The new perspective on Jonah

When we think Jonah, we think fleeing from God's call. We think big fish. We think veggietales. But yesterday we had a new perspective on Jonah. We didn't look at how we run from God. We didn't debate wether the fish is figurative or literal. We sang no songs about pirates who don't do anything.

We looked at the reason why Jonah fled. If you remember, Jonah didn't go and preach the word of God to the Ninevites because he didn't want them to know God. He didn't want them to repent. He didn't want them to recieve grace from God. He didn't think they deserved it.

Who is Jonah to say who can believe in God? Who are we to say that? Our attitudes can be the same as Jonah. We don't want to love our enemies...we want them to get what they deserve! But that is not what we learned on Sunday. That is not what we learn from Jesus either.

Jesus tells us that we must love our enemies, and pray for those who want to
harm us

Isn't that a pill that is hard to swallow? But get this. When we love our enemies...it drives them crazy! They can't stand that. They would have us return evil for evil instead of turning the other cheek. They would have us give them the attention they are crying our for. But...its easier said than done. Most of the time we are not like Jesus. We don't love people...we judge people. We don't give people our time...we are to busy to hear thier story, to busy to care, to busy to share grace. We have better places to go (like Tarshish) and nicer people to minister to.

Next time God prompts you to be Jesus (compassionate, gracious, loving, merciful) to your enemy...don't run to the other end of the world. Instead...BE JESUS to them!

Thanks John Pleau for teaching us a new perspective on Jonah!

much Love,
johnny

My pet monster

We had breakfree worship last Wednesday. It was awesome worship led by the high school worship team. I am so proud for where they have come this year. They have grown musically, but more importantly, they have grown spiritually. Breakfree was worship, prayer, and a short message by Scott.

Scott reminded me of my childhood on Wednesday. He put into my mind an image of breaking free from the chains of sin that bind us tight. He gave me an image of my pet monster. Most of you wont remember, because most of you were not alive in the late 80's. But my pet monster was a 2 foot tall stuffed animal, that had real looking plastic hand cuffs on. One of the links in the chain was collapsable, making it seem that the monster could get so mad that he broke free from the chains that were keeping him.

Wednesday was a good night to break free from old habits that have deveoloped oved the stressful school year. Have you ever wondered why after a mountain top experience with God (like at camp or on a mission trip) you claim that you won't let that feeling die out...but then school starts. And you fall into the same old patterns, you find the same friends that bring you down, you wonder where God is while you are in the valley that seems to have dipped so low from the mountain.


Wednesday night was a breakfree opportunity. A chance to pray with each other, to praise God whole heartedly. It was a welcome night for many. What if we had breakfree opportunities more often? What if we realized that there is a weak chain in the cuffs that bind us, and one strong tug (accompanied by a great triumphant monster yell) could break the bonds and we could be free to love God and love others?


Well, we can. Maybe we just needed a reminder.










much Love,



johnny

A day of welcome...

Sunday was a day of recognition for the high school group here at CWSM. The morning started off very early for the upcoming seniors as well as the upcoming freshman! The to be seniors and the CSL team had a great time "initiating" the frosh coming up.


It started off by surprising each incoming student in their bed, (we called ahead of course, expect once...sorry to Joe's parents!) waking them up and giving them 10 to 30 seconds to brush their teeth (boys need less time than girls apparently) and then ushering them out of thier comfortable houses in thier pajamas and a giant name tag around their neck.

We went to 16 houses that morning and picked up 16 unsespecting souls. We then had breakfast at our tiny apartment (breakfast made by student leaders) and had a blast getting to know each other...we found out that most of the students crumple thier TP as opposed to fold.

The other transition was to recognize our graduating seniors! We honored them and they honored us with advice to stick in there. They all shared a bit of what they learned through their four years...and then we had the chance to ask them some hard questions! Questions like "What was your biggest temptation through high school and how did you deal with that?" Sounds intriguing, no?









So as you can see, we had a great time!

much Love,
johnny

Confessions of a Pharisee

The other day I was so excited to have a meeting with our 5th Grade parents. It was a meeting to give all of our crazy info about the summer. But, I was really encouraged to have some of the parents ask me about some of my ministry goals for this next year. One of them centering around prayer.
If I'm honest that is a place that I fall short many times. I want to make sure that I get everything done and then after I am done with that then I will lift up a short prayer to God. But, that is not how I want to live my life. I want to be in constant prayer both for ministry and for surrounding me. I have failed lately in that way. Prayer is essential and if I tell people to pray but don't do it I am a lot like the Pharisees. I think about the passage in Luke 18 where it says:

" To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable. Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: God, I thank you that I am not like other men- like this tax collector, I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get. But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, God have mercy on me, a sinner. I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

So here is confession time. I am a sinner. I am a youth pastor and I have told people to pray and to trust God but then when it is my turn I walk away and do my own thing. There are many times that I wish that I would have trusted God more but I like to control situations. This is my simple and earnest prayer that God's will be done. Help me Father to get out of the way. Don't let me take over any longer. I am beating my breast and asking you to forgive me.

Grace and Peace,
Scott

And God was praised...in silence

When was the last time you experienced silence? Where you intentionally (and not just before bed) turned off the radio...turned off HGTV (all that we watch these days)...took out the ipod...turned off the cell phone...and had quiet.

Noise is all around us. We create noise all around us. Even in places where people try and be silent they can't help but make noise.

Not all noise is bad...sometimes it can lead us into praise and joy. But a lot of times noiese can block us from hearing God.

Are the noises in your life so loud that you can't hear God?

On Sunday we had another Experience God Sunday. The high school and middle school groups joined together to experience God in a unique way. This time they were led in a silent devotion.

We led it from the big screen typing out the words as opposed to saying them...we needed silence. It turned out to be really cool, sort of like the kids were reading a text or IM or something. And they were silent. And they studied the word of God, and worshipped and praised Him through mini journals.

And God was praised...in silence.

much Love,

Johnny