Welcome Adama...

We are welcoming Adama Bamogo into our youth group. Adama is the child we are sponsoring through Compassion International.

Adama lives with his mom, dad and two siblings. Mom and dad are sometimes employed as laborers in the area they live.

Adama is not presently in school. He loves to play soccer and anything else that is active. He does attend a local church where he goes to Bible class and youth group.

We will be collecting $40 a month to support Adama and AIDs research. If everyone that comes during a month gives just $1 we will be able to meet this goal. Let's join together and change a life.

A sinless life...

So Jesus lived a sinless life. Is that truly possible? We say the Jesus is fully man and fully God. Well if he is fully man then wouldn't he sin by his own words? Jesus says in Matthew 5 :27-28, "You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. " Okay women, the cat is out of the bag, guys have lustful thoughts. I know its a shock, but it is true. Let me get the kidding aside.

To be honest this is not just a guy thing, but a human issue. We all have lustful thoughts because sin has entered our DNA. But this is nothing new to us, but who does Jesus who is fully man get a free pass on this?

I heard someone a while ago say this, "It's not like guys lust for every female. You don't lust after your mom or sister, and if your a dad and your reasonably normal don't lust after your daughter." The speakers point was that lust is controllable. If lust is controllable then could Jesus have done this? I would say yes, but there is a better case than that.

Jesus is fully God and was there at the beginning of creation. Matter of fact he had a hand in creation itself. Jesus is creator and therefore every person, every women is his creation. How does he not look at a women lustfully, he is fully God and is their creator and Father.

Why does this matter? Why does Jesus have to live a sinless life? If he doesn't, then he is not the perfect sacrifice for mine or your sins.

Sacrifices had to be blemish free and pure, otherwise they weren't considered for sacrifice. Every year people had to bring their sacrifices and be reminded of there sinful ways. Over and over and over they would go through the process of trying to get right with God. But that is where the beauty comes from what Jesus did on the cross.

We find in Leviticus 17:11 "For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life." There is saving power in the blood. Jesus blood was spotless and sinless. Because of that His blood could pay the once and for all atonement for one's life.

Blessings,
Pastor Scott

Eight HUGE elements of the Christian faith...

Over the next several weeks we are going to be taking a look at 8 key elements of the Christian faith. Some may disagree with my list, but this is not an end all be all list. These are what I see as 8 key elements of a Christians faith. There are many other elements to our faith, we are just looking at these 8. If teenagers don't have a good understanding of these they have an 80% higher probability to walking away from their faith after high school and never returning. That number freaks me out. That is why we are looking at them. So here is the list:

1) Jesus Christ lived a sinless life
2) God is the all-powerful and all-knowing Creator of the universe and He still rules it today
3) Salvation is a gift from God and cannot be earned
4) Satan is real
5) A Christian has a responsibility to share their faith in Christ with other people
6) The Bible is accurate in all of the principles it teaches.
7) Unchanging moral truth exists
8) Such moral truth is defined by the Bible

Like I said, over the next few months we are going to be looking into this during Revolution, Sunday's 9:15-10:15am @ the Youth Center. I look forward to unpacking these topics with you there and here at the blog.

Blessing,
Pastor Scott

What Do You Think Of When You Hear The Word Sin?

These are some of the things that come to mind when the teens hear the word sin. Sin is such an all encompasing word. It is different things to different people. Sin is not restricted to Christianity, matter of fact, I would say at least 90% of the world population believes in sin and the destruction it plays in our lives. No matter how hard we wrestle, we just can't seem to get rid of it. And that's the whole message of Jesus, "No matter how hard you try, you can't get rid of your sin, but I will."

Isaiah 1:18 says, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be white as snow," and also in Jeremiah, "For I will forgive their wickedness adn will remember their sins no more." This is great news, God will forgive us our sins. Let me say that again, God will forgive us our sins! What Jesus did on the cross blows my mind. Not many of us, if any of us, would be willing to die for those that are guilty. But that is exactly what God, through Jesus did, "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us," Romans 5:8.

While I was a sinner, Jesus died for me. We all can say that and we need to say it over and over again. We live in a society where Christians are known more for what we are against than for what we are for. The world hears, "Don't do that, Don't do this..." We, as Christians should not be agents of God's judgement, but rather for God's redemption and forgiveness.

I know that John 3:16 is used over and over, but it is so powerfull, "For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life." God loves me, He love you and everyone around you, and everyone around them. Let the Holy Spirit convict hearts, we can then be left to spread God's grace, mercy and forgiveness.

He loves the world soooooooo much. Get out of the way and let Him.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Picking Pastor Scott's Brain...Homosexuality

What a strange week I just had. On Tuesday evening I had a great time of prayer and worship with the Sr. High kiddo's. On Wednesday I met with the Jr. High kids which was alot of fun, but it did have a wierd twist.

Every so often I like to allow the students to ask me any question they would like. I know this is risky because the students could, and often do, ask some very tough questions. But, this allows me to be as transparent with the teens and helps them to ask questions. This is particularly tricky with Jr. Higher's because you never can figure out what is going on in their minds.

This past Wednesday I got a large amount of homosexual questions. It's not that abnormal to get a question or two from time to time about homosexuality, but this past week I had at least five questions. Some of this has to do with the pack mentality of Jr. Higher's, but nonetheless they asked, so I answered.

When it comes down to it homosexuality is not that different from other sexual issues. Matter of fact I would contend that internet pornography is just as or more of a threat to a godly life. I know that might cause some church goers to question me, but do you remeber who Jesus hung around with; tax collectors, prostitutes, the lame, the sick, etc. Matter of fact when the so called "churchy people" questioned Jesus about the people he hung around with He told them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick." (Matthew 9:12)

Why is it that the church is more disturbed with homosexuality than divorce or alcoholism? Is it because we feel we understand divorce and alchoholism better, or the fact that they are more socially acceptable? This might make us uncomfortable, but we do need to see how Jesus dealt with tough issues. He never once pushed people away or made them feel unapprochable. He went to them and showed compassion, gentleness and truth. The only people Jesus spoke harshly to were the "religious"or "churchy people".

So, back to the Wednesday night questions about homosexuality. I answered them, but then I did try to make it clear that it doesn't matter if your black, white, purple, green, gay, straight or anything in between, you will be welcome in this youth group. What is not welcome is hatred, bigotry or judgemental attitudes.

This leads me to another thought, are we hanging out with the type of people Jesus did? If Jesus were walking across America today, he would find a way to hang out with the homeless, gays, the party'ers, and anyone else who we as the church tend to look down at. What am I doing to cultivate these types of relationships? At the moment not too much. Don't get me wrong we need our Christian friends and mentors, but are we to the point of isolating ourselves from those who Jesus came to minister to.

That is enough for now. Continue to seek God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength.

In peace,
Pastor Scott