Pain into Joy

God is able to redeem the pain of our lives.  Sometimes pain continues after the healing is over.  Our bodies are designed in an amazing fashion, able to adapt and compensate for injuries.  I have many injuries suffered years ago that I still feel every day.

During my years working with youth, I racked up all kinds of injuries.  Matt broke my left thumb with a small basketball during a dodge ball game.  My thumb still works, though it looks deformed and has limited movement.  Jason busted something in my right thumb during a football game.  This one is special because I have to adjust it multiple times a day.  I can get three to four cracks at a single time!  Kevin popped something in my right elbow when we were arm wrestling - and yes, it is sore especially after I pitch.  That was the day I retired completely from arm wrestling, a young man's game!  Brian chipped one of my teeth during a inflatable games jousting match, and I totally deserved that one.  When you give someone a "free shot," what can you expect?  Those are just the injuries that made the cut!

The funny thing is, I am not in the slightest mad at those who had a hand in breaking down my body a bit early.  I remember all those kids in the best light, happy for the times we spent together.  When I was feeling pain in my thumb today, it reminded me to pray for Jason.  Forget sticky notes or strings around the finger:  I have nerve endings as my reminders!  I am deeply grateful for the season of working with the youth at Calvary Chapel El Cajon, and I pray they would make a great impact on the world for God's glory.

Pain is a great reminder of our mortality and frailty.  As C.S. Lewis famously said, pain is God's megaphone and through it speaks loud and clear to hearts tuned by the Spirit.  I am grateful the reminders of fun times, wonderful friends, and God's sustaining grace through it all.  Only God can turn pain into joy without regret.

Not Them But Us

When I was a youth, there was a woman at our church who raised foster children.  Let's say they didn't quite fit in with the "churched" kids:  they had tattoos, smoked, and hung out behind the church in the dark.  There were parents who felt very uncomfortable about their lifestyle, that those teens would have an adverse impact upon their children whom they sought to protect from "worldly" influences.  It seemed like many would have been glad for them not to be at church.  I may have been relatively sheltered growing up, but I never understood this view.  Didn't these tattooed smokers need Jesus too?

I knew these kids smoked, but that didn't mean I was forced to put a cigarette to my lips.  Listening to the complaints of some parents it would seem their kids would have no choice but conform under such peer-pressure.  I wonder:  was the God they served able to save them from the mouths of lions?  Could their God open the eyes of the blind, part the Red Sea, or raise the dead to life?  Was their God able to release them from bondage to sin and Satan?  My God can.  My God can keep me from sin and protect me too.  We shouldn't drive away the people who need Christ because they do not conform to our convictions.  Those who are founded upon Christ need not feel threatened by dissent or even direct opposition.

It is good for God's people to extend grace and love and acceptance to all!  He desires that all would come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved.  God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.  People should not be accepted because they act like us or even agree with our opinions, but because God loves them.  Just because there may be non-Christians hanging out in our churches does not give us license to be un-Christian!  I thank God that He loves me just the way I am.  God is faithful to conform us into His image once we are born again!  Guess what?  Some Christians - real Christians, mind you - have tattoos and smoke.  What is that to me?  Does Christ love them any less?  If a man will confess his sin, repent, and trust in Christ, he will be saved - smoker or not.

Instead of seeing non-Christians as "them," may we labour for them to be "us" as true followers of Jesus Christ.  This does not happen through outer conformity, but an inner transformation by the power of God!  That is why God has seen fit to keep us here:  to share the truth of the Gospel through the love of Christ!  Let us die to self again that we might be raised in Christ's power!

What has it cost you to follow Jesus?

During the high school summer camp, Zach Vestnys, lead pastor from Calvary Chapel Petaluma, talked much about the cost of following Jesus Christ. He explained that if your relationship with Christ has cost you nothing, it is likely worth nothing. There were four questions given to us for a group discussion and I found them thought provoking and a profitable challenge:

• What has the cost of your Christianity been thus far?
• What price is God calling you to pay to pursue Him in a deeper relationship?
• In what ways has your life shown evidence of spiritual transformation?
• What trials have you gone through that God has used to change you?

I challenge you to honestly seek God for the answers of these questions. All men have been created for the glory of God and we naturally cannot obtain this purpose through self-effort or any means through our flesh. Perhaps you fall short of your purpose because you are not willing to pay the price that God demands: denying yourself, taking up your cross daily, and following Jesus. Micah 6:8 says, "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"

Believer, God requires much of you and through His Spirit has given you the ability to obey Him through His power. Have you walked in obedience to His Word? Jesus says, "If you love me, keep my commandments." Count the cost of following Jesus and you will see that the cost is small compared to the excellency of the knowledge of Christ.

Camp Love...

One of the things that I always make expressly clear before I take the High School group to camp is that "camp love" is not tolerated. "Camp love" occurs when guys or girls from our group become infatuated with kids from other groups and this mirage tends to distract and detract from what God wants to do and say. Most if not all "camp love" experiences end with disillusionment, sadness, and broken hearts when faced with the reality of how distance taxes a relationship. The euphoria of this kind of physical love is only overshadowed by the heartache of shattered hopes.

There are few things as fulfilling to have kids put aside their idols and routines to spend a week seeking God. The kids are always amazed at how God speaks to them at camp! It is interesting that many become preoccupied as early as the day of arrival that they will have to leave and face difficulties at home and manifold temptations. God is not only found at camp, however: the difference is when someone commits to seek God and sits quietly before Him, God will reveal Himself with power. God is not hindered by geography, but will only be found by those who seek Him with their whole heart.

If only we would put aside our idols, allow the LORD to search our hearts, commit to obedience and prayer! One of the speakers at camp comically portrayed God and angels as listening to our common prayers - typically over a meal - and rolling their eyes: "Not another FOOD prayer!" God is poised to provide guidance, power, endurance, forgiveness, deliverance, wisdom, truth, and comfort for His people. He is a Healer, Deliverer, and Savior. Yet we are betrayed by the fact that we are often comforted by food, not God. We have a closer relationship to our food than to the Creator and Sustainer of all things.

"Camp love" is a mirage, but to receive God's love and love Him back is the real thing. God uses camp, trials, and afflictions to open our eyes to how wonderful, good, great, and glorious He is. God's will is that we would fall completely in love to Him and surrender to His will. Let's decide we're through with trudging through a long-distance relationship with God due to our sin. Sin separates the unbeliever as well as believers from Jesus Christ. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.