I am a stranger to this place...

   

     How many of us are just people attending church?  And by that I mean, we are strangers to the Christ that is spoken of in church.  How many times has someone walked through your church doors and thought, "I'm not a Christian, but I'm coming to your church."  Now they may have left after that church service only to never return and you think ok cool whatever.  Here's another way to look at it... how many people are sitting in our church services every week saying they are not a Christian but merely coming to the service?

     Do you feel like we've lost something here?  In both cases we have lost the cause... The first case we choose to simply be okay with someone being lost because they do not attend our church.  The second case we choose to be okay with someone not knowing Christ simply to fill a seat and look big.  What is this mess?  Have we become to callused to the pain of this world that we put standards to someones salvation?  We have become a church society totally fine with letting people burn in hell, yes I said it, we have become lazy, scared, fearful and complacent!  When is the last time you took our commandment seriously...

And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation."              -Mark 16:15

     This means that we are to speak to the person sitting next to us in the service, the coffee bar and possibly even the bathroom stall.  "I'm not a Christian, but I'm coming to your church," these are words that are fine to hear at some point, BUT this statement should change.  We should hear, "I once was lost but I have been found in the saving grace of Christ."  How many times have you sat next to someone in service and just assumed they have a relationship with Christ?  When was the last time you asked?!  Live each day with this thought each time you meet someone:  "I only know as much about you as you let me see."  

Sold out for who...

As I read through the book of Luke I am realizing more and more that it is by how Christ reacted and spoke that people began to follow.  His words produced life, assurance and grace.  Christ was totally sold out to the cause, but more importantly his disciples were sold out to the cause.  Now do not get me wrong there were plenty of times when his disciples screwed up royally, but Christ spoke assurance and grace into their lives.  He never came at them in a mean way, yet he came to them with mercy.  These men left everything they had to be completely sold out to this man hated among so many.  To be sold out... what does that mean to you?  Is it simply stating you are sold out or is there a sense of letting go involved?  If you go to the store and they say, "We are all sold out of that item," what does that mean?  Right- THEY DO NOT HAVE IT ANYMORE.  That means that they are not carrying that item anymore or not for a while.  For us as Christians, to be sold out means that we are not carrying that "crap" we held onto for so long.  It means that we are not looking backwards to our pasts and those who pulled us down.  Are you really sold out for Christ or are those just 2 words you love to throw around when you are at church?  A sold out life is one that is lived not just spoken of.  Take a look at your life and your actions, look at your words, do they signify a sold out life to Christ or simply a fake life?  I am leaving you with plenty of questions because I want you to think about this.

Luke was someone who was simply a reporter in all sense of the word.  Luke was paid to bring back this story of the man who brought hope to all.  What's your story....

The life and times of...

So daily I stop and think about what my life "was" like when I was a teenager.  There are days I think it would be great to go back and then there are days I am so glad to be an adult.  I say all this to say, the life and times for a teen today are hard.  They are harder then when I was that age, I am only 9 years out but yes I can remember what it was like, insert laughter here.  What makes today harder than yesterday?  Simple answer, our choices.  The choices we made yesterday make us who we are today- that is what a lot of the world says and while it is somewhat true, it is also somewhat false.  Yes our choices can push us in a direction, but they do not have to make us who we are.  We are often times conformed to this world.  What does that mean?  We often find ourselves following the ways of the world, saying its ok to do.... (fill in the blank).  Where do you stand?  Where do you fall?  Are you the one saying its ok to do... or are you the one standing firm and not being conformed by this world?

Romans 12:1-2

Just some food for thought as I get back into this thing called... blogging.


Peace!

Imagine that...

Ever wonder what it would be like to be "grown up?" Often times we wonder what it would be like to live as a grown up.  Believe it or not adults also ask themselves this very question.  What is it that drives us to desire this grown up feeling?  Is it the ability to buy things?  Is it the ability to say no to our parents?  Is it the ability to come and go as we please?  Whatever your reason is, it somehow falls in these 3 questions.

There are plenty of adults still running around desiring these same things that you as teenagers crave!  What defines a "grown up?"  What do you think?  I promise you that a lot of your answers will be totally wrong!  LOL!  Yeah I said it, you are wrong!  Being an adult or grown up is more than money, fame, things, family, etc.  Its a responsibility, its a lifestyle- are you ready to dive into this lifestyle?  Many teens crave this adult attention, and by that I mean the feeling of being an adult.  This lifestyle does not come with age or jobs, it comes with time!  It comes with your attitude to grow up and be responsible.

1 Corinthians 13: 11-12  -
When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child.  When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.  For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face.  Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

Are you ready to give up your childish ways?  Are you ready to grow up?

My Apologies...

Well well... looks like the fact that my wife had a child has caused me to stop blogging haha.  MY BAD!

There are so many changes that have taken place over the last 3 weeks... oh my!  What I would like to say here is...

Starting this Wednesday night the Journey Church Youth Ministry "CHAOS" will be diving into, "What it will be like when Christ returns-What to expect."  I am very stoked about this lesson series and cannot wait to see each and every one of you starting at 7pm @ the Lebanon Campus.  Thank you!

When will He come?
What will it be like?
Will everyone stay or go?
Will I be left behind?

All questions that we have asked at some time... come as we unpack these answers.

Stillness...

What is it about silence that makes us uncomfortable?  Is it the fear of the unknown?

Psalm 46:10 says Be still and know that I am God...   Being still is hard for our society since we are so caught up on running 90mph and rushing around trying to complete 30 hours of work in 24 hours.  We often lose sight of that still small voice inside that is telling us to stop, to move, or to continue.  We have become a Christian culture that serves a God very few of us even know.  We spend more time getting to know the stranger beside us in class or on the bus, then we do getting to know the One who created us.  The One who created us to have a relationship with Him.  God is telling us, as Christians, to simply be still for a moment and listen, get to know Him deeper.  It's when we are still and listen that we find who He truly is.

I challenge you to get to know the creator of the universe, fall in love with the one who created you, get in touch with the one you claim to serve.  Be still and know that He is God, and He will be exalted over everything!


Peace!
Josh Waggoner
Youth Minister, The Journey Church

Welcome...

Well Hello!  This is a Blog devoted to teenagers from all over.  This is a place where you can post questions, concerns, and learn more about Christ.  There will be weekly posts with the intentions of making you think and search out.  Also, there will be answers to your questions regarding Christ, salvation, life, and anything that concerns you.  Each question will be taken seriously and answered based on the Bible.  Please feel free to start at any time.  The next post will be up within the next couple of days.  Until then, I wish you the best of luck and may you have more opportunities to share Christ with those you meet. 


Josh Waggoner
Youth Minister, The Journey Church