When Students Leave...

God has blessed my wife and I by allowing us to lead a great group of young men & women in ministry. We've built deep relationships with many of them. It's been fantastic to watch them grow. To watch them come out of their shells. Many of them have gained tremendous confidence since they've given their lives to Christ. Several have done complete 180s. Not perfect, however, the Spirit of God is evident in their lives. And I love that!! There aren't too many things more gratifying than to see God transform the life of a young person. But then there's the part that I haven't come to grips with just yet. The part that makes me feel like there isn't enough oxygen in the atmosphere. There are some students that we've fully invested in. Time, energy, resources...AKA love. These students are like my children. Which is why it hurts so much when they leave. But it's not only the leaving that's hurtful. No! It's when a student leaves and they seem to have regressed. The Bible calls it back sliding. Now I don't claim to know how God feels when we, his children, back slide, but if it's anything like what I feel when I see my students back in the streets, dropping out of school, having children out of wedlock, and most of all abandoning their faith, my heart hurts. Maybe that is how God feels. Maybe God is so heart broken by our behavior that he cries...

This or That

See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in his ways, and keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase in the land you are entering to possess. Deuteronomy 30:15-16 NIV

The opportunity to choose is an incredible gift from God. Salvation through Faith in Christ is the only gift higher or better than the opportunity choose if you ask me. The gift of choice demonstrates God's love for us. As creator and sustainer of the universe God is in ultimate control. The Earth orbits the sun. It has no choice. It can't choose to reverse direction. Animals are slaves to ingrained, hard wired instinct. Birds can't choose to fly North instead of South for the winter. Yet God, almost from the beginning, permits his creation, his children, to choose. The opportunity to choose is an incredible gift from God. This gift demonstrates the goodness of God toward humanity.
Now with this opportunity to choose comes the possibility that people will reject God's goodness.
"If anyone hears what I am saying and doesn't take it seriously , I don't reject him. I didn't come to reject the world; I came to save the world. But you need to know that whoever puts me off, refusing to take in what I'm saying, is willfully choosing rejection. The Word, the Word-made-flesh that I have spoken and that I am, that Word and no other is the last word. I'm not making any of this up on my own. The Father who sent me gave me orders, told me what to say and how to say it. And I know exactly what his command produces: real and eternal life. That's all I have to say. What the Father told me, I tell you." John 12:47-50 MSG

There is a possibility that people will reject God's goodness & mercy. More like a probability than a possibility due to man's fallen nature. But Jesus tells us that God's command produces "real and eternal life". So when we reject God (This), we choose death and destruction(That). It's that simple. What God wants from us isn't hard. His standards are understandable. They aren't in a far off place. God's Word in your mouth and in your heart. You know his standards and you know his Word! Now do it.
Choose: This or That! "The thief's purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness." John 10:10 LB

Our options are hidden. The options are clear and right in front of us. Now we must utilize this wonderful gift of choice God has given us and choose life through Christ. "If we obey God's commands, then we are sure that we know him. If we say that we know him, but do not obey his commands, we are liars and there is no truth in us. But if we obey his word, we are the ones whose love for God has really been made perfect. This is how we can be sure that we are in union with God. If we say that we remain in union with God, we should live just as Jesus Christ did." 1 John 2:3-6 GN

God demands obedience. He says you can get with this or you can get with that. You should get with this because this is where its (life) at.

It's Not The Kids It's You!!

I've heard this question a lot lately:"What's wrong with kids today?" my response? YOU!! Parents, family, pastors, teachers and community. We are ALL at fault. Proverbs 22:6 says "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." We're training our youth but the question becomes "What are we training our youth to do?" Seems to me that youth are trained to honor self, not God. Youth are trained to chase material prosperity, not spiritual edification. Youth are trained to value self, not community. If this sounds like a bunch of Bologna to you maybe you should step outside of your house one day and just observe your community. Listen to your children without interrupting. Take a look at television. Read a paper or watch the news. Then ask yourself "Who are the decision makers of the world? Adults or youth?" Adults, we have dropped the baton. We've let our youth down. But the good news is it's not over. You can turn things around. How? Make the growth & development of youth in your family & community a priority. Pay attention to your habits, values & behaviour. Ask yourself if these things add value to youth . Now I'm not saying that you can't have a life. That you can't enjoy your life and do the things that you enjoy. However, I am saying that we have a responsibility to the younger generation. We must make "training" a continual process. Not a one time event. Then we will see our youth respond. Then we will be about to look to our future with great expectation instead of dread.

Can't Stop, Won't Stop!!

Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, "The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the Harvest; ask him to send more workers into his field." Matthew 9:35-38 NLT

As for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good. 2 Thessalonians 3:13 NLT


After going from town to town, village to village, teaching and preaching, healing and delivering, Jesus saw crowds of confused, helpless people. And his heart was heavy. Christ had compassion on them. The confused and helpless people were like sheep without a shepherd. There was a lack of Godly leadership. So Jesus tells his disciples to pray for more workers, more Godly leaders, more shepherds. in 2010, as you walk through your neighborhood, or drive through an urban neighborhood, what do you see? I see confused and helpless people. People that are hurting. I see people that are starving. People that are scared, confused and helpless. My heart is heavy. I feel the call on my life to reach out and engage these people, particularly teenagers. You see, I used to be like them. Confused and helpless. Then at the right time Christ penetrated my heart. His love rushed in. He saved me. Delivered me. Made me whole. So now I grind for Christ. Seeking every opportunity to share this amazing love that found me when I was confused and helpless. This is what I was built for. It's why he created me. It's how I bring him glory. How do I benefit? I'm on the team. God allowed me to be on his team. That's all I need. Whether I'm a starter or roll player doesn't matter. I'm on the team. So I say to you my fellow worker in Christ as well as those who may feel the prompting of God to join the team, look at your community. What do you see? I'm certain that you see the same things that I see because sin & dysfunction are everywhere. Now, ask God what you can do for him. How can you serve him and people. Tell God to put you in the game. As for me, I can't stop, won't stop. The stakes are to high. Father, thank you for allowing me to be on your team. It's an honor and a privilege.

It's amazin

Everyone's talking about it. They want to know when & how it started. The theories of it's origin are talked about in barber shops and church fellowship halls. What am I talking about? Youth violence. It isn't new. Youth violence has plagued our nation decades. Where does it come from? How did it start? I don't know. But I can tell you what I've observed. I see more men washing, waxing & detailing their cars than playing with their children. I've attended graduations and noticed a 9:1 ratio women to men in attendence. So, what do you think? Where does youth violence come from?

More Than Preaching

Youth Ministry is more than preaching/teaching. Sometimes it's going to a ball game. Sometimes it means hosting a cook out w/ a huge water balloon fight. Ultimately Youth Ministry is about modeling the love of Christ to/with/for our young people. Thank you Lord for allowing me to serve youth.

Shout Out To Our 2010 Grads!!

To most people four years isn't a very long time. However, to a couple of New Yu Youth Movement students, four years seemed like forever. Mariah Barnes and Ernest Stennis are 2010 high school graduates!! I'm very happy to say that. Because there were times when graduating appeared unlikely. Not because Mariah or Ernie lacked intelligence or ability. Not because either of these students lacked motivation. High school graduation seemed to be far off because of the learning environment. A hostile student body AND staff make it difficult to get the most of the academic day. Both Mariah & Ernie are extremely sensitive, loving, caring, young people. They are hard working & respectful. Because of their good natured personalities the chaotic academic environment made it almost impossible to succeed.

Almost impossible! See, Mariah & Ernie are believers. They know the Lord Jesus. And they know that with God ALL things are possible! It took 4 yrs of commitment, hard work, encouragement & prayer to make it. My wife, Emma, consistently followed up with Ernie and Mariah about their academic status. Not in an annoying, nit picky kind of way, but in a loving, genuine interest in their lives kind of way.

It payed off!! The prayers of the righteous avail much. Hard work pays off! Faith pays off!! Ernest Stennis and Mariah Barnes are high school graduates. We are extremely proud of them. Praise God!!