The Birth of "She-Man"

Tonight my daughter and I went to a local concert for The Digital Age, a modern worship band comprised of four former members from the David Crowder Band.  The lead singer, “Mike D” Dodson, read some Facebook messages from a girl named Brooklyn, who reached out to the band members about her struggles with depression and cutting.  They dedicated a song called “I Belong” to Brooklyn and others struggling with stress and insecurities.  This song touched my daughter very much.

At the end of the concert, my daughter spoke with the band members, and told the lead singer that she enjoyed his story.  He shared with her some scientific information he read about how a person’s posture can make them feel less anxious.  He encouraged her to uncross her arms, put her hands on her hips and spread her legs apart.  He told her he uses this posture when he is nervous before a performance.  As he coached her through this posture, she could not help but laugh.  It was then that “She-Man” was born.

I remember seeing comic book pictures of He-Man, standing mighty and strong, with a posture befitting a “Master of the Universe.”  But there is really only one master of the universe, and his name is God, existing as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  And given that we have the Holy Spirit within us, we have every right to feel confident, secure, and safe.  We need more “He-Mans” and “She-Mans” within the Christian church, fully embracing the power and confidence of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Thank you, “Mike D”, for the science lesson.  And thank you, The Digital Age, for a fulfilling night of worship.  May you breed more “She-Mans” and “He-Mans” of faith with your music. 

Judith

My mind keeps thinking about Judith.

My family just returned from a mission trip to Mission Arlington in Arlington, Texas.  Our youth pastor told us at the beginning of the week that there may be someone we connect with—someone we think about a lot—as a result of our ministry there that week.  For me that is Judith.

Our group organized three backyard bible clubs.  I spent most of my time in the clinic, but at the end of the first day I finished with enough time to join the bible club late in the afternoon.  There is where I met Judith.

Judith had two small children.  Most of the activities were designed for older children, but still Judith was there.  Her oldest child, a daughter, was dressed in a knitted shah and was held by a dancing youth worker.  Judith was holding her sleeping baby boy.  She was standing around smiling.  At first I thought that she lived at the apartment right next to our activity area, but as it turns out she was from another building.  But she was there, drawn to the activity.

I decided to simply talk to her.  I told her what we were doing, where we were from, and why we were there.  She smiled as she watched the kids sing, dance, and play games.  She told me she was from Kenya, and had been here for less than a year.  She was attending a Kenyan church somewhere in the DFW area.  I thought she had already been saved.  We simply chatted, and not much else.  But she was smiling much of the time.

The next day my husband and I were not there, but my daughter talked to Judith.  At that time, my daughter shared the salvation message, and Judith prayed to accept Christ.

The third day, my husband talked to Judith for an hour, and answered all of her questions about what it meant to be a Christian, who Jesus was, and what a Christian life looks like. 

The last day, my son helped her carry her son back to her apartment.  During testimony time, Judith asked to share her testimony as well.  Her testimony was that a lady talked to her on Monday, a teenager led her to Christ on Tuesday, a man answered her questions on Wednesday, and a boy served her needs on Thursday.  Given the size of our group, these acts could have been done by anyone as we all shared duties regularly.   But it would seem divinely inspired that all of these people in her testimony would have the last name of “Hurley.”

I didn’t get Judith’s last name.  I didn’t get her phone number or address.  We know where she lives, but we are not sure of her apartment number.  I’m sure we could find this information if we asked others at Mission Arlington.  But I know her address on my heart, and it has touched me more than I expected.   

Help My Spanish is Tired

I just got back from a brief mission trip to an indigent care clinic organized by Mission Arlington in Arlington, Texas.  I continue to be amazed at the resourcefulness of our youth, and their desire to serve and lead. 

During this trip, I found myself in the middle of a clinic where a large percentage of the patients did not speak English.  Our youth leader asked me to scope out the clinic and decide how our students could serve in that ministry.  While most of our youth were involved with service projects elsewhere and a backyard bible club, some could serve in the clinic.  One came and happily filed charts and papers for hours.  Another moved all around the clinic fetching this and that with a committed desire to help.  And one served the entire day as a bilingual Spanish interpreter.  The need for bilingual services was so great that he stayed well past the requested time, and was clearly physically and emotionally drained by the end of the day.  While he is truly bilingual, translating medical symptoms, terms, and instructions is difficult and put him in a very important and sometimes uncomfortable position many times.  Two pastors from our church came to visit the clinic and give encouragement, and it was apparent during their visit that my bilingual assistant was mentally fatigued.  To put it poetically, “his Spanish was tired.”  He stayed several hours after that anyway.

Not only was he helpful to me, but this student’s bilingual services were shared all around the clinic.  A visiting orthopedist treats patients there on a regular basis, and clearly uses this as a ministry to lead people to Christ.  My bilingual assistant was in the room with this orthopedist for extended periods several times, translating the salvation message while this physician shared the gospel intently with three patients.  As a ninth grader, I doubt this student has had the confidence or the opportunity to witness to people like this.  But he got to learn how to do it from an experienced Christian, while serving as his interpreter.

Our youth pastor speaks of hitting a “wall” where we sometimes are physically, emotionally, and spiritually exhausted. He sees this as a good place to be, because it is in those moments that the indwelling Holy Spirit takes over.  The idea of witnessing to and praying with people can be intimidating, yet this student got to practice this three times. When he was tired and wanted to rejoin his friends, the Holy Spirit acted through him as the willing vessel ready to be used for God’s purpose.  Put simply, when his Spanish was tired, the true Master was ready to take over.

In the end, I am constantly reminded of three truths:  1) God is good all the time, 2) God knows what is going to happen, and 3) God is always with me. Just as He was with my young Spanish translator, He is also with me, and He is with you if you have accepted Jesus into your heart.  If you need to learn how to do this, I’d be delighted to share that path with you.  But if you don’t feel comfortable talking with me, there are other options.  I know an awesome ninth grade student who can share the path with you as well, in English or Spanish.