From a Recent Conversation
By Jason | June 14, 2010
Recently, I had a discussion with some of the older teens in our youth group. It was a good discussion. Cori and I had made the observation that out of this particular group of students none of them struggled with alcohol, drugs, sex, or really any other major teenage challenge. (Not to say they are perfect.) We were curious as to why this particular group hadn’t gotten caught up in the “all too typical” teenage drama. What made them different?So we asked them “why”? Their responses were enlightening. Most of them said that they had been very careful in the people that they hang out with. They said the friends that they spend most of their time with were good influences on them and make “good choices”. All of them said that their parents had influenced them. One young man even said that “it’s not worth coming home and knowing my parents are disappointed, I can find other things to do.” Another teen said “I hate to see that look of my parent’s disappointment when I let them down”.I had always heard statics referring to this. I have read articles about the impact that parents had on students. But I had never really had a good conversation with teens who said that their parents had this great of an impact. I am encouraged!Two thoughts:1. No matter who you are, choose your friends wisely. Choose friends that impact you in a positive way.2. Parents know that you have the greatest impact on your children. What you do, what you say, and the way you act and react; your children are learning from you. If you are honest they are more likely to be honest. If you are friendly they are more likely to be friendly. If you serve they will be more likely to be a servant. If you spend much time with your children, listening, playing, talking, and interacting they will be less likely to do drugs, drink underage, have sex before marriage, and make all sorts of big mistakes in their lives.
Topics: Family, Parenting | No Comments »
Unworthy
By Jason | April 12, 2010
Jesus tells a story in Luke 10 about a Jewish man who was walking down the road and was beaten, robbed, and left for dead. A priest walks by and ignores him and a Levite crosses to the other side of the road to avoid him. Finally, a Samaritan (who didn’t get along with Jews) came by and actually stopped, took care of the man, got him to an inn, and paid for him to stay until he was healed. The Samaritan, according to the worldly standards, should have been the man that walked right by without acknowledging him; but he wasn’t. Instead he showed grace.Most of us have always been taught that this man is the Good Samaritan and that we should be like this man; and we should. But I want to ask you to consider that before you can be the Good Samaritan you were first the broken, beaten, left for dead, unworthy, powerless man on the side of the road.“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8There is absolutely nothing that we could do to save ourselves. We are powerless and unworthy. The sin of the world had left us for dead. Sin left us powerless and unworthy. God reached out and extended His hand of grace by sending Christ. Although we are unworthy of that grace, we are made worthy through Christ. And it’s because of the grace that we receive through faith that we respond by sharing that grace with others and thus become the Good Samaritan.
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Let All Creation Give Praise
By Jason | March 24, 2010
Something is beginning to happen outside. It’s not hard to notice when you look around the earth is beginning to wake up from its winter nap. Flowers are beginning to open up and bloom. The grass is beginning to sprout and turn green. Trees are beginning to blossom and put on leaves. The birds are returning from their winter homes. And the air is getting warmer and smells of pollen and flowers. Spring is here, and creation is putting on a show of praise to its Creator.The Psalmist says: “Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise him in the heights above. Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his heavenly hosts. Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars. Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies. Let them praise the name of the LORD, for he commanded and they were created. He set them in place for ever and ever; he gave a decree that will never pass away. Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding, you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds, kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth, young men and maidens, old men and children. Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens. He has raised up for his people a horn, the praise of all his saints, of Israel, the people close to his heart. Praise the LORD.” Psalms 148As the earth wakes up and praises the Creator, may we be reminded not to forget to give praise to our Creator, our Father.
Topics: Food for thought, Ministry | No Comments »
Head Over Heels
By Jason | March 17, 2010
The other day our youth group went to play Broomball. If you are wondering what that is you’ve got to go play! Basically, it’s a lot like hockey only you don’t have pads and you don’t have ice skates. Instead you run and slide around on the ice with a stick that has a scoop on the end, hitting a small ball, trying to make it into a goal. It’s a pretty intense game!One of our girls, Whitney, was all about playing hard. At one point when she was on the opposing team, she took over the goalie position. Sticks were flying, feet were sliding, and the ball was being passed all around her. She held her ground with great focus and intensity. One of my teammates received the ball directly in front of the goal from a pass. He raised his scoop and hit the ball towards the goal. It traveled hard at Whitney, who at this point did everything she could to try and stop the ball and at the same time lost her footing on the slippery ice. Her legs flew out from under her as she dove forward head over heels in an attempt to block the ball! The ball barely escaped and went right between her legs and into the goal. Whitney at this point having hit the ground really hard, jumps back up and says, “Alright, let’s do this again!” She was intense!How is your faith? Do you have the kind of faith that is “all in”? Are you intense in developing your relationship with Christ? Go wants all of our love. He doesn’t want part of it; He doesn’t want to share it. He wants us to be totally focused and committed to Him. A love for others and ourselves then follows out of our love for Him. Listen to the words of Jesus when He is asked what the greatest commandment is:“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew 22:37-39Are you willing to jump in head over heels for God? Are you head over heels in love with the Savior?
Topics: Family, Ministry, Teens | No Comments »
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