Commitment

Why is it so hard to stay committed to something. New Years resolutions are the worst. We have all done it. We have all made promises to commit to the fitness regiment, the eating right. the not smoking weed for a year, the staying abstinent for as long as you can. Sometimes it reminds me of several "Seinfeld" episodes when they make a commitment and see who can stay committed the longest. The reasons why I laugh is because we all have commitment issues. Making promises to our spouses, or making promises to our kids. We all fall short of these things.

But what about our commitments to God. Do we struggle with it? Do we have a hard time keeping our promises to him? I will read my bible everyday, I will make sure I pray for someone this week, I will stay away from sin, etc. I have the hardest time keeping promises sometimes and I want to make sure I learn to keep more then forget. I want to make sure that I hold true to my commitment in Christ so that I do not give the enemy any chance to through me off track.

One Haitian pastor illustrated the need for total commitment to Christ with this parable:

A certain man wanted to sell his house for $2,000.00. Another man wanted very badly to buy it, but because he was poor, he couldn't afford the full price. After much bargaining, the owner agreed to sell the house for half the original price with just one stipulation: he would retain ownership of one small nail protruding from just over the door.
After several years. the original owner wanted the house back, but the new owner was unwilling to sell. So first the owner went out, found a carcass of a dead dog, and hung it from the nail he still owned. Soon the house became unlivable, and the family was forced to sell the house to the owner of the nail.

The Haitian pastor's conclusion: "If we leave the Devil with even one small peg in our life, he will return to hang his rotting garbage on it, making it unfit for Christ's habitation."

I want to commit myself to Jesus and do everything in my power to keep that commitment, no matter how hard it gets.

Youth Camp Love

Who can remember their first Summer camp experience? Who remembers the hiking, the biking, the rock climbing, the water sports and then from across the lake you noticed a person that you thought was the most beautiful thing you have ever seen? The next day begins trying to find the same activities that this person is doing so you can get just one glimpse of her as you try to act as if you are not noticing. At night when the service is about to take place you make sure you sit as close as you can without being completely obvious. During the worship set while others around have their eyes closed, you are the one searching to make sure your eyes might possibly connect. Day 3 comes along, and you have just enough courage to go up to her and tell her how much you like her. Day 4 you are holding hands and preparing for the 1st kiss. After the kiss comes, day 5 peeks its unwilling head through the camp just in time to swap numbers and to say goodbye for one last time. "I promise I will call you" " Maine is not that far away"

The final thing you see is the window rolling down and the wave of her hand slowly fading into the distance. As a single tear runs down your face never to see her again. You say to yourself. "I will always love and remember ?" crap what was her name again?

Having my own personal camp experiences with other girls from other churches, I sit back and watch in the last 10 years how many students that I have had to monitor, watch, and protect from these types of situations. The hardest thing for me to grasp is when the camp is all over, how much that student will not make it through another day without seeing the other persons face. "I Love him/her"

It is interesting how many of these relationships end at the last word said. "Goodbye" never to be seen from, or hear from again until the possible next years camp reunion where we have matured oh so much, that we are to cool for the other person.

As Amanda is away on her first summer camp alone with out me, I smile whenever she calls me because she is mentioning all the potential hook ups that are taking place at camp. I cant help but crack up at the fact that some of our students will be at this place by the end of their week. Because camps at times are so emotionally charged a person cant help but like the opposite sex, and be drawn to them in an emotional week long dating scene.

To those of you reading this, parents, young adults, and youth students, just remember what it was like when you went to camp. It is not going to be like the opening scenes of Forrest Gump, where you and the other person are going to be like pees and carrots. That way we can fall under this understanding that life moves on past camp to a wonderful future. So laugh when we need to laugh. These are some funny stories that help us tell our children when they get to be that age.

Imago Dei

Have you ever been I.D. before? Whether at the bars, the clubs or when the shinny lights scream your name cause you were speeding in your car? What was the outcome? Have you had your limit? Where you kicked to the curb? Was your ticket over $500.00? Having a valid I.D. is important in life..........If you are looking for a new I.D. because yours sucks, let me ask you one more question? Do you want an I.D. that will never expire, run out, or be declined? If so, we ask that you come and check out Imago Dei. The name Imago Dei (I.D.) in Latin means "Image of God." Being created in God's image gives us the opportunity to experience the way He relates, communicates, and shares His love with others. We can literally be the hands and feet of Jesus as we live to represent His story through our lives.

What is Imago Dei about?

We are all about Relationships!!!!!
Whether you're a single young adult, married, single again, with or without children - no matter where you have been and what you have done - We invite you to experience Imago Dei .

No Church Experience Required....... Come as you are and leave Connected!

What is the Imago Dei experience like?

Services that last about 90 minutes
The band is Loud
Freindly people will help you find your way around
A message that is relevant to your life
Fun kids programs

Come and Experience the launch of Imago Dei on Sunday, Sept. 13 2009 @ 6:30pm @ the Baxter Campus.

http://www.imagodeimovement.com/
http://twitter.com/Go2ImagoDei.com

15 key points

1. Make the time you have with relationships last in that moment, because you never know when it will be gone.

2. People come and go, so be as influential as you can with everyone you meet.

3. KILL people with KINDNESS.

4. Forgive and forget your past............ Don't let it haunt you, it will rob your future.

5. Be quick to forgive those that screw you over, because you need the same grace on the flip side.

6. Don't let tradition grip you. You miss out on the risk of adventure.

7. Don't stick in your man cave for to long. Nobody will come and visit.

8. Thank God you made it through another day

9. Sometimes you just need a little foghat

10. Never let your mom destroy your Stryper mixed tape

11. Never squish your children's dreams, even if they do not live up to your standards. 

12. Always make love to your wife. Because God told you too.......Thanks man, I will thank you in person with a fist bump and fireworks.

13. Don't forget to pray for those who have influenced your life. 

14. Wake up at 3am in the morning to help someone in need........GET YOUR BUTT OUT OF BED.

15. Always be nice to redheads..........We have an in with the man upstairs. :0)

The Christian Club

The Christian Club. That has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? A place where a bunch of Christians can get together and share about their faith in a safe environment. Schools, churches, college campuses and work places, wherever we can get a group of people together we can call it a club. 

Are these clubs open or closed? Is it designed for only Christians or can non believers come too. 

Example: 

I was asked to speak at a christian club at a high school in the desert valley. Before it started I sat outside and greeted people that were walking by and or coming into the club. As I was introducing myself to people I asked several students walking by if they were coming into the club. They went on to say, "I am not a christian" I thought to myself that OK this might be how one person feels but I am sure she doesn't speak for the majority. So, I asked a few more students. They gave me the same response. "I am not a christian"  At his point my heart was saddened. I asked some of the students who were in charge of christian club,  "is there anyone that stands outside and invites people in? They went on to say no, if they are not a christian they cant come in." I thought to myself this cant surely be happening. But, it was a reality for this specific club. 

As I reflected on how backwards from Christianity and may I add the bibles commands. I thought to myself that there are so many other clubs that are exclusive as this particular christian club. The church!

Growing up in the church for me was like being a part of a secluded club. A club that the password to get into this club was "Christian" If you were a christian you were welcomed into the club (the church) If you were not, like a lot of my friends, you just wouldn't show up. Being in a youth group of 30 students in a church the size of 3000 was fun for me, because I called myself a christian, but for those they may want to come check it out and possibly be a part of the group, you would need to use the secret password or else you would be lost and never come back.

Is this what God wanted to happen to his people? pardon my language but this pisses me off. 

As I was speaking to that christian club, I couldn't help but be royally mad and upset at how a group of professed Christians can sit in a disclosed room and swap christian stories about how they witnessed to someone that month and have someone pat them on the back and yet outside those shallow walls was a huge Harvest waiting to be picked for the harvester. Needless to say once I was done sharing about witnessing, I left and turned down all other speaking engagements at the particular club. 

When I look at myself in the mirror I have to tell myself that I am a Pharisee. I was and am at times everything that Jesus could not stand. If the name Christian is to be like Christ then why the heck would I exclude everyone that Christ would try to reach and go after.

I think that if the church in America is not careful we will become such a stuffy room filled with people who play the typical church game of "Who can hide their sin the best" and missed out on what God has asked us to do. "GO" He gave us a command with one word. "GO" 

I do not want to be a part of a christian club, and I am sure I speak for millions of others, I want to be a part of a movement of people who call themselves Christians, to go out and be Christians to ALL we come in contact with.

the 1980's church I grew up with is dying a fast paced death. I do not want to be another deadly statistic. I want to be a new statistic of authentic followers of Jesus striving to become a true meaning of what the word "Christian" started out to be. I want to be like Christ........So father, send me and I will go.........