I have failed at things all my life. I have always missed the mark in something or not been perfect in another. I am human. When one who is seeking not to fail fails, they stop and see where they went wrong. They look at their mistakes and see what they could have done differently and then do it. They start over again and learn, growing ever closer to perfection. I am perfectly comfortable with this.
When I am not happy, when things don't go well or when I just don't feel the presence of God that I have always felt it's usually because I am not doing something right. I am messing up. So I sincerely say "OK God, I messed up again like I always do. Please forgive me one more time and teach me how I can do this your way, because my way didn't work. Show me what I am doing wrong and help me fix it." He shows me, then helps me fix it. That is the way I have lived my life. I have learned it is easier for me to admit defeat and correct myself than to keep going pretending I'm doing everything right. When I was a little kid, I discovered I could skip the guilt speech I would receive from my parents after doing something wrong by simply sitting myself in time-out before they had a chance to give it to me. I missed the entire guilt trip by only going to what was the unevitable punishment.
Now here is the problem. Sometimes I am not happy because of something God is doing. I just want Him to tell me I'm wrong and start fixing it but instead He says "Keep doing what you are doing, be patient, I'm coming." What!? You mean I have done everything I can do in my own power and I still have to wait on God? That means I have to bear through this unhappiness until God decides to come through. That my friend, is a heck of a lot harder than failure.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
Today a fifth grade student committed suicide because of the torment he received from a bully. Ten years ago today two hurting kids shot up their own Columbine high school and killed the people they walked the hallways with. God don't let me ever forget that my life isn't about me. It's not my life the ends when I let insecurity keep me from yelling the truth to the world, it's theirs. I cannot back down.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Words from Judas
He always knew. I fooled everyone, even myself but He saw straight through me every time. I did everything I could to convince myself that I was like the other disciples, but I could never understand them or Him. They never seemed to care about everything that drove me. These massive crowds followed Jesus everywhere He went, and I got to be with Him at all times. He personally chose me ( and 11 other men) to be His escort through the world. I was one of The Twelve, the Elite, I got the fame because of His teaching. Life was where it should be.
I saw things you wouldn’t believe; the blind see, the dead walk, and with every miracle our glory got bigger. Oh but everyone else was so stupid! All they seemed to care about was being humble and a "servant" like Jesus told us to. They had know idea they were celebrities among their people, but I did, and I enjoyed it. I had gotten good too. I knew when to act inspired, when to marvel at His presence and when to say the right things. I had to if I wanted to keep my ticket to glory. But He knew. He always knew.
But the others, they always seemed so happy. I really wanted what they had, something real, worth holding on to, and I couldn’t understand why I wasn’t allowed both fame and peace. Why was it all or nothing? I didn’t understand then, but now I do.
For three years this Jesus had led me to greater heights than I could have ever imagined, but then things started going backwards. Everything I had built was collapsing. Once we were at a house in Bethany, where we had spent many an evening fellowshipping. It was here that that disgusting woman anointed Jesus with her expensive perfume. That perfume could have been sold and the money given as sacrifice, not that I cared about God’s due gift but I (always looking out for myself) had access to that money to use at my will. This woman had no idea what she was doing to this man, for He was just a man; He had to eat and sleep just like the rest of us, and Jesus just accepted it! He really believed He was God! Every day the world and 11 other men grew closer to Him, and He never ceased to amaze them with wisdom and power. Every day my hate for all of them grew. Needless to say I took the opportunity I was given.
I will forever remember the night I condemned myself. I knew where Jesus and the others where heading after the Passover meal, as we had gone there often to escape the crowds, and I left early from the feast to turn Him in. Jesus told me that what I must do, I must do quickly and God as my witness it was the first time I really listened to Him.
He was more deeply in prayer than I had ever seen Him. He knew all along what was going to happen to Him, and He did nothing. I kissed him on the cheek, like I had told the guards I would do, and they shackled him. He put up no fight, though I had seen with my own eyes this man turning over the huge wooden tables in the temple only days before. Arms of such force could have at least attempted to retaliate. And Peter, perfect little Peter, pulled out his sword and attacked one of the servants that was with the guards. It was at this point something changed in me. Jesus, with full knowledge these men would eventually kill him, healed that servant. He picked up his ear and He healed him! I had seen far greater miracles done by this man, but none like this. The final realization that this man was exactly who He said he was, that He was real, hit me along with the remembrance of the horrible thing I had just done. The night only grew worse.
"Say something Jesus, defend yourself from these fools! Call down heaven upon their heads" I remember thinking as His accusers beat Him and defiled everything He stood for. I as well was being tormented in ways I can not describe. The mind is a terrible place to dwell in when you have just killed God. They condemned him to death and I ran as far as I could until my legs gave way. I could not take any more of this, it had only been a couple hours and already my very being was torn apart. I decided I had to end it all, and so I hung.
Misery of life only concluded in misery of the after life. When Jesus spoke of weeping and gnashing of teeth I imagined what Hell would be, but it never even remotely compared to the reality of it. I wallowed in the filth of the enemy for what seemed forever, until suddenly there was light. There is never light in Hell, for it was crafted out of darkness itself. Loud footsteps echoed through the hall and the light grew closer and closer until I heard a familiar voice call my name, the voice of Jesus. I remember thinking how horrible that this ghost of Christ would forever haunt me because of what I’d done to Him. The light and the vision of the man inside it kept coming closer until I cried out in fear. His eyes were soft and gentle though, as they had always been, and in His hand He held a very large key ring with thousands of keys on it.
When He finally spoke He said this. "Judas, you have right to be afraid, as you have made your decision and must pay this horrible price, but do not fear me. I have only just breathed my last breathe up there on that cross and I have come down here because I have a price to collect. You see, I love you, and I love the world around you and every one who is to come. I died so that they can live. I died for those who remained faithful to the end, and also for those who betrayed me like you have done. You are not alone, generations upon generations of people will betray me just as you have. They will go through all the motions and follow me everywhere but they will not know me. Their kiss of betrayal will be their mere church attendance and offering in place of real relationship with me. The nails that have been hammered into my wrists will continue to be hammered into my heart until that one day when I return in full glory, because many will choose to betray Me, deny Me, accuse Me, reject Me but if one will love Me, it will make my death worth it. But now they can have life; real, meaningful, purposeful life by simply choosing Me. I love you that much."
I saw things you wouldn’t believe; the blind see, the dead walk, and with every miracle our glory got bigger. Oh but everyone else was so stupid! All they seemed to care about was being humble and a "servant" like Jesus told us to. They had know idea they were celebrities among their people, but I did, and I enjoyed it. I had gotten good too. I knew when to act inspired, when to marvel at His presence and when to say the right things. I had to if I wanted to keep my ticket to glory. But He knew. He always knew.
But the others, they always seemed so happy. I really wanted what they had, something real, worth holding on to, and I couldn’t understand why I wasn’t allowed both fame and peace. Why was it all or nothing? I didn’t understand then, but now I do.
For three years this Jesus had led me to greater heights than I could have ever imagined, but then things started going backwards. Everything I had built was collapsing. Once we were at a house in Bethany, where we had spent many an evening fellowshipping. It was here that that disgusting woman anointed Jesus with her expensive perfume. That perfume could have been sold and the money given as sacrifice, not that I cared about God’s due gift but I (always looking out for myself) had access to that money to use at my will. This woman had no idea what she was doing to this man, for He was just a man; He had to eat and sleep just like the rest of us, and Jesus just accepted it! He really believed He was God! Every day the world and 11 other men grew closer to Him, and He never ceased to amaze them with wisdom and power. Every day my hate for all of them grew. Needless to say I took the opportunity I was given.
I will forever remember the night I condemned myself. I knew where Jesus and the others where heading after the Passover meal, as we had gone there often to escape the crowds, and I left early from the feast to turn Him in. Jesus told me that what I must do, I must do quickly and God as my witness it was the first time I really listened to Him.
He was more deeply in prayer than I had ever seen Him. He knew all along what was going to happen to Him, and He did nothing. I kissed him on the cheek, like I had told the guards I would do, and they shackled him. He put up no fight, though I had seen with my own eyes this man turning over the huge wooden tables in the temple only days before. Arms of such force could have at least attempted to retaliate. And Peter, perfect little Peter, pulled out his sword and attacked one of the servants that was with the guards. It was at this point something changed in me. Jesus, with full knowledge these men would eventually kill him, healed that servant. He picked up his ear and He healed him! I had seen far greater miracles done by this man, but none like this. The final realization that this man was exactly who He said he was, that He was real, hit me along with the remembrance of the horrible thing I had just done. The night only grew worse.
"Say something Jesus, defend yourself from these fools! Call down heaven upon their heads" I remember thinking as His accusers beat Him and defiled everything He stood for. I as well was being tormented in ways I can not describe. The mind is a terrible place to dwell in when you have just killed God. They condemned him to death and I ran as far as I could until my legs gave way. I could not take any more of this, it had only been a couple hours and already my very being was torn apart. I decided I had to end it all, and so I hung.
Misery of life only concluded in misery of the after life. When Jesus spoke of weeping and gnashing of teeth I imagined what Hell would be, but it never even remotely compared to the reality of it. I wallowed in the filth of the enemy for what seemed forever, until suddenly there was light. There is never light in Hell, for it was crafted out of darkness itself. Loud footsteps echoed through the hall and the light grew closer and closer until I heard a familiar voice call my name, the voice of Jesus. I remember thinking how horrible that this ghost of Christ would forever haunt me because of what I’d done to Him. The light and the vision of the man inside it kept coming closer until I cried out in fear. His eyes were soft and gentle though, as they had always been, and in His hand He held a very large key ring with thousands of keys on it.
When He finally spoke He said this. "Judas, you have right to be afraid, as you have made your decision and must pay this horrible price, but do not fear me. I have only just breathed my last breathe up there on that cross and I have come down here because I have a price to collect. You see, I love you, and I love the world around you and every one who is to come. I died so that they can live. I died for those who remained faithful to the end, and also for those who betrayed me like you have done. You are not alone, generations upon generations of people will betray me just as you have. They will go through all the motions and follow me everywhere but they will not know me. Their kiss of betrayal will be their mere church attendance and offering in place of real relationship with me. The nails that have been hammered into my wrists will continue to be hammered into my heart until that one day when I return in full glory, because many will choose to betray Me, deny Me, accuse Me, reject Me but if one will love Me, it will make my death worth it. But now they can have life; real, meaningful, purposeful life by simply choosing Me. I love you that much."
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Comfortabiltiy
Yesterday was April fool’s day and I had nothing planned. I didn’t fake a debilitating disease that has left only 6 months for me to live or tell everyone I was moving to Missouri, not that I have ever done either (elementary school was fun). In fact, I’m pretty sure that I wouldn’t even have known it was April fools day had it not been for my insane schedule which requires I know the current date. I got to wondering how this day passed without me taking advantage of it.
It is most certainly not because I have grown out of it, I shudder at the thought of such maturity to have crept upon me as to not find amusement in a prank. It was simply that I was so distracted I didn’t care. How did I get here? So busy doing what God wanted me to do that I didn’t pay attention when He moved on. I got comfortable.
As a long distance runner, I have trained myself to be able to go for miles and call it comfortable, not comfortable as in laying bed asleep but as in I could keep that pace for a long time without much strain. This is great when doing a nice long run through a park on my time but is not when you’re are in a race and your team needs you. Getting comfortable means sacrificing time and that means sacrificing points. I have realized that in a race when the thought crosses my mind that I could keep the current pace for awhile, it’s time for me to pick it up and go if I want any improvement. Apparently I hadn’t realized this is more applicable in life than in a track race.
God had me going at a pretty decent pace, at first I thought there was no way I could keep it up but of course God gave me the strength. Then I got comfortable. I assumed that I was still following God’s will and forgot all about race strategy. The way you run the first lap is never the way you run the last lap. Whether in life or in running, a race ran comfortably finishes disappointingly. God wants us to hit our personal record time.
Looking over my life I have found that I seem to go in circles with my relationship with God. The period of zeal turns to a period of apathy. I just figured out that these periods of apathy come when God, instead of holding our hand and walking with us, takes a step forward in hopes that we would follow. When we don’t pay enough attention to realize we are no longer walking with God but behind Him, we don’t follow. We get caught in our rut of doing what we were told to do before we were given additional instructions. We get comfortable.
God I want to pick up the pace. Take me where you need me and forgive this April Fool for getting so busy I forgot to report back to the Coach.
It is most certainly not because I have grown out of it, I shudder at the thought of such maturity to have crept upon me as to not find amusement in a prank. It was simply that I was so distracted I didn’t care. How did I get here? So busy doing what God wanted me to do that I didn’t pay attention when He moved on. I got comfortable.
As a long distance runner, I have trained myself to be able to go for miles and call it comfortable, not comfortable as in laying bed asleep but as in I could keep that pace for a long time without much strain. This is great when doing a nice long run through a park on my time but is not when you’re are in a race and your team needs you. Getting comfortable means sacrificing time and that means sacrificing points. I have realized that in a race when the thought crosses my mind that I could keep the current pace for awhile, it’s time for me to pick it up and go if I want any improvement. Apparently I hadn’t realized this is more applicable in life than in a track race.
God had me going at a pretty decent pace, at first I thought there was no way I could keep it up but of course God gave me the strength. Then I got comfortable. I assumed that I was still following God’s will and forgot all about race strategy. The way you run the first lap is never the way you run the last lap. Whether in life or in running, a race ran comfortably finishes disappointingly. God wants us to hit our personal record time.
Looking over my life I have found that I seem to go in circles with my relationship with God. The period of zeal turns to a period of apathy. I just figured out that these periods of apathy come when God, instead of holding our hand and walking with us, takes a step forward in hopes that we would follow. When we don’t pay enough attention to realize we are no longer walking with God but behind Him, we don’t follow. We get caught in our rut of doing what we were told to do before we were given additional instructions. We get comfortable.
God I want to pick up the pace. Take me where you need me and forgive this April Fool for getting so busy I forgot to report back to the Coach.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
People say I'm strange, does that make me a stranger?
There are many days when I come to the horrible realization that I am utterly alone. I see, speak to, and interact with hundreds of people daily and yet by somewhat as result of my own choice I find myself alone. I do not merely mean that I don't feel loved, as someone who is really alone might say, but simply that I have yet to find anyone like me. I say this not to boast, nor present myself as super-human, as I am nothing without the grace, or should we say wrath, of God. After relentless and constant cogitation and petition to the Almighty as to where my place in society lies, I now know that my place is quite simply non-existent. Not that I am purposeless and thus useless, but quite the contrary I am so bursting with purpose that seclusion from that of the people is absolutely necessary. Since birth God as worked in me in ways that I still do not understand, He has given me a wisdom far beyond that of my peers, of which I am sure He intends on using for His purpose. Therefore I feel alone. I have never been like those around me and I have never met anyone with this blessing of a burden as which I carry. I can analyze people to death yet still find it nearly impossible to be me with them. I think it extremely strange that I myself am the strangest of strangers. I am certain that the celebration of my 100th birthday will most likely come before I and myself have completely introduced. I have never found anyone like me because I don't know what I am like. Therefore it is now my purpose to seek out those called, not merely to the work of God but to the life thus resulting, or to light the flame in them who have the fuse of burning passion and pursuit as I have. I want them to know God like I know Him, and there lies my motive for arising in the morning. It is my hope that this wisdom so imparted to me will not be wasted solely on myself but on he who it would make impact.
Oh God that I could awake the slumbering behemoth of unchained, relentless, effective teenage action that blossoms only as side-effects of your Love and Life flowing through them as you have so called me to accomplish.
Oh God that I could awake the slumbering behemoth of unchained, relentless, effective teenage action that blossoms only as side-effects of your Love and Life flowing through them as you have so called me to accomplish.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Florida trees
While on the way to Florida to visit family, we drove the the Ocala National Forrest. If you don't know, the Ocala National Forrest is quite possibly the most boring place in the world. It was because of this boredom that I had time to make some observations. Whereas most forests stand primarily erect like soldiers ready for battle, all the trees in a Florida forest lean dramatically to one side. It took me a moment before I remembered how hurricane prone the state of the newly wed and the nearly dead was. These trees had been hit so hard every season that they held the shape of their past storms. How many of us have been with the storms of life so frequently we have forgotten to stand up again. We stand braced for pain and therefore can't receive the sunshine and blessings we could have had. It won't be long until those trees lean to far. They will fall someday.
The trees all lean together. We has a planet have been hurt. We as followers of Christ need to be the first to rise and stand tall again.
The trees all lean together. We has a planet have been hurt. We as followers of Christ need to be the first to rise and stand tall again.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Florida Has So Many Old People....
The late show starts at 7:30
Resturaunts give you two cups, one for your drink and one for your dentures
Every mall has an AARP booth and a Hoveround store
The cable companies have to broadcast three channel of Animal Planet
They give the discount to everyone who isnt a senior
You cant park anywhere without a handicapped sticker
The kids dye their hair grey to fit in
The state's chief import is plastic, because of all the fake hips
Liscense plates are the size of billboards, no one can see those tiny letters
The police have never pulled someone over for speeding
The antique store bought out the wal-mart
There is a cloud of Bengay that hovers over large portions of the state
Resturaunts give you two cups, one for your drink and one for your dentures
Every mall has an AARP booth and a Hoveround store
The cable companies have to broadcast three channel of Animal Planet
They give the discount to everyone who isnt a senior
You cant park anywhere without a handicapped sticker
The kids dye their hair grey to fit in
The state's chief import is plastic, because of all the fake hips
Liscense plates are the size of billboards, no one can see those tiny letters
The police have never pulled someone over for speeding
The antique store bought out the wal-mart
There is a cloud of Bengay that hovers over large portions of the state
Friday, February 13, 2009
Who Is this God Fellow And Why Does He Want my Soul So Bad?
That doesn't seem like it would be the hardest question to answer right? After all we are Christians, we go to his house every time the doors are open (many times its us who opens the doors), we read the Bible more than the average Joe end can tell you any story in the book. We know exactly what's going to happen at the end of the world since we've read every Left Behind book from rapture to Armageddon, and we can tell you every cheesy line of faith expression we have ever heard because they are printed on a large majority of our T-shirts. That being said who is God? Morgan Freeman? Is He some cosmic, bearded mastermind who sits in heaven surrounded by chubby, naked angels who look like Gerber babies throwing lightning bolts at his "children"? I am fairly certain that anyone raised in church could respond to this question with a well rehearsed answer that no one really understands but has been spoken in churches everywhere such as "The Father of the Universe," or "The Creator of heaven and Earth." It literally astounds me that so many of us claim to follow a God whom we never take the time to meet. Of course I don't think we can ever fully figure God out, seeing as how a God who can be comprehended is no God at all, but I believe it well worth the effort.
Perhaps you have been wondering who God is. You may have chosen to embark on this lifelong quest for the pursuit of the life-fulfilling God you have heard about. You possibly could have known that you are called, by an unknown someone, to a greatness beyond that of anything you have ever seen or heard from the world around you, you would of course be right. Upon reading this, one in this situation would most likely wish that I would just make absolute haste in getting to the point, here being the answer to the above stated question. Don't bother, you won't be satisfied and more likely than not you will reach the conclusion with more thought provoking questions than thought fulfilling answers. Here my purpose is to let you know what it is you need to learn.
The reason for this is simple, being that my perfect explanation for this God I claim to follow would fail miserably in the achievement of your full comprehension of God. I could compose an endless piece of literature that accurately presents to you the God I have personally come to know and yet fall very short of a complete definition of who God is. I can only proclaim the God I have so gradually been introduced to that currently resides in me. I am sure the God in you is quite different. Do not think that I am speaking as one who claims there is no singular God, but only the spirit of people manifesting itself how ever it pleases or some other crap like that. Those who say there is no absolute truth are merely denying the existence of truth, thus enabling the belief in whatever one fancies considering nothing is true anyway. God is, always has been, and will always be God despite whatever I choose to believe him as. My personal preference of who I believe God is does not in any way affect who God actually is. I only mean that different people know different aspects of God according to how he has revealed himself, which of course is our only reliable source of His identity. Search, Find. God is only a complete mystery to those who dont want to know Him.
Perhaps you have been wondering who God is. You may have chosen to embark on this lifelong quest for the pursuit of the life-fulfilling God you have heard about. You possibly could have known that you are called, by an unknown someone, to a greatness beyond that of anything you have ever seen or heard from the world around you, you would of course be right. Upon reading this, one in this situation would most likely wish that I would just make absolute haste in getting to the point, here being the answer to the above stated question. Don't bother, you won't be satisfied and more likely than not you will reach the conclusion with more thought provoking questions than thought fulfilling answers. Here my purpose is to let you know what it is you need to learn.
The reason for this is simple, being that my perfect explanation for this God I claim to follow would fail miserably in the achievement of your full comprehension of God. I could compose an endless piece of literature that accurately presents to you the God I have personally come to know and yet fall very short of a complete definition of who God is. I can only proclaim the God I have so gradually been introduced to that currently resides in me. I am sure the God in you is quite different. Do not think that I am speaking as one who claims there is no singular God, but only the spirit of people manifesting itself how ever it pleases or some other crap like that. Those who say there is no absolute truth are merely denying the existence of truth, thus enabling the belief in whatever one fancies considering nothing is true anyway. God is, always has been, and will always be God despite whatever I choose to believe him as. My personal preference of who I believe God is does not in any way affect who God actually is. I only mean that different people know different aspects of God according to how he has revealed himself, which of course is our only reliable source of His identity. Search, Find. God is only a complete mystery to those who dont want to know Him.
Life on Empty
I spent the week running on empty. I had to much to do and the innability of my body to keep up. It is times like those that I wonder why it is that I am filling my plate so much and then I realize that everything I do is because God told me to. I was praying that God would empty my plate but then I realized I want God to give me a bigger apetite with a faster metabolism. I want to pig out on the buffet of life.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
The Next Hippies
The 1960's saw more drugs, sex and overall abandoning of God than any generation this country has ever seen. The emotional scars are just as evident today as they were 50 years ago, and they manifest themselves in the children of those hurt. However there is a seemly overlooked aspect of Hippie culture which we never realized. The days of the hippies were days of pure united rebellion, led solely by teenagers. Some people disagreed with US aid in Vietnam so an international brotherhood of teenagers decided to band together and revolt. Revolt against what they thought was wrong, against what society had told them was right, against everything they had ever known. No one told them to, in fact the world discouraged it, they just did it. Instead of letting the issues of the world overtake them they took action, effective action, relentless, unconquerable action. And on top of that, they didn't serve the powerful God which we serve.
I find it incredibly sad that the only example I can think of teenagers, may I say it again for emphasis but teenagers, who simply decided to change the world and take all means necessary to do so are hippies. Ironically hippies tended to stand for everything the church stood against, and yet we as a church find ourselves failing drastically in global reformation in comparison.
I often get the sense that we as youth feel that the "Church" is the group of adults that have no problem answering God's call and living effectively, as that must get easier with age. We know God has big plans for our lives so we eagerly await adulthood when we can fully understand what God has for us and thus put it into action. We have everything backwards. Paul told the young aspiring Timmy in 1 Timothy 4: 12 that we are to "set an example for the believers...." What!? God made us to be the inspiration, the influence, the motivation and so much more to the people who have been "in the faith" for longer than we have been in existence. Good ol Solomon says in Ecclesiastes 4 "I saw that everyone who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth."
At first this seams entirely preposterous yet it does not take a very long journey through history to see this is absolutely true. Think of any musician who could be named among the "greats," when this artist or band was at the peak of stardom how old was the audience which they played in front of? Of the horrendous clothing choices that have been made fashionable in this century alone how many of which rose to popularity in the high schools far before they hit the workplace?
We as teenagers have subconsciously been ruling the world since the term adolescence was coined.
Where are we leading our society?
It is solely our responsibility to change what we see. Do not think that it can not be done because it has been done before. It's time for the next hippie generation. A generation in undaunted pursuit of what God has entitled this word. Love. Not the love of the hippies whose boundary between that and lust was obscure or non-existent. The love I am speaking of is the kind only able to express itself through death. Death on a cross, death to ourselves and death to the chains which bind us. Life CANNOT live where death has not been. Our revolt will fail if we are after global denomination into churchdom, but has to be for eternal life, eternal life that starts not in heaven but right here, right now.
One also may take note that the hippies were absolutely out of their mind. Nothing they did made sense, long hair with tye-dye shirts and moccasins? I think we have spent too much time in our right mind and not His right mind.
I find it incredibly sad that the only example I can think of teenagers, may I say it again for emphasis but teenagers, who simply decided to change the world and take all means necessary to do so are hippies. Ironically hippies tended to stand for everything the church stood against, and yet we as a church find ourselves failing drastically in global reformation in comparison.
I often get the sense that we as youth feel that the "Church" is the group of adults that have no problem answering God's call and living effectively, as that must get easier with age. We know God has big plans for our lives so we eagerly await adulthood when we can fully understand what God has for us and thus put it into action. We have everything backwards. Paul told the young aspiring Timmy in 1 Timothy 4: 12 that we are to "set an example for the believers...." What!? God made us to be the inspiration, the influence, the motivation and so much more to the people who have been "in the faith" for longer than we have been in existence. Good ol Solomon says in Ecclesiastes 4 "I saw that everyone who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth."
At first this seams entirely preposterous yet it does not take a very long journey through history to see this is absolutely true. Think of any musician who could be named among the "greats," when this artist or band was at the peak of stardom how old was the audience which they played in front of? Of the horrendous clothing choices that have been made fashionable in this century alone how many of which rose to popularity in the high schools far before they hit the workplace?
We as teenagers have subconsciously been ruling the world since the term adolescence was coined.
Where are we leading our society?
It is solely our responsibility to change what we see. Do not think that it can not be done because it has been done before. It's time for the next hippie generation. A generation in undaunted pursuit of what God has entitled this word. Love. Not the love of the hippies whose boundary between that and lust was obscure or non-existent. The love I am speaking of is the kind only able to express itself through death. Death on a cross, death to ourselves and death to the chains which bind us. Life CANNOT live where death has not been. Our revolt will fail if we are after global denomination into churchdom, but has to be for eternal life, eternal life that starts not in heaven but right here, right now.
One also may take note that the hippies were absolutely out of their mind. Nothing they did made sense, long hair with tye-dye shirts and moccasins? I think we have spent too much time in our right mind and not His right mind.
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