SCY Youth Minister’s Weblog

“Facing the Giants” is better than any one sermon or praise setting- so check it out.  It is a powerful reminder of God’s desire to be trusted.  He wants to be praised.  And he wants to answer our deepest desires, if we will only give Him our all. 

In out Wed. night class, out of necessity we divided the movie into four parts of about 30 minutes.  Part one was a glimps into the life of a man that was really falling apart.  His faith in God could be questioned, his strive to succeed was wavering and personal trajedies began to build one on top of the other.  In part two he decides to give it all to God.  Further hardship had developed and he and his wife begin to pray for God to show them some light.  After prayer, meditation, and scripture reading, he concluded to give his whole life to God- to praise God every step of the way and let the outcome be whatever it will be.

Part three is when the commitment to Christ becomes contagious to those around coach Taylor and the whole school is changed.  Blessing begins to flow and the team begins to play with a belief that they can accomplish anything if they “praise God when they win and praise God when they lose.”

In part four we watch God do amazing things through and despite the lives of nearly every character.  And it ends as a wonderful story of God blowing away His followers with gifts, love, purpose, passion, and hope. 

If you’ve not seen the movie check it out today.  If you’d like to come to the midweek movie, feel free.  The teenagers of S.C. and their friends are pretty good hosts and would enjoy a new face.   In the auditorium at 7:0opm wednesday nights.

The youth are covering the Gospel of John on Sunday morning. 

The word “WORD” in the beginning of John’s gospel means more than we might first think.  Do you recall what the words of God did in Genesis 1 and 2?  Check it out.  There was power like a Mack truck (raised to the 50 billointh power).  You know who had that power?  Jesus is this WORD, says the Gospel of John.  The Bible is saying that Jesus is that powerful.  Also, Gen 1:26 says ”Then God spoke, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness. . .”  Hey GUYS.  It is saying that you are made to be like something bigger, badder, bolder and more considerately loving than anything we can even dream about.  You are made in Jesus’ image.  Although Jesus didn’t walk around flexing his power over everything all the time (he did, as you know, quite often), what he did do was show you, a second version of himself, how to use what power you have in life.  The Spirit, Jesus, and God want you to be like them.  And in our study we will consider that same powerful thing (Jesus) as he steps on our little stage- for us to look at, talk to, imagine. 

You serve a big God.  And the Book of John starts off telling us how Big Jesus is.  And it tells us many other things about Him- this book is all about Him and Us.

How do you best know Jesus?  As big creator, as helper, as friend to the lost or hurting, as critic of the special, as a sacrifice (very common in our family), as a revolutionary, as a life-style changer, as a teacher, or as many other things- which do you know best?

What do you hope to gain through our study?

What percentage of your life are you willing to give to God’s likeness?

What is your calling from God?

Describe the purpose of you being a servant of Christ.

I told myself not to write anything else until I had something other than religion to say.  Church dynamics is my continual internal dialogue and I get board with other things, so although this is connected, I found another topic in- my own flesh and blood kids.  So I started a new category- family.  It will be a great place to show you some picks in the future.  Of course my whole church is a family, which is the first reason it is connected to religion, but. . .

 I love my two boys.  I love them more like I love God than other people.  With God, we have this thing that nothing will seperate us.  No thing, no person, no group, no disaster, no apathy, nothing can come between us.  With people, they let you down, they hurt you, they aren’t what you thought they were, or they just don’t commit to walk through the fire with you.  I’m guilty.  I’m speaking in general of course, spouses, good friends, and church family might actually not fail you. 

But I am connected to my babies like I’m connected to God.  It feels like nothing on earth really matters more.  Kathleen and I talk for hours, nearly every day, about the beauty of being parents.  We get to work together and love together through the blessings of daily life with Avery and Eli.  If you’ve got kids you know what I feel.  To have them love you for you, and to love them for them.  I wouldn’t change anything.  I can’t even think about changing anything.  God made them and gave them to me to love and encourage and educate and love some more.  I meditate often on how the rest of you must love your children and try to treat them as they were my own.  What would life be like without loving people unconditionally.

Another thing connected to religion is- I am so honored that you love my babies, and I am so honored that you let me love your children.  There isn’t enough time in the day to tell them how wonderful they are, right?  How perfectly made they are.  How special they are.  How can I ever repay you for loving, blessing, teaching, hugging, playing with my boys?  I will work ever harder to be worthy of that gift.  And at the same time, I accept it freely.  Please accept freely anything my family can do for you. 

I say thank you for all the new parents and soon to be parents again, or first timers to Southern Crescent.  You really do love babies and with the love you give them, God will give you more.  Many families are touched by the care you give our babies.

In Christ, John

After reading through this I realize my message was not complete.  Just like God and I are connected I want my kids to be connected to God.  I want them to know that God will be the only one that will not leave or hurt you.  You and I will not be perfect with our children.  We can’t always protect them.  You will probably die before they do.  For our children to be connected to God is more important than their connection to people.  Please help me teach my children this.  Please help me by teaching your children this.  Get them connected to church and God.  Both are more valuable than you and I-they will always be there.