Anything to Everything

Remember how it all seemed bright and nothing could stop the shine

You didn't think that it all would end in such quick time

The flowers were beautiful but it's a shame that he didn't get to smell them

Hopefully everyone who loved him was able to tell 'em.

It's been a hard ten months but you don't seem so far

Because although you're in the ground you are still seen in the stars

I can't deny that nothing has really been the same

Since I've lost the chance to see you and say your name

          This year has sure been something. I remember last Christmas getting the chance to spend it with my family, and it was great (like always). At the end of the night I was asked to drive my Grandma and Grandpa home. Little did I know that it would be the last time I'd see my Grandfather before he passed in February. I always wanted him to know how much I loved him, because he helped teach me what it means to be a man. I wasn't expecting this year to go the way it has. I have been extremely busy with just about everything, but I realize that is part of growing up. There are a few things I'm looking forward to in this coming year. I'm graduating college, I'm beginning graduate school, and I'll be effectively transitioning to a new chapter in my life. Amongst all that, there are other things I'd like to do this year. I want to be able to fully realize the blessings I have in my life, and to show my thanks to those people. So I came up with a little bit of something that I can look back on in a year, and hopefully I'll feel like I've fulfilled them:

If you find someone who you feel is the best at anything

Don't be afraid to ask for everything

Remember to just keep the faith

Because where this might take you may not feel safe

But you gotta keep the faith

I'm gonna keep the faith

Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving in my family is bigger than Christmas. I see more family on Thanksgiving Day than I do throughout all of Christmas. Thanksgiving at my house is huge and it's important. Friends, neighbors, family, and acquaintances pile into my house for a feast. All are welcome. It's wonderful. It makes me happy.

As we are approaching this holiday, I would like to express my thanks. I didn't want it filling up my Facebook, so I thought I would post it here. I'll be honest...I hate when people every day post something they are "thankful" for, yet don't believe in anyone to thank, and are not thankful for that thing the other 364 days of the year. So, here I am, posting out-of-the-ordinary things I am truly grateful for.

Friends--I have some absolutely amazing friends that I wouldn't trade for the world. I've rekindled some old relationships and made new friendships this year that I am truly grateful for. Friends are worth millions.

My passions--I am so thankful that God has given me a passion for Spanish and international missions. I know my passions will be used for wonderful things. I love my passions...they are what keeps me going in life.

My jobs--Yes, I have 3 jobs. Yes, I am thankful for each one of them. These days, I am so thankful that I have a job. Not only do I have a job, I have 2 that I LOVE. My job at the insurance office is such a blessing...they are wonderful to me and are giving me great opportunities. And of course, my job at the church is where I love to be.

Challenges--I have overcome challenges in my life that many of you don't know. I believe challenges are blessings in disguise. I honestly would not be the person I am today without having to overcome those challenges in my life. For the challenges that made me who I am today, I am truly thankful.

Soldiers--I may have a desire to move out of this country, but it does not stop me from being thankful for our troops that are protecting our freedom.

Nicaragua/Misael--I am so thankful for my time in Nicaragua and the pleasure of meeting Misael. Nicaragua is a place that I hold near and dear to my heart and I absolutely cannot wait until I make it my home. I am thankful that God sent me there and showed me my passion. I'm thankful for Misael who forever changed my life.

Food--Something so simple, yet people are starving every day. I am thankful for a pantry full of food to eat at my leisure. I am thankful that I have a full belly when I go to sleep at night.

Housing--I've seen the slums of Nicaragua. I am beyond thankful for a roof over my head, my own room, a thermostat, and a bathroom inside. No one should have to endure the living conditions in Nicaragua and my mission is to change that one family at a time.

Family--I've truly learned that family is not based on marriage or by blood, it's the people that love you and you love the most. I'm thankful for friends that are family to me. It means more than you know.

New beginnings--This year has been a year of change for me. So many new beginnings...a new job, beginning my college career, etc. I'm so thankful for these new beginnings and the change and opportunity they bring.

Animals--Simple, yes...but I am truly thankful for "puppy therapy" and my own doggies at home. No matter what kind of day I have had, my animals always seem to put a smile on my face.

Hope--Hope is what gets me through every day. So so thankful that I have hope for what is ahead.

Future--Simply put, the future scares the crap out of me. Despite that, I'm thankful I have a future and one of endless possibilities.

Safety--I'm thankful for safety...for the fact that I am not injured or sick.

New opportunities--I'm thankful for new opportunities in my life. This December, I have the honor to preach at my church...something I never thought I'd be doing at 18. I'm thankful for these opportunities to explore my passions and my strengths.

Redemption--I am so thankful to live for a God that redeems. I'm a failure, but God forgives me. His grace is unreal.

A vehicle--It's dumb, but being without a vehicle for a while makes you truly thankful for what you have. These days, in this city, a vehicle is practically necessary.

Adventure--I'm a thrill-seeker. I love just about anything that will get my adrenaline pumping. I'm thankful for opportunities of adventure that keep my enthusiasm for life going.

Coffee--I am thankful for this little burst of energy that often gets me through my hectic days.

Role Models--God has placed some pretty amazing role models in my life that I am so thankful for. I don't know where I'd be without them!

Ashamed

I have recently found myself in situations that I have been ashamed to call myself a Christian. Sounds ridiculous, right?

I personally believe there are three types of Christians in this world. Only one of those three I want to be associated with. 

Type 1: The "Bible Buster"... This Christian is one that lives out their faith "too well". They believe that each possible sin or wrongdoing results in a condemnation to hell. When others sin, these Christians tend to shun them, shove their wrongdoings in their face, and constantly remind them of their future life in hell. They tend to stretch the sayings of the Bible to fit what they want it to say, and continually push the Bible onto others. If  they are not bringing up salvation in common chat, they are Facebooking, Tweeting, and Instagramming how to be saved. How many people they got saved is more than just a number to them, and they can't help but trying to bring more people into this rule-abiding life. 

Type 1 Christian is overbearing and is often overrun with rules, instead of love and mercy. As a person looking for the love and mercy of Christ, this life of rules and condemnation seems less than desirable. Personally, I feel that this Christian is a turn-off to others looking to follow God. I often feel myself ashamed of being associated with Type 1 Christians based on their actions toward others.

If you read one of my previous posts titled, "The Remedy," I feel that the Christians identified in that post relate to the Type 1 Christian. 

Type 2: The "Convenient Christian"... This Christian normally falls into the 16-25 year old range. They casually come to church, when its convenient, and when they do, they may or may not be hungover from the previous nights party. The label "Christian" is just that:  a social label. These Christians feel the need to label themselves as "Christians" to be a part of the group. They don't talk Jesus besides the "#blessed" on Instagram or the typical, "I'm so blessed to have ______ in my life!" or the, "I'm so thankful for all that God has placed in my life #blessedwiththebest" on Facebook/Twitter. Religion is just a label, and parties and social status are way more important...but they'll make it to church if they manage to sober-up by morning. 

Yet again, Type 2 is not a person I wish to be. I feel that Type 2 Christians just want something to believe in, not something to live out. No rules to follow, and just a few Christian outings a month to be sure others see the "good Christian person." Not much of a commitment, but also not much of a reward. Others looking to follow God often see the behavior of Type 2 Christian behind the scenes and is turned off by the idea of a two-faced Christian altogether. Type 2 is also a Christian I am sometimes ashamed to be associated with.

Type 3: The "Honest Christian"...This Christian is a sinner, troubled, and has a bad past. This Christian knows they have done things wrong, but knows of God's grace and forgiveness. This Christian makes mistakes daily, but works to change despite that. They feel that Christianity isn't just a belief, but a way of life. They don't condemn others, but instead show grace and mercy through their actions. They continue to be a shining example of God's love despite not being perfect. They aren't at every single service, posting daily about salvation, but they live out the gospel in their daily lives. 

Type 3 is the Christian I strive to be. My goal as a Christian isn't to punish, judge, or persecute others wrongdoings, but to be an example to others by the way I live. I am far from being a perfect Type 3 Christian, but I can say I try. 

Sadly, I estimate that only 15% of Christians are Type 3 Christians (yeah, so, that percent is truthfully made up from what I see in my daily life...take it as you please)

So, who are you? Who do you strive to be? Who does God want you to be?

Blessings,

Faith

Fall

What is mean to stay patient?

Does it mean continue to sleep from couch to couch and wait for a statement?

Being told that we'll shine and I need to stay a man?

How can I shine when the rain block the sun like 99 cent ray bands.

The raindrops from the sky make it hard to not struggle

Especially when you can't even find an umbrella

Hope is a dangerous thing asking Morgan Free

But it is fear that keeps you prisoner, not set you free

I heard that tomorrow is always brighter they say

I look outside and all I see is the grass get browner by the day

As the warmth subsides and the frost begins to linger

What is going to brighten up the soul that is being thrown through the wringer?

Fall is a four letter word that means coming down

But it could in fact be a glimmer of hope to flip our frowns

Take that orange leaf or the red one

As it symbolizes change for what is about to come

The beauty in change in the outside that God sends us all

Can be seen greatly looking outside in the fall

So wake up and roll over, The rain will soon be over

The fall is putting a period on the summer

All with hope and change like the leaves; with no bummer

So wake up and roll over, find purpose and love all over

Tell someone you care, and show some love every where

Autumn, fall or whatever you want to call it

It's a time to grow, in who you and in spirit.

Make this change in seasons a positive one. School, work, and life in general I know can be crazy. Maybe all it will take is a look outside and see how beautiful things still can be; and things can be just as beautiful in your lives, if you let it.

God Bless,

Andrew

BE the Change

Both myself and Andrew have blogged about "being the change." But what does that mean? It means DOING SOMETHING! Doing something to fix something else. This world is filled with injustice. The only way to fix that injustice is to BE the change. Although we can't actually stop hunger by ourselves, WE CAN do something about it.

I've compiled a list of legitimate organizations that change the world. By donating to or buying from these organizations, YOU are changing the world. Click the link and you should be taken directly to the website.

1.) World Vision--Adopt a Child 
http://www.worldvision.org/sponsor-child

This organization allows you to "adopt" a child in a third world country. It costs $35 per month and you get to pick a child. You can correspond with your adopted child and send them small gifts. For about a dollar a day, you provide that child with clean water, food, healthcare and more. This organization is close to my heart. I got to SEE World Vision in action in Nicaragua. I knew their work was legitimate, but actually seeing in action was remarkable.

2) World Vision Gifts
http://donate.worldvision.org/OA_HTML/xxwv2ibeCCtpSctDspRte.jsp?go=gift&&section=10389

Have a friend or in-law that is SO difficult to shop for? World Vision has the perfect solution. You can donate in honor of someone.
You can donate:
-an animal: you can donate chickens, goats, cows, etc. to families so that they can create a sustainable farm      and have a constant food supply
-clean water: you can provide a well, water pump, or water filter to a family or community to provide them      with clean water.
-clothing and shelter: you can provide clothing or shelter for a family in need
-education: you can provide education for a child
-emergency aid: help provide aid in the food crisis or disaster relief all over the world
-food: help provide MEANS to get food:  fishing tools, farming kits and tools, and fruit trees for families in      need
AND MORE... like job training, sewing machine, small business loan, bicycle, new mother starter kit

These gifts are WONDERFUL!

3) Sevenly
http://www.sevenly.org/

Each week, they choose a different organization to donate to. Each week, they have new clothing to support that organization. Their clothing is fashionable and at a good cost. Each item you buy, they donate $7 to that week's campaign. This week, they are partnering with Invisible Children, helping children in Africa that have been forced to be soldiers for Kony's army. Previously, they have donated to an autism awareness group, to stop bullying, help the clean water crisis, fight against abuse and the china sex trade, etc.
I personally purchase from this company and love it!

4) Blood: Water Mission
https://secure3.convio.net/bwm/site/Donation2?df_id=2240&2240.donation=form1

Blood: Water Mission empowers HIV-affected communities in Zambia. With your donation, you can donate HIV testing, mosquito nets, or even a water filter for a community.

5) Exile International
http://exileinternational.org/

Oh, goodness! This is another cause so so so close to my heart. The girl that founded this organization is from Murray, and I've worked with her some over the years. If you click on "store" you will see the jewelry that I helped sell because my heart was so much into this organization. Bethany is a psychologist that works with previous child soldiers. Some of these kids were stolen from their home to fight for Kony. Bethany told me that sometimes the people make the children kill and eat their own parents in order to be "brainwashed" by the army. The bracelets and necklaces they make are made from recycled magazines cut up and rolled---she uses this in therapy, teaching the children that even though they are cut up and ugly, they can be made beautiful  (just like the beads that those magazine papers make). Each time Bethany goes to Africa, she returns with drawings from the kids that can be purchased. Her whole presentation is beautiful. I recommend this organization 120%.

What are YOU going to do to be the change? Consider making one donation a month to one of these wonderful organizations. Change the world one donation/purchase at a time. It all starts with you.

Blessings,

Faith

Changework

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The Remedy

Boy Scouts….The Boy Scouts were founded in February of 1910. Recently 60% of the groups’ 1400-member national council voted at an annual meeting in Texas to allow gay children/teenagers to be involved with the Boy Scouts. This to me was an awesome, radical change. It was said, “We’re going to focus on sexual purity, not sexual orientation.”

I’m not sure how it is around the rest of the country, but in my city, the Boy Scout troops find “homes” in churches or other places that can host their meetings and such. My old church is one that hosts them.  There is another church in the community, that I’ll call Church XYZ (to keep the politics out), that hosted a troop as well.

Sadly, almost immediately after the national council decision was made, Church XYZ decided not to allow the Boy Scout troop to use their church any more. And to my knowledge, the troop had no gays in attendance. Therefore, the church decided to stop hosting them due to the NATIONAL decision/opinion of the group as a whole. They truthfully punished the boys (that had nothing to do with this decision) by not allowing them to use their facility. I was outraged! What did that say about the Christian faith?

For the sake of this thought, let’s say that being gay is a sin. (Remember that through this next paragraph…)

So, Church XYZ essentially got rid of the Boy Scout troop because they allowed gays, which was a sin. Simple, right? Wait, but isn’t church “a hospital for the sinners, not a meeting place for the saints”? So, by kicking them out, they are saying that their sin is okay, but the sin of being gay isn’t? Wait, but aren’t “all sins created equal”? Oh, perfect sense…NOT! Even if your/their belief is that being gay is a sin, the concept of kicking gays out of church is ridiculous. Church is a place to love and repent…exactly what gays need to do if it’s a sin, right? They need to accept Christ and change their sexual orientation? How can they do that if they are not allowed/welcomed into the church? By not welcoming them, you are literally saying, “My sins are cool with God, but yours aren’t.” which LITERALLY goes against what the Bible says. The Bible says that ALL SINS ARE CREATED EQUAL. Oh, so you judge those that are gay? Then your sin is EQUAL to person that is gay. End of story. The Bible couldn’t be any more clear.

If you can’t tell, Church XYZ really pushes my buttons by their decision. Their logic is all wrong. The basis of the Christian religion is LOVE. Simple as that. By pushing them away, they are killing the basis of the Christian religion and putting themselves on a pedestal, saying that their sins are okay and God forgives them (everyone sins, let’s just admit it), but that a gay person’s sins are worse and unforgivable. HOW IS THAT LOGICAL? THE BIBLE CLEARLY SAYS TO LOVE…AND CLEARLY SAYS ALL SINS ARE CREATED EQUAL.

This past semester I had to write a research paper for my ENG 105 class and had to have a couple of interviews as sources. I talked to Jennifer, my previous church’s leader of college ministry. This is what she had to say about homosexuality in the church:

“Let’s say homosexuality is a sin. How can we reach sinners if we turn them away? It makes no sense to me when churches turn homosexuals away. If the church is in the business of turning away sinners, we might as well lock the doors and go home.” She went on to say, “My college ministry has had several gay men as a part of the group over the years. Are they sinners? Sure they are. Everyone in the group is. I’m thankful for a loving God who knows us, knows our hearts and offers grace and forgiveness.”

Love. Love can solve all the world’s problems, I truly believe. If everyone loved, I honestly believe there wouldn’t be suffering in this world. If everyone had unselfish love, everyone in this world would have sufficient housing, clean water, and adequate food. Love is something I have learned so much about since moving to my new church. Love can cure all. So, my theory is love. Even if your belief is that being gay is a sin, LOVE. Love them. Why? Because that is what the bible says to do…”Love your neighbor”

As my dear friend said, “Jesus said love thy neighbor, not love thy neighbor unless they’re gay.” I couldn’t have said it better.

But, this isn’t just a post about gays/being gay. Not at all. This goes for anything. No matter what your views on anything are, just love.

Years ago, I remember a young lady that came to my church. She came in a few minutes late and sat in the back. She was covered in tattoos and had a bright red Mohawk. She wasn’t like the normal person that I would see in this church. After church, many members of my church family walked up to her and welcomed her. I remember her saying that she had never been to a church that welcomed her because of the way she looked. How terrible. Love…it fixes everything, right? Right!

I couldn’t be more proud of the Disciples as they have created an “All means All” campaign, meaning that all REALLY DOES mean all! ALL are accepted and loved! The disciples have even tried to get gender neutral restrooms in order to make transgenders (and anyone else) feel more comfortable! Learn more about it here:  http://www.gladalliance.org/

And, I’m going to leave you with a video to get your brain thinking about all this… (just clicked the underlined word “video” and it should pop up in another window)

My rant for today is over. Thanks for reading and remember…no matter your opinions or belief, LOVE is the remedy.

Blessings,

Faith

A Thousand Words

Previously I talked about how I could write a book on the criticism I've received throughout my life. A lot of that criticism has come from other people in my life telling me that I am doing things that do not portray the Christian image they believe I should go after. Here is a little bit about me, that some of you might not know:

Some of my best friends are not Christians. I have friends in my inner-circle who have battled issues with drugs and alcohol. Some of them still are fighting those demons. I have friends who have been affiliated with gangs and selling drugs. My favorite genre of music is hip-hop. I've experimented with different chemicals in the past. Does that make me who I am? I am a bad Christian for hanging around with drug using, misogynistic music listening people? You may have your opinions on that, but my answer is no. Whether you are or aren't a believer, it doesn't determine whether or not I will talk to them or try to build a relationship. Because you want the truth? I've learned lessons on how to be a better man, a better follower of Christ, and a better overall friend from some of my friends who have no faith backbone. Imagine that?

Now I am not celebrating the fact that they are not believers, but what I am saying is that we as a society need to stop looking at the cover and start reading the pages. There are so many layers to every single individual in this world. Also, I gotta tell you all that I don't necessarily have a heroic plan to try and convert all my friends to Christ. It definitely is a priority to discuss Jesus with my friends whenever I feel the time is right, but if they don't become believers, that's on them; and it will not make or break our friendship. So while I always seem to get some flack for what I say or what I do, I'm okay with that. I feel called to go out and be friends and build relationships with people from all walks of life. Even the people that the general society seems to villainize. So the guy who wears the un-turned baseball hat and listens to Kendrick Lamar and Kanye West is the same person who attends Church every Sunday, part of his student ministry team at school, writes poem's, and serves the community. Oh yeah, and he happens to have some pretty amazing friends. I know I'll get judged, but that's okay. Remember, I'm just a broken lamp trying letting God's light shine the way.

They say a picture is worth 1000 words, but I say those 1000 words are more important than one picture. Look past the cover, you often times will be amazed by what you'll find.

God Bless,

Andrew

Comments/Feedback

First off I just want to thank everyone who has been reading our blog recently. We've noticed significantly more traffic these past several weeks, so we both thank you all for that. Also, I encourage all of you to write in our comment section and give your feedback on our postings. I love discussion, and I love being challenged. However, we ask that you refrain from personal attacks, and comments that will not create beneficial discourse. Last week I came across a posting that was not appropriate to display on this blog, so I removed it before Faith, and hopefullly anyone else saw it. We encourage and appreciate comments and feedback, and we look forward to having discussions with those of you who read our blog. We just ask that you keep the comments constructive, and leave any personal attacks or feelings absent. Thanks, again for reading, and I hope to hear from you all soon.

Andrew

Gold

For all the people that never feel like they are good enough...this is for you. For all the teenage girls that are so insecure...this is for you. And for all of the people that are unsure of their worth...this is for you.

I recall as a young child, around 5th grade, when I was cleaning out my closet with my mother and my father came into the room. He saw the pile of clothes that no longer fit (you grow when you're young, if you didn't know...) and immediately blurted out, "If you'd lose some weight, you might could fit into some of your clothes." I began to cry, and he REFUSED to apologize.  Any male in his right mind knows that you never comment on a girl's weight...much less if it is a young girl. Those words he said continued to haunt me for many years. As a young girl, I felt my body was less than perfect and I felt that I was never good enough. This comment led to struggles with eating disorders throughout most of my middle school years. 

Let's fast forward to my freshman year in high school, when my parents divorced. For all of my life, my grandfather meant everything to me. He was the most important person in my life, no doubt. Freshman year, things went downhill. One week into the school year (freshman year), my grandfather made an unexpected phone call. Out of nowhere, he called. I put it on speakerphone as he asked, and me and my mother sat and listened to him tell me I was worthless, that I needed to "get off my pedestal," and that I was going nowhere in my life. [Wait, what? This phone call seriously came out of nowhere and still to this day I don't know why he would even think about doing that.] Needless to say, a man so important in my life saying that crushed me. I felt like my heart was gone. I felt worthless. I remember running to my bed and crying. He hung up, but my mother called him back, put the phone on speakerphone, and let him listen to me wail. My mom said, "See! See what you have done to your granddaughter?!" and he replied, "Good, I'm glad." 
This phone call was a great way to spend the first week of my freshman year. I could not shake it. I began to go into a deep depression...feeling so incredibly useless. It was a conversation I could never forgive. Through that rough time after the phone call, I was continually told, "They're missing out." As a child, you are always told not to brag. But, after thinking about that comment, I began to think of all the wonderful things about myself. Truth be told...they ARE missing out...cause I'm pretty freakin' awesome. Although this isn't something you need to go around saying, each of us need to know our worth...and after that, I began seeing my true worth.

Three years later (December 2012), I decided to give him another chance at a relationship with me. [...with him refusing to apologize for that phone call.] I went and saw him in the hospital, went over for a few random visits and such...I thought everything was going great. I even had Christmas with them. Maybe this was the beginning of a decent relationship. [It's never that simple, guys] A few days after Christmas gathering, I got another of those dreaded phone calls. This time, I was at my best friend Jordan's house, and let him listen. This time, I got told I was a bad Christian, worthless, and he continually stated I was "immature." I remember telling him what I had been told for years..."You're missing out cause I'm pretty freaking awesome!" Although I shed many tears over this conversation, it didn't bother me as much because I saw my worth even when he didn't. 

With the help of my relationship with God, I realized my true worth...my worth in God's eyes. My worth isn't decided by my grandfather's opinion.

Gold is one of the most precious metals on this earth, and each one of us are a piece of Gold in God's eyes. 

Britt Nicole's song, "Gold" sums it up perfectly:

You were walking on the moon, now you're feeling low
What they said wasn't true, you're beautiful
Sticks and stones break your bones, I know what you're feeling
Words like those won't steal your glow, you're one in a million

This, this is for all the girls, boys all over the world
Whatever you've been told, you're worth more than gold
So hold your head up high, it's your time to shine
From the inside out it shows, you're worth more than gold
(Gold gold, you're gold)
You're worth more than gold
(Gold gold, you're gold)

Well everybody keeps score, afraid you're gonna lose
Just ignore they don't know the real you
All the rain in the sky can't put out your fire
Of all the stars out tonight, you shine brighter

This, this is for all the girls, boys all over the world
Whatever you've been told, you're worth more than gold
So hold your head up high, it's your time to shine
From the inside out it shows, you're worth more than gold
(Gold gold, you're gold)
You're worth more than gold
(Gold gold, you're gold)

So don't let anybody tell you that you're not loved
And don't let anybody tell you that you're not enough
Yeah there are days that we all feel like we're messed up
But the truth is that we're all diamonds in the rough
So don't be ashamed to wear your crown
You're a king you're a queen inside and out
You glow like the moon, you shine like the stars
This is for you, wherever you are

Oh, oh, yeah, yeah, oh, oh,
You're gold

This, this is for all the girls, boys all over the world
Whatever you've been told, you're worth more than gold
(So hold your head) So hold your head up high,
It's your time to shine
From the inside out it shows, you're worth more than gold
(gold gold, you're gold)
You're worth more than gold
(gold gold you're gold)

So don't be ashamed to wear your crown
You're a king you're a queen inside and out

Never feel like you're not good enough. Because you are. 

Blessings,

Faith

Bright Lights

Watching the bright lights from and seeing the street lights glimmer

Are kind of like moments and memories that pass in an instant

In a second that bright light has passed and another is coming from the distance

While days clock seem to be getting slimmer and slimmer

Life is like the bright lights passing by, memories that make you laugh and moments that make you cry

Whether it be a hug, a smile, a laugh, or a cry

A moment where you had to stop and ask yourself why

Like the first love kisses, or the broken heart wishes

Have all come and passed and are no longer with us

Life is like the bright lights passing by, memories that make you laugh and moments that make you cry

As you come to a stop and the lights seem to stall

Remember to take in the moment all in all

The smile you see, the love that you feel, the joy of it all

Because the light will change from red to green

And that one instant is all that you would've seen

Life is like the bright lights passing by, memories that make you laugh and moments that make you cry

Wake up like every is day new to you

Enjoy the lights within each day, no matter where or with whom

And cherish the memories of the past that come to us

Because the bright lights are there for us not to relive them but remind us

Life is like the bright lights passing by, memories that make you laugh and moments that make you cry.

Remember the memoreis and lessons from yesterday. Cherish and grow in the moments of today, and have faith in what God has for tomorrow.

God Bless,

Andrew

Broken Lamp

I'm can be very critical of myself. I'm very good at finding things I can't do well. Also, I think I could write several pages of criticism I've received from others on how I pursue and act upon different areas of my life. I often times just want to ignore all of the criticism I receive from others. I do that I feel because I think I know myself better than they do, so who are they to tell me how I should be living my life as a follower of Jesus? If my goal is to be the best Christian I can be, and doing to it not for the praise I receive from others; I must say I am not doing the best job. The truth of the matter is, that if I am ignoring the criticism, I must also ignore the praise I receive from others as well. I can't lie, it makes me feel good when I hear people tell me that I give them inspiration, or that I am someone they look up to. Without a doubt I find myself feeling pretty good after hearing all that. “You the man Andrew”, I seem to tell myself that a lot.

That is is an area that I am really trying to work on. I say that because I should not feel like I am someone's inspiration. Jesus should be, and there are times where I get the credit, and do not pass it along to its rightful place. Truth be told I'm just a 21 year old kid trying to do right in this world. I'm just a broken lamp that shines no light. One thing I can always rely and trust on is that the sun will rise up and give me light. I need to remember its the Son that brings brightness, not my broken bulb. All the glory should go to the creator of the light, because in the end, what's a broken lamp without any light?

God Bless,

Andrew

Getting off the Bus

God finds amazing ways to humble me.

Last week, my flat iron broke. For me, that is tragic. I HAD to have another one before the following morning ;)
So, that night, after hanging out with my friends, I headed off to Walgreens to find me a hair straightener. No luck. Frustrated, I traveled across town to Wal-Mart (its about 12:30-1 in the morning at this point). I knew this would be a quick trip. No luck. With a mini mental breakdown in the aisle of Wal-Mart that doesn't have what I want. Fine, I could go another day without my beloved straightener. I would just wear my hair up the next day and borrow my mother's for the necessities. Done. Okay, leaving Wal-Mart empty-handed and even more frustrated. At this point, my only thought was going home and going to bed.

On my way out of the parking lot I noticed a large, black, charter bus with people getting off carrying luggage. My first thought was that someone's bus broke down and they were unloading to get on another one. But as I got closer, I realized what was really happening in the parking lot of Wal-Mart at almost 1 in the morning. Mexicans. Mexicans were getting off the bus grabbing their luggage. They were coming here, like many others, for work. They were getting off a bus in the parking lot of Wal-Mart in a foreign country that speaks a foreign language. Their courage alone humbled me.

What if....what if WE were that courageous. WE as Christians....what if WE were as courageous as those Mexicans getting off that bus into a new life. When I see something new or scary, I feel as though I should run. But that is not what we are called to do. We are called to go boldly. Those Mexicans were getting dropped off to provide a better life for themselves and their family. They chose that. What if you took a risk like that in your faith? How would that change you? They took a risk...they went boldly...they were courageous. Are you? Get off the bus.

Blessings,

Faith

Foreign Affairs

foreign (adj.)
    not familiar; strange
    in an abnormal place or position

Foreign is the best word I can possibly think of to describe my current situation. I truly feel like each day is a new, foreign matter to me. It's frightening, exhilarating, and downright interesting..

Ever since I can remember I have been a "crew leader" at my home church's Vacation Bible School. Bible School at my home church is a HUGE event. The Children's Minister has been nationally recognized for the huge, awesome Vacation Bible School that takes place at our church...100+ children attend and the entire church comes together to make it happen.
That being said, Tuesday begins my first ever Vacation Bible School as a leader. It's a foreign concept. Let me be the first to tell you, it's not easy. On top of that, I'm scared out of my mind. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO RUN A VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL?! I'm terrified that it will flop, the children will learn nothing, and I will feel like a complete failure. Thank goodness God is on my side.  Getting everything scheduled and planned and getting all the materials and remembering every little detail...its stressful. Today, I went to Wal-Mart and got pretty much everything I needed to successfully execute this Bible School. Guys, it's getting really really real. I am beyond excited about it!!!

Despite being stressed and scared out of my mind, I couldn't possibly love my job any more. How could it get any better? Part of my job is coloring and crafts...I get to bring out my inner child! Plus, I get to be surrounded by people that love the Lord, believe in me, encourage me, and love me. In addition to all of this greatness, I get to teach these wonderful children about the love and the peace and the grace of Jesus Christ. Nothing could be better.

Last week at church, another foreign matter...I began taking a more active role during the Sunday morning church service. Announcements, call to worship, and coming soon...communion. When my preacher began telling me all the things he wanted me to take part in, I remember saying, "You do know I'm only 18, right?" The trust my new church has in my is unbelievable. Each week, each task is new...its foreign.

Also, within two weeks I say goodbye to two of my greatest mentors. Scary. Foreign. I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do at the church without Christy Jo to guide me..? I swear I'm going to be like a lost puppy for at least the first month.

We can't forget about beginning college, either. Yeah, I'd like to forget about it though... (Speaking of which, I have all my classes on Tuesday/Thursday...I'm pretty excited about that.)

Foreign to me is a lot like "change". Its new, its scary, but its worth it. God takes us on these crazy, amazing rides. I've learned more about myself, my faith, and my future in these last few, hectic, scary, exciting months than ever before. I've even come up with a new "motto" about it...."If you're doing something for God and aren't absolutely terrified, you are probably doing it wrong."

Blessings,

Faith

The Unknown

The unknown is so unsettling. At my age especially. I don't know what my future holds. Quite frankly, it's terrifying. What if I never get married? What if I become homeless? Okay, a little dramatic, but still! I have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA what my future holds.

I often think how much easier life would be if I knew who I was going to marry. If I got a letter from God on my 18th birthday saying, "You're going to marry _______" Then, I wouldn't have to go through terrible relationships, I wouldn't have to get my heart broken, and I could go ahead and get started on my life. But that's not how it works. Why not? Why can't God just make it easy on us?

Because through all of those broken hearts and broken relationships we learn. We learn what we want and what we don't want. We learn about people and we learn about relationships. If we didn't get a chance to date those losers, we would never appreciate what we have when we found it. If God just told us, we would never have the freedom to choose...we would never make those mistakes. Mistakes stink, but they also allow us to better ourselves and our faith. If you go through a broken relationship and don't learn, you're wrong. That's the whole point of relationships:  to learn. To learn about ourselves, to learn to be less selfish, to learn how to live peacefully with one another.

Although I think it would save a lot of time, sanity, and tears, I wouldn't give up the things I have learned/will learn from relationships just to find out my future. Good has great plans for each of us as long as we trust in Him and His timing!

Blessings,

Faith

Full Measure

It has been a while since I've posted, and hopefully this will be the first of several in the next couple of weeks. I have to say though, Faith has been holding down the fort here really well (her last post was incredible if you haven't read it yet, do).

As I am right now getting ready to start the first of three straight days working 7 am to 8 pm, I am left remembering what it was like two summers ago working for YouthWorks where I would wake up at 6 ever morning and spend the entire day serving and getting to know the youth and adults who came to visit along with people in the city of Chicago. I never considered that a job because everyday was a blessing in and of its own. I still think back to those hot summer days where I got to see the Lord work in so many different kinds of people, in so many different ways. Right now I'm on my way to work maintenance in a factory followed by working the evening shift at my neighborhood pharmacy. Not exactly the same kind of work I did two summers ago. It is sometimes hard to give our all when we are doing something that isn't as fun or as rewarding as something we've done in the past. I've struggled at times motivating myself these past couple summers to give the same effort and joy that I did two summers ago. Life is like that in a lot of ways too. We enjoy the rewards that life can give us, and sometimes struggle to find joy in other areas of our lives. The truth is though, those joy's are there, we may just have to look a little harder, and work a little harder to find them. It is kind of like being at a restaurant and ordering something to drink. You want that drink to be full, no matter what restaurant you are at, who you are with, or what you are ordering. Pretty much every time, the server will come your cup filled all the way, and with the drink you ordered. Things shouldn't be done with the final result being only halfway filled.

So whether you are spending your day working out in the yard, at a job you really don't want to be at, or just spending it with your friends and family, I say do everything with a full measure. So when you go to bed at night, you can say you filled your days cup up all the way. By doing that, I think the joys in the more difficult parts of life can soon become clearer to the eyes.

Be great today, because tomorrow is only a rumor.

Make today great, and I hope to be talking to you all soon.

Andrew.

We Are Under Construction

Each of us are a work in progress:  our faith is under construction. Our faith journey is much like building a house.

Our Solid Foundation
What makes you different from everyone else? Your hair color? No, millions of people have your hair color. Your eye color? No. So what sets you apart? It’s your faith. But millions of people are ChristianY so how does that set you apart? Your faith is unique…some say as unique as a fingerprint. Your faith is the foundation of your life and the basis of your beliefs. Different people affected your faith, and obstacles that you have shaped your faith into what it is today.

Who/what helped to build your foundation in faith?

How has your foundation helped you grow? 

Structure

The structure of our faith is based upon our lives and the people in our lives. People are a large part of our journey as Christians. We have people in our life that build us up and some that bring us down. But either way, our peers shape us into the people we are. They help us build that structure. They are the support structuref our lives. You are surrounded by many people that have helped you build those walls of faith. Maybe a parent that has pushed you to follow Christ, maybe a youth director that has taught you something new, or maybe a friend that first took you to church….but no matter who it was, someone has changed your faith…someone has transformed your journey with Christ.

Who has helped you build those walls?

Upkeep

As a Christian, your faith can always improve. Improving and maintaining your faith is considered “upkeep.” Upkeep is crucial to maintaining a strong faith. Upkeep can be considered many things. It can be praying, reading the bible, going to church, or even attending a bible study. Just as you have to do upkeep on your house or it will get dirty or dingy, you have to do that with your faith. If you don’t, your faith will become frail.

In what ways do you need to work on your upkeep?

What things are you doing to help keep your faith strong?

Tools

We all know that tools are used to build things. Without tools, building would be quite difficult. This is true to our faith. Without certain tools, building our faith would be difficult as well. Our spiritual lives are full of tools to build and renew us.

What are some “tools” that help your faith grow?

Our Bible is a big “tool” that can help us grow spiritually. Oftentimes, this “tool” isn’t used…instead it is often put in a chest drawer or pushed under the bed. While this tool is valuable, many don’t use it. What can the Bible show us? The bible is God’s teachings. The Bible is an example for our lives that can encourage us and lead us in the right direction. How often do you spend time with the Bible?

Mission Trips are also a “tool” to renew our faith. No matter what, we can always return renewed and blessed.

This youth group or bible studied are also a “tool” for our faith. Youth group teaches community, love, and teaches each of us how to live in a way that pleases God.

Music can also be a wonderful “tool” in our faith. Each person feels God in a different way. For many, music is the best way to feel God.

What other “tools” in your life help to build your faith?

Landscaping

The landscaping is an important part of any structure. If a house has no landscaping and looks bad, we as humans are reluctant to enter. We often consider our “landscaping” our outward appearance. But our clothing and looks do not matter to God. But what landscaping does He care about? As Christians we need to SHOW others we are Christians by our love. We need to have the appearance of Christ. WE are His disciples. People need to know we are Christian by what they see…our “landscaping.” If we have bad “landscaping” others may be reluctant to join our Christian path. So what appearance are you showing? What does your landscaping look like? Are you one person at church and a totally different person on Friday night? What does your “landscaping” tell people? Our “landscaping” should be a shining example of Christ each day.



Being under construction means far more than being a work in progress. Just as building a house, our faith goes through a process. First, we have the foundation. As everyone knows, the foundation is possibly the most important part of a house. When you are building a house, you always start with the foundation. Without out one, the house will more than likely fall to pieces from the shifting ground. The foundation of our faith is much like the foundation of a house: it is extremely important. The shifting ground that is beneath us is considered “change” or “hard times” where we need that steady foundation in Christ to keep us on the right path.


Next comes the main structure of the house or the layout of our faith. In a house, the structure lays out each room and gives structure and support to the rest of the house. As we grow older, we build those structures in our faith. People are key to our structure in faith. People come and go in our lives, and mold us and change us to be the person we want to be—thus building those walls. Much like the foundation walls, the people in our lives help us to become the person we want to be…they help structure our lives. Just like in the prayer walk, people mold us in faith. People are models for faith, or even introduce us to our faith. We are constantly changing, and being changed. These walls help to keep us on the right path with God.


Finally, there are the finishing touches. The drywall comes, then the paint, then finally the decorations. This is stage in our faith that maybe we haven’t gotten to yet. This is when you’ve chosen God’s path. This is when you are strong in your faith, your foundation and support are there, and you are fully and whole-heartedly following Him. Our house is complete, right? Of course not! Now, the fixtures need to be updated, the walls need to be repainted, and the front door needs to be replaced. All of these “additions” and “repairs” and “upgrades” are considered upkeep. This upkeep happens in our faith as well—we have to continue working at our faith constantly—praying, reading the Bible, attending church—to continue to have a strong faith. Our analogy isn’t over yet—you may be quite clumsy…you may get hurt while building this house (you may smash your hand with a hammer.) And our faith can be like that too! Its life, we get hurt emotionally. But God is on our side to make everything right. You might not know how to build a house correctly—you may put the sheet rock on before installing the insulation. We often make mistakes in our faith, we sometimes mess up. But God died on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. His GRACE covers our mess ups.


We also have tools. Tools are the basis of building a house. Without tools, our house would not withstand wind, much less the rain or more intense weather. Nails would have to be beat with our hands, and so on. Tools are important. Tools in our faith walk are important as well. Tools like our Bible, youth group, mission trips, people…they are all tools that build our faith.

Lastly we have the Landscaping. No matter what we think, our outward appearance is not our landscaping. Instead, our landscaping is how we show Christ. People should be able to know us by the way we act and by the way we love. Our appearance does matter, but not the way we look…instead the way we act.

We are all Under Construction. Our lives are a work in process. But, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ.”

Blessings, 

Faith

Summer of Change

Change used to mean bad, but maybe not. Maybe I was too quick to judge.

I got back on Sunday night from my last ever mission trip as a youth. And Tuesday, I leave for my first ever trip as an adult leader. I even planned my own worship that I'm super excited about (it's not as easy as it may look...at least for your first time...)
Not only that, but our new preacher begins this Sunday. I'm super excited to start working with him...I see him doing great things for our church!
Another change that will take place is that two of my greatest mentors will be moving away. Both Christy Jo and Amanda will be attending divinity school...one in Nashville, one in Atlanta. I'm super excited to be working with Amanda though, as we will both being doing pretty much the same things I'm our ministry positions and we'll be able to work together. My youth leader, my mentor, and my role model will now become my partner in ministry.
But as August comes and Christy Jo is gone, I will be forced to go full force into this ministry thing alone. It's scary. I'm young and quite frankly have no clue what I'm doing, but I'll do my best to serve Him.

Here's to change and all the many blessings it may bring and all the many places it will take me.

Blessings,

Faith

Church's Faults

I love the church. Not only do I regularly attend church, but I now work at a church. The following things I'm saying are NOT geared toward a particular church, but the world church as a whole. Quite honestly, these things I'm saying are quite opposite of how I feel at my new church.

1) We preach about love, but rarely show it. We as a church talk about how we should be God's love to others. Yet, we are so unloving. We judge others--we label them as sinners. We shun homosexuals, we turn away the homeless, and we put ourselves above others. We say we love them, yet we do not welcome them into our church. So how are we as a church supposed to teach love when we don't show it? Are we saying to only love the "worthy?" The house of God is a hospital for the sinners, not a meeting place for the saints.

2) We harp on the value of missions and the importance of tithing, but we spend millions of dollars on a high-class, high-tech sanctuary. I don't mean that our sanctuaries should be old and run-down, but I think that we should consider what we are showing. Is the latest technology completely necessary? This past week I got the privilege to attend a very large church. It was absolutely beautiful. Yet, all I could notice was all the wasted money. Nothing is wrong with nice things (I just bought a brand new phone, so I really don't think that new things are bad...). They had two Mac computers (how about a less-pricey computer that gets the same job done?) and automated blinds that slowly rose during the "send off" song (which were more than likely a few thousand dollars a piece). This all wouldn't have bothered me as much if they didn't talk about missions during the service and said, "Please be generous in your giving" during the service. Why not, as a church, spend less on high-tech things and more on what we preach about? The thing that made me think was the people around me that kept saying, "that's cool" and "awesome" at the automated blinds. We live in a world that is so caught up on technology. Yes, I admit that it's cool...but also so unnecessary. Christians harp on giving yet we do a poor job of showing how to give.

3) Christians of the church do a poor job empowering our children and youth--the future of the church. While the church I work at prides themselves in the children and youth, many churches are not like that. So often children and youth of the church are forgotten or left out. The ideas and opinions are often overlooked. If we don't feed these children now, what will our future church look like?

4) Worship services are being treated as a concert instead of a service to glorify God. I love Christian concerts and I love to worship at concerts. But the difference between a church service and a concert is the purpose behind them. For a concert, the purpose is money. The church these days is treating the church service as a performance instead of a service glorifying God. I feel like it is often done for all the wrong reasons. I love that my old church had a band--it makes worshipping fun for me. But it also didn't feel like a concert--I felt like the band members were doing it for all the right reasons. A worship service is for God's glory, not anyone else's.

5) Service is supposed to be the basis of the church, but we often hand out some charity or hand over some money and forget about it. Service is not only giving money, it is providing means and then giving the service of prayer. Service is a daily living, not a charity. Service is supposed to be something we live, not something we do. We should stoop down to the level of the broken and the hurting. Just giving out money isn't always the answer. If someone is homeless, giving them money is great, but getting on their level and serving them, feeding them, is more. Jesus stooped to that level when he washed the feet of His disciples. Us giving away stuff is like Jesus telling a servant to wash the disciple's feet. Yeah, their feet still would have been washed, but how humbling and how selfless is the act of personally stooping to the lowest of low and washing their feet. I feel that the church hands out so much money, but doesn't actually wash the feet, the church just gives means for someone else to wash their feet.

Expectations

Beware, this post is a rant about expectations society places on us and nothing more. 

I have recently been struggling with the various expectations of society. Constantly society places pressures of what “should” happen and what we “should” do. But who is society to tell us these things?

I recently had a classmate—a friend of mine—got engaged less than a week after their 18^th birthday. I was shocked and appalled at why they would want to “ruin” their life like that. But who am I to tell them that that is incorrect? Just because society believes that is incorrect? I know couples that have married right out of high school that have failed. But how do I know that won’t work for them? Just because it isn't what I want, doesn't mean it won’t be great and dandy for them!

Also, society expects some grandeur, expensive wedding. What’s wrong with eloping? Or a private wedding on the beach? What is the basis of marriage? It is the joining of a man and a woman to God, right? So why does getting married require some elaborate ceremony? Why does society push these unnecessary things?

College is another thing that society continues to push. I am a student that has continued to strive. I have three jobs and have maintained a 3.9 GPA. Because of that, society expects me to attend college. When I posted on Facebook about my new job as a children’s minister, someone commented on my status, “But you’re still going to college, right?” The very first thing on that person’s mind was if I was attending college or not. But why does society stress that everyone must attend college. If not, you are considered “dumb.” Truthfully, I don’t want to go to college. There, I said it…I DON’T WANT TO GET A COLLEGE DEGREE. Why? Because my dreams, goals, and ambitions do not require a college education. My dream in life is to become a missionary in Cuapa, Nicaragua and teach English. But, because society expects me to attend college, I will waste 4 years of my life, and thousands of dollars getting a college degree that I may never use.

Society is full of expectations. From marriage, to education, to having children, society sets various expectations for each of us to live up to. Who are we to judge those who don’t follow the societal expectations? I challenge you to break through these expectations. No, I’m not saying to elope the day out of high school and don’t attend college, but slowly begin to break free of the many expectations society places on each of us.

3rd Down

One thing we can't do is tell time to leave flying to the birds. The truth is, father time probably flies faster than any golden eagle in the sky. It's crazy for me to think that I have now completed 3 years of college. It's been a great ride so far, and I couldn't be more grateful for the relationships I've built, the knowledge I've gained, and the progress I've made these past three years. College always seems keeps me looking forward to the present and to the future. I don't spend enough time reflecting on what I have done, and before I know it, I'm here with only one year left. One goal I have for this summer is to spend time every day reflecting on the day I've had. By doing that, I think I can realize more how blessed I am, and I can appreciate the way God is present in the things I do, and the people I come across. Even though father time is moving at an all-time high of a speed, it is never too fast to take a step back and realize the way God is moving in our lives. In today's day and age, it's harder to step back sometimes than it is to keep up with the speed of life. I hope that this summer I can take some steps back and really reflect on everything that is going on my life, because before I know it, 3 more years will be passed. Just a little while I ago I was entering my dorm room as a freshman, unpacking my suitcase on a 90 degree day in August, with not a clue of what lied ahead of me. I can't believe how fast it's all been going.

New Journey

I've grown up at First United Methodist Church in Murray, KY. That's the place I became a Christian, the church I got baptized through, and so on. It's a big church...or what I considered big. I've been highly involved over the last couple of years, throwing myself into everything I could. I dreamed of growing old in that church. But God called me somewhere else. He called me to a tiny church in Paris, TN. A church COMPLETELY opposite from the church I call home (and love dearly). I got mad. Mad because I didn't want to leave my church. Mad because I loved my pastor and didn't want to stop listening to his wonderful sermons. Mad cause I wanted to worship with my friends and family. But no matter how mad I got, God still told me I needed to go. So here I am, beginning my new journey. A journey with so many unknowns and so many possibilities. A journey with so much hope and few restrictions.

I've been "on the job" as a Children's Minister for about 2 weeks now. The church has welcomed me with open arms.

This Sunday, though, wraps up my life with First United Methodist Church. It's Senior Sunday. A day to recognize all the Seniors. And most importantly, my last day to attend and my last day to perform with the youth praise band. My journey there is over. It's bittersweet. It really is. I am so sad to leave my wonderful church filled with wonderful people that I've grown up with, but I am so grateful that God has put these wonderful opportunities in my life.

I have the opportunity to teach these wonderful children the message of Jesus Christ. I can help them grow into our future. I have the ability to hopefully become the Youth Minister in years to come as well.

The more time I spend at this wonderful new church of mine, the deeper I fall in love. He has great plans for me!

Also, I may be periodically posting my lessons because sometimes the simple children things are things us adults need to learn/remember as well.

Blessings,

Faith

Blessed

Today I am reflecting on just how blessed I am. God has given me so many opportunities. This morning, at my home church, I will be preaching about change (sermon notes to come). And God really has a funny way of doing things because I actually just got offered a job as a children's minister at a church in Paris. I would have to leave my church and the people I love to go somewhere else...to a new church to call home. But I've had to learn how to "practice what I preach" because my sermon is all about how change isn't bad and change helps us grow in Christ. I'm scared and I'm apprehensive...but God tells to be bold, and do not fear. I can't wait to preach today. I remember as a child saying, "I want to do that!" Now, I am. It's so hard to believe. I also cannot wait to begin this new job and see what He has in store for me. I know He has great things ahead.

After my sermon this morning I will post my sermon notes! Stay tuned! :)

Shooting Star

I always love those moments when you witness a beauty that God has presented to us here on earth. Like those amazing sunsets over the water, or a clear star filled sky at night, or a shooting star. This past week has been pretty crazy for me. Last Tuesday morning I got a call from my mom that my Grandpa had gone home. It hit me real hard, I mean my Grandpa was doing so well just two days prior, and just so quickly, he was gone. Today I had the honor to be a pallbearer at the funeral, and it was a great testament to my Grandpa's life.

My Grandpa was one of a kind. He raised 12 kids in a small house on the east side of Detroit. He taught all of them good values and morals. When he passed, his 12 kids were all still living, and he had 28 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. Talk about a great life, and a great legacy he left behind. What I want to talk about is the LIFE Joseph Kramek lead. I believe the biggest impact you have in life is to lead people to Christ. My grandfather raised all his children in the church, and showed what it means to be a follower of Jesus. He was the greatest man I've ever met.

In today's society, being rich in successful is most often-times related to your financial success you've had in your life. My Grandpa though, was one of the richest men who ever walked this earth. Not rich in dollar signs, but rich in the spirit. Raising 12 kids, working 60 hours a week just to make sure everyone is fed. He stayed married to my grandma for almost 70 years, and was just as much in love with her the day he died as he was the day he got married. For me, when my time comes to leave this Earth, I hope I would have had a similar impact on lives that my Grandpa did. Not saying that I am going to have 12 kids, or 30 grandchildren or whatever, I'm hoping that I can be a true follower of Jesus, and leave this world knowing that I let His love shine through me.

Today, on this beautiful March day in Detroit, my Grandpa was buried. As all of us who were at the funeral watched as the casket was shut, and taken away, we all had that same feeling you get when you see a shooting star. What do you do when you are lucky enough to get a glimpse a shooting star? Witnessing a shooting star is a moment where you just feel so grateful and blessed to get to see something so beautiful. Then you usually look around at the people who are with you, and instantly you know they saw it too, and you get to share this wonderful moment with them.

Today when we saw his casket close, we all looked around, and were so grateful to be blessed with knowing, and loving a shooting star which was my Grandpa. I love you Grandpa! Thank you for showing me what it truly means to be a man.

Humbled Heart

I'm currently in ENG 105 at Murray State. We were forced to write a personal narrative. I want to share that with you because I want you to get a deeper look into my trip. Also, I wanted you to see just how much Misael means to me and how much I think of him.



I stepped off the old school bus onto the dirt. After being greeted by a dozen kids, we walked up the steep hill to the large concrete building that I would be calling home for the next week. To be frank, lurid thoughts crept into my mind: What was I thinking? I left air conditioning and the comfort of home for dirt, long skirts, and sultry heat? My shameful thoughts were interrupted by children tugging at my skirt, grabbing at my hands, and speaking at a rate my overwhelmed brain could not comprehend. My trip to Nicaragua proved to be a life-altering event that reinforced my desire and passion for missions.
As the leader was relaying information in that concrete building atop the hill, my mind could not help but wander. Listening became almost impossible. My camera immediately came out of my purse, and I began snapping pictures of everything I saw; I didn’t want to forget this moment. The second I took the first photo, I was bombarded with children. They wanted to see the picture. Then, they wanted me to take pictures of them. Most of the children didn’t have mirrors at home; some didn’t even know what they looked like. My mind was engulfed in taking photos of the children. Soon, Kyser, another member of the group, came to inform me it was time for lunch.

Lunch was a sack lunch of a sandwich, chips, fruit, Cheez-its, and a Rice Krispy treat. At this point, lunch was the farthest from my mind. Instead, I wanted to explore and play with the children. I knew though, that I needed this food for energy. As I sat down to eat, the kids played around me. I finished my sandwich and chips, but I began to give away the rest of my lunch to the frail children who surrounded us. Unbeknownst to me, this would not be the first time I would be giving away food!

The group I traveled with is called Baptist Medical & Dental Missions International (BMDMI). Our purpose was to provide the community with medical and dental needs, as well as provide them with basic needs like food, clothes, and shoes. After lunch, the group, as well as many of the local Nicaraguans, unpacked all the boxes and moved them to their designated station. As I was setting up the photo station outside the building, I noticed the kids had momentarily disappeared. I soon heard giggling and went to the back of the building in hopes of finding the source. What I witnessed stopped my heart. I saw the children digging through the trash, our trash, eating our leftover scraps of food. In that moment of complete dismay, I began to realize how wasteful we Americans are. Those dozen kids made a meal from what we had thrown in the trash. I began to tear up, feeling sure that this trip would show me how blessed I was.

Nighttime was filled with a powerful night worship with the Nicaraguans, a cold shower, and a night’s sleep on a hard cot that attracted various bugs and spiders. Typical mornings began with coffee, breakfast, morning devotional, and dismissal to our stations. Each station was prepared for seeing 200-300 people per day. We had a system set up in order for the days to run smoothly and to be able to see as many people as possible. First, they would go to a church service and be provided with a Bible. Then, they would travel to the medical station, on to the dental station, on to the optometrist, then to the photo booth, the snack station, then finally, the clothing/shoes station. My responsibilities for the week were divided between the photo booth and the vet group. With the photo group, I snapped family photos and printed them almost instantly on the portable camera printer we had. The vet group partnered with the local veterinarian, and we went door-to-door vaccinating any animals we could: pigs, dogs, cats, horses, and cows.

Each day at the photo booth was full of fun. Most families had never had a family photo, and some didn’t even know what they looked like. They would cherish that picture; some even fought over who got to hold it. My heart was heavy as I realized just how much we take a simple photo for granted. On my first day of manning the photo booth, I met Misael, a little 8-year-old boy who would soon capture my heart. His father was the local preacher, so he was always at the community center helping us. He went to school in the morning and then came to help around noon each day. Misael was one of the sweetest children there. He was constantly asking to help, picking up trash, and desperately wanted to be included in conversation. He would sit in my lap and read books, talk, and play with toys. He just wanted the love that I gave. By day 3, Misael began taking on more prominent roles in the photo booth. He began taking over! He would do pretty much everything except actually take the picture for us. He soon began asking if he could take the pictures. After much effort, he finally learned how to take an acceptable picture. By that point, all we had to do was sit and watch!

It didn’t take long for me to get attached to Misael. We soon became inseparable. Misael never acted like a child; instead, he was similar to an adult. Through worship and other activities, I saw his faith grow. He was one of those children who didn’t have much in the way of material goods, but he was filled with joy and faith. That alone inspired me more that he could ever know. One day, after school, he came to me with a huge smile on his face and handed me a note. I had no idea just how much of an impact that note would continue to make in my life far after the trip had ended. Translated, the note read: “I thank God for bringing you here to me. I thank you for loving me, and I love you too….I hope we meet again someday in this beautiful place.” To this day, that note remains in my wallet. I carry a little part of Misael with me wherever I go.

On our final day, after the final flood of Nicaraguans came through, we began to pack up our stations. Misael, yet again, was a great helper. After our stations were all cleaned up, Misael casually mentioned something about “tomorrow.” I reluctantly reminded him that I would be leaving the next day. The look on his face was one I would never forget. Tears began to stream down his face because apparently, he had forgotten that I would have to leave him at some point. The remainder of the night was spent with him holding on to me, his face wet with tears. I ate dinner with him sitting on my lap and spent the worship service with him sitting on my lap. His head rested on my shoulder.

The following morning we woke, ate breakfast, and loaded up our bus to leave. We walked across town to have a send-off in the community church in which Misael’s father was the pastor. After our send-off ceremony, we all put our hands over Misael’s father to pray. Halfway through the prayer, I felt someone grab onto my waist from behind. I just knew it had to be Misael. After the prayer I turned around; there he was with a giant smile on his face. It was what I had been dreading all week: I had to walk to the bus to leave.
I walked on the dirt road from the church back to the bus with Misael wrapped around my waist. His tears soaked my shirt. I heard his voice repeating in Spanish, “Please don’t go. I love you.” Knowing there was nothing else I could do, I held his hand and sobbed. We finally reached the old school bus and began saying our goodbyes. Misael refused to speak further; he just held on to me with all his might. Everyone began to pile onto the bus…everyone except me. I could not muster up the courage to say my last goodbye. Knowing I had no choice, I gave him one last hug, told him I loved him, and spoke one final goodbye. At that moment he began to wail and hold on tighter. As I stepped onto the bus, his mom came to pry his hands from my waist. I slowly made my way to my seat. I heard him wail one last time, “Don’t go! I love you!” as the bus pulled away from the church.
Misael forever changed my life and my faith. I know that I changed lives while I was there, and I am humbled by the joy and faith that the people of Nicaragua possess. I am so blessed to have been able to meet each of the children, especially Misael. I cherish our time we spent together and continue to miss him to this day. I am actually in the process of planning a surprise trip to visit him. This trip was life-changing and has made my passion for missions clear.