A friend like that!

What are the qualities of a good friend?

The Bible describes friends as "faithful" or "closer than a brother".  why would the author describe friendship this way? 

There is nothing more valuable than a friend when you are going through a hard time.  As we go through this journey called life...friends can be a source of encouragement or a source of total frustration.  Have you ever tolerated a friendship just because you were afraid that you would be alone? 

The Internet can make people seem like they are the best of friends.  Our myspace and facebook accounts profiles can look like anyone.  But God has designed us to live among each other and to support each other.  God created in us the desire and design to need community with people.  It's in our DNA.

So often we choose the wrong community.  i have looked for acceptance from people that have shallow heart and the wrong intentions.  You see God is honored in our friendships if we learn what love can do to change a person's life.  Do you want friendships that will last?

Take a moment and decide what kind of a friend you are and what kind of friends you have.

Intending to be how You created me is a line from Hawk Nelson's song:  "A friend like that"  God intented us to be good and faithful friends. 

What are you?

--
God Bless,

Kevin Batson
Pastor of Middle School
Fairhaven Church

Death...a big untouchable!

I heard a few days ago, that a student at Kettering Middle School passed away and it made me think about things.

While it's weird to talk about it, I'm not all that uncomfortable with it.
My dad passed away 7 years ago.
I been to funerals of family members and friends.

I like the quote that Woody Allen said, "I'm not afraid to die. I just don't want to be there when it happens."

That's kind of how I feel. I'm not afraid to die. I just don't want be around to see my kids what they're going to have to go through, that type of thing.

You see in America, where we live, we're all about life.
We embrace living and we fear dying.
We aren't very good with death.
We pride ourselves on being winners.
In death we thing we're losers.
So we love to win, we don't like to lose.

I wear a suit for two occasions. I don't dress very well but I have a suit. I wear it when I go to weddings and funerals.

Recently a friend of mine asked me this question:

"Kevin, what do you say to make people stop crying?"

Really, I don't say anything.

I can't make people stop crying. It's a good question.

But even if I had all the answers about life and death, there would be nothing as soothing as having that person who had died be back alive. Until we're in the presence of God Himself, many of us in here, we're going to be left with more questions that we have answers for.

But I really believe that there's some things that you and I can learn today, I've already learned a lot this week in thinking about it and praying about it and searching the scriptures.

HOW DEATH CAN TEACH YOU ABOUT LIFE, LOVE, & YOUR FUTURE

Psalm 89:48 says, "No one can live forever; all will die. No one can escape the power of the grave."

Everyone is going to die. Death is 100%. It hits everyone.

I heard a story about a preacher who was trying to tell people about the difference between heaven and hell and he said, "How many of you want to go to heaven? Raise your hand." All of the people raised their hand except a little boy in the front row. He wasn't raising his hand. The preacher thought that's kind of weird. He asked again. Still everybody raised their hand except the little boy. This confused the preacher. So the preacher stops his message and says to the little boy, "You don't want to go to heaven when you die?" The kid goes, "Oh! When I die! I thought you were trying to get a bunch of people to go right now!"

We love living and we fear dying. But the truth is no one can escape the power of the grave.

But in death you are mere men. You will fall as any prince, for all must die. Psalm 82:7

That means even the princes, even the heroes of this world – name the most famous person, they're going to die. Some of them will live to be old. Some of them will have their life cut short.

Just some global names…
One of my heroes Mother Teresa who served the poor in the streets of Calcutta. As a nun, she won the Nobel Peace Prize. She was a world famous person. She died at an old age. Another global name – Princess Diana, Everybody around the world knew her. What happened? Her life was cut short. Both in the eyes of the world were held up very high. Both died. One old, one young. "You will fall as any prince for all must die." Some expected, some unexpected.

A wise person thinks much about death, while the fool thinks only about having a good time now. Ecclesiastes 7:4

If I was to ask you, one on one, just you and me, "Do you want to be wise or do you want to be a fool?" Chances are you would say if you're outside the company of your friends you would say, "I want to be wise." The Bible says if you want to be wise then think about death. If you want to be a fool pretend it doesn't exist. Just go looking for the next party.

But I believe you got out of bed today because you want to be wise, you want to be different. So let's be wise. Let's take a look at some things we might be able to do as we think about death and what it can teach us about love, life and the future.

1. Recognize the UNCERTAINTY of life

None of us in here is guaranteed tomorrow. Isn't that kind of a weird thought, that nobody in here is guaranteed you will be alive tomorrow?

But you do not know what will happen tomorrow! Your life is like a mist. You can see it for a short time, but then it goes away. James 4:14

We think death happens to old people. It happens out there.

Here are some stories:

It was a bright and beautiful August day when Tobin and his best friend and their girl friends rented a catamaran to go sailing. Nearly two miles off shore, Tobin's buddy and the girls jumped into the warm water for a leisurely swim. They were laughing and splashing until suddenly Tobin's friend began shouting for help. Cramps had griped his legs. Quickly Tobin maneuvered the catamaran as close as he could to the swimmers. The girls scrambled on board the boat. Tobin glanced around the boat for a life jacket but there weren't any so he dove into the water to save his friend. The problem was that the girls didn't know how to sail. And frantically they tried to keep the catamaran near the guys but the wind and the current pulled the craft away faster than Tobin and his friend could swim toward it. Pretty soon the boat had drifted out of sight and Tobin and his friend were left to drown.

Here another story.

When I was in fifth grade we got done playing on the monkey bars after school and it was time to go home. I rode to my house one way and Bart and his little brother rode their bicycles toward theirs. As they approached a busy highway Bart's foot slipped off the pedal. He was unable to break and then he could not regain control of his bike and he rolled directly into the path of an oncoming truck. As his helpless brother held him in his arms Bart's lungs filled with blood and he died.

Our friend Frank got up in the middle of the night because he was feeling queasy. Since he was only in his mid thirties he didn't think it was anything more than indigestion. But then he fell over dead leaving behind a widow, a six-year-old son, and a four-year-old daughter.

My life is no longer than my hand! My whole lifetime is but a moment to you oh God...And so, Lord, my only hope is in you. Psalm 39:5

Because of that I say to you…
Enjoy times with your family.
Don't go to bed all ticked off.
Reconcile with your friends and the people you're around.

Life is too short not to live life to its fullest.

If yesterday was my last day to be alive yesterday was a great day.

I will praise the LORD as long as I live. I will sing praises to my God even with my dying breath. Psalm 146:2
You just can't escape death.

Let me read you something else.

This is a quote by an author, Walter Wangren who says "There is no party that death doesn't crash. There is no time when she does not shadow and the only way we cover her presence is by dancing a blind denial. She is here. Wherever there is life death walks the boundaries."

Recognize life is uncertain.

2. Don't RUN from death

Death is weird.
It's strange.
It's difficult for everybody.
It doesn't make you feel comfortable.
I've been to enough funerals that I realize that some people after the funeral will spend more time talking about how good the cheese dip was at the party after the funeral rather than talking about their feelings or their thoughts or what they felt about the person or what was said or what they experienced.

Don't run from death.
Some of your friends when they come back to school after a death experience with family or relatives or somebody like that they need to be around you.
They need to talk to you
they need your support.

Our first reaction is to run.

We want to say, "They don't need to be bothered now. Don't worry about them. I'm just going to give them some time to be by themselves." They're going to have plenty of time to be by themselves. They need to be around you. They need to share storiesthe friend and the family member that they lost. They need to process their pain.
They need a shoulder to cry on.

You don't have to worry about what you have to say.
They don't want your little mini lectures on theology.
They don't need the diverse opinions about life and death.

They need silence.
They need tears.
They need love.
They need presence.

Maybe write down these scriptures and give it to them…

God is the Father who is full of mercy and all comfort. He comforts us every time we have trouble, so when others have trouble, we can comfort them with the same comfort God gives us. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

For I am with you. Do not be dismayed. I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you with my victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:10

3. Consider how ETERNITY gives you hope for TODAY

Death is depressing if you believe that life ends at the grave. But the Bible speaks with such confidence that there is a life beyond death. And eternal life takes the sting out of death.

We have small troubles for a while now, but they are helping us gain an eternal glory that is much greater than the troubles. We set our eyes not on what we see but on what we cannot see. What we see will last only a short time, but what we cannot see will last forever. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 Circle "forever."

God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes in him may not be lost, but have eternal life. John 3:16 Circle "eternal."

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me will have life even if they die." John 11:25 Circle "life."

Look at the three words you just circled…

Forever, eternal, life.
That's what the Bible teaches that if you have a relationship with God you will have forever eternal life.
If you embrace God's plan for all of humanity
here's His plan in a nutshell:
God created you,
He wants a relationship with you, that when you die you're going to be either with Him for eternity or separated from Him for eternity. That's hell.

God has reserved that place in eternity for His children. Everybody is a creation of God but only those who say yes to Him and develop a relationship with Him the Bible teaches are children of God.

That leads us to number four, how death can teach us about life, love and the future…





4. Prepare yourself for ETERNITY



If you would like a life insurance policy that has "Eternity" stamped on it and that's signed by God, it's really quite simple…
You just ask Him to come into your life.
You invite Him in to be the Lord and Savior of your life.
He promises forgiveness for your past, a plan for today, and hope for the future.
It's a gift.
It's a gift you can't earn.
It's a gift you don't deserve.
It's a gift that will never go out of style.
It's a gift that doesn't need batteries.
It's a gift that won't shrink.
It's a gift that doesn't get rusty.
It's a free gift.

When the wicked die, their hopes all perish, for they rely on their own feeble strength. Riches won't help on the day of judgment, but right living is a safeguard against death. Proverbs 11:7, 4

For our perishable earthly bodies must be transformed into heavenly bodies that will never die. When this happens-- when our perishable earthly bodies have been transformed into heavenly bodies that will never die-- then at last the Scriptures will come true: "Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" 1 Corinthians 15:53-55

Jesus said, "Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust in me. There are many rooms in my Father's house; I would not tell you this if it were not true. I am going there to prepare a place for you. After I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you may be where I am. John 14:1

--
God Bless,

Kevin Batson
Pastor of Middle School
Fairhaven Church

Attributes of God

So many times, we say, "You need to be more like God!"  But do we really take time to know him, to know His character? 

What are some attributes of God?  Where do you find them in the Bible?

--
God Bless,

Kevin Batson
Pastor of Middle School
Fairhaven Church

What's Your Favorite?

If you don't know it by now, I talk a lot about Jesus. But sometimes I don't hear from you about Jesus.

So let me ask the big question...

What is your favorite Jesus story in the bible?

Hanging out with God...Why?

Hanging out with God…

Dearest friends, you were always so careful to follow my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away you must be even more careful to put into action God's saving work in your lives, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him. Philippians 2:12-13

· Your relationship with God is meant TO GROW

· Spiritual growth is a life-long JOURNEY

· Developing spiritual habits will help you grow ON YOUR OWN

When you spend time with God…

He changes your HEART

Don't keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:9-10

He gives you DIRECTION for living

Your commandments give me understanding; no wonder I hate every false way of life. Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:104-105

But when the Father sends the Counselor as my representative-- and by the Counselor I mean the Holy Spirit-- he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I myself have told you. John 14:26

He's there during your PROBLEMS

He [God] comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 2 Corinthians 1: 4

Hanging out with God…

1. Make time with God a PRIORITY

2. Take the time REGULARLY

3. Hang out with comfort rather than GUILT

Push

We live in a time when the standard changes with the latest trend. It is time to PUSH! Push through what the world says. Push away from our “addicted to self attitude” and run into the arms of the ONE! The Middle School Ministries of Fairhaven Church exist to help students push their lives away from the world’s standard and toward a New Life and a New Standard!