Hello Everyone:
If you walked into the youth room at my church, you will see a red bucket with a sign that says "BAD MOUTH BUCKET (BMB)" and if you were to pick that bucket up you would hear change. The change that you hear will, hopefully, not just be monetary but in the way the teens speak at all times, not just at the church. It is my hope and prayer that one day we can totally do away with the BMB but for now it is helping to bring in funds for the youth department and I am grateful. For the parents that have teens in Unleashed Fire Youth Ministry and are reading this blog do not worry the "BAD MOUTH BUCKET" is NOT what you think it is, I PROMISE. I have talked to pastor about this and he is "all for it". Let me take this moment and reassure all of you out there that we do not talk in a way that will bring reproach, dishonor or even sin into the church. I would NEVER allow that and it is in the youth guidelines that using foul or inappropriate language is an automatic BV (bon voyage) from the youth room for a specified and, in some cases, lengthy amount of time.
I will probably discuss this in a later blog and may even put the youth guidelines in a blog so all of the new parents know what is expected from their teen. (If you would like a copy of the guidelines please let me know and I can get them to you.) However I understand and know that God is beginning to send in teens that have never been churched and there will be some instances when something is said and we, myself and pastor, will address those on a case by case basis. The teens that have been in "church" and have been a part of this youth ministry know what is right and expected of them and I have no doubt in my mind that they understand what is expected of them and they will be an example.
Now... back to the BMB. The BMB is something that the teens/your kids have to pay a quarter for saying something that is not nice to someone else in the youth ministry. There are two teens that I am mentoring that have asked to pay .50 cents and due to me being the youth pastor I have to pay .75 cents for every time something is said that is not uplifting or encouraging. That scripture comes to mind; to whom much is given much is required so that is why I have asked the other two teens as well as myself to pay more than the other teens. If it is something that you would even like to incorporate into your daily living at your home I believe that it would just reinforce what I am trying to accomplish. I want visitor's to feel welcomed and honored when they attend our church and come back to youth class. I want the teens to come back and if we can show them love in our speech then I believe that will go along way in helping more families base their decision to come back to ALT. It's been said we are a church that loves how awesome would it be to also have the kind of speech that "loves" regardless of everything?
The BMB is something that was started due to taking joking way too far and not really knowing how to stop it, for the teens and myself, I came up with a "fundraiser/object lesson". When it started it was a way to help us recognize when we are speaking in a way that could be misconstrued and hurt someones feelings. I came across a scripture this weekend when I was studying for my lesson on "Being Salt" (more on this in a later blog) found in Colossians 4:6, it reads this way in THE MESSAGE Bible "Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out." When I came across that scripture it was as if I was slapped in the face with an "Ah Ha" moment.
I love a God inspired "ah-ha" moment because they are designed to bring you new revelation on things. I can say that this scripture has begun to revolutionize how I speak on a daily basis. I have made it my endeavor to have "speech that is worthy of Christ" and I want to live my life to the best of my ability out of Colossians 4:6.
How is your "speech" does it bring honor to others and to God or is it self-serving and self-indulgent. I know for me I used to use sarcasm and joking to hide the fact that there are things in my life and about myself that I am insecure about I would use sarcasm and "wit" to "deflect" attention off of me. If you are reading this and I have EVER been too sarcastic or said something to you without thinking then I apologize and I am making it my life's goal to be gracious in my speech and bring the best out in others. Sometimes there have been some disconnects between my brain and my mouth and for that I am truly sorry.
I pray that you have read this blog this far and I ask that you find it in your heart to forgive me as I become a better person, spouse, father, and most of all become the best servant of the Lord I can be.
Thank You for reading I appreciate all of you and your teens.
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