So Many Things Come to Mind

Posted on February 27, 2012 by CGM Staff

BY JUSTIN HAMPTON

So many things come to mind as I attempt to concisely write about this latest situation. The first is my last blog and how I felt like we should be ashamed of not having anything to praise God for, and secondly, how yet again one of the kids here may have inspired me exponentially more than I could have ever done for him.

About a month ago one of our 9th graders came out and asked me if I would be his mentor. Now, to him it was a simple matter of me saying yes, but for me, it was a commitment to pour my life into his… for the rest of his life.

Needless to say I said yes.

Since that time I have been praying for the Lord to give me creative ideas about how to minister to his needs and help him to grow in his relationship with the Lord. I didn’t want to do the same old cliché things and just take him to church… but that’s all I could think of so that’s exactly what I did.

For the last few weeks he’s been going to services with my wife and I and then going out to eat with us. We would just hang out and talk about what was going on in his life. This past week was quite a bit different than the others though.

At the end of the service, during when the pastor made the call for those who wanted to receive forgiveness through Christ or return to him…he was one of the first people to go to the front of the church. I was moved by this young man’s unprompted act of courage. On the way to drop him off I began to share with him how I began my relationship with the Lord and how I used to read one chapter of Proverbs every night and pray that God would help me understand Him and whatever it was that I read.

What I heard later really moved me.

The next day his younger sister arrived at the CGM After School Program and as soon as she jumped out of the van she yelled to me, “Coach Justin, you got my brother becoming a Christian!”

“What do mean by that?”

She went on to explain what she saw him doing the night before. She said, “Last night he read his bible and then got down on his knees and started praying. I wanted to copy him so I did what he did…he read a Proverb and I read Psalms 24, then we prayed.”

I almost cried tears of joy and excitement right in front of her.

Praise belongs to God for his miraculous works and how He will use us to accomplish His will. Thank you Lord for allowing us to be a part of your redemption.

*Originally posted on Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Youtube Fight

Posted on February 24, 2012 by CGM Staff

BY KEVIN KING

A YouTube fight video circulated on the Internet of two teenagers who both in the past were involved in our After School Program. They were once like brothers but ended up carrying guns for protection, fighting each other and committing other destructive crimes against one another and each other’s property. God eventually provided an opportunity for me to get both boys in a room together to work towards reconciliation before one or both would be either dead or in jail one day. It was a beautiful picture of childlike forgiveness as
they quickly talked it out, hugged each other, shook hands, asked for forgiveness and told each other that they wanted to be friends again. Afterwards, they played basketball ball in our gym together like nothing ever happened.

These guys aren’t even believers yet but it was convicting because as an adult who is a believer I often struggle with not demonstrating forgiveness quickly when it comes to other adults especially if I’m slandered.

This was about 6 months ago and I’ve consistently watched these two hang out and get over the embarrassment and shame of getting beat up over the internet without feeling the need to defend oneself or have something to prove to peers. I’ve since added one of these young men to my discipleship group in hopes that he would hear the Gospel and surrender his heart to Jesus. Even though you don’t know his name please pray for he and the other young man’s salvation.

Meditation on Self-Examination

Posted on February 23, 2012 by CGM Staff

BY AMYLYNNE BLAKE

It seems the older I get and the more I grow spiritually the more I’m aware of the depth of my sin nature. Paul says in 1 Timothy 1:14-16 – “The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His immense patience as an example for those who would believe in Him and receive eternal life.”

As I realize my capacity to be the worst of sinners I also realize the magnificent capacity of Christ’s love, mercy, and patience! Along with that is the obligation to live out the example for others who would believe in Him and be saved!! Self examination is very much in order: truly knowing who I am and who God is.

As I read the various passages of Scripture during my quiet time as well as The Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul, I’m challenged on every front! Do I understand the difference between pleasure and happiness/joy? Am I truly cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit? Am I living in a way the reflects Christ? Am I sharing the gospel? I know for certain that “The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly…” therefore, in view of God’s mercy, I must offer myself as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God as my true and proper worship.

A Little Over a Year Ago

Posted on February 22, 2012 by CGM Staff

BY KEISHA REID

A little over a year ago*, a great tragedy occurred within our community. Two sisters were brutally murdered by an ex-boyfriend. A total of 6 children were left behind, motherless. Thankfully they have an Aunt and Uncle who has welcomed a few of them into their home! Our staff team is involved in the lives of these few, one of which is a 13 year old girl who has become dear to me! This young girl has such a tender heart and loves expressing her thoughts and emotions through poetry! Yesterday, after school we sat down together and chatted. She ask me to help her with a project from school, I gladly said I would.

Then she said, “Miss Keisha, you are like a mother to me!”

As I listened to why she thought I was like a mother to her, a lump entered my throat and I was so humbled and grateful! She shared that it was nice to have someone to talk with each day, someone who could understand her! As I sat and talk with her, I shared with her that we do have a lot in common. I lost my mother to cancer four years ago, and the absence of a mother does permeate a child’s heart down to the core. I could totally relate to her, losing a mother is painful; we only have one biological mother.

However, I am thankful for the older women in my life that have helped me to know God and His love! I consider these women to be “my mothers!” So you can imagine the joy I experience to know that the same appreciation I have for these older women has now been reciprocated by someone I hold so dear.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

*Originally Posted on Thursday, August 19, 2010

One of My Favorite Things

Posted on February 22, 2012 by CGM Staff

BY JASON MCHENRY

One of my favorite things to watch on TV as I was growing up was old school Kung Fu movies. You know the ones with audio that doesn’t sync with the moving of the actors lips, cheesy sound effects, and non-stop acrobatic awesomeness? And who doesn’t know the song Kung Fu Fighting by Carl Douglas? Come on let’s sing it together…”Everybody was Kung Fu fighting… Yeah those kicks were fast as lightning…“

Anyway, today I feel like Kung Fu fighting. In fact, I would love nothing more than to give the Kung Fu Punch of Death (which is only known by two Kung Fu masters in the world, and they both live in Wichita) to my greatest adversary: Myself.

It has been a good day for the most part. I started my day by seeking the Lord and praying, until I dropped my Bible in the toilet (seriously!). Then it seemed like everything just went down the drain….

I began to spiral through a chain of events, which would only characterize my day as “poopy”. However, it wasn’t my circumstances which caused so much disarray, but instead my response. It didn’t take long before I allowed my situations, to become set backs, and then sin.

In a moment, as I was out to lunch, I caught myself in the middle of making a slanderous statement about someone who I would label EGR (extra grace required). Before I finished the statement I was making, I stopped and continued the conversation. Soon after the conversation ended, I returned to my vehicle to head back to Common Ground. I was troubled by the wickedness of my own heart, as the Holy Spirit kindly reminded me of the grace required for myself. I called the person I had been speaking with and asked for forgiveness for bringing slander into our conversation. He quickly forgave me and we continued on our separate ways.

One thing that continues to be prevalent in my ministry is that I am a man of many mistakes. I have a tendency to dwell on every one of them, and it is easy for me to get depressed because I can feel like such a failure. However, in the midst of my disappointment I am reminded that God is transforming me; sanctifying me and purging me of the sin in the depths of heart, which seems to manifest in my words and deeds far too often, and when I least expect it.

Spoken as if a true Kung Fu master, Bryan has always said, “God didn’t bring me here to save the neighborhood, He brought me to the neighborhood to save me.” I have to say I feel the same way about God bringing me to Common Ground. It is through ministering here, and working along side a staff team of men and women who make mistakes, but live their lives in pursuit of Christ, modeling forgiveness, and walking in humility, where God has used them to change me.

On days like today, when I mess up, and want to give myself the Kung Fu Punch of Death, I thank God for bringing my failures to light and His promise: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins…”

And I thank God for Kung Fu…

“Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them.”

-Bruce Lee

Originally posted to the CGM Blog on Thursday, December 2, 2010.

Staff Blogs are Moving

Posted on February 16, 2012 by mattwolfe

We’re going to move all our staff blogs onto our main site instead of where they were at previously. That way all you have to do is come and visit us here! So check back often as we’re going to start rolling them out!!

Updating the Site

Posted on February 16, 2012 by mattwolfe

As you may have noticed, we’ve added some new pages: Blogs, Media, and Photos. We’re still getting all the kinks of using this new system we’ve adopted in order to better and more frequently update our website. If you see anything that seems out of place, or just want to bring to our attention – let us know!