#kid min

[incorrect-arms-quotes]

Min Min: You are wonderful.

Kid Cobra: Thank you; I've worked hard to become so.

Min Min: I admit it, you are better than I am.

Kid Cobra: Then why are you smiling?

Min Min: Because I know something you don't know.

Kid Cobra: And what is that?

Min Min: [as her dragon arm charges] I am not right-handed.

[jfckidsjesse]

Listen, Obey, Change / My Warped Tour Recap

If you're wondering why your kid came home wearing a bracelet with three beads on it and the only explanation you got was that "They change mommy!" I can explain. 

Bead #1 / Listen

When I was a kid I remember being at a summer camp with JFC (yes I've been here that long) where it was the last night and everyone around me was crying and experiencing God, and I was just sitting there. Discouraged, I went up to my Pastor and asked why I wasn't feeling anything. I don't remember what he said, but when I went back to my chair all of the sudden I was overtaken by the presence of God. I didn't hear any booming voice, and the Lord didn't slay me in the Spirit. I was just sitting there and opened my heart to whatever the Lord wanted to do and then He was able to do it. 

Movies, and stories had led me to believe that in order for God to speak, I had to hear it audibly. In that moment, I realized that sometimes (most of the time) God just speaks to my spirit, without me hearing a single word He can give me exactly what I need. 

We expressed to the kids this weekend that they don't have to hear a booming voice, but most of the time, it is God speaking to their spirit, and all they have to do is listen.

Yesterday I was at a music festival of sorts called Warped Tour. And before you ask me what type of music it is, let me just say most of you would hate it. I grew up on loud fast music, and that's exactly what it is. As I walked around yesterday I was overwhelmed with the burden of the current generation. More and more vendors were handing out despicable and vulgar shirts. Some even directly pointed at tearing down my Faith. Most had middle fingers, and swear words and the people there were not modestly dressed to say the least.

The audience rejoiced in sin, and vulgarity, leaving me feeling outcasted and alone. Maybe the way Elijah felt in his time, when he felt like the only one left. I'm not saying I'm the only one left, but in a crowd that large worshipping sin, I started feeling a little claustrophobic. 

We were listening to a band openly against our Faith, and the crowd was full of thousands of kids. They were all screaming the words back and throwing up middle fingers and I felt the Lord ask me if I could share His love publicly with these people. 

I looked around and felt afraid because all of these people were openly hating Christianity. I felt at any point they could turn on me and brutally beat me to death. I told the Lord no, I couldn't.

Bead #2 / Obey

Sometimes it's easy to Obey God. My mother this past week told me how she was leaving to have lunch with some of her friends downtown and in her spirit felt like she should bring some water. She obeyed, and the Lord  used her to hand out waters to the youth at the Downtown Denver Skatepark, and homeless people. My mom showed a perfect version of Listening, then Obeying.

But sometimes it's not so easy. We've all had (or at least I hope so) those experiences where we feel like God is telling us to do something, and all of the sudden that rush of fear invades our body and we become immobilized to do His will. 

Why is that? Do we fear what would become of us? Do we fear what people would think? A part of me says this is alright, but then the other part says that if we truly have Faith that God has overcome the world, we shouldn't be afraid to Obey even when it's difficult, right? Then why do we?

As I looked around Warped Tour at all the faces I realized that I feared them more than I fear God. That brutal realization came to me when I remembered that all weekend I told the kids that God will protect us when He tells us to do something, and I doubted that God would protect me in that crowd. 

Without the first two steps, Listen and Obey, there can be no change.

Bead #3 / Change

When we Listen and Obey, God is able to Change us. Our Faith grows, not just in what God can do, but who He is. When we skip either one of those steps, the change doesn't come that God intended, and we stay stagnent. 

Have you ever smelled water that has been standing still for too long? With no way of being filtered or purification, the water begins to attract bacteria and then comes mold. Our Faith can get like that if there is no change. If we don't exchange what we have for what God has and let Him fill our cups to overflowing, there can be no change. We then just become gross, and moldy. 

When God pushes and stretches us, it's because He wants to take us deeper. It's because He wants to change us. There is so much more to our Faith that God desires to show us, but first we have to Listen and Obey, then He can change. 

What would have happened if I got up and started sharing the Good News with the kids at Warped Tour? Would I have gotten chewed out? Yes. Would someone have thrown something at me? Most Likely. Would God have accomplished my mission for being there? Yes. Would God have touched the one person He desired to touch? Yes. Would my heart have changed towards the people there? Absolutely. 

I didn't obey God this time, but I know next time I will. What is this life if not to serve God? Why am I here if not to share the love of Christ EVERYWHERE? I may not steal a microphone next time I'm there, but I may bring a few tracts and Bibles to hand out, who knows what God will call me to do. All we have to do is Listen and Obey, and God will do the change, not only in our lives, but others as well. 

[jfckidsjesse]

God's Sovereignty in our Chaos

Sometimes it's hard to see through the fog. We can only see what's happening directly to us, or 5 feet in front of us. We don't know what's coming for us, where we are going, who's around us, or where we will end up. We can't see the lines of the road, we can't see the houses that line our paths, we can't see anything. And then all of the sudden a whirlwind of force hits you directly in the chest. You didn't see it coming, but it hurts like heck. You are confused, as to why it happened, and hurt that no one tried to warn you. You are upset, but can't realize that this whirlwind of force is actually leading you out of the fog. It's trying to push you into a different direction to get you back on track, because the fog has set you off course. But you can't see that, you can only see the fact that something unexpected happened to you, and everyone's to blame. 

Life is like that sometimes. Sometimes the will of God isn't as certain as it used to be and we are just walking on the road of life because walking is better than standing still waiting for God to speak. We aren't sure where He is leading us, He isn't directing us, we feel that we are just left to fend for ourselves. And then the traumatic happens, and it crushes us.

We normally don't see tragedy coming, that is what makes it tragic. I'm sure that's the way Naomi, Ruth and Orpah felt when their husbands, (which included both of Naomi's sons) died suddenly, leaving them with nothing.  But really, God was trying to get them back on track. He didn't send the tragedy, but is powerful enough to use the tragedy.

You see, I believe these ladies were out of the will of God. Naomi and her family left Bethlehem because of a famine and moved to a place called Moab. They didn't trust in God to provide for them, and Naomi's husband Alimilech decided to move the family. The problem with moving the family was that they moved to an extremely sinful place. The Moabites first came from the unconceivable act of Lot's daughters sleeping with him and producing children. The Moabites worshiped false God's such as Keymosh, and were not following God at all. Moab is where Naomi's two sons found wives, Orpah and Ruth. Ruth had always been in God's big plan, but He had other plans for her and her life, that she couldn't even see. 

Thus the tragedy was born. Tragedy is a result of sin in the world, not a result of our sin. When something bad happens to us, or to someone else it is not because of a hidden sin, it is because of all sin. And unfortunately, tragedy struck Ruth and her household, but that didn't mean God couldn't use what the enemy intended for bad for good in Ruth's life.

After one thing led to another Ruth and Naomi headed back to Bethlehem where God put Ruth and a man named Boaz together. They ended up getting married, and Ruth produced a child, which happened to be Jesse's father, and Jesse the father of David. God took this tragedy, and produced something so miraculous that Ruth's son ended up being in the line of Jesus himself. 

Tragedy is inevitable. But it doesn't mean that God's not paying attention. He still has everything in control, and sometimes thats impossible to see. Ruth was there for Naomi, and she took care of her even though she didn't have to. We taught the kids that it is important to be a "Ruth" to a "Naomi" anytime they see someone in need. Or, if they are going through something, to have someone that could be a Ruth to them. If they had no one, we explained to the kids that Jesus would always be there for them. No matter what they were going through. A parents divorce, no friends, bullying, it doesn't matter. Jesus is for them, and they need to try as hard as possible not to become bitter at God for their situation because they can't see the whole picture, but God can. 

It sucks, when life sucks. But God is still good. God is still holy, and our situation doesn't change that. If God is the same yesterday, today, and forever then that certainly doesn't depend on our mortal lives. It doesn't mean He's ignoring you, it means the world is imperfect. But God is so amazing, He can use that awful situation for His plan and purpose for you and your life.

This week with your kids, see how they are doing. Be that person for them that they can rely on and trust. Let them know that you will always be there for them. Sympathize with their situation. And then lead them back to Christ. In anything they are going through, remember to point them to Jesus, and keep their eyes focused on Him. Because when we look to Jesus the things of the world will fade away, and our minds will be renewed and our Faith improve. 

[redcultureblog-blog]

Summer BGMC Ideas

BGMC is challenging every church and every district to do more for BGMC this summer than they did last summer. That means (1) challenging your kids to do something significant this summer, and (2) challenging churches to do one special activity to raise funds for missions. Well, here are two great ideas: a nationwide garage sale and a nationwide eBay sale.

Nationwide eBay sale We are encouraging every person in every church to pick out at least one item that they are willing to donate to BGMC and sell it on eBay, or bring it to the church and have someone in the church sell it on eBay. If they bring it to church, they should write a postcard about the item so that people will know what it is.

Another option is to sell several items on eBay and give a portion of the proceeds to BGMC. You decide what portion.

Here's how it works: In the eBay description line, include the letters BGMC. That way every person in the nation can search for items simply by typing in BGMC. Every item in the nation being sold for BGMC will pop up!

Spread the word. Let's start this by June 15. Look for special BGMC archive items on sale as well!

Nationwide Garage Sale We are asking kids across America to have a garage sale at their homes. See the downloadable promo flyer below that you can print and hand out. Kids can fill in the blanks and then ask all their neighbors and friends to donate items for the sale to benefit missions. One girl did this and raised over $1,500! Wow!

Each child and their parent(s) will choose a day and have their sale. When it is over, anything left can be taken to a different house where another child is having a sale.

Both of these ideas have great potential. Let's make it happen!

[gyuhyuns]