Life Hurts...so where's God?

We don't have to live very long to see that life hurts.  We don't have to look very far to see that the world can be cruel, evil, and unfair.  We were reminded of this just weeks ago in a little town called Newtown, CT.  That event, along with other current events and disasters (Hurricane Sandy/Katrina, divorce, disease) has left people asking the question, "Where is God in all of this?"

You may have gone through your own crisis recently.  Something may have made you ask that same question of God's existence.  If God is really all-powerful and all-loving, then how could pain, suffering, and evil be in this world (a world that He created)?  It's a valid question, and one that we are going to focus on at VIBE for the next few weeks.

I hope that this time together will help us all to heal.  We all have some sort of pain or suffering that we have endured, and those wounds need to heal.  If they don't heal they will be like that nagging scab that keeps reopening.  It becomes painful, annoying, and a constant reminder of the cause of the wound.  I hope that, if you are in 7th-12th grade, you will join us this Sunday night at 5:45 central (slow) time to begin this discussion, "Where is God When Life Hurts?"

The Jerusaelm Project

Every year our youth group is involved in missions work.  We have done all kinds of projects and worked in all kinds of areas, from Jamaica and Mexico to Oklahoma, St. Louis, and Pennsylvania.  We've also organized mission work to be done right here in our area.

Our strategy is based on Acts 1:8 - "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  We break down our mission trips three ways and have a three year rotation for those experiences.  We have participated in, as you read, international mission trips.  These are our "to the ends of the earth" trips.  We have also participated in "domestic" or "state-side" mission trips.  Those trips are our "Judea and Samaria" trips.  Each of those has been unique and incredible.  But my favorite mission projects are those that take place right here; we call them "The Jerusalem Project".

I think there's a reason why Jesus' call was to first be His witnesses in Jerusalem.  If we aren't willing to show the love of Christ here at home, then why should we get the privilege to travel far away?  It starts at home.  Five students took part in our first Jerusalem Project, and each one has said that it was one of the best experiences they ever had in youth group.  There's something special about having and showing compassion for your neighbors.

The Jerusalem Project will be June 16-21 (the same dates as VBS, which we help with).  That sounds like a long time from now, but there is so much to do in preparation for that week.  We start training this month so we can be prepared mentally and spiritually.  There is also a need to raise support for the week.  Because of that, each student participating needs to be committed by this Sunday at VIBE (January 13).  You can find some more information, as well as a PDF of the commitment form at our website (www.klmc.us>youth).

I really hope that you consider taking part of the Jerusalem Project.  If you have any questions feel free to contact me by phone, email, or Facebook (or you could leave a comment here).

Boom-shaka