Saturday, May 14, 2011
Senior Night
Wow, another school year has gone by! Sunday night we had our Senior night at the church honoring those who were graduating. We had seven high school students and one kindergarten graduate. Our praise team led worship and Bro. Wendell brought the message from Joshua 3 talking about the Israelites going into the promise land. The scripture focused on the ones carrying the Ark of the Covenant and coming to the Jordan River and having to step into the water with faith that God would pull back the waters for them to cross. But only after they put their faith into action. Sometimes we wait for God to lay it all out with all the details. But in this case, God wanted to see if they were willing to trust in Him. Are you ready to trust in Him? As Seniors move onto the next chapter of their lives they're faced with taking that next step. Will they put their trust in God to lead them into this next chapter? Will they let God lead and guide them as they as they plan for their future? We'll continue to lift up these Seniors in prayer as they go out to become leaders in our world. God Bless and Congratulations Senior of 2011!
5 D's of Dodgeball
Dodge, Duck, Dip, Dive, Dodge!
Last Friday night we had 12 dodgeball teams and over 75 students in attendance at our first dodgeball tournament. With teams ranging from ages 5th grade to 12th we were sure high schoolers would dominate the tournament. To our surprise the junior high teams rocked the bracket! Zach Addison's Jr. High teams shot through the bracket to take the winner's bracket and Andrew Carlton's team battled through the losers bracket to advance in the finals. The only thing now is that they would have to beat the winning team twice. Game one of the finals, Andrew's team came back for the win, moving onto the final game where Andrew was left on the floor alone defending himself. Andrew threw some heat, but in the end he couldn't hold up against his five opponents. Zach's team came out with the win, taking 1st place. For fun, the officials "adults" challenged the winning team to a game. Erin, Courtney, Bro Wendell, Coach Kevin and myself took the win without a sweat. At the end, we played a ten on ten full court tournament for fun. Who said youth ministry isn't fun, lol! It's a blast being able to hang out with those students. Soon we'll have another dodgeball tournament, so get your teams ready and remember the 5 D's of dodgeball!
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
To Celebrate or Not To Celebrate?
Do we celebrate the death of someone that was not a believer of Jesus Christ?
Someone that was not saved? Is the celebration right?
I was listening to K-Love Radio as this was the question asked.
As people posted on facebook, text messages were sent out, phones were ringing, and people were running around letting the news out that Osama Bin Laden was killed by US soldiers. We turn on the news to see every news station with the same view as the country and world waited on President Obama's statement about this event. After this news was confirmed by the President, news channels tuned into the flash mob of people gathering outside the White House celebrating, chanting, and waving flags.
Wow, so the biggest terrorist threat towards the US has now been killed and captured. Are we celebrating this victory over a dead body or one less threat? A caller on K-Love came on and voiced his opinion about the images of people celebrating in front of the White House. He said it brought him back to the day of 9/11 when news stations tuned into the celebration overseas of the destruction of the Twin Towers, the plane that crashed into the Pentagon, and the other plane that was brought down in a Pennsylvania field.
The image of them waving flags and firing guns into the air in celebration of so many that died. So many deaths, approximately 2,976. So many Americans that died, some of them possibly without knowing Jesus Christ as the personal Lord and Savior.
Now flip the script. Yeah He was the leader of Al Qaeda and was responsible for the death of many men, women and children. Some may celebrate knowing that he's in Hell. But what Christian can honestly join in on the celebration of someone in Hell? God's forgiveness is available to everyone, and to watch anyone leave this world with their enternal reward as Hell should break any Christian's heart. So I'm sure not many are shedding tears of his death, but are you joining in the celebration of it?
I think the best thing is to celebrate a victory that there's one less threat to our Country and remember that if you’re a Christian, God loves everyone and so should we.
Someone that was not saved? Is the celebration right?
I was listening to K-Love Radio as this was the question asked.
As people posted on facebook, text messages were sent out, phones were ringing, and people were running around letting the news out that Osama Bin Laden was killed by US soldiers. We turn on the news to see every news station with the same view as the country and world waited on President Obama's statement about this event. After this news was confirmed by the President, news channels tuned into the flash mob of people gathering outside the White House celebrating, chanting, and waving flags.
The image of them waving flags and firing guns into the air in celebration of so many that died. So many deaths, approximately 2,976. So many Americans that died, some of them possibly without knowing Jesus Christ as the personal Lord and Savior.
Now flip the script. Yeah He was the leader of Al Qaeda and was responsible for the death of many men, women and children. Some may celebrate knowing that he's in Hell. But what Christian can honestly join in on the celebration of someone in Hell? God's forgiveness is available to everyone, and to watch anyone leave this world with their enternal reward as Hell should break any Christian's heart. So I'm sure not many are shedding tears of his death, but are you joining in the celebration of it?
I think the best thing is to celebrate a victory that there's one less threat to our Country and remember that if you’re a Christian, God loves everyone and so should we.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Happy Easter!!!
Today has been a great day, not just a great day but a joyful one.
A day that we celebrate the empty tomb, Jesus Christ has Risen!
This morning we woke up to celebrate and have a Sunrise Service
under the oaks. We had around 75 people join us for morning worship and sermon. We gathered again for Sunday School and Worship Service at 11:00. It was an exciting service. I had the opportunity to play the part of Peter, one of Jesus's disciples, during the service and even had the honor to baptize Jessica as she followed up her statement of faith in believer's baptism. We even had two come forward at the end of the service accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. To everyone Happy Easter, and let it be day to rejoice that He Lives!!!
A day that we celebrate the empty tomb, Jesus Christ has Risen!
This morning we woke up to celebrate and have a Sunrise Service
under the oaks. We had around 75 people join us for morning worship and sermon. We gathered again for Sunday School and Worship Service at 11:00. It was an exciting service. I had the opportunity to play the part of Peter, one of Jesus's disciples, during the service and even had the honor to baptize Jessica as she followed up her statement of faith in believer's baptism. We even had two come forward at the end of the service accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. To everyone Happy Easter, and let it be day to rejoice that He Lives!!!
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Young Adults Crawfish Boil
John 9:25 "I was blind but now I see!"
What would it be like to be blind? Let’s say blind from birth.
You've never had the chance to see color, the chance to see the sun rise or set.
You've never seen your mother's or father's face or even your own.
You could never look down a path to see where it leads or what your next step would encounter.
You lived step by step never seeing what the future had for you.
Would this be an independent lifestyle or a dependent one?
This vision of what the future holds sometimes goes through the mind of the young.
I can't speak for all but after I graduated High School I went through a time similar to this.
Yes, I could physically see but I had no idea what was next in my life. And I know a lot of young adults are living the same way; step by step, day by day.
This past Friday we had a crawfish boil to kick off the first Young Adults Meeting.
Not knowing exactly what to expect, we followed the Lord's lead as He put it on several hearts to put this event together.
We had around 25-30 young adults show up. We started the night off with Bro Wendell welcoming everyone and blessing the food. Then we dug into some crawfish as people gathered around tables fellowshipping. It was pretty exciting to see people connecting with each other.
Bro Kirk shared a few words about the vision that God laid on our hearts; for young adults to connect with each other, but most of all that for those young adults to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. In most churches there is a void or lack of young adults and we're hoping and praying for God to show us what needs to be done in the church to fill that void.
As a youth minister it hit hard on me. Approximately 7 years of a teenager’s life is invested into youth group, and then they're left to fend for themselves after graduation. Most churches have nothing for this age group therefore they wonder out into the world not knowing what to expect or which way to go. "Blind"!
We prepare them, then drop them into the world and expect their relationship with Christ to survive with no spiritual guidance in this new chapter of their lives. Guilty, as I've watched many walk out the doors after graduation with a pat on the back and a graduation card expecting their return.
(Sorry I've went off track a little)
But then I had the opportunity to bring scripture to the group at the crawfish boil; as we spoke about this blind man in John 9.
It reflected on some of our lives. How we are overwhelmed with stress, decisions, problems, and worries, and we can easily get lost. However just like the blind man in the story we can find guidance through God because He loves us no matter where we are. When we drift and get lost, God will gently tug at our hearts to lead us in the right direction, towards His will for our lives. Then we can claim just like the blind man "once I was blind but now I can see."
As many people search for direction we can only find that guidance and direction through a relationship with Christ.
We ended the night with some Wii bowling, it was a good night. I'm excited to see what God has in store for this group and how He will move in each one of their lives. Keep this group in your prayers, and also us as we stay obedient on where He will guide us.
Proverbs 3:6
In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
What would it be like to be blind? Let’s say blind from birth.
You've never had the chance to see color, the chance to see the sun rise or set.
You've never seen your mother's or father's face or even your own.
You could never look down a path to see where it leads or what your next step would encounter.
You lived step by step never seeing what the future had for you.
Would this be an independent lifestyle or a dependent one?
This vision of what the future holds sometimes goes through the mind of the young.
I can't speak for all but after I graduated High School I went through a time similar to this.
Yes, I could physically see but I had no idea what was next in my life. And I know a lot of young adults are living the same way; step by step, day by day.
This past Friday we had a crawfish boil to kick off the first Young Adults Meeting.
Not knowing exactly what to expect, we followed the Lord's lead as He put it on several hearts to put this event together.
We had around 25-30 young adults show up. We started the night off with Bro Wendell welcoming everyone and blessing the food. Then we dug into some crawfish as people gathered around tables fellowshipping. It was pretty exciting to see people connecting with each other.
Bro Kirk shared a few words about the vision that God laid on our hearts; for young adults to connect with each other, but most of all that for those young adults to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. In most churches there is a void or lack of young adults and we're hoping and praying for God to show us what needs to be done in the church to fill that void.
As a youth minister it hit hard on me. Approximately 7 years of a teenager’s life is invested into youth group, and then they're left to fend for themselves after graduation. Most churches have nothing for this age group therefore they wonder out into the world not knowing what to expect or which way to go. "Blind"!
We prepare them, then drop them into the world and expect their relationship with Christ to survive with no spiritual guidance in this new chapter of their lives. Guilty, as I've watched many walk out the doors after graduation with a pat on the back and a graduation card expecting their return.
(Sorry I've went off track a little)
But then I had the opportunity to bring scripture to the group at the crawfish boil; as we spoke about this blind man in John 9.
It reflected on some of our lives. How we are overwhelmed with stress, decisions, problems, and worries, and we can easily get lost. However just like the blind man in the story we can find guidance through God because He loves us no matter where we are. When we drift and get lost, God will gently tug at our hearts to lead us in the right direction, towards His will for our lives. Then we can claim just like the blind man "once I was blind but now I can see."
As many people search for direction we can only find that guidance and direction through a relationship with Christ.
We ended the night with some Wii bowling, it was a good night. I'm excited to see what God has in store for this group and how He will move in each one of their lives. Keep this group in your prayers, and also us as we stay obedient on where He will guide us.
Proverbs 3:6
In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Announcement!!!
A baby room filled with pink and blue ballons and the little ultrasound picture framed up.
Yes, its true we have another bundle of joy on the way. God has blessed us with another baby due November 15, 2011. This time I decided to set up the video camera as we told the grandparents and friends hoping to catch a good reaction. Some people understood the pink and blue ballons and some didn't. LOL! Mom.
I'll attach the video later of my mother wondering what all the ballons were for.
We're excited, even Maddox is waiting on his little brother or sister.
P.S. - the annoucement fell on April fools day...don't ever joke about a pregnancy with grandparents. They didn't appreciate the joke! But I told them quickly that I was just joking about the April Fools.
No, we're not finding out what we're having, it's a surprise for all!
Psalms 127:3
Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him.
I'll attach the video later of my mother wondering what all the ballons were for.
We're excited, even Maddox is waiting on his little brother or sister.
Maddox in his "I'm going to be a BIG BROTHER" t-shirt
No, we're not finding out what we're having, it's a surprise for all!
Psalms 127:3
Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him.
Youth Rally
Well I haven't been posting alot lately and had a few comments on it.
But I missed a few events that I could have posted on. So I'd like to play catch up.
Two friday nights ago (yes its been that long since i've posted beyond Wednesday Night Notes) we had a Youth Rally. Infinite Reality rattled the windows off the church walls and led us in Praise and Worship. After that, James led in a message about words we let come from our mouths and how they can bring death or life (Proverbs 18:21;15:4). So at the end of the day do we let these words define us? The answer is; they shouldn't but they do distroy and tear down.
But one word that conquers all is LOVE, and one man that conquered all is Christ.
There's a hurting world out there that's looking for love. This same world is tearing people down with judgemental glances and whispers, but since we are to follow in the foot steps of Jesus Christ we will have to learn to love like He did and learn to love unconditionally.
Romans 8:35-39
So if Love conquers all, then all we need is Christ and His love that is given freely. Yes it costs a high price; a price that was paid on the cross, but it is available to all.
Romans 5:8
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
The Invitation was led into by this video; it was moving and yet hard to imagine to have to make that choice.
The same choice is given to us:
Will we give our lives to Him in return; lives that are willing to bring honor and glory to Him, lives that will further the Kingdom of God?
But I missed a few events that I could have posted on. So I'd like to play catch up.
Two friday nights ago (yes its been that long since i've posted beyond Wednesday Night Notes) we had a Youth Rally. Infinite Reality rattled the windows off the church walls and led us in Praise and Worship. After that, James led in a message about words we let come from our mouths and how they can bring death or life (Proverbs 18:21;15:4). So at the end of the day do we let these words define us? The answer is; they shouldn't but they do distroy and tear down.
 |
| (We asked students to write down demeaning words that have been used against them) |
There's a hurting world out there that's looking for love. This same world is tearing people down with judgemental glances and whispers, but since we are to follow in the foot steps of Jesus Christ we will have to learn to love like He did and learn to love unconditionally.
Romans 8:35-39
35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
So if Love conquers all, then all we need is Christ and His love that is given freely. Yes it costs a high price; a price that was paid on the cross, but it is available to all.
Romans 5:8
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
The Invitation was led into by this video; it was moving and yet hard to imagine to have to make that choice.
The same choice is given to us:
Will we give our lives to Him in return; lives that are willing to bring honor and glory to Him, lives that will further the Kingdom of God?
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