Part 1: A Peasant in the City
Viddy: We’re not in Kansas anymore.
Jazzel: Hundreds of
miles from family, half the home, buggies backed up for miles on the roads, and
most-wanted posters plastered on every street corner… I’d say not!
Viddy: I’m so sorry sweetie. It’s not too late to go back.
Just say the word, and…
Jazzel: Our master sent us here for a reason.
Viddy: I guess so.
Two years max and we’ll be outta here. Just you wait. It will fly right
on by before we even know it!
Jazzel: Hmmf… glad you’re so optimistic…
Part 2: A Peasant under the Rocks
Viddy: Just 23 more months. 23 more. That’s all. We can do
this. School, work, home, shool, work, home, school, work, home. Just keep on
shovelin’ … … … … … … Honey, I’m home!
Jazzel: Hi dear. How was your day? … Oh that’s nice … … … …
… … You know, honey, I feel like we’ve been here forever already, and we’re not
meeting anyone.
Viddy: Well, to be fair, we haven’t made much effort.
Part 3: A Peasant in the Light of Day
Viddy: ... And dear, look over there! It’s the sun! Do you know
how long it’s been since I’ve seen the sun? I had forgotten what it looked
like. Jazzel… it’s been a year. I think it’s time we start making a little more
effort to meet people.
Jazzel: I thought you’d never say it! It’s been a long,
miserable twelve months. And we’ve got twelve more to go. Let’s make the best
of them.
Viddy: Let’s J
Part 4: A Peasant on the Job
Priest: Viddy, we’ve lost our best warrior, and you’re the
only person we think will lead our troops on the battlefield. Will you accept the
position?
Viddy: Duhhh, sure! I don’t see why not!
…
Viddy: Honey, all this knowledge, all this “experience” on
the battlefield, and yet I still feel completely unprepared.
Jazzel: Hasn’t the master always come through for you at the
right times? Where’s your trust?
Viddy: I guess you’re right.
Part 5: The Making of a Legend
Viddy: I can’t believe we made it dear! 24 months later… we
did it!
Jazzel: Yes dear, we made it J
…
Child 1: Did you hear? Viddy killed a lawn gnome with his
bare hands on the battle field?!?
Child 2: Yeah? Well I heard he slaughtered a pack of ogres just
using his nose hair and a pair of tweezers!
Child 1: Woooooowwwww!
THE END
I’m pretty sure this is the dumbest script ever written, but
it serves its purpose in reminding me of where God has brought me, exposing a
ridiculous over-exaggeration, and teaching a lesson about life.
Where God Has Brought Me…
From the cornfields in East Central Indian—an insecure,
isolated follower of Christ—to the busy south burbs of Chicago—a disciple of
Jesus, still a little insecure at times, but growing in confidence and assurance of God’s provision and plan and growing
in love for people.
Exposing a Ridiculous Over-exaggeration…
I’ve seen SEVERAL youth pastors come and go since God
plugged me into youth ministry, so I’ve learned that Paul’s message to the
Corinthians is important for students and leaders to understand. You follow Paul,
so-and-so follows Apollos, all the while GOD is the One building His kingdom.
On our way out at Brickhouse (the most awesome student ministry ever!!), my
wife and I were treated like saviors. Don’t get me wrong, we loved the recognition,
gratitude, and love that we received, but somewhere along the way, we were made
into these legendary beings that we’re really not. Brickhouse had a team of
about 30 leaders that have been working their tails off to love students for
years now, and if it’s like most youth ministries, they won’t get any recognition for it.
Brickhouse continues to do awesome things without my wife and I around. It’s
survived several changes in leadership, yet God keeps building His kingdom.
Forget Paul. Forget Appolos. Let’s recognize and thank the One Who’s REALLY
behind it all!
A Life-Lesson Extracted…
My two years in Chicago were great. I’m going to miss it. I
spent four semesters gaining knowledge and confidence through great instruction
at Moody Bible Institute. But the biggest lesson was learned on the job. I didn’t
take out any lawn gnomes or ogres at Brickhouse. In fact, I didn’t do much. You
know what I DID? I showed up. I was there. For two years I was
present. Honestly, that’s all I can come up with. My lesson learned is this:
effective ministry, no matter what age you’re with, is boiled down to LOVING
GOD, LOVING PEOPLE, and BEING PRESENT. My job is to be me, a person who loves
God, and then God does the rest. He provides the leader with the right words or
the right idea at just the right time (Honestly, most of the good ideas I
have ever come “out of nowhere” at just the right time). He places a group of unique
individuals with one-of-a-kind gift mixes together to do His work of loving
people. We leaders try to discover some super-complex formula of ministry that
will finally put us over the edge, but our search is in vain. We’re trying to
figure out how Paul or Appolos can build an entire kingdom. They can’t. Let’s
just choose to humbly serve God as He builds His kingdom through us. Then we’ll
be amazed at what God can accomplish through a bunch of peasants like us.
Thank you God for this season in my life!
0 comments:
Post a Comment