Posted March 21, 2010
This weekend we took the students of Grace Church and the C3 clubs to the youth conference “Acquire the Fire” at the Greensboro Coliseum. It was spectacular. The main thrust of the weekend was to truly experience the love of God, not just talk about it.
We saw main-stream bands like “Thousand Foot Krutch” and “Building 429″. Nick Vujicic spoke. If you haven’t heard of him, check out his website www.lifewithoutlimbs.org. Also, we saw well produced dramas and videos. It was all excellent.
But the ever present question was, “Does my heart love the love of God?”
The speakers tackled issues teenagers deal with like peer pressure, life purpose, sexuality, and friends. No matter the subject, the reality of God’s love in everything kept arising.
The love of God transforms our minds, making all of life’s issues clear, and purifies our hearts, setting our desires on Him first.
Our students were affected as well as our leaders. How can you not be affected when you are confronted with God’s love? It was a great conference.
Posted March 14, 2010
A year ago a pastor, who will remain nameless, called all the
graduating seniors “tools” for God in front of the whole congregation.
When I was baptized at 24 years-old, the pastor called me a “sharper
tool” in God’s tool chest. Last week, I called reading scripture,
prayer, fasting, and spiritual disciplines in general, “tools” that
help us seek God first in front of a group of teenagers.
That’s a lot of use of the word “tool”. I just thought I would share.
Also, the use of the word “tool” helps us realize that the thing
itself isn’t complete without it’s purpose being fulfilled. A hammer
doesn’t have any practical value unless it actually pounds nails in
the building of something useful. Just as scripture is a revelation
of God but does no good if are minds aren’t illuminated by it and our
hearts drawn to get pleasure from the living God through it (note: the
Word never yields void). Prayer doesn’t matter if I am just talking
to the wall, but if prayer enables me to communicate with the Creator,
then it is invaluable.
If we don’t experience the purpose of something or someone, we will
give an improper value to it. If we don’t personally know the God of
scripture, then reading the Bible will seem lifeless. If I’ve never
communicated with the Creator of the universe, then prayer will be
stupid.
Tools are meant to be used and be used properly. God has given us
tools and made us tools. We will know Him, enjoy Him, and glorify
Him, when His tools are used rightly.
Posted February 28, 2010
I frequently ask teenagers “Who is Jesus?” Here’s the top 10 responses I’ve received:
10. a magician
9. my father
8. I don’t know
7. God’s Son
6. some dude
5. Creator of All
4. A gangster
3. Lord & Savior
2. Better than Kobe and Lebron combined
1. God
Posted February 21, 2010
I was startled last week when I asked students at a local high school “why did God allow the disaster in Hati?” Their responses didn’t startle me. The realization that I am innately too much like Job’s friends startled me.
My propensity to judge people based on what happens to them puts me in that infamous group of friends who behaved appropriately only when they had their mouths closed for a week straight.
With disasters like the earthquake in Hati, people question why God allows such massive suffering to happen (please notice the important distinction between “cause” and “allow”). Romans 8:28 provides a startling answer to the question of suffering for the Christian:
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
In all things God works for the good of those who love him. Whether we physically prosper or physically suffer, God is working for the good of the Christ follower. The purpose of prosperity and suffering are the same in that they are for our good. He uses prosperity to give us more of himself and he uses suffering to give us more of himself.
Wow.
If I value physical prosperity above physical suffering them I am just another one of Job’s friends who judges my neighbors’ hearts only based on appearances and, in the end, I understand nothing about who God is. He uses and redeems any suffering I experience to bring me closer to Him. Just like He used the total betrayal and Crucifixion of His Son to redeem humanity and bring us back into His presence.
