Karate and Basketball

As I took my four teen karate partners home, I was trying to make conversation with a guy who just started. It was his second time, and I am just not sure if he is interested. He loves basketball and is very talented in that sport. So...I ask a question that I think will motivate him in this new endeavor.

Me: "So do you think there is anything in karate that could help with playing basketball?"

Teen: "Naw. In karate, you learn how to kick and punch and stuff like that. You don't do that in basketball."

Great answer. Let's hope not.

Psalm 14

The Psalmist speaks to those who say "God is gone" about how their lack of faith leads to a lack of justice and relationship. Here it is in the Message translation:

v.4--Don't they know anything, all these imposters?
Don't they know they can't get away with this--
Treating people like a fast-food meal
over which they're too busy to pray?

v.5-6 Night is coming for them, and nightmares,
for God takes the side of victims.
Do you think you can mess with the dreams of the poor?
You can't, for God
makes their dreams come true.

v.7 Is there anyone around to save Israel?
Yes. God is around; GOD turns life around.

Here's to a day of living like God is around.

A Day in the Life of...

It's been an interesting day. At Starbucks this morning, I was given free coffee beans (Ethiopia Sidamo) from an employee. She said that the beans were good, just not fresh for selling standards. This lady has 15 children. Four of her boys play college football, and she started law school today.

I got to have Bible study in an apartment with five older teens this afternoon. One of the teens, 18, leases the apartment and has two kids. People flow in and out of the apartment through the week to spend the night. We talked about being the salt of the earth. A couple of them have been coming lately to Contact because we offer rides to church. Their former church couldn't bring them any longer.

I picked up three boys to go to karate practice. We rotate on who picks what fast food place in which to eat. Tonight was Burger King. After the three guys ordered, the lady at the register asked if I was their parole officer. Classic. I told the guys about it at the table, and they just laughed.

After getting them home, I came home to my beautiful wife and little girl at about 8:40. Two teen girls helped Sarah bake cinammon rolls for the bake sales to raise money for the teen girls' trip to Houston. One of them was still there getting to talk to Sarah and watching Miriam play "52-card-pick-up.

And, my little girl knows who she is going to marry when she gets older. Jesus. What a day! One of the blessings of life and ministry is the interesting people that we get to meet. Thank you, God, for being with us.