"For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God."
Friday, July 18, 2014
My Mission Trip
So last week I went on a mission trip with my youth group. We drove 10 hours to go to Moore, OK and be apart of a Catholic work camp that was set up to help residents affected by the tornado that ripped through their town last year. Although most of the houses were either rebuilt or moved and rebuilt elsewhere, there was still a lot to be done. Schools start in about a month or so out there, yet the grounds still needed to be cleaned up. There were still residents that needed new fences and their yards cleaned out. And finally there were food pantries, homeless shelters, and thrift stores that needed help organizing and aiding help to those less fortunate. Our mission? Help as many people as we could.
We left Sunday morning, July 6th. We were all excited and ready to get on the road and get there soon, so we could start working, however, we needed to pick up a few extra cars from another parish nearby that was caravaning with us. We had arrived to the meeting place early and the other parish was also running late, so it was about an hour before they met up with us. I think it was then I started feeling a surreal moment coming over me. Yeah I was joking around with my friends and we were laughing and such, but in the back of my mind I started thinking about what we were really getting ready to do. We were going to do work, but what kind of work? With whom would we be working with exactly? Was there decent food and shelter? Who was going to be in charge? How many people will there be? How badly damaged is the town? Will we have to build any homes or do landscaping? Etc, etc, etc. All these questions and more were running through my mind at the time, but one thing was for certain. We were going to be helping people and by doing so, we were all being servants of God.
We all had summer plans and if not, I'm sure most of us wouldn't have minded just laying back by the pool or hanging out with friends, or possibly even going to work to get some cash, but the difference we didn't do any of that. No, we worked throughout the past school year to raise money, prepare ourselves, and clear our schedules so that we could all come on this trip. How cool is that? It wasn't until we actually arrived at the church we were basing camp at that I realized that being a servant of God was more than just the title. In fact, the camp leaders changed that thought for me by saying we were all being "Servants of C.H.R.I.S.T.". What does that mean, you're probably wondering? I didn't figure that out till our last day nearly. It was Thursday night and then we were finally told. "C.H.R.I.S.T." stood for "Chosen Heros Rising In Service & Truth". That's right.
We were out there, whether painting a classroom for a teacher, replanting and putting up fences for a resident, or even restocking the church's food pantry, we were out there all serving Christ in some way or another. That is because we brought the Truth, the word or action of God to people in need. They needed help, although some of them did't want to admit it. They needed to see that people still care. They needed to feel that someone is still out there watching over them and that someone is God. Although some had damaged homes and yards, others were damaged financially and couldn't afford help. Yet still more so, others were damaged emotionally because they couldn't begin to comprehend what had happened. The Truth tho? God loves all His children and He will not abandon any of them. We were called to rise up and be servants of Christ to help others. Our Service reinforced the Truth through our actions, our words, and our feelings. What we did gave people an understanding of God they hadn't seen before. To able to see over 200 teens and young adults hearing the call of Christ and stepping up to do their part to help out a community not even theirs, is astounding. When I found out how many people were helping out, I was floored. I've never seen that kind of power of God and I could see it in each one of those people I met while on my trip.
While we were on our trip, our camp leaders told us to try and find Christ in at least one thing each day. I found too many to count. The camaraderie we had with each other, and the willingness to help others no matter what the job was screaming God's name in themselves. There was one moment however in which I found god speaking to me the most while on the job. The last day we were given a special task (our whole youth group and a couple other small groups) to go about 50 miles south and help a group called "Rebuild Ministries" start the foundation for a new house and green house. There was only one welder and only one or two of us could help him, so I volunteered. I watched the guy first blow torch (basically) a couple holes in a piece of metal and then he gave me a chisel and a hammer and said, "you see the metal that's sticking up around the sides of the holes; I need you to chisel that off". I was glad to and started right away.
This took awhile and so my mind started wondering. The night before we had adoration and reconciliation and I started thinking about what the monk (who was from a nearby monastery) told us at the beginning of it all. He said, "while we try and drown out the voice of God and our own voice even, we soon come to realize that it is in the silence sometimes that God can actually heal us the most. That is when we take time to think of our wrongs, to ask God for forgiveness, and try to reexamine our lives so as not to commit those sins again. So take some time to just sit still, look at God upon this altar, and if there is something you want from Him, don't hesitate to ask. This is because He is all forgiving and wants us to be happy and He will never give up on you because of your wrongs, because He is stronger and bigger than them." Thinking about what He said made me think about how we were like the piece of metal I was trying to fix and clean up. Our sins were like the metal that was twisted and built up on the sides of the holes and God was like me. He was there, taking a chisel and a hammer and cutting and smoothing our sins away and just like I didn't give up every time the welder handed me another piece of metal to clean, neither does God. He continues to fix us, to heal us, to make us clean and whole again no matter what the cost is. All we need to do is ask for His grace and mercy to help.
So, while that was my moment of seeing Christ in the work that I was doing, the overall message was that we were there. We helped people and we acted in Christ's name, so that the people there could see that they were not alone. They had not been abandoned and that they can receive God's grace and love to heal and strive on. I personally think this was one of the best experiences of my life and I hopr to do it some day again.
We left Sunday morning, July 6th. We were all excited and ready to get on the road and get there soon, so we could start working, however, we needed to pick up a few extra cars from another parish nearby that was caravaning with us. We had arrived to the meeting place early and the other parish was also running late, so it was about an hour before they met up with us. I think it was then I started feeling a surreal moment coming over me. Yeah I was joking around with my friends and we were laughing and such, but in the back of my mind I started thinking about what we were really getting ready to do. We were going to do work, but what kind of work? With whom would we be working with exactly? Was there decent food and shelter? Who was going to be in charge? How many people will there be? How badly damaged is the town? Will we have to build any homes or do landscaping? Etc, etc, etc. All these questions and more were running through my mind at the time, but one thing was for certain. We were going to be helping people and by doing so, we were all being servants of God.
We all had summer plans and if not, I'm sure most of us wouldn't have minded just laying back by the pool or hanging out with friends, or possibly even going to work to get some cash, but the difference we didn't do any of that. No, we worked throughout the past school year to raise money, prepare ourselves, and clear our schedules so that we could all come on this trip. How cool is that? It wasn't until we actually arrived at the church we were basing camp at that I realized that being a servant of God was more than just the title. In fact, the camp leaders changed that thought for me by saying we were all being "Servants of C.H.R.I.S.T.". What does that mean, you're probably wondering? I didn't figure that out till our last day nearly. It was Thursday night and then we were finally told. "C.H.R.I.S.T." stood for "Chosen Heros Rising In Service & Truth". That's right.
We were out there, whether painting a classroom for a teacher, replanting and putting up fences for a resident, or even restocking the church's food pantry, we were out there all serving Christ in some way or another. That is because we brought the Truth, the word or action of God to people in need. They needed help, although some of them did't want to admit it. They needed to see that people still care. They needed to feel that someone is still out there watching over them and that someone is God. Although some had damaged homes and yards, others were damaged financially and couldn't afford help. Yet still more so, others were damaged emotionally because they couldn't begin to comprehend what had happened. The Truth tho? God loves all His children and He will not abandon any of them. We were called to rise up and be servants of Christ to help others. Our Service reinforced the Truth through our actions, our words, and our feelings. What we did gave people an understanding of God they hadn't seen before. To able to see over 200 teens and young adults hearing the call of Christ and stepping up to do their part to help out a community not even theirs, is astounding. When I found out how many people were helping out, I was floored. I've never seen that kind of power of God and I could see it in each one of those people I met while on my trip.
While we were on our trip, our camp leaders told us to try and find Christ in at least one thing each day. I found too many to count. The camaraderie we had with each other, and the willingness to help others no matter what the job was screaming God's name in themselves. There was one moment however in which I found god speaking to me the most while on the job. The last day we were given a special task (our whole youth group and a couple other small groups) to go about 50 miles south and help a group called "Rebuild Ministries" start the foundation for a new house and green house. There was only one welder and only one or two of us could help him, so I volunteered. I watched the guy first blow torch (basically) a couple holes in a piece of metal and then he gave me a chisel and a hammer and said, "you see the metal that's sticking up around the sides of the holes; I need you to chisel that off". I was glad to and started right away.
This took awhile and so my mind started wondering. The night before we had adoration and reconciliation and I started thinking about what the monk (who was from a nearby monastery) told us at the beginning of it all. He said, "while we try and drown out the voice of God and our own voice even, we soon come to realize that it is in the silence sometimes that God can actually heal us the most. That is when we take time to think of our wrongs, to ask God for forgiveness, and try to reexamine our lives so as not to commit those sins again. So take some time to just sit still, look at God upon this altar, and if there is something you want from Him, don't hesitate to ask. This is because He is all forgiving and wants us to be happy and He will never give up on you because of your wrongs, because He is stronger and bigger than them." Thinking about what He said made me think about how we were like the piece of metal I was trying to fix and clean up. Our sins were like the metal that was twisted and built up on the sides of the holes and God was like me. He was there, taking a chisel and a hammer and cutting and smoothing our sins away and just like I didn't give up every time the welder handed me another piece of metal to clean, neither does God. He continues to fix us, to heal us, to make us clean and whole again no matter what the cost is. All we need to do is ask for His grace and mercy to help.
So, while that was my moment of seeing Christ in the work that I was doing, the overall message was that we were there. We helped people and we acted in Christ's name, so that the people there could see that they were not alone. They had not been abandoned and that they can receive God's grace and love to heal and strive on. I personally think this was one of the best experiences of my life and I hopr to do it some day again.
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Matthew 6: 1-34
Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Time is of the Essence
What kind of person are you when it comes to dealing with time? Are you a down to the last minute get everything done as quick as possible? Or are you the type that takes their time and carefully executes every detail of the plan? What gets you motivated? Can you relax and work or do you have to constantly move?
It seems that we're always moving now in days, but what are we moving towards? That appointment? That game? What about moving towards God? Many of us don't really think about it, since we typically only go to church once a week, but time is of the essence. How much time do you think you have left on Earth? How much time do you think you have to change your ways? How much time do you think you have to make things right with your past?
Several times a week I personally have to stop and remember that this world isn't here for long. Sure it seems that life will be forever, or that it will move on without us, but what happens when it's too late? What happens when you can't go back and apologize for a mistake or rude comment? What happens even you realize you weren't the nicest of a person to that elderly lady driving on the road because you were late and thought you were more important? What happens when you realize you don't have enough time to make up for the lost time of not spending enough with your kids and they're all grown up?
Sometimes we need to realize that we won't live forever. We have to realize also that our lives aren't more important than others. We need to sometimes slow down and relax. God didn't say that we should work on Sunday, but rather to keep the holy day Sabbath. We need to slow down and fix our wrongs. Pray a little more for help from God. We need to help others and treat our neighbors like we wanted to be treated. Love them, care for them, and pray for them.
After all, when we're called from this Earth, to you really think God is going to judge you on how well you work or how you get your projects done well? No, He's going to judge you on your character. Were you nice to your neighbors even even you had a rough day? Were you ok to that elderly lady in traffic and not cutting her off? Did you decide to stop your work for some time to spend with your kids? You're character is what will weigh more than anything because character is doing the right thing even when no one is watching.
So what are you going to differently from now on? What are you going to go back and apologize for or try to make right? After all, you might have more limited time than you think. So remember, time is of the essence.
It seems that we're always moving now in days, but what are we moving towards? That appointment? That game? What about moving towards God? Many of us don't really think about it, since we typically only go to church once a week, but time is of the essence. How much time do you think you have left on Earth? How much time do you think you have to change your ways? How much time do you think you have to make things right with your past?
Several times a week I personally have to stop and remember that this world isn't here for long. Sure it seems that life will be forever, or that it will move on without us, but what happens when it's too late? What happens when you can't go back and apologize for a mistake or rude comment? What happens even you realize you weren't the nicest of a person to that elderly lady driving on the road because you were late and thought you were more important? What happens when you realize you don't have enough time to make up for the lost time of not spending enough with your kids and they're all grown up?
Sometimes we need to realize that we won't live forever. We have to realize also that our lives aren't more important than others. We need to sometimes slow down and relax. God didn't say that we should work on Sunday, but rather to keep the holy day Sabbath. We need to slow down and fix our wrongs. Pray a little more for help from God. We need to help others and treat our neighbors like we wanted to be treated. Love them, care for them, and pray for them.
After all, when we're called from this Earth, to you really think God is going to judge you on how well you work or how you get your projects done well? No, He's going to judge you on your character. Were you nice to your neighbors even even you had a rough day? Were you ok to that elderly lady in traffic and not cutting her off? Did you decide to stop your work for some time to spend with your kids? You're character is what will weigh more than anything because character is doing the right thing even when no one is watching.
So what are you going to differently from now on? What are you going to go back and apologize for or try to make right? After all, you might have more limited time than you think. So remember, time is of the essence.
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Songs Bring Things Into Focus
I thought this video might be perfect for getting a better picture of what we're all up against these days. Listen to the lyrics carefully, and enjoy! :)
Matthew 5:14-16
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father."
My Battle Cry, What's Yours?
So during this weekend's youth group retreat, our theme was "This Means War". We got to learn about what the war is truly and what it means to fight it. We also learned what armor or weapons we have already been given that we have the ability to use at any time we want. Then on the last day, we had a prayer circle and individually came up with a battle cry for ourselves that would help ourselves to continue the fight and to remind us what we're fighting for. This is mine:
"Although the Devil may press
Although the temptations build
You're Stronger Anyways
Although they might rebel
Although they may not want to listen
Make Them Anyways
Although the end may seem so far
Although the light at the end seems so small
Lead Them Anyways
So shod your feet in the gospel of peace, wrap the belt of truth around you,
Put on the breastplate of righteousness, put on the helmet of salvation,
pick up your shield of faith, and wield your sword of the word of God
And finally, always Pray"
Now, what's your battle cry?
"Although the Devil may press
Although the temptations build
You're Stronger Anyways
Although they might rebel
Although they may not want to listen
Make Them Anyways
Although the end may seem so far
Although the light at the end seems so small
Lead Them Anyways
So shod your feet in the gospel of peace, wrap the belt of truth around you,
Put on the breastplate of righteousness, put on the helmet of salvation,
pick up your shield of faith, and wield your sword of the word of God
And finally, always Pray"
Now, what's your battle cry?
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