I get a lot of interesting mail from teens (and adults) and I don't mean to make light of it, but I've gotten a slew of it lately asking questions like, "I'm masturbating a lot and I don't know how to stop" "My boyfriend and I are having oral sex and I feel bad about it, but I don't know what God thinks" and "How can I stop watching television shows where I find myself aroused sexually?" Honestly, does anyone really believe that God has not already spoken to someone asking such questions? God's answers us much better than we want to admit. The problem is we don't like the answers because they will cause our flesh to suffer. Unless we die to self, we simply are not on the same page with our Lord. Speaking of "simply," here are some simple answers to those questions. Turn off the T.V., find something else to do with your hands, and separate yourself from anyone who wants you to compromise yourself sexually. "The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires." Galatians 5:19-24 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

We are incredibly valuable to God, but not because we bring anything of value to the relationship. We are tainted by sin, and it is only by His grace we even keep our breath. The pride and arrogance in us sometimes causes us to think differently. We come to God with what we think are our "good deeds" or with our talents or abilities and present them as though He owes us. He does not. Some even consider their financial position or their family’s stature should gain them something with God. Coming to God with such insanity and trusting in it even after you've been presented with the Truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the same as out rightly refusing His offer of Grace. We have nothing to offer... and yet once we embrace Him, we have everything to offer the world. Receiving Him requires two open and empty hands. "Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, 'Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?' 'Why do you ask me about what is good?' Jesus replied. 'There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.' 'Which ones?' the man inquired. Jesus replied, '"Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother," and "love your neighbor as yourself." 'All these I have kept,' the young man said. 'What do I still lack?' Jesus answered, 'If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.' When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth." Matthew 19:16-22 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Weeding a garden can be hard work, especially when someone is coming along and sowing the seeds of weeds when you're not looking! It's so difficult in fact, that God Himself will be doing the weeding of His garden. He knows if we try to separate the "wheat from the weeds" we'll inevitably pull up the good crop with the bad one. In the garden we know as the church, no doubt some of the weeds that are planted will work themselves into leadership positions. We've all no doubt seen the results of this mockery. Again, we can take great comfort in knowing that Jesus Himself told us that the gates of hell would not prevail over the church, and He'll be along soon enough to do the weeding. Trust in His Word, and lean on leadership that you know does the same thing. The others... Yea, pray that God will provide someone else to be a spiritual leader for you! "He replied, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit." Matthew 15:13-14 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

When you hear "thou shalt not" quoted from the Bible do you think to yourself, "There's another thing I can't do!" When God says not to do something He's actually not being a colossal party-pooper, but actually a great Father and protector. Anything that's not readily allowed by God is undoubtedly dangerous to those who do it. Instead, read the "though shalt nots" as excellent ways to honor your heavenly Father by obeying Him, and great ways to protect yourself as well. In the Scripture below the words "blessed" can be translated "happy" or even better, "Oh, how very happy." Following God's commands does not make the Christ follower sad to "miss out" on what other people are up to, but rather, "how very happy!" "Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. Blessed are they who keep his statues and seek him with all their heart." Psalm 119:1-2 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

I see a lot of young people who are into piercing their lips, noses, eyebrows (and various other things) lately. I wasn't a big fan at first, but I guess it's become so common now that I don't even notice it. Actually, it's nothing new. I've read that many nations have had similar ways of dressing themselves up for thousands of years. What is new is that many who are old enough to pierce their bodies simply lack the ability to act responsibly and make good decisions. They bad mouth everything and anything, talk garbage about their country, and what's probably worse, they think it's cool. What they have is a lack of what the dictionary calls "discretion." They also have a lack of what the Bible calls Jesus. "Like a gold rind in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion." Proverbs 11:22 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

"Produce fruit in keeping with repentance." Matthew 3:8 There's a nasty little habit some who profess to know Christ practice. They get to thinking that since they've gone to church, read the Bible and maybe even prayed for a while, that God will give them some leeway into sinful activities in their personal lives. Some decide that since they are "saved" they don't really need to do much of anything anymore. "Hey, isn't our God a forgiving God?" they might ask. The answer is absolutely, but those who truly love Him and have repented of their sinful ways no longer want to sin. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light." Ephesians 5:8 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

When everyone seems to be telling you how to live your life, do you ever just want to tell them all to leave you alone? That usually happens to me right about the time people go from giving me good solid (biblically supportable) advice and start giving me opinions that are not in-line with my Christian faith. When that happens it's always a good thing to remember the life we live is not our own, but rather God's. If we are truly Christians, then we have died to our own selves and now live for God. With that mindset, it's much easier to sift through the endless amount of "helpful" advice we all get and to settle on the things that are of God alone. "And he [Jesus] died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again." 2 Corinthians 5:15 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

The vast majority of people in the world today believe the Holy Bible is either irrelevant, or at a minimum, terribly outdated. The only time either is true is when WE fail to align our lives and our thinking with it. "And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe." 1 Thessalonians 2:13 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate