On Friday nights, The Coffee Oasis in about two things: a fun safe place and Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. God has given us the privilege of providing that two-fold emphasis for almost 12 years now. Wow! Over that time God has brought hundreds of kids through the doors. Sometimes kids have come back after "outgrowing" the Friday Night Teen Night to thank us for providing a safe place. Some have come back to thank us for telling them about Jesus.
Ten years ago a young man, John, came just about every week. He found Teen Night to be a fun safe place as he was weathering those difficult years of high school. John wasn't a particularly popular kid. He was slight in stature and was finding his niche in the ROTC as Bremerton High School and was most excited about his involvement in the Orienteering Club. We weekly hung out with John: played pool and table games, talked about his life and most importantly we talked about Jesus, lots!
John will never come back to thank us for a fun safe place. Nor will he come to thank us for talking to him about Jesus. John committed suicide a couple of weeks ago.
In the book of Psalms God describes people in two ways: a tree that flourishes by the stream or as chaff that is blown by the wind. What is it that makes the difference in what a person becomes? It is what they do with God and His Word. That same Psalm (1) identifies people with one of two labels: righteous and wicked. Romans 3:23 says that we all start out wicked; "All have sinned..." I was there, many who come through the doors of The Coffee Oasis are still there. Romans 6:23 says there is one penalty for that sin which we all have and that is death. Yet, John 3:16 says that God loved us so much He send His one and only Son, Jesus, to pay that penalty of death. But, we must accept it.
John didn't ever accept that gift of life and without it, the burdens of this earthly life became too much for him. He never found God's hope and forgiveness.
Acts 16:31 simply says, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved." We do not have to dry up to chaff that is blown about by the wind. Jesus offers life and hope. Believe.
Ten years ago a young man, John, came just about every week. He found Teen Night to be a fun safe place as he was weathering those difficult years of high school. John wasn't a particularly popular kid. He was slight in stature and was finding his niche in the ROTC as Bremerton High School and was most excited about his involvement in the Orienteering Club. We weekly hung out with John: played pool and table games, talked about his life and most importantly we talked about Jesus, lots!
John will never come back to thank us for a fun safe place. Nor will he come to thank us for talking to him about Jesus. John committed suicide a couple of weeks ago.
In the book of Psalms God describes people in two ways: a tree that flourishes by the stream or as chaff that is blown by the wind. What is it that makes the difference in what a person becomes? It is what they do with God and His Word. That same Psalm (1) identifies people with one of two labels: righteous and wicked. Romans 3:23 says that we all start out wicked; "All have sinned..." I was there, many who come through the doors of The Coffee Oasis are still there. Romans 6:23 says there is one penalty for that sin which we all have and that is death. Yet, John 3:16 says that God loved us so much He send His one and only Son, Jesus, to pay that penalty of death. But, we must accept it.
John didn't ever accept that gift of life and without it, the burdens of this earthly life became too much for him. He never found God's hope and forgiveness.
Acts 16:31 simply says, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved." We do not have to dry up to chaff that is blown about by the wind. Jesus offers life and hope. Believe.
