Dust in the Wind

So Wednesday was Ash Wednesday which begins the season of Lent in the church calendar.  We focus on God and reflection during this time.  Originally, as a youth, I believed that I was supposed to just give something up during the lenten season.  Then I thought that I should give something up and take something else on in its place.  It wasn't until later that I realized the full meaning of giving something up for Lent was to give something up that was hindering my walk with God.  It really has a lot more meaning that way, doesn't it?

I close my eyes, only for a moment and the moment's gone

All my dreams pass before my eyes, a curiosity

Dust in the wind, all they are is dust in the wind

Same old song, just a drop of water in an endless sea

All we do, crumbles to the earth, though we refuse to see

Dust in the wind, all we are is dust in the wind

Don't hang on, nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky

It slips away, all your money won't another minute buy

Dust in the wind, all we are is dust in the wind

~From the Song: Dust in the Wind by Kansas

For some reason unbeknownst to me I have always related the above song "Dust in the Wind" to Ash Wednesday and Genesis 3:19.  It has always just sort of made sense, which seemed weird since its seems like a depressing song.  It made a whole lot more sense after hearing Rev. Chris Mesa's devotional at our Ash Wednesday service.

Ash Wednesday will come around again next year and we will be in the same ol' spot.  We do things that we shouldn't and we refuse to see them or acknowledge them.  And we are back to reflect on them them same bat time, same bat channel next year.  Chris talked about memories and how we all have memories that sometimes need to be left in the past, we don't need to hang on to them.  We need to simply let some of those memories go, or put another way let them slip away.

"You are dust, and to dust you shall return."

~Genesis 3:19

"From dust you came and to dust you will return."

~Margret Fields while putting ashes on my forehead at the Ash Wednesday service

So we are to remember our mortality.  We are to remember that we are not perfect.  We will make mistakes, we will stumble.  I spoke to the youth on Wednesday about reflection during Lent.  I asked them to reflect on the last year and to think about how they could take a step towards God and becoming closer to God this next year.  Here's hoping that we are not hindered in our walk with God during Lent and beyond and not back in the same ol' spot next year.

Grace & Peace

Kevin

Collide

This is a message I shared at our first youth led Saturday night worship service last Saturday:

God hasn't stop talking, but is still talking and trying to tell us something (even) today.  What might that be?  What might he be telling us about why we are here tonight.

Our Acton youth have in the past gathered with other youth groups for Mission Trips, main event, project 44 workdays, community events, lock-ins, and recently Discovery.  We have even worshipped a couple of times with FUMC Granbury on wednesday nights.  But we haven't done something on a set, recurring basis.  And so tonight is a first.  Discovery provided us that opportunity.  We haven't done an event with other youth groups that is ONLY about worship.  We can gather on a recurring basis and worship.  And everything else can be in addition to this once a month worship.  It all starts with worship.

That's what Collide is about.  Where students, faith, and WORSHIP meet.  Now collide may look different each month.  We may have just worship music with no message.  We may prayer stations.  We may have small groups.  But one thing is for certain, Collide will be where us, our faith, and worship meet.

From the beginning the bible makes it abundantly clear that we were intended to live in community with other people.  Being made in God's image, we have the need to connect with others.

So why did we want to do worship once a month as our once a month recurring event.  Let's talk about that by looking at scripture.

Then the Lord said to Moses, "Go to pharaoh and tell him: this is what the Lord says: let my people go so that they can worship me. (Exodus 8:1)

The Lord said to Moses, "Get up early in the morning and confront pharaoh as he goes to the water.  Say to him, This is what the Lord says: Let my people go so that they can worship me. (Exodus 8:20)

Then the Lord said to Moses, "Go to pharaoh and say to him, This is what the Lord, the Hebrews' God says: Let my people go so that they can worship me. (Exodus 9:1)

Then the Lord said to Moses, "Get up early in the morning and confront Pharaoh.  Say to him, This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let me people go so that they can worship me. (Exodus 9:13)

So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him, "This is what the Lord, the Hebrews' God, says: How long will you refuse to respect me?  Let my people go so that they can worship me. (Exodus 10:3)

Translation: God REALLY wants his people to worship and worship him.  Worship was very important.  God did not want his people to be let go so they could be free, he wanted them to be let go so that they can worship.  Worship was more important than anything else.

"The believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, to the community, to their shard meals, and to their prayers.  A sense of awe came over everyone.  God performed many wonders and signs through the apostles.  All the believers were united and shared everything. (Acts 2:42-44)

In the New Testament Christ calls us to an other-oriented view of relationships, to be concerned about the best for another person, just as we normally would for ourselves.

When it comes to faith and proclaming one's religious beliefs, transitioning from the contemplative to the illustrative becomes a challenge.  So we don't contemplate doing worship anymore, we illustrate this sense of community by worshipping.

Collide is different and new to us, or at least me, because it is all about worship.  And it is on a recurring basis.  A synonym for collide is to have an impact.  We can have an impact by being here in community once a month.  We can impact each other and how we do things.  Tonight we've assembled for what is all intents and purposes a congregation for one goal, to worship.  We have an opportunity to make an impact.

Grace & Peace

Kevin

Words

Discovery 14 had a theme this year.  That theme was Because of God I Am.  We talked all weekend about finishing that statement.  Each disciple group finished that statement.  Each individual person involved in the weekend finished that statement by putting a word on a canvas.  Each talk finished that statement by focusing on one word.  The theme song for the weekend was "Words."

It's ironic that there were many times during the weekend that if I had all the words in the english language I couldn't describe to someone how I felt.  All I could do was smile.  Seeing all the youth have so much fun having a "dance party."  Seeing three churches come together for the weekend and have so much fun together.  Seeing the seniors who I have known since 6th grade lead Discovery so well (I can't believe how they have grown).  Hearing all of the thoughtful and personal talks from selfless senior high who knew just how to strike a chord with other youth and adults.  Seeing the youth praise band lead worship so well for the church.  Hearing Revelation Song sung like I have not heard it sung before.

Because of God I Am....speechless.  I have no words that could describe the chills I got so many times during the weekend.  I will let other people try to put the weekend into words.  I will remember the feelings that I had during the weekend and chalk it up to the work of the Holy Spirit.

Grace & Peace
Kevin

Lifesavers

     I am no longer surprised by anything that our youth today do.  In fact I have not been surprised by the things they are capable of for a long time.  They are such forward thinkers.  The only questions are which youth will step up next, when, and what great thing will they decide to do.  I got the next answer to those questions on Wednesday night.
     There was an article in the hood county news on Wednesday about a Tolar youth organization called Lifesavers.  Two of our youth from Acton were featured in this article which gave Blane Morris and Matt Moody the chance to speak for a few minutes about Lifesavers.  Their mission is for kids to inspire kids to choose to make a difference in this world and their communities through simple acts of kindness.  The youth started the program to help others in need which has included collecting food and clothing for the food pantry, raising money and groceries for a janitor who was injured and out of work, adopting 40 Tolar "angels," and feeding 250 homeless and volunteers later this month.  They will also be collecting new unwrapped toys for Tolar Christmas for Kids and Families.

 *Our AUMC youth will be bringing unwrapped toys on Wednesday to donate to this program if anybody who reads this would like to bring some items to donate*

     These youth saw a need and met that need on their own.  And that is what we need from these young people is to be self starters.  See a need and meet a need in any way they can.  As long as we continue to have young people who think about the needs of others we have great hope for the future.

Thank you to Matt, Blane, and the rest of these Tolar youth.

Grace & Peace
Kevin

Making Disciples

"Our mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world." (Mission statement of The United Methodist Church)

     It is a great mission statement.  But like with other things, it is easier said than done.  In the great commission the last thing Jesus says is "go and make disciples."  If Jesus said it than it has to be important, right?  It is easier said than done, but that is no reason to give it any less than our best.  So how do we make disciples?  It's a tricky question because there are so many ways to do it.  It's like philosophy which I liked more than math because a lot of times there was no right answer just the having an opinion and defending your answer well.
     So how exactly do we make disciples?  Well there are a lot of ways but I have found some simple things that a person can do to help make disciples.  At least these are the 4 Simple Things that helped me:
     1.  Family:  Having a family who believes in the importance of faith, church, and disciple making was very helpful to me.  It is much easier to believe in making disciples when your family believes in its importance as well.
     2.  Church ministries:  Not just going to church but being a part of a church and being able to participate in church ministries and contribute to the church as a whole.  One of the biggest influences on my life was going to youth group when I was in junior high and high school.  It made a huge impact on me.  I do wish that youth could have and been allowed to be a bigger part of the church as a whole, which is why I am have advocated for it for our current youth.
     3.  Mentors:  I think mentors get left behind a bit in how big a part they play in helping make disciples when we look at #1-3, but realize that mentors are of significant importance.  I did not have a so called "mentor" in name growing up, but looking back on it over the last few years I have come to realize they were there in a mentor capacity and still are today.  Mentors are so important because they provide honest feedback, are someone to lean on, you can bounce ideas and concerns off them, and they are there to help you unconditionally no matter the situation.  Mentors are huge in facilitating discipleship development.
     4. Understand that it is now about you:  Making disciples is not and will not be about you, it is about someone else.  But along with that, I have been able to walk with youth and others in their faith and that is rewarding to be able to have an impact on others.  And to know that those who disciples will make disciples, who will make disciples is what it is all about.

I know there are numerous ways to help making disciples so feel free to chime in.  There is no exact science on how to go about making disciples, we just do it.  My hope is that you find a way to make disciples that works for you.  It is of great importance and we are all capable of doing it.

Do or do not, there is no try :)


Grace & Peace
Kevin

Would it Matter

Notes from Last Nights Youth Message:

"You'll never know what your people did for these kids tonight.  You'll never, ever know."

"Here is the message I want to send to you: you are just as valuable as any other person on earth."

     These are a couple of quotes taken from the book Almost Christian in regards to something that occurred in Gainesville, Tx in 2008.  Gainesville State is a maximum security prison which houses high school aged convicted felons.  Playing football for them is an activity that is earned and they only play games on the road.

     Before a game in 2008, the head coach of the opposing team from Grapevine Faith had an idea.  He asked half of their fans to cheer for the opposing Gainesville State team.  He wanted to send a message to those players that they mattered.  Since they play all their games on the road they usually don't have many if any fans cheering for them.  In the years since, other high schools have done something similar for the team.  Below is a video about this:

     We may never truly know the impact that we can make on the life of someone else.  You can make an impact, even if you don't know it right away. You matter.  Everyone matters.

Grace & Peace

Kevin

God's In Crowd

"I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you.  Plans to give you hope and a future."  (Jeremiah 29:11)

     That has been pretty much my favorite bible verse for a while now.  It just keeps coming up.  It came up again last night when Courtney Traylor delivered an amazing message to all of our youth.  (I have on good authority that Jeremiah 29:11 is her favorite bible verse too.)
     I cannot give justice to how passionate and meaningful Courtney's message was so I will just give you a couple points to think about that Courtney brought up last night.
     First, remember that in times of struggle, and times of trial even if you yourself don't realize it-God is there.  You may not realize it at the time but He is there.  Courtney talked about problems that youth face in school such as bullying and being popular or not.  And in those times God is always with us helping us get through it, we sometimes just don't realize it.
     Second, to quote Courtney: "remember that you are always part of God's in crowd."  I really like that statement.  Not all of us are going to be part of the in crowd at school.  I sure wasn't.  Courtney, by her own admission, wasn't either.  A lot of us focus on being part of the "in" crowd at school but what does that really even mean?  Who determines who's in and who's out?  And does that really matter.  No!!  We shouldn't worry about that.  The in crowd that we should worry about is God's in crowd.  And we are and always will be part of that in crowd.  We belong to God and there is great hope in that!!

Grace & Peace
Kevin