Oct. 18, 2025
Ep 79: Broken Crayons (w/ Caleb Sills)
What can broken things teach us about the purpose we can find in God?
Today we have special guest, Caleb Sills! Caleb is a young man who is currently in the youth group at Washington Avenue Church of Christ. I know you'll be encouraged by his thoughts!
Topic:
- What can broken things teach us about the purpose we can find in God?
Discussion Questions:
- Do we find our purpose in serving God?
- In our most broken moments, do we still seek God's purpose?
- How can we tell others of the wholeness that can come from serving God?
1
00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,280
Hey, good morning and welcome to
the show.
2
00:00:02,360 --> 00:00:05,440
I'm Daniel Dalp and this is for
your Sunday Morning Drive, the
3
00:00:05,440 --> 00:00:08,800
short podcast with the goal of
providing some motivation, some
4
00:00:08,800 --> 00:00:12,360
drive and encouragement on your
way to worship and helping you
5
00:00:12,360 --> 00:00:16,440
recenter your mind on spiritual
things on a hectic Sunday
6
00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:18,760
morning.
Our guest today is a young man
7
00:00:18,760 --> 00:00:23,200
that I have known since he was
born, and boy do I feel old
8
00:00:23,240 --> 00:00:26,120
saying that.
Caleb Sills is 15 and he's a
9
00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:28,880
member of the Washington Ave.
Church of Christ where he's
10
00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:32,320
currently in the youth group.
I'm really proud of Caleb.
11
00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:35,840
He's got a great heart, a
fantastic sense of humor, and he
12
00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:38,720
has a passion for Christ.
I heard him speak during youth
13
00:00:38,720 --> 00:00:42,760
LED worship a few months back
and he delivered a great lesson
14
00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:45,400
and as I reflected on it, I
thought it would make a great
15
00:00:45,400 --> 00:00:48,080
episode and he was kind enough
to oblige.
16
00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:50,840
Caleb, thank you for sharing
your thoughts with us today.
17
00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:53,920
Let's hear them.
This is episode 79, Broken
18
00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:55,840
crayons.
Let's go to church.
19
00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:16,000
Are we there yet?
Do you ever feel like you don't
20
00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:19,120
have purpose, or feel broken or
of low significance?
21
00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:22,000
Take a crown, for example.
I'm sure you've held a crown
22
00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:24,160
before, and maybe you got too
carried away.
23
00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:27,120
And suddenly you hear a familiar
snap.
24
00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:30,240
And he looked down, and he
realized that this crayon that
25
00:01:30,240 --> 00:01:33,240
was just connected is now broken
in two.
26
00:01:33,480 --> 00:01:36,120
It seems ruined, doesn't it?
It seems like someone might just
27
00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:39,360
throw it away and get a new one.
Randy Cohen, an American writer,
28
00:01:39,360 --> 00:01:41,680
states that there is a crack in
everything.
29
00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:45,000
That's how the light gets in.
He's saying that even though we
30
00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:47,280
often think just because
something's broken means it
31
00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:50,720
doesn't have purpose anymore.
But he's saying that's false
32
00:01:51,080 --> 00:01:55,560
because like broken crayons, in
our most sorrowful moments, we
33
00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:58,160
still have the strength to color
things with good using the
34
00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:02,240
purpose that God gives to us.
Ephesians 2 and verse 10 says
35
00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:05,880
for we are his workmanship
created in Christ Jesus for good
36
00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:09,199
works which God prepared ahead
of time for us to do.
37
00:02:09,199 --> 00:02:12,160
God had a purpose and a plan for
us before he even created us.
38
00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:14,640
And we know that everything God
makes is good.
39
00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:17,960
So by knowing this, it gives us
hope that even though we carry
40
00:02:17,960 --> 00:02:20,880
cracks, we know that it
shouldn't discourage us, but
41
00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:23,400
that it should position us.
A man this reminded me of was
42
00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:25,880
Inky Johnson.
He was a star football player
43
00:02:25,880 --> 00:02:27,840
with dreams of making it to the
NFL.
44
00:02:27,920 --> 00:02:31,240
He lived with 10 people with
drug activity literally
45
00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:34,160
everywhere, so he wanted to
change his family's future.
46
00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:37,120
He worked really hard and stayed
out of trouble and scouts were
47
00:02:37,120 --> 00:02:39,480
already stayed in him as a first
round pick.
48
00:02:39,560 --> 00:02:43,720
But on September 9th, 2006, Inky
went in for a tackle and it
49
00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:46,240
looked like a normal everyday
play, but it wasn't.
50
00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:49,920
That one tackle ended up
resulting in severe nerve damage
51
00:02:49,920 --> 00:02:52,120
which paralyzed his right arm
forever.
52
00:02:52,200 --> 00:02:54,720
And just like that, Ingies NFL
dreams were over.
53
00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:58,080
But he realized that maybe his
purpose was bigger than
54
00:02:58,080 --> 00:02:59,840
football.
He started sharing his stories
55
00:02:59,840 --> 00:03:03,560
and teaching others to keep
going even when life hits hard.
56
00:03:03,800 --> 00:03:07,200
One of his quotes is you don't
have to be great to get started,
57
00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:10,120
but you do have to get started
to be great.
58
00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:14,440
Inky didn't start out great, but
his motive to keep going, not in
59
00:03:14,440 --> 00:03:18,000
football, but in his redemption,
that's what made him great and
60
00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:20,920
in that he inspired millions of
people.
61
00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:24,200
You see, reflecting this
spiritually, God doesn't 'cause
62
00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:28,120
every bad thing, but He can use
all of them to strengthen your
63
00:03:28,120 --> 00:03:32,000
faith, make you a better person,
and help others learn through
64
00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:35,080
you because of the purpose that
God gives to you.
65
00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:38,240
You see, when these things
happen, it feels like life is
66
00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:41,920
over sometimes, but it's not.
It just means that God has a
67
00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:44,760
different plan for you.
And it's our choice if we want
68
00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:48,480
to do nothing with it or use it
as an opportunity for
69
00:03:48,480 --> 00:03:50,360
redemption.
Because sometimes it's the
70
00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:54,040
broken times in life that bring
us to show our most powerful
71
00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:55,760
purpose.
And the choice is yours.
72
00:03:56,160 --> 00:03:58,720
So let me ask you, what are you
going to do with it?
73
00:03:59,040 --> 00:04:01,960
Caleb shared some great thoughts
with us for our Sunday morning
74
00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:04,440
drive.
Now it's time to hear yours.
75
00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:08,440
Our discussion questions for
this week are, do we find our
76
00:04:08,440 --> 00:04:12,600
purpose in serving God?
In our most broken moments?
77
00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:17,480
Do we still seek God's purpose?
And how can we tell others of
78
00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:19,959
the wholeness that comes from
serving God?
00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,280
Hey, good morning and welcome to
the show.
2
00:00:02,360 --> 00:00:05,440
I'm Daniel Dalp and this is for
your Sunday Morning Drive, the
3
00:00:05,440 --> 00:00:08,800
short podcast with the goal of
providing some motivation, some
4
00:00:08,800 --> 00:00:12,360
drive and encouragement on your
way to worship and helping you
5
00:00:12,360 --> 00:00:16,440
recenter your mind on spiritual
things on a hectic Sunday
6
00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:18,760
morning.
Our guest today is a young man
7
00:00:18,760 --> 00:00:23,200
that I have known since he was
born, and boy do I feel old
8
00:00:23,240 --> 00:00:26,120
saying that.
Caleb Sills is 15 and he's a
9
00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:28,880
member of the Washington Ave.
Church of Christ where he's
10
00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:32,320
currently in the youth group.
I'm really proud of Caleb.
11
00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:35,840
He's got a great heart, a
fantastic sense of humor, and he
12
00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:38,720
has a passion for Christ.
I heard him speak during youth
13
00:00:38,720 --> 00:00:42,760
LED worship a few months back
and he delivered a great lesson
14
00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:45,400
and as I reflected on it, I
thought it would make a great
15
00:00:45,400 --> 00:00:48,080
episode and he was kind enough
to oblige.
16
00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:50,840
Caleb, thank you for sharing
your thoughts with us today.
17
00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:53,920
Let's hear them.
This is episode 79, Broken
18
00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:55,840
crayons.
Let's go to church.
19
00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:16,000
Are we there yet?
Do you ever feel like you don't
20
00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:19,120
have purpose, or feel broken or
of low significance?
21
00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:22,000
Take a crown, for example.
I'm sure you've held a crown
22
00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:24,160
before, and maybe you got too
carried away.
23
00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:27,120
And suddenly you hear a familiar
snap.
24
00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:30,240
And he looked down, and he
realized that this crayon that
25
00:01:30,240 --> 00:01:33,240
was just connected is now broken
in two.
26
00:01:33,480 --> 00:01:36,120
It seems ruined, doesn't it?
It seems like someone might just
27
00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:39,360
throw it away and get a new one.
Randy Cohen, an American writer,
28
00:01:39,360 --> 00:01:41,680
states that there is a crack in
everything.
29
00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:45,000
That's how the light gets in.
He's saying that even though we
30
00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:47,280
often think just because
something's broken means it
31
00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:50,720
doesn't have purpose anymore.
But he's saying that's false
32
00:01:51,080 --> 00:01:55,560
because like broken crayons, in
our most sorrowful moments, we
33
00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:58,160
still have the strength to color
things with good using the
34
00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:02,240
purpose that God gives to us.
Ephesians 2 and verse 10 says
35
00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:05,880
for we are his workmanship
created in Christ Jesus for good
36
00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:09,199
works which God prepared ahead
of time for us to do.
37
00:02:09,199 --> 00:02:12,160
God had a purpose and a plan for
us before he even created us.
38
00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:14,640
And we know that everything God
makes is good.
39
00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:17,960
So by knowing this, it gives us
hope that even though we carry
40
00:02:17,960 --> 00:02:20,880
cracks, we know that it
shouldn't discourage us, but
41
00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:23,400
that it should position us.
A man this reminded me of was
42
00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:25,880
Inky Johnson.
He was a star football player
43
00:02:25,880 --> 00:02:27,840
with dreams of making it to the
NFL.
44
00:02:27,920 --> 00:02:31,240
He lived with 10 people with
drug activity literally
45
00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:34,160
everywhere, so he wanted to
change his family's future.
46
00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:37,120
He worked really hard and stayed
out of trouble and scouts were
47
00:02:37,120 --> 00:02:39,480
already stayed in him as a first
round pick.
48
00:02:39,560 --> 00:02:43,720
But on September 9th, 2006, Inky
went in for a tackle and it
49
00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:46,240
looked like a normal everyday
play, but it wasn't.
50
00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:49,920
That one tackle ended up
resulting in severe nerve damage
51
00:02:49,920 --> 00:02:52,120
which paralyzed his right arm
forever.
52
00:02:52,200 --> 00:02:54,720
And just like that, Ingies NFL
dreams were over.
53
00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:58,080
But he realized that maybe his
purpose was bigger than
54
00:02:58,080 --> 00:02:59,840
football.
He started sharing his stories
55
00:02:59,840 --> 00:03:03,560
and teaching others to keep
going even when life hits hard.
56
00:03:03,800 --> 00:03:07,200
One of his quotes is you don't
have to be great to get started,
57
00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:10,120
but you do have to get started
to be great.
58
00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:14,440
Inky didn't start out great, but
his motive to keep going, not in
59
00:03:14,440 --> 00:03:18,000
football, but in his redemption,
that's what made him great and
60
00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:20,920
in that he inspired millions of
people.
61
00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:24,200
You see, reflecting this
spiritually, God doesn't 'cause
62
00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:28,120
every bad thing, but He can use
all of them to strengthen your
63
00:03:28,120 --> 00:03:32,000
faith, make you a better person,
and help others learn through
64
00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:35,080
you because of the purpose that
God gives to you.
65
00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:38,240
You see, when these things
happen, it feels like life is
66
00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:41,920
over sometimes, but it's not.
It just means that God has a
67
00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:44,760
different plan for you.
And it's our choice if we want
68
00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:48,480
to do nothing with it or use it
as an opportunity for
69
00:03:48,480 --> 00:03:50,360
redemption.
Because sometimes it's the
70
00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:54,040
broken times in life that bring
us to show our most powerful
71
00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:55,760
purpose.
And the choice is yours.
72
00:03:56,160 --> 00:03:58,720
So let me ask you, what are you
going to do with it?
73
00:03:59,040 --> 00:04:01,960
Caleb shared some great thoughts
with us for our Sunday morning
74
00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:04,440
drive.
Now it's time to hear yours.
75
00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:08,440
Our discussion questions for
this week are, do we find our
76
00:04:08,440 --> 00:04:12,600
purpose in serving God?
In our most broken moments?
77
00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:17,480
Do we still seek God's purpose?
And how can we tell others of
78
00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:19,959
the wholeness that comes from
serving God?
Caleb Sills is a member of the Washington Avenue Church of Christ and is currently in the youth group. He has been preaching when given the opportunity and has been involved in Lads 2 Leaders.
