I just started prepping the first sermon for our series in October.  the series is called masks.  The whole point is to try to take off our masks and live authentic Christ honoring lives.

As I was writing my heart broke as I was listing out some reasons that people wear masks.  I think the ultimate reason that we are not authentic is because of pain.  Past pain, present pain, future pain.  We don’t want to deal with the pain in our lives so we cover it up.

There is so much hurt in the world, and Jesus’ heart breaks with that pain.  And whenever I feel just a fraction of that hurt, it totally messes me up and reminds me that I’m in ministry to help heal.  To bring life to the dead places in the world.  And it’s such a big task.  Only with the partnership of Jesus can we really bring any life into this dead world.

I haven’t touched my myspace in a while.  It’s such a huge time waster that I have to really monitor myself.  But today I had a few friend requests that I checked on and then I decided to send some messages and comments while I was there.  But every time I get on myspace it just reminds me of the pains and struggles of high school and middle school.  And I want so badly to help students deal with these things.  I am really hoping and praying that our series in October will be a source of encouragement.

I know what I’m going to be praying about!