MS Retreat – Fri Nov. 13th – Sun Nov. 15th
Where? Skycroft Resort on Appalachian Trail
What? Fun, Games, Friends, Seminars, Worship!
Cost? $159. Partial Scholarships available if needed.
Deadline: Mon. Oct 25 or Sunday Oct. 31st
Applications are in the Folder Box of the Youth Bulletin Board & at youth group
OR Right copy and paste this link into your web browser:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2372651/Retreats/Middle%20School%20MtnFest.Info.Application-%202010.doc
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Friday, July 16, 2010
VBS was a BLAST!! Now onto Youth Group!
VBS Week was great!!
We had 26 kids and the theme of the week was "HEROES IN SERVICE" We learned that God uses people of all ages, traits, personalities, to others and Him!
Please ask your student how they can be heroes who serve.
Picture of the week! Katheryn has a little bit of shaving cream on her face.
The next Middle Youth event is the Welcome back to Youth Group party on Sunday August 15th at the Woodens Farm. Pay more attention for more details to follow.
Then our weekly middle school youth group starts up on Monday August 23rd at 6:30pm at Covenant of Grace Presbyterian Church.
We had 26 kids and the theme of the week was "HEROES IN SERVICE" We learned that God uses people of all ages, traits, personalities, to others and Him!
Please ask your student how they can be heroes who serve.
Picture of the week! Katheryn has a little bit of shaving cream on her face.
The next Middle Youth event is the Welcome back to Youth Group party on Sunday August 15th at the Woodens Farm. Pay more attention for more details to follow.
Then our weekly middle school youth group starts up on Monday August 23rd at 6:30pm at Covenant of Grace Presbyterian Church.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Dreaming for your kids.
Dreaming For Your Kids
And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
Joel 2:28
We hear Joel 2:28 in church and think about how revival needs to come to the younger generation. But, instead of concentrating on that part of Joel 2:28, I want to draw your attention to the "old men will dream dreams" phrase.
I used to overlook that part of the verse most of the time, because I was so excited about the young people part. I thought, "I'm not going to be old for a long time yet, so I'm not going to talk or think much about the old men dreaming dreams." But it is the older people in our society who dream dreams for the younger generation; and so it must be the parents who dream dreams for their children.
They Didn't Ask for This Garbage
Looking at the culture barrage hammering our teens, whether it's the things being sold to them, what is being written to them--movies and music--or the point-and-click pornography that's available to them, there is one thing we can all agree on: Our children are not the ones who invented these things.
Just about every one of these social influences, whether it's media entertainment, technological inventions or opportunities on the Web that is destroying kids, have been dreamed up by the older generation. In many ways, these older dreamers prey on young people because they have plenty of money to spend. They appeal to young people's most corrupt desires to get them to empty their pockets. But the fact is, the kids didn't ask for this garbage; they were sold this garbage by people trying to take advantage of them to make a lot of money without any thought to moral consequences. Of course they will tell us, "If people didn't buy it, we wouldn't make it" as if it's a moral obligation to sell people things that will destroy them just because they will buy them.
As a result, kids think, "I want my MTV." Is it really "their MTV" or is it somebody else's MTV that they are told to find their identity in? Young people say, "I want those pants. I want that music. I want that new CD." Somebody else has made them feel important by making it seem like the company is doing something "just for them." As a result, teens absorb and digest lyrics, values, and a lifestyle that totally and completely destroys them.
Here's the question for us: Are we not dreamers? Cannot we, the people who love God, dream a dream for the young people in our churches? Can we not dream a dream for the young people in our communities? Is it only the secular culture that has a dream for our children?
You can protect your kids from the disaster of being shaped by a confused generation of adults selling media, but it will take deliberation. It will take sweat. It will require emotional and mental engagement with your kids, starting when they are at a very young age.
Dream for Your Kids
Dream a dream for your kids. Do you want them to be entertainment oriented or service-to-others oriented? Ask for an entertainment-oriented person, and you'll get someone who is constantly appeasing the flesh and desiring the next thing to engage and tantalize them. Where are the servant-oriented people--those men and women who lay down their lives as a sacrifice for others? It is our choice as parents to determine what kind of young people we want and what it will take to produce them. As you dream for your kids teach them how to think critically and pursue growth in their relationship with the Lord. Dreaming for them does not mean dictating their lives and living vicariously through your son or daughter. Let them know you are behind them 100% when they make godly decisions. If you dream a dream and roll up your sleeves and go for it, I'm confident that you will raise the kind of child you will be proud of for many years. If you sacrifice now, you'll reap a blessing for the rest of your life; and the world will never be the same.
Not only must we be the dreamers, but we must also teach our kids to be the dreamers for their own generation. Note this passage of Scripture: "Your young men will see visions" (Joel 2:28). Our young people need to have a vision of how God could use them to change their generation and make a difference in the world. Yet, every time we allow our kids to watch, see, feel, touch and embrace this culture, they become a part of a dream belonging to someone else. The fact is, we must either be the dreamers or we will be a part of somebody else's dream.
Merely giving birth does not make you a parent. Sacrificing while your children are small, laying down your "deserved" freedoms and deeply thinking about how you're shaping your children will ensure their lifelong freedom from the chains of slavery to our culture. It's work, and it's called loving your children. It's called being a parent.
This article was adapted from Ron's book, Re-Create: Building a Culture in Our Homes That Is Stronger Than the Culture Deceiving Our Kids. Look for it at your nearest bookstore, or visit www.battlecry.com for more information.
Ron Luce is the president and founder of Teen Mania Ministries, a Christian organization reaching millions of young people worldwide. He passionately declares the Gospel through Acquire the Fire TV broadcasts, youth events, camps and media resources, challenging teens to take a stand for Christ. www.teenmania.org
And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
Joel 2:28
We hear Joel 2:28 in church and think about how revival needs to come to the younger generation. But, instead of concentrating on that part of Joel 2:28, I want to draw your attention to the "old men will dream dreams" phrase.
I used to overlook that part of the verse most of the time, because I was so excited about the young people part. I thought, "I'm not going to be old for a long time yet, so I'm not going to talk or think much about the old men dreaming dreams." But it is the older people in our society who dream dreams for the younger generation; and so it must be the parents who dream dreams for their children.
They Didn't Ask for This Garbage
Looking at the culture barrage hammering our teens, whether it's the things being sold to them, what is being written to them--movies and music--or the point-and-click pornography that's available to them, there is one thing we can all agree on: Our children are not the ones who invented these things.
Just about every one of these social influences, whether it's media entertainment, technological inventions or opportunities on the Web that is destroying kids, have been dreamed up by the older generation. In many ways, these older dreamers prey on young people because they have plenty of money to spend. They appeal to young people's most corrupt desires to get them to empty their pockets. But the fact is, the kids didn't ask for this garbage; they were sold this garbage by people trying to take advantage of them to make a lot of money without any thought to moral consequences. Of course they will tell us, "If people didn't buy it, we wouldn't make it" as if it's a moral obligation to sell people things that will destroy them just because they will buy them.
As a result, kids think, "I want my MTV." Is it really "their MTV" or is it somebody else's MTV that they are told to find their identity in? Young people say, "I want those pants. I want that music. I want that new CD." Somebody else has made them feel important by making it seem like the company is doing something "just for them." As a result, teens absorb and digest lyrics, values, and a lifestyle that totally and completely destroys them.
Here's the question for us: Are we not dreamers? Cannot we, the people who love God, dream a dream for the young people in our churches? Can we not dream a dream for the young people in our communities? Is it only the secular culture that has a dream for our children?
You can protect your kids from the disaster of being shaped by a confused generation of adults selling media, but it will take deliberation. It will take sweat. It will require emotional and mental engagement with your kids, starting when they are at a very young age.
Dream for Your Kids
Dream a dream for your kids. Do you want them to be entertainment oriented or service-to-others oriented? Ask for an entertainment-oriented person, and you'll get someone who is constantly appeasing the flesh and desiring the next thing to engage and tantalize them. Where are the servant-oriented people--those men and women who lay down their lives as a sacrifice for others? It is our choice as parents to determine what kind of young people we want and what it will take to produce them. As you dream for your kids teach them how to think critically and pursue growth in their relationship with the Lord. Dreaming for them does not mean dictating their lives and living vicariously through your son or daughter. Let them know you are behind them 100% when they make godly decisions. If you dream a dream and roll up your sleeves and go for it, I'm confident that you will raise the kind of child you will be proud of for many years. If you sacrifice now, you'll reap a blessing for the rest of your life; and the world will never be the same.
Not only must we be the dreamers, but we must also teach our kids to be the dreamers for their own generation. Note this passage of Scripture: "Your young men will see visions" (Joel 2:28). Our young people need to have a vision of how God could use them to change their generation and make a difference in the world. Yet, every time we allow our kids to watch, see, feel, touch and embrace this culture, they become a part of a dream belonging to someone else. The fact is, we must either be the dreamers or we will be a part of somebody else's dream.
Merely giving birth does not make you a parent. Sacrificing while your children are small, laying down your "deserved" freedoms and deeply thinking about how you're shaping your children will ensure their lifelong freedom from the chains of slavery to our culture. It's work, and it's called loving your children. It's called being a parent.
This article was adapted from Ron's book, Re-Create: Building a Culture in Our Homes That Is Stronger Than the Culture Deceiving Our Kids. Look for it at your nearest bookstore, or visit www.battlecry.com for more information.
Ron Luce is the president and founder of Teen Mania Ministries, a Christian organization reaching millions of young people worldwide. He passionately declares the Gospel through Acquire the Fire TV broadcasts, youth events, camps and media resources, challenging teens to take a stand for Christ. www.teenmania.org
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Prayer
Everything requires fuel. Some are more powerful and more
combustible than others. Serious damage can result from
using the wrong type of fuel. So the key is to use the right
fuel with the right tool.
James 5:16b - "The earnest prayer of a righteous person
has great power and wonderful results."
Prayer is a high octane fuel of the Spirit led life. Ask the
class to share some of the results of their prayers.
Prayer brings the power of the Almighty against
the problems of mankind.
That’s the kind of fuel we need to feed our lives. We need
God’s power flowing through us. The way to connect with
that power is through prayer.
This is the kind of prayer we talked about in our lesson on Monday. If you would like to review the lesson and go over some of the points with your students then please use the below link.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2372651/MS.Lessons/FaithfulLiving.James.5.Prayer.doc
combustible than others. Serious damage can result from
using the wrong type of fuel. So the key is to use the right
fuel with the right tool.
James 5:16b - "The earnest prayer of a righteous person
has great power and wonderful results."
Prayer is a high octane fuel of the Spirit led life. Ask the
class to share some of the results of their prayers.
Prayer brings the power of the Almighty against
the problems of mankind.
That’s the kind of fuel we need to feed our lives. We need
God’s power flowing through us. The way to connect with
that power is through prayer.
This is the kind of prayer we talked about in our lesson on Monday. If you would like to review the lesson and go over some of the points with your students then please use the below link.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2372651/MS.Lessons/FaithfulLiving.James.5.Prayer.doc
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Philly Missions Trip
The Philly Missions trip was tons of fun and a great spiritual encouragement to us and a great help to the homeless who we served. Here are some pics from the trip.
This is us with the city in the background.
On our Prayer Tour through the city.
Our group with Roy in the middle. Roy is a Christian homeless man who chooses to be homeless because God has called him to homeless ministry. He had some great lessons to teach us and greatly encouraged us.
The guys chilling outside the Kenningston Ministry site.
Singing at the Red Door Ministry.
Sorting clothes to be handed out at the Red Door Ministry.
If you have facebook then you can see al 71 pictures on our group page. Just search for Covenant of Grace Youth Ministry and join!
This is us with the city in the background.
On our Prayer Tour through the city.
Our group with Roy in the middle. Roy is a Christian homeless man who chooses to be homeless because God has called him to homeless ministry. He had some great lessons to teach us and greatly encouraged us.
The guys chilling outside the Kenningston Ministry site.
Singing at the Red Door Ministry.
Sorting clothes to be handed out at the Red Door Ministry.
If you have facebook then you can see al 71 pictures on our group page. Just search for Covenant of Grace Youth Ministry and join!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Lesson on Patience
So last night we did a lesson on Patience from the book of James.
It was very ironic because our blessed Middle School students were not as patient during the lesson when it came to talking! ha ha. It was eerily similar to our "Quick to Listen" lesson. Very funny stuff. : )
Patience. First a funny story about patience:
---------------------------------------------------
Gladys and Rhonda walked along the sidewalk after church. They were on their way home, thinking about meals planned for later that afternoon and casually discussing the morning service.
"That was a great sermon on patience," remarked Rhonda.
Gladys replied, "Yeah, but he went five minutes long."
---------------------------------------------------
Please take this opportunity to browse over this supplemental material we have for you to continue on the talk of patience at home this week.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2372651/FaithfulLiving.Patience.HO.doc
It was very ironic because our blessed Middle School students were not as patient during the lesson when it came to talking! ha ha. It was eerily similar to our "Quick to Listen" lesson. Very funny stuff. : )
Patience. First a funny story about patience:
---------------------------------------------------
Gladys and Rhonda walked along the sidewalk after church. They were on their way home, thinking about meals planned for later that afternoon and casually discussing the morning service.
"That was a great sermon on patience," remarked Rhonda.
Gladys replied, "Yeah, but he went five minutes long."
---------------------------------------------------
Please take this opportunity to browse over this supplemental material we have for you to continue on the talk of patience at home this week.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2372651/FaithfulLiving.Patience.HO.doc
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Helping Teenagers Strive for Purity
Here is an excerpt from Parentlink's 2009 February Newsletter concerning purity.
Help Teenagers Strive for Moral Purity
Thanks to pop singers, purity rings have become a hot trend. Many young people are publicly announcing their intentions to abstain from sex until marriage. For some kids, these rings mean even more. About his purity ring, Syracuse University freshman Stephen Chang says, “It also means that I won’t drink, smoke, or date until I know I’m ready to date for marriage. It’s a symbol of me saying that I want to live a life that’s more pleasing to God.”
Maintaining a pure, God-pleasing lifestyle in our sinful world is tough. Kids are tempted to enjoy immediate pleasure rather than wait for long-term rewards. As parents, you play a vital role in your teenagers’ moral decision-making. Not only do kids look to you as examples, but they want you to listen and be available to talk. Surveys show that kids crave moral information from their parents. Research also shows that kids whose parents had talked with them about tough topics were more likely to turn to their parents first in difficult situations.
Kids crave control over their lives, and the quest for purity is one area they can control. It’s also an area where kids can assert their individuality, think for themselves, and not follow the crowd. So encourage your teenagers to make a commitment to a morally pure lifestyle. Even if you don’t give them a purity ring, you can let them know that Jesus, who died to make them pure, expects sexual integrity from his children. Just as importantly, when we mess up, Jesus offers forgiveness and the chance to renew our commitment to live for him.
Contrary to what’s seen in the media, not all teenagers engage in premarital sex. Consider these stats from a variety of online sources:
·More than half (52%) of high school students have never had sexual intercourse. ·87% of teenagers don’t think it’s embarrassing for kids to say they’re virgins. ·Of teenagers who have had sexual intercourse, 63% say they wish they had waited. ·82% of teenagers desire to have one marriage partner for life. ·When the Barna Group asked 1,000 U.S. parents about the most important outcomes of raising their kids, the top answer (39%) was “getting a good education.” Only 4% answered “helping to establish appropriate moral values.”
Great Questions to Ask Your Kids Use these discussion starters to help kids open up about purity and sex:
1. What comes to mind when you hear the word “purity”? What are some ways, besides sexual abstinence, that people can stay pure?
2. How much control do you have over your own purity?
3. What are the biggest temptations that can thwart a pure lifestyle? What are some ways to resist them?
4. How do you think God views sex? How does your view compare to God’s?
5. What are the pros and cons of making a public commitment to purity? Do you want to take that step? Why or why not?
Help Teenagers Strive for Moral Purity
Thanks to pop singers, purity rings have become a hot trend. Many young people are publicly announcing their intentions to abstain from sex until marriage. For some kids, these rings mean even more. About his purity ring, Syracuse University freshman Stephen Chang says, “It also means that I won’t drink, smoke, or date until I know I’m ready to date for marriage. It’s a symbol of me saying that I want to live a life that’s more pleasing to God.”
Maintaining a pure, God-pleasing lifestyle in our sinful world is tough. Kids are tempted to enjoy immediate pleasure rather than wait for long-term rewards. As parents, you play a vital role in your teenagers’ moral decision-making. Not only do kids look to you as examples, but they want you to listen and be available to talk. Surveys show that kids crave moral information from their parents. Research also shows that kids whose parents had talked with them about tough topics were more likely to turn to their parents first in difficult situations.
Kids crave control over their lives, and the quest for purity is one area they can control. It’s also an area where kids can assert their individuality, think for themselves, and not follow the crowd. So encourage your teenagers to make a commitment to a morally pure lifestyle. Even if you don’t give them a purity ring, you can let them know that Jesus, who died to make them pure, expects sexual integrity from his children. Just as importantly, when we mess up, Jesus offers forgiveness and the chance to renew our commitment to live for him.
Contrary to what’s seen in the media, not all teenagers engage in premarital sex. Consider these stats from a variety of online sources:
·More than half (52%) of high school students have never had sexual intercourse. ·87% of teenagers don’t think it’s embarrassing for kids to say they’re virgins. ·Of teenagers who have had sexual intercourse, 63% say they wish they had waited. ·82% of teenagers desire to have one marriage partner for life. ·When the Barna Group asked 1,000 U.S. parents about the most important outcomes of raising their kids, the top answer (39%) was “getting a good education.” Only 4% answered “helping to establish appropriate moral values.”
Great Questions to Ask Your Kids Use these discussion starters to help kids open up about purity and sex:
1. What comes to mind when you hear the word “purity”? What are some ways, besides sexual abstinence, that people can stay pure?
2. How much control do you have over your own purity?
3. What are the biggest temptations that can thwart a pure lifestyle? What are some ways to resist them?
4. How do you think God views sex? How does your view compare to God’s?
5. What are the pros and cons of making a public commitment to purity? Do you want to take that step? Why or why not?
Monday, February 15, 2010
Velocity Cancelled Feb 15
Velocity Cancelled Monday Feb 15th
Due to snow and possible bad roads youth group is cancelled tonight, Feb. 15th.
Due to snow and possible bad roads youth group is cancelled tonight, Feb. 15th.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Valentines Dinner Cancelled.
The Valentines Dinner Fundraiser this Saturday has been cancelled.
A new date for the dinner fundraiser will be sometime in April or May.
A new date for the dinner fundraiser will be sometime in April or May.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
A Poetic Prayer to God.
Make sure you have no distractions around you when you listen to this video, you can even close your eyes and let the words soak in. Its a beautiful prayer to God.
Hope this encourages you as it did me.
Hope this encourages you as it did me.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Velocity Cancelled Feb 08
Due to the snow, and possible icy driving conditions tonight Velocity is cancelled tonight, February 8th.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
How to Win the War Within
On Monday night we talked about selfishness. We read from James 4:1-10.
The first part of the passage basically shares that is from our selfish desires of getting what we want is what causes discord in our lives. What we learn by the end of the passage that it is only by being humble that we actually are lifted up. Which is ironic, when we seek to put ourselves first we mess things up...but when we seek to put God first, it naturally occurs that we put others first and God lifts us up!
James 4:1-10.
1What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? 2You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
4You 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. 5Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? 6But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
"God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble."
7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
Here is a link to the whole lesson:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2372651/MS.Lessons/Faith%20FULL%20Living%208.How%20to%20Win%20the%20War%20Within.pdf
Here is a link to an abbreviated and supplemental material you can go over with your student:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2372651/MS.Lessons/FaithfulLiving.8.Supplemental.doc
The first part of the passage basically shares that is from our selfish desires of getting what we want is what causes discord in our lives. What we learn by the end of the passage that it is only by being humble that we actually are lifted up. Which is ironic, when we seek to put ourselves first we mess things up...but when we seek to put God first, it naturally occurs that we put others first and God lifts us up!
James 4:1-10.
1What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? 2You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
4You 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. 5Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? 6But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
"God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble."
7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
Here is a link to the whole lesson:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2372651/MS.Lessons/Faith%20FULL%20Living%208.How%20to%20Win%20the%20War%20Within.pdf
Here is a link to an abbreviated and supplemental material you can go over with your student:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2372651/MS.Lessons/FaithfulLiving.8.Supplemental.doc
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Upcoming Events and Mondays Lesson
Be sure to check out the info and forms for our Philadelphia Missions and Snowfest.
Forms and Applications are due very very soon! Having them both by this next monday the 25 is the absolute last deadline.
Just scroll down blog.
And for those 8th graders going on Montana summer missions trip. There is a parent, student meeting at 5:41 pm at youth annex. It will be an important one as we set out our fundraising agenda for the year. Having at least 1 parent there would be great!
Last Mondays lesson was on wisdom and taken from James 3:13-18.
Like everything else in life, wisdom is multidimensional. The definition changes according to the situation and need. Monday we studied godly wisdom and how it relates to the way we treat others.
For the whole lesson click here:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2372651/MS.Lessons/Faith%20FULL%20Living%207.How%20to%20be%20a%20Wise%20Guy.pdf
For an abbreviated lesson you can follow up with your kids:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2372651/MS.Lessons/FaithfullLiving.7.doc
Forms and Applications are due very very soon! Having them both by this next monday the 25 is the absolute last deadline.
Just scroll down blog.
And for those 8th graders going on Montana summer missions trip. There is a parent, student meeting at 5:41 pm at youth annex. It will be an important one as we set out our fundraising agenda for the year. Having at least 1 parent there would be great!
Last Mondays lesson was on wisdom and taken from James 3:13-18.
Like everything else in life, wisdom is multidimensional. The definition changes according to the situation and need. Monday we studied godly wisdom and how it relates to the way we treat others.
For the whole lesson click here:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2372651/MS.Lessons/Faith%20FULL%20Living%207.How%20to%20be%20a%20Wise%20Guy.pdf
For an abbreviated lesson you can follow up with your kids:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2372651/MS.Lessons/FaithfullLiving.7.doc
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
FaithFULL Living: Taming the Tongue
A quick version of our lesson with questions and thoughts to carry on the lesson at home:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2372651/MS.Lessons/Faithfull.Living.%20James.6.doc
The full version of our lesson:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2372651/MS.Lessons/Faith%20FULL%20Living%206.How%20to%20Tame%20the%20Tongue.pdf
Last Monday night Velocity went through our sixth lesson in our series called FaithFULL Living. We went over James 3:1-12 about how and why we are to tame the tongue. Ironically the kids were the most chatty we could remember for some time!
That being said it was definitely a hard hitting lesson as James really extorted us to control what we say for we will be judged by what we say. Just as a tiny spark can start a whole fire so too can the tongue be a flame to a fire that can set our whole life on fire! James calls the tongue restless, evil and full of deadly poison.
But it can also be used to bless and praise our Lord and Savior.
So how do we make sure that our tongue is a blessing to God and others rather than a curse?
If you want to tame your tongue as I do then let me encourage you to think about some speech therapy. Before you speak something that may be harmful ask yourself these five questions:
First, IS IT TRUE? Is what you’re going to speak the truth? If not, STOP.
If it is, second, IS IT NECESSARY? Jesus said you’re going to be judged for every careless word. Bite your tongue more often. There are so many things that we say that are not necessary.
Third, IS IT BENEFICIAL? Is what you’re going to say going to build someone up or tear them down? Is going to
do good or is going to hurt someone?
Fourth, ask yourself, DO I HAVE PERMISSION TO SHARE IT? I’m sure you all know people
who you consider friends who you can tell anything to, because
you know it will stop there. But we also all know people who are the first to spread that news all over town. Before you speak think about what kind of friend you’re being.
Finally, ask yourself, IS MY MOTIVE PURE? Why are you saying what you’re saying? Most of the time our gossip is for selfish purposes. We want something to talk about. We want others to think we’re
important. Do you know that need you have to gossip, it comes from sin. Give it up.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2372651/MS.Lessons/Faithfull.Living.%20James.6.doc
The full version of our lesson:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2372651/MS.Lessons/Faith%20FULL%20Living%206.How%20to%20Tame%20the%20Tongue.pdf
Last Monday night Velocity went through our sixth lesson in our series called FaithFULL Living. We went over James 3:1-12 about how and why we are to tame the tongue. Ironically the kids were the most chatty we could remember for some time!
That being said it was definitely a hard hitting lesson as James really extorted us to control what we say for we will be judged by what we say. Just as a tiny spark can start a whole fire so too can the tongue be a flame to a fire that can set our whole life on fire! James calls the tongue restless, evil and full of deadly poison.
But it can also be used to bless and praise our Lord and Savior.
So how do we make sure that our tongue is a blessing to God and others rather than a curse?
If you want to tame your tongue as I do then let me encourage you to think about some speech therapy. Before you speak something that may be harmful ask yourself these five questions:
First, IS IT TRUE? Is what you’re going to speak the truth? If not, STOP.
If it is, second, IS IT NECESSARY? Jesus said you’re going to be judged for every careless word. Bite your tongue more often. There are so many things that we say that are not necessary.
Third, IS IT BENEFICIAL? Is what you’re going to say going to build someone up or tear them down? Is going to
do good or is going to hurt someone?
Fourth, ask yourself, DO I HAVE PERMISSION TO SHARE IT? I’m sure you all know people
who you consider friends who you can tell anything to, because
you know it will stop there. But we also all know people who are the first to spread that news all over town. Before you speak think about what kind of friend you’re being.
Finally, ask yourself, IS MY MOTIVE PURE? Why are you saying what you’re saying? Most of the time our gossip is for selfish purposes. We want something to talk about. We want others to think we’re
important. Do you know that need you have to gossip, it comes from sin. Give it up.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Philadelphia Missions Trip Info/Form and SnowFest Forms
SNOWFEST!
Skiing, Snowboarding, and Snowtubing! A great time to come up and learn as we are going for a half day and getting group rates.
When? Saturday Jan 30th. Meet at Church at 3pm to caravan up.
Who? Open to all families, students and friends. More the merrier! But remember there will be limited rides as most families will need to caravan.
Where? Liberty Ski Resort at 78 Country Club Trail Carroll Valley, PA 17320
Cost? $30 Lift Ticket only. $54 for Ski's/Snowboard Rental with Lift ticket and optional lesson. $45 Learning to Ski or Snowboard package with rental, lesson and access to beginner slopes only.
We need parents signatures on the following forms:
Skiing/Snowboarding:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2372651/RentalForm0910.pdf
Snow Tubing:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2372651/RELEASE%20Tubing%20release%20doc%2009-10.pdf
--------------------------------------------------------
MS Missions Trip to Philadelphia
Velocity Missions Trip – March 5-7
Where? Philadelphia with CSM. www.csm.org
Who? MS students. Minimum age 12.
Cost? $145 (Don’t let cost be an issue, we can raise funds if needed)
- There are nine spots available. First come first serve.
- Applications and $55 deposit is due Monday Jan 18th.
- Service may include food banks, homeless shelters, nursing homes, children’s centers. Etc.
Parent and Student Informational Meeting is Monday January 11th from 6 - 6:30 pm.
Application and $55 Deposit Due January 18th
Full $145 due February 1st.
Application for Missions Trip:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2372651/MissionsApplication2010.MS.Philadelphia.doc
Skiing, Snowboarding, and Snowtubing! A great time to come up and learn as we are going for a half day and getting group rates.
When? Saturday Jan 30th. Meet at Church at 3pm to caravan up.
Who? Open to all families, students and friends. More the merrier! But remember there will be limited rides as most families will need to caravan.
Where? Liberty Ski Resort at 78 Country Club Trail Carroll Valley, PA 17320
Cost? $30 Lift Ticket only. $54 for Ski's/Snowboard Rental with Lift ticket and optional lesson. $45 Learning to Ski or Snowboard package with rental, lesson and access to beginner slopes only.
We need parents signatures on the following forms:
Skiing/Snowboarding:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2372651/RentalForm0910.pdf
Snow Tubing:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2372651/RELEASE%20Tubing%20release%20doc%2009-10.pdf
--------------------------------------------------------
MS Missions Trip to Philadelphia
Velocity Missions Trip – March 5-7
Where? Philadelphia with CSM. www.csm.org
Who? MS students. Minimum age 12.
Cost? $145 (Don’t let cost be an issue, we can raise funds if needed)
- There are nine spots available. First come first serve.
- Applications and $55 deposit is due Monday Jan 18th.
- Service may include food banks, homeless shelters, nursing homes, children’s centers. Etc.
Parent and Student Informational Meeting is Monday January 11th from 6 - 6:30 pm.
Application and $55 Deposit Due January 18th
Full $145 due February 1st.
Application for Missions Trip:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2372651/MissionsApplication2010.MS.Philadelphia.doc
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
This Year will be Different
Happy New Year Everyone!!
So can you hear that noise? Thats the sound of New Years Resolutions being broken already! Isn't that the way it always seems to go? I know I have already broken a couple I've made to myself. The problem is I rely to much on myself and I am prone to mess up. We then feel unhappy with ourselves and with life. So how do we have happiness and contentment?
When it comes to any resolution and spiritual ones especially the only way we can follow through is by relying on our relationship with God. In life we do a great job of compartmentalizing things. We put on our at home self, our at work self, our at school self, our with these people or with those people self, our at church self. The problem is, we don't always act consistently in all the different compartments and arenas of our lives. We think we can be Godly only during quiet times and church times or with other Christian times but we forget that God is King and Sovereign over all of our life. Why not put God first during a soccer game? During work? Walking in the hallways at school? Driving on the interstate? We get so busy with filling up our lives with ultimately unimportant things that end up dictating how we feel and act. A car cuts us off, an opponent fouls you, a schoolmate mocks you, a boss mistreats you, you join classmates in cheating....whatever it is....we join the world of our moment rather than allow the God of eternity reign supreme in our everyday life. And what happens is we feel angst, we feel separated from something important. That separation is from God.
How about a New Years resolution this year to allow God to reign supreme in your everyday life. Throw up an arrow prayer during the middle of work, school, or play? Filter your everyday deeds, thoughts and environments through God. Talk to him like you talk to a friend throughout the day. Perhaps then you will have the right perspective on resolutions....for its only by following God first that all those other things fall into the right place. Be Resolved to Put God first in all things. That only comes through humbly asking him for his grace to achieve such end. And in doing so you will bring God glory! It wont be self-centered resolutions but God centered.
I think this resolution made by Jonathan Edwards is a good one to take on as one's own.
"Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God, nor be, nor suffer it, if I can possibly avoid it."
So can you hear that noise? Thats the sound of New Years Resolutions being broken already! Isn't that the way it always seems to go? I know I have already broken a couple I've made to myself. The problem is I rely to much on myself and I am prone to mess up. We then feel unhappy with ourselves and with life. So how do we have happiness and contentment?
When it comes to any resolution and spiritual ones especially the only way we can follow through is by relying on our relationship with God. In life we do a great job of compartmentalizing things. We put on our at home self, our at work self, our at school self, our with these people or with those people self, our at church self. The problem is, we don't always act consistently in all the different compartments and arenas of our lives. We think we can be Godly only during quiet times and church times or with other Christian times but we forget that God is King and Sovereign over all of our life. Why not put God first during a soccer game? During work? Walking in the hallways at school? Driving on the interstate? We get so busy with filling up our lives with ultimately unimportant things that end up dictating how we feel and act. A car cuts us off, an opponent fouls you, a schoolmate mocks you, a boss mistreats you, you join classmates in cheating....whatever it is....we join the world of our moment rather than allow the God of eternity reign supreme in our everyday life. And what happens is we feel angst, we feel separated from something important. That separation is from God.
How about a New Years resolution this year to allow God to reign supreme in your everyday life. Throw up an arrow prayer during the middle of work, school, or play? Filter your everyday deeds, thoughts and environments through God. Talk to him like you talk to a friend throughout the day. Perhaps then you will have the right perspective on resolutions....for its only by following God first that all those other things fall into the right place. Be Resolved to Put God first in all things. That only comes through humbly asking him for his grace to achieve such end. And in doing so you will bring God glory! It wont be self-centered resolutions but God centered.
I think this resolution made by Jonathan Edwards is a good one to take on as one's own.
"Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God, nor be, nor suffer it, if I can possibly avoid it."
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