"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free." (Galatians 5:1, NIV) Dear Friends, Earlier this week, I stood near the edge of the Adriatic Sea in Croatia—where Roman ruins meet mountain cliffs and the world feels impossibly wide. My sons and I had just come from canyoning in Slovenia, climbing waterfalls and diving into clear, cold pools, when one of them looked over and said, “Dan would love this!” Dan, one of my other sons, is currently in basic training with the U.S. Air Force. As I write this, he’s learning the meaning of duty, service, and sacrifice. And as we mark Juneteenth this week, I find myself reflecting on freedom—the kind hard-won in both the body and the soul. Juneteenth reminds us that even long after a declaration of freedom is made, it can take time for truth to arrive at every doorstep. The Emancipation Proclamation had been issued two and a half years before the enslaved people of Galveston, Texas, heard they were free. Delay didn’t make the freedom less real—it made it more urgent. That gap—between what’s promised and what’s lived—is something we all know. In Christ, we are declared free. Free from sin, free from shame, free from earning love we’ve already been given. But how long does it take for that truth to reach every corner of our hearts? It’s easy to get tangled up in shame over our past, fear over our future, or pressure to perform for God’s approval. But like those waters in the mountains, God’s grace keeps rushing toward us—even when we don’t feel ready. Juneteenth reminds us not only of what has been broken in our world, but what has been healed. What was once stolen, God is restoring. What was once silenced, God is amplifying. His gospel is still announcing freedom to captives—then, now, and always. So wherever you find yourself this week—whether in celebration or struggle—remember: you are already free in Christ. Let that freedom reach deeper. Let it ripple out to others. Blessings in Christ, Pastor Jim Kilby

Over and over again I find brothers and sisters in the Lord trying to overcome evil by using evil. On its surface it seems logical, for example, if someone slaps you, you might get all your friends together and slap them back! But this is the world's logic, not God's. If we take matters like this into our own hands, we take God's position as the avenger. What's more, evil cannot be defeated by evil, but only by good. In using evil we actually become an instrument of Satan's, not of God's. In the end, those using evil are overcome by evil. We are followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, and such, we do as He commands. "Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord. On the contrary: 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:19-21 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Many times I receive mail from young people who've strayed far from the Lord, but who are now convicted of their sins and wanting to return. Although not all the mail I get is pleasant to answer, this type fills my heart with joy. If you find yourself in that situation, or if you know someone who is, know that the Lord wants you to acknowledge your sin as soon as you notice it, and He is always gracious in accepting the truly repentant heart back into His wonderful fellowship. No matter how far you've wondered, and no matter what you've done, He cries for you to come home. My advice is to get a pen and a tablet of paper and write a letter to Jesus. Tell Him everything, but leave out all the "reasons why." Just accept what you've done and confess it plainly. Ask for His forgiveness and for His help in keeping you on the right path. Deliver the letter to Him like a written out prayer, and then if necessary, destroy it or give it to an accountability partner or pastor who can hold you accountable. And... don't forget to give glory to God for His Grace. "This is what the lord says, he who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it--the Lord is his name: Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." Jeremiah 33:2-3 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Again and again I'm confronted with people who tell me they blame God for all the evil in the world. In my mind it's kind of similar to blaming me for something one of my grown children does. It just wouldn't be fair. I did my best to raise them right, and still sometimes they choose to do wrong. Sure, God's arms are not so short that He couldn't put a stop to evil, but in order to do so, He would be sentencing all those who will one day come to know Him to an eternity without Him. The prescribed time for the end has not come yet. Those who know Him must suffer and wait along with the Lord. Evil prevails in the world because WE, you and I, allow it! Not only have we allowed it, but we often help it through our sins. Evil people are evil because they give into the flesh instead of giving in to the Lord. Until Jesus returns, nothing will change--except that evil will become even more prevalent. And none of it is God's "fault!" "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and imposters will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it." 2 Timothy 3:12-14 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Often we find things written in the Bible that demand a response. The Scriptures will tell us to start doing something, or stop doing something, as the case may be. Typically, a similar conviction will come from the Holy Spirit and will urge us to do what God asks. At that moment of conviction, have you ever said in your heart, "I just won't do it?" If so, like so many others before you, you have denied Jesus His rightful place in your life! Before you think too harshly of yourself, please know that we all struggle with the flesh--wanting to do the right thing while a war rages inside us urging us to do it our own way. Jesus is not just our Savior, but also our Lord. That means that He should be calling the shots in our lives, and He does that through His Word and through His Spirit, always working in concert together. When we obey, then He can use us further and teach us even more. When we disobey, we are left wondering why we feel so far from our Lord and often blaming Him when it was our fault right from the start. "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord." 1 Peter 3:15a Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Unless you're in charge of a large corporation, downsizing has become a word working people don't care much for. It's just not cool to go to work one day and find that you've been "downsized!" Parents and kids alike suffer through the stress and strain accompanying the lack of funds that generally accompanies the loss of work. As modern day Americans though, we should probably take the time to consider how much we really do have. Often we have more than we even know what to do with. We work ourselves harder and harder, but generally not for necessities--rather for the niceties of life. Basically, we work harder so we can have more stuff to compare with our neighbor's stuff. As for me, I can appreciate nice things, but I'm no longer willing to chase after them. God has changed my heart a lot in this area and even caused me to want to downsize the amount of stuff I have. Let's face it, every thing we own must be dusted, washed, insured, folded, polished, or otherwise maintained. Is impressing our neighbor really worth it? "Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind." Ecclesiastes 4:6 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Have you ever laughed when Jesus told you something? No, really? Have you ever looked at something in the Scriptures and said, "That may be OK for some people, but not for me!" Believe it or not, being convicted by any Scripture and then just walking away does just that--it mocks your Savior. It also minimizes the ability for God to work in your life, and it all but stops your Christian growth. Jesus is well aware that just about everything we read in His Word will be impossible for us to do alone, that's why He died to break sin's bond on us! If we could have done it alone, we wouldn't have needed Him. Laughing at Him only makes us look ridiculous. His miracles will continue, they just won't happen in our lives or our ministries. "When Jesus entered the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd, he said, "Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep." But they laughed at him. After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. News of this spread through all that region." Matthew 9:23-26  Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Has God given you a heart for those who have yet to receive salvation through His Only Son? I believe that is precisely what He desires to do. The problem is that we are often just too busy with school, work, or pleasure to be that interested in those who have less than us, much less those who have never heard the good news. Yea, we know there are missionaries out there somewhere, but do we give them even a casual second thought? What about the hardships they endure? What about the things we now enjoy that they had to give up sharing God's message with those less fortunate or less desirable to the world? I recommend praying for a missionary on a daily basis. If you don't know one personally, it doesn't have to be for one who's in a far off land. Pray for someone who's busy sharing his or her faith in your school or your neighborhood? If that doesn't bring someone to mind, then pray for me if you like. And please remember that those who are sent by God to share Christ's love must be sent--that means they must be called by God, and under girded with prayer and material support by those who stay behind. If your lot in life is a more comfortable one, consider giving financially to the missionary or ministry God brings to your heart. You just might find you appreciate all of life a lot more! "As the scripture says, 'Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.' For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, 'Everyone who calls on the Lord will be saved.' How, then, canthey call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'" Romans 10:11-15 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate