Valerie Rae Hanneman
John 15:13 (21st Century KJV) “Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
Recently Care Fresno Kids Klub went to Cayucos for a day of fun in the sun. I cannot even begin to tell you how much fun it was. For three of our parents it was the first time that they had ever seen the ocean. I wasn’t expecting that. I knew that a bunch of our kids had never seen the ocean – but parents? What a joy it was for me to be part of watching them play in the ocean. We rented a bunch of boogie-boards and let the kids go wild. The expressions on their faces as they got their first taste of the ocean was classic. I don’t know – maybe they didn’t realize it would be as salty as it is. When we were done in the ocean we feasted on BBQ hamburgers & hot dogs. There were 74 of us who went. There were a slew of kids and young people, a bunch of parents, and myself as the lead volunteer. And then there was Char Cole and Norm Baird. The kids were there because they had earned the Kids Kash to go. My leadership team (Jr & Sr High, mostly) were there because they faithfully volunteer throughout the year and earn their way on our adventures. A bunch of parents went to spend the day with their kids and many of them drove their cars to help me to get kids up there. I was there because I am the lead volunteer for this ministry; I put the trip together, so I was kinda responsible for the whole thing. But why were Char and Norm there? Oh, I know what their responsibilities were. Char took responsibility for the BBQ for 74 people. Norm drove the church bus greatly alleviating my transportation problems. But why were they there? Unlike the rest al the adults, neither one of them have children or grandchildren who are part of the Kids Klub program. They both lead busy, active lives – so it wasn’t like they had nothing better to do with a Saturday than to spend it with a slew of overly – let’s see, how do I say it politely – rambunctious children. Why were they there?
Usually when we read these words of Jesus we know that He was speaking of Himself and His great love for us that compelled Him to lay down His life for us. But I wonder, what more can we see in this verse if we take a different look then that which is usual.
My best friend is Jesus, I love Him more than anything and I would gladly lay down my physical life for Him. Seriously speaking, if somebody were to put a gun to my head and say, “Deny Jesus or die!” what is the worst that is going to happen? They shoot me in the head and I am on my face at Jesus’ feet before my empty body hits the ground – never to leave Him again. Oh, yeah, that’s a bummer – NOT! So I think that this verse could also mean our laying our lives down for our best Friend.
What if it also means laying down our lives on a day by day basis? That is why Char and Norm were at the beach on that Saturday. They were laying down their lives at Jesus’ feet. I am sure that they both had things that they should have been doing. They should have been mowing their lawns, washing those clothes, cleaning the living room, or bathing the dog. They had things that they could have been doing – watching the game, going to the movies, having dinner with friends. But they laid down what they should’ve or could’ve been doing with their lives and chose to serve Jesus by going with a bunch of kids to the beach.
They lay down their lives often. Char cooks for Kids Klub throughout the year. She works up at Camp Sugarpine – winter & summer -to provide scholarships for kids to go to camp. This past winter Char was in and out of the hospital with serious health problems. When I would go to visit her, her biggest worries were about not being able to cook for Kids Klub, and not being able to work at Sugarpine for those scholarships. Norm drives for Kids Klub anytime we need him, often changing his own schedule to do so. He drives for any ministry that asks him to. Wednesday he drove the bus to Magic Mountain not getting home until 2:30 am. This weekend he has laid down his life to volunteer his time and abilities on a weekend Emmaus retreat.
On a day-by-day basis Char and Norm lay down their lives that the world says they should live to pick up a life that the world simply doesn’t understand. And they are not the only ones. Our Community of faith has many ministries that are accomplishing great things for God because of a group of extraordinary people who lay down their lives for Jesus. They choose to serve. Even as I type this, their faces fill my mind, and I praise God for their service that is changing this lost world with the hope that is Jesus.
They don’t do it for the fame – ‘cause there isn’t any. They don’t do it for the money – there sure isn’t any of that. They don’t do it for the power – because they have no power when they serve.
This group of servants lay down their lives because they love their Friend Jesus. Someday they may be asked to lay their physical life for their Friend, but until that day, they will continue to lay down their lives on a day-by day basis.
And they will change the world.
LORD Jesus, I praise You for those who lay down their lives before You every day. They are my heroes of the faith. Help me to be like them. I lay my life before You.
Contact Valerie or sign up for the e-Ministry of Fresno First Baptist at Valerie@fresnofirst.org
Posted by Valerie at July 7, 2006 06:59 PM