written by Pastor Brock Meyer

I am determined to not let life slip past me any longer. I will not look back upon my life with regret. I will not be satisfied with the ordinary, the mundane, or the average. I will not live on emotions or whims. I will no longer live only with what I have and without all that I do not. I will contend for the faith; I will contend for the fullness. Period. And this is how: I will establish and maintain spiritual disciplines. I will be undaunted in reading the Word, unceasing in prayer, and regular in fasting. I will seek the secrets of silence and solitude, the gems of journaling, and the salary of good stewardship. I will be relentless, and I will persevere. I will be disciplined.

Discipline is the key to unlocking the impossible for it knows not how to fail. It presses past pains in our past; it will not be dulled by the success of our present and will not be swayed at the uncertainties of the future. Ah, discipline: the silent hero, the unseen fire, the quiet legend. It is birthed behind the scenes and lives in the background, but o' how boastfully does it display its results! Discipline is what makes the normal extraordinary, the average into the epitome. It takes raw material and makes it a masterpiece. It takes a person the world would write off and turns them into one who decides what the world will write. It exchanges the monotony of existence for a monopoly of abundance. Discipline separates those who live from those who simply die, the haves from the have-nots, the doers from those who talked about it. Discipline: the quality behind a quality and the motivator for motivation.

What would we as the youth of this generation look like if we had this transplant from a heart of toleration, mediocrity, and lethargy to that of a determined, unbending, unshakeable heart of discipline? I telll you we would not be dictated our role and rights in our schools but establish them. We would not struggle with sharing our faith but speak the Word boldly and with power! We would not dream and beg for signs and wonders but walk in the fullness of them. We wouldn't only read Bible stories, we would live them! We would be Daniels in the Babylon of our schools and jobs; we would be John the Baptists in the wildernesses of worldliness that surrounds us; we would be the Moses of our day leading our friends and peers out of the captivity of carnality that has captured their hearts. Friends, we must rise to the occasion, for destiny, greatness, and a dying generation await our response. We were called for this life: to know Christ and to establish His Kingdom on earth. This is our purpose. We were made to be disciplined.

I hear a thunder beyond the hill. It rattles open the doors of doubt and ushers in a hopeful light. Here come the bleeding warriors. They do not bleed from wounds or pain but from a heart that beats for His name. They come over the hill in mighty array. Under their feet the ground oozes the blood of their enemies. Their heads are held high and strong as they come over the hill, they sing heavens song. The melodies and harmonies mix in perfect unity stirring the skies full of this celestial music. These fighters of love do not lust for blood but for a life worth living. They fight against the lies they face with dignity and truth, nothing tarnishes the shields of these mighty beings. The glitter in their eyes tells a tale of how they have searched for the life worth living- and found it. Branded across their foreheads is the symbol of freedom so all will know they fight freely for the Lord and Savior with which they have fallen madly in love. Beneath their breastplates beats a heart to the sound of the angels drums in the realms of glory. They beat full of the blood shed for them, they no longer pound in their chests for the body - but the soul. Around their waist is bound a scarf of the purest silk the color of deep purple. Each warrior is royalty above all kings and all people, their inheritance is the universe. Their legs of iron are quick and agile; they have been trained through the hardest obstacle course of all time, life itself. When their purpose has been reached and their destiny fulfilled the warrior does not face death but a greater life. The end of their service in this army of perfection is glory forever in the place they were truly created for, heaven itself. Their lives are not forgotten, each warrior leaves behind himself a legacy remembered for the rest of time. This army is made for the few who choose to live the life to which they were called . The invitation has been sent, few respond, but those that do live not dreading death but living life fully alive.

Recently, the pioneering class of the Living Stones School of Ministry met together to talk vision, excellence, and the goals that we are to accomplish for the next two years of our lives. As we sat in the classroom, all gathered together, dreaming of our futures, we couldn’t help but sense the Spirit brewing something unique into each of our hearts. The air was charged with destiny and purpose as the teachers spoke of past men and women who shaped the world as we know it, by simply saying, "yes" without reservation. They painted a surreal picture of the lowly, understated and underestimated radicals that laid their life upon the alter of sacrifice, and were transformed into the elite of this world. One couldn’t help but hope that as they spoke of these great ones, they were prophesying that very end into our existence. Could I become that woman? Could he become that man? Could we, a little tribe of truth seekers discover a hidden well within each of us, deposited by heaven, to revamp the systems of the known world?

This is the opportune time, as the year of 2007 closes, to reevaluate the ambition of our lives. Each day, what do we live for and look to? Many students still do not have a vision for their future and do not have a plan to find out what that is. Many reply with the answer, "I'm not sure what I want to do with my life, I'm just waiting." And the reply is, "Well don’t worry about it, you have plenty of time." I believe the lack of vision is what has stunted our generation for becoming all He has destined for us to be. As long as we exist and don’t advance we are no threat. In Luke 2:49 we see Jesus as a 12 year old fully confident in His life mission. What was His statement? "I must be about My Fathers business." At the ripe age of 12 Jesus knew His purpose. It was to do the will of His Father.

God has chosen you, He has breathed His life into you. He has placed a desire for greatness inside your heart. Who does not want to be recognized, to be known, to be broadcasted in some shape or form that lets everyone know your worth. Long ago, I asked God why I had such an expectation in my spirit to be something great for the Kingdom. Was this emotion called pride? Was it birthed out of selfishness? No. It was birthed out of pure jealousy to be all that God created me to be. Anything and anyone who tried to steal that passion from me, must be left behind. I spoke to Him in my secret place and I said, "God I want to be great." He spoke to me very tenderly and said, "Greatness in my eyes is not determined by how many know of you. Greatness in My eyes is determine by how much you are known by me." I then realized that no matter what the cost I must be known by Him. I knew then that I wanted to travel into the heart of His heart. To dare to go into the chief of chambers where no man has ever had access before. Is this a fantasy? No, its very much a reality. Believe in His dream. We must erase the shorelines of our hearts and live in the realm of the uncomfortable.

When you become one with your Maker, His glory becomes your glory. This year I challenge you to be apart of something greater than yourself. Whatever dream you have, God is dreaming bigger. Remember, there are no limitations when it comes to the one who is limitless.

For some reason in America we are set on finding "The Next Great Thing!" It is seems as though reality TV is nervously consumed with this motto as their overarching mission statement. America was built by great men, and so today she is still obsessed with the unchanging feverish search. But is she really finding greatness? I am well aware that this may not sit well with “Idol” lovers, “Top Chef” enthusiasts, or “Got Talent” groupies, but is someone who can sing a song, broil a brisket, or a circus boy juggling sticks while riding a unicycle qualify as greatness?

LeBron James, dubbed in high school as “The Chosen One,” has a gift to play the game of basketball. Before the NBA Finals this year he said that if his pregnant girlfriend was to give birth to his new son during the Finals that he would not be there for his family, but would rather want to play in the basketball game. Now I love basketball. I know it doesn’t get any bigger than the NBA Finals. But does greatness say, “I’d rather bounce a ball and shoot it at an iron circle instead of being there for the miracle of my newborn son?” Is that what America so desperately is in the hunt for? Someone with that kind of “greatness?” Are these the heroes of America who have done something great?

Here’s a list of my heroes who are doing great things in America and the nations…
Pam Shutske who is taking college courses, has a job, is on the worship band, does all our video editing, is crazy busy and yet prioritizes her life enough to empty herself into younger girls hoping they get all that she has inside of her!

Hannah Staub who pours into young girls week in and week out who deal with the pressures of this world. Just last week Hannah is crying in front of our whole cell wanting to see her girls breakthrough! She’s driven by eternity!

My heroes are…
Lauren and George Slater who work their jobs all summer, save money, and then use their savings to throw a big summer outreach block-party to see souls saved and disciples made! They hold loosely the things of this world that they might see the Gospel made famous!

Caitlin Imbrone who in one year goes on the Encounter, does the Post ‘E,’ all 3 levels of SOL! Now she can’t get enough of Jesus in her life; in the prayer room, going to the nations, in a cell, and leads a cell, hoping to raises up girls just like herself!

Harvest Bashta who we are going to rename Charity Church Mouse; she’s in the prayer room till midnight, starting School of Ministry at the beginning of the year, teaches in SOWA, full devotion to God, then reproduces herself in a band of young warring cell girls every Sunday night!

I want to be like…
Rachel Smith who has the biggest mother-heart of them all, makes over a 4.0 in all her classes, has a crazy school schedule, and then turns her hot-tub into a pool of sanctification and baptizes other high school friends who want more of the Holy Spirit in their lives!

Linda Shutske who is committed to the band, has a job, takes college courses, is here Sunday morning, Tuesday night, in a cell, leads a cell, and wants nothing but full freedom for her girls and determined destiny for their lives!

Something that’s pretty great is…
Rico Ramos who at the first of the year didn’t know how to receive father-love from me. If I told him I love and believe in him he would break. He’s now a cell leader who’s been healed and who gives father-love to his cell guys! At 18 years old he’s become a father to other teenage guys that he affirms, validates, and equips them in a life that is full, free, and fun!

Bethany Jacobus who, in an almost impossible generation, has made a drastic stand for purity in her life. Dating God is a foreign concept in this culture. Not only is she living this great life, she’s raising up Godly girls to live the same counter-cultural life she is radically living!

Ciara Artis who witnesses like it’s going out of style and seemingly every week has another girl out to youth with her! Already Ciara has seen some of her high school friends get saved, go on the Encounter, and get baptized! These really are the mark of great things!

Oh, to be guys like…
Joel Johnson who is burdened so much for his cell that he sits in his bedroom after his Monday night cell and just cries with them about their broken home, their lack of fathering, and how in the midst of this despair God is inviting them to dance the melody of this mystery in this supernatural life!

Scooter Jacobus who switches from a private Christian school so that he can get involved in a public school and make an impact on the hurting and lost young men in his high school! He realizes people never reach their full potential without someone coming along side encouraging them, believing in them, and pushing them to do what they never thought was possible.

Roy Miller who shows up to school at 6am to lead his cell, even if no one shows up he’ll teach the cell lesson to empty chairs in faith that one day those chairs will be filled with a band of brothers going at life together. Because of his great faith Roy will see the glory of God strike in his generation!

Zach Graham who is looking to building a team of Timothy's that has caught his father-heart. By loving the one Zach will see a legion of labors following him into the harvest fields! He living a life well worth following!

Paul Imbrone who shows up on Tuesday nights before anyone else gets here and leads a cell of a soldiers who are catching his heart! He is equipping a great army of men who refuse the cup of the normal and predictable, and instead find their place on the wall…building with one hand and fighting with the other!

1 Corinthians 4:15 For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you, imitate me.

God is not looking for preachers, but rather looking for pastors. He is not looking simply for teachers, more importantly fathers. I love a lot of speakers but I will never follow a preacher when I have a Pastor. I will never follow a speaker when I have a father. These young youth leaders are changing the way a generation should live. This may not be what American-culture sees as great, but the burning longings of God sure seems to validate them!