"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ," Ephesians 3:16-18 I have one of those lawn services come by my house every few weeks and put whatever it is that makes a lawn gorgeous on my grass. Still, if they're not paying attention during the early spring treatments, they'll miss a spot or two and I'll get a few dandelions here and there--something every grass lover hates! Earlier today I spotted one that I was sure I had pulled out a few weeks ago, but as dandelions are known for, if you don't get the entire (really long) root out of the ground, they'll grow back before you know it. And such is the case with sin in our lives. There are a few things that once allowed to grow roots into our lives will do a great job of destroying our faith, but probably nothing is worse than the love of money. If you see even a hint of it in your life, ask God to help you rip out the roots immediately! "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." 1Timothy 6:10 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you." (Ephesians 4:32, NIV) Dear Friends, When we think of forgiveness, it is easy to picture small slights-someone cutting us off in traffic or speaking a careless word. But the gospel calls us to something far greater. A striking example of this is Erika Kirk, who made headlines yesterday for extending forgiveness to the man who murdered her husband. Her response shocked many, because forgiveness is not about excusing wrongs, but about entrusting justice to God. Forgiveness does not deny the pain or diminish the loss; instead, it opens the door for God's healing presence to enter. As Jesus Himself taught, " For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you" (Matthew 6:14, NIV). At Harvest Youth Ministries, we often meet young people who carry wounds of betrayal, rejection, and loss. Stories like Erika's show us that no hurt is beyond God's redeeming love. As we walk alongside those we serve, we point them to the Savior who forgave His executioners and offers that same grace to all who call on Him. May we all be known as a people who embody this radical forgiveness - in our homes, in our workplaces, and in our communities. In doing so, we shine as living witnesses of the transforming power of Christ's love. Blessings in Christ, Pastor Jim Kilby

Is every moment in life already planned out by God, or do we make it up with our choices and decisions and then God makes His will work through it? This question has long been debated by people a lot smarter than me, so I'll spare you my thoughts on the subject. I will, however, make what I believe to be even a more practical observation. It really doesn't matter to me! I guess I'll have to wait until the next life to find out because we are all still forced to make decisions each and every day, regardless of whether God already knows what we're going to do! The bottom line is that God is God, and even if everyone in the world is against us, even if they do their best to stop us, God will make His perfect will come to live in each of our lives if we simply follow the Spirit's urging. I don't know if He's involved in every single decision, but I know He's involved in making exactly what He wants out of my life come perfectly true! "At this they tried to seize him [Jesus], but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come." John 7:30 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

"the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being." Genesis 2:7 I don't know if you've ever thought about it, but for all the science we boast of in this world, not one scientist has ever created life from dirt. In fact, they've never created life from anything, unless they've used the egg, sperm, of something that was already created. Sure, they can take some DNA that was already created and then duplicate it, but we can't even create a single cell amoeba unless we use God's building blocks! To those who suggest that human life begins after a child is born, I argue vehemently that life, even at the first splitting of the fertilized egg into two cells, is life indeed! In order to stop if from growing into a full-grown human being, it's got to be terminated! Thanks to science, for today's teens "terminating a pregnancy" has become increasingly easy. The morning after pill will terminate a pregnancy up to about 72 hours, then RU-486 (the abortion pill) can be taken up to 9 1/2 weeks into pregnancy. Of course, little thought is generally given to the fact that the mother will then be forced to "give birth" to a dead 9 1/2 week human fetus and then flush it down the toilet. I read just today that pro-choice groups are having a hard time recruiting young people into their ranks. The pro-choice group was suggesting that teens just don't care enough about the issue anymore. I suggest that maybe teens are much more educated today and aren't duped into believing the pro-death movement's "it's just a lump of cells" or "it's your right to choose" arguments. Defend life in all it's stages--you'd want the same done for you if you were helpless! "You shall not murder." Exodus 20:13 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Going to college was a long and painful experience for me, but as I look back now, it wasn't the degree but the process that was so valuable. Now that I think about it, so were high school, grade school, and my years in the military, etc. Although there were moments in each experience where I learned great and valuable things, the real value came when each of the segments ran together to make me who I am today. As short-sighted humans, we often miss the simple truth that God uses the "processes" in our lives to make us who He wants us to be. We far too often look at the circumstances (like one particular class, one particular individual, etc.) and figure the world is just out to get us. When that happens, we lose heart and then we lose focus! Remember, it's the process, not the specific situation that you may be facing at the moment. Sure, you're flawed, but God sees you as the finished product. Although it may not look like it in the instant, things WILL work out for God's glory in the end. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28  Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

These days if people don't like their job, they quit. If they don't like their bosses, they talk bad about them and even steal from them. If they don't like the town they live in, they gripe about it endlessly, and when they're old enough they move to a new city and learn to gripe about that one. Don't like your girlfriend/boyfriend/or spouse, leave them and find another one to hate! Is it just me, or are we just not happy anymore? If not, it's because happiness is our goal and happiness is always fleeting. Instead, the "joy of the Lord" should be our goal. Life is difficult and you can be sure that much will come against you to rob you of happiness as the years go by. But if true joy is your goal, like that found only in Jesus, even the worst of circumstances won't shake you. "Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets." Jesus of Nazareth (Luke 6:22-23)  Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

The first thing a person must do before they can begin to heal is admit their faults. Alcoholics who deny they are hooked cannot be helped, and sinners who deny their sin are on their own with that sin. In my estimation, this is one of the major reasons the church is so powerless in many situations today. Far too many of those who call themselves part of the Body of Christ are caught in sin and deny it to His face. We all sin, and we need to acknowledge that fact. Then, we need to confess our specific sins to the One all sin offends! Then, and only then, will we see true healing in the Body! If we proceed with anything less than honesty, then we are not Christ-followers. This leaves only deceived Saints or willful liars. "For I know MY transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge." Psalm 51:3-4 (Emphasis mine) Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

There are a lot of people who are willing to debate whether or not Jesus is the Christ--the Savior of mankind. But, there are few who are willing to debate it using any real data. Most folks believe unbiblical things about who Jesus is and choose to essentially make Him up from what they "think"... which is generally made up from what they've heard on the streets and what they've decided to make up on their own. Any real student of the Scriptures and of history will easily determine that He was and is who He said He was--God's only Son! Anyone who chooses to believe otherwise has been blinded by Satan. "For he [Paul] vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ." Acts 18:28 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate