Thursday, May 28, 2015

Righteousness in Motion by Craig Hill


Righteousness in Motion


By Craig Hill

Today and yesterday I worked with two righteous men that came into my home because our water pressure was dropping un-expectedly in our house when more than one faucet was open. First, a man from Lew’s plumbing came with his assistant to diagnose the problem. He had installed a pressure regulator in our home last Fall because the Carmel City water was coming in at too high of a pressure and it was damaging some of our fixtures and appliances. The Lew’s plumber got right to it, and replaced the pressure regulator, which did not solve the problem. He systematically tried a few other things, and isolated the problem to our 16-year-old water softener, that has recently been repaired and put back in service after not using it for a few years. He looked me evenly in the eye when he spoke, and he spoke directly and honestly. He came across as what you might call “forthright.” Direct, humble, yet to the point. He knew his business, and wasted no time in accomplishing it.

The last time he was out, my wife Regina heard him giving advice to his co-worker about treating his wife better – about treating his wife like Christ treats the church, sacrificing for her benefit and glory. His assistant frowned at him, and he frowned back, and said kind of gruffly, “Look it up! It’s in the Bible.”

And today, Paul from Frey Water Conditioning came to investigate what was wrong with the water softener, and to bring me 10 bags of solar salt. He was clean-cut and careful. He asked if it was okay if he came in the front door to do his work. I showed him where the water softener was. He had looked up the repair that had been done to it a few months back. He opened two faucets, saw the water pressure drop, bypassed the softener and saw the water pressure return to normal. He agreed with the Lew’s plumber that the water softener was at fault.

He very carefully, a bit too carefully for me, explained the pros and cons of repairing this 16-year-old softener or buying a new one for $1350. The new one would use less salt and less water. The old one would only cost about $325 to repair. He stood straight on with squared shoulders and explained it all carefully, and in a genuine way. He was what you call “forthright” in his manner. He has an honest countenance. I kindly cut him off and said, “I’ll take the new one, and that means I can get back to work.” I walked back toward my home office, which was on the other side of the front door. I knew he would follow me to the door. I really did have to get back to work (in my home office). I figured that was that. I was sold.

But Paul followed me over the front door and I could tell he had more to say. He squared up his shoulders toward me again and crossed his arms. He explained that he was going to deduct from the price the cost of the last repair, and the salt he had brought today. He explained that he could install it Monday or Tuesday. And I thought, “He didn’t have to do that discount. I had said ‘sold’ and tried to end the conversation. This is an honest, righteous man.”

Now I’ve dealt with Frey Water Conditioning in New Palestine since I owned a house out in Shelby County. When I moved to Carmel, I kept using them for water conditioning and water filtering equipment and service, because every time I work with them, all their people are just like Paul: forthright, honest, straight-forward, and they do what they say they are going to do.

I complemented Paul on how he handled himself, and that it was a pleasure to do business with them.

Now the Lord said to the prophet Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Yet Samuel said of David, “He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features.” And Samuel said to Saul about David, “. . . the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart . . .”

And Goliath the Philistine said of David, “He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him.”

And these men I worked with came across this same way. I can’t say how handsome they were – I have a blind eye for that sort of thing in other men. No, I couldn’t say if they were handsome. But they came across like “steely-eyed missile-men”, as I like to say. They seemed forthright, honest, competent, and righteous. Yet they were just doing their jobs. But they were doing their jobs in a forthright manner. It was sort of like “poetry in motion”, but it was really more. It was “righteousness in motion.” I hope I can do the same.

Thursday, May 21, 2015

A Word from Our Summer Interns by Kristian King and Christopher Ashburn


A word from our summer interns:

 

My name is Kristian King and I am the female intern for the Southeastern Youthreach this summer! Just a little bit about me: I was born in Alabama, but I spent my high-school years in Nashville. I am currently a bible major at Lipscomb University. My passion is to work with children of all ages, but especially the underdogs-those who feel like they don’t belong. God has always spoken to me by breaking my heart, just as he did in Uganda, Africa last semester with the parentless children I encountered. There I discovered my dream is to create a home for orphans wherever God calls me. As for now, however, God has led me to Southeastern and I cannot tell you all how excited I am and how absolutely blessed I feel. Already I have been so warmly welcomed into the congregation!

 

My youth group growing up was a majorly instrumental part of my faith. The close community that I experienced from the older teenagers as well as the adults who acted as mentors to me really shaped my perception of what it means to be a Christian and live a life for Christ. Because it was so important for me, I am excited to come alongside Chris and Christopher this summer to help make Southeastern a place where the teenagers can take part in the fellowship that only Jesus can bring.

 

I see so much life and energy in this group of teenagers; I cannot wait to start experiencing Jesus’ love with them. I am eagerly anticipating the plans the Lord has for us this summer and where He will take us! As excited as I am to get to work with the teenagers, I am equally excited to get to be a part of this congregation, so please don’t hesitate to introduce yourself! 

 

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Hi all!  For those who haven’t yet met me, I am Christopher Ashburn and I am excited to be here as one of the youth interns this summer.  And for everyone reading this, I just want to tell you a little bit about why I decided to come here.

 

I grew up my whole life in Huntsville, Alabama, and spent most of these years at Central Church of Christ.  Though I may have been a bit shy in my elementary and middle school years (okay, that’s a bit of an understatement), I began getting very involved with the youth group at the end of my eighth grade year.  That in my mind was the greatest choice I ever made.  I consider my high school years to be the best four years of my life, ultimately concluding with the summer of senior year being the best three months of it all.

 

During the last two summers, one of our interns lived at my house.  Needless to say, we became very close, and I’m happy to consider him one of my best friends and mentor to this day.  Though I didn’t get to spend as much time with my other interns, each one of them was a blessing to me and I still keep in touch with many of them.  I also had two youth ministers during my seven years in the youth group, both of whom are still good friends of mine and people I feel comfortable talking with for just about anything.

 

And all of that brings us to why I am here now.  The reason why youth ministry is so special to me is because of the impact it had on my own personal life.  I find it important that others encounter similar joy and support during this time span.  And now, here at Southeastern Church of Christ, I hope that I can continue to be a part of that same joy and support.