New Year!! Begginin o da en

The new year has started yet again and there are several things I ponder as a Youth Minister: First, as I am now a parent of an (almost) teenager (where did that time go), I wonder if what I say sinks in. Hopefully you can relate as you find yourself frustrated that your children *never* listen to you...then I remember the words of Jesus : "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5:48. Now, the context of this is loving our enemies. While my son certainly is not my enemy, I can be in his mind. What I say to him, while unpopular to him, comes from a motivation of love that only a parent can understand. This is the perfection that we are to have...the same loving motivations as God. Second, on a more funny note. I have found a bible version on YouVersion that you must read...right now its the NT only but I would encourage you to give it a read if you can. Under the Languages section, search for Hawai`i Pidgin and give it a read. This is an ethnic Hawaiian language and someone took the time to translate the NT this way.

Enjoy...

lyle