Author: Wick

So most of us have heard about this ridiculously expensive bill, that some promise will give us the boost we need, while others warn us it will do more harm than good when it’s all settled.

Thanks to the blog “Read the Stimulus” I realized (check back there for more updates) we can all easily have access to the bill (it’s over 1,400 pages total, and not very entertaining. Thankfully there is somewhat of a “table of contents” section, so you can search a bit for things that directly relate/impact you. Although it’s probably good to remember, it ALL impacts each of us.

So on first glance, anything that stands out (remember – 1,400 pages)?

Actually yes…as a youth pastor. There are many sections detailing plans for helping out agencies that help develop the youth. They’ve even changed the language so that “youth” goes up to age 24 (from the previous 21). Section 1221 of Part 3, Division B – talks about 2 target groups which employers can receive credit for hiring. They are unemployed veterans, and a group called “Disconnected Youth”. This got me curious. What exactly IS a “disconnected youth”?

Here’s what they label a disconnected youth:

1. Must be age 16-24
2. Must not be involved in any post-high school education for at least 6 months prior to hiring.
3. Must not be regularly employed for 6 months before hiring.
4. Not readily employable because of a lack of a sufficient number of basic skills.

I can see a lot of employers of post-high school students applying for this credit. The question is, what is a sufficient number of basic skills? Sure, Joe can eat and breathe, and goes to the bathroom on his own…but he’s just so dern forgetful. He’s lacking a sufficient number of basic skills. I should get credit for hiring that guy. At least until he’s 25.

But I’m sure someone who’s not readily employable will use those years to become readily employable by learning those basic skills they’re lacking so they don’t immediately lose their job at 25….right?

6am – it begins again, the day of a man
not just a man, cause there’s more that I am
a husband, father, brother, son, and friend
youth pastor, wanna be somebody, wanna drive faster
moving forward, drawn forward, new creation type living
and those are just titles, those are just the beginning.

to see who I am, live a day right beside me
you’ll see I’m not always the man the titles implying
reflecting the creator doesn’t happen casually
purposeful breathing, frustrating, but spiritually
transformed from the dust, and death that comes with it
not timid, not fear and slavery, but a whole different spirit
a Spirit of Life, and that means life eternal, I’m
not waiting for heaven, some golden pie in the sky
living life wholly open, consumed by a force
dying to self, taken on a whole different course
guided by life, by Love, by His word
but to say I’ve achieved it, that I’m done, that’s absurd.

So I offer these titles, that say who I am to the world
for God to transform,
morph, guide, break, and remake
Use each facet as a new way – of making me new today.

And He is. Making ALL things new. This includes you.
But for me? What am I wanting to be?

A husband that lifts his wife to Your throne.
A father who knows he can’t do it alone.
A brother who knows what Family’s about.
A son of a Father, whose love I won’t doubt.
A friend who would give of himself for another.
A youth pastor who with the heart of God suffers.

the day will come to its close, around 10 or eleven
I know that some out there are waiting for Heaven
Me, I’ll be waiting for that next 6am
When I can wake up, and do it all over again…

..and I feel fine. Sorry, had to be said.

So anyways, here’s some news that may make you think the end of the world is near: