Utes

Some of you are wondering about your preacher.  Has he lost it? Is the title of this text some long-departed Native American tribe?  What are utes?

Others are smiling and remembering a quote from the best lawyer movie ever, My Cousin Vinny.  Joe Pesci (Vinny Gambini) is defending a case under Judge Chamberlin Haller (Fred Gwynne).  He is describing 2 young men, calling them "utes."  He really meant "youths."  

Scripture has some specific things to say about youths, and God, through Scripture, understands some of our false perceptions about youth.  You know ... flightiness, irresponsibility, short attention span ... Hey, wait, I think I just described myself.  Paul tells Timothy something about these false perceptions, and how to handle them.  He tells Timothy, "Don't let anyone think less of you because you are young.  Be an example to all believers in all you say, in the way you live, in the way you love, in your faith, and in your purity (1 Timothy 4:12)."  Some reading this are saying, "That's it Paul ... you tell em straight!"  The fact is, this advice is just as much for all of us as it is for our youth.  Let's break it down.

1. You will, because of your age, be pigeonholed into false and inaccurate categories.  That is life ... because that is just how people are.  Ignore and rise above this.

2. You rise above this by:

    - Becoming an example (a positive one)

    - Living in a way that is good, positive, exemplary

    - Loving others, even the ones hard to love

    - Having and showing faith by believing what God has told you

    - Living pure and holy (all that is pure, right, holy, good, faithful)

This Sunday we will celebrate 2 graduating youth.  I wish I could share the recommendation letters I have written about them because those letters are both complimentary and true.  Sarah Edwards and Scarlett Law are both people I am honored to call friends.  They are beautiful in every way, and all of us should consider it an honor to encourage, bless, and send them forward.  We will see both of them here a lot (I hope) and I pray they will always count on me and some of you for counsel and advice going forward.  I thank God they have come our way, and I will pray a blessing over them on behalf of the Church.  May the Lord bless them, keep them, make His face shine upon them, turn His face toward them, and grant them peace, success, goodness, and His very presence each and every day!  I love our utes!  I hope you do too!