HEY TRIBE!!!

It was great to see you guys again last night.  I missed you over the break.  I hope you had a great one.  First off, I just got back from Camp Eagle yesterday and it was incredible!  The student ministries team went and had a blast.  We went hiking, mountain biking, and traversing across a cliff.  Some of us went kayaking and canoeing.  It gets me so PUMPED about camp!  If you are excited about camp, you need to sign up ASAP because it won't be long before we run out of spaces. 

Last Wednesday Kyle did an amazing job of talking to us about pain from the outside.  The story of Joseph is so full of examples that we can apply to our everyday lives.  One of the things I love most about the Bible is that it isn't full of perfect people or perfect circumstances.  Joseph was abused by his brothers and imprisoned for years (Genesis 37).  Yet somehow, he managed to continue to love God and follow him wholeheartedly.  As a matter of fact, he was able to say at the end of the whole experience:

 "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive." (Genesis 50:20)

 There are many of you reading this blog right now that have been through a lot.  If this statement is true of you, let me first say, I'm sorry that you are going through what you are going through.  I can't even pretend to know why you are going through it or what it feels like.  What I do know is that God is there even in the midst of suffering.  It doesn't always feel like it but He is.  He is waiting for you to call on Him in prayer to help you through it (Psalm 34:18). 

He also wants you to find other followers of Christ to talk to and share the burden of this problem (Galatians 6:2).  God can heal your scars.  It doesn't matter what they are.  He can not only begin the healing process but He is so powerful that He can heal others as a result.  All you have to do is trust Him and call out to Him in your pain.  

In Christ, 

Matt

Last Wednesday

Last Wednesday was a blast!  It was great to see you guys there.  If you were there you know that we started a new series on suffering.  The series is called "Scarred" and we are talking about how each one of us has scars in our lives. Some of those scars are on the outside where everyone can see them and others are on the inside.  We asked a tough question last Wednesday night, "Does God Care?" The verse that we discussed was Romans 8:28 which says,“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

As a pastor, I know this verse is true but it doesn't always feel like it is.  There are times when I go through some really tough junk and I have to step back and ask "Does He really care?" We discussed a few ideas that some of you have about God during tough times.  Here are a few:

1. Does God exist?

2. Does God hear me?

3. Does God care?

All of these at least run through your mind when pain hits.  I really think that there is a fourth option in the mix and here it is:

4. Is God doing something with my pain?

Since God is good and there is "no darkness in Him" we know that God doesn't initiate evil.  So if you are going through something horrible (abuse, bullying, etc) God isn't at the heart of it.  It does mean that God allows these things to happen.  This is hard for us to understand when we are in the midst of suffering.  In the Book of Job (Old Testament), God allows some pretty bad stuff to happen to Job.  Upon seeing this Job's wife demands that he curses God and dies.  Great advice from your loved one right?  Job's response? "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" (Job 2:10) 

I think this is a great question!  We never have any problems when good things happen right?  I have never questioned God when I've gotten a raise!  Never have I gotten angry when a loved one of mine has made it through a bout with cancer.  But the good and the bad are all a part of who I am aren't they?  It is the same with you.  You are who you are because of the good and bad things.

Later in Romans 8 we are reminded that we are being conformed into the likeness of Christ.  I think it is no accident that this is mentioned after the verse we discussed.  The good and the bad make us who we are in Christ.  I challenged you to put two things into action this week.  Here they are:

#1 Go to God with Your Pain - If you are going through some bad stuff right now, pray to God about it.  It doesn't mean that God will take those things away from you but He will be there with you to help you through.

#2 Let God Use Your Pain - If you have been through some bad stuff, let God use that for good.  Talk to someone who is going through a similar situation. Show them how God got you through it.  

Well, I hope this topic was helpful for you.  We've got three more to come (Pain from the Outside, Bullying & Pain from the Inside).  Don't forget: THERE IS NO VIBE THIS COMING WEDNESDAY (3-18-09).  I hope you guys have a great Spring Break, and I'll see you when we get back.  

Love,

Matt