December 19, 1980. She always said her children Roxanne and Scott were her pride and joy. She was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Port O’Connor.

She graduated from Calhoun High School in 1978 and then studied business at Del Mar College. She later attended Victoria College and University of Houston-Victoria, studying child psychology and participating in many organizations for which she received a volunteer of the year award.

Debbie devoted her life to community service through work and as a volunteer. She worked in childcare, law, and non-profit social work. She volunteered for environmental, school, and community organizations.

Debbie enjoyed spending time with her family and friends most of all. She was a devoted, caring, and thoughtful wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, niece, cousin, and friend. She loved to visit with family near and far of all ages. She especially enjoyed children and beamed with pride watching her own grandchildren grow. She enjoyed researching genealogy and teaching others about her family history.

She enjoyed going to the beach, sailing, riding motorcycles, traveling, cooking, sewing, fossil-hunting, scrapbooking, reading, writing, and helping others in the community. She was an inspiration to many with her resilience, strength, and determination.

Debbie is survived by her husband, Daniel Gayle, of Port O’Connor; son, Scott Allen Gayle of Port O’Connor; daughter, Roxanne Caye (Aaron Lee) Ochoa of Port O’Connor; grandsons, Antonio Daniel Gloria, Isaiah Adan Ochoa, and Helios Aaron Ochoa, all of Port O’Connor. She is also survived by her brothers, Ricky Allen Scott of Port O’Connor; Zeke (Marcie) Cano of Sinton; Johnny (Un) Perez of San Antonio; Rey (Maggie) Perez of Sugarland; and Adam (Tomasa) Perez of Brazoria; sister, Cenaida (Steve) Baldridge of Victoria; and sister-in-law, Rosa Perez of Brazoria. Debbie is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents; grandparents Newton Alfred (Iletta Clara Knopps) Scott and Luciano (Dolores Dominguez) Ramos; unborn granddaughter ‘Josephine’ Ochoa; biological mother, Tomasa Delagarza; brothers Salvador ‘Blue’ Perez, Perfecto Perez Jr., Lee Pedraza; sister Tomasita Perez; and several other beloved family members and friends.

Funeral mass was celebrated on Tuesday, September 8, 2015, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church with Father Tommy Chen officiating. Burial followed at Port O’Connor Cemetery.