When you get right down to it, would you admit that there are times when "your world" is all about you? Would you go so far to say that there are times when the whole world is all about you? No matter where you fit on the continuum, there's no doubt that humans often have an over inflated self-image. If we're spending our every waking moment looking for new and exciting ways to meet our most recent "needs," doesn't that in itself testify to our depravity? Without God in our lives, we truly are a hopeless bunch. "Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro: He bustles about, but only in vain; he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it." Psalm 39:6 So... what's the purpose of YOUR life been lately? A. Fulfill God's purposes. B. Fulfill my own "needs." Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Although some are sure to disagree with me, I wholeheartedly believe that struggling in life can be a good thing. A parent who gives his child everything and removes all the struggles will raise a child who is unprepared for the rigors of life. On the other hand, a person who is forced to struggle for everything can also lose focus and heart and give up. There is a happy medium in most everything. Struggling to grow in the faith Christ has given us, for example, is a great thing, but only when the purpose is to grow, and not to earn one's salvation. A Christian is "saved," meaning that portion of the equation is finished. Still, the struggle to become more like Christ will continue all the days of the believer's life. No matter what the task before us, the chances are we will struggle with some part of it while on this earth. Struggling to be a faithful Christian is no different. Fortunately, we have help... And fortunately, for those who've accepted Jesus as their Savior, the struggle to be right in God's eyes is over! "Only let us live up to what we have already attained." Phillippians 3:16 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

To be content with life, no matter the circumstances, would be heaven on earth for me. I've grown in this area for many years, but my high-strung Type A personality doesn't always lead to contentment. Instead, I'm always looking to move forward a little bit faster and do things a little bit better. When things don't go the way I had them planned in my head I can get irritated--and even angry. The answer, or should I say the secret, is in living your life completely trusting in Christ. I pray that the Lord is gracious enough to allow me to grow in my faith in this area. I only hope I don't get irritated with Him for taking longer than I'd like! "I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:12b-13  Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Have you ever noticed how some people will learn you are a Christian and will embrace you, while others will immediately scorn you? It's not about YOU as much as it is about Christ, but it can still be quite painful to make someone so uncomfortable with your faith that they hate you for it. I learned long ago that my witness is to be faithful no matter what the result. It is God who draws sinners to Himself, and sometimes He uses us to testify to them even though it may only be as a judgement day witness that they clearly heard the gospel and refused it. "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life." 1 Corinthians 2:14-16a Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

I've had some tough things happen to me in the last few weeks. As I look back, I suppose any one of them could have made me lose heart, but God seems to know when and where you can deal with the inevitable trouble that will come. No doubt He's right there with me as I face trials, and for each and every Christian, the same promise holds true. Life is tough, and if it's not tough right now, it will be soon. That's one of the wages of sin. Fortunately for those who trust in Jesus, our days of trouble will be short lived, followed by all eternity with the lover of our souls! "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 1 Corinthians 3:7

"When he (Satan) lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." John 8:44b (NIV) Dear Friends, I got a call from a young woman last week who was wondering why a beautiful butterfly had landed on her arm for a brief moment the day before. She wanted to know if I’d help her figure out which of her late relatives had visited. She had earlier posted the same question on social media and a flurry of “keyboard spiritualists” had convinced her she’d been visited by her grandmother who recently passed. For better or worse, I can be pretty blunt when I’m speaking the Truth to lies. And so I said, “You were visited by a beautiful bug!”. We went on to discuss how Jesus made it clear no one can pass from this life and then come back (Luke 16:19-31) (with the obvious exceptions of when He was involved in bringing someone back from the dead). I don’t think she actually believed me, but that’s likely because lies like this are so ingrained in our culture. What’s more, lots of well-meaning and sympathetic people who want to comfort grieving hearts perpetuate these lies without realizing they actually come from anti-Christian “new age” religions. What’s probably the saddest thing, in my opinion, is that so many young people have been so insulated from actual Biblical truth for so long, when they see it, they either immediately discount it or refuse to even listen. But some might ask me, does it really matter if she believes her grandmother visited her in the form of a butterfly. Yes, it does. Because it’s a lie, and all lies come from a root of evil. And… because it works against the Truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He has been quite clear with us: “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” Hebrews 9:27-28 Blessings in Christ, Pastor Jim Kilby

"You're 18 now. Tell your parents to go to hell!" Does that sound like any advice you've heard before? Sometimes that type of advice doesn't wait for you to turn 18 either, it can start much earlier. And... sometimes "friends" can be led by stupidity as easily as the rest of us can! Still, at 18 teenagers in the United States are full-grown (at least legally), and can make their own decisions. I'm one for trying to build into my kids a sense of responsibility years before they're ever old enough to vote, but the fact remains that even a minister's kids can be irresponsible (yes it's true!). Unfortunately, a common misconception for Christian teens is that turning 18 means you no longer need to listen to your parents, or to even take their advice seriously. As a Christian, however, the opposite would be closer to the truth. As a Christ follower, you should honor your mother and father, and the command doesn't stop on an arbitrary birthday. If you're fortunate enough to have your parents live until you are old, then you'll still be honoring them when you're hair is gray. Sure, there will come a day when your parents will not have much control over your actions, but Christ is still your Lord--turning 18, or even turning 81 doesn't give you the right to be less of a Christian--if anything, if comes with the responsibility to be an even stronger one. "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 'Honor your father and mother'--which is the first commandment with a promise-- 'that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on earth.'" Ephesians 6:1 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate