2nd M - Your Mate

Those of you who are finishing high school – Congratulations!!! We continue our talks on the four most important decisions of your life. They are: Who will be your Master? Who will be your Mate? What will be your Major? And How will you manage your money?

Today we talk about your Mate or Marriage. “Whoa, whoa, whoa Rick, not so fast. I just want to head off to college and have some fun. I’m not thinking about marriage now.” I’m sure that’s true and I am not at all a proponent of getting married too young. So, this is not at all about you getting married now. What it is about is making wise decisions over the next years of your life when it comes to relationships.

Our life is wrapped up in relationships and it should be. So, be careful to choose your friends wisely. The Apostle Paul writes that “Bad company corrupts good morals.” And he is right. And how you choose your friends will affect how you choose your dates. And how you choose and treat your dates will determine how you choose and treat your spouse. Marriage is the most wonderful gift a person can have. He who has found a good wife has found the greatest treasure on earth. Make wise decisions based on your future, and God will bless you for it.

Who is Your Master?

We continue our week considering the graduating seniors of 2010. As you know you are embarking on the years ahead when you will make the 4 biggest decisions of your life. They are: Who will be your Master? Who will be your Mate? What will be your Major? And How will you manage your money?

The primary decision you will make that is the foundation for all other decisions is: Who is your Master? Who or what is your God? You might say, “Well, I am a Christian. I have been one since I was a little kid.” That is wonderful, but this is the time of your life when Jesus truly becomes your God. He is not the God of your parents or the God of your church. He must become the God you love and serve. He must become the Master of your life.

The years after high school are great years, but they are also potentially difficult times. By making Jesus your Lord and by pursuing your relationship with Him, you are setting the only sure foundation that can give you the start in life that you need.

Choose wisely on who will be your Master.

The Decade of Decision

June is a tremendous month. Summer is finally here and everyone is excited especially the kids who are off for summer vacation. All kids are excited but every year there is that special group known as high school graduates. They have finished their high school career and they are ready to take on the world. So, first of all I salute and congratulate all of you graduates out there – you need to be commended – Great Job!!

I think it’s interesting that the graduation ceremony is called commencement. That’s because graduation is not an end, but is instead the beginning of the next stage of your life. I have worked with teenagers for nearly 20 years so I watched this transition a lot over the years. I have come to think of this decade of a person’s life from about the ages of 16-25 as the Decade of Decision. And if you or someone you love is in this decade of their life, you understand this to be true. For it’s in these years that you will decide on 4 keys areas of your life that will affect your entire future. I call these the 4 M’s. During this decade you will decide on your Master (who is your God?), your Mate (who you will marry), your Major (career path) and your Money (how will you manage it). These are 4 huge areas that we will explore this week.

For you graduate, you know you need tremendous wisdom as you forge ahead and that wisdom comes from God. Proverbs 1:5 says let the wise hear and increase in learning and 1:20 says that wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice.

My friends let’s listen to the wisdom that comes from the Lord. I look forward to spending time with you this week as we pursue God’s wisdom for this Decade of Decision that you, the graduate is about to embark upon.

Dr, Kevin Leman

Make sure you come out and hear Dr. Leman on Sunday morning June 6th. We are quite privileged to have him in our midst at PF.

Another "Life in a Small Town" Moment

I live in the same town that I grew up in. And there are times that I am really reminded that this is "small town America". So, here is one of those - "You know you live in a small town when..."

Yesterday I went on a field trip to an Erie Seawolf baseball game with Zachary's school. I was one of the Dad Chaperones. As I was on the bus with all these first graders I looked around at the adults. Can you believe that there were six of us on the bus that went to high school together? Six first grade chaperones were in school together. Those are just the parents on this trip. There are other parents of first graders that I went to high with also. This is truly one of those small town things. Some people don't like it, but I absolutely love it!!! I can think of no better place to raise our family than right where we are.

Another Truth to Consider

I have a FATHER who CHOSE me, therefore, I am WANTED!!!

A Simple Truth

Here is a very simple truth that many, even most in our culture do not believe. I challenge you to consider if it's true and consider if you believe it.

I have a Creator who Made me, therefore, I am Needed!!