Being Emotionally Relevant

Do you ever wonder what it means to be relevant? That word gets thrown around a lot in the church today. I’m not talking about making God relevant to people, because I don’t think that’s what we’re called to. What I am talking about is this: what does it mean for us as Christians to be relevant to those who don’t know Christ? What does it mean for us to meet them at their place in life and bring the good news to them?

I think it goes far beyond being flashy or “cool.” It’s about being emotionally relevant. We should be empathic with one another, feeling each other’s pain and joy, bearing each other’s burdens, walking in each other’s shoes. When we stop being people who really care for the needs of others (whether it be spiritual, physical, emotional, social, or intellectual) we stop being the body of Christ. I pray that you will join with me in striving to be an emotionally relevant person to those I already know and to those I will come across in the future.

Habakkuk

Do you ever have questions for God? Does life ever seem unfair? Is there something you just can't resolve with God?

Welcome to the club! Join us for a new series starting April 15th as we look at Habakkuk, a dude with a funny name who had some serious questions.

Life isn't fair. Good things happen to bad people and a lot of terrible stuff happens to good people. Bring your questions and join us as we seek God together in the face of these challenges.

Justice

How would you describe justice, specifically social justice?

I read some pretty cool definitions of it today. Here they are.

“Social justice, as I understand it, is when everybody gets what he or she truly
needs in order to realize his or her fullest potential as a lover of God and as a lover of other people.” (Bart Campolo)

Another way of thinking about it, perhaps more simply, is that justice is about righting wrongs. Taking things that are messed up in this world and making them right- relationships, social systems, physical situations, all of that stuff.

Do you agree with these definitions? Would you add anything?

Belong

All of us want to belong somewhere. It's a natural human desire and need. I think it's a healthy thing too... if we do it right.

Too often we're willing to sacrifice whatever it takes to belong to a certain group of people- the popular kids, the cool crowd, whoever it is. But in doing that, we lose our identity, the person God created you to be. What things have you given up to fit in? Playing that game has consequences.

But here's the good news- there's a place we can belong to, a place we can fit in without sacrificing who we are and who God made us to be. That place is the church, God's family. So I encourage you to really consider what lengths you are going to to try to fit in and consider turning to the place that will accept you just as you are.

Do you feel like you belong to God's family?

iGeneration

We're starting a new series next month. It's based on the idea that our generation (I include myself in this, and would say that it's even seeping into prior generations as well) is becoming more and more focused on the individual. We are moving away from life in community to life alone.

We're going to be addressing some of the lies that our culture tries to get us to believe. Here's a little preview:

I am an army of one.

I don't need anyone else.

It's all about me.

I don't need your rules.

I hope you join us on Wednesday nights for this series, I hope it speaks some truth to all of us.


What do you think, is there any danger in the progression from life in community to life alone? I've been playing this progression out in my head quite a bit lately, and I don't like where it ends up. Where do you see this going?

Jr. High Winter Camp

We just got back from jr high winter camp yesterday. It was so fun!

The speaker up there talked about labels- things that people label us as (nerd, jock, loner, loser, popular, stuff like that). We talked about the fact that God doesn't label us like that but sees each one of us as valuable enough and lovable enough to die for.

He challenged us to not label each other but instead to see them the way God does.

So here's what you can do- every morning when you wake up, pray to God that He would help you to see people the way that He sees them. Do you think you can do that? Try it and let me know what happens!

Truth and Culture

We live in a time known as the "postmodern" era. One of the trademarks of this time is the decline of absolute truth. It is becoming harder and harder to say that we know anything for certain or know that anything has always been and always will be true.

Jesus says that he is the way, the truth, and the life. I believe that Jesus was and is the only way to a full life and to eternal salvation. I believe that that is a truth that will never change.

So my question is this: how do we proclaim Christ in this age of diminishing truth? To what extent do we need to change culture? But at the same time, how do we proclaim Christ within our culture?

Advent Conspiracy

What do you think of that video?

I think it's pretty powerful to see just how much money we spend on Christmas presents... and how little money compared to that it would take to provide clean water for everyone. So what are you going to do? How are you going to worship Christ this Christmas? I mean, he is the reason for the season after all...

Here's my challenge: give up one present this year. Just one. And then ask your parents, friend, boyfriend, girlfriend, or whoever to donate that money to a charity of your choice. See how much happier that makes you and how much longer it lasts than the present you'll forget about by New Year's.

Fair Trade

We talked yesterday (Sunday) about Fair Trade.

Basically, it assures fair wages and benefits to the farmers responsible for growing the things we consume so much of (cofee, tea, cotton, rice, etc.). We talked about how we need to be activists of choice and that the decisions we make affect people all over the world.

Do you think fair trade is important enough to spend a little extra money on it or avoid stuff that isn't? Or is fair trade more hype than truth? What do you think, can we make a difference through the stuff we buy? What else can we do?

Activist

We're getting ready to start a new series this Sunday called Activist.

Before we do that, I want to know what you think about that word. Does it have positive or negative connotations for you? Do you think Christians should be activists for anything? Why or why not?

Come check it out on Sunday, it's going to be good!

Art and Faith

So here's an open ended one that I think about a lot...

What is the role of art in our faith? Whether it be music, film, painting, photography, graphic design, or whatever else you consider art.

Do these benefit our faith? Do they ever hurt our faith?

The Formula

Normally I hate applying formulas to a relationship because relationships are just way too liquid to make a formula work. However, I came across one that I really like, and that makes a lot of sense.
We've been talking about the Fruit of the Spirit in youth group, and talking about love, I came across this thought:

The amount of love in our life is directly related to the amount of God in our life.

Now it's hard to quantify that, but in generalities I really think it holds true. The amount of love we have for people is so closely tied to how our relationship with God is doing. If we're close to God, we'll have a more loving attitude, but as we get farther away from God, that love significantly decreases and lasts for shorter amounts of time.

Do you agree with this? I think it it makes sense, but what do you think?

Blowin' in the Wind- Bob Dylan

I like this song. I've been listening to it a lot lately. What do you think about the lyrics? Think they have any meaning for us as followers of Christ? Check it out:

Blowin' In The Wind

How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man?
Yes, 'n' how many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
Yes, 'n' how many times must the cannon balls fly
Before they're forever banned?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

How many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
Yes, 'n' how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
Yes, 'n' how many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

How many years can a mountain exist
Before it's washed to the sea?
Yes, 'n' how many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free?
Yes, 'n' how many times can a man turn his head,
Pretending he just doesn't see?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

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Now playing: Bob Dylan - Blowin' In The Wind
via FoxyTunes

Food for thought... Or maybe water for thought

I recently watched a video about water. You know, the stuff we use to take showers, cook food, drink, fill up pools, wash our cars, and so on. Well clean water is something we often take for granted here. I know I certainly do. I've already had 3 or 4 cups of water today, and it's not even noon yet.

So what's the big deal about clean water? Well a significant portion of the world doesn't have access to it. It's something we so quickly take for granted yet is so essential to survival. Here's where we come in. There's an organization called blood water mission that works to provide clean water to people in Africa. You can check them out at www.bloodwatermission.com. We're going to be talking about it later in the youth group, but check out their website and find out how you can get involved.

Do you think this is something we should be getting involved in? What can we do to make a difference?

A perfect 10.0

With plenty of 10.0 scores given at this year's summer Olympics, we're getting ready to take a look at a different set of 10's. We're getting ready to kick off a series about the 10 Commandments from the Old Testament. I hope you join us on Sunday morning to here about it!

But before that series gets started, I want to know what you think: Are the 10 Commandments still relevant for us today as post-New Testament Christians? Are all of them, or just some? Why? and why do these 10 make the list? (If you need a refresher, they're found in Exodus chapter 20) Let me know!

Hope to see you here,

Pastor Matt

The Kingdom of Heaven

I've been thinking a lot lately about this thing Jesus liked to talk about called the Kingdom of Heaven. What is this thing? Is it the place where followers of Christ go after they die? Or is it much, much more than that?

Well, I personally think that it is much more than that (and I think Scripture backs that up). I think it is something that we are part of every day, in the here and now. I think we experience it when we live like Christ, when our actions reflect his, and when we are serving and loving other people. That's the conclusion I've come to so far on this somewhat confusing, intriguing topic.

What are your thoughts? What do you think the "kingdom of heaven" really is? If it is present, how do we experience it? How do we take part in it? Let me know!

Your servant in Christ,

Matt

Underground Intro

Hey everyone,

Welcome to the Underground blog! For those of you who don't know, Underground is the name of the junior high and high school youth group at First Baptist Church of Corona. My name is Matt and I am the Youth Pastor here. I'm stoked you're checking out our blog. We meet on Wednesday nights (starting August 20th) from 5:30-8:00 p.m. It's a time to hang out, play video games, play sports, get some cheap food (only $1 for food and soda!), and learn a little more about this thing we call Christianity. Basically, this is a place where you can find a community of students, a place for you to find belonging.

Our theme verse is Jeremiah 17:7-8. It says this: "But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit."

We're called Underground because I believe junior high and high school are essential times for developing your roots. Are you going to develop roots that reach into the water so your life produces rich, healthy fruit or are your roots going to run from the water so you produce small, shriveled fruit? My hope is that you'll come check us out and find out what it means to live a life committed to Christ. You can check out our website for more info: http://www.fbc-corona.org/fbc_youth.htm

Hope to see you there!

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Matt