Jesus rides in on a what?

Last week, as the staff and volunteers gathered together to ask God's blessing on the day and give direction to where everyone would best be able to help, one of the women from the neighborhood asked if she could stay for the day and help. We said, "No, you need to go home there is no where for you to help." Just kidding. Her name is Martha and she has been coming to Cross and Crown for 5-6 years.

Initially she came for food, now she comes for Bible study and her "Let's Start Talking" class that uses the Bible as the main teaching tool. Ha ha, we got her. Just like ole Jesus did it back in the day...offer food or meet some other monetary need, then present the Good News and see what happens.

Anyway, following Martha's introduction to everyone that had never met her, Paul asked Martha to do her best to describe why she comes and what she does while she is at Cross and Crown. Martha went on to describe, in English, how she comes every Tuesday morning for Bible class and every Monday for LST class. Once she was comfortable, she asked Paul if it would be ok if she shared a story that happened early on in her ESL class with her teacher. Paul agreed and so she began her story.

Martha explained how she and her teacher had been studying in Matthew of Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem. She stressed to us that during this study she was still somewhat new to the English language. The teacher asked Martha to read the story and then do her best to re-tell the happenings back to him. She did and it went a little something like this...

Martha - "The people see Jesus coming and they lay palm branches down on the ground for Him. They worship Him and praise Him. Jesus comes riding in on a monkey."

Teacher - ".............Jesus comes riding in on what?"

Martha - "Jesus comes riding in on a monkey."

Teacher - "A donkey. Jesus rides in on a donkey."

Martha - "Yes, Jesus rides in on a monkey."

Teacher - "No, a donkey. Jesus rides in on a donkey. Donkey."

Everyone had a good laugh, including Martha.

(This picture is the closest thing I could find of Jesus on a monkey. If I remember correctly, isn't that the "thing" from the movie, "The Never Ending Story"?.)

Thanksgiving Thoughts

This past Sunday evening my wife, Mackenzie, had a conversation with one of the Cross and Crown "fathers" that has been coming since day 1. We see him every Sunday for meal and worship, Monday for AA meeting, Tuesday for Bible study and sometimes on Wednesday, just to check in with us.

He is an alcoholic and has been since he was a teenager, having his first alcohol at the age of 12. He grew up in a small Oklahoma town and now lives on the streets of OKC, literally. He has a handful of places he sleeps at on a night to night bases and time to time is able to score the floor of a laundry room when it gets too cold. He is a loner but periodically will buddy up with someone else from the streets, mostly as form of protection and friendship. We have no idea how he is still alive. His body is brittle from the abuse, both physical and substance, he has endured over the years.

He is one of the kindest, most gentle, soft-hearted men I have ever known. He is funny and you can't have a conversation with him without him intentionally jabbing your feet with his cane. Every time he does it he thinks it's the funniest thing ever and he can't contain his laughter, which makes it that much funnier.

Sunday, following our meal and worship, one of his traveling buddies told Mackenzie to be praying for our friend, Steven (it's just easier to tell a story when people have names...so, like it or not, his name is Steven). He went on to tell her that Steven had been taken to the hospital and was experiencing some other issues, which he didn't go on to explain entirely. Based on our history with Steven we assumed he had either been beat up or was sick from dealing with the cold and harsh environment.

After some investigation and asking around Mackenzie discovered that Steven had been taken to the hospital because he had a seizure. He had a seizure because he tried to not drink for a day...

Some of Steven's family, who he doesn't speak to regularly, located and contacted him. He expressed an interest in spending Thanksgiving with them and so they made a deal with him. The deal was this...be sober and come to the family Thanksgiving meal.

His body couldn't handle it. To be honest, I was surprised he tried not to drink for a day. That's how absolutely trapped he is by alcohol. His life is a struggle and his struggle is his life. His body craves it and when he doesn't feed those cravings, his body responds by shutting down.

Needless to say, Mackenzie was heart-broken to hear about Steven and his predicament. The worst part being that she, as well as anyone else that knew about Steven's situation, had very little ability to influence his situation in a positive way. It's one of those scenarios when you say, "Wow, that's sad", and then you can't do anything about it. The good news is that we saw and talked to Steven when he came to Bible study today. He was in good spirits and was back to his regular joking self. I wish I could end the story on a positive note but the bad news is he probably won't be attending the family Thanksgiving, as far as I know. Maybe his family will decide to let him still come, or maybe just to eat, or maybe they will visit him instead of him going to them. I don't know. I guess all I can do is to ask you to consider this story, think about that person you know that may not have a family to spend Thanksgiving with this year and ask them to be apart of yours.

No Place Like Home

Last week the Cross and Crown staff ran our normal schedule Monday and Tuesday but then closed up shop to head to Cincinnati Wednesday through Sunday. We attended the CCDA conference with much anticipation (http://www.ccda.org). Just like two years ago, we weren't disappointed.

I enjoy the CCDA conferences in large part because it is a gathering of people, ministries and Christ followers with similar intentions. Their main focuses are "community development" (that's the "CD" part), social justice and intentional relationships while reclaiming and restoring under-resourced communities.

After going two years ago and being blown away by the speakers and workshops I had high expectations this time around. This year was just as successful. The speakers were great (Shane Claiborne is always intriguing... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4TjXZNeBZ0 ) and the workshops had just as much practical application and ideas for youth that I could ask for. But, the biggest thing I took away from the four day conference was how relational Jesus was while He walked this earth.

One of the workshop teachers said, "No significant learning occurs unless there is significant relationship", and I think Jesus modeled this best. Jesus invested the majority of His time into twelve men, His disciples. It confirmed that no matter what kind, how many, how effective or ineffective the ministries are at Cross and Crown we are to be relationally focused, as Jesus was. The food panty, clothing room, medical clinic, youth activities at Rock Island, optometrist ect. are all hooks. Hooks to get us into relationship with the people in our neighborhood.

It puts a new twist of the scripture in Matthew 28:19-20, which says, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Disciples. Disciples. Not just believers, but disciples. Jesus had 12. He invested the majority of his time with these 12. I need to do the same. The One who spoke everything into existence choose 12 lives to invest in. I need to be relationally focused and intentional about spending time and energy with a specific few.

If you're ever interested in doing the same, come check us out.

Finding Jesus?

Recently a family that is involved with Cross and Crown did something that was pretty respectable. It was also a very cool idea. One of their children was getting ready to celebrate a birthday and so, like most other kids, she wanted to have some sort of a birthday party. But, rather than have a pizza party, a pool party (probably too cold for that I guess, it is October...), sleep over...what other kinds of partys do kids have these days? A Finding Nemo party? You get the idea. Instead of doing a party with the intentions of receiving presents and celebrating a day about her, she wanted to have a party and someone else receive the gifts.

She and her parents contacted me and asked if there were a couple girls from the neighborhood that we were in relationship with that would enjoy going shoppping and out to eat. The following Tuesday at Rock Island during our elementary hang out time I talked to the two best candidates for the party and they overwhelmingly said that they would like to go.

This past Friday I went to the two girls houses and picked them up after school. We then went to Rock Island and anxiously waited for the birthday girl, her mom and ten or so other girls that were apart of the party. When the girls arrived they all piled out of the cars and came to meet and great the two other girls and then they were on their way. They went to the mall to shop for a couple outfits and to eat.

After it was all said and done and I heard all that happened during the party I realized I had witnessed a practical example of the scripture in Luke when Jesus says, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

Remember growing up and telling other kids in elementary school, "I'll invite you to my birthday party if you invite me to yours"? Let's be real, the biggest threat you could hurl at someone back in the day was, "IM NOT INVITING YOU TO MY BIRTHDAY PARTY!!!" Basically you invited certain kids to your party not necessarily because you wanted them to have fun, but rather to ensure yourself of a spot at their birthday, for your own good.

That wasn't this girls intentions. She knows there is not a very good chance she will receive a return on her birthday invitation to these girls. Whether or not she knows it, she did just like the scripture says. She extended an invitation to someone that won't be able to offer her the same type of invitation. She will not be repaid. Not on earth anyway. Rather, she will be blessed.

who needs J.C. Watts?

"May I have a food basket please. I know that it is close to the holiday and I am sorry to be in the position to be like a nuisance or in yall's or the way. (Then he puts his social security number and birthday)."

"Luke, Brother Luke I tried to give you some kind of donation or to give some kind of tithing, but it just wont happen. Sorry please keep helping me, if you need washing powder let me know."

"Dear God, Thank you, Cross and Crown for the food that we eat. In the name of Jesus. Amen."

"Merry XMAS and a Happy New Year"

"Luke, See how beat up this card is!? Please Bless me with a deck!!"

"Luke, Is there anyone who will starch my clothes for me. I like the clothes that was given to me, and I want them to last me, long as possible"

"K.O.M.A. Prep player of the Week 1975...Jet Player of the Week by Jet Magazine 1977... MVP at Taft Stadium OKC Preview 1975"

"Luke, May I have the same on hot dogs and the peppered beef. I talk to brother Paul last week. And I am to get with you and him about the amount and the fixin of my food baskets"

"To: Luke, May I have a food basket with a can of ham, and a can of sardines (for sho)"

"May I have a food basket please. I know that it is close to the holiday and I am sorry to be in the position to be like a nuisance or in yall's or the way. (Then he puts his social security number and birthday)."

The following messages on each of these note cards have been collected over the last year and a half or so from one of my favorite friends downtown. His name is Michael and until recently he was homeless. Michael was an all-state football player (an alternate to Oklahoma's own J.C. Watts) at Star Spencer high school and briefly attended college at Arkansas Pine Bluff.Michael now lives in a home where he pays rent to a few others in exchange for a room. Michael is an interesting man.

I won't say much else about Michael's personal life but I don't think he would mind if I shared some of his cards with you. The first several months, close to a year, that I knew Michael he wouldn't speak but two words to me but would hand me a envelope full of note cards. Usually his requests were simple but had to be met to perfection or he became upset. Over time, I guess once a level of trust was built, Michael began to speak more and be a little more flexible with his requests.

He is a very thankful person but is often easily aggravated. Michael openly admits he is bi-polar and from time to time deals with other struggles. Michael is a funny man and has a pretty comical personality when he is in a good mood. We see Michael pretty much every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, as well as, most Sundays.

Michael keeps a pretty tight schedule. Honestly, he probably has a more structured plan on a week to week basis than I do. In fact, I know he does. The messages above are some of my favorite messages Michael has given me over the course of time. My favorite is the one that he ends with, "fo show". Ha ha. But, I also enjoy the Christmas card he made this past year. I wasn't the only one to receive one. Every staff member and several volunteers also received Christmas index cards from Michael.

Enjoy.

Sunday night happenings

Starting this Sunday evening Cross and Crown will be starting up with our Sunday night meal and worship for anyone interested. There will be people that walk in from the neighborhood and others who drive in from Edmond and other parts of Okc. All are welcome. It is a great time to meet, eat, worship and build relationship.

Also, anyone interested in helping out with some of the youth have an opportunity to do so before the meal and worship. Starting at 4:00pm Rock Island will be open and full of kids from the neighborhood who need some homework help or just want to chat. We have been broadcasting to the youth, elementary and jr. high kids in particular, that there will be individuals on Sunday nights who will help out with homework. There were also several kids who explained they generally had their homework done by Sunday evening but still wanted to be able to participate. We told these kids they could come and chat or help out with the younger kids.

Ron and I intentionally scheduled this time on a weekend so that individuals who aren't able to help out during the work week are given an opportunity to be apart of the action.























Ideally, an individual or couple would come down to Rock Island, meet a young man or young women, help them with their homework on a consistent basis, invite them to the meal and worship at Cross and Crown and then build from there. You know, a relationship.



So, there you have it. This Sunday...

4:00-6:00 - Tutoring/Mentoring Opportunity
6:00-6:30 - Meal
6:30-7:15ish - Worship

See you there.

wake up, get swole, go to school

Today marked the first day of the 2009-2010 after school program at Rock Island. Scratch that, before school and after school program.

This year Ron and I have decided to switch things up a lil bit and offer a hour and a half or so of youth activities before school starts. Because our junior high'ers don't have to be to school until 9:30 we decided we would see what would happen if we offered a opportunity to workout, shower, be feed and get a ride to school. Today was the first day this opportunity was available.

At 8:00 this morning we had 4 takers.

Here's what the workout looked like...

Warm up:
25 jumping jacks
50 jump ropes
20 lunges with arms straight out

Workout:
3X15 - Military Press on BosuBall
3X15 - Roman Chair crunches
1X15 - Bench Press
1X15 - Bench Press on BosuBall instead of bench
1X15 - Pushups
3X15 - Medicine Ball Throws While Balancing on a Inflatable Frisbee
6X - Back and Forth on the Running Ladder

Cool Down:
25 Jumping Jacks or 50 Jump Ropes
20 Lunges

Next, the girls got the shower at Cross and Crown and the boys headed over to Rock Island to clean up. Followed by some delectable smoothies prepared by Ron and myself. I went with banana and Ron went with peach. The kids ended up mixing them. Who would have guessed?

After cleanup and smoothie time Ron was took the young'ins to school and then we got back to our normal grind (that's a good thing).

I tell you this for two reasons. Primarily, just to keep you informed. I like to assume you have some interest if you're reading this blog. But, I also want to extend an invitation. Anyone looking for a free gym membership/looking for some time to disciple kids/looking to workout with a couple youngsters or have 1v1 time with a kid in the morning this is your opportunity. We work out Monday and Wednesday mornings at 8:00 am, finish at 8:35-8:40 or so and then then kids clean up. So, for those of you who work downtown and don't have to be there until 9:00 or maybe don't work on a Monday or Wednesday, here is your chance. We also have showers!

If you are wanting to shed a few lb's here is some extra motivation...Following the completion of today's workout of the girls got on the scale and yelled, "I lost 4 lb's!!!"

The active, living God

Two weeks ago, following the conclusion of the school store, I witnessed a fulfilled dream...

It wasn't my dream. I was just blessed to be one of the people in the dream.

One of Cross and Crown's regular volunteers pulled me aside a few weeks ago and informed me that he had experienced a dream the night before that involved myself, Ron and a couple of the youth from Rock Island. In his dream he explained that he knew how many of the young people from the neighborhood came to Rock Island, the youth center, with the mindset of receiving something. In other words, to get something we had to offer. Whether they came for food, games, entertainment or something else, he understood that, like most other youth centers/youth groups, the kids came to receive something we had to offer them. As a side note, this isn't a bad thing. Kids that come to play games, eat our food or be entertained are really just falling into our trap! We really want them to find out about Jesus, but don't tell anyone.

Next, he talked about how he understood that Ron and I did a fair amount of pouring into the kids and how that can be draining, which I gave a strong, "Amen", to. He told us that there would be two of the youth that wouldn't just come to get, get, get....but that would bless both Ron and I and be a blessing to us. Two that would bless us. He went on to name one of the boys from our group, specifically, who was in the dream and was to play a key role. He also informed us that there was another young man in the dream who was also to play a prominent role. He said he was unable to identify who the other young man was and said it may not be any of the kids that currently were involved with us at Rock Island.

As he went on to describe the dream he told us that Ron and I would be praying with the kids in a group. He said that during the prayer the young man, whom he named, would be by my side or next to me. During the prayer both the young men he told us of were to bless us, to lift us up.

So, here we go.

A couple weeks back following the conclusion of Cross and Crown's school store, after being physically and mentally drained mostly because of youth overload, Ron and I decided to rally up the youth that were helping for the day. We told them that we would finish up the day by cleaning up, getting some snacks, praying and heading home. As we started to clean up a couple boys from a youth group in Edmond showed up to help out. They have been coming off and on over the course of the summer and have been a pleasure to be around. So, we cleaned, got snacks and the kids grabbed a seat so we could debrief and pray. After a couple minutes of talking about the weeks experiences we figured it was time to wrap up and ask God's blessing over the rest of the week and the upcoming school year.

I started the prayer and asked for God's covering for the upcoming school year and for blessings over each of the kids. Then before Ron finished up the prayer he left a gap for any of the youth to pray that felt led. Now, let me clarify something before I carry on with the story. 90% of the youth that come to Cross and Crown or Rock Island haven't been to "church". They haven't grown up in Christian homes, been instructed how to pray or been around people that pray on a regular basis like most of us have. What this means is they haven't developed ideas or "common prayer topics", I'll call them, to pray about....like traditional prayers, such as, "God, thank you for this day", "God, thank you for your blessings over...", "God, please bless this family with a sick relative...", or, "God, please be with me during this situation...". Which makes what I am about to say even more incredible.

The young man, who was identified by name and said to be sitting next to me or by my side, was doing just that. He was sitting directly next to me while all the other kids were spread out sporadically throughout the sanctuary. He then went on to say the following, "God thank you for the school store and the bookbags we were all able to get for school...Thank you for Luke and Ron and all their hard work and I ask for your blessings upon them and their families. I ask that your face shine upon then and bless them".............

I ask for your face to shine upon them? I ask you to bless them and their families? Wow. Quite possibly one of the biggest, largest blessings of a prayer, that I am aware of, that has ever been prayed for me. But, that's not the end. Next, after he had finished praying, one of the young men from the youth group in Edmond began to pray. He prayed a very similar prayer. He prayed for Ron and I and the work we were apart of at Rock Island with the kids. What a blessing.

Initially I didn't connect this event with the dream that had been described to me. Hello!!! The reason the man who had the dream couldn't identify the other young man who was going to pray for us is because he has never met or seen him. In his dream he just saw that there were going to be two young men. One he knew, the other he didn't.

I'm not sure when I finally realized that the dream that was to happen...just unravelled right in front of me. But, regardless of when it was that I finally figured it out, I definitely felt the power and presence of God.

I don't tell this story to make it sound like I am anything special, because I am not. I tell this story to be an encouragement to you who read this. Know that our God is the living and active God. He still does those "edgy", "old-testament", "why doesn't God still work like he used to" in the old days, things. God doesn't just want to be apart of our Sunday services and church get-togethers. He wants to be apart of every aspect of our lives. Be encouraged and know that if you desire to feel God's presence, He's ready. Ask.

Authentic Worship

"Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker"
Psalms 95:6

This is a picture I was able to take of our friend, "Oakland", at Cross and Crown Wednesday. I wrote a blog about him several posts back. He calls us his "kinfolk" and swears that my dad is his brother, that I am Danny Ainge and that my brother is Chauncy Billups. We love him and he loves us. He knows the streets better than most, but more importantly, He knows Christ.

School Store Complete

It's the first of August which means for those of us at Cross and Crown the annual school store was back in session. Every August, generally about 2 weeks before school starts, Cross and Crown distributes backpacks, pencils, rulers, paper, highlighters and everything else a student might need for the school year. We, as well as the families that came to receive backpacks, were pleasantly surprised to be blessed with some unexpected items to go along with the backpacks this year. A couple days before families came to get their backpacks, we were also given of hundreds of canned drinks, potato chips, cleaning wipes, stuffed animals and crocs.

School store is one of the most enjoyable weeks of the year at Cross and Crown. We, along with many volunteers, take a break from the more traditional setup that happens throughout most weeks and focus solely on the school store.

Check out some of the action...

J-O-B-S

As of late there has been a growing desire for jobs amongst the youth of Rock Island. I know, huge surprise. During one of the toughest times in history for grown adults with developed educations to get jobs, now the 16 and 17 year old kids want them! With that being said, I understand that most managers/business owners might not be super amped to hire a high school student to work for them. I also know there are alot of jobs that many grown adults and educated people consider themselves "over-certified" to work or not suitable for their needs.

So, my proposal, my need, my question to you is...do you own a business, a company or some type of establishment that is in need of workers? The summer is over halfway gone and school will start back up in less then a month. Do you have a need for workers after 3, 4 or 5 o'clock once school is over?

Maybe you do. Maybe you don't. Or maybe you kinda do or could have a position but you're not interested in hiring a kid from the neighborhood we're in because he or she is too big of a risk... There are alot of people I know, and even more I am sure that I don't know, that say they wish we were open different hours or different days because with the hours we have now they can never come because it's during the work week. They want to come help at the mission and be apart of the ministry that is already planned and going, which is great. But...

What if... what if you could use your current business or workplace as your own ministry.......You could hire on younger people and/or adults, even risky ones, just for the sake of ministry! You could secretly try to mentor or teach kids work skills that they could use in their current job and maybe even in the future. No, maybe not. You might have to spend extra time with them or give them a bigger learning curve or walk them through things more than you would like. Plus, you don't want to mix work and ministry, that's just asking for a loss in sales or more of a hassle for you because it takes up your time. And, time is money, so, hiring a "risky" kid or some guy off the streets that seems shady is basically a loss of money...and it's just ministry and you can do ministry at church or maybe even a Saturday.

Ok, really bad idea by me. But, maybe if you think it is a bad idea too and want to consider it because you like bad ideas like me, let me know... lwhitmire@hotmail.com

Not your typical youth group

I'm not really sure you can classify Rock Island as a youth group. Do a cluster of young people meet in a group at Rock island? Yes. Are we a traditional youth group? No.

Typically, for sake of time and explanation, anytime someone asks Ron or myself what we do or where we work we will explain that we work at Rock Island, a youth center, in downtown Oklahoma City with kids from the neighborhood. Generally we shy away from the term "youth group" because we don't function like most youth groups people are accustomed to. We don't meet on Sundays and Wednesdays. We don't meet at set times (even though we have set times just for some form of organization) each time we get together. We don't meet, eat, sing, listen to a devotional thought, hangout and then go back home. Nothing wrong with that, that's how I grew up doing youth group, but that's not what youth group looks like at Rock Island.

Here's what "youth group" looks like at Rock Island this summer. Meet 4, sometimes 5, times per week. Carry boxes of food for families that come for assistance for a few hours a day. Mow some lawns in the neighborhood. Play some video games. Have a weekly Bible study (currently in Luke 19). Paint some houses. Pickup donations from other churches in the Okc and Edmond areas. Eat lunch together, EVERYDAY! Go swimming. Watch movies at Rock Island. Workout in the gym. Play basketball. Move families and their furniture, appliance, beds and clothing to new homes. Work in the prayer room at Cross and Crown and pray for people (some of the students translate for other volunteers also, big help!). Unload 15,000 lbs of food cans, produce and drinks at Cross and Crown.

My point is Rock Island does "youth group" a little differently then most, differently then what I was brought up doing. We didn't originally plan it this way but that's the nature of where we work and the youth we are in relationship with on a daily basis. Ron and I have learned that in order to actually have an influence in these kids lives, we have to know them, we have to learn about them and we have to be in their business. And, we are. The best way we know how to do that is to spend as much time with them as possible and get into their lives as much as possible. Do Ron and I want to strangle some of the kids sometimes because we are with them constantly on a daily basis? Yessir, but that's part of the plan. Not strangling them but being with them long enough that they can be real with us and not hold back or put up a front.

This summer has definitely been a great time of relationship building and learning for everyone involved at Rock Island. We'll see what the rest of the summer has to offer.

Ft. Worth = Success

We have been back from Ft. Worth for a few days now and I am still catching up on sleep. Good news is Ron and I had Friday and Saturday to recover, just in time for the official summer program to begin Monday. Regardless of the lack of sleep the trip was one to remember, a definite success. So many stories, lots of fun, plenty of work and a great start to the summer as we solidified several relationships with kids and built up some good steam for the next few months.

We left Monday afternoon around noon and arrived several hours later in Ft. Worth, checked into our hotel and then headed to the home church for the week. When we arrived at the church we were greeted by a room full of teenagers from multiple youth groups throughout the Ft. Worth/Dallas area. After a short worship time we were divided into groups and given our assignments for the week. The Rock Island youth were broken into two different groups and teamed up with other youth groups that were also apart of the work project. Afterwords we enjoyed a great time and meal at Chilis. We then headed back to the hotel, got room assignments and then had some down time to discuss the plan for the week and talk about the theme for the work week, "Called".

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings and afternoons were all very similar. 7:00am wakeup, breakfast, paint and scrap, 12:00 lunch, paint and scrap some more and then clean up around 3:00 each day. For the most part the Rock Island youth did a pretty good job of staying on task. Of course we had the occasional paint fight and lack of interest but it all worked out and the kids got some great work done. After everyone had cleaned up we would make dinner plans. Tuesday night we ordered some pizza to be delivered to the hotel. Wednesday night we joined a youth group at their church and experienced their youth hangout (and ate pizza again). Thursday night was the big finale. We took the kids bowling and had a roommate bowling challenge. Each room would be a team and compete against the other rooms to determine who would choose where we were to eat that night. Well, my team got last, the girls got second and Ron's team won. They choose Razoos. Not bad.

Thursday night (more like Friday morning) was also the night of the epic "Ft. Worth Prank" that will go down in history as the most ridiculously planned, chaotic, yet very successful prank.

We then headed out early Friday morning and got back to OKC around 1:00pm. We had some great conversations with kids. Got to know alot more about some kids that we didn't know much about. The kids experienced being apart of a more traditional youth group. The kids shared the love of Christ. What more can you ask for?

Ft. Worth Work Camp

We're going to Ft. Worth. Ten of our middle-school and high school students will be leaving for Ft. Worth this Monday, June 8th. There are a total of 8 boys, 2 girls, 2 male sponsors (Ron and myself) and 2 of our best female volunteer sponsors (Jenny and Mary).

While in Ft. Worth we will be combining our efforts with other youth ministries from the Metroplex in housing projects. We will be scrapping old paint, applying new paint and doing everything else in between. We are to meet early each morning with the other groups for breakfast and assignments and will work into the early evening each day. From there Ron and I envision campfire Bible studies and the singing of Kum Ba Ya... or something like that. Actually, we will have lots of swimming, PLENTY of showering, probably our fair share of farting (at least in the boys rooms) and time in each of the rooms for the studying of the Word.

Following the completion of our work on Thursday afternoon we will head back to the hotel to clean up and then we're off to a Rangers baseball game.

Wish us luck and please pray for our safety.

Summer on the horizon

It's hard to believe that school is coming to an end and summer is quickly approaching. Summer means new schedule and if this summer is anything like past summers, new faces at Rock Island. Ron and I recently completed the Rock Island daily schedule but still have a few holes to fill. Here's what it looks like so far...

Monday
1:30 High School Lunch
2:00 High School Movie Day
4:00 High School Workout

Tuesday
11:30-12:30 Elementary Craft Time
1:30 High School Lunch And Hangout
4:00 High School Workout

Wednesday
1:30 High School Lunch
3:00 High School Bible Study
4:00 High School Workout

Thursday
10:00 Elementary Hang Out
12:00 Lunch
1:30 High School Projects

We still are in the works of a possible athletic team, possibly basketball or soccer, and will also have the spontaneous weekend events that we will do our best to keep you updated about.

As far as camps go, we have opted out of the more traditional Oklahoma City camp appearance for our middle school and high school youth and have decided to take our efforts to another city, Dallas (Cleburne actually). The specifics are still being hammered out but it will have more of a work-project/fun trip look rather than a sleepless week, camp feel. Also, our elementary young'ins will continue their summer camp experience at camp Shiloh, located right here in Okc. We have signed up many of our kids already and have decided upon the camp dates of July 6th-10th. It is a day camp, 9-5:30, and offers the kids lots of outdoor games, crafts, animal experiences and....ok, just check out the link it does a better job of describing the camp ( http://www.shilohcamp.org/index2.htm ).

Along with summer comes more time with kids, along with more time with kids comes more activities, functions, organized and structured outings to keep them connected, involved and plugged in. Due to the increase in activity we also see an increase in the amount of funds we must have in order to keep up with all the summer's happenings. Our two biggest fund-eaters this summer will most definitely be sending the elementary kids to camp ($20 per camper X 15 campers = $300 ) and our jr. high/high school Texas trip (amount yet to be determined).

If you are interested in helping send even one student to camp this summer or are interested in helping fund the jr. high/school road trip, please email me and/or Ron or leave your contact info on my blog. Also, with all the extra activity going on we are always in need and desire volunteers to come check things out and get involved. If you have a special interest in anything in particular on the schedule feel free to contact one of us about that too.

lwhitmire@hotmail.com - Luke
ronwylercrawford@gmail.com - Ron

Wednesday Bible Study

Wednesday Bible studies are still going strong. This past Wednesday we finished reading Luke 8. We reviewed each of the small stories as we read and let the youth determine which stories we would spend the most time discussing. The majority of our time was spent talking about the healing of the demon possessed man, Legion, and the sick women who had been bleeding for years.

Some of the questions we discussed were questions such as: Did the demons know Jesus? What happened to the demons when they fell of the cliff with the pigs? Do demons die? Where did demons come from? We also discussed what kind of lifestyle Legion might live. Where he lived. Who, if anyone, associated with him.

The bulk of our discussion was based around the women who had been bleeding for years and only desired to touch Jesus. Jesus told the women, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. God in peace." We asked the kids how they felt about this and why Jesus would allow this women to be instantly healed and at the same time was having a small girl wait to be healed until he could be present at her house. We discussed how Jesus, like in the stories, decided to instantaneously heal one person and decided to heal another person only after a short wait. Each person came to Jesus with a need and He answered/fulfilled their needs.

As we wrapped up our study and prepared to pray we challenged the kids to ask God for something they couldn't do on their own, something they needed Him to do, that only He could do. We stressed to the kids how the people in the story had REAL needs, not just wants, and how Jesus was true to answer their needs when He deemed necessary.

As we prayed some kids said a word, some kids said a phrase in order to tell God their need. We challenged the kids to keep lifting up the same need in prayer until God showed his power, whether a day, a week, a year or longer.

"God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful"

Bad call by me

Turns out this was a bad idea by me. Shortly after posting my first blog about Oakland I continued to search for who might be my next "blog post". Not what I initially intended. So, rather then seek out relationships with people to blog about them I think it would be best to discontinue this theme. Plus, if someone is genuinely interested in the details about someone they'll come find out first hand.

Oakland

My first "lifestory" that I am going to blog about is about a man I will refer to as, "Oakland". As you will discover, the name I give him has a little bit to do with his story.

Oakland is a black man in his early fifties. He's rough. He's honest. He's funny. He's intimidating. He's an alcoholic. He played college football at Langston. He was drafted by the Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders. Upon being drafted he was visited by Fred Biletnikoff, a former Raiders player, and given a large sum of money (Oakland claims it was $25,000). Once he flew out to California he partied, drank and wasted his money away. He never reported to training camp. Oakland is homeless and he's always late to sign in at Cross and Crown for food.

A couple of years ago I got into it with Oakland at the front door when I told him he was too late to get food for the day. I repetitively attempted to explain to him how it would be unfair for me to allow him to get food at 1:00 in the afternoon when 50 other people had been waiting in line at 9:00 in the morning to sign up for food and another 3-5 people arrived at 9:15 or so only to find out they were too late. So, how did he see it fit for him to get food and not all those other people that had been waiting several hours before him in the cold? It didn't matter. He was determined to get food that day (shoot, if i was in his position I probably wouldn't take no for an answer either). After several minutes of failing to get my point across Oakland and I came to an agreement and worked out a plan.

Ever since this instance Oakland and I have been on good terms. Nowadays any day Oakland comes we talk basketball. Oakland is a big Celtics fan (go figure, in all honesty though he was fan well before KG, Ray and Pierce). He is a Kobe hater, so I'm in good company. He always asks me about my basketball playing and how my games have been going. He tells me I look like Jeff Hornacek ( http://www.nba.com/media/history/jazz_hornacek_240.jpg) . I promise him I don't play like him. He calls everyone at the mission his kinfolk and says we're the only family he's got.

That's Oaklands' story.

same kind of difference as who?...you

I just recently finished the book, "Same Kind of Difference as Me". If you haven't read the book, you should. If you have read the book then you know that it is a story about two very different men who cross paths and form a very unlikely friendship. One man, white, comes from a rich heritage and had never experienced need, whereas the other man, black, comes from a poverty stricken past and has never gone a day without lacking. After having met at a nearby mission the two begin their journey. Through the course of time they discover a common ground, Christ, and the rest is history.


One of the most memorable, if not the most memorable, aspects of this true story that struck me was the fact that Denver, the black man, who lived on the streets and ate at the mission had so much to offer, so much untapped potential that was just bottled up and waiting for someone to ignite within him. Luckily, with the encouragement of his wife, Ron, the white man, decides to pursue Denver and befriend him, promising not to "catch-and-release" him.

As you continue to read, Denver and Ron become closer and closer and slowly but surely Ron's wife's prophetic words come true as Denver realizes his inner desire to know Christ and to follow Christ's call in his life. Don't get me wrong, this isn't the "rich, white guy with the easy life goes and saves the poor, confused black man". Towards the beginning of the book as Ron tries to shed some of his "knowledge" and do his "Christian thing" at the mission by feeding meals and basically "punching his good Samaritan card" we quickly discover Ron is in for some life-altering discoveries, as well.

This is the hope and desire that I, along with others, have at Cross and Crown and Rock Island. I can't imagine what it would be like if individuals, such as Ron, would intentionally (whether it was their idea initially or not) pour into and befriend, actually become friends with, specific individuals or youth that visit Cross and Crown and Rock Island. Just like Denver, there are so many "untapped" individuals that live on the streets and live a lonely, unengaged lifestyle that starves for friendship, family and relationship. As I am writing this I can think of 5 men, by name, that fit this exact description. I can only begin to imagine how different their lives would be if someone was willing to step in and give them the encouragement and friendship they desire and need.

I know. I know that for every Denver there are 100 others that don't work out or don't develop into the incredible story we envisioned. People disappoint. God doesn't. You just have to decide if that 1 out of 100 success ratio is worth the risk, worth your time, worth your effort. Maybe it is, maybe it's not. Maybe you think they have had their chance. That's between you and God.

Over the next several blogs that I write I am going to do my best to highlight some individuals and their stories and/or backgrounds. Given my blogging history this could mean a couple weeks or a couple months. Maybe through some of these life stories and real facts about real people your heart or interest might be sparked and lead to come down and see if you can't meet and befriend your "Denver".

Bible Study update

Every Bible Study at Rock Island is different. Like I wrote in a previous blog, the studies each seem to have a life of their own. Sometimes slow developing, often off course, but always successful. The only sure thing each Bible Study is that we will end in prayer. A few weeks ago Ron recorded the special on the news called, "Crystal Darkness". We watched it the following day at Bible Study and let the video determine the topic of conversation.

This particular study was smaller than usual. Generally there are 4-7 high schoolers there, this study had 3. Following the 30-35 minute video we opened it up for any general comments, questions or thoughts......nothing. No big surprise there, that's normal (especially with 3 kids). After a few seconds of no comments, questions or thoughts Ron, being the good man he is, took some initiative and talked about the realness of drugs, not just this drug, but of all drugs and the effects they have on both users and their families, friends and their sphere of influence. The kids were attentive, mostly nodding their heads in agreement, and one of them mentioned a life experience where they had a family member who used a certain drug and told how it made him feel, not too much talking, but some insight.

After this young man had shared a girl, the only in attendance that day, began to share about personal experience with drugs. She shared about her experimentation with all sorts of drugs and some of the effects it had both on her and her family. After a few minutes of sharing she began to cry when she had somewhat of a self-realization that she is still unsure of why she ever stopped using. She explained how she used mainly because her friends at the time were using, not knowing full well why she was and not having any real desire to use. As she continued to unfold her story and talk out loud her past actions, which seemed like the first time, she started to lose control. I believe that she was begining to question why she ever stopped. She considered herself lucky and explained how bad it made her feel, both then and now, in retrospect.

After a few more comments here and there by Ron and I we tried our best to wrap up the the discussion and ended it with a prayer.

During our most recent Bible Study, this past week, Ron and I decided that it was time to plug in to a specific book of the Bible. We choose Luke because, we agree, he does a good job with details and gives some stories about Jesus and his life that we think the youth would find interesting, which may then lead to questions.

So, we did just that. We began reading Luke and made it through chapter 2, I believe. We made it far enough to get to questions such as the following:

Why is so Jesus so important and why not Mary?
Why was Mary chosen to have Jesus and not Elizabeth?
Why was Jesus born of a virgin and it doesn't say whether John was or not?
Why are people singing? (good question)
Why are they circumcised?

as well as a few more.

One student volunteered to read and anytime one of the others had a question, wasn't sure about something we had read, or just wanted to make a general comment they would interrupt. Also, there were a few times that we would read over something and stop if no one had a question just to, more or less, recap. So, after we had finished reading and Ron and I did our best to address the questions and tried to get their input on their own questions, we decided to wrap things up with...you guessed it, a prayer. Regardless of what shape or form our Bible Study takes the young'ins know we will always pray.

This Wednesday we will tackle the next couple of chapters, 2-4, and see what happens.