Sponsoring basically means we make a financial gift each month that goes towards the physical and spiritual well-being of these kids.  It’s been a great way to introduce a global perspective to my kids.

I’ll never forget 4 years ago when we first began sponsoring Gabriel.  I had visited the orphanage in Sudan where Gabriel lives.  I don’t know for certain, but there’s a good chance that Gabriel’s parents are no longer living.  When Gabriel’s picture and bio arrived I sat down with 3-year-old Abby and told her about him.  Somehow even at age 3 Abby knew to ask where his parents were.  I didn’t want to come out and say “they are dead” so I just said they weren’t around. Very instinctively she asked me, “are they dead?” Tough conversation … but a great way to help Abby and my other kids get some insight into the rest of the world.

Without fail every night before bed at least one of my kids prays for Daniela, Gabriel and Asly.

I love this story our Bluefish TV team found about a teenager who is sponsoring a child through Compassion.  Sometimes we can think that teens are so self-focused that they would never make a monthly sacrifice to donate money like this. Casey was inspired at a conference my friend Mark Matlock does called Planet Wisdom and I think her story is amazing.

Casey’s story is part of a powerful new series we just released called Made to Make a Difference featuring teaching from Max Lucado.

Ultimately Gary’s book offers hope and it’s worth the read. Gary is the President and CEO of a human rights agency called International Justice Mission.The issues of human rights, slavery and trafficking are difficult ones to address.  It typically involves government interaction and legal action.  Anyone aware of these issues is upset and unsettled … but few know if or how they can actually help.

Our team discovered the story of 17-year-old Zach Hunter. He was confronted with the truth about modern day slavery and decided to take action.  His Loose Change to Loosen Chains campaign has inspired thousands of students and adults to step up and take action.  Zach’s story is featured in a new youth Bible study series called Made to Make a Difference with teaching from Max Lucado.

I think a lot of people get stuck when trying to figure out how to make a difference.  There are so many options that our best intentions lead to inactivity.

That’s why I love this story about an easy way for youth groups to take action.  One weekend can be eye-opening and life-changing for the students. World Vision provides all the tools and ideas for putting on your own 30 Hour Famine.

As a group sits in a living room or a classroom and watches a Bluefish TV resource … we’ve heard over and over that the stories sparked great discussion.  Sometimes to be authentic we have to capture tough stories that don’t have a resolution.  The stories can be painful to watch, but our hope is that the viewers will connect with a story on screen and begin opening up about their own struggles and challenges.

After producing so many stories that create more questions than answers, our team had a lot of fun capturing 12 hope-filled stories for our recent release called Made to Make a Difference featuring teaching from Max Lucado.  For me one of the most moving stories was Jeremie.  His family has gone through a lot … but his willingness to help others through Habitat for Humanity is inspiring.

I am an introvert.

I have a busy life with three young kids.

My gifts are more leadership and administrative.

A few years ago I heard about this kid named Austin Gutwein who was having a big impact through basketball.  Recently our Bluefish TV team spent time with Austin to hear more of his story.  It’s absolutely inspiring.

Here’s a kid who followed the model of a Good Samaritan … he saw a need, felt compassion, moved towards the need and took action.  Austin has now authored a book, traveled across the country on the Revolve tour and raised over $1,000,000 through Hopes of Hope.  And I don’t think he has his driver’s license yet!

Check out more inspiring stories on our new youth Bible Study called Made to Make a Difference featuring Max Lucado.

Soon I regretted becoming “friends” with him.  I was amazed by how many updates he would send out in a single day.  He was always asking people for tents or clothes or toys to donate for some special cause.  Don’t get me wrong, I am a big fan of doing something to serve others … but this seemed annoying.

About this same time our Bluefish TV team began working on a Bible study project with Max Lucado based on his new book Outlive Your Life.  Max makes a very strong point in his teaching that we are equipped with technology to make a difference in the world in a nanosecond. We started hunting for great stories that would illustrate some of Max’s teaching. Shaun was the first guy that came to mind.  Who better to illustrate the power of technology than I guy I had only “met” online through Facebook and Twitter as he mobilized people to serve.

I learned more about Shaun and discovered he was pastor of a young church called Courageous Church.  What was once annoying quickly turned to admiration. I was so inspired by his story and by what God was doing through a small band of obedient followers in Atlanta.  We tried our best to capture Shaun’s powerful story in this short video below.

And by the way, follow Shaun and be inspired.  Plus check out an initiative that has sent over $1.5 million in tents to Haiti this year — A Home in Haiti.

But then I got to thinking about all the marketing and advertising we are exposed to everyday. Those messages are filled with promises of instant results. We know those promises are actually lies. Deep down we know that there’s no quick fix.

So when it comes to seeing lives changed — there’s no overnight transformation. Change comes one choice at a time. I need that reminder because I can be tempted to believe that in the next three years our ministry could have huge “results” on our generation and the way we put our faith into action. While I hope God allows us to make considerable progress in the next three years, there’s a bigger picture than just the next three years.

I had the honor this week of meeting with a faithful woman in her 80′s named Ruth Merillat. She and her husband ran a successful company for decades and had a tremendous impact on their community in Michigan. Even in the short time I spent with Ruth I was reminded that transformation happens over time.

I want to be in my 80′s still plodding along in my own faith and in my ministry to others.  There are no shortcuts to real change.

Maybe we should change our name from RightNow to “Slow and Steady” or “Plodding Along” …

My oldest daughter just finished up kindergarten. Never would we have dreamed that we would be having conversations with Abby about the word “sexy.” She learned this word from a little boy in her class who thinks it’s fun to call her that.  She is only six years old!

As a youth leader, you know even better than I that your students are confronted with topic of sex everywhere they turn.

The Truth About Sex is a candid and up-front discussion about sex. We are going to dive into the Biblical purpose of sex and purity while also tackling some of the temptations that are out there in our culture today. We feel it’s better to be straightforward and real so that students can talk honestly about this topic. And for those who have messed up, Doug Fields reminds us of the grace and forgiveness found in Christ.

Sex is a difficult subject to address, but it’s worth it. Our over-sexualized culture is effecting our youth and even our kindergartners.

Thanks for doing the hard work of discipling your students through the tough stuff of life.

Here’s a preview of the series:

I am God.

We would never say this out loud, but many have bought into this lie.  The world around us is telling us that we are the center of the universe and we are starting to believe it.

When you are God it’s OK to talk a lot about yourself.  Using “I” or “me” or “my” is appropriate. Scanning through the Bible demonstrates that God is the central figure. It’s a book about Him.

When we play the role of God it has devastating effects. You can’t properly worship the God of the Bible. Everything in life starts focusing on your wants, desires and hopes. You become blinded to the needs of others around you. You become a consumer … a customer … and the customer is always right. Others exist to serve you.

I am NOT God … and that is a very good thing.

I suspect that most of these students and leaders who have heard Francis teach are engaged by his passion for Jesus and his desire to follow the Bible and not cultural Christianity.  When I started talking with Francis about a possible youth project, the topic of COURAGE came up quickly.  Before long we were brainstorming about the type of courage needed to make it in today’s culture.  The project began taking shape and before long we had the outline to a 4-part series that was asking the question, “Do you have what it takes?”

I am proud of our creative team for finding some amazing stories of student who honestly share about the struggles they have in being courageous.  The candor and emotion of the stories is compelling.  And Francis is classic Francis.  He tells some stories about his own life as a student and constantly turns to scripture to remind us of the kind of courage Jesus calls us to.

This short trailer does a phenomenal job of capturing the essence of this resource: