WYRD DEC. 28- Jan.3, 2009

Is Church Relevant?

I hope that you take a look at your own life as you read this.

I'd been going to church all of my life, but I couldn't help but feel like I was missing something.By Danny Huizinga as told to Amy Adair

I slid into the pew next to my family, glanced at the bulletin, and sighed. The sermon was on marriage. I knew it would be just another Sunday where the church service went right over my head.
When the pastor got up to preach, I zoned out. I woke up when the choir started singing the last hymn.
I was relieved to go home, but felt a little disappointed. Lately I'd been feeling like church wasn't really for me. None of it seemed to matter to my life and the things I struggled with day-to-day, like my friendships. I'd gone to church all my life, but I couldn't help but feel like I was missing something.
On the ride home, I flipped through the bulletin again and noticed that the youth group was starting up later that evening. I'd just started seventh grade, and I was finally old enough to join.

When I got to youth group that night, I was totally pumped. I also was surprised at how many people I already knew from church and school. I fit right in. It wasn't long before Ron, our youth pastor, introduced himself. I could tell he was on fire for Christ and wanted people like me to feel that same excitement.

After a while, the praise band started singing. Singing had always been my favorite part of church. But there were a lot of times when I didn't even think about the words. Ron encouraged us to focus on what the songs meant and see singing as a way to worship God. As we sang one song after another, I really started to feel connected to Christ.
The night got even better when Ron got up to talk. He started telling us about David and Jonathan's friendship in 1 Samuel 18. It was a story I'd heard a million times before. But Ron actually made it relevant to my life.
"We can learn a lot from these guys," Ron told the group. "They were true friends. You need to choose your friends wisely, too. Your closest friends should be people who help build up your faith."

After youth group ended, I thought long and hard about Ron's words. I had a good friend, Tim*, who wasn't the best influence. He swore all the time and talked a lot about drinking. It wasn't an easy thing to do, but over the next few months I stopped spending so much time with him. Instead, I hung out with friends from youth group and invited Tim to join us.
Although Tim never took me up on my offer, I kept going back to youth group. Ron seemed to make every story from the Bible mean something to my life. Like the story about Abraham and Sarah. Before, I always thought it was just a story about two old people who had a kid. But Ron asked us to imagine what it would be like to have the kind of faith that God wanted Abraham and Sarah to have.
I wanted that kind of faith. Although I'd been reading my Bible for as long as I could remember, I'd never really taken time to understand it. I read it because it was the right thing to do.
It wasn't easy, but I started reading a few verses at a time and really tried to understand what it meant. If I had questions, I asked Ron or my parents. Over time, my understanding of the Bible grew. So did my faith.

I've been going to youth group for three years. I no longer read the Bible because I feel like I have to. I read it because I want to grow closer to God. My attitude about church has changed, too.
I stopped tuning out when I thought the sermon wasn't going to matter to me.

I was surprised at how much I could learn just by paying attention to the verses my pastor used. Sure, not every sermon directly relates to my life, but I know I can always learn something. And now I know that I really do belong at church and especially at youth group.

Danny, a freshman, has been playing the piano for seven years and loves to play with the praise band at youth group.

Wow. Someone shared this video and I immediately watched it. Penn is a staunch atheist and also a illusionist. I've been aware of his work for many years and he is a great thinker, but sadly he does not believe God exists and therefore believes he has no need for Christ. This story really made me think.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JHS8adO3hM&eurl=http://www.planetwisdom.com/marksblog/2008/12/wow.html&feature=player_embedded

I hope someday, he realizes the love of Christ in his life. But there are many people in your neighborhood just like him. I was wondering the following and would like to hear some of your comments.

What do you think about his experience? Do you really live what you believe? How does this challenge you to live differently?

WYRD DEC. 21-27

WYRD Dec. 14-20

Comments submitted by Matthew H.

Life is God's novel, so let Him write it.

Yes actually, I am a know-it-all.
God

Hope

I thought this would be encouraging to us.
By Titus Benton
Published 12/1/2008
One of these days, the world will look much different than it does today. It will not be the same because we will not be the same.
The crashing cars will be still and the drunken drivers will be sober. The screaming husbands and the crying wives will be quiet. The innocent children will no longer be abused. Warriors will lay down their weapons. There will be no battle to win and no turf to defend. The hungry will be filled, the poor will be looked after, and the homeless will be warmed by love. They will have dignity.
One of these days, the world will look much different than it does today. It will not be the same because we will not be the same.
Guns will be silenced, not to conceal their fatal fire, but because there is no firing at all. There will be nowhere to aim; no hatred to spill forth. Marriages won't end any more. Families won't be ripped apart by divorce, separation, and selfishness. And we won't ignore the people we live with in favor of television or video games or our own rooms.
One of these days, the world will look much different than it does today. It will not be the same because we will not be the same.
Students will not cut themselves, starve themselves, kill themselves, trap themselves, drug themselves, ignore themselves, or indulge themselves any more. They won't fill their lives with sound and they will no longer fear silence. They won't make fun of each other. They won't hurt each other.
One of these days, the world will look much different than it does today. It will not be the same because we will not be the same.
We won't label ourselves the way we do: poor or rich; Democrat or Republican; black, white, Hispanic, Asian, or "other." We won't look down on one another, talk bad about one another, or be harsh with one another. There won't be road rage or sports rage. We won't create drama to have something to complain about and we won't look for conflict so we have something juicy to talk about.
One of these days, the world will look much different than it does today. It will not be the same because we will not be the same.
Work will not be our god. Sports will not be our god. We will not be our god. They will not be our god. Media will not be our god. Religion will not be our god.
One of these days, the world will look much different than it does today. It will not be the same because we will not be the same.
We will live in harmony with one another. We will laugh together, eat together, and live together. We will share what we have, accept what don't from those who do, and love that we don't have to pretend any more. We will celebrate that there are no more wars to fight, funerals to attend, or losses to mourn. We will learn who we are, be committed to those around us, and be resolved to stick it out during the toughest of times. We will know who we are, be okay with who we are, and celebrate who we are. God will be God.
One of these days, the world will look much different than it does today. It will not be the same because we will not be the same.
We will not be the same because I will not be the same. I will not be the same because I refuse to stay the same. If I stay the same then we will be the same. If we are the same then the world will not change. It will look like to does today.Today is no good.Today is just more of the same.
Bring on tomorrow.
Spread The Word

God Used My Painful Past

Hey All,
I just want to past this on, I think you might like to se how God can work.

As I walked into the youth room, I immediately noticed a new guy. He definitely looked different than any of my guy friends. He wore black eyeliner with streaks of black running vertically down each cheek. His hair and clothes told me he'd probably call himself emo. Since I like to make new people feel welcome, I went over and introduced myself.
He told me his name was Ryan*. He was really pretty easy to talk to. Before long, we were chatting about music. I hadn't heard of his favorite bands, but I told him about Hawk Nelson and Stellar Kart, two bands I like.
He seemed to enjoy youth group that night and continued coming back, although at times he seemed kind of distant. As we spent time together on Sunday nights, he slowly opened up about his struggles with cutting and suicidal thoughts. I understood. I used to struggle with both problems.
One night our youth pastor, Tad, used the Hawk Nelson song "Zero" to discuss the topic of suicide. The band wrote it after a friend of theirs took his life. We listened as the song played:
Your life dreams are shattered/You've gone away/We've cried here for hours, and the hours turn to days/We know you regret this, leaving us here/With portraits and memories that we've held so dear.
The lyrics reminded me of the emotions I once felt. The song affected Ryan, too. He even pulled Tad aside during one of our games to talk. Tad asked me to join the conversation.
Here's what I said to Ryan: "A couple of years ago, I was depressed and thought no one cared about me. One night I began cutting, and it became an addiction. I would do it when anything bad would happen. I'd think to myself when I cut, You don't deserve to live. Everyone would be better off without you.
You're the one who causes all the problems in your family."
Ryan looked straight in my eyes, which was unusual for him, as I continued to talk.
"Then I met Tad, who asked me some unusual questions. One was: 'If you died tonight, do you know where you would go?' Ryan, do you know how you would answer that question?"
"I hope heaven," Ryan answered softly.
"But if you had to give God a reason why he should let you in heaven, what would you say?" I asked.
"That I tried to live a good life," he said.
I told Ryan that this was also what I had thought, but I wasn't sure my good works would really get me into heaven.
Ryan's eyes looked watery and really sad.
"Tad told me that Jesus died for our sins so we could have a relationship with God," I explained. "By believing Jesus is God's Son and accepting him as my Savior and Lord, which means giving him control of my life, I'd get to spend eternity in heaven. Living a good life will never get me there—it's only through Jesus Christ."
Ryan thought for a minute and then simply said, "Wow."
"Ryan, when I accepted Christ my problems didn't disappear," I stressed, "but I found a strength I never had before. Christ helps me with my struggles and has even removed some of them completely." He remained quiet for a while. It seemed like we sat there forever, but I was certain Ryan was just taking in everything he'd just heard.
Finally, he said, "I'm ready."
I was amazed he was ready to make a commitment to Christ. After all, he'd only attended youth group a few weeks.
Tad and I led Ryan in prayer and he accepted Christ that night. While earlier he'd seemed so sad, he suddenly couldn't stop smiling.
It's been months since that night and Ryan continues to grow in his faith. He now plays guitar with our youth band and has become a big fan of the Christian rock band Skillet. I can tell he's more confident. He says he no longer cuts or thinks about suicide.
One night after my youth group attended a Skillet concert, Ryan came up to me to say goodbye before heading home. He simply said, "Thank you for being my friend. It means a lot to me."
I am thankful God used my story and struggles to bring Ryan to Christ. I'm excited we'll be in heaven together.
Molly, a sophomore, received evangelism training from Dare 2 Share, an organization dedicated to helping Christian students witness to their friends.
*Names have been changed.Copyright © 2008 by the author or Christianity Today International/Ignite Your Faith magazine.

DId God Create Sin?

Let me know what you think?

WYRD Dec. 7th- 13th

A word from George

While I was looking out the window on the airplane, God reaveled something to me that I want to share with you all:
In the airplane above the clouds I saw the Sun Shinning on the clouds and they looked so pure white, and clean. But also there was times when the son wasn't shinning on the clouds and they looked dingy, dirty, and grey looking.

And the anaolgy that God revealed to me is this:

When we allow the Son (Jesus) to shine (Live in us) down on us, we look pure and clean. But when we do not allow the Son (Jesus) to shine on us, we look dingy, dirty, and unpure.

May we allow God to work in us that others will see the Son shinning on us.

God Bless,
I love being your Youth Pastor

A not so funny Joke....J/K

Kaitlynn trying to be funny....

Q:
Why did the box of donuts cross the road?
A:
To get to FBC of Edgewater Youth Group (before they ate George.) =D jk