The blessing is in the potatoe.....

Yesterday Kim slices this potato in half and there is an image of a cross on the inside. Pretty cool, eh! So many times when things like this happen people think it's a 'sign from God' ..... just google Jesus in the clouds, Jesus in the tree, Jesus in ..... you pick and you'll see how wild people get over what the call a sign from God...... In the middle of thinking how crazy those people were, honesty right, I realize maybe sometimes I am the same. No, I don't plan to preserve this potatoe and have people pay to look at it, but sometimes I am looking for God to do huge things to feel blessed and forget the daily blessings. Is that potatoe a blessing form the Lord? Sure is.... as long as you cut it up and eat it. Thank God today for the things He does for you every day! Starting right now!

Socks and Service

Who says you can't mix service and fun... I had an absolutley insanely good time this weekend at the lock in and Christmas Mission Project. I look forward to us being able to do more service oriented youth projects in the near future. It should feel really good to know that you raised over $200.00 to buy clothes and gifts for some kids that really appreciated it..... I hope everyone has an absolutely awesome Christmas!

1 Cor. 15:58 Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Check out the new pictures http://picasaweb.google.com/go4Christ3972/ChristmasYouth2009

Crazy Socks..

Don't forget your wild and crazy socks for the sock exchange Friday night!

This FridAy nIgHt !!

Hey Guys, just wanted to let you know a few details about the lock in this Friday!
Friday night we will be helping serve the families of the students we have been tutoring at the banquet we are having for them. Then staying afterword all night for a lock in at the church. [Bring a change of clothes and something to sleep on] Saturday morning we will have breakfast, bible study and wrap presents for the kids. The Choir will be preparing food to take to the families. [Turkey Dinners...yum] Then around 11 we will split into smaller groups and deliver gifts and meals. We will have a Christmas meal arounf 12:30 back at the church. Should be done around 1:30 or so......see ya.

An opportunity to sacrifice......

Just a little reminder that we need to get our money in by next week [Wed, Dec. 9th] for our Youth Christmas Mission Project. That means you have almost 1 whole week to be creative and think of ways to raise money to give away.... Also get ready for our Christmas Lock in on the 18th and 19th. [Thats' a Friday and Saturday.... we should be finished on Saturday by 2]

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6:10

Sunday Night Bible Trivia Review Available...

Just click on the link below.......There you will find all you need to prepare yourselves for BIBLE trivia..

I hope you guys have had a great time giving thanks over the past couple of days, and continue to do the same!!!

http://nhbckylist.blogspot.com/2009/11/november-2009.html

Sacrifice to serve?

Hebrews 13:15-16 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

As believers there should be a strong desire in us to see others experience the grace of God through Jesus Christ, so the gospel should be ready on our lips. Inseperable from the gospel on our lips should be the visible gospel in our lifestyles. Think about it this way.... when a non-believer sees' the way we live, we want them to be curious, to wonder why we are different and don't look or act like the rest of the world. Since we are naturally selfish, unselfishness that is lived out will stand out. Today it seems like everyone has an angle, everything they do is ultimately for their own good.... but what if a bunch of radical Christian teens started sacrificing their time, resources and energy to serve the people around us and expected nothing back? What if they dreamed of ways to do something incredible for someone who needed it, rather than considering how they could get what they wanted? Crazy huh? Shouldn't we as a youth group and a church serve in such a way that we would be sorely missed in our community if we shut down the doors? Shouldn't I live in such a way that if I were gone, people would miss more than my personality? Think about it.......

Picture of the week

Anyone notice any similarities? Have a little fun and caption the above photo. Be nice Kayla!

Save that change......

Just a reminder to everyone to be saving your pennies and dollars.

Wednesday night I challenged everyone to raise 20 dollars without just walking up and asking your parents for it. The money you raise will then go to buy Christmas presents and provide food for a few local families. We will deliver these meals and gifts on the day of our Christmas lock-in!

Youth Music Review

And Now.................for our first ever youth music review. Over the next few months we will have various youth doing reviews of Christian Albums.

This weeks review is by Kayla Davis....enjoy!

Addison Road: self-titled debut album I’d give it three and a half stars out of five. It’s very uplifting and encouraging. If you’re having a bad day or don’t feel connected to God, this could possibly help. “Hope Now”, which is track number four, gave me a reminder that God is always there and that He loves me unconditionally. My favorite tracks are a tie between “All That Matters” or “It Just Takes One”. I could listen to this album anytime. It’s great no matter what mood you’re in. Check it out!

Picture of the Week

Can you identify the current youth in childhood days?

Appetizer for Sunday night youth...

Col. 3:20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

Maybe you have thought about the fact that doing what your parents say is actually honoring God. Maybe you have just looked at obeying them as a necessary evil, something you know you should do but rarely do it with the right attitude. But have you ever thought about obeying your parents as worshipping God? Ephesians 5:10 instructs us to 'find out what pleases the Lord' then we should do it. Doing something to please God is a lifestyle worship.... we need to start thinking outside of the box and inside of the BOOK! How's your worship today?

Bible Trivia Review...lose your papers?

Does this look like your organization skills?

Didn't get homw with your bible study material, no problem! Just follow the link below to the review guide! Have an awesome weekend!

http://nhbckylist.blogspot.com/2009/10/personal-relationships-are-often.html

Coming Sunday.......

He who finds a _____ finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD. Proverbs 18:22

I have been MIA on the blog-spot recently, but we'll get it kicked back off with this preparation question for Sunday night...... without looking, what word goes in the blank above? Later in the week I will post some more review questions and challenges. Wednesday night I will have a review sheet so you can soak up some scriptures. Don't forget to be studying Proverbs 31.... [hint..hint...hint]

Flag Football This Wed after church

Bring your A game! Bring the youth workers some ibuprofen and sports cremes. Get ready to have a blast! See ya there!

Hold on Tighter!

Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it.

2 Timothy 3:12-14



Society will continue to drift farther and farther away from the truth, we must dig in our heels even deeper, get a tighter grip. Just knowing what you believe is not good enough, you must know why you believe it. Our opinions will continue to be shaped by our friends, entertainment, family and society as a whole until we learn what the Bible has to say. Anytime we express our views, as we love to do.... we should ask ourselves, did the Bible influence that, or everything else around me? With these things in mind we will tackle some challenging issues on Sunday nights over the next few weeks....... This Sunday we will be discussing Dating. Looking forward to it....

Living Water or Broken Cisterns

Jeremiah 2:12-13 Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the LORD, for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.

One thing that I am sure of, one thing that humans have been consistent about throughout history, human nature never changes. Corrupt, rebellious.... and OK well just plain stupid. It seems like we always tend to think more of ourselves and less of God than we should. We tend to love the wrong things, pursue what is harmful and work really hard to obtain what is ultimately useless. Or maybe this is just how I am...... This just illustrates how much we need to have our minds 'transformed by the renewing or our minds.' Spend a little time 'dwelling in Gods' Word as you prepare for worship next Wednesday..... read and meditate on the 2nd chapter of Jeremiah. Have a good weekend goobers and gooberitas.

What do you delight in?

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. Psalm 1:1-2

Have you ever sat down to read the Bible just because you felt like you were supposed to, and nothing more? Ever felt guilty when church begins because you realized you haven't opened your bible since the last service? If so consider this question.... would you want people to hang out with you because they felt obligated ? or because they felt guilty if they didn't? Wouldn't you rather them do it because they think you're amazing and wise? OK, so maybe the last part is a stretch..... But one thing should be clear, God intends for us to read the bible because we delight in Him, because we understand that it is TRUTH and results in our good and His glory! If delight is your motivation then you won't have to be reminded or prodded into doing devotions by your goofy youth pastor..... I guess the question is this? If you don't delight in reading and thinking about what the bible says........ then what is it that delights you?

Ponder this for Sunday Night.....

If delight in God is a gift of God, then why doesn't every believer have joy? Why do we have to fight for joy if it is a gift from God?

For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Romans 7:22-23

There is a continual battle within the life of every believer. In part it is a battle for delight. A battle to find our delight in God or the unfulfilling things of our flesh. When you read these verses from Romans do you tend to use them as excuses 'I'm only human' as to why you do not delight in God as we are demanded, or do you see it as a challenge to fight for joy in Christ?

Fast paced, action packed, never get caught up.... maybe we don't need to try harder. Maybe we need to slow down. Sometimes we get so caught up in our day to day life that we forget to do the very basic and most important things...like sleep, eat, relax - but even more than that. When was the last time that you just sat down with an Awesome Book "The Bible" and meditated on what it says? I challenge you to wake up 20 minutes early the rest of the week and just sit down and read and meditate for 15 minutes. Write down a verse of scripture, stick it in your pocket and read and think about it throughout the day..... you can start with this one!

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Col. 3:16

Follow Up Devotion

Several were out Sunday Night so I just wanted to post one of our journal entries from class.......... even if you were in class take some time to reconsider this verse.

Psalm 73:25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

1. Who or what is the greatest desire in this verse?
2. Can you, right now, stop and tell God...."God, I have no one in heaven but you, and there is nothing on this earth that I desire more than you!"

3. If you were unable to say this to God sincerely, what do you think is preventing you?

WIDDG Devo 3

Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

Is delight a decision or an emotion? Can we will ourselves to 'feel' a certain way. Throughout scripure God instructs us to 'feel a certain way..... 'delight in the Lord, Rejoice in the Lord always, be joyful always' .......... but we can not simply will ourselves to 'feel' a certain way. We may make ourselves appear to be happy, we may for a short time deceive ourselves into thinking we're happy. Long term delight & joy is not a result of having strong willpower, or just making a decision to be happy. If what i just said is true, then how does God expect us to obey Psalm 37:4?

Remember to post your answers or questions in your journal!!!

Just a note...about Sunday night

Just a little note to let you know that we will kick back in with discipleship classes on Sunday night. Do devotion for day 3,4&5 from chapter 3. I will have devotions up on here later in the week

Serve God for pleasure?

Serve God to pursue pleasure. For to long too many people have 'served God' for the wrong reasons. Or at least for less than the best reason. Sometimes because we feel obligated, sometimes our subconscious mindset may be to earn favor with God.

How radical is the idea that we would serve other people, and therefore Christ, because it is what we want to do? Join us Wednesday as we explore these and many more things!

Just a note...

I have put up a few more pictures from the summer retreat, also if you need help with plumbing give Erica a call....

It's that time !!!!

Time for what? Time for a little Youth Bible Gameshow this Wednesday! So brush up on James chapters 3 & 4..... also don't foget that this Sunday night is the premiere edition of 'Are you Smarter', at 6pm. Oh and by the way...who is this little girl? Your hint is that she is currently in the youth group. Have a good Monday!

Friday WIDDG Devotion

John 15:11

These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

This is a very familiar passage of scripture that is placed directly in the context of Jesus' teaching on the importance of remaining in intimate fellowship with Him if we are to bear fruit, obeying His teachings, and loving one another deeply. 'These things' identifies these exact teachings, but also on a larger scale, it identifies all of the teachings that Jesus gave..... Think about this, God gave us the scriptures that our joy may be full! That's awesome to think about, as long as we remember our joy is found in Christ.

Does this verse mean that we will find a deeper joy in Christ as He reveals Himself to us?

Explain why you answered the way you did, use scripture to answer.

Have you ever looked at the Bible from the perspective of one if it's puposes being to teach us how to best enjoy Christ?

Self Denial.... Thursday WIDDG Devotion

Self Denial, quite possibly one of the most rejected concepts in Christianity. Also one of the most misunderstood. We're not talking about being a monk. We're not talking about equating holiness to a life of denying your self any pleasure and walking around with an expressionless face. But what does it mean? Study the following verses.........

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Matthew 13:44

Summarize what this verse says about self denial. Use scriture as much as possible.

What does this verse teach us about self-denial in the life of a Christian?

Wednesday Night Worship

I thought I would give everyone a little head-start on the message tonight. Spend a few minutes considering James 4:17. So many times we get in the mode of 'don't do this', 'don't do that', 'avoid this', 'avoid that' and to be sure there is much we shouldn't do that is sin, there is much we should avoid. However we sometimes forget what we 'should' be doing! Now would be a good time to take an inventory of our lives in relation to this verse.....see ya tonight.

Anyone who knows the good he ought to do, and doesn't do it, sins. James 4:17

Fridays WIDDG Devotion

It's Friday !!!! Ist full week of school is nearly out of the way! Just 35 more weeks to go!

Feel better now? Good! Today go back and re-read John 17:24-26.... Inside these verses we see Gods' ultimate expression of love toward us....... where is it found? Why did you come to this conclusion?

Thursdays' WIDDG Devotion

1 LOVE..... I love you! I love that car! I love pizza! I love that movie! I love God! Hopefully we don't mean the same thing with each one of these statements. Love is a word and concept that people see and use in drastically different ways. When we hear that 'God loves us' what does that really mean? Try to be specific as you write out your answer. Use scripture to back it up.

2. Do you feel like God is loving you when you are the center of His attention, or when He allows himself to be the center of your attention?

3. Read and soak on these verses.........
Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them. John 17:24-26

DO YOU KNOW ME?

HAVE A LITTLE FUN WITH THIS! I have pulled out some old youth group camp photos.

See how many people you can identify and put their names in the comments section below

Wed WIDDG Devotion

What is Gods' highest priority? Search the Scritures to find verses that support your answer.

We will be discussing this very question Sunday night, and it may be the topic of an Iron Room discussion.

Tuesdays Devotion

This past summer on our Bible retreat in Georgia, we visited waterfalls that were absolutely breathtaking. All around us people just stood and stared at them in amazement. Stop for a second and think about what they might have been thinking as they looked at such an amazing sight. Take a second and journal your theories on what may have drawn them to that place, what was so amazing?

After answering the above question, read and consider Romans 1:19-20..........

....since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

How might this verse help explain what draws people to natural wonders like the falls, the Grand Canyon, etc.

Monday WIDDG Devotion

Day 1: HeadandHeart
Many Christians throughout history have struggled to bring their emotions and affections in line with their knowledge and beliefs. In his autobiography Confessions, Augustine put the matter like this:

I was astonished that although I now loved you . . . I did not persist in enjoyment of my God. Your beauty drew me to you, but soon I was dragged away from you by my own weight and in dismay I plunged again into the things of this world . . . as though I had sensed the fragrance of the fare but was not yet able to eat it.

Question1: Have you ever felt this disconnect between your beliefs and your affections? How crucial is it that we not only know truth with our minds but also delight in truth with our hearts? Why?

The MOTIONS.... I have posted the video if you would like to see it again or show it to anyone else. I received multiple positive comments about it yesterday.

http://www.youtube.com/user/go4christ3972#play/all/uploads-all/0/yshmsYUsUqs

Need an extra book, can't seem to find your copy of... 'When I don't Desire God' .... or maybe we ran out before you even got one? Don't fret, here is a link to download the book for free! Just follow this link and hit the download link, then save it to my documents and send a shortcut to your desktop. Each day I will post a devotion from the book for the class. Also... keep an eye out for a random scavenger hunt....

http://www.desiringgod.org/media/pdf/dvd_studyguides/sgwdd.pdf

How to Fight For JOY

This Sunday Night, new class, don't miss it.

Is God most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him?

Come as we explore this question and many more in this very challenging study. 6pm Sunday Night!

Back to school challenge....

Shared your faith in Christ recently? Nervous that you don’t know enough to share your faith? I recently read a survey of over 120,000 people that asked about what was needed to get to heaven. Over 65% said living a good life, only 26% answered that it was related to our relationship with God. Here’s the crazy part.... of those same people, 89.8% think the are going to heaven. You do the math.... over 60% of the people think they are going to heaven, yet believe it is because of their own good merit. That means almost 2 out of 3 people you go to school with don’t know the biblical truth of salvation being by grace.......let’s all get busy!
God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God.

Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Final Afterglow... This Wednesday

From Ice-Cream to Soccer, from bonfires to hide-n-seek, Ive had a blast hanging out with everyone after youth on Wednesdays this summer. Now you have one week to enjoy before furthering your scholastic careers, back to school. But, we have one more afterglow, join us this Wednesday as we go to Harrodsburg to play par 3 golf. If you've never played, this is the perfect opportunity to learn. If you don't want to play, it's the perfect opportunity to play amatuer photographer and get to laugh at me trying to play!!! We will leave after youth. Bring 7 or 8 dollars if you want to play. Also try to round up a putter, 7 iron, 9 iron..... no big deal if you can't we'll find you one, or share.

Something to think about....

James 4:8-10 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

When was the last time that you were sincerely saddened by your own sinfulness?
When last were you ashamed of your sinful actions, even when no one knew of them?
There is very little broken-ness over our sin. We have become people who are very flippant toward sin. We wink at it, joke about it ... yet these are the very things that God despises, that Jesus paid for on the cross. Have we become so numb to our own sin and the sin around us that it no longer bothers us .......... May God grant us repentance!

Psa 119:136 My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your law.

Going Retro......

Sure to make you laugh, say wow and maybe even cry. What. Old Pictures I've dug out and posted under retro....just to your right here. Ready to have some flashbacks? Take the opportunity to pray for or maybe even call some of the people you'll be reminded of in these pictures........... Enjoy.

Grace, Humility and Resistance

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:6-7

Last week we talked alot about the grace of God, undeserved favor that He shows us. Again this week the grace of God will be the focus o four bible study as we discuss what it means to submit ourselves to God and resist the devil.....

Now for a little biblical scavenger hunt. Read Ephesians 6:11-18. Now discover as many techniques for resisting the devil as you can from those verses..... Can you find 3,4,5...... See you tonight.

This Friday... July 24th

Just to let you guys know that Live Fish & Seventh Day Slumber will be playing in Stanford this Friday. We will be taking a van from church leaving around 7pm. Hope to see ya there. It will probably last until around 11.

Bible / Video Sunday Night at 6

I was so encouraged by the drama that the youth performed during VBS that it has motivated me to try and provide another opportunity for youth to serve the church through drama. Beginning this Sunday night at 6 we will have a 3 week Bible study / Video production. The song that we will use is 'The Motions' by Matthew West. There is a link to the song and original video under our videos on the side of this page. Begin to consider these questions.... what is the message of this song, in what ways do believers tend to go through the motions, in what way are you just going through the motions........ I am looking forward to Sunday night when we can sit down and study Gods' Word together and get started on this video. I would love to see everyone involved.

Afterglow TONIGHT...Millineum Park

Summer is winding down, sorry to remind you of that! But we still have a few more Wednesday nights to hangout after youth on Wednesdays! Tonight we will be going to Millineum Park for a little hide and seek action, and of course McDonalds for a Caramel Sundae! So bring a couple of dollars, or maybe Josh will pay for yours! Next week Josh and Jayme will be planning our Afterglow.............hmmmm. July 29th, the following Wedneesday, the youth will get to plan Afterglow...so, got any ideas! Let me know!

Youth Tonight !!!!

You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think that Scriptures says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? But He gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. James 4:4-6

Adventures in Space

Let me just say. I am very, very, very proud of everyone who has been involved with the nightly dramas at VBS this week. It is so awesome to see you all working together and hanging out together serving God through drama. Erica, we will miss you tonight, just won't be the same without that little nerdy robot voice! Tonight will wrap everything up!

CHECK OUT THE NEW VIDEO LINK BELOW TO THE 1st EPISODE

Virus, Villain, Venus....

The Drama continues......will the crew get out of space alive, what plans does Virus have to destroy the Bible and Earth? Join us tonight and find out!

Monday VBS

If you missed VBS in Monday, you missed A-L-O-T. You missed a rocket launch, James dressed up like a Scottish golfer, Erica as a robot, 'with an incredibly NERDY robot voice', the drama team was outstanding.......... So don't miss it again! Oh yeah, you may want to ask Erica what she found in her purse....yummy, yummy! On a more serious note, this VBS is focusing on God as Creator, His Word as Supreme and laying the evidence out for everyone to see, ....Come join us and bring everyone you can find!