by Catrina LeSure
During World War II, the United States Marines relied heavily on around 500 men tasked with transmitting and translating tactical messages in Navajo language. Using such a complex language allowed officers to transfer messages across enemy lines without fear that interception would compromise the battle plan. While enemies may have managed to intercept these transmissions, there was no way to translate the messages without a Navajo code talker. These men were integral to successfully transmitting secret messages where they were needed.
While Navajo code talkers were used as secret weapons in World War II, the true weapon was successful communication, untarnished by enemy lies. Communication is an integral part of any war. Throughout every battle there is a need for leaders to send and receive information for the front line. Without these open lines of communication, soldiers find themselves isolated from hope or a plan. Trapped in the throws of battle, it can be a very dark and frightening place without a connection to the outside. Fortunately, we have access 24/7 to our Commander and Chief. We can both send and receive messages across enemy lines without fear of interception.
But here's the reality: We have to use it. Paul's call to the armor of Christ was covered in the necessity of prayer. We have to continually connect with God through prayer in order to ensure that we are receiving instructions and sharing our struggle with Him. While it's tempting to go in swinging and not worry about what's happening outside of your battle, the fact is that God has more wisdom to share than we can handle at one time. In order to fight with strategy we have to stay connected to God at all times. We have to pray constantly.
Prayer is about more than just speaking to God. Prayer includes hearing from God. We have to speak and listen in order to make sure that our relationship with God remains in tact and that we can hear his voice speaking to us. Spend time with God praying, praising, and reading His Word in order to ensure that we keep ourselves in perspective. It's the only way to win this great war.
Monday, March 14, 2016
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
The Smallest Weapon of Mass Destruction
Have you ever been focused on being fully dressed for school that you would totally forget about that one textbook at home? Have you felt unprepared when you left that item? Imagine a soldier going into battle armored up from head to toe, however he doesn't have anything to fight with. It is always important for a warrior to have a sword with them at times. Using a shield may protect you but you still need something to defend you, a sword.
Paul mentions in Ephesians 6:17 (NLT), “...and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” So far, you have read about each piece of armor that is connected with what we know as the "Full Armor of God," notice how Paul uses the Sword of the Spirit as the only weapon used as a part of the armor. I know some are wondering why not use an arrow or a sling to fight with, why a sword? A sword, although it may seem quite simple, but it can do some collateral damage, just as it is mentioned in the book of Hebrews: “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” Hebrews 4:12 (NLT)
A sword is used to attack and defeat the enemy at close range. "Why does God want us to fight at close range, is He serious???" Well, if we were able to fight our battles from a far distance, we would not have growth. The most notorious gladiators are not the ones who fight from far away but up close and personal. The Bible tells us in James 1:2-4, "Brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."
One person who can vouch for the need of the Sword of The Spirt is Jesus. If you read Luke 4:1-13, you would noticed that the only weapon that Jesus had in the wilderness while being tempted by Satan was The Word of God, The Sword of the Spirit. Satan even tried to quote Scripture but Jesus was able to withstand Satan's attacks with The Sword of the Spirit.
There are going to be times when people will think that your weapon of choice, in this battlefield called life, is not strong enough, it's not sharp enough, it's not stable enough and that is why you have the shield of faith that would protect you from the arrows of doubts concerning your Sword. You may have a couple of mishaps with your Sword and you may feel as though it's no big deal, but take time to "sharpen" it by spending time reading the Word of God daily. By doing so, you can fight effectively in your armor while preserving the "wear and tear."
If we are in the army of God, what is there to worry about? He has supplied us with the finest armor and the sharpest and most powerful weapon known by mankind. It's time for us to face the ends in his face and FIGHT!!!
Saturday, February 20, 2016
Headwraps and Hats and Helmets...OH MY!
by Catrina LeSure
I hate my hair!!! It's kinky and curly and painful to comb and I hate it! That's why people seldom see my hair. I've covered it with weave, wigs, head wraps, hats...you name it. And don't get me wrong, I have tried to fix my hair. I've tried relaxers, extensions, and expensive conditioners to get some kind of compliance but they all fall short. Over the years, my head has become a source of great vulnerability for me. I hide it because in truth my head has become my heart in many ways. To be so fully exposed is something I fear.
Now guys, I know I lost you for a minute there with the whole hair drama but let me say this. We all have our own hair drama. Each of us has that place that we feel exposed. We worry about people seeing the real us and not liking what they see. It may be insecurity about height or weight, concerns how your friends would view your political views, or and inferiority complex when it comes to education. But we all have things, big or small, that give us pause to reveal to others.
I have great news! If people saw the real you...they really wouldn't like what they saw. I know that may sound upsetting or judgmental but it's actually good news. We are all a mess, some of us just cover it up better than others. But our true selves are sinful, ugly people, capable of things we wouldn't dare admit to. We all need something or Someone to change our minds.
Enter the ultimate Helmet against the evil ideas Satan would implant. While head wraps and hats can cover up what's inside, the helmet of salvation goes even further to change us from the inside out. Jesus' sacrifice not only saves us but changes us more and more into the people that He wants us to be. That's a big deal because it's something we can never do on our own. No matter how hard we try, we cannot remove the evil that has consumed us. We are powerless against Satan. But Jesus died to set us free from the power of sin and death.
The brain is sensitive body part and it is fully exposed in battle without the right helmet. The free salvation offered to us through Jesus fits each of us and protects us from the evil thoughts Satan would send in our direction. We are safe from the spirit of hopelessness, selfishness, and fear that Satan would send as fiery arrows in our direction. Instead we are covered with Christ's peace, power, and love. I think that's a style that looks good on all of us.
I hate my hair!!! It's kinky and curly and painful to comb and I hate it! That's why people seldom see my hair. I've covered it with weave, wigs, head wraps, hats...you name it. And don't get me wrong, I have tried to fix my hair. I've tried relaxers, extensions, and expensive conditioners to get some kind of compliance but they all fall short. Over the years, my head has become a source of great vulnerability for me. I hide it because in truth my head has become my heart in many ways. To be so fully exposed is something I fear.
Now guys, I know I lost you for a minute there with the whole hair drama but let me say this. We all have our own hair drama. Each of us has that place that we feel exposed. We worry about people seeing the real us and not liking what they see. It may be insecurity about height or weight, concerns how your friends would view your political views, or and inferiority complex when it comes to education. But we all have things, big or small, that give us pause to reveal to others.
I have great news! If people saw the real you...they really wouldn't like what they saw. I know that may sound upsetting or judgmental but it's actually good news. We are all a mess, some of us just cover it up better than others. But our true selves are sinful, ugly people, capable of things we wouldn't dare admit to. We all need something or Someone to change our minds.
Enter the ultimate Helmet against the evil ideas Satan would implant. While head wraps and hats can cover up what's inside, the helmet of salvation goes even further to change us from the inside out. Jesus' sacrifice not only saves us but changes us more and more into the people that He wants us to be. That's a big deal because it's something we can never do on our own. No matter how hard we try, we cannot remove the evil that has consumed us. We are powerless against Satan. But Jesus died to set us free from the power of sin and death.
The brain is sensitive body part and it is fully exposed in battle without the right helmet. The free salvation offered to us through Jesus fits each of us and protects us from the evil thoughts Satan would send in our direction. We are safe from the spirit of hopelessness, selfishness, and fear that Satan would send as fiery arrows in our direction. Instead we are covered with Christ's peace, power, and love. I think that's a style that looks good on all of us.
Monday, February 15, 2016
Shield of Faith
by Catrina LeSure
If you could have one super power, what would it be? If you are in youth ministry and never heard that question, you haven't been in youth ministry long enough. We are fascinated by the ability to do more or be more than average. As youth leaders, we are constantly honing our super powers. We are figuring out the incredible efficiency of the multi-task, the impressive impact of the narrative sermon, and the unbelievable importance of the lock-in sleep with eyes open.
But the fact is that these are more super honed skills than super powers. And truth be told I have often asked myself what power I would choose if I had a super power. Super speed is tempting when I find myself impatient with God's timing and wishing to get through all the tasks on my to-do list. But then I remember that I would be faster but God would still go in His time and that kind of kills that dream. I consider the possibility of super strength and imagine myself "Hulking out" against the injustices of this world...until I remember that hulk smash only makes a bigger mess. In truth, I have never been excited about some super powers like flight, telekinesis, or mind reading. I don't know why, but I feel like there isn't much I could do with those. But there is one super power that I seem to go back to every time. I would love to have the force field power like Violet Parr in the Incredibles. To be able to protect myself and those closest to me from the pain of this life would be a real win for me. Alas, my ability to create shelter of any kind is limited to blanket forts and pop-up tents.
The funny things is, God has given all of us access to a wide range of super powers. He gives them to us free of charge and only requires one thing of us to get them. We must have faith to access these super powers. The Bible is full of messages on the importance of faith. Hebrews 11 stands as a Hall of Faith chronicling some of the amazing people in history who's faith helped change the world. Jesus repeatedly admonishes his disciples to have faith. And he doesn't even ask us to have that much, just a mustard seed worth. Imagine having something 1 mm in diameter that had the ability to call down fire from heaven, turn back time, destroy a mighty giant, or part the Red Sea. It wouldn't be a question of what you could do. The more accurate question would be: What can't you do? World hunger, terrorism, and political corruption would be vanquished before dinner.
So how do we get this faith. How do we acquire, even such a tiny amount of, this profound world changing power connection? This is easier said than done.
1. Believe: Hebrews 11:6
2. Pray: Mark 9:29
3. Act: Luke 17:11-19
4. Repeat
It seems simple but it takes a lot of searching and submitting to have faith. It's a challenge that may leave you feeling drained, frustrated, or disappointed. But it is worth it every time. Because more than any material thing God does as a result of your faith, you will find yourself super connected to the God of the universe. There isn't a better super power than that.
If you could have one super power, what would it be? If you are in youth ministry and never heard that question, you haven't been in youth ministry long enough. We are fascinated by the ability to do more or be more than average. As youth leaders, we are constantly honing our super powers. We are figuring out the incredible efficiency of the multi-task, the impressive impact of the narrative sermon, and the unbelievable importance of the lock-in sleep with eyes open.
But the fact is that these are more super honed skills than super powers. And truth be told I have often asked myself what power I would choose if I had a super power. Super speed is tempting when I find myself impatient with God's timing and wishing to get through all the tasks on my to-do list. But then I remember that I would be faster but God would still go in His time and that kind of kills that dream. I consider the possibility of super strength and imagine myself "Hulking out" against the injustices of this world...until I remember that hulk smash only makes a bigger mess. In truth, I have never been excited about some super powers like flight, telekinesis, or mind reading. I don't know why, but I feel like there isn't much I could do with those. But there is one super power that I seem to go back to every time. I would love to have the force field power like Violet Parr in the Incredibles. To be able to protect myself and those closest to me from the pain of this life would be a real win for me. Alas, my ability to create shelter of any kind is limited to blanket forts and pop-up tents.
The funny things is, God has given all of us access to a wide range of super powers. He gives them to us free of charge and only requires one thing of us to get them. We must have faith to access these super powers. The Bible is full of messages on the importance of faith. Hebrews 11 stands as a Hall of Faith chronicling some of the amazing people in history who's faith helped change the world. Jesus repeatedly admonishes his disciples to have faith. And he doesn't even ask us to have that much, just a mustard seed worth. Imagine having something 1 mm in diameter that had the ability to call down fire from heaven, turn back time, destroy a mighty giant, or part the Red Sea. It wouldn't be a question of what you could do. The more accurate question would be: What can't you do? World hunger, terrorism, and political corruption would be vanquished before dinner.
So how do we get this faith. How do we acquire, even such a tiny amount of, this profound world changing power connection? This is easier said than done.
1. Believe: Hebrews 11:6
2. Pray: Mark 9:29
3. Act: Luke 17:11-19
4. Repeat
It seems simple but it takes a lot of searching and submitting to have faith. It's a challenge that may leave you feeling drained, frustrated, or disappointed. But it is worth it every time. Because more than any material thing God does as a result of your faith, you will find yourself super connected to the God of the universe. There isn't a better super power than that.
Monday, February 1, 2016
How Strong is Your Shoe Game
by Darnisha Thomas
Growing up in the DMV (DC/Maryland/Virginia), fashion sense was learned at a young age. Color coordination was key, from head to toe. Pants could not reach a certain length above the ankles or else you would be picked on for wearing “high water pants.” Name brand clothing would give you an abundance of respect, from Apple Bottoms to Baby Phat and even Fubu. As of now, those brands are played out, of all the outfits and accessories, there is one accessory that was and is still important, to this very day., The shoe game. One must always make sure that their shoe game is strong. Their shoes must go along with the latest trends. If they don’t, chances are you might be asked the most important question of all time, “WHAT ARE THOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSE????!!!!!” You don’t want anybody to ask you this question, at all.
From reading Ephesians 6:15, we are to wear shoes of the preparation of the gospel of peace. What is the big deal about shoes during Paul’s time? A soldier would wear shoes to protect their feet from debris such as pebbles and sticks while fighting. Imagine a soldier fighting in the heat of battle, with no shoes who suddenly steps on a sharp item and falls. That soldier would be in a deadly situation. Which is why it was important for Paul to mention the simplest, yet most important accessory as a part of the full armor of God. The beauty of shoes is that we can walk anywhere around the world without having to worry about getting splinters in our feet or exposing them to bacterial infections. What God wants us to know from this verse is that He wants us to be ready to move when He tells us to move to spread the good news of His Son, Jesus Christ. By binding our shoes with Jesus we will be prepared to walk in the most intense areas of life.
Do you want to be ready to go out for battle? Nike tells us to “Just Do it!” Are you uncertain if your “shoe game” in Christ would protect your vulnerable feet in the hardest times of your life? Adidas reminds us that “Impossible is Nothing.” Will you take on the task of being an effective gladiator for God in this generation? Jordan tells us to “Become Legendary.,”. It’s time for us to step our shoe game and lace up the peace that surpasses all understanding as the result of the power of the Gospel of Jesus and get out and FIGHT!
Monday, January 25, 2016
Guard Your Heart
by Catrina LeSure
I remember it like it was yesterday. I felt like I couldn't breath. I just knew my heart had stopped and prayed that my mind would stop spinning with the horrific news. We'd been together for five years. How could he do this to me? I should have seen it coming. The secret cell phone...the calls he took in another room...it all should have pointed to her. But it didn't. He'd found a way into my heart and I had chosen to ignore all the warning signs as a result. I cried for weeks and would never reveal just how much chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream I ate because it's far too cliche. When my heart was broken the overflow was pain, misery, contempt, and loss.
I poured my heart into these kids. They were my life. We shopped for campouts together, prepared for the flowers honor as a team, and organized service projects as one. So how could one man ruin all of this? How could one person's opinion be more valuable than the ministry I built with my own blood, sweat, and tears? I had given my heart to this ministry. To lose it for the sake of one thought was horrific, I became bitter, angry, and vengeful.
Regardless of how romantic or noble your choices, giving your heart to the wrong things will end in heartbreak. There is only one place where your heart can be truly safe and that's in the hands of Jesus. In truth, there is no better way to describe the breastplate of righteousness than the hand of God. It is the great protection of our hearts.
Breastplates aren't really the war icon that some other pieces of armor are. Nowadays, they get covered under shirts more often than not. But at the end of the day they are always something you have to put on. No one is born with a built in breastplate. Similarly Solomon declares, "There is none righteous!" In truth, the breastplate of righteousness is a source of great praise to God. There is no way to get the breastplate of righteousness without Him. There is nothing within us to protect our hearts from the sin that is already within them. Instead we need the hand of God to remove the threat from within and protect from the threat from without.
So long as we attempt to protect our own hearts, we will fail. The only way to find success in protecting our hearts is to place it in the hands of the One who created it.
I remember it like it was yesterday. I felt like I couldn't breath. I just knew my heart had stopped and prayed that my mind would stop spinning with the horrific news. We'd been together for five years. How could he do this to me? I should have seen it coming. The secret cell phone...the calls he took in another room...it all should have pointed to her. But it didn't. He'd found a way into my heart and I had chosen to ignore all the warning signs as a result. I cried for weeks and would never reveal just how much chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream I ate because it's far too cliche. When my heart was broken the overflow was pain, misery, contempt, and loss.
I poured my heart into these kids. They were my life. We shopped for campouts together, prepared for the flowers honor as a team, and organized service projects as one. So how could one man ruin all of this? How could one person's opinion be more valuable than the ministry I built with my own blood, sweat, and tears? I had given my heart to this ministry. To lose it for the sake of one thought was horrific, I became bitter, angry, and vengeful.
Regardless of how romantic or noble your choices, giving your heart to the wrong things will end in heartbreak. There is only one place where your heart can be truly safe and that's in the hands of Jesus. In truth, there is no better way to describe the breastplate of righteousness than the hand of God. It is the great protection of our hearts.
Breastplates aren't really the war icon that some other pieces of armor are. Nowadays, they get covered under shirts more often than not. But at the end of the day they are always something you have to put on. No one is born with a built in breastplate. Similarly Solomon declares, "There is none righteous!" In truth, the breastplate of righteousness is a source of great praise to God. There is no way to get the breastplate of righteousness without Him. There is nothing within us to protect our hearts from the sin that is already within them. Instead we need the hand of God to remove the threat from within and protect from the threat from without.
So long as we attempt to protect our own hearts, we will fail. The only way to find success in protecting our hearts is to place it in the hands of the One who created it.
Monday, January 18, 2016
The Importance of a Good Belt
by Matthew Johnson
One of the funniest things that I had to go through as a kid was picking the right belt. There were occasions where I would spend a painstakingly long time with my parents, trying to find a belt that fit and looked right--one with just enough length and loops to keep my pants up, but not uncomfortably squeeze my small, lanky frame in the process.
Contrary to what people may say, belts serve only two purposes:
1) They hold up our lower clothing.
2) They hold tools and other items.
It wasn't until around the 19th Century that belts became more about aesthetics and fashion. Men would even cinch their belts extra tight in order to appear more imposing. So this makes the idea of a "belt of truth"...well, a very strange concept.
We live in a relativistic world, which is a bit strange considering the concept of no aboslute truth is itself absolute truth. Yet this is the case, and we find ourselves surrounded by statements and cliches like:
"Let's agree to disagree."
"That may work for you, but this works for me."
"It's all about perspective."
"I'll do me and you do you."
In a world like this, claiming something like "truth" or "the way" can seem closed-minded and pompous. And those who have strong beliefs, who know for certain that they have the truth, can often feel persecuted and put down. So they either tighten their belts of truth so tightly that they are unable to breath, or they wear them so loosely that they end up with sagging pants and not much conviction.
There is a very big difference between carefully looking at the belt of another person and loosening one's own.
Oftentimes I think we're afraid to hear from other people about their beliefs because we're afraid that it means we're not holding onto our own. We feel as though we are exposing ourselves to lies and deception. But listening and observing the conviction and tightness and quality of another's belt, does not mean you will or should drop your own.
The purpose of the belt of truth is to protect us from the lies and deception we encounter in daily spiritual warfare. It is an essential piece of equipment that both protects our midsection and gives us a foundation to hold our sword and equipment. After all, is there any point to having the Word of God if we don't believe in God? The truth of Jesus Christ and what He's done is a reminder to us that we can reflect on in the face of any of the enemy's tricks and, like any good belt, holds much of the rest of our armored outfit together.
One of the funniest things that I had to go through as a kid was picking the right belt. There were occasions where I would spend a painstakingly long time with my parents, trying to find a belt that fit and looked right--one with just enough length and loops to keep my pants up, but not uncomfortably squeeze my small, lanky frame in the process.
Contrary to what people may say, belts serve only two purposes:
1) They hold up our lower clothing.
2) They hold tools and other items.
It wasn't until around the 19th Century that belts became more about aesthetics and fashion. Men would even cinch their belts extra tight in order to appear more imposing. So this makes the idea of a "belt of truth"...well, a very strange concept.
We live in a relativistic world, which is a bit strange considering the concept of no aboslute truth is itself absolute truth. Yet this is the case, and we find ourselves surrounded by statements and cliches like:
"Let's agree to disagree."
"That may work for you, but this works for me."
"It's all about perspective."
"I'll do me and you do you."
In a world like this, claiming something like "truth" or "the way" can seem closed-minded and pompous. And those who have strong beliefs, who know for certain that they have the truth, can often feel persecuted and put down. So they either tighten their belts of truth so tightly that they are unable to breath, or they wear them so loosely that they end up with sagging pants and not much conviction.
There is a very big difference between carefully looking at the belt of another person and loosening one's own.
Oftentimes I think we're afraid to hear from other people about their beliefs because we're afraid that it means we're not holding onto our own. We feel as though we are exposing ourselves to lies and deception. But listening and observing the conviction and tightness and quality of another's belt, does not mean you will or should drop your own.
The purpose of the belt of truth is to protect us from the lies and deception we encounter in daily spiritual warfare. It is an essential piece of equipment that both protects our midsection and gives us a foundation to hold our sword and equipment. After all, is there any point to having the Word of God if we don't believe in God? The truth of Jesus Christ and what He's done is a reminder to us that we can reflect on in the face of any of the enemy's tricks and, like any good belt, holds much of the rest of our armored outfit together.
Monday, January 11, 2016
The Armor of God
by Catrina LeSure
Why don't young people today take the Great Controversy more seriously? Why aren't they more intentional about protecting themselves from the "fiery arrows of the devil"? Why don't they show a higher commitment to standing against principalities and powers of darkness? Are they an apathetic generation? Maybe. Do they question the existence and nature of the antiquated story line of good vs. evil? Possibly? Are they so bogged down in the day to day of this world that they fail to recognize the bigger plot playing out all around them every day? Probably.
But, truthfully, youth seem to be sleeping on the battlefield because attitude reflects leadership. The most influential voices in the lives of our youth are being heard, listened to, and followed such that the views of these leaders can be clearly seen and translated. Let me be clear. The leadership I am referring to is not some theoretical heirarchy scientifically designed to impact the opinions and decisions of adolescents. This is not some rant about the impact of rap music and technology on religious views of teens. I have no thoughts to express on the way Facebook and Twitter have changed devotional habits of youth. The leadership I am referring has a much larger flesh and blood feel. I am referring to you!
Don't turn around looking for some other "you". Don't start looking through your contacts for someone to forward this to. I'm talking to you! The mother, father, pastor, counselor, youth leader, friend sitting here reading right now. The attitude of youth you work with reflects the thoughts and opinions you have instilled.
This is not what you hoped to hear. I know it would be great to blame something or someone else for the youth's unresponsive nature when it comes to spiritual warfare. But we have done this. That has good news and bad news. The bad news is that we've demonstrated what our efforts can achieve. It's unlikely that anyone of us can fix what it took all of us to break. We have been so caught up in acquiring the trappings of this world that we have reallocated religion to a few hours of our weekend. We have rewritten the ideas of Christianity to separate our worldly desires from the things we call idols. We have propagated a message that minimizes God to a genie we place in a small box and take out to grant wishes. We have cartoonized the devil to a red horned beast that sits on our shoulder with fun, albeit unwise, advice. It's unlikely that any one of us can fix what it took all of us to break.
The good news is that we don't have to fix it alone. God has already shared with us the cure for what ails us: truth. Bold, unwavering, truth spoken with love and conviction is the key to changing our minds and hearts on this issue. Paul's words in Ephesians weren't fun. He didn't use fluff words to rivet his readers away from whatever their versiono f a PS4 was. He had no need to make his message cute or cool. He didn't sit around contemplating how to make it "relevant". Paul spoke the truth.
But our lives fail to match Paul's mindset. Paul describes an epic battle with words like wrestle, rulers, and armor. While the armor is primarily defensive, it is anything but passive. Wearing such garments would have been in stark contrast to their day to day clothes. It would be clear that anyone decked out in such gear believed they were in hostile territory and their behavior would inevitably reflect the added weight and nature of their outerwear.
Our lives must also reflect the armor we claim to adorn. It should be obvious that our lives are lived in hostile territory and our actions should reflect the constraints of the burden we bear. But there is a key aspect of this that we overlook. Because armor is not a normal outfit, we mustwe must be trained in order to use it effectively. We need to know how to put it on properly, how to move with the new weights and constraints. and how to follow our commanding officer in the field. This would all happen away from the front in an ideal situation. But we don't have the most ideal situation. That's why making time to train with our Commander and Chief is so crucial.
We have to spend alone time with God before the day begins. We have to know when the battle is too much and it's time to retreat to the safety of our Shelter. We have to stay in constant communication with God so that we can be guided, encouraged, and comforted.
When our youth see us winning the Great Battle, they will put on their helmets, pick up the swords and rush in with us to claim their own victory.
Why don't young people today take the Great Controversy more seriously? Why aren't they more intentional about protecting themselves from the "fiery arrows of the devil"? Why don't they show a higher commitment to standing against principalities and powers of darkness? Are they an apathetic generation? Maybe. Do they question the existence and nature of the antiquated story line of good vs. evil? Possibly? Are they so bogged down in the day to day of this world that they fail to recognize the bigger plot playing out all around them every day? Probably.
But, truthfully, youth seem to be sleeping on the battlefield because attitude reflects leadership. The most influential voices in the lives of our youth are being heard, listened to, and followed such that the views of these leaders can be clearly seen and translated. Let me be clear. The leadership I am referring to is not some theoretical heirarchy scientifically designed to impact the opinions and decisions of adolescents. This is not some rant about the impact of rap music and technology on religious views of teens. I have no thoughts to express on the way Facebook and Twitter have changed devotional habits of youth. The leadership I am referring has a much larger flesh and blood feel. I am referring to you!
Don't turn around looking for some other "you". Don't start looking through your contacts for someone to forward this to. I'm talking to you! The mother, father, pastor, counselor, youth leader, friend sitting here reading right now. The attitude of youth you work with reflects the thoughts and opinions you have instilled.
This is not what you hoped to hear. I know it would be great to blame something or someone else for the youth's unresponsive nature when it comes to spiritual warfare. But we have done this. That has good news and bad news. The bad news is that we've demonstrated what our efforts can achieve. It's unlikely that anyone of us can fix what it took all of us to break. We have been so caught up in acquiring the trappings of this world that we have reallocated religion to a few hours of our weekend. We have rewritten the ideas of Christianity to separate our worldly desires from the things we call idols. We have propagated a message that minimizes God to a genie we place in a small box and take out to grant wishes. We have cartoonized the devil to a red horned beast that sits on our shoulder with fun, albeit unwise, advice. It's unlikely that any one of us can fix what it took all of us to break.
The good news is that we don't have to fix it alone. God has already shared with us the cure for what ails us: truth. Bold, unwavering, truth spoken with love and conviction is the key to changing our minds and hearts on this issue. Paul's words in Ephesians weren't fun. He didn't use fluff words to rivet his readers away from whatever their versiono f a PS4 was. He had no need to make his message cute or cool. He didn't sit around contemplating how to make it "relevant". Paul spoke the truth.
But our lives fail to match Paul's mindset. Paul describes an epic battle with words like wrestle, rulers, and armor. While the armor is primarily defensive, it is anything but passive. Wearing such garments would have been in stark contrast to their day to day clothes. It would be clear that anyone decked out in such gear believed they were in hostile territory and their behavior would inevitably reflect the added weight and nature of their outerwear.
Our lives must also reflect the armor we claim to adorn. It should be obvious that our lives are lived in hostile territory and our actions should reflect the constraints of the burden we bear. But there is a key aspect of this that we overlook. Because armor is not a normal outfit, we mustwe must be trained in order to use it effectively. We need to know how to put it on properly, how to move with the new weights and constraints. and how to follow our commanding officer in the field. This would all happen away from the front in an ideal situation. But we don't have the most ideal situation. That's why making time to train with our Commander and Chief is so crucial.
We have to spend alone time with God before the day begins. We have to know when the battle is too much and it's time to retreat to the safety of our Shelter. We have to stay in constant communication with God so that we can be guided, encouraged, and comforted.
When our youth see us winning the Great Battle, they will put on their helmets, pick up the swords and rush in with us to claim their own victory.
Monday, January 4, 2016
The Power of One
by Catrina LeSure
I remember my first day at a new school. In the middle of 5th grade, my parents ripped me away from those nearest and dearest to me to place me into a whole new world where I knew no one. I cried as I walked for the first time to the bus stop. I cried sitting next to my brother on the bus. I wiped my tears as I got off the bus to put on a strong face. Then I walked to winding halls through students who all looked as scary as I felt they were to Mrs. Mills' class. She was a nice enough lady. She showed me to my locker and showed me where to sit. But I was still terrified and alone in a sea of kids that didn't seem to realize I existed.
As the kids walked into class they made confused looks at me as they made their way to their seats but then went about life like I didn't matter. Then...it happened. Katelyn Dunn sat down next to me. She smiled at me as she took out a pencil from her desk. I smiled back the best I could. But when she said "hi", I felt a lot of the stress and pressure go away. I didn't know that Mrs. Mills had assigned me to Katelyn. I didn't know that Katelyn had been prepared for a new student. I didn't know that Katelyn had been given the special task of making me feel at home. I didn't find any of that stuff out until much later. All I knew was that Katelyn Dunn was nice to me when I was afraid of being eaten alive. She sat with me at lunch and introduced me to her friends at recess. She invited me to her birthday party and made me feel like I was where I'd always meant to be.
I haven't forgotten Katelyn these 20 years later. She stands out in my mind because she was just one person but she changed my world. She didn't do anything particularly incredible when you think about it though. That's the thing about the power of 1. The power of 1 doesn't come from being a super hero (although Thor is pretty dreamy...). The power of 1 comes simply from being the 1.
As a youth leader I am often distracted by the power of the crowd. I find myself trying to plan events to make everyone happy. I get overwhelmed trying to make sure my message reaches the masses. But every so often I am reminded of the power of 1. It comes when I spend a day with one family doing a food drive and reward the three kids with cocoa. I hear about their days and their lives and I am reminded that they are not them. They are each incredible individuals. I find when I'm teaching one of my teens to write a campout budget and she spends the afternoon talking about her favorite memories from campouts gone by. I am reminded that some of the best parts of our programs are not the parts we planned but the parts where God simply decides to show up.
But there are times when I'm also overwhelmed by a feeling that I am just one. Doing both youth and children's ministry means that I can accidentally go months without participating in meaningful adult ministry experiences. It can feel lonely and isolating and seem like the only people that get you are the other volunteers that are as burned out as you are. Having the power of 1 doesn't mean I am all powerful. But every so often I am reminded of the power of One. It comes when I get to the end of a VBS week too tired to put one foot in front of the other and find that some of my kids have made the decision to accept Jesus as their forever friend. I am reminded that my efforts are not for me but for the One who truly matters. It comes in the form of a parent whose child has been struggling with drugs hugging you and telling you how grateful she is for you standing by her through it all. I am reminded that I can't fix everything but I know Someone who can.
There is a power in one that I think we often overlook. But I am grateful for the power of the ones in my life. I am grateful for the chances to be one for someone else. I am most of all grateful for the One who makes it all worth while.
Sunday, December 20, 2015
What If...
I am not naturally the kind of person that follows the “what
if’s” of life. I find such territory
frightening. It’s a world beyond my
control—a world where anything can happen.
But I find myself with a question from God that I can’t seem to shake. “What if Ellen G. White was right about an
‘army of youth’ needing to finish the work so that Jesus could come back?” This is a compelling question for me as a
youth leader because it means that my work isn’t just about saving a few
souls. My work is about getting to go
home! It means that my responsibility
goes beyond programming. My responsibility
is to empower every young person I come in contact with to be a part of that
army. I need to help them understand
their mission and I need to help them recruit others.
This inevitably begs the question: “Do my current efforts
reflect this responsibility?” I’d have
to answer sadly, “no”. My recent
ministry efforts haven’t been so much a reflection of my desire to contribute
to the army of youth as it has been a reflection of my commitment to the
traditions of my church. Don’t get me
wrong I love my church! But are the
traditions of my church really the most effective way to reach this generation
of youth? Maybe? Maybe not? I’ve found that when I remain faithful to the
Bible but step away from tradition, I am more effective at reaching young people
and empowering them to reach others.
This inevitably leads to another fearful question: “What if
I did ministry fully committed to the Bible and building the army of
youth?” This is how Gladiators for God
came about. My decision to step out of
the box, Bible in hand, and do my part for God’s great army. It is terrifying and exhilarating and I can’t
wait to see what God does with it.
“Let no one despise you because of your youth, but set the believers an example, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12
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