2/8/13- Church-Orphanage-College

 But you, O God, do see trouble and grief;

    you consider it to take it in hand.
The victim commits himself to you;
    you are the helper of the fatherless. (Psalm 10:14)

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27)

Thoughts: A little discourse off the familiar path:   I have a story about National Signing Day that hits close to home. Kenyon Brown grew up in the Chapin/Little Mountain area until middle school. He was a straight A student at CMS. He told my wife (who taught him social studies) that he wanted to be a medical doctor- but didn't know how he could. Lots of our kids and youth knew him at school and also Melinda Rogers helped tutor him at the HUB and became very close to him. However, his father had left him and his mother had some other problems- eventually being evicted from her trailer. Kenyon and his brother and sister were going to live with his grandmother who already had 12-15 in her small trailer. The social worker asked if LMPC could help recommend him and get him into Thornwell Home for Children- which we did. Every now and then I would touch base with Kenyon as would Kay and the whole Rogers family- we saw him play football one night for Clinton High. He said he really liked Thornwell a lot and was keeping up with his studies. I told him we would not forget him- and would pray for him.
Last Wednesday- National Signing Day for Division 1-A schools (when top recruits sign their letter of comittment to their college football teams). Eric Rogers announced that Kenyon had signed with Presbyterian College on a scholarship as a defensive back. On the way home I was listening to the local sports radio- and guess what? They were reading Presbyterian College's recruits- and Kenyon's name was read. Kenyon's brother didn't stay at Thornwell- but came back and got involved with the wrong crowd. But Kenyon is shining. I like to think the Church helped- through the founding of Thornwell by a Presbyterian minister in 1875 and for emphasizing a strong Christ-centered ministry today, and our church and individuals plugging in to make a difference in the lives of young people like Kenyon.

This Sunday is Scout Sunday. We see young people like Grayson Hermelin as their patrol leader shining, and Cody Millager finishing his eagle project of benches for our playground/preschool and also professing his faith and being baptized. We see a strong youth program that is taking 19 to our presbytery's senior high retreat in a few weeks. No program is perfect, but when souls are being energized and blooming right before our eyes with salvation and hope we are seeing the hand of God.  

Prayer: Today we pray for Kenyon that you will lead him making his rough places smooth, being a father to the fatherless.  Help us as your people to care for those in need.  

Youtube of Kenyon Brown's signing day from Clinton High School