Confirmation

When you were in 8th grade, did you go through Confirmation Class? I did. Well, this story isn't about that, so forget it. Lol! This story is a little different. It's about the confirmation of prayer.

A few Sundays ago our pastor suggested that we all get a prayer journal. Do you have one of those? He said to write down our prayers, but to also leave room for God's answers. I was going to wait until Thanksgiving to stary mine, but I may have to begin before that. And that's today's story.

My church is doing another youth group night in December. I already began a Bible study last month in anticipation. Yes, I'm pitiful. The couple who organizes the youth group said they want to head in an apologetics direction - teaching to kids to be able to defend their beliefs in an increasingly secular world. I'm all for that!

My study is going to be in the Book of 1st John. In it the apostle John highlights several characteristics of a Christian's life. So we're having a scavenger hunt in his book. It's only five short chapters. Here's an example of what we will be looking for.

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. ⁸Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love." 1 John 4:7-8

Well, this past Sunday in church we had the first announcement for our second Youth Group Night. Let the confirmations begin!

Our church is going through the Book of Romans right now. We're in chapter 1, just getting into "God's wrath." During our pastor's message he referred a verse from 1st John. The one above.

"Well, he just gave away one of my scavenger hunt verses," I thought. But wait, there's more.

I am going to use the following verse to open the study. It's from the Book of James.

"You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe - and tremble!" - James 2:19

The question then becomes,  "What makes us different from the demons?"

I was searching for a verse to answer that question but hadn't found it yet. Until God provided.

About halfway through our pastor's message, this gem came out.

"For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened." - Romans 1:21

Bingo! Isn't that the difference between us and the demons? The demons are afraid of God. We love God and give honor and glory and praise! The demons hate. We love. As John said in his epistle to the churches . . .

"There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. The one who fears has not been perfected in love. ¹⁹We love because He first loved us." - 1 John 4:18-19

There's ANOTHER scavenger hunt answer!

The Bible study is now complete! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Youth Group 3.0

Well, here we go again.

Shortly after coming to faith in Christ 19 years ago, I joined a youth group as one of the adult leaders. That was an absolute blast. It became rather clear to me that I had found my calling. Sadly, the teachings of that church strayed from God's Word so I departed "with weeping and gnashing of teeth."

God provided a new wonderful church to pour myself into, which I did. Another youth group and many more teens to love and minister to. That was an amazing time of doing what I felt God had wanted me to do. But then the lead pastor left and the new replacement pastor led the church in a different direction. Many people left that church, including me.

Again, God provided a new church, my current church home. The teaching is excellent. Right out of the Bible. Just what I was looking for. However, there was no youth group. No opportunity to serve as a youth leader. That was fine with me.

But then the church began a Vacation Bible School program. I joined that and was made a teacher. I absolutely love serving the Lord in that capacity. However, VBS only lasts one week. Still I was okay with that. I love the people AND the teaching.

Recently however, I felt led to create a young men's Bible study on Biblical Manhood. I've written about that before in this blog. Near it's completion, I approached the pastor and offered it to him. That's when God's plan began to show itself.

He told me that two of our parents had asked to start a youth group at our church and wondered if I would be interested in being the teacher. Hmm. What do YOU think I said? Lol!

[pause]

Think about this now. Within two weeks' time, three people approached the pastor about starting a youth group / bible study. I'm beginning to think that God wants us to pour into the lives of some teens in our church, in His name.🤔 Well, that is happening October 24th.

I'm just a little excited to see what God will be doing.🙂

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11

"Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord." - Psalm 24:11

The Duration

Here's something they don't tell you when you volunteer to be a youth leader at church. It's for life. At least it's turned out that way for me.

For example: I walked into Subway the other day and there was a youth group "kid" I knew behind the counter - from 10 years ago, when the kid was in youth group! Our smiles were immediate.

Another kid from youth group gives me tomatoes when we talk. Another one sends me songs to listen to. "Youth Leader" IS a lifetime job!

Of course, one could ignore all of their Facebook posts and messages and simply unfriend them all, but that's not what God wants us to do.

Once you read the Bible, God's plan, and His will for our lives, is to love one another. It's really that simple.

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God." - 1 John 4:7 

"And He (Jesus) said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself." - Matthew 22:37-39

We get the picture. The question then really becomes this: Is love a finite thing? Can we love someone, and then just STOP loving them at some point? No! And, should we actually ever stop loving someone, was our "love" really even love in the first place?

Love is eternal. At least it should be.

My point is this: This world is run by Satan, not God. God is still all-powerful and intervenes whenever He so chooses. But "God is love" as it says in 1st John, and we are "children of God." We are commanded to love! You read the verses. We should be exuding love wherever we go!

When we sign up to be a youth leader it should be because of our love for kids, especially for the lost. That love should never die. It might fade for a bit or become stagnant but it should always there.

That's when we must fan the glowing embers of love into flames of love for God's glory. Quite honestly, to do anything less is a sin.

Who will we exhibit unconditional agape love for today?

Underneath Your Skin

I remember it like it happened yesterday. This song brings it all back. Yet these events happened 18 years ago. Funny how the time flies.

It was at Lifest (a Christian music festival in Oshkosh, WI) that I heard this song for the very first time. A friend of mine, the one who had led me to Christ, had invited me to hear and experience this strange new music.

We were at the Edge Stage, a concert venue reserved for some of the harder rock bands of the day like Disciple, Skillet, and Seventh Day Slumber.

The leader singer of that last band I just mentioned, Joseph Rojas, was giving his testimony - that of a recovered drug addict. He was saved out of his addictions and wrote this song for those who still remain trapped there.

The chorus goes like this:

No one knows you anymore

You're lost inside the walls you've built

No one knows you anymore

A prison deep within your soul

But there is One who sees it all

He'll give you life you never dreamed

He can see the pain underneath your skin

Right then and there I was presented with a opportunity. It was like God was asking, "So, what are you going to do about it, Bob?"

Youth ministry can be a wonderful thing, but it does come at a cost. Some of my young friends have taken their own lives due to the pain that lay hidden, out of sight, underneath their skin. Others still struggle to this day. 

The song continues . . .

Your addiction is just a symptom of a lost and dying soul

And without Jesus there's no hope at all

Thankfully God has rescued many from this deadly trap.

One particular young couple (the woman of which was a youth group kid at church) had both been arrested for dealing in meth. The woman reached out to me and asked for help.

Alive and well now, they have both turned their lives around and have four children and good jobs. Two that made it out, all by the grace of Almighty God.

One truth still remains. "There is One who sees it all." His name is Jesus.

Do you have something hidden "underneath your skin?" Reach out and trust in Him. "Without Him there's no hope at all."

[This story is dedicated to Jesse, Kameron, Austin, Muffy, and all the rest who didn't make it]

Missing Pages - Seventh Day Slumber

The Prayer Book

Eli & Gina - two former youth group kids, still in my prayer book today

We all have people in our lives that we pray for. My prayer list expands and contracts just like my waste line does over the holidays. Some people are on my prayer list for a long time. Others come and go depending on who's in the forefront of my mind on any particular day.

Have you ever finished praying and then remembered somebody you forgot to pray for? I do that ALL the time. That's why I have this little gem - my prayer book.

This little book of mine is filled with some of the faces of the people that I pray for - former youth group kids from when I was a youth leader. Several years ago the empty book was given to me by my friend Gayle. What a blessing it has been, not only to fill the pages with pictures of their smiles, but to turn the page each day and to pray for them.

Each face triggers something special inside of me - a memory, a conversation, a struggle, a triumph. It is always something we have done together. Something we have shared.

I look at Eli here and remember sitting at DQ, talking. I remember an early morning conversation at a local farm as he worked and the night he called me at 2 AM after a car ran into their house.

And Gina. Another long conversation in a restaurant that seemed to pass all too quickly. I remember Katie's wedding and our conversation there. Good times.

Both of these faces are living in Colorado now, living lives on their own. But they are also living in my heart as I remember them and lift them up to God in prayer.

I love the owners of ALL of the faces in my prayer book. My friends, if you don't have a prayer book you have GOT to get one. What better way to pray for those you love than to look into their eyes as you hold them in your hands before the Lord.

Pray - Sam Smith
Prayer of The Children - The Concordia Choir

The Parable of The Sower

Flashing lights - reds, blues and yellows - painted the faces of those who were there. How did I get here? Where are all of my friends? Where's my phone?!

Someone came up to me and stuck a flashlight in my eyes. Seriously?

"My name is Michelle, I'm here to help you. Do you have any pain?"

"No." (Just the annoying flashlight you're sticking in my face.)

"Where's Abby?"

The lady didn't answer. She just smiled and walked off. What the heck is going on here?

Someone else walking up to me now . . . a cop . . . and another flashlight. What is with you guys and your flashlights?!?

"Hi. How ya doin' kid?"

"Fine."

"I'm Officer Oaks but you can call me Daryl. Can I ask you a few questions?"

"Sure"

"Can you describe for me exactly what happened? Who was driving the car?"

"Umm, Lizzy was. Where is she? Is she alright?"

"Lizzy is fine, Miss . . . Logan. How did your night begin?

"I . . . I don't remember."

"When did you first get in the vehicle tonight."

"After school, I guess. We were going some place. Umm, youth group. We were going to Abby's youth group."

"Okay. What did you do there?"

"Some lady was talking. Destiny . . . something. Everyone called her Dee Dee."

"Okay. Anything else you remember?"

"Yeah. She was talking about Jesus. She was really excited. A little TOO excited, if you know what I mean."

"That's nice Miss Logan. When did you leave your youth group?"

"Oh, wait. Something else happened. Something happened when Dee Dee was talking. She asked us about our faith . . . our relationship with Jesus. Abby didn't want to hear it and wanted to leave. Lizzy did too. Abby was KIND of interested but not really. It was her youth group after all. And Lizzy . . . she really did not want to hear what Dee Dee was saying. But Chanel was really into it. Then something happened."

"What's that, Ma'am?"

"Please, call me Ali. I ain't no ma'am."

"What happened to . . . Chanel, is it?"

"Yeah, This lady, Dee Dee, was talking and she was really excited about Jesus. She was telling us all about sin and repentance and how we needed to KNOW Jesus and ask Him to forgive us. I don't know. Maybe you should ask Miss "Destiny.""

"We will ma'am. I mean . .  Ali. What happened then?"

"Well, one of Abby's youth leaders came over to us . . . Maddy was her name."

"Yes?"

"Well Maddy and Chanel went off in the corner and talked all night. Then Chanel started crying and Maddy gave her a hug. They talked some more and prayed I guess. It kinda looked that way."

"And then?"

"And then we left. Chanel really wanted to go some place. So we left."

"Where did you go then?

"DQ. Hey, can I get something for my head? It's really pounding."

"Sure. Hey, Jenny! Jenny!! Can you bring this kid something for her head? Thanks."

"Sure."

"So what happened at Dairy Queen?"

"Chanel wanted to tell her friend Josee something. Josee works there. She and Josee were talking all excited like. They both started jumping up and down and hugging each other. Weird. Anyway, then we took off for the Truck Stop."

"Busy night. And what happened there?"

"What ALWAYS happens there, we sat in the corner booth and ordered coffee and fries. Then Chanel started telling Judy, she's our waitress, she started telling her all about what had happened at the youth group. Then Judy got all excited. I've never see her excited like that. She was slopping coffee everywhere! And I didn't think they even knew each other! But it was almost like they were related. Weird."

"And then?"

"Well, we got in the car . . . and . . . . that's the last thing I remember. Lizzy wanted to do something else and Abby was all for that. Lizzy was kind of mad actually. I just wanted to be out of the car. Then Lizzy started yelling at Chanel. Is that lady ever gonna get me those pain meds?"

"Sorry. Hey Jenny!! You can talk to Officer Ed later. This kid needs those pain meds. Okay, You said Lizzy was driving the car, right Ali?"

"Yeah. Chanel and I were in the back seat, She was calling her mom. Umm, that's Kathy, if you're taking notes."

"I am. Go on."

"Yeah. I remember Lizzy leaning into the backseat, grabbing for Chanel's phone . . . tryming to make her stop."

"And then? What happened next?"

"That's it. I was in the car and now . . . I'm here. Hey, is that Lizzy's car?!? Oh, wow! Lizzy?? LIZZY!!!!!"

"Hey, HEY!! Settle down. Take is easy. Lizzy is alright. She's got a concussion and we think she has a broken arm but she's okay."

"And Chanel? Where is SHE? Officer Daryl? Where is Chanel?"

* * * * *

All that happened over a year ago now. I still can't believe she's gone. I never saw Lizzy again after graduation. Abby neither. They both just kind of drifted away. I still see Chanel's mom though. Maybe I should call her Auntie Kathy because that's what she feels like to me.

I miss Chanel SO much. She was so excited to tell other people about her new-found faith and what had happened to her that night. I almost wanted to believe it myself but I'm . . . I'm just not sure. Still, there was something in what Dee Dee said that night. I can even remember it.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."

Hmm. Not perish? Eternal life? Maybe Chanel isn't really dead then. Maybe that means . . . she's just with Jesus.

* * * * *

"That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2 And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, 6 but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears, let him hear.”

16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” - Matthew 13:1-23

Thanks to those who allowed me to use their names in this short little story. I will be writing more of these in the future. Stay tuned . . . and blessed be the name of the Lord!

Packages

Do you enjoy receiving packages in the mail? I do. It's actually kind of exciting. I always wonder what's inside! Who sent it? WHY did they send it? Getting packages in the mail is usually always fun. There is a sense of incredible anticipation and curiosity attached with each package that people receive.

For the past few years I have been sending out "care packages" to some of the college freshmen I know. I also send packages to my young friends in the military or those who have jumped right into the work place. Why?

It's George Barna's fault.

In a 2011 article, Barna, a researching organization for churches, found that "nearly three out of every five young Christians (59%) disconnect either permanently or for an extended period of time from church life after age 15." You can read the article here.

I have been sending out messages on Facebook, requesting addresses, and the response I have received has been interesting. Several of the young adults expressed a feeling of aloneness, or even a spiritual "drifting." Three young ladies expressed a desire to learn more about God so I suggested they form a Bible study together.

The thing that concerns me when high school "kids" go off to school is that they are all dumped into this world and told to swim and I feel, for the most part, these young adults have not been taught how to swim.

The standard operating procedure that many youth groups offer these days is to entertain first and teach later. They feel that if they make youth group fun, that will draw people in and more people will hear the Gospel. That's a good thought but how many of the solid Christian kids are learning more important aspects of their faith - like why we believe things, how to defend our faith when we are confronted out in the world. Youth group should not be about games, if they should even exist at all.

If we look at our youth as a package and the parents and their leaders in the church are the ones doing the wrapping, how do these gifts looked when presented to God? Many are not very well wrapped at all. Not very well educated. Ask a kid to name the Ten Commandments and all will fail. Ask them to name ten beers and you will get a winner every time.

So what do we do? How do we train up our children in the way they should go so when they are old they will not depart from their faith? (Proverbs 22:6) The answers are all in the Bible. That might be a good place to start. We need to:

• Love our children. Let them always see the love of Christ in us - pouring our to our children and to others. In this way they will know what it means to truly love our neighbor.
• Pray with and for our children. Experience is a great teacher. How will our children know how to pray if we don't show them?
• Teach or children. The Bible is full of examples, perfect for teaching the young. Read with them. Ask them questions about their faith and what it means.
• Worship with our children. Children learn by observing and worship occurs more places than just church.. It occurs in our daily lives.
• Serve others with your kids. Volunteer at a local food pantry. Mow someone's yard for them. Rake leaves together.

There is an education our children need that cannot be obtained in school. These lessons they are not learning in the classroom are usually the most important. They need to learn both. Our children need to become a COMPLETE package.

In the months and years ahead God will be further removed from our government and from our schools. He will even be removed from our pulpits as pastors find themselves restricted in what they can say publicly. These days it is becoming more and more important to train up our children ourselves, in the home. Then perhaps we could better prepare the wrapping on our "presents" before we release them into the world . . . before we have to answer to God for things left un-done.

Encourage your children today, as long as it is called today. Instruct them in the ways of The Lord. Strive to hear the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant." If we focus our own lives on Christ in everything we say and do, the teaching will just happen. Let's begin today to love, pray, teach, worship and serve . . . with every breath we breathe.

"6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." - Proverbs 22:6

Train Up A Child - Steve Green