Topic: Remain
Just got recovered from a really crazy and hard last week. It included a trip to Indiana, for a Young Life Staff retreat, a big clash with family, a work group from Louisville (they helped us with everything from installing an exhaust fan in the gym, to curtains in the fitness center), CAP volunteers building a handicap ramp, and we had a line dancing club come and do a line dancing night and dinner with the community (that was real fun, even if they didn't do the chicken dance).
What sticks out in my mind from the week is the lesson I felt God was trying to have me hear when we were in Indiana. We were asked what stood out to us from John 15. That's the one where Jesus says he is the vine, remain in me, love as he has loved, and so on. What hit me was that the word "REMAIN" appears like 15x. It gave all these things that will happen if you remain in him or don't remain in him. The best result I remember is that "our joy will be complete".
I likened the word "remain" to "rest" or "stay". Now that is something I have a hard time with--staying in one place and "remaining in him". And I live in the slower paced land of KY, not like NJ or FL of old.
I don't know how you do with the whole "remain/stay" thing, but I could learn to do it some more, and I wouldn't mind the fuller joy part either.
Trying to Remain,
Dan
I was thinking about what my highlight of the year 2004 was with the working at the Center. I'd have to say it was the weekly Mountain Bike Club. Besides Trips For Kids donating 5 Trek bikes (and I love to mountain bike), the interaction and involvement of the youth was the exciting part. We had about 15 kids go for rides with us at one time or another. The part that really amazed me was how the kids responded to the "T-shirt" incentive I put in front of them. The incentive was that if they rode for 10 rides that were over 5 miles each, they then would earn a Trips For Kids T-shirt. The 3 guys that actually reached the goal were so excited. They put the shirts on immediately and one even ran to his mom to show her (and this is a 19 year old). Even though the weather turned cold, you would see them proudly wearing their shirts. This really amazed me, especially since 2 of these students regularly get in trouble and fights. This proves to us that it is so worth it to not just give things away, or offer fun things to do, or give good messages of truth, but to offer challenging incentives that will give the students something to be proud of.
Pray that in this new year we can find the balance of giving challenges that motivate, cause growth, and don't push away.
Have a great New Year! Life is Good. Live it to the full.
Peace to you,
Dan Chauncy
Director of Maytown Center
