Stand in the Rain

Hey guys. By now, most of you know that I am not going to be the youth pastor at VCC as of March. This is nothing to do with not liking it here, not liking you, or me not being good enough. This only has to do with things beyond the control of you and me. So what does that mean for you? You won't have a youth pastor anymore. Kathy will be stepping up to take Sunday School, but I have no idea what will happen with youth meetings and such on Wednesdays. However, just because I am not here doesn't mean that you are not able to get together and stay a group. Talk to people about having youth outings. Read your Bibles. There was a time when I felt like everything was imploding on my head, and Sean gave me a wise piece of advice that I pass on to you all now: keep on keeping on. Don't give up, don't surrender. Stand on your feet with the knowledge that we've gained. You are God's kids, His anointed, His masterpieces, His protected. You are worth dying for in His eyes. You are His witnesses, speaking out into a dark world. You aren't counted out for your age- He will use you if you are willing to be used by Him. Most of all, stand in the rain. Things happen for a reason, even if we don't understand. Just keep tall and follow after Him.

What all this means for me is that I won't be here. I won't see it now, but I hope that our time together has meant as much to you as it has to me. Be the people that God is calling you to be. Seek to know God more, and encourage each other. You will all be in my heart. Feel free to write here, post stuff, and still leave messages. I will still check it, and I might even leave stuff now and again. I know there is still time left, so this is not yet goodbye. This is some wind in the sails.

Once Upon A December

WOW... it has been entirely too long of a pause between the last post and this one! Anyhow, HAPPY NEW YEAR!! The first post of 2007... how weird... 2007... well, let's finish up last year first! We started Intense City, talking about stuff that you guys deal with in the 21st Century, and seeing what God had to say about it. We talked about peer pressure, getting help, and we heard Anna's testimony. A couple weeks ago, we had a pretty awesome Christmas party! We made some rockin' ornaments for our Christmas trees and had a good time of food, fellowship and gift exchange! Everyone had drawn names to get that person a present, and we ended up with some pretty cool stuff!

We also had the Christmas program Breaking News, which went over really well. Thanks to everyone who helped out, including: Robert as the head Shepherd, Kenzie as Moshe, and Lizzy, Melissa and Caitlin as the background shepherds. People really liked it, and I hope you all had fun doing it!

Last Sunday was New Year's Eve, and we got to hear from Shane Nelson (the former YP here), and then we had a great night playing Apples-to-Apples! We discovered that Helen Keller is indeed the trump card, but that Michael Jackson might become one as well! Good times! I hope you all had a Happy New Year, and that this year would be a year when you get closer to God, He gets closer to you, and you are just completely blessed!

Camp, Noun-sense, and Turkey, oh my!

So Jeremy Camp was AWESOME! Caitlin and I were the only ones that went, but we had a great time! We went up with Sean O'Grady's youth group from Pendleton Faith Center, and it was a fabulous concert. Adie, Hawk Nelson and Jeremy Camp rocked our socks, and the group we were with was totally cool as well. We got to hang out with Sean, Anna, Stevie, Isaac, Isaiah and the rest of the PFC crowd that went, our group being about 25 in all. Maybe next time more of the group from here can go as well, and it will be an even better time! Who knows who will come this way next, but we will be ready for them!!

Since the last blog, the general population celebrated Halloween. However, being a drama person, I didn't want us all to miss out on getting to dress up and look silly just because we don't celebrate that holiday, so we had a "Come as a noun from the Bible" night- which means you could have come as a person (Elisha), place (Sodom and Gomorrah), or thing (the jawbone Samson used to slay the Philistines). Our turnout saw the Star of Bethlehem (Kenzie), Moses (Melissa), Joseph and the Coat of Many Colors (Lizzy), the Burning Bush (me), Aaron (Matt), the Holy Ghost (Robert), and Caitlin (who didn't dress up). It was neat to see just how random we were, and the best costume award went to Melissa as Moses, complete with 10 Commandments! We had a fun time just hanging out, eating sweets, and talking about the new focus: Intense City, focusing on getting where we are at and making it relevant. More about current issues and biblical principles than before.

We also helped serve the Thanksgiving Dinner hosted by the church on the 15th. I made each of us corsages, and we served the beverages, as well as enjoying our own share of the dinner. It was a good time of food and fellowship, without having a lesson given. This week, we are doing some work on the youth led service stuff (Dec. 3!!!), and next week we have a very special speaker! Don't miss it!!

A-MAZE-ing Oktober

Hard to believe that October is almost over already!!! Yipes!! My fourth month of being here is nearly passed, and it feels like only yesterday! In other news, the corn maze was great! Caitlin, Lizzy, Melissa and I took the van over (my first time driving it... that was an adventure!), and we made it through in about a half hour. It was a picture of the mountains, and we went through a tunnel, as well as under and over a bridge. It was pretty dark, but we made it unscathed! We got some goodies and sat around the campfire, talking to some people and saying hey to Kenzie and Kasey, who were there to go with their 4-H group. It was awesome, and we pumped K-Love all the way home, and talked to Joey from Iowa on the phone!

The next morning was Oktoberfest, and Lizzy and Caitlin helped me out all day for running the Rootbeer Garden. Matt Christie and Kenzie joined us at the end, but only after we'd also done the German dancing. It was tight quarters for dancing, but we made it. We did the two we'd done at German Heritage Day and the Chicken Dance. It was all great fun!

Coming soon is the possible Jeremy Camp concert outing, and on November 19th is the youth-led service!! Don't forget it's all coming up soon!!!

What We've Learned

Wow! I haven't written a new post in ages!! So here we go:

Church 101 is going over really well! I love that you guys are really latching onto what's being discussed! So far, we've learned about -

Communion: the celebration of the last supper, with the symbols of the body (bread) and blood (juice) of Jesus that was given to pay the price to save us. Matthew 26:26-28, I Corinthians 11:23-26

Intercession: the act of standing in the gap by being in prayer for someone. It's more than just a 10-second prayer; it's pleading a case at the Throne when the other person may be unable or unwilling to plead on their own behalf.

Baptism: the outward sign to people that we have committed to a changed life, as well as a symbol of dying to our old lives and being risen into a new life in Christ. It is not the means of salvation, but a symbol and outward display of that which has taken place in our hearts. Ephesians 2:8-9, John 14:6, Acts 1:8

Witnesses: giving testimony as to what we have seen and experienced. We know who Jesus is and what He did, as well as what He requires for people to be saved- that they accept Him as Lord and the sacrifice for their sins. We may have (and most likely will face) opposition- Satan's not really thrilled about us- but we are called to give testimony regardless. Acts 1:8, 2:14-41, 6:8-7:60

Hearing God: there isn't a formula (we aren't Gnostics) to hear from God. God can speak to us in many ways, including (but not limited to): a still small voice (I Kings 19:11-12), regular audible voice (I Samuel 3:1-10), dreams (Genesis 41, Daniel 2, Matthew 1:20-25, 2:13-15), visions (Isaiah 6, Acts 9:10-18, Revelation), other people (II Samuel 12), events (Exodus 7:14-12:30), signs (Exodus 7:14-12:30, I Kings 18:1-40, Luke 5:17-26), and (when all else fails) even writing on the wall (Daniel 5). Sometimes, it's just about stopping our own talking and just listening. Oftentimes, we don't hear from God because we aren't being quiet long enough to listen to what He has to say.

That's a lot of ground to have covered! It's important that we have come to understand these things, because once we know who we are, what we believe, and how to be empowered by God, we can make a difference!! In other news, we are going to the corn maze next Friday, we are working at Oktoberfest on Saturday (running the Rootbeer Garden), and our youth led service will be on November 19th! Also coming up is the Jeremy Camp/Hawk Nelson concert on the 2nd!! See me if you are interested in going, and get in the parent permission slips!!!

Encore!

Alright, team! We did a great job on Sunday night! The music came together really well, the sketch rocked, and the slideshow added in really moved people! High five to Robert, Caitlin, Melissa and Lizzy!! I am so proud of all of you! We conquered our nervousness and we really reached out to send a message to the group that came. I only wish I would have gotten it on tape! Oh well... there's always another time...

Speaking of which, we are actually going to be doing another one in a couple of months, so I'll be getting something going! Also, tonight we are going to learn the German dances (the lady needs us after all!) and perform them Sunday at German Heritage Days! In October, we are going to do stuff with Oktoberfest, and we are also going to have an outing!!! That's about all the news for now! Again, great job everyone!!!

Church 101

Sorry this thing has fallen behind... it's been a busy time! The church picnic was a lot of fun, and I think it also showed some solidarity (groupishness) for the youth group. We all hung out together, and I think it was a great time, despite that headache later!

As you well know, we have started the next chapter in our journey: Church 101. After being asked some questions that seemed maybe a little too old hat for me, I thought it would be important for us to talk about some of the basics of church life. The first week was about Communion, what it is, why we do it, and what it all means. Last week was about Worship, and how it is more than singing in church on Sunday, but that it is about doing things to give honor and glory (showing worth) to God. In that way, you can do so many things that can be called worship: singing a song to the Lord, writing a poem, drawing a picture, performing a dance, acting in a sketch, or any number of things. It's all about where your heart and actions are pointing- to yourself or to God.

Here's a list of things that people wrote for stuff to talk about:

What is intercession?
What is baptism?
How do we gain wisdom?
How do we witness?
How can we be like Jesus?
How can Jesus make people alive?
How can Jesus help us?
How does Jesus talk to us?
What/Who is the Spirit?

If you can think of anything else you've wondered about, go ahead and leave a comment with it in there! This next week, we will be talking about prayer and intercession! Bring the sketch!!

Great Caesar's Ghost!

Last night was a great time! Kudos to everyone who dressed up for "Who I Am Not" night! Everyone looked smashing! It was great to see what all of you decided to pretend to be for a night. It really helped with the discussion of Romans 12:2- And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Who we are not is we are not of this world, meaning that we are not the same as the people in it- we are to be set apart (the meaning of the word "holy") and marked as God's people. We are to be non-conformists, being transformed constantly by the renewing of our minds, and this is done by getting more and more into the Bible, and drawing closer to the Lord in prayer.

It was a lot of fun going to the drive-in, too! Superman Returns was a good movie, and it had a lot of truth in it. There are people in this world that don't think it needs a Savior, when in reality it needs one desperately. Our Savior will always be there to save us, and He (in contrast to Superman) is invincible. How awesome that nothing can stop him- not Satan (Lex Luthor... sounds a bit like "Lucifer", eh?), not our disbelief (hey, I can not believe that Germany exists, but that doesn't stop it from being there), and certainly not Kryptonite! It means that we serve Someone Who is the ultimate Superman!

Next week, we are going to spend some more time working on the sketch, as well as having the spiritual birthday party for Caitlin! Come ready for some fun!

News Flash

As Melissa, Lizzy and Caitlin head off for camp tomorrow, I am taking this moment to share some exciting news. We have a new sister in our spiritual family! Caitlin gave her heart to the Lord the other day, and just shared it with me this morning! It's said that the angels in Heaven rejoice when a new believer is added to our number, so Caitlin kickstarted a party in Heaven! Next week (not this week) we will be having a spiritual birthday party for Caitlin! Have a great time at camp, girls! I hope that the Lord speaks to each of you in new and awesome ways; that this is a crossroads of your life, and that you all come back changed in some way, seeking more of Him.

As for the rest of us, don't forget to come dressed up as someone else for Wednesday night! It will be something fun! We might play Freeze Tag again if there are enough people, but if not, we've got other games. Also, don't forget to ask permission from your parents for the drive-in! We'll be seeing Superman Returns, the cost will be about $2/each (I'll cover the difference), and we might be using the Boettchers' pickup. Bring drinks, snacks, jackets (not that you'll need them, but j/i/c), and camping chairs if you have them! See you all on Wednesday!!

Sidewalks and Roadways

I was glad to see that people were willing to try the sidewalk art idea! I thought it was a lot of fun, just making a picture without any stipulations or guidelines other than being "youth group friendly". It fit in really well with the whole idea of being God's workmanship- how He knows everything He put into us, the time it takes, what we mean to Him, and the beauty we give to the world. Everyone did such a great job!

We also had a great first read through for the sketch! Things will be changing a little bit (not a whole lot- just another character and a little edit for Jesus' lines), but we will have a great time with it! I hope everyone has a great week, and try and get some of the lines memorized! I'd like to continue the people in the roles they read on Wednesday: Kenzie as Jamie, Melissa as Leslee, me as Annette, Lizzy as Kayla, Matt as Tony, and SamBob as Jesus... no worries, Caitlin! I'm working a role up for you, and hopefully it will be ready Wednesday! I'll also try and get the slideshow up for everyone to see and give input about, so see you all then!!