Camp

Tomorrow I leave for Young Life Camp for the first time since 2006. Last night I was packing, and I realized that it really had been a few years since I had to get all this stuff together. I don't know if this is actually true, but I feel like as a leader, I should have everything. I mean there are costumes, garbage bags, duct tape, sunscreen, snacks, cards, and extra stuff for people who don't have stuff. I think I am mostly together, but we'll see. I still need to find some swim trunks. I think I have about 10 pairs, but can't find any.

Practically, I want to ask for prayer for the week. Pray for kids; Joe, Eric, Jake, Matt, Dillon, and Antwione, and pray for me; that I stay out of God's way and represent Him as well as I can. Camp is such a great opportunity for people to hear the Truth of Christ and feel the power of His love in their lives apart from the everyday distractions of life at home. About 7 years and a week ago I gave my life to Christ at a Young Life Camp in Michigan, and for me it has made all the difference. We will be sharing a cabin with Princeton, I don't know to much about their group, but pray that everyone gets along well for the week. Thanks for all of your support this week. ~ 1 Cor 15:58...

Hooker

Some of you may already have heard this story, for those of you who have not, it may be my #1 story from all of my time living in Clifton. A week or two ago I went to Joe Decker's Graduation Ceremony. After the ceremony ended I had to run home to change, grab my stuff for my team meeting and softball, and head back up to the Decker's for a reception of sorts before my team meeting. On my way home I got stopped at the traffic light on the corner of Marshall and Central Parkway. It was a nice day so I had my windows down (a fateful decision). While waiting at the light a woman ~ 30ish approached my car wearing blue jeans and a T-shirt.

Woman- "Hey, can you give me a ride up the hill?"

Me- "Sure hop in, just let me move some stuff out of the way." (As I move the stuff out of my front seat.)

Woman- "Can you roll the windows up?" (As the light changes and we start driving up the hill)

Me- "Sure"

Woman- (Very intentionally) "So how do I know you're not a cop?"

*At this point I realized what was happening*

Me- (Very accusing) "How do I know you're not a cop?"

Woman- "How old are you anyways?"

Me- "23"

Woman- "So what's up?"

Me- "Just on my way home from graduation."

Woman- "Congratulations"

Me- "It wasn't my graduation."

Woman- (Almost wiggling/writhing in her seat) "So you want to have some fun or what?"

Me- (Almost laughing) "No!"

Woman- (Very indignant) "Well, Why'd you pick me up then."

Me- (Shocked) "You asked me for a ride, I was giving you a ride!"

Woman- (huffing and puffing and ughing)

Me- "Well, that's as far as I'm going...get out of my car."

After that she got out of my car significantly upset by how things unfolded. Since then I have wondered if I will see her again slinking along the sides of the street somewhere. While looking for her I have realized I am now forever prejudiced against any girl that happens to be walking along that corner wearing anything that looks even remotely skanky. THEY ARE ALL WHORES is what I think to myself.

I have given people a short ride probably 10 times in or around Clifton. Honestly I don't think I've ever turned anyone down. One time I got to give a guy a Bible and invite him to the Vineyard. His name was Obate, he was a refugee from Rwanda seeking asylum in the US. Most of the people I don't have any cool stories about, I don't even remember most of there names. I don't know how this would be interpreted, but doesn't the Bible say a lot about helping the man who asks. I won't just give people money, but I will buy someone a meal, or a gallon of gas, or some groceries, or give them a ride a couple miles. This time I drove a crack whore half a mile, who knows what may happen next time.

I think it is also important to note the ripples this encounter has created in a few other areas in my life. It has highlighted for me a passage; 1 Corinthians 1:18 "For the word of God is foolishness tot hose who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." It's amazing to me how polarized people are when it comes to giving time, money, rides ect. There are a host of people in my life who ask me "why would you ever want to do that" anytime I freely give something of mine away; that's just foolishness... There is another group of people who see it as the power of God working in my life for the benefit of others. In the middle is a group of people who I think experience a sort of internal friction when they see or hear about something like that. I think when outsiders see Christians actually living it out they sometimes feel a sense that they too were created to be part of something bigger.

I asked my Dad this (he thought I was dumb for giving anyone a ride) and it made me think to myself how I should be asking myself the same thing more often. If I claim to be a Christian, shouldn't I have a bunch of stories like this one; encounters with people that are living broken lives?