Parents Driving You Crazy?!

We have just started a new series at 412 entitled, “your family”. It’s a hard subject matter to teach because there are so many family situations out there. Some parents in the middle east fighting for our country. Other parents are divorced. Some of the youth have parents that have passed away. Some have grandparents that have stepped in as parents. Some are adopted parents. Regardless of the circumstance or situation, Exodus 20:12 says, “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you”. If youth would begin to honor, respect, and love their parents…could you imagine what a difference that would make? Sometimes parents will drive you crazy and you don’t know how to love them. They drive you crazy with their antics. But we can show parents love by honoring them and respecting them. I challenged the youth to ask their parents a simple question last night: What’s one thing I can do to show you more respect and honor? The next thing to do would be to act it out. I’ve already heard some powerful testimonies from 412′ers and it’s less than 24hrs since we had service. Could you be the next testimony? Can you honor and respect your parents? Dude, it’s hard and I get that…but we cannot control our family situations, we can control our attitudes. I want the blessing found in Exodus 20:12…what about you?

Readers, JUMP OUT OF YOUR BOAT!

Peter is my hero. No, not the “family guy” Peter (although he does crack me up) but the Peter found in the Bible. He was always the first to do something. I am sure the others were like, “What the heck Peter!?! Great, Peter is going to get us in trouble again. Who does he think he is? SHUT UP Peter!” Ok, there isn’t a Bible verse that I know of that says any of that, but that’s how I picture him hanging out with his buddies. Regardless, he is my hero. If I could have his faith, his determination, his zeal….imagine what I could do! Imagine what you could do? One of my favorite “preaching” lessons to the youth is found in Matthew 14:29. The Message says he jumped out of the boat to meet up with Jesus. DUDE! What if we jumped out of the boat and went to see Jesus. The boat is different for everyone reading this, but there is a boat none the less. What if you jumped out of the boat today. That would take some faith! (If there is anyone reading this on an actual boat, I am not saying to literally jump out of your boat!). Are you ready to take that jump of faith and let Jesus catch you?

Box Score: Jesus 1 devil 0

It happened last night. It was around 2am in the morning. I woke up and found myself sweating. I was wondering why because most of the time I am a little chilly. I saw my wife peacefully dreaming beside me. I got jealous! I rolled over and shut my eyes. All of a sudden fear came over me. Not a “you’re fired” or “where did mommy go” fear…but something more sinister, darker. All of a sudden thoughts of “what if’s” filled my mind. With every passing moment, the thoughts got worse. What if the storm outside causes lighting to hit the house, what if the 412 kids are in trouble, what if something ever happens to Annie, what if I died right now….what if the baby doesn’t make it? That was the last straw for me. I knew where this fear was coming and it wasn’t anything from heaven! My youth pastor growing up (Kenn) showed me Philippians 2:9-11 and I have never forgotten it. I cried out for Jesus to help me get through the fear. See, God is big enough to handle all of our problems…even at 2am! I prayed for protection over the house. I prayed for my wife to have one of the best nights of her life, I prayed that God would protect me, and then I began to pray for the baby (“cleatus the fetus” is what we have the youth group calling him/her). I asked God to calm my fears right then and there. “Lord, I know this is Satan trying to get after me. I know I’ve got two opportunities to preach to the youth tomorrow (FCA & 412) and the devil is trying to jack with me. Dad, you are so bigger than the devil could ever be and you hold us in the palm of your hand”. Immediately after the prayer, the fear sensation left. It was like, I said amen & it was gone! I guess I am writing this for two reasons: know that God is present with you even while you sleep and the power of Jesus’ name. Wherever you are, what ever you are doing today, I pray that God will calm you in the storm, no matter if it’s 2am or 2pm. Jesus so bigger than the devil could ever be! Score one for Jesus!!

The American Dream & Whip Antenna’s

Don’t weary yourself trying to get rich. Why waste your time? For riches can disappear as though they had the wings of a bird! (proverbs 23:4-5). That goes against everything they teach you in school! It is the “American Dream” to make a ton of bucks, have your own place, wife, kids, and a huge 4×4 with a whip antenna (ok maybe the last part is personal). Why do we rake ourselves over the coals to get rich? It’s one thing to love what you do and do it well…but it’s another to do it just to make money. I realize some people have to do jobs that aren’t what they want to do long term, and that’s totally different because they have a need to sustain family. What’s sad is when you meet a lonely retired gentleman playing golf that doesn’t know his kids, his wife, or his buddies….but he has a great retirement plan! It’s one thing to be responsible, but it’s another to let money drive you. Luke 16:13 says, “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money”. Sitting here, worrying about future paychecks with the baby on the way…God asked me, Robbie why are you wasting your time? Are you serving the paycheck or me. OUCH. OK, God…I get it, for now! So I am preaching on offerings this week at 412!

Fending of the Temptress

Are you good fending of the temptress? Do you rely on your morals? Do you have church as a cornerstone in your life? Were you raised to be “better” or rise above? Hmmm…..chew on that for a second. Are you good fending of the temptress? Check out Proverbs 7: 1-5 for a second. Seriously, click on the link and read it, then come back to this page! Ok so now that you’ve done that (you have right?) lets talk. Look at the verse that says, “Write it out on the back of your hands; etch it on the chambers of your heart”. That says two things. #1 If you were to write it on the back of your hands, you would see it constantly…in everything you do. It would become second nature to see it. You might even get tired of seeing it somedays, but you would know it was there. #2 Etching it on the chambers of your heart, that just sounds painful doesn’t it?! That means you not only know it, you live it out. You own it. It’s yours. It’s your passion. So what’s your temptress today? Maybe it’s lying, stealing, gossip, lust, drugs, etc. Maybe it’s….well who knows what it is, but you do! Has it been hard to get rid of it? If so have you begun to read and memorize scripture that combats those thoughts or actions? Have you really repented and tried to do better for yourself? Sometimes it’s hard to fend off the temptress, but Jesus has our back no matter what attacks us! Read the Word and talk to Him about it…then applie it your life. See what happens! Check out the video too. It’s a human video that was done at a youth conference that shows Jesus helping someone that is being tempted. Extremely powerful, esp at the 4.30 mark. Bring tears to my eyes every time I see it! Have an awesome day and know that Jesus has your back!

Look it’s a bird, no it’s a plane, no it’s ….GOD?!

God is less than a breath away from you. He is above you. He is below you. He is beside you. He is around the corner. He is in your house. He is in your car. He is at the bus stop waiting to board with you. God is present during the 3rd inning of your softball game. God is standing in line with you at the chinese buffet. How crazy is that? The creator…….is with…….you. That’s how much He loves us. Matt Singleton preached two years ago at a 412 camp, that God is less than a breath away from you. He put his hand to his mouth & said that’s how close God is. I’ve never forgotten that nugget. We were made by Him, because He loves us. We were made to love Him back. It’s simple, really. But so simple it’s complex to understand for me. How could this be? Am I worthy of such a love? Nope. Did I earn that love? Nope. Can I leave that love? Nope. Psalm 139:1-12 talks about this. Last night, one of the 412 leaders showed me an awesome video by Tobymac, “Made to Love” that talks about the concept of God being everywhere with us and loving us. Check out the funny video here. Bottom line is this, God will never leave us or forget about us, because He loves us. Chew on that for a few minutes! Don’t just take a bite and move on with you day, instead let it flood your senses and embrace it!

Teens Do Worship!

We had an incredible time of worship last night at 412. It’s something about having the youth lead the youth in worship that makes it special. One of the coolest things you can see as a youth pastor is when the youth actually get it. Several told me after service that it was the first time they ever really listened to the words and prayed those words, (for all the churchy folk reading this….we can use the words “entered in”!!). My heart is wrapped around worship. I still remember being laid out on the floor 13 years ago dealing with issues and receiving my calling to youth ministry with “shout to the lord” playing in the background. One of the coolest songs out right now is by Hillsong United entitled, “The Time has Come”. The song says, “Found love beyond all reason. You gave Your life, Your all for me. And called me Yours Forever. Caught in the mercy fallout, I found hope found life. Found all I need. You’re all I need. The time has come to stand for all we believe in. So I for one am gonna give my praise to You. Today it’s all or nothing. All the way. The praise goes out to You. Yeah all the praise goes out to You. Today, today I live for one thing, to give You praise. In everything I do. Yeah all the praise goes out to You. All we are is Yours, And all we’re living for is all You are, is all that You are Lord.” Wow, now that’s incredible! My vision for youth ministries across this nation is to have youth yelling and screaming at the top of their lungs this song and then go to their homes and schools and live it out. Of course having the sound and lighting budget that Hillsongs have would be every youth pastor’s dream, but it doesn’t take that to worship! Could you imagine that though? Can you imagine your youth that excited about giving God praise. It’s happening….are you a part of it? I’ll close with these lyrics, “The time has come to stand for all we believe in. So I for one am gonna give my praise to You. Today it’s all or nothing. All the way.”