Is it Worth It?

Hey guys...hope your week is going well. Thanks for being there at Primetime last night - we had good attendance - thanks for bringing your friends! I was thinking about something the other day - there are a lot of things in life that you'll spend a lot of time doing...work, school, showering, sports, messaging, etc...some of these worth our time, and others not. Well, I hope that as you find yourself participating as a part of our youth group, you find "buying into" the truth of God's Word and living out a life as one of God's true followers as being more than worth your time and effort. Hopefully you see that in your parents' lives, and it is my desire that you see it in my life and the lives of the other leaders. Guys, I'm praying that you experience the real joy of following God (and He has promised to let you) with all you've got! Take it from me - it's worth it!

Don't Give Up!

Would you make a final judgement with only 10% of the information? Would you purchase a car with only being able to see 10% of it...or purchase a home with only 10% of the specs...or vote for a presidential candidate while only knowing 10% of their views? I doubt we would move forward in either of these three areas without knowing as much as is possible. I would propose that we hold the same patience with our teens. It is very easy to look at these 6 years of their lives and make final judgements about their spirituality and love for the Lord. I know, I know; I am not saying that we totally dismiss and ignore what is going on during these years and completely look over them. They are vital and forming years in their lives - we ought not let up or relax in our effort to teach them and more importantly show them the truth and it's worth. I'm just saying...as we are doing this - be patient! Let patience run its FULL COURSE. Let these years play the role God intended - they form and prepare for what is ahead. Keep that in mind...Don't Give Up - their lives aren't over, and God isn't finished...let's play the role God has for us and lets do it well. The fruit of our current labor may not be seen for years to come!

I welcome your comments...have a great day!

Your New Look

For many of you who couldn't be at Primetime last night; a little bit of what we talked about!

We often struggle with how we appear to other people...and even to ourselves. We can be rid of this anxiety if we would just take God's perspective on our lives and others'. II Corinthians 5:16 tells us that we should "no longer regard anyone according to the flesh." No longer are we to evaluate ourselves based on appearance, abilities, strengths or even weaknesses. Rather we ought to evaluate the way God evaluates. Here are a few examples:

1. I Samuel 16: 6, 11-12 - DAVID - Samuel saw David's brothers (Eliab in particular) thought he was the next king - not the ruddy, youngest and smallest of sons. And who was it again that slew the giant...Eliab? nope...the little guy!
2. John 9:1-2 - Blind Man - As Jesus and his disciples were walking along they saw this blind man; the disciples saw him...evaluated him...figured he did something wrong. Nope, Jesus evaluated something completely different - His disability proved to be an amazing advantage!!! So with yours!
3. II Corinthians 12:7-9 - Paul - Paul had every reason to be prideful...for crying out loud, he wrote half the N.T. - God sent a thorn in the flesh to humble him. Not everything that comes your way is to make you feel good...perhaps to keep you humble...humble people are great people!
4. Luke 18:15-16 - Little Children - Again, the disciples had the wrong perspective, thinking that Jesus didn't have time for these young ones - Jesus had better and bigger things to do. Is that how Jesus saw it? Nope - the smallest...important. Everyone, the young especially (YOU!) has value and purpose!
5. Job 2:9-10 - Job - Acutally, it's Job's wife that is the poor example here - she wanted her husband just to give up - it wasn't worth keeping trust in God. Job didn't SEE it that way...which way are you looking at life?
6. John 21:15-19 - Peter - Peter, just a few weeks prior, had committed something terrible - he didn't associate with Christ. After do so, he just gave up and went right back to fishing fish. Jesus comes back to Peter, forgives him, and restores him to fishing men again. Whatever it is guys...God's forgiveness is bigger...you can still do great things for God!

Guys...look at yourself, others, and life the way God sees it and evaluates it - He'll amaze you!