If you live long enough you'll finally have enough birthdays you'll begin to forget how old you are! I know that sounds weird to my teenage audience, but it's true. What's weird is that as I've grown as a Christian I've become less and less excited about celebrating my birthday. Not because I'm getting older mind you, but because it seems weird to have the spotlight focused on me. The truth is that if it went by unnoticed by anyone but my close family that would be fine with me. This world and everything in it is the Lord's. Even the days that He has given me (and you) are His. For those who've just celebrated Jesus' birthday at Christmas (December 25th), you might be surprised to find that Jesus was actually born during the summer months (it's true!). The Bible doesn't even record His actual birth date. I believe that's because He was not here to have things be about Him. He was here to do the Father's work. If we're here to do the same, then birthday celebrations will probably lose their luster for us too. "just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Jesus of Nazareth (Matthew 20:28) Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

If you ask enough people who follow other religions or claim to be atheists why they don't believe in Jesus, you'll find there are just about as many reasons as there are people to ask. If you investigate enough, you'll also find that the reason (or reasons) don't really matter much to a person who is looking for a reason not to believe. The truth is that people who choose not to believe do it because of evil desires in their hearts. It's just that simple. So, answer their questions if you can (and if they have any), and live out your faith before them, but know that it is the Lord's work to break through to their hearts. All the great answers in the world won't be enough for someone who wants to be their own god. "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil." John 3:19 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Once after I preached a rather convicting sermon several people met me at the door of the church and proclaimed "We loved your message!" Generally this is not a time when I feel drawn to rebuke people, but I must admit I was a little shocked. My response probably could have been a little more tactful, but in the moment all I could come up with was, "Maybe you weren't listening!" They smiled and retreated, not knowing if I was kidding or not, I suppose. My point was that hearing the Word of the Lord is not the point, but agreeing with it, conforming to it, and actually doing it! Far too often God's people claim His promises and His blessings but fail to follow through on the requirements of His Word. When this happens, just like the good Father that He is, He disciples His children. The following is just one of a series of passages where God's judgment was coming on His people for just this reason. "Listen to the wail of the shepherds; their rich pastures are destroyed! Listen to the roar of the lions; the lush thicket of the Jordan is ruined." Zechariah 11:3  Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

I'm kind of a hard-nosed guy when it comes to seeing things in black and white. I don't have any tolerance for things I feel are dishonest or against what I believe are God's standards. While that may be fine at times (like lovingly helping people see the truth), judgment is really not my job. Judgment is God's job 100% of the time. I find it ironic and profound God had every reason to judge us harshly, and yet found it in His heart to give us mercy, while we who have no reason to judge, quite often do it anyway, and yet find it difficult to show mercy to others. The truth is we need to always be aware we have been saved by grace and are no longer under the law, but in many ways we need to live like we still will be judged by it. The fact remains we are still sinners. Whenever we are standing in judgment of someone else, we are sinners sitting in God's chair. A good remembrance of the law will help keep us out of HIS chair! “Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!" James 2:12-13 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Let's say you're standing on the curb near your school (or work, or home, or anywhere for that matter) trying to help a scared and crying young person who's terribly lost. While you are doing your best to get a phone number for a parent out of them, someone runs up and steals your bike (or car, or skateboard, or... well, you get the point). You were just trying to do the right thing and still you were wronged. You ask yourself, "Why didn't God protect me?" Later, you see the very people who ripped you off having dinner at McDonalds, only they don't see you. Do you: A. Scratch up their car with a key (because they seriously deserve it). B. Call the police. C. Thank God for the blessing! D. Both B and C. The answer is found below (just add common sense about the police part!): "Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed." 1 Peter 3:13 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

I find two extremes when I look at how many Christians think of sharing their faith with unbelievers. One group simply never thinks of themselves as good enough, smart enough or outgoing enough to even try. They feel guilty because of their perceived inability, but it never gets them out of their comfort zone. They fail to realize it is God who convicts hearts, but He has given us the ministry of reaching out to those hearts. The other extreme is those who are living secretly sinful lives, yet share their faith like crazy, even skipping (or avoiding) the more challenging points of the Gospel so they can convince people to "become Christians too." I don't believe many souls are saved at either extreme; The first group because they never try, and the other because people can easily see their faith is not genuine. What the Lord needs is people who are willing to follow after Him close enough that the sin in their lives begins to fade away, and who are then grace-filled enough that they are willing to truthfully and honestly reach out to a hurting world! "Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God." 2 Corinthians 4:1-2 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

In honor of the St. Patrick's Day holiday, I heard a commentator give a neat rundown on exactly who St. Patrick was today. It seems that of all the things he was (Christian, evangelist, etc.) he was never actually canonized as a Saint by the Catholic church. What's more, he wasn't even Irish, but Scottish! Still, I must disagree with the commentator. People do not become saints because any denomination of the church deems them one. Early Christians were all addressed as "saints," because that is exactly what they were called to be! Believers in Jesus Christ are all saints, not because of what they've done, but because of what HE has done! Then they become travelers on the path to become worthy of the title. In the New Testament, believers are addressed as "saints" 45 times! Just imagine how you might think differently if you were continuously addressed with the title, "Saint." "And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will." Romans 8:27  Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

If you owed the meanest person in your school some money, would you take your time in paying him back? Do you bad-mouth your toughest teacher, or the boss you have the most respect for? What about a police officer or a judge... if it really started to look like you were going to get in serious trouble, would you consider using a more respectful tone? I'm a pretty tough-minded guy, but when it comes right down to suffering meaninglessly, I'll go ahead and take the path of least resistance if I can. What's interesting is that many who would never cross another person make a habit of crossing God and give it nary a thought. "A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?" says the Lord Almighty. Malachi 1:6a Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate