THURSDAY, June 5th, 2008

Let me just say that sometimes God really works in mysterious ways. There are sometimes when a preacher has something on his heart to speak about, but after he preaches it he is really not sure that he shared it the way that he wanted to. Well that was me last night. I did not feel that I conveyed the message as clearly as I would have liked to, but like I said God works in mysterious ways. I think the response to the message last night was amazing! I know that God wants to do something AMAZING in our youth group, and seeing your faithfulness and passion on this blog is something that reminds me of that everyday.

Just as I said tonight: God wants to do something amazing with Suncoast Youth Group. I think that the youth group that we have rising up right now will be the greatest group of teenagers to come through this church that we have ever seen. It THRILLS my heart to think of the potential that each of you have in this life, if you simply sell out to Christ.

Many Thoughts from Yesterday:
Kacey: Can I just say... I am so thankful for you, and I am so impressed by your sacrifice. I know that doing something like "canceling your myspace" is not a small sacrifice for a teenager, and I want you to know that I am SO proud of you. I love to read your devotions! And I have missed you on here very much! I am glad you are back! Thanks for being such an encouragement!
McCue: Hey man, if you were at church tonight then you would have received two prizes for being first to post your devotions two days this week. Great job! It is SO COOL that you are so faithful even when it is hard to be faithful to something like this! Thanks man! By the way: Call Alex! :)
Lucy: Thanks for being faithful! I hope you know that I was only kidding with you last night about the couch... you looked at me like I was the meanest guy on the planet, so I a sorry! I probably shouldnt have made a silly comment like that! I am very glad you were at church!
Alex: I Told You that you would love playing the random pit instruments!!! It is much more fun than the zylaphone! (sp?!?!) We missed you last night! It was lots of fun! I hope you start coming to church again soon! :)
Drake: Great Job man! Do these Devos EVRYDAY! and Tell your brother to as well!!!
Jessica M: Great application. I like the way that you explained we often try to fix things ourself to no avail! Just like the cripple man. Good Job!

John 5:16-29
16 For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath.
17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.”
18 Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.
19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.
20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.
21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.
22 For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son,
23 that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.

24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.
25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.
26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself,
27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.
28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice
29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
30 I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.

There is a whole lot in this passage, so I challenge you to just pick something that means something to you and talk about that. I will pick two things that jumped out at me.

1. The passage starts out with the pharisees trying to kill Jesus. Remember, Jesus has basically just come on the scene and mankind already wants to kill Him. Why did they want to kill Him? Because apparently, He was breaking all the rules.

The truth is that Christ wanted them to know, that yes there were rules, but the rules were created to simply guide people into a relationship with the ruler. There are many people even today that try to make of their own rules. They try to tell you that if you do not listen to their kind of music, or worship the same way that they worship, or some that even say you must wear the same kind of clothes that they do if you want to be right with God.

I am so thankful that our church does not struggle with that. My Christianity is not about rules, but it is about relationship. When I have established a relationship then I dont have to be beat over the head with a rule book. I simply follow the rules when there is a relationship, because I want to please my savior!

2. Verses 24-30 explain that if we are in that "relationship" with Christ, then we are saved. (by believing in His death burial and resurrection) and we can count the days until he returns to take us home!! Boy am I excited! I would love for Him to come tomorrow!!!! Would you?

SORRY THIS IS SO LONG TODAY!!! I will try to keep it shorter in the future.