A few years ago, I introduced an idea to our teens - to pray specifically each day at or around 7:47. It's something that, to this day, some are still doing. Recently, through our Connect 2 Youth small group, I reintroduced the idea. Our teens are praying specifically for each other to REACH CONNECT & GROW! We are focusing on the vision, mission, & values of CCC.
We are also focusing on a new opportunity to REACH CONNECT & GROW as we parner with Crossroads Missions of Louisville, KY. A teen mission trip is planned for July19-26 to New Orleans. Anyone interested should see me. Remember that there are limited spaces!
I'm challenging you teens to pray for God to allow you to REACH CONNECT & GROW more. In your culture, you are called to tolerance. As Christians, you are called to something greater. You are called to love, (Ephesians 4:15) to speak the truth in love.
I recently read an article by Josh McDowell. He compared tolerance to love like this:
Tolerance says, "You must approve of what I do."
Love responds, "I must do something harder; I will love you even when your behavior offends me."
Tolerance says, "You must agree with me."
Love responds, "I must do something harder, I will tell you the truth, because the truth will set you free."
Tolerance says, "You must allow me to have my way."
Love responds, "I must do something harder, I will plead with you to follow the right way, because you are worth the risk."
Tolerance seeks to be inoffensive; love takes risks.
Tolerance costs nothing; love costs everything.
Matthew 16:24-26 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
It's not easy speaking the truth, but we must obey God's word rather than to yield to the pressure of our culture. Choose to Love!
We are also focusing on a new opportunity to REACH CONNECT & GROW as we parner with Crossroads Missions of Louisville, KY. A teen mission trip is planned for July19-26 to New Orleans. Anyone interested should see me. Remember that there are limited spaces!
I'm challenging you teens to pray for God to allow you to REACH CONNECT & GROW more. In your culture, you are called to tolerance. As Christians, you are called to something greater. You are called to love, (Ephesians 4:15) to speak the truth in love.
I recently read an article by Josh McDowell. He compared tolerance to love like this:
Tolerance says, "You must approve of what I do."
Love responds, "I must do something harder; I will love you even when your behavior offends me."
Tolerance says, "You must agree with me."
Love responds, "I must do something harder, I will tell you the truth, because the truth will set you free."
Tolerance says, "You must allow me to have my way."
Love responds, "I must do something harder, I will plead with you to follow the right way, because you are worth the risk."
Tolerance seeks to be inoffensive; love takes risks.
Tolerance costs nothing; love costs everything.
Matthew 16:24-26 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
It's not easy speaking the truth, but we must obey God's word rather than to yield to the pressure of our culture. Choose to Love!
