JOHN KALE

Let me start by saying Happy Memorial Day. Today is the day set aside to remember all of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our country; men and women who died to keep us free. I don't think we could ever say thank you enough to these individuals and their families! America is the great because of the people who stand for her, fight for her and die for her. That is what sets our country apart. We recognize the high cost of freedom, and our country's true heroes are willing to pay it.

So today as you and your family are out enjoying the holiday, don't forget why we have the day off of work or school. This isn't the day set aside to hit the lake with friends or grill out with family. It isn't a long weekend to head to the beach. It really isn't about us at all! Today is the day we say Thank You to Heroes! Today is the day we remember what our freedom costs. Today is the day we are reminded what it takes to be an American!

Many of us have forgotten that freedom is not free. We have grown up in a country where all we have ever known is freedom. We expect it, and in many cases we are unwilling to sacrifice for it. The further we get from being willing to sacrifice, the closer we come to losing the freedoms we have grown to love.

I urge you to spend time today honoring those who have served and died. Find ways to teach your family what this day is all about. Instill the truth of freedom and sacrifice in your children. America needs heroes now as much as ever; we truly honor our fallen heroes when we teach future generations that they must be willing to do the same!

Taps

Last night I had the amazing pleasure to speak for Ignite (High Rock's youth ministry) at our East Campus. I would be lying if I told you I wasn't both excited and nervous. In the few days I had to prepare for the evening, God laid a passage of scripture on my heart and it was amazing how He just wove my thoughts together. I sat down to begin making an outline, and before I knew it, I was finished. Last night felt the same way, I was closing out my message and preparing for the time of response when I realized I wasn't even sure what all I had said. It was as if God had been talking and I was just lucky enough to be standing there.
As a worship leader, I live for moments like that in worship. Moments where God says "step aside son, I'll take it from here." It is in those kind of moments that lives are changed because we encounter a living God who draws us to himself. I have been fortunate enough to be apart of lots of "God moments" in worship, but this was the first time anything like that ever happened to me when I was teaching. Looking back on the evening, I can't help but praise God for what He did! Last night we had four students accept Christ as their Lord and Savior, and the alter was full of students praying for their friends. I know the only way this could happen was because God did something. If it had been left up to me, I know I would have messed things up!
As I got to the office this morning, I had time to sit and reflect on all that happened, and God began speaking again. He reminded me of all the times in my life that He has been in control and the amazing things I have seen Him do in those times. He then reminded me of our lesson in small group from Tuesday night. We watched a dvd on "Worry", and afterwards we talked about all the things in life we as college students and young adults worry about. Many of the usual topics were discussed: Money, School, Jobs, Relationships, Future, and the list went on. As God brought this discussion back to mind, He begin to use my experience from last night to teach me.
He taught me that the greatest moments in my life have been when He was in control and I was along for the ride. The times I let go were the times I saw God move in ways that I could never imagine. I have decided that life is much better when God is leading, and I am going to give Him control in all areas of my life. Sometimes I struggle with that; I like to hold on to some things, but I know I can't. I'd much rather the world see Him working rather than me; I'm pretty sure more lives will be changed that way!
Thank you God for still using youth group to teach me! I'm letting go! It's ALL Yours!


I'm Letting Go - Francesca Battistelli

I am a songwriter. Something inside of me just desires to put my thoughts into musical form. I can't explain it, its just something I know to be true. For years I kept a journal in the form of lyrics. It is just how my mind works. Things happen, I write; I hear a quote that I like, I write. This is just the nature of being a songwriter. It can be a lot of fun! There is so much excitement around each new thought or lyric; the hope that it will produce something amazing that will speak to people. Something that people will hear and think, "wow, that's exactly what I was thinking". But more often than not, the lyric fades from memory and the melody is forgotten; and frustration and disappointment set in.

I am really good at starting songs, but I'm not so great a finishing them. I have a theory on why that is. So many times I start to write a song and I focus so much on making it perfect. I struggle to find the perfect word that will make the song go from good to Grammy worthy. The result usually is that I spend so much time trying to write something perfect that I don't write anything at all.

I think in life we all do this to some extent. We get so wrapped up in trying to have the perfect job, the perfect family, the perfect house, the perfect relationships, etc. that we stop living. We miss out on all the wonderful things God has in store for us, because we are trying so hard to make them perfect.

I have a suggestion to all of us who find ourselves in this situation; stop trying to win a Grammy and just write! It is a lot more fun that way; and in the end, it is the only way your song will ever get written!

It seems like a lot of things in my life have been changing lately. I have started over on many fronts; moving back to Salisbury from New Orleans, starting a new job, creating new relationships and on and on it goes. These past few months have seemed like a whirlwind. I have heard it said that the only constants in life are death, taxes, and change; and I am pretty sure I agree. I have also realized that change always leaves me at a crossroads; will I complain about it or will I embrace it and see where it leads me?

Maybe you have find yourself in a similar place in life. Your world seems to be in a state of constant change; you don't know whether to roll with it or just toss in the towel. It is a tough place to be, but I have discovered a truth that has made this changing world a much easier to cope with. No matter what changes come my way, I remember that I serve a God who never changes, and somehow that makes everything else seem a lot more stable.


Unchanging by Chris Tomlin