Just in case you did not notice, I did not blog last week. Well, to kind of put it mildly, and to be perfectly honest with you, I have been extremely discouraged with our communication over the blog. I started doing this blog about a year ago so that we could review our lessons. This was at the request of the pastor and Bro. Lowell so that we would all be on the same page as we teach the lesson. One teacher called me last week to see why I had not blogged. Thanks for calling. Note: This was not my wife. I understand how busy life can be, how aggravating it can be to get on the internet sometimes, and all the other excuses we can come up with. Sometimes I feel as if I am leading yet nobody is following. So, that makes me question my leadership. Am I leading? Should I be a follower? Should I get out of the way? Believe me I have been struggling with this issue. Have you as a teacher ever been excited about something in class? Pumped about what you are excited about , you share your idea with your class. You give them a homework assignment and the following week only one of your students has done what you asked them to do. Does that kind of take all the air out of your excitement? Well, that is kind of how I feel. I am trying to lead our Sunday School program and to be honest with you, I don't feel as if anyone is doing their homework. Let meknow: what is the issue with the blog? Is it that we don't need it? Is it that we are not studying until Saturday night or Sunday morning? Are you scared to write a post on the blog because you are afraid you might be wrong? I would love to know. I have decided that I will write the blog each week and if only one person gains from it, I will keep doing it. I wish we could all be on the same page with this issue.
This week we are studying one of my favorite passages in the Bible. Noah was a righteous man. He lived in a world that had turned to wickedness. One thing we will learn is that God does not tolerate sin. When we sin, it grieves the heart of God. He has a mandate for us to follow, a set of rules and guidelines, and when we stray it grieves His heart. God chose Noah out of all the people on the earth to preserve the life of humans. Here is the question I would like us to ponder: IF GOD WAS CHOOSING SOMEONE TODAY , WOULD HE CHOOSE YOU? WHAT ARE YOU DOING FOR THE CAUSE OF CHRIST? ARE YOU LIVING COMPLETELY FOR HIM? There is no doubt in my mind that He would look right past me. When judgment came, I am sure there were people doing all they could to get on the ark. In the same way, when Christ comes back I am sure there will be people who finally want to believe what the Bible says. They will be crying for mercy from our Lord. Noah walked with God. Are we walking with Him or are we causing others to stumble along the way?
Finally, let me tell you that I love each of you dearly. I appreciate all you do for the youth at FBC. If you want to post annomously and give me an earful, then go for it. I want each of us to put our eyes on Christ for He is the reason we do what we do. Not a man pleaser, a GOD pleaser!
9 comments:
Billy, I GREATLY appreciate your Godly leadership with us! What you do is immensely important and we could not do it without you! I read the blog every week but do not always have a chance to respond. Reasons? Laziness? "Too much to do?" Priorities in the wrong order? All of these apply to me. I will admit that I am guilty of not always studying early enough in the week. There have been a couple of times where it was Saturday before I looked at the lesson. I try to read my bible daily, but sometimes I just need to read to feed my soul, not to study for or prepare for something. Kind of like eating chocolate! The lesson this week really applies to life as we know it now. There is wickedness all around and sometimes I wonder how much longer God will put up with us. We must be prepared! We need to make the kids see that they cannot live in both worlds - they must choose one. I don't believe that God honors our sitting on the fence and being one way with one group and another way with another. A lot of our kids are doing this - one way at school, another way at church. My prayer is that they will aware of this and do something about it!
Again, Billy, thanks for all you do. We are very blessed to have you with us. Don't let the devil discourage you - he is really good at it.
Debbie
Billy, I think that you are doing
extremely well and appreciated everything that you do for our youth & church. First off I check every day last week and noticed that you did not post a blog but I didn't say anything with what all you had going on and I did not feel it was my place to especially post it on a blog. We are excited about it and I do look forward to your "word's of wisdon" I even copy it in case there is somehting I want to tell my kid's.
Please don't get discouraged and have doubt's because you are where you are meant to be. Plese forgive
us for not asking and I am sure everyone will try to do better. We
also have been having issue's in our class and have tried to deal with it but now it is finally resolved. Cliff & I are just trying to learn this new way of doing lesson's. Once again thank you for the everything you do for us and I will take my leg switching when I see you again.
I will be right back.
Billy, I must apologize for not blogging. I'm lazy about responding to the comments,I do read every week and value the communication between everyone.Please don't stop writing the blog cause that's were I get alot of my comments that I present to the class.with the 11th grade I need all the help I can get those kids are sharp!also I'm one of those people that can only type 0-5 words a min.lol... You do a great job with youth&the church. Don't let the Devil get you down,keep your eyes on the Throne.God bless David
Billy, I am so thankful for your leadership with this youth even more so for your encouragement and willingness to allow God to speak threw you. I count it a blessing to be able to work under your leadership and guidance.
I am sorry for not blogging and promise I will from now on blog every week. I have always read the blogs (usually daily) and assumed last week was a very busy week for you.
That being said…
This week as I study the lesson on Noah and the Flood, several things came to mind. One being theirs no age limit to working for God. It wasn’t like Noah said, “I’m too old (after all he was 600 years old) let the younger ones do it. Noah did not use the excuse; I’m not physically able to. By the way how does a 600 year old man cut down that many trees?
What about building a boat that size on land when it had never even rained before, (correct me if I am wrong) talk about having faith. Can you imagine the commits and laughs Noah had to endure day in and out, yet Noah continues on steadfast in his faith.
Its only Tuesday and I look forward to digging deeper. May God bless and keep you all well.
Billy, as you already know, I'm probably your biggest fan, next to Crystal, of course. I deeply appreciate you and your submission to God. You're not only a good friend, but an inspiration. The blog has been a great accountability tool for me. It challenges me to dig deeper into God's word. I look forward to reading the different views, interpretations, and opinions of each blogger. I too am guilty of studying late in the week at times. I have resolved to study earlier and have made it a personal rule to read over the lesson by Tuesday of each week. I've also set a goal to learn and retain something from each and every lesson that I didn't already know (not a difficult goal to learn something new huh). I learned, just tonight, that the vessel (ark) touched down on solid ground on the seventeenth day of the seventh month. (Gen. 8: 4-5). It was no coincidence surely, that the Lord Jesus rose from the dead on the very same day of the very same month! Hey, don't take my word for it. I'm very excited about Sunday School this year and need all of you to help me stay on track. I look forward to growing in the Lord through these lessons, but more importantly, I praise God that he allows me to be a part of the 12th grade classes growth. God bless.
Billy, aren't class assistants also welcome on this blog? If not welcome.....encouraged even?
Billy,
Even though I am not in Youth anymore, I did say I would fill in anytime you need me. So, I was wondering if I could continue to blog as well? You know, like the old days when John would read something I wrote, and say to himself 'that boy ain't saved'.
Paul, for the record, I do think your saved. I enjoy reading behind you, even when I don't agree with you. Please feel free to refute and / or comment on anything I post....really. If there is anything that deserves deep and often discussion, it's the Word of God....don't you think? Looking forward to hearing from you.
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