My Heart Aches...

I am amazed at the hurt in our world. I am amazed at the Battle that is being fought for your heart and my heart. Your Soul and My Soul. Right Now. Do you believe that? Do you believe that there is a Battle being waged right now for our hearts and souls and the decisions that we will make today? I do! Without a doubt.

Paul tells us in Ephesians 6 that our battle is not against Flesh and Blood, but rather against the Rulers, against the Authorities, against the Powers of this Dark World and against the Spiritual Forces of Evil in the heavenly realms. He says that we are to put on the Full Armor of God if we are to take a STAND against the Devil's SCHEMES! To not recognize the Battle, to me, means that you are losing the Battle. This is one Battle that you do not want to lose. No matter what!

I spoke with a kids mom two nights ago and I felt so helpless and sorry for her. She has three kids living at home. An 18 year old boy, a 15 year old boy and a 12 year old girl. 3 kids. 3 different men. None are present. At All! She has had 2 blood transfusions. A pulled muscle in her back. She is on her feet all day painting. She leaves early in the morning and comes home late afternoon. Her 15 year old just got out of jail after 6 months of being 'locked up,' as she called it. She said that his problem is that he just wants to do his 'own thing.' I told her that her son sounded like me. Half kidding. She laughed. As did I. The State let him out of jail and the next day he got into more trouble. He is costing his mom so much money as well as stress and anxiety that she doesn't know what to do. She doesn't want her son back home. 15 years old! T-R-O-U-B-L-E! And I can't blame her. She said, 'Mr. Russell, I pray. I don't go to church much any more because I am working so much, but I pray. I need help. He is running around with the wrong crowd and I don't know what to do. I've never been on welfare, but if these kids don't stop costing me money, then I don't know what else I am supposed to do.' The court costs alone are crazy for her to pay. She told the State to not send her son back home, but rather keep him! She has given up... I cannot imagine being in her shoes.

I had a really great conversation with a kid recently about what Jesus is doing in his life. He was raised in the church for about a month and during that time met Jesus. His life was changed. This was the 5th grade. He fell away and has 'done his own thing' since then. He came to Campaigners a month ago and was blown away. By the other kids. By the openness of the group. By the homey (not like gangsta, but rather about our Home) atmosphere. He sensed the Creator. He sense the Savior. He knew there was more to Life during this time. He shared with me about family problems. Absent dad. Why the HECK is this such an ongoing problem? DADS? HELLOOOOOOOOOO? Wake up and be engaged in your family!!! This is more frustrating to me than almost anything else. If dad's were engaged, would we really have 'this' many problems? My Heart Aches... He then shares about friends, sports and school. What he plans to be / do with his life. His thoughts of suicide and the such. Wait. What? Yep, suicide. I got to tell him about the Battle that is raging for his soul. What is influencing him on a daily basis. We watched a NOOMA video called Noise last night and it spoke about the 'noise' that is in our lives. How consuming it is (or can be) to each of us. Phones. Cell Phones. Voicemail. Television. Radio. iPods. iPhones. And on and on and on and on and on... This 'stuff' distracts us.

We spoke about Elijah (1 Kings 19) going up on the mountain to meet with the Lord. There came a wind ... but the Lord was not in the Wind. There came an earthquake ... but the Lord was not in the Earthquake. There came a fire ... but the Lord was not in the Fire. Then came a small whisper. And the Lord spoke! Is the 'noise' in your life keeping you from hearing the voice of God? Do you even believe that God still speaks? Today? To You?

I am off to write a sermon for this Sunday. I was asked to speak at a church in Belton this Sunday for the Back to School Sunday. I am gonna speak about what it means to follow Jesus. To be His Disciple. To Walk on Water. Please pray for that time. August 3. 10:45 a.m. Keys Valley Baptist Church. Belton. Texas.

The school year will be here in just 23 days. Hard to believe. I don't feel ready at all! We need Leaders. We need Committee. We need Finances. It seems like this cycle never stops. But Jesus has called us to this. Are WE Following Him? Are WE His Disciples? Are WE Engaging A Lost World?

My Heart Aches...