I just realized I hadn’t written anything on the site in a few days. Not from a lack of things to say, but a lack of time to say them. Anyone care to help be “Internet Evangelist” for Resonate??!?  Anyone??!?

I am not worthy.

That was the thought running through my head as I watched over 865 students gather on a high school football field last night. There were football players, cheerleaders, nerds, geeks, preps, goths and all other manner and “class” of teen there - all for one purpose: To come together in the name of Jesus. I’m sure some of them came just for the free pizza, but God’s ok with that too.

So after the pizza, and the greetings, and the worship team, and the student speakers, and the dramas (all great, by the way), someone came up and gave an altar call. I watched over 150 kids walk up to the front to make a first time commitment or a rededication. I followed, encouraged because I was a “youth pastor” and I can do this. Boy was I wrong.

There I stood, praying behind a few young men and after a while something occured to me. They had walked down the “aisles” to make this incredible life-changing decision, and I was scared to death to speak to them. I kept waiting for some other leader or adult they might have known to come find themThey didn’t know me from Adam or any other guy, and yet they were supposed to pour out their greatest needs at this most emotional moment? Nope. They stood there, eyes open, waiting for something miraculous to happen. Nothing did. The longer I stood there, the more I knew that if I didn’t say anything to them, they were going to walk away, unchanged, and probably not make a decision like this again in the near future.

So there, standing on the 40-yard-line of a football field , surrounded by 864 other people, God helped me overcome something I didn’t even know I had a problem with. I mustered up my courage and tapped both boys on the shoulder. “I know you don’t know me,” I said, “but I wanted to ask you something: Why did you come down here?” “To know God,” the boy names James said. The other boy known as Jonathan nodded.

God moved, overcame fear, and began change in those lives last night. And I got to be a witness for Him.

I am not worthy. But I’m glad I was there.

This week’s homework is to read the book of Proverbs and bring back a scripture that you have memorized. The catch? It has to mean something to you personally. Share it here!

Hey there! Have a SYATP story you’d like to share? Tell us about what happened at your school!

You’ve probably already seen this parody of an SNL skit, but thought I’d share anyway.. CHURCH SUCKA!

Attention Teenage Girls: It’s cool to go to church now.

Now that Miley Cyrus has done it (with her underwear model boyfriend), everyone should!

Check out this pic and the link to the whole story on the MSN Gossip Page!

Click here for the story

I have a terrible memory. Ask my wife, she’ll just look at you gravely and nod her head.

So when, during my nighttime prayers I asked God to help me make time for him this morning, I fell asleep with the full expectation of taking as much time for Him as needed today. Then I woke up. I got dressed, got in the car and came to the office ready for the day. Then God used a telemarketer to remind me of my request.

His name was Colin and he was from Teen Mania. At first, I held the phone to my ear and planted my face in my hands wondering when the sales pitch for summer camps or videos or some other youth resources his company thinks I need would end. Then he shook me from my mindful meandering with a simple question: “is there something you’d like me to pray for in regard to your ministry?” huh? This salesman wanted to pray with me? “uh, yeah, actually there is” was my bewildered response. I talked to him for a minute about what was heavy on my heart and right then and there, he began to pray.

On the phone, this perfect stranger was doing with me - for me - what I had asked God to help me do more of today.

You see, God knew I would need help with this today, and he put my number on a call sheet. He fulfilled His promise to my request, and I will try harder tomorrow.

So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

- Mark 11:22-25

What are you asking God for today?

While the prophet Samuel was young, he lived in the Temple under the spiritual guidance of Eli. One night God called Samuel’s name, but he thought it was Eli. After this happened several times, Eli realized the truth and told Samuel to go back to bed and if he heard the voice again to respond by saying…

Speak, Lord for your servant is listening!
1 Samuel 3:9b

God did call and Samuel listened. This began a relationship with God that went on throughout Samuel’s life. In fact, in verse 19, it says, “The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his [God’s] words fall to the ground.”

At another point as Samuel was an old man, he addressed Israel: “I have been your leader from my youth until this day. Here I stand.” The people agreed that Samuel had led them with integrity and honor all his years, but it began when he was young.

It all started for Samuel when he made a connection with God at an early age. And he chose to continue to connect with Him daily throughout his life.

It’s tough being a Christian student today, isn’t it? You have to make a lot of choices about who you are—and who you’re not. You have to try and follow God in a world that misunderstands Christianity and tolerates its principles less and less all the time.

What if, like Samuel you:

• made a connection with God as a young person?
• declared, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening”?
• never let any of God’s words “fall to the ground” in your own life?

Gather with others at this year’s See You At The Pole. Begin to pray now that God will help you overcome your worries about standing up for him just this one morning a year. Join hands with your follow “soldiers in Christ” and lift up your school, the teachers, your principal in prayer. And Connect with your community - and God - in a way you may not ever have before.

Thanks to SYATP for most of this info.

Have a SYATP story you’d like to share? Post it here.

In light of the recent storms, I have spent a lot of time lately watching the Weather Channel and other assorted news varieties.

Intermixed with the reports of wind speeds and wave heights and forecasted projections, I’ve paid special attention to the reports of the people in “immediate danger” who had decided to stay where they are and risk it all. To hear the reporters say it, those people are stupid and reckless, or at the very least uninformed of the danger they’re in. I have to say, I was partially in agreement with them; that is, until I watched an interview with one of those “questionable” people.

In this interview, with wind whipping all around them, the interviewer and the “crazy” guy are standing in his yard. He’s asked something like “Why have you chosen to stay when you know you’re going to be pulverized by this giant storm?” and he responds with “Because it’s our home, we started here, and, if needed, we’ll end here.”

That bit gave me pause. “It’s our home.” He might as well have said “We believe in this place, and we’re desperate to keep it.” In my mind, this is how we should be living out our faith. With desperation. We should be living as if there’s a storm coming and we know exactly how dangerous it may be for us. It may even cost us our lives; but we’re Desperate to keep our footing, to stay in place and trust in Jesus for safety and strength. For if we do, the blessings after the storm are well worth it.

What have you been desperate for in your life? Would you be willing to give your life for what you believe in most?

Ok, so today seems to be “Way Back Wednesday” for a lot of people - thanks to a fellow blogger for bringing this to light. Oh yeah. I think we need to put this together for a River of Life service soon!

Comments? Complaints? Ideas?