I think it comes down to this, Anything Healthy grows.  God’s desire for us it that we grow spiritually.  I think to often we get comfortable in seasons of our life and out of that comfort we stay put. Hebrews 5:11-13 sums it up pretty good,   11About this we have much to say, and it is(A) hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again(B) the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need(C) milk, not solid food, 13for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is(D) a child.  When I look back at my life I can see the growth that has gotten me to where I am today.  In my marriage, ministry, as a parent, as a follower of Christ I can see the growth, but what a shame it would be to think that I have arrived.  When it comes to my relationship and growing in my life it is not a destination I arrive at but a direction I choose every day.  I know where I need to grow, do you?

What’s God’s Favourite Subject?

Gym.  Did you expect the ex-football player who took 5 gym credits in High School to say something different.  I love reading the scriptures where Paul used sports/atheletics to describe and illustrate a point to his readers.  The training that needs to take place to become the best at what you do in a sport is incredible.  Tiger Woods, hitting over 1000 golf balls a day to become a better golfer, Jerry Rice, the greatest receiver of all time who had the most intense training program in the N.F.L.  Why?  To get a crown that won’t last.  I think as followers of Christ we can learn a thing or two from athletes.  The discipline they show to be the best they can be is amazing.  Paul even said,

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

As followers of Christ we need to train, discipline ourselves so we can one day echo the words of the Apostle Paul, “I have fought the good fight and I have finished the race”!

Does God Grade on a Curve?

Wow.  Imagine if that was true and in your class you had Billy Graham, Mother Theresa how would that make you feel.  Personally I am glad that God does not grade or compare me to anyone.  Every time I read the scriptures, I see that I am going to stand before God on my own and give an account for what I did with my talent.  I know when I look at the impact a Mother Theresa has made I can never compare to that, but I am so glad I don’t have to. The Parable of the Talents really brings some clarity to this area. Matthew 25:15, To one he gave five talents,  to another two, to another one,to each according to his ability . I remember I use to really struggle with comparing myself to other youth pastors and think I am not doing well enough when in reality I was. We can all fall victim to that so easily if we forget that we are only responsible for what God has entrusted us with. All I can do is make the most of the talent that God has given me and realize if I do when I stand before God I will hear Well Done!

As we are getting ready to hear our last camp message I wanted to share with you what hapened in our service last night.  God’s presence was so real to everyone and Wayne had the students begin to pray for those around who were sick or needed a healing.  What followed was pretty incredible.  A girl who could not hear well had her ears totally opened, backs were healed, strained muscles, and more.  Now the incredible thing for me to see was it was the students leading.  Not the speaker, not the speaker but the students.  It was an incredible boost of their fath as they realized God can move through them.

I am so excited for us as a student ministry to come back and begin to walk out all that God has done in our hearts and lives.

One more camp post to come!

Last night at camp started pretty rough.  Had a hard time following the speaker with the stuff that I had to be doing.  I was able to catch the tail end of the service which was exactly what we needed as a group.  Wayne spoke on being baptized with a fresh fire not for ourselves but for others. He used the illustration of the job of a Fire Fighter and how when everyone is running out it is usually the fire fighters running in to save.  HE called us all forward and we all began to pray for a fresh baptism of fire that would give us a burden for the lost.  The altar time was incredible.  To hear the students calling out the names of their friends and family was very moving.  We then had a chance to annoint the students with oil that this would be a year that when everyone else is running out they woould be running in.

Looking forward to a great night!

Finally getting some time to share about what happened last night at camp.  Last night was a pretty incredible night.  Wayne our speaker shared on the Holy Spirit and then opened the altars to the students and 3 hours later students were still hanging around at the altar pressing in and going after God.

To see the students weeping before God as they allowed the Spirit of God touch them and fill them was just awesome!  I know there were many from our group that experienced a fresh touch from God.  I am excited becasue I feel this is exactly what our students needed.  Tonight is going to be great!

What more can be said but WOW.  Last night was an incredible experience.  I think what was the most amazing thing is it was initiated by the students.  There was no hype, no long message, just an incredible sense of God’s presence and the students went for it.  To see so many open up and allow God into those areas of their heart that have been kept from Him was amazing to watch.  Tears flowed as students confessed sin, cried out for more of Jesus.  I was amazed to see so many of even our students just pressing in for more.  It truly was an incrdible night and to think that it was only night 2.

This morning we heard from another local youth pastor who shared his story about becoming a parent by adopting a baby girl.

More to come.  Please keep praying for us.

Well I have found some time to let you know what happened at camp last night.  Was a a great night.  Wayne Northup shared from Genesis 3 and shared the four things that happen when we sin.

1. We Cover Up

2. We usually feel condemnation from ourselves

3. We feel the consequences of sin

4. God covers us

The powerful time was at the altar as students responded to God in a passionate way.  Tears and a passion to get their lives back on track.  The openess as we prayed with students was incredible.  The cool thing is their was no hype, no prying, just students responding to God.

To continue with the theme of restoration we heard from a great youth pastor that I interviewed this morning.   All in all it was an incredible first day at camp.

But we know there is more….

Well today it starts.  Can’t tell you how excited I am for this years camp.  We have had an incredible year as a student ministry but over the last couple of months it seems God has just become second to many of our students.  Camp could not come at a better time.  I am praying that this would be a time of incredible refreshing for our students as they are away from all of their distractions for the week.  If you are reading, please keep us in your prayers.  I will be posting each day and sharing some of the things God is doing here at camp!

God is Compassionate…

I think compassion s the breeding ground for miracles.  Think about every time we read in scripture where Jesus was moved with compassion, people got healed, blind eyes were open, multitudes were feed, amazing things took place because Jesus had compassion.  Last year I read an old prayer in getting ready to speak on compassion and it broke me.

A Fransican Prayer
May God bless you with with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart.  May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom , and peace.  May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, and starvation, so that you may reach your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain to joy.  And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you an make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done!
Amen
I had come to the place in my walk where I felt almost numb to issues around me.  God had given me such a compassion for the sick but in the midst of being “busy” I learned how to push it to the side.  I know God has placed compassion in us all for different things.  That is what is amazing.  Imagine if like Jesus we were moved daily by that compassion.  We could see some incredible things happen.  Allow God to stir that compassion on the inside this week and see what will happen.