Ode To The Youth Minister.

You have the toughest job in the world. You get to work a zillion hours a week building relationships and leading kids to Jesus just before they go to college where stats show no matter how good you did, they will most likely leave the church anyway.

You have a tougher than tough job, and eventhough you might think you aren't appreciated at times, you are a true and important asset to the Kingdom of God.

You rarely get treated like a real pastor by your congregation eventhough chances are you work just just as hard if not harder than anyone else on staff.

Although I am no longer one of you, I love you youth ministers, and with that said, here is a hip hop tribute to you.

A NEW Creation!

I have had alot of meeting lately. I mean yes, staff meeting, elders meetings, committee meetings, but thats not the kind of meeting I'm talking about. I have had meetings with individuals who are feeling the call to change. They are feeling the need to turn EVERYTHING over to Jesus Christ. And, I can't think of a better thing to do.

I had a meeting with a young man today who was just telling me this story that had so many rough patches that it made you want to weep, but I didn't. The reason I didn't was he is genuinely wanting to repent. He wants to live for Jesus and to put to death all of his vices. I've had alot of encounters like that lately, and there is one thing I bring up that surprises them.

I tell them that once that repent, once they ask for forgiveness they are forgiven. But even more so, I tell them the biblical truth that once you are adopted by God you become a NEW CREATION. This means that if you are a drug addict, a porn addict, a gossiper, a thief, a murderer, whatever, when you repent and obey Jesus' commands, you become a NEW CREATION.

God's Grace is amazing like that. For me, I knew I needed to be a new creation because the old me was a complete and total turd. But once I gave my life to Jesus, I was new and no one, no matter how hard they tried or wanted to, could deny that.

So watch this video clip. This is of a worship service and they portray this in a way that makes it both beautiful and exciting.