Free Song! · 5 days ago by Ryan Gano
A free Kutless MP3 is being given away at Bible Study Magazine. They are also giving away cool Kutless gear and Logos Bible Software.
I subscribe to Bible Study Magazine and it is a fantastic resource for those people who are serious about studying their Bible!
I also use Logos Software and love to be able to really study my Bible with ease. Right now I am actually reading Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan
Go check it out!
With Long Life · 51 days ago by Ryan Gano
I have been loving this song on the new (to me) Israel Houghton CD A Deeper Level
It’s got a great beat and an incredible message.
When my plans are changed for me... · 141 days ago by Ryan Gano
So, I was just playing this game on myspace called Mafia Wars. I’ve been playing it for a few days now. I really like the game because I don’t have to play it all of the time. I just check in and update things every once in a while. Not so much of a time sink as other games…
...anyway. I had built up quite a bank account for how early I was in the game (165,000 or so) I went to check out my account and saw that I had $0. The game stole my money. I was planning to use that money to upgrade some property. :-(
Then I went to check the inventory out because I had lost my inventory once before. I had all of my stuff… wait… I had 100 of each of the things I had before!
I was able to sell the stuff I didn’t want and finance about 3 million dollars worth of stuff. My plan was to buy a $200,000 piece of property, but the game had a different idea.
...now, this is obviously a small thing, and is the result of some glitch in the game, but it got me thinking…
How often do I get upset because things aren’t going according to my plans. I want to go way “a” but it’s blocked. Then I get upset and refuse to move. When in reality God blocked way “a” because he knows that way “b” is better for me.
If I would stop getting upset and just follow God where he takes me, my life would be much better in the long run.
Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. (ESV)
SOAP - Day 3 · 152 days ago by Ryan Gano
John 3:16-17 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
SOAP - Day 2 · 159 days ago by Ryan Gano
Proverbs 3:5-8 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones. (ESV)
SOAP - Day 1 · 160 days ago by Ryan Gano
Quick refresher in the SOAP method for studying:
S – Scripture (Read the scripture)
O – Observation (What does it say)
A – Application (How can you apply it to your life)
P – Prayer (Pray that God would show you more and help you follow through)
Now for the scripture of the day…
Romans 12:1-2 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. [2] Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (ESV)
What does your SOAP look like? [6]
What not to do · 161 days ago by Ryan Gano
Just saw this video on myspace…
I’ve done some crazy things in church, but thankfully, I’ve never done this!
Relevance... or an excuse for disobedience? · 161 days ago by Ryan Gano
So, a little more on the topic of relevance…
In talking to my friend about this issue we hit upon a point that I believe is profound. Rather than give you the point out of context let me take you through the thought process.
God works on different areas of our life at different times. I believe that while he wants us to change completely, he knows that there are areas we are ready to change and areas we aren’t. For instance a person doing drugs, and smoking, and lying, might be convicted about the illegal drugs and smoking while holding onto the lying for a while longer.
Furthermore, while one person may be under conviction to stop swearing, another person may be under conviction to stop watching certain movies, or listening to certain music.
Now, let’s bring this back to relevance… For the sake of argument, let’s say that I have been feeling conviction about the types of movies that I watch. God has been telling me I can’t watch anything longer than 30 minutes.
But I really want to watch an hour long movie. So, as a youth pastor, or a Christian, trying to reach the world for Christ, I convince myself that I have to be relevant to my culture. So I watch the long movie anyway.
I am using the argument of relevance to allow myself to ignore God’s conviction in an area of my life.
I personally believe that anytime you use the “I need to stay relevant” argument, you are ignoring God’s conviction, and in sin. Otherwise you wouldn’t need to say “well, I wouldn’t do this but I need to stay relevant”
Romans 12:1-2 – 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. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern 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.
Proverbs 14:12 – There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
Relevance vs. Relationship · 162 days ago by Ryan Gano
I was at my friend’s house yesterday, and he posed this question to me…
Should a youth pastor watch, or listen to, or read things that they would consider “unrighteous” in order to stay relevant in today’s culture.
Put another way: Should I watch movie “x” because all of the teens are watching it?
My immediate answer was not at all! I don’t need to subject myself, my wife, or sometimes my family to that, so that I can know what the most popular song is today.
That doesn’t mean, I shy away from things, or hide myself in a closet because an Eminem song is the music behind a youtube video. I think I get plenty of exposure to relevant issues and topics just by hanging out with the teens. I don’t need to subject myself to it in my free time!
I’ve been thinking about this quite a bit since my talk yesterday. I will probably write a little more about this topic tomorrow.
Until then, let me know what you think? Should a youth pastor lower standards to remain relevant?
How many times... · 163 days ago by Ryan Gano
...have I not been willing to run 3.11 miles with my kids? The thought may seem completely random but it’s something I’ve been thinking about since yesterday at church. Let me explain…
Pastor Frank showed the following video two weeks in a row:
Both weeks, he also told a little about the story behind the video. This is a father-son team with a son having cerebral palsy. One year the son asked his dad if they could run a 5K to bennifit a sick child.
His dad agreed and the ran the race. Of course running the race meant that the father was pushing his son through the whole thing while the son sat in a wheelchair.
After the race Rick, the son, typed a message to his dad to let him know that this is the first time in his life he didn’t feel handycapped. Of course as a dad I can imagine the emotion that must have flooded Rick’s dad in that moment.
After that they decided to run a marathon (26 miles) together. When they completed that Rick asked his dad if they could compete in an Ironman competition. They did, with the father pushing or pulling his son, the whole way.
I’m sure that if Rick had asked his dad to compete in an Ironman competition first, it never would have happened. But he asked for something simple. And the father agreed. That lead to something bigger once his dad saw how much it meant.
My kids have never asked me to run a race with them. But they always ask for things, let’s go to the zoo, can we play tennis, can we do this or that. How many times have I turned my kids down when they ask for something simple? How many of those things could have turned into something life, or even world, changing?
John 15:13 – Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.