Today, I am sitting at my desk looking out of my third-story window overlooking the Rocky Mountains. I find myself today so filled with awe and vision for the future. So much so, that it’s sort of difficult to even focus on today and my to-do list.
I wonder how many of you feel that way? Are you excited about the future? Filled with awe and vision?
That was the title of my sermon today. Talking not about freedom away from boundaries but the freedom boundaries give us.
We recently bought a play pen (glorified cage) for my son who is now crawling like crazy and we need something to keep him from getting in trouble or hurt so my wife and I can do other things around the house. To my son, in his little mind, the play pen represents boundaries that tie him down and prevent him from doing what he wants to. What he doesn’t realize, is that by placing him in those boundaries, I am giving him complete and total freedom. Within those boundaries there is nothing Beckett can do wrong.
How do you view boundaries in your life? Do they tie you down? Keep you from doing what you want? Or do they give you freedom?
How do you view God? As some old man in the sky telling you what you can’t do? As some cosmic-killjoy? Or do you see Him as a loving God who created you, created the world around you and has put boundaries in your life to protect you and to give you freedom?
Galatians 5:1 - It is for freedom that Christ set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Well, it’s late and I’m tired. So much prep the night before we take our student ministry to summer camp. I don’t know whether I will have internet access or not. If I do, I will try my best to keep you updated and give you the highlights of camp. If not, then I will when I return on Saturday.
However, I will be updating frequently my twitter. You can follow me @adamdeanyoung.
Have a great week and get some extra rest for me, cause I know I won’t be getting any!
You know… I think many of us have those “God moments” when we experience something and become very confident in what God is calling us to do. I had one of those almost a year ago when I first began talking to the church I now work for. I knew, maybe not from an audible voice, but definitely knew that God was leading me here to Colorado. I have never doubted that call and felt like I was home from day one. I felt like I was “finally planted” in the place God wanted me.
Today, however, was a complete spiritual confirmation of that call. Like I said, I never once doubted that I was supposed to be here but today, I just received a huge confirmation from God and a re-energizing of passion for the reason God planted me and my family here.
I hope that you can say the same for your life. That you are where God wants you to be and that maybe today He would give you one of those special and sometimes rare, “spiritual confirmations.”
Okay, so… I think I am going to make some kind of mid-year resolution to quit using “busyness” and “tiredness” as excuses…..
…. (Awkward silence) ….
… but not today. I am crazy busy because this is the week before we take our students to summer camp. So I am not sharing any deep, thought provoking ideas today. Here are some more blogs I have been reading lately and added to my google reader within the last month. Enjoy!
So this week has been a rather exhausting one
So… tomorrow is a much needed break.
FYI - My hopes are to have the audio up on my blog from my message this morning later this week I hope (fingers crossed)!
The blogging tour I discussed in my previous post has drawn a lot of attention. Here is the list of bloggers who were involved:
Recently, a lot of bloggers have been discussing, promoting, and sponsoring Compassion International. I have known about Compassion International for a long time and the youth ministry I lead together supports our own child.
In February of this year, a team of bloggers, traveled to Uganda to see the work Compassion International is doing, write and record what they experienced, and share the stories of the millions of children who desperately need help financially, but ultimately need to understand the love and hope of Christ. Anne Jackson was a part of the team and is the reason I knew about the trip.
These videos, below, are videos I wrote and my good friend Grant Downing at LifeChurch.tv filmed and edited for me. I wrote these for a message I did about Missions (both local and international). I think they fit well with this topic.
Where’s your treasure? To sponsor your own child go here!
After that last post I would like to clarify something. Not that I should have to explain anything but I will because I want you to understand my heart and where I come from.
One of my ultimate fears as a pastor, is that one day I will look back over my life/ministry and realize that it was spent cheering for the wrong thing. That I spent all my energy, time, and money for things that in the end don’t really matter.
For me, this is the fear that keeps me awake at night. This is the fear that keeps me on my knees in prayer begging God to keep me focused, humble, and willing.
If we were truly honest, how many pastors/churches have filled their pews with conservative, well-behaved, pro-life Republicans who never causes any trouble, all think the same, and pride themselves on the fact that they don’t drink beer. But in the end, are more concerned with their appearance than Christ. What if they just ended up grooming themselves for the trip to hell?
God don’t ever let me start cheering for the wrong thing! Keep me focused, humble and willing to pursue Christ and lead others in the pursuit of You!
