SimplyYouthMinistry.com Articles

are you listening

I was recently at Weinersnitzel eating one of America's finest meals-the tube steak kabob...affectionately known by connoisseurs as a Corn Dog. As I moving to my seat, I see a high school student reading the Di Vinci Code. I asked him, "How do you like that book?" Honestly, I thought that it was a very easy question and I would get a very quick response! That's not what happened!

I expected this guy to say, "It's an interesting read... not as a good as my chili cheese dog with onions. Have a nice day. Go about your business. Don't you know this is Southern California and we don't really want to talk to strangers here?"

Instead, this 17 year old perks up and says, "I love it. I believe it. The church is corrupt. Priests and pastors are all a bunch of phonies-you know that big church down the street? All they want is your money! You know which one I'm talking about?"

Well, I knew which church he was talking about-the one I where I'm the pastor to students-kids like him. Interesting perception. Our church looks good on the outside and I can see how he connected money with the look. He's not the first to perceive it that way and he won't be the last.

I said, "It sounds like you've got some pretty strong feelings about the church-where do those feelings come from?" For the first time in a long time, I asked a pretty intelligent question (a lot of times I say, "Uh...what school do you go to?" and think I'm a relational giant). Once again, this intellectual didn't shrug off my question with a teenage grunt. Rather, he talked about his feelings about the church.

I listened. And listened. And listened. This kid had a story! A wild one. A sad one. One that has not only turned him off from church...but also from God.

One of the areas that I've been trying to grow as a youth worker is to be more blunt and upfront with my questions and equally as assertive with my listening. I've really been learning that kids want to talk about their spiritual stories and feelings (especially those outside the church) but few people (especially adults) care enough to ask.

I want to challenge you to ask some deeper questions if this doesn't come naturally to you (it didn't to me). Ask them this week. Maybe tonight at youth group. Ask a probing question and then listen to their story. As you listen don't have an agenda. Just listen.

After you listen, you might be able to share some pieces from your own spiritual story and shed light on God's amazing love story. Probably, somewhere between those three stories is an intersection of faith. As I spoke with this kid I realized that he likes to read (I know, you're thinking, "It was a teenager?") so I went out to my car and got him a copy of my pastor's book, Purpose Driven Life. [If my pastor reads this I want him to know I have one with me at all times ?]

I told his guy, "If you read it, call me...I'd love to talk about it. I work right up the street at that church and I make enough money to buy you lunch--as long as you don't eat more than 2 corn dogs." He smiled. We exchanged names and I wrote my cell phone number inside the book.

He hasn't called yet...but something about our time together makes me think he will. I'm praying he does. I'm also praying that you'll experience a great spiritual conversation this month with a teenager because you asked a great question and were slow to speak. Kids are waiting for a caring adult to listen...to really listen. I can do that. So can you! Let's commit to being a part of youth ministries where listening to kids is a high value.

dang it...it's almost fall!

A couple days ago I was walking through Target when my heart suddenly sank. Hanging from the ceiling was banner after banner showing junior high-aged students in various "back to school" poses (girl holding notebook, boy standing near locker....). When I was younger, I absolutely hated the fact that back to school commercials would start showing up on television sometime around July 1st! All these years later, and I feel like Pavlov's dog every time I see or hear that unspeakable phrase: "Back to....." never mind, I can't even type it!

But certainly there has to be SOMETHING good about the fall, right? Yes. In fact, when it comes to junior high ministry there are some great things fall offers. Let me share a few:

Fall is a great time to recruit new leaders for your ministry. You have parents of new junior high students, you have college-aged kids who didn't move away to college and you have people who may be thinking, "I really should get involved in ministry when summer is over". Plus, if your ministry is like ours fall is always one of the key times we kick off new programs and bring back some traditional ones that took a break over the summer. Because of this it's the perfect time to recruit new leaders.
Fall is a great time to try something new. It's a new season and the start of a new school year which means it's the perfect time to introduce a new idea, a new program or a new ministry experiment of some type. I emphasize the word "experiment" because that's a wise word to use when trying something new. "Hey team, this fall we are going to try a new experiment to see how it goes. We are going to build a taco stand in the youth room and sell tacos to raise money for orphans in the Ukraine." When the taco stand flops because nobody likes tacos at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings and they don't get the connection between Mexican food and Ukrainian orphans (a connection that was totally obvious to you....), you can shut the whole thing down and chalk it up to an "experiment". Brilliant.
Fall is a great time to get rid of sacred cows. One of the reasons I favor a highly thinned-down summer schedule (in our ministry we shut down most of our ongoing programs and replace them with summer-specific activities) is because after three months of not doing something, it's pretty easy just to keep not doing it once the fall rolls around!

I don't like fall. I don't like that the days get shorter and the temperatures get colder (here in Southern California, the temperatures can get as low as 70 degrees in the fall!). And even though I no longer have to shop for school notebooks, the idea of the "back to school" campaign still makes my heart sink. But as a youth pastor, I have come to embrace it because I have to admit, there are great things that fall has to offer.

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teaching your students the purity code

In honor of God, my family, and my future spouse, I commit my life to sexual purity.

This involves:

- Honoring God with your body
- Renewing your mind for good
- Turning your eyes from worthless things
- Guarding your heart above all else

What if a million students committed their lives to the Purity Code? What if a majority of kids in your youth group did? Personally, I think it could radically change the way students do relationships and, this may seem incredibly idealistic, but save an amazing amount of couples from carrying excess baggage into their marriages.

All studies show that the more positive, value-centered sex education kids receive, the less promiscuous they will become. Youth workers and even parents are doing a better job but the results still aren't that impressive. We can definitely be more effective in communicating healthy, God-honoring sexuality.

Here are two things we can do:

1. Give Your Students a "Theology of Healthy Sexuality"

Far too many adolescents view sex as unspiritual. They are told not to do it because it is dirty, ugly and sinful without the benefit of ever understanding that God created our sexuality. In the context of a loving marriage relationship, sex is beautiful and God-ordained. I'm convinced that people make healthy sexual decisions more often when based on a spiritual component, rather than just refraining physically. We need to teach our students what the Bible does say about sexuality. (Genesis 1:26, 31; Exodus 20:14, 1 Thessalonians 4:3, Matthew 19:4-6 and 1 Corinthians 6:18-20)

2. Help Students Set Standards

Too many students make sexual decisions based on 1) the pressure to conform; 2) their emotional involvement that exceeds their maturity level; and 3) lack of value-centered sex education. With this in mind, we can help young people make healthy decisions and create healthy boundaries regarding issues like modesty, how far is too far, media, pornography and much more. We can't do it by just telling them it's all bad. Rather, students learn best when they talk, not us. We have to listen, dialog and then give them standards to fit with the Biblical worldview.

Dr. James Dobson wrote the book Preparing for Adolescents in 1984. It was the book we used with our kids. I reread it this summer and frankly, he did a great job for 1984. Back then we didn't have issues like internet pornography, HIV, or the increase of dealing with "friends with benefits." Today's youth workers and parents must speak to the relevant issues of the day and help steer kids' minds and hearts toward the Purity Code. I love the scripture in Proverbs, "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life."

Jim is willing to take on your questions and dialog on this subject by writing him at Jim.Burns@HomeWord.com

Bio on Jim

Jim Burns new claim to fame is that he was Doug Fields youth pastor. He is the author of The Purity Code, Teaching Your Children Healthy Sexuality, Accept Nothing Less: God's Best For Your Body, Mind and Heart and a bunch of other books. He is also the President of HomeWord and has a daily radio broadcast.

how not to treat your volunteers

I recently had the opportunity of going on a nature trip with my daughter's 6th-grade class, and I must say the kids had a great time. My daughter came back with a huge smile and some great memories.

Unfortunately we volunteer parents didn't have smiles on our faces.

When we arrived, we were given a folder, a name tag, a poor map of the park, sketchy info on our assigned locations, and a "thank you for coming" statement-then the leader left us. The next thing we knew we were on our own-no explanation where to go, what to do, or how to do it once we got there. We got lost twice, walked over four miles on slippery rocks downhill, and we had a pregnant mom (she was in her 7th month) with us who was told-before she agreed to help-that she would be able to just sit and help watch the kids. The way we volunteers were handled was frustrating for everyone and I'm sure many of us will at least hesitate when asked to volunteer again. This whole experience made me think of how important it is to take care of those who volunteer in our ministry.

Many details have to be planned when taking kids on trips. But don't forget your volunteers. Try to have three key things in place for your volunteers on every trip:

� Clear directions of what they are supposed to do.
� When they are supposed to do it.
� How they are supposed to do it.

Volunteers can be informed through a pre-event meeting, where they get to give input into these three things. Of course, surprises and unexpected events always happen, but if these three key things are in place the pieces seem to fall in place.

Questions for you: What are some key things you like to have in place for every trip you go on? Are you the only one who knows those key things? Are you communicating them to your leaders? If you are communicating, is it clear and often? If not, it's time that you do.

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does it always have to be a sermon?

Kurt's article really got me thinking about how I view the "teaching" piece in ministry. I truly understand the importance of teaching junior high students God's word...and I know that Kurt has taught some amazing Sunday morning messages that have seriously impacted student's lives. However, I think we need to break out of the mold of "teaching" only coming in "message" form from the junior high pulpit...and think of the teaching piece as something that can happen at any moment or in any place with students.

I have been to countless youth ministry seminars and heard a number of student testimonies that state this fact over and over....."I don't remember any messages my youth pastor gave" or "I don't remember any small group lessons that my leader taught"...BUT..."I do remember the relationships I built...I do remember my youth pastor driving me home and talking to me about God...I do remember my leader being there when my parent's divorced...and so on and so on. I truly believe that some of our best teaching moments don't have to be in the form of a prepared message. Sometimes, it's just be willing to journey with students and TEACH along the way.

So, here is what I am thinking....how can we teach junior highers outside of the "norm" teaching times? How can we journey with them and teach them in the midst of their life moments? How can we use the relationships built in our ministries to become powerful teaching tools? I really believe that some of the best teaching...is done through strong, trusting relationships with leaders.

What are some ways that we can be teachers in student's lives outside the "the normal" teaching platforms.

Time can be serious teaching tool...
Make the most of your time with students. Whether it is a trip to the store or Taco Bell, recognize that your time together can be full of teaching moments. Ask questions, experience & share life together ....TALK. So many teaching moments arise in everyday life situations. Now, I don't spend every waking minute with students....I definitely have boundaries in this area...but I do try to make the time I do spend with students worthwhile. Student + Time = Opportunity to teach.

A good listener is a good teacher...
If you are around students, I guarantee there is a teaching moment waiting to happen. Listen and observe your students...just by watching them talk and interact with one another you can learn about areas in their life where they need instruction. Pay attention and respond. For example, I overheard a group of girls at youth group on Sunday talking about another girl in our youth ministry. Let's just say they were not affirming her....they were in total girl mode viscously talking about this other girl. One of the girls talking was a student leader and a girl I knew very well. Later on, when I drove her home, I asked about the conversation. She was defensive and embarrassed trying to explain to me why her words were warranted. This was a teaching moment...we had a long conversation about words, gossip, etc. Even though we didn't resolve anything in the car...we had a great talk and there was an opportunity for guidance and teaching. Just by observing a simple situation...a teaching moment came to light and some seeds were planted in a student's life.

Let your example speak for itself...
In Kurt's article he talked about the power of sharing stories...I love this point. But lets take it a step further....your life story can be a very powerful teaching tool in the lives of students. Share not only your stories, but who you are with students. The way you follow God, pray, interact in friendships/marriage/ relationships, respond to conflict, grow, fail, and so on and so on. I think students can learn so much from just watching us live life. They don't want to follow and learn from perfect youth workers they want to follow authentic, imperfect people. Expose students to your faith...the way you follow God. Teach them and show them through your own journey. Tip: Make sure that you set boundaries for yourself in this area....your students don't need to know everything. There is definitely a line of appropriateness.

Teaching moments are all around you....
You are ALWAYS teaching! What Kurt says about 1/3 of the time being dedicated to the lesson is really only partially true. The fact is your entire program is teaching students something.....that you care, that you'll listen, that you are glad they are there, etc. Whether you are at an event, a small group meeting, or your regular weekly meeting - let the all of the elements become teaching moments. You can find teaching moments in...

One on one conversations
Discussion Questions
The message
The music you listen to or lead
The games you play
Small group lessons you write
What stuff you hang on your walls
Etc.

Back-to-School History and Homework

The young man's comments left me scratching my head. I was cleaning up after presenting a seminar on today's youth culture when he approached me to say "thanks" for the information I had just communicated. "I want you to know," he said, "that I've returned to the high school I graduated from to do some after-school ministry with students. What you shared with us today has helped me to understand why kids are so much more different today than they were when I was in school." "How old are you?" I asked. "Nineteen," he said. "I just graduated from high school 10 months ago."

Like a snowball picking up speed and mass on a trip down a never-ending mountain, youth culture is changing at warp speed. With your teens heading back to school in just a few weeks, you need to be aware that the school youth culture they're heading back to is not the same as the one they left just a few short months ago. Everything is changing. To help you keep abreast of the world your kids live in, let me give you a short history lesson along with some homework.

First, the history. . . . history that will help convince you that every day your kids get out of bed, their world is new in some way, shape, or form. It all starts with the relative newness of adolescence as a distinct period of life and the concept of "teenagers" as we know it today. While there have always been chronological teenagers (humans aged 13 to 19), teenagers as we know and understand them in our contemporary situation are a relatively new development. There was a time - not long ago - when there were no such things as teenagers or a distinct youth culture, as least not as we know them today.

Believe it or not, it wasn't until 1941 that the term "teenager" was first coined and used, in of all places, Popular Science magazine. So where have teenagers and youth culture come from? Most people don't realize that teenagers as a distinct group are actually a social and economic invention. In 1930, teenagers didn't exist. In 1930, the concept of teenagers didn't exist. You simply jumped from being a child to being an adult. Only 50% of young people ages 14-17 were going to school. The other half were in the work force. An effort was made to get them out of the work force and into school so that they could get an education and so that jobs would open up for family men.

When the GI's came home after World War II, America experienced an unprecedented "baby boom." This growing youth population combined with extraordinary economic growth and opportunity in a mix that left marketers drooling. Lots of children and teens with lots of money to spend were too hard to resist. Those who had something to sell segmented teens away from children and adults, creating a distinct youth culture that was targeted with food, clothing, cars, books, movies, and everything else imaginable - all of it made and marketed just for them. By the mid-1950's teens had their own music that spoke specifically to their interests and experience.[1]

Unless you've been asleep, you know the rest of the story. Media and marketing have continued to create and reformulate a youth culture (on a daily basis) that now includes children and teens. Because our teenagers are growing through the change-filled years of adolescence, they are incredibly vulnerable to the youth culture's ability to shape their values, attitudes, and behaviors. The fact that there are a growing amount of competing messages coming at our teens from a variety of different directions, makes it that much more confusing, frustrating, and difficult for parents of teens to understand and connect with their kids. In effect, these changes have made "normal" adolescent development far more complex, added pressures and tensions to the process that never before existed, and widened the cultural-generational gap between teenagers and their parents.

Now, your homework. As a parent, you have been given primary responsibility for the spiritual nurture of your children (Deuteronomy 6: 4-9; Ephesians 6:4). Because you grew up in a world that's different from the world of your teen, you must view this calling as a cross-cultural missionary venture. As a result, you must work to stay in touch - like foreign missionaries - with the language and culture of your mission field. Here are three assignments that aren't meant to be burdensome, but helpful.

First, take the advice of the theologian who once said that every Christian should start their day with the Bible in one hand, and the newspaper in the other. In other words, you must begin your day spending time getting to know the One who has sent you, and the message that One has called you to communicate. Be sure that God's truth is coursing through your veins. Then, take the time to use your newspaper to get to know today's world so that you can communicate the Word's truths to the needs of your teenager and his/her world.

Second, read what they read, watch what they watch, and listen to what they listen to. Because of its pervasiveness, media is now the most powerful shaper of the values, attitudes, and behaviors of teens. What media are your teens engaging with, and what are they hearing/seeing/learning as they engage with those media? You can only know by checking it out for yourself. By getting to know your teen's media, you are getting to know your kids. Knowing their media will offer you great opportunities to discuss life in the light of God's Word. You will be able to affirm what they are learning that conforms to God's will and way, and challenge those things that don't.

Finally, spend time perusing the growing number of internet organizations and resources that serve to open your eyes to the changing world of today's teenagers. Check out the "parenting" section of the Lifeway website, the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding (www.cpyu.org), and Homeword (www.homeword.com). All of these sites include valuable information on teenagers and their world that's updated daily, growing archives, and dozens of links to other helpful organizations that deal with every conceivable type of youth culture pressure and reality.

As your teen heads back to school, decide that you're going to go back to school as well. If you become a serious student of your teen's culture, your teen will find it easier to navigate the hallways of that culture in a manner that glorifies God.

Dr. Walt Mueller is the founder and President of the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding. To learn more about today's youth culture, visit them on the web at www.cpyu.org.

[1] To learn more about how teenagers and adolescence developed in the U.S. during the 20^th century, see Thomas Hine, The Rise and Fall of the American Teenager (New York: Avon Books, 1999).

start to move mountains in your life, ministry and family

On the bottom of every email send, I have written my life verse. Tonight, as I was typing my weekly email to my volunteer leaders, I just had to ask them: When was the last time you read the verse attached to my signature at the bottom? Then I asked them to go ahead, read it word for word. Below is what my valediction reads. Would you read it too? Skip to the verse. Really. Do it now. I'll wait...

Megan Hutchinson
Minister Life Hurts God Heals for Teens
At Saddleback Church: www.saddlebackfamily.com/lifehurts
Global Locations and Frequently Asked Questions: www.lifehurtsgodheals.com
Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, Ephes. 3:20 (NASB)

Do you believe it? I mean, do you really believe it? I do. And with all my heart. I've been thinking...

with 12 men, the Good News spread about Jesus Christ!
with one faith-filled woman, the entire Jewish nation was saved. - Thank you Esther!
a sprouting 12-year old shepherd boy would believe he would unquestionably defeat a giant because the Almighty One was him. - Go David!
a courageous prophet and judge would help bring victory over the powerful Siseran army unapologetically claiming 'it is God who has marched before us [in this battle]." - Deborah, you're a stud!
a former murderer - turned Jesus lover - would travel feverishly to start "church" as we know it today. - Paul, you're amazing!

The list goes on and one. And you know what? I want my name on that list. For without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. (Heb 11:6 NASB) These men and woman were just like you and me. They were simple, complicated, gifted, broken, messy, talented, imbalanced and compassionate men and woman like you and me. BUT, they believed in the One who could do exceedingly, abundantly, beyond ALL that they would ask or think, according to the Power that resided within them.

Last I checked, God was in the business of moving mountains - in your life and mine. So, here are three questions for you to consider:

What stops you from really believing and claiming his power in your life, ministry, and family?
When is the last time you directly and authoritatively told the enemy to get lost?
Since there are no limits to what God can do, what small or big step would you prayerfully take next?

All I know is that six years ago God called me to help hurting teenagers at my home church and now around the globe. Is it a mountain far bigger than I can handle? You'd better believe it. Do I feel overwhelmed at times? Ahhh...yes! But do I passionately believe anything is possible in my life, ministry and family, when I believe? Without question - YES.

So, I leave you with Dr Seuss who so eloquently wrote in his best seller, Oh the Places You'll Go

So ...be your name Buxbaum or Bixy or Bray or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,
you're off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting
So ...get on your way!

We climb together,
Megan Hutchinson

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advice for dividing small groups

I'm always afraid to answer small group questions with a "this is how you do it" answer. Why? Because all small groups are unique and I'm not convinced there is "a" way to do it--there are several ways. Here are some of my thoughts:

1. Breaking students into small groups is never easy.

2. Breaking students into smaller groups when groups grow is never easy.

3. You can lessen the pain when you use the term "launch" instead of "split" (i.e. "we'll be launching a new group out of this group because great things are happening in here."). Launch can be positive. Split can be negative.

4. Let small groups know from the beginning that "launching" new groups is an exciting thing. Tell them it's a real possibility when the size of the group reaches ___ number of students (___ = whatever you decide on).

5. There will be a natural decline in intimacy when students start a new group--that's normal. But, if the groups just started 2 weeks ago, most likely your groups haven't begun to scratch the surface of intimacy. The sooner the better is the time to launch the new groups.

6. If your groups are "open groups" (meaning students can be added as they arrive) you'll always face this "problem" (what a great problem to have). As students in their small group grow spiritually, they will most likely reach out to their [lost] friends and invite them to join a small group. The only that I know to keep the numbers small and not disrupt the small groups is to change your philosophy to a "closed group" (meaning that once a group starts, it stays that number until the quarter/semester/school year is over (whatever you decide on)...and when a new student come, the student begins in a group that isn't "full". There are pros and cons to every youth ministry strategy.

7. Don't really have anything else to write here for #7...it's getting late (it's midnight) but it seemed like have 7 points would be a cool thing. Not sure if any of this is helpful...Oh, here's a thought; term your changes "experiments" and be willing to allow them to fail (who cares if something goes wrong--if it was an "experiment"). Learn from your experiments and begin to develop principles for small groups that you're passionate about and/or ones that work for your particular youth ministry setting.

christians are to the world as dwight Is to the office

One just has to sit back and admire the comic genius that is The Office. Week after week this program gives us a look into the real world of employment in unbelievably humorous and sadly accurate ways. In every episode there are money quotes, but I have to say that my favorite character is Dwight. Maybe it's just my sick and mostly misunderstood sense of humor, but I think Dwight brings a level of comedy to The Office that is largely unmatched.

Here is a sample platter of what I'm talking about

"In the wild, there is no health care. In the wild, health care is, 'Ow, I hurt my leg. I can't run. A lion eats me. I'm dead.' Well, I'm not dead. I'm the lion. You're dead."

"I come from a long line of fighters. My maternal grandfather was the toughest guy I ever knew. World War Two veteran killed twenty men and spent the rest of the war in an Allied prison camp. My father battled blood pressure and obesity all his life. Different kind of fight."

Jim Halpert: "Dwight, if you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?"
Dwight Schrute: "I can travel anywhere, except Cuba, and I will travel to New Zealand and walk the Lord of the Rings trail to Mordor and I will hike Mount Doom."

"I have been Michael's number two guy for about 5 years. And we make a great team. We're like one of those classic famous teams. He's like Mozart and I'm like...Mozart's friend. No. I'm like Butch Cassidy and Michael is like...Mozart. You try and hurt Mozart? You're gonna get a bullet in your head courtesy of Butch Cassidy."

The thing that strikes me about Dwight is that, even though people think he's a few hamburgers short of a Happy Meal, he still just sticks with his quirky personality and obviously different view of the world.

And then I thought, You know what? Christians in the world are a little like Dwight! No, not in the Looney Tune, legend-in-his-own-mind sort of way-rather that Dwight takes teasing, insults, and social rejection and sticks with who God made him to be.

And so should we, folks. You must remember that to say yes to following Christ is a simultaneous no to being accepted by the world. This is a promise from the very lips of Jesus Christ:

If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you (John 15:18-19).

It's not that we should go out of way to be rejected; it's just that when you pledge allegiance to Jesus Christ, you get voted off the island.

Why? Because now you're no longer a part of the self-seeking, pleasure-driven, materialistic culture that permeates our entire world. Suddenly you're saying no to things that displease God, and probably coming off like you're better than everyone else. And even though you're not better than them-and you know that-others won't quite see it that way.

So at that point, you have two choices. You can back down on your commitment level and play Christian when there's no risk...or stick it out and find hope in these words from Jesus:

What blessings await you when people hate you and exclude you and mock you and curse you as evil because you follow the Son of Man. When that happens, be happy! Yes, leap for joy! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, their ancestors treated the ancient prophets that same way (Luke 6:22-23).

So if you are feeling like a Dwight in "the office" of this world because of your loyalty to Christ, take joy in the fact that you're on the right team. You may not be the bomb-diggity with all the folks around you, but you can be sure that one day Jesus will look you right in the eye with a proud look on his face and say, ''Well done, my good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:21).

To me, that's worth being a Dwight for the rest of my life!

Flashpoint: Ignite into Action

Even though the world may reject us when we stand for Christ, there are always people watching us and looking for a hope that goes beyond this life. This week remember that when you stand for Jesus, God uses that to open people's heart to the gospel message. For a great example of this, check out this amazing story:

http://prayerfoundation.org/favoritemonks/favorite_monks_telemachus_coliseum.htm

Accelerant: Feed the Flames
And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated- the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.

These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect (Hebrews 11:32-40).
Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ (Galatians 1:10).

The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name (Acts 5:41).

Lane Palmer serves as a writer for Dare 2 Share Ministries International (D2S) in Arvada, Colorado, a ministry committed to mobilizing teens to relationally and relentlessly reach their generation for Christ. For more information about D2S, please visit www.dare2share.org.

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