Just A Little Bit of Jesus

We are currently discussing the book of Ephesians in our Wednesday night meetings, which we call Pulse. Last night, our conversation got a little intense. It is always intense at Pulse. From the very beginning of its inception, our mid-week discussions have harbored a deep and passionate flavor. Yesterday we were discussing spiritual life versus spiritual death and spun (slighlty off-topic) to whether or not people who hold to religions other than Christinaity are spiritually dead. Our teens were passionate without being obstinate, they listened as well as they articulated. It was heated, but it was healthy, and it was good.

The reason I am writing about this today is because of how proud I am of our Wednesday night teens! It still amazes me (and some of my youth ministry peers) that all I need to do to prepare for Pulse is come up with three or four questions and then get out of the way and watch our youth toss around opinions, ask their own (and better) questions, and awe as a group of teenagers really and truly wrestle with their faith for over an hour. Sometimes it is a little like monkeys in a cage and I have to wrangle everyone back in and make sure only one monkey is talking at a time. But, in spite of most adult views on youth, that is because they have so much to say, not because they're just misbehaving and out of control. Not too long ago, the youth asked if we could eliminate our game so there was more time to talk. Did you read that sentence. Youth...asking to not play games, but talk about faith. Teenagers...requesting more controlled discussion and less chaotic scavenger hunts or dodgeball!

It is amazing what just a little bit of Jesus can do. Many of our teens have discovered Christ. And all it takes is just a glimpse of God, just a sliver of His Presence passing by, to turn our hearts forever.

Sometimes I drive home on Pulse nights and wonder how many chances our youth get to just honestly and openly talk through their faith. There is no doubt they want to!! My goodness, I have to chase some of them out the door on Wednesday nights. We have doubled our allotted time for discussion and we still go past 7:15 (sorry parents), and there are STILL teens that stick around and talk a little more faith after we've dismissed. They come in like confetti poppers, desperately waiting to spill their hearts.

I'm humbled to watch our teens experience Christ and explore His Presence in this world! And as wonderful a faith as our group currently exhibits, I cannot even fathom what just a little MORE of Jesus may do....