Saturday Sports

So I was asked by a wonderful family-Brian and Teresa Olsen--if I would share at their Saturday Sports event at Beardsley Elementary this past Saturday.  It was a blast! I showed up with Solas--who is almost 4 1/2--who had a great time.  I was able to share the story of Noah's Arc and how Jesus is a better Noah, with a greater Arc of salvation.  

Late Night Talks

So I have been trying to reach out to my next door neighbour who works at Cafe Med and we've had a few conversations but nothing really deep.  A few nights ago I was out dropping off my trash and I saw him outside.  We began talking and he asked me, "So why are you going to be in Thailand for 10 years?"  This began an amazing conversation.  It was a wonderful spiritual conversation, and we had the opportunity to talk about our up-bringing and our father's not being present in our lives growing up and what kind of men and father's we desired to be.  I was able to share with him that as a man we could "white-knuckle" it only so much then we crack.  And we end up being exactly like the person we didn't want to become, and that only Jesus truly change us into the man He desires us to be.  I was able to look him in the eye and mentioned that whenever he wanted to talk to anyone I would be there for him and even though I didn't know him that well I truly cared for him.  I believe that meant a lot.  I was grateful to throw out the trash the same time he was.

Cecil

Spontaneity Pays Off

So there is a young man who lives across the way from me named Eric and right before I was headed to the Bridge on Tuesday evening to speak at one of the bible studies of M42 the Lord told me to see if Eric would want to come with me.  A few hours before that I was talking to Eric--who is 21--and he was telling me how he just feels lost, and doesn't know where to turn or what to do.  He currently doesn't have a job and he just doesn't know the next steps in life.  When I went over and asked if he wanted to jump in the car with me and go, he said, "sure why not."  Next thing you know I was in front  of the group sharing how the Lord Jesus has rescued and saved me, and how He placed Eric in my life.  I didn't ask Eric for his permission but felt inclined to share a little about his story and where he was.  It was amazing!  At the end of that night, around 3-4 guys reached out to him, he walked out of there with a job, and a few guys who would walk with him and get to know him.  He looked at me after it was all said and done and said, "Dude that was crazy!"  He laughed and said he didn't expect to meet such great people and walk out of there with a job.  The next morning he was ready at 5:45 a.m. and he jumped in my car and we went to Starbucks in the Market Place to have Bible study with his new boss and a few of the guys.  Afterward Eric jumped in their truck and went to work.  He just completed his 3rd day and he loves it.  He is surrounded by men who love Jesus and men who want to see him succeed.  So grateful to see Jesus move in my neighbourhood.

Cecil

Surprise Visit

So I was driving around early one evening and I decided to stop by an old friends house.  I was so glad I did.  He was all alone, he and his wife are currently separated so this particular evening he was all alone.  We ended up just talking in his livingroom for about three hours.  I used to work with this guy so I remember having daily conversations with him and to be perfectly honest I miss those days.  I taught for 5 years in an elementary school which most all of the teachers were women and I felt like The Lord wanted me to pour into this man.  There were certainly very difficult days were I felt that this individual was so difficult to deal with I wanted to throw in the towel, but The Lord really gave me a tender heart for this hard-hearted man and we became very good friends.  I was able to be a good listener--much of this I learned from my wife--and I had a few opportunities to offer counsel and challenge him in a few blind spots in his life--truth of the matter is we all have blind spots.  I was so grateful I had a free evening to meet up with him as I felt The Lord directed me to his house.

Cecil

Daniel from Starbucks

So several weeks ago I was at Starbucks off Gosford and Stockdale and there was an older gentlemen sitting right next to me who seemed to know everyone who walked through. He was a very outgoing guy and I thought to myself I wonder how he knows all these people.  I went on with my Bible study and felt The Lord prompt me to talk to him, I answered with "Lord, don't you see I'm studying your Word...besides he probably doesn't want to talk to me right now, and I have an appointment to get to shortly." Nonetheless, I felt The Lord urge me to be on mission, even at Starbucks.  So I leaned over and said, "Pardon me sir, can help but notice how you know everyone who comes in.  Are you a teacher or coach here in town?"

This began a wonderful discussion with Daniel.  The Lord has used my wife to teach me how to be a wonderful listener, and to ask the appropriate questions and the result is usually people being very open to share their life and in many cases pour out their heart.  I am still amazed at the depth of conversation I am able to go with people who I naturally don't have a connection with.  With Daniel it seemed to mean a lot to him that I was genuinely interested in his life story. I shared with him the future of my  family and how we would soon be in Thailand for 10 years.  At the end of the conversation he introduced me to a few friends of his who sat close to him.  We both promised that we wouldn't be strangers the next time we ran into each other in Starbucks.  I was so grateful to Jesus at the opportunity to hear someone's story and share a piece of the journey I'm on with my Lord.

Cecil

Rage that reminds...

So I witnessed a young man in my neighborhood who got in an argument with his girlfriend and I can tell was visibly very upset, hurt and full of rage.  I reached out to him to see if he could come with me, cool off and talk about it but he didn't want to have anything to do with me in those moments. He reminded me of myself about 12 years ago. Shortly after that I say him walking and I felt The Lord tell me to give him a second chance, so I called out and told him I'd still give him a ride if he was interested.  To my surprise he was.  In the car he broke down and apologized for the way he'd been acting towards me and told me he needed to go to Church because God was the only one who could help him right now.  We then had a very good discussion and I ended up praying for him and sharing how Jesus Christ is the only one who can make us into the men, fathers and husbands we were meant to be.  I had the privilege of sharing how men who have been following Jesus have been there in my life to hold me accountable and go to war with me, they have been the soldiers by my side and how every man who desires to honor The Lord must have these men.  My friend Eric told me he would be interested in meeting these men.  Pray I could connect him with my closest friends who will walk with him.

Cecil