Maybe

"
Once upon a time, there was a Chinese farmer who lost a horse.  It ran away.  All the neighbors came around that evening and said, "That's too bad."

And he said, "Maybe."

The next day the horse came back and brought seven wild horses with it.  All the neighbors came around that evening and said, "That's great isn't it!

And he said, "Maybe."

The next day his son, who was attempting to tame one of these horses was riding it and was thrown and broke his leg.  All the neighbors came around that evening and said, "Well, that's too bad isn't it."

And the farmer said, "Maybe."

The next day the conscription officers came around looking for people for the army and they rejected his son because he had a broken leg.  All the neighbors came around that evening and they said, "Isn't that wonderful!"

And he said, "Maybe."

"

When I [Andrew] first heard this parable, I was struck by how much I see life on the surface just as the farmer's neighbors.  If God allows me to go through a terrible day at work, I'm quick to say, "That's too bad."  It's amazing how influenced I can be by outward circumstances.  If everything is going my way, I'm being productive, the kids are behaving, I'm feeling great and feel, "Man, things are awesome!"  I wonder how often God says, "Maybe," to our nearsightedness.  I know God intends to bless us and have us enjoy and be thankful for the things he has created and given us, but how often do we misinterpret his blessings?  Isaiah 55:8-9 says, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways.  As the heavens are above the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

When I'm leading two:fiftytwo (our after school program), there are times when I give kids consequences for their behavior.  Over the years, as I'm sure parents do, I've been growing in knowing which of the kids' requests I say yes and no to, depending on what the long-term effects will be on me, them, and the program.  They may not understand why I give a certain answer, and I don't always feel like explaining myself for every little response I give them is necessary or helpful, but I know in some ways what will be best (or at least better) for them.  Is this not how God is with us?  Are we not like children in his eyes, having little to no clue what is around the corner for us?  So, you got a promotion.  Great!  Or will it feed your pride and make you look to your own self for provision and strength and not the Lord?  So, you got in a really bad car accident.  That's a bummer!  Or is God trying to get your attention by bringing you to utter reliance on him for life?

The truth is, I've been a little thrown off since hearing this parable.  I don't want to confuse you and say bad things are actually good and vice versa, but I would urge you to give thanks to God in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5) because you may have no idea if God is using manure to have you bear fruit.  Since there's a very good chance you don't have your bible with you as you read this and probably won't get it to look up these verses, let me give them to you right now.

Another parable.  Luke 13:6-9 says, "And he told this parable: 'A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none.  And he said to the vinedresser, 'Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none.  Cut it down.  Why should it use up the ground?  And he answered him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure.  Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'"  Jesus, has interceded on our (the fig tree's) behalf when we should have been cut down and destroyed.

Challah and Missi at the Family Fall Festival
last year in 2013

There's a family in Brentwood that I've known for most of my time down here.  I've talked about them before in many previous blogs.  This family has been very special to me.  I've been around two of the kids in the family at the after school program.  Currently, Challah is in 5th grade and has been in the program since she was in 2nd grade.  She and her older brother Diallo were able to be a part of our wedding back in June.  Challah was the flower girl and Diallo, an usher.  What to say about Challah.  I have had so many fun experiences just being around her.  I can remember her attempting to read Dr. Seuss while she had duct tape over her mouth.  She and I played a vocabulary game called "Granny's Garden" and we asked questions in our old granny voices.  We were laughing so hard we cried.  Sometimes I get stern with her for no reason and she laughs since she knows I'm just playing around.  She is incredibly friendly and likes to play with the other kids, especially the younger girls.  She used to love playing teacher in 2nd and 3rd grade and this year has had the opportunity to help younger students when they have difficulty with their homework.  In a nutshell, she is a goofball and a ton of fun to be around.  She can get frustrated with her homework and sometimes will keep anyone from helping her or seeing her struggle.  I don't know how big of an impact I've had on this family's life in relation to eternity, but I can say that if I "up and moved" somewhere else, I'd probably miss them most in Jacksonville.  They have felt like family even though they have so many people pouring into their lives.  I feel very blessed and can say, "Isn't that wonderful," without worrying about God replying, "Maybe."

Challah helping with decorations for the Family Fall Festival
at the two:fiftytwo after school program

Please pray that Challah would do well enough in school to go on to middle school next year, that she'd learn more and more about her savior, and that her relationships at school, at home, at church, and in her neighborhood would grow.

Also, please pray for our Family Fall Festival tomorrow from 1-4pm.  This could potentially be the most people we've ever had attend.  Last year was close to a thousand people.  This year we're hoping for 1,200.  There will be hot dogs, giant pickles, boiled peanuts, candy, a trunk or treat, a bounce house, the Jacksonville Jaguars kicker, Josh Scobee will be in attendance signing autographs, and I'll be running the kickball and field games.  Pray that no matter how many people come or whatever weather there is that God would be glorified, and the people of Brentwood would feel loved through all the free and safe fun.

And, finally please pray for me.  I don't want to know God on the surface like I know an acquaintance.  No simple, "How's it going, God?" "Good, how is it with you?"  "Good."  I want to know God's heart for his people more intimately, his heart for those that are lost without him, dead fig trees without his digging and working around their roots.

God loves you, and there's no maybe about that.

No Quick Fixes

Every month, we on staff with 2nd Mile Ministries have a personal retreat day.  This is not an off day, but it is different from our normal responsibilities.  With so much going on at work, it is our intention to take a purposeful day to process how we are doing personally and how work has been going.  I often take these days to go on long walks, either on the beach, in a park, or on a frolf course.  These times of solitude have been great times to step back and pray and really enter into God's presence.  On my last retreat day, I answered the question, "Are there any roadblocks in ministry that you are facing?"  I chose to rather answer the question, "What is in your life life that has been wearing at your soul?"  My answer disappointed me.  My answer was technology.  In my down-time, my almost natural reaction is to pick up my phone or sit with the computer on my lap and just become a vegetable.  What's going on in the world's of the NBA, the NFL, the MLB?  What youtube video will satisfy my desires to laugh or be in awe?  What game on my phone will allow my brain to forget about the day's problems?

There's something satisfying in watching a time-lapse video of a plant growing.  Normally, we walk past trees, flowers, and grass and maybe we'll stop to smell the roses, but usually we proceed with whatever is on our schedule that day.  You might notice the sprout of a plant after a few days, but actually growth is hard to see.  Time-lapse videos help you see growth as if it were a moving living thing.  Reflecting every month is just a way to track growth or even places of no growth.

I fear for the next generation.  Delayed gratification is an unfamiliar term.  Why read a book when you can watch the movie?  Why waste time watching a 10-minute video when you could watch an entertaining Vine for six seconds?  Why meet someone for coffee and deep conversation when I could send a three-word-long text?

In the ministry world, I can have a similar hope to try and abbreviate or shortcut to get to the delicious fruit of ministry.  I hope for quick behavior changes when a kid acts out.  Can't there be a button I can push to make them smarter, more loving, more caring?  It takes time.  It takes even more time especially if those I'm ministering to are of a different culture, a different race, and/or different economical mindset or class.  

In keeping with my hope to introduce to you the kids of our program, I'd like you to meet Chassidy.  She is in 5th grade and is one of two students that have been in the after school program since the beginning.  She was only in 2nd grade at the time.  This is her first school year without her older sister Charity at school or in the program.  Without giving too many details about what exactly she has gone through in her life already, just know that there's a good chance that it's much more complicated and difficult than your childhood was.  I am amazed at how much she's grown the past few years despite having so many life changes thrown at her.

Chassidy in front of me in the red shirt back in spring 2012

While volunteering at North Shore Elementary three years ago, I used to occasionally help a 2nd grade teacher named Ms. Beam in her classroom.  Ms. Beam was Chassidy's 1st grade teacher the year previous and she would tell me that Chassidy would often get sent to the principal's office, have to take timeouts in other teachers' rooms, etc.  Her behavior was reflected in our after school program often.  When she was in 3rd grade, I remember a couple times where she couldn't handle any kind of correction or discipline and thought there was no other alternative but to scream, kick over chairs, scratch, bite, anything to get away or feel safe.  I'd never seen kids do the things she did.  Fourth grade comes along, the chair-kicking ended, the screaming too.  In fact, the problem in her 4th grade year was really just talking back and the occasional attitude.  Oh yes.  She is probably the most vocal child I've ever seen.  Also, the loudest when she wants to be.  Probably the most encouraging thing I've noticed over the past few years has been her focus, attention, and retention of Bible lessons and verses.  Her hand was always up when a review question was given during a Bible lesson.  Her understanding of the gospel has skyrocketed in even just the past year.  I've heard her show compassion to others in the program that were going through something tough at home that she has experienced already.  Last year, a girl was crying because her electricity had to be turned off.  Chassidy consoled her and looked at one of our staff saying, "It's her first time," meaning her first time with the electricity cut off.  Chassidy has experienced cut off water, electricity, times with little food, and yet can see that God has blessed her.  Amazing!  She helps younger kids with their homework.  She loves reading with the younger girls and help them grow.  She loves to sing worship songs with as much heart as she can, despite the skill of her voice.  You can see a desire for justice in her that she gets very upset when she feels she or someone else is being wronged.  She stands up for others and is very defensive of those that get picked on.

Chassidy's baptism

Recently she has moved around a lot, staying with friends, her dad, and even with some in our ministry over the summer.  All these adjustments can mess with a kid's sense of safety, protection, and comfort.  I'm happy to say she and her sister are in a stable situation now, able to see their dad whenever they want and not having to worry as much about lack of food, water, or electricity. 

A couple weeks ago, I had the privilege of watching Chassidy, among four other elementary and middle school students get baptized.  It was great to see her dad and sister in attendance as well as many in the church and ministry that have known and supported her for years.  No matter how slow it might seem, God does work to transform those that he would call his own.  It was a beautiful thing to witness.  It's hard to tell in the picture on the left (because of the shortness of the pastor), but Chassidy has grown so much.  We rarely do push-up competitions, but when we do, Chassidy is the only one (including the boys) that can do any with proper form.

Websites are bombarded with unwanted advertisements promising the next get-rich-quick scheme or a pill that transforms you from a hippo into the hulk.  The Lord of the Rings trilogy would've been terrible if Mordor was in Frodo's backyard rather than across the entire Middle Earth.  I'm not going to get any endurance by running one time every year.  There's something about work, about relationships that grinds us into who we will one day be.  Proverbs 27:17 says, "Iron sharpens iron, as one man sharpens another."

If you are a person who prays and doesn't just say you'll pray for someone, please hear these requests.  Please pray that Chassidy continues to grow as a leader, a Christ-follower, as a student, a friend, and a sister.  Please pray for me to get off my phone, get off the computer, and make Christ my pursuit when I have downtime.  Worldliness is a deadly distraction to our relationship with Christ.  I feel it is the devil's most deceitful way in getting us to think that we are comfortable, blessed, and more important than others.

TTYL