tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2435199870723769132024-03-13T11:02:16.754-04:00Exploring The Universe, One Product Review At A TimeClark Davis ChiltonClark Chiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14622237173233090267noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243519987072376913.post-34141334366306311392022-06-17T16:09:00.000-04:002022-06-17T16:09:30.922-04:00Is a Litter Robot Worth It? An Honest Review<h2 style="text-align: center;">Is Litter Robot Worth The Price? An Honest Review </h2><div>My children had been asking for a pet for years, and I always said no. </div><div><br /></div><div>My usual excuses were:</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>"We don't have time to take care of an animal."</li><li>"We don't have the money."</li><li>and finally..."The poop. Think of the poop, children."</li></ul><div>And round about the conversation would go. One day I caved because they wrote a song on the piano about how they wanted a cat. Being a sucker for musicals (and my kids), I said fine. </div><div><br /></div><div>A few weeks later, I brought home Honey the Cat after a visit to the humane society. Here she is, posed among Barbie toys:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVFpGjro3NKxKtFOPGcHO1Yok4bFXFgKYNN-ZYPozolFRoBCUX7LEtiieSAHWhqPJ9Dzd239F9LjqxzcEfzsFh8OJYe1glRBhs5IAL7ZfeDKuqvHUFFYfrX7RxZKv-J77kBy7IehNWnbBMfaz3spoIbbHNgdUUDGsGyzpdfSrICbEpMU8sXSxGV_y5wQ/s4032/IMG_3868.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVFpGjro3NKxKtFOPGcHO1Yok4bFXFgKYNN-ZYPozolFRoBCUX7LEtiieSAHWhqPJ9Dzd239F9LjqxzcEfzsFh8OJYe1glRBhs5IAL7ZfeDKuqvHUFFYfrX7RxZKv-J77kBy7IehNWnbBMfaz3spoIbbHNgdUUDGsGyzpdfSrICbEpMU8sXSxGV_y5wQ/s320/IMG_3868.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yeah, she is cute. Its true. I was smitten for this kitten.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But what I was NOT smitten over <a href="https://amzn.to/3mXKBBh" target="_blank">was the standard litterbox.</a> We kept the litterbox in our basement, but after a few days of walking into our home and being greeted by the ripe smell of cat waste, I decided we needed another solution. On top of that, we are a busy family and I don't have time to be scooping poop every day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And lo and behold I discovered <a href="https://amzn.to/3N13vSm" target="_blank">the Litter Robot:</a> a self-cleaning litter box with a rotating drum that drops the waste into a bag-lined drawer. "Great!" I thought. Problem solved. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Until I saw the price, and I swallowed hard. $699? Wowsers, that could save a lot of cats from the humane society. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">However, Litter Robot sells REFURBISHED units with a nice discount that are also under a one year warranty. I discovered an older model for $450. That's still a lot of cheddar, but remember: the smell. I pushed go on the order. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In short, this thing is amazing and let me tell you why.</div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=superfunguy21-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B09L5DQG8S&asins=B09L5DQG8S&linkId=ab9abc15f9bcfb32c5df81aac42c7751&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=false" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pros to Litter Robot</h3><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Some reviews indicate it didn't help with smell, but this is flat out not true. There was a huge improvement over odor and still is to this day. </li><li>I don't have to scoop poop. Just empty the drawer once a week. </li><li>I use the corresponding Whisker app which can notify me when the unit is full.</li><li>When we are out of town for a few days, I rest easy knowing she has a clean litter box each day. </li><li>Because only the clumps go down into the drawer, it only uses a small amount of litter each week, reusing what didn't get peed/poo-d upon.</li></ul><h3 style="text-align: center;"> Cons to Litter Robot</h3><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The unit is pretty big, bigger than I expected. </li><li>We had a kitten (see above) at first, so she had to gain some weight until she could trip the sensor in the unit (about 5+ lbs and it will work)</li><li>After about 8 months of use, it began to jam up sometimes. I would have to unplug it and restart. I found that using less litter helps prevent jamming. </li><li>If you don't regularly remove ALL the litter (every few weeks) from the unit, the reused litter can get pretty nasty. </li></ul><div>I've owned one for close to a year and I have to say: the positive reviews are justified. Its an excellent product that saves time, smell and litter. The initial price may be steep, but long term it is worth it. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>What about you? Do you own a Litter Robot? What's been your experience?</div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div>Clark Chiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14622237173233090267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243519987072376913.post-23724081884570387562022-06-17T10:59:00.004-04:002022-06-17T16:21:14.203-04:00Audible by Amazon Audiobook Subscription: Is It Worth It? An Honest Review<h2 style="text-align: center;">Audible by Amazon Audiobook Subscription: Is It Worth It? An Honest Review</h2><p style="text-align: center;"> Like many Americans, I spend a lot of time in the car. The average American commutes 28 minutes each day. That's me! I listen to podcasts on my <a href="https://amzn.to/3HzSO81" target="_blank">Apple Airpods </a>(which I love) but after I while I need something that has longer content for my drive time because I don't want to be fumbling with my phone after a short podcast episode has been completed.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Well, fumble no longer! I recently stumbled across the <a href="https://amzn.to/3b1VM9f" target="_blank">Audible audio book content</a> produced by Amazon. Wow! I love to read, but don't always have time to do so during the day, and audiobooks are a great fit for me with my busy lifestyle. I've even started listening to audiobooks while I exercise, go on walks or mow the lawn.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Some of the pros to Audible are the low monthly cost ($15), ease of use and ability to download multiple books each month. I often have more credits than I use each month, and so they store up rather quickly. Overall its a good deal for the volume of material you get to access from literally thousands of titles.</p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe border="0" frameborder="0" height="250" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation" scrolling="no" src="//rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?o=1&p=12&l=ur1&category=audibleplus&banner=0MG2XKQ7PYPP84NBNFR2&f=ifr&lc=pf4&linkID=e38b002710c33ae9e97201f02ca6b6df&t=superfunguy21-20&tracking_id=superfunguy21-20" style="border: none;" width="300"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">If you've never considered trying out Audible, <a href="https://amzn.to/3HBiUrl" target="_blank">click this link to learn more.</a> Its only a few dollars a month and you can choose from thousands of titles. Some of the "classic" books are free, too! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Amazon is currently offering <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NB86OYE/?ref_=assoc_tag_ph_1485906643682&_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=pf4&tag=superfunguy21-20&linkId=40eefb3b48ec515b45a051f2324547d9" target="_blank">two FREE audiobooks</a> when you sign up for a free trial with Audible. I took advantage of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NB86OYE/?ref_=assoc_tag_ph_1485906643682&_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=pf4&tag=superfunguy21-20&linkId=40eefb3b48ec515b45a051f2324547d9" target="_blank">that deal </a>as well. Pretty sweet! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I've been listening to the <a href="https://amzn.to/3tIRCtl" target="_blank">Bible read by James Earl Jones</a>, and it is phenomenal. I was worried I would get Darth Vader vibes but thankfully I don't! In a voice as rich as it is familiar, James Earl Jones lends his narrative talents to the King James Version of the New Testament. In over 19 hours on 12 digitally remastered cassettes or 16 CDs enhanced with a complete musical score, James Earl Jones reads The Bible interprets the most enduring book of our time utilizing the acclaimed actor's superb storytelling and skilled characterizations. Its over 19 hours and costs only one credit! Talk about filling up my drive time with some quality content.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=superfunguy21-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B000165IKU&asins=B000165IKU&linkId=1fab6c932e0e532f74184a819ad1c58b&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Audible by Amazon is a great deal and perhaps like you, I was skeptical before signing up for a free trial. Now I can't imagine my daily commute without it. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">What about you? Do you use Audible and if so, what has your experience been like? Comment below!</div>Clark Chiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14622237173233090267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243519987072376913.post-87860808661448379402022-03-24T17:11:00.003-04:002022-06-17T10:38:12.982-04:00TESLA Cyber Truck Test Drive - Tesla Test Drive - Cybertruck Price - Cybertruck Delivery - Cyber Truck test drive - Elon Musk<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="335" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JY6DU6V61K4" width="493" youtube-src-id="JY6DU6V61K4"></iframe></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><br /> <span face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The closest some of us may ever get to affording the price (or stock) of a Tesla Cybertruck test drive is the Hot Wheels Tesla Cybertruck RC car. Its a rechargeable battery powered toy car that, in true Tesla Cybertruck fashion, has serious torque. Check it out as we take the Tesla Cybertruck test drive around a Hot Wheels test track course, put it through its paces and see what she's made of.</span></h3><div>With Tesla Cybertruck production delayed yet again, I thought "what is the closest thing to owning a Cybertruck?" and I found this Hot Wheels car that is super fun to drive! My kids loved playing with it and doing stunts with it. I was impressed with its speed and battery life as well. </div><p></p><p><span face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> You can buy the Hot Wheels Tesla Cybertruck here </span><span face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3wqooBX">https://amzn.to/3wqooBX</a></span></p><span face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
Shot on iPhone SE2 at 240 FPS and RUNCAM2 at 120 FPS.
If you liked this video Subscribe to our content on Thomas Toys Cars Video Games (TTCV) here - </span><span face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://bit.ly/3ChWOGr">https://bit.ly/3ChWOGr</a></span><span face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Click the notification bell to get the latest.</span>Clark Chiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14622237173233090267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243519987072376913.post-31143008736550087562021-09-08T16:23:00.002-04:002021-09-08T16:23:12.526-04:00The Epidemic of School Shootings in America<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirZcHv42a_cjMuxT1zDeekg66l99v47OivOBvcdrInovnpftyNYWmRKjJcSVlZKLhj50LGqIqprmfCOi-64sqvjohJJvqxbZYzIh8TxTIMVvOVxt63UBVOyZhDVfXysbC1KZdir95s1oRs/s1600/27907707_10156726137475348_8253777306980369836_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirZcHv42a_cjMuxT1zDeekg66l99v47OivOBvcdrInovnpftyNYWmRKjJcSVlZKLhj50LGqIqprmfCOi-64sqvjohJJvqxbZYzIh8TxTIMVvOVxt63UBVOyZhDVfXysbC1KZdir95s1oRs/s640/27907707_10156726137475348_8253777306980369836_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This graphic. Take a moment and let this sink in.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This isn't a political issue. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It is an American culture issue. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It is a human issue. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
What do we do? </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This image accurately depicts the response cycle of our culture:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzru-7HnjP8WMxE7qpsGZ38U8mXELq7p6PqBuzZPXzI7aJLqHqeELojX4uqnnuSFDw1H3vcVHo5n853Rt7OlEWOA3fSv_2vye2JK5XxyWFDE-94KgH0XqZlTFkTlVu3-plDT71yzxJmrvY/s1600/27858247_10212466087541872_5523276930703392968_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="953" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzru-7HnjP8WMxE7qpsGZ38U8mXELq7p6PqBuzZPXzI7aJLqHqeELojX4uqnnuSFDw1H3vcVHo5n853Rt7OlEWOA3fSv_2vye2JK5XxyWFDE-94KgH0XqZlTFkTlVu3-plDT71yzxJmrvY/s640/27858247_10212466087541872_5523276930703392968_n.jpg" width="634" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
There are no easy answers.<br /><br /> Yes--we should find a way to limit the sale of assault weapons. I write this as a gun owner who believes in the second amendment, but when 61% of all US rifle sales in a year are AR-15's which are for killing and not for hunting or self-defense, something needs to be changed. These are not for sport, hunting, or even self defense--they are for killing.</div><ul>
<li>Far too many children have access to firearms in this country. CHILDREN do not need access to firearms.</li>
</ul><div>Pray. Work. Love those around you. God help us all. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Clark Chiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14622237173233090267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243519987072376913.post-49292335958428187202021-09-08T16:21:00.000-04:002021-09-08T16:21:21.054-04:00Jean Valjean and a Ministry of Reconciliation<p>One of my all-time favorite scenes in any movie or musical is this one from Les Miserables. A little backstory: Jean Valjean is an ex-convict living in pre-revolutionary France. Just released from prison, he wanders the streets because no one will take him in. Finally, a kindly old bishop feeds him and lets him sleep overnight. </p><p>Check it out:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wF3FX43F-7Y" width="320" youtube-src-id="wF3FX43F-7Y"></iframe></div><p>This coming Sunday, I'll be preaching from 2 Corinthians 5:16-19:</p><blockquote><p><span id="docs-internal-guid-a6b0b432-7fff-677f-de65-36e443b526c5"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view;</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">we know him no longer in that way. 17 So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.</span></span></p></blockquote><p>The word here for "reconcile" is the same verb in Greek that is used to describe an ambassador armed with a peace treaty.</p><p>In our heavily divided nation, more than ever we need to hear words of reconciliation, of grace, of peace and of healing. </p><p>Jesus commands his followers in Matthew 5:9 to be peacemakers in this world, a task in which we fail all too often:</p><blockquote><b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;">“Blessed are the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;">peacemaker</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;">s, for they will be called children of God."</span></b></blockquote><p>The world needs peacemakers more than ever. The world needs to see a Church that is offering a viable third Way. Without God's help, our two-party system is broken.</p><p>Truly, how can Christians be peacemakers if they always choose one "side"? You can't. </p><p>So what to do? It begins where change always begins: in the form of a question inside the human heart and mind. </p><p><b>Have you been reconciled to God?</b> Do you have peace with God? Once you know that, like Jean Valjean, you have been ransomed back to God, that you have indeed been bought with a price, all of it driven by divine love, it changes how you view God of course, but also how you view those around you.</p><p>Once you are reconciled to God and realize how deep God's love is for you, God will transform you into a peacemaker and a reconciler for God's kingdom. Its as dramatic a shift as when you stop viewing Jesus Christ from merely a human point of view and begin viewing Him as He is.</p><p>Psalm 23 gives us a beautiful picture of the reconciling, radical, healing and transformative love of God:</p><blockquote><p><b><span class="text Ps-23-5" id="en-NRSV-14241" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; position: relative;">You prepare a table before me</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-23-5" style="position: relative;">in the presence of my enemies;</span></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="text Ps-23-5" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; position: relative;">you anoint my head with oil;</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><i><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-23-5" style="position: relative;">my cup overflows. (emphasis added)</span></i></span></b></p></blockquote>When we are reconciled to God, our cup is full. When your cup is full of God's grace, mercy and forgiveness, there is no space for anything else to occupy.<br /><br />Additionally, when our cup is full, we then have grace and reconciliation to offer others.<p>Like Jean Valjean, when you come face to face with pure grace and love, you can never look away. Your cup is full. You are never the same when someone loves you like that, and you have a radical love and grace to offer others that you didn't have before. </p><p><br /></p><blockquote> </blockquote>Clark Chiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14622237173233090267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243519987072376913.post-59495517013786892152019-05-06T11:44:00.000-04:002019-05-06T11:54:04.192-04:00Letters To My 15 Year Old Self<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2uAk1Hh6CC90qPyGzwXeKcWgXWhqW6HAGL1beBj8mPma3RGwJfP1ur5i0K9QrMqM9LHihw1Ic6AsY0-6MUEWX662Uxv7h7hNBTYQlHnYZZ8GCYlQ95jiOJmlchdM1suyWIOVta18z0bkc/s1600/self.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="letters to my 15 year old self" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1158" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2uAk1Hh6CC90qPyGzwXeKcWgXWhqW6HAGL1beBj8mPma3RGwJfP1ur5i0K9QrMqM9LHihw1Ic6AsY0-6MUEWX662Uxv7h7hNBTYQlHnYZZ8GCYlQ95jiOJmlchdM1suyWIOVta18z0bkc/s320/self.jpg" title="Letters to my 15 year old self" width="231" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dear 15 year old self,</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-4c42585e-7fff-e9f2-f018-f1f89bc817d9" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How’s it going? </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Actually, I know how its going. After all, I was you many years ago, 25 years to be exact. When I was you, I could have gained great benefit by hearing from my 40 year old self. I wish I could go back in time but this is the best I can do. So much wisdom. So much experience. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>So much more gray hair. </b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I was you, 15 year old self, I could play basketball all night and wake up the next day with zero soreness. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.666666984558105px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Now I wake up sore, and I didn't even do anything the night before. </b></span></span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So here I am, or here you are. Or there you are. Or here we are. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Or something.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">My hope in writing you, 15 year old self, is that you might avoid some pitfalls. You might learn a few lessons. But my intent is not to spare you from pain completely. Some of your greatest lessons will be learned through difficulty and in turn you will learn how to be resilient. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Strength is only developed if resistance is present, even though we may dislike it at the time. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So I think one of the greatest character traits you should learn, 15 year old self, is resilience. </span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u>RESILIENCE</u></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></b><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How does one define resilience? Here's one definition: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At this point in your life, 15 year old self, you have lost friends in car accidents. You have changed schools multiple times. You have been bullied at school for having a speech impediment. You feel anxious at school. You don’t feel comfortable in your own skin. You're had to overcome difficulties. You've had to be tough. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You have had to be resilient every. Single. Day. Give yourself some credit! You’ve gotten this far! Middle school was super rough!</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Where have you drawn the strength to be consistently resilient? You parents and family have been a huge source of strength for you, and that’s important, but you have actually had a spiritual strength your whole life and you don’t know it yet. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God has been with you. You might not be aware of it much, but He has been.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The world will tell you that you learn resilience from yourself. Many believe they can have their own morality and create their own foundation for their life based on their education, their immediate cultural influences, their money, their upbringing and their own notions of right and wrong.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Many may tell you that you are the master of your own fate. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let me tell you this: fate is a cruel taskmaster that leaves you at the whim of every notion and direction of your heart. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Don’t be a person of fate. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Be a person of faith</b>. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fate is not the same thing as faith. Follow your heart? What if you heart is inherently deceitful and prone to wickedness? Should you follow it then?</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I think you know the answer to this question. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">The majority of your peers, 15 year old self, are going to “follow their hearts” and do whatever they feel is right. But don’t be like them, 15 year old self. Please, please do not do this. There is a broad way that many think is right, but it leads to destruction. If you plant seeds in your life that are only about yourself, then you will only reap temporary rewards. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do you want to be a resilient person? Then ask yourself this question: in whom or what do you trust? Is it yourself? You will eventually fail. Is it in a relationship or another person? They will inevitably fail you. Do you place your hope in future wealth or a successful career? </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do not place your ultimate hope in something you may eventually lose.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Instead, place your hope in God, whom you will never lose. When the storms of life come (this is a “when” statement. Not an “if”) you will be able to withstand them. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">But you know what? To be 15 years old is hard. Very, very hard. You honestly don’t get enough credit for all you have to do each day. It’s hard to be resilient. I know you feel your heart being pulled in dozens of directions at any given moment. Your body and mind are changing daily and you’re not exactly sure how to feel sometimes. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<h2>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<script async="" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
<ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7155186392682546" data-ad-format="fluid" data-ad-layout-key="-4q+c2-42-cu+16l" data-ad-slot="7443863993" style="display: block;"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>
<u>ACCEPTANCE</u></span></h2>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">To compensate for all of the adolescent change you feel, you have a tendency to gravitate towards acceptance. <span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></h2>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Instant acceptance can be a sanctuary from the war you feel within yourself each day.</span></span></h2>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I’ve seen you do it. I was you, after all. This is why the party scene or other negative influence is so alluring. It is instant acceptance! Who doesn’t want to feel accepted? </span></span></h2>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But not all acceptance is beneficial. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is always better to walk alone in wisdom than to be manipulated by the expectations of acquaintances. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I know that you are easily prone to the suggestions of “friends” and because of that, you don’t want to let them down. As a 15 year old, you are incredibly self conscious, but guess what? All of your friends are equally self-conscious, too! Everyone else is equally worried about the opinions of others. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Don’t worry about what others want from you. What do YOU want? Instead of trying to find the right friend, put yourself in the driver’s seat: be the friend you would like to have. You are in control.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">How about instead of allowing others to dictate your life, you decide who you would like to become and you surround yourself with people you admire? </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Don’t sell yourself short. You are worth it. </span></div>
<h3>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u>PARENTS</u></span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 400; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">When you’re 15, it’s hard to know who to trust. You know your parents love you, but you don’t feel like you can go to them. This is a mistake. I wish I had confided in parents more, trusted them more. This is a big regret of mine. </span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 400; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I wish I had realized that my parents are people too. They used to be 15 years old. Don’t buy the lie that your parents are against you. They are not. They love you. They taught you how to speak, to read, how to use the toilet, how to be a person. They have literally walked with you every day of your life and will never stop loving you. </span></h3>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I know you don’t want to think about it, but your parents actually dated each other. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>(audible gasp)</i></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">They are real people who have not always been your parents, so show them empathy and understanding. This goes a long way in building trust in any relationship, especially a relationship as vital as one between a parent and a child. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Open your heart to them and tell them how you’re doing. Don’t allow wedges to come between this vital relationship. Fight for your parents and their trust. They have always been fighting for you. Return the favor. You won’t regret it, especially as you get older. </span></div>
<h3>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u>DATING</u></span></h3>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Phew, ok here we go.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">15 year old self, I know you think about one thing all day long: sports. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">15 year old self, your desire for a dating relationship is at its core a good thing. God has designed you for marriage, to know and be known in this holy union that was created for human flourishing. God made marriage, and He made it to be a blessing.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But it's a blessing designed with parameters for our benefit. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As you grow older, however, do not seek to satisfy this desire in all the wrong places. When we’re young, we are impatient, impertinent and occasionally arrogant. We think we know what we want. We have biological urgings that drive us forward, urgings that again are God-given at their origin.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But listen to me: slow down. Wait. Breathe. Trust God for your future.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let God grow you into a more mature person before you dive into a relationship. Ask yourself this question: would you want to date someone just like yourself, as you are right now? Is your heart, soul and character the type of person you would want to date? If you’re not that person yet, then wait. </span></div>
<script async="" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
<br />
<ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7155186392682546" data-ad-format="fluid" data-ad-layout-key="-4q+c2-42-cu+16l" data-ad-slot="7443863993" style="display: block;"></ins><script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Love desires to always give; lust desires only to take. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Read that sentence again. </i></span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Many young relationships are driven only by lust and they eventually flame out. They look for love in all the wrong places. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>You can’t find love by taking. </b></span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Many seek to satisfy a God-given desire by taking instead of giving. This is an empty well that will not satisfy. Instead of always looking for what someone can give you, allow God to form you into more of a giver. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This takes time. Years. And it’s not going to happen while you’re in high school. So wait. Breathe. Slow down. You're not as ready as you think you are. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you can't consistently care for a puppy, how can you adequately care for someone'e heart in a relationship?</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A dating relationship or even a marriage is not going to fix you. If anything, it will put a giant spotlight on your immaturity, your inability to effectively communicate and your desire to only take. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Don’t buy into the lie that dating is a “test run” before the real thing: marriage. By no means should you kiss dating goodbye, but be very, very picky. Remain single and wait for God to make it blatantly obvious when you have met the right person. (He will. He’s God. God always gets it right)</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here’s the deal: Either a relationship works or it doesn’t. If you feel like you’re compromising, then it’s not going to last. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you really believe God will provide the right person and you want to save yourself for marriage (and I know at your core you do), then make this your prayer: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God, grow me into a future husband with godly character now, so that when I meet this person, I am prepared.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you really do trust God for this future person, then act like it. Do what it takes now. Wisdom prepares for the event before it happens. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That is faith in action. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Believe God will provide them in due time, and until He does, allow God to develop within you with the qualities you would want to see in your future spouse. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Don’t seek the change. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Seek God. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Seek God and seek first His kingdom and in time He will bring the change in your life. When God does it, it will be perfect for you.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All of this sounds good on paper (or on a screen), but it is hard. Trust me, I know. I had to pop all those pimples. I had to deal with rejection.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You will make mistakes in this area. Many do make mistakes, even with the best of intentions. When you do make a mistake, God is there to forgive, every time. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But trust me on this. How you handle this question of dating or finding a future spouse (or choosing to remain single, even) is the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">second</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> most important question of your life.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s that important. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What is the first, most important question of your life? </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m glad you asked. </span></div>
<h2>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<script async="" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
<ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7155186392682546" data-ad-format="fluid" data-ad-layout-key="-4q+c2-42-cu+16l" data-ad-slot="7443863993" style="display: block;"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>
<u>CHRIST AS SAVIOR</u></span></h2>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Who are you? Why are you here? These are the big questions, aren’t they? You think about them all the time, 15 year old self. I know you do. You constantly think the deep questions about your core identity, and that's good. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What you believe about yourself as your core identity will shape your decisions in life. You have heard accusations against your core identity every day: you’re not good enough, you're flawed, you’ll never make it, you're not friends with the right people, etc. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You have heard these accusations before (and you’ll hear them again) and that’s ok. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hear me on this, 15 year old self: Let me shed some light on this for you. When you hear accusations against you, it’s not from God.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You didn't generate them, either. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Satan’s name is The Accuser. He accuses everyone day after day, and they're all lies. You will hear these accusations, over and over. I encourage you to listen to the good things that God says about you in His Word. Eventually, the accusations will lessen in time. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>We all hear these accusations against our core identity, but the real tragedy is if you begin to <u>believe</u> these accusations as your identity. </b></span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you believe you are ugly, worthless or damaged somehow your words and decisions will reflect that core belief. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>But here’s the wonderful thing about belief: you get to choose.</b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> It’s up to you. Life does not merely happen to you. You are the times in which you live. You are the result of the choices you make, for better or worse. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If finding your spouse (or staying single) are the second most important questions of your life, here is the number one question you will ever answer: </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Do you know Jesus has forgiven you?</b></span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I know what you’re thinking: "Well, I believe in God. I have gone to church my whole life." </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yes, that is all well and good (and true), but that doesn’t answer the question. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God loves you, 15 year old self, but you are more of a sinner than you think you are. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Your ears are stopped up, your eyes have scales on them. May they be removed. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>God loves you as you are, and He also loves you too much to leave you as you are. </b></span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Do you know Jesus has forgiven you?</b></span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you know Jesus has forgiven you, it also implies a few other truths: that you know Jesus as Lord over your life. If you know Jesus has forgiven you, it means that you have realized you have something in which to be forgiven. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It means that you know that you are a sinner. In order to receive grace, you have to learn what is at stake.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>You may feel that you have nothing to be forgiven. </b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Think of it this way: why do you have a conscience? Why do you feel shame or guilt? Those feelings are the result of sin, the result of breaking a moral law. The shame points to the sin. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>I ask you this question, 15 year old self, not to tear you down. Not at all.</b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I ask you this actually to build you up. It’s the most important question because your eternity depends on how you answer. If you know Jesus has forgiven you (and He has and He does), then it unlocks a completely new world for you. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once you experience the grace of God in light of your sin it changes how you treat your neighbor. It changes how you view your role in the world. It humbles you and this leads to godliness. Jesus has bought you with his own body and blood. He is the ultimate servant King, and if you claim to follow in His footsteps (and I know you’re trying), then you are called to love the world like that, in big and small ways. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you know Jesus has forgiven you, then you know that your life is not your own anymore. He is your example to follow and this is good news. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666984558105px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Know that your life is not your own, and may you be a person of grace and truth just as Jesus was, as you follow in the footsteps of your Savior. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">15 year old self, as you go about your days, God will be with you. In your lying down and in your work, in your play and in your sleep, God will go before you, God will support you, God will never let you down. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You can do this.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
Clark Chiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14622237173233090267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243519987072376913.post-18792422823527541472019-05-05T19:57:00.002-04:002019-05-07T11:31:45.614-04:00To My Clemmons UMC Church Family To my brothers and sisters at Clemmons UMC,<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
A few weeks ago I went for a walk around our church campus at lunchtime, and I stopped at the Columbarium. This is not a place I usually frequent, but on this day I’m glad I did. As I walked, I paused to read the name of each saint listed and realized I had come to know so many of them throughout the past 10 years at Clemmons UMC. My eyes welled up with tears as I thanked God for their witness, and I also thanked God for the absolute blessing of being at CUMC for such a long time. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In regard to ministry, I believe the longer leaders stay in one location, the healthier the church. Our roots grow deep, our bonds become more tightly knit, and the community is more vibrant. This certainly has been the case at CUMC. Both Ann Marie and I have developed many incredible relationships and friendships. We are a God family. Before God called us to CUMC, we were both praying that God would lead us to a church where our gifts for ministry could shine for His glory. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Because of God’s grace and leading, we began the Praise service in 2009 with steady success and have seen the student ministry explode with growth I never could have imagined. However, over this past year, we have felt God gently uprooting us and giving us a burden for a new season of ministry. We didn’t know what that would look like. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Over the past two years I have felt an increasing desire to preach regularly and lead in more of an associate pastor role. Matthew and the CUMC staff have been very supportive of this call, and I am most thankful for Matthew’s gracious leadership and our wonderful church staff. This is a loving church, and I am so happy here, but as I listen to God, I can see my calling in ministry is changing. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As of July 1st, I will begin a new appointment as the Associate Pastor of Contemporary Worship and Evangelism at Wesley Memorial UMC in High Point, NC. My last Sunday at CUMC will be June 16th. I grieve to think of leaving the closeness of this church family, but I look forward with hope. I am overwhelmed with gratitude for CUMC. Thank you for loving me and my family. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In regards to Clemmons:One, God has provided a fantastic group of adult leaders and a student leadership team, and we have laid a strong foundation in our student ministry of biblical teaching, meaningful service, and outreach events that I am certain will continue to be a blessing to young people for years to come. The 9:45am Praise service will continue to be a place where vibrant worship occurs and all people can hear the Gospel of Jesus each week. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Please be in prayer for Matthew and our excellent Leadership Team as they navigate this time of transition. The Holy Spirit has definitely led this change, and keep praying for the Spirit to lead CUMC as they seek to find staff to fill this role. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
May God bless each of you! I look forward to speaking with you and celebrating all God has done in our midst these past 10+ years together. Ann Marie and I love you all and thank God for each of you.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Christ in Us! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Rev. Clark Davis Chilton</div>
Clark Chiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14622237173233090267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243519987072376913.post-30483081382254050962019-02-18T15:31:00.000-05:002019-02-20T13:12:04.780-05:00My Prayer for #GC2019 in St. LouisHoly God,<br />
<br />
As my fellow brothers and sisters gather in St Louis, I pray for them. Pray with me as you read.<br />
<br />
I pray for wisdom, discernment and holy love. I pray that each of them has the mind of Christ and not of themselves as they make important decisions.<br />
<br />
I pray you remove any lens' or filters that distort or misrepresent the viewpoint of another. I pray for complete destruction of false stereotypes.<br />
<br />
I pray that they are reminded that we can debate an idea and it doesn't have to be personal. We can debate ideas or policy apart from debating a person.<br />
<br />
I pray that, each of them as professed disciples of Jesus, would lay down any idols before you that will hinder their work. I pray for a cessation of agendas that are not indicative of your Gospel and your holy Word.<br />
<br />
I pray that they hold all decisions in light of this consideration: "What would our Lord do?"<br />
<br />
I pray they remember that you, Lord Jesus, are full of grace and truth, in perfect balance with the other. May each delegate be full of grace AND truth.<br />
<br />
I pray that they are reminded that in order to love God first, that we must not worship any other gods. I pray for an abdication and rejection of any idols.<br />
<br />
I pray for hearts of true repentance, for we all have sinned. We all have sought to go our own way. We all have falsely accused or judged someone. We all have not loved others as we would like to be loved. We all know what we ought to do, and yet we don't always do it.<br />
<br />
I pray especially for those who don't feel as if they need to repent.<br />
<br />
I pray for hearts of repentance.<br />
<br />
I pray for wise and true judgement. I pray that each delegate search their own hearts first, repent of sin and walk away from it, so that they then are able to judge others with wisdom and holy love, free of being a hypocrite.<br />
<script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
<ins class="adsbygoogle"
style="display:block; text-align:center;"
data-ad-layout="in-article"
data-ad-format="fluid"
data-ad-client="ca-pub-7155186392682546"
data-ad-slot="3824592307"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>
<br />
I pray you give each delegate ears to hear what your Spirit is saying and has been saying.<br />
<br />
I pray that the wind of the Spirit would move as a fire and as a flood. I pray that the move of your hand would be so mighty that the entire proceeding would be halted in light of your holiness, power and majesty. I pray that you come down and cause this conference to become all yours in every possible way.<br />
<br />
I pray that you bring revival and awakening to this generation, O God. The next great awakening will come when individual hearts repent of sin and begin to hunger for righteousness and holiness again, building into a cumulative effect that will sweep across our nation yet again.<br />
<br />
Forgive us for the way we trust in our own might, intellect and strength and have failed to trust in You.<br />
<br />
Forgive us for the ways we have trusted more in lobbying our agenda than petitioning your power from Heaven.<br />
<br />
I pray that, somehow, they will close this conference with a vision for the Church that is what you want and not necessarily what individuals want.<br />
<br />
We are here to serve your will and not our own, and I pray that all present will remember that. Show them your will.<br />
<br />
In the beautiful and matchless name of Jesus I pray,<br />
<br />
Amen.
<script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
<ins class="adsbygoogle"
style="display:block; text-align:center;"
data-ad-layout="in-article"
data-ad-format="fluid"
data-ad-client="ca-pub-7155186392682546"
data-ad-slot="3824592307"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>
<script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
<ins class="adsbygoogle"
style="display:block; text-align:center;"
data-ad-layout="in-article"
data-ad-format="fluid"
data-ad-client="ca-pub-7155186392682546"
data-ad-slot="3824592307"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>Clark Chiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14622237173233090267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243519987072376913.post-68064397973925407702018-01-24T11:47:00.000-05:002019-02-20T13:23:41.278-05:00Fentanyl, Teenagers and our Nation's Opioid CrisisIn our local high school, I recently heard accounts of teenagers vaping fentanyl in bathrooms while on campus. Students were found unresponsive and EMS had to be contacted to revive the students.<br />
<br />
Apparently, <b>Fentanyl is a highly potent synthetic opioid, estimated to be 50 times more powerful than pure, pharmacy-grade heroin.</b> Medically, it’s often used for chronic pain patients and those who are likely to experience intense pain such as cancer patients.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/160428183940-fentanyl-opioids-drugs-overdose-sanjay-gupta-mobile-orig-mss-00000000-super-tease.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/160428183940-fentanyl-opioids-drugs-overdose-sanjay-gupta-mobile-orig-mss-00000000-super-tease.jpg" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="180" width="320"></a></div>
Now with the recent advent of vaping, fentanyl can be ingested without even creating an odor. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/10/health/fentanyl-new-heroin-deadlier/index.html" target="_blank">An overdose of fentanyl is what was later revealed to kill the singer Prince. </a><br />
<script async="" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
<!-- Responsive blog ad -->
<br />
<ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7155186392682546" data-ad-format="auto" data-ad-slot="1549338916" style="display: block;"></ins><script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>
This is a most troubling development in our American culture. This "opioid crisis" continues to sweep across our nation and is claiming hundreds of young lives at an alarming pace. Parents and school administrators can feel helpless as this epidemic continues.<br />
<br />
As a pastor who has served in United Methodist youth ministry for 15 years, drug use among teenagers is nothing new in my experience. I've always known students who have smoked pot, dropped acid or drank heavily. Its always been a problem, and the problem continues to grow. The lives of our children are at risk and are under attack.<br />
<h4>
<b>Without intervention, I have also seen where every one of these stories unfortunately end: young potential wasted, criminal records or worse, the loss of life.</b></h4>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
Many young people, when confronted with the option to quit drug use, scoff at the reality of peer pressure as the cause. Denial is the attitude of the day. "Who are you to tell me how to live my life? I can control my own actions. Its not that big of a deal. No one is forcing me to do drugs" they may say.<br />
<script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
<ins class="adsbygoogle"
style="display:block"
data-ad-format="fluid"
data-ad-layout-key="-4q+c2-42-cu+16l"
data-ad-client="ca-pub-7155186392682546"
data-ad-slot="7443863993"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>
<br />
<h4>
<b>What young people always fail to see is that they are ultimately seeking acceptance. </b></h4>
Teenagers understandably want a place to fit in and feel welcome. They want to escape their problems. They want peace. The drug or party scene provides that immediate gratification. They are seeking the innately good desire of acceptance in all of the wrong places. In order the quell the inner restlessness they feel, substances are consumed to fill a void that only Christ can fill.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/images/67495.jpg?w=700" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://www.christianitytoday.com/images/67495.jpg?w=700" data-original-height="393" data-original-width="700" height="177" width="320"></a></div>
Augustine of Hippo is a massively important figure in church history, but before he became a saint in the Catholic church, wrote his <i>Confessions</i> and other important theological works, he was a restless, wandering young person. He dabbled with various religions and sought out constant sexual gratification, but never found true peace in his life.<br />
<br />
Eventually, at the age of 31, as<b> Augustine later told it, his conversion to Christ was prompted by a childlike voice he heard telling him to "take up and read",</b> which he took as a divine command to open the Bible and read the first thing he saw.<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: transparent;">This is what he read:</span></span></div>
<br />
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Romans 13:13-14 - New Living Translation (NLT)</i></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="text Rom-13-13" id="en-NLT-28241" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">13 </span>Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy.</span> <span class="text Rom-13-14" id="en-NLT-28242" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">14 </span>Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.</span></b></div>
</div>
<h4>
<b>Augustine would eventually famously write that, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”</b></h4>
</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>Augustine's conversion testimony (and my own, in fact) were not just words: he lived it. He lived through the restless period of life, seeking acceptance from whomever would give it, but it didn't satisfy the deepest longings of his soul. </b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
His heart was restless until it found rest in Christ.<br />
<script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
<ins class="adsbygoogle"
style="display:block"
data-ad-format="fluid"
data-ad-layout-key="-4q+c2-42-cu+16l"
data-ad-client="ca-pub-7155186392682546"
data-ad-slot="7443863993"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>
<br /></div>
<h3>
<b>It wasn't until the winding path of his life led to the person of Jesus Christ that everything changed. </b></h3>
<div>
The demons were driven out. The restlessness was over. True peace was discovered. God, by his grace, reached out and touched him, and he was never the same. </div>
<script async="" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
<!-- Responsive blog ad -->
<br />
<ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7155186392682546" data-ad-format="auto" data-ad-slot="1549338916" style="display: block;"></ins><script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>
<br />
<h3>
<b>If you are a young person and you are reading this, know that there is hope for your life. </b></h3>
You are not defined by your failures or your pain. Whatever acceptance you are seeking, know that God stands ready to receive you and give you a new heart, a new nature and a peace that only God can give. Consuming drugs, having illicit sex or drinking is an empty well. You will not find the refreshment you seek in those places. <span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> "</span>For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want." (Galatians 5:17)<br />
<br />
<b>God isn't out to spoil your fun. </b>Rather, he's out to show you a much, much better way, beyond anything you could imagine.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Only in Christ will you find peace for your soul and the demons of addiction can be driven out. Take up and read what God has to say. He loves you and wants you to live a clean, righteous, and virtuous life with the Spirit of God living within you.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
If you are a parent of a young person with addiction reading this, my prayers are with you. </h3>
<br />
There are resources available for support, such as <a href="https://palgroup.org/" target="_blank">P</a><a href="https://palgroup.org/" target="_blank">ALS (Parents of Addicted Love Ones)</a> that can help. You are not alone in this struggle.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Comment below. Thanks for reading. </div>
<script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
<ins class="adsbygoogle"
style="display:block; text-align:center;"
data-ad-layout="in-article"
data-ad-format="fluid"
data-ad-client="ca-pub-7155186392682546"
data-ad-slot="3824592307"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>
<script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
<ins class="adsbygoogle"
style="display:block; text-align:center;"
data-ad-layout="in-article"
data-ad-format="fluid"
data-ad-client="ca-pub-7155186392682546"
data-ad-slot="3824592307"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>Clark Chiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14622237173233090267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243519987072376913.post-34805312310703987412017-08-16T14:10:00.000-04:002018-01-24T13:11:46.342-05:00Racism? Yes. The Answer is Love (a former Nazi story)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdTgBdV5Gl5sVVbw8I74WMvSX_ilS94sK57eFty7UIuNvwuWdnFeenKvbaENtPzU4hNtwBhk4IN5twyXcKXsL7agYyCRphcxH3IEyWLBiaT4JMvKhb10B4ucNB9dZvae7m0YwXQsx9YG6a/s1600/loveyourenemies1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdTgBdV5Gl5sVVbw8I74WMvSX_ilS94sK57eFty7UIuNvwuWdnFeenKvbaENtPzU4hNtwBhk4IN5twyXcKXsL7agYyCRphcxH3IEyWLBiaT4JMvKhb10B4ucNB9dZvae7m0YwXQsx9YG6a/s320/loveyourenemies1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Here's a Facebook post I recently shared regarding the recent events in Charlottesville:<br />
<br />
<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "sf optimized" , , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.11999999731779099px;">"White nationalism is militarized ignorance that speaks neither for the South or for Christianity (for sure). It is a gross perversion of the core tenets of the Gospel and in a cultural sense, what it means to be American. Horrible. </span><a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/prayforcharlottesville?source=feed_text&story_id=10155704657477502" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'SF Optimized', system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, '.SFNSText-Regular', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.11999999731779099px; text-decoration: none;"><span class="_5afx" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit;"><span aria-label="hashtag" class="_58cl _5afz" style="color: #4267b2; font-family: inherit;">#</span><span class="_58cm" style="font-family: inherit;">prayforcharlottesville</span></span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "sf optimized" , , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.11999999731779099px;">. </span><span class="_5afx" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.11999999731779099px; text-decoration: none;"><a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/charlottesville?source=feed_text&story_id=10155704657477502" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'SF Optimized', system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, '.SFNSText-Regular', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.11999999731779099px; text-decoration: none;"><span aria-label="hashtag" class="_58cl _5afz" style="color: #4267b2; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.11999999731779099px; text-decoration: none;">#</span><span class="_58cm" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.11999999731779099px; text-decoration: none;">charlottesville</span></a>"</span></i><br />
<br />
While I most certainly stand by these words, its also easy to dismiss and denounce a white supremacist worldview. Or at least, one would think it should be so easy. Its easy enough for most people. The foundation of this worldview was so reprehensible and evil that thousands of brave men died in the fight against fascism in World War II. <br />
<br />
To those who have gone before us, it was an easy to decision to fight such evil. And for many of us today, the decision is also an easy one.<br />
<br />
As a nation, we are divided and have been for some time, but what is occurring is an extrapolation of the ever-growing divide in American society. Blame, anger, anxiety are dominating the day. Our nation is at a tipping point. What is present in our hearts is what we will speak. In a very literal sense, we are the times in which we live.<br />
<br />
<b>If you don't like it, change it. But how to do that? Stewing in anger on Facebook is certainly not the solution, but neither is ignorance or acquiescence. </b><br />
<br />
<br /><script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
<!-- chiltown_main_Blog1_1x1_as -->
<ins class="adsbygoogle"
style="display:block"
data-ad-client="ca-pub-7155186392682546"
data-ad-slot="1485620113"
data-ad-format="auto"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>
Instead of joining in that fray, this reminds me of a story.<br />
<br />
It was the summer of 1999, and I served with a home repair ministry called <a href="http://www.carolinacrossconnection.org/" target="_blank">Carolina Cross Connection</a>. Groups of teenagers and adult leaders go out into the community and help build wheelchair ramps, paint houses, perform yard work, etc. As a staff person, I would help create and oversee work projects, among many other responsibilities.<br />
<br />
One such home (at an undisclosed town in North Carolina) was the home of Mr. Chuck.<br />
<br />
<b>This story is relevant to you today because Mr. Chuck was a former Grand Dragon (supreme leader) of the KKK</b>. Our task was to rip out his carpet and put down new laminate flooring.<br />
<br />
The difficult part would be actually finding the carpet.<br />
<br />
Upon entering his home, its difficult to describe the squalor. His wife had left him in 1987 and Mr. Chuck had not cleaned his home since then. Thick layers of dust covered everything. Soda cans, cereal boxes and magazines from 1987 were left in their same positions. Its as if time stood still after his wife left him. He seemed to die that day and became a shell of a person.<br />
<br />
His home was also covered in cigarette butts, empty beer cans, animal waste, rotten food and trash, and at least two dogs and three cats that never went outside. For 12 years he lived in the darkness of covered windows and absolute filth. TWELVE YEARS in his own self-imposed prison. Nazi paraphernalia was scattered about as well. He was to this day the most depressed and destitute person I have ever encountered.<br />
<br />
God had brought our group to this man. He was about as unloveable of a person as you can imagine and he lived in the most unloveable of places. His immediate environment bore the fruit of his worldview and he was reaping the rewards. It would have been easy to walk away, a task about as easy as denouncing his false worldview.<br />
<br />
<b>However, grace is the great equalizer. God's forgiveness nullifies our past and empowers us to show others that same grace. God's grace is the hope of the world. </b><br />
<br />
A group of brave teenagers put on work gloves and masks and began the grievous work of cleaning his home. As the work continued, you began to see a lightness return to Mr. Chuck. He began to speak and share with us. He was thankful for our help. Light shone into his home for the first time in 12 years, and it took a group of teenagers to help make that happen.<br />
<br />
Did Mr. Chuck hit his knees and repent for his evil worldview and past sins? Not that I'm aware of, but his response or lack thereof wasn't why we were there. Jesus tells us to forgive our enemies seventy time seven and to not only give to those who ask, but give beyond what they ask. Be faithful in the giving and trust God for the results.<br />
<br />
<b>You cannot argue anyone into believing anything, but you can love them. We can debate ideas, but we don't have to debate people. </b>God's love can circumvent the defenses of the human heart and bring down walls that seemed to be impenetrable. <br />
<br />
<b>We don't get to pick and choose our enemies, and we also don't get to pick and choose who we're commanded to love. </b><br />
<br />
I like to think that after that day, Mr. Chuck was a changed person. Through our actions, we showed him real, unconditional love, maybe for the first time in his whole life. When light shines, it will show the darkness for what it is.<br />
<br />
<b>As Christians, we are saved by a man who died loving his enemies. </b><br />
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>Let's not forget that.</b></div>Clark Chiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14622237173233090267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243519987072376913.post-23284543419204336072017-08-15T16:10:00.000-04:002018-01-24T13:16:38.933-05:00The Church and Reaching Millennials - 5 Methods for Young Adult Ministry<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuTuS7Zix66ANVXP-lHRndZkeXsBERqlE49fpxv-mb1n8qxweE9npu1atGDFj06c3zuBOnN0aiE6KGj9pSiJft2zecaUerB2Cm300IcFB7yQXoLQO9j3ieBI_ae1FyGVPrJLJfALqddThz/s1600/Millenialheader_email.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="730" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuTuS7Zix66ANVXP-lHRndZkeXsBERqlE49fpxv-mb1n8qxweE9npu1atGDFj06c3zuBOnN0aiE6KGj9pSiJft2zecaUerB2Cm300IcFB7yQXoLQO9j3ieBI_ae1FyGVPrJLJfALqddThz/s320/Millenialheader_email.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">courtesy aafdc.org</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Starting this fall, I will begin a young adult ministry at my church. We're calling it <a href="http://www.clemmonsumc.org/youngadults" target="_blank">C3 - coffee conversation and community.</a> There is a big push to reach young adults because for one, they are a large missing demographic in most churches. Secondly because their voice matters. Thirdly because without young adults, the church will continue to decline numerically. Lastly, because God loves them and wants all people to know a living relationship with Jesus Christ. I'll post more in the fall to let you know how C3 turns out!<br />
<br />
<h3>
Over the past 5 years at least, there has been much discussion in the United Methodist Church about reaching young adults/millennials and even more blog posts by "millennials" with such titles as "Dear Church, its not me its you" or "Farewell church. You lost me. We're done." and so on. Many young adults in our society have had difficult experiences with the Church and we need to listen to their voices.</h3>
<br />
Considering that nearly 2 out of every 3 young adults (for our purposes, 18-25 year olds) identify themselves as "none", meaning no religious affiliation at all, the church's voice in response to this generation has unfortunately been one of acquiescence. The denominational church at large has been motivated by fear of offending this growing demographic. <br />
<br />
<b>But is fear of offense an evangelistic strategy? Is that even compelling? Is it something Jesus did?</b><br />
<br />
If you or I are a "5" or a "7" on a 10 point scale of being "Christian", then most unchurched young adults today are at a "1". And that's ok! But we must acknowledge the audience in order to know the approach. Many young adults are not ready to worship Jesus or read a call to worship. Let's not get the cart before the horse here: much like any other unchurched adult, millennials must be introduced to Jesus and see him for the compelling, life-altering Messiah that He is. They must be taught. They must be shown. And it must be within he context of loving, gracious community.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Considering this, if a large segment of our population has little to no religious or biblical knowledge, is perpetuating ignorance helpful? Many young adults do not come to church because:</h3>
<ul>
<li>The church is seen as intolerant, Pharisaical or homophobic. </li>
<li>Some young adults don't know what they don't know. (They must be taught the basics of Christianity)</li>
<li>The church is too obsessed with money or sex.</li>
<li>The church has no relevant place or voice within their community. </li>
<li>The church addresses issues that are (perceived to be) irrelevant to their daily lives. </li>
<li>There is no particular "space" carved out for them. We have children's ministry. We have youth ministry. Is there a space for young adults?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</li>
</ul>
What if instead of acquiescence, we spoke with a bold, compassionate and <b>prophetic</b> voice?<br />
<br />
<b>What if we focused more on teaching and relationships and less on programs or apologizing for Christianity?</b><br />
<script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
<!-- Responsive blog ad -->
<ins class="adsbygoogle"
style="display:block"
data-ad-client="ca-pub-7155186392682546"
data-ad-slot="1549338916"
data-ad-format="auto"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>
<br />
Here are 5 methods for reaching young adults, and is by no means exhaustive. (comment below with more ideas)<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><b>What you highlight, you will reap</b>: put young adults up front in your worship services. Invite them to read Scripture, do the announcements, lead a song, etc. Intentionally put young adults on your leadership board or committees. Take their feedback. Give them responsibility. This will help any young adult in attendance connect with a peer.</li>
<li><b>Graphics, graphics, graphics </b>- Go to Netflix and look at the menu. People make choices of what to watch based on an image, word of mouth and maybe three words. <b>Young adults today hear with their eyes.</b> If its text heavy, it will get glossed over. If its an image, you've got a chance. </li>
<li><b>Teach and preach within relational context</b> - As a stated above, most young adults identify as "nones" this new generation must be taught within the context of community. Relationships are the main conduit that love is communicated. This is nothing new, especially for a Wesleyan or United Methodist. We championed small group ministry in the 18th century. Postmodern research has always shown a need for community in this generation. This is nothing new. They are people after all. We must supply community and relationship to young adults. Churches that are reaching huge numbers of young adults preach the Gospel without apology and offer weekly community opportunities for young adults, and its working.</li>
<li><b>An 8 second filter</b> - Young people today have a shrinking "attention span", and its actually not a detriment. If an item or idea catches their attention within 8 seconds, they will actually engage with it on a deep level. Think video games, Youtube videos or social media. There is plenty of engagement going on, it just has to catch the eye, heart or brain within 8 seconds. Its more of a filter and less of an "attention span". You've got 8 seconds. How will you use it?</li>
<li><b>Service Matters </b>- young people today have strong feelings about what is just and unjust. They are the first generation on the face of the planet that has always known the Internet and always had endless information at their fingertips. They want to be used to help others in tangible ways. This is good news, because many churches are already organized (or at least they should be) for mission. <b>Young people today (mostly) think with their emotions. </b>Again, this is not a detriment. Lets tap into this generation's innate desire and emotion for justice and help them live that out.</li>
</ol>
<div>
As I said, this list isn't exhaustive. Reply below with other ideas you've used within your context that others might find helpful, and thanks for stopping by. </div>Clark Chiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14622237173233090267noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243519987072376913.post-70576818545175188612017-01-30T14:52:00.000-05:002017-01-30T14:52:15.462-05:00Free Youth Group Game: BUCKET!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin7CsuHdBRuMjfrze5VM_IPqDB9eFrf7R8c0G8jzyXltntYFUZqRUKPo8KzLNd3vXHpaAW_U7V7jDjC5hYy1_Hhi88P1c_iO6Zn11UlHmaDv596uqXpJj-RIaQAPfDV1dTtXfh2FVGF4Z0/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-01-30+at+2.45.12+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin7CsuHdBRuMjfrze5VM_IPqDB9eFrf7R8c0G8jzyXltntYFUZqRUKPo8KzLNd3vXHpaAW_U7V7jDjC5hYy1_Hhi88P1c_iO6Zn11UlHmaDv596uqXpJj-RIaQAPfDV1dTtXfh2FVGF4Z0/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-01-30+at+2.45.12+PM.png" width="315" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #363636; font-family: ff-meta-serif-web-pro; font-size: 16px;">This game is so simple and incredibly fun! Its a take on the popular card game "Spoons". Gather plastic buckets together (or use paper cups, then those tend to get crushed) and have youth partner up. Each youth leans over the bucket while a leader calls out different body parts (head, neck, knees, feet, etc). At the leader's discretion, they call out "Bucket!". Once youth hear that, the first one to grab the bucket wins the round. Winners can then take on other winners in a tournament format. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #363636; font-family: ff-meta-serif-web-pro; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #363636; font-family: ff-meta-serif-web-pro; font-size: 16px;">Very easy game and very fun! </span>Clark Chiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14622237173233090267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243519987072376913.post-69844815249292163632016-12-01T11:21:00.000-05:002016-12-01T11:46:33.764-05:00The Ultimate Gift at Christmas<span style="font-size: large;">Jesus’ life, from the cradle to the tomb was a life enshrouded and bookended with miracles: born of a virgin and defying death from a determined King Herod, Jesus at a young age astounding everyone at the Temple, eventually healing the sick and raising the dead, saying profound things that no one else could utter nor could the most eloquent author ever construct, he preached what he practiced and he practiced what he preached. The Word of God came in the flesh.</span><br />
<div>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">
Only God could do such things. Jesus was who he said he was.</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">We cannot merely say Jesus was a good moral person or teacher, or that his teachings are a good idea to consider, one of many choices of the spiritual buffet line of America. The miracle of the Christ-child at Christmas, the miracle of Jesus, doesn’t allow such a thing. The utter finality, the complete authority, the total originality of Jesus’ life and arrival, cuts like a knife through the grey morality of our world.</span><br />
<div>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">
Jesus is not just an option to consider: he hasn’t afforded us this option. </span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"> Either you believe he was the incarnate son of God or you do not, but the truth of who Jesus is stands resolute. Only God could be able to come into our world as a baby. Only God would be wise enough to see that this was the proper means for the Son of God to arrive.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Jesus didn’t just love, he was and is love. He didn’t and doesn’t just offer blessings; he is the blessing. He doesn’t only give us gifts; his very presence is the gift. The power and healing authority of Jesus is all sufficient to meet every need in your life. Do you believe this? Jesus raised the dead; do you believe he can raise the dead in you? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Jesus isn’t just an option, he is the incarnate gift of God, and you cannot escape the influence of Jesus Christ at Christmas. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And the influence of Jesus is bigger than just all the Christmas “stuff” we see. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We can call it happy holidays, outlaw manger scenes, create a Festivus pole as they did on Seinfeld, and take down all the Christmas trees. Regardless, the Spirit of Christ will always be here, and always will be. Because God is love, and God’s love can live in a place that no one can touch: in the human heart. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Love doesn’t give up; love doesn’t back down; love always seeks, rebukes, chastens, restores, and patiently endures. Love is not dependent on gifts, trees, or titles. Love is not a thing you can grab or quantify, but you know it exists. </span><br />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"> You cannot see love, but you know you need it. Such is the same with God.</span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">This whole idea that to experience the Spirit of Christ at Christmas regardless of trees, title or gifts, is eloquently packaged in that classic, theologically correct mainstay television special: "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. “</span></h3>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8s9BOYWdEpsHSsaDHKzFAkWCNImQIuRLLFJ2TI7UE6Vd7K1R1iOP8yVNz_hYTorOrQ_mr9QlgzZv0rPbK4G9SerDv3xymgYl3ynyhq9IFz4evOPeiuJG4DfEEJPDMQxYOihuQ8id3Oxk/s1600/grinch-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8s9BOYWdEpsHSsaDHKzFAkWCNImQIuRLLFJ2TI7UE6Vd7K1R1iOP8yVNz_hYTorOrQ_mr9QlgzZv0rPbK4G9SerDv3xymgYl3ynyhq9IFz4evOPeiuJG4DfEEJPDMQxYOihuQ8id3Oxk/s320/grinch-1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">He lived on a snowy mountain with his sad little dog Max. The Grinch, hating the happy spirit of Christmas, their roast beast, their songs, their decorations, and he sought to destroy Christmas by stealing all of the fluff and stuff, all of the exteriors that the Grinch thought comprised Christmas. He even stole their roast beast! He slid across the floor like a snake and used a magnet to steal their stockings! He folded up their Christmas trees like umbrellas. Their ploo plinkas!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Confident in his success, he sat back and waited for the ensuing wails of upset Who children and their destroyed lives to come up the mountain range. Soon, he heard their songs despite their loss, and the Grinch was perplexed. And as they sang, the Grinch’s heart expanded, and his life was changed. He realized that there was something to Christmas much more special than just stuff. </span><br />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">
Maybe he realized that the internal and spiritual was more important than just the external and material.</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">Greed was replaced by generosity, shame was replaced by honor. The Grinch was even allowed to carve the roast beast; what a beautiful story of grace, of second chances that in many ways God also shows us, for their is a grinch in us all. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">As we know, the Grinch failed at his task to destroy Christmas. Why? Because the Spirit of Christmas lived within the people of Whoville, and nothing could ever take that away. What did Jesus say about the Kingdom of God? Ah yes, that it lives within us as Christians.</span><br />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">
The Grinch looked at all the externals, but the Lord looks upon the heart.</span></h3>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, or at least, they were designed to be so. Christmas is about two things: God and people. God coming close to people as the Christ child, and about people letting their guard down long enough maybe to let Christ in and have their heart grow three sizes.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Theologians may call it “incarnational omnipresent sovereignty”, but let’s just use plain terms: God wants to live in us all and make us new, and no grinch will ever take that away.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The existence of the grace of God implies that we are in need of grace, salvation implies that we are in bondage and in a spiritual prison. And the good news of the Christmas season, and every season, is that Christ is here to set us free.</span><br />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">
Take a moment and picture a prison cell in your mind.</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"A prison cell, in which one waits, hopes - and is completely dependent on the fact that the door of freedom has to be opened from the outside, this is not a bad picture of Advent."</i> - Dietrich Bonhoeffer</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Revelation 3:20 - Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.</span></i></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">
One of the great gifts of God to us is repentance. </span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I know, you'd rather have a new Lamborghini (or maybe a Snuggie?) but let me explain. Repentance is a gift of God, for we cannot open the door from the inside. Repentance is the gateway to the things of God. Repentance is saying, yes Lord, open the door of my heart from the outside in.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Repentance means to change your mind, to turn around. It is not just feeling shame or to temporarily modify your behavior. The prophet Joel would say it is to rend our hearts, not our garments - To change the affairs of our heart, not just change the externals or shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic. </span></div>
<div>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">
Repentance is opening up the door of our heart to let God in, and to admit that we have wronged... admitting that we know what we ought to do, but we do not always do it.</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">Its God that leads us to Christ. Our choice matters, but its God pursuing us. Its God that came down at Christmas. Its God that’s calling you today.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The signs of God’s mercy are absolutely everywhere, and to experience it, you have to admit to yourself that you are a sinner, that you need to receive God’s gift of repentance, that you need the love and forgiveness of God. What better time to start anew that at Christmas? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">You are a beautiful, fought for, died for, pursued, wept over, sought after Temple of the Holy spirit. Do you feel defiled? Tired? Ready for a change? Ready for a fresh start? Receive the gift of repentance from God. Give back to God what he already gave you: the gift of your life. We didn’t create our lives, but we can give them back to our Creator to be remade and reshaped into the mold of what they were meant to be: a life lived in holy communion with God. Once you experience it, you are never the same. Once you receive it, you can't help but give it to others. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<h2>
<span style="font-size: large;">
This is the ultimate gift at Christmas.</span></h2>
</div>
Clark Chiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14622237173233090267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243519987072376913.post-81998697284213730902016-11-30T15:19:00.000-05:002016-11-30T15:19:38.562-05:00Free Youth Group Game: How to Play Human Hungry Hungry Hippos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/38dUI-iuzeU/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/38dUI-iuzeU?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<div id="yui_3_17_2_11_1480534334171_1486" style="background-color: white; color: #363636; font-family: ff-meta-serif-web-pro; font-size: 16px;">
Watch the above video to see Human Hungry Hungry Hippos in action! This is an unforgettable, totally awesome youth group game and activity. I've done it many times and kids always LOVE it. </div>
<h2 id="yui_3_17_2_11_1480534334171_1483" style="background-color: white; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: brandon-grotesque; font-size: 24px; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0.4px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 1em 0px 0.5em;">
Supply List - Here is a list of what you'll need for this Human Hungry Hungry Hippos: (product links included)</h2>
<ul dir="ltr" id="yui_3_17_2_11_1480534334171_1471" style="background-color: white; color: #363636; font-family: ff-meta-serif-web-pro; font-size: 16px;">
<li id="yui_3_17_2_11_1480534334171_1480"><strong id="yui_3_17_2_11_1480534334171_1479">2-4 Wooden Dollys with casters</strong> (depending on the size of your space and how many players you want to have) - <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0052PLYXA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1" style="color: #6598b8; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">link to product</a></li>
<li id="yui_3_17_2_11_1480534334171_1470"><strong id="yui_3_17_2_11_1480534334171_1498">(optional) Bungee cord<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DKA4SWI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1" style="color: #6598b8; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"> (product link)</a> -</strong> as you see in the video, you can opt to use people as the "mover" of the human hippo(s), or you can tie cord securely around the handles of each dolly and have players pull their "hippos" back (but with adult supervision and maybe gloves). They also used large squares to keep the balls in play due to the size of their space and it also got more students involved. </li>
<li><strong>2-4 Laundry Baskets </strong>- to collect the balls <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sterilite-12578012-Bushel-Laundry-12-Pack/dp/B002BA5EXU/ref=sr_1_11?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1480535432&sr=1-11&keywords=laundry+basket" style="color: #6598b8; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">(product link)</a> You can purchase them or borrow some from your students. </li>
<li id="yui_3_17_2_11_1480534334171_1500"><strong>Plastic Balls</strong> (optional: balloons) -<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Click-Play-Phthalate-Crush-Plastic/dp/B00PYLU3GG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1480535490&sr=8-1&keywords=plastic+balls" style="color: #6598b8; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"> product link</a></li>
</ul>
<h2 style="background-color: white; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: brandon-grotesque; font-size: 24px; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0.4px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 1em 0px 0.5em;">
HUMAN HUNGRY HUNGRY HIPPO RULES</h2>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #363636; font-family: ff-meta-serif-web-pro; font-size: 16px;">
</div>
<ul>
<li>You'll need a flat surface, either tile or a gym floor. We tried it on indoor/outdoor carpet. Does NOT work that well.</li>
<li>At go, teams attempt to collect as many balls/balloons as they can either within 30 seconds (or any time you designate) or when all the balls/balloons are gone. Which ever team collects the most at each round either wins, or moves on to play another team (if you're doing a tournament). Make sure students take turns allowing other students be the "hippo".</li>
<li>Create safe lines with tape on the floor that teams have have all their balls behind in order for their score to count. Any stray balloons/balls that don't make it behind the line before time is expired do not count. Also, if balloons pop (which they will and its hilarious) those do not count toward their teams point total. </li>
<li>OPTIONAL - Have two teams, and each team takes turns (one hippo at a time) collecting as many as they can until all the balls/balloons are gone. Creates more tension, especially if you use balloons. </li>
</ul>
Clark Chiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14622237173233090267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243519987072376913.post-56073988103552879892016-11-28T16:40:00.000-05:002016-11-28T16:40:38.076-05:00Free Youth Group Christmas Party Game Idea: Bobbing for Canes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7hFqN9AJeOE/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7hFqN9AJeOE?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />Clark Chiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14622237173233090267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243519987072376913.post-17179239694198113512016-11-24T14:54:00.000-05:002016-11-24T14:54:08.334-05:00Free Youth Group Game idea: Crack Attack (chubby bunny but with crackers)<h2 id="yui_3_17_2_1_1480014956823_79369" style="background-color: white; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: "Gotham SSm A", "Gotham SSm B", "Gotham SSm", "Proxima Nova", "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 22px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<div id="yui_3_17_2_18_1480014956823_1431" style="color: #363636; font-family: ff-meta-serif-web-pro; font-size: 16px;">
If you've been in youth ministry long enough, you've heard of the classic game "Chubby Bunny". After each round of stuffing marshmallows in the player's mouths, the players attempt to say the words "chubby bunny". It was slobbery, it was funny, and its actually really dangerous.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidPl3j_oTSjqEqd0Oxhy5S7OwyVJ4jjK0BuZxn373v1nE9CK1bXImOifhMzNPq5tpdkQchEswcQkfnq-KWIuRkC7f1Fl35_SLJCjZXE09qEVh1V_A2Wu6XP4U7eAU2TLVhtIZe3_Jz_mv9/s1600/Saltines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidPl3j_oTSjqEqd0Oxhy5S7OwyVJ4jjK0BuZxn373v1nE9CK1bXImOifhMzNPq5tpdkQchEswcQkfnq-KWIuRkC7f1Fl35_SLJCjZXE09qEVh1V_A2Wu6XP4U7eAU2TLVhtIZe3_Jz_mv9/s320/Saltines.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div id="yui_3_17_2_18_1480014956823_1431" style="color: #363636; font-family: ff-meta-serif-web-pro; font-size: 16px;">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_17_2_18_1480014956823_1438" style="color: #363636; font-family: ff-meta-serif-web-pro; font-size: 16px;">
A safer spin on Chubby Bunny is to use crackers. Have the students place two crackers at a time (without biting them) in their mouths. After each turn, they have to say "Crack Attack". Whomever can keep all the crackers in their mouth (without biting them) and keep saying the phrase wins! Crackers tend to spray when trying to talk so this game is super hilarious.</div>
</h2>
TIPS<br /><br />have trashcans and bottles of water handy<br /><br /><br />You could do a variation where students CAN chew them up as best they can and instead of saying Crack Attack they could say 'Cracker Stack". Using "S" sounds can get a good spray of crackers, which will be hilarious.Clark Chiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14622237173233090267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243519987072376913.post-19761090150272396152016-11-24T11:41:00.000-05:002016-11-24T11:41:31.681-05:00FREE YOUTH GROUP GAME: Face-Off<h2>
The simplicity of this game is its beauty. Its hilarious and awkward and it builds community. </h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8w3EEPqJqtnBLXTjGc6mcha76i3JyGP7Ik3BsmPQmbPBZdzj5OU5KJUbL8CXtWvVz5xth89zpThU2BXOIUXLUS3x9c_v-KrDmFiq2NATmc8sM1NpuaY3b1nc-053EvzIn-pM16MfQrd0k/s1600/b55abad080285a7015b0ef06c63ec61e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="kristin wiig awkward face" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8w3EEPqJqtnBLXTjGc6mcha76i3JyGP7Ik3BsmPQmbPBZdzj5OU5KJUbL8CXtWvVz5xth89zpThU2BXOIUXLUS3x9c_v-KrDmFiq2NATmc8sM1NpuaY3b1nc-053EvzIn-pM16MfQrd0k/s1600/b55abad080285a7015b0ef06c63ec61e.jpg" title="wiig awkward face" /></a></div>
<br />
Have all players stand in a circle and look down at the ground. At the count of three (1-2-3 FACEOFF!) each player looks up and stares at a random person in the circle. If that same person is looking at you, then both players are out. Play until only one player remains.<br />
<br />
NOTE:<br />
<ul>
<li>all players must look at someone each time (not the floor, their feet, etc)</li>
<li>players cannot look at the same person every time</li>
</ul>
Clark Chiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14622237173233090267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243519987072376913.post-44161426113121109602016-11-23T14:45:00.000-05:002016-11-23T14:45:03.727-05:00Youth Group Game Idea: Jedi Master<h2 style="background-color: white; color: #363636; font-family: ff-meta-serif-web-pro; font-size: 16px;">
Both of our middle and high school groups played this game this week and they all LOVED it. Its called Jedi Master. </h2>
<h3 style="background-color: white; color: #363636; font-family: ff-meta-serif-web-pro; font-size: 16px;">
Here is what you'll need:</h3>
<ul style="background-color: white; color: #363636; font-family: ff-meta-serif-web-pro; font-size: 16px;">
<li>One foam pool noodle</li>
<li>One blindfold</li>
<li>At least 25 close pins</li>
</ul>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #363636; font-family: ff-meta-serif-web-pro; font-size: 16px;">
Pick a volunteer to be the Jedi Master. Place them in the center of the circle with the blind fold securely on. Cover their clothing and shoes with close pins. Give the Jedi Master their foam pool noodle/lightsaber and tell them to start swinging. Those standing in the circle, on the word GO, have to attempt to grab as many close pins as they can from the Jedi Master without being struck down with fury. If someone is hit with the pool noodle, they must sit down and that player is out. Whomever collects the most close pins wins the round.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbVJswm_vij0Faw65ysUl1nhJkpqE4giDtwnErtw6unux3TSd6O7UIb8XM6Yl3hl6AFZYsKW8i2tuT648qGA1ml3PckUvAYMCwg_ZrDLktIO04abFDS0N4t9oSqusqVUtuvxCRxVdXss1-/s1600/IMG_3927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbVJswm_vij0Faw65ysUl1nhJkpqE4giDtwnErtw6unux3TSd6O7UIb8XM6Yl3hl6AFZYsKW8i2tuT648qGA1ml3PckUvAYMCwg_ZrDLktIO04abFDS0N4t9oSqusqVUtuvxCRxVdXss1-/s320/IMG_3927.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #363636; font-family: ff-meta-serif-web-pro; font-size: 16px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #363636; font-family: ff-meta-serif-web-pro; font-size: 16px;">
<strong>A few extra rules (that we learned via trial by error)</strong></div>
<ul style="background-color: white; color: #363636; font-family: ff-meta-serif-web-pro; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px;">
<li>If you are hit and have close pins in your hand, you must drop all your close pins and sit down.</li>
<li>Don't let the whole group rush the Jedi Master. Allow only a few to attempt to steal close pins at one time. (There will be so much swinging going on not that many will want to go initially, anyway).</li>
<li>The Jedi Master MUST keep their feet set. They can pivot but can not meander around the circle. They must stand still and swing all around themselves.</li>
<li>To switch to a new Jedi Master, wait 5-10 minutes and let them play. Once someone is hit, you can make them the new Jedi Master. </li>
<li>If anyone is hit ANYWHERE on their person at all, they are OUT. (head shots are fine)</li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="color: #363636; font-family: ff-meta-serif-web-pro;">Enjoy!</span></div>
Clark Chiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14622237173233090267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243519987072376913.post-66885084248499783932016-11-21T15:52:00.001-05:002016-11-21T15:53:35.394-05:00Experiencing the new birth of ChristmasEvery since I was a little kid, I have loved Christmas. Like, at a hyperactive level. Each morning in December, I used to run down the stairs first thing in order to move the Advent calendar to the next day.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWaJKSbOKeTpMvwatnSbzhHpj7LIwYGArr_Y6KpsLvfna8ESlOSWqJkCkhd14nP1NcQcrmMFcZLNE1MUii-nNge2yx4zpY73WWHZ1OWDnMxOhiyKDnFibekPYOl7g9FqBieNUqWEHCN0l6/s1600/7956e15bab83641de9b647f5a08d8313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWaJKSbOKeTpMvwatnSbzhHpj7LIwYGArr_Y6KpsLvfna8ESlOSWqJkCkhd14nP1NcQcrmMFcZLNE1MUii-nNge2yx4zpY73WWHZ1OWDnMxOhiyKDnFibekPYOl7g9FqBieNUqWEHCN0l6/s320/7956e15bab83641de9b647f5a08d8313.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
When the movie Elf was released in 2003, one of the good friends at the time told me that Elf reminded them of me.<br />
<br />
<b>I’ll take that as a compliment. </b><br />
But honestly, I was most excited about the presents, the incandescent lighting, the decorations, and that tin box full of sugar cookies. The real meaning of Christmas, as we often hear, gets lost, and looking back when I was as a young teenager, it was awfully hard not to be distracted by all the other Christmas “stuff”.<br />
<br />
When we hear about Christmas in church, we hear a lot of “God with us”, and that is true, but what does that mean to us today? More important, why should this matter to teenagers?<br />
<br />
The author of the gospel of John doesn’t talk about Mary, Joseph, the wise men, or the shepherds. As John often does, he attempts to display a different angle on our Christology. Instead of beginning his gospel in a literal fashion, he does so in a philosophical and theological manner:<br />
<br />
<i>In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.</i><br />
<br />
Jesus’ birth occurred for a host of reasons, one of which was to bring “his life (that) brought light to everyone”. This life and light that Jesus brings is undefeated, inextinguishable, forever glorious and illuminated.<br />
<br />
The Incarnation is a powerful mystery in its origin and reality, and yet it is simultaneously accessible to all humans on our most fundamental levels of existence.<br />
<h4>
God came to be with us so that God could live IN us. The good news of the Incarnation is that, through the new birth of the Holy Spirit, we can not just “go to heaven when we die”, but actually become like Christ here on earth, (hopefully) bringing light and life to all WE encounter as well. The Christmas story is indeed a gift to receive, but it is equally important as a gift to share.</h4>
May you experience this new birth for yourself this holiday season. Let us encourage our teenagers to do the same.</div>
Clark Chiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14622237173233090267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243519987072376913.post-31182679878552471092016-11-21T15:30:00.001-05:002016-11-23T14:58:16.548-05:00Pastoral Response/youth group response to teenage suicide<br />
<br />
Last year I had the unfortunate and difficult task of responding and ministering to a teen suicide in our community. Adam was a young man in our youth group that took his own life. For me, it is the first time I have ever lost a close member of our youth group to death; suicide or otherwise. <br />
<br />
It still feels surreal.<br />
<br />
I still can’t quite believe I won’t see him again, hear his laugh, or have a great conversation with him. I’m not sure it has really sunk in yet.<br />
<br />
All death can create feelings of mourning and sadness, but suicide is different. It is so sudden, abrupt. You feel as if a piece has been taken out of you that will never be replaced. This bright, young life with so much promise is over.<br />
<br />
Its a punch to the gut, because so many would have told him how much they loved him. So many people would have talked him down, or tried to stop him. The 600+ people who came to the viewing or the 200+ who attended the funeral I officiated would have told him they loved the beautiful, uniquely made child of God that he was. <br />
<br />
Ironically, I was reading the book “Tuesdays with Morrie” two days before Adam’s death, and I highlighted this phrase in my Kindle, after Morrie attended a funeral of a friend, Irv:<br />
<br />
He came home depressed. “What a waste,” he said. “All those people saying all those wonderful things, and Irv never got to hear any of it.”<br />
<br />
Indeed. What a waste. <br />
<br />
As I unpack the emotions involved with this sort of tragedy, I hope and pray that my story and advice may help someone else as they walk along those who deal with the ramifications of teen suicide, and hopefully, to avoid it. <br />
<br />
There are no easy answers, but there are specific things you can do to lend effective pastoral care:<br />
Give clear guidance & leadership to the family – in moments of trauma, surviving family members operate in a fog or shock. They need you, as the minister, to give clear and affirming leadership. Take as much off their plate as you can.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Keep your phone at your side at all hours – be ready to reach out, call, and text youth and parents at any hour. </li>
<li>Run to God in your pain – encourage others to leverage their pain as a way to lay hold of God, and not the opposite. </li>
<li>Keep the focus on Jesus – if officiating the funeral, keep the focus on Jesus as the Good Shepherd, God’s loving sovereignty, and positive memories of the deceased. </li>
<li>Keep the focus on love – people need to be reminded of why they are at a viewing or funeral: its because they love that person. All are gathered because they care, and that is to be celebrated. If you love someone, tell them immediately. </li>
<li>And mean it – Youth ministers and parents fight for teenagers daily and love them with a passionate love. Live each day to the fullest, and if God ever brings a teen to mind to pray for or reach out to, act immediately. Keep fighting for your kids, and “leave it all on the field” so that if suicide does happen, you can know you did all you could. </li>
<li>Mourn with those who mourn – don’t give advice and for goodness sakes don’t say “Everything happens for a reason.” Just be present and weep when you want to weep. </li>
<li>Avoid “If only…” – it is so tempting to torment yourself with thoughts of “if only I had done this, etc”. I chose to affirm the fact that we have loved Adam well as a Christian community, which we have. Focus on the positive memories and how you have worked on someone’s behalf. Ultimately, the choice of someone to take their own life is just that: their own choice. Beating yourself up after the fact will not change what has happened. While incredibly sad that someone has taken their own life, there are also other potential suicides you have also possibly prevented over the years. If there is any positive side to “if only” thoughts, let it be an inspiration to reach out to teenagers that much more. God will do what is absolutely best – You will be asked the question, “Is he/she in heaven? Is he/she in hell?”. The short answer is: you don’t know. The long answer: God is perfect. Honestly, none of us really know at the time of death, especially in terms of a suicide where the profession of faith of the individual is in question. It is dishonest to give a false hope, or conversely, a false judgement. The grave is very silent and death is final on this side of eternity. What we can do, however, is trust in Jesus’ words, remember Jesus as the Good Shepherd, remember that a teenager is still a child, and that God will do what is perfect, just, loving, and eternally secure. We are not God, but we can trust in God’s perfect Word and God’s perfect character.</li>
</ul>
<br />
I will always love and miss Adam. I will think of him for the rest of my life. He has made an indelible mark on my life.<br />
<br />
Ministry and loving others is a risk. You never know what is going to occur. <br />
<br />
However, I think we can all agree its a risk worth taking. <br />
<br />
It is always better to love and lose someone than not to love at all.<br />
<br />
Keep up the good fight.Clark Chiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14622237173233090267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243519987072376913.post-45372796178342909042016-11-21T15:30:00.000-05:002016-11-23T14:48:43.528-05:00Dealing with teenage suicide<br />
<br />
Last year I had the unfortunate and difficult task of responding and ministering to a teen suicide in our community. Adam was a young man in our youth group that took his own life. For me, it is the first time I have ever lost a close member of our youth group to death; suicide or otherwise. <br />
<br />
It still feels surreal.<br />
<br />
I still can’t quite believe I won’t see him again, hear his laugh, or have a great conversation with him. I’m not sure it has really sunk in yet.<br />
<br />
All death can create feelings of mourning and sadness, but suicide is different. It is so sudden, abrupt. You feel as if a piece has been taken out of you that will never be replaced. This bright, young life with so much promise is over.<br />
<br />
Its a punch to the gut, because so many would have told him how much they loved him. So many people would have talked him down, or tried to stop him. The 600+ people who came to the viewing or the 200+ who attended the funeral I officiated would have told him they loved the beautiful, uniquely made child of God that he was. <br />
<br />
Ironically, I was reading the book “Tuesdays with Morrie” two days before Adam’s death, and I highlighted this phrase in my Kindle, after Morrie attended a funeral of a friend, Irv:<br />
<br />
He came home depressed. “What a waste,” he said. “All those people saying all those wonderful things, and Irv never got to hear any of it.”<br />
<br />
Indeed. What a waste. <br />
<br />
As I unpack the emotions involved with this sort of tragedy, I hope and pray that my story and advice may help someone else as they walk along those who deal with the ramifications of teen suicide, and hopefully, to avoid it. <br />
<br />
There are no easy answers, but there are specific things you can do to lend effective pastoral care:<br />
Give clear guidance & leadership to the family – in moments of trauma, surviving family members operate in a fog or shock. They need you, as the minister, to give clear and affirming leadership. Take as much off their plate as you can. <br />
<h4>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Keep your phone at your side at all hours – be ready to reach out, call, and text youth and parents at any hour. </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Run to God in your pain – encourage others to leverage their pain as a way to lay hold of God, and not the opposite.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Keep the focus on Jesus – if officiating the funeral, keep the focus on Jesus as the Good Shepherd, God’s loving sovereignty, and positive memories of the deceased. </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Keep the focus on love – people need to be reminded of why they are at a viewing or funeral: its because they love that person. All are gathered because they care, and that is to be celebrated. If you love someone, tell them immediately.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">And mean it – Youth ministers and parents fight for teenagers daily and love them with a passionate love. Live each day to the fullest, and if God ever brings a teen to mind to pray for or reach out to, act immediately. Keep fighting for your kids, and “leave it all on the field” so that if suicide does happen, you can know you did all you could.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Mourn with those who mourn – don’t give advice and for goodness sakes don’t say “Everything happens for a reason.” Just be present and weep when you want to weep. </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Avoid “If only…” – it is so tempting to torment yourself with thoughts of “if only I had done this, etc”. I chose to affirm the fact that we have loved Adam well as a Christian community, which we have. Focus on the positive memories and how you have worked on someone’s behalf. Ultimately, the choice of someone to take their own life is just that: their own choice. Beating yourself up after the fact will not change what has happened. While incredibly sad that someone has taken their own life, there are also other potential suicides you have also possibly prevented over the years. If there is any positive side to “if only” thoughts, let it be an inspiration to reach out to teenagers that much more. God will do what is absolutely best – You will be asked the question, “Is he/she in heaven? Is he/she in hell?”. The short answer is: you don’t know. The long answer: God is perfect. Honestly, none of us really know at the time of death, especially in terms of a suicide where the profession of faith of the individual is in question. It is dishonest to give a false hope, or conversely, a false judgement. The grave is very silent and death is final on this side of eternity. What we can do, however, is trust in Jesus’ words, remember Jesus as the Good Shepherd, remember that a teenager is still a child, and that God will do what is perfect, just, loving, and eternally secure. We are not God, but we can trust in God’s perfect Word and God’s perfect character. </span></li>
</ul>
<br />
</h4>
<br />
I will always love and miss Adam. I will think of him for the rest of my life. He has made an indelible mark on my life.<br />
<br />
Ministry and loving others is a risk. You never know what is going to occur. <br />
<br />
However, I think we can all agree its a risk worth taking. <br />
<br />
It is always better to love and lose someone than not to love at all. <br />
<br />
Keep up the good fight. Clark Chiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14622237173233090267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243519987072376913.post-83089230136750898762016-11-21T15:21:00.001-05:002016-11-21T15:31:44.345-05:00People over Programs<br />
<br />
Our middle school ministry has really be exploding lately, as in numerically. Not the violent sort. Its been a tough lesson learned, but over the years I've realized the importance of people over programs. Youth workers/ministers are notorious for pumping up games, pizza, crazy antics, pizza, games, etc. When a huge crowd arrives it may temporarily pump up our ego, but what measurable results are there after its over?<br />
<br />
I recently went to a National Day of Prayer gathering in my community and there were three other youth ministers present from churches in my community. One of these peers walked from student to student, talking very briefly with them, and began pitching his upcoming summer camp, handing out flyers and the whole bit. It seemed like he only showed up to partially pray, but mostly to further his ministry’s event.<br />
<br />
I’m all for evangelism, and I love summer camp, but it felt like the wrong venue. <br />
<br />
I realized that youth ministers (myself included) have a tendency to focus so much on the EVENT that we forget about PEOPLE. If we aren’t careful, we can fall into a sort of evangelical-pharisaical ministry practice, focusing more on “doing” and less on simply “being” with God’s people.<br />
<br />
Jesus always focused on the person in a relational sense, and then ministry could flow from that. Flipped the other way, it can quickly become about ego, numbers, and “salvations”. I’m all about seeing students get saved, but I want to do it God’s way, not in a way that has me charging ahead without listening to the Spirit’s guidance. <br />
<br />
Ministry is about relationships: our relationship with students, (more importantly) our volunteers relationship with students, and everyone’s relationship with God. If we forget that and focus only on events and flash, our ministries can have the outward appearance of “health” when in reality they will have no longevity, and the discipleship we worked so hard for in the live of teenagers will not carry over into their young adult years. <br />
<br />
Its a lot harder to slow down and seek relationships with students over event planning. It takes time, patience, risk (especially if you’re an introvert) and so much more. But it is what God is calling us to do.<br />
<br />
God sought us out first for a relationship with us (1 John 4), shouldn’t we seek to do the same with students?Clark Chiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14622237173233090267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243519987072376913.post-78076654212674385222016-09-06T14:58:00.002-04:002016-09-07T09:06:01.714-04:00Boys think about one thing....(the dating message)Its true.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Boys think about one thing.<br />
<br />
<b>Sports.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Seriously though, this coming week we'll be discussing dating, relationships and all that is involved with that whole bugaboo.<br />
<br />
<b>When I was in high school, thoughts of finding "the one" consumed my life at times,</b> almost to the point of consistent distraction and/or occasional depression. Many young people look for someone to "complete" them, but the focus is all wrong. As Jesus says, "wisdom is proved right by her actions." I focused constantly on what I didn't have, and I was usually miserable as a result. I so desperately wanted a girlfriend, but never got one at the time. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Now I'm incredibly thankful it shook down that way.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Instead of looking for "the one", we should be trusting God to make us "be the one" for someone else...down the road. Instead of focusing on <b><u>what we don't have (i.e. a boy/girl friend)</u></b>, God wants us to focus on what we <b><u>do have</u></b> (Jesus, the Spirit, godly friends, sports/the arts, activities, our church, etc) and celebrate those things, trusting God to provide "the one" at the right time.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This is a radical shift from celebrating selfishness to celebrating thankfulness, from being led by the flesh to being led by the Spirit, from demanding your inheritance now as opposed to letting it come at the right time.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
You're not single because you're only nice to girls (or because you're "ugly"). <br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQE2Ol_Kg-BUg0WdefXJv57_vur8edCjt-pcqdoqFDFIk5Vcb7sR4nqqbjn5ZTud1SNSxBpsj-SBpW6OBMfp5uYxv1aqJOkp-9mM6-l_eMgPt7xp8LWvM6kDsBO4yJqSanMWgnsiyCJUke/s1600/fd91118bdec98d745c581e526f2b0092.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQE2Ol_Kg-BUg0WdefXJv57_vur8edCjt-pcqdoqFDFIk5Vcb7sR4nqqbjn5ZTud1SNSxBpsj-SBpW6OBMfp5uYxv1aqJOkp-9mM6-l_eMgPt7xp8LWvM6kDsBO4yJqSanMWgnsiyCJUke/s400/fd91118bdec98d745c581e526f2b0092.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
<b>You're single because singleness is actually a gift. </b> Singleness provides you time to focus on what's most important and to trust God to provide when God knows you are ready. </div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Singleness allows us space to be reminded that who we are sexually is not our main descriptor in life. </b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Singleness allows you time to answer the question, "Would you date....you?"</b> Are you honestly the kind of person, at your stage in life, who is ready to give themselves over to another person in a healthy way that eventually leads to marriage? Would you date someone who is in the same place as you are right now (emotionally, spiritually, etc)? <br />
<br />
<b>If you're not ready to date "you", then what steps do you need to take now in order to develop qualities you want to see in your future spouse? </b><br />
<br />
<b>How can you develop the qualities of a good mate now so that when you meet "the one", you're actually ready for it?</b><br />
<br /></div>
<div>
If you wait to date and focus on becoming the right person, you are able to let God be in control of your relationships. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But what if you're already dating someone? There is nothing wrong with dating at a young age. Dating isn't wrong (God put that desire within us for a reason) but it is dangerous to do so at a young age. The pitfalls are many, and very few emerge unscathed. If you are dating someone, boundaries need to be in place. Boundaries establish value, not hindrance. Purity is a blessing, not a burden. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We'll post more about that next week! </div>
Clark Chiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14622237173233090267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243519987072376913.post-46344065380791554342016-04-10T16:25:00.000-04:002016-09-06T16:26:08.202-04:00Epic Fail: how we can learn from our failures<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Here is the transcript from the first message in our Epic Fail series:</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;" /><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I talk about fails tonight, its about moral failures when we know we screwed up and can make it right.. I’m not referring to when someone you love gets sick, or passes away, or disaster. Some things are not so simple they can be explained as “it happened for a reason.” Or that it happened “for our good”.</span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-708704e8-e295-7caf-c237-f3a86922cd9d" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"></span>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Our moral failures, however, we can learn from.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"></span>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The myth of “be safe”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We’re not talking about this to make anyone feel ashamed for failing. We’ve all failed and will fail. All of life can be a risk. Its always better to try and potentially fail then not try at all. Where do we see Jesus praying this? Where do we see him admonishing people to “be safe”? </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Where do we see the disciples or people in church history concerned about failure? The possibility of failure is always present. God doesn’t call us to be afraid of failure or to “be safe”, he calls us to be faithful, in prayer, willing to be used by God.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"></span>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some fails are avoidable. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you are responsible at the beginning, some fails are avoidable. That's wisdom. Putting things off isn't just lazy, it's a spiritual issue. If you devote work for Christ you do it well and do it quickly. </span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"></span>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Story. Me skipping school mom saw dad said "what if I skipped work everyday?" Burn. Fail would've been avoided if I was just faithful with my task, which was simple: go to school and do the work. Was it fun at the time to go to school? Not always. But it was certainly better than getting busted for skipping school and getting in trouble, that’s for sure. </span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"></span>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When you fail, how do you respond? </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feeling shame after we fail is to be expected, and shame doesn’t feel good. You want to make it go away as soon as possible. But running from your shame, and your failure, is one of the worst things you could ever do. </span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"></span>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We all fail: don’t let shame hold you down. What is shame? Its our conscience helping us know right from wrong. But what is our conscience? </span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"></span>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Don’t run from conscience. Shame is God trying to get your attention to help you make better decisions. Shame is how we can learn right from wrong. Shame is not a bad thing. Those who are wise and make good decisions are those who listen to God’s counsel through their conscience, through their shame. Listening, and learning from, our shame can help prevent more failures in the future. Is this easy? Not at all. Its actually one of the most emotionally difficult things to do. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Its a choice to learn from your shame. Its a decision to seek to grow in wisdom at any cost. Its a choice to learn from shame, a choice that should come from your love for Christ. You want to do better because your love him. Don’t just learn from your mistakes because you have to. Do it because you want to honor God in all that you do and because you love Jesus. </span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"></span>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Failure is how we learn</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Crosby scholars and my dad story - failed, grounded for 73 years, no (home) phone, super tense.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"></span>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Bible is full of flawed people who made mistakes and God used them anyway.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"></span>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God is with you. Remember God’s character</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Deut 31:6 - Be strong and bold; have no fear or dread of them, because it is the Lord your God who goes with you; he will not fail you or forsake you.”</span></div>
<h1 dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; margin: 20pt 0px 6pt; position: relative;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Psalm 111:2-4</span></h1>
<h1 dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; margin: 20pt 0px 6pt; position: relative;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 How amazing are the deeds of the Lord!</span></h1>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> All who delight in him should ponder them.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3 Everything he does reveals his glory and majesty.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> His righteousness never fails.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4 He causes us to remember his wonderful works.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> How gracious and merciful is our Lord!</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"></span>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God has never failed and will never fail. It can be hard to imagine someone who has never failed. In fact, everyone you know has failed at one time or another, but God hasn’t. </span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"></span>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In fact, if you truly believe in God, failure should not even be in your vocabulary. Total failure sounds like there is no hope, no future, no silver lining, but for those who know the Lord, we know that our failures are not the end. God is with us in our failures.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"></span>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let’s look at the ultimate epic fail, or so it seemed to everyone at the time: the cross. When Jesus was given a fake trial and crucified, it looked like the biggest epic fail in history. The movement was over, his followers were scattered, all was lost. Then God proceeded to take what looked like death, and turn it into life. Not only was Jesus raised from the dead, God then poured out the Spirit on the early church, as you heard this morning in Sunday school, to bring radical change to the world. </span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"></span>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. Rom 8:28 </span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"></span>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When you’re in the midst of a gigantic fail, its very hard to see anything positive out of it. But if you keep faith, and trust God, God can use it for the good</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- this applied to Jesus as well. </span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"></span>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus was faithful to God to the point of death, whatever the cost. Clearly in the garden of Gethsamane the night before, as he prayed all night long, Jesus was struggling. He felt the weight of what he knew he had to do, and was so crushed the Bible says that blood emitted from the pores of his skin. Jesus was willing to fail in the eyes of the world because 1) he was faithful to the will of His father and 2) he knew our sin had to be atoned for. </span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"></span>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus willingly entered into this “ultimate fail”...out of love. </span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"></span>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What failures are you struggling with? How is shame holding you down? Accept the forgiveness of God and move on. Shame can force us to pick our offering back up and hold onto it again. You are forgiven. Leave it on the altar. Confess your failure and keep on moving. </span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"></span>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Maybe someone has failed you. God calls us to forgive them. Forgiving someone won’t change the past, but it can change your future. God’s forgiveness can turn your fail into a bright future.</span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;" />
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God doesn’t want you to stay stuck in your yesterday. He want to set you free for today and tomorrow. </span></div>
Clark Chiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14622237173233090267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243519987072376913.post-13795400345334233932015-11-11T15:49:00.000-05:002016-09-06T15:53:38.225-04:00Just be Good for Goodness Sake?!?<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">If you haven't heard, a group called American Atheists put up a billboard in NC recently:</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6nuSB1wLnSs/VnHD9OysFZI/AAAAAAAAAf4/JUtQNfFA0sU/s1600/atheist-holiday-e1449604382429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #cc00cb; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6nuSB1wLnSs/VnHD9OysFZI/AAAAAAAAAf4/JUtQNfFA0sU/s1600/atheist-holiday-e1449604382429.jpg" style="background: rgb(17, 17, 17); border: 1px solid rgb(17, 17, 17); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 1px; position: relative;" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px; text-align: center;">
I'm not going to take the bait and bash atheists, malign them, or decry this billboard. Atheists are people that God loves, that I love, and its a free country. They are just as free to post things like this billboard as religious people can post their own billboards, <a href="http://www.goddiscussion.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Go-to-Church01.jpg" style="color: #cc00cb; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">which are occasionally horrible</a>. I have admiration for atheists: they don't take pat answers, they are open to engaging to intellectual scrutiny on a variety of issues, and they take pride in using reason. They don't just swallow whole any teaching that is given to them. There are lessons to glean there. </div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px; text-align: center;">
Many of them, however, believe the misconception and stereotype that you have to check your brain at the door in order to be a follower of Christ. </div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px; text-align: center;">
What I will point out about this billboard, however, is this: <b>why do we feel this drive to "be good"?</b> (even for goodness' sake). </div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px; text-align: center;">
<b>What is the origin of this desire? Why do we even care to try and "be good"? </b></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px; text-align: center;">
For one to engage on a search to "be good" implies that in your current condition you have the capability to <u>not</u> be good. When I search for something such as "goodness", it implies that I know that I am not always good, and that I need better actions to rectify the situation.</div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px; text-align: center;">
Atheists may agree on this, but we would arrive at a different causation for the effect. I would call this instinctual/covert movement towards goodness the natural human response to sin. We know we are sinners, and we attempt to satiate our conscience via our attempts at good works, with or without God.</div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px; text-align: center;">
Ultimately, this work is fruitless, because no one can make themselves perfectly righteous. Only faith in Christ, whose perfect sacrifice of righteousness on our behalf, can make us "good", all of it grace. All of it a gift of God on our behalf.</div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px; text-align: center;">
Many have begun to believe in God when they realized how perfectly impossible it is to <i>try</i> to be good, all the time. You can't do it. Why is that? </div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px; text-align: center;">
An atheist may say they want to be good simply because its sensible and reasonable, even if that flies in the face of a true Darwinian perspective of the world, which on an animalistic level should be each man for himself.</div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px; text-align: center;">
<b>It boils down to this: when I have a hunger for goodness, it implies that I was made to know goodness, </b>just as my hunger for food and water reasonably implies I need food and water to survive. </div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px; text-align: center;">
God is the only one who is good, all the time. <b>We are made for God and to be in relationship with God. Our actions speak louder than our words, </b>whether we admit it or not.</div>
Clark Chiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14622237173233090267noreply@blogger.com0