what up everybody!!!! i've moved into the age of being able to use my camera and adding the pictures to my computer and then uploading some of those pictures to my blog, lol....isn't that exciting!!!
so yeah, the 2 pictures you see are from olney high school. the first one is of the outside of the school. then second picture is from the lobby of the youthnet center in the school. this is where we are hoping to one day have club, campaigners, and an after school program at. keep in mind, that is just the lobby part of the center. its bangin(aka its really nice). i'm pumped about the opportunities that are opening up at the school.
now, i have actually been to the school 3 times and i'm so pumped. its exciting to me to be able to talk to kids finally. to share with them the hope of Jesus. what started out as just a dream and vision is becoming reality. i set in on some classes my first day to watch the kids interact with the teacher and each other and me. you can just see on kids faces that they loooonnnngggg for an adult to take an interest in their life and to love on them and to teach them and to be someone they can follow. they want it so bad. my prayer as that we develop a team of adults who not only talk about Jesus but who lives model Jesus' life.
that first day, i meet a kid named "alex" and he is our first kid that is going to go to camp. that was pretty awesome. please continue to pray for me as i partner with churches and the school to take "key" kids to camp this summer. we are fortunate to be able to offer camp this year for not alot of money. we will be going august 11th through august 16th to lake champion.
another cool opportunity at olney is that the athletic director has offered the weight room to a youth pastor there who i'm partnering with and this summer will be able to run the weight room for the football team guys to come and workout. i'm really excited for this because i love lifting weights and we want this time to be a time where we really pour into those young men. we are praying for about 5-6 college guys who like to lift to join us working with the guys this summer. this could be huge. i might end up coaching football too...ha,ha. i watch enough to be able to at least shag balls for the team and give guys water. i don't mind. i guess, i could be in charge of kicking. i am a soccer player. who knows.
lately, i've been meditating on the story of jacob and esau.
gen. 25:27-34
v.27--the boys grew up and esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while jacob was a quiet man, staying among the tents.
v.28--issac, who had a taste for wild game,(personal note...i love they put that detail in there) loved esau, but rebekah loved jacob.
v.29--once when jacob was cooking some stew, esau came in from the open country famished.
v.30--he said to jacob, "quick, let me have some of that red stew! i'm famished!" (that is why he was also called edom.)
v.31--jacob replied, "first see me your birthright."
v.32--"look, i am about to die," esau said. "what good is the birthright to me?"
v.33--but jacob said, "swear to me first." so he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright jacob.
v.34--then jacob gave esau some bread and some lentil stew. he ate and drank, and then got up and left. so esau despised his birthright.
somethings stick out to me...
1. jacob's name means deceiver...and i believe this is a huge trick the deceiver(satan) tries to pull on us.....he tries to keep our minds focused on the now...and in this world...as opposed to the longterm and God's kingdom...you know....and we eventually get to where we hate our "birthright" we hate following christ because this and that and all the rules...which in reality bring life. we desire something so we take a shortcut instead of doing it God's way. do you know what the difference between a swamp and a river is? its that the river has banks that restrain it and give it purpose while the swamp doesn't so it goes whereever it wants with no direction.
2. i wonder also...did jacob wait for his chance? you know...he didn't even think about what he wanted esau to give...it was like he had been waiting for an opportune time to make this proposition...you know. and that another thing the deceiver does...he waits for the right moment. to pounce. i'm excited by hebrews 4:15-16...God knows....and how does he know...
3. i think this resembles the temptation of Jesus in the desert. he was hungry and satan came and tried to tempt him to do something God won't want. yes, he would of been satisfied, but it would of been short term.
i could go on and on. God's word is so rich. i love it.
in closing...always be thinking kingdom...yes...times can be hard and it would be easy to give in...but God's ways are always better.
i love you guys and i hope all is good with ya.
grace and peace.
mike
