Epistles to the Youth Group

To the Youth at Syracuse Alliance Church,

Fast food, microwave popcorn, drive thru coffee, 20 minute air fryer dinners and 15 minute Insta-pot recipes, we want it now. I have been learning the 3 string guitar. oh so many twangs and zzzt's and buzzes, and sore finger tips. I took guitar many years ago, but had nearly forgotten the finger tip toughening up part. How's it sound so far, well I can plunk out a recognizable Happy Birthday and a couple hymns usually with a few long pauses in the midst and a few wrong notes here and there. There's no recording album in my future, or praise band, it's just for fun. besides I need to justify building a few more to keep at the house. 

The truth is we want instant results, I want to be able to play yesterday, I want that Big Mac now, I want to cook dinner in 20 minutes after taking it out of the freezer. The best takes time, the mighty oak grows slow and long and deep and tall, the roast in the slow cooker melts in your mouth, the professional has practiced 10,000 hours. Not just practiced, but practiced correctly. I. M. Pei said his best work was when he was in his 90's. 

So how does that apply to us? 

Who is I. M. Pei? Look him up, Syracuse is blessed to have one of his works, though it was never fully completed to his vision. 

You are young, but there's a world out there that needs you, God has a plan for you, and a job. Now here's the important part, God has already put in the 10,000 hours, and when we need His strength and skill and words, He provides.

 

II Corinthians 12:9 "But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.'"

Matthew 10:18-20 "You will even be brought before governors and kings because of Me, to bear witness to them and to the natons. But when they hand you over, don't worry about how or what you should speak. For you will be given what to say at that hour, because you are not speaking by the Spirit of your Father is speaking through you."

Notice the verse doesn't say, don't study, don't prepare, by all means we should prepare, we should study the scriptures, we should work away at the 10,000 hours of Bible study. 

Don't be like my friend who said he would take care of the sermon one Youth Group Evening Service, we the youth group were in charge of the evening service, and more came out to see it, than normal weeks, My friend got up there, told the church we should be ready to preach, pray or die. He also quoted this verse and opened in prayer. Then we watched him collapse on the inside, God never spoke, he had no inkling of what to speak on. 

What is God calling you do? Read your Bible, listen to Him, pray, obey your parents, those are the easy ones. What about sharing your faith? Volunteering to help when its not cool? Befriending the friendless?  Get out there and serve Jesus. study and prepare for that practice.

Go in peace and grace,

Chris Peters