Game Face

We are starting a new series in youth beginning in May which will run for two months called, "It's Time To Get Your Game Face On". We will be talking about many different things including, that it is time to get excited about being a Christian.


Yesterday at church God really moved. A number of people went to the altar to deal with issues in their lives that only God can change. For too long people have held back and tried to put on a face like everything is wonderful and all is good. The reality is that as long as you live on this earth you will have challenges to face. Some are much deeper than others.


I couldn't help but think of one precious family of teens. They are amazing teens and do not deserve the treatment they have faced for years. I am so grateful they were able to share their challenges with others and allow them to pray over them.


I believe that God wants us to bring our very best to Him. He wants us to get excited about serving Him. he wants us to be pumped about going to church and youth. He wants us to get out of our comfort zone and look a little crazy sometimes. In order to do that we need to get our game faces on. 

Is your game face on?

The message of the cross

I love Easter, it is my favorite time of year. It is the time of year that reminds me of the hope we all have. It reminds me over and over how much He loves me and you.


The message of the cross is the hope for all people and specifically for those we minister to. He is the one who brings healing to broken hearts, he is the one who has the power to defeat addiction. He is the overcomer and because He has overcome so can we.


I enjoy the social network "twitter." It is  a place where many people share profound thoughts in short statements. here are a few of the most powerful I have read over the last couple of days:

• Are you living for HIM in a way that does justice to HIS dying for you?
• Betrayed by Judas, denied by Peter, abandoned by the 11, forsaken by God. Darkness, you get one hour. Then you die.
• He'd rather give up his life, than give up on you. Thank God for Good Friday and the Cross.
• With tears in my eyes and heart...I am thankful Jesus took a grisly Friday and turned it to Good Friday.
• It’s Friday…but Sunday’s Coming!
• and my favorite from Louis Giglio  "See you Sunday." Jesus”

He will never give up on us!

Prescription drug problems amongst teens

Very sobering yet real assessment of another area where our teens are under attack.

http://www.fairfaxtimes.com/cms/story.php?id=3337

Parents be active in talking to your teens. Many of the meds being introduced to your teens are highly addictive. They are offered for a short time for free, but once they become dependent on them the price goes way up.

Importance of keeping Christ first

I am an avid reader and learner. I want to gain new perspective and be challenged in the way I look at things. I continue to read about different challenges teens face. I am reminded that those who take an approach to help teens that eliminate God have a much lower success rate.


There is a reason why Christ must be central in what this ministry is about. He is the only one that can truly bring about transformation. We all need to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. We need to understand that God loves us deeply and that He has a great plan for our lives. We need to see that trying to change our lives by using our own strength will fall woefully short.


I read about issues like "Human Trafficking of Teens" in Canada. This is a hideous crime where the teens are subjected to greedy and sick people that take advantage of them. These girls then lose their self esteem and feel trapped. I know I am making this complex problem seem simple, but we as Christians need to engage this issue.


How can we as a ministry engage this crime/issue? Part of the way we do that is to actively be involved in building up self esteem of our youth. We need to show them that God approves of them and loves them. We need to show them that they are amazing and that they do not have to settle for abusive relationships.


Another issue is bullying? The approach being used in our schools is terribly short! Teens are being bullied on a regular basis. It is unacceptable. How does Christ play a role in this ministry on this issue. Once again we teach that we need to have the mind of Christ.


 He told us to love our neighbours as ourself. When teens fully understand that they are loved and they have value, they don't have to demean others to feel better about themselves.


One other are to focus on today is teenage pregnancy. I was recently to a conference put on by secular folks working with at risk teens. One of the speakers said "condoms, condoms, condoms, I love to show them how to put them on bananas. We all know abstinence doesn't work." 


If we want to slow down teenage pregnancy we need to include the Biblical truth of what God's Word says. We need to teach others that Christ's teachings and God's Word doesn't seek to prevent "fun" for people but seeks to protect them. We do not need more teens having babies. 


I know for some this might seem like "pie on the sky" talk. I am simply trying to remind us that this ministry needs to take a Christian approach to the ministry we do. We do not need to be judgmental of people, we need to be willing to put Christian values at the forefront of our ministry. 


I want to see lives transformed by renewed minds and a proper view of themselves. Only Christ can accomplish this! As Scripture says, "we are beautifully and wonderfully made." Ps 139, that is the truth the teens we work alongside need to hear.

CHARITY STATUS

I have great news to announce: 

Boaz Lighthouse International Ministries, Inc.

 is now a registered charity in Canada.

I am rejoicing that we have been granted charity status here in Canada. I am also reminded that this did not happen without the hard work of a number of individuals and of course the Hand of God.

I was reflecting back as I received notice of this monumental day to the day that God gave me the vision to start this ministry. I am reminded of the walk I had that morning where I found the three pennies. I recall going and sharing the vision with Karl, John and Dave and the words of confirmation they gave.

I look back fondly at the conversations I had with people in the early days and asking people to serve on my board. I am so grateful for Roxie and Sid, Carol and Shawn, Cathy, Ivan and Jean, Bo and Will, and John for their great counsel.

I am so blessed to have Wayne agree to be our accountant for the ministry and for David to be our lawyer. I am thankful for the words of encouragement those early days from Kathie. I was blessed to have First Wesleyan Church agree to help us in the beginnings too.

I am thankful for the gifts to our ministry to help us operate from the get go. 

I am blessed to have a family that has stood by me even when it meant more hours away from home as we started this ministry and even to this day. I love you all!

I am most thankful to Jesus Christ. It is because of you that I had hope for this day. I am so blessed to have the Holy Spirit lead me to this ministry. God you are the head of Boaz, thank you that you will lead me and all of us now responsible to carry this ministry to the next level.

Finally I want to thank the Jerry's of this world who taught me compassion for the hurting and downcast. I am so thankful for you! I want this ministry to serve you well. We all love you and care about you!

Breaks my heart

I am really a very compassionate person, I have deep empathy for people going through difficult times. Sometimes this happens to me when I watch television. Today is one of these days.


I am watching Dr. Phil and seeing a young teen that has been having sex with lots of people and has been meeting many of them on line. They do not care about her, they simply want to use her for sex. She is so confused and is heading down such a desperate road.


What strikes me is that so many young people don`t understand the dangers involved in what they do in social media areas. To post lots of photos of yourself, to show themselves in different environments making bad choices, and to write such suggestive things is very dangerous.


The reality is that there are many perverted people all over the internet, they are sick people. They are preying on our children and could care less about our precious teens. This is unacceptable!


I am concerned many of our teens are underestimating the potential harm that is out there, We need to keep this truth out there.


Parents, we need to know who our teens are talking to. In order to find out, we need to be talking to them more than ever before.

How would you feel?

Father to the Fatherless:


When you think of these words they are very powerful and deep. What would it be like to grow up in a world where you have been rejected by the people that are supposed to love you.


The role of a parent is simple in many ways. We are to love our children and encourage their growth within a healthy and caring environment. We are to support them in fulfilling their dreams in life and be there to pick them up when they fall down or fall short.


But what if the people who are supposed to do that in life choose to neglect these responsibilities. What would happen to those precious children if they felt no one truly cared? What if at every event they went to the parents never showed up? How would they feel?


Well tonight I have the privilege of being a "father to the fatherless." One of our "Kids" is involved in a production/concert tonight. Her parents will not be there. It is awesome that I can be there. She is so glad that I am going to be there.

If you have children make it a priority to go to their special events. It may take some effort, but you wont regret it. If you don't have a child, find a teen in need of a mentor and get involved.

 "To the world you may be one person, 

but to one person you may be the world".

Sticks and stones

"I can't get to sleep at night, every time I try and fall asleep, I lay in bed thinking about what my parents said to me." R.N.

This quote is from a teenager I have been meeting with. He shared that each time he tries to fall asleep the same words are spoken over and over to him. The words he hears is "your a worthless bas... and you will never amount to anything. What a horrible thing to have to think about each night and each morning as you wake up.


I know that he is not alone. Many of our children would love to hear encouragement from those closest to them instead of constant harassment and abuse. The words parents say are very powerful and stick with them a long time.


A video was recently posted on you tube by a young lady who expresses the way she feels without saying anything out loud. She communicates through the written word  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37_ncv79fLA  She refers to what is happening in her school, but it could just as easily be transferred into what teens deal with in their home life.


I believe the greatest thing we can ever say to our teens is "I love you", then we need to follow that up with our actions!