Staying Connected

I was blessed this weekend to attend the District Blitz Conference with my church's youth group. District Blitz is the annual youth gathering for the Evangelical and Baptist Churches. Our group brought 62 students and 13 leaders. Yes, we were the group with the sombreros! It was an awesome time! Our speaker was Bob Lenz, and Mark Allen led worship for the weekend. The conference was in Rochester and it was fun to be a new environment with our youth group.

During the conference I was also able to lead a seminar. The seminar was entitled "Where does God go after District Blitz." So often we, as Christians, live from one mountain top experience to another. As soon as that experience is over, it feels as though God abandons us. I looked all over scripture to find a place in scripture where we are told that God leaves us; and I came up short! All I found were stories where people experienced God and then turned their backs on God, or they stayed connected with God and never lost sight of Him.

This was my focus for the seminar! I read the story in Acts 2 of the response to the Holy Spirit moving in the apostles, and the response of those who were touched by that event. What can we learn from this story in scripture? We need to get R.I.O: Reading, Involved, and Out. Rio is the Spanish word for river. A river needs to be constantly moving otherwise it will become still and life-less. As Christians, we also need to be constantly moving, this movement involves being in the scripture, involved with youth group, and reaching out to non-Christians.










Part of the Reading application was getting into scripture daily. When reading scripture, there are three questions to ask yourself about every passage. The first is: What stands out to me? The second: Why does it stand out to me? The Third: How do I apply this to my life? So, I have decided to share with you all my thoughts on Galatians 1:1-5.

What: Verse one actually stands out to me the most! "Paul, an apostle-not from men, nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father..."

Why: This verse stands out to me because Paul is telling the Galatian church he is getting his ability and authority to write this letter from God and not a person.

How: Sometimes in my own life I can get so wrapped up in my own abilities. I can become too prideful and sure of myself. This past weekend was a glimpse of that. At districts, both youth workers who are on staff at our church came with us. I took the lead of a service project and put myself in the position of leadership when I should not have. As a volunteer within a youth program, I have to support and encourage those staff members I am serving. I did not allow that to happen, in fact, I showed the opposite with my actions. Jesus calls us to serve those around us as He did and not get too wrapped up in my own abilities. Paul reminded me this morning it is not about what I can do on my own, but about what God can do through me.

Join me tomorrow! I will be reading Galatians 1:6-10!

In His service,CrazyPete