Friday, March 30, 2012

Facebook Makeover





Fighting to be transformed? Why doesn’t your Facebook show that?

When you truly change, everything about you and around you does it too. Yes, Facebook page included.

So, here are a few things to consider for an “extreme profile makeover”.

Friends: Do you really need to accept anyone that sends you a friend request?
This is what you could ask yourself before hitting “accept”: Do you know them? What does their profile picture say about them? Why would you be interested in knowing what they post and think? Are they people of good character and habits? Will their posts be beneficial or will they lead you to things you would rather keep away from you? Why do you think it’s okay for them to learn more about your life?
Make sure you go about your list of friends and do a clean up too. Remember: it’s easier for them to drag you to what it’s wrong than for you to lead them down the right path.

Wall: Make sure there are no curse words, dirty jokes or sentences with a double meaning —those that sound clean but hide dirty references behind them. Of course, we know you haven’t written them; some “good” friend of yours did it. Anyways, they don’t look good on you. Leaving them in your wall is like shouting: “I’m okay with it!” And please, unfriend that “friend” that keeps on doing that.

Pics: Why would you keep all those old pics of yours there? Yeah, those of you partying, sticking your tongue out while holding a beer, vomiting after getting drunk or posing for the camera inviting people to undress you with their eyes. Not to mention pictures of half-dressed girls or boys, or those you took with old friends that don’t get along with the new you.

By all means, keep some of those stored somewhere so you can show how much you’ve been transformed, but don’t show them in your Facebook —unless you do it like this {show YPG before and after pics}. That’s not you anymore.

Status & Comments: Watch what you say and comment. It seems that some people get bolder to speak nonsense just because they are doing it virtually. Someone you know —or at least you’ve heard about— put it this way:
Let me tell you something: Every one of these careless words is going to come back to haunt you. There will be a time of Reckoning. Words are powerful; take them seriously. Words can be your salvation. Words can also be your damnation." (Mat 12.36-37, The Message)

Wanna know a secret? Whenever I want to know someone better I look him or her up on Facebook. I find it quite an eye opener. I guess that’s why some have opted to open Facebook accounts under a pseudonym.

P.S.: We are not aiming for you to become a bible freak; filling up your wall with bible verses, pictures at church with your pastor and things of the like. Nope, you should just look neat and balanced; like someone who’s been truly transformed. That should be natural to you.


Luke Castro
YPG National Coordinator


Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Why I'm Indignant...




Hello Pastor Flavio,

I'm in a spiritual war. Yesterday (Sunday) three of my cousins were invited to attend the YPG. Two of them attended and one decided not to go. They only came six times for the past five months. They aren't very committed. 

Anyways, as I was driving to church on Sunday I asked one of them how he was and he replied that he wasn't feeling very well and the reason was because he had had a dream in which he sold his life (soul) to the devil.

He felt lost not knowing what to do and at the same time he felt that the dream had become reality. He was in real pain. He also became an atheist. He said he did not believe in God or the devil.

He said that during the days he didn't participate in the YPG he became worse and went back to drugs. I gave him a word of encouragement and I said that when he entered the church he was going to be totally different and light.

He had a sad and thoughtful face when we got to the church.
The YPG meeting started and we watched 3 music clips.  We then discussed about the influence some music can have on us. After that Pastor Luke began to make a strong prayer for us all as we were told to think of our biggest problem. 

It was the first time they participated of a strong prayer. Suddenly, a young girl who seldomly comes to the YPG, manifested. That girl manifested a legion of 7 demons.

Pastor Luke told us to open our eyes to look at the girl. 

Then he came down the altar and told the demon to point at those who did not believe in what was happening and to those were he was at work . It aimed to 7 youths. The first was targeted was a girl and the devil said the he was working in her family. The girl began to cry for it was true what he had said.

Others were targeted and most of them were crying by the revelations disclosed by the demon. Sentimental life, appearance, family were among the many areas he was destroying. One guy left the church because of a girl. The guy confirmed.

None these youths knew the girl. My cousin was pointed and the demon told the pastor he was leading him back to drugs. My cousin replied saying it was true, without knowing her.

And I was also included. Pastor Luke said, "Can you enter Javier's life?" The demon answered, "No, No, I can't!"; and the pastor asked why and he said because God is with me. He opened his eyes and walked away from me and screamed really loud.

And that made me angry because I do not have the authority to cast out the demon from her. I'm not an assistant yet. I wanted to cut his head off...; forgive my expression but I could not do anything but watch only.

And I became angrier because there were only two youth assistants, the pastor's wife and the pastor himself. Then the girl was delivered from the spirit that was oppressing her.

When we left the church my cousin thanked me for the invitation and told he was feeling much better. That heavy load was removed and he had no doubts. Now he believes in one God who is the Lord Almighty.

As I look at this I remember the video you showed us last week that some do not see who is the one behind all the problems in life. It's an evil spirit, the devil himself, and we're in a war against him. 

We need to spread the word of God so that souls may be saved.


Javier Jimenez
YPG Houston, TX

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Why I need my iPod so Badly?


This is an email of a youth pastor who works with me here in the US.

Hi pr, just sharing something I talked about in the YPG on Sunday:


I was thinking: 

Why do some youths need to be constantly connected to their iPods?

Why can't they stand silence? 

I came to realize that to many of them, silence hurts. It hurts because it faces them with their most deepest thoughts —those they try to avoid. 

It brings up their past, all their unresolved issues, accusations, guilt. It pushes them to think, to ponder. And because many are not okay with themselves —they are full of conflict inside— silence is painful. Music is then the perfect way to avoid it.

However, those who are okay —who are free and their conscience is not accusing them— can handle silence just fine.

Music is just a palliative and not the solution to your problems. 

Want real changes? Then seek God and let Him help you overcome from the inside out.

I don't need music to feel good!...


Fernando Carrera
Youth Pastor, Katy, TX

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Revolt is Shown, Not Spoken

I advise you to find a quite place so you can listen and ponder upon this message.

Now, be sure to do something about it after listening to this message, otherwise it won't have any positive effect. It's better for you to not waist your time.

http://soundcloud.com/ypg-usa/revolt-is-shown-not-spoken

Luke Castro
YPG National Coordinator

Friday, March 9, 2012

Genuine Indignation


Today you'll learn with David. Pay attention to his words, and attitude.

By the way, he was just a youth

INDIGNANT - "For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?"

COURAGEOUS - "Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine."


UNFLINCHING - "This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel."

Just is the doer, not the hearer.

Next week you'll learn with another Biblical character what true and genuine revolt means. 



Luke Castro
YPG National Coordinator

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Da Trans4mation Continues...



He was an instrument of evil in the past, selling dope and gang banging in the streets on NY.

Today he is an instrument of God 
to rescue youths from the streets.



Luke Castro
YPG National Coordinator


Saturday, March 3, 2012

B Trans4med!


One more youth transformed at the YPG. 

Will you be next?


Luke Castro
YPG National Coordinator



Friday, March 2, 2012

Emotions vs Reason


That's why she was known as the 'Iron Lady'.

Luke Castro 
YPG National Coordinator