Cody's Story

A story from one young man through the lens of Wolf Creek Youth Unlimited/YFC. WCYU Design.

Baby Formula & Pepsi

Baby Formula & Pepsi ... Out of the blue? Yup. Today we had a chance to pass along some baby formula to a teen dad in our community. The connection was certainly unexpected, uninvited, and unbelievable. What started with sharing some much needed baby formula turned into a conversation about why there are no programs like Muffin Morning (Katie leads each week for the teen moms in Ponoka) for the teen dads. We talked about paintball and hanging out and before I knew it I was off on a drive with a young dad who was so proud to show me his cool car and all the work he had done to fix it up. The obvious conclusion to our time in his mind was to stop at 7-11 for a drink before heading back to Church where we had met to to pass along the baby formula. So off to 7-11 where my favorite cold beverage and I reacquainted. A cold can of Pepsi, a proud and ambitious teen dad, and of course - some baby formula. Yup, out of the blue.

What Youth Workers Do ...

Just a little fun food for thought. Some days get so crazy it can be hard to know what I really do, others my purpose is so clear and the moments so perfect that it almost seems surreal. All I know for sure is I love what I do ... watching God work while I strive to see the hope and potential in young people in our community!

What Happens When ...

What happens when you put a Christian, an atheist, and a "Muslim" together in a discussion. Well that is a great question. While running a program this week in which we were learning about diversity I stumbled upon the aforementioned Religious beliefs. This particular program is not hosted as a Youth Unlimited program, so when challenged about my spiritual convictions vs. another's I took the opportunity to save that chat for a coffee another day. What happens when ...? Well I am wrestling this week with how to take the story of Jesus and intersect it in the mess of "Religion" in a way that reveals truth and love. In a way that doesn't argue for and against beliefs, but instead points to the one true God and His incredible story of redemption through Jesus Christ. Hopefully what happens when ... turns into a story of welcoming into the Kingdom of God.

Gentleman - This is a football.

Years ago, Coach Vince Lombardi led the NFL Green Bay Packers to three straight league championships and five in seven years. Amidst all the success comes the story of a time in pre-season where he stood before his football team pigskin in his hand and looked out at his players before delivering a powerful challenge! "Gentlemen, this is a football." I took only five words and communicate so effectively. Last week I had the opportunity to experience my own "This is a football" moment. I was at our Youth Unlimited/YFC regional conference in B.C. Our key speaker for the week was Carl Medearis. He wasted no time with our staff whose primary job is to communicate Jesus to youth. His challenge? Live full out for Jesus. Make sure your preaching Jesus. Get to know Jesus. Hmm. Just like that we are back to the basics. Too often Christians are lured to preach so many truths, doctrines, and practices that we can almost neglect the actual Gospel ... Jesus Christ.

Allow me to further the challenge. What would it take for you to get to know Jesus? My challenge is to memorize the story's Jesus told. To study the Gospels. Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the Gospel, The Good News: Jesus.

Brother & Sisters

"So What?!"

No earth shattering, heart wrenching, out of the blue news here ... just another story of a ridiculous media influence with a demoralizing message. Drum role please ... What happens when you put American rappers "Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa together for a special collaboration on some of their "excelling" lifestyle? Answer ... A song titled, "Young, Wild, and Free." That is sure to be a tasteful little morsel for the young and impressionable minds that will soak up the content repetitiously through their headphones ... or should I say their "Beats - By Dr. Dre" headphones.

In its first week, it sold 159,000 digital copies, debuting at #10 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and number 44 on the Canadian Hot 100. More recently it topped 1 Million in sales!

So without any further delay ... I present to you a few stanzas from, "Young, Wild, and Free."

So what we get drunk

So what we don't sleep (smoke weed)

We're just having fun

We don't care who sees

So what we go out

That's how its supposed to be

Living young and wild and free  

 Uh, and now I don't even care

Long as me and my team in here

There's gon' be some weed in the air

Tell 'em Mac-

Blowin' everywhere we goin'

And now ya knowin'

When I step right up

Get my lighter so I can light up

That's how it should be done

Soon as you thinkin' you're down

Find how to turn things around

Now things are looking up 

From the ground up Pound up

Yea, roll one, smoke one

When you live like this you're supposed to party

Roll one, smoke one, and we all just having fun

So we just, roll one, smoke one

When you live like this you're supposed to party

Roll one, smoke one, and we all just having fun  

Truthfully, it seems a waste of time to share insights or lessons learned through media such as this, but it it certainly qualifies as "Out of the Blue" so here are 3 thoughts:

1. "That's how its supposed to be" ... It is becoming increasingly normal to live young, wild and free. In fact you are not normal when you don't. Just yesterday I had a talk with a couple of teen guys at our local high school who were stunned that I had never smoked pot. It almost seemed an injustice to them! More and more, our culture says smoking, drinking, and partying is normal. It is acceptable.
2. "Soon as you thinkin' you're down" ... So according to this song the "obvious" solution to feeling down is to smoke weed. I will admit that I have turned to chocolate when I am feeling down (who am I to say that is more acceptable or appropriate) - we need to be teaching youth how to truly "Look Up" when life is tough. Burying our emotion in addiction or imperfect coping mechanisms will never do what we hope.
3. "We all just having fun" ... Wow! What a lie. Nothing serious here, were just having fun. No consequences. No problems ... No clue! 

So What!? Do more kids smoke weed because of this song? Maybe. Does it make doing what feels good and living how we want culturally acceptable? No. Mankind has been doing that forever.