New

 Hey guys, 
     I wanted to apologize to everyone and to God for not keeping up with this. But I think it's time to pick it back up. Recently I've found the need to hold another event which is being called The Change. It's based off the passage of scripture 1 John; 1:3 "We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ." So with this what we hope is that those who haven't seen and heard what the Lord can do. Can hear from others who have. To learn more check out https://www.facebook.com/Thechangeprinceton.


Love you guys and God Bless,
        Tyler W. Sipes

The Light Switch

     Recently another song inspired me. This time it was When the Boys Light Up By the Newsboys. It says "We ain't nothin but the conduites, He's got the power he'll flip the switch." And I got to thinking how often are we trying to control to control the power when we aren't the one's with the power in the first place. God is.

    Job 37: 15 ⁵ Do you know how God controls the clouds and makes his lightning flash?


    And I realized that there are many times that we try and take the clouds (the situation) and try to control the lightning (the action/ outcome). But if we have the clouds then God can't. We have to fully give God control and accept the lighting. 


      We should however practice controlling our own selves. Self-control is mentioned numerous times in the bible. For example...

      Galatians 5: 22 &23- But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.


      So along with all the other characteristics we've been taught growing up self-control is mentioned as well. Websters defines self-control as restraint exercised over one's own impulses, emotions, or desires. This is something that is up to us to control. E.G. We can't say "I'm sorry for throwing that 5 pound weight at you, I guess God controlled me to." We as humans know right from wrong. And we need to control our own switch.


     With self-control will come "battles". These battles will vary depending on who you are. Some people will have to over come there habits of being hot headed, lusting, cussing, using drugs, other forms of sin, and so on. 


     More than likely the things you'll be battling will be addictions. (Yes getting mad over stupid things can in some cases classify as an addiction). And addictions can't be concurred alone. It takes a minimum of 3 people. they are you, a friend, youth leader, pastor, parent, so on (make sure they'll hold you accountable), and God. With out these three you will not succeed.

Grace (part 1)

    I don't know how many of us have really stopped to think about Gods Grace and just what exactly the definition of it is. I know that I just started to ponder the subject a little less than a week ago. But I use the term grace period to help me understand.

   In my bible the definition of grace is the undeserved love and salvation God gives. I think that's AMAZING! I mean think about it. It's like getting gum from somebody in class, But like a cabillion-trillion-infinite times better! I mean I get excited just getting some Juicy Fruit. But I'm over joyed that my God loves me, even though he doesn't need too. But even futher more, he sent his son to die for us! He DIED for us! So that our sins may be forgiven and we may rejoice in heaven! That's ridiculous.

   Ephesians 2:4-5: ⁴ But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.


   Isn't that awesome? God basically brought us back to life. And if you are reading this you weren't even alive yet, but you were still as good as dead. That is, until Jesus died with you in mine. With (insert your name here) in mind.

Romans 5: 20-21: ²⁰ The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, ²¹ so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.


   Isn't it amazing how grace just beats out everything? I mean, sin is a powerful controller. But Grace is the mightier! All that I can really think is praise God to the highest! 


    To be continued...


God Bless,
     Tyler Sipes

Lisening to the Silence

     Are you ever not doing something? I know my life is usually jam packed and if it's not then I make sure that it is. This day in age is a busy one. We are always checking our phones, facebook, email, watching TV, listening to the radio, jamming to your iPod. We are constantly partaking in something.

     But how often do we really stop and listen to the silence? So often we are making sure that we do everything we can so we can make sure we miss out on as little as possible. But when we do that we are actually missing out on so much more than if we hadn't done them at all. I mean... when you are so busy listening to the world, how can you listen to God?

      Back at Camp Challenge I realized I needed to emphasize more on praying. Something, at that time, I hadn't done much of. So one morning I woke 2 hours early and couldn't go back to sleep so I figured well I'll just go get my shower and get it out of the way, come back and go to sleep.  So I treeded the long sloped walk of the East Hill, got my shower and came back. But I still couldn't sleep. So I realized God was saying "You've been thinking about prayer for a reason now go do it." So I went to the farthest corner of the front forty, the feild closest to the camp. And as i got closer i noticed there was a cross were I had decided I'd go pray. So I went kneeled at the cross and prayed. But it had rained the night before so it was all muddy, it was a long walk, and i just didn't feel this was the place for me.

     Later that day I had some free time and had heard about an ampa theatre in the middle of the camp. I noticed a trail leading into the woods behind the pulpit. And I like hiking so I followed it. It lead to the creek that runs through the camp and there was a large slate bed breaking the water, so I sat on it. I had found my place to pray. It was so sereene. while you could still hear the camp it, itself was so quite. Her I heard the Lord. All I got from it was "you will find your calling here". And as I've said, I was later lead to go into youth ministries.

     So stop to listen to the silence. I know that if you stop figiting, and paying attention to the now, the things going on around you, your friends. Then you will hear the voice of God. Now shut off this computer, and go to the silence. Your place of rest. And take time to listen.

Romans 12: 1-2 (Part 1)

    "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God- This is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will." - Romans 1-2
      What this is basically saying to me is that you shouldn't judge how your life will go as a christian until you start living as a christian.

      For example, it's kinda like saying that a certain kinda food tastes gross when you haven't even tried it yet. Get a taste of God before you judge what life would be like with him. I know for me it's pretty sweet.

      What's your take on all of this?

Come and Listen

     I was just listening to "Come and Listen" by David Crowder. And I started to think about how I started to come and listen this year.  But before I talk about what got me to come and listen I'm going to give a little background.


    Before I had my "wake up moment". I had claimed to be a christian which I did believe I was. But I had way to much doubt. And by that I mean that I didn't really believe in God, so in a way I guess you could say that I also feared the fact of his existence. Which actually goes hand in hand with a part of the song "come to the water's edge, all you who know and fear the Lord". Now the only conflict between me, at that point, and the song is I wasn't coming to the water's edge yet. And what I think that come to the water's edge means is come to God.

    Around the age of 16 is were things really went south for me. At this point not only did I start driving and going and doing what I wanted. But I also got a job.  How ever as soon got my job I got into an accident. With this accident I split my car in half. Luckely this is the only damage that came with it. That's right I walked away. At this point I can only explain it as an act of God. Now with this wreak things should have changed. But being the stubborn, clueless, careless, happy-go-luckey teenage boy that I was. I walked away only thinking "Gosh I hope my dad doesn't kill me".

     At this job I started increasing my horrible habits of cussing, lying, and manipulating my car in ways that could be considered destructive (drifting). At this job I also started smoking. Out of everything this is definitely the most embarrassing choice I've made in my life. Around this time is also when lust set in.

   After only 8 months at my job I had a miracle happen. I got in another wreak. Now you may be thinking you call making you car insurance go up a miracle. Well no, but I do praise God for using this as away to start cleaning up my life.

   Now do know that I did continue to do these shameful act's after I recovered. But that would all change at the very start of summer. With the help of the Indiana South Youth Choir, and Camp Challenge. With these 2 jam packed weeks of God yelling in my face to Come and Listen I realized my calling to Youth Ministry. And also a calling to hold a Youth Revival with a certain miss Hannah Crow. The revival is called The Cleanse and you should definitely come (dates to come).

    Now please know that I slipped up many a time in many different areas since the begging of the summer. But each time i got better, and each time it gets to become less often. And quoting the song again. "Praise our God for he is good" for that fact. And I just think that this is something we should all do as the year comes to an end. Think about what God has done for you this year. Or how he has gotten you to come to the water's edge. And if he hasn't then make it your resolution this year to try and find the water's edge. An awesome way to do that is to surround you self with people your age, who are going through what your going through, just with a different approach, that approach being with God. And a great place to find these people is at a church.
   
   However, just any old church may not be the church for you. And I'll probably discuss that matter in a later post.  But in the mean time I just encourage you to come to the water edge.

 God Bless,
Tyler Sipes