This week we discuss another song from the album “The Last Temptation“. “Lost in America” is an anthem of sorts. Declaring the reality of life for many teens across this nation. Broken families, broken relationships, lack of resources, lack of education, violence, etc. paint a picture of what it’s like for teenagers. This song and album was released in 1994 – one year before Alice started working on the Solid Rock Foundation. It’s fitting that the both ‘Lullaby’ and this song tell a story of the dark forces life poses on young people. Often times people speak of how much worse it is today, but sin and consequence are really no different than they’ve always been. It’s the vessels and the availability of such vices that have upped the ante so to speak. However, organizations, like the Solid Rock Center, give these kids a positive outlet from those problems.

Last week’s post spoke in detail about Alice’s vision for the Solid Rock and a story that told of a girl that was sheltered and delivered from the darkness of this world. Alice also mentions that as a Christian, he is responsible for those teens and believes it is his responsibility to love them and show them grace. This is no mere gesture of love and faith.  It is Biblical and part of the walk and life we should strive to live. The Bible often mentions our responsibilities to the widow and the fatherless. In Psalms 82:3 it states, “Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.” This premise is repeated multiple times throughout both the New and Old Testament. While the verses are literally speaking about widows and orphans, they also take on a whole new meaning from a spiritual aspect.

We are all orphans before accepting the Love and Grace of our Father through His Son, Jesus Christ. We are unfulfilled by the things of this world – lost, oppressed, alone.  It’s amazing to see so many willing to only help and give support to those that think, look, act, and speak as they do. We are called to something better, a higher calling. To serve and love each other as ourselves (Mark 12:30-31) while walking humbly with our God (Micah 6:8). What’s amazing about this is how we are wired. Our creator wired us to be inherently happy and fulfilled by such acts. Providing others with needs feels good. It’s ‘chicken soup’ for the soul – bringing us close to our Lord and offers us a better understanding of what He wants to give us and show us. Things He wants us to see about Him – How and Why we matter to Him.

There are so many things going on during this time of year. It is very easy to get caught up in the hype, the lights, the traditions, the minutia of it all. But do yourself a favor. Step back and take inventory of your life. Look at the areas where  joy is found. Ask yourself why there is joy there? Some of you may find little to no joy. Ask yourself why that is as well? See it seems like Alice is on to something here. Why would a man who seemingly has it all put so much time, and resources, into giving back? All while doing it with a smile on his face. True joy comes when we live by the principles and guidelines set before us. Doing the things we were created to do. When we are in direct conflict with our creator and the blueprint for our lives, we find ourselves stuck in misery and despair. Yet when we strive to live out those same guidelines and travel the roadmap of life with Him as our GPS – we find that life tends to be harmonious. Much sweeter and more rewarding.

With that, we here at ‘Fridays with Alice’ wish you Merry Christmas! We will have one more post before the New Year but we are happy and excited that you have decided to continue on this journey with us. Please consider supporting the Solid Rock Foundation with all they do to help the teens in their area while providing a blueprint for all communities across the nation. It’s time we live life to the fullest and fulfill God’s Word by ‘defending the weak and the fatherless’. Find out how you can help play a part in the lives of those that He has called us to serve and uplift. Amen.

NOTE: This weekend wraps up our ’12 Days of Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Christmas’ Fundraiser. If you haven’t donated, please consider doing so. For every $5 donation, you will be placed into a drawing for an autographed Alice Cooper poster. Thank you and God Bless.

The event can be found here.

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.