• Home
  • popular
  • EVENTS
  • submit-new-event
  • CHARITY GUIDE
  • Children
  • Education
  • Health
  • Veterans
  • Social Services
  • Arts + Culture
  • Animals
  • LGBTQ
  • New Charity
  • TRENDING NEWS
  • News
  • City Life
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Home + Design
  • Travel
  • Real Estate
  • Restaurants + Bars
  • Arts
  • Society
  • Innovation
  • Fashion + Beauty
  • subscribe
  • about
  • series
  • Embracing Your Inner Cowboy
  • Green Living
  • Summer Fun
  • Real Estate Confidential
  • RX In the City
  • State of the Arts
  • Fall For Fashion
  • Cai's Odyssey
  • Comforts of Home
  • Good Eats
  • Holiday Gift Guide 2010
  • Holiday Gift Guide 2
  • Good Eats 2
  • HMNS Pirates
  • The Future of Houston
  • We Heart Hou 2
  • Music Inspires
  • True Grit
  • Hoops City
  • Green Living 2011
  • Cruizin for a Cure
  • Summer Fun 2011
  • Just Beat It
  • Real Estate 2011
  • Shelby on the Seine
  • Rx in the City 2011
  • Entrepreneur Video Series
  • Going Wild Zoo
  • State of the Arts 2011
  • Fall for Fashion 2011
  • Elaine Turner 2011
  • Comforts of Home 2011
  • King Tut
  • Chevy Girls
  • Good Eats 2011
  • Ready to Jingle
  • Houston at 175
  • The Love Month
  • Clifford on The Catwalk Htx
  • Let's Go Rodeo 2012
  • King's Harbor
  • FotoFest 2012
  • City Centre
  • Hidden Houston
  • Green Living 2012
  • Summer Fun 2012
  • Bookmark
  • 1987: The year that changed Houston
  • Best of Everything 2012
  • Real Estate 2012
  • Rx in the City 2012
  • Lost Pines Road Trip Houston
  • London Dreams
  • State of the Arts 2012
  • HTX Fall For Fashion 2012
  • HTX Good Eats 2012
  • HTX Contemporary Arts 2012
  • HCC 2012
  • Dine to Donate
  • Tasting Room
  • HTX Comforts of Home 2012
  • Charming Charlie
  • Asia Society
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2012
  • HTX Mistletoe on the go
  • HTX Sun and Ski
  • HTX Cars in Lifestyle
  • HTX New Beginnings
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2013
  • Zadok Sparkle into Spring
  • HTX Let's Go Rodeo 2013
  • HCC Passion for Fashion
  • BCAF 2013
  • HTX Best of 2013
  • HTX City Centre 2013
  • HTX Real Estate 2013
  • HTX France 2013
  • Driving in Style
  • HTX Island Time
  • HTX Super Season 2013
  • HTX Music Scene 2013
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2013 2
  • HTX Baker Institute
  • HTX Comforts of Home 2013
  • Mothers Day Gift Guide 2021 Houston
  • Staying Ahead of the Game
  • Wrangler Houston
  • First-time Homebuyers Guide Houston 2021
  • Visit Frisco Houston
  • promoted
  • eventdetail
  • Greystar Novel River Oaks
  • Thirdhome Go Houston
  • Dogfish Head Houston
  • LovBe Houston
  • Claire St Amant podcast Houston
  • The Listing Firm Houston
  • South Padre Houston
  • NextGen Real Estate Houston
  • Pioneer Houston
  • Collaborative for Children
  • Decorum
  • Bold Rock Cider
  • Nasher Houston
  • Houston Tastemaker Awards 2021
  • CityNorth
  • Urban Office
  • Villa Cotton
  • Luck Springs Houston
  • EightyTwo
  • Rectanglo.com
  • Silver Eagle Karbach
  • Mirador Group
  • Nirmanz
  • Bandera Houston
  • Milan Laser
  • Lafayette Travel
  • Highland Park Village Houston
  • Proximo Spirits
  • Douglas Elliman Harris Benson
  • Original ChopShop
  • Bordeaux Houston
  • Strike Marketing
  • Rice Village Gift Guide 2021
  • Downtown District
  • Broadstone Memorial Park
  • Gift Guide
  • Music Lane
  • Blue Circle Foods
  • Houston Tastemaker Awards 2022
  • True Rest
  • Lone Star Sports
  • Silver Eagle Hard Soda
  • Modelo recipes
  • Modelo Fighting Spirit
  • Athletic Brewing
  • Rodeo Houston
  • Silver Eagle Bud Light Next
  • Waco CVB
  • EnerGenie
  • HLSR Wine Committee
  • All Hands
  • El Paso
  • Avenida Houston
  • Visit Lubbock Houston
  • JW Marriott San Antonio
  • Silver Eagle Tupps
  • Space Center Houston
  • Central Market Houston
  • Boulevard Realty
  • Travel Texas Houston
  • Alliantgroup
  • Golf Live
  • DC Partners
  • Under the Influencer
  • Blossom Hotel
  • San Marcos Houston
  • Photo Essay: Holiday Gift Guide 2009
  • We Heart Hou
  • Walker House
  • HTX Good Eats 2013
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2013
  • HTX Culture Motive
  • HTX Auto Awards
  • HTX Ski Magic
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings 2014
  • HTX Texas Traveler
  • HTX Cifford on the Catwalk 2014
  • HTX United Way 2014
  • HTX Up to Speed
  • HTX Rodeo 2014
  • HTX City Centre 2014
  • HTX Dos Equis
  • HTX Tastemakers 2014
  • HTX Reliant
  • HTX Houston Symphony
  • HTX Trailblazers
  • HTX_RealEstateConfidential_2014
  • HTX_IW_Marks_FashionSeries
  • HTX_Green_Street
  • Dating 101
  • HTX_Clifford_on_the_Catwalk_2014
  • FIVE CultureMap 5th Birthday Bash
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2014 TEST
  • HTX Texans
  • Bergner and Johnson
  • HTX Good Eats 2014
  • United Way 2014-15_Single Promoted Articles
  • Holiday Pop Up Shop Houston
  • Where to Eat Houston
  • Copious Row Single Promoted Articles
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2014
  • htx woodford reserve manhattans
  • Zadok Swiss Watches
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings 2015
  • HTX Charity Challenge 2015
  • United Way Helpline Promoted Article
  • Boulevard Realty
  • Fusion Academy Promoted Article
  • Clifford on the Catwalk Fall 2015
  • United Way Book Power Promoted Article
  • Jameson HTX
  • Primavera 2015
  • Promenade Place
  • Hotel Galvez
  • Tremont House
  • HTX Tastemakers 2015
  • HTX Digital Graffiti/Alys Beach
  • MD Anderson Breast Cancer Promoted Article
  • HTX RealEstateConfidential 2015
  • HTX Vargos on the Lake
  • Omni Hotel HTX
  • Undies for Everyone
  • Reliant Bright Ideas Houston
  • 2015 Houston Stylemaker
  • HTX Renewable You
  • Urban Flats Builder
  • Urban Flats Builder
  • HTX New York Fashion Week spring 2016
  • Kyrie Massage
  • Red Bull Flying Bach
  • Hotze Health and Wellness
  • ReadFest 2015
  • Alzheimer's Promoted Article
  • Formula 1 Giveaway
  • Professional Skin Treatments by NuMe Express

    Hipster Christian Housewife

    Have you hugged your pastor (or rabbi or guru or imam) today? Religious leadersneed TLC, too

    Cameron Dezen Hammon
    Apr 29, 2012 | 10:30 am
    • The author, shown during a mission trip to Hungary in 2010.

    Being a pastor is a tough job, and it can be a lonely one. I’ve spent at least an hour a day for the last six days talking to friends who work for churches (different ones in different cities), who have a hard time asking for help when they need it. They have an even harder time getting the help they need when they are brave enough to ask for it.

    I’m talking about emotional help, spiritual support and the kind of accountability that is an assumed ‘given’ for men and women in positions of spiritual leadership.

    I can’t tell you how many people have said to me, in surprise, “I thought you had it all together!” after I’ve revealed something I’m struggling with. Because my job puts me in front of a congregation each week, in my case leading worship (music), people assume I have it together, or I’m closer to God, or somehow holier than they are.

    This couldn’t be further from the truth.

     

      A missionary friend of mine told us once that his agency’s motto is, “God doesn’t call the equipped, he equips the called.”

      I often think those drawn into ministry are the most willing, not necessarily the most qualified. As my husband says, half kidding, “There’s no substitute for enthusiasm!”

    Especially in ministry.

    A missionary friend of mine told us once that his agency’s motto is, “God doesn’t call the equipped, he equips the called.”

    To be “equipped” means to be studied, prepared, skilled. To be “called” is to literally be called by God to do something. For Moses, it was to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, for Jesus it was to go to the cross, making a way for every person on earth to come into relationship with God.

    For you it might be to start a food pantry for poor families, or to become a Big Brother or Big Sister to a disadvantaged child. For me it was to become a worship pastor.

    A call is something you are called to do, a job, a task, and a lifelong work. If it’s a call it won’t simply benefit you or line your pockets. It will serves others and serve what Christians call “The Kingdom of God;” life on earth as God designed it to be.

    Worship leaders, though they are musicians, are not rock stars, or they are not supposed to be. Their job is to use their musical talents to bring people into the presence of God. Have you ever had a religious experience at a concert?

    I thought so, well that’s exactly what we do in church, but instead of serving beer, we’re usually drinking coffee. In fact, we believe it should be good coffee. Because for some of us, for me especially, good coffee (or good food, or Big Sur, or the way a baby smells) brings me into the presence of God. It focuses me on the wonder of things I didn’t or couldn’t make: the gifts of God.

    So week after week for seven years my husband and I have used our musical talents, along with those of other men and women, to bring people into the presence of God. We’ve provided music for weddings, funerals and every other life function you can think of. We’ve prayed for grieving mothers, wounded fathers and confused young adults. We’ve celebrated over new jobs, pregnancies and opportunities; we’ve sobbed over the loss of all those things too.

    Music isn’t the end of the story, it simply opens the door. Relationships are where we spend most of our time and energy.

    So when church on Sunday is over, our work has really only just begun. And as I’ve mentioned, above, it can be heavy work.

     

      I assumed that since I was working for a church there would be plenty of counselor types around I could talk to, not to mention the Senior Pastor. But my assumption was a naïve one.

      If you are a psychiatrist, or therapist, you are usually required to have a therapy outlet for yourself. You’ve got to have someone you can talk to freely after you’ve listened all day to the issues of others. Someone you can trust, who can keep your confidences.

    I’ve found that for me, there has rarely been such an outlet. I assumed that since I was working for a church there would be plenty of counselor types around I could talk to, not to mention the Senior Pastor. But my assumption was a naïve one.

    Not because the pastors didn’t want to help me, or pray with me, or comfort me in times of loss, like the miscarriage my husband and I suffered in the fall, but because I feared coming undone in front of my boss might make him think I was unfit to do my job.

    Taking your issues to your pastor, if he’s also your boss, can be an occupational hazard.

    Chances are your pastor wants to believe that you can come to him with your deepest darkest stuff. And maybe you can, and if you can, I applaud you. But I can’t, and I’ve only just learned this about myself.

    So it’s up to me to find someone or someones' to do the heavy lifting with me, someone autonomous, someone outside the church that signs my paycheck.

    I only wish I’d figured this out seven years ago.

    I am convinced this is why we have so much burnout among pastors and worship leaders. How many public meltdowns do we have to witness before the church demands that its leaders be cared for? No matter the cost.

    Pastors aren’t perfect people, quite the opposite. They are just as desperately in need of God’s love as the people they shepherd. And most of the time, God’s love comes in the form of human love. A phone call, a meal prepared, and email saying, “If you ever need to talk, I’m here for you.” But more than even that our pastors need mentors, prayer partners and counselors who can support them through the daily work of caring for others. Who can and will keep their confidences.

    This is important because the work of the church is important and the people who do that work are important. They are important to God and to me, and to you.

    Let’s do a better job of caring for them. Have you hugged your pastor today?

     Cameron Dezen Hammon writes the blog Hipster Christian Housewife. She and her husband are staff members at The Upper Room Community at Chapelwood United Methodist Church.

    unspecified
    news/city-life

    Flood Response

    $30M+ Hill Country flood relief fund announces first phase of aid awards

    Brianna Caleri
    Jul 11, 2025 | 2:30 pm
    Death Toll Rises After Flash Floods In Texas Hill Country
    Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images
    The Central Texas community has come together in huge numbers to grieve and offer support.

    When the floods in Central Texas started over July 4 weekend, it didn't take long for the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country to put an important call out for aid. In fact, it created the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund on the first Friday of the tragedy, which quickly became the default recipient of donations from locals and businesses. On July 11, the foundation made its first major announcement regarding how funds will be distributed.

    During a press conference, the foundation announced it has received more than $30 million so far. Top donors included H-E-B, which contributed $2 million in addition to sending its disaster relief convoy, and James Avery Artisan Jewelry, which is based in Kerrville and donated about $500,000.

    “The heartbreak we’ve experienced as a community is profound, but so is the response,” said Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country CEO Austin Dickson. “In a matter of days, thousands of donors from across Texas and beyond have stepped up to say: we are with you. This is a moment of collective grief, but also of extraordinary love.”

    The foundation is dividing its response into five phases, which include an initial phase of financial assistance and an end phase of longterm recovery, with more detailed logistics in between. The first phase starts with $5 million in emergency grants to nonprofits. Those nonprofits will then further distribute funds as they see fit. Priorities are divided into four categories of $1.25 million each: support of individuals and families, local businesses, first responders, and crisis response.

    There are 22 allocations on the full list, with some entities receiving grants in multiple categories. The full list includes the Salvation Army Kerrville Kroc Center, Mercy Chefs, World Central Kitchen, five volunteer fire departments, LiftFund, the Kerrville Area Chamber of Commerce, Schreiner University, Kerrville Pets Alive!, Freeman Fritts (Vet Clinic and Shelter), Arcadia Live Theater, Ingram ISD, five churches, and Christian outreach organization Light on the Hill.

    The fund is still open to donations, and the foundation plans to form a Community Advisory Committee that would seek the advice of local nonprofit leaders, residents, and other "stakeholders" regarding long-term recovery and equity.

    “We know this is just the beginning,” Dickson said. “We’re grateful to say we’ve raised over $30 million in just one week — but the needs are tremendous, and continued support will be critical in the months ahead. Recovery will take months, if not years, but we are committed to walking every step of this journey with the communities we serve. We will listen, we will learn, and we will continue to act with compassion, urgency and accountability.”

    charitydisaster relieffirst respondersflood reliefgrantshill countryhill country floodskerr countynatural disasternonprofitsjuly 4 floods
    news/city-life
    CULTUREMAP EMAILS ARE AWESOME
    Get Houston intel delivered daily.
    Loading...