Hammer on Anvil '

We have been looking at the topic of perfection with our students.
I will attempt to summarize hours of teaching, study and discussion here...
    Nobody's Perfect...
    God is the only one ever to be perfect and each of His attributes are perfect.
    God calls us to be perfect.  On our best days, we can attain perfection for say... 30 minutes...
    God came to earth and took our whipping so we could get His perfection.
I want to dwell for a minute on the fact that on our best days, we cannot attain what God requires.

It is so easy to not even try to live holy, to just give up and fall into sin simply because that is what we are - sinners.  As a side note, I don't see in the word where we are to embrace the sinner tag as our primary attribute.  I see continually that followers of Jesus are called saints... people of the way.  We fall, but our identity is not in the fall, our identity needs to be in how we get up after the fall.

I was at a hip-hop show a year ago.  The rapper's name is Pro.  There were maybe 150 people at the show, and a pastor sat Pro down and interviewed him.  The question was asked:  "What can you share with these people about the struggle with sin?"

His response was very profound.  I will not quote him as it was a while ago, but the essence of his words have stuck.  The struggle with sin is unique to the Christian.  As a Christian there should be a struggle with sin.  If there is no struggle, we have to check and see if we really belong to Him.

I am reminded of Paul in Romans 7.  He struggled with sin.  It was a daily battle with Him.
Are you struggling with sin?  Do you just sin without a struggle?

Last night was Man night for summer crew here at camp. We made the hour bouncing drive to a nearby peak, Mt. Baldy or something like that. Once we had driven as far as we could, we had a half-mile walk across an old reservoir and up a ridge. What waited for us was an awesome view of the Collegiate Range, Pike's Peak, and another reservoir below. While we watched the sun setting, one of the guys asked, "Isn't it amazing that the God of the Universe created all this?" I agree it's amazing, but as I stood at 13,000+ feet and saw tiny flowers of blue, purple, red, yellow, and white scattered around; as I saw the sun shine between clouds and mountain tops, I was struck by something else.

"The sun rises and the sun sets and hurries back to where it rises. The wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes, ever returning on its course. All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full. To the place the streams come from, there they return again." (Ecclesiastes 1:5-7) So Solomon wrote and often I feel the same way. I tend to think of sunsets (which I've seen far more of than sunrises) as the same; once you've seen one you've seen them all sort of thing. As I watched it last night I remembered it is false that they are all the same. The sunset I saw last night I will never see again. The sunrise I missed this morning will never be seen again. This is what amazed me, not that God created the mountains once, but that every day he makes a unique display.

Malcolm Muggeridge once wrote, "Man is so avid for knowledge that everything he touches turns to facts; his faith become theology, his love becomes lechery, his wisdom becomes science." I am often this way, but do not wish to be. I want to continually be amazed at the work God is doing every single day. I do not want the knowledge I accumulate, the "maturity" I seek to remove from me the child-like delight and amazement of all that is around me. 

 "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working." -Jesus

Hammer on Anvil has six regular contributors who each post on a certain day of the week.  Here is each person's most viewed post from May:

Saturday - The Blessing Business
Cheryl Huston reminds us that God is in the blessing business.

Friday - Whatisyourfocus?
Misti Runyan urges us to slow down and tune in to God.

Thursday - Doing It For The Glory Of God
Mike Johns ties together faith and sports while sharing about Josh Hamilton's record-tying 4 home run game.

Wednesday - Peaks and Cairns
Brett Kelley draws a metaphor with a hike he recently took in Colorado.

Tuesday - Who Touched Me?
Patty Kennedy challenges us to consider how our faith matches up with a woman who touched Jesus.

Monday - Adjust Your Sails
Nick Smith examines how the Holy Spirit is like the wind.

Sunday - Guests Posts
Here's your chance!  Has God placed something on your heart that would benefit the rest of His Church?  We would love to help you share that message!  Hammer on Anvil reserves most Sundays for occasional guest bloggers.  If you would be interested in contributing, just let us know by leaving a comment on this post and a way to contact you.  We hope to hear from you soon!  God bless!

Good Saturday morning everyone!
It is the unofficial start of Summer this weekend, Memorial Day Weekend. A time that our country has set aside for us to honor thosed who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
Well, I know a man who also paid that same sacrifice over two thousand years ago, but His story is somewhat different, He didn't stay dead. He arose from the grave and walked the Earth for forty days before He went back to Heaven. He died for ALL mankind, to save us from us!
He told us how we could live with Him in Heaven for eternity, He said to take up our cross daily and follow His lead.
For some reason I have been having trouble with the daily part of my Christian journey. Praying, reading the word, just living the life of a Christian has become an after thought. But, I have not become an after thought to God. So, as I sat in church on Sunday, the word daily hit me and God revealed to me that I wasn't walking with Him daily. We must take up our cross DAILY and walk with the Lord! Every moment we must have Him in mind, in everything we do we must be thinking of Him!
Pray without ceasing, read His Word daily, always be ready to give your testimony and share the Good News with someone who is seeking their own daily walk.
Have a very blessed weekend everybody! Remember those loved ones who have gone on to glory and praise the One who made our lives possible!
Cheryl

Graduation. It's a time of excitement, and a time of sadness. Students are experiencing the powerful feeling of freedom, and the fear of the unknown. Parents are proud, and at the same time sad to know their time of instruction and raising is coming to an end. We experience so many emotions when faced with this big milestone (whether we are parents, students or spiritual leaders). It is very easy to get carried away with dreams of the future.

As I made preparations for nine students to graduate high school and begin the process of leaving the youth group, I've been thinking a lot about what it will be like to let them go. Not only do I have an emotional attachment to each of them; but fears for their spiritual growth as they look toward their future. You see, I have been their Sunday school teacher, confidant, fellow worker in Christ, and 'partner-in-crime' for 6 years. I have experienced the 7th grade 'awkwardness', their 'aha' moments, and their growth in the Lord--and I have invested in their spiritual walk.

Barna research has found that over 65 percent of young adults leave the church after high school. That means that, statistically speaking, 6 of my graduating students will walk away from corporate worship and Bible study. Now some may say that 'church' is not as important as 'faith'. I would agree with that statement; however, faith cannot be developed in a vacuum, and it certainly won't be an important priority in most college dorms. As students get a taste of the world's idea of freedom, they will be less impressed with God's idea of it. The research also shows that the abandonment of faith will carry over into their marriages and, initially, raising their own children.

Students spend hours and hours researching a career field and a college degree that will carry them for the next 40 years of their work life. How much time do they spend investigating churches in the area of their chosen college which will serve to transition them in their with God (which will ultimately carry them for the rest of their lives, not to mention eternity).

Failing to plan is planning to fail, and this has never seemed so important to me as it does right now. Think about it: it's HARD to walk into a strange church on a Sunday morning not knowing the people or the theology of the church. No wonder many students who have been in the church all their lives won't darken the door during their college years. It's easier to skip than to step out in faith.

My advice is this: Take the time this summer to research a new church, especially if you will be living on campus. Talk to pastors, check out websites (many churches have them now, and their mission statement should be easy to find on their sites), and consult your parents and current church leaders for advice. It's no longer mom and dad's job to get you to church; now it's on you.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."  Proverbs 3:4-5

Sorry for missing my post last week.  I spent the day at the K with my kids enjoying a mediocre baseball team play an even less glorius game.  As a hilight, I was able to witness one of the parachuters get taken by the wind and land in the first row of seats.  (He walked away and was fine, so it's okay to enjoy it.)  Anyway, on to the post.

Introducing the newest acronym you will find annoying, you will love to hate... YOLO.  Surely you have heard it or seen it behind some hashtag.  That's right as if "TGIF", "LOL", "IDK", or "I'm just sayin'" aren't enough....... we have YOLO. 
So as a public service announcement, I will explain.  The rapper Drake has a song with the following lyrics:  "You only live once, that's the motto (expletive) YOLO".  It means You Only Live Once.  It is the new Carpe Diem of sorts for some of the older readers. 

What I have observed is that the phrase has given some sort of credence to risky behavior or as an excuse to play mean pranks.  For example a quick search of twitter renders the following:
  - "switching seats while the car is going 100+ #yolo"
  - "risking my chance of going to jail for 60 days #yolo"
  - "driving around in a police car and arresting people #yolo"

YOLO is reality.  We only live once.  We have to make the most of it.  Jesus said that the devil comes to steal, kill and destroy... but He came to give us life, life to the full - abundant life! 

You Only Live Once - it should not be an excuse to live reclessly, but should be motivation to live life in the power of the resurrection.

Cairns are small piles of stones that are set up every so often to let you know you're still on the path and going the right way. In the event that you go wrongly, you can always go back to the previous cairn and begin again. The cairns are also useful because you cannot always see the peak or destination you are heading for. Even in the event that you can see what you're after, a beeline or direct route may not be the best or safest. It is enough to follow one cairn at a time and arrive in due time and safely.

I don't like to make things over-spiritual, but I think about how we're told life is like a journey. Sometimes I know exactly what I want to do or get to, but not the steps to get there. Sometimes I get off track and have to retrace my steps and begin again. Other times I have to be content with only seeing the next cairn and thankful for the glimpses of the peak and seeing it closer.

Thoughts?

Sometimes Christians make things a lot harder than they need to be. When asked what being a Christian looks like, for example, have you ever thought or said the following:

• you go to church every Sunday
• you attend a mid-week Bible study
• you got baptized at some point
• you read your Bible and pray

Though these are things that Christ followers generally do, to simply rattle off a list of seeming "qualifications" rather misses the point. Jesus made it much easier in Matthew 22. A Pharisee asked Him, "Which is the greatest commandment in the law?" Jesus boiled His response down to two simple things:

• Love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind.
• Love your neighbor as yourself.

If we are careful to be diligent in these things, all the rest will follow naturally. If we focus on man-made edicts, however, the result is generally resentment and eventual burnout. We may also become more critical, because we judge people based on whether they're following the rules we have imposed on ourselves.
As I have grown older, I have been humbled to discover how difficult I have often made things, when Jesus makes it strikingly simple. "Become as a little child," He bids us. Love Him. Love others. Period.

Good evening everyone, it has been a beautiful day!
We all want to be loved and excepted for who we are. But, many times we look in the wrong places, remember that song, "Looking for love in all the wrong places, looking for love in too many faces!" That is why we have a 50% divorce rate in this country. We must learn to go to the sorce of love, God. in the Bible it says, "God is Love", so why do we look for it every where else but Him?
We want to feel special, wanted, cared for, all the warm and fuzzy words you can think of, but what we find in the world is cold, hard, and uncomfortable feelings. Go to the Source. He knows how to love you, He created you, so of course He loves you!!! He will give you everything you need. The love and exceptance that we as humans seek so desperately, He has in abundance. So, go to God when you need to feel the love, He has it for you!
Have a very blessed evening everybody!
Cheryl

I’ve decided to take a new direction this week.  Instead of continuing with my “The Christian Path” series, I’d like to take an opportunity to talk about the Holy Spirit, which I’ve been thinking a lot about lately.

This holds an important lesson for us when dealing with the Holy Spirit.  We shouldn’t complain about where He leads us and we shouldn’t expect Him to lead us in a direction that we would prefer.  Rather, we should strive for a mature and realistic approach by adjusting our sails and flowing in the direction God is leading us.

Good evening everyone!
The past two weeks have been very interesting for me. I interviewed for a job and didn't get it. A few days later and old friend called and offered me a job, which I very thankfully excepted. I went to pay a bill and I found out that it was not as much as I thought it was going to be. So, needless to say, God has been blessing me.
But, can someone explain to me why when God begins to bless us, the enemy begins to really work. Little things start to happen, things don't go right. In my case, the children in my house lost their minds. So, in turn, I lost mine. Then I began to think about why was this happening, I just had one of the best weeks in a long time and now I was feeling angry, frustrated and hurt. Then it hit me, the enemy. He always shows up when things are going well in your life, just to let you know that he is still around.
So, we always have to be aware of what is really going on around us. We must continuously pray to The Father for strength and guidance. We must completely and totally depend on Him. The moment we stop listening to Him and try to do things on our own, the enemy has us right where he wants us, unfocused, not praying and lost!
Stay prayed-up my Brothas and Sistas, don't let the enemy get you down!
Have a very blessed Mother's Day!!!
Cheryl

Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am. ”  And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down. Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”“ My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy.  So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel! ” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” --1 Samuel 3: 4-10


"Life is hectic." "Time flies." "Some days I meet myself coming and going." "I can't believe another year has already gone by!" Each of us has heard (and maybe said) some of these phrases used to describe how quickly minutes, hours and days slip by us. And yet, sometimes we catch ourselves wishing seasons of our lives away, hoping for a simpler, less activity-filled time. 


The true disadvantage to allowing ourselves to fall into this type of lifestyle is on our relationship with God.  The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. --1 Kings 19: 11-13 The Lord is not found in the flurry of activity we engage in. He is in the quiet. If we don't slow down and focus, we miss Him.


In  7 years working with students, I have seen evidence that many teenagers do not know how to be quiet. Homework is completed while watching TV. Meetings are interrupted by text conversations. Music from iPods permeates every activity, including sleeping. How are we supposed to hear God's whisper with all that noise around us?


Hearing God is only the first step. Recognizing His call requires practice and discernment. Samuel didn't understand that the Lord was speaking to Him. He had nothing to compare to his experience, so he reacted as a child would--quickly jumping to an incorrect conclusion.  As growing Christians, we should hold a higher standard in our evaluation. We need to slow down and tune in to God. Not only will it help us hear His word, becoming focused gives us wisdom and understanding of His message.

  
God has given each one of us a unique platform with unique circles of influence.  What I like about these guys is that they understand that above all else they follow Jesus.  


Are you giving God glory in what you do?  Are you making much of Jesus in your life?  Are you taking every opportunity to give Him glory?  

Good evening everyone!
We have come to the end of another week and God continues to bless us all! I know He has kept me from hurt, harm and danger, and has sent great opprotunities my way. He has blessed my friends and family beyond measure this week. There is no end to God's blessings.
But, in the words of Mr. Steve Harvey, that is what God does, that is God's business. God is in the blessing business. He blesses us with what we need and want. He takes care of His children, ALL of us! There is nothing God won't do for us, the only thing He won't do is hurt us, He loves us too much.
so, the least we can do is love Him back and do His will. that is all He ask of us, nothing more, nothing less.
So, do your best to please God. Talk to Him, find out His purpose for you, then fulfil it! Praise Him!
Have a very blessed evening!!!
Good night everybody!
Cheryl

Today is National Day of Prayer.

I was up early and at a breakfast where we ate, drank coffee and spent time in prayer.

What a privilege to be around people who pray.
I am challenged to grow in my prayer life because of being with people in our community who are dependent on prayer.

I wanted to remind you of a great method to use in prayer.
The ACTS Method.
Adoration
Confession
Thanksgiving
Supplication

Whatever you do and however you are motivated... just pray.