Spiritual Warfare

The last two weeks at our Wednesday night Axis meetings we have discussed some issues regarding Satan, demons, and the spiritual realm. We didn't have enough time to cover everything I would have liked, so I promised to post a blog so that we can have more discussion and comments if you would like to know more. Please post a comment if you have any questions about the spiritual, demonic, or other issues regarding spiritual warfare, and I will do my very best to give you as much info as possible. Also, spread the word about this blog page, because it's got the youth calendar at the bottom, recent update stuff with the texting on the side bar, etc. Thanks, and remember to pray today: "God, give me your eyes."

Do Hard Things

I've been reading a book by that title (Do Hard Things), and have been challenged in my life and ministry to raise my standards and expectations. Not just of myself, but of the people I lead and teach. Think about the average teenager...what is expected of them...of a "good" teenager? Basically, to not drink, do drugs, have sex, etc., and to try and make their beds and do a chore or two. If this describes you, good job! You have met the cultural norm for a "good" teen. The problem is that you are praised for the things you don't do instead of the things you actually attempt or accomplish. Paul wrote that "when I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me" (1 Cor. 13:11). He didn't say that "after I was a child, I was a teenager, and then after I had my care-free years as a teen, I grew up after college." This is a call for not only teens, but everybody to break out of the low expectations set by our society, and do things that challenge us and our comfort zones. Step up this week and allow God to use you to the potential He created you to be!

Also, a quick update - AXIS has been awesome! We started a quarterly "AXIS BOWL" competition/outreach night in September, and will be having another one in a few weeks. We are growing in number, and we have been challenged spiritually by the book of James, and how we need to improve our lives as disciples of Jesus.