Monday 24 March 2008 at 1:31 pm
Sunday night during the Gideon’s report Mr. Harris spoke about being sensitive to the Holy Spirit in regards to witnessing. It was a great point but I think we sometimes only relate it to witnessing. My plan last Friday and Saturday was to take the whole day and do School work. Yet the Holy Spirit started putting a couple youth from one of our Mission Points on my heart. So I made arrangements to hang out with one of them on Friday and the other on Saturday. I feel that both were divine appointments. I really did not think the first one would come through when family and friends wanted him to hang with them but he did not hesitate and hung several hours with me. The second one I wasn’t sure how to hang with being a female youth. This causes great restrictions as where and how we can hang out. She hung out on property with me knocking on some doors and we chatted in between. I knew that God had wanted me to share with both of them about making good choices. It’s a simple message but an important one. I shared with them both about how David made a bad choice not to go to war, that was followed by another bad choice of sleeping in. That was followed by the bad choices with Bathsheba and Uriah and in the end resulted in the death of his child. One bad choice started a great tragedy.
Divine appointments and be sensitive to the Holy Spirit is not exclusively about sharing the Gospel it can also be about discipleship.
In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king's men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem. One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful 2 Samuel 11:1-2
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Sunday 23 March 2008 at 11:56 pm
So after kids club on Sat afternoon, I decided to play a pickup game with some of the guys at VB. There was a small crowd, some just visiting like usual to play ball, others were youth from the apartment complex, and rest kids. I got drafted to play the winning team soon as the losing team walked off. I smile and greet others, as if I knew what all I was doing. The rules were simple, 4 on 4 team, call your own fouls (no wimpy ones allowed), lots of smack talk, expect rough play, and overall just good ole' fashioned streetball at its best. Play went as usual and next thing you know things are looking bad quickly, 8 pts to their 11, and our team still figuring out our teamwork. So we push it in gear and along with the rest of them, I decide to pull up for a few jumpers, not expecting anything great. After I make my first jumper, then quick second, I realize that our team is only one point short of a tie, and somehow the ball is passed to me again. I don't remember exactly what happened next, but as I pull up close the guy guarding me, and he steps back, thinking I'll miss, I shoot and miraculously watch my third jumper hit nuthin but net. I catch a few of my youth with jaws wide open, kids jumping up and down in excitement, the other team yelling frantically for someone to guard the asian dude, and the overall uproar and yelling all around as if someone were going to Disneyland... HA!
It doesnt hit me till my teamates walk by and I get a few high fives, that the last three shots were clutch shots totally unexpected by the other team, and even more so by the one man guarding me, seeing how out of shape and out of breath I was. Not only had we tied the game, but in the end, we won 16 to their 12. Our team took over the game and left fully drained but satisfied with the result.
In the midst, I also realized that the yelling and the unusal praises didnt include the regular cursing and potty mouth humor, maybe out of respect, or something like that, since they knew I wasnt from around there. It really opened up an opportunity for me to chat with some of the adults, that I usually don't get to spend time with at all.
Can't tell you how much I enjoyed playing the games and the huge smiles on the faces of my youth that day.
Friday 21 March 2008 at 11:52 am
Memories of God's Vehicle...
I remember the first vehicle I drove in Mission Raleigh was the bus seven or eight years ago ...
I remember how fearful I was of turning the corner out of Mt Vernon parking lot, and driving down the 3 lane road of Wake Forest Rd back then..
I remember how unprepared I felt driving it around Walnut Terrace and honking the horn to gather the kids..
I remember going with Judson, then going with Ivan there...
I remember how clueless I was of what God had been doing there at all...
I remember back then how I quit driving the bus after two weeks because I was afraid to tell anyone about Jesus...
I remember how very much I was afraid...
I remember after six months after quitting, how God told me to get back on Mission with Him...
I remember telling ScottyB how I wanted to get back on Mission again ...
I remember how I was driving the bus again few weeks after, this time to Raleigh Gardens Apartments...
I remember how I had to drive the bus from Oaks, to Raleigh Gardens, drive back to Mt Vernon, then eat a late lunch with Andy,
I remember also how He called me to Valleybrook and closed the community center right afterwards...
I remember Scotty saying I need to drive the bus out there on a regular basis...
I remember thinking how God has a sense of humor in all is...
I remember laughing at myself...
I remember the first couple of years driving the bus to Valleybrook to meet with Pam, Cheryl, Dennis, and others...
I remember doing HW help on the bus, and move and game nights on the bus.
I remember how the window of the bus got smashed in and then it had some trouble running.
I remember blaming others for it not working, and me not able to do my kids club and youth nite program.
I remember God telling me to use that time wisely instead of complaining to go and visit the families at Valleybrook.
I remember leading two people to the Lord that week the bus was out...
I remember being grateful to God that though I complained a lot He loves the people at Valleybrook and loves me trusting him...
I remember doing kids club under the sky and thanking the Lord for the rain and the wet snacks...
I remember learning I have nothing my life worth complaining about.
I remember the bus getting fixed, and me beginning my third year at Valleybrook...
I remember learning that God works not only throught the bus but me...
I remember seeing God do great things at Valleybrook...
I remember falling in love with my residents there...
I remember realizing that the bus is but a tool...
I remember I have been driving the bus now for over seven years...
I remember that what is important is the Mission, not the bus, but the gospel...
I remember its not about me or my way, but the Mission...
I realize now that I, the believer, am the vehicle God that uses to bring His Good News, everything else is not as important.
Saturday 15 March 2008 at 12:14 pm
In this past youth night discussions, some of my youth asked some very deep questions. I don't mean deep as is, there is a shallow question, but deep as in, whether I know or understand the question or not, it still takes time to process and think about the many implications and true to life applications of the it, far after just stating the answer. Thats why I like discussions. :)
I did not make up any of this, these are honest questions our youth ask, and there are more besides these.
How do I know God is real?
Can I really trust the Bible is true?
Can I believe anything is true at all? (maybe its all a lie)
If someone says they believe in God, why cant they forgive others willingly? (tough question since we could only come up with a theoretical churchy answer)
Why are some (Christian) people constantly in conflict with each other? (moreover, how are gangs really different if hating is killing?)
If we are honest, none of these are easy answers, and even if they seem simple, the application of it is far more complicated then meets the eye.
Thursday 13 March 2008 at 08:41 am
So, this week, while I was just hanging out and gettin to know some new residents, one of the older youth I know in the apartment comes up laughing and says, "George, you are just like a Jehovah Wtiness, you talk to everyone and knock on everyones door!" :)
I laughed and looked at the new resident, assured them I was not a JW, and complimented Mike for saying what he did. Its true though, I belive cults are more faithful many times then real Christians. I pray that I love Jesus more then just for the purpose of my works!
Wednesday 05 March 2008 at 5:47 pm
"Jerry" has lived in the apartement and attending youth night for over three years now week after week, and been to one or two MR events. We've played ball a lot together, hung out and cut up once in a while, but he has always been pretty reserved and quiet about spiritual things in and out of youth night - a one word kinda guy, oldest of the bunch. Every lesson though, you can tell he is listening.
Though Jerry is not a believer (yet), I have had the privilage to watch him grow up into a fine young man, these past three years, and I've finally had the opportunity to get to know the real "Jerry" last week. Rarely does it seem that anyone knows him. As a young black man though, he shared he doesnt feel he has many options in life, if keeps hanging around certain friends that get him into trouble, but his desire now more then ever is to do well in high school, get through college, have a family, and treat his wife and children the right way. I was stunned... His basketball skills have grown, but aparently so has his understanding of the reality of growing up. He shared how his grandmother tried to steer him in this direction, as well as towards the Lord, and that much of it he didnt understand till now.
As we talked, our conversation led to spiritual things and I reminded him what we talked about in youth night, and how the Lord has a wonderful plan for his life, including but not limited to salvation. He acknowledged it and our converstation went further into the gospel a bit more. Then, as with any moment in life we dont expect, another friend walks in, with no desire to talk about godly things.
I have been praying hard for Jerry as of late. What a great joy it would be to see him come to Christ. Three years with him has pasted by quickly, whats another?
