Rhett and Link

Check out what I have been laughing at as of late (highly recommended because I have really good taste):

http://rhettandlink.com/

advent conspiracy

Check this out:

http://www.adventconspiracy.org/videos/ I recommend the "Enter The Story" video. To view it with an open heart= potentially very good for your soul.

Taco Bell Youth Ministry

I was at Taco Bell a few days ago looking at their menu. I thought about why I go to Taco Bell so often. What they advertise draws me back to eat there again and again. Taco Bell has the same familiar reliable favorites that I enjoy, but they also are continually changing up certain items-a slightly different burrito or nacho, or a new fruit drink.

I think that youth ministry is like that. Well, at least weekly events are like that. There are some mainstays, but some things should change each week to keep it interested and exciting even if it is a just a variation of what we have been doing. As much as change can make me uncomfortable, I think in this case "variety is the spice of life."

Youth Specialties parent newsletter

Check out the YS parent newsletter:

1. Tools for Parenting Teens
2. Learn Their Lingo
3. Links to Learn From
4. A Little Encouragement...And Humor

1. Tools for Parenting Teens

From http://www.realworldparents.com/starters/
Redefining Success

What are you some of our deepest hopes for our children? How do we define “success” for them? Are we rooting for them to gain financial security, career satisfaction, and universal respect and devotion from their peers—or to become success…
Read More:
http://www.realworldparents.com/starters/article/redefining_success1/
Featured Resource: Boundaries with Teens

In this exciting new book, Dr. Townsend gives important keys for establishing healthy boundaries—the bedrock of good relationships, maturity, safety, and growth for teens and the adults in their lives. The book offers help in raising your teens to take responsibility for their actions, attitudes, and emotions.
http://www.realworldparents.com/store/item/boundaries_with_teens/
2. Learn Their Lingo

Last Texter = That friend that always sends you a meaningless text after the obvious end of a text conversation, just to get the last text.

KPC = Text shorthand meaning "keep parents clueless."
3. Links to Learn From

Up Close & Personal with Lisa T. Bergren
http://www.christianitytoday.com/momsense/2009/sepoct/upcloseandpersonal-lisatbergren.html

Study Reveals More Details About The iPhone Mom
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/10/26/study-reveals-more-details-about-behavior-of-the-iphone-mom/

“Say Aah” …and, “What’s in Your iPod?”
http://www.thesource4ym.com/youthculturewindow/article.asp?id=99
4. A Little Encouragement...And Humor

Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God and angels know of us.
- Thomas Paine

a blog for volunteers from a volunteer

Check this out:

http://www.volunteeryouthministry.com/

yay! for peanut butter

I recently had a "reeses peanut butter cup for peanut butter lovers." It is nice to know that someone was thinking about me.

YS parent newletter

This is the most recent Youth Specialties parent newsletter. I hope that it is beneficial and thought provoking.

1. Tools for Parenting Teens
2. Learn Their Lingo
3. Movie Reviews
4. Links to Learn From
5. A Little Encouragement...And Humor

1. Tools for Parenting Teens

From http://www.realworldparents.com/starters/
When God Waits

One of the most difficult questions for Christian parents to answer is, “Why did God let this happen?” At issue may be the death of a loved one or a pet or any devastating loss deeply felt. If God is…
Read More:
http://www.realworldparents.com/starters/article/when_god_waits/
Featured Resource: Sacred Parenting

Explore the spiritual dynamics of parenting, and why caring for children is such an effective discipline in shaping our souls and forming the character of Christ within us.

Save 20% off the retail price of “Sacred Parenting” when you use Coupon Code YPN391 and order by 9/30/09
http://www.realworldparents.com/store/item/sacred_parenting/
2. Learn Their Lingo

Frenemy = An enemy disguised as a friend.

Kind of a big deal = A term for a person who is facetiously joking about how important/cool/awesome they are.
3. Movie Reviews for Parents
I Can Do Bad All By Myself

Tyler Perry has quickly become one of our most successful filmmakers. His usually urban stories lean toward the melodramatic, walking the line between comedy and…
Read Review:
http://www.realworldparents.com/movies/review/i_can_do_bad_all_by_myself/
9

This dark, post-apocalyptic tale began as an 11-minute short film by a UCLA animation student. The wildly original story is built on a very spiritual…
Read Review:
http://www.realworldparents.com/movies/review/nine/
4. Links to Learn From

Smacking Makes Children Naughtier [Telegraph U.K.]
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/6188692/Smacking-makes-children-naughtier-research.html

Reading and Writing Must Be a Priority [SmartBrief.com]
http://www.smartbrief.com/news/ascd/storyDetails.jsp?issueid=1EFBA3A0-48F5-4FAF-9FA2-7968350229B3©id=6DE78BF4-3E0C-44B9-AC50-91CE01674BBD

Study Shows Teenage Girls Attracted to Deep Voices [Physorg.com]
http://www.physorg.com/news172304097.html
5. A Little Encouragement...And Humor

Where there is love, there is pain.
- Spanish Proverb

our middle school ministry has awesome leaders!

The past few days has really reaffirmed just how great our leaders are. On Wednesday night everyone stepped up. Several examples come to mind. There are really too numerous to mention them all. We had one leader that couldn't come to act in his usual role so he made the time to come and help us set up for a while. Another leader skipped a meeting to minister to students. Another leader worked diligently for a long time to make sure that our computers would work when our presentation software was having issues. I heard about leaders reorganizing their schedule to come early and minister to students. Our leaders makes sure things get done and students are loved. Food and tech equipment were managed with great attitudes and skill which all takes several hours respectively.

We have leaders sacrificing their Saturday mornings to help students develop their spiritual gits and prepare to lead others in worship.

On Sunday I was again amazed. Our leaders were prepared and enthusiastic. Two of them thought they were not going to be able to make it, but somehow showed up. You can tell that our leaders our making a huge difference in the lives of students by the loud cheering for their small group leaders when they were announced! Our students love their small group leaders because their small group leaders love them.

Our leaders encourage me and pray for me. I am continually impressed by their flexibility and positivity. The people that I have the privilege to serve with our incredible. Their actions and attitudes remind me of this time and time again.

My new role

I am so excited about my new role as Middle School Pastor at Fairhaven Church. This is not "just a next step for me." This is pretty much my dream job! I love sharing Jesus with middle school students. Being a Middle School Pastor frees me up to do just that. It is a great honor and privilege to be Middle School Pastor. I am thankful to God for bringing me here. I am also thankful to Kevin for inviting me into serving in this ministry, mentoring me, and then "passing the torch to me."

What's even better than being a Middle School Pastor is being in that role at Fairhaven Church. It's not even the size of the church, or the other people on staff that make us all more effective (web, printing, video, etc.), or that our church is doing well financially, or that it is somewhat prestigious to be on staff here, or that the building is getting bigger. What makes Fairhaven Church such an awesome place to serve God is the people and the atmosphere they create. I am free to be myself and to try to be creative and that is so important to me. I am being stretched and having a blast! I feel loved and encouraged by the staff and people at this church. I just simply "fit" here. I am thankful that God has brought me here. It is my hope that everyone who comes through the doors would feel the same way. I look forward to seeing what God is going to do in the lives of people in days ahead! He is definitely working!

the "cost" of children

Here is a recent article from www.yahoo.com about the monetary cost of raising children:


Middle-income family spends $221,000 to raise baby

By BETSY TAYLOR, Associated Press Writer Betsy Taylor, Associated Press Writer – Tue Aug 4, 4:50 pm ET

ST. LOUIS – It's no secret that raising children can be expensive, but how about nearly a quarter of a million dollars expensive?

A government report released Tuesday says a middle-income family with a child born last year will spend about $221,000 raising that child through age 17.

The report by the USDA's Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion identified housing as the largest single expense, followed by food and child care/education costs. The $221,000 in expenses rises to about $292,000 when adjusted for inflation.

USDA economist Mark Lino, who co-authored the report with Andrea Carlson, often hears people say children cost a lot when the annual findings are issued.

"I tell them children also have many benefits, so you have to keep that in mind," he said.

Families with more income spend more money on child-related costs, the report said. A two-parent family that earns less than $57,000 annually will spend about $160,000 on a child from birth through high school. Those with an income between $57,000 and $99,000 spend about $221,000 and those with higher incomes are expected to spend roughly $367,000 through age 17.

Most single-parent households in the U.S. make less than $57,000 and are expected to spend about 7 percent less on child-rearing costs compared to two-parent households in that same income group, according to the report.

Costs of raising a child are highest in the urban northeast and lowest in the urban south and rural areas.

The USDA report helps courts and states determine child-support guidelines and foster care payments. It does not address costs specifically related to childbearing and paying for college.

One of the largest changes over time has been the increase in costs related to care for young children.

The report was first issued in 1960, when such costs were largely negligible, but with more working families turning to outside help with child care, it has grown to be a significant expense for many families. The report does not give total costs related to early child care.

A mother of three, Raben Andrews of St. Louis, said the government figures sounded right to her. "Well, that's not half of it," joked the 42-year-old public school teacher. "I still have to put the little buggers through college."



While the financial costs of children may be a discouragement to some: The Bible says some very positive things about children. A book that I have read and recommend is Precious In His Sight:Childhood and Children in the Bible by Roy B. Zuck. No one has a bigger heart for the young than God himself. In a world that often sees children as a burden instead of a blessing God still calls us to love, cherish, protect, and teach the young.

A couple of verses to check out: Psalm 127:3-5
Matthew 19:14 (also seen in Mark 10:14 & Luke 18:16)

We came..We saw...We brought some smiles to God's face

I was one of four leaders on our high school ministry's trip to Quito, Ecuador. It was an amazing trip! I have previously been a part of five foreign mission trips, but this was very different. I had been to Panama (the country, not the city in Florida) twice and Peru three times. This was a new country for me. Also, while I had started going on foreign mission trips at the age of 16 and there was always a few youth on each trip I had been on, this is the first primarily student trip I had been a part of.

There is no way that I could adequately sum up all the great things that happened on the trip. While are group is imperfect (as are all people) and had some conflict and challenges,overall our group showed great flexibility, zeal, compassion, boldness, and faith in God.

We had a lot of fun! We also did some work on a church building, Held a ministry program for children for five days, and did some street evangelism. We made a floor in the church building, which requires significantly more work than it would in the United States. That was all we planned to do for the church building. We worked diligently as a team and were able to paint both the inside and outside of the building as well.

Our ministry program for the children went very well. We started the week ministering to about 140 kids. We ended the week ministering to about 250 kids and giving away clothes and toys to over 300 children. It was amazing to see the excitement of the children and the love of our high school students towards them. Duing the last day we gave away the clothes and toys while one of the interpreters preached to some of the parents of the children that we are ministering to. 28 of the parents gave their life to Jesus Christ.

Our street evangelism was a great experience. We started out just inviting people to the program for the children. We shortly began doing much more. We told people of their need for a relationship with Jesus Christ. In the area where we were the people tended to hold very tightly to their Catholic traditions of a work-based salvation. In my trips to Peru and Panama most people gave their life to Jesus Christ after being asked questions and shown scripture. The vast majority of people in the part of Ecuador that we were witnessing to were not that receptive because of how tightly they held onto the traditions that they believe. Most of those that did not make decisions still asked for us to pray for them for specific needs. That was awesome! In my past experiences on foreign mission trips when the person we shared the gospel with did not give their life to Christ we just kind of said, "good bye." This time we practically showed them the love of Jesus by praying for them!

It was a great experience! We ministered along side the Ecuador people We worked as a large cohesive team. The people of Ecuador touched our lives and we made a lasting impact! What a blessing! We will be sharing about the trip on August 9th at a missionary dessert night. Please pray that the people of Quito become much more receptive to the Gospel and that many will come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

FCA resources site

I was on staff with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes a couple of years ago. They have some great resources for sports focused youth ministry. CHECK THIS OUT:


Introducing FCAResources.com
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If you've come up with great devotionals, bible studies, ice breakers, skits and more, please create an account and submit them! We know there is good stuff out there!
Help us spread the news about this great website through email, your Facebook account, Twitter, among your teams, friends, family, etc.


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& More!

flyleaf is awesome!

Flyleaf is one of my favorite bands. I have utilized their songs several times when I teach the Bible to students. Their lyrics are powerful and their sound is incredible! Lacey Mosley (the lead singer) has a powerful testimony of where she's been to where God has brought her. The lyrics are very honest and often times filled with intense emotions. They have only put out one album (although it was re released with some acoustic songs and several music videos), but the music world has taken notice of their talent.

However, one part of the music world that should be supportive of this band has not taken notice for whatever reason. I have not heard their music on Christian radio in this area. One reason for that may be that the types of Christian stations around this area do not play a lot of music that is more aggressive. Their lyrics are distinctively about faith in God and knowing Jesus Christ (more so than The Fray who have recently been adopted by Christian music radio stations). RadioU may be playing flyleaf, but I don't know because their signal is not very strong in this area.

I guess what has brought me to think about this is that sometimes when I am driving home late at night from the juvenile detention center that I work at I flip through the radio stations and I have noticed this show called "X albums you should own." Twice on that radio show (very much a mainstream radio station) I have noticed that the entire flyleaf album was being played. I could not see that happening on our local Christian radio stations (one reason is that they don't have much variety for their programing). They just don't fit the style of music that is common there.

It was amazing to see this as an example of bringing Jesus into the culture (instead of just making another sub-culture for Jesus music). It is amazing to hear lyrics of praise to Jesus and the love and power of God and faith in Him in the middle of commercials for strip clubs and the DJ talking about how "hot" he thinks Lacey Mosley is. Flyleaf is not shy about their faith in God. They talk about their faith on their websites and I have heard that Lacey has several scriptures written on her arms during her concerts.

To me this is Christ-like. Jesus did not come into the earth to make another sub-culture. He came to bring God to people where they were at. He changed and affected the culture and dramatically changed the course of history. I believe that Christians should share Jesus in the culture that we are in and that we should be influencing culture for the glory of God!

learning from those younger than me

I recently rode in the backseat of a teenager's car. I don't think that I have done this since I was a teenager. While it brought me to pray (because people drive a little differently when they are first learning how), I began to think about somethings. I also had some thoughts provoked from getting kick-boxing lessons from a high school student recently.

I spend a lot of my time working with middle school and high school students. While I am always looking to see what I can teach them, very often I learn from them and am encouraged by them. Sometimes I hear people say things like, I need more depth of learning from Bible teaching. While I do appreciate depth in teaching, I think that sometimes we are missing the point and just don't get it. The truth is that we can learn from anyone if we are really looking to. How often do we actually pray, "Lord teach me." I have had the blessing of several years of formal theological education. I still need to hear continually that I need to share my faith, love God more, and avoid sin. There is a subtle temptation to become arrogant in our faith. The biggest room in the world is the room for improvement. The vital truth is this:



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 NIV)

each end of the spectrum

I know I have a habit of using annoying words. I digress (I'm doing it again). A couple of weekends ago, I experienced two complete opposite kinds of physical contact with youth. I'm not a creepy weirdo so I don't seek out physical contact with minors. Anyway, I am employed at two places which have similarities at times, but are usually very different. They both involve working with middle school and high school students. I work at a church where I do things like teach the Bible, plan events, and much more. I also work at a Juvenile Detention Center. At the church students come because either their parents made them come or because they want to be there. Youth come to the Juvenile Detention Center because they were arrested. I really like my job at the juvenile detention center. I really love my job at the church.

Most Sundays I am at both places. A couple of weeks ago I was reminded of just how different these jobs can be even though they both give me the chance to try to care for students. In the morning I performed my first baptism. It was a big honor, nerve racking, and a humbling experience to baptize someone. I had not been in a baptismal pool since I was nine years old when I was baptized. I can't really put into words, but it was a great privilege to baptize someone. I did it mostly right. I thought the waters were higher than what they are and didn't go down quite enough. I love how we do baptisms. The person getting baptized tells why they want to be baptized. The answers are so bold and exciting!

I experienced the opposite when I was at detention that night as I was involved in my first board restraint. At the Juvenile Detention Center sometimes we have to physically restrain youth if they continue to insist on being a threat to themselves or others. Occasionally, it progresses to a point where we need to strap the youth down to a restraint board if the situation isn't really improving after a long enough time and they are still a serious threat to themselves or others. After physically restraining a youth (out of nessecity and not because I wanted to) we had to strap his entire body straight onto a board so that he would not harm himself. Every 10 or 15 minutes that he was calm then we would take a strap off. I imagine that would be a traumatic experience. Anyone who would need to be put on a restraint board has likely already been threw many traumatic experiences. It was a very emotionally intense experience for me. I was glad we were able to stop the boy from trying to hurt himself for the rest of that day.

Both experiences involve caring for youth and wanting good things for them. However, these experiences could not be much more different. I am so blessed to have two jobs that I really enjoy where I can care about adolescents. They give me such a rich variety of experiences. Life is such an adventure!

some more thoughts on last weekend

Sunday morning I taught on the topic of Joy to the High School at The Edge. It is probably my favorite topic that I had not taught on before (I have only somewhat mentioned it as it came up in scripture). I am not going to recap what I said or what we discussed, but I would like to add a couple of thoughts.

1. You don't need to be an extrovert to express joy. It is deeper than that. It may just be easier to notice joy in an extrovert.

I know there were some other thoughts that I wanted to add on the topic of joy, but I can't recall them right now.

At Crossroads Kevin taught about how the church should be selfless for one another. I experienced examples of the church being selfless for one another as kind things were done for me the day before Kevin taught as well as the day after. I was at Chipotle picking up dinner for myself on Saturday night and a woman from Fairhaven Church (where I am a member and am on staff at) who I was talking with in line paid for my dinner. Also, on Monday I was at Speedway and a man from Fairhaven paid for my lunch that I was going to get there. I did not ask these people to buy me food, but I felt so blessed that they did. It was nice to have free food, but what is really meaningful is the heart behind the gesture. It was just an unexpected wonderful thing to do for someone. I am truly blessed to be a part of a church where people are selfless for one another.

Parenting advice (not from me)

This is some parenting tips from teen life ministries:

1. Explain "As You Love Yourself."

With so much talk of humility, most teens think that means to hate
yourself. Denying self and hating self are two entirely different
things. Explain how God wants teens to "love your neighbor as
yourself." Loving self doesn't mean being in love with yourself. It
means that we have a good self-image, a God-image. We are important
not because of who we are, but whose we are.

Whether the world thinks we're geeks or freaks, weirdoes or wackos,
only God's view and vision of us counts. And to Him we are worth
the price of His Son hammered to a cross.

2. Admit Your Insecurities.

As a parent, you may appear larger than life to teens. They may
look at you and think, "I'll never have it together like that." We
know the truth. We're not together. We have struggles, bad hair
days, and poor complexions at times.

When it's appropriate, share the things that cause your self-esteem
to shrink. Share as well the ways that the Lord strengthens you
when you don't feel so hot.

3. Encourage Self-Talk.

Tell your teens to stand in front of the mirror every morning and
night and repeat, "God don't make no junk," or "I'm made in God's
image." It might sound silly, but we really do believe what we say
to ourselves.

It may be impossible to get your teen to repeat that phrase out
loud because of the risk of being teased. Write a few God-esteem
sentences on a 3 x 5 card and give to your child to carry with him
or her.

4. Help Teens Challenge Themselves.

Get your teens proactive in the war against insecurity. A girl
might decide that she will stop buying magazines that promote the
"perfect look." A guy might choose to stop listening to music that
degrades God's creation by elevating suicide over life.

In place of those negatives, your daughter may want to start
reading a Christian magazine for young ladies, while your son might
toss out his CD collection and replace it with Christian artists.
We are what we absorb, so challenge your teens to challenge
themselves.

5. Provide Ways For Teens To Give Of Themselves.

It's tough to feel sorry for yourself when your eyes are on others.
Paul tells us in Philippians 2:4 that we should look not only on
our interests, but also the interests of others.

Keep a list of area organizations that use teens for volunteers.
When your child comes home looking low and using terms that beat up
his emotions, send him down to the area children's hospital and let
him share his life.

(Zone members get the other 5 ways on this list to send parents here:
http://www.teenlifeministries.com/site.php/arti/read/helping_your_teen_with_self-/

Blessings!
Paul and Al
www.teenlifeministries.com

Get in The Zone TODAY... www.teenlifeministries.com/thezone




236 Foxdale, Montgomery, AL 36109, USA

One more thought on comparisons

Almost every (or possibly every time I present a talk to students there is something that I feel that I forgot to say or should have said. God works in through me and in spite of me at times. I know His truths can be recived even if I don't present it as well as I should. However, one of the great things about a blog is that I can share things that I didn't mention when I am speaking in front of everyone.

Last night I was talking about the dangers of comparisons. One thing that I don't think I mentioned is that everyone is on a journey that is not exactly like that of anyone else. God has a specific plan for you that He does not have for anyone else. So there, those are my extra thoughts about comparisons and it is out of my head and onto my blog.

YS Student Newsletter

You may have seen previous youth specialties newsletters on Kevin's blog if you read it. You can subscribe to it yourself if you want to. Here is the most recent YS student newsletter:


YS Student Newsletter #388
April 6th, 2009

Contents
1. Something for Your Heart
2. Surf Report
3. Forgettable Fact
4. Potent Quotables
5. Uh, That's Funny?

=================================

Competitive Christians?

"Then he said to those standing by, 'Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.' 'Sir,' they said, 'he already has ten!' He replied, 'I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away.' " (Luke 19:24-26)

How seriously do you take the idea that there will be rewards in heaven for those who have served Christ well during this life? Does it motivate you to try harder? Does it ignite your competitive spirit? Does it make you willing to sacrifice more, to get up earlier, to dig deeper?

We're not talking about your salvation here, necessarily. However, this servant's inaction could have been the result of not really believing the king would return. In Matthew's version of a similar story, the inactive servant is thrown out of the kingdom. But many immature believers also seem to have decided that since works can't save us, God doesn't care about works.

That could not be more wrong. God created good works for us to do before we were ever saved. Paul describes his whole life as a kind of fierce competition to serve God faithfully for which he would be rewarded. And Jesus' story here strongly suggests that some will receive more than others for their effective work for Him.

Think: How are you investing your life, the one He gave you?

Pray: Thank God that He rewards those who serve Him. Ask Him to help you to be motivated by that in the best possible way.

Do: Make a quick list of the top 3 rewards you've earned so far in your life. Think about what makes those rewards valuable to you.
**
A Daily Devotional from PlanetWisdom.com, copyright 2009 Youth Specialties/Zondervan. Used by permission.

2. SURF REPORT

- The Audacity of Hope Book Review
It is possible to debate President Obama's politics all day, and it is clear that we at PlanetWisdom are in strong disagreement with some of President Obama's policies, most notably his pro-abortion stance. However, President Obama's political campaign was based on finding commonality instead of criticizing differences, and so we will try to do the same.
http://www.planetwisdom.com/books/reviews/audacityofhope.php

~ The Haunting in Connecticut Review
"Some things cannot be explained." Such is the tagline for "The Haunting in Connecticut," complete with a claim to be based on true events and a Discovery channel documentary on the incident.
http://www.planetwisdom.com/movies/hauntinginconnecticut.php
3. FORGETTABLE FACT

By feeding hens certain dyes they can be made to lay eggs with multi-colored yolks.

4. POTENT QUOTABLES

"The price of greatness is responsibility."
~ Winston Churchill

"Teachers: two kinds: the kind that fill you with so much quail shot that you can't move and the kind that just give you a little prod from behind and you jump to the skies."
~ Robert Frost
5. UH, THAT'S FUNNY?

A magician was driving down the road, then he turned into a driveway.

free rice

How many of you have heard of free rice.com? 10? 20? well a lot of people have and if you haven't then your about to. Guess what free rice is an awesome website where you can answer vocabulary, art, grammar,language learning, math, chemistry or geography. And right now at this very moment over 72,000,000 grains of rice have been donated to another country. Just think you could be donating food to another country for just answering questions on a website. Also you can extend your vocabulary or any of the other stuff for free! Go get on right now at home, the library or at a friends house. So log on.






-Megan Miller

actually enjoying being told what's about to happen in a movie

Many people know that I have a job working at a juvenile detention center. I don't enjoy it as much as my position at church, but I do really like working there (for several reasons that I am not going to list here). Anyway, I brought in a movie on Saturday night that I watched with the youth. It is called Joseph: King of dreams. It's a really well-done movie (with a little too much singing for my taste). It tells the story of Joseph from the later chapters in the book of Genesis in the Bible. There was a couple of high school age kids (16 and 17) who kept excitedly saying what was about to happen. The awesome thing was that they had never seen the movie! They had just retained what they had read in from their Bibles in their cell! I had details about the story reinforced from what they were saying, and probably learned some things too. For these two guys and for myself, it was evident to see that sometimes when you are not expecting it, God has you where he wants to so that He can better speak to you and show you His truths. God is so big and powerful! It is so awesome that He speaks to people through His word and other ways as well!

nowtryGod

There is an awesome link to a website on Fairhaven Church's main website. The link won't work right now, but the site it has taken me to before is pretty awesome! The site is www.nowtrygod.com It may be a good site to look at yourself or to show your friends.

your story matters

What's God done in your life? It is a big deal when God does something in your life. Your story is not exactly like the story of anyone else. If you would like to share anything that God has done in your life-it can be used to help others at our church (if your are reading this and we go to the same church-otherwise you can share it with someone to encourage them. If you are interested, then I would love to know about it!

more than winning

Check out this awesome site from the FCA website: http://www.morethanwinning.org/

FCA-impact play

Oddly enough I came in contact with Fairhaven Church through my work as an Area Associate for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes where I worked with (and helped start) school clubs and ministered to coaches and their teams. FCA (short for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes) puts out devotions called "Impact play" that you can get through e-mail. You can check out www.fca.org for more information. Here is an example of their impact play devotional:

Setbacks: Destroyer or Strengthener?
Thursday, February 19th, 2009

READY:
“But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.”
-Hebrews 10:39 (NIV)

SET:
This year I turned 50 years old. It’s amazing to see how God has stood by my side through a half century of life. Has it been easy? Is a life with Multiple Sclerosis, like the one I lead, a life without challenges? Is training for bodybuilding competitions, something that is virtually impossible with MS, a walk in the park? Is God prepared for victory even as I face a battle that man says cannot be won? The answers are NO, NO, NO and YES!

Training with a debilitating disease is certainly challenging. MS has left my extremities with numbness and lack of coordination. I sometimes wonder why God has chosen me to do what I am doing, but I always come back to the same conclusion. He has His purpose, and I am just a vessel for His work.

In April of 2008, while bench pressing, I could not feel the strain I was placing on my muscles and my right pectoral muscle tore from the tendon. Ouch! Needless to say I was in tremendous pain as the internal bleeding from the injury continued to spread throughout my upper torso, swelling my right chest and arm, and leaving me immobilized. My doctor told me it would be a long six-month recovery before I could train my chest again and that even training upper body would be difficult for some time. My first and very human response was, “The MS Bodybuilding Challenge is over.” But then my faith in our Lord took over, and I put it all to prayer.

As the days and weeks went by, I continued to train my lower body and keep on my training diet. I slowly began to do upper-body workouts and even ventured into doing very light chest exercises. Within two months I was back training my chest and continually adding more weights to my workouts. My doctor thought I was crazy for pushing the muscles so soon, but now almost nine months later, I am training with weights comparable to those I was using before the injury. My pectoral muscle is still torn from the tendon and could not be repaired, so it is evident when flexing that there is an injury there. That injury might cause me to lose necessary points to win a bodybuilding competition, but I will not give up unless God tells me to.

You see, there are always setbacks in life, whether you are trying to accomplish what seems impossible or just living a “normal” life. We must never take our eyes off of Jesus, or we will surely sink into the water. I have chosen to remain steadfast as I look to God for my strength to press on despite the setbacks. I might have to postpone my competition to give me more time to train due to the injury, but I will not let a setback destroy my dream or His purpose for me. I have chosen to listen to God, put my hand to the plow and push forward without looking back.

God wants us to fulfill our purpose in life, regardless of the trials and tribulations He allows us to face. We must be strengthened by these times and seek our Lord for answers on how to push past the valley and continue on to the mountain. At times we let God lead us. At times we hold His hand. And at times we allow Him to carry us. Whichever position you are in at in this moment, keep your eyes on Jesus and let Him lead you in the way He knows is right for you. Let your setbacks become the strength of your life, not the destroyer of your dreams.

GO:
1. When setbacks happen in your life do you allow them to destroy you or strengthen you?
2. During a setback are your eyes on Jesus, or are you sinking?
3. Will you let God lead you, hold your hand or carry you as He sees fit when you face setbacks?

WORKOUT:
Matthew 14:30
Luke 9:62
2 Corinthians 4:8-10
1 Peter 1:6

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
David Lyons, a former youth pastor, was a healthy bodybuilder and health club owner in his 20s and 30s. In 2006, at the age of 47, Lyons was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. He is now training to be the first person with MS to compete in an NPC bodybuilding contest. Lyons is defying all odds to beat his disease. If you want to find out more about Lyons and his challenge to battle MS, or if you want to join the other celebrities, athletes and individuals who have become sponsors, log onto www.themsbodybuildingchallenge.com.

Now it's your Turn. Write your own FCA Devotional. . . Go to www.fca.org and click the "Submit your own FCA devo!" link on the right side.

For more information about FCA please visit FCA.org.

the end of an era

I went to a high school wrestling meet on Saturday evening. In my opinion wrestling is a great sport. I competed for 10 years and coached for 2. What was special about this meet was what happened before the competition began. Stamat Bulgaris was honored because this was his last season coaching. He was an assistant coach at Beavercreek high school. Previously he had started college wrestling programs at Wright State and the University of Dayton (many colleges across the country do not have wrestling teams anymore, but that would require a long explanation that I do not want to give at this time). At Beavercreek high school he coached under one of his former athletes. I learned a lot about hard work, humbleness, and investing yourself in something you love from watching him as one of my coaches. I remember being amazed at how good of shape he was in and trying to guess how old he was. Neither myself nor my teammates knew how old he was, but we all had a deep respect for him. Coach Bulgaris coached for something like 40 years. He is one of those people that does not have to say anything, but he just has a strong presence. At the meet they listed many of his accomplishments. I can't remember most of them. What I won't forget is his example. The sport of wrestling, many individuals, including myself benefited greatly from Coach Bulgaris. He left a legacy. In him doing so, I am reminded to strive to leave a legacy as well.

the privilege of picking up trash

Recently I was picking up trash after a particular weekly event was over for the night. I was thinking about how I pick up after students a couple of times a week. I thought to myself, "do I really want to be picking up trash for students when I'm in my 60's?"

Like most people, picking up trash is not one of my favorite things to do. What helps me is often when I pick up trash I think about how Jesus cleaned up the mess in my life and continues to do so. After I picked up a few more items I answered my question to myself, "yeah! I absolutely want to be picking up trash for students when I am in my 60's and probably when I am in my 70's. It is a great privilege to serve students and to see some of them meet God and grow in Him. I want to do that in some capacity as long as God allows me."

a lil' bit

Hey,

If you are looking for a fun way to get to know God during your week I recommend checking out www.alilbit.com

Have the fun!!

RadioU

Check out the website for my favorite radio station at www.radiou.com It may take you to tvulive.com/radiou A lot of the music is very good and the hosts are incredible!