The Poor in America

 Many of you know that this week I have been away raising money for Compassion International. As I was doing this I was thinking allot about the great country we live in. The fact that I took a shower this morning, had a Dr. Pepper, and will eat a meal out here in a bit. We are blessed in allot of ways, but at times I ask if we are really the poor ones?

Talking about how a filter could help up to 60 people in an area, this is because they share. Do we even know our neighbors? I spent some time asking God are we just being fooled from the American dream? The fact that people are so selfish to help with their own issues they go shopping, drinking, eating, or whatever else.

Could it be that the rich are poor and the poor are rich? Lets look at it from a realistic stand point. Here in America we have the highest suicide rate then any other country in the world. Why is that? I believe in mental illness, but I also know most of the time it has to do with losing something.

So here is what I started to see as I was thinking, we do live in poverty in America. It's a little different and money cant solve the problem here. This type of poverty is spiritual and very complex and is controlled by each individual.

The poverty is called "Fakeness" we can not let anyone know we have problems because of how it will look. We MUST wear the new clothes and drive the cars to make us feel better. We spend money on bottle water and refuse to drink it out of the tap. Size is what matters and you will see people trying their best to look a certain way.

We will kick our kids out of the house because of disrespect. A young man who is fatherless and does not have a clue of how to be a man will be called names such as fag, queer, gay, or whatever else. A mother will harm their own child for a drug or a drink. You drive by homes and all you see is happiness, when in all reality noone is happy.

The part that gets me the most is that we will have this going on and then come to church and raise your hands at the right time and on que. Then when a teenager stops going to church we will call them "slackers" or say they are falling away from God (like that is even possible).

What is the cure for all of this, simple it's the blood of Christ. You see I believe more and more that God didn't send his son to get our morals together. But that our morals would come together out of worship for him.

Our Church has been telling their stories for a while. At first I was not a big fan of it because they go like this.... "I was so high and drunk and my life was a disaster...Jesus came and now everything is good" What a lie that is. But it has been different for us, it has been a story followed with I am STILL struggling. HOW beautiful is that to understand that the love of Christ is not based off of how Good you are but that he loves you in the middle of the struggle.

The church should be the biggest recovery group in America. We're all in recovery and we are in need of the love of Christ.

Water for a life time

 I am here in Kansas on KQZQ and having a good time. It is amazing that $55.00 can bring drinking water to a family in Rwanda. Please continue to pray for us. I will blog more I promise!

Impact of the Gospel

Many times in youth ministry we tend to give a small part of the gospel and not the whole Gospel. I have set up our youth ministry to where it is okay to not be okay. Small groups are now our big thing and I see many youth groups switching to this style in Abilene. All of my students know who Christ is as an idea, but in reality many times I believe they do not have a clue.

Just this past week I had someone tell me "It takes a special person to work with the youth at The Mission." About a year ago I came to terms with the fact that my students are no different from other church groups. Living in a town where there are churches on almost every street it becomes easy for church to become a hobby.

Today is Wednesday and once a month we all stick together. I have been praying about what I am going to say. What keeps coming to mind is the fact that we can not sum up Gods love with a bumper sticker on a car. The reader board at church can not sum up the compassion that he has on my soul. There is not a speaker, pastor, bishop, priest, preacher, and whatever else I missed that can speak the glory of the kingdom of heaven.

In Abilene, Texas it seems to be all about what you have and your relationship status on facebook. Our Identity is caught up in our hobbies which can include church.

So how to we keep the church thing not a hobby but a place to be encouraged to find our identity in Christ so that we can go and talk to a world that is lost and needs Christ?

Teaching:
Our teaching style come from Titus 2 and I believe this is the most important. We spend most of our time helping our students to live their life around God and not think that God with live around their life. We spent allot of time telling them the opposite of what Culture tells them. We talk allot about that bad things happen to good people. The idea that because of their parents had some issue that they will always carry that around, we try to kill that idea. Yes their will be a struggle, but with the struggle comes grace and forgiveness.

Community:
Community comes with teaching, when I went to small groups being our big thing and not just a service...the kids hated the idea. Last week I was talking to some of them about it and I found out that these groups is the highlight of their life. My small group was the group of those who were always in trouble. Now in six months God has transformed them into a group that care for one another and come now for the Gospel.

I once said do not bring friends just to bring friends. Pray for your friends and allow God to lead you. This has brought not only them freedom but myself as well.

So what is my problem with our group?? Identity issues and believing that happiness is found in a relationship, cars, grades, and school status. I don't talk about these issues on here that often but for the last two weeks it has become heavy on my heart. At one point I had a group that thought they were God's gift to men and not they have started showing that they are hurting and are in a deep need for Christ.

I believe this is a great spot to be.... this year I had a young man that was caught up in football and though nothing could get him down. A injury put him out for the seasons and has forced him to see God for who he really is. Another student crying out for help on facebook because a girlfriend broke up with him, now he slowly starting to see that his relationship with God is more important. Three kids court ordered to anger management and seeing that their eyes are slowly closing to selfishness and opening to grace. 

Here is what is beautiful, I know I CANT do anything about it other then pray. My prayer is that when we teach and show community we do it in away that is different from culture. I have learned that todays teens have had a shift in how they see Church. I have learned that they hate people trying to trick them into the gospel and have a greater respect for those who are honest. They could careless for the building but care more about building a relationship. They have deep concern for the world around them.

When I think about this I am slowly seeing God's love changing his people. It's a Paradox......

I stopped right there because as I was writing this the phone started ringing and it was my mother telling me that they found my cousin dead.

So I will wrap this blog up this way... life is short and in our youth ministries are we truly making the impact that we need to with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Prayer request and Support

It was Monday afternoon that I received an email from Jim at Share Media. It was simple and nothing really set in stone. By the end of the day I was clearing my schedule from November 16th, 17th, and 18th. On there dates I have been asked to join two other guys to host a three day fundraiser for Compassion on a network of stations in Kansas.

Today I am booking my flight and rental car and at the same time humbled that I have been chosen to do this great work. The folks at Compassion have been great at arranging my travel for me.

Our purpose is to raise money for water filters to provide clean drinking water for Rwanda. My prayer is that we would fulfil God's purpose and at the end of the week he would get all the glory.

Please pray and if you would like to donate to the cause please do so. I will keep you up informed as the information comes in.

   

Are we thinking Biblically Francis Chan

 

I love the way he puts this! What is it that we are leaving behind??? Let's think about it

Wednesday's

Believe it or not I love Wednesday Nights for many reasons. Each week we normally have someone new who comes into church and I love taking the time to meet them or one of our team members will take the time to meet them.

I also love the fact you really never know what you are going to get. On Sunday mornings people poor in about 30 minutes late and then of to the main church service. On Wednesday's it all depends on what is going on at school. Last week people were upset and it was a week of simply talking about bad things happen and it doesn't mean that God loves you any less.

The week before a young man is in the front seat crying because of some stuff going on, one of my high school students shared his story and then that young man gave his life over to Christ in the Alsups Parking Lot in the van.

Wednesdays seem to be a rush for me until 6PM and then we chill out and simply enjoy each other and love God! My prayer is that God will move in a big way tonight!

My Life Story Part 2

Sorry it took me so long to get back to this, it has been a busy couple weeks and I had several deadlines for both church and work. I said there would be a part two to my story and here it is.

The reason I did this in two parts because their is a before and after story. Many times we simply talk about our life before Christ and not the after story. Since I gave my life to Christ everything has been better in many ways. I never worry about money, all of my relationships are going great, and I feel happy all the time. Sounds great right??? Well it's a lie.

I always become upset when all I hear are stories of healing and how great someones life is after they give their life to Jesus. The sad part is I am guilty of that as well. Don't get me wrong I have a purpose and understand that. But I have rough times and I believe I need those times in my walk.

So my life after Christ is this, I simply understand that I am in need of the cross. Sound simple but I spent allot of time working for God and simply not being his shadow. I am not that smart when it come to following directions. Therefor I tend to fall allot. While I was on my walk the best letter I got was from a staff member at church that said the following.....

"I know everyone gives you a hard-time but some good stuff as come out of the youth group." There is no way I can stand and pretend that I have it all together. I always wanted to be like Paul in the Bible, but instead I am like Peter. I always say that I will never do something and then not on purpose but out of fear or just pure stupidity.

I use to think this was because I was trying hard enough. I am learning that this is a gift from God. I have been told several times that the reason people like me is because they can look at me and say "this dude doesn't have it all together and still loves God." Living a life that is 100% about laying it all down at the cross is what it is about.

It is because of God's Grace that I am able to do his work and I didn't choose God he brought me into his family. Stop trying to earn God's love and simply live for God.   

The Stand

 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.