changing the way i think

i don't know how to do it, but i'm trying to change some my pre-concieved ideas about church and youth ministry in particular. the last couple of days i've been trying to answer one simple question: why do i want my child in church?

this is a critical question to me. if i can answer this i think i will get a bit of an insight into why parents want their kids in youth ministry. even still, i'm going to have to talk to them, and i think i'll know when the timing is right for that.

but if the answer is simply "so that my child can be good" then i am quitting my job. i think its more than that for my son. i want my son to know Jesus. i want my son to hear God's voice. i want my son to be alive as fully as Jesus can make him. and the only place that my son can learn that is in the presence of the Holy Son that walks before him.

i think this is the deep down desire of most parents that bring their children to church. the only problem is that a lot of people are more concerned about raising morally good individuals than they are a community that is seen and recognized for its transformational existence. it is so deeply written on my heart that i want kids to see and hear and understand what the Spirit is saying to the church, and i think that's God's desire too.

the more i practise the presence of Jesus the more real His presence is becoming. i just have to figure out how to show others that too. pray for me, and pray for the young adult ministry that i oversee as well, that God would bring it to life, and people from all over would be able to see Jesus in our community.