Wimberley

Some of my blog friends may not know or remember, but over the Memorial Day weekend, Wimberley, TX had a great flood. In June, our Church, Kingsland Baptist Church, sent a group of men to work helping out the flood victims. They helped by removing flood material from the homes, then removing the cabinets, and finally, dry wall and insulation. Then they disinfected the whole area. After this dried, they were set to rebuild. Our church has joined the Texas Baptist Men’s Disaster Relief so our church can go better equipped and better trained to the next disaster. Sharon and I have also joined and taken our first training. I am going to go for Chaplaincy training for Texas Baptist Men in October. 

This past weekend, Sharon and I went to Wimberley with our Santa Claus group, Lone Star Santas. As I have mentioned previously, I have dyed my beard white, grown my hair long, and with age, my middle has grown. In fact, Sharon and I have taken some classes and we both have an Assoc. degree in Santa Clauseology. I also have gotten some new letters behind my name. I was Brad Black Th.D., now I am Brad Black Th.D., RBS, IBRBS. The RBS stands for Real Bearded Santa, and IBRBS is the International Brotherhood of Real Bearded Santas. (HO, HO, HO) Anyway, I digress; Lone Star Santas also went to Wimberley to help the flood victims by giving out toys to the children affected.   

First, I have to describe the drive in to Wimberley. Wimberley is in the hill country and is just a beautiful drive. Wimberley is in a valley, so driving in looking down, the ravine is just breathtaking. We knew about the flood, and people had told us to look at the effects as we drove in, and they were right. As we drove in, we took the back way off I 10 using several farm to market roads. Several miles away we could see big brown brush piles of logs and debris that looked like they had been bulldozed out of the way. One section of the road had been recently repaved because there were dry washes on both sides and when the water came, it washed the road away. In other dry washes, we could see tree limbs and other debris still stuck in the fences. The most telling of the damage from the flood was the bridge going into Wimberley. It had been repaired, but it was not all pretty, it was ugly and you could tell it was hastily repaired. Once on the bridge, both sides you see a quarter mile wide gorge of twisted trees, and brown mess, just a dead zone. 

We went to the local FEMA Disaster office and set up several table with toys for the children. 

The first kid that came in was the one who had the most impact on me. He was about 5 or 6; he would not ever talk with me and always stood on the other side of his mother from me. He would talk with his mom and I could hear, but he never spoke directly to me. In fact, he would not even sit with me to take a picture with all his toys from Santa.

Well, I took him to the stuffed animals and that was great, then we went to the sports toys and he found a skateboard and he was all excited about that. In fact, it took a lot of urging to get him to go to pick even one more toy, but he finally went over to the boy table and got an Iron Man mask. The final thing we got him was a candy cane and as I was walking them out and the mom opened up to me a little bit. She told me that both the house she and her son lived in and her parent’s home had been destroyed in the flood. Now, the two of them and her parents were all living in a pop-up camper on the hill on their land. You have to put this in perspective, this is Texas, the whole summer it has been hot, and we have just gone through about two weeks of 100 plus degree-days. Our upstairs AC was out a week, and we had to sleep downstairs on chairs, air mattresses and couches, but it at least it was cool. I just cannot imagine all summer in a pop up trailer. 

She also told me that they had just chain sawed all the logs and knocked down all the walls and were down to the slab; however, they had a big pile of debris that they could not burn because they were under a burn ban. Therefore, instead of being about to start rebuilding the two houses, they were going to have to get a truck and haul all of the debris away. 

She told me thank you, she was happy for the toys so he would be able play with something and not be under her feet all the time. From what I saw, he was very clingy with his mom. I do not know what he was like before the flood, but it was obvious that he was very dependent on his mom for everything. 

The other thing that I saw that hit me hard, not so much with my first little guy, but a lot of other kids, was how important it was to have stuffed animals available for the kids. I saw several kids clinging to their new stuffed toy as they walked away, just thrilled to have something to love. I love this picture because that is why we were there, to show them love, and that stuffed animal was our proof that that was happening.

I must give credit, most of these photos are not Sharon’s and mine, but were taken by my fellow Santas, and a special thanks to Santa Clem. 

Kaleb is Growing Up

     This week our church had a men’s emphasis week. On Thursday, we had a men’s event with a speaker who encouraged men not to try to do it alone because Satan is out there like a roaring lion seeing whom he can devourer. Then today, Saturday, one of the core men’s groups had a father/son mission’s trip. 

     Kaleb turned 11 in December, however, he is a big boy and he looks older than he is. I thought he was too young to go to the men’s event. I do let him come to the men’s Bible study I lead, but a lot of that is because he is very helpful, he likes to study the Bible, he makes the muffins every week for the men, and plays host by getting the men’s coffee. However, I am not in charge of the men’s event so could not give that privilege to him.

     Kaleb asked early Sunday morning if he could come Thursday and I had told him no, it was just for men. After the sermon, there was a video advertising the men’s event. When Kaleb saw the video, he begged to come. I said no. Without missing a beat he said, “I will make muffins”. I told him that would be like 400 or 500 muffins just so everybody could get one. His gave the classic kid’s answer, “So.” You also have to realize that this is all going on during announcements and it was all I could do to keep from bursting out laughing. 

     Kaleb then asks, “Can I ask him?” pointing to Gil Harris, the man in charge of the men’s event. I said sure. He was bound and determined that he wanted to go and I saw that he was not going to take “no” from me. About this time, they asked us to stand for prayer. Kaleb got up, turned around so he could put his foot on the stage front like a starting block, and as soon as they said “Amen” Kaleb sprinted to Gil. I was concerned for Gil, because as I said Kaleb is a big boy and once you get him started it is hard to stop him. 

Well, Gil obviously said yes, in fact, he said, “I better see you there.” After Kaleb told me that he could go he also whispered, “And I did not have to say anything about making muffins.” I had to laugh then.  

On the way to the men’s event I told Kaleb about a blog I read from our Missions Pastor about how they were going to have a father and son mission’s trip. He was pretty excited, which to be honest, was what I had hoped. I had taken my older kids to Mexico when they were a little bit old then he is now and it was a real life changing experience for them. Therefore, Kaleb and I decided that if we saw Omar (our Missions Pastor) we would talk to him about it. Well, before the meeting, we saw Omar and talked to him about it and he invited us to come along and join him. 

     We enjoyed the men’s event, there were great videos, and the speaker was a retired Marine who spoke about a band of brothers and always having someone to have your back. The speaker gave out cards with a big 6 on the front and on the back, it said I have blank’s 6 and blank has my 6. When we got to the van that night, I talked with Kaleb and we agreed that we would have each other’s 6 and signed the cards. I am planning to get them framed. 

     Today we just got back from the mission trip we went to a halfway house ran by a church called Manna House. First, I have to tell you I got Kaleb up early and he was exited and wanted to go, this does not always happen in the early morning. We got there and started right in digging some ditches for water lines so they could irrigate their gardens. The rest of the day, we spent taking a big sand pile and using it to fill low spots on the grounds so later it can be used for more gardens or buildings. It sounds pretty mundane, but it was hard work and I am sore as I am writing this. Kaleb worked hard and tried to do everything; he even pushed the wheel barrel once even though he was the youngest son there (this is funny, you ask him to clean his room and nothing happens). However, Kaleb was upbeat and excited the whole time. We then had a service with the men from the house. This was nice. A couple of men told their testimony about how they got into drugs, got to a low point, and found Jesus and how they were trying to straighten out their lives. We also went out to eat with the men from the house and ate more Pizza (twice in 3 days is a little much for me).

On the way home Kaleb was all excited. He said, “I have now been on my first Father/Son Missions trip and it was cool.” He was also planning. He was saying, “We need to go back like every month and fill in more and then they could have a baseball diamond.” (I guess I should have mentioned that Kaleb is really into baseball and especially the Astros). 

     I say all of this to show that my little boy is becoming a man. You can see he is still a boy because of some of his actions and the things he says; but by Kaleb wanting to be identified with men and wanting to be around men, it shows me he will very soon be a man. I am losing my baby but I am gaining a man. 

Evangelism Skit

I wrote this several years ago while at another church and we were working with Evangelism Explosion. I wrote this version, but I got the idea from a play I saw at Willow Creek Church, also, years ago. I thought now would be a good time to publish this because I have had some deep subjects lately and I just need to get back to the basics.

(Stage is like a giant waiting room with several couches and benches. One bench is front stage left with two people on it. Joe is on the left side; Lilia is on the right. Several other people from church sitting or standing throughout stage. At back of stage is a door and next to it is a sign that says “Highway to Heaven.” When door opens snippet of song “Highway to Heaven” plays. Inside the door and up wall are chasing lights that look to be running up when door is opened.)

Open

(People milling about in quiet conversation until Angel speaks and all is silent.)

Angel (Yells): Todd, Kerry, David, Rylee

(The called all head toward Angel. When they all get there the Angel say)

Angel:  You may enter now.

(As the door opens “Highway to Heaven” plays and chasing light run. Brad enters stage Left)

Brad:  Hey Joe! Hi Lilia! (Brad is carrying a cardboard box w/ a cross and a Thomas Kincaid picture. Brad is also wearing his green AWANAS shirt and cross ring. Brad sits between Joe and Lilia)

Brad:  what happened; the church bus never stopped.

Joe:  Yah! We plowed into that gas tanker and that’s all she wrote. I heard Tod tell Rex that he needed to get someone to look at the brakes the last time he drove it. I guess Rex forgot.

(Awkward silence for a moment then Angel calls again.)

Angel:  Scott, Jane, Zack, Hannah

(They walk toward Angel as they get there)

Angel:  You may enter

(As the door opens, song plays again and lights chase)

(When door shuts)

Lilia:  What took you so long to get here? You didn’t have to lay there and suffer for a while, did you?

Brad:  No, I went back to the house to get a few things. I could not get to heaven without them.

Joe:  What do you mean?

Brad:  You know a few things to show God that I belong. Like my AWANAS shirt, and my cross ring, this cross, or this Thomas Kinkade picture.

(Brad pulls the things out of the box as he talks about them. Then places them back in the box when he finishes)

Joe:   I used to think like you and my life was a real mess… (Joe gives his EE testimony)

(When Joe finishes)

Brad:  Man, you have a testimony; I always said I was going to get me a testimony after I heard Nicky Cruz… but I didn’t.

(Immediately Angel calls)

Angel:  Joe, Tammy, Jenny, Joshua

(Joe sheepishly and slowly gets up and walks over to the angel)

Joe:  (in hushed tones to the Angel) I am trying to show Brad the way to get Salvation; can you wait about 30 min?

Angel:  (leans over and talks quietly with Joe) I am afraid it is too late for Brad. He died without Jesus. His trust is in those things, not Jesus; they will lead him straight to Hell. (Or substitute the Devil)

By the way, Joe you had talked with Brad hundreds of times, why did you wait until now.

(Joe hangs his head and even shows a tear in his eyes)

Angel: (Yelling again) you may enter

(Joe slowly enters the door “Highway to Heaven” plays and lights chase up. Joe looks back eyes red and tears)

Brad: (to Lilia) I knew Joe would make it, that testimony was good. But, he scared me when he was talking to the Angel that long.

Lilia:  Can I ask you a question?

Brad:  Sure

Lillian:  If you were to die today, do you know for sure that you would go to heaven?

Brad:  Dah uah! I am here aren’t I?

Lilia:  You know the Bible tells us that you can know for sure. Would you like me to tell you how I came to know I have eternal life?

Brad:  Sure, I bet you got a good testimony too.


Lillian: But let me ask you one more question.

Brad:  okay

Lillian:  If you were to die tonight and stand before God and He asked you, why should I let you into my heaven? What would you say?

Brad:  That’s why I went back to the house to get all this stuff to show Him.

(At that moment, out of the stage right door comes a hooded black creature. The face is dark maybe use a Darth Maul mask. He runs across the stage grabs Brad’s cardboard box and runs out the stage left door. Brad gets up and runs after the creature)

 Brad :( Yelling) Hey!!!!!

(Brad fellows him out at a full gallop. Outside the door it is total black [may have to place a curtain to get the effect.] Door slams shut and you hear Brad’s yell getting further away as he is falling, but he never hits bottom, then silence)

(Another awkward moment the Angel calls out)

Angel:  Lilia  …


(Black out)