Praise the LORD, all you nations;
extol Him, all peoples.
For great is His love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.
Praise the LORD.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Hula Hoops and the Name of God
Last night was a great night. We played a fun relay race game with hula hoops where we discovered that the pink hula hoop is superior to the blue hula hoop. Who knew?
We also studied God's Word. The lesson was about Psalm 139:20 which says "...your adversaries misuse your name." This was our main focus: being careful not to take the Lord's name in vain.
The name of the Lord has become a byword, a slur, an expletive. Instead of using his name in praise and admiration, it is often used in anger. Exodus 20:7 says that the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
We should be careful how we use the name of God, and how we represent him.
Join us next Wednesday for more fun activities and a great time of studying God's Word together!
We also studied God's Word. The lesson was about Psalm 139:20 which says "...your adversaries misuse your name." This was our main focus: being careful not to take the Lord's name in vain.
The name of the Lord has become a byword, a slur, an expletive. Instead of using his name in praise and admiration, it is often used in anger. Exodus 20:7 says that the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
We should be careful how we use the name of God, and how we represent him.
Join us next Wednesday for more fun activities and a great time of studying God's Word together!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
BLAST 2011
Hey, guys!! It's time to gear up for BLAST!!!
That's right! Registration forms are due to be notarized by FEB 6.
It's $15 to go, and $10 for the tee shirt.
It's happening in March, so don't dilly-dally!!
That's right! Registration forms are due to be notarized by FEB 6.
It's $15 to go, and $10 for the tee shirt.
It's happening in March, so don't dilly-dally!!
Monday, January 10, 2011
True Fasting
Grace and Peace through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Well, the church-wide fast started today, and it isn't all that easy. If you didn't hear Seth's message on what true fasting means, go back to the Youth Page and check it out!
For the fast, I am giving up any form of media that does not glorify God. Seems all big and important, but it boils down to this: if what I watch on TV doesn't glorify God, I won't watch it. The same goes for music I listen to, books I read, videogames I play, anything in my life. So the question is, how do you define "glorifying God?" Well, the Bible has some interesting things to say about that.
You might think that God wants us to do things like follow the Ten Commandments. Ok, not murdering anyone should be simple. But Jesus went beyond that. He said that to hate someone is to murder them in your heart (Matthew 5:21-22). And that commandment about not committing adultery? "Anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart (Matthew 5:28)." Wow!
So if our status before God is based on what we think as well as what we do, then how do we win? How can we be perfect enough to please Him, with these high expectations? After all, we're only human, right?
God knows we aren't perfect and can't please Him in our own strength. "There is no one who does good, not even one (Psalm 14:3). But, and here is the Good News, WE AREN'T ALONE!!! God didn't set out some huge impossible goal of perfection just to let us fail before Him! He gave us a Helper. Jesus said that "the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my Name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you (John 14:25)." The Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth (John 16:13). As Christians, He will direct our lives, if we allow Him to.
But that sounds all high and preachy. What about something practical, something down to earth that we can use as a guide? The apostle Paul has that covered. In Philippians 4:8, he gives us specific things that we can focus on that we know will glorify God: "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things."
So, that is my goal for the next 21 days. If anything I do to entertain myself doesn't fit that model, it doesn't fit into my life. But what am I going to do without Spongebob to entertain me? Hmmm... perhaps reading the Bible. Praying is good too. And, since I don't have the boob tube to distract me, maybe now would be a good time to start those other activities that I keep putting off, like exercising.
The bottom line is this: fasting means focusing on God in a real and direct way, and strengthening our walk with Him. But, as Christians, shouldn't we be doing that anyway?
Well, the church-wide fast started today, and it isn't all that easy. If you didn't hear Seth's message on what true fasting means, go back to the Youth Page and check it out!
For the fast, I am giving up any form of media that does not glorify God. Seems all big and important, but it boils down to this: if what I watch on TV doesn't glorify God, I won't watch it. The same goes for music I listen to, books I read, videogames I play, anything in my life. So the question is, how do you define "glorifying God?" Well, the Bible has some interesting things to say about that.
You might think that God wants us to do things like follow the Ten Commandments. Ok, not murdering anyone should be simple. But Jesus went beyond that. He said that to hate someone is to murder them in your heart (Matthew 5:21-22). And that commandment about not committing adultery? "Anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart (Matthew 5:28)." Wow!
So if our status before God is based on what we think as well as what we do, then how do we win? How can we be perfect enough to please Him, with these high expectations? After all, we're only human, right?
God knows we aren't perfect and can't please Him in our own strength. "There is no one who does good, not even one (Psalm 14:3). But, and here is the Good News, WE AREN'T ALONE!!! God didn't set out some huge impossible goal of perfection just to let us fail before Him! He gave us a Helper. Jesus said that "the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my Name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you (John 14:25)." The Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth (John 16:13). As Christians, He will direct our lives, if we allow Him to.
But that sounds all high and preachy. What about something practical, something down to earth that we can use as a guide? The apostle Paul has that covered. In Philippians 4:8, he gives us specific things that we can focus on that we know will glorify God: "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things."
So, that is my goal for the next 21 days. If anything I do to entertain myself doesn't fit that model, it doesn't fit into my life. But what am I going to do without Spongebob to entertain me? Hmmm... perhaps reading the Bible. Praying is good too. And, since I don't have the boob tube to distract me, maybe now would be a good time to start those other activities that I keep putting off, like exercising.
The bottom line is this: fasting means focusing on God in a real and direct way, and strengthening our walk with Him. But, as Christians, shouldn't we be doing that anyway?
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