Remedy.

I hear a story today that really stuck with me, from one of my professors, Jerry. It goes something like this: 

One day, after class i had a student come and talk to me. He had waited until everyone had left and the classroom was clear, and he says "Jerry- can i talk to you for a second?" 

"Yeah, sure" I say, "what's up?"

we both sit down and he says "Jerry, i have a problem with pornography"- so I say "well, tell me about that."

He goes on to tell me his story: 

 His father is the pastor of a large church in Washington State, where he lived with his family and was fairly successful in his ministry. And the kid, he got to know one of the elders in the church and that elder ended up molesting him. The problem was that the elder was also High-placed city official- and when the kid told his dad about what happened, the dad didn't know what to do about it. 

He felt as though he was CALLED by god to be there, but at the same time if he stood up to the elder he knew that dire consequences would ensue.

 In order to not have to stand up to the elder for his son, the dad shipped his son off to a boarding school out of sate. 

The kid was so confused and full of frustration and began to wonder if he would turn out gay because of what had happened; so, in order to prove to himself that he wasn't gay, he began looking at pictures of naked women. 

He proved to himself that he wasnt gay, but at the same time formed an addiction to pornography that still haunted him years later. 

When I heard this story, I was SO ANGRY and this kids father! ...

  

Jerry has had a hard time, especially lately, dealing with the evil that is in the world. He taught a class session on the evil in the world that completely tore him up inside. He went home incredibly angry at the evil that he can see all around him, and wondering if he should be angry at God as well. His wife said that he wasnt angry AT God, but angry WITH God- God is no more ok with the evil in the world than we are- but after a while Jerry was so invelopped in a frenzy of anger toward evil that he began SHOUTING at God: 

WHY DIDNT YOU DO SOMETHING!! WHY DIDNT YOU DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS EVIL IN THIS WORLD! YOU SAY YOU'RE GOOD- WELL DO SOMETHING!!

And he said that he heard a Voice say to him...

I did...

God already did... He is already present and involved in the course of human events, having sent a preemptive strike against the forces of Evil that cannot be undone. 

These are troubled times in our world- There is no doubt about that. But in light of that, God is already in the thick of it, fighting on the side of Good- and it doesnt matter if every single human being began fighting on the side of evil, GOD is still on the side of GOOD and GOD WINS! 

But even knowing the ending of the story, people in our world need to hear about God's workings in our world- and I count myself privileged to be a part of the movement that ultimately wins. 

At the conference I was at last week, a music video was made about the quirks of youth ministry- called "WE'VE SEEN IT ALL".  The video in its entirety is at the bottom of the re-cap blog I posted a few days ago, but I wanted to re-post the ending of it because I think it hits the heart of where I stand. Take a look:

I try answerin folks with what I know to be true-
when they ask about the kind of work that I do.
"so you hang out with kids, and you talk about God?"
"well, theres more- but sort of" I say with a nod.

"we DO hang and sing songs and play video games,
and call eachother lots of in-appropriate names.
There is stuff that is fun, and theres stuff that is tough-
and theres times I tell GOd that I've had enough...

"but I stop and I think about MY life that was changed,
and the ones who cared for me when I was young and deranged.
And the PAIN and FRUSTRATION from the things that I've seen
Fade away- 'Cause MY LIFE is NOT about me.

"You see, I'm part of a team that knows that its right
to share God's love in the darkness of night
to a world that is broken, and needs something true.
Thats what I do for work- how 'bout you?"

We've seen it all- a girl sees her life make sense.

We've seen it all- a heavy heart lays down its defense.

We've seen it all- LIVES CHANGED at the feet of our King.

We've seen it all, but we've yet to see anything.

We are going through a 5-5-5 REACH challenge- DARING sudents to pray for 5 FRIENDS, 5 DAYS A WEEK, for 5 WEEKS- PEOPLE NEED TO HEAR ABOUT WHAT JESUS IS DOING IN OUR WORLD! So, I challenge YOU- think of 5 friends who ont know Jesus and COMMIT to praying for them 5 days a week for 5 weeks. Click HERE for more info. 

BE the church. Love ALL. Worship One.