Let's catch up

Thursday –

Devotion. Planning for Nehemiah’s workshop. Lunch. Some more planning. Prep for yard sale on Saturday. Bible study at a home in the West End for Third Presbyterian Church (a partner with CHAT and East End Fellowship).  

I drove the CHAT bus with all, but a few interns in the bus, about 30 minutes away from Church Hill. We arrived at a beautiful home and neighborhood that is the exact opposite of Church Hill, in terms of socioeconomic standards. Our hosts made us dinner and we sat down to listen to a pretty wise man. Nehemiah! Percy led this bible study and spoke on a book in the bible that I have rarely read. Percy’s goal was to break down Chapter 1 in Nehemiah and then challenge the group to explore the rest of the book alone within the context he laid before us.

I took a few quick, bullet point notes:

·      Nehemiah is FOCUSED! (He hears the Rocky theme song)

·      He was willing to say that I am broken and turn that into a focus on the Lord, the only One to truly heal

·      His goal was not to influence millions, but one man, “the king of Susa”

o   My goal should be to influence anyone God places before me and not have these lofty dreams of saving the world (that is His job!)

Incredible story! Nehemiah chose to rebuild a city because it was the Lord’s calling in his life. FOCUS and DETERMINATION are the main ingredients in Nehemiah’s life.

As we drove back into Church Hill, we soon noticed that there was a large power outage throughout all of Church Hill. Crazy seen. Most people hung outside of the lighthouse and wait for it to turn back on. A couple of the interns and I went to Wal-Mart and grabbed a few items for the next few days and as we got back, we noticed the power was back on. Watched the end to the NBA Final’s Game 5. Bed.

Friday –

Field day with the kids at Chimborazo Elementary school. Shower. Lunch at the house. Prep for the yard sale. Shower. Buffalo Wild Wings with the interns. Camp out in Church Hill.

Ok… so… Friday was pretty busy. It included several showers. Started the day off with the kids at Chimbo. A lot of the CHAT students go to this elementary school and some interns wanted to get connected with the school. Because it was one of the last days of classes, students were able to play games outside (baseball, kickball, etc.) I was the pitcher for the baseball game and who knew inner-city kids were that good at baseball??? They took me yard a couple times!!! One picture I will remember is when the DJ put on “Teach me how to Dougie” or “You’re a jerk” and watching all 500 kids do the same dance moves. HILARIOUS!

Prep for the yard sale was difficult to say the least. Tons of furniture and driving to pick up donations. We held it in an empty lot in the middle of Church Hill. Pulled a tarp over all the items and took another shower. BWW! Great time with the interns, just laughing and getting to know each other on a different kind of level. Did I say laughing??? I mean there was a lot of this!!! All the interns are extremely close and I am shocked to see how many people can get along and challenge each other at the same time.

The last part of the night, concluded, with a massive tent with 5 guys sleeping in the middle of Church Hill. Took us an hour to put this tent together, while listening to country music from my iPhone. Again, 5 guys that had no clue how to put this tent together, finally did, after a lot of laughing. Laughing to jokes like, “did you hear about the fire at the circus? It was intense.” Get it (In – tent’s) Not so funny I guess, unless you are beat tired, slightly delirious and its 1 o’clock in the morning. Finally fell asleep around 2.

Saturday –

Woke up with an incredible headache at 6:30am. Ate some breakfast and got right to work. Luckily, the Lord took that headache away with some magic from a little guy named “ibuprofen.” Wow! What a day… using my Thrift Store knowledge to price different items. Also using the sales knowledge I got from Johnny, my Dad and my Grandfather. Driving all over town to deliver items. I cannot remember I a time in my life when I worked harder. What is strange is that is not bragging, but actually being proud of myself for once pushing myself and working unto to the Lord. The CHAT yard sale was a success. Met lots of new faces around town and sold over a couple thousand dollars worth of stuff. One lesson that I learned during this yard sale is that “when everyone works (hard) for the glory of the Lord, then it becomes a fun and exciting task and people feed off of that energy.” I truly believe that this is the way God intended.

I finally had an hour to take a shower (which was much needed), call Mom and Dad and rest for 5 minutes. Was back at the lighthouse in no time and was off on the CHAT bus, with the interns, for a cookout. Even though it rained, we had some delicious BBQ from Buzz and Ned’s at the Cox’s house. Time to fellowship and relax after a hard days work. It’s great to sit back and know you have put all your effort out there and at the end of the day, you can share it with some amazing people.

Went to Sweet Frog’s (an ice cream place in the trendy part of town) and the bill was on CHAT, which everyone always loves. Love the bus time with the Chatterboxes (aka the interns).

Got home and straight to bed.

Sunday –

REST. REST. REST!!!! I am sitting here now, eating lunch reflecting on the past couple of days and it’s a beautiful picture to see. Great people, serving the Lord and reaching out to people of all different backgrounds, ethnicities and races. Maybe it’s a picture of Heaven??? Lol.

Later today is my time with my discipler and then church. Very excited about both. Done talking!

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

      Philippians 3:7-11

Peace and Love

PS. Got my first check. Thanks for all the people who donated!

Another day in His presence

“Wake up!!!” Those were the words that popped into my head at 8:57. I needed to be at the lighthouse (which is a 5 min bike ride from my house) at 9am. I was late again!!! Got to the lighthouse and did devotions (like every morning) with the interns. A year-long intern spoke about anger. What does it mean to be angry? Is anger a sin? Is conflict good, sometimes? What is reconciliation? Many of these questions were thrown around and most were discussed in detail. It is a difficult subject and I think sometimes God does that so we really have to dive into the Word. (What a valuable resource… by the way.)

Back to planning. After devotions it was about planning for our time with the students. I made a daily schedule with certain things I want to get accomplished. Devotions, math worksheets, basketball, and most importantly… WORKING. I have a tentative schedule for every day and what it should look like, with time so that the apprentices and I can bond, but also for us to really work hard at what we set out to do.

Lunch with Mackenzie (Mac and Cheese, obviously)

Back to planning and helping out at the lighthouse.

Then, to one of the intern’s house with the street leaders (student leaders –high schoolers) and the apprentices (students in entrepreneurship program). Swam, played corn hole and some ball, and just had a good time. This was a great time to connect on a more informal level with all the high school leaders and really just kick back and chill.

One of my favorite parts of the week is Wednesday night community group, here at the Illian’s house. I am so blessed to be put with this couple and really enjoy their company, even though I never get to see them. I always get home when the house is asleep and I am gone, in the morning, within 2 seconds of being downstairs, rushing out of the house. Community group is with a couple other people, including Mackenzie, and it is a time to reflect on what the sermon was on Sunday. This is so helpful to re-evaluate what you heard at church, a few days later, after the words have sunk in and you have had time to meditate on it. We had a great discussion that furthered my understanding on Matthew 7:1-7 and gave such clarity to the passage as a whole.

Laundry. Chill. Blog. Bed.

Where can I go from your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?

If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

If I rise on the wings of the dawn,

if I settle on the far side of the sea,

even there your hand will guide me,

your right hand will hold me fast.

If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me

and the light become night around me,”

even the darkness will not be dark to you;

the night will shine like the day,

for darkness is as light to you.

Psalm 139:7-12

Peace and Love

Mercy triumphs over judgment

These past two days have been devoted to planning for Nehemiah’s Workshop. I had coffee with the two adults that are in charge of the workshop, went to a golf banquet held to raise support for the workshop and spent time with AJ and Ja’quan, just building relationships and figuring out how I can be an influence. This is all brand new to me, but I am learning fast and AJ and Ja’quan already know what they are doing so I will just jump right in. We will not start actually building are products until June 22^nd, but many things have to be done before that time so that everything can run smoothly.  Excited is not what I thought I would be feeling, but after some time putting together a solid plan, this truly is what I am going to love. A mission statement, a logo, a sales pitch, updating prices, teaching profit margins, inventory, accounting… overall, just putting together an actual business plan is what the next two weeks will be about. It is AJ and Ja’quan’s company and I am there to assist and guide. I pray and hope that God will give me the tools to make this a valuable time for them to learn about how a business works and can give them some tangible tools to walk away with. More importantly, I hope God gives me His voice to speak words of wisdom and encouragement into their lives.

So… a lot has gone into planning Nehemiah’s workshop, but there has been other things happening.

James Chapter 2!!!! Woah… what a scary verse to tackle, but today we had a staff meeting that Percy led and we discussed this verse in great detail. (like I said before, read it now… that’s right… pick up your Bible and read this chapter… it shall not return void!) We read verses 1-13, and Percy asked, “what stood out?” to the 30 staff members, and I replied with the final words of these verses, “mercy triumphs over judgment.” That might not be the part that jumps out at you, but as of lately confusion over this chapter and over the Lord’s judgment has been surrounding me. The Lord is Judge, but His mercy triumphs over judgment. SIMPLE AS THAT! PERIOD. END OF STORY! Percy is one of those teachers that I feel like every time he speaks, I see things more clearly. I know that the Lord has put this man into my life so I can soak him up like a sponge and learn as much as I can from him.

The story goes on and James 2 finishes with some valuable principles. Read, meditate and discuss this chapter with people. Understand that this chapter is often confused with “good deeds” being the answer to salvation, but remember that it is the conviction of the Lord for your faith and grace, alone, is the answer to salvation. We should not run away, or ignore this verse, but accept it as Christ’s Word and devour it in the context in which it was written.

Time! The Lord tells us, and has especially told me of lately, that time is our most precious resource and that we should treasure it. This idea has been on my heart, and today I was able to practice it. Today, I woke up more tired than I can ever remember being, but I knew that every waking moment I have is a blessing and needs to be fought through in times of despair and weakness. Focus and the Lord’s strength can get you through. Every moment you have is of value and it slips away by second… by minute… by hour!

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

- Ephesians 5:15-17 (KJV)

Mercy triumphs over judgment!!!!

Peace and Love,

Dirty Hands

Hold your Pearl close...

So... nothing really happening on Saturday, besides a trip to the Flying Squirrels game (AA baseball team in Richmond). Got to go with all the interns, including a bunch of the students I will be interacting with over the summer. Took a "short bus" back and forth from the game with the interns and it was nuts!!! We have video proof... check it out on my Facebook page (I'm tagged in a video).

Weekend was all about rest! Luckily East End Fellowship (my church, if you didn't already know) starts at 4pm. Slept in, chilled, read, and ate... pretty simple day till 4. Went to church and heard one of the best sermons I have ever heard (fo' realz). Percy Strickland, founder of CHAT, gave a profound word into Matthew 7:1-6. (I am specifically not going to write scriptures down anymore so that you guys will have to find them on your own... sound ok?... good!) This passage is famous for judgment and more specifically the judgment from one human to another. Percy talked about how devastating it is when we become so blinded by our own "junk" that we start ridiculing others for the same thing. Judgment is a tough subject to tackle, but Percy laid it right out on the line and told us the truth. That we should always focus on the cross, and how the Lord has forgiven us, to make us humble to others faults and failures. This passage talks about pearls and how we shouldn't toss our Pearl's in with the swine. The Pearl that the Lord is talking about is the Gospel message. How we should treasure it and hold it close to our hearts so that when we enter the world people can see the Gospel in our lives. It is not about judgment, but more about understanding the sin in your own life and making it abundantly clear to treasure what the Lord has done for you through His perfect Son.

Played some soccer... watched the game (pick it up Mav's!!!) and now sitting here writing this.

Hold your Pearl close and see how God works!

Matthew 7:1-6

- Dirty Hands (which is my nickname here in Church Hill... no one will ever know, besides me, Mackenzie, and Percy) lol

Corey and Don!

There once was a church in Church Hill called East End Fellowship with two pastors that did not resemble one another. The obvious was that Don was black and Corey was white, but more importantly Don was a man of emotion, prayer and inspiration and Corey was a man of level-headedness, the Word and teaching. They combined to make one of the most interesting duos I had ever seen. These men had conflicts, but came together as a body of believers and knew that one goal was most important, sharing the Gospel with the community of Church Hill, Richmond and anyone that would listen.

This is so foreign to me, but I have watched many authentic people come together for one common cause and the little things that normally draw people away from each other actually are a tool to learn from one another. The Gospel and the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection is not only the theme of the entire Bible, but it is the theme of CHAT and East End Fellowship. I am so happy to be around people who stand, boldly, for the same thing I do.

Well, that was just devotional time this morning! lol. A lot more happened within the day. Interns are placed with a “discipler” that they meet with once a week to motivate them and give them an outlet to examine themselves. My discipler and I had lunch and talked about why I was here and what the Lord has done in my life. I am so happy to have the person I have, because he is relaxed, not awkward, and just a really a man that I can relate to well. I am excited to get to get these times to communicate with him and know the Lord will use this time to make me a stronger, and better man for Him.

We finally got placed into where we will work for the summer internship. Drum roll please… I will be working in the entrepreneurship program with two high school students named AJ and Jaquon. There are 4 areas where they could place you (middle school day camp, high school mix, and with the elementary students). The entrepreneurship program is a little unique and only I will be working with these two boys. We will be working in a placed called Nehemiah’s workshop doing some carpentry (I know little about carpentry, but hey, if it was good enough for Jesus, then it is good enough for me!). I am excited about creating a relationship with these kids and hopefully God will use me to influence them for the Lord. I start on Tuesday and my blog from then on will probably be about these two kids and how this role is going for me.

Rest of the day was just kicking back at a BBQ at one of the pastors homes, throwing the football, sharing testimonies, and laughing (a lot of laughing!). Also saw the new X-Men movie with all the male interns. Bro Night! Girls were at a lock-in, with some EEF (East End Fellowship) girls, that we will be doing in the near future.

No blog for Saturday! It’s my day off. Thank Jesus for the Sabbath!

My cousin sent me a great verse to share with you guys!

Psalm 119:105 – “Your Word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path”

Get to work!

Started the day with another devotional in which someone from CHAT gives a testimony. We heard another great and unique testimony from CHAT’s funding manager. She spoke about mistakes and how to overcome those mistakes. It was a very encouraging word for me to here.

From then on, a fellow CHAT summer intern and me were given the job to drive around to certain spots to pick up donations for a yard sale in two weeks.  I would have never guessed that my knowledge of thrift stores and moving furniture would help me serve the Kingdom, but it did. Thanks Johnny! These spots were we picked donations included many different areas all over town. We drove around from 10:30am to around 6:00pm, with a lunch break in between, picking up all types of items that can be sold at a yard sale for CHAT. All this driving gave me a better perception over the city of Richmond and how it is completely split. It gives a whole new meaning into “crossing over the tracks.” Once you passed the railroad tracks in Richmond, you had entered an affluent area were life on the East End is forgotten and the “poor folks” are just the poor folks on the other side of town. There is no denying the economic disparity, along with the racial disparity between the East End (poor area) and the West End (wealthy area). It really opened my eyes on how deliberate these actions are, of people to move into Church Hill when they can easily go live on the other side of town and ignore a massive problem within there own city. CHAT is doing what I would picture Jesus doing if He were to live in Richmond.

Today was all about work ethic and how much I was willing to put my nose to the floor and say “whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” A new focus of mine is to really wake up each day and knowing that if I want to make something positive happen that I am really going to have to work hard and fight for it. WORK ETHIC, WORK ETHIC, WORK ETHIC! The Lord is preaching that to me every single step of the way. (along with that, DON'T COMPLAIN, DON'T COMPLAIN, DON'T COMPLAIN! lol)

I love the relationships I am building and I hope that I can continue this every single day!

Colossians 3:23 – “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”

New things about old friends...

So today started with me being late to devotional. Only 10 minutes, but still... sorry Lord!

Today’s devotional was led by my old friend Mackenzie Mumey, the man who ask me to come up to Church Hill and get involved in CHAT. He has been a great mentor to have while here and it is nice to have a familiar face when you are in an unfamiliar land.

Well, the devotional was devoted to Mackenzie's testimony and how God has moved in his life. There was so much that I already knew about Mackenzie that I thought this time would be a SNOOSER! Little to my knowledge, I found out a lot about him and how God has transformed him throughout the years. He is a great man and servant of the Lord and has been a visual representation of a person that I look up to in his focus and humble heart for the Lord. My favorite thing about Mackenzie is he is one of the absolute, most genuine people you will find! What a trait that I love and hope people will see in me. I think most people would view us as very different people in our personality, but in reality I think we have more in common than we would actually admit. He said something that stuck with me, he said, "When the Lord puts love on your heart for an individual, even through our SELFISH AND WICKED ways, it is God's intention of calling us to that person and giving us the opportunity to speak into their life." What a great honor God gives us and we should relish in every moment we can to reach people God has laid on our hearts. I have some people that the Lord has directed me to and sometimes I look at my failures and say that this person won't respect me or even listen and I could do more harm then good, but God has placed people on my heart for a divine purpose to reach and share the Gospel with them. His devotional created a great start for the day and focused my eyes on the Lord for the rest of the day.

After devotions, we took a quick bus tour (in the CHAT bus with Mackenzie pointing our landmarks in Church Hill, just to clarify it wasn't as official as it sounds) around Church Hill and I got a great sense of the neighborhood and how many difficulties people face when living on the east end of Church Hill. Broad Street is a dividing factor in Church Hill and basically divides the rich from the poor. Everything that CHAT is involved with is on the east end (poor) side. Understanding the history of why things are the way they are is a great tool for figuring out how to address the needs in the town now. This bus tour gave me a little more depth into what it means to live in Church Hill and what CHAT is doing to address the issues they are facing.

We later had lunch at the Church Hill Academy, which is a unique school that CHAT works with to create relationships with students, and played a quick game of knock-out (basketball) with some of the students, interns and teachers there, which I won! Great time meeting new students and hopefully creating bonds that will be influential in the future.

We had much of the day to ourselves, but most of the interns, including myself, attended a prayer session with the pastor of EEF (East End Fellowship), the church that I will be attending every Sunday. Pastor Don had some encouraging words for us and really wanted us to focus on prayer while we are here and developing a personal relationship with the Lord. I really enjoyed this time and hope that I can take something valuable from it.

Finished the day with a community group with my host family and Mackenzie. This gave me a glimpse into my family’s faith and how they shared community time in there home. It really was a special experience to be apart of a new family and really learn from them and grow closer with them. Both Matt and Catherine are great servants of the Lord and I know, will teach me many great life lessons along the way. I cannot wait to spend more time with them.

Matthew 6:9-13

“This, then, is how you should pray:

“Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one.”