Blakeyblog

Sitting down to blog, I realize that all the things I want to share are lunch related. Not only because it is almost my lunch break, but also becasue the last few days I have had some interesting happenings regarding lunch. For example…

On Friday before my lunch break I was working on a tax file and listing the client’s contributions to the American Lung Association. However I typed “American Lunch Association.” I didn’t catch it, but believe me, people were more than happy to point it out.

On Saturday I accompanied Bobby and Andrew to the city to shoot a promo for a youth activity called “Outreach Adventure.” For this activity students will go to the city to pass out lunches, cookies and will hopefully have the opportunity to witness to some of the homeless people. Bobby thought it would be great if the students could get a glimpse of what it would be like so we went up to find some homeless people we could interview on camera to play for the students later. It was difficult to find anyone who would agree to be on film, but Andrew scouted out one guy and offered to buy him some food. The guy refused but then caught up with us a few blocks away saying that he had changed his mind. We got him some clam chowder and as Andrew interviewed him, I noticed that he had a cigarette in one hand, a beer in the other, almost no teeth, and an interesting story. We found out that he was addicted to drugs, didn’t really work or have a place to live, but had been living there for 35 years. He claimed to be a Mormon who occasioned a Catholic church, but didn’t want to talk much once we started asking him about Jesus. For the rest of the day I thought about this homeless guy and how, we aren’t that different. He was only interested in getting a free lunch out of the deal, but we wanted to show him Jesus. Sometimes we are only in things for what we are getting out of it, or for how it will improve our situation in life. Once we are challenged too far, or asked difficult questions, or have to change or give up our comfort, we just kind of ‘check out.’ This homeless man wouldn’t even just be honest with us, he kept trying to imply, “I’m fine”, when it was clear that he wasn’t. Pride really can keep us from seeing our need. I have needs similar to his–food, shelter, clothing and a Savior. It is only by God’s grace that I am in different place.

On Sunday we had a leaders meeting at our place for lunch. It was a good time to talk about future events, how to improve our ministry to others and ways to encourage our students in their spiritual growth. Everyone is always at a different place in growth, but we are either growing, or we’re not. A difficult group, we found, are those who aren’t. How can we inspire and challenge those who have kind of just ‘checked out’ to grow? I was once again reminded that things like change and growth and getting people to care, starts with me caring, growing and changing. We talked about how we can do this by not just chasing after people that they might modify their behavior, but praying that they might be changed in heart. This is a good safe-guard for me against complaining, arguing and negetivity…it starts with me.

I was reading 1 Peter 4 this weekend, some verses seem very prevalent to this topic: “The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be serious and watchful in your prayers….have fervent love for one another…be hospitible to one another without grumbling…as each of you has a gift, minister it to one another.” Rather than checking-out-to-lunch, let’s “commit our souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.”

“The whole world spins for Your glory to shine,
And all I have is already Thine.
God, here’s my heart, it’s no longer mine,
I give my life to Your grand design.”

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