A good friend wrote me about a concern he has about his church body. It seems they get real excited about the worship band and other musical events, but he wonders if the applause is for the musicians or for the Lord. Frankly, I believe it's OK to praise God for the talents and abilities of the musicians and for their service to the Body, but my friend is probably correct in his concern. I've been in many churches and believe that most of the applause is not aimed at the Lord (as in a big "Amen!"), but rather toward the musicians who are there to serve the Lord. Honestly, we hold them in much higher esteem than we should, i.e., not for their service to the Lord, but because our culture worships musicians! We have several biblical examples where apostles and prophets of the Lord worked miracles and then were presented with payment. They always refused the payment or the praise and reflected the credit toward God. Many musicians I know do exactly that--reflect the praise toward God. But, as worshippers, we need to be sure to aim it there in the first place! "When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men." Matthew 9:8 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Have you ever tried to comfort someone and had them cry those words on your shoulder? Have you ever spoken those words in a tearful slobber? I've done both, because life just isn't fair at times! People are wicked to each other, and frankly, few seem to care! Oftentimes, even those who care don't seem like they've really ever been through the same things you've been through. How could they really understand unless they've been there? We can take great comfort in knowing that Jesus lived through every type of pain possible, and did it all without striking back at His oppressors. He too cried, but not for Himself. He cried for those who would murder Him, and for those who needed comfort. There is nothing man or beast can do to you that Jesus cannot understand. "I, even I, am he who comforts you. Who are you that you fear mortal men, the sons of men, who are but grass, that you forget the Lord your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth, that you live in constant terror every day because of the wrath of the oppressor, who is bent on destruction? For where is the wrath of the oppressor? The cowering prisoners will soon be set free; they will not die in their dungeon, nor will they lack bread." Isaiah 51:12-14 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Some of the most on-fire Christians I know are teenagers. The Lord has preserved a large number of young people who call on His name regardless of what everyone else is doing. The Lord always does that, but my question for today is "What IS everyone else doing?" From my vantage point I see three camps. Many young people see no God but themselves. They ignore every message from Him in honor of what they would rather be doing. Another group is lost in church, but the meaning and the Holy Spirit are missing from their congregations. They hate church, and they are left wanting and wondering. The last group is a large and growing group that's begun taking up what many a nation of young people have taken up before--New Age (or should we call it "old age" remixed) religions. This group is probably the most dangerous of the lot, because at least the other two groups know they're not "down with the Lord!" Satan's lies work well on this last group because their hearts have been grabbed by things taught by demons. "They are full of superstitions from the East; they practice divination like the Philistines and clasp hands with pagans. Their land is full of silver and gold; there is no end to their treasures. Their land is full of horses; there is no end to their chariots. Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made. So man will be brought low and mankind humbled--do not forgive them." Isaiah 2:6b-9 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

To a lot of young people, drinking as much alcohol as possible is just plain sport. It's fun to try to out drink your friends and still "maintain". Of course, many a young person who decides to drink to excess will be the old person of tomorrow with DUI arrests, liver problems, and all the other things that can come along with drinking. All that, plus God isn't happy about it either! Hmmmm... You think it's worth it? "Woe to those who rise early in the morning to run after their drinks, who stay up late at night till they are inflamed with wine." Isaiah 5:11 Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine and champions at mixing drinks," Isaiah 5:22 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

I hated to do it, but I kind of had to scold a young woman in front of a Bible study group today. She chose to say something unfitting about her parents in front of the group, and when I tried to stop her, she added "Anyway my older brother's a strong Christian and he completely agrees that they are jerks!" Since she chose the time and the place, I didn't feel like I had any choice. My response: "You are not honoring your parents with that kind of talk, and if your brother is bad-mouthing your parents to you, he's not half the Christian he thinks he is." You may not always agree with your parents, and in fact there will be hundreds of times when you don't agree with them at all. This fact does not give you the right to disregard the Lord's command to honor your mother and father. Tell them you disagree. Pray for yourself and for them. If necessary, talk to a pastor or youth leader about the issues in private. But never, never, speak ill of your mother and father in front of others. It does not honor them and it does not honor God. "Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord." Colossians 3:20 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

I've found that that majority of people who want nothing to do with religion are still interested in having their children learn the values and ethics that come along with it. For most Americans, that means that parents are usually not opposed to allowing their children to attend Vacation Bible Schools, youth groups, etc. This is interesting to me because one of two things generally occurs. Either the young person begins to believe that religion is only for children, and outgrows it as they begin struggling with sins, OR, they give their lives to Christ and have a dramatic effect on their homes, some even leading their parents to the Lord. As a father, if there's one thing I want for my children it's that they have a strong relationship with Christ. For the non-Christian father, unfortunately even the good things they want for their children will be worthless unless Christ creates a miracle in them! "The offspring of the wicked will never be mentioned again." Isaiah 14:20b  Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Mosquito's are a drag! This time of year they keep me from even being able to sit and read in my own backyard. Why can't they just leave me alone? Can't we come up with something to kill them all? And while I'm at it, what about these moths that fly around the light near my back door. I can't even open the door without a flock of them getting into the house. Can't they see I'm just trying to live my life without being bothered? As you re-read the paragraph above, insert "God" wherever you read the name of an insect. Is God just bugging YOU? Has the Lord Almighty become an irritant to the way YOU want to live your life? Not to worry, you're in good company--or should I say, bad company? Everyone who wants to control his life considers even the slightest mention of God a real drag. Those who want to give Him their lives can't get enough of Him. "I [God] am like a moth to Ephraim, like rot the people of Judah." Hosea 5:12  Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Of all things you've ever been given, ever accomplished, or ever learned, what is your favorite thing? What one thing stands out in your mind as the biggest, best or brightest possession you have, whether tangible or intangible? As a Christian, that one thing is supposed be your relationship with your Lord. If it's anything else, if it's anything other than what you have, then whether you realize it or not, you've been foolin' around on your God. I said to the Lord, "You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing." Psalm 16:8  Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate