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Peyton Ryan’s Story
Peyton, tell us what your life was like when you were younger.
Growing up, I didn’t have many “friends.” I had people who knew me, but I never went out and played with other kids. I always felt like an outcast until about the seventh grade where some real long lasting friends came along. That was when I really started to come out of my shell.
What happened at that time that changed things?
At the end of seventh grade my parents told me they were getting a divorce. This was devastating because I always thought my home life was perfect. I had never seen them fight, we went to church every Sunday; it just didn’t seem real.
How did your parent’s divorce affect you?
It turned my life upside down. I was living in constant worry and anxiety that was crippling me for the longest time. So as summer rolled around, I needed to find something that I could do. My mom suggested working at the West Side YMCA.
Sounds like a cool job! What did you do at the YMCA?
As I began working there, I became good friends with two little guys named Jaylen and Owen. Jaylen was a non-verbal autistic, and Owen had Down Syndrome. They were lots of work, but they taught me how to grow up.
What was it like working with them?
I spent most of my time wrangling Jay. When I first met him, I thought there’s no way this kid is going to enjoy this summer. He would just sit on the bench by himself twiddling two spoons.
Is that how Jay spent his whole summer?
One day I was shooting a basketball when I looked over at him and saw him clapping, jumping up and down, and pointing up at the goal wanting me to shoot again. That’s when the light bulb went on in my head. I could help make this kid’s summer great. We spent the summer going on field trips and swimming in the pool with the other kids. Jay taught me so many things about responsibility and growing up.
Other than working, did you do anything else last summer?
I also went to summer camp with the youth group. On Wednesday, Dustin George gave his message and during worship, God truly broke me. I heard Him speak to me for the first time in my life. After the song was over, Justin Crisp and I began talking. I began to tell him about my summer, and how God had just told me He wanted me to be a Special-Ed teacher. Justin told me that his mother had been a Special-Ed teacher for a long time. God used Justin to help affirm what He told me that night.
After hearing so clearly from God, how did you respond?
I needed God back in my life desperately, and I needed to show everyone that the old me was gone. I was baptized that week at camp. God poured out his mercy on me when I didn’t deserve it. I’m so thankful for that. I’m letting him in my life so much more now than I ever have. That’s basically my testimony. If I had to describe it in one word, it would be “mercy”, because I surely got some when I didn’t deserve any.
Real Men
I am one of those people who does not like stereotypes. They are a sign of someone’s lack of interest in building a genuine relationship with a person or people group. Instead, they find a way to have some fun at the other’s expense. I also hate stereotypes because I grew up hearing about them all the time. When I was in grade school, my dad had a favorite line, “Real men ________.”
You can fill in the blank.
I wonder how many guys have grown up with those same expectations?
“I can’t believe you don’t play sports like all the other guys at your school.”
“If you were tough enough, you would be able to _______.”
“When I was your age, men acted like __________.”
Not real good for the growing ego is it?
Did you know that the Apostle Paul had a tendency to come across a little “wimpy”? There were actually people who would accuse him of being a “softy” in person and too blunt in writing (2 Cor. 10:10). He would “hide behind the pen.” Yet he is one of the most respected Christians to ever live. What is his perspective on true manhood, for example?
“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all you do be done in love.” 1 Corinthians 1613-14
In Paul’s eyes, it looks like “manhood” boils down to three things…
- Be stong.
- Keep faith.
- Do everything in love.
Hmm… I don’t see anything about making great grades or winning the most popular award or and MVP. No doubt those are some great goals for life and even, at times, acceptable things to pursue. But when it comes to answering the question of biblical manhood, it’s not that difficult.
So don’t let those stereotypes get to you. They’re stereotypes, they aren’t going anywhere. But be encouraged. As far as God is concerned, real manhood comes from Him.
The Same Power
This Sunday is Easter. That means new dresses or shirts, Easter egg hunts, family time, chocolate, and finally being able to wear white again (for those of you who are fashion-forward). But I want to take a step back from all of the hype. What is Easter really about? Why do people get so excited about it?
Fun fact! Easter Sunday is actually the first Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox. Bet you didn’t know that.
How ‘bout this one! The term Easter is often said to come from the German word Oster which relates to the rising of the sun in the east. Oster also comes from the German word auferstehung (don’t ask me how), which means resurrection. So there you go: Easter.
Now that we know some specifics about Easter, let’s get down to the real point: Christ’s resurrection.
The reason people get so fired up about Easter is because Easter is about HOPE.
If Jesus Christ had traveled through life performing miracles, preaching sermons, and making radical claims, he would only be a good teacher. But his story didn’t end there. He followed through with his promise. The tomb was empty.
“He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’” Luke 24:6-7
No other god can claim resurrection like our God can. Many have been good teachers and leaders, but only the one true God can boast of power beyond understanding. No power, person, or principle can hold Him down. Now, if that doesn’t cook your oatmeal, this will:
That same power resides in us as followers of Christ!
“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms” Ephesians 1:18-20
That’s intense. If you’re like me, you probably don’t feel all that powerful. But that same resurrection power is inside of you!
That is our hope. Our God is alive and has enabled us to do powerful things for His kingdom.
