Just Ask

I have been more than amazed by the amount of support and enthusiasm we have found as we have asked people to help with the DREAM Project. We emailed some friends and family and checks started showing up within days. Yesterday we wandered around town explaining what we were doing to a few business owners and we now have a BBQ fundraiser and benefit concert set up for this month. We ran into Sam Schultz (Sammy's) at the copy store and I opened my mouth. We went to Broulim's and the manager volunteered his grill, Coke trailer and ice as well as any food we might use at their price. I highly underestimated our power to influence others for good and the willingness to support a good cause that most people demonstrate. We are getting very excited for the challenges and adventures that await us this summer.



Today in Sunday School, I taught a lesson on John 9&10. We discussed Christ's invitations to both see and hear what he has to teach. I told the story of John Newton, the man who wrote the famous hymn, Amazing Grace. We talked about his life and the miraculous change that he went through on his path from working as one of the most vile men of all time on a slave-trading ship to becoming a minister and devoted disciple of Jesus Christ. In John 9, Christ heals a man that was blind from his birth. It was interesting to talk with the kids in my class about the spiritual blindness that we each encounter from day to day. In the movie Amazing Grace,John Newton is portrayed as a repentant sinner on the road to redemption who is haunted by 20,000 ghosts. Toward the end of his life in the film, he completely loses his sight, thus becoming blind. It is then that he pens the lyrics to the song, "I once was blind, but now I see." We talked about the significance of these words and the ability Christ has to heal us from our spiritual blindness.

I started thinking about how hard it seemed to raise money for our project this summer, but all I had to do is ask and dozens of generous people have answered our call. It was such a simple step that has proven to be a great success. All I had to do was ask. How much harder is it to live in this world of sin and confusion? Sometimes I try to do everything on my own because I think no one else cares, or I make the ultimate mistake of thinking that I can do things better than everyone else. I wonder if I would be pleasantly surprised more often if I were quicker to call upon the Lord in my moments of need, great or small. What would I attempt to do if I knew I could not fail?

Just ask.

See what happens.