Blaze Youth Ministry

Yes, I find it necessary to display my full geekitude on the eve of the ultimate geek day!  If you're going to Star Wars Weekends tomorrow, be ready…

It's summer, which usually means life slows down for a little while…well, at least when we're still in school.  For those of you living the lazy life right now, I hope you are loving it!  For those that aren't, I feel your pain.

Summer usually means Bible study in our group, too.  I'm not sure why…maybe the unreasonably hot weather creates a chemical reaction in our brains that makes us want to want to learn more about our Lord during the summer.  (Granted, I can't prove this theory, but it works for me.)  Anyway, I just wanted to thank all of you for the lively debate on chapter 6 of John's Gospel last week.  I had fun listening, and had a hard time keeping my mouth shut (in case you didn't notice).  I'm thinking maybe we should do something similar this week– what do you think?  Anything specific you want to delve into?

And who can think of summer without thinking of Heart Workcamp?  I'm getting really excited, and it's hard to believe it's coming up so soon.  In preparation, I'm doing work (son!) to prepare myself.  Or at least, I'm attempting to do work.  If you didn't already know, we had a pipe burst a couple months ago.  The leak was fixed and the walls were treated and dried, but there is still repair work that needs to be done.  A lot of it is easy, like patching the walls, but I didn't think about the baseboard being a problem.  Actually, it's not a problem yet since I haven't started on it, but the idea of trying to match the molding and then cut it at the proper angles is not motivating me to start.  So if you see me wandering aimlessly around Home Depot, you'll know why.  Maybe we could start Workcamp a day early at my house!

Hope all is well with everyone!  You're in my prayers. 

Today's post will be short, but no less important.

Please keep our priests in your prayers.  These are men who have dedicated their lives to serve God (and us).  I think because they are so giving we often forget to think of their needs, which is a shame, because I don't even want to think about what our faith would look like without them.  

You're in my prayers!

(Ok, so it only took me a week to let my love of Star Wars come through…but you had to know it was coming.)

Over the last few months Spike TV has shown a Star Wars movie each Sunday night.  Normally I don't like watching movies on TV because of the editing and commercials, but I can watch Star Wars anytime, anyplace.  A few weeks ago Episode I was on, and I caught the part where Qui-Gon, Obi-Won, and the others are stranded on a planet they need to leave.  They are unsuccessful in getting parts for their damaged ship, and the situation seems hopeless because they have no money and nothing to trade for the parts they need.  Just then, Qui-Gon says to Obi-Won, "Another solution will present itself."  

The phrase has been rattling around in my head ever since.  It was such a perfect expression of faith.  When everything seems hopeless and there doesn't seem to be any way things will work out, we have to look to God and remember that with Him, another solution will present itself.  I've lived it so many times, yet I still have trouble giving God the big stuff.  For some strange reason I forget that I am finite, and He is not; that I see only what's in front of me, and He sees entirety.  Why worry or stress knowing that God is in control?  

We need to remember that God is always working in us and through us, and that sometimes He has plans in mind that are much greater than we can possibly imagine.  Trusting this, even when logic and reason tell us otherwise, is the key to faith.  When times are tough, remember that with God, "Another solution will present itself."

I was just doing the daily readings for today, and it's funny how much the book of James speaks to me.  There are definitely some books of the Bible that I feel more "connected" to than others, and James is at the top of that list.  Actually, all of today's readings spoke to my heart, but particularly in James 4:6– "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."  I read that verse 3 times because I felt like God wanted to me to know it. 

I am proud by nature.  I have a hard time biting my tongue.  I have a hard time admitting I when I am wrong.  But when I look at Jesus I feel so ashamed.  I once read where St. Padre Pio said that Jesus came to fight, humble Himself, and die.  That, in itself, is humbling to me.  God was here to show us how to live, and He allowed us to humiliate Him.  He allowed us to cause suffering.  He could've said, "You know what?  I'm sick of all of you arrogant, selfish, self-righteous, prideful, sinful people!  I'm going back up to heaven.  Good luck."  But He didn't.  He didn't abandon us; He stayed with us and gave us the greatest gift of love we will ever receive.  He humbled Himself and died to that we might live.  You want to know what love is?  You want to know what to look for in a friend?  Look no further.

How is God asking you to be humble?  Is He asking you to make peace with someone, which might mean humbling yourself?  Today, and everyday, I will pray for the strength and courage to be humble, knowing that God is with me. 

p.s. If you want to find the daily readings, go to www.lifeteen.com and you will see them on the left side of the page under "Daily Devotional." (And if you decide to do today's readings, think about the Psalm.  Have you ever felt that way?)