Paul talks alot about the sin nature that we are born into because of Adam's sin. (See Ephesians 2:1-5, Romans7 and 8, Galatians 5). This is because Paul battled it everyday just like we do, yet we found through God how to handle it, right? At the heart of our being, we are constantly fighting against that "nature," a nature which tells us certain things are ok, it tells us that we can do some things and repent later, it tells us that we won't get caught. The enemy is constantly trying to get us to fail, repeatedly throwing things into our lives as a temptation. God however, is not always sitting there telling us what to do in order to make it right; He challenges us to try, we make mistakes, but He helps us to learn from them. Really, the enemy today is telling us exactly what the serpent told Eve in the garden of Eden, that we can become like God; that we can govern our own life and make our own rules for what is right and what is wrong.
In many ways, everyday, we do just that. We choose what things are ok for our lives; we choose music, movies, television, internet sights, friends, language, etc. We justify things as ok for us, knowing that we are "Christians" and that we have eternal salvation through Christ. "We still get to heaven because we accepted Jesus. Surely God won't punish us that much for the things we did." By choosing those things, we are putting ourselves into a situation that is most easily defined by the word "complacent." Complacent by definition means pleased with ones situation, unbothered or untroubled, often unaware of some potential danger or defect.
Just ponder that definition for a moment............................... When I read that definition myself, knowing it would easily make my point anyways, it broke my heart about my own life. I saw the reality of those words actually written down and thought: Have we gotten so complacent as to allow things into our lives; that we are so comfortable, unaware that danger could be looming just around the corner.
Don't get complacent confused with content. There is a difference. Content means satisfied with what one has, not wanting more or anything else.
As i see it, each week I apparently hear students who want more of God, striving to seek Him more in worship, in study of the Word, in prayer, you get the point. If you didn't want to grow anymore as a Christian and felt that you were at a point where God was completely happy with your life, then you would be content. However, pride set aside, each of us should realize that we are nowhere near where God wants us to be, so we can't be content with our walk. If you are content, you can stop reading this now, because you have no need to grow anymore. You are perfectly happy with where you are at with God. However, if you feel that you want more, read on.
Warning: what you are about to read will challenge your faith. It will stretch some of you to a point you have never reached before, and it will cause you to make some very tough choices about your life.
I left Sunday School yesterday thinking to myself, some of these students call themselves Christians, and I believe that you are, but the point I want to make to you is simply this: sometimes you still don't get it. It's in one ear and out the other. One of your own make a simple plea as to what a Christian's life should look like. The innocence it should have, the ability to shun the world and be strong for God, the strength to look the other way when something "cool" or "wickedly awesome" comes along.
Your tough choices: you must choose Christ if you want your friends to choose Christ. If you want them to experience God for themselves, then you must prove that you are different and that it's worth it to be different. Some of you claim to be different, but iPods, jokes, tv shows, friends, movies, music, and other things would say just the opposite.
I am done talking. I guess just ask God what He really wants from you. Wait, we already know what that is. The better question is this: ask yourself where you want to be with God, and then line yourself up to fit it.
Trust me when i say this: it is worth it to be different.
Have a great day.
P-Mike
Monday, April 27, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
What could you do?
Our lives are filled with mountains and valleys. At times we feel like we can fly, and other times we feel like we don't even want to get out of bed.
Even more than that, our lives are really split into many different "categories." We have our personal life, our church life, our family life, our work life, our school life, and our friends life. There is definitely a separation there, but the challenge is "prioritizing" those lives. Here are some helpful thoughts for putting your life into order.
#1- our walk with God should always be number one. It is our faith in Him, our relationship with Jesus, and our growth through love of others and faith. This is the only one of the lives with "eternal" implications; therefore it needs to be number one for that reason. Your earthly life will end, and all you will have left is how you personally lived for God. (Not how your parents, friends, or youth group lived, but how you lived. Also: not "what" you did, but how you lived.)
#2- Family life really should fit here. Those are the people we live with who we will be in direct contact with for our entire earthly lives. They can help us with #1, as well as give us purpose outside of our faith (or in conjunction with our faith). Keeping family relationships strong will only make you a better person in the long run.
#3- At this point in many of your lives, either school or church should fall here. Church is not deemed as necessary to everyone, but it is very important if your list has #1 truly at #1. School is also very important because it is the starting line for future successes in life. I have learned that there are certain non-negotiables in life, and the rest of the things are up for discussion. Don't get me wrong, church is important, but church "work" can not and should not dominate your life outside of God and your family. Churchy people call it "being so heavenly minded that you are no earthly good."
#4- Friends, work, relationships, fun and other stuff can fall here. So often as teenagers, we allow something here to get too high up on our list, causing unbalance and problems in our lives. These are all things that need to be done with balance and knowledge. Spend time with good influences, like-friends, and acceptable fun stuff but don't let it dominate your life. Good balance leads to good living, trust me.
Consider re-prioritizing your life so that you can have good balance. God will reward your hard work.
Even more than that, our lives are really split into many different "categories." We have our personal life, our church life, our family life, our work life, our school life, and our friends life. There is definitely a separation there, but the challenge is "prioritizing" those lives. Here are some helpful thoughts for putting your life into order.
#1- our walk with God should always be number one. It is our faith in Him, our relationship with Jesus, and our growth through love of others and faith. This is the only one of the lives with "eternal" implications; therefore it needs to be number one for that reason. Your earthly life will end, and all you will have left is how you personally lived for God. (Not how your parents, friends, or youth group lived, but how you lived. Also: not "what" you did, but how you lived.)
#2- Family life really should fit here. Those are the people we live with who we will be in direct contact with for our entire earthly lives. They can help us with #1, as well as give us purpose outside of our faith (or in conjunction with our faith). Keeping family relationships strong will only make you a better person in the long run.
#3- At this point in many of your lives, either school or church should fall here. Church is not deemed as necessary to everyone, but it is very important if your list has #1 truly at #1. School is also very important because it is the starting line for future successes in life. I have learned that there are certain non-negotiables in life, and the rest of the things are up for discussion. Don't get me wrong, church is important, but church "work" can not and should not dominate your life outside of God and your family. Churchy people call it "being so heavenly minded that you are no earthly good."
#4- Friends, work, relationships, fun and other stuff can fall here. So often as teenagers, we allow something here to get too high up on our list, causing unbalance and problems in our lives. These are all things that need to be done with balance and knowledge. Spend time with good influences, like-friends, and acceptable fun stuff but don't let it dominate your life. Good balance leads to good living, trust me.
Consider re-prioritizing your life so that you can have good balance. God will reward your hard work.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
A New Day???????
So I have now found that almost 7 people read this blog. If you are one of the people reading it who still haven't let me know through email, text, or voice, please let me know.
Warning! What you are about to read is P-Mike getting some things off of his chest. He is not targeting anyone, so don't take it personally. Just read it, and find out where you can get better.....
Some days I feel so good about myself, my family, ministry, and all that good stuff. And then there are other days when I feel like everything I am doing is for nothing. Any way that i spin it, somebody always gets egg all over their face. last night, it was bo (lol), but normally it is my face. (BTW, that means that you try really hard to something, and you get nothing out of it; or you look like the foolish one.) If anyone ever wanted to know, youth ministry is by far the hardest ministry in the church today. There is no recognition, definitely last place on the importance scale, long crazy hours, many students who seem to not care about anything, and in the end i always ask myself, is anything that we actually do even working or even worth it.
Why does youth ministry have to be last? It's because students don't bring in money to the church, they don't come on Sundays, they don't seem to care about anything else that is going on, their music is too loud, they don't worship enough, they don't talk to old people, they have holes in their pants, they waste the money they do get, they disrespect their parents, and then there are the kids who can't sit still in a service for even 5 minutes. Why can't some kids just grow up and stop being so stinkin immature......
A day like today would mean a lot normally; coming off of a great night of fun and relaxation; no pressure from parents to transform their kids lives, or to have permission slips ready even if we just walk over to the park. No pressure from students to have a worship and prayer night, game night, small group night, fun message night, fusion stuff, speed the light, crazy games, a lock-in every other day, allow students to speak and preach, sing Break Free, Solution, and NEW stuff, special other things, recognize every birthday, all wrapped up into one night, because apparantly if we were able to fit all of that into 1.5 hours, then everyone would be happy, or would they? I think not, but thanks for trying....
Then there are kids who don't care what we do, as long as they get a few hours away from home, away from their life, so they can come and make their lives better? It's those kids who really need what we are doing, yet those kids are too stubborn and prideful to even consider living for God whole-heartedly. Well, their parents aren't doing it, so why should they. Somebody made them mad to day, so let's take it out on God. "No God, i am not going to worship you tonight because I am mad at my friend, who didn't talk to me for 20 minutes today, and on top of that my favorite American Idol contestant got voted, and that's more imporant than you. No God, i am not going to listen to your message because I have all the answers myself. That is why I am depressed, addicted, lonely, lost, confused, spiritually dead, and emotionally somewhere around basketcase. No God, I am not going to sacrifice for missions or the lost because if I don't get more useless stuff like games, clothes, food, or movies, then I won't be the "coolest" kid at school. I would just be average then. On top of that God, how come when I prayed for those things last month for 2 minutes you didn't give them to me. I really wanted them and I am mad at you for not giving them to me. I guess you are not real. I am going to tell everyone now that you aren't real."
Isn't it amazing that Jesus is sometimes like Santa; it's all good until you ask for a Pony for Christmas and get an X-Box. Then we stop believing in Santa, just like that. Or maybe for some it was because someone else told them that Santa wasn't real. It's crazy how it seems to be that easy for some to write off God, like He is some fat guy with elves making toys just so YOU can be happy. Last time i checked God wasn't always in the "make you happy" business. Sometimes, it's the "make you work for it" business.
What's the point here? Honestly i could write a book on this stuff. You students have to know that your youth pastor is not perfect. He never claims to be. He tries really hard at his job, and yet somehow like a coach, he can't play the game for you. If all is going well, then the players get lots of credit for listening to the coach and learning how to do things. however, when things aren't going so well, the blame is laid completely on the coach for not changing the way that the players live and play (insert Billy Gillispie).
I know that I have disappointed some of you in the past. I am probably disappointing some of you right now. Please accept my apology and let's get on with life. But please understand that if your walk with God is based on me or Defy Youth, then you have already missed the point. If you can't live for God in the situation you're in right now, YOU WILL NEVER be able to live for God when you don't have people around you that are trying to help you out. You're beginning to see now why so many students give up on God and church after high school, right???
my challenge to you this week is simply this: TRY HARDER! GROW UP! FOLLOW GOD! SEE THE BIG PICTURE!
One day, i guess i will look back on this as my chance to get some things off of my chest, because it certainly doesn't feel good where it's sitting right now. How do you feel about this? Let me know....
Warning! What you are about to read is P-Mike getting some things off of his chest. He is not targeting anyone, so don't take it personally. Just read it, and find out where you can get better.....
Some days I feel so good about myself, my family, ministry, and all that good stuff. And then there are other days when I feel like everything I am doing is for nothing. Any way that i spin it, somebody always gets egg all over their face. last night, it was bo (lol), but normally it is my face. (BTW, that means that you try really hard to something, and you get nothing out of it; or you look like the foolish one.) If anyone ever wanted to know, youth ministry is by far the hardest ministry in the church today. There is no recognition, definitely last place on the importance scale, long crazy hours, many students who seem to not care about anything, and in the end i always ask myself, is anything that we actually do even working or even worth it.
Why does youth ministry have to be last? It's because students don't bring in money to the church, they don't come on Sundays, they don't seem to care about anything else that is going on, their music is too loud, they don't worship enough, they don't talk to old people, they have holes in their pants, they waste the money they do get, they disrespect their parents, and then there are the kids who can't sit still in a service for even 5 minutes. Why can't some kids just grow up and stop being so stinkin immature......
A day like today would mean a lot normally; coming off of a great night of fun and relaxation; no pressure from parents to transform their kids lives, or to have permission slips ready even if we just walk over to the park. No pressure from students to have a worship and prayer night, game night, small group night, fun message night, fusion stuff, speed the light, crazy games, a lock-in every other day, allow students to speak and preach, sing Break Free, Solution, and NEW stuff, special other things, recognize every birthday, all wrapped up into one night, because apparantly if we were able to fit all of that into 1.5 hours, then everyone would be happy, or would they? I think not, but thanks for trying....
Then there are kids who don't care what we do, as long as they get a few hours away from home, away from their life, so they can come and make their lives better? It's those kids who really need what we are doing, yet those kids are too stubborn and prideful to even consider living for God whole-heartedly. Well, their parents aren't doing it, so why should they. Somebody made them mad to day, so let's take it out on God. "No God, i am not going to worship you tonight because I am mad at my friend, who didn't talk to me for 20 minutes today, and on top of that my favorite American Idol contestant got voted, and that's more imporant than you. No God, i am not going to listen to your message because I have all the answers myself. That is why I am depressed, addicted, lonely, lost, confused, spiritually dead, and emotionally somewhere around basketcase. No God, I am not going to sacrifice for missions or the lost because if I don't get more useless stuff like games, clothes, food, or movies, then I won't be the "coolest" kid at school. I would just be average then. On top of that God, how come when I prayed for those things last month for 2 minutes you didn't give them to me. I really wanted them and I am mad at you for not giving them to me. I guess you are not real. I am going to tell everyone now that you aren't real."
Isn't it amazing that Jesus is sometimes like Santa; it's all good until you ask for a Pony for Christmas and get an X-Box. Then we stop believing in Santa, just like that. Or maybe for some it was because someone else told them that Santa wasn't real. It's crazy how it seems to be that easy for some to write off God, like He is some fat guy with elves making toys just so YOU can be happy. Last time i checked God wasn't always in the "make you happy" business. Sometimes, it's the "make you work for it" business.
What's the point here? Honestly i could write a book on this stuff. You students have to know that your youth pastor is not perfect. He never claims to be. He tries really hard at his job, and yet somehow like a coach, he can't play the game for you. If all is going well, then the players get lots of credit for listening to the coach and learning how to do things. however, when things aren't going so well, the blame is laid completely on the coach for not changing the way that the players live and play (insert Billy Gillispie).
I know that I have disappointed some of you in the past. I am probably disappointing some of you right now. Please accept my apology and let's get on with life. But please understand that if your walk with God is based on me or Defy Youth, then you have already missed the point. If you can't live for God in the situation you're in right now, YOU WILL NEVER be able to live for God when you don't have people around you that are trying to help you out. You're beginning to see now why so many students give up on God and church after high school, right???
my challenge to you this week is simply this: TRY HARDER! GROW UP! FOLLOW GOD! SEE THE BIG PICTURE!
One day, i guess i will look back on this as my chance to get some things off of my chest, because it certainly doesn't feel good where it's sitting right now. How do you feel about this? Let me know....
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