Against the odds...

I woke up this morning, finished my mid-term (for one of my classes at Covington Theological Seminary), and then ran out the door. Classes were good as always. Terry Trivette spoke in chapel and did an awesome job preaching out of 1st Chronicles on worship.

Then I headed down the road to LMS and talked with my kidzes during their lunches. I saw all of my usuals that I eat with every week, but I also got invited into a new section of the cafeteria today. One of my girls were eating at a table with some of her gothic friends so I figured I'd attempt to strike up a conversation. I was immediately asked if I was a preacherman. I said yes and with a strange expression and a finger pointed upward they replied, "like, for God?" There were at least 3 claiming atheists, a couple wiccans, and one agnostic at the table. I had some interesting conversation with them and asked if we could pick up another time. I told them the God I served was an awesome, loving God who had changed my life for the better and that they should take a serious look at who the Bible says He is.

3:00-5:00 Tutoring at Hickory Grove went well, thanks Jolee and J C . We had about 12 kids today. They were all fired up about spring break.

5:00-7:30 I picked up kids from Hickory Grove, Oglethorpe Ridge and Arbor Mill, and went to Sherwood Forest for the Bible Study. We had 30+ kids and a great time was had by all. They were a little wilder than usual, but I believe the lesson really got through. It was on The Righteous Judge. My favorite part is when Jesus says the most beautiful words in the Bible, "neither do I condemn thee, go and sin no more".

The teens were a lot of help with the popcorn, snow-cones, and setting up.

One little story before I sign off. When I pulled into Arbor Mill at around 5:00 , Josh (11 yrs. old) was leaning against a telephone pole with tears rolling down his face. I asked what was wrong and he said he had to stand up against the pole until 8:30. He told me he didn't clean up the back yard and the neighbor who was watching him gave him this punishment. He had already been standing there around 20 minutes. While we were talking his mom came home and when he told her what had happened she jumped in the neighbor's face (who was already drunk and holding a 40 oz. Beer in his hand). They went in their trailer and the kids came running out saying they were fighting and throwing stuff.
As we left, Josh started screaming and pushing with Jonathan, and as I was trying to get them settled down it occurred to me that they were simply acting like their parents!!! I don't blame the kids... it's not their fault! I'm just trying to show them a different way to live and praying that they see something different in our lives that points them to Jesus.

I had to separate a 13 yr. old girl and a 16 yr. old boy and tell them to keep their hands to themselves. I had a parent pull her 3 kids out of the middle of the Bible Study. I had to correct little kids for taking God's name in vain, singing inappropriate songs, and using bad language. I had old women griping because the kids were in the streets and yards (which is where they were when we got there)... and on and on and on...

Oh yea, but I also had the opportunity to share Jesus with so many precious little children. He is the only thing that will make their lives any different than the lives of the people surrounding them.

for HIS glory,

Nathan Cravatt