YouthWorker Journal - March/April 2009 - (Page 24)

10 Minutes in God’s Word by B a r r y S h a f e r B eauty Finding THINK ABOUT IT These scenes, more than any others in Scripture, help me fight the notion that because God is a loving God who is in control, everything always will turn out fine. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had full faith they would be delivered, yet they still left God some wiggle room with the two-word phrase: “but even.” In Acts, two prominent apostles were captured: James was put to death by the sword; Peter was rescued by an angel. Go figure. APPLY IT Isaiah gave us the image of God’s grieving people receiving beauty from crisis instead of ashes. Here, beauty certainly resulted from ashes. Shadrach and friends, facing the furnace, were rescued (not even smelling of ash), causing Nebuchadnezzar to praise God! In Acts, despite the loss of James—perhaps even because of this loss—the church grew, and it is still growing. While I still smell the ashes of crises, beauty has emerged. Following both crises, new ministries were birthed to meet the needs of those in similar situations and to help teens sidestep the pitfalls that can lead to these kinds of tragedies. We want it all to be fine; but even if it’s not—and as we minister we will surely have our share of “not”— Scripture can help us comfort teens with the hope beauty will come. Barry Shafer is a 20-year youth ministry vet and director of InWord Resources (www.inword.org). He recently authored Unleashing God’s Word in Youth Ministry (2008, Youth Specialties/Zondervan). To help teens avoid life decisions that lead to tragedy, check out InWord’s Making Your One Turn Count, a small-group Bible study developed in collaboration with Life Choices, a ministry that emerged from the ashes of Columbine. in the Midst of Crisis SCENE 1 Daniel 3:16-18 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king…“If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we Like many of you, I’ve had the want you to know, O king, that we will not unfortunate privilege of picking up serve your gods or worship the image of gold the pieces following a crisis that ripped you have set up.” through our student ministry. In our case, it was a murder-suicide. I also SCENE 2 was touched personally by the tragedy Acts 12:1-3; 6-11 at Columbine High School, as our It was about this time that King Herod arrestgood friends’ niece, Rachel Scott, was ed some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the killed that day. In my own journey, two scenes brother of John, put to death with the sword. in Scripture have brought needed When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he perspective. While this column does proceeded to seize Peter also. … Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, not answer all the questions, perhaps you’ll gain insight to a crisis you have bound with two chains, and sentries stood navigated or will navigate with young guard at the entrance. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the people. cell. … “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists. … When they had SCRIPTURE Scene 1 is the moment just before walked the length of one street, Nebuchadnezzar fired up the furnace. suddenly the angel left him. Then Peter came Scene 2 takes place during some of the to himself and said, “Now I know without a church’s fiercest persecution in the doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches…” Book of Acts. 24 March/April 2009 | YouthWorkerJournal.com http://www.inword.org http://www.YouthWorkerJournal.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of YouthWorker Journal - March/April 2009

YouthWorker Journal - March/April 2009 Contents Feedback Youth Culture Update Culture Watch Encountering God Campus Ministry The Urban Take Sight Unseen Worldview Soul Care Managing Your Ministry 10 Minutes in God's Word From IQ to CQ Caring Amidst Crisis Risky Business When Tragedy Gets Personal Deaths in the Family Stopping Suicide Blessed Are They Who Mourn Healing the Healer Resources for Working with Crisis Tools Stirring it Up

YouthWorker Journal - March/April 2009

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