So What's Next?

So What's Next? That's the question we ask after we come from an exhilarating, exciting experience. Maybe that's what you ask after you come off the roller coaster that everyone talked about at the amusement park. "That was great; so what's next?" Maybe it's what you ask after a great family party. "It was great hanging together like this; so what's next?"

I think that was the question the disciples asked after seeing Jesus' glory up on the mountain as recorded in Matthew 17. Imagine they saw him revealed as God; what could be more perfect. Peter says, "Lord I wish we could just stay here." But Jesus says no. We have to go down. And I'm sure those three disciples thought, "So What's Next?"

Wouldn't it be great if our Christian life were filled with awesome worship gatherings every day where Jesus muzik is played, other people who are trying to live right are around us and we are having fun. That would be, that would be...heaven.

But for right now God has called us to live like ambassadors here on earth. What's next...the disciples found out when they encountered a man and his crazy son. The truth is after a great spiritual experience we will encounter some craziness! Some crazy situations and crazy people.

Here's the cool part about what's next: whatever we face in the crazy situations of life, God has downloaded the strength unto us to be able to face it. Jesus healed that crazy boy.

So after Youth Congress 2009, what's next is wii continue to serve. It may mean reaching out to someone at school who doesn't understand Jesus like we do and repping Christ for them. It may mean we react differently when the devil brings craziness our way. What's next is life and not just life as before but a new life of service to God and others. That's what's next!

Finishing Strong

I grew up loving sports of all kinds. I really loved track and field and got real excited during the Olympics. One year I watched as a runner from my home country was in line to win a medal in the Men's 400 meter final. He was right there at the finish line with a bronze medal all but guaranteed but then he decided to look around for the other runners. Just as he did another runner leaned with all his might and sneaked pass him at the line. Bummer.

Well my countryman started well, ran well but didn't finish well. You know finishing well is hard (ask all Seniors who have a cause of Senioritis!). But as we've been on this journey for 40 Days of Service and Sacrifice I want to encourage us all to finish well. What does that mean?

Well we've seen great pictures and heard wonderful stories of group service. Finishing well means we do our very best to do those Individual Random Acts of Kindness for these next two weeks. Let's try stuff like helping a neighbor, or a teacher or just a random stranger and give them the wiiserve cards. Let's finish well.

Finishing well also means that we really make some sacrifice to help the Children of Nhengelo. I know no one thinks they've got an abundance of money now. But we each can make some small (or big) sacrifice over the next couple weeks to save money for the worthy cause. Maybe we can sacrifice our movie money, not buy a new outfit, save some eating out money and bring it with you to Congress or send it in for the cause.

If you're not aware of the cause checkout www.hope4.com/wiiserve

So I'm planning to lean in with all my might as we get close to the finish line of Youth Congress. How about you?

Are you scared or what?

Not many of us like to challenged. I remember the time I did the most push ups in my life at one time. Another guy challenged me to see who could do the most (by the way a bunch of girls were standing around). I wanted to back out but if I did someone would ask "Are you scared or what?"

Well this past week I have been around a few friends who were apprehensive to try out this random acts of kindness idea. Come on, let's be real suppose you try to do something for someone and it comes out all wrong and the person misunderstands you - that could be embarrassing. If you do something nice and can't figure out how to give them the card or what to say when you do - that can be embarrassing.

I know I don't want to make a fool of myself. But in this whole thing we've got to realize that it's not about us...it's about Him. It's not about how I look but about showing off the kindness of Christ to others. And the good news is He'll tell you what to say (He's promised it in his word).

Anyways, my two friends after hesitating for a minute actually tried it. We cleaned up tables (some that we ate on, some that we didn't). It surprised the people serving at the restaurant that we served them. I almost embarrassed myself by cleaning some people's table who didn't leave but just stepped away (that was a close one).

But you know what, even if I did, so what. Jesus did things that made others look at Him like He was crazy - including dying to save me. So I can step up, step out and serve. So can you, unless you scared?