Meet Team Awesome: The Best Community Group EVER! (Podcast Attached)

First of all, I just want to say that I do not know the MC. He is a little crazy just listening back on his previous statements. Like, I feel sorry for his mother. You really need to listen to this because this is hilarious! The podcast introduces the team members of our group listed here in the chronological order of this list. We all served in community outreach in one facet or another. These are the members of Team Awesome, and I have included under each name what I think is so awesome about each and every one of them.

Barclay Smith

I think it is safe to say that Barclay is a man after God’s own heart. His smile and joyful presence are intentional in every way possible to extend the Kingdom of God. Even when dehydrated by the sun (literally with an ice packet on his face lying in a garage), he still presses on to spread the Word of God without complaining or restraint. I really do admire him for what he stands for. I have posted a letter that he wrote just below this blog entry. Check it out.

Amanda Clair Rives

This girl has got some moves; she is a talented dancer on the Auburn Rhythm Hip Hop dance group. Occasionally I would see her dance to music in the background environment of a sunny day. One obvious observation that I noticed is that Amanda is very honest with her words in witnessing to other people about Christ. Like Barclay, she is very intentional; her intentions are often to express the boundless love, kindness, and giving in God’s character. She has a unique talent for touching the lives of children specifically.

Amy Harris

Born and raised in the sweet town of Vestavia Hills, Alabama, Amy seems curious to better know those around her…now that may be through people she works with or people she works to touch in spiritual outreach (i.e. on this trip, the people of Port St. Joe’s). She suspends and restrains judgment towards people. In Amy’s eyes, the Lord loves everyone, and every person is treated as if the playing field is level. Her personality is genuine and so are her attempts at touching people’s lives.

Charles Gentry

Mentioned in the podcast as a quarterback, I think this position in football accurately depicts Charles’ personality in the metaphorical sense. He is a natural leader who is good at rounding people up to go out into the field. Charles has a unique talent at observing the talents of individuals, and he likes to bring those strengths out in their best potential. He can delegate without being “bossy” but rather strategically with purpose. Charles is really good at making people feel wanted, especially by a Savior whose Love is incomprehensible. He makes others feel good by truly loving them and treating them as equals.

Becca Beers

This first thing that comes to mind with Becca is joy; she always seems happy. I do not mean happy in the annoying manner like a clown but more so in a way that rubs off on other people. Like a yawn, you cannot help but smile when you see her smile. Becca appreciates life with an enthusiastic attitude and fervor to serve others. While she very much enjoys receiving encouragement, she enjoys spreading it even more. Friendships are evidently important to her as well as the intentionality of growing in them.

Ashley Hopewell

Like Charles, Ashley played a leader in our group simply by driving us around everywhere, even if one of us just wanted a coke from the grocery store. She is authentically grateful for life, friends, and family. Ashley is extremely easy to get along with and fun to be around, especially in service functions such as this trip. When a request by a member of the suburban was made, she was open to hearing such suggestions and/or requests. She is a good listener when someone has something to say, whether the message is simple or serious in nature.

Please realize from a Communication-standpoint these are things that I observed in these people. While each person may look at each individualistic trait differently, these are strengths I encountered while spending a week and good amount of time with each and every one of them personally.

Now I recorded a little biographical segment interviewing each of these awesome people. You should totally listen to this because I truly think it is funny, but I think you will find humor and perhaps some wisdom in the words of these people. Click HERE.

Final thoughts and a personal challenge from my experience with Amplify

Today I took a walk with a new friend, and she shared some interesting insight with me. She really challenged some of my conventional ways of thinking in terms of how things are or how things should be.

During the trip, on a few occasions I would hear other people talking about other people, and sometimes it was not in the best of light with what people were saying about each other. While these individuals may not have “intended” to hurt another person’s feelings, if the person was aware that someone was talking about him or her, I guarantee their feelings may have been hurt.

This week and this upcoming weekend I have been working on a message to give at Auburn Christian Fellowship. I am going to speak about my disability and what I have overcome with my disability. I bet some of you even have a stigma arising in your mind when I mention that word, “disability.” If that is the case, why do you cognitively think a certain way when that word is mentioned? The same stigmas are attached to other associations that people may have, such as “graduate student,” “sorority girl,” or “football player.” Our intentions automatically arouse feelings negative or positive when it comes to these labels. You have already formed molds in your minds of what these words mean. As you were challenged this week to better understand the qualities of God in His incomprehensibility, His knowability, and His self-sufficiency, I would also challenge you to better understand the qualities of people you may not understand. In other words, dig deeper to better know a person. Why does he or she react a certain way? Why is his or her personality this way around other people? Do not judge people. Know them. Love them. Rejection even if subtle hurts but acceptance will always touch the heart in positive measures sometimes more exponentially then you will ever know.

People in a suffering world are struggling enough without negative words adding to existent resentment someone already may have. If you have something to say about someone, please be positive and kind with your chosen words, and if you truly have a conflict or problem with someone, then confront the person you have a conflict or problem with. Do not talk behind another person’s back unless you are truly consulting advice on what to do or how to say something to someone.

What I have often noticed more cases than not is that someone’s words does not only affect the relationship with the person you may be talking about. You affect that relationship with the person you are talking to with the person you are talking about. In other words, the person you are talking to may perceive a person differently after you talk to them about that person, therefore affecting his or her friendship with the person you are talking about. Your words and actions often have repercussions that people never even consider. Before you act, consider carefully what you are doing. Mothers across the country say this for a reason: “Think before you speak.”

I have thoroughly enjoyed my week with Amplify. Relationships have grown. I have laughed uncontrollably at times, which is exactly what the doctored ordered after a stressful two weeks with comprehensive exams and oral defenses. In addition to the sermons and lessons I heard, I will be digesting the memories of this trip for quite some time in the awesomeness of what God has taught me. I cannot thank each and every one of you enough for what you each have individually done for me whether through word or action in what you have done for me. Thank you for a great week. To the people of Port St. Joe, thank you for loving me as a brother in Christ and for challenging me in ways I have not been challenged in a long, long time.

Trace says, “Heads up!”

Usually at the end of each day we will have a worship gathering in the largest beach house here on the block. We will see songs together as a group, and Trace will give a short lesson. Tonight Trace asked us to pray; so everyone put their heads down in silence with eyes closed in reverence for this ritual. Trace had not finished what he was saying; so he said, “Wait, I have something else to say…Heads up!” The humor lies in the fact that he did the same thing last night and perhaps even the night before that. I have been blogging so much I have not remembered every single detail of this trip. We get ready to pray and be serious in our prayers to God, and then suddenly someone tells us to bring our heads up once again as if we were playing heads up seven up. One of the students here on the trip asked Trace, “Heads up or heads down?” before she actually put her head down tonight. So, unlike most us, she knew kind of what to expect in Trace. Maybe this is not funny to you, especially if you are Trace and you happen to be reading this right now, but perhaps you just had to be there to enjoy the moment.

This is what I love about our leader. His humor is very unique, but I believe that Trace can truly laugh at himself when something of this nature happens. He is a college minister that truly cares for those who follow him, and his care is evident in his actions, even when he tells us, “Heads up!” to tell us one more crucial thing in that night’s lesson. Thank you Trace for all you have done and for all you continue to do.

Our stories: The narrative of life

I have heard funny stories, miraculous stories, and stories of every sort this week. In the field of Communication, we often study this idea of narrative. I find narratives interesting not because of research in Social Sciences but rather as a collection of stories that become intertwined with other believers in this beautiful thing called life. In Donald Miller’s new book, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, he talked about life in the mention of story, how a story is constructed, how the characters come into being, and how an unfinished book may become a masterpiece. A good example may be a story I heard yesterday. A fellow community outreach member told me that he met an older woman who was dying from cancer in a struggle to keep her life. She professed to be a believer in Jesus Christ but do not seem to comprehend the idea of eternal life with a Loving God. She literally did not know that life is just the beginning of an unfinished book. While I am not entirely sure how her narrative had come to this point in the fear of the end, this community outreach member reassured her of the hope we have in the eternal…that when she dies if she professes and believes in the Name of Jesus Christ she will indeed join Him for a celebration unlike any kind that becomes incomprehensible for our feeble human minds. From this story in her narrative, I truly gathered that this newfound hope brought peace at the end of her race.

Another story I heard was from another female friend here in the journey we are and have been taking together this week. Her story involved an elderly woman who seemed overjoyed by the actual visit of people who were coming to spend time with her. It is incredible how something as small as just spending time with someone becomes the best gift you could give to someone. Perhaps that is why it is one of many people’s love languages. For approximately an hour and half this woman shared her faith, her narrative, and her story of how she came to Christ in the hope that He provides. While the girls in this particular scenario were coming to minister to the elderly lady, I think she ministered to them in the wisdom that years of experience in her life had created. While young people such as ourselves are often very bold in our stand for Christ, sometimes the best thing we can do is listen…listen to narratives of those who have lived lifetimes full of stories. There is even wisdom in being quiet while others have the spotlight or the microphone to share another narrative other than your own. This is definitely a respectful nature of conversation I am trying to learn to improve upon. Even by the length of this blog entry, you may have gathered that I like to talk.

We seek to create revival when sometimes where we see to create that revival becomes the place where we ourselves become revived.

For instance, today I met a man named Tony who really opened my eyes to being grateful and just not complaining over really stupid things, which typically for me is some aspect of graduate school (graduation exams, long papers, not getting along with a group member, etc.). In the last year, Tony had his leg amputated because he caught an infection, and the doctors were unfortunately unable to save it. He has also been on the kidney transplant list for the last five years or so. He must have dialysis done three times a week, which I have been told is very painful. Now while some past decisions may be catching up with Tony, I was still touched by his attitude to remain positive in the hope of a Savior. Here was a man stuck on the street corner where all he could do was enjoy the weather, the breeze, and the sunshine. He mentioned that it would not be beneficial for him or anyone else to wallow in his own self-pity. He said that he would give anything to come visit Auburn, Alabama for just one day. Tony said that if he came to visit such a wonderful place he knew that he would not want to leave. Tony has been in Port St. Joes since 1984; he originally lived in Washington DC. It just seemed that he was dying to visit somewhere and try something different for just a few days. I take it so for granted that I can just pick up whenever and go visit another town just about wherever I want to in my car. In other words, I am very mobile with a nice jeep and insurance. I also do live in a beautiful city. Auburn is a great place! And people love it there. I walk around a beautiful campus and usually do not even take time to notice the silhouette of an amazing piece of architecture on the front of Samford lawn as the sun goes down. It broke my heart because Tony was just glad to be alive, and that was it. There was no complexity about his daily routines of going to the hospital three times a week or sitting on the corner to enjoy the sunlight, but he was just glad to do it. I found it humorous that he would make fun of the rap music as some local neighbors drove by making sure everyone around them heard their favorite Hip Hop song. I have both my legs and a naturally healthy body. I have an incredible educational background with a loving family. I forgot to mention that Tony is the only living member of his family still alive; so in reality, he may really have no one. There is no room for complaining here. If a person who clearly has more serious issues than I have can enjoy life in it truest simplicities, then I should be able to do the same in the Grace and gifts God has given to me. Be grateful. Do not whine or complain. And have a positive attitude. This is what my new friend Tony taught me today in the reminders he provided in a very enlightening conversation and experience. It may honestly have been my favorite memory of the week.

In life experiences of good or bad, our narratives in the timeline of life become constructed. For many of us, that narrative may soon come to an end on the earthly side, but that only means that the real story is about to begin in the presence of Jesus. For others, the narrative has just began here on earth, and your life has many more steps to follow in pursuit of our God, His Love, and the best gift history has ever been given, the sacrifice of His Son. That is where our narrative really begins…at the foot of the cross, in the piercings of wrists with the pouring of bloodshed for us. Just imagine if your narrative had been there to see what Christ did for us…to witness in person what He did for us. While Mel Gibson’s Passion of the Christ is a cinematic work of art that will touch hearts for many years to come, it still takes place on the movie screen. I think if we saw in person the blood that spewed upon the ground our perceptions would never forget that story. We read the words, but sometimes we forget to live them. The Grand Narrative is that He died to pay the penalty for what in perfection we could not fathom to pay the penalty for. This is where it all begins and where it all ends. Our narratives…our unfinished books start and end here. Everything stands at this pivotal point in this fascinating story of a Savior who loved us just that much. He cares for us more than we can comprehend. The Grand Narrative has been written into reality. The question is: are you willing to base your own narrative in the faith of His Grand Narrative? Remember our stories and life narratives all begin here in the moment of His Death, and because He has been resurrected, our narratives may be shaped and molded as the Carpenter sees fit. Your life is a narrative of trials and great memories in He that gave everything. Write a narrative worthy of His Glory. Write a narrative that brings to life the passions of your heart. Write a narrative in the pursuit of dreams and the pursuit of the One who will fulfill those dreams in His Grand Narrative.