If you were walking by a mirror and saw a black mark on your face, would you stop to do something about it? Most people wouldn't go another inch until they were looking presentable again. In the Christian realm we often look into the mirror of God we find in His Word, notice that we've got problems, and then wonder off without giving it a second thought. Here's a test: What was the sermon about in your church last week? Did you feel any real convictions coming out of it? What did you do about them? Surveys show that the vast majority of church attendees can't recall the sermon topic after even one hour! We need to remember that the conviction that comes from God's Word comes directly from the Holy Spirit. Ignoring that conviction is ignoring God Himself. With the revelation of sin in our lives comes the immediate responsibility to act. To do anything less is even more sinful. "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what is says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does." James 1:22-25 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Have you ever heard the phrase, "Well you got your job and I got mine?" If not, maybe you've heard the shorter version of, "That's not MY job!" At any rate, you've surely seen the sentiment behind the phrases, which essentially pushes off responsibility that might otherwise wind up in someone's lap who doesn't want it. I guess there are probably times when we do need to hold people accountable for holding up their end of jobs and responsibilities, but get troubled when Christians think that the job of the pastor or people in other paid church positions are the only one's who need to worry about the Church. The work of the Lord is the business of every believer, and in fact we are all called "saints" and even "priests" if we are part of the Body of Christ--His Church. And even if you're a teen who's busy with school, work, and a thousand other things, you can still pray for your church and those who labor there. You just might find out how important prayer really is when you see them being answered by a faithful God. "I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me." Romans 15:30 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

The first Christian ever killed for his faith was a young man named Stephen. Believe it or not, he was dealing with the same thing God had been dealing with people about since the Garden of Eden. They just did not want to listen to God. And it's worth noting that these were not just your "run of the mill" folks either. These were the religious people, God's chosen people, which by the way will be the same people who often give pastors and elders a fit today. So what got Stephen killed? He told them the way it was and they didn't like it! We don't kill prophets for speaking God's will today, but we still like to ignore them if they say anything we don't like. "You stiff-necked people... You always resist the Holy Spirit!" Acts 7:51 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

"Do this! Do that!" Have you heard the way some young men speak to and about girls these days? It's appalling to me, not only as a minister of the Lord, but also as a father of three girls. Who decided that anyone could act so badly toward someone else and get away with it? Who decided that it was okay to badmouth other human beings and be applauded for it? And young ladies don't get away easily either. Working with troubled teens has given me an education about the foulness of some "ladies" mouths beyond what most could imagine. People have little respect for one another in this day and age and even less respect for the Creator who made those priceless human beings we're bad-mouthing, or for ourselves for that matter. But the words are not really the problem. What comes out of a person's mouth quite simply is a reflection of what is in that person's heart. If Jesus is in your heart, then your words ought to testify to it. Who cares what everyone else does, says or is? We are the Lord's property and we'll act like it. If you can't seem to get a grip on your mouth, you might consider giving your heart to the Only Son of God--He's your only hope! "The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks." Luke 6:45 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Are your friends keeping you from obeying God's laws? If so, you already know what you need to do. The only question is why won't you do it? I get a large amount of mail from teens who lament this issue. They want to be liked, and they want to keep their friends, but they find it hard to keep their walk with God pure because of some of their relationships. Please know that not doing the hard thing is almost always the wrong thing. Reach out to unsaved people whenever you can, but don't ever sacrifice your relationship with God for anybody. Doing so elevates yourself and your earthly relationships above God Himself. Committing such an act is the sin of idolatry, plain and simple. "I hate double-minded men, but I love your law. You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word. Away from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commands of my God!" Psalm 119:113-115 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Far too many Christians live life without much of a plan of attack. Can you imagine what would happen if even a great country rushed into a war without a plan? Disaster would certainly be the result. Making it through even one day without being caught up in some type of sin is difficult enough, but doing so without watching and keeping alert is impossible. If you've found yourself struggling more than normal, maybe it's because you're not starting your day with the realization Satan wants to make you trip and fall at every opportunity. Such a realization will help you remember to study, to pray, and to keep other Christians as close as possible. Only a strong walk with Jesus and a firm grasp of His Word can make your path safe. "Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery [doing bad stuff]. Instead, be filled with the Spirit." Ephesians 5:15-18 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

If you knew I was an expert on something and you were my close friend, would you go to a total stranger and ask them instead of asking me? If you did, not only would you be hurting our relationship, but you'd also be getting poor instruction. We live in a world where God is evident in everything good that we see if we only look intently, yet many look elsewhere for guidance about the very world and people He created. Christians who do this hurt their relationship with a God who loves them, and are led astray by what the Bible calls "blind guides." Seeking information from horoscopes, spiritists and other mediums is evil in God's eyes which makes it bad enough. What makes it worse is that in the end, those who seek this type of advice and counsel begin to blame God and government for all the problems in the world. What's more, they become blind to the very light they once knew. "When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their god? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn. Distressed and hungry, they will roam through the land; when they are famished, they will become enraged and, looking upward, will curse their king [government] and their God. Then they will look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom, and they will be thrust into utter darkness." Isaiah 8:19-22  Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Are you being pressured to become sexually active? Many young people write me about these types of issues, and down to a one the person who's always concerned about it is the female. Men, once they have the opportunity to become sexually active, can typically only think about one thing--the next time they can have sex! God's plan is a simple one. Do not have sexual relations outside of the covenant of marriage. Females are often gifted with giving personalities, and men are quite often quite willing to provide the "but I love you" pressure or the "we'll be married one day" pressure to help convince the fairer sex to give in. Applying the pressure is sin, falling for the pressure is sin, and ANY sexual impurity is sin. I can't put it much plainer. But, if you've gone down this road, God's plan is equally simple and He is always forgiving if we do things HIS way. First, STOP today, agree with God that you've sinned and confess it to Him, THEN, remain pure until you are married. And... since we're on the topic, any man who says he loves you but is unwilling to sacrifice for you (and for God) is a liar. His love is only for himself. "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry." Colossians 3:5 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate