Think of the first roller coaster you went on. Remember when you reached the top up the first climb, how you could see so much clearer and farther than before? But what happens next? The drop. Down and down you plunge until almost hitting the bottom - then up again and so on until the ride is over.
During August 20, 21, 22, and 23 I went to Kingdom Bound '97 - a wonderful mix of Christian's at concerts, worship, seminars, and just having fun. Kingdom Bound took place at Darien Lake Theme Park, in the midst of rides, thrills, cotton candy and money wasters. The best(?) of the secular and Christian worlds.
On the last day as I was walking to the Youth Crew tent and I looked up at one of the roller coasters and a thought came to mind. A lot of today's "Christians" have a spiritual life like this roller coaster. We climb up a certain distance but then we fall away again. Why can't we stay on the right track?
God made a donkey talk and a man walk out of his grave alive after dying 4 days earlier! But, our God isn't powerful enough to use you? Wrong!
Maybe it's because you don't know how he'll use you that you're nervous. I think we all fell this way at some point in our spiritual lives. But all we can do is have faith and trust in Jesus, that he will guide you and keep you safe.
This is common when we are submersed in the world. The reason that Jesus Christ gave us these rules to follow was for our benefit. I mean, if sex were safe and ONLY for pleasure do you think he would tell us to stay faithful to our mates or future mates?
This world is run by Satan. Eve gave it to him and Jesus gave us the way to win it back.
Jesus came and lived on this earth as God, in human form. Living a perfect life; healing wounds, forgiving sins, and loving the unlovable; he was killed as a criminal. He died in our place by paying for our sins on the cross so we could live forever with him and the Father. But only if you give your life to him and except him as your personal savior will that come to pass.
Millions of people in every race and color know and love Jesus.
If you are reading this and aren't a Christian but feel that tug in your heart to turn your life over to him, please, call up your youth pastor, your minister or even a Christian friend of yours and tell them. They'll want to pray with you and help you to understand what this means. Please, do it now.
God bless you all.
Wanna know more? Kingdom Bound was a wonderful experience and a great place to be. Some of the speakers their were -
Ron Luce (Teen Mania Ministries), Pam Stenzel (Straight Talk), Wes Aarum Sr. (YFC) and many more.
Their were seminars about everything from sports to drugs to worship to exposing the new age. My favorite one was the Youth Evangelism Training everyday by You for Christ.
Their were worship leaders - Babbie Mason, Mike Failla, Bob Fitts, Alvin Slaughter, + many more.
I think the thing that most of you guys are interested in are THE CONCERTS!!! The artistists there were - Jars of Clay, Newsboys, Steven Curtis Chapman, Carman, Johnny Q Public, Audio Adrenaline, Anointed, Cheri Keaggy, Third Day, Christafari, Geoff Moore & the Distance, Jaci Velasquez, Rick Cua, Joey Holder, The Ah-Koo-Sticks, Will McFarlane, Lenny Leblac, Bruce Carroll, Midsouth, Michael Peace, Church of Rhythm, Three Crosses, Grammatrain, Guardian, The Waiting, Reality Check, Supertones, Seven Day Jesus, Plankeye, Caedmon's Call, Dimestore Prophets, Shaded Red, Hokus Pick, Carolyn Arends, Emit Ridge, One Hundred Days, Dustkickers, A-1 Swift, LaMore, Tay Williams, Testify, Big Wheelie, Mello-De, and Delia.
Some things you should pray about for next year's are -