Challenged by C.S. Lewis.

I've been reading The Problem of Pain by C.S. Lewis and he challenged me personally when he said, "I think we all sin by needlessly disobeying the apostolic injunction to 'rejoice' as much as by anything else."

I must admit that I don't always rejoice. Sometimes it takes work to focus on the good that is happening all around us. The question I have to ask myself is..."Why am I more passionate about the things that disturb me than the things that make me glad?"

What a world it would be, if I would only rejoice in all things, instead of complaining and moaning. What if we always looked for the good and brought those things to everyone's attention? I'm not talking about denying the realities of imperfection, I am talking about how I deal with those realities.

What about you?

It's not what goes in, it's what comes out.

Oh, I don't think anyone will read this blog, it's been so long. But, just in case there are lurkers still out there...here goes.

I picked up a CD Audio Drama called The Word of Promise the other day. It's the NKJV New Testament read, word-for-word, but put to orchestra music and sound effects. The readers are famous actors and such. For example, Jim Caviezel reads the part of Jesus and Terence Stamp is the voice of God and the Holy Spirit. Fantastic work!

As I was listening yesterday on the way home from work, Jesus was talking about how it's not what goes into a man's mouth that defiles him, but what comes out of his mouth. What goes into the mouth is food that passes through. But, what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart.

My first thought is, "Thank God, it's not food that defiles a man. Eat hardy boys!" Huh... No, not the Hardy Boys, sicko. Eat food without worrying about religious regulations of different kinds, etc. Eat for enjoyment.

Then, I think that if it's the stuff in our hearts that causes us to spew out poison and be defiled, we need to exam ourselves a little bit closer and ask God to give us pure hearts. Are we struggling with anger and hate? Are we thinking about good things?

I wish you all a Merry Christmas! The Audio Drama is a great gift for anyone. Especially someone who has a lot of commute time during the week! :)

Letting go...

So, I'm gonna start putting into practice all the stuff I've "believed" about my responsibilities as a pastor. I mean, really put it into practice. I can't say I truly believe something unless I act upon it, right?

I'm gonna let go of control and worry. I'm giving away "my" job as a youth pastor.

For the longest time I've been operating "my" area of ministry with only necessary help, because I couldn't "do it all." That life is over for me. I'm taking a stand and I'm going to refuse to do things that way anymore. I might take some heat at first, but there's no other way.

You may have heard the statement, "Let go and let God." I'm taking it one step further and I'm letting go and letting the people of God.

Through fire and flood.

"We went through fire and flood. But you brought us to a place of great abundance." -Psalm 66:12

I can't even begin to describe the overwhelming feeling I have that God is about to do something incredible in our youth ministry. That verse is the foundation of a new discipleship group we are starting next Sunday night called, "Fire." It will be led mostly by the students themselves.

So many times I have doubted myself and my ability to succeed. Partly because I know there is much laziness in me. I feel as though I could do better. I could be much more diligent and organized.

But, God is reminding me that He brings the increase! I must prepare the fields, He'll bring the rain. Lately, the fields have begun to grow a new crop. Fresh rain is falling. Even some of the old is turning green again.

"You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds, O God our savior." -Psalm 65:5

Last Friday, we gathered with several other youth groups for a pre-See You At The Pole Rally. It turned out to be a smaller event, with around 100 people present. But, God's presence was so big, the size of the crowd didn't seem to matter to anyone. And if you've been around youth lately, they tend to base their opinions on such things.

We didn't invite a special guest speaker or worship team. We used the local church youth band and had a time of open mic. Students freely volunteered to come and share what their vision was for their schools. Then, we passed the mic around the room and heard quickly from every student what they wished would happen in their school.

One of my students got up and the Holy Spirit was all over him. He took a tissue, blew his nose in it, and asked if there was anyone who wanted it. Then, he began to speak about the time the apostle Paul touched handkerchiefs that healed people and delivered them from demons. He said that God told him he could be like Paul. He could be so full of the Holy Spirit that the Lord could even use his shadow to bring about healing in his school.

He preached for about five minutes, and when he was done, his peers cheered for him and for the things he was saying. I haven't seen that kind of zeal since I was a teenager. Others came up too and had wonderful things to say. It was so refreshing to see a genuine and real faith being expressed.

We have been through fire and flood, but Christ Jesus is bringing us into a place of great abundance. Not an abundance of wealth or prestige, but spiritual fruit and a great harvest of souls for the Kingdom of God.