Jesus, all for Jesus

The song "Jesus, All for Jesus" has been on my mind lately. As I aim to glorify God in my final year studies I am constant reminded that my "ambitions, hopes and plans" are for him. It is always too easy to put God on a shelf during busy times. Forget that he is there and occasionally glance up from the computer screen and acknowledge his existence.

However this is not what God requests of us. Jesus should not be an after thought, he should be the reason we live. I have to remind myself daily that Jesus is my greatest friend and wants a relationship with me.

If you are in a busy period of your life, remember that there is a God who loves you and wants a relationship with you.

Jesus says
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest..." (Matthew 11:28)

Why youth work is a Total Adventure!

I have just returned from being a volunteer on a week in the Peak District with an organisation called Adventure Plus (A+).

The week was for teenagers and was an activity week with a Christian ethos. The week was amazing, where young people got to develop their skills at climbing, kayaking and mountain biking (to mention a few). There was also opportunities to discuss the topic of trust and then move onto the topic of trusting God. I want to use this blog to highlight what to me rung so true I had to take a step back.

As youth workers we often have sleepless nights, long meetings and alot of thinking on the spot. It becomes far to easy to focus on what "we" have done to get the meeting running, what "we" have done to get the worship ready. What I was reminded of while away with A+ was that actually it is not about "we" or "us" it is all about God.

While on this week away there was an opportunity for an "extra" worship session. It was optional, the alternative was playing cards / hanging out with your mates. Despite this around half the young people turned up to this session. We sang some songs and then invited anyone to pray. It started with some of the leaders praying, and then the young people took over. This was the moment I stood back.

It was the fact that not only was this an "optional" worship session, but the kids were not asked to pray, they were invited. God was the Youth Worker here. I found myself smiling, amazed that the prayers these young followers of Jesus were praying rung true in my life also. It was so encouraging, and at that point I was in awe of God who can and does do immeasurably more than we can imagine.

Yes, there is a time for planning, yes there is a time for preparation. But we need to leave more time for God, God who cannot be contained, should not be contained. These young people were passionate about Jesus and how he loved them. They were worshipping and wanted more of him. In the middle of a busy, tiring week it was this praising that reminded me that us "Youth Leaders" are also sheep being led by the greatest "Youth Leader" of all.

The sleepless nights now seem worth it.

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31

 Adventure Plus - http://www.adventureplus.org.uk/

Online Bullying

So I have just sent an email to Richard Bacon (Radio 5 presenter)
Why you may ask?

Well I was blown away by a documentary he presented on cyber bullying.

I found it very innformative and think there should be more things on the TV like it.

The email I sent him simply thanked him for producing such good TV.

I suggest you watch it:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01dwg1n/The_AntiSocial_Network/
(link active on 19th March)

Trust

Yesterday while with a good friend I was saying how the main reason I know I have grown as a Christian is not my knowledge of the Bible or how many worship songs I know without the need for lyrics. No, the most dominant feature of my faith that I know has grown is that of trust.

When I first accepted Jesus and started building a relationship with him my trust was in my parents, my friends and my family. If I had something that required an active decision I would go to those people. However now I look at my life and see that when something is troubling me or a decision has to be made I go to Jesus.

In going to Jesus I am trusting that whatever the decision he has for my life, whatever directions he wants to take me in it is the correct path. This is not to say I find it easy, in fact the exact opposite is true and I often don't trust, but more and more I am learning to Trust Jesus.

I urge you to do the same.

Royal Wedding

Having had it on in the background while working the one thing that really stood out was this part of the address given by the Bishop of London:

"As the reality of God has faded from so many lives in the West, there has been a corresponding inflation of expectations that personal relations alone will supply meaning and happiness in life. This is to load our partner with too great a burden. We are all incomplete: we all need the love which is secure, rather than oppressive, we need mutual forgiveness, to thrive."

This truly sums up what the world and this country are lacking, love and forgiveness. Love and forgiveness that can come only from God.

Evangelism to Billions of people!

Easter

"Without the resurrection Christianity is null and void", this was once said by Richard Dawkins. Today over 2000 years ago, Jesus fulfilled a old testament prophecy. He rose from the dead in order to save us and give us life to the full.

Before you munch on your Easter eggs just have a quick think as to why we celebrate Easter.

The name of Jesus

So over the last week God has been prompting me to acknowledge how powerful the name Jesus is.

"Jesus Christ" is often used as a curse, and in today's society has become common place in peoples vocabulary for such a purpose.

But the same name can be used to drive out demons, change lives and comfort the weary.

How did such a wonderful name get changed into such a derived form of its true meaning.

So I challenge you, regardless of your religious beliefs, to next time you hear someone use the name "Jesus Christ" as a curse, challenge them. Do they know what the name really means?