12/13/2011
LORD! ME? LORD! NOW? LORD! WHY?
The questions from me to God over the past several weeks. I was at work a while ago and was driving by Rocky’s Bar. Rocky’s has been closed for several weeks! I had this little voice tell me that I needed to get out the car and look at the place. I did as I was told to do, and got out and started looking around. Being in cop mode I was looking for damaged doors and windows, I didn’t find anything out of the ordinary, so I went about my business. Later that night, I was told that I was to open this place not as a bar but as a place for the youth of community to hang out. Not just a hang out spot but a Christian Teen Center. A place where kids could come, but the Word of God would be the guide to the happenings of the center. A place for the youth could bring their instruments and play Christian Music, where the word and works of God could be put on public display. It is to be a place where church denominations don’t matter! All are welcome in this place! I was also told that in order for this to work, I needed the support of my Dear Wife. God also told me that the name of the place was to be called “The Crossing.”
It was about then that I started to ask the questions from the top of the page. Lord why me? I don’t have the money to do this! I don’t have the time! I don’t have the equipment! I don’t, I don’t, I don’t, I can’t, I can’t, !!!!!! SO WHY GOD? God has put some awesome things together for me to keep me on the right path. There have just been some awesome coincidences presented to me over the past several weeks. Almost like maybe God has a plan! A Marriage Encounter friend of ours used to always say that God doesn't call the qualified, he qualifies the called! Lord, I need some qualifications!
On the way to the Eldon Football Game, I asked Angel is she would pray about something. She was kinda hesitant when I told her that I needed her to pray about The Crossing! She wasn’t really sure what I was asking from her, but after some explaining she agreed to so. I kept the whole thing under wraps for a long time, ya see I am deathly afraid of failing.
I was telling Angel about the plan that God was working on! She in a round-a-bout way said “really, you want to put a Christian Youth Center in an old bar?” I had asked that same question and got the response of that everything that is old will be renewed again. I took that to mean that even with the past the building has had, it could be used for something positive.
God, where am I supposed to get the equipment to run this place? We were going to Columbia last week to do some shopping and get Angel’s cell phone repaired. While we were in Columbia we were also shopping for dishes to put in church. We didn’t really find anything in our price range and decided to stop at a restaurant supply place in Boonville. She found exactly what she was looking for and at the same time God put me in a place that I needed to be. I was telling the guy at the supply place about my aspirations of the bar. He said that he had stuff in his storerooms from the “Old Willy’s” and would be more than happy to help us out with stuff we would need. It was almost like God had placed me in the right place at the right time. Imagine that!
I was doing the whole I don’t have the money to do this thing with God. I got a call from Dispatch to go to City Hall to unlock the doors to the meeting room. Pretty simple stuff to do. When I got there I was met by Dave Jungmeyer! He told me that his wife was needing to talk to me about a grant! Okay God! You want me to talk to Mrs. Jungmeyer about “money?” Okay I gotcha! Just another person placed on the path to keep me moving? Another coincidence? Mrs. Jungmeyer is a grant writer for the city and also writes grants for a few different organizations. I had the chance to talk with her about the availability of funding for a project like this. Money is tight for everyone and times are hard, but where there is a will there is a way. And with God’s will behind this I can’t wait to see what happens next!
In Church on Sunday, Rev. Caudel was telling the church that part of his Hospice Training involved him being involved in the implementation of a program in his community! “Wow!” God, there is some of the help that I would need to get this off and running. Thank You God! I was also advised that one of the ladies from our church is involved in grant writing for the State of Missouri! Another WOW moment!
I was driving around town one night last week thinking to myself, “Who could get to help run the place.” I thought that I needed one of the “bigger” names in town to attract the young people. Then God laid a name on my heart that just blew my mind. We have a gentleman come to our youth services from Boonville. Ed does a lot of work with Prison Ministries at the Boonville Correctional Center. He has a good heart and an awesome knowledge of the Bible. He cares about the kids in our youth group is respected and loved by everyone there. I won’t go into any further details about Ed because is don’t have his permission, but what an awesome choice. I was telling Angel about my talk with God and his answer to my question, all she could say was WOW! That just about says it all!
Tuesday I went online looking for things like pool tables, pinball machines and things like that. Found out that fun things are expensive. But I hadn’t given up on that just yet. I need to look around see what I can find!
Wednesday night at out youth services, Cher Caudel “made” me talk about my vision for the community. I was telling the youth and the adults there about the vision that God had laid upon my heart! It was like there was magic in the air. I told the youth about the needing a “big name” to help run the place. Ty Kirchner’s response was “how big is God’s name?” Thanks, Ty! I talked about all the things I had mentioned above and how through every turn God has placed someone on the path to help guide me and how amazing it has been. I confessed to being scared and questioning God’s plan! Just letting go and telling about the reservations that I had, was awesome! Seems like I needed to get that off my shoulders to let this dream breath!
Matt, one of our youth sponsors at church, brought in an air hockey table that one of his friends had given away! Cher later told Angel that she might have an angle on a few arcade type games, and some things like that! Our son Brandon reminded me that we had a ping pong table in the basement. Refer back to the conversation that I had with myself on Tuesday.
A while back, we went to a concert in Sedalia. It was MercyMe and Brandon Heath. God told me back then that I needed to organize a concert here in California. I have sent messages to a few groups and hope to have some good news here in the near future. I think this concert may be a fundraiser for the “The Crossing!” That thought was another of those God placed ideas, that I wasn’t obedient to! So God, Sorry I guess I messed that up.
So today is the official start to the dream of “The Crossing.” Been making phone calls trying to see what the cost of the building may involve and spending a lot of time talking with God! If I may ask one favor from all that read this, please pray for guidance for all that are willing to get involved.
Thanks for reading my ramblings everyone! If you have any thought or ideas please let me know.
Dale
Jeremiah 29:11-13
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
