Light and Darkness

Wow, what an incredible day. Today we took a "Turf Walk" in downtown Denver to see and experience where the street kids sleep and hang out. We walked down a long stretch of a creek where they sleep in tiny spaces and hang out in tunnels. We also saw remnants of drug use and other paraphenalia. We walked through a long tunnel, straddling water along the way (now that was an experience!!) into pure darkness. While in there, our leader, Robbie talked about how this is what it is like for these kids-it is just pure darkness, and this is where satan gets to them and tells them lies. He also talked about how so often we think the solution for these kids is to get them off drugs, or off of the streets, or get them into a home-but that is not it! They need JESUS!! That is the root of their problem. If we can show them Him and how much He loves them, then things will change. This does not necessarily mean that they will automatically stop smoking and swearing, get a job, a house, a spouse, and a nice backyard-as we imagine it in middle class suburban life...but at least then they will have hope and know that there is someone REAL that loves them and wants to be in a relationship with them, and most importantly-does not want to hurt him. They have been abused and used all of their lives, and they do not want fakeness. They want something that is REAL-and that is what God has called us to be. That is our purpose here this week-to just be real to them-to show them that we have a light in our lives that can only come from God.

As we walked back out of the tunnel, you could see light all of the way out. Where there was nothing but darkness as we were walking in, and darkness behind us as we were walking out-there was pure light ahead-light we could not see at all as we were walking into the tunnel. It was absolutely amazing-this is what it IS really like to walk in pure darkness...to think this is what life is about...that there is no way out. That is what they walk in every day of their lives.

Ministry is not about beating someone over the head with a Bible, yelling at them to change or else, or about if we are going to use an instrument in our building or not-it is about being REAL, being JESUS, and truly being the LIGHT of the world to those around us. We build those relationships, we build that trust-and people see that in us if we are truly real with them. I pray that I can be that to them...

While I was in the first tunnel, Wayne called me to let me know that Cody had taken a turn for the worst, and they were afraid his body was shutting down. So, after we emerged from the tunnel, we gathered around and prayed for Cody and his family, as he laid in the hospital just a few streets away. They performed an MRI to determine his brain activity, but it came back the same as it has been before. He had just not been moving as much, and they were afraid there was not any brain activity at all. Thankfully, that is not the case, but there is still a long way to go!! He needs a miracle, but we know that God can provide this for him. We are planning on going and seeing him tomorrow-PLEASE continue to pray for this family!! I have added a link to their blog onto mine so you can stay informed of his condition.

"This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin". ~1 John 1:5-7