The following excerpt is from one of the speakers at the youth rally I attended. He has made a huge impact on me. God's timing for me to hear someone imperfect (even very politically incorrect!) and still being used mightily was perfect. I often look around at people at my church and think, "I will NEVER be as good for God as they are." They make me feel judged, not because they do-they wouldn't ever, but in my sinful comparing, I just don't measure up. To hear someone less than perfect, who claims and wears less than perfect, is refreshing. This is the line that got me hook, line and sinker: " I don't wake up a Christian. Some people wake up and say, 'This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.' I say to them, 'Shut up! The rest of us hate you.' " Ah reality. He goes on to say that being a Christian is a choice we make every day and there is a cross of sacrifice to bear. EVERY day BY THE GRACE OF GOD! So I did a search on him, Patrick Mead when I got home. He has a new blog that I can't access, but he also has an old blog and I have now been through the archives. He is inspiring. I hope you find him inspiring as well. If not, find someone else. Be encouraged in the Lord through your Christian brothers and sisters. Find someone who makes you feel useful to God, not broken and inferior!

From the blog of Patrick Mead:
"It would be easy to be depressed on these days when winter howls in, the sound of icy rain on the windows keeping us awake at night, and friends are facing funerals and surgery... but I'm not doing too bad with it. I find it helpful to have these days. They remind me that I am a creature, not the Creator. I am not in charge here.I want to save the world, but running it and saving it aren't really my responsibility. My job is to reach out with the message and love of Christ and it is His job to take it from there. I am not in charge of weather or traffic or taxes... I am only in charge of my decisions, my actions. Even then, God is gracious. He knows that we are dust. Even concerning something as important as living in peace with everyone He tells us "IF it is possible, AND as much as it lies in you..." indicating that He understands that sometimes it isn't possible and sometimes it isn't possible for ME when it might be for you. He knows our limitations and loves us anyway.There is great comfort in trusting God. I'm glad I am just a creature and not the Creator. I'm glad I am just a servant and not a master. While I don't understand what God is doing a lot of time -- including why He allows weather wackos to live -- I trust Him. He knows what's He's doing. I just need to make sure we're stocked up on hot chocolate."