Read this

This is a video of the weekend 9 of our people enjoyed at Hume Lake!  More next year?

Winter Camp: Week 8 Wrap Up from Hume Lake on Vimeo.

You be the judge. See here

Check this out!

I haven’t written in awhile, and felt it was time to get back to blogging.This past weekend 9 of us went up to Hume Lake, CA for Winter Camp.  What an amazing time it was.  There was so much snow, and it snowed at least twice while we were there.  There was snowboarding, broom hockey(yep on ice), plenty of food, awesome worship, and lots of laughs.The theme of the weekend was “O Look A Wolf” and it was dealing with the distractions in our lives.  Too many times we allow distractions to overcome us and impede our connection to God.  What are those distractions for you?  T.V., internet, food, whatever.  It says in 1 Corinthians 7:35 - “I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.”  Of course Paul is talking about marriage in this context, but I think the greater meaning is that no matter what it is if it doesn’t draw us closer to God it can be considered a distraction.  Now, I am not thinking that we all need to give up hobbies, extra curricular activities, relaxation, etc.  I am simply saying that we should not let those things become more important and valuable than our relationship with God.Try setting the distraction aside, and see what God has in store for you.Peace

Here is what happens on a retreat like this…

I read a fascinating post over on ypulse the other day, culled from an mtv sticky report called youthtopia (a study of hopes and dreams). The study describes itself this way: ?€?In the first-ever effort to understand the values, hopes and dreams of young people in Europe, MTV asked over 7,000 youths to imagine their ideal world and to consider brands as people and whether those ?€?people?€™ would be welcome in their world ?€“?€?Youthtopia?€™.?€?

One aspect of the study (conducted among European youth) involved asking 100 European youth to re-write the 10 commandments to reflect their values. The ypulse author rightly suggests: The results paint more than a flattering self-portrait of this generation as an aspirational model for society ?€” one that tellingly promotes accountability, positivity and passion above all else.

Here they are:

The Ten Commandments of Youth

1. Have faith in yourself.
2. Respect your parents.
3. Be honest.
4. Take responsibility for your own life.
5. Live life to the fullest and be passionate.
6. Keep your promises.
7. Work hard to succeed but not to the detriment of others.
8. Be tolerant of others?€™ differences.
9. Be happy and optimistic, even in adversity.
10. Create, don?€™t destroy.

Wow!?  Please try to get past any weirdness you might be experiencing about ?€?re-writing the 10 commandments?€? ?€” that isn?€™t the point here! Seriously, there?€™s some great stuff in here! This would make a very cool teaching series, including some connection with and reflection on the actual/original 10 commandments (many of which are covered in this ?€?new?€? list!).

Yesterday and today as I watched the old garage, Disciple House, and part of “The House” get demolished, a thought occurred to me.?  This is happening so fast!?  I know during the construction/remodel phase of our new building, that it often seemed like it was going to take forever, but tearing down 2 1/3 structures only took a couple of days.

That thought also spurred in me the reminder that we as people can be the same way.?  It can be a quick, easy, and painless process to tear someone or something down.?  One simple word or phrase can absolutely ruin a persons day and beyond.?  But, the task of building someone up takes time, often one word at a time.?  It can be a very long process, but if you compare it to the beautiful building we are in now, the wait is definitely worth it!

I wonder how often I tend to tear down quickly instead of build up in spite of the difficulty.?  Just something to chew on!

Peace,

David

Letter from Jesus about Christmas –

It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season.? 
How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don’t care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn’t allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn If all My followers did that there wouldn’t be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 - 8.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it:

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don’t have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing the President complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this? year, why don’t you write and tell him that you’ll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up… It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can’t afford and they don’t need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5 Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? ? Since you don’t know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.

7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren’t allowed to wish you a “Merry Christmas” that doesn’t keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn’t make so much money on that day they’d close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary– especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.

9. Here’s a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no “Christmas” tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don’t know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.

10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don’t do things in secret that you wouldn’t do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.

Don’t forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I’ll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I’ll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember :

I LOVE YOU,

? 

JESUS

This is a link to an interview with the real life parents that are portrayed in the new movie “The Blind Side!” I thought it was good enough to share.

Peace,

David

Yeah, I said the C word!?  Now let me be absolutely clear, I don’t advocate change simply for the sake of change!?  I do however believe that in order to continue to be an effective church we need to be open and intentional about upgrading our systems.

If you don’t know already I am a huge fan of Steve Jobs the founder of Apple Computers.?  One of the things that I have learned from him is that when he developed the Apple 1 in 1976 he never thought that he had created a finished product.?  He developed it along with Steve Wozniak(if you watch Dancing With The Stars, you know who he is) with the intention of continuing to upgrade and improve on it!?  Since then the company has released over 40 major upgrades to either hardware or software. That to me says that they realized from the beginning that change was necessary to succeed.

Reggie Joiner - Founder of the reThink group says that “if you want to build something that lasts then you’ve got to be willing to change what you build.

I believe that as a youth ministry we need to look at the difference of what is core and what is cultural. It is possible that some of the things that we are doing are cultural and not at the core of what Jesus is calling us to do. I will be looking hard at our Youth/Children’s Ministries over the next couple of months to try and decipher what is CORE. I welcome and encourage Parents to share in this journey with me and your students! On average I have +/- 100 hours a year with your students, you as parents have so much more time to make a difference in their lives! Remember that God has a desire to move you to a place where He can teach your student about redemption by what He’s doing in YOUR life! I want to partner with you in ministering to the students here at CLC!

Peace,

David

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.
- John Fitzgerald Kennedy

How easy it is to say all the right things, but then to live differently.?  My prayer today is that we would live by the words we say!