Purpose Driven Life Management (imported from Myspace)

It's amazing how the way that you look at ministry changes once you have been there. I have been on the mountaintop awed by the awesome "opportunity" to work with youth and then again, I have experienced the valley of discouragement when you can't seem to get through. You can't seem to light their fire, recharge their batteries, whatever metaphor you want, all the same. Kids today through no fault of their own are not challenged to think. They are challenged to watch TV and play video games. I want more for these kids. I love them. That's why I get angry. Angry that they are not realizing their potential. Angry that their parents do not force them to live to their potential (at least attempt to). Angry that they do not want to think through any material other than sex, drugs and rock-n-roll. (Which, by the way, they have already made their mind up about) Kids need to be taught theology. They need to stop and learn how to meditate on God's Word. Learn to sit in his presence. Learn to take time out and ponder on the eternal realities. I am tired of hearing about what boy is "going out with" what girl and what they said about you. I am tired of hearing the latest gossip, of the complaining about eveything, of the stressing over nothing, of the unappreciation. Teenagers: Challenge yourself! Live above the norm! Take charge and examine your own potential. Learn DISCIPLINE (no, that is not blasphemy). Appreciate your parents and honor them. Well, why am I so tired of the teenage frustration - after all, we all went through it. Yeah, that's true. But from a girl who did.....IT DIDN'T MATTER. What did matter? The relationships with people - my relationship with God - the life lessons. NOT who dumped who for whom. What do I regret? Only not following the advice I give above.....not reaching higher, not pushing myself harder. Not establishing discipline in my own life so that I could be farther along my own spiritual journey than I am already. That is where I am disappointed in myself. That's why it makes me mad. I came from good stock, did well according to the standards and still see so much that I could/should have done. But nobody told me straight up, "This doesn't matter. Concentrate on what does." Maybe that's the approach that they need. They will make their mistakes surely, and they will learn from them. I just desire that at the end of the day that they reach a place in life where they have grown into a mature relationship with Christ. I am sick of the shallows. God, I am certain, is sick of the shallows. We need to get in and get more than just our feet wet. THAT'S what I want for them. A deep relationship. Comfort when they are hurting that they can only find in Christ. Hope in the difficulties when nothing makes sense. Even joy in the face of death. This is an amazing concept, and it is one that I fear that they may miss entirely if nobody comes alongside shouting for them to live higher. They certainly are not seeing this vibrant relationship at home (most at least). But God's grace is amazing, and I guess my comfort in all of this is knowing that we must just be faithful and that the same God who can call me to a higher plane, can woo them just the same.