Greatest Christmas Present

Today was awesome. I was given the greatest gift I could ever receive for this season. It is not a car or anything material. It is far better than that.

I had the opportunity to pray with a teen from my youth ministry this morning and she gave her heart to Christ. It has been almost a one year journey for Samm to come to the place where she was ready to ask Christ into her life and forgive her of her sins.

It was incredible. She has been having great conversations with other girls in our youth ministry and asking lots of questions. God was preparing her heart for this moment and she was ready. I was reading her blog and this is what she wrote on her blog on Monday the 21st, "Four days 'til Christmas! This year it's going to be a little different for me I think, because now I actually know that there is a God and Jesus really did exist and that's what this holiday is about. It'll put the day into a new light, you know?

Isn't that beautiful. I love it. This young lady finally has an understanding of what Christmas is really all about. If I don't receive anything else for Christmas this year I am blessed.

Brothers ands sisters we need to invest time with others, others who are not Christians. I love that two girls in our youth ministry prayed for Samm and shared their faith with her as well as their lives. They have become very close friends. Now these two girls are even stronger in their faith as a result of seeing God answer their prayers.

There is a God and Jesus really did exist. That is what this holiday is all about.

Cold day outside

If you live in New Brunswick you know that it was frigidly cold today. It was tough just going from the vehicle into a building. I was so thankful to be able to come home to a warm house.

I had another experience today I would like to share. I was asked to go to the hospital today to spend time with a family who has a terminally ill son in his early 30's. I was able to meet with the family and then say a prayer for the young man. I heard others in the room talking about how cold it was outside, and they were right. What really struck me was that I am sure the young man would have traded being indoors, extremely sick in a hospital room for an opportunity to be able to catch a breath of cold air.

Why do I say all this? I think it is sometimes very easy to complain about things, complain about life. Lets be grateful for our health and a warm house to come home to.

I was reminded this afternoon that there are people who are forced to live outside in these freezing conditions. I could not survive if I had to sleep under a bridge and try to stay warm. Let's pray for those less fortunate and as we see a need let's do something about it. Give a blanket, pay for a night in a shelter or whatever else you feel led to do.

We are blessed!!!

Fundraiser going well

We had two Christmas fundraising projects that are underway.

The first was to sell 100 packages of Christmas cookies made by a local baker who serves on our board. At this moment we have orders for 55 so we are over the halfway mark.

The second was to see pewter Christmas ornaments. We had 96 to sell and at this point we have sold about 60 of them.

Praise God that we have people willing to step forward to support this ministry. It is such a blessing. I invite you to help us by making a donation too. It can be your time or your money. The greatest investment is your prayers.

Thank you!!!

"Sexting"

I was reading an article on CNN today that talked about "sexting". It is a nude picture or sexual image of a person being sent from one person to another via a cell phone. It often happens when a teen "falls in love" and then sends a revealing picture of themselves to their boyfriend or girlfriend.

That in itself is a dangerous thing to do. If that relationship ever breaks up then the person who has the image on their phone can then send that image to anyone via their phone or they could upload the image on to the internet, Suddenly what was supposed to be a private image is now available to everyone in the world with a computer and the internet to see.

Another way this is done, is by kids with cell phones taking pictures of other people when they are not looking. This could happen in a locker room or bathroom at a school. It could happen with someone who wants to embarrass another person. A cell phone is a potentially dangerous tool in the hands of the wrong person, with wrong motives.

I was talking with a parent tonight who was talking about Christmas gifts for his nine year old boy. He told me he was thinking about getting him a cell phone. I think nine might be a little young for a child to have a cell phone.

Children and teenagers do not have the ability to predict the ramifications of decisions that are made when they are still so young. We need to educate our youth about how to protect themselves and others from the potential harm others may want to do to them. It is sad that we have come to that place.

How prevalent is this sexting problem? According to the stats one in six teens has been involved in sending pictures of others via their cell phone. In addition 4% of teens who were 12 years old had done the same thing.

Thoughts...

What's a rat?

Rat tales, rat tails

What is a rat? It is a small rodent that seems to be really comfortable digging around in garbage dumps or in places that are not very clean. Of course if the rat happens to be one you buy at a pet store they can be a great pet. One of my daughters had a pet rat and it was actually quite fun to be around. He was a "good rat".

There is another definition for a rat too. According to the dictionary a rat is "one who betrays or deserts a friend". When it comes to bullying, you hear things said to the bullied by the bully like "you better not rat on me, or don't go to a teacher or adult and be a rat."

Most times, maybe 99% of the time, the bully is not being a friend anyway. For sure a true friend would not bully someone else. A friend builds a person up, not tears them down. A friend protects, not destroys or damages. So, if you are being bullied you are not being a rat if you tell someone who can help the bullying to stop.

I have been reading Jay McGraw's book, "Life Strategies for Dealing with Bullies". He discusses this issue with clarity when he says, "Tattling is usually done to make trouble for another person. If your reporting someones behaviour just to get them in trouble, your probably tattling. However, if you are letting an adult know about a situation that, if not handled, could lead to trouble or danger, then your doing the right things in opening your mouth."

Here's the deal. If you are being harassed and bullied let someone know. If you feel in danger or trouble let someone know. You do not have to face the bully on your own. It doesn't mean you are weak, it means that you are strong. True strength is reaching out to someone who can help you, when you need help.

I kind of like rats. The ones that are not too destructive. I am not a big fan of the ones roaming through garbage.

When it comes to teens I am a big fan of them. I am not a big fan of the ones that want to treat others like they are garbage. I want to help them to realize that all people have value and no one should be mistreated. Not even you.

Olympics are coming

I am excited and humbled, that I have been asked to serve in a chaplaincy role during the upcoming Vancouver Olympics this coming February. I was blessed to have my plane ticket paid for by the folks with the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team, whom I serve as a chaplain locally.

I am so grateful to have this opportunity. I am praying that during my time in Vancouver, the place where people from all over the world will be meeting, that I can make a difference in the lives of people from many different nations. Sometimes a person can go to the nations, and sometimes the nations come to us.

When I think of the series of events that took place to bring me this opportunity, I look back to the Sunday evening service in 1990 when I responded to God's call to full time ministry and missions. I never knew where it was going to take me. The reality is I still don't know all that God has planned for me.

For some who read this, you may sense that God is calling you to something new, something bigger than what you think you are capable of. If that's you, let me encourage you with these words found in the prophet Jeremiah's book. Jer 29:11 in the Message says it this way: I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. "When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen. "When you come looking for me, you'll find me. "Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed." God's Decree. "I'll turn things around for you.

Isn't that awesome. The God of creation has a great plan for you. He will show you what is next. Trust in Him!!!

Let me just add this: God is not a spiritual good luck charm we hang on our bracelets. He is alive and capable and able to bring change in your life. It does not mean you won't face trials and challenges. It does mean He will be there to see you through them.

Tragic murder of a precious teen

I hate to hear about things done to children and teens at the hands of adults. It makes me angry and sad to think that precious lives are ruined and tossed aside by people who should be watching out for them and protecting them.

Murder charges have just been brought against a 29 year old man (I hesitate to call him that) for the murder of his 16 year old cousin. She had been missing for some time and then the police found her body buried in the ground. What a horrible thing. Thankfully the police were able to find her body, or for years her mom would have wondered what happened and if she was even alive.

I do not even have the words to express how her mom must feel. It is senseless to me to have such a cruel act take place. I pray for Hillary's mom and the entire community where Hillary lived.

I had the opportunity two summers ago to be the speaker at a teen camp for First Nation teens. I saw the hurt in their eyes. I saw the hopelessness. I saw the pain.

Brothers and sisters, please join me in praying for our First Nation Communities.

"Heavenly Father, today I come before you, pleading with you to raise up young men and women on our First Nations. Lord fill them with your Holy Spirit to bring change. Protect their hearts, minds and bodies from the people and forces that would seek to destroy them.

Jesus use this ministry to somehow be a blessing to Hillary's community. Help us to stand with their community as they fight drugs, alcohol, abuse and prejudice. Lord somehow in the midst of their darkness, give them hope." Amen.

I would love your input as to how we can help in this battle for First Nation Teens.

Blessed by others

I just came home from a great night of fellowship and planning with my official board and advisory board for this ministry. I think it is safe to say that we are excited about what God has planned for this ministry as we reach out to hurting and abandoned teens.

Let me share with you some of our prayer requests:

1. God's provision of a home for teens to live in. We are trusting God for miraculous provision, a home that we do not have to pay for.

2. A vehicle to be donated to the ministry. We need a 7 passenger van that can be used to transport teens that are in need.

3. Food. We are trusting God to bless us with all the food we need in order to be able to bless the teens we care for as well as struggling families.

4. Furniture for the home. Thank you God for giving us everything that we need.

5. A Christian couple that will be willing to live in our home and will raise their own support to be able to give the needed Christian love to the teens we minister to.

6. Increased vision for those families and teens all around us that are in need.

Thanks for joining us in prayer about these things. God is in the miracle business. We need to extend our faith to Christ and trust Him.

Attitudes can really effect us

This is a true statement!!!

I could write in this blog about things that are not right about the way some people operate and different attitudes they have. It is a bit harder to write about myself and a bad attitude I had just yesterday.

I was out yesterday at an event which I loved. I was happy to be there and saw some wonderful friends I haven't seen in some time. It was all good, and then I saw someone that said something to me four years ago, that ticked me off. Now that person meant nothing by it, and I am sure he has forgotten the conversation. I thought I had too until I saw him yesterday. Apparently not!!!

My attitude changed, and I was not very Christ like in my heart. Probably no one else noticed but I did. I was pathetic. I had to leave where I was because my attitude stunk.

This morning I woke up and I still felt like my attitude stunk. I had to spend time with God and allow Him to deal with that attitude. I confessed to Him that I had unforgiveness in my heart towards this person. I asked the Lord to bless this man. I was clearly in the wrong, but now I feel so much better.

I want to encourage you to examine your heart too. My experience yesterday taught me a valuable lesson. When I have a bad attitude, I need to let God examine me and make the necessary changes so I can be the man of God He has intended for me to be.

Unforgiveness leads to bitterness, forgiveness leads to freedom!!!

Group on Facebook

I am now the administrator for group started on facebook. The name of the group is"Lets put a stop to bullies." I decided yesterday morning to send out an email to all the group members asking them to tell their experiences with bullies. As of yesterday we had a group of 59 members.

Let me share the things that were written. I will not add the peoples names in order to protect their privacy.

One young man wrote this: i joined because when i was in elementary and middle school my classmates bullied me and made fun of me because of what i did, i like video games, and my classmates made fun of me and beat me up saying no one likes me, but here in high school, ive made many friends who accept me for who i am.

At the beginning of my high school year, my classmates accepted me and they didnt bully me, i used to live in the states, now i live in canada. i had to deal with verbal physical, and blackmail from my classmates. i would tell a teen if they were bullied, tell the teacher no matter the cost, or hope for a better future like i did. thank you.

I am glad that I have been able to open up a dialogue with this teen. I think he represents how many children and teens either feel or have felt.

I am going to have a baby

Have you been so overwhelmed that you didn't know what to do? Maybe you have been on the end of a conversation that has started out bad and you can only focus on the initial words and the rest of the words seem like an episode from Charlie Brown. You know what I mean, it kinda sounds like "Mwah, mwah, mwah."

I was reading the story of the Angel coming to Mary to tell her the news that she was going to be the mother of Jesus. Mary's first reaction was one of being confused or perplexed. Why was an angel coming to talk to her. What had she done wrong? I am sure she was scared and confused.

The angel told her not to be afraid. OK, thats sounds good. But then the angel delivers the message. "You will become pregnant and have a son, and you are to name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!"

Can you sense the excitement of the angel? Mary, hey Mary guess what, your gonna have a baby and He is going to change the the world. You are gonna be a mom. Your going to be the mother of the Savior of the world.

Mary's response was like that of most teenagers. Mary asked the angel, "But how can I have a baby? I am a virgin." Maybe I am reading too much into this but I don't think I am. It was as if Mary was overwhelmed by this news. She couldn't really take in everything else the angel said. For her the prevailing thought was, "I am going to have a baby."

Why am I talking about this? Because sometimes God asks us to do things that don't make sense. For Mary she would have had many thoughts as she laid her head down each night. Maybe thoughts like "how can I raise a child, I am only a child myself" or "I am from this small town Lord, everybody is going to be talking about me" or "how do I explain this to my family and what about Joseph what will he think." These are natural responses for a person who is dealing with difficult circumstances.

How did Mary get through this? Very simply, because she had a deep faith in God. The angel promised Mary that the Holy spirit would help her. In everything. Everything!!! Nothing is impossible with God.

What is God asking you to do? Is He asking you to do something for someone or an organization like Boaz? If He is, do not be afraid. The Holy Spirit will help you. If He calls you to do something He will lead you.

Your response will then be like Mary's "I am the Lord's servant, and I am willing to accept whatever he wants. May everything you have said come true."

Networking to prevent abuse

Bullying. Abuse. Terror. Humiliation. Stripping of self esteem. Intimidation. Isolation.

These are some of the words that can be used to describe the act of robbing precious teens of the ability to live their lives.

I had a discussion last night with a teen, who shared his present day bullying. Another teen walked up to him today at school and said "you better watch your back", as apparently he and some of his friends were planning to beat this teen up. I knew something could and had to be done.

I went on facebook and found the bully who had threatened the young man I was talking with. I looked at the bullies friend list and discovered that we had two mutual friends. So I contacted one of our mutual friends. The mutual friend then told me who the youth pastor of the bully is. Now I am contacting the youth pastor to help make him aware that he has a potential bully in his youth group.

Why would I do this? Because we as youth pastors need to be aware of what is happening with the teens we minister to. If I have a bully in my youth group I want to know so I can address this issue in a loving way. If I have a teen in my youth group that is being bullied I want to know so I can help. If I have a bystander in my group (someone who sees bullying taking place but doesn't know what to do) I want to help them so they can make a difference.

As I talk to teens my biggest concern is that they feel like things will never change and that there is no one that can make a difference. They feel isolated. They feel threatened that if the bully or his or her friends ever knew they talked with someone about what was happening then they would be bullied even further.

So as adults and youth pastors we need to open up the doors of communication so that our teens can share whatever they need to share with us. Do you have that type of relationship with the teens you have been chosen to minister to? If they do come to you and share things with you regarding this subject or others are you equipped to do something?

If you are, great share some of your thoughts here. If not I want this site to be a place where you can learn to be more effective.

I am not an expert but I am willing to learn. Lets work together to impact our schools. We may not always be invited in them, but we can certainly have an influence in them!!!

How parents can be involved

I was recently talking with a parent of some teens and she asked me a question about dating and when her teen should be allowed to. Her daughters are 14 and 15 and she was curious as to whether or not her daughters were talking about this stuff with their friends. She was really not sure.

The answer I think we all know is that they are talking. They are talking about it at younger and younger ages. I feel that it is so important that we engage our children with the discussion about what is happening in their lives when it comes to the many challenges they face. If it is about sex, parents need to talk even when it is awkward.

One mistake I see some parents making is assuming that since their teen isn't telling them that they are dealing with difficult things at school, that things must be ok. That is not necessarily the case. Many times teens do not talk about what they are feeling with you. They either don't share with anyone and bottle it up, or they are trying to talk with someone they feel "gets it." That can be good if the person they are confiding in can give them the proper advice. It can be dangerous if the person is unable to.

When it comes to topics such as sex, alcohol, drugs, smoking, dating, bullying, self esteem and relationships you have the opportunity to really speak truth to them. I want to challenge you to get involved, spend time with your teens and give them an opportunity to share what is really happening in their lives.

Bullying can be stopped

Have you ever been beaten up physically, mentally or emotionally? Have you ever had people deliberately make up things about you to separate you from your friends? Have you ever been threatened that if you go to school you will be somebody's punching bag? Have you had people attack you through facebook or texting?

If you are experiencing any of these things or all of them, and it is deliberate, you are being bullied. It needs to stop!!! You do not need to feel scared and embarassed. The good news is, it can be changed. This ministry is going to help you. I want you to know that I care, and so do others that are believers in stopping this unacceptable behavior.

I have a teen that I care about. He is a pretty good guy, but he is constantly being threatened. I read about it all the time on facebook, it is disgusting to me. I am becoming proactive in making a difference and I need your help.

I want you to bring stories of bullying that you know to this website. I am talking about people in your schools or city that are being bullied. I know it sounds impossible, but it can be stopped. A message needs to be sent to the bully that "it will stop". I am convinced that more can be done, and Boaz ministries is going to get involved.

If people are being bullied and you know it, don't just standby and let it happen. Let me know and we will discreetly get this to stop. No more sitting back, no more being passive. This epidemic must stop.

If you are the bully, be aware that you will be found out. You would be wise to stop doing what you are doing. I will be sure that the proper people are notified. I promise!!!

Black Friday

There is something wrong with this!!!

What kind of a gift/s do you plan to buy for Christmas? Are you going to fall into the trap of spending lots of money on things that make people happy for a short period of time? After all by the time 2010 gets here most people have forgotten what they had gotten anyway, or they have started to complain again about what they don't have.

I am watching video clips of people streaming into to stores in mob scenes trying to beat other people for the deals of the day. It reminds me why I despise the Christmas season so much. If only we could remember a few basics about this season.

1. Jesus is the only reason why we should celebrate Christmas. If it wasn't for his gift, we wouldn't have this day anyway. Hopefully He will be front and center at your birthday party.

2. Jesus gift was his presence, not presents. Wouldn't we be better served blessing people with our presence. Sadly parents think that what they give as presents this year makes up for their lack of presence in their families lives.

3. Jesus invested in us as people. Maybe we need to find other ways to invest in people without wasting our resources. Maybe we can invest in a homeless teen, a needy family, an underprivileged country.

4. Jesus commanded us to take care of the poor, the orphaned and the widowed. He didn't say anything about spending hoards of money on ourselves, or spending lots of His resources on ourselves.

Invest in what counts. Jesus, others, and finally yourself.

I guess Black Friday is properly named. It is a dark day when we waste so much, and neglect the needs of those in need all around us.

Back home from Galveston

I just had an opportunity to spend a week in Texas helping people who were devastated by hurricane Ike. Far too many people are without hope. Most of those I met that were without hope were the underprivileged black folks.

I might be wrong but I think I am right in what I am about to say. Prejudice is alive and unwell in this world. How can it be that a group of people continues to suffer while others in the community with money and are white are quick to rebuild and move on with life. Seemingly at the expense of their black neighbours.

These are potentially hopeless situations. Hopeless unless the "church" gets involved. As Christians we are not to show favoritism. We are to be a blessing to those God places before us, no matter if they are black, white, latino , asian or whatever. We are to go and help too!!

One of the saddest experiences I had in Galveston was talking to two mid 20 year old girls. I asked how I could pray for them and they indicated a need to be set free from crack cocaine addiction. They said their entire community suffers from this tragic epidemic effecting hopeless people.

As Christians we have hope, and we need to share that hope. We do not have to go to Texas to give people hope. They live all around us, they are struggling!!!

I want Boaz to be a ministry of hope. Hope to teens and their families before they destroy their lives and turn into drug addicts or alcoholics. We will make a difference. We will reach out to people of all races.

I am sad and angry

What is wrong with our world? How did we get to the place where our children and grandchildren are no longer safe to walk home from school?

I have been watching the story that has unfolded in Orange Park, Florida. A little 7 year old girl, has been missing for two days and her body has just been found in a landfill. She was walking with some classmates when she disappeared. What kind of person would do this to a child? Man I am ticked!!

I have tears in my eyes as I write this. I can only imagine the pain experienced by this precious child's parents and grandparents and brothers/sisters if she has them. Their must be tremendous confusion and hurt felt by her freinds and teachers, aunts and uncles and by the entire community.

Obviously some pathetic person was involved in this heinous and unthinkable crime. I struggle with this: How can we as Christians have any kind of compassion for someone who would do this? I must confess that I have great compassion for people and their challenges in life. When it comes to people who commit these types of horrible crimes, I have no compassion. I want them to...

Where's Waldo?

I am guessing that many of you remember the old TV show and game Where's Waldo. Well tonight our youth group played a variation of that game.

Cathy who works with our teens and I dressed up to disguise our true identity. Cathy walked around as a bent over older lady, slowly moving along with a walker. I am not sure what I was exactly, I tried to pull of being a bit of a gangster, complete with black makeup, a wig and clothes I would not normally wear.

For the most part we were successful, with only a few of the teens recognizing us. While I was in disguise I came across an acquaintance who I work with occasionally through my role as chaplain to our local fire department. I went over and introduced myself, and it took him a minute to realize who I was. In fact I think he was quite relieved when he discovered who I really was.

I know that wearing a disguise is something teens have to do at their schools too. At times they do it to protect themselves, other times they do it to keep people close to them. In other words they act like something they are not in order to be sure they can fit in with the popular kids.

The first thing I did when I got home was jump in the shower and remove my "mask". I think that teens must feel that same relief when they get home from school. If they are wearing a mask at school, in order to be something they are not, it must feel good to be themselves.

For some teens they cannot do that. The reason is because they do not have a home to go to. They have no safe place to land.

I am looking forward to the day when we will have a home for those kind of teens. I am praying that God will provide that home for us at the right time.

If you are interested in helping us do that let me know. I would be happy to sit down and talk with you, or call you on the phone to see how you could join us in fulfilling the vision for Boaz Lighthouse International Ministries.

First donation received

It is an exciting day. The Boaz Ministry received its first donation. I feel like we are now on our way. I believe that God will continue to bless us in this ministry.

I am amazed that God has chosen me to give leadership and provide vision for this ministry. I know on my own that I am unable to do these things. I feel like God has told me to raise up others around me that have a heart of compassion for Christ and for others. By doing this I along with the others will have the mind of Christ, and therefore will keep His vision before me.

I was talking with a good friend today, a friend who has chosen recently to put God and His plan on the "backburner" so to speak. He has been struggling to do what God wants him to do, and at the same time still expects God to bless him in what he wants to do. Does this make sense? Sadly it is all too common.

I have been angered lately as I watch this same mindset unfold in a church I am close to. It is hard to believe some of the things that have been spoken recently in this church. Things like, "we need to stop talking about Jesus and God" and " we should have two services: one that is liberal and one that is conservative", "that way people who believe the Bible could go to one service and those who don't could go to another, and the Christians who believe Jesus is God's Son could go to one service and the Christians that don't believe in Jesus could go to the other one." Obviously, you can't be a Christian if you do not believe in Christ, because a Christian is a follower of Christ.

You may find this hard to believe but those things were actually said. Talk about people who have lost their vision, or maybe they never ever had one. What is most amazing is that they think God is going to bless them if they ignore Him. I know that God is not impressed, which is an understatement.

The bottom line is this. We are imperfect people, but we need to honor God if we expect that we will truly experience His blessing and all He has for us.

Boaz Ministries is one that well keep Jesus at the center. If we wan't to know God's heart and how Jesus wants to reach people through this ministry, we must spend time with Him. He is alive. He is the Savior of this world. We will bless Him!!!

Praying for our schools

I am committed to helping teens and investing in their lives. I pray for our schools and know that they have become difficult places for our students to go. For some students school is a place to go and spend time with friends and play sports or be in the school production. They love school. For others they dread going to school. They have nothing to look forward to except torment, fear and ridicule.

One thing that almost all students have in common is a need to feel safe. Both parents and teens want to be assured that when they enter our schools, it will be a place of safety and their child will return home. Sadly we know that this is not always the case. School bullies, school violence and school shootings are on the increase.

I read in the news today that the high school in Charlottetown, PEI was under added stress from a message posted on a facebook page. It indicated that a school shooting was about to take place, though it was not specific to that particular school. It is sad that our teens have to go to school wondering if they are indeed safe.

I am convinced that our schools are becoming "war zones". I don't want to sound the alarm bells to loud, but something has got to change. Our teens are faced with marijuana, cocaine, acid, heroin and other illegal drugs. They are offered oxicontyn, ecstasy, and other prescription drugs to take away their pain. They are faced with people mocking them because of their beliefs. They are taught by teachers to embrace "evolution" and are made to feel inferior when they stand up for creation. They are taught that homosexuality is the norm and that they have no right to disagree with that lifestyle. They are taught that pre-marital sex is ok as long as your old enough to deal with it.

I know it sounds like rant, it is not meant to be that. I believe that teachers and administrators for the most part care about our teens. That is not enough.

Parents we need to actively engage our teens. We need to talk to them and find out how things are going for them at school. We need to know and understand the reality of the pressures they face every day. We need to pray for them. We need to pray for their protection...emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually.

We need to take this seriously. Take time every day to help your children walk through this minefield called school. Youth pastors take the time to listen to your teens, get them talking about what is going on in their lives.

Children are our greatest resource!!!

Tragic story of bullying

My heart breaks when I read stories like this one.

We need to address bullying. The schools cannot address it because it didn't happen at school and many schools do not want to deal with it. Obviously in this case and in many others, parents are not discussing it either.

We need to engage our teens and children, we need to reach out to teens and children and talk about respect and love for one another. Will it stop these types of heinous behaviors? probably not entirely, but we can make a difference.

www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/10/13/florida.teen.burned/index.html

Update on prayer request

I shared some prayer requests last week with you. One of those areas was regarding a potential home for this ministry. It was to be converted to a duplex by the owners unless an offer was received by this Friday.

The good news is that the owner is willing to delay this move for one month. I am thankful for this answer to prayer in that it gives us a month to try and put together some financing and a plan moving forward.

I am moved in my spirit to call out people who would pray for this ministry and this house. Please join me. If this is the house God has for us, He will lead us. He will give us favor with the owner to come together and put the right plan in place.

I believe that God can make this happen.

Generosity encouraged

This will be short, but I want to challenge parents to think about something.

Here it is. I know of many parents that enroll their kids in lots of things, good things even. They have them signed up for soccer and hockey and basketball and gymnastics and dance and music and..... The list goes on and on. Then in the off season they have them signed up for every camp they can possibly involve them in.

Then on the other side is the parents who wish they could put their children in one thing but they do not have the resources. They would love to see their child get out of their home and spend time with other kids learning a skill. So here is my challenge.

Will you consider either paying for another child to enter the sport your son or daughter are in? Will you consider having your child be involved in one less event and taking those resources and blessing another person?

You may think my child would be upset. Maybe if they saw it as a gift instead of a denial they would be willing to assist.

Maybe the problem wouldn't be with the child, maybe it is the parent that wants fame and success so much for their child that they lose sight of the blessing of giving.

Thanksgiving perspective

I love this time of year, as it gives me a chance to think about the things that I am truly grateful for. One of the things I am most grateful for is my relationship with Christ. I can say with certainty that without Him, I would not be able to appreciate all the other things I have been blessed with. I thank God for my family, my church, a home to live in, food to eat, clean water to drink, my health, the teens I minister to and with, a vehicle to get around in, and a vision for ministry, just to name a few.

I think what impacts me the most as I get older is that, I cannot take these things for granted. I think that it is easy to have the mindset that I deserve these things, but I do not. It is only by the grace of God.

I also understand that there are many others in this world, even in my city who are lacking all or some of these. They likely have no place to go to be with family. They may not be enjoying health or have a home.

My heart is best summed up in a quote I love: "To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world." The reason I love this so much is that it humbles me. I understand that I am one person in this world of 6-7 billion people. BUT I AM ONE. I am important to God. I am unique, and I have a unique purpose. Part of my purpose is to impact others, or maybe just one.

I like to think that my life has made a difference in someone else's life. I think of people I have impacted, people like Jerry, Kurtis, Wayne, Karen, Kaitlyn, Anna and Gwen. I think of others I have impacted in hurricane Katrina like Sonya and Richard, Bill, Robin and my friends in Biloxi, MS. I think of the homeless people I have been able to provide a meal for. I think of the teens I was able to minister to while missionaries in the Czech Republic.

I also love to think of people who impacted me: my wife, my parents, my children, my first Sunday school teacher Ken Moore, David Taylor a professor in Bible College who inspired me to get involved in challenging places, Kaitlyn who has inspired me to be a better father, Shelby who taught me to have deep compassion for the hurting, Cathy and Carol who have taken a step of faith with me in this new ministry, Mary Alice who has led a ministry through challenging days and has kept Him first.

My challenge for you my brothers and sisters is this, count your blessings, be a blessing and expect a blessing from Him as you make Him the priority of your life.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Wow, they are scary!!!

As a Christian, I am a firm believer that I have a responsibility to share my faith in Christ with others. I do not mean to shove it down their throats, I mean to let my life and my words be evident of Christ living in me. I want to serve others, love others, help others and sometimes even speak words to others.

Why is this so important to me? I feel that we as Christians, by Christian I mean those who have a personal relationship with Christ, need to share the hope we have with others. This means to people of all ages.

One of the things I have noticed over the past few years is that at risk teenagers are one of the segments of our society that we have a hard time loving, serving, helping and even speaking to. There are times when we see them, and we would rather walk on the other side of the street to avoid them. I am not sure why, maybe it is because we are intimidated by them or even afraid of them. Is it possible people shy away because they wouldn't know what to say to them?

There is a young man, probably in his early twenties that comes in to say hello to me from time to time. He is pretty scary looking. He has a mo-hawk and has tattoos and piercings all over his face. I mean both!!! I see people move away from him, look at him strangely, and even say horrible things about him.

I have made it a point to talk to him. He is a very pleasant and soft spoken person. He is kind and always wanting to find ways to help others. He has a heart to reach out to others. Does that surprise you? Here is a person that most people are afraid of (because of his looks and dress) but he has a heart to meet the needs of others.

Let us show the world that we as followers of Christ have a heart for others. Let us get outside the comfort of our church walls and start to meet the needs of those who look a certain way in order to protect themselves. Let us love, serve, help and share with those who need to see what this Jesus is really all about.

Where are we in this ministry?

This week myself and our two other provisional directors, Cathy and Carol met with the lawyer and sent off the papers to apply for incorporation. If things go as we trust they will, we hope to have the papers back within three weeks. It will be exciting to have this in place.

One of my dreams is to have a Christian based home to provide for teens who have been abandoned and rejected by their families. A good friend that is also a real estate agent has been looking for some options. This week we were able to look at two different options.

The first home was wonderful, it had everything we could ever want in a home. Two bathrooms, six bedrooms, a beautiful front porch, big back deck, great back yard, paved driveway and downtown. In fact it used to be a group home so it even has proper emergency exits on each home. The cost of this home is 249,000.

The second home was the complete opposite. It was beat up, worn down, damp and stagnant. It was a much lower price but it was just a depressing home to walk in to. After visiting the second home, we drove back and prayed over the first home.

Here is the challenge with regards to the first home we looked at. The owners plan to restructure the home and convert it into a duplex unless they have an offer by next Friday. We are in no position today to make an offer on that home, the $3.00 in the petty cash is not going to be quite enough. My prayer is this, that the Lord would change the mind of the owners if we are to use this home. If this does not happen, it will be obvious that this is not the place for us.

I also met with a potential board member this week. He is very interested in assisting in any way possible. I have asked him to spend some more time in prayer to determine where God may want to use him. He has agreed to look into options with regards to financing for the ministry. He operates in the financial services industry. I am praying that God shows him in what avenue he should be involved in the ministry.

Finally I took some time to spend with a family with three teens who are facing incredible challenges with the way their children are being treated by others. This single mom is trying to find a way to parent her children through the maze of bullying and abuse. I know we can be involved with mentoring and support resources.

All in all it has been a great week. As God opens doors I walk through them. I am excited about what God is going to do in this ministry. I am excited for the teens we are going to be able to bless.

Can this ministry change the world? I do not know, but I do know this, by impacting one person, it will change that persons world.

Please pray for this ministry, for the house owners, for the potential board member and for the family I met.

Be blessed and Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Racism

Racism is one of those words that make me cringe. I have very little tolerance for racists.

I spent an hour talking with an African American family in our city. They shared how the children of the home are afraid to go outside in their community because of what is being said and done to them. One of the boys who is in sixth grade was recently beat up by two other kids because he was black. That makes me angry.

The family also has kids coming to knock on their door and calling them "nigger". I have to say this word is very offensive to me and to many others. Just think of the impact these words have on young people. Think about where a teen must be if they are willing to holler these words at others. Racism is unacceptable.

I am concerned and willing to be involved in dealing with issues that deal with teenagers. Racism is placed in the hearts of those who participate in it at an early age. Racism also effects those on the receiving end at an early age.

The next time you hear a racist comment, I challenge each of us to stand up and say that is talk, behavior and attitude is unacceptable.

Trainee at Tim's

Most of us hate to wait. I must confess that sometimes I have that attitude. It usually happens to me when I am stuck in traffic.

Today I went into a local Tim Hortons to pick up some hot chocolate and a few Timbits. Not for me of course but for our youth group teens.You can probably guess where I am going going with this. There was a long lineup and I had to wait in line a long time. No, there was not a long line at all. I was not impatient at all, which I am grateful for.

I felt bad for one of the young people who was "in training". He was probably working his first shift ever and it was very confusing for him, it was fairly obvious. It was also evident that the supervisor had very little patience for him. In fact I would use the words "fed up". Her attitude really bothered me. In fact that bothered me more than the slow movement of the new employee.

I couldn't help but have a couple of thoughts. First, I felt sorry for this kid. He needed someone to come alongside him and help him. Secondly, I wondered how long he will last at this job if he is made to feel embarrassed and humiliated by those whose job it is to train him. He really needs someone who will be patient.

When it comes to helping teens, I want to be someone who comes alongside of them. I want to have patience with teens who have never been shown the right way to do things. I want to encourage them and not humiliate them.

Here is my challenge, the next time you see a "trainee", be patient with them, encourage them. The next time you see a teen who is struggling, do the right thing, have a Christlike attitude and come alongside them and see how you can help them. Do not humiliate them, help them to understand that somebody cares.

Little is much...

Downhere is one of my favorite Christian music groups. I was listening to one of their songs tonight that speaks a great truth. The words say: "Little is much when God is in it, and no one can fathom the plans he holds. Little is much when God is in it, He changes the world with the seeds we sow."

Just think about the truth of these words. God will do great things when we are willing to sow seeds of hope, love and faith in this world. The reality is that we cannot even begin to understand what God will do when we make those types of investments.

I am often asked questions about what exactly BLIM will do how it will impact lives. The reality is, "I don't know". I do not know exactly what God is going to do, nor do I know how God will do it. I do know this, with absolute certainly, the God I serve is willing to take my small steps and faith and bless them over and over.

Why do I say all this? Boaz Lighthouse International Ministries is God's ministry. I am willing to let Him lead it and direct it. I want to be spending time with God so I know what He is doing so I can walk in step with Him.

I am so excited to sow seeds, and trust God to orchestrate events and situations that I could never figure out on my own.

"Little is much when God is in it, and no one can fathom the plans he holds. Little is much when God is in it, He changes the world with the seeds we sow."

Impact of bullying

I hate bullying.

Make no mistake about it, it destroys lives.

Boaz Ministries is going to be involved in addressing this heartbreaking and life altering problem that stalks many teens . I think it has reached a level that is no longer to be tolerated. We as the body of Christ can make a difference, and with God's help and leading, WE WILL!!

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/091006/national/bullied_teen_missing

Read this article and tell me how it makes you feel. Brothers and sisters we need to help our children and teens understand how to deal with bullies. We also need to help them so that they do not become the bully.

Will you join me in praying for the Fortin family, for our schools and for those teens who are "at risk"?

Launching Out Into New Waters

Have you ever sensed in your spirit that God was birthing a new and exciting ministry. A ministry that was so much bigger than you. A ministry that unless God intervenes you are destined to fall flat on your face? I would guess that some of you have felt that stirring in your spirit.

For many months prior to August 1st, God was speaking these words to my spirit, "father to the fatherless". I didn't know what those words were meant for but many times in various places I sensed those gentle words.

I took some of the most precious people in my world to New Hampshire for a great Christian music festival called "SoulFest 09". It was an amazing time for myself and our teens. One area that was such a blessing to me was a "Prophetic Prayer Tent." It was a place where people waited on God and then spoke prophetic prayer over you.

I waited on those who were chosen to minister to me. I waited quietly as the four people around me waited on God for His Word to me. A young lady about age 21 was the first to speak, and these were her words, "God has called you to be a father to the fatherless". It was a powerful moment for me, and a confirmation of what God was speaking to my heart.

Upon returning home I spent much time in prayer with God. I felt the Lord direct me to start a ministry that reaches out to at risk youth especially those who are fatherless. To this end I have felt God's hand show me what to do next. He showed me that I was to start a Christian based not for profit organization. After spending much more time in prayer the Lord gave me the name for this ministry: Boaz Lighthouse International Ministries, Inc.

BLIM will reach out in a variety of areas. We will address youth homelessness, begin mentoring programs to pair up at risk youth with Godly mentors, address bullying in schools and in life, start a feeding program for teens along with a drop in center, open up a family based youth home, and eventually do these same things in other countries.

In this blog I hope to open up your hearts and eyes to the issues that these precious teens have to deal with. They did not choose to abandoned and rejected. No child comes into this world hoping that they will end up abused, forgotten and ridiculed.

As a Christian community we can make a difference. Through this ministry I hope that you will see ways you can make a difference. Maybe you will desire to be a partner in this ministry.

In the book of James we read these words: Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.