“Why is that llama laying down over there?” “It's sitting on it's eggs!” This bit of wisdom was overheard during an exchange between two of our primary MYC Club kids. Twenty-four of us were enjoying a close-up look at some exotic animals while riding through the Tennessee Safari Park in Alamo, TN. I had never heard of llama eggs, but she talked with the confidence of an expert. I love to hear little ones talk, whether it's grand kids or club kids. They remind me of a quote from Ronald Reagan, where he said that it's “not that they're ignorant, it's just that they know so much that isn't so!”
We are all ignorant in some ways; it's impossible for a human to know everything. Ignorance can actually be a step to gaining wisdom, if we recognize our ignorance, stop arguing and making excuses, and diligently seek the truth. I believe that when we are in heaven, we will get to use all of our capabilities, including all of our brains. Meanwhile, while we are still on earth, we have to put up with others who “know so much that isn't so!” Such wisdom from children is funny and usually harmless. The problem is when we make choices or react to something based upon something that we think we know but about which we are ignorant or deceived. That's not funny or harmless. For instance, when one of our know-it-all kids argues a call with the referee, he then gets put out of the game. Another example is a government that thinks it can spend itself out of debt into prosperity. One of our kids had not developed good interview skills, but assumed she wasn't hired at a restaurant because of her race. If you make your choices based upon these kinds of “wisdom”, then you will keep making stupid mistakes.
These are just a few examples of the dangers of acting from ignorance. By far the biggest danger, though, is our ignorance of God and His Word. When I talk about spiritual matters with our Club kids, I sometimes ask how we know if we are a Christian or how we can know that we are going to heaven. There are three common but dangerously ignorant answers I hear. One is that you earn your way to heaven by being good. Another is about an emotional experience at church. The third is about with which church they are involved. Some of these kids seem almost inoculated to the true message of Christ by this false “wisdom.” Jesus himself clearly said that He is the way, the truth, and the life and that no one will come to God except through Him. I pray that all of our kids, everyone I love, and anyone reading this will not be toward God's Word like the kid who argues with the referee and gets an attitude and blames others for being out of the game. Eternity is a lot longer than a ballgame, llamas don't lay eggs, and we are all invited to Heaven through Jesus!
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
They Keep Coming Back!
“I'm going to stay in MYC Club until high School!” “Me too, I wish we could come every day!” This was part of a conversation between a couple of our MYC Primary Club kids as we were getting out of the van and walking into MYC. I took what I heard as a show of enthusiasm and not a warning! We enjoy their smiles and displays of excitement, and we're glad that they want to be with us. Most of our kids come to Club or Camp year after year, unless the family moves out of town. Why do they keep coming back? Is it the food? The games in the gym? The social time? Lessons about God's love? Is it homework time? (Probably not!) While most of these are reasons our kids come back, we believe that the relationships with the MYC staff and volunteers has a lot to do with it. We try to make sure they know that we love them and that we want them to be here. MYC is not just a job where we watch the clock and can't wait until we can go home. (Although honestly, with at-risk kids there are days when we are tempted to do this!)
One of the many ways God has blessed MYC is that we have staff and volunteers who stay here for years. Another way we are blessed is to have married couples working together here. I'm especially blessed to get to work closely with my wife, Debbie. Relationships are built when the kids come year after year and get to spend time with the same adults every year. Relationships are key to what we do here, and there is no substitute for time in developing them. This is clear to us and may be so obvious to you that you may be wondering why I am wasting space and your time by writing about it. The sad reality, however, is that many of the parents of these kids don't seem to understand this truth. Dads or even moms are sometimes completely missing from the lives of our kids. Some see their dad for only a few days in the summer. Many live with a grandma or another relative instead of with parents. Many move around often, in and out of the homes of various relatives or friends. It's not uncommon for our kids to have to make calls after Club to ask where we need to drop them off, or for us to drive to more than one house in order to find an adult who is available to supervise them. Moms will have various “men” in and out of the home, which confuses the kids and can put them in danger. These kinds of choices by the parents are the reasons why these kids are at-risk. Parents who can't commit often raise kids who can't cope.
This is why we are here. This is why we have both men and women serving here. This is why it's so great to have married couples spending time with these kids. The kids see that we love each other and that we love them. When they know that they will see the same faces year after year, they keep coming back.
One of the many ways God has blessed MYC is that we have staff and volunteers who stay here for years. Another way we are blessed is to have married couples working together here. I'm especially blessed to get to work closely with my wife, Debbie. Relationships are built when the kids come year after year and get to spend time with the same adults every year. Relationships are key to what we do here, and there is no substitute for time in developing them. This is clear to us and may be so obvious to you that you may be wondering why I am wasting space and your time by writing about it. The sad reality, however, is that many of the parents of these kids don't seem to understand this truth. Dads or even moms are sometimes completely missing from the lives of our kids. Some see their dad for only a few days in the summer. Many live with a grandma or another relative instead of with parents. Many move around often, in and out of the homes of various relatives or friends. It's not uncommon for our kids to have to make calls after Club to ask where we need to drop them off, or for us to drive to more than one house in order to find an adult who is available to supervise them. Moms will have various “men” in and out of the home, which confuses the kids and can put them in danger. These kinds of choices by the parents are the reasons why these kids are at-risk. Parents who can't commit often raise kids who can't cope.
This is why we are here. This is why we have both men and women serving here. This is why it's so great to have married couples spending time with these kids. The kids see that we love each other and that we love them. When they know that they will see the same faces year after year, they keep coming back.
Monday, May 2, 2011
If I Disappear
Record-breaking earthquakes around the world.
Record-breaking or crazy weather, such as the floods, snow, and hail here in West Tennessee.
People pushing for a one-world currency system. Governments in deep debt or going bankrupt.
Oil prices and food prices. Famine in places like North Korea, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Pakistan.
Political unrest all over the Middle East and in Africa. Threats and attacks against Israel.
Gay “marriage” and other perversions. Awarding special status, position, and protection to gays.
Little concern for human life, such as the drug war in Mexico and killing unborn babies in the USA.
Creeping socialism. More people depending on the government to meet all needs or solve problems.
The federal government eager to take over the responsibilities and privileges of local and state governments, charities, or families.
An administration, congress, and courts who ignore, circumvent, or try to reinvent the Constitution.
Government leaders who insult Christians but honor Islam, earth worship, and other false religions.
Anti Christian and anti Israel hate. Our leaders turning against Israel and toward Israel's enemies.
Persecution of Christians is an epidemic, although ignored by our government and media.
Powerful people push for a “new world order,” or “globalization” or “global governance.”
Sharia law in the US courts. The UN becoming increasingly dominated by Marxists and Muslims.
Political correctness: “tolerance” of anything except Christianity. Revising history to eliminate God.
Lukewarm churches and lukewarm Christians, who look like the world instead of Jesus.
These are some of the events and conditions in the world in the last couple of years which may be fulfillment of Bible prophecy. I won't pretend to know for sure that we are on the threshold of the end times, and I'm not making a prediction, but as a Christian I have a responsibility. I need to be God's instrument to make certain that everyone I love, anyone I can influence, and everyone with whom I serve here at MYC is ready for the promised return of Christ. You are ready if you have put your trust in Christ, the risen Son of God.
If there is a rapture of the church as one of the events in Christ's return, I and all Christians will disappear in a flash! I'm praying and working for MYC to suddenly be empty because all of the kids will disappear with us. I hope my family and everyone I know disappears. Actually, I can't think of anyone who I hope will be left behind to endure hell on earth. Jesus didn't want anyone left behind either, so He died for all of us. We just finished celebrating His resurrection. Unfortunately, there will be those left behind who have chosen to ignore God's love and the Bible's warnings. I hope you aren't one of them! If I disappear, I'll be with Jesus! If you are reading this after I disappear, don't look for me, but look into God's word and to Jesus for your salvation!
Record-breaking or crazy weather, such as the floods, snow, and hail here in West Tennessee.
People pushing for a one-world currency system. Governments in deep debt or going bankrupt.
Oil prices and food prices. Famine in places like North Korea, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Pakistan.
Political unrest all over the Middle East and in Africa. Threats and attacks against Israel.
Gay “marriage” and other perversions. Awarding special status, position, and protection to gays.
Little concern for human life, such as the drug war in Mexico and killing unborn babies in the USA.
Creeping socialism. More people depending on the government to meet all needs or solve problems.
The federal government eager to take over the responsibilities and privileges of local and state governments, charities, or families.
An administration, congress, and courts who ignore, circumvent, or try to reinvent the Constitution.
Government leaders who insult Christians but honor Islam, earth worship, and other false religions.
Anti Christian and anti Israel hate. Our leaders turning against Israel and toward Israel's enemies.
Persecution of Christians is an epidemic, although ignored by our government and media.
Powerful people push for a “new world order,” or “globalization” or “global governance.”
Sharia law in the US courts. The UN becoming increasingly dominated by Marxists and Muslims.
Political correctness: “tolerance” of anything except Christianity. Revising history to eliminate God.
Lukewarm churches and lukewarm Christians, who look like the world instead of Jesus.
These are some of the events and conditions in the world in the last couple of years which may be fulfillment of Bible prophecy. I won't pretend to know for sure that we are on the threshold of the end times, and I'm not making a prediction, but as a Christian I have a responsibility. I need to be God's instrument to make certain that everyone I love, anyone I can influence, and everyone with whom I serve here at MYC is ready for the promised return of Christ. You are ready if you have put your trust in Christ, the risen Son of God.
If there is a rapture of the church as one of the events in Christ's return, I and all Christians will disappear in a flash! I'm praying and working for MYC to suddenly be empty because all of the kids will disappear with us. I hope my family and everyone I know disappears. Actually, I can't think of anyone who I hope will be left behind to endure hell on earth. Jesus didn't want anyone left behind either, so He died for all of us. We just finished celebrating His resurrection. Unfortunately, there will be those left behind who have chosen to ignore God's love and the Bible's warnings. I hope you aren't one of them! If I disappear, I'll be with Jesus! If you are reading this after I disappear, don't look for me, but look into God's word and to Jesus for your salvation!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)