Family Stories

Several Wonder City families have recently found themselves in difficult situations.

One family of 9 lives in a small two bedroom house. Some go to other family members’ homes to sleep at night. However, those who do sleep there typically sleep in one bedroom—the only air conditioned room (with a window unit) in the house. 10 individuals (4 generations) lived in the house, until late July, when the patriarch of the family passed away from complications with his diabetes. Unfortunately, he was the main source of income for the family. His veterans and disability benefits paid the bills. Now that he has passed, the family has $300 a month in food stamps—and that’s it. I don’t know how this family is going to pay the rent or any of their other bills. To add insult to injury, the water line that brings water into the house has busted. They contacted their landlord who told them to have it fixed and take it out of the rent. As the mother/grandmother told me last night, when there is no money for rent, no one is going to fix it for free.

Another family was placed in a difficult situation when the husband of the family walked out on his wife and 4 kids just a couple weeks ago. Bills have gone unpaid for months. The family was in a rent-to own situation and the rent/mortgage payment alone was $2000 past due. Yesterday (9/13), the family left their house. They put most of their belongings in storage and left some with friends and family. Now there is a “For Rent or Sale” sign in the window of their old house and they are staying with family until they are able to get an apartment. The mother is partially disabled and doctors want her to undergo weight loss surgery. She does, however, receive some money through disability and food stamps, but it is going to be difficult for her to make ends meet on her own.

These stories are just the tip of the iceberg. Another church member is not sure about her job. Another works 2 jobs just to make ends meet. Another had to go back to work early off her unpaid maternity leave so they would have some money. These are the daily realities of life for most of those I encounter in this ministry. I can’t help but think of Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:34.

So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. (NLT)

Our families do have enough to worry about today. Many struggle just to eke out a daily existence. Many have a hard time dealing with the trouble that today brings.

9/11 Reflections

It is one of those moments in history that those who lived it will always know where they were when it happened. September 11, 2001. For me, I was in the shower when the first plane struck the World Trade Center. I came downstairs (we lived in a townhouse apartment in Memphis at the time) and had ABC's Good Morning America on TV. I watched the live shot as the second plane came into view and hit the other tower. I sat there frozen on the couch. I know I watched the images for at least a couple of hours. I don't remember anything else I did that day.

Six months later (March, 2002), I stood at Ground Zero. It was an overwhelming place to be. The makeshift memorials that were still up. Standing on the observation platform looking into that huge space where the towers once stood. Seeing the steel cross that had been found in the rubble and erected by the workers. Passing the little church just yards away that was the base of operations for the cleanup effort. Wanting to go in and knowing that I would not be allowed.

This morning I again was tuned into ABC's GMA. I again was in the shower at the moment when five years ago the first plane struck. I again was back in front of the TV when the moment of silence was observed at 8:03 (central time)--the moment five years ago the second plane hit the south tower. During that moment of silence I said a prayer. I prayed for all those who are still hurting, suffering, or grieving because of the events five years ago. Many are still hurting.

What I also saw this morning was a nation (and a city) that is healing. All the buildings surrounding Ground Zero that were damaged have been repaired. World Trade Center Tower 7 has been rebuilt and is open. The World Trade Center subway stop is reopened. They said that by the year 2012 (just 6 short years away) all the reconstruction at Ground Zero will be completed. But I also heard healing. Healing from the from those who survived. Healing from those who lost loved ones. Healing has been a theme leading up to this anniversary. Last week GMA brought America up to date on the kids who were born post-9/11 to dad's who died on 9/11. Some of those moms have remarried. Healing is taking place.

As you remember and reflect on the events of five years ago, please pray with me for the continued healing of our nation. Pray that we will never forget the One who does the healing.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,
that the blind will see,
that the oppressed will be set free,
and that the time of the Lord's favor has come.
(Jesus; Luke 4:18-19 [quoting Isaiah 61:1-2]; NLT)

May God Bless you!
May God Bless America!
May God Bless the world!

Blog Potato

I have a couple of friends—and one in particular—that I have harassed as being blog potatoes. I must confess that I have become a blog potato over the past six weeks. And it’s not that I haven’t wanted to post or had things to talk about. Rather, it has been my extremely busy schedule that has caused me to put posting on the back burner. In fact, I now have a new respect for those who post regularly. I am astonished by guys like Larry James who post daily. Larry is a phenomenal guy with phenomenal talents and compassion for the poor. He is extremely busy and how he manages to make the time to post something of note on his blog every day is simply beyond me.

So let me quickly update you on what has been going on over the past six weeks or so. I promise to try to get more details up with pictures next week.

July 23-28—Youth Camp at Crowley’s Ridge Youth Camp
July 29-August 4—Kids Count Camp (our annual day camp for kids 3-12 years old)
August 6—Nathan and Jenni Bills last day at Wonder City (leaving me as the lone minister at Wonder City currently)
August 11—Closed on our home and moved in (this does not count all the inspections and meeting we had prior to our closing)
August 17—School Store (our annual school supply giveaway for kids entering K-6th grades)
August 18-20—Took 3 days off and went to Chicago (Amy was there on a business trip since the 13th)
Augsut 20-24—My parents were in town (and really helped us get our new home in order!!!)

Then for the past two weeks I have been trying to catch up and clean off my desk. So, I hope that you will forgive the lack of posts over the past several weeks. In addition to these events, there are several stories that I want to pass along. So check this space regularly the next couple of weeks for updates.

Camp Fun

July 23 through August 5 were two very busy weeks for me and Wonder City. The first week was our annual youth camp and the second was our annual Kids Camp. Both weeks went very well.

During the week at youth camp, out teens spent time in Bible classes and worship learning about God’s Young Heroes. The last night of camp we offered an invitation allowing the teens an opportunity to respond to anyway that God has touched them through-out the week. Several teens took advantage and went and spoke to a counselor. Immediately after worship was over, one of our teens Kisha R. came to me and told me that she wanted to be baptized. Kisha has been coming to Wonder City longer than I have. I had no doubt that she knew the importance of the decision that she was making. We pushed back the rest of the evening’s schedule and I had the privilege of baptizing Kisha in the pool at camp. She called her mom and her mom was shouting “Hallelujah.” Kisha’s older brother was also at camp and as I took Kisha under the water he shouted out “Goodbye Kisha.” Both Kisha and her brother knew that Kisha was dying to herself and was asking God to live through her in that moment. Kisha in that moment became one of God’s young heroes. (Sadly, Kisha and Jonathon experienced a low in their life the very next day when their grandfather, who lived with them, passed away.)

Kids Camp also inspired many great stories. One kid always answered the question, “What do you have to do to go to heaven,” by responding, “Get bubbatized.” There were many kids at camp who used to attend Wonder City regularly with their parents but now for whatever reason their parents don’t come—so they don’t come. One of those is a 6 year old young girl that I have known since she was about 3. Every time I see her she would run to me and give me a hug, even though her family hasn’t been to church in over a year. On the last day of camp, all she wanted was a Bible. We give the kids several things to take home from camp, but all she wanted was a Bible. When she received her bag of stuff, she immediately tore into it looking for her Bible. (I now have a Bible to take to her.) She and her 2 older siblings who also attended Kids Camp were going to go home and ask their parents if they could start coming to church again.

Love for God and the desire to live for him—that is what both of these weeks of camp are about. Even if these two were the only ones who benefited from these camp (and believe me they were not) then they were worth it. These two weeks were stressful and tiring. But, I would do them all over again—in a heartbeat.