Many times in life we think that taking a stand means putting together an event, or just being angry about something. I have found that to be a lie from hell. Intact I believe the best stand is a quite loving stand. I think about this every-time I pass Planed Parenthood. You see people standing and protesting. Nothing wrong with standing up for what you believe in, but at the same time could we be more productive.
That teenage girl that is afraid to tell mom or dad "I am pregnant" needs someone to look at her and simply say "Its going to be alright." Walking with people is the best way to take a stand.
What is it that I take a stand for? Fatherless teenage boys who need someone to say I love you. Single moms who are trying to make ends meet and want to see their child grow into successful young men. This is something you can not hold an event for, it is something you must have the heart for.
I was asked today why so many youth pastors get out of the ministry after a couple of years. It's easy to answer, youth pastors do not see much fruit and most people does not see the work it takes. Words do not describe what I do and see, I love it. I have no goal of being a senior pastor. You might ask what that has to do with taking a stand??
The fatherless teen needs someone to stick with them. Weekly I make about ten phone calls a wek to teens who will not step foot into church. Their pain is more than I can imagine and if hurts to see them choose drugs or anything else over Jesus.
Those phone calls will never be recognized by anyone but that person. To be honest that is the way I like it. You see that youth pastor comment was not about the church treating youth pastors better. It is all of us simply putting ourselves in the background of Christ.
Taking a stand is all about being that light in a dark world. Taking a stand simply means love like Jesus.
The following was taken from Compassion's Blog. Please sponsor a child today by going to Compassion's Website.
Part of what forms our definition of poverty and our holistic approach to ministry is the recognition that poverty can be an internal condition resulting from an external message of oppression.
“At its very core, poverty is a mindset that goes far beyond the tragic circumstances. It is the cruel, destructive message that gets whispered into the ears of millions by the enemy Satan himself: ‘Give up! You don’t matter. Nobody cares about you. Look around you: Things are terrible. Always have been, always will be. Think back. Your grandfather was a failure. Your parents couldn’t protect or take care of you. Now it’s your turn. You, too, will fail. So just give up!’” — Wess Stafford
The internal condition of poverty is one of disempowerment, fatalism, hopelessness and lack of initiative. The person in this condition will often be a victim of his circumstances rather than an agent of positive change in his community. That person’s extremely low self-view will translate into a low regard for others and likely into damaged relationships. Damaged relationships then reciprocate and reinforce the message of worthlessness.
The belief that “it won’t get any better” may undermine initiative. It may not matter how many opportunities are created, because the effort of striving, risking and capitalizing on those opportunities requires a belief in the possibility of a better future. The majority of individuals in that state are incapable of transformational development. To sum it up in one word, they lack hope, and hope is a major engine of growth and wellness.
The marred identity includes a self-view of powerlessness, of being victim to circumstance, of not only low self-esteem but also a projection of low value on others in the community.
When one sees poverty as having its root in human identity [self-concept], then it profoundly impacts the strategies chosen for development. When one defines poverty primarily as an internal condition resulting from external devaluing messages, it holds significant implications for poverty-fighting strategies. One must ask:
How and when did the internal condition become entrenched?
How can “the lie” be exposed and the person freed from its oppression?
Can we prevent it from being heard or being believed?
It also becomes clear that when the lie is deeply entrenched in adults it is difficult to reverse. However, intervening early in childhood offers the best opportunity to reverse or prevent the lie from gaining traction in the identity-shaping stages of human development. There are pivotal moments in human development, defining moments, that shape long-term self view and identity. Those pivotal moments must be won by truth and not by “the lie.”
The lie speaks in abuse; the truth must protect.
The lie speaks by ignoring; the truth must listen.
The lie criticizes; the truth must praise.
The voice of truth must carry throughout the early and most vulnerable stage of human development to break the power of the lie.
The statement “poverty is a lie” is not meant to deny the reality of poverty. Poverty is absolutely real. Nor is the statement meant to imply that overcoming poverty is as simple as a change of mind. And the statement certainly does not mean to blame the victim in the sense that they were the person who chose to believe the lie. Rather, the concept conveys the idea that we are surrounded by false messages about who we are — about our nature, power and value. These messages mask the truth of our identity:
We are people made in the image of God, granted unique talents by God and capable of receiving the Holy Spirit. We are dearly loved by God.
All of us believe “the lie” to some degree, but for the poor it is debilitating.
Success can be a blessing and also a curse. Many times in life we feel that when we have it all that we are ok and need nothing else. In all reality that can be further from the truth. I believe Daily that we need to understand that we are being saved by the grace and mercy of Christ.
When we become a shadow of God's love and grace we are able to show a broken world his love for them. Lecrae has a song out called "Background." There is a part that makes me think everytime....
I know I'm safest when I'm in Your will, and trust Your Word
I know I'm dangerous when I trust myself, my vision blurred
And I ain't got no time to play life's foolish games
Got plenty aims, but do they really Glorify Your name?
And it's a shame, the way I want to do these things for You, yeah
Don't even cling to you, take time to sit and glean from You
It seems like You were patient in my ignorance
If ignorance is bliss, it's 'cause she never heard of this
I love that part because I believe many times we tend to try and lead our own life. We can try all we want and some might believe we are doing well. But we NEED Christ and nothing else. Learning to play that background role is what we need to learn. We can lead our own life, we must become the shadow of Christ.
My prayer is....God please save me from my ignorance. I need you and I can't do this by myself.
The Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola, LA is one of the largest and historically one of the most bloody maximum-security prisons in the USA. In 2009, Desiring God and John Piper were invited to Angola to learn about prison life, hear from men who have been radically changed by the gospel, and minister to many of the 5,000 inmates.
In this documentary, be confronted by the realities of men who have squandered their lives and whom society has deemed a waste. Hear firsthand from those who have ruined others’ lives and lost their lives of freedom, yet today are no longer wasting their lives. Be challenged by inmates who seem to have a greater grasp on eternity than those on the outside.
I have plans to show this to my youth group after I watch it. Many times when we screw things up or make mistakes we believe that life is over. I have a good friend that lost his ministry a few years ago after making several mistakes. Infact his ministry was just one thing he lost. His family, friends, and at one point his purpose. I have an email from him still in my inbox....
Nick please pray for my family and my purpose, I know I am called to youth ministry. I am not sure what is next.
At a person lowest point our calling is to go in and bring hope. My friend is back in ministry, remarried, an author of a new book, and understand more now than ever his calling. We have to believe in one another and we have to be able to tell people that God has a calling on their life despite what they have done.
When I think back on those who believed in me there is a huge list. So I am having a hard time just picking a few. So I am going to point out the three that really stick out to me.
My aunt and uncle no matter what it was they always had 100% faith in me. Even at my lowest point as a high school student they never stopped believing.
Mrs. Turner was the one who refused to allow me to stay they way I was in school. Lazy and not wanting to turn in work. There were times when she have a come to Jesus meeting and then other times she would simply award me for the good job, She was also the first person to allow me to work with kids.
My Church family...I put this as a group because at the end of the day I know I can go to someone there. I believe that is what makes life easier because no matter what I know that God is going to have someone there to help me out!
I am learning so much when it comes to relationships and I pray that God will continue to break me and help me see the need for him!
I am amazed at the difference that God makes when you simply step out and allow him to do his work. I know it's hard to believe that I am already working towards summer camp, but I am. I am trying something different this year with fund-raising. I am working on sponsorship packages for students to start sending out to people I know and for my leaders to give out. So I sent out this message today asking a few students to answer a few questions.
Favorite Bible Verse:
How has God impacted your life this year?:
What is your favorite thing about Church?:
What callin do you believe God has called you to?
Favorite Activities?:
Why do you want to attend camp?:
Write a brief description of where you are at with your relationship with God. PLEASE be honest, no Sunday school answers.
The two responses I have received so far has been humbling in many ways.
1st Response
My favorite verse is in 2nd corinthians. Remember how you put it in my letter?
God has actually opened my eyes and I think I'm more aware of all the blessings and now I actually thank him for everything that happens and keep in mind everything is his plan and on his time.
My fav. Thing is small groups and talking about everything and asking questions and also the fellowship and wingstop!
I think he's called me to share in sufferings with all people in any and every way I can.
My favorite activities are spending time with friends and my girlfriend.
I wanna go to camp because it helps me regain anything lost with God. All these people come together for one purpose, its truely inspirational and it actually impacted me last year.
2nd Response
•Ephesians 6:11-17
•He has given me the most amazing ppl and thinks i could ever ask for
•Hereing the work of god and seeing everyone here his word
•To be in law in forcement
•Football,softball, all sports,and hang with friends
•Every year could be a good experience and it would be fun.
•My relationship in god is good I feel like I'm close to god and I live my life by the way god what's me to.
By the way I didn't change any of the grammar or spelling, left it just the way I received it for you. The reason this was humbling to me is because it was God's way of showing me that we are on the right track. My prayer was that it could become less about a program and more about lives being transformed.
The Message 2 Corinthians 4 1-2Since God has so generously let us in on what he is doing, we're not about to throw up our hands and walk off the job just because we run into occasional hard times. We refuse to wear masks and play games. We don't maneuver and manipulate behind the scenes. And we don't twist God's Word to suit ourselves. Rather, we keep everything we do and say out in the open, the whole truth on display, so that those who want to can see and judge for themselves in the presence of God. 3-4If our Message is obscure to anyone, it's not because we're holding back in any way. No, it's because these other people are looking or going the wrong way and refuse to give it serious attention. All they have eyes for is the fashionable god of darkness. They think he can give them what they want, and that they won't have to bother believing a Truth they can't see. They're stone-blind to the dayspring brightness of the Message that shines with Christ, who gives us the best picture of God we'll ever get. 5-6Remember, our Message is not about ourselves; we're proclaiming Jesus Christ, the Master. All we are is messengers, errand runners from Jesus for you. It started when God said, "Light up the darkness!" and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful. 7-12If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That's to prevent anyone from confusing God's incomparable power with us. As it is, there's not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we're not much to look at. We've been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we're not demoralized; we're not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we've been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn't left our side; we've been thrown down, but we haven't broken. What they did to Jesus, they do to us—trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us—he lives! Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus' sake, which makes Jesus' life all the more evident in us. While we're going through the worst, you're getting in on the best! 13-15We're not keeping this quiet, not on your life. Just like the psalmist who wrote, "I believed it, so I said it," we say what we believe. And what we believe is that the One who raised up the Master Jesus will just as certainly raise us up with you, alive. Every detail works to your advantage and to God's glory: more and more grace, more and more people, more and more praise! 16-18So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever.
That was the verse I sent to that young man...okay it was a chapter. The difference is that now I am seeing lives transformed and not just a change here and now. Listen to me allot of our students are still raw and we still a work in progress. Which is why every Wednesday before we go into small groups I always say the following. This should be a time and place for you to come and ask any question and struggle with anything that has to do with the Lord. Leader's your teaching should always point back to the cross and the salvation that the blood of Christ bought for us. I don't care if there are 10 of them here today or three it is God's plan.
It has been that message from my leaders and the relationships built that has brought change. It's kind of funny when you beg students to bring there friends to church, they won't. When you point them to scripture about their calling and responsibility it seems to click. When you tell them....
if you have no interest in praying for your friends and reaching out but you will bring them for a prize or to be recognized for doing something good...that is not how God fly attended it to be and that will not fly with us either. You keep coming, you are welcome and if your friend decides to come they are more than welcome to come, but we need to partner together in reaching people. So please do this because you care deeply about their salvation.
It has been because of that we have been able to see God come in and take care of his children. We have to work at allowing God to be the change not us. Going to God in prayer and begging for someones soul.
2If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That's to prevent anyone from confusing God's incomparable power with us.
God please help me to get out of the way and your will to be done. I want to hear so bad "Well done Good and Faithful Servant."
Each Thursday I am going to either write something on Compassion or simply copy a blog post from Compassion's Blog. Today I am taking a post from a couple of days ago. This time it's not telling you what you do for your child...it's what the child is doing for you.
It is almost 4:30 p.m., and 22 church staff members and six sponsored children are gathering in a church classroom. They are beginning a time of fasting and prayer for sponsors.
“We are usually gathered to pray every first Monday of the month. Our main prayer is for sponsors,” says Nie, coordinator of Sola Fide Student Center in Indonesia. The staff and children of Sola Fide Student Center have held a regular prayer time for sponsors since July 2009, an activity started by Nie. She was inspired by Compassion partnership facilitators who shared a testimony about the struggles sponsors sometimes go through.
“There is a sponsor who struggles every day himself by selling milk using a bike. One day, after this sponsor went back from one of his customer’s houses, he found his bike had fallen and all the milk spilled out. The testimony inspired us to create one regular activity to bless and encourage them. Starting from there, I asked children and staff to gather and have prayer time regularly.”
The children weren’t asked to attend the prayer meeting every time, but there are six sponsored children who never miss it. They aren’t even scheduled to attend the center on a Monday, but they voluntary come just to attend the prayer time.
“Those children do not just come to pray with us, they also join in the fasting session and open it together with us. We are really happy because children are not only seeing the benefit that they received from their sponsors. Their concern has risen after we told them about problems that their sponsors face every day.”
Lots of children in the Compassion center pray and cry out for their sponsors not only when they gather for prayer time. Children also pray at home.
Lots of children had never thought about their sponsor’s real conditions before until they received a letter that sometimes told about the struggles that their sponsors face every day. It is why the children never miss a time to pray for their sponsors who might be sick and need support in prayer or support to look for a job.”
Children who haven’t gotten a letter from their sponsors and don’t know their sponsors’ condition don’t want to be left out. They pray for their sponsors also.
For example, Timothius is an 11-year-old boy who always gets interesting goods from his sponsor, but he has never received any special prayer request from his sponsor. Even though Timo doesn’t know what his sponsor looks like, he always prays for him every night, accompanied by his mother.
In his prayer Timo always says,
“My dear Jesus, please protect my sponsor. I know that he is getting older and he probably only lives with his pet. There’s no one to see and look after him there, but I believe You always hear my prayer and protect him. Please bless him every day. Amen.”
Other children in other areas of eastern Indonesia might not have a fixed prayer schedule like at Sola Fide has, but they never miss their own prayer time for their sponsors.
Andreyana, a sponsored child at the Agape Student Center in Sangir Island, always prays for her sponsor. In her prayers Andreyana says,
“Dear God, you are awesome and remarkable. You let me meet my sponsors, even though they live far away from me. I never imagined that I’d have someone who loves me very much out there. Jesus, please bless them, bless their job, and both of their children in their school. Protect them, so they will have success and achieve their goals.”
Aldi, from Ikhtus Student Center in Beha, Sangir Island, also never forgets to raise up some prayer for his sponsor. Aldi always says,
”Dear Jesus, I pray for little James and Thomas. I believe you will always take good care of them while their parents are working. Dear God, I also pray for my sponsor. Please bless his job, bless his effort in giving me support. May you always provide his family needs. Please bless his family and give them strength, health; also put faithfulness in his heart so he will always surrender to you.”
Stenly from El Shaddai Student Center in Bitung has the same way to keep in touch with his sponsor besides a letter. He is grateful his sponsor has helped him to improve his talent in drawing. Stenly never forgets to put some prayer,
“Dear God, thank you for your love that you have shown through my sponsor. He has shown love that you given to him for me. I can feel his care through the support that he gives all this time. This support encourages and helps me to grow and sharpening my talent. My Lord, please bless him and his family. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.”
Serti from Kasih Persaudaraan Student Center has a simple prayer,
“Dear Jesus, thank you for always blessing me every day. You always deliver my need through the great sponsors who found me. Dear Jesus, please bless them. I and my family really love them. Please bless them with health and guard them from bad guys. My dear God, I also want to thank you because I have graduated from primary school and have the opportunity to continue to junior high school. Please bless my sponsors, who have given all support for me all this time. Because of them, I can attend the school. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.”
Welmina from Kasih Persaudaraan Student Center prays,
“My dear God, please bless my sponsor. Please guard his family because I love them so much. Please protect my sponsor, too, so he will always be safe when he is working at his duties. Please make him happy; don’t let him cry. Because of his love, I can go to the student center and pay my school fee. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.”
Another child, Elyakim, from the same student center also raises his prayer,
“My dear Lord, I pray so you always help my sponsor. Lord, I pray so you always help them every day because they have helped me by giving me support. When my father didn’t have money to buy my uniform, my sponsor gave it for me. I don’t want my sponsor to stop sponsoring me. I want to keep doing activities in the student center. I would ask you to forgive me if I was lazy, but I promise will not be naughty anymore now. I don’t want to make my mother or my sponsor cry because of me. I love my mother and my sponsor. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.”
Children in eastern Indonesia don’t see what happens with their sponsors every day, but the letters that they receive help them know about their sponsors, including challenges that their sponsors face every day.
“We hope we can always uphold our sponsors in our prayers. I hope our sponsors also want to tell more about struggles that they face every day. It will help us not just know them better, it will help us to have better relationships with them and Christ through our prayers.” And so prays Megawati, one of the sponsored children from Sola Fide.
Brad Ruggles has a blog that I read and he had this post up a couple of days ago. I thought it was worth sharing!
Blog From Brad Ruggles
I shared a few weeks ago about an endeavor I’m participating in along with 30 other bloggers to raise $30k for clean water in the Central African Republic. That challenge is still going strong and the need is still very much there.
With all the “important” stories dominating the news like which rehab clinic Lindsay Lohan is in this week, we sometimes forget that there are 42,000 people dying every week (90% of whom are children) from unclean water and lack of sanitation, But of course those numbers are just too much to comprehend. They just don’t hit home for many of us because we are so far removed from the problem. So let’s bring it a little closer to home. Imagine if New York City’s taps went dry…what would we do? In this great video from Charity:Water, Jennifer Connelly walks to Central Park to get dirty water for her family as millions of mothers in Africa do every day.
Please take a minute today to donate something…anything…to help bring clean water to people who need it. 100% of the money you give goes towards water projects – none of it goes to advertising or organization expenses (private donors take care of all overhead)! A $20 donation provides 1 person clean water for 20 years – just stop and think about what that means! When was the last time you spent $20 and got that kind of return on your investment? Like you, I often think of the many needs I have or the bills I have to pay that would prevent me from giving. And yet, if it were my family that was without clean water, is there anything I wouldn’t do to remedy the situation?
Today I was driving and listening to one of my billion podcast and sermons I listen to every week. God has an amazing way of speaking to me in that way and I enjoy listening to other people. As I was driving and listening to a guy named JR Vassar. The sermon I was listening to was titled "Freedom From the Fear of Man." His point was how we spend so much of our time trying to please man and we become needy people in some way shape or form. This really opened up my eyes to an issue that I have. Many times I will miss the calling of God because of the fear of looking like an idiot. Now the catch is that I have no problem with telling people about my faith. In-fact it is a gift of mine. My fear is with people who are above me and who have some type of control over my life. Mine has more to do with the fact that at times I feel that people really don't see all that I do for the kingdom of God. I am not the type of person who likes the spot light and in-fact I spend allot of time staying out of it because I believe that God has another calling on my life. I tend to have more of a personal relationship with people instead of just knowing them.
A year and half ago my church youth group started growing in numbers and in-fact it tripled in numbers. Students were giving their life to Christ left and right and I must admit it was nice and I felt like God was moving and he was. But in December that stopped and I started seeing God taking us down a new path with new I ideas. A student that I had from an early age started talking about leaving and a few months later he did. I was amazed with how I felt and others felt. Today I believe it was a sinful way of thinking because here was this young man knowing that God was calling him to serve some where else. Because he was my star student, and to be honest with you I loved him allot and put allot of time into him. People would complement how he was and I found it to be awesome that I was the person who told the youth pastor at the time to give him shot in serving. Then he leaves! I become upset and hurt...let me honest I have had kids come in and out and cared but not like this.
I owe God more with my life and ministry for many reasons. For the first time in a while my family is better then it had been for well over 12 years. My family was in church and a lady from a small baptist church reached her and I am seeing God change her heart. God had answered my prayers and here I was shaking my fist at God.
Because I wanted people to notice what I was doing for God I became so concerned with the glory of Nick and not the glory of a king. It was unfair to me, God, and his flock. Things became weird because God was doing something new. I was fighting it and I knew God wanted me to go to the cross, but lets face it when things tumble down and numbers aren't as good, you look like you are not doing your job. But through his grace and through only what God could do this started changing.
December of 2009 I knew it was time to deal with my heart and I knew it wasn't talking with a bunch of people or even a cry fest. I needed to spend time alone and begging God to show me his heart and to change my heart to see the beauty of what God had giving to me. How selfish of me and anyone else who would think that God only moves through our numbers. To think if I am just creative enough people will come and worship and we will see God move. I started seeing that God didn't need any help bring people to him, it was simple he had so much love for us he wanted to include us in it.
I compare it to when my father was teaching me how to keep the yard cut. My dad included me by taking the lawn mower and making a square and telling me to stay with in that square. Now when I look at it, i was in the way and really not helping. Even when I was five or six with my bubble mower, he put me behind him and just encouraged me by telling me I mowed all that myself. The reality was I was following his path that he already started. I was in his way and it took him a little longer.
How awesome is it that God uses us and wants us to simply follow him and join in on what he is doing. However God is different from my father, he doesn't want me to pretend that I did something that he was responsible for. God knows what you and I need, and that is to be rescued from our way of thinking.
Now there are only three main focus points in our youth group:
Honoring God in all we do
Serving our God in all we do
Worshiping God in all we do
At this point all we do is small groups. I believe this will change sooner then later because I see God bringing up a new group of students. I believe we have healthy relationships with these students and because of that we can do some more group stuff soon. But I must admit it's nice, because I no longer have that burden on me. At the same time we must maintain a healthy learning environment and having students follow rules has become easier. It's simple I am not worried about if they like me or not. We have three simple rules and I expect them to follow those rules: Respect God, Respect others, and Respect yourself. It's amazing they get it now. We allow not sexual talk or dirty joke in our youth group not because it is sinful, but because it takes away from what God is doing. The freedom is awesome in that and I found that students have really opened up to that. My point is that I don't believe I need to do anything but follow God to make it attractive.
Titus 2 Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, 1and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.
My prayer: God save me from my selfish way of thinking, help me bring honor to you in all that I do.
Last week two of my friends lost people who had such an impact on their life. One was a mentor and the other was a grandfather. It hurts for us to even understand why death has to happen. I know what some of you are going to say, if you believe in Christ there is no such thing has death. You are right and that is the beauty of the cross. However coming from a back ground of losing people I will tell you, there is that sadness in all of us.
So after hearing about these two people and what I found to be an awesome staff meeting this past week, I have asked God to guide and show me words of comfort for these two. I don't want to say the same thing we all say. Words that come from God and his word.
Acts 20:24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.
It's a blessing to live here on planet earth, but here is where we long to be home. In our death we gain life and in our life we must die. We have a purpose here and that purpose is to run the race the best we can. Right now we have limits and we have events that set us back. The beauty of those set backs and time of being disappointed is that we are able to see God flex and show us who the boss is. When I read that I find comfort in knowing that I am running th race the best I know how too.
While I am here I must admit there were a few times last year that I thought I was through with the race. I was hurt and beat up and it happened one to many times. I don't mean in a way of taking my own life, but stepping out of the ministry world. I later found out that through all of that God had purpose and I needed to man up and get off my soap box. I had been called by God and he gave me the people and his word.
I say all of this because my pastor and friend posted a video on his blog that is on the link bellow that was touching. Has he battled the question Why? The question should be why not me? Doesn't it show great faith to take the slap in the face and to continue with the race?? My prayer is that we all would rise up and be the light in a world that is dark and is need of a savior.
After my last post and thinking allot about the "Great Commission," and how we believe as people. Today once again we watch the news about another earthquake and asking God why? Now I am not believe that God creates the earthquake, however I can't help but be admire by God and how he shows himself. You see there was a huge difference between Hatti and Chilii in many ways. Chilli is a location that is prepared for this type of event. If I understand right this is the 6th largest earthquake in history. So me being me I always want to no more about the people and what they believe. i was a bit surprise at their life style and what they believe.
Facts and Statistics Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Argentina and Peru Capital: Santiago Population: 15,980,912 (July 2005 est.) Ethnic Groups: white and white-Amerindian 95%, Amerindian 3%, other 2% Religions: Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 11%, Jewish NEGL% Language in Chile
Spanish in the official language of Chile. There are also quite a few indigenous languages such as Mapudungun (spoken between the Itata and Tolten rivers) and Aymara (spoken in the mountains of the north). Chilean Culture & Society Religion
. Most Chileans are Roman Catholics.
. The religion has played a large role in defining social and political life.
. Religious instruction in public schools is almost exclusively Roman Catholic.
Abortion is actually illegal due to the influence of the Church.
. Divorce was illegal until 2004.
. Most national holidays are religious in nature.
. Chileans of more mature generations still celebrate their saint's day as much as they do their own birthday. The Role of the Family
. The family occupies a central role in Chilean life.
. Extended families are very close and will frequently congregate for major occasions and celebrations.
. Family and business are intertwined to the extent that nepotism is seen as a positive concept.
. Many small firms will be 100% family run. Class Structure
. Chilean history has had a large influence on modern day class lines.
. Generally speaking, class in drawn along financial lines.
. Today's wealthiest class are more or less the same land owning families of before.
. A middle class has developed of late and now accounts for nearly a half of the population.
Classes are fluid and it is possible to move either upwards or downwards depending on your salary. Social Profiling
. Due to class structures it is commonplace for people to try and deduce another's position in the social rank.
. This is primarily done through external appearances, i.e. dress, etc.
. As a result they present themselves in the best possible way.
As I read that I was amazed with how this location is similar to our lifestyle in America. There are some differences for sure but at the same time they carry allot of the same traditions. This is starting to show me that God is more about people and not what condition they are in. I believe events like this change more then just life, it changes what we think or believe.
Mark 10:17As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone. 19You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother."Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy."Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!" The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, "Children, how hard it isto enter the kingdom of God! 25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, "Who then can be saved?"
Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."Peter said to him, "We have left everything to follow you!""I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. 31But many who are first will be last, and the last first."
Could it be with rich man that the injustice in his life would be his money and stuff? We focus so much on injustice being the poor, but what about the rich man? Be honest with yourself, do you not find yourself happier when you have all that you need. It's amazing in America around income tax time people have a change in moods. They buy stuff that they have wanted! Then we run out of money and we are right back to where we were at.
In Chile the mood about the earthquake was way different from haiti. I jumped online to see if anyone posted anything on facebook about praying for Chile and I didn't see much. My question is why?? Because we are still talking about human life aren't we? Think about it the TV media get it, they are still wall to wall reporting. I am learning more and more WE MUST BE CAREFUL! Jesus minister to the rich man and when he heard that belongings would not save him he was upset. Why do we think that the Great Commission is only reaching out to the poor and believe the rich are okay.
I am praying that we understand the "Great Commission" has more to do with us obey what Jesus had to say to us. Also I believe that God wants to give us the same lesson has the rich man. We must understand that God loves all, not just ones we can give stuff.
Chad has been on this series about goals and plans in life. I must admit it has been life changing for me in many ways. But I must admit what has stood out to me the most is how many people believe in the power of God, but yet has a difficult believing in the power that God has giving them. I have been learning that the point is for you and I do be weak so he can show that he is strong. I find it to be interesting how he desires to use you and I to change this world.
Today I set down with an old student who graduated last year. Their have been some poor choices he has made, but through it he has found his way to knowing who God is. He has plans to go and spend to 9 months with a group of young men learning and soul searching. The words I gave to him were "stop asking people and tell them what you are going to do." I 100% believe in getting advice but we also need to keep in mind that we are the ones who makes the choice. At the same time we need to understand that the same goes for other people. Christ gave us the choice and he has trust in us.
Many times in this life we are trying to get other people to buy into our plan or give us the go ahead, but the reality God told to to GO! We have been called to set this world on fire for Jesus. I have been asked several times what is it that I want my students to understand. After a few years of this I know my first year, I didn't have a clue, second year.....well the same as the first, and this year...well not sure. Sounds like I am a bad youth pastor. The reason I say that is I want God to give it to them. I think I know but it changes. I have an idea but I am not sure bt I believe that God will give it to them in the right time.
The one thing I wish student leaders would understand....students could careless about what you say until you take a stand for something. We have very clear guidelines in our youth group now that I didn't have at first. It was all about freedom at first...now it's more about God has a plan for your life and we see something in you...do the right thing. Let me tell you the students have loved it, just as much as they have hated it. We spend less time entertaining them and more time investing into them. I has become less about who is the "leader" and about what the group is doing. I LOVE IT NOW! Because they are called by God to set this world on fire.
Believe in you God and the God in you. Lets trust God and the God in others. Where people weak allow God to be strong. We are little but he is BIG!
He is our God" and since he is our God what does he command from you and I? For so many people the Bible has more to do with what we are to do and not to do. I believe most of us would understand "the rules" but do we truly understand what it takes to live as our God? We read about his son on the cross and how to the end he loved. He was a man that was spit on and looked down on. Before we he was sent to that cross he was beat and was a savior that went last so you and I could be first. The cross is something that should be celebrated by his people and at the same time we should show the cross to others.
I believe the one thing that would have changed my life growing up would be someone showing me the cross. I must admit, it is so hard to show. We make it seem easy but it's not. That day on the cross it was so much more then just a man hanging there....it was man hanging there calling us out of death and into life. To think at one point I was dead and now I am alive is not easy to understand. But what I do understand is that my life should show the same dedication.
1John 7-8My dear friends, I'm not writing anything new here. This is the oldest commandment in the book, and you've known it from day one. It's always been implicit in the Message you've heard. On the other hand, perhaps it is new, freshly minted as it is in both Christ and you—the darkness on its way out and the True Light already blazing!
In 2010 when I look around I ask myself is this what God had in mind? I know God knew what would happen and what is to happen. But the last couple of weeks with an earth quake in Haiti and mud slides in California it makes you think for a minute, is this the way God wanted? I believe the answer is NO! However I am understanding what God wants more and more.... I believe he wants the cross to be a blazing light in a dark world. When I read about human tracking I ask myself, "What can I do?" I believe showing that God is love and allow the cross to do it's job will make the true difference.
The last year of my life I believe I have made a huge change in how I think and believe. I believe so many times we make the cross selfish and we feel that God is most satisfied when we feel good. I am understanding more and more, when I don't feel very comfortable that is when God has me right where he wants me. Please hear me, I am not saying we are bad people because we want the American dream. I am saying I believe God has something bigger for you and I. I believe it has more to do with how we respond!
So with Haiti how will I respond? We'll last week I did my # whatever to give but I believe I am going to follow the lead of a fifteen year old I know. He was at lunch one day and was thinking about the people in a land of poverty and distress and how they were living before an earthquake. So he made the choice to still take the lunch money from his parents but use that to give to a fund. His friends started follow his lead and now there is a lunch table at a local school with a bunch of students who throw there lunch money and a bucket and have started to fast from food one meal so someone else could get the help they needed.
You see at the cross we find something more then just love, we see what sacrifice should look like. I have kids in our youth group that is going to start fasting so that they can give. I believe with all of my heart God has called his people to so much more then just living a life and Going to a Bible study so we can grow spiritually. I believe we must receive from him so we can give to others. I now believe that is a time for God to show up and rescue his people from what Satan meant for evil. This is our chance to fulfill the will of God and to open our eyes to what God has for you and I.
My prayer: Dear God please help us and rescue us from ourselves and what we believe to be comfortable. God show us what it means to carry our own cross.
