2/14/2008 - As we near the end of winter (at least what feels like winter outside), we approach a wonderful time of year when things that died come to life again. Very soon, trees will bud, flowers will bloom, and birds will fly and chirp and sing everywhere (okay, the birds weren’t dead, but they will have returned from their lovely vacation in the south). Even some of the cars stuck on side streets, buried by snow from both the sky and the plows below, will emerge from the depths and perhaps even run on our pothole-dented streets of Spokane!

All of this reminds me of the spiritual lives of our young people. The winter months are a bit quieter with some smaller turnouts and less "big" events taking place. Well, that seemingly dead period of time is leading to new life again! We have our morning Youth Service on February 24, the Portland Youth Rally starting February 29, and the Seattle Youth Rally starting April 25.

Please pray that God will work mightily through these activities, calling back wayward teens and lighting a fresh fire in hearts that may have grown cold. Ask God, on their behalf and as we often sing at these "big" events, to let them "be a generation that seeks [His] face, oh God of Jacob!"