Wade Messer ------ Youth Director
Office Hours: Tuesday: 9am - Noon; Wednesday: 3pm – 5pm; Thursday & Friday: Flexible Hours

Work Number: 701.748.2150
Cell Number: 701.590.1153
Email Address: peaceyd@gmail.com

check out the youth facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/peaceyd

Peace Lutheran Youth Ministry
To Become "Wide Awake" in Jesus Christ Through Education and Example!!

FROM THE YOUTH DIRECTOR
For the first time since 1996, when I was one of the first kids to own a Game Boy Pocket (yes, I was a nerdy sixth grader,) I now have a cool, new toy. I just got a brand new phone! It is a bit of an upgrade from the past few that I had. One of my phones had a defective ear piece, so I could not hear what the person on the other end was saying. Another phone had a non-working display, so I had no idea who I was calling or who was calling me! But, this new phone has a camera, Internet access, and a full keyboard. Every time I use it, I am honestly scared that I might break it; a fear that I never had with the Game Boy Pocket. That thing was built like a brick.
While shopping for a phone and a plan that would be perfect for working in youth ministry (one with a big texting package,) I was reminded of an e-mail forward that mentioned both cell phones and our everyday Bible usage. Below is a portion of the message:
Have you ever wondered what life would be like if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phones? What if we carried it around in our purse or pocket? What if we flipped through it several times a day? What if we turned back to get it if we forgot it? What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it? What if we gave it to kids as gifts? What if we used it when we traveled? What if we used it in case of an emergency?
Many valid points are brought to our attention through these questions. At the same website, one person had responded to the questions with this comment, “Well, one thing is for sure. The most advanced cell phone is way easier to figure out than the Bible!”
While this statement may seem a bit harsh and very negative against our book of faith, there is some truth in it. Both phones and the scriptures can be difficult to understand, if you do not know where to start. When I got my new phone, I had a general idea as to how to use it. I knew how to make calls and how to text. But, after letting some of our church's youth take a look at my phone for one minute, I learned how to do five new things! Five!
If I had not shared my phone with those kids, I would not have learned these new things. I thought I knew plenty about my phone, but I was barely scratching the surface. And, I'm guessing that if I had those same kids take a test run with the Game Boy Pocket, I might have the upper hand in terms of knowing how to use it. It would present an opportunity for all parties to learn something and, probably, gain a mutual appreciation for how far technology has come.
The e-mail forward was very keen on describing how we should be using our Bibles like we use our cell phones. But, there is one way in which they are already treated similarly. Our Bibles, our beliefs, should bind us together in the same way that cell phones keep us connected. Let us praise God for this blessing of community, knowing that we are not only one call away from God, but one call away from our fellow believers.