i. Joy

I had a conversation with a good friend this week about church, specifically youth ministry. He said that he understood the need for exciting things to attract kids to come and hear the message of Jesus. What I said was that I truly believe that the joy of God is attractive enough. I said I believe that if we really loved God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, that people will be drawn to hear what we’re all about. The peace, love, and joy that comes in knowing and loving Jesus and the power of His Spirit inside of us is all the advertisement the Gospel needs.

His response? Someone filled with the love and joy of God?

“I don’t know anyone like that.”

We need to hate this kind of faith that doesn’t love Jesus with everything we have. God hates it, our souls are discontent with it, and the world clearly doesn’t think it’s anything special. They need so badly to see people who truly love God above everything else. I mean, LOVE God.

Burn out Bright

This book is a modest attempt to aid God’s hungry children so to find Him. Nothing here is new
except in the sense that it is a discovery which my own heart has made of spiritual realities most
delightful and wonderful to me. Others before me have gone much farther into these holy mysteries
than I have done, but if my fire is not large it is yet real, and there may be those who can light their
candle at its flame.
(A. W. Tozer Chicago, Ill. June 16, 1948)

Does it have to start with a broken heart
Broken dreams and bleeding parts
We were young and world was clear
But young ambition disappears
I swore it would never come to this
The average, the obvious

I’m still discontented down here
I’m still discontented

If we’ve only got one try
If we’ve only got one life
If time was never on our side
Then before I die
I want to burn out bright

A spark ignites
In time and space
Limping through this human race
You bite and claw your way back home
But you’re running the wrong way

The future is a question mark
Of kerosene and electric sparks
There’s still fire in you yet
Yeah there’s still fire in you!

If we’ve only got one try
If we’ve only got one life
If time was never on our side
Then before I die
I want to burn out bright

(Jon Foreman)