Listening to God!

Reading the Bible is a movement. Bill Hwang is one of the founders of the movement of public reading of scripture. Watch this! This is life! It is not just a program!! 

Across the world this movement is a spiritual meal that many are participating in! Check this out for yourself at PRSI.org (download the App and listen.)

YFC participates every Monday morning. They do this as part of their national movement! 

Bible-centric people are always an exciting group to be a part of. Letting the Word of God speak into the lives of each generation. A favorite verse of mine, and theme of my current activities comes from Psalm 78.

Psalms 78:4

We will not hide these truths from our children;

we will tell the next generation

about the glorious deeds of the LORD,

about his power and his mighty wonders.

As I get-to serve Youth for Christ, I get-to tell the story of those serving in the front lines, loving young people in Christ.   

CEO of the National Movement makes clear the mission we get-to be a part of. Jacob Bland is leading with a clear focus on seeing God at work in the lives of young people. 

At the recent National Leadership Conference he made it clear that the goal of ministry is to young people. Sharing the 3Story model is not just what we do but who we are. 

It is a worthy mission. It is clear to its purpose. It is certain in its pursuit of loving young people in Christ. It is direct to its core set of values. 

Jacob Bland shared his heart now summarized here:

“We stand on the shoulders of giants, now at a critical convergence point: A 77-year history of innovative youth ministry; combined with thousands of creative, diverse, and faithful volunteers who are building relationships with kids who need hope.

“The Gospel of Christ is as powerful and as effective as ever. Kids need to know that the God of the universe loves them, that He Cares for them, and that He wants to offer them eternal and abundant life through His son Jesus.

 

Turning Away, Turning Towards!

Scripture reminds us that we live in a fallen world. There is good and there is evil; those things that protect and those things that will destroy. Not all have the same choices but all have the same opportunity. There are opportunities that heal and choices that can destroy. 

Psalms 97:10 reads;

You who love the LORD, hate evil!

He protects the lives of his godly people

and rescues them from the power of the wicked.

Godly and good are synonymous. Though Jesus indicated that only God is good, yet, as followers of Jesus, we can provide an avenue for goodness. It is a part of the fruit of the Spirit! It is birthed by the Spirit of God! It is what God provides when we become a child of God, through Christ! Those around us benefit by our godly living. Those who come near can be blessed. In fact, the Bible speaks of being a blessing and blessing our children. 

We, as followers of Christ know that we are to be a blessing! We know that it is always welcomed. It is always just on-time if done in the Name of Christ! When we pray, God will lead us in how to bless others! 

The ministry to others is the result of what God is doing in our lives! Those who love the Lord turn from evil. As they turn away from evil, they turn towards good. Those that follow after God know how He protects our lives and rescues us! 

As we follow God, in Christ, we turn away from evil and toward God! 

Pause.

Is taking time out easy for you? Me, not so easy. I am surrounded by noise all day long. Me, not finding time to just sit and pray. Me, not being silent. Me, not being present.

It is a new discipline that I am trying to find rhythm for. 

My journal reflects this. My schedule reflects this. My time with others reflect this. I am hurried and setting goals just for me. They are my inner commands to rush - achieve - do! 

I am finding it hard to spend time - quality time with God. 

I am finding a renewed meaning with spending time - quality time with those I love! Yet, this is slow. I feel the need to do. I do the dishes. I do the other things. I fill my space with stuff! My family appreciated it but why do I need to do it? 

40 hours of work.

20 hours of “my scheduled” stuff. 

60 or so hours of sleep. I have no trouble sleeping.

20-25 hours wasted? Where did this time go? TV. YouTube. Reading. Other tasks that mean nothing. Personal Worship. Corporate Worship.

How did I get to this decade? 

Did stuff carry me here? Did duty bring me here? Did self get me here? Perhaps this is why I am weary.

What have I experienced in Christ? Leading others to Christ. Prayer. Worship. Purposeful study. Fellowship with others with no agenda!

Who benefited by the wake I made in life?

Who have I damaged in the waves I created? 

Rest. Patience. These are my most recent themes. They have taken me somewhere - all year and into 2024. 

Worth: How Much Is One Life?

We have all heard it. We do it each day. We compare the cost. We may even consider how to find the bargain. 

One life is worth it - priceless! Priceless! 

We want to find the deal. We may even want to cheapen the cost. We may be tempted to find a cheaper way. 

What is one life worth? Now how much does it cost. It is the price we will pay for just one life? 

If it was for one of our own? We would do anything! We would pay any price!

Today, I am hearing a message that remind me that nothing, NOTHING is too much to pay for one life. 

What do you have in your hand? Moses was asked to give what he had to give. Interesting but we know that even the staff he held was God’s resource we need to use to pay the price! 

How much time do you have? It is too hard to give those extra few moments to listen? It is too costly to wait and listen? Is your time too costly to give away. 

How many fish do you have? The young child said, “I have my lunch.” What can Jesus do with such a small offering? Watch Him! Jesus fed thousands. How? He took what was not our to own to give it for God’s Glory. It is for God’s gain! His Kingdom come! Is it too much to give when God can multiply? 

Woman, give me something to drink! Jesus invited a woman to give. She was one whom culture said that she was not worthy. Jesus took her offering - something that was not hers to own. It was from Jacob’s well. Yet, she discovered a living water that shall always fulfill her greatest need! 

You? Me? Those that need our investment. Time. Possession. Talent. Only a little will produce much when it is given to the Master. 

Little is much when God is in it! 

Okay, so the world is not ok. It needs seed to grow. It needs nurtured. It needs watered. It needs what only God can give. 

It is too much to give away? Is it too much to let go of? 

What are you afraid of? Will you need it? Can’t God multiply your tithe? How about your time? What about your _______?

Worth. What is the cost of one life? 

Fly The Friendly Skies!

In the early 60’s Leo Burrett and his team landed on a marketing idea that stuck for decades. Chicago based marketing firm and United Airlines (also Chicago based) agreed upon a statement that was universally known as the United Air brand. This contributed to TV and Radio ads as well as print. It seemed like the sky was the limit on what a local marketing firm could develop. It launched them internationally. This was the phrase, “Fly The Friendly Skies!”

The creator of “The Marlboro Man,” Leo was growing his firm to what is even today the most successful in the advertisement world. This iconic brand appeared everywhere. Smoking was officially a mocha man brand. (Later Leo’s team hired their first black woman to lead and introduce a more female friendly icon for smokers.) I know, this is not a welcomed habit but in the 40’s through the 80’s it was a mainstay for most people. Not until the late 90’s was smoking indoors and at restaurants banned smoking. 

Why do I start this blog with this bit of history (& on such a terrible habit by today’s standards? It related to how culture is defined and how people follow. 

Ideas and crowd-sourcing branding is powerful. Ideas catch on. Culture responds to these kinds of well-delivered brands. Name any familiar brand like Coke, (Dr. Pepper is my favorite), McDonalds, and thousands more. Themes catch on and especially with a catchy song. 

Themes are common to all genres and groups. Today is no different. There are many more naturally since there are many ore channels and tools available. 

The Super Bowl is just around the corner and brands compete for top billing. Just watch which brand is on top. Doritos, Insurance Companies; tastes in food and drink will also be represented. 

I am watching too. I hope to see the now popular commercials that speak about God’s Love that Hobby Lobby has been funding. The elevated stage and audience will present hope to millions! This is literally Good News! 

The Gospel will go out to millions in those powerful but brief 30-Seconds. They will impact the lives of many who are lonely, in need and overwhelmed by their circumstances. I usually pray during these commercials for those that need to hear this powerfully positive message. 

All this today that we need to people who carry the message of hope to those we encounter. It may be that the life we lead, the time we spend with people and the words we say will impact the life of someone we are praying for!  The memorable words of Jesus can bring people to the incredible message of hope! 

For God so loved the world….

I go to prepare a place for you….

I will not leave you as orphans….

I offer living water….

I am the bread of life….

I am The Way, The Truth, The Life….

As we live out the words of Jesus and the hope of the world, we can change culture, provide hope, reach the least, lost, last, and lonely. 

Let us take time to listen and share the hope we found in Christ. 

They say that the best form of marketing is word of mouth. What is it that you are saying that others are hearing? What can we do to reach others as God’s Ambassadors. 

As I write this blog, I am 35,000 feet from the earth’s soil. There is a mission all around me and you. I know that the landscape looks and feels different at the surface so before you act, take time to pray. Take time to care for your neighbor. Take time to share the hope you have with another. No matter the obstacle you may face, may the Lord find us faithful. (Matthew 25.)

Take 2 minutes to write down those names of people you know that need the Good News. Take 4 minutes to pray for them. Take 8 minutes to bless them. Take 16 minutes to listen. Take 32 minutes to serve them. Or visa versa if you prefer. But, take the time you need to build a relationship with them at the speed of trust! 

Sentence Prayers!

Have you ever found yourself wanting to pray but unsure how to pray? 

We may think that we need to have lofty prayers that use big spiritual words. Perhaps that’s how we have heard others pray. We can feel intimidated, not only in our personal prayer life, but also in public prayer. We may feel inadequate, because we use more common language to pray rather than lofty prayers. Let me encourage you, God loves to hear you pray no matter what words you use.

You may also think that you should recite more scripture in your prayer life This certainly is true, but is that the only way to pray. As we bring our needs and concerns for others before the Lord and prayer, we are interceding on behalf of those needs. We may be seeking something or we are concerned about someone else. Nevertheless, God loves to hear from us, and to share our heart With him. Bible teaches at the Holy Spirit is at work in our prayers. 

The reason that many pray is because they worry about things that are outside of their control. It’s important that we consider this principle as a motivation for praying. However, this particular style of prayer can be helpful. I like the quote that reads from a local church sign: “Worry is the darkroom where negatives can develop.”

There is a method that I think could be very helpful. Not only removes the intimidating factors, but it also guides us in our prayer life.

It’s not a system as much as it is a practical way to spend time with God in prayer. I found this method helpful in my own life. You may find yourself in a similar mode as me. I am rushing around throughout my day while neglecting a prayer life.

Certainly, there are those habits of prayer that we could always cultivate better. Yet, there is one method that has helped me build consistency in my prayer life and yet it is practical for every day.

Sentence prayers is a practical step forward and helps us be more contemplative than goal oriented. It is a practical step that builds consistency.

Sometimes we are tempted to pray long prayers, as if somehow, it is up to us to convince God to act. Feels like work or demonstrates levels of spiritual pride, elevating to a lofty state.

So the simple concept means that we would take a first scripture, or even reciting a prayer like the Lords prayer (Matthew 4), but pause between each sentence to consider its meaning; listen, instead of speaking to God.

We can also use Psalm 23. As an example, we may pray the first sentence, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” By pausing we would consider the position that God has in our life, and that we can have total dependence upon him for everything.

Some choose to journal related to various topics as they recite and pray the one sentence prayer. Take a belief system and break it down by a sentence and consider what God would have us imagine based on that topic.

So, instead of trying to impress God and others, simply learn to listen and wait upon the Lord. Pace your prayer life. Don’t force it or rush through it! 

If - Than…

 What if? What an interesting expression. IF, can be attached to almost any expression. IF only. What IF? IF not. See more. 

It cannot stand alone. It must have a conjunctive like the word, THAN. The word we attach to this word makes up its meaning. It cannot stand alone. As we reach the Bible, we must complete the meaning of the purpose of the Word. 

It is grace and truth!

It is beginning and end.

It is first and last.

God completes the tension we find IF we only focus on one aspect and not the other. There is good and evil. There is eternal life and eternal death. 

Romans 12:6-8

In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. IF your gift is serving others, serve them well. IF you are a teacher, teach well. IF your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. IF it is giving, give generously. IF God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And IF you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

The word IF is found in this passage of text. It denotes action. If we have been given something, we have a responsibility to give it away. There is a reason we have been given something not for self alone! 

We have been given something so that we may invest it into something beyond ourselves. Gifts are meant to be given away. They are meant to be invested into something beyond ourselves. 

So, IF you and I are to fulfill God’s plan for our lives, THAN we are being given an opportunity to invest. Our spiritual gifts are for the purpose for which they have been given. Not for self but for God! 

Someone used their gifts to introduce you to hope! Someone used their gifts to bring you into a personal relationship with God, in Christ. For me, this is true. Someone took their IF - THAN to love me into God’s Kingdom. IF I have been given something, THAN I can invest into someone else - in spiritual terms! 

What IF have you been given? What is your THAN that you need to take action on? 

God chose to use His Church - you & me - as followers of Jesus to invest the gifts we have for others 

Right now, who are two or three people you interact with? 

What is the two or three (spiritual) gifts that you can use to invest into their lives? 

Take action on your IF’s. 

A little humor comes for me the Family Circle cartoon.  Like the cartoon, what is your IF — offering advice to a pastor — THAN take action. Ha! 

What is your IF? What THAN will you do? 

Come & See!

Today’s blog entry is a bit of an excerpt from a recent sermon I shared. Check that out here.;

I opened with the picture shown below. I joked that while I intend to keep my message short, it is always the stories that put me behind! 

Have you ever met someone famous? Have you ever wanted to?

Years ago my mother was taking a trip by plane. It was during the days where you could actually go back to the seating area where passengers were allowed to bring family and wait before boarding.  It was there that I saw someone famous. My sister also spotted that person around the same time. I would guess that we were likely in our late elementary age.

We quickly got our mother’s attention. My father was there too, but he seemed distracted and less interested. There he was, Bill Kennedy. Someone that we had in our home every Sunday afternoon. Yes, he would bring the Sunday afternoon movie of the week. It was one of those type of shows where he would have special guest and then during break he would interview them as part of the commercial break. 

What are you suppose we did?! After getting our mothers attention we quickly attempt to do get his attention as well. My dad seemed a little embarrassed and put off, but, my mother took a very keen interest. Although she told us to quiet down and settle down, we found out later that evening when she called Home and let us know. She landed safely and told us a terrific story of meeting him, sitting next to him, and getting his autograph, while also hearing his story.

There are often encounters like this. David Letterman once called these, “A brush with greatness.”

Today I want to share with you a little bit along these lines. It is such an intriguing set of scriptures that we are confronted with today. As I wrestled through these passages, it struck me that God is Calling us to something. God is actually inviting us to participate! 

Today we will see :: 2 points we can learn from our texts today:

God’s Call to the Church :: God Provides Divine Interruptions - for the ministry/Calling.

God’s Presence in the world :: Helping us see God Encounters (God sightings) - for Salvation: as a Means of Grace.

**

• 1. God’s Call to the Church :: Providing Divine Interruptions. (For believers to minister to people.)

God is always looking for a way to reach us!

*We are more aware of God’s Will when we are ….Listening! …Looking! …Learning.

We find this lesson from the life of Samuel :: 

Samuel received His Call to the priesthood because he was listening. He was at the right place in his life! At the right time along his journey! With the right people (the priest, Eli)!

1 Samuel 3:1-10 (w/11-12)

God calls us and has gifted us to serve.

1 Samuel 3:1

(The LORD Speaks to Samuel)

Meanwhile, the boy Samuel served the LORD by assisting Eli. Now in those days messages from the LORD were very rare, and visions were quite uncommon.

Because Eli was NOT being faithful to the Call of God (no matter how popular he was throughout the region.)

So, God Called someone who would remain faithful. God Calls Samuel at a young age. 

**God is Calling the church to do the work of His Ministry!! 

It may be WHO you know that matters. 

**

• 2. God’s Presence in the world :: God Encounters. (God Sightings) - Means of Grace.

God knows us best!!

He created us! He created you and knows you best!

Psalm 139:1-10 reminds us!!

We all know that God knit us together in our mother’s womb. We know that it takes more than just a parent to raise children in our community. 

Scripture teaches that, even though he created us, he presented us with a decision to come into the light, and not stay in the darkness.

Read vs :: 11-12 — God sees all….

Psalms 139:11-12

I could ask the darkness to hide me

and the light around me to become night—

**but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.**

To you the night shines as bright as day.

Darkness and light are the same to you.

— We cannot hide from God! 

— Yet, God responds in grace. 

—  When we come into the light, the Truth shall set us free because of God‘s gracethat paid the price for our sin. 

There is a student named Kyle.

He and his family were in a housefire in 2023, in the entire house, burned down. Him and his family needed to relocate, which was traumatic. Kyle had endured several heartaches with his family, identity, and mental health issues. Kyle became very suicidal.

Kyle was saved through an interaction with a friend who shared Jesus with him. Instantly, Kyle got involved with Campus Life, youth group, and went to winter camp. It was there that he realized his deeper needs for Jesus, and to continue to follow him. Kyle, through interactions with YFC leaders , soon after got baptized, and is now telling others about Jesus.

—

Through Campus Life (a ministry of Youth for Christ), We reach students that are 11 through 19-year-olds. With four community schools, as well as some private Christian schools, we have a ministry opportunity to reach young people wherever they are. (Pop: 30,000 =Youth are 15% of the community….)

According to Indiana Suicide Prevention :: Students are dealing with all kinds of mental health issues :: over 30% have considered suicide. (1 in 9 - sixth grade students // 1 in 5 - tenth graders).

**Ever think — who helped me in my time of need? It was likely a gift of God that He chooses to use us!**

I had someone who believed in me when I was a teenager. One of them was a music teacher in high school, Mr. Tyner. Others were youth leaders in my youth group at church:: Dorothy Downey, Kitty Kreider, Bill Edmondson, and many others. 

God used someone in my past even before I was born. Read that story here. 

—- God uses believers who already know God - and He impacts the lives of people - who need an introduction! 

**Like Philip in the scriptures that we have read. We are able to introduce students to Jesus, so that they too can begin an authentic relationship with God through Christ.

In the next example from the scriptures, we see Nathaniel who was being introduced to Jesus by his brother. (John 1:43-51)

John 1:43-46

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Come, follow me.” Philip was from Bethsaida, Andrew and Peter’s hometown.

Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, “We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.”

“Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?”

“Come and see for yourself,” Philip replied.

 

Philip had a God sighting — Seeing Jesus and being Called…. He wanted his brother to know Jesus too!

Christians have testimonies!  They point to what God is doing.

John 1:48-49

“How do you know about me?” Nathanael asked.

Jesus replied, “I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you.”

Then Nathanael exclaimed, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God—the King of Israel!”

God is “eavesdropping” in on our lives. **He knows all that you are dealing with. **He knows the choices you and I are making. **He made us on purpose and with a purpose!!

Closing :: Meeting God! 

What if I told you that you could have a personal encounter with God? Whether it’s God showing up in your time of need or on behalf of another?

**When we see God in the present, not just a religious idea, or from a biblical story, we can discover an incredible and enriching encounter. 

In our Bible stories today, we find that God showed up in the present. With Samuel as a child, and with Nathaniel as an adult. God became present at the very moment that they needed him to show up.