.

Interview w/ by bro Lawrance Lybarger

Last night at Awaken, P Mike spoke about Defining Moments in life & turning your moment into a lifestyle. Basically, taking your moment and putting action behind it.

A few weeks ago, God spoke to Lawrance and he started changing his life from the inside out.  Last night he wanted to get rid of an outer persona that had been w/ him for a while, actually for 6 years, his hair.  Interview w/ Lawrance and pics below:

Name : Lawrance Lybarger, Age: 17, The kid w/ long hair, big gauges and tight pants. L= Lawrance & R= Ryan

R: When did you start growing out your hair?

L: 6 years ago, I was 11 years old.

 

R: Why did you decide to grow out your hair?

L: I had friends w/ longer hair. I started skating. I wanted to blend in.

 

R: Can a person skate w/ out having long hair.

L: Yes, for sure

 

R: So what was the draw?

L: Listening to hardcore metal, a lot of people in the bands I listened to had long hair. The band members where cool, I want to look like that.

 

R: Do you think you are cool now?

L: Of course, just w/ short hair.  

 

R: Did you have an attitude w/ your long hair? 

L: Rebellious. I like the book, “The Outsiders” I wanted to be rebellious like them.  I started doing stupid things, breaking in, drinking, smoking,.

 

R: What about God during that time, did you believe in Him?

L: Yes, but denying it because of the people I was hanging out w/. I came across as not believing in God.

 

R: Your hair was long and silky (LOL) - What made you want to cut your hair?

L: A few weeks ago, P Mike spoke about Mary breaking her alibaster box, it was her most prized possession.  God started dealing w/ me. I have been wanting to change. So one day the thought came to me to give my hair up for God.  Some of the attitudes and things I have done were centered around my hair.  My hair was my prized possession. Would want to hit people for messing w/ my hair.  If my hair wasn’t fixed right, I wouldn’t go to school.

 

R: I know what you mean.

L: Ya, you look you had long hair at one time (LOL)

 

R:So you gave up your hair for God?

L: Yes, it’s a way to start fresh

R: How is God moving in your life?

L: I have a bunch of new friends, I am doing better in school & I have a good relationship w/ God. Instead of blaming others, I taking responsibility myself, I am owning up to my mistakes.

 

R: You have made many bad mistakes, bad choices and had a bad life style, you have sold drugs & wronged a lot of people; How does Gods grace feel to you?

L: I feel his grace all the time, everyday. If I carried on, I would most likely be dead in a gutter.  He is w/ me now all the time.

 

R: Do you regret cutting your hair?

L: No, but I do miss it a little (as he throws his head sideways, out of habit, as to move his hair to one side, but has none to do that w/) I did it for a good reason.  I think it helped a lot of kids, maybe some of the kids saw God moving in my life and how big of a change I have made. Maybe He would make in others’ lives!  That would be cool, I’m stoked!

 

R: What do you think of other kids w/ long hair?

L: Not all people w/ long hair are bad.

R: I agree w/ you.

L: (Holding up the bag of hair) I am surprised how much hair I had.  I didn’t realize how warm that hair kept my head warm? Now I know how you feel.

R: Welcome to ‘beanie’ world! Smiles

Way to go Lawrance!

In a Box?

How many of us have heard the statement, you live in a box or us four and no more. Today I wanted to address that a little bit, along w/ diversity.

The word diverse simply means, being different. I know in a church staff world, the entire staff does not try to emulate the lead pastor. That would just be weird to have a lot of little mini-me’s of the lead pastor running around. It takes all types of people to build a staff. 

For instance, our staff at GJFA comes from diverse backgrounds, we are not all alike. We were all raised in different areas, some w/ different views on religion, ethnicity of cities and so on. Jesus brought us all together to minister here.  Through this diversity, we make a well blended strong team w/ lots of experience.

The only reason I bring this up is because I have encountered some prejudice statements a few times in the past couple of weeks and it’s been bugging me. I am not going to bother you w/ the details, it doesn't matter.

I am still floored by the prejudice attitudes that spew from peoples body language and mouths. (Now, I know from experience there is what I call reverse prejudice, where outsiders look in and prejudge as well, but I’ll hit that subject another time.)

Just a small question to throw out: What does God think and how does He see people?

God loves ALL people. It doesn’t matter where they are from or what they look like. 

God so loved the WORLD, just not one kind of people.  

God made us, His people, in His image.

Just because a human being looks different than you, doesn’t give you the right to treat them different than someone who looks exactly like you.    

Most the time: Their ways make as much sense as ours or I may never agree with them, but I can relate.

Just some food for thought or discussion.  Hit me up on FB or blogsite: What are your thoughts on the subject?  Play nice!

www.ryancook.net

Successful Way to Share your Faith

Wanted to hit few of the notes from my message last night on sharing faith.

Paul was speaking @ Areopagus Acts 17:16-34

How did Paul Share His Faith

  ·      Didn’t matter where he was, seized opportunity- He was hanging around waiting for Silas and Timothy

·      His spirit was provoked or troubled by what he saw

·      He was just being himself

·      He met the people where they were, on their turf- spoke to ALL people, both Jews and Gentiles.

·      He didn’t judge them because they didn’t know any better- What if Paul went in and said, “you guys are stupid, your following false gods, you guys are ignorant” would that have worked? No, ran them off and shut down.

·      He believed in what He spoke about

·      He wasn’t afraid

·      He made known what was unknown_ He explained God to them

·      He got people thinking- they said “we want to hear more about this later”

·      Didn’t win everyone to Christ- Not a perfect conversion rate, but still some believed! And that’s what matters, they were not all ready, they weren’t all in the same place in their journey of life.

God orchestrates this. We might just be a step in the process. The first or opening step, maybe the closing step. Just because you don’t win someone to Christ the first time doesn’t mean it was all for nothing.

8 Easy ways you can share your faith

·      Talk to people: Just talk, be friendly, be relational

·      Ask & Answer and Listen: open your mouth and also be an active listener, people want to tell their story. Listening also earns credibility

·      Be Selfless- it’s not all about us

·      Open your mind and your eyes to others, spiritually & literally (I see lots of Christians walk around w/ there heads down, avoiding other people, Ohh there so and so, let's keep walking…..be friendly, what if one of those people are going through a hard time or just need a friendly hello?

·      Visit different places- we are a people of habit, eat at the same places, visit same places, try a new one, expand yourself

·      Don’t be afraid- Listen to what Acts 18:9-11 says-  ⁹One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. ¹⁰For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city." ¹¹So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God

·      If you have been a hypocrite, repent & ask for forgiveness- make it right w/ people- earns credibility. People wont care what you know until they know you care.

·      Ask and listen to the Holy Spirit- Act 19:21- says Paul was purposed or impelled to go to Macedonia

·      Be Yourself!! We have a lot in common w/ other humans. Don’t diminish that just because we attend church. We all feel pain the same way. 

·      Be yourself- Someone needs what you have. Some of you can't do what Pastor Mike does w/ the youth or reach students as some of our students can and so on and so on......

www.ryancook.net