Some responsibilities just can’t be delegated. We may call others along side to help us get the work done, but we can’t just give the job to someone else. Such is the case with teaching children about God. God gave that duty to parents. Parents should not think they can bring their children to the church and let the “professionals” do it. It has to be lived before them at home.

As youth workers, we must avoid the temptation to take over the parental responsibility. Our job is to help equip parents to accomplish their God-given duty to teach their children. It is fine to help fill the gaps, but don’t try to take their place.

This is a philosophical shift from youth ministry of the past. Rather than focus on ministry with and for students, we need to take a whole-family approach. The greatest impact a youth worker can have in a young person’s life would be bringing the parents to a right relationship with God, doing things His way.

That’s the idea behind the D6 Conference–equipping leaders to equip parents to accomplish God’s plan. Check it out at D6conference.com. For significant savings, don’t miss the very early registration, which ends Februry 2.

We have made efforts to be good neighbors, we smile and wave on the few occasions we have seen them outside. We have shared fruit from some of the trees at times. But we are limited in our ability to communicate. God has allowed the world to come to our neighborhoods, but we are challenged with how to share His truth with them.

There is fruit to be harvested. Hopefully, we can find ways to accomplish this task.

The preregistration numbers are up from last year. There is every indication this will be a well-attended year. It is exciting. There will be several new things this year: Bible Millionaire game debuts, Sign Language will be full-fledged event, Group Bible Memorization is a new exhibition event, and there is much more. There will also be a new type of after service activity on Tuesday night–Mike at the Mic: a Night of Comedy with Michael Jay Hollifield and Friends. Ticket sales are up from previous concerts the past two years, so this is looking like something that will be very popular. Tickets will be available at the door (actually at the Booth). The ticket will serve as the entry badge, adults will not need the NYC ribbon for this event.

I’ll be heading to Charleston tomorrow for the final pre-convention planning meeting. Hope to see you there.

Sometimes idling results from missed opportunities. I can recognize a few missed opportunities in my life. Being hesitant to make a decision or making the wrong decision can produce a time of being idle.  Thankfully, God is gracious and merciful and frequently comes back around with another opportunity.

It is evident these laborers were willing to work–they did the job when they finally got to the field. But it seems they lacked a bit of initiative. Their idleness can be contrasted with Ruth’s productivity. Ruth did not wait for an invitation to go work. She knew there was a job that had to be done and she went out and found a way to do it. God blessed her effort.

Sometimes idling is the result of indecision, lack of initiative, or poor decisions. Learn from these mistakes and get involved. Don’t just stand there, do something!

First, we need to be reminded that we don’t see the whole picture from this side of eternity. Sometimes we may feel ineffective or see someone else as being ineffective, but this may be exactly where God wants us to be at the time. The apostles’ straining to cross the Sea of Galilee and the children of Israel backed up against the Red Sea are good examples of situations where faithful people were not making any apparent progress–but they were learning to trust God.

At other times, ineffectiveness is the result of others’ lack of faith. Isaiah was told to preach even though no one would listen to his message. Jeremiah could not get people to follow him even when he was giving them direct revelation from God. Jesus even lamented that He was not able to accomplish what He wanted to do in Nazareth because of the unbelief of the people.

Sometimes the idle times are for preparation. Elijah went through dark days between great victories. Moses spent 40 years on the back side of the desert. Both men went on to achieve their life’s work.

We see from Scripture that in some occasions idling is unavoidable and at times even necessary and beneficial. There are times when one is just being faithful and obedient to God’s direction. He may be sowing seeds he never gets to harvest. It will still be a fruitful field in God’s time.  So be faithful, the laborer is worthy of his reward.

After countless pulls on the starter rope on full choke, half choke, and no choke, I really felt like choking the guy who asserted this was an easy start weedeater. I looked, but wrap weedeater around tree wasn’t one of the instructions.

Suspecting that the gasoline mix may have been old, I got some new gasoline and mixed a fresh gallon and started over. After repeating the 666 cycle a few more times, the weedeater finally sputtered to life. But something still wasn’t right. Pressing the throttle trigger made no difference. The weedeater was barely running and barely cutting. It was slow going as I tried to trim around the driveway and the sidewalk.

I realized at this pace, I would be better off getting a goat and walking it around the yard. So, I determined to find out what was wrong before I started considering the tree option again. After tinkering a few minutes I discovered the problem–the throttle cable was not connected to the throttle trigger. It had slipped out of the little plastic lever that allowed it to open the throttle. It was only able to idle. Pressing the trigger was a useless exercise because nothing was attached.

A little later, after everything was reassembled and the weedeater was running properly the thought came to mind–how many people are just idling through life? They have read the instructions and are doing everything by the book, but it just doesn’t seem to be effective. Life may work, to a degree, but it just seems like there should be more progress or better results.

Why do some people just seem to be going though life on idle? It is not that they are lazy, just ineffective. A lazy person does not keep pulling on the rope. These people are out there giving their best effort, but just seem to be running on idle.

Over the next few days, let’s consider some of the possible explanations.

Romans 13 empowers governments with the moral authority to punish evil doers. Unfortunately, in ever increasing frequency, government is letting down on its job. Tragically, the idea of taking the law into one’s own hands is becoming more and more popular.

Numerous TV shows and movies depict the “good guys” breaking the law to bring justice to the “bad guys.” Vigilante law officers and serial killer medical examiners who murder criminals will only inspire more people to take the law into their own hands.  This is really nothing new, people have been finding ways to justify their behavior since the days of Cain.

Nevertheless, God said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” When we take the law into our own hands, we are not just violating the laws of man, we are usurping the authority of God. If the government fails to carry out its God-given duty, it is not the place of the individual citizen to step in. Let God deal with it. He will still accomplish His purpose. We have to trust Him on this.

What is the difference between the “good guys” and the “bad guys” if they are both breaking the law? That kind of moral relativism will always lead to trouble. The good guys have to play by the rules–that is what makes them the good guys.