E-quip post #3 - R-E-S-P-E-C-T

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Proverbs 28:14 "Happy is the man who is always reverent, but he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity."

I have a lot of respect for military personnel. What a picture of service and honor! A major difference that I see between military guys and the average Joe is the respect that the military guys show. Yes, sir. No, sir. Yes, mam. No, mam. Please. Thank You. These guys are under an authority that they submit to. Here is what authority is..."Legitimate power in which people believe that the differences in power are just and proper-that is, people view a leader as being entitled to give orders." The military is based on an order structure that is recognized and adhered to by all its members. That is how things work and are held together.

Similarly, God has put an order structure in our lives as students and young adults that keeps us in line. I remember my mom telling me that she felt like a drill sergeant half the time as she was raising three kids. (Of whom I was by far the most testing). You know, our whole life we will be under some sort of authority here on earth. When you're a kid, obviously your parents, teachers, coaches, etc. have authority over you. When you are an adult, you have to answer to the man (your boss) and your wife! (Hey-don't kid yourself) And when you are really old, you are under the authority of the crazy ladies at the convalescent home that you are going to be living at! It seems that we can never get away from the authority of people who change our diapers. Mom when we are young, crazy convalescent ladies when we are old. Sorry, that's the circle of life, just the way things go.

Here is what I noticed about teenagers and the issue of respect. Most teenagers want to be respected by their parents, friends, teachers, coaches, etc. without necessarily showing a lot of respect themselves. Have you ever noticed that? Some teens want complete autonomy over their personal lives, they want their parents out of their lives and all that but they miss this important truth... You have to give respect to get respect. Proverbs 28:14 says that you will be happy in life if you give respect. It doesn't say that you will be happy in life if you get respect. Showing respect is part of a happy life. The verse goes on to say that if we "harden your hearts" then we will fall into trouble.

Respect, like money, is hard to get but easy to lose. God asks us to be respectful. Even when things get hard, character matters. Jesus, our example in all things, showed respect for even societies outcasts. If Jesus did it, so should we.

Now go get on with those chores that you are supposed to be doing! Being humble and respectful is such a powerful combination for good. Try it.

You've been equipped. Eph. 4:11-13
-Jeremy

E-quip post #2 - heart stimulation

2 Peter 3:1-2 "Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles."

These verses are perfect for this blog. Never again will I be able to say that this is the "second letter" that I have written to you. Let's listen to Peter's heart here as he reminds us to be stimulated to wholesome thinking.

Put your mind around this...The basic mechanics of the human brain cells reflect a process of pattern matching or rather recognition. In a "moment of reflection", new situations and new experiences are judged against recalled ones and judgements are made. In order to make these judgements, the intellect maintains present experience and sorts relevant past experience. It does this while keeping present and past experience distinct and separate. The intellect can mix, match, merge, sift, and sort concepts, perceptions, and experience. This process is called reasoning. Logic is the science of reasoning. The awareness of this process of reasoning is access consciousness

HUh?

Ya, I don't get it either. (That was just to make me look smart). What big Pete wants us to do is to be stirred up to wholesome thinking again through being reminded of what was written by past prophets and apostles. Oh, how I need to be reminded of the things of the Lord. Why do we forget so easily? We forget the wholesome, good, and righteous things that the Lord has taught us and we slip into our old carnal state of mind. God knows that many of the battles that we face spiritually in life are fought in the brain. We can talk ourselves into something (whether its bad or good for us) so easily. We can rationalize things in our minds that sound crazy in reality. Maybe you're good at that too.

Being reminded of things is part of life, especially growing up. If I never remind my son Luke to brush his teeth, the kid would have a rotten mouth! He'll thank me later, but now, he is sort of tired of hearing it. But hey, that's part of being a parent. (And plus, I have always wanted to boss around little people! HEheHEheHEheHE)

A few ways to remind ourselves of the things of the Lord is through regular Scripture reading at home, listening to Christian music, and of course going to church to get good Bible teaching. Now... I know what you're thinking, "Hey Britton, I already know all of this!" That's the point! I am reminding you, man. Repetition is the best teacher. Repetition is the best teacher. Repetition is the best teacher...

The more we marinate our hearts and brains with the things of the Lord, the more wholesome we will become.

Philippians 4:8, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - THINK on these things."

So now you have been reminded, and e-quipped.

Equip youth :: Eph. 4:11-13

E-quip post #1 - youth group name change

Youth group name change... BIG NEWS!

Well my people, it has been a long time coming. I have finally gotten up enough courage to confront our sometimes hostile youth group of its name change. The name P.T.B.A. is so cheesy, and has been a part of my life for so long now, that I was actually starting to feel physically ill from all the years of mental anguish that I have experienced over this name. Clearly, something had to change. Either the name had to go, or you know who had to go. So here's the deal, for all of you "P.T.B.A." apologists, listen, the name is just too ridiculous to carry on. The Lord gave us imaginations and wisdom so we can avoid pitfalls in life, like the one that we see ourselves in now, loathing over how cheesy our name is. I have applied some of God's wisdom and creativity to help us get on with our lives. I hope you understand. I learned from an old sage long ago that ministry is not carried out by a democracy, but rather a benevolent dictatorship. As your loving dictator, I am forcing this on you to help you. Believe me.

Equip youth ministry. Now, how do you like the sound of that? Doesn't it just roll of the tongue so smoothly? The word comes from biblical times, meaning to "furnish or prepare with intellectual, emotional, or spiritual resources for use in life's undertaking". So we have the old world feel, but equip can also be written in today's tech age as "e-quip" (see title to this blog). How catchy is that? I know, brilliant! "P.T.B.A." just doesn't hold a light to "equip youth ministry". Now give it a few seconds, let it settle in. Everything is going to be okay. I can not believe how much some of you love the name "P.T.B.A.". Just consider this name change a blessing. I mean God takes us from faith to faith, from victory to victory in life. Why hold back the beautiful new thing that God would have for us?

I am anxious to hear your thoughts.

Be blessed. Check back soon for more E-quipping.