More Than a Church Kid

I'm a Gen Z-er.  I'm simultaneously intrigued by, compassionate toward, and concerned about my generation. None of these feelings contradict the others. Despite our issues, I believe that my generation is onto something interesting.  As I scroll through most of my social media platforms, these themes rise to the surface: - A focus on mental and emotional health. - An interest in unpacking one's upbringing, trauma, and the genesis of one's problems and difficulties.  - A search for belonging and identity. - Applauding authenticity. Considering that these issues have been largely ignored and disregarded in the past, I'm impressed by my generation's bold and curious pursuit of them.  Some are tempted to look down on Gen Z and Millennials' emphasis on these types of issues, thinking of it as a "softness" that is unhealthy. While just a few years ago, I found this "softness" annoying, I believe that the "roots" of these things are im...

  "We must hear the Gospel every day because we forget it every day." - Martin Luther   "Jesus became a man, lived a perfectly righteous life, took our punishment on the cross, & then came alive again to secure for us a place with God" - this is the gospel we tell to unbelievers. But do we tell it to ourselves?   The gospel is for us as believers, too. There are many reasons for this, but the one I want to focus on today is that remembering what God has done fuels our love & worship. When we find ourselves bored or confused in worship (I've been there, and still often am), it might be because it's been a while since we've been reminded of the gospel story.    We can go to church every week and read the Bible every day, and still rarely hear about the gospel. Not every sermon or passage directly talks about what God has done for us in Jesus' death & resurrection; instead, the majority of the sermons & passages we consume could si...

In a world where nearly anything can change or be destroyed, we each need to ask ourselves every day,  What or who will my anchor be? Many of us have sometimes chosen to dig our stakes into the grounds of our current good circumstances. But circumstances are temporary and can change. Therefore, our circumstances are not a trustworthy anchor for all times. If our jobs/financial securities, our physical health, our current good mood, or the people around us become the ground we stand on, then the rug can easily be pulled out from beneath us, as the saying goes. We can lose our jobs, get sick, feel negative emotions, or lose friends despite their promises otherwise.  These flimsy anchors that seem secure can't keep us steady for long.  This leaves us with a dilemma. We want something unchanging. We want something in our life that will never end or change. But here's the dilemma: everything in this physical world is temporary. Some people may believe that there i...

Day 3: Those who may be carrying the virus (maybe without knowing) “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 Dear Lord, Thank you for the victory we have in You. Thank you for overcoming sin, death, & the world on our behalf. Thank you for all the health You’ve given us so far & we confess that we often take this blessing for granted. Forgive us for the entitlement we may feel toward gifts (such as health) that You don’t owe us but give out of your grace. For anyone carrying the virus (or who may potentially carry the virus) that may not know it yet, please strengthen their bodies to fight off the virus before it causes symptoms. Please grant them peace, good sleep, & all the necessary components of a healthy immune system. Please give them the wisdom to physically distance themselves. Protect those around them who may beco...

Day 2: Those who have lost loved ones Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. (2 Corinthians 1:3) Dear Lord, t hank you for giving us comfort over and over again, countless times. We live each day protected “under the shadow of the Almighty” (Ps. 91:1). Thank you. Hard times will still come, but they have a purpose. We serve a God who “has overcome the world” (Jn. 16:33) and we have a peace & hope that transcends what we see around us on this temporary earth. While we’re still here, may we live every day you’ve given us to the fullest, as good stewards of our time, spreading the comfort, joy, love, and welcoming presence that You’ve extended to us through Jesus Christ. We humbly ask you to heal every broken heart, including [name anyone you know who may be goin...

Notes: 1) Although the official "Day One" was yesterday, feel free to do both Days One & Two or jump straight into Day Two. Day 1 - The sick & their loved ones “…if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” 1 John 5:14-15 Heavenly Father, Thank you for the confidence we have in approaching You (1 Jn. 5:14). Help us to love others in the same way that you love us. Forgive us for all apathy & lack of compassion that we may have had toward the sick. You are a compassionate God, and we confess any time that we haven’t represented Your Heart well. If it’s Your will, heal every person who is sick around the world, including [name any specific people you know], that all glory may go to You. Please ease any discomfort, physical or emotional, that he/she may be going through. Show Your power, love & glory through this situation. ...

Note: I've posted this announcement on MTCK's Facebook page and on my personal page. During this time,  I am making a day-by-day prayer guide concerning COVID-19, with each day corresponding to a specific topic (e.g., the sick & their loved ones, people facing financial struggles, etc.) I've committed to praying for each of these specific populations of people each day. I would love if others would participate in one (or both) of the following ways: 1) simply pray on your own for each of these topics, or 2) follow along with the corresponding written prayers that I plan to write & post daily. Another possibility is to do a FaceTime, Facebook live, Skype, Zoom session, or phone call to pray for each of these topics weekly or daily. Here are the topics for days 1-3: Technically, Day One "officially" started yesterday, but feel free to either do both Day One & Two today or to just start at Day Two.  Thank you for joining ...

The idea of independence permeates today's culture. “Do what you want,” experts say, “You’re the only person that matters!” They may also say, “Only you determine your destiny – the power is all in your hands!” The message may sound and feel inspirational - especially if it comes from someone we respect. However, these sayings stand in direct contrast to Scripture. Compare these messages with Colossians 1:16 (ESV): “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.” In other words, God is the “why” of life, as well as the “how” of how we get there. God’s glory is the goal of all Creation. Stars, oceans, music, work, Monday morning meetings – they’re all for God’s purposes. In the words of RC Sproul, “If God is the Creator of the entire universe, then it must follow that He is the Lord of the whole universe. No pa...

In my last two posts, I've covered four out of five reasons for difficult times in our lives. Since I've had so much to say about each reason, what was meant to be one article turned into a three-part series. Well, I hope you haven't become annoyed with my wordiness. The last reason for adversity is... 5. Suffering Gives Us a Story to Tell Now, when I say, “suffering gives us a story to tell,” I  don't  mean the kind of story where the victim of life's circumstances complains to drum up sympathy from others. What I mean is that our story may someday help others.  The difference is in our motives: when we complain, chances are, we're doing it for ourselves. We may want to look like the victim, point fingers, and drum up sympathy from others. On the other hand, when we share our story in a beneficial way, we do so for the good of others, not out of selfish ambition. It helps us to empathize with them so  they  can feel understood and validated. ...

In my last post,  I began a list of five reasons for hardships. I mentioned the wrong ideology that our relationship with God is a way to take the easy route in life. Some televangelists and other pastors promise that faith is a definite ticket toward financial success, physical blessings, and illness-free living. This growing belief, most commonly known as the "prosperity gospel," is sweeping the nation. This doesn't make it right. In fact, being perfectly honest: the prosperity gospel is dead wrong.  The prosperity gospel is idolatry with the word "Jesus" sprinkled in a few times. It is not the Gospel. Anyway, since this topic could (and possibly will) turn into a whole blog post, I suppose I'll get back to the point. We aren't promised a shower of  physical  blessings   here on this earth. We are to live a life broken and spilled out for the sake of gaining Christ. However, we are promised  spiritual  prosperity, as well as the hop...

Oftentimes, the Gospel is advertised as a ticket out of hard times. We may say things like, "If you believe in God, He will heal your body." Or, "If you have enough faith, God will take away your financial struggles."  Some say that God wants you to chase your dreams. While He often  does  use our desires for His glory, our number one goal should be to chase  Jesus. Whatever gets us to that end, we can be willing to endure for the sake of worshiping, enjoying, and exemplifying Christ. After all, I don't think it was Paul's dream to go to prison. However, he learned to be content in all circumstances (Philippians 4:11) through the joy that Christ brings. Although we serve a healing, delivering, all-powerful God, we aren't promised that life will be a bed of roses. In fact, quite the opposite is true. The Bible promises hardship (see John 16:33, Hebrews 12:5-8). However, there is hope. One thing that you won't hear me...

     If you keep a prayer journal, I'm sure your list of prayer requests is very long. In whatever local church you attend, you are sure to find countless needs: people going through sicknesses, deaths, job losses, financial struggles, and more. The list goes on and on with all kinds of physical and emotional needs. However, we often forget about the most important needs of all: spiritual needs.      How often do we (myself included) pray for our friends in the good times? Not just when they are facing a difficult diagnosis or going through financial problems, but when life is going well. I assure you, even when someone's physical, emotional, and financial health is flourishing, their spiritual health could be withering.

     This afternoon, my parents and I had one of those great, deep discussions. I love it when that happens. It's an impromptu conversation (or an occasional debate) where we express our views on political or theological topics, discern the truth, and I pay absolutely no attention to the fact that I'm still a teenager. You may have been surprised that a discussion between a teenager and their parents could follow all of the following: 1. The discussion includes the teenager (not just the parents). 2. The discussion is not a lecture. 3. The topic is deep, mature, and meaningful. 4. The teenager is actually interested (and participative)  in what is being discussed. This is exactly the kind of integration and unity that I want to write about today.

     In my last post, How to Memorize Hymns, I mentioned that I might do a hymn study on 'Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery." However, I feel God leading me in a different direction. The words speak for themselves, and I just wanted any excuse to share the lyrics. So, I decided to just share the link for them and also a lyrical music video for the song. The reason I wanted to share the music video is because that is part of how I learned the words. Lyrics are much easier to memorize when you know the tune of the song. Also, it is a great song to get stuck in your head, because the lyrics can replay over and over in your mind.

One day, as I was sitting and reflecting (one of my favorite hobbies), I began to write down goals I wanted to achieve and things I wanted to do. Specifically, I wondered, "What things should I start doing (or doing more) that will grow me spiritually?" A question came to mind that changed my perspective and flipped my priorities upside down.  I asked myself, "If I were stuck in a prison cell for the rest of my life, with no personal possessions, what spiritual sustenance would I want to have stored up in my mind and heart?" In other words, what would I want to have memorized?

Mercy, forgiveness, and grace. These words are all related. How are they related, you might ask? To start off with, they are all: 1. Selfless attributes 2. Characteristics of Christ 3. Characteristics that Christ wants us to have

Today I want to write to you about the building blocks of who we are, the words we say, and the lives we lead: Our thoughts. Why do I say that thoughts are the building blocks of life? After all, no one knows about them other than us, so why does it matter so much what we think? Well, we often forget one vital truth - one enlightening and freeing truth -  God knows EVERYTHING - and that includes our most private thoughts! Each and every second of every day, God is aware of what we are thinking. And believe it or not, we can sin even in our own, "innocent" little minds - through hatred, judgement, jealousy, lust, and idolatry. Even thoughts that distract you from following Christ.(Sidepoint: our minds are not innocent. The sin nature still stains our thought-life, even if we're saved). The Bible addresses thoughts frequently, and it addresses the importance of them. Where our thoughts go, our desires follow. As Proverbs 4:23 says, Guard your heart above...