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| Where are today's furnace-bound teenagers? |
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4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Teaching in a Christian High School allows me the privilege of spending time with young people through the week that don't always have a positive Christian influence around. As a Youth Pastor, I can cross lines that I may not be able to cross in the School. For example, we do not push specific doctrine in our classes. I teach a Bible class, and while I am Baptist, I am still able to teach just the Bible. As much time as I spend with these teenagers from all sorts of backgrounds, I wonder which one will be the next Elijah with the power to pray the fire down? I wonder which one will be the next Daniel who will not bow? The next Esther who will risk her life for her people's? Where will the next mother come from who will teach her son the ways of God like Moses' mother did that he might remember them in a foreign land? You see, we have plenty of Jezebels who despise God's man, plenty of Annaniases and Saphiras to lie to God. There is an abundance of Korah's who think their way is better than God's. There are a plethora of Pharoahs who's hearts have been hardened. In the above verse, Paul tells Timothy to let no man despise young Timothy's youth, but be an example. Where, Oh Lord, are our young examples today? In a world that makes it un-cool to be Godly, I need help. I need more people to take them time to DISCIPLE young people. God's Church needs more people to disciple young people. Most of the young peole I talk to feel like the older folks look down on them, don't want to have anything to do with them, etc. Most of the older people I talk to are looking down on the younger, don't want anything to do with them, etc. There is such a serparation in work ethic and moral standard from the Baby Boomer to the Generation XYZer that we may never see the reciprocal. If you would, remember back to the ones mentioned above that had positive effects in the lives of the people they were around. There were only a few in the whole nation that God saw fit to use and have their histories recorded! While I believe there is a revival brewing in the lives of the younger generations right now, they will need discipling. What I long for is for a young person to take up the Bible and go. Follow it's instruction. Be the example. And remember, the directive was to be an example to the older... What I'd give to have some Elijah, some Meshach, Shadrach, or Abednego... 3:17 If it be [so], our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver [us] out of thine hand, O king. 3:18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Praise God! Give me some "But if nots", Lord. I want some young people who are going to serve you regardless of the outcome. I want some sold out, blood bought, children of the Most HIgh God! The Bible says that in the future, a child shall lead them. Encourage one to start today... Brother Chris |
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| To add a comment to "Where are today's furnace-bound teenagers?" |
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| April 24, 2007 |
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I can't thank you enough for these words! God bless you! Cj |
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| April 24, 2007 |
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| Good word my brother, keep em coming! |
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| April 25, 2007 |
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CJ: You are welcome. This actually came out of frustrations I have had over the past couple of weeks. Scool is almost out and these kids are going NUUUTTTTTSSSS! Sue: Thank you my Sister in Christ. |
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| April 25, 2007 |
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Youth Pastor, You and I share the same spirit. If you read my blog you know what I mean. I agree with you in prayer and in showing them LOVE! They want it, theyre searching for it, they desire it so much but they are trying to find it in the wrong place. Only JESUS can satisfy our souls! God Bless You in all you do! |
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| April 26, 2007 |
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| Anthony: Thanks. You know, we just moved over the state line from Mississippi and I used to spend alot of time in Philadelphia calling on one of my accounts there when I was in sales. Is this the same Choctaw Tribe? |
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| April 30, 2007 |
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Hey, I was just searching through some of the blogs here.. I really liked your blog. I myself just turned 14, and my thoughts are the same as yours, but from a different perspective. I was just thinking today how I'd love to be like Elijah! But more than that I strive to be like Jesus. In todays society it is hard! and I get so frustrated with those around me. Some kids I know treat church as a social thing. it's sad. I don't know. My thoughts about this are scattered, but your blog pretty much sums them up, only from a kid's point of view.
God bless! |
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| April 30, 2007 |
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Me too, Chris! I want to see those Elijah's rise up! Your passion for them is what will spark the fire, keep stoking it--you will get the blaze you so desire to see. God is calling up his future army, appointing and anointing young people all over the nation, I'm already seeing it among the youth in our church. I have one in my Sunday school class that stands behind the drummer during worship every service. If you ask him why, he will tell you that it's because God has appointed him to take that chair and he's training to take his position. He's nine years old. No one told him to do that, he is hearing God and being obedient. We can all learn from him, and he's not even in Junior High yet. Thanks for posting this, we all need to be fervently praying in and training up the new generation. |
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| May 01, 2007 |
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It is interesting to me that Paul is encouraging Timothy to not let people despise him because Timothy is younger, and to be an example to the believers. I have been meditating on this for a while. He is telling him to be an example to all believers. The fact that Paul mentions Timothy's youth leads me to believe he was youger than the people of his congregation. Seeing as how there seems to be a revival brewing in the younger generations right now, it's almost as if Paul is writing about right now. There is also no mention of the "older teaching the younger." To me, it's as if Paul is saying, "Your Grandmother and Mother have taught you the scriptures, now go and live what you have been taught." I know what you have been through. I know what you have seen. I know of all your let downs. I know of all your failures. Now, go. Pick up here. Go be an example. No better place to start than with myself. |
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| May 03, 2007 |
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I haven't read all of the comments so forgive me if I repeat something someone already said. I just wanted to add that there are a lot of teenagers on this site with wonderful hearts for God. If you see one of their blogs, How about leaving a comment and a star. They really do get encouraged. As I am encouraged by reading the hearts these teens have for God. |
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| May 11, 2007 |
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There are some Godly young men and women on this site and I thank God for them all. Right now is graduation time, so please pray for our Seniors. Right now is the time when most will stray away from Church. |
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| May 11, 2007 |
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I love that verse. I especially love the six things that Paul tells Timothy to be an example of....almost as if these things were lacking in the older generation there in Ephesus, and Timothy's example of behavior was to be the catalyst to bring them back to how they should have been behaving. I took a Pastoral Epistles class in Bible College, and we spent a good deal of time on that verse, mulling over the implications of each of those six points that the younger people are to be examples in. As a result, I have become more and more convinced that being examples in these six things -- and not concerts, food and entertainment -- should be the heart and soul driving point in our youth groups. "Why do you go to that church?"
"Because I have never met people more in love with God and walking their faith better than these do." ^--- That's the kind of conversation I desire our youth groups to stir up in heir communities. You read out of my head on this one, bro. I stand with you on it! In His service, and yours,
jason |
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| May 11, 2007 |
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I stand in full agreement. I had the same thought about the people of Ephesus. Why was it Paul was telling Timothy to not worry about his being young, but to be the example of .... . I told the Youth Committee that interviewed me that if they wanted a "Youth Director" they were hiring the wrong guy. I'll go a step further, if all you focus on is Youth Evangelism and forget to disciple these young people, you end up with Spiritual Babies as Adults. I believe the biggest failure of the Church in the last two decades is to properly disciple new converts. |
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| May 11, 2007 |
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Oh yeah, baby....read my comments to Kathy's post about prayer in school and Mike's post regarding Savior vs. Lord....we're definitely on the same page when it comes to the centrality of discipleship! lol Tomorrow night when I get home from work I'll post the blog I've been writing called "The worst imaginable cruelty" about this subject.....I'll look forward to your comments! -jason |
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