Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold I cannot speak; for I am a child. But the Lord said unto me, Say not, l am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. (Jeremiah 1:6-7)

We often tell young people that they ought to serve God, but then we give them no direction or duty. We ought to do better than that! Most of them already feel overwhelmed because they are lacking in knowledge, ability, experience, and opportunity. The last thing they need is someone putting them on a guilt trip and not offering help. If you are a young person struggling with these things, please understand you are not the first. Jeremiah had the same problem, yet God used him.

Spurgeon said, “Jeremiah was young and felt a natural shrinking when sent upon a great errand by the Lord; but He who sent him would not have him say, “I am a child.” What he was in himself must not be mentioned but lost in the consideration that he was chosen to speak for God. He had not to think out and invent a message nor to choose an audience: he was to speak what God commanded and speak where God sent him, and this he would be enabled to do in strength not his own. Is it not so with some young preacher or teacher who may read these lines? God knows how young you are and how slender are your knowledge and experience; but if He chooses to send you, it is not for you to shrink from the heavenly call. God will magnify Himself in our feebleness. If you were as old as Methuselah, how much would your years help you? If you were as wise as Solomon, you might be equally as willful as he. Keep you to your message, and it will be your wisdom; follow your marching orders, and they will be your discretion.“

Dear young person, although you lack experience, are limited in knowledge, have no official title or office, are not eloquent in speech, cannot work miracles, and are fearful and trembling, you can speak! Forget what you can’t do and focus on what you can do. You can speak—speak up for Jesus. Tell others what He did for you and you will be amazed at how God will use you. If you are willing God will make you able.

There’s an old song that says, “Get all excited”, and I can’t help but wonder why we don’t. Back when I was playing baseball it was common to hear players and coaches say, “Come on, talk it up. Let’s hear some chatter out there!” That was a part of the game. Everyone knew the importance of of emotion. It not only inspires us, excitement is contagious. Watching others get excited has a way of stirring up your emotions, and that can be very important. It can make the difference in the outcome of whatever we’re doing. That’s why the “home team” has an advantage in a ball game. Can you imagine watching a ballgame where there is no display of emotion? Chances are it would be that way only if there was an attitude of indifference. If you don’t care what the outcome is there is nothing to get excited about. But if you care about winning and losing, victory and defeat, emotions come easy. We get excited about things we value, like, or admire.

Maybe that explains why some are so unemotional in church. If a person doesn’t care about what he hears or sees there is nothing to get excited about. On the other hand, if a person has a great love for God, a healthy fear of God, an intimate relationship with God, and a strong desire to please God, he will be excited about worshiping God. He might not express his emotion in exactly the same way as others, but he most certainly will be deeply moved when God is honored, when Christ is exalted, when the saints are edified.

It should be stated that emotions aren’t everything as some people make it appear. It takes more than a hallelujah hoedown to impress God. If the truth is absent, the conduct improper, and the motives impure God isn’t impressed — regardless of the showy display. However, that being said, neither is God pleased with a cold, dead, formal, unemotional service where you never hear so much as a holy grunt from anyone. My question is, how can a person who has been forgiven, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and assured of heaven not get excited about worshiping the King of kings and Lord of lords? How is that possible? Why is that acceptable? That is a problem that should never exist.

What excites you? Are you one of those who goes to a ballgame and yells like a Comanche  and then attends church and sits like a wooden Indian? I’m not saying we should behave the same way in church that we behave at a ballgame— that’s not the point. Worship demands a dignity that isn’t expected at a ballgame, but surely we ought to be deeply moved at the thought of being in the presence of Christ. Think about it!

Want to start a heated debate? Just start a conversation about worship. “Worship wars” have been raging for several years, and everyone thinks they’re right. Sadly most of the arguments are based on personal preference rather than scriptural admonitions. Some like a certain style of preaching or music, etc. and they think everyone else ought to feel the same way. And some folks change their minds so often that you never know where they stand.

For some it’s traditional hymns only. Others prefer Southern Gospel. With many it is nothing but contemporary music. But it’s not just about music. Even when it comes to preaching people have their preferences. Some want one kind, others want another. Sadly most people don’t have a clue as to what constitutes “good preaching”. They are stuck on a certain style and anything different doesn’t suit their taste. A lot of folks in the south think if you’re not screaming at the top of your lungs,  panting like a dog chasing a deer, foaming at the mouth, and walking on six inches of your pant legs you aren’t really preaching. Others can’t stand that much emotion. They insist that the delivery be dignified and every word pronounced properly, etc.The truth is that good preaching can come in many forms– as long as it is done in love, with humility, in sincerity, and according to the truth. I’ve heard great sermons delivered without the preacher ever raising his voice and great sermons delivered in the style of the deep south. But, regardless of how it was delivered, it was “in love, with humility, in sincerity, and according to the truth”, and I was blessed by it. Preachers should be themselves, rather than trying to copy someone else.

Too many people have lost sight of what worship is all about. It’s about glorifying God, not gratifying the flesh. Whether sermon of song, it should be about pleasing God rather than pleasing yourself. And if you can’t prove that the Lord is displeased with a certain style you have no justification for criticizing those who differ. There are plenty of things for which we ought to contend, but this isn’t one of them. No one has a right to insist that all the music be of their favorite style.

It’s time that we get personal preference off the table. If we aren’t guided by the Word of God we are sure to error and go astray. The craziness needs to stop. We ought to stand firm regarding scriptural doctrines, but when it comes to debating about our desires that’s another matter. Having a preference for one thing over another is fine, condemning those who differ isn’t. Think about it!

One of the greatest blessings and helps to me as a young Christian was the fellowship I enjoyed with other Christians. Not a week went by without us being in someone’s home or someone being in ours. Every Sunday after the morning service and sometimes after the evening service we ate at someone’s house or had them over to our house– no one ate out on Sunday back then. As I’ve often said so many times, you couldn’t backslide if you wanted to because someone would be knocking on your door. They wouldn’t let you drop out without making every effort to get you back. Church back then was like family. Sure we had our differences, but we learned to work through them. But times have changed.

Today, for whatever reason, church members seldom ever see each other except during the services. Naturally you never really get to know one another that way. And, naturally, when a problem does arise you don’t work through it– you run or you let the other person run off. I realize that times are different, but our need of one another isn’t. You need others and they need you. Take advantage of every opportunity to get close to others. Here’s an idea— Although it isn’t the best answer, even something such as Facebook can be helpful in this matter. I realize that it is used for a lot of bad things, but so is corn— you can eat it or distill it and drink it. Some people should probably stay off Facebook altogether, but if you have the discipline to use it properly, why not use it for good?

I am using this example because I have been blessed recently by observing how some members are making use of Facebook to interact with one another. They share prayer request, information, stories, jokes, etc. with each other and you can tell by the comments that people are being blessed as a result. That’s good! It doesn’t make any sense to just call it a tool of the devil and not have anything to do with it, when it can be used for good. By the way, it isn’t necessary or wise to make everything public. You can send a private message to encourage some dear soul who is going through a tough time. And now that we have our Church Facebook page we can make announcements, request etc. that helps us communicate as a church family. I think we are wise to use it– as long as we use it wisely. The internet also gives us the means to reach out beyond our church family to others, especial the unsaved or un-churched. Some people are so addicted to it that it is about the only way to reach them.

This doesn’t take the place of personal face to face fellowship, but it’s much better than nothing. I would encourage you to take someone out to dinner or accept an invitation when it comes your way. You might be surprised at the difference it makes in your life. Give it a try and see what happens. If it turns out to be a positive experience let me know or share it with others online. If you can’t or won’t do that do what is second best and use Facebook. I especially love it when someone brags about the church to others and talks about what a blessing it is to them. Who knows it just might be that your testimony will encourage someone else to attend. Some folks have had bad experiences in churches and maybe even vowed to never go again. Your sweet testimony might be just what it takes to get them back. By sharing your experience you might be able to show them that all churches are not alike and they will come to see for themselves. Think about it!

I missed church last night because I wasn’t feeling well, but I figured a good nights rest would take care of that. But, I didn’t sleep well, woke up for good at 3am and got up at 4am. So, I thought I will just make the best out of a bad situation and get an early start on the computer. Yeah, you guessed it— no connection. Finally, about 8am the cable came back on. Yeah, you guessed it again–I wasn’t in a very good mood. Then I opened my email and learned that Bob and Linda Long’s daughter Kerri had been killed in a car wreck.

God forgive me for complaining about my petty problems! Things could be a lot worse. Then I remembered this poem that I heard many long years ago:
Today upon a bus,
I saw a girl with golden hair,
and wished I was as fair.
When suddenly she rose to leave,
I saw her hobble down the aisle.
She had one leg and wore a crutch.
But as she passed, a smile.

Oh God, forgive me when I whine,
I have 2 legs, the world is mine.

I stopped to buy some candy.
The lad who sold it had such charm.
I talked with him, he seemed so glad.
If I were late, it’d do no harm.
And as I left, he said to me,
“I thank you, you’ve been so kind.
It’s nice to talk with folks like you.
You see,” he said, “I’m blind.”

Oh God, forgive me when i whine.
I have 2 eyes, the world is mine.

Later while walking down the street,
I saw a child with eyes of blue.
He stood and watched the others play.
He did not know what to do.
I stopped a moment and then I said,
“Why don’t you join the others, dear?”
And then I knew, he couldn’t hear.

Oh God, forgive me when i whine.
I have 2 ears, the world is mine.

With feet to take me where I’d go.
With eyes to see the sunset’s glow.
With ears to hear what I’d know.
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.
I’ve been blessed indeed, the world is mine.
THINK ABOUT IT!