QUMC Youth Group

Summer Break

2010-06-23T13:33:00.001-04:00

The Blog will be on a summer break until we gather again in the fall. We've got a number of events planned for the summer (see the list to the left), so we hope to see you there!

Be sure to check back to the blog in a few months for more updates, pictures, and God-thoughts.

End of Year Picnic

2010-06-07T11:41:00.002-04:00

This coming Sunday, June 13th, we'll have our annual end of the year picnic and pool party at the Lennon's place from 1230pm 'til 230pm. We'll provide the hot dogs, hamburgers, and drinks; students are asked to bring a snack to share with the group.

We'll have a great time eating, hanging out, swimming, and doing a few get-to-know-you games with the upcoming 5th graders. This is always a great event, one you won't want to miss. Hope to see you there!

Last "Regular" YG of the Year

2010-06-01T14:06:00.002-04:00

Hope to see you all on Sunday night (6/6) for our last regular youth group meeting of the year. Next week (6/13) we'll have our annual end of the year picnic at the Lennon's place, and then take a few weeks off before kicking off our summer schedule. Check back soon for the posting of that summer schedule.

Hope to see lots of you on Sunday night!

No Youth Group This Week

2010-05-25T12:24:00.002-04:00

A quick reminder that we won't be having Youth Group this week, as it's Memorial Day weekend. Have a great week and we'll see you next Sunday for our last "regular" youth group of the year!

Weekend in review

2010-04-28T10:31:00.003-04:00

We had a great weekend doing our annual 30 Hour Famine. As promised, here's a link to the pictures from the weekend. Enjoy!

Don't forget that we're bowling this weekend with the Young Explorers. We'll meet at Earl Bowl at 545pm. See you there!

God thought - Bible #12

2010-04-20T16:01:00.002-04:00

Read
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. -Matthew 7:24

Reflect
Do you have a little brother, sister, niece, or nephew who likes to play with wooden or Lego blocks? If so, you have probably watched them build a tower or another tall structure. The taller the tower, the more it begins to wobble. If the child is lucky, the tower hangs around long enough to get destroyed by a well-placed flying roundhouse kick. If the child is not lucky, the tower gets so wobbly that it crashes to the floor. If you watch young children build these structures, you'll quickly notice one thing: in most cases, these tall towers have a very shaky foundation. As the kids build higher, the tower simply does not have a base sturdy enough to support its weight.

Read Matthew 7:24-27. Matthew records Jesus teaching about the necessity of having a great foundation. The metaphor of solid rock vs. shifting sand speaks to the idea of faith and obedience. Verse 24 tells us that hearing the Word of the Lord and obeying what it says is a characteristic of a wise man. Those who do not take the Word seriously are called foolish.

This passage is about obedience; it's about doing, not just listening, to God's Word. But it's not just about obedience. It's also about being prepared. We must be prepared for the trials and storms that come into our lives. We as Christians are not promised a smooth life without trouble. We live in a sinful world with consequences. Knowing God's Word and living through obedience to His commands prepares us for trials.

So...how much time do you spend in the Word? How well are you doing at practicing obedience to God's Word?

Respond
1. Compare your faith to Jesus' metaphor. Is your faith "rock solid" or "soft as sand?"

2. How can trials make your faith stronger?

3. Describe how you grew closer to Christ through a tough time in your life.

4. Pray that God would show you where your foundation needs repair. Ask the Spirit to show you any weak areas you need to shore up. Thank God for His Word.

Funny/Amazing/Painful Video Thursday

2010-04-15T14:00:00.001-04:00

Hope to see you all at youth group on Sunday night. We'll be meeting at our regular place (QUMC) at the regular time (6-8pm). We'll have a time of worship, an outside game, an inside game, a lesson, snack, and time to hang out with friends. See you there!

A few other quick announcements:

1) Saturday is the church's Spring Cleanup Day, starting at 9am. It'd be great if a few of you could make it, to help out around the church (and possible in the youth room!).

2) In two weekends is the church-wide prayer vigil. Mary Schwer has asked me to specifically talk to the youth about it -- the church really values the youth group as an important part of the church, and they're actively seeking for us to join them in praying for the church. Please think about signing up for a slot (maybe with a parent) at the prayer vigil.

3) The 30 Hour Famine is coming up next weekend! Keep working on getting donations and get ready for a great time at a lock-in with a purpose. If you haven't signed up yet, please do so ASAP. Here is who we have signed up right now: Rachel Lennon, Becca Lennon, Anisha Wilson, Christine Sterner, Jen Sterner, Ally Sterner, Seth Gray, Zach Gray, Spenser Gray, Jake Swearingen, Brian Benes, Nicole Umstead. If your name isn't on this list but you're planning on coming (I hope there are lots of you out there), let me know!

Have a great rest of your week, and we'll see you this weekend! For now, enjoy our video of the week! If you've got some extra time and lots of extra sticky notes, here's how you can use them both... :)

God thought - Bible #11

2010-04-14T20:23:00.002-04:00

Read
How can a young person keep their way pure? By living according to your word. -Psalm 119:9

Reflect
Have you ever changed a tire? With services like OnStar and AAA there's a good chance you haven't. But if you have, you know there is a right way to do it. First, you loosen the lug nuts with the tire iron. Then, you jack up the car until the tire is completely off the ground and finish removing the lug nuts. Then, you remove the tire and put the spare on. Once you put the spare on, you simply tighten the lug nuts and release the jack. Once the jack has been removed, give the lug nuts one more go with the tire iron, and viola....one tire change completed.

There is a right way to change a tire. There is also a wrong way. If you jack up the car and then try to loosen the lug nuts, you may knock the car off the jack. If you don't tighten the lug nuts one last time after you have finished putting on the spare, you run the risk of having your tire come off while you're driving. (That's not good).

Read Psalm 119:9-12. Here is a picture of a young person yearning for God. Look at those powerful emotionally charged phrases: "I seek you with all my heart." "Do not let me stray from your commands." "I have hidden your word in my heart." The author clearly desires to live as God would have him live.

Just as there is a right way to change a tire, there's a right way to live as God wants you to. How? The key is in verse 9: "by living according to God's Word." You cannot live a good or pure life through your own means. Only by living according to God's Word, through the power of the Holy Spirit, can you walk in purity and holiness. There is a way...

Respond
1. How do people try to find goodness and meaning apart from a life devoted to Christ? Is this the right way or the wrong way?

2.Define in your own words what it means to be pure as a 21st century teenager?

3. What verses will you use to help you live "according to God's Word"? Write one or two down, even if you have to search through the Bible to find them.

4. Pray that the Holy Spirit would help you keep the idea of purity front and center in your mind today. Ask for the Spirit's power to avoid temptations that lead you to acting impurely.

Weekend in review

2010-04-13T11:12:00.002-04:00

Here's the video for the Freeze Project that Mike came and talked to us about.

Don't forget to keep raising funds for the 30HF. The goal for each student is to raise $360. Any questions, or to sign up, contact Josh. Have a great week!

Funny/Amazing/Painful Video Thursday

2010-04-08T11:04:00.003-04:00

Our video for the week features the amazing awesomeness of Apple's new iPad. Turns out the iPad makes for great blending. Enjoy, and see you on Sunday for youth group!

God thought - Bible #10

2010-04-07T13:59:00.002-04:00

Read
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit. -Ephesians 1:13

Reflect
Have you ever paid money to get into an amusement park or a fair and had your hand stamped? The stamp on your hand is proof that you satisfied the requirement of entry. It says to anyone who might want to know that you have been accounted for. You're in.

Read Ephesians 1:13. Paul is writing to what could arguable be called his favorite group of believers, the church in Ephesus. There is so much implied in this verse; Paul describes a cool, really dynamic process. Let's unpack it...

First, Paul said that his audience "heard the word of truth." Paul then explained what the word of truth was. He said the word of truth was the "gospel of [their] salvation." We know that Paul was talking about the life-changing story of Jesus. He doesn't stop there. We find a clue about the response of the church. Paul said they heard and they believed! The word of truth took hold in their heart. And what was the result of their belief? They were "marked with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit." Paul is referring to the Holy Spirit who dwells in every believer at the moment they profess faith in Christ. What an amazing amount of truth packed into one small verse.

The word of God is salvation; it is a means by which we are eventually saved from our sins. How? Because God's Word teaches us about the person of Jesus and the work He did on this earth. We hear the Word and believe in Jesus. But there is also great promise in this verse -- the Holy Spirit comes to every believer and acts as God's seal on us. It's as if God looks at us and says, "This one's mine. This one belongs to me."

Respond
1. If you believe in Jesus and have submitted your life to his lordship, Scripture tells us that the Spirit of God now lives inside you. How does that make you feel?

2. What does it mean to you to be "included in Christ"? How is your life different now that you are part of God's family?

3. God has marked you as his. How do you represent Him to the world through your words and actions?

4. Pray that the Holy Spirit, who dwells in you, would give you the power today to live in a way that brings God honor. Ask the Spirit to help you make the right decisions and to make the most of the opportunities you have been given.

God thought - Bible #9

2010-03-30T13:52:00.002-04:00

Read
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ die for our sins according to the Scriptures. -1 Corinthians 15:3

Reflect
Think about the last piece of BIG news or information you received. What was it? Maybe you made first chair in the band. Or maybe you got accepted into the college of your dreams. Or...maybe it wasn't good news at all. Maybe you didn't do as well on that test as you thought. Or maybe your grandama's cancer came back. Regardless of the actual specifics of the news, there is something about human nature that makes us want to share. And not just with anyone. We usually seek out those we are closest with and share our lives with them. We're just not wired to keep news to ourselves, whether good or bad.

Paul was just like us. When he had great news, he needed to share it with someone. Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-11. Paul loved the Corinthians dearly, but he was frustrated with them. You see, the believers in the Corinthian church had abandoned a lot of the teachings Paul had taken the time to impart to them. He was writing to try and shake them up a bit, but also to give instructions on how to live as followers of Christ.

The secret to what Paul wanted to communicate to his friends in Corinth can be seen in verses 1-2. Paul knew his message was important. What was his message? Simply that Jesus is Lord; believe in Him and be saved. Like a friend with a great bit of news, Paul could not keep his message a secret. He knew that the message of Christ saves lives. He could not contain his excitement.

Do you share Paul's excitement for telling others the amazing story of Jesus? If you believe there is no real life apart from Jesus, shouldn't you be excited to share that news?

Respond
1. Have you ever shared the news of Jesus before? Why or why not?

2. Why are Christ's death & resurrection of "first importance"? (v.3-4)

3. Why do you think it was important for Paul to point out that all these things were written in the Scriptures?.

4. Evaluate your lifestyle and commitment to Christ by asking God to take away habits and sins that do not belong in a Christian's life. Take a few minutes to pray about that right now...

Weekend in review

2010-03-29T14:28:00.003-04:00

Last night we had our first Split YG in a while. The middle schoolers met at the church and Pam & Co led them in an egghunt devotional that seemed very cool. The senior high crew met at the Sterner's place to watch and discuss the film "The Passion of The Christ." It was intense, and we had some good dialogue afterward.

Don't forget that the 30 Hour Famine is coming up, and if you don't have a fundraising packet yet, let Josh know so he can get you one ASAP. See the Student Spot for more information and answers to FAQs.

Also, in case you haven't checked them out yet, be sure to peruse our pictures from The Loft! Enjoy!

Funny/Amazing/Painful Video Thursday

2010-03-26T12:23:00.002-04:00

As we discussed last week and in an earlier e-mail, this coming Sunday (3/28), we'll be having a Split Youth Group. Middle school students -- you will meet at QUMC from 6-8pm, just like normal. Senior high students -- you will meet at the Sterner's house (1890 Wentz Rd, Q-town) from 530-815pm. The senior high will be watching the movie The Passion of the Christ and discussing the film afterward. The movie is exactly two hours, so in order to have time for reflection and discussion and debrief, we need to start YG a bit early and go a bit later. Do your best to arrive right at 530pm, as we'll be starting the movie as close to 530pm as possible.

Also, we talked last week about the annual 30 Hour Famine. Just a reminder that the dates are April 23-24 (Friday to Saturday), which gives you about a month to work on fundraising. For more information about how the 30 Hour Famine works, talk to Josh or see the info sheet at the Student Spot.

Our video for the week is a weird optical illusion. Enjoy, and hope to see you on Sunday!

Loft Pictures

2010-03-24T12:06:00.003-04:00

Here are the long-awaited, much-anticipated pictures from The Loft! Enjoy!

God thought - Bible #8

2010-03-23T12:09:00.002-04:00

Read
Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. -Psalm 119:18

Reflect
Do you know someone who has just started following Christ? One of the coolest things about interacting with someone young in their faith is seeing their hunger for God's Word. So many new Christ-followers are hungry to know more of God through reading the Bible. But some new believers struggles because they don't really know how to study God's Word. The Bible is pretty big. Some wonder, "Where am I supposed to start?"

Read Psalm 119:17-24. In this passage, the author proclaims his devotion to God. The tone of this passage is worth paying attention to. Doesn't the author almost seem uncertain to you? We get a hint from verse 23 that maybe things aren't going so well. In a time of some sort of hardship, it's as if the author is saying to God, "I am trying to obey you as best I know how in the midst of a big mess. Please show me how I can obey you more." It's the picture of someone who really desires to follow after God.

The safe bet is that you want to follow God, too. (After all, you wouldn't be reading this blog if you didn't). But even though you want to follow Him, do you ever get confused about what God expects from you? If so, then Psalm 119:18 is a great verse to meditate on. The Bible is full of so much truth, so many places where God reveals amazing teachings to us. Sometimes it's hard for us to figure out exactly what we are supposed to do with all of the great stories and teachings in the Bible. Psalm 119:18 is a great verse to pray when you feel confused about God's Word.

When you ask the Lord to show you His ways, He will open your eyes to many things you've never seen before in His Word. Give it a try today...

Respond
1. Why do you, a 21st century teenager, sometimes have trouble understanding God's Word? What do you do when you don't understand something?

2. Have you ever prayed and asked the Lord to help you know what the Word is saying to you?

3. Has God's Word ever been a source of wonder for you? Think about a time or an experience in which God's Word came alive in a wonderful way.

4. Say a prayer asking the Lord to open your eyes to what he wants you to know and learn.

God thought - Bible #7

2010-03-17T15:26:00.003-04:00

Read
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. -Psalm 119:

Reflect
Have you ever heard a song on the radio that kept playing in your head all day long? Sometimes it's the last song you hear before getting out of the car. Or it's the song playing on the radio when your alarm goes off. This probably happens a good bit, doesn't it? You go through the day humming words or tapping your foot to the beat. You might even find yourself singing it out loud before immediately stopping once you realize people are staring. What is it about a tune that gets so deep in your mind that you can't stop thinking about it? The more you think about it....well, the more you think about it!

Have you ever had this scenario happen with Scripture? This isn't as far-fetched as you might think. Psalm 119 actually talks a lot about this very thing: God's Word playing constantly in your mind, to the point that it becomes a part of who you are. If this concept seems foreign to you, keep reading.

Read Psalm 119:9-16. The author asks a question in verse 9: "How can a young man keep this way pure?" Verse 11 gives the answer. The challenge is for you to hid God's Word in your heart so that it is constantly on your lips and in your mind. Do you want to live a life worthy of a follower of Jesus? Then learn and follow His Word. God's words are pure, insightful, and true. Knowing and obeying them is what we are called to do as followers of Christ. These verses remind us that God's ways are pure and that they help us not to sin against Him.

Think today about how seriously you take the call to seek, understand, and remember God's Word.

Respond
1. Write down three verses from memory. How does your ability or inability to do this reflect how well you've hidden God's Word in your heart?

2. Why is it important to know and remember God's Word?

3. What things in your life stand in the way of you being more dedicated to memorizing God's Word?

4. Here is a challenge. Write down today's verse two times. Try to remember it as you go throughout your day. When you go to bed tonight, see if you can remember it. (Here's the trick....If you do this little exercise, you are practicing what it means to "meditate" on God's Word. If you make this practice a habit, you will find yourself longing to know more Scripture).

Weekend in review

2010-03-15T16:22:00.002-04:00

We had a good time at youth group last night -- it was a "choose your own ending" youth group evening. As per your choices, we: began with a lesson on Jesus' prayer in John 17, then did a teambuilding activity, then had snack, then ended with a game of sardines.

Next week we'll work on a few service projects for the church, talk about the 30 Hour Famine, and do our usual game, snack, and lesson. Be sure to check back here in the next few days for a posting of pictures and video from The Loft!

Have a great week!

God thought - Bible #6

2010-02-23T10:35:00.002-05:00

Read
But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. -Psalm 1:2

Reflect
What do you delight in? What makes you really happy? And don't worry about being super-Christian in your answer; be real. Is it clothing? Music? Boys/girls? The Phillies? Maybe it is hanging out with friends. Or gaming. You might be a Twilight nut, or love all of the Facebook applications. Whatever it is, think for a second about why it makes you happy. What is it about your passion that makes you feel so good?

Read Psalm 1:1-3. These three verses paint a really cool picture of what it looks like to seek God and His Word. Look at verse 1. This psalm written thousands of years ago says what you know to be true today: You cannot have meaningful relationships with people who foolishly chase the ways of this world. Verse 2 continues this message. It says that the kind of people who do not hang out with the wicked are also those who find happiness in knowing God through His Word. Verse 3 finishes the picture: The person who delights in knowing and obey the Word of God will be like a healthy, vibrant tree. God will bless this person.

Can you say that you honestly take joy in spending time with God through His Word? Don't feel guilty for the other things that bring you joy in life. God desires for you to live a full, fun life. But you may want to think about what you look to for happiness. If you look at your life and see that you put other things before your relationship with God, you need to make a change.

Finding God in His Word can truly lead to a kind of happiness you can't find anywhere else. Give it a chance this week, today, right now....you might be surprised.

Respond
1. What are some practical, real-life examples of ways in which God's Word might bring joy to your everyday life?

2. Do you meditate on God's Word? Do you think about it during the day? What about at night? If not, why not?

3. Take a few moments and pray through verses 1-3. Spend some time really dwelling on these verses. Ask God to help you recall them as you go throughout your day. Thank God for sending the Holy Spirit to help you meditate on His Word.

Weekend in review

2010-02-22T12:29:00.002-05:00

Last night we had a good crowd to worship, learn, play, and eat together. We started with worship (thanks to Christine for playing). We had a lesson on what leads to true happiness (we look at two case studies, the book of Ecclesiastes and Tom Brady - see his video at the end of this blog post). We played some good ole' fashioned Broom Hockey (and yes, we broke Pam's broom). And we had snack (thanks to DGoss#35 for the brownies and popcorn). All in all it was a good night.

Don't forget to sign up for (1) The Loft, and (2) the Spag Dinner. You can sign up by e-mailing Josh (joshmeyer2@gmail.com), or at the Student Spot.

Have a great week! Here's the video we watched last night...

Funny/Amazing/Painful Video Thursday

2010-02-18T14:37:00.002-05:00

A few things to make you aware of.

We'll be having a regular youth group gathering on Sunday, at our regular time and place (6-8pm @ QUMC). Snack will be provided by the Gossler family.

Signups for the Loft are underway. See the attached sheet for more information. Signup at the Student Spot or by e-mailing me. Two more weeks to sign up.

A special church event requires help from both students and parents. On Saturday, February 27th, the Rethink Church group at QUMC is putting on a special dinner for the moms who live at the Milford Homeless Shelter. The idea is to provide them with a nice night out, complete with childcare. That's where we come in. They need help providing childcare for two hours for about 20 kids. If you are able to come, that would be awesome. Parents, some of the kids are as young at 1 year old, so some additional adult supervision would be really helpful, too. If you can help out, please let me know. There will be a signup sheet at the Student Spot for this as well.

For our video, we'll keep with the Olympic theme, since the Winter Olympics are going on right now. Here's a compilation of bloopers from people who almost certainly WON'T be making it to the Olympics anytime soon... Enjoy

God thought - Bible #5

2010-02-17T13:31:00.002-05:00

Read
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. -2 Timothy 3:16

Reflect
Think about your cell phone (or if you don't have your own, think about a cell phone in general). Okay, now read the following sentence describing cell phone: All cell phones are battery powered and are useful for talking, texting, storing information, and performing other various functions.

This statement makes two statements about cell phones: a statement about the source of their power, and a statement about their various uses. Got it? Hold onto that thought...

Read 2 Timothy 3:10-17. The Apostle Paul was writing to his sidekick Timothy, a young church leader. In verses 14-17, we see Paul giving Timothy excellent advice on God's Word. In verses 14-15 Paul begins to express the importance of knowing and following Scripture. But Paul's statement in verses 16-17 is one of the most useful statements made about God's Word in the entire Bible.

The cell phone sentence you read earlier made a statement about the source of cell phone's power (their batteries), and a statement about the various uses (talking, texting, etc). Verse 16 makes two similar statements about God's Word: a statement about the source of Scripture's power (God), and a statement about its various uses (teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness). You can place your complete trust in the Bible's authority; after all, it is God-breathed, or God-inspired. You can also know that Scripture is useful in your life. Don't be afraid to teach, challenge, or correct based on Scripture, either in others' lives or your own life.

Respond
1. God Himself inspired all of Scripture. God used people to record what he wanted to say. Does this change the way you look at the Bible's authority to speak into your life?

2. How might you use the Bible to correct a Christian friend? How might you use it to correct an attitude or action in your own life?

3. How are you being trained in righteousness in your life?

4. Write or say a prayer, asking God to use His Word to teach, rebuke, and correct you. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the strength to use God's Word in your interactions with Christian friends.

Weekend in review

2010-02-15T14:34:00.002-05:00

On Friday night we had our annual split-lockins. The girls met at the Lennons house, while the guys spent the night at the church. The official report on the evening is that the girls had a lot of awesome food, but the guys had an overall better time :)

A special shout-out to Josh Korpics, who during the guys' midnight game of Capture the Flag / Snowball fight, slipped and sprained his ankle. The shout-out isn't for getting hurt, though. The shout out is because after getting hurt, Josh went to the ER, got X-rays, received an air-cast and crutches, and then CAME BACK to the lock-in around 33oam and spent the night. That's dedication!

Reminder to all that sign-ups are currently underway for THE LOFT, which is in a few weekends. Make sure to talk to your parents and then sign up in the next two weeks!

God thought - Bible #4

2010-02-09T11:29:00.002-05:00

Read
For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life. -Proverbs 6:23

Reflect
Think for a second about an exciting destination. Maybe it's the beach. Or the mountains. Or your friend's media-saturated basement. Or a Phillies World Series game. Whichever destination comes to mind, think about how to get there from your house. If you were giving someone directions on how to find the destination, what would you tell them? What landmarks would you give them to guide them along the way?

"Okay, you go past the high school, take a right at TJs, go straight until you pass the big pond with the fountain. The stadium will be on your left."

When you are unsure of the way, or are following someone's directions, you use landmarks along the way to guide you. It's these landmarks that help get you where you need to go.

Read Proverbs 6:20-23. The author of Proverbs was preparing to warm the audience about the temptation of sexual sin. Before speaking about this issue, however, the author reminded the audience that the godly teaching passed down from parents and others served to keep them from sinful living. Verse 23 says it best: godly teachings guide us along life's journey. But godly teachings do more than than...

Think about the opening analogy of this post in light of verse 23. The verse speaks of "life" as the destination. The "way," or pathway, to live is literally living according to God's teachings. As you go along life's path, God's Word will be the lamp and the light you need to find your way. More than that, God's laws and rules are the way -- the way to true life. Just like landmarks on the way to your favorite destination, God's Word can help guide you to where you want to go -- life, and life to the fullest.

Respond
1. Do you find it easy to live a life that lines up with how the Bible says you should live?

2. What do you find hard about living this life? What do you find easy about it?

3. Have you ever turned to the Bible for help in dealing with temptation? If so, how did it help you? If not, what is keeping you from turning to it in the future?

4. Write or say a prayer, thanking God for the guidance He has made available through His Word. Commit to turning to God's Word first when you need help through tough times.

Funny/Amazing/Painful Video Thursday

2010-02-02T20:33:00.003-05:00

Hope you're having a great week! Two reminders for you:

This week
We'll be having our youth group gathering directly after the 11am service on Sunday, from Noon 'til 2pm. It will be a Super Bowl party, so we'll spend the time eating lunch together and then playing games, having fun, and hanging out. We'll get pizza for lunch, and we're asking each student to please bring $3 to contribute to the cost of the pizza.

Next week
Next Friday (2/12), we'll be having our guys lock in at QUMC and the girls lock in at the Lennon's place (1919 Mayflower Drive, Q-town). Drop-off will be between 630 and 7pm on Friday night, and pickup is at 9am on Saturday. SIGN UP SHEETS are now available at the Student Spot, or you may e-mail me and I'll add your name to the list. Note: due to the lock-ins on Friday, we will not be having youth group on Sunday (2/14).

Our video for the week comes courtesy of Barb Hafler. Thanks for showing this to us Barb. Enjoy, everyone, and see you on Sunday!

God thought - Bible #3

2010-02-02T10:58:00.002-05:00

Read
The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. -Psalm 19:7

Reflect
Think for a moment about the different rules you might encounter in your life. No texting during class. No driving on the Interstate until you turn 17. No talking on the phone after 10pm. No spending the night at a friend's house when his or her parents are out of town. How do these rules make you feel? While they are mostly made to protect you, they still bum you out, right? Rules can do that. Most of them seem made to keep you from having fun or expressing yourself.

Read Psalm 19. David, the writer of this particular Psalm, declares how great the Lord is by praising his creation (v.1-6). He then speaks highly of the Scriptures (v.7-8, 11), and praises the judgment of the Lord (v.9-11). David reminds us that even God's judgments of us are "more previous than gold...sweeter than honey" (v.10). These are powerful words of affirmation spoken to a God who is bigger and greater than we can ever truly fathom.

Pay close attention to what David says in verse 7. Look how he describes God's Law. David says the laws, or rules, of God revive his soul. Wow! When could you last say that about a rule? But that's the deal with God. His lordship over us revives us. In the world, being a servant to a master leads to depression. But being a servant to The Master brings life.

Perfect. Reviving. Trustworthy. Wise. What hopeful words. There are not many people or things in this world that we can say encompass all of these qualities. God's Word is greater than anything made by human hands, more perfect than anything we know.

Respond
1. Think about a time you may have doubted God and did not obey his prompting.

2. Why did you doubt Him? Did it have anything to do with pride or embarrassment?

3. Has the Word of God ever "revived your soul?" Think about a situation when you have read the Word and felt encouraged.

4. Psalm 19:14 is a great prayer from David. Make it your prayer today as you trust God's Word and obey Him. Rewrite Psalm 19:14 in your own words as a prayer to God.

Weekend in review

2010-02-01T14:19:00.000-05:00

We had a great time last night! An around-the-town scavenger hunt started our evening, and special thanks to the parents who drove and made this game a possibility. Congrats to Team Domination on their jaw-dropping 27-minute victory. Impressive, indeed.

We then had snack (thanks Millers!), and continued our lesson from last week. Last week we discussed what it means to believe in general, and then this week we talked about our faith in particular, by writing short faith poems, looking at belief statements, and then taking time to write down what we believe.

We'll do more with those faith statements a little bit later.

Funny/Amazing/Painful Video Thursday

2010-01-28T10:35:00.002-05:00

Hope to see everyone at Youth Group this Sunday. A reminder that we'll be doing an Around-the-Town scavenger hunt, so come ready to have a good time while racing around Quakertown. We still need a few more parent drivers, so if you're able to help us out, please let Josh know as soon as you can.

Next week we'll be having our annual YG Super Bowl Gathering from 12noon 'til 2pm. Lunch will be provided. Please bring $3 for pizza.

The following weekend is our Guys Video Game Lock In and Girls Only Lock In. More info in the next few weeks. For now, enjoy the video for the week, and see you on Sunday:

God thought - Bible #2

2010-01-26T09:57:00.002-05:00

Read
Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you. -Deuteronomy 4:2

Reflect
So you want to impress your date, and you decide to cook your mom's famous crispy pork cutlets with capers, lemon, arugula, and chopped eggs. "It's a sure fire hit," you say to yourself. But as you look over the ingredients you realize the recipe doesn't call for your favorite food: french fries. So, you toss in a handful of fries to spice things up. Also, you had a bad experience with pork once. So, you decide to take out the pork.

Read Deuteronomy 4:1-2. After 40 years of wandering in the wilderness as punishment for doubting Him, God finally allowed the Israelites to enter into the land he promised them. Before they went in, however, Moses read the Israelites all of the laws God had given them. These laws governed the way the Israelites worshiped and related to God. Moses clearly instructed the people not to add or take away from the Lord's words.

Adding french fries to a gourmet recipe ruins it. So does attempting to add something to God's Word. How do people add to God's Word? By trying to make personal preferences or church traditions as important as the Bible. As a guide for living the Christian life, the Bible is sufficient. It doesn't need any help or additions in teaching us how to live godly lives.

Taking away from the Bible is just as bad. How does this happen? By choosing to obey or teach some parts of Scripture but not others. All of God's Word is vitally important. Do not make the mistake of thinking that the Bible needs anything from us. Exactly as it is, the Word has the power to change lives, history, and culture. Its truth is always relevant.

Respond
1. Why is it valuable to know God's Word well enough to know if someone is teaching something that adds or takes away from it?

2. Look back at the second part of the verse. What were the Israelites encouraged to do with the commands of God?

3. Consider your relationship with God's Word. Do you faithfully obey His teachings? What changes do you need to make today to be more obedient to His teachings?

4. Pray that God would help you to know when you are not obey His Word and to give you the strength to stand up to temptation.

Weekend in review

2010-01-25T12:39:00.001-05:00

We had a good night at youth group last night discussing faith and what it means to share our faith. We'll continue that conversation next week with a more specific discussion on what some of the beliefs are that make the Christian faith unique.

Here's a recap of a few of the announcements from last night, which includes an overview of the next three youth group gatherings.

Sunday, January 31st. For our game on this night, we'll be doing an around-the-town scavenger hunt. We'll break up into teams and head out with a parent driver to find various things in Quakertown. For this activity, we need some parents to volunteer to drive for the game. If you are able to help out by driving and leading a team on this scavenger hunt, please e-mail Josh (joshmeyer2@gmail.com), including the number of seats you have in your car.

Sunday, February 7th. This is Super Bowl Sunday, and as in past years, we'll gather after church rather than at our regular time. Plan to meet in Miller Hall from 12 - 2pm. We'll have pizza for lunch. If folks can contribute $3 for pizza, that would be wonderful.

Friday, February 12th. We'll have our annual split-lock ins. Guys will be at the church for the video game lock-in, and girls will be at a yet-to-be-determined location for their Girls-Only-Lock in. Due to the lock ins on Friday/Saturday, we will not have youth group on Sunday this weekend.

Funny/Amazing/Painful Video Thursday

2010-01-21T12:46:00.002-05:00

Look forward to seeing everyone out at youth group this Sunday. We'll have our usual time of games and snacks and a lesson, plus we'll have some time to hear stories and see pictures from last weekend's mission trip.

If you want to start thinking ahead of time about our lesson, spend a few minutes thinking about how you would answer this question: "What do I believe?"

Hope to see everyone on Sunday night. It'll be good. And snacks will be provided by the Swearingens.

I'm not really a huge Oprah fan, but our video for the week comes from a performance on her show in Chicago. It looks totally sweet how they got all those people to dance together like that. Enjoy, and see y'all Sunday!

Weekend in review

2010-01-19T16:10:00.002-05:00

We didn't gather this past Sunday night for a regular youth group meeting because we were recovering from our weekend mission trip to inner-city Philly with CSM. It was an amazing weekend of service, and we truly experienced Jesus in "the least of these" that we encountered as we ministered to and built relationships with the homeless of Philadelphia.

If you weren't able to join us, stay tuned on the blog for more pictures and stories from the weekend, as well as in youth group this coming Sunday, where we'll give a chance for the members of the mission team to share some about their experiences. If it sounds like something you might enjoy but missed out this time, don't worry -- my guess is we'll end up serving in Philly with CSM again, and sooner rather than later.

Funny/Amazing/Painful Video Thursday

2010-01-13T16:18:00.002-05:00

In lieu of our normal funny video, our video for this week is a clip of a news report on the recent massive earthquake that hit Haiti. There are millions of people affected, thousands dead, and lots injured. Instead of using this space to show a video that will prompt laughter, hopefully by seeing the following video, you will be prompted to pray.

A reminder that we won't be having Youth Group this week, since this is the weekend that we'll be in Philly for the Youth Group Mission Weekend, and we'll surely need Sunday to recuperate from a good, hard weekend of serving.

If you're not able to make it to the Mission Weekend and won't need to use Sunday night to recuperate, here's a suggestion: use the free Sunday night to do something as a family. Watch a movie, play some games, have a conversation, go out for coffee, enjoy the football games. Whatever it is, just do something together. I bet your parents will love the time to just hang out with you. And you know what...I'm guessing you'll probably enjoy it, too.

God thought - Bible #1

2010-01-12T11:30:00.002-05:00

Read
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. -Hebrews 4:12

Reflect
If you let your guard down and are honest for a moment, you might agree with the following statement: Studying the Bible can be hard. If you agree, you're not alone. Every Christian has struggled at times with digging into God's Word. Sometimes it can feel like the equivalent of doing homework. But the comparison to homework ends here. While the Bible can seem challenging at times, one important difference sets it apart from any textbook.

Read Hebrews 4:12. This verse helps us see what makes the Bible different from any other book ever written. The Bible is not merely words. It is alive. The picture of the Word as a sharp sword is powerful! A sword cuts to the heart of every individual, exposing the good and the bad.

Have you ever read the Bible and felt convicted of things you needed to change about your life? If so, then you know the Bible is capable of judging your thoughts and attitudes. Not only that, it is capable of encouraging and leading you to change your heart. Knowing God's Word is essential in your relationship with Him. There's really no way around it. If you claim to love the Lord, believe in His death and resurrection, and have accepted Christ as your Savior, you cannot afford to miss out on the living, active story contained in His Word.

God is calling you to know Him. His Word is the most complete way of doing this. Will you accept the call?

Respond
1. Why do you sometimes find it hard to study the Bible? What can you do to help limitthings that make studying Scripture difficult?

2. How is God's Word active in your life?

3. Describe a time when the Word has helped you judge your thoughts and attitudes.

4. Pray that God would open your heart to what He has to say to you. Write a short prayer asing Him to teach you today through His active Word.

Weekend in review

2010-01-11T13:50:00.002-05:00

Well, it was an unusual Youth Group last night. At approximately 6:04pm, we lost power. "No biggie," I thought, "This happens from time to time. The power will flick back on in a few minutes." Nope. Didn't come back on. We spent the whole two hours sans power/lights/heat. It was cool doing YG by lantern/candlelight.

But even cooler than the lighting situation was our "lesson" for the night. We had two missionaries come and share about their recent service in the Dominican Republic. We saw pictures (albeit on a tiny laptop screen since the projector was without power), and heard their stories about how God was at work. It was neat to see pictures and hear stories about God's mission "to the ends of the earth." And it was good to see and hear from Molly :)

Hope you didn't mind the unorthodox YG night, and a reminder that due to the mission trip this coming weekend, we will NOT have youth group this coming Sunday. See you for the mission trip, or next Sunday for those who can't make it.

God thought - Bible Intro

2010-01-06T13:36:00.002-05:00

For the past few months, we've been using the God thoughts space here on the YG blog to discuss love -- what it is, what it looks like, and how we can increase the extent to which it transforms our faith and lives. That's a task that continues forever. But for now, we're going to move on. Each time we do a God thought, we begin with a Bible verse. We base everything we say/do on the Bible. Makes you wonder...what is so special about the Bible, what does it mean to believe in the Bible, and how do we respond to and live out God's Word?

That's going to be the focus of our next twenty or something God thought blog posts. We're going to focus on the Bible. We'll start by DESCRIBING the Bible, then will move on to RESPONDING to the Bible, then will spend a few posts on BELIEVING the Bible, and will finally end by looking at LIVING the Bible.

Sounds like a bold task, right? And it is. But it's worth it. Because the Bible is God communicating His story. In it we learn about God creating the universe, calling a nation to Himself, sending His son, Jesus, to redeem humanity, and the look and feel of the early church. But it's way more than just a history book. It's the source for our faith. It's the foundation for our worldview. It's the door to life in Christ.

The question, then, is "How well do you know it?" Hopefully the next few months will help you know the Word more fully...

Merry Christmas

2009-12-22T11:32:00.002-05:00

The YG blog will be on a short break through Christmas. We'll be back with our regular posts after the new year. Before that, though, we'll leave you with the following info about our next event, our annual trip to Planet Trog for Laser Tag.

> The final day to sign up is Sunday, December 27th

> We're going on Sunday, January 3rd. Not a bad way to spend your last day of Christmas break.

> We'll meet at the church to carpool at 330pm. We'll return to church around 8pm.

> The cost (to you) is $10, which includes 3 games, a slice of pizza, and a soda.

> We need some parent drivers. If you/yours can drive, let us know!

Weekend in Review

2009-12-21T11:38:00.003-05:00

Thanks everyone for all your help with the YG Cookie Sale! Despite the tough weather conditions, we still had plenty of cookies to sell, plenty of cookies left over (currently sitting in my office and tempting me greatly), plenty of help setting up and selling, and made plenty of money for the youth budget. Great work.

A reminder that we won't have YG this coming Sunday, but will meet the following Sunday (January 3) for Laser Tag. The last day to sign up for Laser Tag is December 27th!

Have a great (short) week of school before Christmas!

God thought - Love #17

2009-12-16T11:37:00.002-05:00

Read
Do everything in love. -1 Corinthians 16:14

Reflect
In 1886, Karl Benz patented the first gas-powered automobile. Everything we know about cars today was built upon his invention. Since that date, one thing is for certain: cars then and cars today cannot effectively run without power. sure, a car can be put in neutral and pushed, but it operates in the mode it was created for when it runs on fuel. Even the Bugatti Veyron, the world's fasted car, will sit motionless with an empty tank, completely useless and wasting its potential.

Check out 1 Corinthians 16:14. This first letter was written to the church at Corinth, which was the most problematic church in the New Testament. This resort city struggled with the battle between flesh and spirit. Paul emphasized both of these to show the problems with the flesh and that with the Holy Spirit we're equipped to fix those problems. This chapter recaps that everything should be done with love since that defines the life of a Christ-follower.

Like an engine without fuel, a person without love is powerless. Coasting through life without love is a waste. Sure you can push forward, but you're giving up your great potential and the purpose you were created for. You're missing out on the excitement of the ride, too! You can't act in godly love just because you want to, though. You have to seek God and ask Him to fill you with the love you need to do His work. Knowing that gas exists does nothing for your car. Don't settle for simply knowing about God's love; let Him fill you up until His love is burning pure and bright, propelling you into action. That's what you were created for. It'll be quite a ride, so invite your friends to come along, too. Have fun, and do everything in love. Everything.

Respond
1. As a Christ-follower, why would anything you do without love be considered useless?

2. Does serving or doing God's work ever seem to be a burden to you, as if you were pushing a car instead of driving it? Why do you think that is?

3. What steps can you take to be mindful of God's love in everything you do?

Weekend In Review -- Christmas Party

2009-12-14T14:16:00.005-05:00

Here are some pictures from last night's Christmas Party!!!

Funny/Amazing/Painful Video Thursday

2009-12-10T13:11:00.002-05:00

Looking forward to Youth Group this week. We'll be gathering at our regular time (6-8pm on Sunday), for our annual YG Christmas Party. We'll have some Christmas trivia, Christmas games, a Christmas reflection, etc. Two things you need to know/prep in advance:

We're having a gift exchange. Everyone (who wants to participate) please bring a wrapped gift of about $5 in value to use in the gift exchange. (No used make up or dirty tube socks, please!)

We're having our third annual Ugly Sweater Contest. Everyone (who wants to participate) come dressed in a sweater. We'll have prizes for the person with the Ugliest sweater, the Funniest sweater, and the Most Festive Holiday sweater. We'll also take a "Christmas Sweater Picture" to use on our YG Christmas cards :)

Snack will be provided by the Korpics and Besch family, and the YG will provide hot coco to drink.

See you all there! For those who haven't seen where I live, I figured I'd make a little video of my place with it's Christmas lights for you all to enjoy:

God thought - Love #16

2009-12-08T13:54:00.002-05:00

Read
If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him. -1 John 3:17

Reflect
Before the 2007-2008 football season, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was seen walking the streets of New York wearing a Yankees hat. This caused an uproar in Boston where the Patriots play. Endorsing this rival city called his loyalty into question. Sure Brady is a football player and the Yankees are a baseball team, but folks from Boston don't support anything from New York. (And ironically, the Patriots would end up losing to New York in that year's Super Bowl). How could any true Bostonian betray this sense of brotherhood? As a representative of a greater community, it seemed inexcusable.

As Christ-followers, we simply cannot do some things. Look at 1 John 3:16-17. The Apostle John wrote this letter to a group of people who needed to understand what it meant to love. One of the key ways John encouraged his readers to show their love for others was to provide for the material needs of those who were lacking. In verse 17, he went so far as to say that those who have the ability to take care of someone, but don't, should have their love of God questioned.

Though it's a trivial comparison, while it's inappropriate for New England's quarterback to wear the gear of any New York team, it's inexcusable for Christ-followers who have plenty to sit idly, not helping those in need. God blesses us materially so that we can be a blessing to others. In we're not blessing others, we should be questioned on several levels. First, we're not being faithful with what God has entrusted to us. Second, we're not considering others in our community. Finally, we're not displaying that God's love is inside of us. Claiming to be loyal to Jesus but having no concern for brothers and sisters in need isn't just poor taste -- it's inexcusable.

Respond
1. How has God blessed you materially? How can you use what you have to be a blessing to those in need?

2. So many people are driven by materialism. How can you take a stand for simplicity when it comes to things? How can you encourage your friends to do the same?

3. Why do you think it's important to share with those in need? How does this show that the love of God is in us?

Weekend in review

2009-12-07T13:48:00.003-05:00

A fun night last night. We made Christmas cards for some folks in nursing homes and continuing care retirement communities who may not otherwise get any Christmas cards. We talked about the third part of Micah 6:8 and what it means to walk humbly with God. We considered practical ways to know Jesus more and practical ways to display Jesus to the world. We sang happy birthday and ate snacks and played lighthouse. A good night.

Also, for those who couldn't make it, we gave a hand-out with info on the annual YG Cookie Sale. Check out the details:

We're asking each family of the YG to bake 10 dozen cookies for our Cookie Sale, which will take place the morning of Sunday, December 20th. Please have your cookies at the church between 730 and 830am on Sunday morning, (or the Saturday night before).

We also need students to help sell the cookies during the morning. We're selling during four time slots:

After the 8am service
After the 9am service
After Sunday School
After the 11am service

To sign up to sell cookies or to bake cookies, please e-mail Josh.

Funny/Amazing/Painful Video Thursday

2009-12-03T12:14:00.001-05:00

It's bound to be a good weekend for us, as we have Babysitting Day on Saturday and regular Youth Group on Sunday.

For those helping out with babysitting day (thanks so much!), it'd be great if you could arrive at around 940am that day to set up a bit before the kids start arriving at 10am. We end at 3pm. If you haven't signed up but still want to come, that's cool. If you did sign up but can no longer come, please let Josh or Pam know. Thanks!

For YG this Sunday, our game and lesson will have something to do with "light" (that's the only clue you get!), and snack will be provided by the Cornelius family.

We also have planned to have the Free College Planning Seminar for parents Sunday night.. If you/your parents are planning to come, please let Josh know. At this point we only have one person registered, and probably won't have them come out if we don't get at least a few more people interested.

Hope you all have a great rest of your week. And if you've ever wondered why I never was a cheerleader or marching band member, our F/A/P video for the week explains why :)

God thought - Love #15

2009-12-02T12:41:00.004-05:00

Read
They loved praise from men more than praise from God. -John 12:43

Reflect
The rules for the NCA's dance competition clearly state that cheerleaders must perform a dance that they learn four days before the competition. Imagine the dilemma when Samantha's cheer coach illegally brought in an NCA staff member weeks in advance to teach the squad the dance before competition. Samantha loves God and knew that cheating wasn't pleasing to Him, so she refused to attend practice the days they were learning the dance. Her coaches and squad were furious with her decision. Although it was a tough choice, the peace she found in doing what was right was worth far more than any blue ribbon.

Read John 12:42-43. The previous chapter concluded with the Pharisees (people with religious education and influence) saying that Jesus was essentially a traitor. From that day on, they plotted Jesus' death. In chapter 12, the honor due to Jesus was restored. His feet were anointed with oil, palm branches waved as He was hailed a Savior, and the voice of God glorified Him. Some religious leaders even believed in Jesus, but feared what the Pharisees might say about them, so they chose not to confess Him.

We want praise from those we love the most. Think about it. This reveals something about whom we want acceptance from, and ultimately, relationship with. Honestly, on a pretty regular basis we probably value the opinions of the world more than what pleases God. We might resemble the religious leaders who wanted to follow Christ, but our desire to be accepted keeps us from doing so. Starting today, don't miss the satisfaction of pleasing the only One who really matters by settling for friends' approval or recognition from someone with influence. The burden we feel to be accepted by others weighs us down, but pleasing God is liberating and eternally rewarding.

Respond
1. Think about a time when you made an unpopular decision, knowing it was the right thing to do in God's eyes. What happened?

2. What have you done that might compromise your testimony of faith in God in order to fit in with a certain person or group of people?

3. Sometimes we try hard to be like others. But what are you doing to be like Jesus? Pray that God will help you choose to follow Jesus, even when it's not popular.

What does God require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-25T11:36:00.002-05:00

Hope you all have a great Thanksgiving. Enjoy the time off from school, enjoy the delicious food, enjoy the hours of football coverage, enjoy your family, and most of all, enjoy/acknowledge/thank Jesus for the many blessings you have and often take for granted.

Since it's Thanksgiving week, we won't have our usual God thoughts or Funny/Amazing/Painful Video segments (those will be back next week), and we won't have Youth Group this Sunday night. Enjoy the weekend and look forward to seeing you all on SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5TH FOR BABYSITTING DAY.

[May your thanksgiving lead to thanksliving]

Weekend In Review

2009-11-23T11:24:00.002-05:00

Thanks to our "fill-in" youth leaders for helping out and being in charge of youth group last night while our "regular" youth leaders were away. Hope it was a great night. Thanks again.

As a reminder, here are a few announcements to be aware of:

#1) Babysitting day is Saturday, December 5th. E-mail Josh to sign up. We need lots of help!

#2) Don't forget to tell your parents to check out the seminar QUMC is hosing on how to plan financially for college

#3) Sign-up for our Youth Group Weekend Mission Trip!

#4) No Youth Group this week due to it being Thanksgiving weekend

Have a great week everyone!

God thought - Love #14

2009-11-18T14:06:00.002-05:00

Read
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. -Matthew 6:21

Reflect
Pirate stories are always about treasure. Of course the treasure sought is not always, well....actual treasure. A good example of this is the Pirates of the Caribbean films. While they're quirky and a little convoluted, they show how far people will go to get what they want most. For Captain jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp's character), his treasure was his ship, the Black Pearl. For Will Turner (Orlando Bloom's character), it was the affection of Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley's character). For Davy Jones (Bill Nighy's character), it was freedom from even having his heart broken again. Each one stopped at nothing to get what his heart desired.

Jesus understood our human inclination toward what we treasure. Look what He taught the crowds that followed Him in Matthew 6:19-21. In this famous passage, Jesus laid out the values and principles of His Kingdom. He did this at the beginning of His public ministry to lay the foundation from the start. Life is a matter of the heart. His followers had to know that their inner lives (their hearts' desire) were a greater concern than the public appearance of having it all together.

In verse 21, Jesus said your heart is with your treasure. So what do you treasure? Sports? Grades? Relationships? Things? A good way to check your heart is to look at where you spend your time and money. Does it honor God? If your treasure has nothing to do with Him, then you have an idol. If your thing could honor God but you're using it in a way that doesn't, you still have a problem. God has to be number one, because you're going to chase whatever your treasure. God doesn't want anything to come between you and Him. Stop at nothing. Make Him your heart's desire.

Respond
1. Where do you spend your time and money? Do you allow God to have a say about what you do with your time and how you use your cash?

2. List your top five priorities. Be totally honest with yourself. Is God at the top of that list? Why or why not? If He's not, how can you make Him number one?

3. How do you make evident to others that your love for God is the treasure of your life?

What does God require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

God thought - Love #13

2009-11-17T10:56:00.002-05:00

Read
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. -Matthew 5:44

Reflect
I love the "Get a Mac" commercials from Apple. From an advertising perspective, they're brilliant. It's funny to see the young, easygoing Mac guy tease the uptight, dumpy PC guy. Microsoft eventually launched their own TV ads, firing back with how cool and diverse their users actually are. The commercials are fairly tame, but the rivalry is real. They're essentially political smear campaigns, but humorous. In the computing worlds, Mac and PC are sworn enemies.

Read Matthew 5:43-48. These verses are part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, where the heart of a Christ-follower's ethics is found. Here, Jesus spoke very clearly about how His followers were to live, addressing wealth, marriage, murder, prayer, and more. Christ even explained how His followers should treat their enemies. He plainly stated his thoughts in verse 44. Read it again. Wow.

Just about everybody has a situation in life where someone else becomes their enemy. We may not be caught up in a computer geek rivalry. Our rivalry might be with a person fighting for the same scholarship that we are. Or maybe with the people who bully us. Perhaps it's with the players from a rival team. Whether it's someone who seriously annoys us or someone who causes actual pain and suffering, an enemy can result from any number of situations. In each situation, regardless of how intense it may be, Jesus says that love is not optional, but expected. It's not one choice among many, or an option reserved for the holiest of holy people; love is it. If we claim to belong to Christ....if we say He is our Lord....if we call Him Savior....as hard as it may be, we have to love our enemies. And not just love them, but pray for them as well.

Respond
1. Do you have any enemies? Why are they your enemies? If you don't have enemies, do your friends have them? If so, how can you help bring them together?

2. Why wouldn't God just want you to ignore your enemies? Wouldn't that be easier? Why would He want you to go so far as to pray for them?

3. Praying for people means you want their well-being. List some people whom you may have an issue with or who may have an issue with you. Ask God to help you love them. Then pray for their well-being.

What does God require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

Funny/Amazing/Painful Video Thursday

2009-11-12T11:21:00.002-05:00

Hope you all had a great time at the bonfire last week. Sorry I couldn't make it, and thanks again to the Stovers for hosting us and our other awesome youth leaders for taking control and being there.

Look forward to seeing everyone this Sunday. We'll start a three week lesson series on What Does God Require of Me? (based on Micah 6:8).

Also, back by popular demand is a game we invented last year....it doesn't have a name, so I'll describe it here as the "Youth-leaders-hide // X-on-card Game." It's a blast. It may also involve being outside, so be sure to bring a jacket or sweatshirt. It also wouldn't hurt to dress in dark colors to help you elude the guards :)

Snack will be provided by the Sterners.

See you on Sunday! For now, enjoy the video of the week:

God thought - Love #12

2009-11-11T11:08:00.002-05:00

Read
Show proper respect to everyone: love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king. -1 Peter 2:17

Reflect
In the 1980s (I know, ancient history), a song came out that resonated with teenagers (ask your parents, it may have been them). It was by a group called Twisted Sister -- look 'em up, they're bizarre -- and it was called "We're Not Gonna Take It." The defiant anthem basically told off anyone who might be an authority figure. Teachers? We're not going to take it! Bosses? We're not going to take it! Parents? We're not going to take it....anymore!

This song might be fun to hear over the loud speakers at a basketball game, but it has an inherent problem. Read 1 Peter 2:13-17. Wait...so the Bible tells us to live under the authority of others? We have to....take it? Yes. And yes. These verses were written to people who lived under a Roman authority that was not friendly to Christ-followers. In verse 17, the Apostle Peter told his readers to show respect to everyone--even the pagan government. Why? Because like it or not, even the government is under God's authority.

At this point in your life, you probably want to close the webpage and forget these verses, but it's important that you don't. God set certain people and systems in place to help guide us through life. Nobody hates guard rails on a treacherous mountain road. Those rails are a good analogy of what authority figures are today: support, protection, and for our best interest. Our lives can be pretty treacherous, can't they? And if we can't submit to the authority of those over us on earth, how do we expect to submit to God? He's the ultimate authority in our lives, but that doesn't dismiss other authorities. He put them in place. Plus, showing respect gives greater credibility to what we say about God. Respect His authority, but respect others, too.

Respond
1. Who are the authority figures in your life? Do you have trouble submitting to them? What are some ways you can let God help you submit to authority?

2. Look back at verse 17. Why do you think God wants us to love other believers? What does it mean to fear God? Why do you think God wants us to honor the king?

3. Does it give you comfort or make you feel controlled to know that God has ultimate authority over your life? Why?

What does God require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

God thought - Love #11

2009-11-10T14:46:00.002-05:00

Read
Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. -Matthew 10:37

Reflect
In Nepal, a country between India and China, it was illegal to follow Christ until about 50 years ago. Today, roughly 99% of the country is Hindu, Buddhist, or Muslim. Rajan grew up Hindu, but his life changed drastically when he encountered Jesus through one of only three Christ followers in his village. When he renounced his religion and embraced Christ, his family disowned him, his friends shunned him, and he was forced to leave his home and village. His Hindu neighbors dug up his cauliflower and potatoes, ruining a year's worth of income. Rajan lost everything for his relationship with Christ, but instead of discouraging him, it made Jesus more precious to him.

Read Matthew 10:37-39. Matthew, a tax collector, wrote this book to tell about Jesus' life, including his birth, ministry, death, and resurrection, In this chapter, Jesus commissioned His disciples concerning the ministry they would have and the miracles they would do. He also told them about the suffering they would endure. But He told them not to fear, because He would be with them and see them through it.

As followers of Christ, we're never told that our journey will be easy. Instead, we're told to be in the world and not of it, and that we'll face persecution. But life with Christ is worth any suffering we might face. This verse appears to be about not loving people, but really it's about loving God more than people. He has to be our first love, and if need be, the one that we choose over anyone or anything else. When we're in love with God, our love for family and friends actually increases, even if they persecute us. When we're willing to sacrifice everything for loving Him, it shows an unbelieving world just how valuable and worthy of belief He really is.

Respond
1. Can you imagine being in the situation like Rajan's, losing everything you have because you're a follower of Christ? What would you do in that situation?

2. Does Jesus really mean this much to you? Is he the most important person in the universe to you?

3. Suffering for Christ doesn't have to be as drastic as your family turning against you. It can be as simple as a friend making fun of you. What are some everyday examples of struggles you face?

What does God require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

Weekend in review

2009-11-09T15:23:00.002-05:00

We had youth group last night, but we didn't gather at the church. Instead, we met at the Stover's place for a bonfire! Thanks to the Stovers for hosting us, and to all who helped make it happen (especially to the youth leaders who covered for Josh who couldn't make it).

If anyone has any pictures from the night, send 'em over and we'll put them here on the blog.

Speaking of fires, one of my favorite worship songs is Light the Fire. I've been reflecting on the lyrics to the song a bit this afternoon. Sometimes we sing these songs during worship and they're so common that we sing the words without really thinking about what it is we're saying. Take a moment to really consider the lyrics. Then spend some time reflecting on the questions -- they're designed to get you thinking more deeply about some of the issues the song addresses.

Light the fire / In my soul / Fan the flame / Make me whole / Lord, you know where I've been / So light the fire in my heart again
[Do you have a fire in your soul? If so, what are you burning for? In other words, what are you passionate about in your life? What resonates deep within your soul?]
[Do you feel whole? What is missing in your life? What would it take (or Who would it take) to complete you?]
[Where have you been? Are you proud of where you've been? Ashamed of where you've been? A little bit of both?]

I stand to praise you / But I fall on my knees / My spirit is willing / But my flesh is so weak
[What do you think it means to praise? What are some ways you can do that this week? Today? Right now?]
[Do you feel in your spirit a desire to praise God? What keeps you from doing so?]

I feel Your arms around me / As the power of your healing begins / Your Spirit moves through me / Like a mighty rushing wind
[When was the last time someone put their arms around you or hugged you? What does a hug communicate?]
[Have you, or anyone you know, ever been healed? What does 'healing' even mean? Are there types of healing besides physical healing?]
[When was the last time you felt God's presence?]

Light the fire / In my soul / Fan the flame / Make me whole / Lord, you know where I've been / So light the fire in my heart again
May it be so in each of our lives...

Funny/Amazing/Painful Video Thursday

2009-11-05T13:15:00.002-05:00

Before our video for the week, two things to make you aware of:

First, youth group this week will be a bonfire at the Stover's place (2505 Wieand Road, Q-town). We'll roast hot dogs, make s'mores, worship together, and have fun hanging out by the fire! We'll meet right at the Stover's at 6pm, and have pick up at 8pm. Everyone please bring a chair. Anyone got a couch we can burn? :)

Second, signups are now taking place for the weekend misssion trip to Philly. We have limited space available, so talk to your parents and sign up asap! More info on that is available here.

Here's our video for the week. Enjoy. And remember, if you see a funny video and send it along to us and we use it on the blog, you'll be the recipient of a fabulous prize!

Weekend In Review -- Costume Party

2009-11-03T11:19:00.011-05:00

Hey gang, here are the pictures from our Costume Party this past weekend. Before the pictures, two important pieces of information.

1. Be sure to visit the website for info on our weekend mission trip for January. Note that space is limited and the time to sign up is now!! :)

2. Youth Group this coming week will be a bonfire at the Stovers place.

Here are the pictures from the costume party -- enjoy!

Funny/Amazing/Painful Video Thursday

2009-10-29T11:12:00.004-04:00

Before our video for the week, three quick things:

Costume Party at Youth Group this week. Prizes for Funniest Costume, Scariest Costume, and Most Biblical Costume
Change of plans for next week: instead of doing the corn maze, we'll be doing a bonfire at the Stover's place (2505 Wieand Rd, Q-town).
Signups have begun for our January Weekend Mission Trip -- space is limited, so sign up soon! More info at the end of this post and at the Student Spot.

Here's the video for the week -- enjoy! The title of the video is "Funniest Prank in History." It's probably not THAT funny, but it is amusing seeing these folks' reactions.

For more info on the YG Mission trip to Philly, see the FAQ page on the website.

God thought - Love #10

2009-10-28T11:40:00.003-04:00

Read
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. -John 13:35

Reflect
What comes to mind when you hear the name Ryan Howard? 2009 National League RBI leader? Former MVP? The faster player to 200 home runs in history? World Series champion? Ryan Howard has a lifestyle and habits that have set him apart from everyone around him. His sacrifices have proven worth it. He has earned a reputation for an uncommon ability. Sure, as a person, he's much more than a baseball player, but for most people it's what he does on the field that defines him since it's such a dominant part of his life. So, what dominates and defines your life?

Check out when Jesus said about our identities and reputations in John 13:34-35. Here, Jesus was spending some final moments with the disciples before his death. They didn't know the cross was coming, but he did, so Christ spoke passionately about what was most important in life. In verse 35, Jesus made things simple. There is something worth being so devoted to that your devotion becomes obvious to everyone.

As followers of Christ, we should be defined as people with an uncommon ability -- loving each other as Christ loved us. This is not just for our sake; it's for His. While we might be labeled athletes, nerds, emos, preps, or some other tag someone will slap on us, how we love each other will earn a reputation. This is what will set us apart to the rest of the world as Jesus' followers. It's a lot easier to depend on church activities, t-shirts, religious music, or whatever else to set us apart. But how we love others is the greatest indicator of our devotion to Christ. So are we satisfied with being labeled by the stuff we're into, what we own, how we dress....or could we really be known for loving just as Christ does?

Respond
1. How do you think people see you? How do you wish they saw you? How can you change the way people see you?

2. What can you do to avoid defining people simply by what they've done? What's the danger in labeling someone only according to what they may have done?

3. It's super easy to judge a book by its cover. How can you move beyond categorizing people to loving them?

What does God require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

God thought - Love #9

2009-10-27T10:44:00.002-04:00

Read
We love because he first loved us. -1 John 4:19

Reflect
Remember the note? Four little words: "Do you like me?" with two check boxes labeled "yes" and "no." Or maybe instead of a note, a friend came to you on someone else's behalf to ask if you liked them. Either way, this news changed everything. The drama and suspense swirling around this lingering question was mind-numbing; it could spread throughout your entire circle of friends and beyond. Even if you didn't previously know that the person who liked you existed, simply discovering that they were interested in you was huge. Be honest. You saw the world differently. It gave you confidence, changing your attitude and therefore your actions. You were more thoughtful about what you would wear, say, and do (and even how you smell).

With this in mind, read 1 John 4:19-20. John wrote this letter explaining what it meant to be in a relationship with God. He described love and went over how people would act if they were truly in love with God, going into a lover verses hater thing. Here, John relayed the message--God loved you first. This news should motivate a response. Verse 20 goes on to say that seeing who loves God back is as simple as reading a check box.

God took the first steps in the relationship between Himself and humanity. He initiated contact with us through his written word (Scripture), His friends (prophets), and ultimately Himself (Jesus). The Bible says that people weren't looking for God; we were actually His enemies before Christ came to us. He stepped out to make His love known, inviting us into relationship with Him. That changed everything. Knowing that we're loved should change our attitude and actions. Now we can love Him in return, and this mysterious love is so contagious that it should spread throughout our entire sphere of influence. Does it for you?

Respond
1. How have you responded to the news that God wants a relationship with you? Has is changed anything about you?

2. Whom do you love, and what's your motivation for loving them?

3. Write down the name(s) of anyone you can take the first step with and find out what they know about the love of Christ? Pray for motivation to invite them into a relationship with God.

What does God require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

Weekend in Review

2009-10-26T12:13:00.004-04:00

We had another great gathering last night at youth group. We dubbed it our "How to Save a Life" youth group, and with the help of Jackie from the American Red Cross, we did just that. Jackie talked to us a bit about the need for blood and then provided some names/numbers and a call script, and with a little training, we set off to call past donors and try to recruit as many folks to sign up for our QUMC blood drive.

We then enjoyed a healthy snack (donuts, haha), and set off on our game for the evening: Sardines. Finally, we ended with a group thanksgiving prayer. All in all, another good time together.

Finally, just as a reminder, here are the announcements that we shared last night.

Next week will be our annual Costume Party. Come in costume; prizes will be awarded for funniest costume, scariest costume, and most biblical costume.
Stay tuned for more info on the following week -- we scheduled a Corn Maze, but may have to end up changing that due to an inability to schedule a Corn Maze for that night. We'll let you know ASAP how it shapes up.
YOUTH GROUP MISSION TRIP -- We have a weekend mission trip planned for January 15th - 17th (that's a Friday through a Sunday). We'll be partnering with Center for Student Mission to serve in Philadelphia. More on that in the next few weeks, but get the date on your calendar now :)

Funny/Amazing/Painful Video Thursday

2009-10-22T13:38:00.000-04:00

Looking forward to our "How to Save a Life" youth group this week. You'll hear more details about it on Sunday, but for now, here's what we can say:

We'll have a guest coming to share with us right at 6pm, so please do your best to arrive on time, or even a few minutes early.

The activity will involve saving lives by splitting into teams and competing against other groups.

There will be prizes, including a pizza party for the winning team (to be given sometime in the next few weeks)

Hope to see you all there. For now, enjoy our weekly funny video!

God thought - Love #8

2009-10-20T10:27:00.003-04:00

Read
No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. -1 John 4:12

Reflect
A lot of people live by the motto, "I'll believe it when I see it." This seems reasonable, but there are some real consequences to that kind of thinking. If you have to literally see something before you'll believe it, then you can no longer believe in wind, gravity, heat, oxygen, anyone without a photograph or painting in their likeness, photosynthesis, earthquakes, love....you get the idea. While you can't physically see these things, you can see the evidence of them. The same is true for our relationship with Christ. Since the world can't actually see Jesus walking around, calming storms, turning water into wine, you know, doing Jesus stuff, how can they know He's real?

Read 1 John 4:12-15. The Apostle John wrote this letter to help people understand that Jesus actually came in the flesh, died, and rose again. He wasn't just a religious ideal or spiritual illusion; He was a real person. John wanted his readers to understand how the real power of Jesus' resurrection is evident to the world when His followers love others just as He loved them.

Today, God has entrusted His message of love to us. It's our responsibility to share this message with the world. Fortunately, we don't have to do this alone. every Christ-follower is called to this task, but even better than that, we also have God's Holy Spirit as our helper. So while Jesus doesn't physically hang out at the local Starbucks chatting people up about the Kingdom of God, He is spiritually present with people who don't yet know Him, through us. We make the invisible God visible. Just like gravity or an earthquake, the evidence (our lives) proves the strength of His love. Others can believe, even though they can't literally see Jesus, because they see Him in us.

Respond
1. How would you rate yourself on the way you love others? Do you love your family? People who hurt you? Those who are unlovely?

2. What can you do to constantly remind yourself that you're God's representative on love here on earth? How would being more mindful of this truth change the way you live?

3. How would your school, youth group, or gang of friends change if you took a stand for love? What would your life look like?

What does God require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

Weekend in Review

2009-10-19T10:55:00.003-04:00

We had another great gathering last night at youth group. We began with some worship, then moved into our lesson for the night. After beginning with a humorous video clip, (see F/A/P video below), we settled in to discuss different elements of prayer. As a reminder, here are the five elements of the ACTS-I prayer we discussed:

Adoration - We express our love for God
Confession - We confess sin and ask for forgiveness
Thanksgiving - We thank God for the many blessings we have
Supplication - We ask God to do something specifically for us
Intercession - We ask God to do something in another person's life

After doing some case studies of examples of prayer from Scriptures, we ended the lesson by visiting some prayer stations, where we looked at pictures of prayer and prayed together various prayers in our groups.

To conclude, we enjoyed a delicious snack (thanks Andreas S. Aber), and concluded the evening with a rousing 40 minute game of SPRATBALL. A great night all around.

Finally, just as a reminder, here are the announcements that we shared last night.

Anyone able to help with cleanup from the rummage sale on Saturday from noon 'til 1pm should contact Josh or Becky Petco
Next week at youth group we'll be partnering together with the Red Cross to save lives.
The following week at youth group we'll be having our annual Costume Party. Come in costume; prizes awarded for funniest costume, scariest costume, and most biblical costume.
The following week at youth group we'll be going to a Corn Maze. More info on that to come next week.
YOUTH GROUP MISSION TRIP -- We have a weekend mission trip planned for January 15th - 17th (that's a Friday through a Sunday). We'll be partnering with Center for Student Mission to serve in Philadelphia. More on that in the next few weeks, but get the date on your calendar now :)

Funny/Amazing/Painful Video Thursday

2009-10-15T14:08:00.001-04:00

Hope to see you all at youth group this week. Just a reminder that this will be the first night that we switch to our new time, 6-8pm.

The evening will include a snack brought by Andrea Aber, some SpratBall action, and a lesson featuring a video clip from Talladega Nights. It should be a great time -- looking forward to seeing you all there. Feel free to bring a friend.

Here's our video for the week. It's the same one we'll be discussing on Sunday night, so this way you can be ahead of the game! (Plus, it's just funny, so you'll get double the laughs). Enjoy...

God thought - Love #7

2009-10-14T10:07:00.002-04:00

Read
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. -Romans 12:9

Reflect
Have you ever seen Chriss Angel or David Blaine on TV? They're both highly skilled illusionists. We watch with pure amazement as they perform all sorts of ridiculous stunts. It's easy to get lost in the production for a moment and believe that what you see if reality. But these guys, and other magicians, are skilled at grand illusions. They create seemingly impossible situations and suspend our disbelief, even if momentarily.

Read Romans 12:9-10. The book of Romans is known as one of the most powerful documents ever written. Paul wrote this book to the church in Rome. He wanted to solidify the truth that they believed. This book answers so many questions that it seems to cover every major component of our faith. Paul's motive was to make sure the Romans were established in genuine belief in God and Christ. He knew the supreme importance of love and wanted to demonstrate how real love plays out.

Love is one of the few instances where grand illusion has no effect. In most cases, there's no faking it when it comes to love. No smoke or perfect angle can make unreal love look genuine. To be firm in your beliefs, love must be the foundation upon which everything else is built.

Sincere love puts others above ourselves and doesn't require an audience or a pat on the back. Real love is an outpouring of God on everyone we come in contact with.

Respond

1. Sometimes it's easy to be caught up in the "magic show" of appearing to live for Christ. Are there some areas in your life where you need the Lord to make your love more real? If so, what are they?

2. Why is it important for your love to be sincere? How can you be sure that your love is sincere?

3. Have you ever been loved insincerely? How did you feel?

What does God require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

God thought - Love #6

2009-10-13T10:56:00.002-04:00

Read
If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. -1 Corinthians 13:3

Reflect
Have you ever played Guitar Hero or Rock Band? If you have, you know how much fun they are. If you haven't, don't start now -- the addiction level is off the charts. Save yourself while you can! Actually, there is a group of folks who really can't stand these games. You might ask, "Who doesn't love to jam like a rock star in the privacy of their living room?" Well, real musicians don't! They're afraid people will be satisfied playing music on fake instruments and never learn to play the real thing. They have a good point. It's much easier to memorize when to hit a button than to play a chord on a real guitar. Regardless, the hard truth is if you can't play a real instrument, you can't be in a real band.

As followers of Christ, there's one thing we need before we can do anything else. Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-3. In this letter, the Apostle Paul taught the church at Corinth what it means to be a follower of Christ. The broader context of these verses is Paul's teaching on spiritual gifts. In verse 3, he reminded the Corinthians that no matter what gift you may have or how charitable you may be, unless you exercise gifts with love, they're null and void.

The same is true for us. It doesn't matter what gift we have or what we do. Unless we do it with love, it's useless. Sound harsh? It's sort of like trying to be in a real band without knowing how to play an instrument. A person may look and act the part, but unless they can really play, they accomplish nothing. Until we understand that love for God and others is they key to life, we won't be the people God wants us to be.

Respond

1. Why is an act of generosity that's not motivated by love useless? Doesn't the end justify the means?

2. It's pretty easy to look like a follower of Christ. How can you avoid being satisfied with just looking the part?

3. Most of the time Christ-followers are known for what we don't do. How can you help redefine what it means to be a follower of Christ in our culture by being known for what we actually do? What are some things you can do to show the world you're all about love?

What does God require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

Weekend in Review

2009-10-12T12:45:00.003-04:00

Sunday was a great day: the Eagles won, the Phillies won, and most importantly, we had a successful day at the CROP walk that afternoon. We had a good group of walkers, both from our YG and the church as a whole, and we were well represented in the community! Furthermore, the local news stations were out, and if you check out the following video, you'll see a number of kids from our church in the news story!

Hope you're all having a great start to the week, and be sure to check back on Tuesday and Wednesday for some God thoughts.

Here's the video:

Funny/Amazing/Painful Video Thursday

2009-10-08T11:54:00.002-04:00

Hey gang,

Before we get to our video for the week, a few reminders:

For youth group this week we'll be participating in the CROP walk. It's a great day of raising awareness and funds for a great cause, so we hope to see all of you there! Plus, it's a fun afternoon to just hang out and talk with all of your friends. See you on Sunday! If you have any questions, see the info sheet we e-mailed out on Thursday, or let Josh know.

For a few weeks now we've been hearing requests to move YG half an hour earlier, from 6 'til 8pm. We brought the idea up at the parents meeting and have since been gathering opinions, and the feedback is almost unanimously in favor of making the change. So starting next week (10/18), we will begin our regular YG gatherings at 6pm and end at 8pm.

Before our Funny/Amazing/Painful video for the week, here's a short video about the CROP Walk:

And now for your F/A/P video for the week. Since we're in the midst of playoff baseball, here's a funny video of a minor league baseball manager going crazy. He comes out to argue with the umpire about a call, but then takes his protest a bit too far... Enjoy! See y'all on Sunday!

God thought - Love #5

2009-10-06T14:53:00.002-04:00

Read
So be very careful to love the Lord your God. -Joshua 23:11

Reflect
Imagine a married couple who coincidentally shared the same birthday. Consider this scenario: One half of the couple begins thinking months in advance about the other's gift. He or she places phone calls, makes dinner reservations, and carefully chooses the perfect present. The other person starts thinking about a gift the night before. He or she makes a frantic dash to the drug store, chooses a cheesy card, and scribbles a birthday wish. Both members of the couple claim to love each other, but which one made it more evident? Obviously, the one who intentionally thought ahead and made a plan.

Our relationship with God can resemble this imaginary situation. How? Read Joshua 23:9-11.

In these verses, Joshua gave his farewell address to the Hebrew people. Joshua took over for Moses as leader of the Israelites after they crossed into the Promised Land. Here, he reminded them of all God had done for them as they moved into the place that He had prepared for them. God made his love for His people evident through His actions on their behalf. In verse 11, Joshua reminded the Hebrews that they must be intentional about their love for God.

In our world, we must also be extremely intentional in the way we express our love for God. We can be quick to profess a love for God, but what does the whole story of our lives say? Far too often our treatment of God more closely resembles that person giving a drug store birthday card at the last minute -- doing the bare minimum, but not offering full-fledged devotion. In an unbelieving world, we make our love for God evident by being mindful of our witness and devotion to Him at all times.

Respond

1. What are some steps you can take to be more intentional in the ways that you love God?

2. Have you ever been guilty of giving God the bare minimum? Most of us have. What can you do to avoid this trap?

3. Being intentional carries great risk. What are some of these risks? What are the benefits to intentionally love God with your whole life?

What does God require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

Weekend in review

2009-10-05T13:52:00.002-04:00

We had a fun night of banana mania last night, complete with the banana race (congrats to Team Mean Machine) and a game of banana basketball (congrats to team two, who won the game with a final score of 1,500 to 0).

We also took some time to worship, snack, make birthday cards for Molly Jam, and spent some time in a lesson discussing unity in a diverse youth group.

In particular, we looked at Ephesians 4:1-6: "As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one bod and one Spirit--just as you were called to one hope when you were called--one Lord, one faith one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and though all and in all."

Then in separate groups, we asked: (1) What is the one thing Paul is asking of the Ephesians, (2) What five qualities does he name as necessary to achieve this goal, (3) How many times does he use the word "one" in this passage? Why do you think he says it so many times, (4) What actions prevent our group from achieving unity? Which of the give qualities Paul mentions are most needed in our group to help us achieve unity?

All in all it was a great night. Remember to continue fundraising for the CROP Walk, which we'll be participating in this coming Sunday! Hope to see you there.

God thought - Love #4

2009-09-29T14:51:00.002-04:00

Read
I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly -Psalm 40:10

Reflect
According to technoratimedia.com, there are at least 112.8 million blogs in the world. Are you a blogger? Or do you read blogs? Ten years ago, they didn't exist. Blogs are a result of the easy Internet access people have today. You don't have to be famous. You don't have to be qualified by position or prestige. All you need is a computer, an opinion, and a hankering to write, and you too can have a blog. Blogs provide people an outlet to express their personal feelings and thoughts. However, since blogs are one the Internet, anybody can read them. So while blogs are personal, they're by no means private.

The Book of Psalms, the worship manual for the Hebrew people, was somewhat like a blog. In it, David and the other writers expressed personal feelings of worship, petition, and thanksgiving to God. Their intimate expressions toward Him were not kept private. They were intended for use in public worship. Read Psalm 40:7-10. Notice the personal nature of verse 10. David had a desire to proclaim God's righteousness, faithfulness, salvation, and love before the masses. Remaining silent about his faith wasn't an option.

As followers of Christ, we have to adopt the same attitude. While our faith is internal and intimate, we cannot keep it to ourselves. If everyone considered their faith not for public consumption, who would tell others about Christ? Our faith has to be like a blog -- personal, but for the world to see. The cry of David's heart -- proclaiming God's righteousness, faithfulness, salvation, and love before the world -- must also be the passion of our lives. Our faith is most definitely personal, but by no means private.

Respond

1. What are some practical ways you can go public with a private matter like your faith in God?

2. You may have grow up going to church, but what makes your faith personal? If you don't feel like your faith is personal, what can you do to take greater ownership of it?

3. What are you passionate about? How can you express God's righteousness, faithfulness, salvation, and love to others through the things you are passionate about?

What does God require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

Weekend in Review

2009-09-28T15:04:00.004-04:00

This past weekend we joined together with a number of other churches in the area to plan and participate in an outreach event called FreeFall. Here's a synopsis of the day from an e-mail I received this morning from one of the pastors who was there. Check back soon for pictures and a video from the day.

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Thanks so much for giving so much to make Free Fall a smashing success! You all deserve the highest praise! Over the top GREAT job working together! Amazing! Here's what a friend posted on my Facebook: "Great day of seeing God's hands at work! Beautiful seeing churches work together as the body of Christ. Amen!" I agree.

Best we can tell, well over 200 junior and senior highers attended the event! Awesome! Props go out to Nate and Randy for a clear and confident sharing of the Gospel! Everyone listened! Amazing! Food, incredible! Thank you, thank you, thank you! B-ball, great job, especially being creative and flexible! Field games, awesome! At one point I looked out and saw both frisbee and volleyball going strong, looked great! Sound...amazing! Thanks Kevin and Jim! Skate -- I can't even tell you how much these guys appreciated it. So many said afterwards how much fun they had. Many told me, "This was my first contest, I was so nervous I couldn't even land the simplest trick." They will never forget this...and they LOVED the attention and interest in their abilities! Thanks so much for your presence and cheering them on!

I did get to see Dalton at the hospital. He did break his foot but said, "Today was awesome, I would do it again even if I knew I was going to break my foot again!" He LOVED it! And mom was cool with it all too!!! I was able to pray with him right in the emergency waiting room with his mom, step dad, and the four skaters that brought him to the hospital!!! This was a very special moment… I wish you could have been there… again, another moment that these guys will never forget.

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If you want to see pictures, check out http://www.facebook.com/dkratz2?ref=name#/pages/Quakertown-PA/East-Swamp-Youth/278869120062?ref=ts . We'll also get a highlight video on here sometime soon. Keep checking back throughout the week!

Funny/Amazing/Painful Video Thursday

2009-09-24T16:13:00.002-04:00

Before our video for the week, just a reminder that we will not have youth group on Sunday night as we usually do; instead we will have youth group during the day on Saturday, from 12noon 'til 3pm. We'll be participating in a Super Youth Group outreach event called FreeFall. The event is taking place at the Quakertown Skate Park (also called Main Street Park). It's across the street from the Quakertown Freshmen Center. We will plan to meet right at the park.

The gathering will include a skate competition, a 3 on 3 basketball tournament, ultimate frisbee, crazy field games, and other activities. There will also raffles and some great prizes, including free give-a-ways to everyone who attends (free Chic-fil-a sandwhiches, DQ dollars to all who attend). We'll also have free food (hot dogs, soft pretzels, popcorn, cotton candy, chips, drinks). Everything the whole day is free.

Here's why we're doing this: we want this to be an outreach event. The hope is that everyone from our youth group will bring a few friends who aren't connected to a church. At the end of the event, when we're giving out raffle prizes, we'll have a few students give their testimonies and talk about the difference Jesus has made in their lives. So it's important to invite as many friends as possible so as many people as possible can hear the story of Jesus.

There's no need to sign up for the event. Just come on out on Saturday. We hope to see you there! If you have any questions, let us know. Have a great week, and we'll see you (and your friends) this weekend! Until then, enjoy the following video!

God thought - Love #3

2009-09-23T10:41:00.003-04:00

Read
This is how God showed his love among us: he sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. -1 John 4:9

Reflect
You may remember the movie How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Yeah, it's a kiddie movie, but it's a classic, and it contains a truth we often forget. The Grinch was unable to love in any way because his heart was "two sizes too small." All he knew was bitterness and selfishness. When all hope seemed lost, something happened: Cindy Lou Who, a little girl from Whoville, wouldn't give up on the Grinch. Regardless of what he did, she always loved him. From what he saw in this child, the Grinch realized he was loved....and it changed him.

Read 1 John 4:9-10. This is believed to be one of the last New Testament books written. Its elderly author had a story similar to Dr. Seuss's beloved villain. He wasn't shaggy and green, but before meeting Jesus, John once had a reputation for his passion and a fiery temper. He and his brother were called the "Sons of Thunder." But meeting someone who loved him no matter what changed this disciple. John became known as the "Apostle of Love." He spent most of his life proclaiming our need for God and letting His love give us new life.

Similar to the Grinch, without Christ we have hearts of stone, incapable of love. It's only when we realize that God loves us anyway that we can start to love the way He created us to. While we were unlovable enemies of God, Jesus pursed us, never giving up. Our hearts are shriveled with sin until He transforms us. When we see the love of God in Jesus, our old natures are replaced with His life. This unconditional love hasn't given up on us. Our hearts can be radically changed, and life will never look the same.

Respond

1. Describe your heart. Is it calloused or small, full of anger or selfishness? Is it capable of loving, forgiving, and believing?

2. Can you wrap your brain around the King of all Kings being in love with you and pursuing you? How might life change as a result of this love?

3. In response to His loving you first, what are some practical ways you will love others today?

What does God require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

God thought - Love #2

2009-09-22T11:11:00.002-04:00

Read
"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed" says the Lord, who has compassion on you. -Isaiah 54:10

Reflect
Who was your best friend growing up? Who was the first super-athlete you can remember? What was your favorite TV show when you were 10? All of these things are probably different today (although these memories may still hold great sentimental value). Ever wonder why things change so much? Sometimes it's a change for the better; other times it's disappointing. Occasionally it's hurtful, but mostly it's just different. Change is woven into the fabric of being a teenager. Your voice changes, your body changes, your likes and dislikes change. Seems as if everything changes. Do you ever have moments when you wish something, anything, would just stay constant?

Read Isaiah 54:9-10. Here, God reassures His people of His love. The prophet Isaiah had the "fun" job of telling God's people about the serious consequences of their sin. The result was time spent in exile from their native land. But then Isaiah got to share some great news. God chose to renew His covenant promise with the Israelites, telling them that His love would remain longer than the mountains that populated the Judean countryside.

So what does that mean to us, thousands of years later? Well, the mountain are still there, right? The promise God gave to the Israelites, He also gives to us. In a world that may seem to spin out of control, God is right there. Though we may experience difficult times, His peace never leaves us. Though everything around us may seem as if it's falling apart, God's love and faithfulness never change. He won't move, retire, get replaced, become outdated, or outgrown....Nothing changes God's love. Nothing. Following him doesn't guarantee an easy life, but His peace and love will never fail us.

Respond

1. What are some events in your life that have shaken you? How did God help you through these situations?

2. How will you help others know God's unfailing and unchanging love?

3. God revealed His love for Israel even through discipline. How have you been shown love through discipline, and what lasting difference did it make?

What does God require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

Weekend In Review

2009-09-21T13:16:00.002-04:00

An excellent night at Youth Group last night, including a competitive kickball game, some excellent outdoor worship, and a good discussion on clothing ourselves in Christ. We discussed (1) what our favorite articles of clothing is and why, (2) what our clothing reveals about who we are , (3) the way the Bible uses a metaphor of clothing to talk about our lifestyle, (4) the fact that as we grow physically, we outgrow and no longer fit into certain clothes, and how in the same way we as we grow spiritually we outgrow and no longer fit into certain lifestyles.

We looked at the following two verses:
Romans 13:14 -- "Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Christ Jesus."
Colossians 3:12-14 -- "...clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues, wear love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."

Unfortunately we forgot to take pictures last night, so we don't have any photos to share. Be sure to check back throughout the week for God thoughts and funny videos. Hope you can all make it to See You At The Pole on Wednesday morning and FreeFall on Saturday afternoon!

Funny/Amazing/Painful Video Thursday

2009-09-17T13:22:00.002-04:00

For those new to the blog, every Thursday we upload a video for your viewing pleasure. The video will usually fit into one of three categories: it's funny, it's amazing, or it's painful. Be sure to check back each week for the top video. Also, if you come across a funny video, send it to Josh -- we'll use it for our video of the week and give you credit!

Before this week's video, a few reminders:

1. Youth Group this week is from 630 'til 830pm at church. Plan to bring your favorite piece of clothing or the article of clothing that most defines you, means the most to you, etc.

2. Parents Meeting on Sunday night at 630pm.

Our video for the week fits into the funny and cute category. Enjoy...

God thought - Love #1

2009-09-16T10:47:00.002-04:00

Read
No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him. -1 Corinthians 2:9

Reflect
One of the best parts of going to the movies is the previews. You know how it works -- the guy with the deep, gravelly voice starts off with, "In a world..." Then for about two and a half minutes thing explode, music intensifies, plot details emerge, and finally your hear a closing line like, "Coming soon . . . the adventure of a lifetime!" While the preview may look awesome, the movies usually ends up being a mildly entertaining diversion rather than the adventure you were hoping for.

Too many people end up experiencing life the same way they do most movies. It starts off with great promise, but turns out to be unsatisfying. Sure there were some good parts, but it could have been so much more. How can we experience the adventure that life is supposed to be?

Check out what the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 2:6-9. Corinth was a popular place, full of rich and successful people. But many soon realized that the world's promises didn't deliver they life they hoped for; actually, things were getting pretty bad. In verse 9, the Apostle Paul wrote that loving God leads to a life greater than anything we can imagine. How can we tell this isn't just more hype?

Look back at verses 6-8. Paul said that when we love Christ above everything else, we gain a new perspective that changes everything. The wisdom of God isn't head knowledge from a textbook; it's something you experience through the power of His Holy Spirit living inside you. You become a new person. You see things differently, hear God calling you to step out in faith, and trust that He's got you when you jump. That's the adventure of a lifetime -- a life and love that your eyes, ears, and mind can't even comprehend.

Respond

1. Why do you think so many people seem so unsatisfied with their lives?

2. Verse 6 says that the wisdom and rulers of this age are "coming to nothing." What do you think that means? What is the fatal flaw in following the world's promises?

3. The adventure God has prepared for you hinges on whether you respond to him in love. So, how are you loving God with your life? (Be honest with yourself; try to avoid cliche answers).

What does God require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

God thought - Love Intro

2009-09-15T10:52:00.002-04:00

The word "love" gets used all the time, so it's easily lost-in-translation when talking about God. But it's a big deal. Huge, actually. We need to start wrapping our brains and our hearts around this thing called love. Jesus said his followers should be known for it. God is it. So, what will we do with it? God's love changes everything. It's more than feelings or preferences; love is a way of life.

These God-thoughts focused on love won't talk about unrealistic fantasies of Hollywood romance; it won't talk about ooey-gooey love; it won't talk about over-exaggerated expressions of personal preference. Instead, we're hoping to discuss life, significance, joy, and purpose through the lens of God's love.

Each week we'll have two God thought postings (on Tuesdays and Wednesdays). With each one, we'll consider a verse, have some devotional thoughts, and close with questions for personal reflection. And with each one, we pray that you'll grow with each step we take. Some will be bigger steps than others. Some may seem obvious. Some may even require a leap of faith or two. But every step will get us moving in the right direction -- toward a fuller understanding and expression of what love is.

THE BLOG IS BACK

2009-09-14T14:12:00.004-04:00

After a summer hiatus, the youth group blog is back. Each week we'll be making posts (see the panel on the left for a breakdown of our weekly posts), and providing space for your input.

Be sure to get into a regular habit of checking the blog. It'll have pictures from our events, information about upcoming events, and detail any last minute changes for our events. It'll also feature reminders, links to helpful sites, and of course, our weekly Funny/Amazing/Painful video.

Finally, the blog is also a spot to check in for some devotional thoughts throughout the week. For the first few months, we'll be looking at verses that center us on the theme of love -- what does it mean to love God and love others?

We're really excited for an excellent new year of Youth Group, and are thrilled you're a part of our community. See you in the days and weeks ahead...

Summer Blog Break

2009-07-08T10:21:00.003-04:00

The QUMCyouth blog will be on a summer hiatus -- be sure to check back though once we start up again in full swing at the end of August for our regular weekly posts.

No Youth Group This Week

2009-05-07T13:28:00.002-04:00

A reminder that we won't be having youth group this week in order that we might all take the day to do something really, really, really special for our mums.

Also a reminder to e-mail Josh or sign-up at the Student Spot for your ticket to the musical on Friday night.

Here's your video for the week, a funny and painful experience for a local TV reporter.

2009-04-30T14:15:00.002-04:00

Youth Group will be at regular time and place this week (630 'til 830, QUMC). Here's what we'll be doing:

Gather/worship

Scripture Reading (from Deuteronomy)

Lesson (everyone please bring a Bible for this; we'll be walking through all 66 books of the Bible in a few minuets)

Game: BREAK IN (round one)

Snack: Anisha is signed up to bring it

Game: BREAK IN (round 2)

End in prayer

After last week's video of beating Super Mario Brothers in like 5 minutes, our video this week continues with the Amazing Mario Bros theme. Enjoy, and see you Sunday...

Funny/Amazing/Painful Video Thursday

2009-04-24T11:30:00.001-04:00

Our video for the week falls in the amazing category. I don't even want to guess how many hours an individual would have to play in order to become this proficient.

See everyone on Saturday for the 30 Hour Famine!!! 'Til then, enjoy...

Weekend in Review

2009-04-20T15:38:00.002-04:00

After some technical difficulties, we did manage to get the Big Youth Group Movie Night under way last night. Thanks for your patience as we worked things out, and a special thanks to Pam for handling the snack table, Molly for figuring out our sound, and Kelsey for bringing cupcakes for her birthday!

This coming weekend is the 30 Hour Famine! Do your best during this week to get as many donations/sponsors as possible. If you still need a packet, what're you waiting for? Let me know and I'll get you one ASAP.

Have a great week, and we'll see you at NOON ON SATURDAY for the 30HF.

Funny/Amazing/Painful Video Thursday

2009-04-16T16:26:00.003-04:00

At youth group this week we'll be having our Big Movie Night. We'll begin with a lesson that will walk us through every book of the Bible (really!), then we'll pretend like we're at the movie theater, watching a movie on the big screen in the sanctuary. We'll provide popcorn, pretzels, and cookies. Any other snacks you want, feel free to bring!

Our video this week falls in the funny and painful category. This gentleman is clearly not cut out to be a sportscaster!

God thought - Identity #20

2009-04-15T11:50:00.002-04:00

For our God thoughts, we've been been going with the whole Identity theme for the past 20 postings. Of course, we could go on for another 20 and then another 20 after that, but just to mix it up a bit, this will be our last Identity post. Next week, we'll start with a new God thoughts theme. So for now, enjoy the final God thought / Identity posting.

Read
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. -1 John 1:7

Reflect
Do you know what a conditional statement is? Well, let's break it down. What is a condition? A condition is a stipulation of a contract, a basic idea or rule that's essential to an agreement. For example, a condition of an inmate's parole might be good behavior. Got it? And of course, you know what a statement is. So put the two together: a conditional statement is a statement communicating a condition. You're actually pretty familiar with this idea. Here's one you may have heard: "If you don't pass your science test, you will not get to go out this Friday night." Or, "If you want to live to see 17, you better not get another detention." Yup, we're all familiar with them. And now that you know what to look for, you'll see conditional statements all around you.

Read 1 John 1:5-10. John loved to use metaphors. (See the little book entitled Revelation, for example). While they can sometimes make his writings tricky to apply, John's metaphors give us such wonderful pictures of the things of God. This passage is no different. What a wonderful image: God is light. In Him there is no darkness. John says if we love God, we better be light, too. Pretty simple. Yet pretty profound.

Look closely at verse 7. Here we see John giving us a pretty cool conditional statement. He says that if we want fellowship with one another and Christ, we must do what? What is the condition? That's right: we must walk in the light. Here we find another picture of your identity in Christ....you are a light-walker.

Stay true to your identity. Commit to walking in the light today.

Respond

1. If sin and evil are defined as "darkness," what does John mean by "the light?"

2. Think for a moment about those dark places that tempt you. Are there some practical things you can do to stay away from them?

3. How are you leading others towards the light?

Hearts / Minds // Above

Funny/Amazing/Painful Video Thursday

2009-04-09T10:58:00.005-04:00

It's Holy Week, where we remember and celebrate the last week in the life of our Lord. As we move from the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, to the Last Supper, to the Garden of Gethsemane, to his betrayal and arrest, to his Jewish trial, to his Roman trial, to the crucifixion, to the burial, to the resurrection, this is a sacred time for us.

We won't be having youth group this week, as it is Resurrection Sunday, but we'll gather again next Sunday for our YG Big Movie night. For now, consider a few passages of Scripture re: the resurrection, then enjoy our video for the week. This week's video comes to us from Andrea S. Aber. Thanks Andrea!

Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. -1 Corinthians 15:1-3

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.....Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. -1 Peter 1:3-4, 8.

God thought - Identity #19

2009-04-08T13:58:00.002-04:00

Read
For you were once darkness, but not you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light. -Ephesians 5:8

Reflect
A friend recently told me this story. I thought it was good. He said, "When I was young, my dad worked for a university. The school sponsored a weekend cave exploring trip and my dad allowed me to tag along. This was a real deal, underground cave that stretched for miles and miles. I couldn't have been six years old, so it was quite an adventure; I had my own helmet and headlamp and everything. I will never forget shuffling along in the dark, damp cavern with my dad and a dozen or so college students.

"I remember entering into this one cavern where the narrow passageways gave way to an expansive cathedral-sized room. It seemed as if we had stepped out into space. Everyone was looking around, their headlamps illuminating the sky-high ceiling. Then, we all decided to turn off our lights to see how dark it was. Let me tell you, if you've never been cave exploring you've never known darkness like this. It was suffocating. I remember feeling paralyzed. Until someone cut on his headlamp, and suddenly light exploded through the darkness. One by one the lamps went on. The room was illuminated, the darkness dispelled."

Read Ephesians 5:8-14. What great imagery. Paul told the Ephesians that while they once lived in darkness (the darkness of their own sin), they now live in light....the wonderful light of Christ. What does it mean to live as light in this world? Paul gives the answer in verse 13. We are to expose the sinful darkness of the world by reflecting the light of Christ.

Like a headlamp cutting through a dark cavern, your identity is tied to being a light in a dark world. Are you up to the task?

Respond

1. Do you see spiritual darkness in the world around you? List some examples.

2. List some ways you are able to shine the light of Christ in your world.

3. How could you improve your reflectivity. In other words, in what ways could you do a better job of reflecting Christ's love as you go about your daily life?

Hearts / Minds // Above

God thought - Identity #18

2009-04-07T13:15:00.002-04:00

Read
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. -Ephesians 2:10

Reflect
Stop and think for a moment about objects and their purposes. Just about any object you see was created by someone for a certain purpose. I'm currently writing this post in the kitchen of the Johnson's house. If I look up I see a lamp, designed by someone with the purpose of providing light. If I look to the right I see a deck, designed by someone for the purpose of having a place to gather and eat and talk and fellowship. Across the kitchen is a coffee maker, created with the expressed purpose of making coffee. You get the idea. Look around you. What objects do you see? What are the purposes?

Read Ephesians 2:1-10. Paul was writing from prison in Rome to the church in Ephesus. Here, Paul is talking about the amazing grace God extended to humankind through His Son, Jesus. Paul talks about the sense of ownership God has for us. He writes of a God who longs to lavish us with praise. Then Paul gets to verse 10. Here we learn the nature of our relationship to God, and the purpose for which He designed us.

God looks at you as His treasured creation. You are His workmanship. This means to the world you are evidence of God's great compassion, love, and power. And you were created by Him to do what? Good works in Christ Jesus. Your purpose is to live out Christ's teachings in this world. You are called to act rightly.

How amazing is it that your identity testifies to the world of God's creative hand? Praise God for His grace, love, and desire to have you be a part of His plan.

Respond

1. Part of your identity is this idea of being God's workmanship, the fruits of His creative labor. How does this make you feel?

2. When you think about applying this verse in your life, what are some ways you demonstrate "good works" in the world around you?

3. Write a prayer asking God to show you opportunities today to do good works in His name.

Hearts / Minds // Above

Funny/Amazing/Painful Video Thursday

2009-04-03T11:11:00.002-04:00

Before our videos for the week, a quick reminder about youth group this weekend. We will be meeting at our regular time on our regular day: 630 'til 830pm on Sunday night. The Boy Scouts will be in Miller Hall for their banquet, so we'll rotate between being outside (65 degrees!), the youth room, and some other rooms. Since Josh won't be able to make it, Pam will be running the show, with help from a few 'mystery youth leaders.' Find out who on Sunday night.

Our videos for the week are the long-awaited clips of video from The Loft. Enjoy :)

God thought - Identity #17

2009-04-01T17:19:00.002-04:00

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. -1 Corinthians 12:27

Read
Think for a moment about the last time you worked together with a group to achieve a common goal. Maybe it was a cheerleading squad or a volleyball team. Maybe it was a band or a school play. Maybe you worked on a website with a few buddies. Whatever the case, if you did anything similar to these tasks, you combined your talents with those of other people to achieve something greater than you could have achieved on your own. It's a pretty amazing concept if you think about it.

Read 1 Corinthians 12:14-27. This passage has a ton to say about your identity as a Christ-follower. Do you get what is going on? The Apostle Paul is comparing believers to a body. Just like your body is made up of all kinds of parts that have unique purposes, the Church body is made up of Chirst-followers who are all gifted by God in unique ways. And when believers work together, they can do amazing things.

The image of you as a part of a body is pretty remarkable. It totally reframes your purpose, doesn't it? It shifts the focus from you as an individual to you as a part of a larger plan with a larger purpose. You are a valuable part of the Church--the Body of Christ on this earth. That is truly a major piece of your identity.

But it doesn't stop there. Just like eleven players on a football team can work together to accomplish more than any one person could, you can work together with other Christ-followers to use your gifts to change the world. Are you using what God has given you for His purposes?

Reflect

1. What are the different talents or passions God has gifted you with?

2. In what ways do you use these talents for the purposes of serving the Church?

3. How does knowing you are part of the Body of Christ change the way you look at your identity?

Hearts / Minds // Above

God thought - Identity #16

2009-03-31T10:52:00.003-04:00

I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5

Read
Do something for me: Go over to your gaming system and unplug it. Go ahead. I'll wait. Okay, great. Now, press the power button, grab a controller, and . . . nothing. Do the same thing with your TV. Go unplug it from the power strip. Now, plop down on the couch, grab the remote, click "on," and . . . what gives? Why won't your stuff work? Okay, dumb question. Obviously you know the answer. But you get my point. Your gaming system or your TV must be connected to the power source for it to work. It doesn't matter how badly you want to watch TV or play Guitar Hero. Without power, you've got nothing.

Read John 15:5-8. Jesus was talking to His disciples in one of their last moments together before His arrest, trial, and crucifixion. Jesus was using the imagery of a vine, probably a grape vine, to teach his disciples about the source of their power. He explained it this way: Jesus was the main trunk of a grape vine. His disciples were like the vines that grow out from the trunk; as long as they stay attached, they would produce fruit. However, if the branches were detached, they could not produce fruit. When Jesus said "fruit" he meant the good deeds that come as a result of our faith.

On your own you might try to be good, but you, like all people, are naturally inclined to look out for yourself first, others second. If you remain in the vine of Christ, your identity will be that of a branch; you will be attached to Christ.

Just like a power source powers a TV, Jesus will give you power. He will enable you to live righteously, bringing glory and honor to Him through your righteous deeds.

Reflect

1. Are you living like a branch that is connected to the Vine, or like one that has been paired away?

2. If we apply this parable, we would agree that the proof of our closeness to Christ is in our fruit--our godly actions. What do your actions say about your relationship with Christ?

3. What changes can you make in your life to more closely identify you with "the Vine"?

Hearts / Minds // Above

Change in Plans

2009-03-30T16:47:00.002-04:00

As discussed at youth group last night, we'll be having a slight change in plans for this coming weekend. We will not be having Service Saturday this weekend, and will instead be having a regular Youth Group gathering on Sunday night from 630 'til 830pm. Thanks for your understanding and flexibility.

Also, sorry for the delay on the Loft Talent Show Video(s). The original video was too long to put on YouTube, so we're having to redo it in two shorter clips. Check back this week, and it'll be there!

God thought - Identity #15

2009-03-25T11:11:00.002-04:00

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not die but have eternal life. -John 3:16

Read
Let's do a little word association. But instead of telling me the first thing that comes to your mind when you read the word I give, I want you to think of a word that means the exact opposite thing. For example, if I write the word, "Cool," you would immediately say something like "Tom Cruise," who is of course, the exact opposite of cool. Get it? Okay, here we go...

Waffles

Brad Pitt

Orange

Soft

Upside down

Punk rock

Okay, nicely done. Now read John 3:16-21. John 3:16 is probably a pretty familiar verse to you; hopefully you learned something new reading the surrounding passages. But I want to focus for a moment on John 3:16. I want you to look at it a little differently today. Today I want you to look at it in terms of how it relates to your identity in Christ. We started this God thought thinking about opposites. There is a really cool exchange that Jesus talks about dealing with polar opposites, namely life and death.

Because you are a Christ-follower, you have been given a great gift. Christ transformed you from a dead person to a living person. You were dead in your sins. Jesus gave you life on the cross. When you think about how that affects your identity, it should be pretty simple: you can live as one who is assured an eternal life in the presence of God.

Reflect

1. List some ways your life as a Christ-follower (someone who is "living") should be different from someone who does not trust in Christ.

2. How does it make you feel when you think about the gift of eternal life Christ purchased for you?

Hearts / Minds // Above

The Loft Pictures

2009-03-23T20:59:00.000-04:00

God thought - Identity #14

2009-03-18T11:03:00.004-04:00

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing, and perfect will. -Romans 12:2

Read
Let's talk plastic. Most of you will drink out of some sort of plastic bottle today. On the assembly line, the molds used to make the bottles serve as a pattern, making sure all the bottles are the same size. It's pretty amazing, actually. Picture millions of bottles all the exact same size, produced at the same time, over and over again. They can be produced in such exacting detail because they make use of a pattern.

Read Romans 12:1-2. If you're like me, you've read these verses, written by the Apostle Paul, many times. These two verses have such a great deal to say about worship and transformation. But I don't know that I ever though much about that little word pattern. This little word is huge for us as we learn about our identities.

Look back at verse 2. Paul says to stop conforming to the pattern of this world. What does it mean to conform? Think about those plastic bottles we mentioned. When they are made, the plastic is heated up to a liquid state, then poured into the mold (the pattern). The plastic conforms to the mold, taking the shape of the bottle. When you act like the world acts, you are conforming to its pattern. And Paul says this is a recipe for disaster. So how do you keep from conforming? Transform yourself by turning your mind towards Christ. Focus on Him. His pattern is different than the world's. By conforming to His pattern, you identify yourself with other Christ-followers, not world-followers.

As you continue to learn about the nature of your identity, seek to be a person who is known for conforming to Christ.

Reflect

1. Describe the pattern of the world around you. What values does culture say are important? What characteristics do you see being reinforced over and over?

2. Describe Christ's pattern. What does Jesus say is important? What characteristics and values do you see being reinforced by Christ over and over?

3. Describe the pressure you face to conform to this world. How can you rely on Christ to help you face the pressure?

Hearts / Minds // Above

God thought - Identity #13

2009-03-17T14:34:00.002-04:00

What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ. -Philippians 3:8

Read
I am a Phillies fan. A big one. My allegiance is rooted in my earliest sports memories. Ever since we were kids, following the Philadelphia sports teams was just understood to be a natural part of life. I've been a fan ever since. Just last year, the Phillies won the world series, their first since 1980. It was wild. Kim and I went to the parade in Philadelphia, standing in line for over 6 hours just to get a glimpse of the celebration. Sounds crazy, but it was totally worth it. That's my team, and we'd just won the World Series!

Read Philippians 3:7-10. Philippians was one of the Apostle Paul's prison epistles (epistles means "letters"). In the beginning of this letter, Paul makes a bold statement about his priorities. He states that nothing, nothing can compare to knowing Jesus Christ. I imagine Paul had interests, things that excited him. But when he turned to Christ, he sold out. He gave up everything to follow God. Can you say the same thing?

We all have our passions, our interests, our dreams, and our desires. But we must be willing to place them second to our devotion to Christ. Our love for knowing Christ, and getting to know Him more, must take precedence over all our other loves. (Yes, even the Phillies and the Eagles).

Part of your identity as a Christ-follower is being willing to pursue Him at all costs. Are you willing?

Reflect

1. What interests you? What excites you more than anything?

2. Do you have a godly attitude about your interests? Do they get in the way of your devotion to Christ?

3. How can you use your interests and passions to serve Christ?

Hearts / Minds // Above

Weekend in Review

2009-03-16T15:54:00.003-04:00

Thanks to all for your help at bowling with the Young Explorers. We had a great time and thank the YE for once again indulging us.

A short post for today. Check back for the T/W God-thoughts and Thursday's video.

Hearts / Mind // Above

Funny/Amazing/Painful Video Thursday

2009-03-12T15:06:00.002-04:00

Before our video for the week, a few notes.

Note One: We're bowling this week. Please plan to stay after church to eat pizza with us, then bowl with the Young Adventurers at 1pm at Earl Bowl. Have your parents pick you up at the bowling alley at 2:30pm. Cost is five bucks.

Note Two: Videos and pictures from the Loft will be revealed next week. If you have any pictures or video, please bring them on Sunday so I can get them on my computer.

Our video for the week comes via suggestion from Nicole Umstead. It's not funny, but it's amazing and at times painful, in a real, raw, we need to be aware of this type of way. It's a departure from our usual types of videos, but it's worth it. Thanks Nicole!

Daughtry - New Music - More Music Videos

(Safe) Sanctuary

2009-03-11T16:53:00.002-04:00

Sing it all together now:

Lord prepare me
To be a safe sanctuary
With no purple, or single adults
Watch out for the hall monitor
And don't get caught with, a just married couple

Lord prepare me
To be a safe sanctuary
Always keep all doors open
Make sure you find two adults
Of the same sex, for all retreats

Lord I know that
Safe Sanctuary
Is for our own good
But we can't help the fact
That we're in high school
And we think we're too cool
For your dumb rules
So take THAT

Regular posting will return next week, complete with pictures and video from THE LOFT.