Thought 4 Today

I've had some tough things happen to me in the last few weeks. As I look back, I suppose any one of them could have made me lose heart, but God seems to know when and where you can deal with the inevitable trouble that will come. No doubt He's right there with me as I face trials, and for each and every Christian, the same promise holds true. Life is tough, and if it's not tough right now, it will be soon. That's one of the wages of sin. Fortunately for those who trust in Jesus, our days of trouble will be short lived, followed by all eternity with the lover of our souls! "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

"You're 18 now. Tell your parents to go to hell!" Does that sound like any advice you've heard before? Sometimes that type of advice doesn't wait for you to turn 18 either, it can start much earlier. And... sometimes "friends" can be led by stupidity as easily as the rest of us can! Still, at 18 teenagers in the United States are full-grown (at least legally), and can make their own decisions. I'm one for trying to build into my kids a sense of responsibility years before they're ever old enough to vote, but the fact remains that even a minister's kids can be irresponsible (yes it's true!). Unfortunately, a common misconception for Christian teens is that turning 18 means you no longer need to listen to your parents, or to even take their advice seriously. As a Christian, however, the opposite would be closer to the truth. As a Christ follower, you should honor your mother and father, and the command doesn't stop on an arbitrary birthday. If you're fortunate enough to have your parents live until you are old, then you'll still be honoring them when you're hair is gray. Sure, there will come a day when your parents will not have much control over your actions, but Christ is still your Lord--turning 18, or even turning 81 doesn't give you the right to be less of a Christian--if anything, if comes with the responsibility to be an even stronger one. "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 'Honor your father and mother'--which is the first commandment with a promise-- 'that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on earth.'" Ephesians 6:1 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Men, including very young men, are made differently than women. Our hearts tick to a different drummer, and our thoughts are radically different than the softer sex. Men love to compete, and even in nature the young males will compete with the older males for the affection of the females. With men, it's not always as much about the females as it is about the desire to win--to compete with someone and leave them wanting. As Christian men we can still compete in many things, but when it comes to older men we also need to have some respect. To fight and war against one another in the church is the same as fighting against God. Humility is a long-lost virtue in our world today, and Christian men need to be on the forefront of those bringing it back into vogue. So check your muscles and your testosterone at the door young man. Wimpy we don't need... but humble men will bless the Body of Christ and serve it the way it was intended to be served. "Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.' Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:5-7 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

There are some who like to sin in public. They are open about all types of abominations they commit and are often quite proud of them. As terrible as this may seem, it's not any more terrible than a seemingly upstanding person whose sins are more quiet, or are simply hidden better. We tend to be judgmental about the obvious sins of commission, while at the same moment overlooking our own sins. Jesus warned about such judgement quite often. Still, the early church had a problem with it, and I'm sure we still do today. Christians can be some of the most judgmental people on the earth, and often even more blind about their own failings. I've certainly been guilty of both... Painful as it may be, I praise God when He graciously points out my hypocrisy. Sin is ugly from every angle. Why make it worse by standing in the middle of it all the while pointing the finger of judgement at others? "The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them." 1 Timothy 5:24 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

For someone who's walked with the Lord for years, this may seem like a silly statement, but I'm dumfounded when I hear someone say they don't believe in God. I simply cannot understand atheists. How could someone look into the cosmos or into the inner sanctums of his own heart and not see the workings of God. No matter whether I watch a baby be born or look at a DNA string, I see God's handiwork. They, on the other hand, see nothing more than chance. I think they're fools... and I thank God that He had was gracious to remove the blinders from my own eyes. I can't say I ever doubted there was a God... but I certainly had myself sitting in His seat! "The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.'" Psalm 14:1 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

No doubt anniversaries of horrible events like September 11th will drive emotions to the surface for many. Thousands killed for what seems like no reason. And as terrible as that is, think of all the other nations withpeople being killed and martyred in even greater numbers. From mud slides to infanticide, death is everywhere--none will escape it. This nation threatens war against that one, another threatens retaliation. Earthquakes increase on an exponential level. The earth grows hotter. Some have drought, some have floods. While some have more than enough, others have nothing. Insane? Yes it is! And it's all a direct result of the sins of mankind. It won't be long now my brothers and sisters... it won't be long now. "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains." Matthew 24:6-8 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

The story of Jesus clearing the temple with a whip inspires many a would-be strong Christian leader to "kick-butt and take names" when necessary. Frankly, there probably are times when that is exactly what needs to happen. Most of the time, however, gently rebuking someone will probably do the trick if it is done in love. It's been my experience that pastors and priests usually do pretty well in this area (though surely not all of them), but many of the churches I've visited and attended have had quite a few lay people who seemed to "rule the roost." Cross these folks and you might just get your head handed to you. It's as if the church has ceased to be the "Body of Christ," and has instead been personally handed to a few folks. Did Jesus personally put them in charge? Christian leaders (even at the lowest level) must be careful to remember who they work for, and how much He loves the folks they're screaming at. One day we will each give an account of every single word. "The entire law is summed up in a single command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out of you will be destroyed by each other." Galatians 5:14-15 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Some might say that light is the opposite of darkness, but they would be wrong. Darkness and light are no more opposites than God and Satan are. Even in the darkest of places, light always overcomes darkness. Likewise, Satan is nothing compared to Almighty God. If you are walking with the Lord, then the Light will shine from you, driving out darkness before it. Even a glimmer of light illuminates a dark room, and even a glimmer of the Spirit of God will provide Light to a world lost in darkness and despair. Don't cover your Light, this world needs it badly! "ARISE, SHINE, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rides upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you." Isaiah 60:1-2 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate