Early on in my working days with the kids (the term "kids" is used loosely seeing as how most, if not all, of these kids have seen, done and experienced things in their lifetime that I haven't and probably won't) that I had been in relationship with I was consistently being done in, or wronged. In retrospect, I was naive. I think a very accurate description of how much I know about what is going on in the lives of 100% of the kids that I work with was put best by Ron recently when he said, "I have a vague notion". Ron was referring to himself, but really if we wanted to, this could be a t-shirt used for the staff at Rock Island.
We have learned how there are soooo many levels of relationship with each of our kids that we have to surpass in order to gain trust, honesty and openness about their lives. I'm no "relationship expert", but in alot of ways it's just like any other relationship. It takes alot of time, effort and the willingness to let yourself be vulnerable. By vulnerable I mean that you have to be willing to give these kids a chance they otherwise wouldn't have and often times, as we have learned, some are grateful and make the most of the opportunity, while others have taken advantage of our graciousness. The vulnerability comes into play when you invest so much of your energy and effort, you make special arrangements and exceptions and you are always going the extra mile to make sure they have what they need/want. This is where we have been both disappointed and frustrated with some of our kids. It's a risk. Each kid is different, but more times than not, it's a risk.
Here's the way that I have come to look at it. What's the risk? The risk is that after investing all of the things listed above. this is what happens: the kid bails out, the kid really just wanted to get in good with us to steal some video systems from us, the kid isn't really interested in the whole "Jesus" thing he really just wants to holla at the cute girl that is interested in Jesus, the kid just uses us so he can check his myspace and email on a consistent basis, the kid really just wants us to help him with his homework, the kid just comes to eat. Each of these scenarios, they happen or have happened to us. Some of these examples aren't all that bad. A sin is a sin, right? But let's be honest, I would rather a kid come every day to Rock Island with the intention of using us for our internet access, rather then coming with the intention of stealing our XBox-360. In case you didn't know, that's our whole marketing scheme at Rock Island. The internet, the food, the music, the video games, the big screen t.v., the help with homework, that's all part of creating something that appeals to the kids in order to let them know why we are REALLY there. We aren't really trying to compete with Celebration Station or Incredible Pizza or trying to turn over a big time profit, don't be confused.
I haven't been in the game long enough to know how effective the youth ministry that Ron, Chandy and I are doing will be or is. What I do know is that just in the short time that I have been working there have been several different individuals that have wronged us and/or taken advantage of our willingness to help them. So what's the big deal? I think it is only human instinct that when you are wronged or taken advantage of there are a couple different responses. I feel like, "Well, he had his chance. Good luck finding help later on when you need it", or, "Ok, he got me that time, so what I can do now to get him back or get even." Not only that, but it makes you hesitant to want to help others in the future. You start to question or second guess people when they say that they need help, as to whether or not you are going to help them. Such is the case with a kid that we have recently come into relationship with at Rock Island.
The three of us agree that this particular individual has just about the exact makeup of one that is going to use us or wrong us in one form or another. After several small talks and discussions, here's my viewpoint.
"Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated" - 1 Corinthians 6:7
"For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God... But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps." - 1 Peter 2:19-21
Yes, I realize that these scriptures need to be used within context and that when written they were not referring to inner-city youth missionaries dealing with street-running, gang, tough, don't talk about my momma kids. Another thing I know is that Christ lived the ultimate example of being wronged by people when He willingly died on the cross for each one of our sins. With that being said, why not willingly risk the chance of being wronged by one of these kids with the reward being so much greater then the risk. Ultimately, here's the two different results of the risk we take by investing in each of these kids; either they wrong us, use us and abuse us, or they come to know Christ.
I don't know about you, but that's a risk I'm willing to take.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Sunday, March 4, 2007
ask, seek, knock
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."
Matthew 7:7-8
Wow, how true these words really are.
I have worked at Cross and Crown the past 4 summers but have only been working full-time since August. During the time since August I have been confronted with a new responsibility/challenge. This challenge came in the form of collecting an appropriate amount of funds to support the plans that we (Ron, Chandy and myself) have for our youth (fyi, just for the record, each one of us do this). Some of these plans are taking place now, while others are to take place in the future (such as Spring Break and summer).
Like most, I am hesitant to ask for help. Honestly, who wants to ask for help? It's a tough situation. It's often uncomfortable, for both parties involved. To me, it almost seems rude. I mean, alot of times I need help in other areas of my personal life but I don't want to bother others with my problems. Everyone has enough going on as it is, right?
So, back to my new responsibility, fundraising. My unfaithful, humanly mind begins to think, "How can I get around actually having to ask people for help, but still raise the support?" Hmmmm...Interesting concept, Luke. Honestly, how ridiculous. Because of my own insecurity and desire to not "interrupt others lives" or "have myself or someone else feel uncomfortable", I am missing the point altogether. Rather than me trying to assume 100% of the responsibility and try to organize a flawless plan to raise support, why not let God work? I feel like alot of times when situations seem unrealistic or unreachable I put God up on a shelf. I act like it is just too much. It's almost like I'm scared to give it to God because what if things don't turn out like I wanted them to? Does that mean God failed? Do I really want to test God? Good grief, Luke.
Then comes in a little bit of faith. Doesn't God address a similar situation in Malachi chapter 3 when He says, "...Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not through open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough to store it..."(Malachi 3:10). So here's my answer, this is what I felt God was leading/telling me to do. "Present your needs to the people and watch me work". So I did. Without further rambling let me say this, each one of our kids that wants to go to camp, will go to camp.
Because of several individual donors, along with some small groups, each one of our kids now has been blessed with the chance to go to camp. Also, because there was such a large response/outpouring of donations we are going to be able to use a little bit of that money in order to fund some plans that we have for our kids during Spring Break. So, thank you to each one of our contributors who felt called to donate to the cause. Not to say that this will be the last time one of us has to raise some moolah for one reason or another; but this is to say that God has everything in control and all He wants is us to allow Him to work in our lives.
In closing, I know from past experience how it is easy to read or hear a story like the one I just told you and to be like, "Wow, that's really cool. God is working in such great ways". Don't get me wrong, I still am like that. But, what I don't want you to do is read this and think this, and that be it. I challenge you to do the same as I did. Ask God. Seek God. Knock at His door. See if He wont open the floodgates in your life.
Matthew 7:7-8
Wow, how true these words really are.
I have worked at Cross and Crown the past 4 summers but have only been working full-time since August. During the time since August I have been confronted with a new responsibility/challenge. This challenge came in the form of collecting an appropriate amount of funds to support the plans that we (Ron, Chandy and myself) have for our youth (fyi, just for the record, each one of us do this). Some of these plans are taking place now, while others are to take place in the future (such as Spring Break and summer).
Like most, I am hesitant to ask for help. Honestly, who wants to ask for help? It's a tough situation. It's often uncomfortable, for both parties involved. To me, it almost seems rude. I mean, alot of times I need help in other areas of my personal life but I don't want to bother others with my problems. Everyone has enough going on as it is, right?
So, back to my new responsibility, fundraising. My unfaithful, humanly mind begins to think, "How can I get around actually having to ask people for help, but still raise the support?" Hmmmm...Interesting concept, Luke. Honestly, how ridiculous. Because of my own insecurity and desire to not "interrupt others lives" or "have myself or someone else feel uncomfortable", I am missing the point altogether. Rather than me trying to assume 100% of the responsibility and try to organize a flawless plan to raise support, why not let God work? I feel like alot of times when situations seem unrealistic or unreachable I put God up on a shelf. I act like it is just too much. It's almost like I'm scared to give it to God because what if things don't turn out like I wanted them to? Does that mean God failed? Do I really want to test God? Good grief, Luke.
Then comes in a little bit of faith. Doesn't God address a similar situation in Malachi chapter 3 when He says, "...Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not through open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough to store it..."(Malachi 3:10). So here's my answer, this is what I felt God was leading/telling me to do. "Present your needs to the people and watch me work". So I did. Without further rambling let me say this, each one of our kids that wants to go to camp, will go to camp.
Because of several individual donors, along with some small groups, each one of our kids now has been blessed with the chance to go to camp. Also, because there was such a large response/outpouring of donations we are going to be able to use a little bit of that money in order to fund some plans that we have for our kids during Spring Break. So, thank you to each one of our contributors who felt called to donate to the cause. Not to say that this will be the last time one of us has to raise some moolah for one reason or another; but this is to say that God has everything in control and all He wants is us to allow Him to work in our lives.
In closing, I know from past experience how it is easy to read or hear a story like the one I just told you and to be like, "Wow, that's really cool. God is working in such great ways". Don't get me wrong, I still am like that. But, what I don't want you to do is read this and think this, and that be it. I challenge you to do the same as I did. Ask God. Seek God. Knock at His door. See if He wont open the floodgates in your life.
Monday, February 19, 2007
so you wanna help or what
Anyone interested in sponsering one of our elementary or jr. high/high school students to attend camp Shiloh this summer? Camp Shiloh is a Christian day camp in OKC. While at camp they participate in basketball, fishing, mountain biking, archery, drumming, flag football, ropes courses and several other ativities. It is a week long camp and is an opportunity for the kids in our youth group to experience something a little different then what they are accustomed to. During the summer we are pretty much overwhelmed with the number of kids that come up to the mission. Alot of times we struggle with ways to keep them entertained/off the streets and so this gives them a chance to do something with at least a week of their summer. The cost is $20 per camper. We are hoping to send 10-12 of our elementary aged kids and 6-8 of our older ones. If you think you might be interested in helping them out then feel free to leave a message on here, email me at law02b@acu.edu or call me (405)232-7696. If you want to know more, here's the website www.shilohcamp.org , or just contact me.
Also, anyone that lives in the OKC area, or any area for that matter, let me know if you are interested in coming down and helping out during our after-school program for either the elementary or highschool. Whether it's playing video games, watching tv, helping kids with homework/tutoring (which is a really big help) or just talking with some of our kids, we would love for you to come help out. We have things goin on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday right now. Who knows, maybe you can send one of these kids to camp....and then meet them (or vice-versa).
Also, anyone that lives in the OKC area, or any area for that matter, let me know if you are interested in coming down and helping out during our after-school program for either the elementary or highschool. Whether it's playing video games, watching tv, helping kids with homework/tutoring (which is a really big help) or just talking with some of our kids, we would love for you to come help out. We have things goin on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday right now. Who knows, maybe you can send one of these kids to camp....and then meet them (or vice-versa).
Thursday, February 15, 2007
glimpse of the future?
Recently Chandy made a post titled, "a-PASTOR-fee-ess". In this post she wrote the following,
"Today the younger of the "kisser and hugger" brothers, who is 5, told
me that when he grows up he's going to be a pastor. He said he wants to
be one because he wants to "learn people about God"".
The younger of the two brothers is Eduardo and the older is named Juan. My blog will serve as a little "teaser" for what the future may hold. Keep in mind, it will take 20,25,30 years for this teaser to fully develop, so just hold tight and I'll keep you updated with my blog.
During our prayer time Tuesday morning, which we have every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday morning from 10:30-11:00, we had a full house. We use this time for several reasons. First, we use this as a time to give some structure and direction to the various volunteers that we have for the day. Next, we introduce visiters and/or friends or family and try to give some insight as to how they made their way to Cross and Crown that day. To end our time, we pray. Without question, this is the most important time of the day. We use this time of prayer to lift up specific requests, give thanks and to ask God's blessing and provision for the day.
Two of our visiters this past Tuesday were pasters from a neighborhood similar to the one that we are located in at Cross and Crown. Several of the families that come to Cross and Crown for food, clothing and prayer attend this church on a regular basis. So, as we went around the room each person introduced their respective guests. When we came to the two men, who are father and son, they were introduced. To be honest, I can't even remember who introduced them. I'll give three guesses as to what you think the names of these two men are....brian and chad? no, but close.....keith and chris, almost but not it....if you guessed Juan and Eduardo then you are correct. I really wish we had been filming my face when I heard their names. I think I gave them a look of disbelief, but based on my disbelief it was probably closer to a look of, "you have got to be absolutely kidding me, what are your real names, you are not funny, get out of the prayer room right now you liars".
After a few brief seconds to process my thoughts I surveyed the room to find Ron and Chandy to see if they had picked up on the same thing I was considering. They had similar reactions that I had. I think Chandy gave me a, "DID YOU HEAR THEIR NAMES?", that was intended to be a whisper, but she was so excited it came out louder then it would have been if she was just talking in a normal tone.
Anyway, you may or may not be able to understand my excitment about this somewhat coincidental naming affair. If you don't, I'll help you out in a second. If you do, good. Because if you do undnerstand my excitment then you know that it's not coincidence and if you don't understand my excitment, then know this...
"In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan
of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will"
These two boys are no different then anyone else. Christ wants them. He wants to use them. He has chosen them as His own. Now let's just wait as this "teaser" unfolds and becomes reality.
"Today the younger of the "kisser and hugger" brothers, who is 5, told
me that when he grows up he's going to be a pastor. He said he wants to
be one because he wants to "learn people about God"".
The younger of the two brothers is Eduardo and the older is named Juan. My blog will serve as a little "teaser" for what the future may hold. Keep in mind, it will take 20,25,30 years for this teaser to fully develop, so just hold tight and I'll keep you updated with my blog.
During our prayer time Tuesday morning, which we have every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday morning from 10:30-11:00, we had a full house. We use this time for several reasons. First, we use this as a time to give some structure and direction to the various volunteers that we have for the day. Next, we introduce visiters and/or friends or family and try to give some insight as to how they made their way to Cross and Crown that day. To end our time, we pray. Without question, this is the most important time of the day. We use this time of prayer to lift up specific requests, give thanks and to ask God's blessing and provision for the day.
Two of our visiters this past Tuesday were pasters from a neighborhood similar to the one that we are located in at Cross and Crown. Several of the families that come to Cross and Crown for food, clothing and prayer attend this church on a regular basis. So, as we went around the room each person introduced their respective guests. When we came to the two men, who are father and son, they were introduced. To be honest, I can't even remember who introduced them. I'll give three guesses as to what you think the names of these two men are....brian and chad? no, but close.....keith and chris, almost but not it....if you guessed Juan and Eduardo then you are correct. I really wish we had been filming my face when I heard their names. I think I gave them a look of disbelief, but based on my disbelief it was probably closer to a look of, "you have got to be absolutely kidding me, what are your real names, you are not funny, get out of the prayer room right now you liars".
After a few brief seconds to process my thoughts I surveyed the room to find Ron and Chandy to see if they had picked up on the same thing I was considering. They had similar reactions that I had. I think Chandy gave me a, "DID YOU HEAR THEIR NAMES?", that was intended to be a whisper, but she was so excited it came out louder then it would have been if she was just talking in a normal tone.
Anyway, you may or may not be able to understand my excitment about this somewhat coincidental naming affair. If you don't, I'll help you out in a second. If you do, good. Because if you do undnerstand my excitment then you know that it's not coincidence and if you don't understand my excitment, then know this...
"In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan
of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will"
These two boys are no different then anyone else. Christ wants them. He wants to use them. He has chosen them as His own. Now let's just wait as this "teaser" unfolds and becomes reality.
Monday, February 12, 2007
iRobot
This post has nothing to do with the movie iRobot. I just couldn't think of an appropriate heading for this blog entry, so work with it.
Thursday night we had our weekly Bible study. We eat for the first portion of the night, have the Bible study, which lasts anywhere from 15-45 minutes, depending on how cooperative the boys are, and then hang out, play games, watch t.v., trash Rock Island, drink half a bottle of coke and leave it laying around only to forget about it and then open a new one ten minutes later. It is always an eventful night. It seems that along with the planned events there is always something unexpected that happens. Usually the unexpexted event is dramatic or "negative". We do our best to handle the situation in a reasonable fashion. For instance, occasional "smoke-out/drinking" sessions, parents coming over to make sure that once the hang-out is over their child turns right out the door and not left (meaning that if he/she turns left they are heading towards particular people and/or environments where they might get into some things they would be better off not being involved with), phone-calls to some of our kids that when answered the kid walks outside to talk or goes into a room by themselves so not to be heard. Whatever the case may be, we do our best to be sensitive, understanding, firm, and blunt with our kids whenever an event such as these occurs.
This past Thursday night didn't turn our as successful as I had planned for our guys Bible study. With the help of Chandy, I decided to have the goys brainstorm a top-4 list of people they thought were role-models or were "cool". The boy's list looked something like the following: T.I., snoop dogg, Ludacris, Lil Wyan (that's lil wayne) chingo-bling, usher, fat joe and tupac (yea, those guys are both dead). The listing game went just as I had expected. I then had the boys talk about what made these guys "cool' or what they had that made them happy. Money, girls, and whips (cars that is) were atop the list that brought happiness to these men listed above. I then went on to read scritures about men throughout the Bible that had alot of money or were wealthy. We discussed how these riches were only temporary and how God instructs us to store up riches in heaven, rather than on earth where moth and rust destroy. Not too successful. Conversations began to run wild. Girls and money took over the majority of the talk. Lil wayne's new girlfriend became top priority of talk.
After this went on for a few minutes I decided enough was enough, it's time to pray. Seeing as how everyone knows that prayer is the ultimate silencer and closer of all discussions, I decided it was time. The highlight of the night was being able to report that an uncle of two of the boys' in our youth group came to the mission a few days back and asked us to help him get started in a recovery program for drug abuse. The exciting part of all of this for our kids was that we prayed for that exact thing to happen just a week earlier. After we prayed it was back to video games and play time. Without having to say much more about the night, let me be straightfoward and say that I was frustrated.
My frustration stems from my inability to reach these kids. I feel like I keep on telling them time and time again about God, about Jesus, about how Jesus died for each one of them and how God wants them to live. I can't possibly do anything else. I seriously exhaust myself into frustration when I plan out things to say and try to simulate questions they might possibly have when I present material. The majority of the time I just feel like it's not working. Then comes some divine intervention...
I have to constantly remind myself and be reminded by others of the fact that if we weren't here, these kids would be running the streets, just like everyone else in this area. Even with the things that these kids are involved in down here, they could be doing alot worse. I was recently reminded (by Ron's blog) that all we instructed to do and all we can do is present the gospel. We all know about how Jesus talks about spreading the seeds amongst the different types of soils and how the different conditions of the soil either yeild a crop or don't. I have tried too long to both plant the seed and then dictate the condition of the soil. It's time for me to let God work and quit trying to simply force feed Christ to these kids. In a study Bible we use here there is a sidenote that speaks about this. It says, "...our part is to do the cultivating work of evagilism. The farmer must depend on rain and sun to bring the growth. We are dependent on God to bring results from our labors of evangilism".
Well God, I will patiently wait as you bring on the rain and sun.
(p.s. until i start a professional blog or write a wide distributed book I wont worry about proof-reading my blogs and making grammatical/spelling corrections, so don't worry about pointing them out to me unless you want to start proofing them for me)
Thursday night we had our weekly Bible study. We eat for the first portion of the night, have the Bible study, which lasts anywhere from 15-45 minutes, depending on how cooperative the boys are, and then hang out, play games, watch t.v., trash Rock Island, drink half a bottle of coke and leave it laying around only to forget about it and then open a new one ten minutes later. It is always an eventful night. It seems that along with the planned events there is always something unexpected that happens. Usually the unexpexted event is dramatic or "negative". We do our best to handle the situation in a reasonable fashion. For instance, occasional "smoke-out/drinking" sessions, parents coming over to make sure that once the hang-out is over their child turns right out the door and not left (meaning that if he/she turns left they are heading towards particular people and/or environments where they might get into some things they would be better off not being involved with), phone-calls to some of our kids that when answered the kid walks outside to talk or goes into a room by themselves so not to be heard. Whatever the case may be, we do our best to be sensitive, understanding, firm, and blunt with our kids whenever an event such as these occurs.
This past Thursday night didn't turn our as successful as I had planned for our guys Bible study. With the help of Chandy, I decided to have the goys brainstorm a top-4 list of people they thought were role-models or were "cool". The boy's list looked something like the following: T.I., snoop dogg, Ludacris, Lil Wyan (that's lil wayne) chingo-bling, usher, fat joe and tupac (yea, those guys are both dead). The listing game went just as I had expected. I then had the boys talk about what made these guys "cool' or what they had that made them happy. Money, girls, and whips (cars that is) were atop the list that brought happiness to these men listed above. I then went on to read scritures about men throughout the Bible that had alot of money or were wealthy. We discussed how these riches were only temporary and how God instructs us to store up riches in heaven, rather than on earth where moth and rust destroy. Not too successful. Conversations began to run wild. Girls and money took over the majority of the talk. Lil wayne's new girlfriend became top priority of talk.
After this went on for a few minutes I decided enough was enough, it's time to pray. Seeing as how everyone knows that prayer is the ultimate silencer and closer of all discussions, I decided it was time. The highlight of the night was being able to report that an uncle of two of the boys' in our youth group came to the mission a few days back and asked us to help him get started in a recovery program for drug abuse. The exciting part of all of this for our kids was that we prayed for that exact thing to happen just a week earlier. After we prayed it was back to video games and play time. Without having to say much more about the night, let me be straightfoward and say that I was frustrated.
My frustration stems from my inability to reach these kids. I feel like I keep on telling them time and time again about God, about Jesus, about how Jesus died for each one of them and how God wants them to live. I can't possibly do anything else. I seriously exhaust myself into frustration when I plan out things to say and try to simulate questions they might possibly have when I present material. The majority of the time I just feel like it's not working. Then comes some divine intervention...
I have to constantly remind myself and be reminded by others of the fact that if we weren't here, these kids would be running the streets, just like everyone else in this area. Even with the things that these kids are involved in down here, they could be doing alot worse. I was recently reminded (by Ron's blog) that all we instructed to do and all we can do is present the gospel. We all know about how Jesus talks about spreading the seeds amongst the different types of soils and how the different conditions of the soil either yeild a crop or don't. I have tried too long to both plant the seed and then dictate the condition of the soil. It's time for me to let God work and quit trying to simply force feed Christ to these kids. In a study Bible we use here there is a sidenote that speaks about this. It says, "...our part is to do the cultivating work of evagilism. The farmer must depend on rain and sun to bring the growth. We are dependent on God to bring results from our labors of evangilism".
Well God, I will patiently wait as you bring on the rain and sun.
(p.s. until i start a professional blog or write a wide distributed book I wont worry about proof-reading my blogs and making grammatical/spelling corrections, so don't worry about pointing them out to me unless you want to start proofing them for me)
Monday, February 5, 2007
internet not cool...singing cool
Internet connection = 1
Luke = 0
Turns out the internet works on its' own clock here at the mission. Last night I was attempting to write a quick blog before our Sunday evening worship started but I wasn't going to finish it in time. No problem, I'll just click the "Save as Draft" icon on the bottom. I mean, that's why it's there right? Not happening. Twenty plus minutes of "blogging" down the tubes. Here's round two...
I have decided not write about Thursday night because chances are if you read my blog - you read Ron and Chandy's blogs. Instead, I just wanted to write about "Billy", again.
On Sunday nights we have a worship service from 6:00-7:00. Chandy and Ron, along with occasional guests, lead the worship and I generally hold-down the computer station, which projects the words to the songs on the overhead. Long story short, I maximize my Exercise Science degree by pushing up and down on the computer keyboard to alternate slides. Seeing as how it was Superbowl Sunday, we were running a little thin on our attendance. On the other hand, the youth were in full force with about 12-15 of them showing up for the nights festivities. One of which was "Billy". Yes, the same Billy that I wrote about in my previos blog. I can assure you that we do not play favorites here at Cross and Crown, but we can't help but sympathize with particular individuals. Which is my case with Billy.
For whatever reason, I have taken a special interest in Billy. I'm not really sure why. To be honest, Billy is often loud, obnoxious and frequently annoying. But, if you were to be around Billy, talk to Billy and try to somewhat understand where Billy is coming from I have a feeling it would be much easier to understand why I sympathize with Billy.
So there I am holding down the overly complex computer station and the Sunday worship service has been in going on for 20-25 minutes. Throughout the entire serice, thus far, Billy has been playing musical chairs, eating sugar packets (I'm not kidding) and coming back to my computer "area" with intentions of mocking me with hopes of generating a chuckle from me or anyone else paying attention. Time passes and Billy gets tired of switching chairs, eating sugar and humiliating me, which was surprising in itself. What is even more surprising is that Billy starts to sing. At this point, I am sitting down at a table with the computer and Billy is standing 3 feet away from me. Completely focused, unaware of anyone taking notice, Billy is desperately trying to keep up with the flow of the song. He is singing the song. This is probably one of those instances when "you just had to be there" to understand the significance of what happened. But, even if you can't hear his voice or see his face, just try to imagine a 13 year old boy singing the words, "I love You, All of my hope is in You, Jesus Christ take my life, Take all of me".
Billy hasn't accepted Jesus Christ as his savior. Really, if I were to ask or remind Billy about him singing last night he probably wouldn't remember or think anything of it. Sadly enough, Billy probably wasn't sincere about what he was singing. Why wasn't he sincere? Chances are that Billy doesn't really know who Jesus Christ REALLY is. That's why I want to be here. That's why Ron and Chandy want to be here. That's why Paul, Suzanne, Don, Martha, and all the countless others want to be here. We all want to be here so maybe over the course of time we might be able to fill Billy in on just who Jesus is. Who knows, maybe the next time he sings those words he will be sincere.
Luke = 0
Turns out the internet works on its' own clock here at the mission. Last night I was attempting to write a quick blog before our Sunday evening worship started but I wasn't going to finish it in time. No problem, I'll just click the "Save as Draft" icon on the bottom. I mean, that's why it's there right? Not happening. Twenty plus minutes of "blogging" down the tubes. Here's round two...
I have decided not write about Thursday night because chances are if you read my blog - you read Ron and Chandy's blogs. Instead, I just wanted to write about "Billy", again.
On Sunday nights we have a worship service from 6:00-7:00. Chandy and Ron, along with occasional guests, lead the worship and I generally hold-down the computer station, which projects the words to the songs on the overhead. Long story short, I maximize my Exercise Science degree by pushing up and down on the computer keyboard to alternate slides. Seeing as how it was Superbowl Sunday, we were running a little thin on our attendance. On the other hand, the youth were in full force with about 12-15 of them showing up for the nights festivities. One of which was "Billy". Yes, the same Billy that I wrote about in my previos blog. I can assure you that we do not play favorites here at Cross and Crown, but we can't help but sympathize with particular individuals. Which is my case with Billy.
For whatever reason, I have taken a special interest in Billy. I'm not really sure why. To be honest, Billy is often loud, obnoxious and frequently annoying. But, if you were to be around Billy, talk to Billy and try to somewhat understand where Billy is coming from I have a feeling it would be much easier to understand why I sympathize with Billy.
So there I am holding down the overly complex computer station and the Sunday worship service has been in going on for 20-25 minutes. Throughout the entire serice, thus far, Billy has been playing musical chairs, eating sugar packets (I'm not kidding) and coming back to my computer "area" with intentions of mocking me with hopes of generating a chuckle from me or anyone else paying attention. Time passes and Billy gets tired of switching chairs, eating sugar and humiliating me, which was surprising in itself. What is even more surprising is that Billy starts to sing. At this point, I am sitting down at a table with the computer and Billy is standing 3 feet away from me. Completely focused, unaware of anyone taking notice, Billy is desperately trying to keep up with the flow of the song. He is singing the song. This is probably one of those instances when "you just had to be there" to understand the significance of what happened. But, even if you can't hear his voice or see his face, just try to imagine a 13 year old boy singing the words, "I love You, All of my hope is in You, Jesus Christ take my life, Take all of me".
Billy hasn't accepted Jesus Christ as his savior. Really, if I were to ask or remind Billy about him singing last night he probably wouldn't remember or think anything of it. Sadly enough, Billy probably wasn't sincere about what he was singing. Why wasn't he sincere? Chances are that Billy doesn't really know who Jesus Christ REALLY is. That's why I want to be here. That's why Ron and Chandy want to be here. That's why Paul, Suzanne, Don, Martha, and all the countless others want to be here. We all want to be here so maybe over the course of time we might be able to fill Billy in on just who Jesus is. Who knows, maybe the next time he sings those words he will be sincere.
Thursday, February 1, 2007
things in perspective
This is a story about Billy(we have decided not to use our kids real names in our blogs because of several reasons, one reason is so that if anyone that ever reads these things decides to come down and help out they won't recognize one of the kids names and be like, "Oh, you are (insert name here). Aren't you the one that isn't potty trained?", thus humiliating him/her and them never coming back). Billy comes consistently to our junior-high/high-school after school program on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
This past Tuesday it was 3:30 or so and several of our high-school kids had already made their way to the mission. Due to the difference in when school dismisses, the high-schoolers generally get to the mission around 3:00 or 3:15ish, whereas the junior-high kids usually make their way to the mission arond 4:00ish. Billy, being a junior-higher, would normally get to the mission around 4:00, but not today. I spotted Billy in the back of the mission putting in some pretty serious work on our newly acquired swingset. Billy spotted me peeking out the window and motioned for me to join him. So I did. Seeing as how our kids have a knack for, "missing the bus", "being sick", "and their dog eating their homework", I was primed and ready to hear just what major catastrophe was holding Billy back from attending school that day.
"My dad didn't wake me up this morning", Billy sheepishly told me. Being my wise and considerate self I quickly returned with, "Oh really Billy? You are 13 years old and your dad wakes you up for school?" Awesome Luke, you really nailed him on that one. Two things I failed to consider, first of all, I'm pretty sure my mom woke me up for school until I was well into high-school. Secondly, I didn't consider Billy's home life. You see, Billy lives directly next door to a drug-house (we are starting to think that it may not be such a coincidence that his family lives where they do), neither of his parents work and, honestly, Billy has alot more pressing issues to deal with then keeping his school attendance flawless. So, after I tried to backtrack a little bit and not sound so judgemental, I sat and talked to Billy for a while. Not a long time, but long enough to learn about why his dad had to wake him up for school and why that morning he didn't. I got to hear about what he knew about the people who lived next door to him in the "drug house". I got to hear about his parents. I got to know about the things that were really the problem.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that before we attack people for the decisions they make, or in my case attack little boys for not going to school, maybe it would be best to consider the whole picture or to know exactly what is going on underneath the topic of discussion. Maybe once we know a little bit more about the underlinging problems and concerns people have in their lives we can confront the biggest need in their lives, Jesus Christ.
I will keep you posted on how Billy continues to hear and experience about his real need in life. Who knows, maybe someday Billy will accept Christ.
This past Tuesday it was 3:30 or so and several of our high-school kids had already made their way to the mission. Due to the difference in when school dismisses, the high-schoolers generally get to the mission around 3:00 or 3:15ish, whereas the junior-high kids usually make their way to the mission arond 4:00ish. Billy, being a junior-higher, would normally get to the mission around 4:00, but not today. I spotted Billy in the back of the mission putting in some pretty serious work on our newly acquired swingset. Billy spotted me peeking out the window and motioned for me to join him. So I did. Seeing as how our kids have a knack for, "missing the bus", "being sick", "and their dog eating their homework", I was primed and ready to hear just what major catastrophe was holding Billy back from attending school that day.
"My dad didn't wake me up this morning", Billy sheepishly told me. Being my wise and considerate self I quickly returned with, "Oh really Billy? You are 13 years old and your dad wakes you up for school?" Awesome Luke, you really nailed him on that one. Two things I failed to consider, first of all, I'm pretty sure my mom woke me up for school until I was well into high-school. Secondly, I didn't consider Billy's home life. You see, Billy lives directly next door to a drug-house (we are starting to think that it may not be such a coincidence that his family lives where they do), neither of his parents work and, honestly, Billy has alot more pressing issues to deal with then keeping his school attendance flawless. So, after I tried to backtrack a little bit and not sound so judgemental, I sat and talked to Billy for a while. Not a long time, but long enough to learn about why his dad had to wake him up for school and why that morning he didn't. I got to hear about what he knew about the people who lived next door to him in the "drug house". I got to hear about his parents. I got to know about the things that were really the problem.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that before we attack people for the decisions they make, or in my case attack little boys for not going to school, maybe it would be best to consider the whole picture or to know exactly what is going on underneath the topic of discussion. Maybe once we know a little bit more about the underlinging problems and concerns people have in their lives we can confront the biggest need in their lives, Jesus Christ.
I will keep you posted on how Billy continues to hear and experience about his real need in life. Who knows, maybe someday Billy will accept Christ.
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