Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

This Thanksgiving we were blessed to have my mom cook a whole Thanksgiving meal for the Crew (our youth group at Keller Park)!! Not only did she cook a whole Thanksgiving meal, but it was for about 25 people! Thanks to her willingness to come down and cook for these kids we had a great turnout of about 15-20 teenagers from the neighborhood area. We set tables up in our living room and feasted. My brother Robbie and his wife Kristin joined us in serving food to the kids and hanging out. It was a blast, kids stuck around till 10:30 at night. It was a great way to start off the Holiday weekend, being thankful for the relationships God's allowing us to build with these teenagers.

Question Series: What is that?

What is that in the picture above? For most of us we would be able to answer that question pretty easily. It's a PSP. For me this is more than just a PSP. It represents something much greater than just a game system. It represents a poverty mentality. One might be surprised to walk into our neighborhood and see what kind of "stuff" our kids have and what kind of stuff our kids wear.

The PSP is a prime example of what I am talking about. A few days ago, one of my boys asked me to hold his new PSP that his mom bought him. This is the same boy's mom who I had to pay $2 for to get into her son's football game (this was the first game she had ever seen her son play because she said she couldn't afford the other games). This is the question I want to ask: "How can you afford a PSP, but not afford to pay a couple bucks to support your son playing football?" The answer would/should be: "It's my poverty mentality." There is nothing wrong with buying things... even nice, expensive things. However, I have seen time and time again people living in poverty use their unemployment money to buy clothes, stereo systems, cell phones, etc. There seems to be this mentality that says, "I am going to spend what I have as soon as I can so that I don't lose it. I am not going to start a savings account. I am not going to pay off my electric bill. I am not going to pay me overdue rent of 3 months. I am going to keep moving from house to house until I get kicked out. But I will by a PSP."

I have heard before that it is extremely hard to break the cycle of poverty. That is why you see so many professional athletes come from poverty, make it big, and then lose all their millions of dollars and end up right back where they started. This is extremely sad to me. What can be done? What is my role personally as a Christ follower in the area that I am living?

Would you rather have 3 pairs of nice shoes or food to eat? Seems like a simple answer. But for some reason people around me struggle to answer it.

Sunny Saturday

As many of you know, last Saturday was a beautiful sunny day in the 60's so we took advantage of it at the Lantz household! Kory & I woke up Saturday morning not knowing what we would do with our day because for the first time in a long time it was wide open without plans. Before we knew it, there were knocks at our door, and 10 minutes later we had 4 teenage boys, 2 elementary girls, and a 4 year old all in our house eating some breakfast. Kory & I looked at each other and couldn't help but laugh because here we were in the middle of ministry in our pajamas.

We played outside with sidewalk chalk, rode bikes, colored pictures, put together puzzles, played sports, ate food, and our personal favorite....the girls loved helping us vacuum our new piece of carpet! They stayed over till 5pm and the group kept getting bigger. Poor Kory, by evening he was out-matched 9 girls to 1 boy.

Later that night we got to take 3 of the teenage girls that attend our youth group to the Bethel College soccer game. The night was fun for them being in a college atmosphere and meeting people that Kory & I were friends with.

Question of the week will be coming shortly....

Question of the Week

We are going to be starting a series tomorrow called "Question of the Week." It's pretty self-explanatory huh? We are hoping to answer all sorts of different kinds of questions. Questions that we have. Questions that you have. Questions that the kids have. Questions that God has. Questions about questions. We encourage our kids to ask questions because we feel that questions lead... (nope, not to answers) but thinking deeper and out-side of the box thinking. Questions lead to openness. Please send any questions you have for us in the "comment line" and we will try to answer them... even if they are tough!

The first question will be coming tomorrow! Brace yourself!

Used.

Sometimes I feel like I have a big sign on my forehead that reads, "USE ME!" Use me for my house. Use me for my money. Use me for my food. You use me for a ride. Use me to get you out of trouble. Use me to get get into a middle school basketball game because you need an adult... ok now I'm getting too specific, but you get the point. It can get very frustrating at times when you feel like people are constantly taking advantage of you and not appreciating it one bit. Not only are they not appreciating it, but they are expecting more!

Ali and I have often found ourselves sitting at home after a long day with the kids asking each other this question, "Did you feel used today?" We both already know the answer so we don't have to say anything. We are probably too tired to answer anyhow (kids really take it out of you :) It is ok that we feel like this? Is is ok that we go out of our way for these kids and would do almost ANYTHING for their well-being (safety, shelter, food, comfort, encouragement, love, support, and a glimpse of Jesus)? No, they don't know that. They do know that we are there for them and that means they can use us. OK, so this may seem like I am frustrated and I am to some extent. However, I am not complaining... because I see the deeper issues as to why these kids act like that. They don't know any better and we can't teach them that the first time we meet them. They have so many more deeper issues that need to be dealt with before we are constantly disciplining on how unthankful they are at times. We also realize that we may have to be "used" before we can gain the trust needed and really get into the life of another. Ali and I think it is worth it.

I can't imagine how many times Jesus felt used. His disciples used Him. The crowds He preached to used Him. WE used Him... to die for US! Jesus knew He was getting used all along, but still let it happen. He had a greater purpose in mind. He had reasons to let it happen. I can only imagine that Jesus knew that letting others use Him would ultimately bring them closer to the power and greatness of Jesus and bring glory to His Father in Heaven.

If being "used" is what it takes to bring the kids and people we around to an authentic relationship and love for Jesus Christ... by all means USE US! . Use our money, time, and energy. Please, use us.

-Kory

What's your story?

The Crew (Keller Park Youth Group) has been meeting for almost 2 months now. We have kids from 5th grade to about 11th grade so things can be interesting with the big age difference. This youth group experience has been a much different environment (to say the least) from what Ali and I are used to. Games such as musical chairs often ends with a few kids puncing walls, leaving abruptly, or sitting alone in a corner the rest of the night. The kids can be a handful at times, but we are enjoying this time with them as well. :)

Our theme right now is "What's your story?" We want the kids to know that everyone has a unique story that God has given them that is important. We want to provide a safe place for them to share their story with their peers and us as leaders. We felt like the best way to create this type of enviroment was to have the leaders share their stories first. This did not go exactly as planned as the kids were often disrepectful and disruptive during the sharing time. I began to become discouraged because I felt like The Crew was not becoming "a safe environment to share in." At the rate we were going I felt like the kids would never open up. However, just recently (with lots of prayer... funny how that works), things have begun to get better. Some of the kids have approached us leaders individually and began to open up about their home life, feelings, etc. That has been encouraging because now we can begin to help them find healing through Jesus Christ. It will still be a long process, but Ali and I have constantly been reminded to "stay faithful." Faithfulness has been a common theme since our time of being here in Keller Park. It is not always easy to follow Jesus, and can be very difficult to trust His plan, but we have found truth through Scriptures that has led us to believe that trusting, following, and obeying Jesus is the only way to live. It's funny (or ridiculous) how often I need a reminder of those truths.

-Kory

What is productive?

What is really productive? Your typical definition says: yielding results, benefits, or profits.

I have struggled with this questiona a lot lately. I never thought I would be the person who looks back on each day and wonders if it was a productive one. I never thought I would be the person to measure my success about myself based on how "beneficial" the day was. Even worse is how I define beneficial. Beneficial to me is... Checking A LOT of items off my "To Do" list (sometimes I even write it down after I have done it just so I can feel good about checking it off), having so many meetings with people scheduled where I barely even have enough time to take a leak, and basically not wasting any time and getting from to place to place and person to person. I often think more about what I am doing NEXT than about what I am doing NOW (please don't comment if you have noticed me do that to you as an individual... I am being vulnerable :).

Here is my point. The way I measure success and productivity is not the way I believe God measures it. Over time I have begun to develop this skewed view of what makes a good day a "good day." Now I am in a place where God and I differ on our opinions of this. I may be feeling good about myself and God is just frowning. He is probably saying, "Kory, you missed this chance to talk to that person. You missed that chance to help this guy with his broken down car. This person was about to show major vulnerability about their past with you, but you were too worried about getting to the next thing. The lady at the cash register was having a bad day, but you were too busy to even say hello and have some friendly talk. You missed out on a lot today, but I hope you still feel good about your self because you checked some things off your list." OUCH! That hurts, but I believe that is what He would say if I even gave Him enough time to tell me.

This has been a struggle in Keller Park. This is the question we get asked every day, "What does a typical day look like for you?" This is a valid question, but I often feel like I could give a more valid answer if I shared my "To Do" list with that person. However, Ali and I have seen the Holy Spirit move the most during the times when we have nothing planned or scheduled. We see Him work when we live each day with great margins to jump on the opportunity that the Holy Spirit throws our way. Kids and people show up at our door or call our phone at all different times every day. We can't put that down on paper, because we don't know when it's going to happen. All that Ali and I can do is be ready each time that it does happen. And because we have graciously been given the opportunity to have freedom to the let the Holy Spirit work we have seen Him work! It is really quite simple... when you want the Holy Spirit to work in your lives you must give Him time to do it. Ali and I are learning that each day despite the lies that Satan tries to throw our way.

-Kory

Fall Harvest Party!

Saturday Kory & I along with about 20 kids from Keller Park/ Sonnyvilla Program headed over to the White's house for a bonfire, hayride, cookout, and FUN. It was all of the House Of Hope (H.O.H) leaders along with the H.O.H kids that are spending time in the homes each week. Every month there is a fun event that the kids in the program have a chance to go to depending on how many points they've earned throughout that month. To receive points they are at the house 3 times a week, involved in 5 hours of community service each month, staying out of trouble at school, and having a great attitude throughout that month.

DeMichael (up above with Kory) and Nichola (up above with me) are both a part of the House of Hope program and also hang out with us on Wednesdays at the Crew (youth group). We had a great time jumping on the White's in ground trampoline (as you can see Kory jumping over one of the youth-don't worry he didn't jump on her) for a couple hours, going on a hayride and cooking hot dogs and roasting marshmellows over the fire.

-Ali