A trip to paradise...

As I sit in a chair with the sun at my back on my last morning here in Guatemala City, Guatemala I am as passionate about our mission and vision as an organization as I have ever been. Being here in "Paradise" has definitely  reminded me that Jesus loved me when I was unlovable, reached me when I was unreachable, and forgave me when I did the unforgivable.

Once you encounter Christ He wants you to experience His people... The Lord's prayer starts with "OUR FATHER" not MY FATHER...because God wants you to know you're not an only child. We are in this thing TOGETHER!! We must reach out to make an impact in places locally and globally.

 With the help of Engadi Ministries (www.EngadiMinistries.org) I've had the opportunity to visit with the people of Guatemala and see the great need here. We have spent a great deal of our trip focusing on the needs in Zone 18 of the city, nicknamed "Paradise" which is very misleading. In Paradise, 5 out 10 girls are sexually abused by their 15th birthday. The man that raped her and got her pregnant will abandon her and the child. The children grow up fatherless, without role models, and without a family. Society treats them like trash and disassociates from them. Without a hand to lift them out of poverty the kids repeat the only patterns they know: abuse, violence, alcoholism, and drug abuse. 

The boys in Guatemala, desperate to escape abuse, and starvation look for a "way out" by joining gangs. Gang members have a life expectancy of 24 years old in Guatemala and those that make it past this age are usually just rotting in jail. Nate Hardeman, and Engadi are providing an alternative for these children in Paradise. Go to their site to see how you can help! I got the chance to see their vision and also spend time personally with the youth in Zone 18. I am reminded more than ever of the importance of God's command for us to Love one another. The situation these kids are living in are terrible, but they are not hopeless. Through the love of Christ all things are possible.

Many of the athletes and coaches I get to invest in daily, also come from impossible odds, and continue to face mountains of adversity in their daily life. My approach with the people of zone 18 has been the same as it is for our disadvantaged youth in the United States: Invest, Invite, Inspire!!!

People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care. It is vital for us to meet people where they are...meet their immediate needs, before you try to meet their eternal ones. Secondly, any person who is going to experience change has to want it and be willing to work hard to get it...they must decide personally to step up and sacrifice for greatness. Finally, what good does it do for us to get out if we don't go back and help someone else? We must encourage our athletes to be mentors and role models to others, they must give back.

Remember, when Jesus stepped down and came to earth, He came to "SEEK and SAVE the lost"! We didn't swim back to the boat and He just saved us...He also sought us out...Jesus was the search team! Jesus found you as is, loved you as is, accepted you as is, saved you as is, but by the grace of God, He did not leave you as is!! Let's model this formula today in our everyday life... Meet people where they are, but let's commit to leave this world better than we found it. 

Stay In The Game,

Shep


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UNBREAKABLE ...

Resilience is defined as: 1.) the power or ability to return to original form or position after being bent, compressed, or stretched; elasticity 2.) the ability to recover readily from illness, depression, adversity, or the like; buoyancy.


 In this life we all will face some form of adversity. Some of us more than others, but each of us all the same will have our portion. This is not up for debate...so rather than trying to wish away the inevitable, it would be wise for us to prepare for that which is coming. Truth is, tough times don't last...but tough people do! Life can make us bitter or it can make us better, and if you and I want to be on the latter end of that statement, it will require a great deal of resilience.

When I was a child there was a popular toy that kids played with called bop bags. These toys were tall plastic toys filled with air that were weighted at the bottom. When you struck the toy by kicking or punching it, the momentum from your contact would send the toy to the floor, but it would bounce right back into its original position. Actually, the harder you hit it, the quicker and stronger it would bounce right back. 

     

The main reason for the resilience of this toy is because of its weighted foundation...such as it is in life. Many of the most resilient people I have ever been around have been those that have a strong foundation. In order for you and I to bounce back from all the shots life will throw at us whether relationally, spiritually, financially, professionally, etc... we must have a foundation that we can depend on. 

What are you standing on today? What is your foundation? Is it proven? Is it trustworthy? 

My personal foundation that has helped me to overcome impossible odds time and time again, has been my faith. I believe that God is who He said He is...and He can do what He said He can. This truth has kept me focused, faithful, persistent, unwavering, and most of all resilient during some of the toughest times in my life. 

Check your foundation today, it could be the difference between winning and losing.

Stay In The Game!!!