God and the Baaken-Part 2

My previous post talked about people coming to the Baaken to find hope.  I can’t begin to imagine the hurt that many of these individuals feel having to leave their families, the comfort of their homes, and their support systems to start this journey.  It takes an incredible amount of strength to venture into the unknown and hope that it works because it’s your last shot.  I wish I could say that this community has been an example of how to be welcoming and accepting, but some of the things that I have seen posted on Facebook, written in the paper, and shared on online message boards have made me embarrassed to be from Williston, ND.  Are we in a position where building can’t keep up with demand?  Yes.  Are we in a position where the amount and type of traffic is hard on the roads? Yes.  Have we seen an increase in crime? Yes, although statistically, the amount of crime has not increased.  Do you need to plan your routes a little more carefully to accommodate for traffic?  Yes.  Can you go to WalMart and expect to find what you need and get out of there quickly?  Probably not.  The community is definitely experiencing growing pains. I am thankful for the leadership that is in place to help us through it. 

It’s very easy to fall into the trap of complaining about what is going on in the community and I have been guilty of it myself.  I try to keep it in check and stay positive.  After all, if standing in line longer than I have had to in the past is the worst thing that happens in my day, I’ll probably be ok.  Instead of lamenting over the fact, how about using it as an opportunity to be friendly and get to know someone new.  Let God speak to how He can use you to be welcoming.  If you aren’t in the Baaken, look for those opportunities where you are.

The Christian community has often been the Baaken.  God wants to do a mighty work in the lives of people and we waste time complaining about trivial things. Instead of fighting for souls, we fight about the color of paint on the walls.  Instead of coming together in worship, we complain about the song choices.  Instead of seeing a person crying out to God for forgiveness, we judge them for being at the altar again.  Instead of reaching out to the hurting, we expect them to be over the hurt because in our minds enough time has passed.  The Bible never changes.  God never changes.  The church changes because the needs in and around it change.  We have a choice.  We can sit back and complain about all the things that we don’t understand or we can trust that God has anointed people to lead us to a place where we epitomize His grace and forgiveness.  Step out of your comfort zone and ask God how He wants you to be the church.  Welcome people into the body of Christ.  They are looking for hope, but they won’t find it if all you do is complain.

God and the Baaken-Part 1

I live in a town that is very different from many towns these days. People from all over the country have flocked here to find work.  Housing is scarce right now.  It just can’t be built fast enough.  There are an estimated 40,000 men in the area living in housing called “man camps”.  Campers, cars, and hotels have become a place to call home.  It is not unusual for men to show up with their belongings in a backpack, their last dollars in their pocket, and the hope that they will find a job before those last dollars are gone.  A majority of these men have come without their families.  They work long hours for many days in a row.  What has drawn so many men here in the last couple of years?  What is it about Williston, ND that is different from most of the rest of the country?  Oil!  The oil industry is not new to Western North Dakota. The first well was drilled in 1951.  However, new ways of extracting the oil have been developed causing a present-day “gold rush”. 

What is actually drawing people to the area is hope.  While most of the rest of the country is struggling financially, there is money to be made here.  Families see a glimmer of hope to save their homes, feed their children, and regain a sense of security.  

What if we approached God like that?  To be anything but in the center of His will results in us being in desperation mode, even if we don’t realize it.  It is only when we see that desperation that we can start to have hope.  It doesn’t solve anything to sit in a house that is going into foreclosure, knowing that North Dakota can offer solutions. Likewise, recognizing our desperation for hope and not accepting the solutions from God doesn’t do anything either.  It is only when we leave our hopelessness and give our lives to God that our hearts can prosper.  If you are in that place of desperation, before you take another breath, receive the gift of hope that God has offered to you.  It is worth far, far more than the oil in the Baaken.