BROKENNESS
Tuesday, 13 March 2012
I am discovering that a broken house represents broken lives.
I am discovering new paint on the inside of a bedroom brings young girls alive, as well as the staff which works in the home.
I am discovering that I still have a lot to learn when it comes to identifying brokenness in others.
I am waking up to the fact that I don't have to go to Georgia to find it. It exists in plenty - right in front of me.
29 March 2012
28 March 2012
Students on Mission (Part 5)
AGED
Monday, 12 March 2012
Our mission continues on Monday at the ministry home for the girls as we paint their bedrooms. It is a slow start, as the equipment we needed was not on location as promised ("be flexible!"). Nevertheless, by the end of the day, the bedrooms are finished. And when the girls come home from school, they celebrate. This task has been on the docket for over a year, but no one locally has jumped on it.
We eat with the girls in the evening. When one of the girls is asked how old she thinks I am, she cautiously says, "97." But then she adds, "You are in really good shape for 97!" Then one of my students quips, "Round is a shape."
I'm not sure this has been a good day...
Monday, 12 March 2012
Our mission continues on Monday at the ministry home for the girls as we paint their bedrooms. It is a slow start, as the equipment we needed was not on location as promised ("be flexible!"). Nevertheless, by the end of the day, the bedrooms are finished. And when the girls come home from school, they celebrate. This task has been on the docket for over a year, but no one locally has jumped on it.
We eat with the girls in the evening. When one of the girls is asked how old she thinks I am, she cautiously says, "97." But then she adds, "You are in really good shape for 97!" Then one of my students quips, "Round is a shape."
I'm not sure this has been a good day...
Students on Mission (Part 4)
MISSION
Sunday, 11 March 2012
Mick and Mary Ann Patterson, founders of Global Outreach, are the coordinators of our daily schedule on the Georgia end of this adventure. We begin with worship at Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany. This is the church that is responsible for Facing the Giants, Fireproof, and Courageous.
After a short respite in the early afternoon, the mission begins. The men are sent to a house that needs some lovin' via painting, and the women are sent to a ministry home for troubled girls because they need some lovin'.
Mary Ann uses this phrase "need some lovin" a lot. I find it is an effective description and motivator. But it is more than that. I find it biblical. We have come to Georgia to show God's love, and I find that the mission of demonstrating it is what penetrates my heart every day.
Sunday, 11 March 2012
Mick and Mary Ann Patterson, founders of Global Outreach, are the coordinators of our daily schedule on the Georgia end of this adventure. We begin with worship at Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany. This is the church that is responsible for Facing the Giants, Fireproof, and Courageous.
After a short respite in the early afternoon, the mission begins. The men are sent to a house that needs some lovin' via painting, and the women are sent to a ministry home for troubled girls because they need some lovin'.
Mary Ann uses this phrase "need some lovin" a lot. I find it is an effective description and motivator. But it is more than that. I find it biblical. We have come to Georgia to show God's love, and I find that the mission of demonstrating it is what penetrates my heart every day.
21 March 2012
Students on Mission (Part 3)
FRIENDSHIP
Saturday 10 March 2012
This is the super travel day, compared to the previous evening when we spent 7 hours on the road. We will leave West Virginia at 7 AM and arrive at our lodging location in Georgia at 11 PM.
I am slightly disappointed at first, when I discover that none of my CA students are in my van. They have been assigned to other vehicles. Instead I have all IV students, but they turn out to be a lively bunch (to say the least). They name our group "Vandals", which concerns me slightly. They are fascinated with yellow cars and call "banana" when one is spotted. They enjoy worship music and 70s classic rock. My concern continues.
Their assignment is to keep the driver awake. Each student takes a turn in the "shotgun" seat, and within this two day period, I have made 6 friends that I did not have before. We know each other's life stories. I gain insight on where each one is coming from and what they hope to accomplish on this trip.
Our discussions are varied and lively. We talk about evangelism, the Holy Spirit, homosexuality, the original manuscripts, speaking in tongues, and love and marriage. It is obvious to me quickly that there are no intellectual lightweights in this van.
Saturday 10 March 2012
This is the super travel day, compared to the previous evening when we spent 7 hours on the road. We will leave West Virginia at 7 AM and arrive at our lodging location in Georgia at 11 PM.
I am slightly disappointed at first, when I discover that none of my CA students are in my van. They have been assigned to other vehicles. Instead I have all IV students, but they turn out to be a lively bunch (to say the least). They name our group "Vandals", which concerns me slightly. They are fascinated with yellow cars and call "banana" when one is spotted. They enjoy worship music and 70s classic rock. My concern continues.
Their assignment is to keep the driver awake. Each student takes a turn in the "shotgun" seat, and within this two day period, I have made 6 friends that I did not have before. We know each other's life stories. I gain insight on where each one is coming from and what they hope to accomplish on this trip.
Our discussions are varied and lively. We talk about evangelism, the Holy Spirit, homosexuality, the original manuscripts, speaking in tongues, and love and marriage. It is obvious to me quickly that there are no intellectual lightweights in this van.
15 March 2012
Students on Mission (Part 2)
FLEXIBILITY
Friday 9 March 2012
Mission trips are dangerous things. If there is any potential for an eternal impact, you can be sure the enemy is going to try to stop you, or at the very least, discourage you. When our Buffalo coordinator's van (known affectionately as the Red Baron) broke down about a mile from his house, it was a sign that there might be more difficulty ahead. Flexibility just might be needed...
Drivers were to meet at the car rental office at 4, but our coordinator did not arrive until 5 because the Red Baron needed to be towed. Then, when he did arrive, he discovered he did not have his driver's license. Have you ever tried to rent a vehicle when you don't have your license? It doesn't work. And so, now we had another delay. I think more flexibility was going to be needed...
Then we discovered there was a communication snafu with the rental car company, and they were not going to allow drivers under 25 without charging us an outrageous amount. This meant our over 25 drivers were going to have to drive the whole way. Now, I am really going to have to be flexible...
Friday 9 March 2012
Mission trips are dangerous things. If there is any potential for an eternal impact, you can be sure the enemy is going to try to stop you, or at the very least, discourage you. When our Buffalo coordinator's van (known affectionately as the Red Baron) broke down about a mile from his house, it was a sign that there might be more difficulty ahead. Flexibility just might be needed...
Drivers were to meet at the car rental office at 4, but our coordinator did not arrive until 5 because the Red Baron needed to be towed. Then, when he did arrive, he discovered he did not have his driver's license. Have you ever tried to rent a vehicle when you don't have your license? It doesn't work. And so, now we had another delay. I think more flexibility was going to be needed...
Then we discovered there was a communication snafu with the rental car company, and they were not going to allow drivers under 25 without charging us an outrageous amount. This meant our over 25 drivers were going to have to drive the whole way. Now, I am really going to have to be flexible...
Students on Mission (Part 1)
One of the annual events for our CA ministry, is to join hands with our brothers and sisters in the InterVarsity chapter, and participate in the Spring Break Mission Trip. This year, we have been located in Americus, GA, the home of Habitat for Humanity. As you will see, the experiences will be varied, and it will match the wide range of backgrounds of our students.
I do marvel how God has brought us together. This will be a multicultural group, coming from varied places including - Buffalo, Rochester, New York City, Binghamton, New Jersey, Arizona, Bahamas, Haiti, Zimbabwe, and even Grand Island. Our trip will be broken up into two days of travel each way - 16 hours each way - traveling in minivans. We will stay at a camp, and so the facilities are reasonably comfortable.
I will be the "old man" of the trip, and knowing how kind and considerate college students, I am sure they will be watching out for me. Well, maybe they will...
I do marvel how God has brought us together. This will be a multicultural group, coming from varied places including - Buffalo, Rochester, New York City, Binghamton, New Jersey, Arizona, Bahamas, Haiti, Zimbabwe, and even Grand Island. Our trip will be broken up into two days of travel each way - 16 hours each way - traveling in minivans. We will stay at a camp, and so the facilities are reasonably comfortable.
I will be the "old man" of the trip, and knowing how kind and considerate college students, I am sure they will be watching out for me. Well, maybe they will...
10 February 2012
Am I Significant
This past week at CA (9 Feb 2012), we covered the subject of the intrinsic value of each person (Wes Aarum Jr. was our speaker). As we were preparing for this topic with our student leadership, one of the students that I have been discipling said that she had just written a poem that matched the subject. As she read it to us, I was blown away by its rhythm and its meaning. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have. Our meeting ended up with a great start as Bekka read this poem. If you would like to do so, I will be glad to pass along any comments you have for Bekka.
AM I SIGNIFICANT
by Bekka Harris
Am I significant enough to
be significant
To be noticed
To be important enough
To hear
When I'm grasping for air
When all the things I don't like
About myself build up to here
Why do I have to be this way
Why can't I be perfect
This is what I can't handle
God don't you know this is what I can't handle
Step out
Look around
Remember where the ground is
Look to the sky
Look around
See past yourself
You know all these people
You placed on the shelf
Yeah they are something else
To a God that sees me
That sees my weakness before I opened my mouth
To a God who formed me
Despite all the
Toxicity
The wrong that would be me
Yeah, If you are listening
You can think on your own feet
He transcends all of history
The Alpha and the Omega
The beginning and End
And still He chose me
Not just a means to an end
He speaks my language
Lends me an ear
And at the end of the day
No matter what I do
He remains
With me
With you
So what then?
When we choose to accept
To know ourselves
The good, the bad, and the ugly
What then
Must we improve to be noticed or fit in like other men?
Can I know and accept who I am and still let God in?
Pray
Read my bible
Not wish to just let it all end
He knew who we would be
Before we were born
And still chose to make us
Wanted us soo much that
He brought us to a point
Where we would see Him
And Loves us further still
To think if all the people in the world
And yet He knows each of the hairs on my head
Knowing my failures and successes
My downfalls and progressions
And yet He still chose me
He still chose you
To be here, now
Loving on each other
Teaching each other
So to think that we are not worth it
Or to think that we should die is wrong
It is a lie
That He is soo sad soo much of us accept
If He didn't choose You
For now
Today
Tomorrow
You would already be dead
If you were not wanted
You would not have even been a thought in anyone's head
So please don't believe the lies
Because baby you're not dead
Which means you are not done yet
So instead of avoiding who you are
Rationalizing away your situation
Try to see that He made you uniquely
He did not ask for a whole man
But come to Him a broken man and
He will make you whole again
Bringing peace, joy, and best of all
Purpose
Which is to love Him and others and glorify Him
Because you were made for a purpose
And you are still here for a purpose.
Copyright, Bekka Harris, 2012
AM I SIGNIFICANT
by Bekka Harris
Am I significant enough to
be significant
To be noticed
To be important enough
To hear
When I'm grasping for air
When all the things I don't like
About myself build up to here
Why do I have to be this way
Why can't I be perfect
This is what I can't handle
God don't you know this is what I can't handle
Step out
Look around
Remember where the ground is
Look to the sky
Look around
See past yourself
You know all these people
You placed on the shelf
Yeah they are something else
To a God that sees me
That sees my weakness before I opened my mouth
To a God who formed me
Despite all the
Toxicity
The wrong that would be me
Yeah, If you are listening
You can think on your own feet
He transcends all of history
The Alpha and the Omega
The beginning and End
And still He chose me
Not just a means to an end
He speaks my language
Lends me an ear
And at the end of the day
No matter what I do
He remains
With me
With you
So what then?
When we choose to accept
To know ourselves
The good, the bad, and the ugly
What then
Must we improve to be noticed or fit in like other men?
Can I know and accept who I am and still let God in?
Pray
Read my bible
Not wish to just let it all end
He knew who we would be
Before we were born
And still chose to make us
Wanted us soo much that
He brought us to a point
Where we would see Him
And Loves us further still
To think if all the people in the world
And yet He knows each of the hairs on my head
Knowing my failures and successes
My downfalls and progressions
And yet He still chose me
He still chose you
To be here, now
Loving on each other
Teaching each other
So to think that we are not worth it
Or to think that we should die is wrong
It is a lie
That He is soo sad soo much of us accept
If He didn't choose You
For now
Today
Tomorrow
You would already be dead
If you were not wanted
You would not have even been a thought in anyone's head
So please don't believe the lies
Because baby you're not dead
Which means you are not done yet
So instead of avoiding who you are
Rationalizing away your situation
Try to see that He made you uniquely
He did not ask for a whole man
But come to Him a broken man and
He will make you whole again
Bringing peace, joy, and best of all
Purpose
Which is to love Him and others and glorify Him
Because you were made for a purpose
And you are still here for a purpose.
Copyright, Bekka Harris, 2012
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