Generation Hope

Below is an article I recently had published in our local newspaper. It was based off of a message I recently preached on Jeremiah 1.4-10 titled "Today I Appoint You." It was a fun exercise in communicating God's message, stripped of the religious language that may not have been accepted in a local newspaper. If you're interested in hearing the message give a listen here:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id292230187.

Many have referred to today’s young people as “Generation Me.” Their reasoning generally follows: they lack respect for authority, they’re selfish, cynical, apathetic, and out of control. Yet I believe that the next generation also possesses unparalleled potential, creativity and giftedness and if they can discover their purpose in life then there is great hope for the future of our community and world. I want to cast a compelling vision for our next generation, one that will require parents, teachers, coaches, and other community leaders to embrace if we’re to see it come to fruition. This vision lies in the essence of three truths that our young people need to understand.

1. Your life has a great purpose. No matter what your peers, teachers, and perhaps even parents communicate you were not an accident. Long before you were a twinkle in their eye you were destined for great things. You are at a period in your life where simply existing and getting by isn’t enough. Psychologists maintain that during adolescence we wrestle with three questions: Who am I? Do I belong? Do I matter? Adolescence can be tough, but it is also a great opportunity to creatively explore your purpose in life.

2. Your youth is not an excuse. It is an opportunity. Too often youth is used as an excuse, as a way of getting out of doing something significant. Unfortunately our culture encourages this. Turn on the latest reality television show and you will find passionate and energetic twenty-somethings partying, sleeping around and getting into fights. Many will watch this and say, “Well they’re just young and having fun.” What if instead of just doing whatever feels good, you did something that mattered? Perhaps instead of going on a wild spring break trip you went and served the inner city or went with a group of friends to do relief work in an area ravaged by a hurricane or earthquake. I know of several young people who have traded the parties in Cancun for opportunities in Rwanda and Kenya, and both society and their own lives are better as a result.

3. You have a message that the world needs to hear. Too often society is the one giving you a message, “Wait your turn. Listen to us for a while, and when you’ve finally wised up to our way of thinking then we’ll listen to you.” Do not be content just sitting at the kids’ table. Join the important conversations in which society is engaged. You offer passion and creativity that is unlike anything the world has ever seen. Pursue opportunities to have your voice heard, because we need to hear it and the future will be impacted significantly as a result.

Next generation, you can change your school, your community, and the world. My hope is that the rest of us will empower and encourage you to do so!

Uncertainty is a Good Thing

I've been thinking about something a lot lately. Why do people in ministry struggle with uncertainty so much? I served at a church as youth pastor for five years, and for the most part I had it pretty good. Decent salary (for a youth pastor), benefits, a good-size ministry, and a pretty good sense of security that all of this would continue. There were moments of uncertainty (pastor changes, pay cuts, changing vision), but for the most part I felt pretty certain about things.

Since embarking upon our church planting adventure nothing has been certain! Personal finances, church finances, ministry location, our housing situation, etc. I have come to a point where I pretty much expect uncertainty in ministry, and in all honesty I think I'm ok with that. When I look at the Scriptures and read about the people who did great things for God there was a whole lot of uncertainty for these folks.

- How certain was Noah that the whole ark thing was legit and would really pan out?

- How much certainty did Abraham have when God called him out of Ur, or to sacrifice his son on an altar?

- How certain was Moses that the Hebrews could cross the Red Sea without Pharoah's army catching up with them?

- How certain was David that he could defeat a giant?

- Was Naomi certain that Ruth could change their fate and bring redemption to their family?

- How certain was Mary that her baby was God?

- How certain were the disciples that Jesus was the Messiah?

- How certain was Paul that he could take the Gospel to the ends of the earth?

It seems that the story of Scripture, more often than not, was that God's people really didn't have much certainty, security, and comfort. Somewhere we came to this point where people of God and ministers of the gospel expected these things. If God's call upon his people is at all similar today (which I think it it is) then pastoral transitions, salaries (or lack thereof), church size changes, church planting obstacles should all be expected even though they bring great uncertainty. In fact if you are certain about all of the aspects of your life and/or ministry right now then you may not truly be following God's call.

What's amazing to me isn't that Noah built the ark, that the Red Sea was parted, or that the Virgin Birth happened. If God truly is the creator and sustainer of the universe then these things are entirely possible. What is amazing to me is that the men and women of the Bible who did great things for God were willing to step out into the corridors of uncertainty, and give God the opportunity the do something incredible.

Uncertainty should not surprise us if we're trying to seek God. Uncertainty is expected. Uncertainty is a good thing. I am certain of it!