An update from Africa

A few short months ago, a group of children left the dumps of Addis Ababa for boarding school, and amazing opportunity made possible by a ministry called Project 61. When I visited their home last summer, it was like nothing I had ever seen. God spoke to my heart and has been telling me ever since - praying for, loving, and helping such children are at the very heart of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.

Well, this was the first year that these children have had the chance to go to the school, so I was thrilled to get an email update on how things were going. God is doing amazing things! Here are a few excerpts along with comments:

It is mid-year for the sponsored kids, and we'd like to share a few updates with you. The kids continue to adjust to their new life at the school, and have settled into their studies and living arrangements. They also are hearing the word of God every single day and are being transformed by His truth!

On January 7th, they celebrated Ethiopian Christmas with a Project 61 team at the boarding school...Each child received a new pair of shoes, a brand new Bible in their own language, socks, underwear, candy, lotion, and a t-shirt. Sponsor gifts were also handed out, and everyone was abuzz with excitement!

I cannot even imagine what that was like! It must have made God smile.

The email went on to describe some challenges, not unsurprising for a group of children who had never been in a structured environment. Some were having discipline problems and there was some danger of them being sent home. But as the new semester begins, check out this report:

Everyone's slates are wiped clean. This reminds me of how merciful our God is, and how even though we don't deserve it, we are made new through his Son. Please pray that this will be an opportunity for these kids to accept the grace of Christ, as well.

Awesome!

And then the message closed with a request:

(P)lease continue to pray for these children. It is the best thing we can do for them! Please pray for their journey back to the boarding school later this week and their transition over the next few weeks. Please pray that, after being in Korah for two weeks, the kids will remain healthy. And most of all, please pray that the kids will come to know Christ.

Will you pray with me for these things?

God is so good. Not only is he blessing these children, but he is blessing us with the opportunity to be part of his work. He is sovereign and can accomplish it any way he wants - but he chooses to include even me. And you. Amazing!

Random thoughts on Super Bowl XLV

As the countdown begins to the return of the world's greatest sport (205 days if you're wondering - or even if you're not), here are a few random thoughts on the 2010-11 grand finale:

• Isn't this the only place we use those stinkin' Roman numerals? Let's drop it already.

• Congrats to Green Bay on their 13th NFL championship. Hmmmm, 13 championships...that number sounds familiar.

• With 111 million viewers, last night constituted the most people ever to watch someone botch the national anthem. Congrats, Christina!

• I miss football.

• My high school's football team wears the same uniforms as the world champions. Sadly, these days that's all they have in common.

• Winning QB Aaron Rodgers came to a relationship with Christ through YoungLife. To this longtime YL leader, that's very cool. (My friend Tommy writes more about this here.)

• I still miss football.

• I like the Black Eyed Peas alot. I did not like their performance last night. Well, at least the TV mix was awful; maybe it killed in person. As someone tweeted, even Usher and Slash couldn't save the halftime show.

• Best part of the night? Having 13 of the most awesome people in the world over to my house for the game. What a fun group!

• It was a very exciting game, which is important when you know it's your last football for a long time. (Did I mention that already?)

• To me, the commercial humor quotient was way below Super Bowl standards. But there were bright spots. Like almost everyone else, I consider this to be the best Super Bowl commercial:

And oh...IS IT SEPTEMBER YET??

Decisions, decisions

Ever had trouble making a decision?

Well consider Valentine's Day. 8th grade. The continuing saga of Cyrus Kouandjio. What do they have in common? Read on.

As many of you know, the college football world experienced its own version of Christmas morning this past Wednesday. After much anticipation, football programs would in essence get to "open their presents" as thousands of high school seniors signed binding letters of intent to play football at a university. One such senior was Cyrus Kouandjio from Maryland. Would he follow his older brother, who already plays at the University of Alabama? Or would he end up at Auburn or New Mexico? At about 11 AM CST, he made this announcement:



But, as many of you know, he did not follow up with a signature. And at this writing, he is still trying to decide between the Tide and Auburn. He said that he had made a decision, but he had not. I feel for the young man as he ponders such an important call. But the point remains that he will have to decide; failing to decide would be essentially a decision to miss out on college.

Flashback to my 8th grade year. It was early February and time to start arranging a date for the Valentine's dance. If you were going. Well, I was pretty inexperienced at the whole dating concept, but I had a huge crush on Rachel (not her real name, for reasons that will become obvious). Rachel was a cheerleader at our school, a member of our rather small church youth group, and always pretty nice to me. Heck, she had even danced with me on one occasion.

So on a bright sunny, but chilly, February morning, I got up my courage and approached Rachel between Sunday School and church. I never will forget walking up to her as she stood there holding the hand of her little brother. The next few minutes are burned into my brain, and will always be there.

I wasn't very smooth; I was probably downright clumsy. I made some awkward small talk and then stammered out the words: "Rachel, will you go to the dance with me?"

And she said ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Yep, that's right...a big fat empty space of nothing. She looked at me for what seemed like for-EV-er. And then she turned, leading her brother by the hand, and headed toward the sanctuary for church. Not yes. Not no. Just silence. Dead silence.

Yeah, that was a little tough to get over. But as I look back, I see basic human nature taking over. The easiest decision is no decision. And yet, it was a decision, wasn't it? Rachel did not go to the dance with me. Her lack of an answer really was an answer - an unmistakeable one.

It's recorded in Matthew 12:30 that Jesus said, "Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does gather with me scatters."


This is the same principle, isn't it? If we put off a decision about following Christ, we are really deciding. Like Rachel, our lack of response speaks volumes.

So as we college football fans await the final decision of Cyrus Kouandjio, I leave you with this thought: A decision to live life the way God intended, in relationship with him, is the most important decision any of us will ever make. So let's learn...

1. ...from Cyrus. That we need to count the cost and make sure we are really committed when we declare ourselves a follower. More damage is done to the Kingdom by half-hearted followers than by atheists. And...
2. ...from Rachel. That choosing not to choose is really a choice.

Decisions, decisions....

Groundhog Day? I wish...

As I head off to bed this February 2, I can't help but think: if only this would happen to me in the morning:



Sleeping late. Waking up in Tuscaloosa. Being lazy all day. The most entertaining National Signing Day ever (I may have another post on that soon). Dinner with Macy and Haley. Bama basketball in Coleman Coliseum from the front row.

Yep...let's do it again.  Come on 6 am.  Sing it Sonny & Cher. I wanna be Phil Connors.

Yeah I know, back to work in the morning.  But a man can dream.