Last night I attended the Kennedy High School open house for prospective students. Our oldest child is in 7^th grade so we’re starting to prepare for the next step. Kennedy has some positives (free and close to home!) but I don’t trust my own intuition and desperately need God’s direction. He often speaks to me through a ‘sense’ of yes or no as I go somewhere and start to experience the atmosphere.  

This open house was just a first step and we will look at a couple more schools. After a brief introduction from some of the staff they had us walk around with the some of the honor students who volunteered to spend some time giving a tour.  

(By the way, of the 25 honor students that escorted us there were only 3 guys. Not sure why. Are 90% of the honors students girls? Do the guys just not like to give tours? Where are the young men?) 

3 positive things stood out to me:

1. We’ve come a long way as a church. New Life used to meet in Kennedy High School from 2002 until 2004 when we purchased the building at 51^st & Keeler. The group that fit in one service of about 400 people at Kennedy now is known as ‘New Life Midway’ and includes over 1100 people at our Keeler building and has birthed out a group of 200 more folks at Tri-Taylor.
2. I’ve come a long way as a Christian. I never liked High School, mainly because I was aimless and didn’t know what I wanted to do. I still feel a little uncomfortable in a school, hearing the bells and seeing the classrooms. Just a few months out of High School in 1983 I heard the gospel and came to Christ. Now, 25 years later, I have experienced peace, purpose, passion and any other good thing you can name by the grace of God. Every day is a blessing and I’m serving the King of Kings and helping other people to follow Him. I never would have dreamed in High School that I could have such a life.
3. God will direct us in choosing the right High School. The Lord has guided me so clearly for 25 years in every major decision and He knows where our kids should go to High School. Since I’ve been married (16 yrs) my wife and I have prayed separately and together on major decisions and always wind up with the same strong conviction. God gives wisdom when we ask (James 1:5-6) and can enable us to choose the best over the good (Philippians 1:9-11)

On Sunday I went to Children’s Memorial Hospital to visit 6-year-old Brianna. She had been battling lung and brain cancer for quite some time. After complaining of headaches her mother Veronica took her to the hospital to get tested. Brianna was very excited to lose her first tooth that day. That evening the tumor in her brain caused a rupture that sent little Brianna into a coma. The doctors did what they could but it was too late. On Monday at 7:58 PM Brianna’s spirit left her body. My heart was heavy the whole day as I thought of the sadness weighing on Brianna’s family.

Life is short, but God is still good. In the midst of tragedy I saw glimpses of God’s goodness. The final words that Brianna spoke to her Mother were words of love and affirmation. What a great parting gift. I saw some New Life friends Ivette and Juan spend the entire night with the family at the hospital encouraging and comforting. Pastor Danny Lopez was at the hospital at 2:00 AM in the morning praying with them and speaking into the parent’s life. It was encouraging to see the body of Christ in action in the midst of this family tragedy.

Tonight at 7:30 PM I will be speaking at the wake of little Brianna. The wake will be held at the funeral home on the corner 22nd and Damen. Life is short and painful at times but God is still good in the midst of our suffering.

Please keep Chris, Veronica and Brianna’s sisters in prayer during these days to come.