Have you ever done everything in your power to consistently prove to someone how much you love them only to have them repeatedly say, “You don’t really love me!”?

Do you suppose at some point you would become weary of being manipulated to prove your love?  Would you resent all your prior efforts and sacrifices being ignored or dismissed by having your love questioned repeatedly?

At some point the person who is the object of your affection should cease questioning your love and devotion.  They should trust that you do love them and will provide everything you can for them.

God has consistently proved his love and ability to care for us.  He has never failed us.  He has kept back nothing that we need – even when we needed a redeemer, he sacrificed his son.

Listen to this – “He who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him graciously give us all things?”  Romans 8:32.

Has God given you reason to trust him?  If so, then you might want to quit questioning him every time something happens in your life that you don’t like.  He might get tired of you questioning his love.  “You can’t please God if you don’t trust him.”  (paraphrase of Heb. 11:6)

 Ken Stegall

Most of you have probably been lectured on how this is a bad thing.  Truth is, it depends on what you’re rebelling against that makes it good or bad.  Read this passage from the book Do Hard Things, which has served as the inspiration of our annual Winter Retreat.

If you look back over history, you’ll find other movements that were started (or fueled) by young people.   The problem is, most of these movements were actually revolts against God-established   authority (like parents, church, or government), and many were ultimately crushed or twisted toward another end…We’re not rebelling against institutions or even against people.  Our uprising is against a cultural mind-set that twists the purpose and potential of the teen years and threatens to cripple our generation.  Our uprising won’t be marked by mass riots and violence, but by millions of individual teens quietly choosing to turn the low expectations of our culture upside down.  (pg.  25)

 Perhaps it is natural for teens to want to push the envelope and rebel.  And if you’re looking for something to challenge, consider this…God is looking for FAITH-based action, not SELF-based actions.  Why not rebel against the low expectations that are truly holding you back from fully succeeding instead of protesting the things that God has put in place which actually HELP you succeed.  If you walk by faith,  He will accomplish more than you could ever dream.

-Cory-

I came to my Teacher with quivering lips, my task undone.

Teacher, hast thou another sheet for me?  I have soiled this one.

He took the old sheet, stained and blotted,

And gave me a new one, clean and unspotted,

And into my sad heart smiled,

Do better this time my child.

I came to the Father with a trembling heart, the old year gone.

Father, hast thou another year for me?  I have soiled this one.

He took the old year stained and blotted,

And gave me a new one, clean and unspotted,

And into my glad heart smiled,

Do better this time my child.

May God bless you richly in this new year.  May it be all you want it to be and be filled with faith, joy, and success.

- Cory -

It’s important that I don’t just pick out the things that I like about God and decide that “this is my God.”  I have to take him “all or nothing”… goodness and severity, justice and mercy.  Folks who say, “That’s not my God” or “The God of the Old Testament is not my God” have the wrong God.  They are making a god in their own image. 

You will never know God until you commit yourself to letting him teach you about himself.  You can know some things about God through nature- something of his power and divinity.  But you can’t know his character… his mind (how he thinks, feels, acts, reacts) apart from his revelation of himself.  Otherwise, you’re drawing conclusions about him with a very small amount of evidence… and you are certain to be wrong about him.  You will almost certainly create a god with whom you are comfortable!

As you read your bible, there will be things that he does which distress you.  That’s a sign that you don’t know him very well.  It’s a sign that we don’t think like he does.  It’s a sign that we need to work on our thinking. 

If you don’t totally trust God, you can’t please him.  (“Without faith it is impossible to please God.”).  You can’t really trust someone you don’t know personally!

Today is the beginning of a new year.  Don’t waste it. 

Ken Stegall

January 1, 2012

AM: Ken Stegall - ”Changing Our Filter” (part 1) 

PM: Ken Stegall – “Can I Trust My Bible?”

January 8, 2012

AM: Ken Stegall – “Changing Our Filter” (part 2)

PM: Ken Stegall – “Islam” (part 1)  – not recorded

January 15, 2012

AM: Ken Stegall – “Changing Our Filter” (part 3)

PM: Ken Stegall – “Islam” (part2)

January 22, 2012

AM: Ken Stegall – “Preparing the Child for the Path”

PM: Cory Waddell – “Do Hard Things That Expand Your Comfort Zone”

January 29, 2012

AM: Ken Stegall – “Preparing the Child for the Path: Discipline”

PM: Ken Stegall – “Preparing Yourself for Discipline”