A Teen Showing More Maturity Than Adults

Was intrigued with the Nickelodeon Kids Awards this past weekend. Specifically Miley Cyrus, Billy Ray's daughter. For anyone even remotely paying attention to what is popular in tween culture, Hannah Montana is as big as it gets. Thousands of dollars being forked over by parents this past year for tickets to her concerts. It was THE hot ticket of the year.

So in winning her award , she thanked the usual people--the ones giving out the award and her family and all her other folks. But very specifically, she thanked her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Hmmmm. Not the usual "I thank God" which I am sure He appreciates in a civil religion kind of way... But a very specific "my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." That can't be popular with some folks. It is my hope that Miley has a real hope and it goes far beyond having a wildly popular show on TV and top ten songs.

In her regular everyday life (which I can't imagine being very much like a regular every day life for anyone else I know) this young lady verbalizes her faith and uses "God talk. " It is evidently who she is and she isn't ashamed of it. And most adults I know are afraid to open their mouths with friends and co-workers who already like them. Sometimes it takes a tweenybopper to set a positive example.

Way to go Miley. I am a fan. And I don't even know any of the words to the songs you sing.

He is Risen!

It is Good Friday. And that reminds me of one of our "family stories".

A few years ago, we were trying to teach our children about the tradition that when someone says, "He is risen", the response from those who know Jesus is "He is risen, indeed!"

We were employing a questioning style of teaching to help our children learn this concept, so we asked, "Do you know what to say when someone says, 'He is risen!' ?"
This was all brand new for 8 year old Nick, who knew that it was good news that Jesus died and rose again, but he had never heard of the traditional response.
So he came up with his own: "He is rise, yeah!"

That is still one of your family's favorite stories. And this Sunday , when someone at church says, "He is risen!" My response is going to be "Yeah!" because that really is the heart of the matter and even an 8 year old can understand it.

But I probably will only say "yeah"on the inside rather than out loud to avoid any confusion...

It Was a Very Good Day

CE National has been sponsoring Operation Barnabas teams for the past 35 years with over 2400 alumni. And these groups will often have reunions after their summer ministry experience.

Over 30 Operation Barnabas alums gathered in Winona Lake over the weekend to reminisce and renew friendships that began last summer. And I was impressed. The impressive part was not that the group gathered. the impressive part was not that they have close friendships. The impressive part was not that they have matching shirts and sweatshirts.

What impressed me was their ministry focus on Sunday morning. I had not been with any of the teens previously over the weekend because of previous responsibilities and commitments. But I saw and heard them in action on Sunday morning in both youth Sunday School as well as in the morning worship service at Community Grace in Warsaw.

One of our adult leaders this summer, Stacie, led a study on Noah and 8-10 OBers shared difficult things that they have been going through and growing through. The hardest situations had been refining these young people to be more like Noah-- a person of faith. I can often think that if my life is going easily--then that is a good thing. It was a solid reminder to me by these teenagers that when there are difficult times (and there will be difficult times) that is when God is shaping, refining and growing us the most--if we let Him.

In the am service, they helped lead some worship songs in a choir formation. But they initiated conversation before the service, during the "meet and greet" part of the morning, and after the celebration as well. Well done. Leaders initiate and spiritual leaders initiate and bring the discussion to eternal things. Very well done.

So I could care less that the team didn't do the entire Sunday morning service. No puppets, no mimes. Not even matching outfits, even though they did get to ride the blue bus to church that morning... What was such an encouragement was seeing many of these young people actively following Jesus and initiating and impacting others.

As one ob alum stated: “ob tours have ended, but the ministry of Operation Barnabas continues on.”

It was a very good day.

My Attitude

It still amazes me. I've lived now in Indiana for over 12 years, and I am still surprised at the difference in people's attitudes as soon as it starts to feel even just a little like spring! The warmth, the sun, the neighbors even come out of theri houses for the first time in 4 months...

I know that something so simple as the weather should not control my feelings and attitudes. I want to be the kind of person who rises above circumstances and experiences real joy that is talked about in the book of Philippians.

I guess I have some more maturing and growing up to do because the last two sunny, spring-like days here in northern Indiana have me feeling like I don't have a care in the world!