purpose in every step

Last night we had a concert at Christ’s Church with Building 429, Britt Nicole, Chris and Conrad, and Mike’s Chair. Basically…it was incredible!

Thanks to the 30 or so students who volunteered to be greeters. It was the friendliest place in Jacksonville last night!!

Christ and Conrad started off the night with a few songs. They sound good…but to be honest, they played up to the girls who thought they looked good too much. When Conrad came and stood in front of our youth group (sitting together in the front several rows) and pointed and winked at a couple of girls while singing I realized he was making it about him and not God. Not what I was looking for…but I’m not a teenage girl!

Mike’s Chair was great. I really enjoyed hearing them. They had a little old school DC TALK in their set which I enjoyed. They seemed very sincere, rocked out, and had lots of fun.

Britt Nicole was my favorite. She has an incredible voice. I appreciate the way she incorporated scripture and her testimony into a high energy set. She is a role model for young ladies…and many of them were there to hear her!

Building 429 gave the best all around show. Being the headliners, they had a full production with lights and video that the other groups did not have. It was high energy with several worship songs the youth loved (like Happy Day and I Am Free). Great set.

Look for more concerts coming down the road. We will continue to partner with the Promise (88.1) and bring in some great artists.

Were you there? Post your thoughts of the concert and some pictures!

Had some issues with the site/blog…but getting it worked out.

Hang in there with me as this gets rolling!

By the way…I’d love to have some of the students help me write some devotions for this site. Email them to me at DavidL@CContheWeb.com.

Here is the video of the message in OUTLET on Wednesday, Feb 10. We are in the midst of a “Real Life” series. The subject was “Sex.”

By the way…the medical definition I used for “sex” came from the book “Sex Has A Price Tag” by Pam Stenzel. It’s a great book.

Real Life - Sex from Christ's Church - Jacksonville on Vimeo.

It’s Valentine’s Day weekend! I get so excited when I think about my wife and the love we share and get to celebrate. It’s not a perfect love…we aren’t perfect people…but it is a growing love.

I’ve come a long way over the last 10 years with her. I can be pretty selfish at times. In fact, that is the number one thing that scares me about having our baby girl. Will I be able to put aside my wants to give her all she needs and wants.

How does your love measure up? Not just in some boyfriend/girlfriend relationship, but to your family…friends…or even perfect strangers?

Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-7 and see how it measures up.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Some of you made commitments to sexual purity at OUTLET last night.  I’m very excited for your decision!

There will be tough days ahead when the temptations seem to be too much. Remember this from Isaiah 40:26-31.

26 Lift your eyes and look to the heavens:
Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one,
and calls them each by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,
not one of them is missing.

27 Why do you say, O Jacob,
and complain, O Israel,
“My way is hidden from the LORD;
my cause is disregarded by my God”?

28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.

29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.

30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;

31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

What areas do you need strength in? Look at verses 30-31. Have you ever stumbled? God promises if you allow him to, HE will renew your strength. How does that make you feel?

As you face today, I pray you will be renewd with HIS strength in your life. I pray that your commitment to sexual purity will be so much more than just decision made one night…but a lifestyle you live out everyday.

Check out the video of last week’s talk on pornography.

Thanks, Doug, for sharing your story and your heart.

Real Life - Pornography from Christ's Church - Jacksonville on Vimeo.

We are excited to role out a new site here that will provide daily devotions for 9-12 graders.

While this page is a ministry of Christ’s Church Student Ministry, we invite you to share it with anyone!

Be sure to link to it on Facebook so you will know when it is updated. We will also use this site to post questions, so feel free to leave your thoughts here anytime.

–David