Even though I'm a pretty solid guy, I cannot even come close to bench pressing 300 pounds. I have a good friend that is nowhere as big as I am that can do that (and more) in his sleep! He had a goal years ago to be a weight lifter and so he works out every single day. He's absolutely built! I, on the other hand, struggle to work out at all! If you want to build physical strength, then you'll probably want to go into weight training. As you push through the different thresholds of your weakness, you'll become stronger. Surprisingly, if you want to build spiritual strength, the process is quite similar. As you work out spiritually, you'll study and pray. Then as you seek to serve God you'll undoubtedly face situations where your body or your mind say you can't (or won't) make it. As you push through those thresholds you'll find that God gives you incredible strength. You'll also gain both strength and faith for the struggles to come. As the process continues, one day God will be able to use you for some seriously heavy lifting! "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Fasting is not something many Christians are very familiar with today. Maybe it's the fact that we're just too busy, that fasting is not really talked about much, or maybe that it involves planning and self-sacrifice. At any rate, even the thought of going without food for even a meal or two is not high on many lists. About 10 or so years ago I was challenged to complete my first fast with a group of people from my church. It was one of the toughest things I've ever done, and we didn't even fast that long. I remember the prayer time during that fast even to this moment. It was sweet, and the experience was a huge faith builder for me. Later, I started doing fasts by myself without telling anyone but the Lord about it. It's been a while since I completed my last fast and I've been troubled by my lack of desire to do another one. Whenever this happens (like with reading my Bible or praying), I've learned that it's time to make a plan to do it anyway--the love for the task will return soon! This week I realized that God had answered several prayers for my family and our ministry, and that although we've been making great strides, that's caused us to come under attack. What a great time to go to God in prayer, and fasting is an excellent way to punctuate the desire to deal with Him personally. I don't generally do this, but if you have prayer requests or would like to help me in this tough time in our ministry, please go to our website and download a personal letter and form I've put there just for you. "So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes." Daniel 9:3 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Is there something or someone that makes you feel more comfortable? When you're feeling stressed out is there a place you run to (either real, or in your mind) that seems to help? I took a class once where the teacher wanted us to imagine our "beautiful place" and go there in our minds whenever things were tough. I guess I wouldn't throw the whole concept out now that I'm a Christian, I just prefer to prayerfully sit and talk to Jesus about what's going on. After I've been at His feet, I always have a sense of what direction He would have me take in life. When I used to leave my "beautiful place", I would always find the situation I was avoiding was waiting for me and was often even worse when I got back. What's more, I was no more ready to deal with it. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." Philippians 4:6 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

I heard an interesting statistic on a commercial. It was for one of those weight loss clinics. They boldly stated that people who joined their program lost three times as much weight as those who didn't. My guess is that those who joined also kept the weight off as long as they had the support group in tact. If this is true for a weight loss clinic, it's also true for the church. Although people endlessly complain about some of the stuff that goes on in church, none of that stuff is caused by God. And yet if you belong to a Bible-believing church, joining in with the imperfect but growing brothers and sisters, you will find your faith will inevitably grow leaps and bounds over trying to go it alone. "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:25  Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

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