a collection of loose change

Chances are some of you will read this, think i’m crazy and then ignore it.

But… maybe some of you won’t.. and that’s what I’m aiming for.

How many of you can honestly say you know every single person and keep in touch with them on a frequent basis that you’re friends with on online
Wait, what is that? None of you? Yea.. didn’t think so.
Chances are there are at least a few people-probably from your past- that you have added on here and really the only contact you have with that person is your few comments. Admit it, I’m right.

Well, the truth is I too have those people in my life.
One is Evan. Evan is a youth pastor from Illinois who I see, along with his wife Katie, usually once a year at camp… sometimes more if we run in at youth convention or something of the sort.

Today I got on facebook and Evan had an interesting update about being at the bank about a counter-offer and had a link with it. So I clicked it. And discovered he and Katie were on a mission to buy a house. And with it, a simple appeal. 2500 people, a donation of $2 a piece= $5000 and a house they more then deserve.

Sure, you don’t know Evan and Katie. But these people have dedicated their lives to loving on students and reaching out to them. If ever two people have been deserving of something like this, they are. So maybe you will never know that personally… but what’s it going to cost you to be able to in ways you can’t imagine bless two people?

We talk about loving people practically. We talk about meeting needs and caring for people… here’s a chance to really kind of anonymously do just that.

Check out the link.. think about it….

“All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them.” Acts 4:32-33

This is a chance for us to not be such strangers after all….

http://evancourtney.blogspot.com/2008/04/two-dollar-house-challenge.html

So I’m going to divulge some ongoing thoughts here.. and slowly bring them all back in together. (Since I don’t have time to hit all of them now…)

I was thinking the other day about things people need. I’m looking around my campus and my city and I’m just watching people doing life. And as my mind gets going, I start listing them…

The 5 C’s..
Community
Consistency
Committment
Courage
Communication

I look at these five things and in some way or another, I believe I can relate them back as things every single person needs. Essentially, the five required c’s of life.

Let me start with consistency.

Just last week I was talking with a friend about my crazy life and in jest I remarked how I’m beginning to wonder if I truly even know what normal is anymore.
It’s funny how often I think about this. We all do. It’s as if every day is an attempt on our behalf, against greater odds, to achieve “normal.”
Think about it this way… Chances are if you’re a coffee drinker (I sincerely mean real coffee drinkers) you have an addiction to one famous coffee chain or another… be it Starbucks, Seattle’s Best, Dunkin’ Donuts- you pick. Now think about your loyalty to that establishment. How often do you go? Once a week, once a month… twice a week… twice a day? Chances are there are quite a few of you out there that that visit happens almost daily. In fact, for some it’s probably become part of your “normal” morning routine. And what do you get when you go into that store? A different drink every time? A varying degree of drinks depending on the morning’s mood? Or is there a certain drink… you’re drink… that always comes out for you? (Chances are there are a few of you “regulars” who don’t even have to open your mouth before that drink is underway by faithful employees who know you by name, drink and arrival time)

See where I’m going with this?

Or maybe you’re “that jogger” who does three miles every morning. (More power to those of you who can accomplish that… you have my deepest respect.) Or you’re “that customer” in the lunch line at the local sandwhich shop.  Or “that member” at the local gym.

Whatever your objection be, chances are you’re life radiates consistency.

I have several friends who work at Starbucks. I love from time to time to just watch them get caught up in their stories about their “regulars.” The same people, showing up at the same time, on the same days (usually daily), for the same drink. I refer back to the coffee concept to say this…. no, not that coffee should be a “c” on our list but the coffee theory just proves the consistency idea to a greater degree… That is, no matter how chaotic a person’s life may be between being a busy professional starting the day with a grande, triple shot latte or to that of a soccer mom on the going who’s been up since five am to dress the family- we all long for some type of consistency.. whether we find that in our coffee or our work-out routine… we cling to that which in some way brings us back to that small place we call “normal.”

Don’t believe me? Try taking the most consistent part of your life out for a week. (No, not jobs or classes- you can’t really just cut those) It’s the same idea of people who go on vacation and come back needing a vacation because they were so busy trying to do it all. They tend to be the people who are always busy and can’t live without that same chaos- even on vacation. I think that by cutting out your small addiction, you’ll find I’m a little close then you care to admit.

Think about it..