My Epic Journey

Ken Rudolph spoke an amazing challenge at camp tonight.  His passage of choice was Esther 4.

Title:  Four Warning to Assure Us We Live a Truly Dangerous Life for Jesus Christ.

#1.  Don’t Live for Artificial Danger (4.10-11)

• We all want to live an exciting life.
• Who, in Heaven, is going to give you a high-five for doing a daring stunts or for being an amazing athlete?
• A real man, doesn’t go off for crazy adventure but instead finds a woman who loves God, marries her, loves her and raises his children.
• Artificial danger = skateboarding, x-games, cheap thrills.
• Real danger = standing up for Christ in your school.

#2.  Don’t be Replaced (4.13-14)

• Perhaps the worst feeling in Heaven is finding out God had a job for you but you were replaced because you fought against it.
• God does have a job for you, but if you aren’t willing to do it, God will replace you.
• God won’t use you if you aren’t willing to step up.

#3.  Don’t Wish for Another’s Life (4.14)

• Don’t wish for someone else’s adventure–live for you own adventure.
• Don’t just sit back wishing you were someone else.  Live your own life w/ the purpose God has for you.
• Stop living a fake life–Stand up and Be Real!!!
• Know why you are here–for such a time as this!
• The greatest feeling in the world is to wake up and know your life is filled with Jesus.
• Live your life to the fullest!

#4.  Don’t Hold Back Anything (4.15-16)

• If I die, I die–but I WILL obey!!
• “It is not the last drop of blood that is hard for a soldier to lose.  It is the first drop.”  Abraham Lincoln in a response to a question about the Civil War soldiers.
• Have you spilled the first drop of blood for Jesus yet?
• Don’t hold anything back!
• How must Jesus do you have on you?
• Jump in to a dangerous live with Jesus.

God put you in this generation for such a time as this–Live & Live to the fullest!!!!

I felt overwhelmed today.  Most of the day.  Tense.  Anxious.  Stirred.  Overwhelmed.

Not sure why.  Really, why.

Maybe because:

• the van broke down
• big ministry time in EPIC (graduations, events, camp, etc)
• dealing with finances
• doctor’s appointment coming up
• etc.

Maybe all or some of those.

Actually I know why.  But I don’t want to say.  It is embarrassing.  Revealing.  Convicting.

Okay.  The reason–the real reason I feel overwhelmed–disconnectedness.

Big word.  Big problem.

My reason for my feeling of overwhelm-ness (not actually a word) is because I have disconnected myself from God lately.

I have excuses though:

• school work
• spending time with family
• working on lessons for EPIC
• regular church stuff
• did I say school work?
• counseling students and their families

Good excuses right?  Maybe for me but not with God.  God desires my full, 100%, undivided attention.  And He deserves it.  But I am not giving it to Him.

I feel overwhelmed because I am disconnected.  I am trying to do everything on my own.  I can’t.  Impossible.

Solution.  Re-connect with God.  Spend time with Him.  Talk to Him.  Listen to Him.

I am going to re-connect now.  Don’t interrupt.

Starting this Sunday, January 4th, we will be running new hours in our EPIC Student Ministry.  Please make note of these new changes.

MIDDLE SCHOOL:

Sunday @ 9:30 am

Sunday @ 11:00 am

Both services will be identical to each other!

HIGH SCHOOL:

Sunday from 5:00 pm-7:00 pm

Note: we are moving up our HS EPIC program 1 hour.

Looking forward to seeing what God is going to do in EPIC this year!!!!!!!!!!