Flesh Flesh Flesh

So here I am reading my Bible when I get to one of favorite parts of the Bible. The book of Romans Chapter 8. I mean the whole book of Romans is just awesome and profound, but when I look at Chapter 8 from a young believer’s perspective it always smacks me straight in the face. That is why I like it so much.

 So then, brothers, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, for if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. (Romans 8:12-13)

I know some of you have those friends out there that will tell you that reading the Bible is difficult, or that it leaves too much for the imagination. I tell you this though; if you look at the passage above I do not see where you can get to creative with your imagination. This passage plainly tells us that if we live by the flesh we will die. In the same sense it tells us that if we put away the things of the flesh we will live. Period.

Let’s take a look at something that a lot of people do not consider when you think about this subject. As a matter of fact this is something that I myself have recently struggled with. Smoking or tobacco. I mean there is nowhere in the Bible that specifically tells us that using tobacco is bad. I mean some might even say that God created it, therefore it must be good for us right. Well we will take a look at that as well.

I spent a great deal of time with pastor about a week ago on a trip to Houston where we had this same exact talk. We talked about everything from tobacco to marijuana and the fact that God created these things so they can’t be wrong. Well that is true, things like tobacco and marijuana were created by God to be perfect the way they were made, those specific things stopped being God’s perfect creation the moment we (humans) interfered with that perfection. I mean you have to remove these two items from their natural environment, dry them out, mix them with chemicals, and break them down in order for them to be in a state that we find enjoyable. So what does that tell us, that in its pure and perfect state all of God’s creations are good. It ceases to be something good when we (humans) change those perfect properties to please our fleshly desires. I know that is a little harsh to put it that way, but that is truth.

I am not getting on a high horse here and trying to tell people how to live their lives. What I am doing is sharing my conviction and passion for the Lord. There was a point when we were created perfect, yet because of our need to satisfy fleshly desires, we have since been born into sin. Just sharing a thought.

In the Beginning

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First Year Ministry Reflections

Well here I am coming up on my first complete year in the Student Ministry. I have learned so much this year and I am finding out that I have so much yet to learn. As most of you know I spent 14 years in the infantry learning how to adapt and overcome just about anything. Let me tell you what that time did not prepare me for, teenagers.

Youth Ministry Perception versus Reality

Luckily enough for me this last year has been pretty easy. I mean I would love to say that this is so because I am just that good at what God has called me to. The truth is that God has been with me and in control every step of the way. Look at the situation I found myself in, I was introduced to our youth in such a way to where no one really knew who was in charge. We were a group of people who love God and have a passion for the youth. We were asked to step in on a temporary basis until a better solution could present itself. Through this process we fell under the protection of our senior pastor. I mean I understand that subordinates always have someone above them that protect them and correct them. But for this instance, we literally had the opportunities to make the mistakes that some might not be afforded had we been thrown into the mix without a safety net.

Here we are almost a year later and I find myself wanting to step out from behind that same net that has kept me so safe. See there is a time of learning, a time of practical application, and a time to start experiencing truth so to speak. I love my senior pastor to death, I mean he has stepped in and taken the blow for so many things that have happened that he could have easily just deflected to me or someone else who it deserved to be directed at.

Now here I find myself asking to take on this responsibility and own it. I mean that is the key thing when it comes to accepting a responsibility. You have to be willing to own that responsibility. I know that I will never be able to completely absolve my pastor from accountability for my actions, because as a leader that is what he has to do. What I can do is step up and accept responsibility for what I have been called to do to where publicly people understand that I too can be approached if there is an issue.

What I find to be extremely funny and ironic is that my pastor keeps telling me to run away from this. I understand why he does this, believe me I do. But he also says this because he knows the truth, if you are truly called to do His will, no matter how fast you run or how far you go, you will not be able to run away from your calling.

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Its Not Easy

I have decided to once again take up blogging about my walk with the Lord and share with you all anything that I might be able to in order to better equip you and prepare you for your journey with our Lord Jesus Christ.

I have had the wonderful privilege of being blessed with a supportive and loving Church family. I have been entrusted with the honor of guiding the student youth spiritually in their walks with Christ, and let me tell you how much of an easy job this is.

I mean to start off with, I find it kind of ironic and humorous that my God who I have vowed to faithfully serve, would call me to minister to high school students. I mean, I did spend 14 years in the military, served 2 combat tours, and have dealt with some really stressful situations in my life, but nothing could have prepared me for the in’s and outs of youth ministry.

Like I had mentioned before, it’s a pretty easy gig. I mean all I really have to do is sit there and laugh at their jokes, let them do what they want to do all the time, buy them some food and drinks, play music, let them play games, and that is it right. I know that there are some people out there that might actually believe that last sentence. I mean at one point and time even I thought that this was truth, but almost a year later working with my youth, I can definitely tell you how not true that perception is.

I have realized that I have a group of wonderful young Christians who are just trying to figure out where they belong in this world. On top of that they have made a decision to follow Christ and live for Him. I just shudder to think what that must be like. Look at it, as adults we struggle daily with fleshly desires and trying to walk in Christ, do we ever stop to take a look at what our youth might be going through.

If you talk to youth nowadays anywhere from the 5^th grade up you will realize that they are dealing with things we never as adults thought they would be dealing with. Sex, drugs, profanity, pornography, violence, peer-pressure, homosexuality, and so much more. Are we as adults stepping into their lives and addressing these issues with our students before they decide to address them on their own.

Don’t get me wrong, it will not be something easy to address and fix. Your student will most likely be upset with you for talking about something that makes them uncomfortable, or they might even become a little rebellious. The fact is that we cannot afford to not address these things with our students and children. If we avoid the tough subjects because we don’t want to hurt their feelings or alienate them from us, we will lose them and never be able to reel them back in.

So what I am saying as a youth pastor/director is that even though there are subjects on a daily basis that I might not necessarily want to address, I have to address for the safety of the students that God has entrusted to me. I will continue to tackle the hard issues with love and kindness and show them that everything that is done for them come from God and His love for them.

            “Let the little children come to Me. Don’t stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”(Mark 10:14)

Our children are our future and as such should be thought of no less important than anyone else. Pay attention and show them that you love them, as I have learned recently it is not enough to sometimes think that they know how you feel, but sometimes you have to actually tell them how much you love and appreciate them.

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