Permanent Solutions to Temporary ProblemsPosted by Patrick Scott on June 27th, 2008

I have a heavy burden on my heart to write something about the way we deal with our problems.  Some of us use solutions that effect us permanently and then others of us realize it is just a temporary problem and deal with it properly.  I guess that is just a sign of maturity. 

I am concerned about our students in this world.  Like sex and drugs, depression and suicide are on the minds of our students at younger and younger ages.  Satan is attacking all ages.  I would like to invite whoever is reading this to join me in prayer that God will send His Spirit to guard and protect our students.  Please pray that God will build, in me, a message that will reach the hearts of our students, in this area. 

Students are going through things and battling strongholds today that I never imagined having to face when I was there age.  It breaks my heart that we, as a society, have been irresponsible for guarding the hearts of the innocence.  We are letting our future warriors be massacred before they even have a chance to fight.  Protect your children by knowing them, loving them, teaching them, and listening to them.  They will show you their lives and what is attacking them but we have to become more sensitive.   We have been caloused by media, music, society, and have lost our ability to see our childrens hurt, even if it is being obviously shown. 

Dad’s, show your sons what it is to be a man. A boy will not become responsible for his actions if the father in his life is absent or doesnt take responsibility for his own actions.  Show your son how to treat a woman by loving your wife as Christ loved us. Spend time with your son’s showing them how to fix something in the house, work on the car, or take them camping. 

Take hold of your family, if it is broken, lead in mending it.  You as a man are the spiritual leader of the house.  Pray, and search God’s word with them so they can see how important righteousness is to you. 

Love your daughters so they dont try to find it in the arms of another man or boy.  Many of the problems in society today reflect back on the fathers presence in their daughter’s or son’s life. 

My coach used to say ” We are only as good as our weakest player”.  Fathers dont be the weakest player in your family.  Make a stand today.

What are things that we can do different to help our students face their problems? 

What are you doing with your children to train them in righteousness?

Who do your children talk to about their problems?

I am looking forward to hearing back from you with your comments.

Whats worth a thousand words to you?Posted by Patrick Scott on June 27th, 2008

Close your eyes for a second.  No, wait, you know those fake photos that come in picture frames?  Yeah, you know the ones that are the great picture of the girl.  The picture you used to cut down and put in your wallet to show your friends.  Yeah, she was my girlfriend.  What, none of you did that.   Ha Ha.

I was recently thinking about a picture and the saying of how “A picture is worth a thousand words” and that is when God hit me between the eyes.  We can look at a picture and  yes some of us may have 1000 or for some 10000 words to say, but do we really know what is going on behind the scenes for that girl in the picture.  Sure she is attractive.  Frames need to be sold.  Did you know that she was hooked on heroine now and is currently being beaten by boyfriend number 3.

This is what God revealed.  When we look at our future through our eyes we see a nice picture and think this is Gods will.  It has to be it looks so perfect but what is going on behind the scenes is far from the truth.  We do not notice that, however, because all we see is whats in the photo.   When God opens our eyes we see everything the photo as well as what is hiding behind the tree.  When we turn our sight to God we may not understand the whole story but we sure can see the whole story.

Do you see things two-dimensionally or three dimensionally?  Does your photo portray your real story?

Let the miracle happen!Posted by Patrick Scott on June 24th, 2008

I, like so many others, struggle at times with holding on to things. We get into arguments. Someone hurts us. We lash out in defense and end up at times destroying relationships. Recently, through quiet time, God made me aware of bitterness in my own life that had been put away in the deepest part of my being. I have been so focused on serving Him, yet I was still holding on to something that I needed to deal with.

I initially tried to justify to God that it was insignificant and would not effect my ministry. God told me it may not effect my ministry but it would effect His. It is possible that I was preventing God’s full power from exhibiting itself in my ministry because of this. I was unaware that this was even an issue. As we pursue God in an intimate relationship, and as we become more sensitive to His voice, He will bring up things that we need to take care of that we had no idea about, or had forgotten.

When we let God start to work in these areas we can truly be free of Satan’s strongholds in our lives even what we would consider the most insignificant ones. I did not understand that this bitterness was a creator of other things in my life I was struggling with. Bitterness can cause anger, depression, and other things that can rob you of joy and happiness. Giving this issue to God was an amazing experience. Through it a relationship was healed and I never expected it to see daylight again. When God leads you to do something, a unique thing happens. The Holy Spirit is sent ahead of you to begin the work. All we need to do is respond and let the miracle happen.

Switch Mission Trip ‘08Posted by Patrick Scott on June 17th, 2008

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10 ReasonsPosted by Patrick Scott on June 17th, 2008

10 Reasons Small Groups play a vital role in a students life.

1. Small Groups allow the student to talk about issues that they may never have a chance to talk about.

2. Small Groups encourage students to overcome these issues without the threat of judgement

3. Small Groups challenge students in areas of their life that they need strengthen

4. Small Groups build relationships of peer accountability

5. Small Groups allow students to be known

6. Small Groups strengthen a students understanding of the Bible, God, and spiritual gifts

7. Small Groups teach students about vulnerability and trust

8. Small Groups develop students to become leaders in their youth group

9. Small Groups show students how to serve others through missions

10. Small Groups provide support to students as they are searching for identity, and growing in their relationship with God