Mystery Post - Highlight to View

I just heard of a guy named Ken Mink, and if you want to see something spectacular, check him out on Youtube. Ken is a 73 year old college sophomore who is also on the school basketball team. You see, Ken played ball when he was in college, but due to getting wrongfully accused of a prank he was kicked out of school and missed his chance of being able to play a second year of ball. This haunted him for over 50 years, til one day he decided to give it another try. He enrolled at Roane State Community College and joined the basketball team. He has even played in a game or two, but practices everyday with kids 50 years younger than him, his nickname? Medicare Man!

Now if this isn’t an amazing story of someone who is doing something unbelievable, unthinkable, unimaginable, I don’t know what is. He is breaking the previous age record of someone playing college basketball by 20+ years! What an example to us in our Christian walk. You see, Paul talks about this in his letter to the Philippians. He tells them that we are capable of great things because we have Jesus on our team. More specifically he wrote, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13.

From the strength of God we are able to do all things. Jesus speaks about faith a lot throughout his 3 years of ministry. That faith the size of a mustard seed could move a mountain. Do you have the faith that you can do all things because of Christ?

Our lives here on earth are dirty and messy. Things happen all of the time where you may think that you cannot overcome. But we can do all things through the strength of Christ.
You might feel inadequate of doing something. But remember, God says ALL things, as long as we are doing it for His glory.

What are things that you are avoiding or resisting? Or are there things that you should be resisting and you aren’t?

How can you live a life of faith in knowing that God has your back and that ALL things are possible?

How can we look at 73 year old Ken Mink and see God’s love and compassion and faithfulness in what he is doing?

Do you have faith the size of a mustard seed?

Last month two members of our church went to an orphanage in Africa for children who have HIV and those who have lost their parents to the virus as well. There were over 20 kids staying at this particular orphanage, which was started by a woman who adopted her nephew after his parents died from Aids and she wanted to help others in the same circumstances.

We were asked to help participate in this trip in a great way. No, not by going to Africa, but by helping to raise shoes, socks, medicine and games/toys for these children. We filled at least one big suitcase, if not two with all kinds of goodies! And it seems as if the kids loved their treats!

This reminds me of a teaching from Jesus about loving all people. He says in Matthew 5:42 "Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you." And this is what we are called to do daily in our lives.

The youth group has also "adopted" a girl name Ioana. She is affiliated with Global Hope and lives in Romania at an orphanage. The proceeds that we get from selling food in the youth room go to help support Ioana, but we could always use more money. If you can help, please, we will take whatever you can give.

There are many opportunities that we have where we get to give to others who are less fortunate in necessities than we are. We just need to see these moments and seize these moments. That is the message Jesus taught and as followers of Christ we are called to action.

For me the Super Bowl is best for it's commercials. And this year there were a few good ones, but the one that I was the most excited for was the one in 3-D. Which, if you saw it, was a disappointment. Chuck on Monday night was a little better, but I was expecting to be wowed with the 3-D technology.
I guess nothing ever compares to the real thing. Usually generic cola doesn't quite taste like Pepsi. Or paper suckers aren't quite as sweet as real suckers (that one was made up). But you know what I mean. The orignal is always the best.
In Romans chapter 6 Paul speaks to us about the real thing. "1What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life."
You see, there are things in life that we try to put our hope in. Friends, boyfriend/girlfriend, grades, sports, music... the list could go on and on. But the only real thing that we are able to put our hope in is the Son of God, Jesus. We have been baptized into Christ and we no longer live. Instead Christ lives in us. Jesus is the Real Thing. We are the real thing with Jesus.
Are you living like you are the real thing, or are you living generically? Trying to fit in with this world, or bringing God's world to people?
I think we should stop trying to live for 3-D that always disappoints and instead live for Reality, bringing God to others.