Forthright Magazine http://www.forthright.net Straight to the Cross ---- Young Reminders -- J. Randal Matheny The Values of Pain -- by Phil Sanders The Hope of Creation -- by Michael E. Brooks ---- COLUMN: Final Phase Young Reminders by J. Randal Matheny My wife and I just returned from directing an entire week of Christian camp, with 35 young people between the ages of 14-17. It was a marvelous week, with one young lady accepting Christ through baptism. I taught the Total Transformation course, which was well received by the campers. This week reminded me of several truths. 1. Energy decreases over time. I'm tired from camp, from keeping up with energetic youth, from questions and interaction and rain every single day! And I'm only 47! Think of how tired I'll be at 87 ... If "the glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old," as Proverbs 20:29 tells us, I'm definitely tending toward the latter category (NIV). But aren't we all? That's where our hope builds, as we slide toward the end of life. 2. The energy of youth needs guidance and direction. We had not a single major problem at camp. No one got expelled, and all the campers had great attitudes, even though the rain kept us inside most of the time. That didn't happen by accident. I had a terrific team of monitors and counsellors whose upbeat attitude and optimistic spirit infused the campers with joy and kept them from mutiny. "Likewise, you that are younger be subject to the elders" (1 Peter 5:5a, RSV). 3. Young people want and need meat and positive food. On an evaluation form after the classes, I got comments like these -- remember, from 14-17 olds: "I adored the course. It's very important to have classes geared not only to things that can remove us from the faith but also how to fortify our faith." "Deep studies that call the Christian to his duties, but also call him to the love of Christ." So Paul says in Ephesians 6:4, "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." Negative has its place, but positive teaching shows the way to go. And simple is good, but these young people have heard and seen everything in this world, and need to be challenged to think hard and long about life. When a sudden cancellation opened up a teaching slot for the next camp session during Carnaval (a week away), I got invited to teach those 14 and up into their 20s. But I need a break (besides catching up on my work). I'll let someone else get reminded of how to keep up with the energy of the young. Excuse me, I hear a nap calling. ---- Read this article online, tell us what you think, see who's commenting, click here: http://forthright.antville.org/stories/1037527/ ---- COLUMN: From Friend to Friend The Values of Pain by Phil Sanders The lady wept, "I don't like pain. I don't like seeing others hurt. I just wish it could all go away." No one could listen to such heartache and not feel deep compassion for this hurting woman. While no suffering is pleasant, suffering does have some value in our lives. God did not permit our suffering to be cruel or hateful toward us. The suffering of this world has some benefit. While it is not pleasant at the time, its lasting effects can bring valuable results. 1. It can help a person to know himself and what his character is. James saw the value of trials in helping to bring about patience and maturity in the Christian (James 1:2-4). 2. It can help one develop perseverance, the ability to stay with faith in spite of the trials. Tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance brings about proven character; proven character brings about hope; and hope does not disappoint (Romans 5:3-5). 3. It can help us be equipped to help others who suffer the same problems (2 Corinthians 1:3-5). No one knows better how to walk a mile than the person who has walked. One who has suffered and found comfort in God is uniquely able to help others who may suffer the same hurt. 4. Suffering teaches us compassion for others and the value of kindness in word and thought. Simple gestures of love and care can mean so much. We can't avoid hurt or take away the hurts of others, but we can express love and show kindness, just as others have done for us. 5. Suffering can help us understand what really matters. The psalmist was becoming bitter at all the injustice in this world until he went into the sanctuary and remembered God (Psalm 73). 6. Knowing what is valuable also helps us to be thankful for what we have (Job 1:20-22). It is easy to take for granted all the good things God has given us and to forget how gracious He has been. 7. Suffering reminds us to remember God. We can easily forget who God is and what He has done. Suffering gets us back on track (Psalm 119:67,71). Yes, Romans 8:28 is still true. ---- Read this article online, tell us what you think, see who's commenting, click here: http://forthright.antville.org/stories/1035101/ ---- COLUMN: Field Notes The Hope of Creation by Michael E. Brooks "For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God" (Romans 8:19). One of the great disappointments I have experienced over the years is the frequent desecration of wonderful places I have been able to visit. Nepal, for instance, is a beautiful country with its magnificent Himalayan mountains. Yet it is scarred and defaced with erosion and blighted with litter. The effect of both tremendous over-population and unconcern with the environment are devastating. The contrast between the wondrous vistas that one looks up to and the ugly pollution that one looks down at is dramatic. Why do we so defile our world? Is it ignorance, or greed, or simply the inevitable consequence of too many people? All of these play some part, no doubt, but they are not the complete answer. Paul, in Romans, explains, "For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who has subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now" (Romans 8:20- 22). This is a complex and difficult passage and interpretation is not certain. Yet it seems to indicate clearly at least two things. One, that the created universe is in a bondage which is linked to mankind's "fall," that is our sinfulness. Second, that mankind's salvation will also liberate and free our world. In the story of mankind's fall, one immediate consequence was the "cursing" of the earth (Genesis 3:17). Simply put, because of sin, the earth is not as productive or as benevolent as it was its nature to be. Weeds and thorns grow freely. Beneficial crops must be coaxed from the earth. Just as sin has corrupted humanity, so it has corrupted our environment. The universe suffers from our evil deeds. But there is also hope. As we may be made free from sin in Christ Jesus, so the creation "will be delivered from the bondage of corruption." This, apparently, is not speaking of an eternal deliverance, for the New Testament elsewhere teaches plainly that this earth and sky will be destroyed in the Last Day (cf 2 Peter 3:10-13). Some believe that Paul is, rather, describing the responsibility that Christians will take towards their God-given home, the earth. As sinners corrupt, so the saints deliver. As the greedy and thoughtless pollute and defile, so the righteous nurture and protect. Adam and Eve were placed in the Garden of Eden "to tend and keep it" (Genesis 2:15). As we are restored to fellowship with God, do we not also have the same duty? This is His creation. Let us seek to deliver it from the corruption of sin. ---- Read this article online, tell us what you think, see who's commenting, click here: http://forthright.antville.org/stories/1034373/ ---- You can help us get the word out. Here's how: http://forthright.antville.org/stories/340415/