5.2.2012 - My To-Do Goal list for 2012

This might come back to bite me in my butt but I want to accomplish these things

1. Started and maintaining a ministry at IRSC
I think if I started a ministry that was apologetically focused it would gain some legs. 

2. Get a house.
I my number one intent on the house is to have weekly bible studies there and use it for ministry, honestly lol. 

3. Start YouTube videos again.
I liked doing that when I wasnt paid to edit videos. Now that I dont do it for money I want to return to it. Maybe with a different perspective.  

4. I want to get involved with dance more and sharpen up some moves.
It sounds kinda dumb but… ya hate on it…

5. Start running more frequently to get my endurance and stamina up.
Just a personal fitness goal.

And that should keep me busy till the end of the year. I like how the first 3 are goals involving God but I think I can work it so the last 2 are also haha.

PR
that I would have perseverance in these things and end 2012 with all these things donezo

QOTD
What are your goalz?

5.1.2012 - The sermon was really for me tonight

I’m so prideful its ridiculous. I compare a lot, I get offended easy, and I think of a lot of people negatively to put myself psychologically above them. The sermon, and youth tonight in general was awesome and I think the Holy Spirit was more obvious to me tonight than normal. I really just want to see radical life changes from Him in the life of the youth group by putting our focus on the Gospel.

PR
That I would always be attune to the guidance of the Spirit

QOTD
Is the Holy Spirit more “obvious” or more “powerful” when the message is better or the music is awesome? Would people who fall face first to awesome worship music do the same to not so awesome music? What does that say about us or God? (really want answers on this one)

4.27.2012 - Preaching 101

I hope this is how I’m going to preach this Sunday, super lead by the Holy Spirit. Im covering Judges ch. 13,14,& 15 which is half of Samson’s life. It particularly hard because of the vast amount of text I have to cover, the large background work I have to lay down, and to find a pointed theme through all three chapters. On top of this there isn’t much commentary or sermons or anything on Samson and if there is it just defines Philistines or old ceremonies for me. So as of right now I have just the introduction down and Sunday is 2 days away lol. uh oh…

PR
that the Holy Spirit would lead me to say what He wants me to say

QOTD
Does the Holy Spirit lead you to what you say all the time (whether preaching or not preaching)? 

4.24.2012 - Getting hit by God hurts in a good way

Its always humbling when I come to terms with my own limitations. Its funny how God humbles me by amazing time of song and worship at ATF and what I think is an awesome youth group tonight with little to no planning but just a fervor and heart for God. I take it as a message from God sent to me that “Things can go awesome without your effort at all, little Aaron, because I’m awesome.” That to me is a very relieving thought. 

This should be a relieving thought for you too, that God is in complete and full control and knows whats best for you. What you have to deal with? He will carry you through it, just dont give up on him kay?

PR
for the people (including myself) who forget how powerful our God is and how for us he is

QOTD
Is there any smallest thing in life that is NOT good for us that God lets happen?  

4.20-22.2012 - More than Fire was Acquired this weekend

Purpose, direction, reason, realization, forgiveness. Whatever anyone acquired at ATF, I hope and am almost sure it was more than fire or excitement. I think I saw conviction in the claims of the Bible. Conviction in what they believe to be is the Gospel, and how that powers everything else in life. 

Got back and baptized Vickie on Sunday. Well, Co-baptized her in the name of the Father, So… lol. Im not ordained yet so its a title given to me by PS haha. Anyway that was a heavy moment for me. Her baptism was a culmination of 6 years of history. One her end it was a journey of her self finding identity in Christ. For me it was taking a step further, into what I think Gods plan for me for my future in a life of ministry. And its 6 years because I was there for Vickie when she didnt know the Lord till now. The thought that God had this moment, her baptism planned out since the day I met Vickie is comforting to me. So thank you God for that gift. 

So I feel tired now, but refreshed at the same time after this busy weekend. Focusing on the work and person of Jesus Christ, the Gospel, is the source of my life. I will give my life to the Gospel, or someone can take my life because of the Gospel. 

PR
Lord kill me if I dont preach the gospel ~Lecrae

QOTD
How little can someone understand of the gospel to be saved? (ex. a child? or someone who just says God died for your sins)

4.17.2012 - Youth Ministry is bittersweet

So after asking the praise team and the leadership why do they do it, I had to ask myself that same question and answer honestly. Why do I do ministry?

I know the right answer. “I do it because of the work and person of who Jesus is.” I preached this with conviction to the praise team and leaders but honestly, its not till I sat down right now and thought about it, did I truly internalize the meaning. 

So when sermons go bad, numbers get low, kids are being brats, leaders are leaving, support is wavering, I can persevere because I keep telling myself, “I do this because Jesus died for me, because of who He is.” 

I dont do it to preach killer sermons, raise numbers, christianize kids, get more leaders, or build support for the ministry. It doesnt matter what happens, I do it because of who He is, and what he’s done for me. The Gospel motivates. 

*draw your own connections between the pic and the post lol, its there

PR
That ‘burn out’ would only refer to my kindling of a fire I have for God, and not an extinguished flicker of light

QOTD
When was the last time you got tired of being a christian? Was the heart of the matter a lack of appreciation of the Gospel?

4.10.2012 - Being in ministry alone is like playing dodge ball like this guy

You just kinda look like a former shell of who you once were lol. being the only guy to run the ministry puts a lot of not needed unnecessary pressure on you. Ask God for a team. Why try to be the man? Why do everything? Its just kinda silly to me. Luckily for me God has placed a machine of a team around me to help run the Youth Ministry. I really think the majority of my posts are me bragging on the leaders lol. Its cause every Tuesday is a glaring reminder of that. 

PR
that ministry leaders wouldnt see themselves as leader but servants  

QOTD
Why is being part of a team so fulfilling? 

4.9.2012 - Sometimes you dont even have to forgive, just get over yourself big head

I know i said to forgive people when they sin against you an not hold grudges, that still holds true. BUT a lot of the time we think people have sinned against us specifically and we get angry. Like when someone cuts you off on the road, How dare they? Or when someone forgets to call/text you, Dont they care about you?? Or when someone has genuinely good intentions and you get rubbed the wrong way because of how they particularly carried that out, How can they do that to you?!

Well friend, get over yourself. You arn’t the center of the world. You are not the point of life. You’re not the main character in the Bible. We would never say that but people sure do act like it. Because when someone cuts you off, forgets to call, or does something different from you, when we put ourselves at the center, we think they are sinning against us, like its an attack on us. Friend, get over yourself. 

This is part of what I think Jesus meant when he said he will set us free (other than sin and wrath and stuff) is that in Him we are free from holding on to anger, grudges, and animosity and forgiving wont be an arduous task anymore, but a natural outflow of Gods love for us. 

And I’m not downplaying sins that people actually do against you. (read post 2 days ago) Im just saying its easier to forgive in this light I think. And if you have a problem with someone please get the courage to confront them and air all that crap out. In the words of my friend Billy, “We dont need any bihazness in the church” haha (inside joke)

PR
that less gossips and grudge holders and more forgivers would be in the church

QOTD
Do you know what Cat-Dog theology is? Look it up :)

4.8.2012 - Easter = peeps, eggs, & Christ who?

Im sure when Christ was on the cross his last words to his disciples weren’t ”celebrate by hiding painted eggs for children and eat yellow marshmallow birds.” Not that those things are bad to do on Easter, shoot I love beating kids to an egg I saw first via elbow to the back of the head, but lets remember the work and person of Jesus Christ. AND lets not just need Easter to remind us of that ya?

When my redeemer lives was being sung today I had an Easter moment. I closed my eyes and just focused on the depth of Gods love for me. 

PR
that everything we do we do it to his glory

QOTD
Every tried to do that prayer request/verse? what does it look like to drive your car or eat a sandwich to Gods glory? 

4.7.2012 - Sometimes I wish this was my only problem lol

I love working in Youth Ministry, but it’s never really work when I deal with youth. The work comes when I deal with adults. hah I’ve been officially working in ministry for 9 months now and one thing that I notice about church folk (INCLUDING MYSELF) is we are very unforgiving. You’d think for people who understand that we were forgiven by God for the incredible debt of wrongs against him we would forgive each other as such. I have seen that we hold on to grudges (which by the way kills you on the inside) and gossip. I am very guilty of all the above and just hope God and those I’ve sinned against forgive me as I hope God strengthens me to forgive as well. 

And if you think I’m talking about you, I’m only kinda. There are 2 others giving me heart aches as well but I dont think any of them read my blog too often if at all anyway lol. 

PR
That we would all be ferocious about forgiving those who sin against us

QOTD
Who is more honest, church folk or God skeptics?