The Low Down

The Month of Love and Proactivity

This month I am really excited about the series that we are kicking off here in our student ministry. We're calling it, "The Truth about Sex, Love and Dating." For obvious reasons, February is often referred to as the month of love. Well, we have chosen to take it one step further to call it the month of "Proactivity" with our students. With such a great emphasis on love, we also want to remind our students about the importance of living out godly standards in their relationships. I have always said that it is my goal to help students by putting up fences rather than by stationing ambulances at the bottom of the hill. If we can help our students think proactively rather than reactively we can help them avoid all kinds of troubles and consequences. So its our goal this month to offer our students a wide variety of ways to hear the truth about sex, love and dating.

We will kickoff the series with a message entitled, "Circle Yes, No or Maybe". This message will simply relay the idea that every relationship starts somewhere, where it goes after that will ultimately decide the direction of the relationship. Fred Stoeker, in Every Young Man's Battle, says that when kisses begin, friendships cease to grow. We're going to explain through God's word just where the physical desire truly begins and how to delay the physical snow ball.

On February 16th, one of my favorite lady speakers in all the world, my wife Kate, is going to speak in depth about, "Dating 101". Where are the best places for Christians to go? Is it wrong to spend time alone with someone you really have feelings for? How late is too late to be out with a date that you are not married to? What are some of the dangerous warning signs to watch for?

We are also going to have a breakout night for our students. We are going to break them down into age groups. The junior high boys, junior high girls, senior high boys and senior high girls will all meet in separate places following worship to answer some of the tough questions about sex, love and dating and to give them a chance to discuss and have Q&A in the least intimidating setting possible.

On Saturday, February 26th the students of Ignition will be given the opportunity to commit to saving themselves for marriage. There will be a student meeting @ 10 a.m. Doughnuts will be provided and special "Worth the Wait" speaker, Paul Abner, will share with our students. During the morning session, they will be given their commitment cards to sign. On Saturday night, students will be invited along with their parents to attend the "Worth the Wait" banquet @ 6 p.m. A free meal will be provided and students making a commitment to purity will be honored and awarded a certificate. Parents are invited back on Sunday morning, February 27th @ 9:30 a.m. to sit in a special "Parent Session" with Paul Abner. It will be an amazing life-changing month for our students and parents. I can't wait! It all starts tomorrow.

Memory Lane

Today I am chilling out at Southwestern Assemblies of God University. I've brought some students down to check out the campus. It brings back some memories from my college experience. I spent four years at Central Bible College in Springfield, Missouri obtaining my Youth Ministry and Bible Degrees, and it blows me away at how different things are today than they were 10 years ago when I was in college. Every student has a laptop. Everyone is online and even the prof is teaching the students how to search for things on the internet pertaining to Biblical studies. It's crazy and yet so cool. I love the direction that our Assemblies of God schools are going. I'm proud to be a supporter of higher education in the Assemblies of God. I'm also extremely proud of Ignition Student Ministries. Lord, willing - at this time next year we will have more than 10 students enrolled in one of our Bible colleges. It's pretty awesome! I'm so proud to see students who are pursuing God's call for their lives. We're making a difference!

The Power of Words

We are just hours from opening the doors at Ignition tonight and I am anticipating a special move of God this evening. We are praying for healing and spiritual growth in the lives of our students. Many of us have been fasting well over 2 1/2 weeks now and I believe that we are about to start seeing the hand of God at work in our lives. Our devotion today comes from Proverbs 18:21.

It is often said that what lives in your heart comes out of your mouth. Using foul language, speaking degrading words to another, and spreading lies, all come from a hurt and fearful heart. We all, however, carry around wounds from our past, but that doesn’t give us permission to speak carelessly and perpetuate the pain and anger to others. God tells us that life and death are in the power of the tongue. Our words can make or break someone. Ironically whatever you speak will also live IN you. If you talk bad about others, complain all the time, or constantly express anger, that negativity will begin to grow in your spirit, and suffocate you with darkness. 

Think of a time when you fought with someone and said things you didn’t mean. Maybe you put someone down to make yourself feel better or win the battle. We challenge you this week to find one person that you may be thinking of right now. Write their name down here__________________________________. Regardless of who was right or wrong, apologize for your words and tell them something that you like or appreciate about them.

Prayer Request: Pray for our Wednesday night service tonight!

Tomorrow's Fast: Liquids Only (water, juices and smoothies)

Devotional adapted from www.awake21.org

Think on True Thoughts

Today has been an amazing day and I have been able to get a ton of things accomplished. God is so good. Today was the Assemblies of God ministry direct conference online and I was really challenged as I watched some of the mainstream speakers of our movement talk about what they are going to do to try their best to "leave a mark" on this generation for Christ. It was very inspirational and challenging and as I've spent time in the word and observed this Daniel fast today, I know that God is working and moving in my life and I can't wait to see how your faithfulness to fast and pray is affecting yours! Today's devo thought comes from 2 Corinthians 10:3-6. Take a minute to check it out. 

Have you ever realized that some things just aren’t what they seem? We often have a tendency of exaggerating what is real and letting our minds play tricks on us. Maybe you notice that you get really angry when you shouldn’t, or find yourself lusting after someone or something. God tells us that we must take each thought captive and make it obedient to Christ. We must be able to know the difference between a “lie” and a “truth” in our mind, so that we can control what we think about, and experience the freedom and power that God gives us over our flesh. 

What do you think “take each thought captive” really means? Make a list of the negative thoughts that you have experienced and next to them write a truth, or a promise that God gives us. (For example: Lie – “I am not very good looking and there is nothing special about me.” Truth – “I am beautiful, am a great singer, and God made me perfect in His image for a specific purpose.”)

Prayer Request: I would really like to encourage you to pray for our student ministry. As I mentioned last week, I believe that tomorrow night God wants to do something very powerful and meaningful in our service. I believe that God is going to begin healing some students from things they have experienced both in the past and in their families. So let's believe God for miracles.

Tomorrow's Fast: Television

Devotional thought adapted from www.awake21.org

A Faithful Servant

Wow! After two days of missed blogging, I feel like I have missed talking to some of my best friends. I really apologize for the lapse. Things have been crazy around E-Town. On Saturday we took a crew to Oklahoma City to meet with NYM Leader Jay Mooney and some others for a Speed-the-Light emphasis day. We ate at Zio's as a family and it was a great time of discipleship and hanging out. Sunday we welcomed guest speaker, Mike Goldsmith to Central Assembly of God for the day. After messages about God's ability to restore us and bring healing to our lives we were so blessed and enriched by Pastor Mike's ministry. Today kicks off day 15 and the final week of our 21 day fast. God has been so faithful. I have been so hungry for a move of God and so devoted to His word. Friday's have been a day of depth and prayer for me and I thank God for some of my new spiritual habits and healthy routines that have been established for 2011. I hope you're having an amazing Monday. Please take a minute to check out Matthew 25:14-29. Let's kick this week off determined to become faithful servants of Christ. Check out this devotional thought:

God has provided everyone with special talents and gifts. It is important to remember that one day, we will all be held responsible for how we are using what God has given us. The Bible says that “those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who are unfaithful, even what little they have will be taken away.”

What special talents, gifts, and responsibilities has God entrusted you with? How are you being faithful by using what God has entrusted you with to further His kingdom?

Prayer Request: Please pray for our student leaders. God has given us such amazing students and many take on the burdens and some important responsibilities of the ministry at Ignition. Please pray for our worship team, our sound and media team, and those who are a part of our greeter/hospitality team. Please pray for more growth and an even greater effectiveness for all of these ministries. Those of you who carry the load as a student leader, we love you. You know who you are! 

Fasting Item: Sweets

Devotional thought adapted from www.awake21.org

The True Foundation

We've made it yet another day, and I continue to be amazed at what God is doing already during this fast. What an awesome God we serve. I'm praying for you. I know you can make it. Check out our devotion today that is taken from Matthew 7:24-27.
   
Take a second to visualize a hurricane blowing against a house. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know 
that a building made of rock is going to stand up better to that hurricane than a wooden shack. It’s interesting that this is the example we see in this scripture in Matthew. Trusting in the world’s system of doing things (popularity, money, people) is living your life in the wooden shack during the storm. But putting God first and living life according to His ways is like living in a house made of rock – you’ll be solid!

Think about your life for a moment. Is the foundation and structure of your life built on God, or do you tend to trust more in other things? The storm will always come...when you're "house" goes through testing, will you be able to stand against it?   
      
Prayer Request: Please pray for a special move of God in our church. As we fast, one of the main desires of our staff is to see God's presence move throughout our congregation and out to our community. We love Enid and we love having an influence in our community and schools. Please pray for an even greater influence and for relational doors to open up in some amazing places. If we ceased to exist as a church family, we would want our community to miss us!

Tomorrow's Fast: Facebook/MySpace/Twitter

Devotional thought adapted from www.awake21.org

Learning from Corrections

Day 11 is here and we are giving up meats for the day. I know you may be thinking to yourself, well this should be easy - after all it's only meat and people do it all of the time. But just roll by McDonald's and smell the McChicken's and the Double Cheeseburgers on the grill and tell me then that it doesn't effect you. Or better yet, sit in a meeting with someone while they are pounding down a Sonic Cheeseburger and Onion Rings. Yeah, it's brutal and down right cruel. Anyhow, you are doing it not to prove anything to anyone, but it's because you love God! I hope you have a great day leaning on Jesus. I promise that inside of you, HE is doing something incredible. Check out this devotional thought found in Proverbs 29:15.

Correction and discipline are never comfortable, but they both have a way of developing our personal growth. As difficult as it may be, try to learn from those experiences. Proverbs shows us clearly that if we handle these situations properly, we grow in wisdom. Yet when we are left to ourselves and don’t follow the correction given to us, we are actually hurting ourselves more and more. Look at the last time you got punished for something, what can you learn from that experience? Take what you have learned and apply it to your life, and be thankful for the lesson you were able to take from it.

Prayer Request: Take time today to pray for our government. When Daniel fasted meat, he was doing so to make a statement to the King of Babylon that His God was a big God and able to take care of Him. Right now our government needs God more than anything. Spend some time in prayer praying for National, State and Local leaders. 

Tomorrow's Fast: Television

Devotional adapted from www.awake21.org

Steps Determine Destination

Day 10 is here and we are out of the single digits now. We are approaching the halfway mark of our 21 days of prayer and fasting. Tonight we have our ISM service and I am always excited to spend time in worship while I am fasting. Right now, through my stomach and other avenues - God has my full attention. I'm so grateful to have this time of connection with Him. I hope that you are doing well and continuing to pray as you give up these things for the Lord.

Today's devotional thought is taken from Proverbs 13:20. Check it out!

“You are who you hang out with.” Oldest phrase in the book...but it is true. If you hang with people who get in trouble you will get in trouble, no doubt! You hang with people who are angry and always upset...guess what, you will be too. On the flip side, when you associate with people who do good and positive things, you will too. Take a look at your life and see who is helping you grow in a positive way? Who are the people in your life that are leading you down a bad path? Who do you need to separate from so that you don’t become like them in the future? Think about this, and decide what steps you can take now to move forward in that direction.

Prayer Request: I really want to encourage you to pray for our youth service tonight. First of all, pray that God helps you to really dig down deep and draw something out of worship, the message, and the time with friends. But also, pray for our worship team, lift up me as your pastor in prayer and pray for your family group leaders as they minister tonight as well. Tonight's going to be an amazing night, you don't want to miss out!

Tomorrow's Fast: No Meats

Devotional adapted from www.awake21.org 

Love Gives

Today we kick off the ninth day of our prayer and fasting. I want to tell you that you are making a huge difference in your own spiritual journey. I've once heard it said that it's like lighting a big candle. After a while, the middle of that candle starts to melt and change. It's deeply affected. However, on the outside, the change is slow and steady. Realize that God is touching at the core of who you are. You may not see the sudden change outside, but it will come; meanwhile deep inside God is shaping you into the person He desires for you to be. You're awesome.

The devo for today is found in Mark 12:30-31. Check it out.

Notice Jesus’ response when asked what the greatest commandment was: loving God completely, and loving others as much as yourself. One of the greatest expressions of love is that of giving. God loved the world, so he gave us His son. (John 3:16) God loved...and God gave. One of the best ways we can show the love of God to others is to give of ourselves to them: give of our time, resources, love and abilities.

Think about these questions today:

In what ways could you show the love of God by giving to others? Do you love God and give yourself to Him completely? In what areas of your life are you holding back and why?

Prayer Request: Please lift up our youth worship team in prayer as we practice tonight and prepare to learn new songs for worship.

Tomorrow's Fast: Texting with Friends

Devotional adapted from www.awake21.org

Do Not Be Afraid

We are kicking off the second full week of our fast. Last week was an awesome time of drawing closer to God through fasting and prayer. Today we are giving up sweets. Lay down the Mountain Dew and the Snicker bar for a day and instead, ask God to speak in your life. I'm praying for you! Today our devotional is drawn from Joshua 1:9 and Romans 8:35-39. Check those verses of scripture out. 

From pressures at school, to what we see on the news, and what we sometimes see our friends and families go through, it’s easy to be afraid of the situations we encounter in this world. Life is sure to bring it’s challenges, but we can face these challenges without fear. The key is to remember God’s promises to us. He is always with us giving us His strength, and nothing can ever separate us from His mighty hands!

Take some time to think about this question today:

Looking back, what events have you been through where you could’ve trusted God more and how might   the result changed? How does that effect the way you will face challenges in the future?

Prayer Request: Please pray for Pastor Rodney as he studies and prepares for Wednesday night's message. Pray for our amazing youth staff and your family group leaders. Pray that God would give the leadership of Ignition Student Ministries wisdom.

Tomorrow's Fast: Facebook/MySpace/Twitter

Devotional adapted from www.awake21.org