Giving Back (Christmas Pudding, 2021)

For the second to last post of 2021, we look at a quick interview dated December 4, 2021, from The Arizona Republic’s YouTube channel. Alice and Sheryl Cooper discuss Christmas Pudding, a concert to raise money for Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Centers in Phoenix and Mesa.

It’s always inspiring to listen to the Coopers talk about their passion, The Rock Teen Centers. Their genuine devotion to teaching and inspiring others with art, music, dance and other talents is infectious. So maybe, just maybe, we could learn a thing or two about giving back from them.

“To give without expecting anything back is what I believe too…don’t talk about it. Do it.” – Alice Cooper

Today, Christmas Eve, we are one day away from celebrating God’s gift to the world, His Son – Jesus Christ. Therefore, it’s appropriate that we spend some time talking about giving.

In many “Fridays With Alice” posts, we’ve discussed how backward and selfish the world has become – how humanity has placed itself before its Creator. However, let’s focus instead on what life looks like when we operate as we’ve been designed.

Notice in the interview above how Alice and Sheryl talk about their calling – The Rock Teen Centers. Both of them light up as they speak about teens finding their talents and gifts within those walls. The Coopers are thrilled at the chance to give back.

Alice also declares that The Rock’s motto is simple – “We care. We believe. Cool.” The Rock proclaims the opposite message of the world. Instead of echoing negativities such as, you’re not good enough, not smart enough, not pretty enough, etc., they are committed to “making an everlasting difference in the lives of teens.”

“For by grace, you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” – Ephesians 2:8-9

It’s by design that we feel good about benevolence. It’s through giving and loving others that we find true happiness. Nothing we’ve done or can boast about offers this; instead, “giving back” is a gracious gift.

God willingly gives us gifts that we are asked to accept and receive, and He offers those with LOVE. Being made in His image, it only makes sense that we were created to provide that same LOVE to each other – friend, stranger, and foe alike.

“And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.” – 1 Corinthians 13:2

Plain and simple, without LOVE and compassion for others, we are NOTHING.

“In all things, I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” – Acts 20:35

As we celebrate Christ’s birth and wrap up another year, let us NOT forget the greatest gift of them all – the one for whom the world had no room. The one who would show us the meaning of true LOVE. The one who came to save us from ourselves.

After we’ve accepted Christ and His LOVE, may we pass that on. May we operate as designed – sharing our talents, gifts, and experiences.

May we come to know and see life much differently as He transforms us. May we begin to notice that it’s not about us; it’s about others.

Life is about freedom and choice. However, what we do with that freedom defines our level of fulfillment during our journey. Again and again, God’s Word leads us back to the realization of life and the completion of the whole law, “You shall LOVE your neighbor as yourself” (Galatians 5:13-14).

In conclusion, 2021 wasn’t much better than 2020. There are no mincing words on that fact. However, we have been presented with an opportunity. We know His Light shines brightest in the darkness, and many people have not experienced His Light. May we show them the way and share His Love with those desperately searching for it.

As the New Year presents itself, let us tuck the following verses deep in our hearts and march forward with joy.

The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.

You have enlarged the nation
and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
when dividing the plunder. – Isaiah 9:2-3

As we step forward, let us remember that “if God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31) Amen.

WE WISH YOU ALL A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

That’s all for this week. Catch you next Friday.

Until next week, Keep Walkin’ in Faith and Rockin’ with Alice!​

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ALICE COOPER’S SOLID ROCK TEEN CENTER:

For more information about Alice’s Solid Rock Foundation, you can click the links below and learn more about them:

Solid Rock is a Christian, 501(c)(3), Arizona nonprofit corporation. The Board of Directors is made up of Christian men and women dedicated to SRF’s purpose.

Started by Alice Cooper and friend Chuck Savale along with an eight member board of directors, incorporated November of 1995.

Solid Rock’s primary goal is to honor Christ by helping to meet the spiritual, economical, physical, and social needs of teenagers and children within our community.

To honor Christ by providing a facility geared toward teenagers that will help them to negotiate through the turbulent adolescent years. The relationally trained Christian staff, of men and women, and the different venues will create an atmosphere which will make it a place where they “hang out”. “The Rock,” the name of the building, will be designed to be a flexible needs structure centered around music. Programs will focus around a multi-use concert hall, coffee house (kitchen/snack bar for concert & other events), indoor basketball/floor hockey court, rock climbing walls, sound room and recording studio, computer/reading/study rooms, game room.

Their goal is to make an everlasting difference in the lives of the teenagers and children they are dedicated to helping.

COME DISCOVER YOUR TALENT!

The Rock Teen Center inspires teens (12-20) to grow through music, dance and art. We provide vocational training in sound and recording, lighting and staging, video production, as well as a computer lab and a cool, supervised facility for the teens to engage with their peers. In a time where public schools are cutting funding for empowering programs like music, dance and art, The Rock cultivates a love of the arts to inspire and challenge teens to embrace artistic excellence and reach their full potential.

The Rock Teen Centers are FREE and open to all teens 12-20 years old Monday through Friday from 2:00 pm to 7:30 pm

The Rock Teen Centers will be closed for holiday break beginning Friday, December 24th, and opening back up Monday, January 3rd.