I'm kind of a hard-nosed guy when it comes to seeing things in black and white. I don't have any tolerance for things I feel are dishonest or against what I believe are God's standards. While that may be fine at times (like lovingly helping people see the truth), judgment is really not my job. Judgment is God's job 100% of the time. I find it ironic and profound God had every reason to judge us harshly, and yet found it in His heart to give us mercy, while we who have no reason to judge, quite often do it anyway, and yet find it difficult to show mercy to others. The truth is we need to always be aware we have been saved by grace and are no longer under the law, but in many ways we need to live like we still will be judged by it. The fact remains we are still sinners. Whenever we are standing in judgment of someone else, we are sinners sitting in God's chair. A good remembrance of the law will help keep us out of HIS chair! “Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!" James 2:12-13 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Let's say you're standing on the curb near your school (or work, or home, or anywhere for that matter) trying to help a scared and crying young person who's terribly lost. While you are doing your best to get a phone number for a parent out of them, someone runs up and steals your bike (or car, or skateboard, or... well, you get the point). You were just trying to do the right thing and still you were wronged. You ask yourself, "Why didn't God protect me?" Later, you see the very people who ripped you off having dinner at McDonalds, only they don't see you. Do you: A. Scratch up their car with a key (because they seriously deserve it). B. Call the police. C. Thank God for the blessing! D. Both B and C. The answer is found below (just add common sense about the police part!): "Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed." 1 Peter 3:13 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

I find two extremes when I look at how many Christians think of sharing their faith with unbelievers. One group simply never thinks of themselves as good enough, smart enough or outgoing enough to even try. They feel guilty because of their perceived inability, but it never gets them out of their comfort zone. They fail to realize it is God who convicts hearts, but He has given us the ministry of reaching out to those hearts. The other extreme is those who are living secretly sinful lives, yet share their faith like crazy, even skipping (or avoiding) the more challenging points of the Gospel so they can convince people to "become Christians too." I don't believe many souls are saved at either extreme; The first group because they never try, and the other because people can easily see their faith is not genuine. What the Lord needs is people who are willing to follow after Him close enough that the sin in their lives begins to fade away, and who are then grace-filled enough that they are willing to truthfully and honestly reach out to a hurting world! "Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God." 2 Corinthians 4:1-2 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

In honor of the St. Patrick's Day holiday, I heard a commentator give a neat rundown on exactly who St. Patrick was today. It seems that of all the things he was (Christian, evangelist, etc.) he was never actually canonized as a Saint by the Catholic church. What's more, he wasn't even Irish, but Scottish! Still, I must disagree with the commentator. People do not become saints because any denomination of the church deems them one. Early Christians were all addressed as "saints," because that is exactly what they were called to be! Believers in Jesus Christ are all saints, not because of what they've done, but because of what HE has done! Then they become travelers on the path to become worthy of the title. In the New Testament, believers are addressed as "saints" 45 times! Just imagine how you might think differently if you were continuously addressed with the title, "Saint." "And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will." Romans 8:27  Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

If you owed the meanest person in your school some money, would you take your time in paying him back? Do you bad-mouth your toughest teacher, or the boss you have the most respect for? What about a police officer or a judge... if it really started to look like you were going to get in serious trouble, would you consider using a more respectful tone? I'm a pretty tough-minded guy, but when it comes right down to suffering meaninglessly, I'll go ahead and take the path of least resistance if I can. What's interesting is that many who would never cross another person make a habit of crossing God and give it nary a thought. "A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?" says the Lord Almighty. Malachi 1:6a Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Love for Jesus is not done with words alone. Those words simply must be backed up with action. Far too many people call themselves Christians and have no idea how far they and God are apart. They prove their lack of love by following their own paths instead of His. "Jesus replied, 'If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me." Jesus of Nazareth (John 14:23-24) Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

"Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the Lord without wavering." Psalm 26:1 Those words from Psalm 26 were written by King David. Anyone who knows anything about David knows that he certainly did not lead a blameless life. He's the guy who had a woman's husband killed to cover up the fact that he slept with her and got her pregnant. The reason David can say he is "blameless" is because being without blame is not something we achieve on our own. It is something we achieve through God. We are all "to blame" for our sins, but by trusting in Jesus alone, we too become blameless. "But I lead a blameless life; redeem me and be merciful to me. My feet stand on level ground; in the great assembly I will praise the Lord." Psalm 26:11-12 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Churches, youth groups, ministries and the like can be some of the roughest and most unforgiving places on the planet! Not all of them are as well supervised as they should be. As a result, much pride and arrogance can build up among those who've been there for a while. If these people were truly operating by the Holy Spirit, then all the fruits of the Spirit would be theirs (peace, patience, kindness, etc). Instead, the fruit of the sinful nature is often allowed to run amuck. The result is that those truly desiring to come to Christ; those hurting and needing help, are pushed out of the way by those who demand things be their way, or by those who suck the Body of it's strength with their drama! I've seen far too many good people leave churches and ministries because of such sinful activity. Know this for sure... None of that stuff has anything to do with Jesus. Keep looking for a Bible believing church where sin is called what it is and where grace abounds. God has your back on this one and He needs you in a place where you can grow strong and useful for His kingdom! "Because you shove with flank and shoulder, butting all the weak sheep with your horns until you have driven them away, I will save my flock, and they will no longer be plundered. I will judge between one sheep and another." Ezekiel 34:21-22 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate