This words of this song, sung by Casting Crowns have been mine of late. The title of this entry is taken from the title of my pastor's sermon Easter Sunday. These words have been a challenge and encouragement to me.
The Voice of Truth
Lyrics & Music by Mark Hall & Steven Curtis Chapman
Oh what I would do to have
The kind of faith it takes
To climb out of this boat I'm in
on to the crashing waves
To step out of my comfort zone
Into the realm of the unknown where Jesus is
And He's holding out His hand
But the waves are calling out my name
And they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me
Time and time again. "Boy, you'll never win!"
"You'll never win!"
Chorus:
But the Voice of Truth tells me a different story
The Voice of Truth says, "Do not be afraid!"
And the Voice of Truth says, "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of Truth
Oh what I would do to have
The kind of strength it takes
to stand before a giant
With just a sling and a stone
Surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors
Shaking in their armor
Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand
But the giant's calling out my name
And he laughs at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed
The giant keeps on telling me
Time and time again. "Boy you'll never win!"
"You'll never win!"
Chorus:
But the Voice of Truth tells me a different story
The Voice of Truth says, "Do not be afraid!"
And the Voice of Truth says, "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of Truth
But the stone was just the right size
To put the giant on the ground
And the waves they don't seem so high
On top of them lookin' down
I will soar with the wings of eagles
When I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus
Singing over me
Chorus:
But the Voice of Truth tells me a different story
The Voice of Truth says, "Do not be afraid!"
And the Voice of Truth says, "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me (calling out to me)
I will choose to listen and believe
The following is an excerpt from the book, "Your First Two Years in Youth Ministry," by Doug Fields.
Doug,
I quit youth ministry yesterday.
I got tired of hearing about how I needed to make sure those youth behave during the worship service like I am the church bouncer.
I got tired of parents who dont live Christian lifestyles and expect me to mold their kids in the few hours a week we have them and then when the kids scew up, the fault is the youth ministry not being deep enough.
I got tired of those kids who play the game of being spiritual, but then live like they have never heard of Jesus.
I got tired of adults who do not have a clue about youth ministry but have an outline of how I should do my Job.
I got tired of people not respecting the youth ministry calendar by scheduling the facilities and taking them away from students.
I got tired of the people who believe the way we did church in 1948 worked and that it should work today.
I got tired of people who have complaints but instead of going to those with whom they have beef, they make phone calls to gripe to dozens of other people in the congregation.
I got tired of people who do not spend personal time with the Lord (by their own admission) but yet they think they should run the church.
I got tired of people who keep asking me when I am going to pastor my own church and become a "real" minister.
I got tired of people who think youth workers cant be trusted and need constant supervision.
I got tired of working late and people thinking that is what I should do.
I got tired of people asking, "What do you do all day when the kids are in school?"
I got tired of all the times that I failed and felt so inadequate to do this job.
Bottom line.... I just got tired of being tired all the time!
However, I was smart enough not to tell anyone that I quite. I went home, spent some time with my family (and did not burden them with my quitting), spent some time in prayer and got a good nights sleep. I am back on the job today. I have read Ephesians 6:13 and am steadfast that I will remain standing (and not quite).
Those same people who I was tired of yesterday are still in my life, but somehow God has given me the grace to love them today. I am grateful for having the best job in the world, the opportunity to be used of God as a conduit for his grace to influence young lives. I am so glad that when I quite on God yesterday, that he refused to quite on me.
Today, I am making a commitment to last because what God has called me to do is too important to quite.
Your friend and (still) fellow youth worker,
Brian