Expecting the Unexpected...

I guess you could say that inspiration can many times come from some of the most unlikely places. I have probably learned more this week than many years combined, and the funny thing is, I have been told nothing new. The last week has been quite consistent. We have been working very hard to get the sets ready to hit the road. Let me give you a little bit of idea of the context in which I have been working in. All of the interns have finally arrived, most of them arrived Sunday and Monday. There are twenty-three of us in all. We consist of sixteen regular interns (8 guys, 8 girls), 5 tech interns, and 2 student interns. It is somewhat stereotypical of how the work is separated. The ladies do all of the administrative work (most of the time) and the guys do most of the grunt work (which requires an immense amount of organization as well). This week I have been building the major props for the sets. I do my work outside for more room. It has been about 90 degrees with the heat index, so that alone working all day for a week is really draining. It is really easy to become frustrated with the work. However, I must explain how I received this great guidance and inspiration. Every Wednesday we have a devotional with one of the staff members. Last week it was Andy Hanson, the President of C.I.Y., and this week was Robin Cigars. I saw him speak at both of the events I attended at Milligan in Tennessee. He spoke the night I gave my life to Christ at a C.I.Y. event. He sat us down at this huge conference room table, looked us all right in the eyes with a look that I have seen before. It's that look someone gives when you know they mean business. It's the look someone gets before they get angry, or before they just found out some incredible news. I had no idea what to expect. He looked at us for another second, and started out by saying very firmly... "you all need to know this... this summer... this summer is NOT about you." He continued, "this work is going to be hard, real hard, but we are workmen for God. He has given us the strength to make this happen. This conference is about God, this conference is about these lost, broken and confused teens." I could never quite capture the passion that was in the words he spoke simply by typing them. He talked to us for about fifteen minutes, fifteen minutes in which I am not sure I blinked once. I was reminded in an instant of when I was in C.I.Y. only three short years ago. I didn't know God, I didn't know anything, I had no direction. But someone who was in the position that I have now, humbled down and made this event happen for me. If they didn't decide to duck down behind the scenes and work hard, I mean real hard... I would not be here right now. I wouldn't be at CCV, I probably would not know Christ in any way like I do now. How powerful is that? Our King of Kings pours such incredible love, grace and strength on us that we can undoubtedly achieve the seemingly unachievable. We can love the unlovable. We can work for 16 hours strait in the sun, loading and unloading, packing and unpacking, setting up and tearing down. And you know what... we can do all of that with NO credit. That is the beautiful thing of being a servant. In Greek the word is doula. Doula is the modern version of the Greek word for a slave or servant. We are called to be a servant, or even a slave for Christ. It's a powerful idea. You never know when someone saying something that has been said before, but with such incredible passion will effect your life. You should always expect the unexpected. I am really happy to be here. I know I am supposed to be here, and I know I am learning. I already feel like I am best friends with many of the interns already. We did this awesome scavenger hunt with all of the C.I.Y staff in three vans with video cameras, it was a lot of fun. Our team won of course, unfortunately I had to eat butter to do so... not so fun... We also had an evening where all the guy interns went to this staff members house and has burgers on the grill and stuff. We played horseshoes and "redneck golf". It's a really fun game with two balls connected with a rope and you must wrap it around these poles in the distance. I am 3 for 3 so far, so we will see how it goes. So it is about 11pm right now and I am so tired. I never thought I would say that. On a side note. I have slept better since I have been here, than I have my whole life. I have had such a clear and care free mind, and I have worked all day, and just been so tired that when I lay down I am OUT. heh. Many of you know this feeling. This is very new to me. Most people who know me know that I don't sleep, so this has just been incredible. I get up at 6:30 no problem. The last time I can remember being able to just fall asleep when I lay in bed was CIY 3 years ago. God is so good. So feel free to shoot me a comment! All of your prayers have been so vital in the incredible things God is doing in my life. And I thank you all with everything in my heart I hope all of you can feel some day how I feel now. Peace & Love.

-Adam

Currently reading Everyones Normal Until You Get to Know Them by John Ortberg.
John gives us this incredible idea of Christian Community like I have never heard it explained before. We are called to be ONE. He explains how the word Shalom is used in Scripture. It is the community that we are supposed to live in with each other. It's how we should love each other with sheer Agape. The agape that a mother has for her new-born child. The agape that Christ had for us to die for us. If we begin to recognize the fact that we are all imperfect, and we come "as is", then we can learn to grow with each other to work on those many deficiencies we all posses.