Got back from Jr. High Camp Matrix on Friday July 3 and getting ready to take Sr. High to Camp MPACT on Sunday July 12. CRAZY!!
Summer camps are always a blast getting away for intentional time with students and leaders and seeing how God speaks to us when we get out of our comfort zone. It is hard being away from the family during these camps but seeing things like four Jr. High girls devoting their lives to Jesus makes it worth the being gone!
Pray for us this next week as we take 30 students and leaders to experience God's creation in Durango, CO. We will be white water rafting, hiking and mountain climbing during the day and in times of worship and celebration in the evenings.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Here is an article I found interesting considering other books and sermons I've read and heard lately.
Clean Hands Empty Hearts
Photo by veeliam
Kids in our culture live with two everyday realities unique to growing up.
One is that their lives are dominated by rules and regulations. Whether they heed them all or not, almost every arena they participate in involves learning new rules and then learning the consequences for breaking those rules. Home, school, church, sports, clubs, even becoming a new driver—each comes with a set of rules and consequences.
The other reality of childhood and adolescence is being rewarded and praised based on right behavior. Its kind of the other side of all of the rule-making. We as a society currently are very free with our praise when kids act right, look right, talk right, and succeed in any way imaginable.
Even for kids who don’t grow up in strict church environments, it’s easy to see why some get the idea that what we do is what’s most important to the adults in our lives, to our spiritual leaders, and even to God. We send them loud messages that say, “Success means obeying the rules and achieving in comparison to your peers.”
In Mark 7:1-23, the Pharisees attempted to discredit Jesus because His disciples didn’t follow the rules about hand-washing before eating.
Jesus’ response was that God cares more about what’s in our hearts—and what comes out of our hearts—than our success at following the traditions of men and submitting to man-made rules.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Small Group Dynamic
In his book No Perfect People Allowed, John Burke describes an atmosphere for small groups that resembles a healthy family dynamic. This dynamic is how Christ responded to people and is how we should respond to those in our care as well.
I hope this encourages small group leaders to make this dynamic true of your small group...
1. Giving Value-Students need to know they matter, that we love them, and we won't give up on them even when they fail.
2. Enjoying Life Together-Students need to spend time laughing together, playing together, taking trips together, and just being together.
3. Encouraging Development-Students need us to celebrating their gifts and encouraging them to develop those gifts for the glory of God.
4. Bearing Burdens-Students need to know that there are people who actually care about the junk in their lives. They need to know they are not alone on this journey of faith. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.-Galatians 6:2.
5. Sharing Joys and Sorrows-Students need us to mourn with them during the valleys as well as rejoice with them on the mountian tops.
I hope this encourages small group leaders to make this dynamic true of your small group...
1. Giving Value-Students need to know they matter, that we love them, and we won't give up on them even when they fail.
2. Enjoying Life Together-Students need to spend time laughing together, playing together, taking trips together, and just being together.
3. Encouraging Development-Students need us to celebrating their gifts and encouraging them to develop those gifts for the glory of God.
4. Bearing Burdens-Students need to know that there are people who actually care about the junk in their lives. They need to know they are not alone on this journey of faith. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.-Galatians 6:2.
5. Sharing Joys and Sorrows-Students need us to mourn with them during the valleys as well as rejoice with them on the mountian tops.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Clear Springs Campus Rocks!
Hey Adult Leadership Team,
I serve with the MOST AMAZING group of people at Clear Springs and I am thankful to God for each of you!
I have established this blog with the hopes of using it for sharing/dispensing student ministry thoughts that God has taught and is teaching me. I also want it to be a place to share devotional thoughts to help those of us who are in the trenches of student ministry life! You are awesome!
Subscribe to my blog and I will try to post to it weekly. Let me know how we can use this blog to help our team!
Important Info:
1. C4 Training This Sunday May 3 at EB Campus
2. Share Stories with us about things God is doing at Clear Springs Student Minsitry
3. Summer Camps:
Camp Matrix is June 29-July 3; Camp Mpact is July 12-18.
If you plan on attending with us we need to know ASAP. I hope you all can go with us-great time to invest in students and see God do incredible things in their lives. Also lots of fun!!
Glad to be serving with you,
I serve with the MOST AMAZING group of people at Clear Springs and I am thankful to God for each of you!
I have established this blog with the hopes of using it for sharing/dispensing student ministry thoughts that God has taught and is teaching me. I also want it to be a place to share devotional thoughts to help those of us who are in the trenches of student ministry life! You are awesome!
Subscribe to my blog and I will try to post to it weekly. Let me know how we can use this blog to help our team!
Important Info:
1. C4 Training This Sunday May 3 at EB Campus
2. Share Stories with us about things God is doing at Clear Springs Student Minsitry
3. Summer Camps:
Camp Matrix is June 29-July 3; Camp Mpact is July 12-18.
If you plan on attending with us we need to know ASAP. I hope you all can go with us-great time to invest in students and see God do incredible things in their lives. Also lots of fun!!
Glad to be serving with you,
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
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