IN CHRIST MINISTRIES
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DAILY IN CHRIST
Influencers and Us
No one wants to be rejected.
There are instances and even lifestyles where rejection becomes a protective behavior, reflex and norm, but in our holy of holies, we crave acceptance.
Think Shrek!
Now that’s an old movie by today’s standards - but it holds a treasure trove of situational truth.
Layers, layers, Ogres are like onions, they have layers.
One of the most difficult things we walk through are our middle school years. I’ve never heard anyone, ever, EVER say, “Oh I wish I could go back to middle school - they were the best years of my life,” If so, your life before and after middle school must have been traumatizing.
I’ve got volumes of thoughts on middle school and middle schoolers; I taught them for too long. But here’s the one thing that stands out the most and is the most dangerous.
A middle schooler will do ANYTHING, A-N-Y-T-H-I-N-G to be accepted OR s/he will build layers.
Our brains are not fully developed until we are 25; but our emotions are at full throttle early in life. Add to it that kids are the best keepers of history but the worst interpreters of history and you have the perfect storm for the rejection mechanism. Afterall, if I don’t get my way - I feel rejected, blocked, angry and resentful.
Funny thing, we’re just grown up middle schoolers. Layers. We all have ‘em.
Our rejections have a long line of mile markers we can point to that enticed us to build controlling and protective mindsets to deal with the people, institutions (school, church, work, etc.) and the world around us. If we have battled an addiction, they were key in delivering the justification for “just try it.”
We’ll do A-N-Y-T-H-I-N-G to be accepted. Experimentation - drugs, sex, alcohol, cutting, adrenilin seeking, escapism, personality shaping - all of it can be tied to rejection.
Our final bridge for today: Jeremiah 31-:3 assures us:
The Lord appeared to him from afar, saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.
We build walls - God tears them down. He did this through His Son Jesus.
The world knows John 3:16 and many times brushes it off, but Jesus continues the thought in John 3:17. Read those verses and mark them in your Bible today.
Let Him begin to remove the layers.
WHO WE ARE
Maybe the Bible became real to you when you were young; after that many walk through doubts, tough experiences and maybe dark times. When, each of our staff heard about the Exchanged Life message, everything changed. Verses came to life and jumped off the page. Galatians 2:20 and 2 Corinthians 5:17 and Romans 8:1 and so many more now had life-giving meaning. We all have different stories; we want to share in yours.
WHAT WE BELIEVE
Almost everyone I worked with has a hard time identifying exactly what they believe, and even more, what they would fight for. Go one step further and ask them to explain those beliefs and you may be standing in silence.
We believe in Biblical Authority - the Bible is the inerrant Word of God. We believe in the Trinity and virgin birth. We believe...
HOW WE BEGAN
It starts with a call. God places this leading on your heart and you know that, even though you don't feel equipped, He has set you on a path that you can neither ignore nor explain.
When people walk into the In Christ Ministries building at 431 14th Street in Burlington Colorado, they are captivated by the high ceilings, authentic wood floors and spacious room that offers warmth and hope to kids and adults who are served by Castle Kids children’s ministry, Youth in Christ youth group, counseling services, conference events, advanced training, connection to our Flatirons Outreach and other special events.
As with most of us, they only see the present....