So...the real world

 Happy Easter everyone. Service this morning was absolutely amazing. Whoever came up with the cardboard testimony idea was a genius, and the fact that we packed the house for 2 out of 3 services made it such an effective testimony.  I'm still trying to figure out how on earth I got DRENCHED directing traffic with a RAINCOAT ON!!?!?!?! Seriously though I was happy to be part of a Sunday Morning that hopefully touched a lot of people's hearts.

Dude...Reds...get it together! I'm glad that we are back above .500 now but geez...we have completely lost our rhythm and stride. There needs to be a winning streak put together and fast. I was offered to go play golf for free later this week, and I do believe I will partake hopefully on Friday. I just need to make sure I grab all the necessities: My golf clubs (duh), my Easter basket from my wife containing 45 GOLF BALLS (shows how much confidence she has in me not losing them haha) and my CANOE considering everything is UNDERWATER!

So...the real world. I hate that phrase. What on earth is the real world? I'm not talking about the terrible TV show either. I'm talking about that phrase that older people use to describe their world as opposed to that of someone younger. For instance you would be sitting in math class and a teacher would say: "when you get in the real world...".

What is the real world? As opposed to a Fake World? Is it a place with real problems? Trust me, when I was in High School I had some problems. Some of the things I did/Habits I started/decisions I made in Jr. High are effecting me NOW, someone who is married in their twenties. Will a decision to do drugs not effect someone who is in high school later because they are not living in a real world yet? Is teenage pregnancy less devastating because they haven't crossed into the real world yet?

I am not saying that this phrase is said with any of those messages intended, but it's certainly the message received sometimes. More often than not when a teen decides they no longer want to follow Jesus it is because they do not believe that Jesus fits into "their" world. And to be honest, it's a world that some of them have no intention of entering. Because we as the mentors portray this separation of worlds with "real" problems, "real" jobs, "real" emotions, "real" pain...then why on earth would they want to step out of their world into ours? It doesn't sound appealing when they already have problems, jobs, emotions, and pain that is just as real to them as ours is to us no matter how much society tries to rank our problems. When you lose a friend it hurts just as much. When you lose a family member, it hurts just as much. When you feel like a failure, it hurts just as much. When you are rejected time after time after countless time...it hurts just as much. Why would you want any part of a world that includes more pain and harder suffering?

I'm asked a lot about the secret to getting through to Jr. High students mainly I guess because I do choose to mentor that age group. To be honest, I don't have the answer. I just realize some simple truths and it's some good things to keep in mind. I'm a sinner (I'm sure you are surprised) and I would be labeled by that were it not for being a Christian...and so would they. The answer for their lives is the same as mine. Their emotions about things are just as strong, and their struggles are just as tough. Whether you are marching in the band and turning in homework, or assigning the homework, transporting a patient, training workers at weird hours, welcoming someone to a restaurant, pulling cables through a ceiling at the levee or whatever it is, it's the same world. And on this day we celebrate the one man who could and the one man that did bring hope to this fallen world. Don't lose your focus, Don't just let this day pass you by. Spend some time figuring out what God's plan for you is, and make sure everyone knows you are a christian this week by the way you act. It's important, no matter how old you are.

Have a good week!