Discipline isn't a fun word and yet we are all subject to disciplines as a part of the way things are.
If we eat more calories than we expend we will gain weight. In order to change that we have to be disciplined in both exercise and diet. No surprise here. In the spiritual life there are disciplines also.
First there is the discipline of taking time for God. Daniel, as the Daniel who got thrown in the lion's den, took time to pray three times a day to his God. It was this discipline of prayer that got him in trouble because the king had ordered that all must bow down to a gold image of himself.
Daniel was disciplined in his priorities. He knew that God came first...no matter what. And yes, the lions didn't gobble him up because God shut the mouth of the lions. Instead Daniel's accusers were "lunch" for the lions before they hit the bottom of the pit.
Having a strong position of trust in God isn't something that just comes in a day. It comes as there are some very trying circumstances in our life THAT CAN ONLY BE SOLVED BY GOD.
I'd like to say that I am disciplined to trust like Daniel but I have a ways to go. Do you have something you really don't like to do but God has you in the discipline of doing it now.
Maybe it is a job that you know is going to end and you get paid but have no satisfaction.
Maybe it is a season of discipline in the financial area. Many of us are learning to cut way, way back on expenditures. We just need to be careful. In fact, there is so much poverty here in America including 22% in children, that I hope we are starting to wake up to the needs under our feet.
In learning a new sport there is discipline. The great tennis player didn't just emerge. There had been countless hours of practice behind that beautiful win.
Let us not be discouraged in well doing because we are getting stronger in that direction. God knows how much discipline each of us needs and His discipline is for our good and for giving us a future and a hope.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Saturday, September 10, 2011
On Abiding
Focus. Stayed focus. Don't loose your focus.
We all have heard this and are aware that without it we might not get anything done. Focus is not the same is abiding. Abiding, in the sense that the Lord asked us, is living in a vital relationship to him so that we are like a living organism drawing from Him what we need day by day.
We cannot do any kind of ministry work that bears fruit without this "relationship" underneath. This is why prayer has been and always will be "homebase" for Project Lost Sheep. When we aren't seemingly doing anything out there we are praying and hope that we are praying for everything.
Prayer is communication. It is a two way conversation. Part of it is worship and adoration and petition but part is receiving, getting a direction from the Holy Spirit and waiting to know what to do with that direction. Abiding isn't easy. It takes focus. Yes, the focus on the Lord's agenda, not ours. Sometimes there are "lulls" in what we do "out there". These lulls are times to fill up and be instruccted
We open the Bible. We pray. We meet with others to share and pray. Se find direction. We move out but not out of our own will but of the One we abide in. Jesus said, "Without me you can do nothing."
Think about it.
We all have heard this and are aware that without it we might not get anything done. Focus is not the same is abiding. Abiding, in the sense that the Lord asked us, is living in a vital relationship to him so that we are like a living organism drawing from Him what we need day by day.
We cannot do any kind of ministry work that bears fruit without this "relationship" underneath. This is why prayer has been and always will be "homebase" for Project Lost Sheep. When we aren't seemingly doing anything out there we are praying and hope that we are praying for everything.
Prayer is communication. It is a two way conversation. Part of it is worship and adoration and petition but part is receiving, getting a direction from the Holy Spirit and waiting to know what to do with that direction. Abiding isn't easy. It takes focus. Yes, the focus on the Lord's agenda, not ours. Sometimes there are "lulls" in what we do "out there". These lulls are times to fill up and be instruccted
We open the Bible. We pray. We meet with others to share and pray. Se find direction. We move out but not out of our own will but of the One we abide in. Jesus said, "Without me you can do nothing."
Think about it.
What We Do
We are asked frequently what we do besides camp. We work year round in various ways. The follow up to the campers is done by Verbo Church. For example, 29 mothers of campers recently went to a women's gathering. These women will be invited back again.
After camp 50 children got to ride on a float sponsored by the police who are very interested in working with Verbo Church on positive youth activities. 25 children will be selected to be in an after school tutoring program at Verbo Church. They will get free tutoring in math and English, be read stories from the Bible. This is the second year of this program, partially funded by a local church and the rest coming in from Project Lost Sheep support.
Well...keep posted because there are many more things happening too much for this blog. Let us never give up on caring and giving to people. Those who love like know Got.
After camp 50 children got to ride on a float sponsored by the police who are very interested in working with Verbo Church on positive youth activities. 25 children will be selected to be in an after school tutoring program at Verbo Church. They will get free tutoring in math and English, be read stories from the Bible. This is the second year of this program, partially funded by a local church and the rest coming in from Project Lost Sheep support.
Well...keep posted because there are many more things happening too much for this blog. Let us never give up on caring and giving to people. Those who love like know Got.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Why We Need To Befriend Neighbors
Put yourself in this picture. You are new to the block. Your husband works a great deal. Your son doesn't drive. You are young and healthy but you take a spill. You think you have a sprained ankle. Your husband leaves on a business trip. Your injury gets worse. You now have what looks like a grapefruit on your ankle. And you are in so much pain. You have to hop.
You can't even hop to the house next door but you remember that there was a neighbor who gave you a phone number. You can that number. "I need help" you say.
Let's share our information. Sometime..the one calling out for help might be you.
You can't even hop to the house next door but you remember that there was a neighbor who gave you a phone number. You can that number. "I need help" you say.
Let's share our information. Sometime..the one calling out for help might be you.
Camp Food
Everyone gets hungry at camp. Imagine 160 hungry children...about 30 youth volunteers and 20 or so adults. Our Seventh Touchdown Camp had lots of food and food surprises. The surprises were that some of the new volunteers went out and bought or got donated food for camp. We also got milk from McDonald's and lots of cereal and snacks from Second Harvest, thanks to our president Patty Cardona's efforts and going after these.
We also thank Lou from Gourmet Frank under VP Barbara Siegal who got all we needed for lunches. The men at Verbo stepped up to the plate and barbecued the chicken at the park the last day. Before lunch the children all enjoyed pinatas given also through Verbo. Children had small treasures of candy to take home.
I am smiling because at the brunch we shared the story of the boy who shared his lunch with Jesus (otherwise known as the miracle of feeding the 5,000). Jesus blessed the small lunch and it turned into enough and more than enough. How do you know if God is in it? There is always overflow. We were able to leave food for the youth camping trip just about to happen.
God promises, even in famine, to keep his loved ones alive. Don't look at your resources. They will never be enough. Look up. There is a very loving God who provides what we need. Our Project Lost Sheep team knows the truth of this. Let's offer our little and see God work!
We also thank Lou from Gourmet Frank under VP Barbara Siegal who got all we needed for lunches. The men at Verbo stepped up to the plate and barbecued the chicken at the park the last day. Before lunch the children all enjoyed pinatas given also through Verbo. Children had small treasures of candy to take home.
I am smiling because at the brunch we shared the story of the boy who shared his lunch with Jesus (otherwise known as the miracle of feeding the 5,000). Jesus blessed the small lunch and it turned into enough and more than enough. How do you know if God is in it? There is always overflow. We were able to leave food for the youth camping trip just about to happen.
God promises, even in famine, to keep his loved ones alive. Don't look at your resources. They will never be enough. Look up. There is a very loving God who provides what we need. Our Project Lost Sheep team knows the truth of this. Let's offer our little and see God work!
Sports
Sports are an important part of Touchdown Camp. We walk the children over to a local school and park and they get to play games like kick ball, soccer, hula hoop, water balloons.
Along the way they get to talk to the youth volunteers from Verbo and the adult volunteers from Project Lost Sheep. It is always a joy to see children outside and having fun knowing that these children do not get much of this in their day to day life.
Once in a while we discover a real athlete. This year a camper came to me with a skinned knee. She wasn't going to participate. We sat for a bit. I watched her dash to the restrooms and could see her knees were okay. When she came back I told her she was a really good runner.
"Let's see you run all the way to the end of the field and then meet me back at the bench." Before I could say more she was flying across the field to the end in the most beautiful running form. A natural runner. She was panting when she flopped beside me.
"You are really a good runner," I told her. "When you get to high school, I want you to try out for track." "In the meantime, just remember you really are good at this."
She nodded. "I think I'll go and play," she said and left without a backward glance. Sometimes we need to tell a young person what we see that will guide them in the future. Let's encourage one another. Let's tell someone today what we see that they really do well. Especially, let's compliment a child, a neighbor's or our own.
Along the way they get to talk to the youth volunteers from Verbo and the adult volunteers from Project Lost Sheep. It is always a joy to see children outside and having fun knowing that these children do not get much of this in their day to day life.
Once in a while we discover a real athlete. This year a camper came to me with a skinned knee. She wasn't going to participate. We sat for a bit. I watched her dash to the restrooms and could see her knees were okay. When she came back I told her she was a really good runner.
"Let's see you run all the way to the end of the field and then meet me back at the bench." Before I could say more she was flying across the field to the end in the most beautiful running form. A natural runner. She was panting when she flopped beside me.
"You are really a good runner," I told her. "When you get to high school, I want you to try out for track." "In the meantime, just remember you really are good at this."
She nodded. "I think I'll go and play," she said and left without a backward glance. Sometimes we need to tell a young person what we see that will guide them in the future. Let's encourage one another. Let's tell someone today what we see that they really do well. Especially, let's compliment a child, a neighbor's or our own.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Classroom Size
Today I had a chance encounter with an elementary school teacher who works in east San Jose area. Her third grade class will have 4 more students than last year.
That means that her time will have to stretch and the one to one time will be less than last year. Those who need help the most will not get more, but less, help. Is it any wonder that US is running behind other nations now in many fields?
The elementary school years are the most critical. They are the base on which the rest of learning extends.
Many of the children we work with in Project Lost Sheep simply have no way to keep up because they don't have the help at home they need. The mother may work three jobs and have as many more mouths to feed. The main emphasis of the poor in America, and yes, we have many very poor children even in California, is to survive. When you worry about food, and you didn't have much education yourself, helping with "book things" can be the bottom of your list.
I am happy to tell you all that for the second year in a row, Verbo Church, where we hold camp, has received a partial grant to have an after school program in which 25 children will get help with homework two times a week. The staff is willing to go to 4 days. ALL THAT IS NEEDED WOULD BE SOME PARTNERS TO GIVE.
For 25,000 more per year the after school program could "roller blade" the behind children to get "up to speed" for the very aggressive program ahead.
I mentioned to the school teacher that 40% of the children from at risk backgrounds in Santa Clara County will not graudate from high school. The teacher nodded her head sadly. She knows that she is fighting a huge battle that cannot be won without outside help. The answer has to come from those "outside the system".
Hello, high tech people. Want a challenge? Why not start getting behind some of the non-profits working with children in your own backyard? Give us some computers for after school programs. Give us some funds to pay tutors and directors and buy materials. Give a little back from all that has come to you.
Children who are ignored will be adults who are problems and we will all be the poorer for it. Jesus said, "As you have done it unto one of the least of these my children, you have done it unto me." One day, all of us rich and poor will be held accountable for what we did and for what we didn't do.
That means that her time will have to stretch and the one to one time will be less than last year. Those who need help the most will not get more, but less, help. Is it any wonder that US is running behind other nations now in many fields?
The elementary school years are the most critical. They are the base on which the rest of learning extends.
Many of the children we work with in Project Lost Sheep simply have no way to keep up because they don't have the help at home they need. The mother may work three jobs and have as many more mouths to feed. The main emphasis of the poor in America, and yes, we have many very poor children even in California, is to survive. When you worry about food, and you didn't have much education yourself, helping with "book things" can be the bottom of your list.
I am happy to tell you all that for the second year in a row, Verbo Church, where we hold camp, has received a partial grant to have an after school program in which 25 children will get help with homework two times a week. The staff is willing to go to 4 days. ALL THAT IS NEEDED WOULD BE SOME PARTNERS TO GIVE.
For 25,000 more per year the after school program could "roller blade" the behind children to get "up to speed" for the very aggressive program ahead.
I mentioned to the school teacher that 40% of the children from at risk backgrounds in Santa Clara County will not graudate from high school. The teacher nodded her head sadly. She knows that she is fighting a huge battle that cannot be won without outside help. The answer has to come from those "outside the system".
Hello, high tech people. Want a challenge? Why not start getting behind some of the non-profits working with children in your own backyard? Give us some computers for after school programs. Give us some funds to pay tutors and directors and buy materials. Give a little back from all that has come to you.
Children who are ignored will be adults who are problems and we will all be the poorer for it. Jesus said, "As you have done it unto one of the least of these my children, you have done it unto me." One day, all of us rich and poor will be held accountable for what we did and for what we didn't do.
Flip Flops
You all know what flip flops are. And you have seen them on feet. Nice for the beach. Not good for Touchdown Camp.
But, last year, I saw a number of children wearing them. They wore these because their parent could not afford a simple athletic shoe. It was sad to see a 10 year old girl, who was pretty good, try to play basketball in her flip flops. Something germinated in my heart over this year and now we are collecting used athletic shoes. Why not? Most shoes are outgrown before they are worn out on children.
Can you help?
Please drop off used Athletic Shoes or mail them to:
Verbo Church
2798 Bay Road
Redwood City, CA. 94026
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