Stand Firm!

Do you ever wonder where all the men have gone? I once wrote a song about men and the battles that they face, but when the battle comes the men sit cowering in fear. Oh sure us men, we'll drive one hundred miles an hour down a dirt road, but when the real battle gets up in our face we turn tale and run. If we look at the life of Jesus we see the total opposite. Time after time the Pharisees get up in Jesus' face and every time Jesus puts the smack down.
There are times when I want to be William Wallas in Brave Heart or Tristan from Legends of the Fall, but something holds me back. I find myself wishing that I would have stood up and fought off the evil one, but it seems that every time I fail. I'm sure you feel it too.
Somewhere, us men have lost our way. Some time along the way the world told us to be nice guys and we bought into it. The last thing this world needs is a bunch of nut less men walking around letting our women fight our battles for us.
Men we have got to grow a pair and step onto the battle field. The evil one sure as hell isn't going to back and we can't either, or we and our families will be slaughtered. Jesus didn't back down ever! Ever when Satan was in his face after fasting for forty days, Jesus didn't blink. (Matt. 4:1-11) In the book of Revelation it says that Jesus is going to lead a great battle against evil and Jesus is going to show up with his robe dipped in blood. (Rev. 19:11-13)
We have got to stand up and fight like men. There have been many times in my life where I let my wife take on the battle because I was to much of a wuss to fight for myself. It is time for men to rise up and take a stand, get tough, and let nothing move us. The Apostle Paul says, "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." (1 Cor. 15:58)
Stand firm, don't let anything push you down. When I read this verse I can picture in my head a scene from Brave Heart when English army is charging on their horses and William Wallas keeps tell his men to hold. What he is saying is stand firm, don't let them move you and Paul is saying the same.
I see this verse as a speech given to the army to pump them up just before the battle ensues. "Stand firm men, stand firm. Don't evil move you. Give your life to serve your King. You can trust the King, your service will not be in vain. STAND FIRM!!!"

Don't Count Me Out...

Don't count me out, when from birth I struggle to survive.

Don't count me out, when my life is growing thin.

Don't count me out, when I defy all the odds.

Don't count me out, when I make the team.

Don't count me out, when I drop a pass, fumbule the ball, or trip and fall on my face.

Don't count me out, when I lose instead of win.

Don't count me out, when I hang with the wrong crowd.

Don't count me out, when I drink to wipe away my frown.

Don't count me out, when I finally find my way.

Don't count me out, when you say I can't sing.

Don't count me out, when you think I'm good for nothing.

Don't count me out, when my dreams finally come true.

Don't count me out, cause when you do,

Who your really counting out...

Is you.

I wrote this little poem when I was feeling down and out; as though no one cared to see me succeed. I hope this poem finds a place in your life as well. When ever I feel like someone has writen me off, told me I wasn't good enough, or put me in a box, I think about this poem and how much Jesus wants me to succeed. In my mind I can see Jesus jumping up and down in the stands at my basketball game, or rock'in with me as I play guitar. Jesus wants to see me win; He knows I can. When all the world jumps up in my face and tells me that I'm worthless, I know that Jesus is standing right behind me yelling at the top of His lungs, YOU ARE WORTH EVERYTHING! So don't count me out... count me in.

The Puppy and His Boy

There was once a small puppy and a young boy who were inseparable. They did everything together. They went swimming, played at the park and even went down the slide together. The boy and his dog spent all the time they could together. One day the dog and his family took a trip to a park that had a suspension bridge that they had to cross. The little boy went across first and tried to get the puppy to follow, but the puppy was to scared. To the suprise of the boy's parents, he returned and did something that was very unussual. The little boy layed down on his belly and began to encourage the puppy to come across the bridge. To everyone's suprise the little puppy slowly started to cross the bridge. When they reach the other side, the little boy wrapped his arms around the puppy, kissed him and said, great job buddy! After that, the puppy followed that little boy anywhere and everywhere.

This story is a great picture of how God walks us through hard times in our lives. He gets down in the dirt with us and simply keeps encouraging us to keep going forward through what ever our scary times might be. When we get to the other side of the bridge, He gives us a great big hug and lets us know that He is proud. In turn, we start to follow Him anywhere and everywhere because we know that He loves us enough to get down in the dirt and help us across the unstable bridges in our lives.

First Grade Flash Back

I have come up with a new name for those of us who struggle with sin in our lives. Before I go any further I need to explain what sin really is. Sin is an archery term for "missing the target." Now in the west we us it in a much different context. Christians, for example, talk about sin as being something that you have done to ensue God's angry. The bible defines sin as lying, cheating, braking the law, murder, lust, ect.
However, this whole list of sins brings me directly to the new name that I have come up with to explain the sin disposition that we all have. "Stupid sinner face"! I know it sound a little childish, however, if you can look back to your grade school years, you will find that it was these kind of names that hurt us the most as small children.
The other day my wife and I were making dinner together (which doesn't happen nearly enough) and as we were cooking I blurted out "stupid face", to which she responded "dodo- head". As we continued to call each other these names, I realize that if I was a little kid, I would have been in tears by now. Can you remember those days? The days when you would come home from school, sobbing because someone called you a "bad breath, poo-poo face".
That is my intention with this knew name for sin. To bring reality back into life when it seems like I have totally missed the target. To bring myself back to a place of thinking that says, "your not all that, you need something more, you can't live this life on your own." And that is our thought pattern right? That we can live this life on our own? That we no longer need God, we can handle it?
To many times have I tried and failed to live this life on my own. To many time have I tried to dig up my old self from the grave. To often we try to play God and control the out comes of life, but when we try to make our own lives work, the only thing we get out of it is the realization that we're just a bunch of "stupid sinner faces" who need a real God to take away our sins.

Change

I remember the days when I first started doing ministry. I was nineteen years old and I had a fire that seems to be almost unquenchable. I started in ministry as a small group leader at a local youth ministry. My passion for youth grew into a passion for worshiping God. At age twenty I became the worship leader at the Lakewood Youth Center. God had brought me out of the darkest of pits to put me in front of eighty wound up, angry, and broken students. Time went on and I began to work more and more along side the youth pastor, and I soon learned that ministry is not all fun and games. I learned that ministry can be very messy, even ugly at times. However, there was an heir of oneness with the ministry team that we had.
Now that I am the leader of a youth ministry I want that same heir around this ministry. I want people to look at Xplode Student Ministries and see one of the strongest youth ministries ever. In order to get to that place we first need to lay down our pride and self want and let God form this ministry into what He wants it to be.
Youth ministry is constantly shifting and being transformed and I know our ministry will continually have to change. There are times when I find myself wishing that everything could stay the same, however, I know that not changing could mean death to a youth ministry. Change is the only thing that keeps youth ministry relevant. However, the core never changes.
God, help me to continually find new ways to keep our youth ministry on the cutting edge. Don't let my enemies triumph over me as I fight to minister to the youth in our world and when it seems that the evil one is trying to crush me on every side; oh God be my strength. Help me to speak only graciously of others and to be an encouragement to those who are down and out.

Face of a Man, Heart of a King

The other day I was at work in the small bookstore I like to call "The Old Lady Store". I was operating the cash register when an elderly man rolled up in one of those Huveround chairs. He was slower than most and it was hard to understand him. I first noticed him as he was waiting out side the store for someone to let him in. I went out the front door and asked him if he wanted to come in. He gave me the biggest smile and through what sounded like a grunt said "yes". I held the door for him as he maneuvered his chair through the doorway. He had a smell about him that was less than pleasant, but nonetheless, he seemed happy.
It seemed like an eternity that he shopped in our little store. Looking at everything and anything. Then I saw him looking at something that I thought was unusual. He stop in front of the wind chimes. He just sat there looking at them. I went over and ask he want to hear any of them and he gave my another grunt. I grabbed the first one and gave it a lite jingle. His eyes lit up like some one had just opened up a whole new world. He gave out a quick laugh and then proceeded to have me jingle every single wind chime we had. It was an awesome sight to see a man so broken and frail to be enjoying himself so much. He couldn't use his hands or his feet, they were too stiff with arthritis, but he still had his laughter, and laugh he did. I must have spent a good half hour showing him all the wind chimes. I know that if I were in his condition I would want someone to help me. He looked around for a bit longer and them came to checkout counter with a broken smile, but a smile nonetheless. He was so excited to be purchasing this set of wind chimes. This man, made in the image of God rolled into the "Old Lady Store" a broken old man, but he rolled out (in my eyes) a mighty warrior with passion and fire in his eyes. As he left I thought to myself, "I wonder what happened to him to put him in that chair", I guess I'll never know. Of course all that really matters is that he is an image bearer of the King of Kings.

I'm Back

Man, it has been a long time since I wrote any thing in my blog. I've been crazy busy with epic youth. I am also working on going to school this fall(a little scary). However, I wouldn't change anything about my crazy life. A couple weeks ago on fathers day I called my dad to wish him a happy father's day, but this was not my normal father's day call. It was one of the most emotional father's day calls I have ever made. I love my dad and I tried to make it very clear to him. When I say emotional I don't mean sobbing on the phone or anything like that. It was that type of thing where you get a lump in your throat. I couldn't be with my dad on father's day but I think he knew that I meant what I said.
My father is my hero. He has put up with allot of hard things in his life so that I, as his child, could have a great life. I never thought about it when I was at home, but now that I am married, I realize that he is a great man. Getting to know him has been a real joy the last few years. I can see his heart more clearly now than before. He doesn't always wear it on his sleeve or cry at the drop of a hat, but his heart shows right through his button up shirt. I love you dad and I hope you know that every day is father's day in my heart.

How Close Can I Get?

Lately I have been made increasingly aware of how much prayer changes things. God has been pressing upon my heart to hold nothing back when I pray. I'm finding that there isn't enough time in the day to pray for every thing and everyone that needs it. I guess this is where that "pray with out ceasing" comes in. Make no mistake about it, God wants us to talk to Him. He longs to hear our cries, our joys, and our anger. He wants to hear it all and we need to be pro-active in doing so.

Lately we've really been pushing prayer in our youth group and I love to hear the students pray. Their prayers are so real and down to earth. Some time we as christian try and say these high and lofty prayers to impress people who might be listening, but these students just lay it out there like they're talking to you or me. That's what God wants to hear from us. He wants to hear us talking to Him like a friend or a brother. Maybe that's why God said "pray without ceasing", because that's how much He longs to hear from us.

Wouldn't it be awesome if we could have the relationship that Adam and God had back in the garden of Eden. The bible says that Adam and God would walk and converse in the cool of the evening. Wouldn't that be simply amazing. Walking around with God telling Him how your day went, how many animals you named that day, or what new places you discovered. Maybe that's what God is longing for. Maybe God longs to walk and talk with us and hear how our day went and how much we love His creation.

The great thing about it, is that we will get to walk and talk with God again. We will be able to tell Him how our day went and the things we did. When we get to heaven I don't think we will be standing around singing an ever lasting hymn all day long, at least I hope not. I think we're going to be able to explore the heavens and discover incredible things, new things, things we have never even dreamed of.

But for now, the closest we can get is prayer. So I plan to pray as often as I can so that when I get to heaven I can greet the Father as if I had been there for a thousand years.

Confessions Of A Sinner

Some times the grace of God is overwhelming. It is amazing just like the songs say. Today I hooked up with a web site www.xxxchurch.com. This is the most amazing web-site I have seen in a long time. This church is taking on the pornography industry. On their web-site they have free downloads that you can get to keep you accountable while your online. I signed up for it, not only because I want to stay pure, but because I struggle with it. I've been trying to hide the fact that I struggle with it, but the reality is that if I don't tell someone I'll never beat it. My personal accountability partners are my pastor, and my wife. The reason I'm writing about this is not so I can tell everyone in the world that I have a problem, but so that I can let everyone know that there is help out there for them. You don't need to be afraid to let someone know, because chances are, they have struggled with it too. Writing about this really does scare the stuffing out of me because I'm a youth pastor and I love teaching, but the way I see it, I don't have a choice. I have to be open and honest about what is going on in my life. I know not everyone reads my blog, but it only takes one person to get someone fired or create a bad reputation. However, I know that this is the best way to start the healing process for me. I have fought with this for so long that I just want it to be over. No more lies no more silent tears at night. I want this gone and I want it gone now. I don't know much but I do know that God is saying to me, "keep going, keep getting it out", and I intend to. To quote The singer songwriter Chris Tomlin- "my chains are gone I've been set free. Christ my savior ransomed me and like a flood Your mercy flows unending love, amazing grace".

Stay Comfortable And Miss Out

Today was a tough day for me. Stepping out of my comfort zone is not something I like to do. So, you can guess what this is about. We are in the process of shifting the youth group from the epicenter to our home. You would think this would be a simple task, but no, its a lot of work. We had to call each student's parent and let them know what our plans were and why we were moving this thing to our house. To be honest, I was so scared to call these parents, whom I have never met. You see, our youth group is made up of 51% unchurched or dechurched students. So, to say that the parent's were a little sceptical would be an understatement. Our job was to call these parents (who I got to know very well over the phone) and get them to understand our purpose for moving the youth group.
I was amazed at how willing some of the parents were to listen and ask questions and really talk to us. We got some fantastic responses from some of the parents saying "my daughter comes home from w.H.y and tells me all about it", or "my kid loves coming to the youth group". It is conversations likethese that make me realize why Renee and I put so much work into what we do. Those responses make our 70 plus hours of work every week seem so worth it. God is truly moving in our hearts and in the student's hearts and we are so overwhelmed with praise and thanks to our Creator for all He has done for us. We are so pumped!!!

So anyway, back to the real subject of this whole thing. I have a fear of telephones. Ever since I was nine years old, running my lawn business. My first customer called and my mother answered the phone and handed it to me. These were my exact words, "hulle, hully, hello". I almost died, my first customer and I blow the introduction. Needless to say, I have had a fear of telephones ever since that incident. So, yeah, I was just a little out of my comfort zone, but if I would not have stepped out and made those calls, I would have never heard the wonderful things the parents said to us. God knew we needed to hear from someone other than the pastor that we were doing a good job.

All the glory and honor goes to God. Non of this ministry is our own. It is God's and we're just His managers in this thing.