Regarding Grief. Regarding Mark.

My Mom's cousin passed away and his wife is grieving. It is especially hard during the Holidays. I thought I would remember Mark who passed away 12/2/02 - 8 years ago this week and remember Jerry and Rita with these words:

Oh, Rita, my heart goes out to you. You are probably doing just fine and perfectly normal under the circumstances.

I'm Dottie. I'm Radine's Daughter. I just wanted to tell you my story. In 2002, my first husband passed away at home in the bath tub. I found him and called 911. We had 2 daughters - they were 7 and 15 at the time. Mark was 43 when he died. I was 44. We lived on a short dead end road and my daughters were out trying to flag down the ambulance. They passed our house 5 times!

In the days that passed. I often felt like you feel now. Like life was going on and I felt like 1/2 of my brain had been replaced with Jello. I looked normal. In many ways, I continued to function, but I lost things. Then I would find them in the same place I thought they were, where I had looked 500 times the day before and I couldn't find them. I cried. I left my purse in the parking lot in a grocery cart at the grocery store. A stranger found it and contacted me. I was almost amazed that I could walk forward, I felt so disorientated.

I cried on Mark's grave. I cried in the car. I cried at the computer. I cried in Mark's garage. My daughters kept asking me what was wrong - Duh, your dad died.

The best thing I did for myself was join a grief share group. The web site is griefshare.org and they will send you a grief orientated devotional regarding grief for a year. You can put your zip in the site and find a group. It was good to sit and visit with people who shared their losses. Most of them were women who had lost their husbands. One was a sister who had lost her only other sibling, a brother. One was a single parent who had lost her only child, a 15 year son to suicide. We would talk, visit and learn about grief. Share our losses.

I want to encourage you to grieve all your losses. I want to let you know the pain is normal and it will pass. I want you to know that what you are going thru is awful and perfectly normal at the same time.

On the one year anniversary of Mark's death, I went to the men's group that Mark had been apart of. I did simple things. I lit a candle in Mark's memory. I read something I had written. I read the words to the song Mark had written for me for our wedding. The men responded in ways I could never imagine.

At Mark's memorial service, the pastor shared the story I told him. Mark had told me that he had a vision of heaven. He was in heaven and Jesus was showing him his new home. It was a blue (Mark's favorite color) country home on a acreage, there were dogs and kids playing in the year. It was perfect, he said.

When I'm at the men's group, one man said: I never pass a blue house that I don't think about Mark. I'm sure other people said other things. But that is what stuck with me.

I'm hoping that you will grieve Jerry. But that you will remember him. I'm hoping that you will go to the River Watchers and light a candle in Jerry's memory.

The other thing that touched me is that the Men's group met on Saturday morning at 8 am. I went to the Saturday evening service at 5 pm. When I came into the service, the candle I had lit that morning was still burning. No one wanted to blow it out.

Rita, I will pray for you as God brings you to my mind.

with love and sincere sympathy.

Dottie

Another Blessing: A great student leadership team!

One of God's other blessings at Pearland Junior High East: Their student leadership team!

This group of students is amazing. First of all, they handle all the announcements at the club like clockwork. The Connection Club does the food drive, Pennies for Patients and a tab drive for the Ronald McDonald House. Each student grabs the visual reminder for their announcement and just does it.

I remember last year, when, if you didn't prompt them, there were lots of big silent pauses. Now, they just breeze through them, no prompts necessary!

One girl has taken on the job of introducing the speaker. She goes up and says hello, ask him what church he is from and makes other small talk.

It's one thing to talk about the grace and ease they have with making announcements. That is a sign of growth, maturity and developing leadership skills.

There are 5 students on the leadership team: 2 boys, 3 girls or 2 7th graders and 3 8th graders.

But it is the other issues that I see them dealing with and their push to continue what they are doing is what I find really moving.

One issue: The 7th grade boy brings in his 8th Grade handbook and wants to know why the Connection Club is not listed in the list of clubs.

I watch this group take ownership. And offense. They talk about the problem. They look at me and the sponsor and you can tell, they would like us to fix this. We put it back on their shoulders. "Who will ask the principal?"

For several weeks, this comes up. What should be said? Who should say it? Who will go and ask? Suggestions. Discussion. Tentative plan. The next week: repeat.

But they are wrestling with this issue. One girl said she said something to the principal. The group realized they need to follow up and starts discussing who should say what.

And Last year, they couldn't make announcements!

The other thing I saw this morning was this desire to continue their club, their leadership.

This group will all go to Pearland High School. The 8th graders in Fall 2010, the 7th graders in fall 2011. So, they are so excited that there is a club at PHS. This morning, they are discussing how they can join the club at PHS. A 7th Grade girl says: I have this idea: How about we continue the Connection Club at the High School?

Much discussion. I let them know, I will be happy to help them at the High School - if that is what they want to do, but there is a club there - iPray, but they are all or mostly Seniors.

There is also discussion on See you at the Pole, See you at the Pole Training. One girl tells how she went to the Saw you at the Pole and it was so awesome. (and I was wondering if I needed to continue that . . . )

I hear a desire to continue this ongoing ministry. I hear them looking to the future: 8th Graders planning for High School Club and See you at the Pole. 7th Graders planning for next year's PJHE's Connection Club.

I am so moved at what God has developed in this leadership team.


There are several things I realize:
1) I'm seeing fruit. There are so many ministries where you never see Fruit and you move forward by faith. Just simply the belief that this will bear fruit and you just do it. Seeing Fruit is such a Blessing especially on this side of Heaven.

2) I need to keep doing this. I need to keep doing this. I need to keep doing this.
And more of this.

3) What about Berry Miller and Junior High West? What are those kids missing out on because they don't have a club and can't be on a leadership team?

4) I need to do a field trip where I get the 5 junior highers from East to the 6:45 am iPray at Pearland High school. This is a little like saying you would like to take some Junior Highers to the Moon! But my mind is going: Could I get permission from the High School? Could I take them to McDonald's for Breakfast - How much could it cost to take 5 Junior Highers to McDonald's - better start fundraising. Could they ride the high School Bus to the High School and I will take them to their school After wards? How many permission slips will this take?

And last year, they couldn't make the announcements . . . What could they be doing next year with just a little more coaching?

God bless the Connection Club at PJHE!

God has blessed the Connection Club at Pearland Junior High East with some amazing things. And some amazing obstacles.

First of all, this club has an amazing adult support team: Patti Kachel and Linda and Billy Shaw. These are Grandparents that show up each week and just help. Help pass out snacks, help set up the room and then help get it ready for the class after wards.

But it is the adult contact that they give the students that is such a blessing. Patti comments on Juan's glasses. CJ tells Linda his birthday is in 7 days. Billy cheers on the football players and pats them on the back. Linda's granddaughter grins from ear to ear and goes to hug Linda. Patti greets the speaker. The list could go on about the small acts of kindness and love this team brings to this club and the 60 to 80 students that attend.

Remember many of these kids won't get this kindness at school from their peers. And too many won't get this kind of encouragement and kind words at home either.

I will write a second blog about the student leadership team - which is wonderful, but first let me address an obstacle.

Because everything has to be "politically correct", when the on campus Christian Club writes their announcements. Let's stop here and praise God that they can make announcements.

But their announcements can't include the words: God, Jesus, Prayer, Christian, Bible, the name of any youth pastor/speaker.

"The Connections Club will be meeting on Wednesday morning in the Art room and a speaker will address good citizenship. Snacks will be served."

Gives you a new perspective on Snacks - it's the only thing that isn't in code!

There are still students who are trying to start a Christian Club. They are shocked to find out that Pearland Junior High East has one!

I found a new Club!!

I've decided that looking for on Campus Christian Clubs to support is like looking for underground Churches.

When I ask, the attitude seems to be "why do you need to know?" The School won't tell you anything - they are afraid of being sued. There is nothing on the school website regarding anything but the favored clubs: Future Problem Solvers, Cheerleaders, Drill Team, Various sports, National Honor Society.

But there is nothing on the school websites about Christian Clubs - except maybe FCA - Fellowship of Christian Athletes. This is Texas, so that great combination of God and Football works in this state!

About three weeks ago, someone gave me a lead on a Christian Club at Pearland High School. It is a prayer group - meets on Monday mornings at 6:45 am. This week I connect with them. I brought them Starbucks goodies and they were thrilled.

As I have met with various clubs and told them: I made connections with a club at Pearland High School! Everyone is so excited. I feel like Paul when he wrote letters to the various New Testament churches.

To the Club at Pearland High School: Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. The club at Pearland Junior High East sends it's blessings and their great thankfulness at your perseverance. PJHE Connection Club rejoices with you in your joys and trusts that you will pray for them to persevere as well.

In the fall, the eighth graders, who will be the incoming ninth graders plan to join with you, rejoicing that there is a another club to go to. Previously, they were afraid that they - as the freshman class - were going to have to provide leadership at Pearland High School, but yeah, verily, it isn't so! The senior class of 2014 is exceedingly glad!

Rejoicing!

Dottie

We wrestle not against Flesh and Blood . . .

These past couple weeks, I have been thinking about spiritual warfare. They have been some hard weeks - can you tell?

I lead some things in Pearland - The on Campus Christian Club Booster club, the Pearland Youth Ministry Alliance, See you at the Pole and Saw you at the Pole and Baccalaureate. They are all things, where people from various churches come together. I convince people to work together, in the community and out from the church walls.

I see it as simple. Necessary. Part of being the Body of Christ. An expression of Christ's Love. Just simply bringing Christians together from various churches to work together. Does that sound like a warfare strategy?

I don't always see it as an open attack on Satan's turf.

And then, stuff starts happening. In August 09, I coordinated a meeting between the on campus Christian Club sponsors and the local youth pastors. Just a way to help the sponsors meet the youth pastors and hopefully develop some connections for speakers for their clubs.

Does this sound like warfare?

3 of the 4 club sponsors had last minute conflicts and couldn't show up.

The day of the meeting, I personally walked out to a car with a flat tire.

As I walked out to the car, I was aware my home AC was not working right.

The host church got mad because the room wasn't reserved thru proper channels.

Does it sound like there was serious opposition to this meeting now?

Example number 2: Baccalaureate - another name for Spiritual warfare.

Since 1999, I have chaired the Baccalaureate Committee. Once again, convincing people from multiple churches to work together to provide a wonderful Baccalaureate Service for our graduates.

Does this sound like warfare?

Every year, there is some kind of opposition. It is unbelievable. The pastors argue. One church gets mad because I didn't audition their youth band. (I didn't know they had a youth band!) The school totally changes the rules 10 days before Baccalaureate. The school sends us a rental bill - 2 days after Baccalaureate, after they had agreed to let us use the space for free.

Last year, I was begging people to attend. I was begging people to bring cookies! It was like I was hosting the event no one cared about.

This year, unknown to me, there was a independent youth pastor group planning Baccalaureate . . . Some of them were meeting with the Baccalaureate Committee, but we didn't know about the additional meetings until we were at our second meeting.

There aren't words to describe how stressful this all was.

But there is a word that describes it: Warfare. Spiritual Warfare.

And the enemy doesn't fight fair.

Revial in Pearland

After I sent out an email announcing the next Pearland Youth Ministry Alliance meeting, Mike Rosas emailed me and said he couldn't wait.

I said I wanted more people like him, who couldn't wait for my meetings.

Here is his response:

Awe well you deserve it!

The day will come when everybody will. Your faithfulness will bring that day just like Simeon who was constantly praying for the Messiah and was able to see Jesus...your faithfulness and investments will bring a unity and revival to Pearland the likes of which have never been seen in these parts. Thanks for what you do!

It made my day! I'm still waiting for Revial in Pearland! woo hoo!

Thanks, Mike! mikerosas.org

A quote on Leadership

A leader is best when people barely know he exists,
Not so good when people obey and acclaim him.
Worse when they despise him.
Fail to honor people,
They fail to honor you.
But of a good leader, who talks little
When his work is done, his aim fullfilled,
The people will say, "We did this ourselves."

Lao - Tzu

What if we supported our Christian Clubs like we do the high school Football Team?

Yesterday's post started me thinking. A scary thing, I know!

I started thinking about Christian Clubs vs. Football games. I'm not really a sports fan - just asking me who is playing in the Super Bowl and when I start talking about the Souper Bowl of Caring and what a great event it is and how we should all help our local food pantries, you will get the picture. Bring your $ to church on Sunday and put it in the soup pot.

But I started thinking about high school foot ball games and how many people show up up to "support" the team and how the total number of people were far more than the team.

Just track with me for a minute: There are 11 players on a football team. And for those 11 players, a whole squad of Cheerleaders show up. And then there is the pep squad, the drill team and the marching band. At this point, we are up to about 250 people - at my rough estimate and we haven't even covered the supporting adults and teachers for all those students.

What about the concession stand people and all the food they prepare and have to buy?

What about the announcers and everyone in the booth? What about the community and the parents?

What if we supported our on campus Christian Clubs this way? Yesterday - I talked about 9 adults to support 60 students at a Christian club? What if the ratio was 10 adults and supporting students for every 1 student? What would that look like?

What if we saw the on campus Christian Club for what it is in the war between God and Satan?

What if we did everything we could to cheer those club leaders on? How would the clubs be different? How would our communities change?

How many Adults does it take to help support a student run an on Campus Christian Club?

This feels a little like "How many people does it take to change a light bulb?"

I have several other things to do today, but it struck me again today, just how many people it takes to help a club run well. Forgive me, but I was reminded when I saw a large trash can on wheels . . . .

Today at Pearland Junior High East, we had 60 students. And 7 adults were there at the connection club. Adults from all walks of life and all different churches. (And just in case you don't know, 1 to 10 is considered a safe student to adult ratio.)

Sue Himmel is the club sponsor and her co teacher sponsor. That's 2.

Patti Kachel picks up end of the day goods from Starbucks and came in, with her granddaughter and about 70 goodies from Starbucks.

Linda and Billy Shaw picked up about 35 sausage biscuits donated by Chick fi la, brought a tray and a knife and cut the sausage biscuits in half. Their grandchildren come to club.

George, the school maintenance man made sure we had an extra trash can. He attends a church in Pasadena.

Ms. Llope, the art teacher lets the club use her room.

I (Dottie) brought additional Starbucks and the sign in sheet and thank you cards. I picked up trash.

Jason Hess spoke - at the student leaders request and invitation.

The Joy Class from Fellowship Bible Church provided the juice boxes for today.

And Nora Dellinger, coordinated the pick up of Chick fi la.

That's Nine. Nine adults from at least 6 different churches. And that doesn't include the Sunday School class! We all did our part: Only Jason spoke, the rest of us, were behind the scenes, almost invisible support people. We were there, helping, in the background, making sure we honored the students efforts with our whole hearted support. Some of us were invisible - they weren't even there - George, Nora, the Joy Class, Ms. Llope.

So how many adults does it take to support an on Campus Christian Club? More than I ever knew!

And Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

Where the clubs are

Here is a simple chart about where the clubs are:

• Pearland Junior High East has the Connection Club. It meets on Wednesday at 8:05 am in The Art Room (Room 501).
  
  
• Dawson High School has FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes). They meet on Wednesday mornings at 6:45 am in Room 2106.
  
  
• Pearland Junior High South has FOCAS (Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Students) on Friday Mornings at 8:05 am in the Multi purpose Room.



• Pearland High School has FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes). They meet on various Mondays at 6:30 pm in South Campus Gym. Listen to the announcements.

• Pearland High School also has another club: iPray that meets on Monday mornings at 6:45 am in Mr. Smith's Room.
• DeZavala Middle School (in Pasadena ISD) has DeZavala Christians that meets on the 2nd & 4th Thursday Mornings at 7:30 am in Ms. Henriques' room

I've decided that finding the clubs is like looking for underground Churches, so I am posting them so others don't have to work so hard!

Leaders stand alone

My former pastor was fond of say that if you are leading and no one is following you, you are just taking a walk.

There is some truth to that, however, sometimes, you are leading - even if no one is behind you. Always, there is someone watching you.

Perhaps it is the difference between positional and servant leadership. Positional leaders are given the job or voted into office. And perhaps, they need to have followers.

There is nothing wrong with analyzing or re-analyzing, refining, re-defining, sharping and refocusing. However, if you are expecting people to instantly follow you, perhaps you need to rethink that.

People are creatures of habit and they really don't embrace change well. Most of us don't need another task or calling.

Servant leadership is different. No one votes you in, but after you have done it long enough, well enough, they may try to vote you out! You become the expert by doing the job that no one else wants. By trying the reach the people group that don't have money or power or position. Just hearts that Jesus loves.

And sometimes, the things God calls us to are things that are so low on the church totem pole: Do we really need to be concerned with "those" kids? (Locked up, troubled, trailer park, dropouts - fill in the blank ___________) Do we really need to empty the trash? Do really need to get up and be at the school at 6:30 am? Can't they come to my Wednesday night youth service? There were only six teachers at the Christian Teacher Lunch. See they don't need a lunch.

I've been in ministry since 1981 and my experience is that, sometimes, you just do what you are suppose to. What God has called you to do - over and over again. Whether anyone follows or not. You just do it - because it is the right thing to do. Because it needs done. Because someone needs it. Because it helps. Because it reaches. Because God said to.

You do it until you are use to doing it alone and lonely. You celebrate what God is doing. Alone. You tell your stories to people who never saw it that way before. You wonder how they could have seen it any other way.

One day, someone is behind you and you assume they must be lost. "Can I help you?" And nope, they are dying to empty the trash with you. Wow. Novel, you think. A fellow servant.

And what is really novel is when they come back. To do it again. You love them. They share your heart and passion for trash. They are your kindred spirit. You share a bond - the kind that only comes from serving beside one another.

And they introduce you to their friends: This is Dottie, she empties the trash better then anyone I know. Yes, she taught me everything I know about emptying the trash.

Then, they invite you to their Sunday Class, where you do a devotional on "Trash - Reaching the ones that really matter."

And then they want you to teach a class. "Trash - getting the ones others throw away."

And then, there is a movement: "Trash - who knew it was a treasure."

And then you are an expert. Who knew? Who ever saw this coming?

It doesn't matter. I have to empty the trash.

I'm the Wrong person for the Job!

I'm the wrong person for the job. I can't even tell you how often I've told God this.

Here's the deal. I'm 50 ish, white, a woman and not a minister. I've never "out grown" working with students. But here is where I am all wrong. I work with really cool youth ministers. They are young. They are cool - so totally cool. They text each other in another language I can't even read. I still need vowels.

They shave their heads. They are really good speakers. And God called me to "connect them." I cried and begged and pleaded and told him I would follow Him, but this would take me 3 times as long, because I am all wrong for the job. First of all, I'm the wrong gender. For the most part, they are all male. I'm not.

Second of all, I'm the wrong age group. They are all 20 - 30 ish. I'm almost old enough to be their mother . . .

But we all love students. And we all love God. Those are the big things, right?

Yesterday (Acutally 1/14/10, but this has taken awhile to process!), I held a meeting. It was an amazing time. I'm still trying to wrap my head around it all. It was a stressful meeting. I was on the hot seat for much of it - answering for past actions that were misunderstood. Years ago, I realized without love, without relationships, there was no love to cover misunderstandings or miscommunications. So, I answered to the best of my ability, hoping that who I am and Who I serve would shine through. I just tried to relax and let God talk thru me. I prayed and then answered. And those guys needed those answers to clear up all the misunderstandings and miscommunications, that I didn't even know were there.

My misunderstanding: I thought they were so absorbed in their own churches, they didn't care about connecting with each other or serving the community. I was wrong.

I had tried to build relationships, but really who wants to hang out with their mom?

I remember what it was like to rebuild the Youth Ministry Alliance in 1997 or 1998. We were moving from a night time, part time youth pastor meeting to a day time full time youth pastors meeting. I had a wonderful youth pastor commit to being there with me. Thank God for Doug Brown! For several years, it would be me and Doug Brown and one other youth pastor - who would rotate. The classic meeting was 3 people, it's just that the third person rotated. Sometimes, it would just be me and Doug Brown.

It was a painful several years, but finally, it took off. Frankly, we did a skate night and the next meeting there were 8 or 10 youth pastors there. I was totally shocked.

My expectations for the Youth Ministry Alliance were about the same this time. I expected to move alone for a while, gradually, slowly, more would see the goal of unity and working together and over time, we would become a team.

This wonderful youth minister - Bryan - who I met with 2 years ago - decided to call these other youth pastor guys and ask them to come to the meeting. He told them "I need you to be there." People who told me no, told him yes. I'm use to showing up and being thankful for 3! There must have been 10 people there!

The out come of all this is: I am going to have 2 wonderful youth pastors join my Baccalaureate Committee. I'm going to move my struggling Pearland Youth Ministry Alliance meeting to Wednesday Lunch time and they are all going to come. And, get this - I don't have to recruit a presenter - they just want to "fellowship".

I'm the wrong person for this job, but God has called me. I'm sure to show His power, because anyone who looks at this will say: How did you do this?

Because God is God. Because God is good. Because Bryan made phone calls. Because I didn't give up! Pearland - in one lunch - now has a thriving youth ministry network!

Clueless about the Christmas Story

I had a really special experience this past December. There is a brand new Christian Club at DaZavala Middle school in Pasadena.

I sat down with the Teacher sponsors - Angie Sagner and Connie Henriques in late October or early November and helped them plan out the year. We talked about what they were going to need to do and how to get parental permission, parental support and local church support. I love doing this! It is visionary, but it also breaks things down into simple, manageable pieces.

Sometimes, the idea of running a Christian Club can be overwhelming to teachers who already have a full time job that can be very demanding and unending.

The organization that I work for - Cross in the City - is about 6 blocks from this school and they eagerly agreed to be this club's "back up snack support" - in other words, if a parent or a church doesn't agree to donate snacks for that week's meeting, Cross in the City will.

So, now you have all the back ground, let me get the real point of all this. The first meeting was organizational. I came on 12/10 with my nativity set to tell the Christmas story. This is the United States - everyone knows this story, right?

Oh, one more thing. Their first meeting was 4 students. This one was 8! They had doubled!

I unwrapped the figures and put them out. The students were all eyes, but very quiet. I asked if they knew why we started with a barn. All eyes, but no answers. I explained that this nativity set and others like it were to tell the story of Jesus' Birth. If they were tell the story of my birth, they would start with a hospital. But Jesus, was born in barn - so they start with a barn.

They knew who Mary was and they identified Baby Jesus, but they didn't seem to know who Joseph was or the shepherd or the wisemen.

So I told them how the shepherd were watching their sheep to make sure they didn't get eaten by wolves or bears and how an Angel appeared and then their was a whole bunch of Angel - a host with means Army. How many Angels in an Army? I asked.

The I talked about the Wisemen. I let them know that the wisemen and the shepherds were not there at the same time. I let them know that there were 3 gifts, but we don't know how many wisemen.

I reminded them that this was just a picture of events surrounding Jesus' birth.

One girl - so precious and cute - on my right in a pink jacket - answered all my questions when I reviewed the story with them, by holding up each piece of the set and asking the group - who is this?

But she answered the questions all using my words and thoughts. No regurgitated church or sunday school information, leaving me with the impression that this time, she had listened well, but this was the first time she had heard the story. This entire group of 8 was simply Clueless about the Christmas Story.

What a privilege to tell this story! What a blessing! What a great reminder that not everyone has heard this story!

The Blue Donut

(This is from an old newsletter, but it is still a goodie.)
I started trying to provide and/or deliver snacks for any on campus Christian Clubs in our area. Basically, this meant I had a huge plastic tub – bigger than my laundry basket big. Maybe 20 to 40 gallon tub. I take said huge tub to local donut shop at the sacred closing time that they tell me when I call and say I want to come get donuts.

They fill tub with donuts. Lots and Lots of Donuts. I take them home and then I follow the sacred bagging procedure. I put a scripture in the sandwich size zip lock bag and then I put a donut in and zip it closed with my sticky fingers.

Being a long time youth worker and lover of student ministry, this turns in to a prayer time. I pray for the student that will get this éclair. I pray for the student that will get this glazed donut. I pray for the student who will get this lemon filled donut. I realize that the students that will get the above donuts will be delighted.

I hit a wall when I pray for the student who will get these bright blue and fuchsia frosted donuts. Who would want these, I think. I should just throw them out for the dog and the birds! Bright Blue and fuchsia frosted donuts are for small children. No high school or junior high school student would be happy to receive a blue frosted donut.

I pray and bag the donuts anyways.

Wednesday morning, bright and early, I parade thru the halls carrying my pan of bagged and scriptured donuts. I check everywhere. There is no club. I get directions to the teacher’s room and a boy passes me and says “ you looking for FCA?” Yes. They meet in the gym. Not this morning. They aren’t there. He follows me. He offers to carry tray of donuts.

We now have a parade. Between 12 and 20 students are following boy and me. We get to the teacher’s classroom: the door is locked and it is dark. I say, “Welcome to FCA in the hall.” “Who is going to lead? Who has an encouraging word?” Leader boy says something about making good decisions. A girl says something. I say my encouraging word is hope. I don’t say it all, but my hope is that students everywhere will have a chance to hear about Jesus and make an informed decision about Jesus. I Hope . . . that is why I am here with this pan of donuts in the hall.

Closing prayer? I ask. Someone prays. Then she yells: A blue frosted donut! My favorite! She runs for my tray and grabs the treasured donut – Like someone else might want it! She is so happy with her two day old blue frosted donut. She dances around with it.

Oh, this is who I prayed for. No more will I look at those blue frosted donuts and want to feed them to the dog. Someone treasures those blue frosted donuts. Once again, God surprises me with what He will use to delight a student.

Would you like the privilege of bagging or delivering Blue frosted Donuts (or other wonderful goodies!) to an on Pearland Area Campus Christian Club? Contact Dottie Hinesley at dottiecoop@aol.com

We need you!

I'm a Pioneer!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9VP32wdneU

I'm a Pioneer!

My dear friend, mentor and former boss, John Butler, sent me this song for my birthday. It's an old Honeytree song - Beautiful and I have thought about it over and over again over the past 3 days.

Here is what I do: I support on Campus Christian Club of any kind - Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Genetic Christian Clubs, prayer groups, praise groups - in whatever way they need. Snacks, materials, speakers, student leadership training and I try to connect them with the local church. And connect the local church to the clubs.

The question I asked myself was: If Pearland was a community that totally supported their students in their Christian Club and leadership endeavors, what would it look like? I thought - they would never lack for snacks or materials or speakers. What does it look like when we support the football team?

I don't know anyone else who does this.
* I know people who train student leaders and there are wonderful programs for that.
* I know people who have club models and try to reproduce them.
But I don't know anyone that says any on Campus Christian Club in this area - I'll support it.

I'm a pioneer! I'm going where no one has gone before. I'm reaching new areas and pioneering new methods of doing things.

Not only that, but I provide leadership for Baccalaureate in this Community. I don't know anyone that does that. If I can find a local Baccalaureate service to visit (Most of them are on the same day as ours!) - I visit and see what is happening. I ask questions. I try to find who is in charge.

Much like early pioneers, I make do. I invent new ways. I face challenges. I use what I got. I research and invent. I rewrite. Whatever it takes.

I'm a pioneer! Now when someone asks - I can tell them. I'm going where no one has gone before. I'm doing what no one has done before. Those who come after me will do it better than I ever will, but I have blazed a trail for them. No one will applaud me but my Heavenly Father, but it is His applause that I seek.

I like this so much better than my old answer:
Mmmmm, I just make it up as I go along. I don't know anyone who has done this before!

pling, pling

dch

Happy Birthday, Dottie

Today is my birthday. It is also the first day of my new blog.

I've decided I needed to blog. Based on several things - really. A need to express. A need to practice writing. And . . .

The recent death of David Gentiles. I didn't know him, but my first years in Pearland, people asked me: Did you know David Gentiles? What you are trying to do reminds me of him. It was comments that I simply shrugged off and I would simply think - Boy, this David Gentiles must have been really cool . . . wish he was still in Pearland.

Then I read Blue like Jazz by Donald Miller. He dedicates the book to David Gentiles. Donald Miller grew up in Pearland, TX.

Then I read 90 minutes in Heaven by Don Piper. He too refers to David Gentiles.

Now, I am really curious about this David Gentiles - my "kindred spirit". "Like minded" unknown friend.

Mostly, I thought about how cool it was that God apparently birthed something in Pearland thru David - that He choose to continue thru me. Me - who knows only God - not David Gentiles. David leaves Pearland and God continues this vision - thru Dottie. Does that not say something about God? How large and in charge He is? How nothing is lost with Him? How nothing is wasted?

David Gentiles lived in Austin. My parents lived in Austin, then Georgetown. I always thought some day, I would visit his church and say hi. I don't know what else I thought I would say.

When I had problems in Pearland, I wanted to call him and ask for advice!

David Gentiles joined Jesus in Heaven on 12/18/2009. I'll have to wait until I get there to meet him. So, I read his blog. He was a great father and a great example of love. I'm hoping to be all that. He blogged about his daughters and (lots about sports - which is losted on me) and other things. His blogs about his daughters is what stands out. He writes great things about them and their callings in life and how they were growing into great adults.

But, his daughter - Ariele is a writer and seems to always be encouraging her father to write. Her encourgement to her father, stuck on me. So, I will write. To practice. To express what is in me. To ask questions and believe me, I have lots of questions.

For this time, I will close like David Gentiles.

pling, pling.

dch