This video might not be interesting for everyone, but then again you never know. Anyway I just watched it and I cried. There are a few reasons why it made me cry and I don't really feel like sharing them at this time.
I love teen camp. I love it.
Showing posts with label youth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label youth. Show all posts
Monday, December 28, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Christ in you, the hope of glory
A couple of weekends ago I took some youth down to Youthedge. It's an awesome youth retreat that Millar College of the Bible hosts each year. Now I've been to lots and lots of youthedges but this was the best one EVER!!!!
Seriously.
Let me tell you all about it! First off the speaker and worship leader worked together during the entire weekend to really bring us into a place of worship. It was amazing but not only that, both of them hung out with the youth during the weekend. That was very encouraging to see. But even more amazing then that was the youth that were there this year. Those teenagers were so ready to hear what the speaker had to say and so ready to experience worship. It brought tears to my eyes more then once to see those kids making public declarations and commitments to the Lord. On Saturday night I was sitting there in the gym, surrounded by hundreds of people, most of them 18 and younger and I saw something amazing. It wasn't something I saw with my eyes but something that God showed me in my spirit. I saw that this generation of teenagers right now isn't going to grow up to love the Lord whole heartedly, they aren't going to grow up to serve Him with their entire being, they aren't going to grow up to do outrageous things for the Kingdom of God. They are going to do it right now. Right now! This wasn't just a fleeting thought I had, I know that this came from God. This generation of teenagers, who are believers, are going to rise above the low expectations put on them by society and do amazing things. It's so exciting!!! It was such an awesome experience to be there and to see that and to know that God is bringing some exciting things on the horizon.
Also something that made youthedge so good this year was how many alumni were present! This year more then any other years alumni brought youth. I was so blessed and so encouraged to be able to spend time with friends, some that I have not seen in a really long time. God is good and I was so thankful for that!
Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity --1 Timothy 4:12
Seriously.
Let me tell you all about it! First off the speaker and worship leader worked together during the entire weekend to really bring us into a place of worship. It was amazing but not only that, both of them hung out with the youth during the weekend. That was very encouraging to see. But even more amazing then that was the youth that were there this year. Those teenagers were so ready to hear what the speaker had to say and so ready to experience worship. It brought tears to my eyes more then once to see those kids making public declarations and commitments to the Lord. On Saturday night I was sitting there in the gym, surrounded by hundreds of people, most of them 18 and younger and I saw something amazing. It wasn't something I saw with my eyes but something that God showed me in my spirit. I saw that this generation of teenagers right now isn't going to grow up to love the Lord whole heartedly, they aren't going to grow up to serve Him with their entire being, they aren't going to grow up to do outrageous things for the Kingdom of God. They are going to do it right now. Right now! This wasn't just a fleeting thought I had, I know that this came from God. This generation of teenagers, who are believers, are going to rise above the low expectations put on them by society and do amazing things. It's so exciting!!! It was such an awesome experience to be there and to see that and to know that God is bringing some exciting things on the horizon.
Also something that made youthedge so good this year was how many alumni were present! This year more then any other years alumni brought youth. I was so blessed and so encouraged to be able to spend time with friends, some that I have not seen in a really long time. God is good and I was so thankful for that!
Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity --1 Timothy 4:12
Saturday, February 28, 2009
sketchy buisness? naaah, just youth ministry.
Picture this if you will...
A dark church, and when I say dark I mean pitch black. The kind of pitch black where no matter how long you are in the dark your eyes never adjust. You simply can't see. In this pitch black church are 10 teenagers and 3 youth leaders. Sardines is the game, not being the last one to find the hiding spot is the aim! In order to have any idea of where you are heading you need to feel with your hands, or your head, whichever you prefer to smack a wall or chair with. Suddenly in the corner of the sanctuary you sense people there, trying to stay quiet and undiscovered. So you crawl under the piano to hide with them. It's dark, it's squishy and it's quite warm from all the body heat! After more and more people climb under the piano you start to think, "Is anyone even still looking" but just in case someone is you all remain silent and cuddled together under the piano. Finally someone realizes that indeed everyone is under the piano. 13 people in all. Everyone laughs at how long they all stayed crammed together in such a small space as they untangle themselves from the pile and prepare to play another round.
I would say games in the dark for youth group was a success!
A dark church, and when I say dark I mean pitch black. The kind of pitch black where no matter how long you are in the dark your eyes never adjust. You simply can't see. In this pitch black church are 10 teenagers and 3 youth leaders. Sardines is the game, not being the last one to find the hiding spot is the aim! In order to have any idea of where you are heading you need to feel with your hands, or your head, whichever you prefer to smack a wall or chair with. Suddenly in the corner of the sanctuary you sense people there, trying to stay quiet and undiscovered. So you crawl under the piano to hide with them. It's dark, it's squishy and it's quite warm from all the body heat! After more and more people climb under the piano you start to think, "Is anyone even still looking" but just in case someone is you all remain silent and cuddled together under the piano. Finally someone realizes that indeed everyone is under the piano. 13 people in all. Everyone laughs at how long they all stayed crammed together in such a small space as they untangle themselves from the pile and prepare to play another round.
I would say games in the dark for youth group was a success!
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Cheesy Movies With Good Lessons
This past weekend Debbie and I decided to invite some teeny bopper girls over to watch a movie. We watched Aquamarina, it's a pretty cheesy and lame movie made by the Family Channel but I was pleasantly suprised by the lesson that came out of it. In case you havn't seen the movie and were planning to I am going to give away the ending in this blog. Just so ya know!
The story is about a mermaid who has "swam away from home" to prove to her father that love exists. If she isn't able to prove this in three days she is going to have to return home and be married to a merman of her fathers choosing. (I told you, it's lame!) So she comes ashore and meets two teenage girls who befriend her and agree to help her out. She meets a cute guy and starts to get to know him, all in the effort to find love. The movie goes on, she astounds the cute boy, her friendships with the two girls deepens and it all appears to be working out for her. It's day three of the agreement with her father and she must prove to him love is real. So she asks the cute guy if he loves her.
I know what you're all expecting. A classic cheesy line of his undying love for her, a romantic (family channel approved) kiss, a sunset and a happy song! That's what I was expecting! But instead he says, "I like you yeah but love? We only just met. Why do we have to be in love right now?" In my mind I was like, "Yeah! Way to go Family Channel!" And so the mermaid girl is all dismayed and her father is trying to pull her back to sea, the two girls she has befriended jump in to rescue her, it's all very dramatic! Ther mermaid asks, "Why would you do all of this for me?" and the one girl answers, "Because we love you Aquamarine!" The ocean is calmed, the wind settles and the happy music plays. The girls have proved to Aquamarine's father that love really does exist.
As I was sitting there with three 14-16 year olds who latley are all about boys and 'falling in love' I was happy this was how the movie ended; that love in friendship was elevated and romantic love was encouraged to grow with time.
The story is about a mermaid who has "swam away from home" to prove to her father that love exists. If she isn't able to prove this in three days she is going to have to return home and be married to a merman of her fathers choosing. (I told you, it's lame!) So she comes ashore and meets two teenage girls who befriend her and agree to help her out. She meets a cute guy and starts to get to know him, all in the effort to find love. The movie goes on, she astounds the cute boy, her friendships with the two girls deepens and it all appears to be working out for her. It's day three of the agreement with her father and she must prove to him love is real. So she asks the cute guy if he loves her.
I know what you're all expecting. A classic cheesy line of his undying love for her, a romantic (family channel approved) kiss, a sunset and a happy song! That's what I was expecting! But instead he says, "I like you yeah but love? We only just met. Why do we have to be in love right now?" In my mind I was like, "Yeah! Way to go Family Channel!" And so the mermaid girl is all dismayed and her father is trying to pull her back to sea, the two girls she has befriended jump in to rescue her, it's all very dramatic! Ther mermaid asks, "Why would you do all of this for me?" and the one girl answers, "Because we love you Aquamarine!" The ocean is calmed, the wind settles and the happy music plays. The girls have proved to Aquamarine's father that love really does exist.
As I was sitting there with three 14-16 year olds who latley are all about boys and 'falling in love' I was happy this was how the movie ended; that love in friendship was elevated and romantic love was encouraged to grow with time.
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