July 26, 2005
Miss South Carolina
This is old news for most of you (at Bensfriends anyway), but I just wanted to post the fact that a Bob Jones Academy graduate won Miss South Carolina.
So congratulations to Erika Powell. I knew she was a good speaker and a talented vocalists, but I have to say I never guessed that she would end up in the Miss America Pageant.
Here is an article and a picture of her reaction to winning.
It will be interesting to see where the rest of my Class of '03 friends end up.
We're cheering for you in the national pageant, Miss SC.
July 12, 2005
sights 3
Not sure what happened to these poor little port-a-johns. Pretty sure it had something to do with the Live 8 crowd...
My kind of place.
July 09, 2005
Philadelphia’s Biggest Problem
A couple weeks ago, a group of junior high girls came into the Visitor’s Center, apparently doing some type of survey their teacher had assigned.
“Are you a Philadelphia native?” They asked me.
“No, but I live here right now.”
“That works—we just have a question for you—what do you think is the biggest problem in Philadelphia?”
I started thinking, but nothing good seemed to come to mind. I assumed they wanted some type of answer along the lines of poverty, crime, lack of education, racial discrimination—or, that people are sinners and need Jesus? That’s a pretty big problem. Nah, I thought. They want to hear something to the effect of, I don’t know—homelessness.
So that’s what I said.
They said a quick thank-you and were off. I stood there embarrassed. What was I thinking—homelessness?! Where was my boldness? Why did I think they needed to hear something typical? Sure, it was a stupid little survey. But inside I was giving myself a beating because of it.
Why had I failed such a seemingly easy test? I shared Philadelphia’s biggest problem—unbelief. The Gospel enables non-confrontational people to speak offensive words, if necessary. God accepts me in Christ, so what does it matter if a few kids don’t like my answer on a survey?
The girls passed by me on their way out, so I stopped them and asked if I could change my answer. They said yes. I took their survey in my hand and wrote, “The people do not know Jesus Christ” in the blank after “Philadelphia’s biggest problem.”
They all looked down at my answer, read it aloud, and then gave a unanimous reaction.
“Aww—great, that’s good, thanks!”
Aside from the fact that they had reacted to the Gospel as if it were “cute,” my conscience was at rest.
God help me in a day when the stakes are higher than a junior high survey.
“I believe; help my unbelief!” Mark 9:24
July 05, 2005
ministry update letter
I wrote a ministry update letter that I plan to send out shortly by mail and/or e-mail. Since I'd rather not post all the prayer requests on the internet, please send me an e-mail with something about an update in the subject line if you would like one.
Thanks so much,
Michael
