Stratos Jump

As I'm sure almost everyone who would read my blog would know; Felix Baumgartner jumped from a balloon in space over 128,000 ft free falling to the point of breaking the sound barrier.

This dude is nuts! If you haven't seen the video check it out here!
Now I have never been skydiving or base jumping, but one thing I know for sure is this must have been a rush. Whether you think the guy is crazy or not, he had the experience of a lifetime. (no seriously he promises not to do it again).

The thing that amazes me about this video, is this guy has such a passion for his sports of jumping off high places and plummeting towards the earth. He has jumped off the tallest of ever structure he can here on earth, he has jumped out of the sky and now he has free fallen from space to be able to tell the tale.

What I find inspiring about this guy, is that he was willing to lay his life on the line for something he desired. While I would personally never take the risk, he did something that I think is astonishing.

I bring this up because our theme this year in my youth ministry is OWN IT. The idea behind it is this; no one else can choose/live your faith. You don't inherit it, you don't earn it, you choose to believe in it and live it out. So what does that mean: it means highs and lows, work and enjoyment, and sometimes sacrifice and being willing to lay it on the line.

Felix Baumgartner was willing to lay his life on the line for a rush, and a couple world records that will likely be beaten one day. And if he is willing to do that, it makes me think what would we be willing to lay our life on the line for. How solid is my faith? Would I be willing to do anything for it? I truly believe it is. But are my students there? If they aren't what steps do I need to take to get them there? These are questions I am working on answering. Are they questions you should be asking about your ministry?

-Kyle

Taking the heat

There is a funny thing about working in Ministry; your social life is your work life.

I live and breathe my church. I love the people I work with and work for. Some of the families I work with are also my friends. The young adult small group I lead is a portion of my friends network.
Its really a fun thing until it gets tough.

The past couple of weeks I have taken some heat from a couple of parents. Some are justified and make good points, others make good points in a bad way, a few others make points that are misguided, and a few even still just take shots for no reason at all.

When these things come down the pipe; which they are bound to do because I work in ministry; I have to be prepared. I need to have people in my life who are outside the church and my ministry. I need to have people I can go to and hash things out with. Friends who will tell me I am wrong when I am wrong. But Friends who will back me up, or encourage me when I feel down.

Last night was great. I went to a friends birthday dinner and rock climb. We sat out on a rock face and ate some burgers and did a climb each. It was really fun to be with them. I got to decompress and be myself without having to worry about the things on my mind from the church.

Everyone needs that, you may not need many friends in life. But a few friends in different places that you can turn to, sure is a big help.

Zombie Sunday

I have heard the term Zombie Sunday, because people say anything that rises from the dead is now a zombie. Zombies rise from the dead to take lives. They need to feed on humans so that they can continue to be the undead.

But today is actually Easter Sunday. It is a day to remember that Jesus not only rose from the dead. He beat it. Jesus didn't come to feed on humans, He came to feed us! He himself is the bread of life. He is life itself!

With Jesus we too can also beat death. We won't be buried then one day rise again as flesh eaters. We are able to rise again and live with God. We will be eternally full, and not of peoples bodies, but rather of the goodness of God.

So remember if life feels hopeless, if you feel that you are wandering through life like a zombie. Maybe you feel like all you will ever be is worm food, or food for the undead.

Know you are so much more, you are a person with value! You are a person Jesus chose to die on the cross for. You have the opportunity to follow and live with God through Jesus' death and resurrection(being raised from the dead.)