Priorities and Prayer

First of all, I haven't looked at this blog in two years, so it was soooo cool to jump on and see all the posts. I hope everyone's been great, and that God's been working in enormous ways in everyone's lives. I know He has in mine. Lately He's been asking me what my priorities are. My priorities can be seen in where I spend my time. And my conclusion was, that I haven't been spending enough time with Him. That is the only way to  gain that closeness and intimacy with God. If we aren't getting it in Him, that's when we stray off towards sin. Also, the power of prayer. It is insane how powerful prayer is, when we do it in complete faith, and we pray for something that benefits His kingdom. A lot of Christians struggle with complete faith, but remember, living for God is our only purpose. That was the decision we made when we chose to follow, and deep down we all know that nothing could be more true. I pray for all of us in leadership camps, that we continue to fervently serve the most amazing, beautiful, loving, gracious, awesome, saving, incomprehensible, perfect God that made us, and loves us more than we'll ever understand.
If any of y'all see this, could you pray for my Grandma? Her name is Rosalie, and she means a lot to me. She is starting to slip, mentally, and she is very unhappy in life. She is not a believer, and I know that having a relationship with Christ is the only way for any of that to change. She has really been on my heart lately, and I know that God can turn her life around, and send her on the track to heaven. Thanks guys, love y'all!

Words vs. Deeds

Ever heard the famous quote by St. Francis of Assisi?

"Preach the gospel always, and when necessary, use words."

Have you every thought about the fact that the Bible calls us to share the Gospel with BOTH our words AND our deeds?

Here's a cool video about a book by a guy who knows a TON on the topic:

http://vimeo.com/36917416

Easter Thoughts!

Can you spot all of the issues with this post?  There are a LOT!

Looking at that picture reminds me of 1 Corinthians 15:1-34.

This is a really cool passage where Paul is writing to the Corinthians about something they were misunderstanding:  The Resurrection of Christ.  Since Easter is completely about Christ’s resurrection from the dead and his defeat of sin and death in that, I thought this passage really applies to Easter well.

Here’s what I see:

Verses 1-11

Paul is laying out for them the TRUE gospel, reminding them of the truth.  Paul is kinda saying “let’s define what we’re talking about here right out of the gate” so that it’s not confusing.  There is one Gospel, One Christ, and if there is no resurrection then all of it is a lie.  Why?  Because the entire gospel hinges on the defeat of sin and death through Christ’s resurrection.

Verses 12-32

Reminders, history, and theological truth about why it’s so important to our faith that Christ was raised from the dead.  This is where Paul explains the reasoning behind WHY it’s so important that Christ was raised from the dead.  It’s a necessity for all of it to make sense and fulfill the word of God.

Verses 33-34

To me, this is the real issue with why the Corinthians were believing weird things about the resurrection.  This is a major reason why anyone believes in false doctrine.

This is just a good reminder to me to keep my eyes on the prize, Jesus, the perfecter of my faith (Phil 3:8-14 and Hebrews 12:1-2).  We have to be careful of letting the world influence and twist the truth.  That picture up top is a great example of how wrong thoughts and ideas can start to creep in and become what we believe.  You know how to fight that?  Keep the truth up front and the Bible on your minds and hearts (Colossians 3:1-4)

Discipleship

Hey guys!
I was reading John last night (quite possibly my favorite gospel, I LOVE IT so far), and I came across a thought that I thought was really interesting about his earliest disciples! If you read it, it's interesting, because the disciples all came from different walks of life, had different personalities and views of Jesus, were looking for different things, and were all called in different way...but they all found everything they needed in Jesus! I also think they do a good job of representing all different kinds of followers, even today.

• Andrew left a former teacher (John). Jesus asked him what he was looking for, and he basically said all he wanted was Jesus. Jesus didn't answer all of his questions, but he still followed him.


• Simon Peter was brought to Jesus by his brother Andrew's witness. He was told of the Messiah, the anointed one, and was BROUGHT to Jesus. There, he was renamed.


• Jesus asked Philip to follow him, and Philip thinks of him in terms of Scripture.


• Nathanael was a great Jew, but he doubted when a friend (Philip) told him the Good News. Jesus told him who he was and said he'd always been there in his life.

To me, Andrew and Simon are converts, and Jesus and Nathanael are the cradle Christians who have come to really believe it, but of course, that's just what I saw! I personally think I am a Nathanael, by the way:)

Anyway, I just loved how Jesus calls EVERYONE to his side! If you want to read the rest of this passage, it's John 1:35-51...enjoy!

God bless! -Erin

Cross Centered

Hi ya'll! Just wanted to share something really cool that happened to me today!
For the past couple of months I've hit a really really dry spot in my relationship with the Lord. I was going through a really hard decision, and wasn't sure if I was walking in God's will about some stuff. Even after Christ showed me that I WAS actually walking in His will, I didn't trust Him completely. It was kind of like God had gone from my best friend to someone I was afraid (but not the good kind of fear) of. Thankfully, God has been awesome as usual and, even though I have  an extremely hard time trusting him, began to heal my heart anyway. But still I just didn't want to get too close to God, if that makes sense. I was afraid of even just spending time with Him because I was afraid He would reveal something to me that I didn't want to hear. So it's been rough! For awhile I felt like I couldn't go to God because I was just so afraid of what He had to say. It took a lot to realize how He is sovereign and isn't going to change His will after He has shown me that is where He wants me.
ANYWAY all that great background...These past couple days I've been finishing up 1 Corinthians. There's a lot of really awesome stuff in there! But finishing Corinthians one thing I've really gotten out of it was the importance of Jesus. I know that sounds silly, but it's taken awhile for me to sit back and remember WHAT makes me a CHRISTian! I had gotten so worked up in trying to make decisions for myself and 'following God's will' that I forgot that the reason I'm on this earth even able to PRAY is because of Jesus! Last fall in my youth group we talked about living cross-centered lives. Guys it really is just now starting to hit me how important that is. I had spent three months making my faith based on my good works, and guys that's idolatry.  I was putting my works above what Jesus did on the cross, and I've had to do some major repenting of that.
SO about what happened today!
Most of ya'll know that yesterday started lent. I'm actually doing this thing called the lent guide at the village, where instead of giving up one thing, each week of lent you give up one thing in particular. Like one week it can be TV, next week facebook, etc. This first week is a food fast. This can be fasting all week, or just a meal fast. So I'm fasting from lunch. Yesterday since I wasn't eating I decided to just go to the special needs room with a friend all class period. But today I actually went to lunch, and in the time I should have been eating, I put in headphones and listened to worship music and just focused on the cross.
Best.thing.ever.
I haven't felt the Lord's presence in so stinking long, and today in the middle of a cafeteria at a table with my friends I was hit with SO much humility-It's like, who am I for the God of the universe to have died for me??? It was so cool being able to experience his grace again! It's better than ANYTHING!
wow that was a lot! I love you guys!!!! Take care!

Hannah Becker
PS-if you guys could be praying for a friend of mine, Emma, that'd be great! She's not a believer, but I htink the Lord is working on her heart! Thanks guys!

Roses

Hey guys! Hope you all are having a great year! For everyone who doesn't know me, I'm Erin Walsh (nice to meet you!).

Anyway, backstory: on Valentine's day, my awesome dad got me and my sister each a pink rose. We were both excited, of course, as Valentine's day isn't that big in my family, so it was unexpected. But when we took them out of their plastic wrap (not sure what you call it), we found out that a huge part of my sister's was brown and withered!

I was just kinda thinking about how that rose was a lot like things of this world: they look really nice when they're in the store all wrapped in plastic, but when you actually take the time to look at it up close, you'll find out that it's really deceiving. With that, even when things are good, we can't place them before God because he's the only COMPLETELY unblemished thing.

Anyway, that was pretty short, but I'd just like to encourage you guys to take a close look at everything (I'm not sure what God wants you to look at), and while you should be positive, be cautious, and focus on God!

God bless! -Erin

P.S. I'm so excited this has started back up again!!

ROBOT

Check out this new Trip Lee video!

we were robots and slaves to sin; what a cool picture!

The Gospel

Some of the most impacting speakers I've ever heard just basically reminded me of the gospel.  The truth.  How and why Jesus came and did what he did.  It's always a good reminder for me, so hopefully it is for you too!  Here's a great video I saw a while ago that does it well I think:

Light in Darkness.

   

God saw that light was good, and he separated it from the darkness. Genesis 1:4

For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don't belong to darkness and night. 

1 Thessalonians 5:5

For you were once darkness, but now you are a light in the Lord. Live as children of light. Ephesians 5:8 

Some of the most beautiful paintings and pictures are of sunrises and sunsets. In fact, the only way the human eye can even see color is when light is shining on an object. With out light, how could we see beauty? In a world that is very dark, and lonely... we are called to be children of light. Yes, the prince of the world (satan) is prowling in the darkness. His aim is to steal, kill, and destroy. For the Lord has placed a light inside of us through his Holy Spirit. And the fruits of the spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness and faithfulness (Galatians 5:22-23). In a world full of suffering, pain, hurt, violence, sorrow, and emptiness WE possess the fruits of the spirt (Light). So let your light shine! 

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.  -Matthew 5:14-16

52 IS UPON US!

HOOTY HOOO!!!

Sorry if you're not a Sigma from summer 2011... but if you are...

I hope you're pumped because it's time for 52!  SEE YOU ALL OUT HERE TONIGHT!

Office Tuba

Just for a little taste of what this summer might be like, we thought you guys might like to see what we're up to!!!

Well, we have recently acquired a TUBA, and thought we'd go ahead and give you the first installment of "THE OFFICE TUBA!"  Here ya go:

Coffee Mugs

Many of you know my wife, Kelly and I, but if you don’t I have a wife and her name is Kelly. Here she is:

That's her with Noah playing in the snow...Man! She is beautiful!

Anyway, we have an ongoing debate in our household over the proper container with which to carry coffee into a car. Kelly prefers to use a member from her extensive coffee mug collection:

I think this is ridiculous. We have cups SPECIFICALLY MADE FOR THE CAR!

This isn’t just  matter of opinion, the fact is that several of our poor mugs have been chipped, broken, or totally busted, because they are just not made for the rigors of a car. Not to mention all the times hot coffee has been spilled all over the place. In my eyes, there’s no argument that a coffee mug is not made for a car trip. Still can't convince Kelly though...

The truth is we are made for a specific purpose, too. I can’t give you specific reason why (just like I cant tell you why Kelly insists on brining mugs in the car) but all too often we try to fill our lives with things other than what we are made for. Be careful or sports, friends, ideas, people, etc. can start to become what you fill yourself with instead of God, who you are fearfully and wonderfully made for.

52 is ALMOST HERE!

For you Sigmas, it's not too late to sign up if you haven't yet!!!

If you were a Sigma last summer and want to come to Sigma 52 just go here:

Sigma52

Let me know if you have any issues!

On Mission

One of the most elementary and fundamental things to being a Christian is being the hands and feet of Jesus while he’s not physically here with us; being on mission. I’ve got the blessing of knowing several people and families who have given their lives to serve other people. Here are a few (some of you might even know them) with some info. on their stories:

Lance andTiffany Ferguson

WillSmethers

AliciaRessmann

We talk a lot about being on mission in the Sky Ranch Leadership Track, especially you Sigmas as it’s one of your core values. What does your mission field look like? How are you on mission right now?

Love?

The two greatest commandments: 1. LOVE God. 2. LOVE people.

 ³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’^[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”-Matthew 22:36-40

The two greatest commandments have one common word. LOVE. 

Well, what does that mean, to love? What is love? 

⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 


-1 Corinthians 13:4-7

In his book Crazy Love, Francis Chan challenges our character with a this famous passage in the bible. 

Go back and read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 again. This time, read it like this. Every time that the passage says the word Love, replace it with your name. 

Example: Brian is patient, Brian is kind. Brian Does not envy, Brian does not boast..... 

Gaaaaaa, when I read it like that I just feel like a liar. Don't you? When the bible tells us to LOVE people, It doest say "be nice." Its a call to love, just as we have been loved. 

"we love because he first loved us." -1 John 4:19

http://crazylovebook.com/

Comfort Zones and Solid Truth

Yayy so happy this blog got re-started! I love writing about stuff that God has shown me or others, and I actually have my own blog that I haven't been very consistent with..but I love this, and that it's for all the leadership groups now!
I just wanted to tell you guys about a couple things God has shown me even in the past few days.Really random stuff, but stuff that I love.
Today in English, of all classes, we were talking about a book that we had to read over the summer, and how it has a lot of hidden meanings, or allegory's, which I'm sure a lot of ya'll have studied in english. But we started getting on to the topic of religious allegory's, and if there were any in the book we were reading. The cool thing was that all of the symbols we found that had to do with religion had to do with one religion-Christianity. Yeah, the book was probably written by a Christian author, but the kids in my class, even some that may not be believers, were able to point out stuff from the Christian faith! That just filled me with so much joy, and it was like God was reminding me how solid his word of truth is.
Something else God's been doing...My school is weird, so that we only have four classes a day, and those classes stay the same for a whole semester, then we switch out our core classes in January. We just switched classes, and even though I'm a sophomore, and I've been through the mid year switch before, this week has probably been one of the most UNcomfortable weeks of my life. I had grown to really like my classes last semester, and I knew the people, and, ultimately my friends who weren't believers, I was able to get to know them better and how and when the right time would be to bring up my faith. Then I come in this week, with all new people and new challenges in all my classes. I don't know these people, let alone if they're believers or not. And on top of it, I was sick this week, and I've been at school all this week until around 10 doing dress rehearsals for our school's musical that opens tomorrow. Yesterday at school, I was probably in one of the worst moods I have ever been in this schoolyear. I didn't WANT to love people, let alone be around them, and I missed being comfortable in my old classes, around people I knew. And why in the WORLD was God letting me get SICK on this week of all the weeks he could choose?
Even just throughout today God has reminded me that, oh guess what, this life is NOT about me. Because of my sin, I shouldn't even be allowed to live-and now I'm asking for the God who died for me to accomodate me? I feel like this week God has truly taken me out of my comfort zone, not only to challenge me to be bolder, and to love different people, but also to remind me that He's GOD and I'm not.
I love how He works!!!
Guys, super super pumped for this summer! Session 6 quest and session 4 sigma! Let me know when you're going!!!(:

NOAH'S JUMPSUIT

Kelly, Noah, and I were recently in Colorado and got to borrow a toasty warm jumpsuit to protect Noah from the snow and ice. If any of you have ever seen A Christmas Story

you’ll feel Noah’s pain for not being able to move a single appendage. His face expresses his feeling pretty well here:

While Noah may have been ticked at first, the jumpsuit definitely did it’s job at keeping him "toasty warm" and this is him 10 minutes later:

Once we got done laughing, Kelly and I couldn’t help noticing how much this interaction reminds us of how we treat God sometimes. We scream, and kick, and cry thinking nothing could be worse for us than what we are going through at the moment. In reality, only God can see what’s truly good for us. What’s annoying in one moment, might keep you warm from the snow later!

National Championship

Don’t know if you were cheering for Alabama or LSU, but I’m just glad the SEC won…and that it’s basketball season…go Wildcats! Either way all these bowls games flying around and Tim Tebow in the headlines all the time for being an outspoken Christian (I love Tebow, by the way) got me thinking about Philippians 4:13 .

Athletes often misquote this verse thinking it means got gives them the power to defeat any enemy, rival, or whatever. But I don’t think that’s what it means. Check it out by following the link above and let me know if you agree.

Peace Out,

Malcolm

Sky Ranch Leadership Blog...WASSUP?!

Just a reminder to everyone, if you are reading this then hopefully you already know; but this blog has become about and for Sky Ranch Leadership Camps. If you have been a part of any, then that means we want you to be a voice in this community.

Let me know if I haven’t added you to be able to post and we will fix that ASAP. Facebook me or email me at MalcolmP@skyranch.org.

GET TO IT!