Me N' God's Space

"He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to get that which he cannot lose." - Eliot 

Youth For Christ Calgary is an organization that reaches out to youth in our community, many of whom are from disadvantaged backgrounds. Worth Unlimited, where I work, works with disadvantaged and troubled youth between the ages of 14 and 18 teaching them life skills and practical skills in the automotive trade. It is a mentoring program that gives us the opportunity to spend time with each young man sharing our life and faith with them pointing them to a greater life and helping them reach their true potential. We operate an automotive shop where we take donated vehicles, restore them to a usable condition and then give or sell them at a reduced rate to those families in our community who have a need.

Please pray for our staff and leaders that we would remain close to God and that His Spirit would work in and through us as we seek to bring about positive change in these young lives. Pray that each one of us would allow God to first have Lordship in our own lives to more reflect who He is, so that He can work in the lives of others.

Pray for our board that they would seek God's wisdom as they give direction to our organization, pray that their lives would reflect His glory and that they would remain close to Him in their daily walk.

Please pray for the young men in our program. Each one has their own issues that prevent them from being all that God has created them to be. Some have drug abuse issues, others have relational issues from poor parenting or neglect. The problems they bring into the program are as varried as one might imagine, but each life is precious to God and He works in each one as they give more of themselves over to Him. Pray that as we spend time with each one, that God would allow their hearts to be softened and mouldable and that they would see in us qualities that they would want for themselves.   

Our program, though it does generate some income, cannot meet all of it's financial needs and relies on donations from God's people to continue to function. Some of our needs include: Salaries for those of us who work there; wages for the young men in the program; special tools and equipment to keep pace with the rapidly changing automotive technology; basic mechanic's tools such as, sockets, wrenches and screwdrivers that wear out or get lost over time. Currently we need to replace many of our hand tools as well as upgrade our more technical tools such as scanners and information programs. Also, because of the rapid growth of our program and the increased need for quality, low priced vehicles, we have outgrown our current facility and need to move to a larger location. Please pray that as God works in His people that He would prompt them to give of their resouces to help meet our financial needs.

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When most people hear the word Pitbull, they immediately think of some kind of evil killing machine, but quite to the contrary, they're the most loving and loyal dogs we've ever owned. We've had many dogs so far in our lives, but by far the most joy we've gotten out of any dog we've owned is with our Pittys. We got our first one Molly quite by mistake. When we got her we didn't realize she was a Pitbull, and she shattered all my preveous ideas of what Pitbulls were. She was the most gentle, affectionate animal we ever had. She just loved to play all day, even when she was older, she was always ready for a game of fetch, or ball. She wasn't agressive at all, but would deffend her family with her life. It was one of the most sad days of my life when we had to have her put down.

Our current Pitbull, J.J. is a large, red nose male. He was about 16 months old when we got him from the local Humane Society. He's more dog aggressive and protective of our home than Molly was, but once he gets to know someone, he's your friend for life. Because of thier breeding in the past, we can never fully trust J.J. with another dog, though he plays with and has no problems with our other dog Sugar. They even wrestle and he acts like she's beating the crap out of him, with him rolling around on the floor or grass, while she growls and munches on his face. It's hilarious to watch. He even has a girlfriend. Our friend's dog Tika, loves to come over & play with J.J. and they playfight too. I think she's smitten with him, because she loves to lavish him with kisses all the time.

Pitbulls are really just big babies, that crave people's attention. Our dogs would love to live their whole lives at your feet or sitting beside you on the couch. J.J. is such a big suck, he crawls up on our bed each night as we settle for the evening and lays between us for as long as he can, and when we've had enough we send him to our son's room where he crawls in beside him in bed. He thinks he an 80 pound lap dog. I really think he lives for those times when we take him for walks or play with him in the back yard, or he's just laying beside us on the bed. I've never seen an animal as loyal as our two Pitties have been. Always wanting to please, and gain our approval. They're the most human like of any animal we've ever owned, full of human expression. If J.J. knows he's done something wrong, he'll just mope around the house for days until he's sure we've forgiven him. Once he knows he's forgiven, he's so full of joy and energy he's almost too much to handle. Pitbulls really crave our love and attention, and when that's denied, they'll pout and can go into a real depression.

The biggest difference between a Pitbull and any other dog, besides thier incredible desire for human love, is the bad reputation they have in the modern media. The media's appitite for sensational news of any kind has often led to unbalanced coverage that puts an often abused or poorly socialized dog in the spotlight, while ignoring the majority of well trained and loving animals that may also reside in the community. I would love someday to see a courageous jounalist, or news editorial program do a real story on these dogs from the perspective of the owners, who for the most part, have loving and wonderful pets. There are thousands upon thousands of excellent examples of Pitbulls who are wonderful family pets, yet sadly the ones who get the coverage are the few who, for whatever reason become a problem.

So next time you hear the word Pitbull on the news, or someone tells you how dangerous they are, please know that there's another side to the story. The REAL dog! Pitbulls may be the strongest (pound for pound), and most athletic and loyal dogs on the planet; and for that they're often used and abused by the wrong kinds of people for the wrong purposes. IE: People who, because of their own insecurities, try to be tough by the kind of dog they own, or perhaps drug dealers trying to protect their stash etc. But any dog can be made to be mean, if not socialized properly. When Pitbulls are raised in a loving home, where they are properly socialized with other people & animals, they are among the most worthy of pets, who love to play & exercise, and mostly just want to be near people who love them. 

I encourage anyone who reads this to take the time to look up the passeges quoted here in a Bible, and see for themselves God's wonderful Truth. "You will seek me, and find me, when you seek me with all of your heart" Jerimiah 29:13

Acts 4:12 "For there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." This statement made by the Apostle Paul in the first century AD shows us that it is only through the name of Jesus that one can find salvation. "But salvation from what?" one might ask. "What is salvation and what do I need to be saved from?" According to God's Word,(the Bible), man is living on this earth seperated from God, with no chance of ever knowing or reaching out to Him. All men will eventually die in this state, eternally seperated from God unless God Himself reaches out to man. "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God" Mark 10:27  This eternal seperation from God is what is called Hell, and is described as a place of eternal punishment, that was originally created for the Devil and his angels (known as demons). Matthew 25:41

According to the Bible, it is sin that causes this seperation from God, and ultimately sin leads to death. "For the wages of sin is death" Romans 6:23a Sin is simply any act on our part that is offensive to God. Most people aren't even aware of the sin in their lives most of the time, although most people if they are honest with themslelves can recall times when they have sinned. Jeremiah 17:9 says " The heart is decietful above all things, and beyond cure. Who can know it?" People tend to think that if they try hard enough to live a fairly good life that will be good enough, but it's only when we see ourselves in relation to God's perfect Holiness, Revelation 4:8-11 that we can become truly aware of our sin. John 16:8-10 The Bible tells us that "All (meaning every person) have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23 and this sin ultimately leads to death. By the way, did you know that God created us to live forever? Genisis 3:22-24; Revelation 22:12-15, but because of sin all people will eventually die. (both physically & spiritually) Read Genesis 3 to get the whole story of how sin entered  the world.

But God loves us so much that He doesn't want us to remain seperated from Him forever and die, so He provided a way for us to restore the relationship with Him and deal with the sin that causes this seperation. Likely the most famous and most quoted Bible verse ever is John 3:16, it reads "For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." God loves us so much, yet He takes sin so seriously that He took drastic action, and actually sent His only Son Jesus, to die on our behalf. Romans 5:8 says" But God demaonstrated His own love towards us in this, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." another Bible passege that shows this is 2 Corinthians 5:21 " God made Him who had no sin to become sin for us that in Him we might become the righteousness of God" in other words God had His Son Jesus who was a perfect, sinless man, take our sin on Himself so that we could stand before God, perfect and without sin. Jesus paid the price (death).  It was a legal exchange that God took our sins & placed them on Jesus. After Jesus paid the price for our sin by dying on the cross, three days later God raised Him to life proving to everyone that Jesus was God. Please take the time to read John 20, it tells about how Jesus was raised from the dead.

"So if Jesus died for all people as a substutute for sin aren't we all saved?" No. Because in order to be saved a person has to recieve this free gift that God offers, and to repent or turn away from their sin. "How do I do this?" you might ask. Simply believe that God sent His Son into the world to save the world from sin, and make a consious decision to turn your life away from sin and to follow God. Romans 10:9-10 says "That if you confess with your mouth "Jesus is Lord" and believe in your heart God raised Him from the dead you will be saved, for it is with the heart you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth you confess and are saved." and "Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13 and in John 5:24, Jesus tells us "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes in Him who sent Me, has eternal life and will not be condemed; he has crossed over from death to life.", in Acts 17:30 we read "In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent." and Acts 3:19 which says: " Repent then and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out", Also 1 John 2:1&2 which says, "My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have One who speaks to the Father in our defense - Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, not only for ours, but also for the sins of the whole world." Although Jesus died for the sins of the whole world, not everyone will recieve his free gift. Please don't be one of those who reject God's gift of salvation. It doesn't matter what you've done in the past, God is willing to forgive you and make you into a new creation, if you come to Him with a sincere heart. This is called being "born again" if you can please read John 3:1-21, there Jesus talks about being born again.

If you feel God tugging at your heart right now to recieve Him, don't hesitate to act. Jesus tells us in Revelation 3:20a "Behold I stand at the door and knock, If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him..." All you have to do is go to God, and tell Him that you believe that Jesus paid the price for your sins, and ask Him to forgive you. 1 John 1:9 says "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." When we believe in Him, and act on that belief by asking God for His forgiveness, God makes us into a brand new person. Romans 5:17 tells us "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come."

If you feel awkward praying to God, that's normal if you're not used to it. A simple prayer might go something like this:

• God I know you are real, and I realize I'm a sinner. Will you please forgive me and make me a new creation in Jesus Christ. I believe you when you say you sent Him to die for my sins, and I now recieve Your forgiveness for my sins.  Amen!

 If you have done this, God now calls you His child. "Yet to all who recieved Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." John 1:12-13. If this is now true for you, please send me an e-mail and let me know, I would love to pray with you and talk to you about your new found life.

Doubting Thomas? Check out this passage in John where Jesus talked to one of His disciples after He had died and been raised again to life.

A week later His disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" Then He said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." Thomas said to Him, "My Lord and my God." Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have belived." Jesus did many other miraculous sign in the presence of His disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name. John 20:26-31

"MANY PEOPLE WILL HAVE THEIR HEARTS AND LIVES MADE PURE AND CLEAN, BUT THOSE WHO ARE EVIL WILL KEEP ON BEING EVIL AND NEVER UNDERSTAND. ONLY THE WISE WILL UNDERSTAND" Daniel 12:10

"Behold I am comming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who proctice majic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and prctices falsehood." "I Jesus have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David and the Bright Morning Star." The Spirit and the Bride say "Come!" And let him who hears say "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. Revelation 22:12-17 

May God, the eternal Creator of the entire universe, who loves us & sent His Son to die for us, bless His Word today in your life.

Doug Waugh,  thehappieguy@hotmail.com