Fresh Drink of Water

Two weeks ago I was yet sitting in on our churches youth group as the youth pastor, JB, was discussing an exercise to the kids. This exercise required for our youth to make a FRAN. A FRAN is a diagram in which the kids draw their own house in the middle of a piece of paper. Surrounding the house they were to write the 4 letters F-for friends, R-for relatives, A- for acquaintance and N-for neighbor. They were then to write names of people who fit under each category who they think do not know Jesus. I also participated in this exercise. After youth was over, my son and I discussed our list. It was funny that we had similar names on those list. Some we knew would be easier to reach than others. We decided on one individual that night that we wanted to try to start reaching. This individual was one of my son's classmates.

We have only know this particular boy for over a year. He has had some difficult times at school and at home. He has been labeled by some as a problem kid. However, for some reason when I look at this young man I see such potential and goodness in him. I just think life has dealt him some bad hands and that he just needs guidance and for someone to respect him as a person not label him in a negative way. When my son and I discussed him we both agreed if anyone needs Jesus, it is this kid. We set out at how we could get him to Jesus.

We invited him to the Wed. night youth group this week. He excitedly agreed and we were able to get his parents to agree also. I knew that he was a little nervous but before I knew it he was talking and joking with other kids and seemed to be at ease. As our youth pastor began this weeks lesson I began to watch this young man as he listened. He sat there wide-eyed and seemed to be listening intently. Watching him from across the room, I could sense the joy and excitement in him. It was like a fresh drink of water for me. On the drive to take him home, he voiced how much he liked coming and plans were made for him to continue to come with us every Wed. I pray that God spoke to him and will continue to bring him into the light.

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."John 8:12

Radio Ministry

A large part of our family life is the alternative christian music we have discovered. Air 1 radio station has become as much as part of our lives as breathing. Some people will argue that what you watch and what you hear do not effect you and I used to believe that myself. However, I am here to tell you it does make a difference.
I have always been a classic rock person and my husband has always, always has been outlaw country. When I first discovered this station he would grumble about listening to it. Then unknown to me he began listening to it at work. He told me he had become less stressed and he no longer had the road rage he had before. I know it sounds crazy but this radio ministry has changed our lives. We have 2 local stations here in Lubbock, 94.1 and 107.3. To see if there is a broadcast near you go to http://www.air1.com/ and click on stations. They are all over the US. You can also listen to the broadcast via your computer. Give a try, you might be surprised how it can touch your life.

Swords

Persecution-the act or practice of persecuting; especially, the infliction of loss, pain, or death for adherence to a particular creed or mode of worship.(Websters)

Even as I continue this path of Christianity, as I have stated previously, there are new and different challenges that I face on this upper road. I think the one that has become the most disturbing to me is the persecution that Christians face, but not from where you would think it would come from. It would in no way shock me to face adversity from atheist, agnostics, etc.., I expect that. The place where I have faced the most persecution is from individuals that claim that they are Christians themselves. This is something I just don't understand.

This persecution amongst Christians is only harming us. We as brothers and sisters in Christ need to wise up and get a clue about why this occurs. "If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven-if there was anything to forgive-I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are unaware of his schemes." 2 Corinthians 2:10-11. How easy we make it for Satan. If we persecute and cause separation between each other it makes it all the easier for him to wedge his way in.

No matter what label you put on it, baptist, methodist, non-denominational(you fill in the blank) we have to come together as one against the enemy. If we do not want to become one of the countless Christian casualties on the path, we have to learn to fight for each other instead of with each other.

Even though I have been a Christian for most of my life, I have not always lead the life I needed to. It has not been until the past year that I have finally got IT. I mean really got it, got Him. God really got my attention and through the help of two great teachers M2 and JB, (pastor and assoc. pastor) I have become more obedient than I ever thought possible. I am prepared to draw my sword against the enemy. I ask you my brothers and sisters, Will you stand next to me with your sword drawn?

Looking For Some Fun

For the past several weeks our church has been doing a series on temperament. If you are looking for a little fun for yourself and maybe your family it may be something you want to check out to see what personality you have. Our pastor has named the personalities after characters in the Winnie the Pooh series. They are Rabbit, Tigger, Pooh and Eeyore. This even makes it a little more entertaining. Just go to http://www.theheightsfellowship.org/ and click on the 1st box at the bottom (it is black with faces on it). On the next page click on the yellow box and follow the directions from there. Let me know what you are. Our house is interesting, we have one of each in our house and yes, I am the Pooh.

Easter Past

I don't even know where to start this. Last night I could just not sleep due to things on my mind. Two events occured yesterday that brought this on. I had things clicking in the back of my mind and had to get them out. Now please keep in mind that I know God is leading me down this emotional writing path I've recently stumbled upon. Those of you that know me well know that I'm a check person; fellings-in check, emotions-in check, so this is new territory for me. Please bare with me for the poor compostion of this but I am just doing as God leads me, no questions asked, just doing.
My Sunday started out as usual. We got to church for the 9:00 service. My husband and oldest son teach the 5-yr-old class while I door greet. After the service gets going I do my typical Sunday routine. I go to the Sonic down the road and get breakfast for us. Usual fare, 4 breakfast burritos, water with lemon for the hubby, Dr. Pepper for the oldest, root beer for the youngest and Diet Coke for me. While at Sonic I felt the need to call my older brother. The reason I needed to speak to him was to check on his oldest son we will call JC. JC has been in some sort of trouble since he was 16. He is now 23 and living in a restitution home due to the latest plea deal he has taken for his latest offense. This is a tall, lean, very athletic, nice looking young man who has all the potential in the world. However, somewhere between his soph and jr years of high school he decided that smoking pot and drinking were more important than being the starting quarterback of a 5A football team. I am concerned how JC will be once he is released in June. Will he have changed his life or will he resort to his old ways.

As the 2nd worship service started we took our usual seats, half-way back on the edge of the middle aisle. Our associate pastor began the announcements that started the second event of things clicking in the back of my mind. The announcement of Easter services were discussed. It wasn't until after church that I really started to think about Easter. Not so much about Easter itself but events that occured some 23 years earlier. Things I had not thought of in a long while. In that week leading up to Easter I remember coming to my Dad's shop after school. I could tell something was on his mind. He told me the devastating news, my older sister-10 years my senior-was diagnosed with leukemia. I didn't know how to react. Even though I was just a 14-yr-old 8th grader I was already that check person-emotions,feelings.

Now I am sure you are wondering what these two events have to do with one another. That Easter we spent at my sisters little rental home on Canton Ave. here in Lubbock. Mom, Dad, step-parents, my brother, his wife and guess who, little JC. JC was the light of my sisters life. She just adored him. I remember her sitting in her kitchen that day holding his busy 7-month-old body. I remember that day fondly due to it being the last time my family was all together with my sister fairly healthy. The next day my parents took my sister to Houston to begin the fight of her life. For the next 9 months my sister went through many trials and tribulations to numerous to account for here. Two things that were always constant were her love for the Lord and the joy JC brought her. My sister was not afraid to die but she loved life and was going to live it to the fullest.

So, the conclusion I come to is this, I wish JC would have really known his aunt. Because of her love for life and for him, I know she would have wanted so much more for him. He has the life to go and be all he can be when hers was cut short at the precious age of 24. My sister was larger than life and she was full of the Lord. My prayer for JC is that he find his way back to Christ. I know he has been saved but he has opted for that path of sin we all travel. My hope for him is that he find his way through the wilderness to the higher path of rightousness. Please pray for JC>

Bringing God Into The Workplace

Do you sometimes find it hard to remain Godly @ work? In my past state of mind this was a no brainer for me. I would leave God sitting on the sidelines when I dealt with things @ work. If people were gossiping, I was right there in it. If complaining was going on, I was right there in it. If I was confronted, I would automatically become defensive and be just as confrontational with that individual. I guess you could say my life @ work and home were bitter and unhappy for one simple reason. I wasn't letting Christ in my game of life to help lead me.Now that I am including Christ in my every waking hour I can tell you that my life has done a complete 180. However, I will tell since doing this I now face new challenges.

At work I have discovered that you are dealing with those individuals that I used to be. We have relationships with some people who don't highly prioritize integrity and who fight dirty, but somewhere along the way I've discovered that I had to quit getting in the mud with them. I have realized how exhausting it can be when you are around negativity at work since you spend more time there with your co-workers than you do with your own families. As the Psalmist in Psalm 120 states, Lord, I'm weary of living or working continually around people who thrive on conflict. I want peace, but they love a battle (paraphrase).

We as Christians must be very careful in this situation. We can start out loving peace among those who hate it and before we know it we can be sucked into their game. As you and I seek a higher road to walk, we have to unlearn some of those bad habits and learn some new ones. Avoiding the conflict is not the answer, but learning how to deal with it is. If we are willing and patient, God will teach us. He will use His Word, His Spirit and His people. God is good.

So I advise you to live according to your new life in the Holy Spirit. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves. The old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is just opposite from what the Holy Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite from what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, and your choices are never free from this conflict. Galatians 5:16-17nlt

Youth Epidemic

This is a subject matter that has been weighing on my mind for some time. It is going to be a difficult subject discuss but I have felt the need to express myself about it. The "It" is teen suicide. I'm sure not your everyday blog discussion but a subject that does concern me.

It all began back in the fall when a young man from my hometown successfully ended his life. This was a popular young man in his senior year who had just been named Homecoming King several weeks before. Since the demise of this boy there have been many other suicidal attempts by fellow classmates. This is a small town that has shrunk down to about 4500 people from the 6500 when I was in high school. It saddens my heart to think that these young people feel the need to end their lives.

Statistically it is stated that suicide is the leading cause of death among youth 5-14yrs and 3rd leading cause among 15-25yr-olds. I'm not sure how this ranks from the 80's during my teen years but I never knew of anyone who had attempted or succeeded during those years. I know there are a lot more pressures on today's youth to act this way, do this thing, etc. Where does the fault lie?

These youth are our children. The teens of the late 70's and the 80's are the parents of these kids. Have we forgotten the basic values to teach our kids, not talking with them or treating them like one our friends? What is the answer? All these things concern me since I will soon have a 12yr-old boy entering Jr. High.

I have connected lately with some of my old classmates and just friends in general. We have discussed some of the problems that are facing our youth and I think we are all starting to get a little wise. I will tell you, saints we were not in our youth. I will be the first to admit that I did not lead the life I should have been living. Others my age and I have decided it was time to take control of our lives and that of our children to the one place that it matters, through the Christ Jesus. It is time for a revolution among us parents, leaders and Christians to take a stand in saving our youth and leading them on the rocky road of life into the promise land of Christ.

I have prayed to God to help our youth and all the other souls lost in the greatest depths to find their way to him. God sees our pain as it states in Psalm 31:7 "I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul." God knows when we are hurting. We just have to trust in him.

What is your excuse?

Okay, Okay, I know I am on this obedient thing but I just can't seem to let it go. As a Christian I want to ask you, how do you handle it when people are passive about their faith? They make every excuse you can think of to not get involved, not to be obedient. In the past few months I have experienced this with many different individuals.
The excuses range from one end of the spectrum to the other. My favorite has been that I can't get my kid to youth group because I have to watch a certain program on television. Tell me, what is more important for a parent, trying to lead your child down the right path of salvation or watching television? And people want to question what has happened to our youth. We must know there is a problem when television or the Internet has become more important than trying to lead others to the ultimate promise land and not the promise land that the media is shoving down our throats everyday.
I just hope Christ will continue to try to show me ways to reach these individuals. It can be frustrating to try to get people out of their ruts and into a different direction. We as Christians need to be more proactive in spreading the word and leading people in the right direction. This is our duty as warriors for Christ.

Why does it cost so much?

Has anyone ever wondered why it cost so much to have car repairs? I guess you don't really think of it until the time comes to give the ol' mechanic a call. We have experinced that this past week.
Our 2004 Chevy Trailblazer's transmission played out on us and of course we are out of warranty. You can never imagine the cost of this repair. However with a lot of prayer we have managed a way to pay for the crazy thing and hopefully we will be driving around in it by Monday afternoon. It is hard being down to one car and borrowing my mom's car(thanks mom) to get our busy boys to where they need to be. So if you find yourself in the same shoes in the future know that you have a friend out here that feels for you.

Are YOU up to the challange?

One thing I really enjoy is going to youth night at our church. Our youth pastor, Jason, is always putting our youth to the challenge of being obedient Christians. An example he gave to them about being obedient was say your parents tell you not to write on the wall. So for 23hrs in the day you don't write on the wall, but for 1 hour a day you write on it. When it comes to the christian life it can be hard to be obedient all the time. However, I can tell you that Jason is always putting that challenge to every one around him. It makes me really conscious of what I am doing throughout the day. I know a lot of individuals whom think, OK, I been saved, baptised and now I am all good and go about their business. I think it is time for us to take a stand and be the obedient Christians Christ wants us to be.