Cuts to the core of me...

The Great Awakening...

Today I took a group of students; from NewSpring's youth group FUSE*, to the Greenville Rescue Mission.  I remember the first time that I served in a Rescue Mission and how it opened my eyes to a whole other way.  It was a joy to have the opportunity to see these students serve the men of this mission.  I think that many Christians pray for the lost and pray for Jesus to break their hearts for what breaks His, but are they putting feet to their prayers?  When you take a step of faith God may show you that you have a passion to serve others in an unusual way.  I know that is what happened in my life, and im pretty sure that happened today in the lives of 6 young men, and 2 other leaders.  It is such a joy to see men get fired up about Kingdom work.  One of the students walked up to me and said, "Man this is awesome, if I didn't decide to come I would have just been sitting around at my house."  That shows me that today there was a "Great Awakening" in the heart of a young man.  I am so proud of all the guys that went with me.  They have no idea the size of the impact that they had on the men of that mission.  The fact is that there could be a "Great Awakening" in the heart of EVERY Christian, all they have to do is answer the call that Jesus gives everyone of us in the Great Commission.  When we look at our lives; as Christians, do they reflect the life that Christ lived?  Are we making disciples of ALL nations?  Are we cross-cultural in our approach as a church or school? (Music, Outreach, Clubs)  Are we colorblind?  (We need to be) Are we going outside the camp? (Rough neighborhoods, un-reached regions)The fact is that Jesus did reach out to ALL nations and He made the first disciples, He was intentionally cross-cultural in his approach, He didn't pick and choose who He served bc of their color or status, and he ALWAYS went outside the camp to do His thang.  (Hebrews 13:13)  We need to check ourselves as Christians bc God has given us the power to do great things.  In the history of Christianity; in America, there have only been 2 "Great Awakenings," I think it is time WE start another one....

One Love,

B-Eazy

My heart breaks for this very thing...

The wheels up there are turning...

Here it is at 2:28 a.m. in the morning and I am still up.  I just have so many things running through my head right now.  I have been praying for a God sized dreamed to be laid on my heart and it seems that my prayers are being answered.  Of course, I understand it could take years for a dream to be reality, but doesn't something spark the dreams we have at night?  Since the incredible summer I had working with Kingdom Building Ministries, God has really challenged me to get involved.  As this semester started, I just tried to take advantage of some opportunities that God had put before me.  I started by getting the "Red Tape" out of the way.  The applications, interviews, meetings, etc...  After that I was cleared to work at a homeless mission, to be a mentor of a 12 year old boy, and be a small group leader at FUSE*.  Along with these things, my plan was to still have time to take 18 credit hours in school.  As the semester moved along I realized that God was allowing me to devote ample time to all these things.  I continued to pray that God would allow me to manage my time wisely, and He did.  The joy from all of this is seeing the fruit that flourishes from God using you for His purpose.  My friendship with Armondre (the boy I mentor) has now turned in to 5 boys, as I shared in an earlier post.  While spending time at Armondre's house, God has given me the opportunity to share Christ with his mother, sister, and even his neighbor.  That just blows my mind.  Next, I have been working at the rescue mission a couple times a week, and God is blowing my mind there too.  I have been working in the kitchen.  I try to get there so that I can help prepare, serve the food, and clean up after the meal.  During this time God has given me numerous opportunities to share the Love that God has for us with others.  Sometimes it's just a big smile and a "How Ya Doin?", or other times I may have a deep conversation with someone.  I have even got the opportunity to share Christ with a Gnostic.  The options are endless when it comes to how many ways you could be use at that place.  They need people to lead worship and speak in chapel, people to cook, people to clean, people to counsel, people to pray, people to prepare food, people to well you get the picture.  The point is that whatever you do well, they could use your services.  This place serves those that Jesus talked about when He said "The least of these."  These people may be drug addicted, alcoholic, bankrupt, homeless, sick, etc...  But the beauty of it is that their lives change when they enter the mission.  Day 1 they are trusted with a job and shown that they have a purpose there.  The more I talk to the men there the more my heart breaks for the community.  They don't only serve men,  there are several families with children that live at the mission as well.  Last, but not least, I have been working at NewSpring Church's youth group called FUSE*.  That is one of the things that I do with the boys that I mentioned.  They also like to go to the 6 o clock service on Sundays.  All the students at FUSE* are impacted every single week.  The worship is great, the small groups are stellar, and the messages are meaty.  God moves every single week there.  I am so blessed to be apart of all this.  You may be asking, "Where is he going with all this?"  The point I am trying to make is that all of these things are privileges.  I don't deserve a single one of them bc I am a sinner, but through Christ I have been forgiven and I now have life.  Before I was saved, I spent 23 years doing world business and now I want to be about Kingdom Business.  If the same POWER that raised Christ from the dead lives in me, then what am I capable of?  I'll tell you right now it is not meant to be used playing Halo 3.  Im not pointing any fingers or standing on a soap box, but it breaks my heart for there to be a list full of kids that need mentors, multiple surrounding cities with thousands of homeless people, and broken lives everywhere else you look.  In the middle of all these things there are churches, Christian Universities, and "Christians".  Are lives being changed?  Sure there are lives being changed all over the community.  The question is, are you willing to be used to change lives?  I am not trying to boast about what I do at all, I would post this as anonymous if I could.  It is just sad that so many people are capable of making a HUGE difference of the lives of many people that have just lost all hope.  I have just been challenged lately, to step it up a notch.  It's like Brad Cooper said, "Act before you preach."  That is the way I want to live my life.  I don't want depend on anyone but God, so I put my focus on him and just DO WORK.  The odd thing that I have realized about all this is that I get a real joy from serving others.  I guess that is why Jesus said, "Love God First and  Then Love People."  I pray that others will get on board with these kind of things.  I pray that God continues to break my heart for what breaks His and that He will reveal Himself to the students at FUSE*, my little crew of boys, and the homeless at the mission.  It isn't a question of is God going to move bc it is a question of how.  I think that He is calling other Christians to be a part of it as well.  I think that God is putting that very thing on my heart.  God is calling me to Act before I Preach and to move others to do that as well...Im going to continue to pray for all these things and God will do His thing...so now I just need to hold on bc I am going to be going on a wild ride...daggum it is flippin 3:45 a.m. I gotta hit tha hay we'll see ya...  

Answered Prayer...

I mentioned yesterday that I have been taking some kids to church with me...Well last night I gained two more...That would put me at five kids that will be riding to church with me...but the problem is that I can only sit four in my car with me...I started praying and asked for some prayer from some family and friends, for another form of transportation so I can get the crew to church...today I talked to a guy that had a van and he said that I could use it whenever I needed to...WOW, God didnt waste any time on this one...now I am just praying for these kids that go to see the importance of Christ in their lives...God IS going to work in their lives and I am honored to be a witness of it...I cant wait to see how he is going to move in the future...Until we meet again...

It's been too long...

I haven't updated this blog in ages.  I have been so busy with life I have actually put blogging on the back-burner.  I plan on updating it on tha reg from now on.  God has been working in my life in amazing ways.  He has given me multiple opportunities to serve others and it has been such a fulfilling addition to my life.  I have been going to the Greenville homeless mission a couple times a week.  There are so many lost people at that place, so God has given me plenty of opportunities to share the gospel and some have been very receptive.  I mentor a 12 year old  Afro-American boy and that has been quite a challenge.  God is def trying to teach me patience in that situation.  I have seen weekly progress in his life though, so it has been a great experience so far.  I really feel like God is showing me the importance of being ethnically diverse in my world view.  Since I started working as a mentor, it has given me many other opportunities to serve within y community.  I have been working with FUSE*, which is the youth group at my church, and through that I have met some really great people.  2 of the kids in my small group ended up living in my neighborhood.  I now take them to youth every Wed. and NewSpring church on Sunday nights.  As im writing one of them just brought 2 of his friends over to my house and now they all want to go.  God is really blessing my situation and his ministry through me.  I pray that He will continue to break my heart for the lost and that He will allow me to look at everyone and every situation through His eyes.  I am so thankful that I serve a God that wants to use me to make an impact on the lives of others.  I can't wait to see what happens in the future...hold it down folks...and keep your eyes focused on Him...

One Love,

B-Eazy