A song for believing graduates…
Top 11 reasons Students don’t show up May 16, 2008
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Friends aren’t going (“if so and so” is not going) -
The ‘connecting’ factor (just don’t connect) -
Other interests/priorities (sports, arts, family time) -
Laziness (like doing nothing instead) -
Parents don’t prioritize so students are apathetic -
The ‘Sin’ factor (like sin too much/don’t want to be reminded of it) -
No control/choice (Parents decide against it) -
Think it’s boring -
If people ask they’ll go vs. just seeing it in the bulletin -
Communication of what Student Ministry is about -
Lack of interest in God
Student Ministry or Youth Group May 14, 2008
A ‘group’ suggests closeness, limited membership, exclusion, restrictions, and requirements. Students may feel like they attended a club or a clique type place. This leaves a student to ask questions about acceptance. Do they care about me? Can I be myself? Can I just show up? Will I be judged? Will I know anyone? Will people talk to me? Will I be put on the spot?
While a ‘ministry ‘suggests growth, openness, freedom, acceptance, approval & meeting student’s needs. Students should feel free to be themselves amongst many types of ‘groups’ and be loved unconditionally. When they participate in a ministry they should feel embraced, needed and valued. Students may think or say, “They noticed me, Wow, they want me to hang out with me”. A ministry reaches out and around people. While you may not have deep friendship with hundreds of people, you should experience friendliness from a ministry.
We prefer ministry, but you can still come if you if you call it a group. J
WEIRD FACTS May 12, 2008
- The Bible has been translated into Klingon.
- When Heinz ketchup leaves the bottle, it travels at a rate of 25 miles per hour.
- Recycling one glass jar, saves enough energy to watch T.V for 3 hours!
- The human brain holds between 1 and 7 terabytes (1 and 7 million megabytes) of data.
- Plain grain products lower your IQ, while whole grain products increase your IQ.
- Dogs’ mouths are 200 times more cleaner then human mouths.
- Rock Music kills plants.
- Up to 1920 Canada was planning on invading the United States.
- The last name in the Toronto phone book is Zzyzzer.
- If you yelled for 8 years, 7 months and 6 days, you would have produced enough sound energy to heat one cup of coffee.If you fart consistently for 6 years and 9 months, enough gas is produced to create the energy of an atomic bomb.
What’s all this talk about ‘green’? May 7, 2008
Is it a sin to drive a hummer, use standard light bulbs or use regular paint on the walls? Is there Godliness in saving the earth from plastics, pollution and wasted paper? I wonder what the deal was in the garden of Eden or on the streets of Galilee with no indoor plumbing and a high volume of ‘natural’ pollution? One of my favorite animals at any zoo are the polar bears. I would hate for any of the white fluffy creatures to perish of any cause. But I have to wonder does God care about any of this?
Get your Mothers Day on May 5, 2008
If you have a mom you are very fortunate. Getting your mother a gift is nice and every mom would sure appreciate it. What should you get? Some of the top gifts include: cards, jewelry, candles, flowers, diner, a gift card and pictures of you or little siblings. Granted those are nice ideas and would impress just about any mother. I know my mom’s favorite thing for any holiday is a good ol’ card. It even can be cheap and from the dollar store. When I would fall short (never on Mothers Day) and forget a card I would always tell mom ‘I got a card, let me tell it you’… then I would make some poem up on the spot with nice words and usually get a good warm smile in return.
What if we began thinking about speaking cards to our mothers this very week. Not with a fancy poems, but nice words. I mean just tell your mom you want to talk as she ‘tucks in you into bed’ or decide to take her out for a coffee on your dollar. Then share with her your inmost thoughts. Think and plan ahead of what you want to say. Thanking her and loving her for sacrificing her time, being honest with you or for all the little things you see her do. Above all, be real and honest in your words. Ask her if you can do something special together – go for a walk, hit some golf balls together, paint some pottery, go get some ice cream, take a trip to a special place that you’d both enjoy. If things go well – let her know you want to do it again soon. Be sure to have no agenda and make it about her.
The church as an obstacle to influence March 27, 2008
Have you ever wondered if you were attractive? I mean really. Are people attracted to you? For me, it just makes sense that I would be attracted to people who have positive traits. People who are fun, honest, open, encouraging, caring, discerning and who smell nice are much more enjoyable to be around. It makes me wonder if I’m giving off the right vibe? I want to be attractive - we all do… don’t we?
As you might think about influencing others as a teenager - Is Jesus Christ attactive or unattractive? I guess it would depend if people (even ‘religious’ people ) are judging Him on His own or looking at the broader community of believers. If we look at Christ alone - Perfect, Pure, Spotless, Blameless, The Savior! He is attractive in every way. What makes Him Unattractive are religious people, wayward christians, stumblers… How can we work at enhancing Christ?
Committing Your Relationships to God March 4, 2008
What would it look like of we really gave all of our relationships to God? Is it possible to have one consistent life? It’s likely you attempt to live out several lives in your ‘one’ life… I mean there are many relationships to grapple with. We interact in different kind of relationships everyday. These relationships give meaning and joy to our lives and in a lot of ways help define who we are.
I think there are many important relationships that bring this ‘definition’ of me to the world.
They include: Myself, Parents, Family, Groups & Teams, Close Friends, Leaders and other Influencers, Church or Student Ministry, and romantic relationships, struggling relationships, and God.
God cares about our relationships. All of them! Our relationships can actually help us grow closer to God or pull us further away from God. God wants us to have awesome relationships –especially His relationship with you. In fact developing a relationship with Jesus is a lot like developing relationships with your friends. I like to think I could have fun with Jesus, hang out with him, lift him up and laugh with him - just as I would a good freind. Does God reflect in your relationships? Or do your relationships reflect your God?
Obstacles of Influence - Failure February 13, 2008
Ocean Floor The mistakes I’ve made
That caused pain
I could have done without
All my selfish thought
All my pride
The things I hide
You have forgot about
They’re all behind you
They’ll never find you
They’re on the ocean floor
Your sins are forgotten
They’re on the bottom
Of the ocean floor
My misdeeds
All my greed
All the things that haunt me now
They’re not a pretty sight to see
But they’re wiped away
By a mighty, mighty wave
A mighty, mighty wave
Your sins are erased
And they are no more
They’re out on the ocean floor
Take them away
To return no more
Take them away
To the ocean floor by Audio Adrenaline
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