City Cry

Christmas is a time of giving. Too often we focus on ourselves and what we are going to get instead of those around us and what we can give. Christmas marks the time of THE ULTIMATE GIFT, when Christ Jesus, God Himself, came into our world and made Himself part of His own creation to teach them, draw them to Himself, and then to pay the price through His own death for them to be able to be with Him.
Here in Butuan, I take a tricycle ride almost everywhere I go. It is basically a motorcycle with a side car and a back bench, along with a roof overhead. The cost is only 8 pesos which is equal to about 20 cents or so. You can imagine what the drivers are making in a day then- next to nothing. I have developed a friendship with one particular driver - Marvin - who often times is my driver from the spot where I catch my ride home. His tricycle is number 1707 and I am always looking for him. There are about 2,700 tricycles here in Butuan.
One time I asked him what he makes on an average day as a driver. He told me about 250 pesos or a little over $5 a day for working a 12-14 hour shift. That comes out to around 35-40 cents per hour. He works from 7 am -9 pm 6 days per week and sometimes 7.
I wanted to do something special for my friend here for Christmas, not only because he is so nice to me and even gives me free rides sometimes even when I insist on paying him, but also to show the love of Christ to Him. I invited him to join me for lunch today at Jolibees which is sort of like a McDonalds with a few extra foods.
As we stepped up to the counter, he told me that this was his first time in a retsaraunt, except a Mc Donalds one time. He is 26 and had only been to a restaurant once in his life, and that was Mc Donalds. I had him order whatever he wanted and then added on to it because he ordered so litle. We sat and ate and while we were eating, he expressed his thanks to me, thinking this was his present. Then I gave him the card from Nelia and I to he and his family of a wife and 2 kids
with 500 pesos in it, only about $10 but 2 days wages for him, and told him this was something special for them.
Slowly but surely I am sharing the love of Christ with this man. He knows that I am a follower of Jesus and what I do with the kids and teens here. Many have heard that Jesus loves them before, but have they felt it from us? This is what I am trying to do with Marvin, help him to feel the love of God. His eyes got so big and he was so happy, continuing to say "but I got nothing for you." I told him that he didn't need to and that I didn't expect him to. This was a gift, sort of like the grace of God when you think of it. Please pray for my friend here and his family. Thanks and happy holidays.

city cry

Luke 2:9-11 "An angel of the Lord appeared to the (shepherds), and the glory of the Lord shown around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to yu; He is Christ Jesus the Lord."
I love the Christmas season. I love being able to celebrate it with kids and teens. It is a time of love and thankfulness; a time when we can come together to glorify God for all He has done for us. For the past 11 years I have celebrated with kids in Chicago, but this year I got to celebrate internationally with kids here in the Philippines.
I work with teens in a group called TOFFiC Band (teens on fire for Christ) and you already heard in an earlier article how we took them out to eat. Yesterday, Dec. 22, we had a Christmas party at Project Destiny with the street kids. They heard the story, sang songs praising God, ate a great feast, and received gifts which included a shirt, sandals, a toy, and other practical things they could use in their lives on the street. We had around 50 that came and together we had a good time. Please continue praying for these young lives. This party lasted from 8 am to 1:00.
Next came our party in Golden Ribbon, my old neighborhood, with the younger kids from 3 to around 12. We met in the yard of our old apartment, joining our landlord there who also invited kids. I had around 45 kids come who I work with, and there were around 45 or 50 others from the other group. Kids were everywhere. We introduced them, sang songs and had a few special praise dances put on by the kids themselves. Then we played several group games and had prizes for them. There was a sack lunch and a gift at the end for them. Together they brought glory to God as well. I know that God the Father must sit in heaven with a huge smile on His face when He sees and hears children praising Him.
Being here, it was my first Christmas away from my family and I did miss them. It was an honor to be here with the kids though and to also celebrate my first Christmas with my new wife. Merry Christmas to all of you. Hope you have a wonderful time too.

my favorite Christmas song

Little Drummer Boy

Come they told me - pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see - pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring - pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King - pa rum pum pum pum, rum pum pumpum, rum pum pum pum
So to honor Him - pa rum pum pum pum
When we come

Little baby - pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too - pa rum pum p;um pum
I have no gift to bring - pa rum pum pum pum
That's fit to give a King - pa rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum
Shall I play for You - pa rum pum pum pum
On my drum

Mary nodded - pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time - pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him - pa rum pum pum pum
I played my best for Him - Pa rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum
Then He smiled at me - Pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum

My own thoughts

Just a little time to share my own personal feelings on some issues. You know what, this life here on earth is very short. I was thinking of Methusalah recently from Genesis 5:25-27. Here was a man who lived for 969 years. Some say that people back towards the beginning of life here on earth lived longer because there was an ice shield surrounding the earth which was then melted during the great flood of Noah. This shield protected people from the harm of the sun and thus they lived longer. There are other theories too. Maybe God simply kept people alive longer to help fill this earth with people faster. I don't know and to tell the truth, it does not matter to me. Thinking of this though, think of all the people we would have a chance to meet if we lived that long today.
By my math, that means we would have been born in 1038 if we were 969 today. Think about it - we would have had the chance to see the Middle Ages, to meet people like Martin Luther, Christopher Columbus, George Washington. We would have been alive during slavery and been able to help stop it, to hear about the New World and be able to stand up for the people already there who's lives were trampled, and to help God's word to be written in the common language so that others could read about Him themselves. So many people, so many events - what would that be like?
I am living here now in 2008 and I don't know how many years I have. I could live for a hundred years or I could go Home to be with God tonight. I do know that I have been called to make the most of this life though; to serve God and others and to spread His love to this hurting world around me. Everywhere I look there are people in need, people hurting and lost, looking for answers to life's hard questions. The Answer of answers lies in jesus Christ and I am so glad I know Him. He is my all in all. I want everyone else I meet to know Him too.
Life is hard at times and sometimes just seems so unfair. "WHY?" is a question we ask a lot. I don't know all the answers and won't even begin to act like I understand all the time, but I know the One who cares for me and I know He is here to help me through these times, to hold me, and to let me lean on Him and get comfort.
I just wanted to share with you, my reader, for a while and tell you how I feel. Thanks for listening. And by the way, if I do live for 969 years like Methusaleh, I cannot wait to meet all the people and to see all the events. I am 36 now so I guess I will see you in 3041.

city cry

Why does life have to be so complicated at times? Why is it that when we are just starting to get our feet under us at times that more negative stuff starts happening? Sometimes we bring the problems on ourselves, sometimes it is others, and sometimes we are being affected by the spiritual battles which are going on for our lives. I think this last one happens more than we or give credit to.
Working at Project Destiny here with the street kids, we know that we are in a battle. Satan and his evil forces have a tight grip on these kids and do not want to let go. It is tough because the holes have been dug so deep that these kids are in that it is nearly impossible for them to get out alone. Some of the digging has been done by them but much has been caused by others as well.
JR is one who has come on a regular basis. He is one of the leaders of the gang "Bloods" here and has been involved in some pretty bad stuff. Recently though he has seemed to be trying to make some changes. We have been encouraged by this.
Then last week a sweep was made of people using rugby, the glue drug here, and many were arrested including JR who had the drug on himself. We know that almost all of the street kids here are using it. It is cheap, easy to get, and numbs their pain for at least a while. We knew that he was a minor, but he had no proof of it.
We decided to do some research and try to help him. JR's dad had an affair and he was the result. That lady died though and so his dad brought JR home to his family. "Here is our son from a woman I have been having an affair with." You can imagine the reaction. Mom wanted nothing to do with him and so at a young age, JR was abandoned to the streets. His dad became an alcoholic and began beating JR when he would come around, so he left for the streets on a permanent basis. He has been on hs own for years since being young.
So can you imagine trying to find a birth certificate to prove his age? Next to impossible - and here basically without that you basically do not exist. He is going to be sent to jail with adults.
Now was he doing drugs? Yes, no questions, so one can have feelings on both sides. But there are issues which go deeper than just that. The pain that has been caused in this young one's life, being abndoned and beaten by your own family, raising yourself on the streets, being hopeless and looked upon by so many as just a nuisance - the list could go on and on. We are trying to let JR know that he is deeply loved by God who has a plan for his life and that we care too.
The search to aquire some proof of his age goes on. Next week he is supposed to be sent to prison from where he is being held now. Please pray for him and the spiritual war which is going on for his precious life. Thanks.

city cry

I love the Christmas season. I love celebrating it with others. There is so much to be joyful for and it is extra special to celebrate it together. After all, Jesus Christ came for us all, so together is best way to return our praise.
Being here in the Philippines, I am among so many who are struggling financially. They would make our poor there in America look rich! One of my favorite times of the week now is the hour and a half I spend with my group of teens. There are 16 of them and together we are learning about God and growing closer to Him. The kids from this group have a home and some clothes, but not much. I have seen some of their homes which is like a 1 or 2 room home made of simple wood. Many do not have beds, furniture, or regular things which we would take for granted.
My wife and I wanted to do something special for them to celebrate Christmas, so we decided to take them all out to a restaurant for lunch - a treat which they have rarely if ever had before. Pastor Gary also works with me now in this group and he said that this would be a great treat for them. We asked them and the majority wanted to go to Jolibees which is a restaurant of burgers, chicken, spaghetti, and various other things. All of them got to pick a meal and we ended it with ice cream for all. To see their smiles and hear their laughter was encouraging. We had a great time!
All along through the lessons, verses, singing, games, and prayers we have been growing closer, but it is especially during times like these of just eating together and hanging out that true relationships form. We had the chance to talk and laugh with each of them and simply enjoyed being together. I can still remember times I spent with my youth group when I was a teen and I know they will always remember this too.
We who call ourselves followers of Jesus must realize that people on the outside are always looking at us and seeing Christ through us. How we treat them may help them to either be led into or away from a relationship of their own with God. Those of us who have known God for a while and are in a deep relationship with Him must be there as examples to the younger ones in their faiths who are just beginning to grow. It is a command by God and a priviledge to serve Him in this way anyways.
Please continue praying for this group. Thank you. And together, let's make a difference for God.

City Cry

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City Cry

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my testimony

im shannon ries, 36 years of age....