This is Justin:

Justin is in his first year at TCC. He grew up in Colcord, OK & was very involved in the community mentoring program at New Life Ranch. Justin’s favorite movie is The Blind Side because, “it shows that no matter how hopeless you think a situation is, there is still hope to be found.” If Jesus was here, in the flesh, for 24 hours Justin says He would, “…go into some of the churches & turn over some tables…It’s about helping people become Christians and to improve relationships with God & one another. It’s not about condemning people for everything they have ever done wrong.”

This is Grant:

Grant grew up in Tulsa & his favorite movie is Tommy Boy, because, “it can always cheer me up, no matter what mood I’m in.” One of his role models had a big impact on him because, “he showed me that you didn’t have to be a dork to be a Christian, & she showed me how to be comfortable with myself & talking to others.” He’s enjoyed mission trips he took with his youth group because they helped him, “see what God has given me & other people to help share His word.”

This is Conner:

Conner is in his second year at TCC. He is an Eagle Scout & has been involved at Garnett Church of Christ. He wants to be part of GPS Tulsa because he is “genuinely interested in hlping the homeless, poor, and disadvantaged population of Tulsa.”  He’s been involved in serving others, but not on a weekly basis. “I want to make a bigger impact on the needy in the city of Tulsa.” Two things he says he brings are “hard work & a sense of humor.”

This is Imran:

Imran is in his first year at TCC. He’s also taking classes at Tulsa Tech.  He is a Harry Potter fan & he wants to be in GPS Tulsa because, “I want to help people out while earning college community service hours.”

This is Lindsay:

Lindsay is from Tulsa & is in her Senior year of homeschool. “I feel like God has made me the way I am on purpose so I shouldn’t be afraid to live the way God made me.” Her favorite book is Praise Habit by David Crowder because, “…it explained the importance of praise, and what it truly means to praise God.”

1st United Methodist provided a great setting for us to consider some big ideas.

That being said- here are 10 observations (peppered with a few opinions) about our initial gathering:

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. • Grant, Conner, Imran, Lyndsay, and Justin are beautiful people.  Knowing our students so much better now after sharing a road trip around downtown, and a meal together, just seals in stone the idea that they are unique and have a big time contribution to make to this world.  We like them.
                  • The team of Beth, Paula, Nathan and Mitch really provided fat support, and it was fun for all of us to come around these young adults with some love and food.

• • • • • • • We sat in front of the courthouse and talked about the question “what do you trust?”  A nice, possibly homeless dude named Nathan joined in our conversation.  His perspective on trust was helpful for us, and he liked having some folks to talk with.   The experience informed a discussion about trust, and value.
            • Sometimes it is harder to heat up lasagna than to cook something up fresh.  It helps if you read directions, especially if you are an aerospace engineer.
  • • • • • • Conner and Grant just met, but actually went to elementary school together and knew each other as kids.
• I am blessed to have great people around me.
• Our spot on Quaker Ave is just right for this (although a fridge would be helpful.)  It feels cool, the location is right, and students are comfortable there.
• This format of training, service, teaching and counseling is valuable.  The students are worthy of investment- and they will be investing in children in Tulsa all year long.  Cool.
• We visited two beautiful places in Tulsa:  1st Methodist Downtown, and Global Gardens on W 21st st.  They provided a great context to deal with issues of love, service, and responsibility.
• This is fun, but there is much work to do in creating stability for this experience- including getting all the students fully funded and expanding the community of people who invest in young adults discovering their unique role in God’s big story.

Remember you can contribute in all kinds of ways- we just are trying to provide one way to do that.  I am blessed to be a part of this.  We can still take students before Sept. 1.  Shout at me if you are interested at sendtochrisking@gmail.com.

More coming!

The other thing that is interesting about bridges is that in order for them to fulfill their purpose, people need to take responsibility to move across them.  The bridge doesn’t take people, or cars, or whatever, and move them from one side to the other.  It provides a way for the person to engage, to move forward under their own power, to get to the other side.  The bridge makes it possible- and yet the “bridge crosser” is responsible.  This is a beautiful thing in that a given in this equation is the ability and strength of the bridge crosser to make it over.  It’s the bridge builder’s responsibility to create a way across.

Bridges require people to give input at various levels in order to be constructed, right?  I can be the project manager, builder, purchaser, quality control officer, and HR dude when I make a bridge across a ditch in my back yard.  And a fine bridge it will be!

However- the bigger the bridge that I am involved in building- the less I am involved in the entire operation.  I am best operating in a specific role and trusting others to fulfill their own specific role.  Some valleys, or rivers, or spans require big time vision- and big time operation.  Might this be your bridge?

Or maybe this is the one that looks more like you:

What I know now is this:  getting in on doing ministry is a beautiful thing.  It is worth being thankful for.  And, there can come times where your purpose is  to build new bridges.

CQ Missional, and our educational projects the CML and GPS Tulsa are bridges.  They are designed to help people who are in a specific stage of life, with specific needs- move from where they are, to where God wants them to be.  Students in Tulsa looking for life direction, for a vocation, for some purpose, for some people to share this search with- get the opportunity to walk across the bridge of GPS Tulsa together.  We get the privilege of creating the context for this discovery.  By the way- this will be a blast to get going!  People who are young adults but a little farther along, perhaps they have graduated college, or have been working a job for a few years, get the opportunity to walk across the bridge of the CML together- serving a community, creating new life in neighborhoods, and taking a chance on their own vocation shift.

Right now we are putting together what looks like a foot bridge, the kind you can wear sandals while walking across, or even go barefoot in the process!  However- the span between where 1000s of 20 somethings are, and where they could be is huge.  I pray for wisdom and community to join in building the right bridge to help you adults figure out their purpose in life.  This is a Golden Gate type of need.

Whats next in the bridge?  Raise more scholarship money, raise awareness of how we can serve young adults, make more friends and offer real support to help our clients make courageous decisions.  In other words, keep moving forward.

I am thankful today to be a bridge builder.  What does your bridge look like today?  Are you walking across one?  Are you in the middle of building one?  What does Ministry look like to you?

ck

One voice says, “Make sure people are ok with you.  Be pleasing, impressive, and set yourself up to be loved and respected.”  Listening to this voice can set a person up to be a “hyphenated” person.  I’m a teacher-counselor.  I am a pastor-outdoor leader. I’m a worship leader musician- leader of a non profit. I’m a Christian-person of the world.  I am not of this world- very much a part of this world.

If you don’t like a part of me that is a big part of me, I usually have another part of me that should be ok with you.  This position in life can curtail the deepest fears that I may not be acceptable, lovable, worthy of relationship.

There is another voice I hear, and I hear it at times when I know it will be loud and clear.  These times include times where I listen, times where I engage the Bible, times in the wilderness, times when I observe the beauty of those I love, times when prayer isn’t asking for things- but is more about listening and loving.  Here’s what the voice says- “Whatever you do, stay close to the heart of God.”  This voice that calls me the son of God, the child of the loving Christ, the target of the Spirit’s support…. it resonates and informs the things I do, whether “hyphenated” or not.

I can work at our new canopy tour in the Buffalo River Valley in the context of staying close.  I can listen and counsel all the while I am staying close.  I am a father, a husband, a musician- who makes his choices staying close to the heart of God.

Friends- as we work together in exciting new projects like GPS Tulsa, ask me what voice I am listening to.  What about you?  Is there a voice that resonates with you as an image bearer of God?  Does this voice affirm your ability to create, to contribute? Or, is there a voice that keeps you on edge to “conform to the pattern of this world” by goading you to continually please, impress, or position yourself for success.  What do you do about that?

He sings: “And the wrens have returned and they’re nesting
In the hollow of that oak where his heart once had been
And he lifts up his arms in a blessing for being born again
And the streams are all swollen with winter
Winter unfrozen and free to run away now
And I’m amazed when I remember
Who it was that built this house
And with the rocks I cry out

Be praised for all Your tenderness by these works of Your hands
Suns that rise and rains that fall to bless and bring to life Your land
Look down upon this winter wheat and be glad that You have made
Blue for the sky and the color green, the fills these fields with praise.”

Rich was created to create, and God’s creation always reflects its creator.

What were you created to create today- or maybe, this year?  May we help each other live in this knowledge and encourage the courage required to be a creator, and not just a consumer.

ck

I’m an assistant. I like to make sure the coffee stays flowing & color-coding spreadsheets & filing & organizing. It’s hard to explain to others why those things are fulfilling for me. And sometimes it’s hard to explain to myself that just because I don’t always thoroughly enjoy talking with people (*gasp*) doesn’t mean I’m a bad person.

And it doesn’t mean I should completely shy away from the things that are hard (or at least the things that don’t come naturally). Those things are important to my growth as a person. But I think there’s a freedom that comes with allowing yourself to do what truly makes you happy, regardless of the way that might look to the world.

I don’t personally know John Acuff. But I often find myself passing along things I find on his site. Some of it’s funny. Some of it’s challenging. This one was interesting-and goes along with our work of helping people live into the gifts they have been created with.

http://stuffchristianslike.net/2008/06/271-being-afraid-to-use-our-gifts/

If you’re like me, you probably have some aspirations unrealized. It’s not that I’ve fallen short of who I thought I was going to be. It’s more like the plans just kind of changed somewhere along the way. I’ve adapted to life. In many ways, I’m much more than I thought I would ever be. I am a faithful and devoted father and husband, something that has brought me more joy than I could ever imagine. In so many ways, I have been blessed beyond belief with the things that matter most in life. Some changes or adaptations have been better than I imagined…others, less. With the many realized, beautiful blessings in my life, I have also fallen short. I’m not a successful writer. I’m not a noted musician. I’m not a professional baseball player and I can’t jump buildings in a single bound.

As I reflect on my path, and how I’ve come to the place I find myself today, I wonder how much I’ve actually been proactive in my life versus how much I’ve simply reacted to the life that’s going on around me. I’d like to say that I’ve planned out every step of the way and it’s turned out exactly like my plan. Success! But that’s just not true. Life has happened to me. Bad things have happened despite my best efforts to avoid them. Good things have also happened to me, despite my efforts to sabotage myself. I think this is how God works. We have a plan and He has a plan. Sometimes they mesh and sometimes they don’t. Sometimes we listen to Him and sometimes we don’t. Sometimes God takes me places I’ve never dreamed of, sometimes I run the other way, and sometimes I just find myself reacting to the circumstances unfolding around me without actually being proactive either way.

In turn, like the life lived on auto-pilot, I wonder also how much our faith is acted on and how much is reactive. Do you practice your faith? To practice something implies action. To work at something, hone it and sharpen it. Are you active in your life? Do you have a plan? Are your dreams and aspirations God-inspired? Does your life reflect the glory of God? 2 Peter 3-11 gives some good advice for aligning your faith with your actions, for being intentional about living the life that God created you to live.

What do you practice? Guitar? Writing? Parenthood? Do you practice being a good spouse? A good listener? Do you practice your faith? Do you practice living life or do you find yourself reacting to your environment more than creating it? Too many questions? What’s your reaction?

I’m spending with week with about 85 young adults on staff of a summer camp and we’re asking this question.  What do you think?