"It's my birthday today!"  Happy Birthday was shouted throughout the Cafe.  He is excited and very talkative.

He leaned over to listen to a discussion about God between a worker and a young lady.  He seemed very interested so I began talking with him about God.

"Do you go to church?" I asked.

"No," he replied.  "I haven't been to church in 8 years.  I believe there is a God because someone had to make the first person."

I reached for a Bible and had him read a few verses in Genesis 1.  His heart was so open.  We then turned to John 3:16-18 and he read the verses.  We talked about God's love for him personally.  I explained about sin and that Jesus took his punishment for his sin upon himself so that he could one day live in Heaven with Him.

"Do you want to pray and ask Jesus to be your Savior?" I asked.

"Now?" he asked.

I said, "Only if you want to."

He immediately clasped his hands and bowed his head and prayed that Jesus would forgive his sin.  Such joy filled his eyes that I knew he was sincere and God had done a work in his life.   

When I asked him to tell Paula what he just did, he said, "Hey Paula, I belong to Jesus now!"

We got him a new Bible and dated it.  I told him that he is now born into God's family and God is his Heavenly Father who will always be with him.  He is now born again on his birthday.  I showed him where the Book of John is so that he can read it and learn more about God's love for him.  

What a joy to have been an instrument, in a moment of time, that God could use to bring this young man to salvation.  He will be back with questions and I look forward to them.  I now understand completely the vision and ministry of the Cafe to feed hungry souls.

PRAISE GOD FOR HIS MIGHTY WORKS!

Lynn

"You look familiar," the young man says. "Did you once live in a white house with a staircase going up the side?"

"Yes," I answer inquisitively with raised brows.

Then he says, "I used to come to your house."

"Really?" I ask.

"I was a Jehovah's Witness, and I would come and talk to you."

"REALLY!" I reply, "I hope you remember me for good reasons and not bad reasons."

"It was good," the young man reassures me. "I came to talk with you three times."

"Wow," I remark. "I don't remember. I mean...you kinda' look familiar."

"Yeah, I was just a kid then."

I sip my coffee and then ask, "What happened after the third visit?"

"You asked me not to come back."

"Oh." I reply. And then ask him, "You said you were a Jehovah's Witness. What happened? Was there something untrue about there belief-system that made you stop practicing?"

"No, not really. I mean I couldn't take the hypocrisy. The leaders would say we had to live one way but they would live a different way. That...and...they basically made me choose between my girlfriend and the church. So I was disfellowshipped. No one there will talk to me anymore. They won't even shake my hand. If I see them, I'll say hi but they won't initiate a hello."

I can tell that he's open to discuss more so I say, "If you are no longer a Jehovah's Witness, would you consider yourself an atheist or do you believe in God."

"No," he answers. "I believe in God."

"Is this your first time at the cafe?"

 "Yeah," he replies.

"Well, I want you to know that you are welcome here."

"Thanks," he says.

We didn't speak much after this...just a little chit chat. But I believe a relationship was ignited. The young man hung out a bit longer watching his buddy finish a chess game. And I believe he'll be back to hang out. I'll see him again.

While sitting at the cafe watching him and his friends, I was reminded of Paul's words, "Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone" (NIV, Colossians 4:5-6).

I must've been practicing this verse when I first met him roughly ten years ago. I shudder to think of how his response to seeing me again at the cafe today would've been, if I had not welcomed him into my home. Even if it was for only three visits.

He is now back in my life, and God may be giving me a new opportunity to not only tell him about the love of God found in Jesus Christ...but maybe to live it before him. This means that I need to be ready to own my hypocrisy and the hypocrisy of my brothers and sisters in Christ. Pray for me. I need to be honest and authentic before this young man. I need to exhibit a life of repentance and faith before him so that He can see Jesus.

"What happened?" I ask crossing the back cafe parking lot. "Did you wipe out?"

"No," replies a sandy, blonde-haired teenager stomping his bike with his sneaker. "My handlebars came loose. I'm trying to straighten 'em."

"Oh...you needa' socket wrench?" I ask.

"No, it takes an Allen Wrench."

"I think I have a set in the cafe," I offer.

The teenager follows slowly behind me. He yells to his three friends, "No...wait up, guys. He has tools...come with me?!"

After unlocking the front door, I walk in, dig out the tool box, grab an Allen Wrench set and then walk outside. The teen takes the largest wrench and tightens the neck of his bike.

"Thank you," he says handing it back to me.

"You're welcome. You guys want to come in for some kool-aid or popsicles?"

"Sure," the sweating, sun-scorched teens answer.

They leave their bikes outside and follow me into the air conditioning.

"I have cherry kool-aid, lemonade, or popsicles?"

A machine-gun-like burst of "KOOL-AID!!" ricochets through the cafe.

"Kool-aids all around. Comin' right up!"

While they sip their drinks, I find out only one of them has been to the cafe. We really are meeting and serving new young people just as Janis mentioned in her last post. And we couldn't do it without your generous support and continual prayers.

It amazes me how a tiny, simple Allen Wrench can spark a friendship. Never underestimate the power of a wrench. It can be effectively used to tighten the loose things in our lives, and it can be a powerful tool for tightening relationships.

What a cool moment on a hot day!

Who would have thought after a long hard day, an hour at the Juvenile Detention Center could revitalize us? Last night, Tim, Jeff Brianas and I had a great time.

Sue Jarvis, one of the Chaplains at the jail, needed people to fill in for her in May while she was working out a change in her schedule. I knew Tim and I could talk about the Cafe for an hour, no problem but I thought my Tuesday night partner "Jeff Brianas" alias "Mr. Sundae-man" would be a great addition. So there we were, the 20 some young people kinda dragged in, no one responded as we said "Hello, hello, hello..." We found out this slot was called Religion, Ohhhhhh, I'm surprised anyone showed up, guess something to do is better than nothing to do.

It didn't take long as we shared about Cafe 41:11 and free sandwiches, Kool-aid, popcorn, etc for the group to liven up. Statements were repeated, "Where's this place?", "As soon as I'm outa here, I'm there", "No way".

Then Jeff told them about "Sundae Tuesdays" and the Ahhhs and Owhs resounded. I think everybody was smiling by then, including us! Tim shared about "Hope", I shared about bad choices my son made and how it is still effecting him seven years later. Then Jeff wrapped it up telling his life story in a nutshell and illustrating to them to be careful about the choices they make now and how they will effect the rest of their lives.

The hour flew by as we shared God's love and planted seeds that these young people might find their way to Medina's Cafe 41:11 to look us up for further conversation and a bite to eat....probably a Sundae first!

Thanks for being a part of God's ministry, especially to young people!

Janis ><>

"Do you know how to pull a loose tooth?"

I shrugged my shoulders, "Yeah, I know how to pull a loose tooth. I mean...I guess, why?"

Mom continued, "My son has a loose tooth, and he was wondering if you could pull it. It's really hurting him." I thought: Tim Van Arsdale DMD to the rescue. This could be fun.

In a confident Dr. House-like-tone I raised my eyebrow and asked, "Where's the patient?"

"Over there," the mother said pointing to a seven year old sitting sideways in one of our comfy red chairs.

I walked around the counter to the chair and sat on the coffee table.

"What's your name little man?"

"Jason."

"I hear you've got a loose tooth. Can I take a look?"

Jason opened wide and pointed to his front left Incisor. (You didn't know I had a technical understanding of dental terminology...did you?)

"I see it," I said. "Can I touch it?"

The boy nodded his head and in I went.

I gently wiggled the achy Incisor with my index finger. It was loose alright.

"I can feel it. But I don't think it's ready to come out. Eat two apples and come back to see me tomorrow. Wanna' popsicle?"

"Uh-huh," the boy replied. Then he pushed hard on his tooth with his bottom lip, "I move it wif my lipths like this."

Now...I've been asked a lot of questions while serving at the cafe, and have experienced some fascinating conversations, but this one was a first. This woman is raising "Jason" by herself. She doesn't have a husband. "Jason" doesn't have a Dad. A father to comfort him, laugh with him, and do fun dad stuff like tie a string around his tooth and the nearest doorknob and count 3...2...1!

It was so cool to be called upon, to be trusted, to be considered a safe, faithful advocate to help in their time of need (although I never did get to pull out the tooth). Too many times in this life, we rely on unreliable people and things in times of trouble. Doing so can be absolutely crippling.

I'm not a great Bible scholar, but I found a verse that can encourage each of us, "Like a bad tooth or a lame foot is reliance on the unfaithful in times of trouble" (Proverbs 25:19).

Who or what is your "bad tooth?" Are you relying on yourself? An unwise colleague? An addiction?

I welcome your honest comments below. I understand this can be a sensitive subject. Anonymity in commenting will not be frowned upon. Simply enter "anonymous" in the name box and then share your heart with us.