Do you remember the ATF trip in 2005? Is that the trip that Joey hurt his neck? I remember the great drama. I remember the “Battle Cry” theme and how important it is that our faith (my faith) is always treated as important and not made into a social game. That was a great trip. They cooked us breakfast at the church, Bob joined the skateboarders when we ate lunch & there was a lot of hacky sack.
Do you have any high points in your faith? Do you have times when God led you or taught you something that was life changing? I have just finished reading through the book of Genesis and I noticed that when they had an experience with God that they built altars to God. One example is Genesis 35:1 when Jacob is told to build an altar to God who had appeared to him in that exact spot.
Have you built any altars in your life? I would love to hear stories of when God worked in your life. Do you have specific times and places when you feel like you were changed and when you were able to better trust in God and His promises?
This past Wednesday we gathered to write Christmas cards for people in prison. I have to admit there is a small piece of me that asks, “Is this smart?”. Even though we only put our first names on the cards it seems a little, well, crazy. I don’t even know why the person who will read my card is in prison.
It is at this point that I must step back and remember WHY we are writing the cards and remember WHO we writing. The why is because we are to love everyone and Jesus said to care for those who are down-and-out. The who is a criminal. And then I remember that I too am a criminal, a sinner, and that I am often only a few wrong choices away from them.
Check out the pictures below from the day we wrote the cards and you will see a group of people that wants to share the love and grace of God with others. A Reality Check Teen Center Christmas in November!
It is almost the weekend and for some people a chance to sleep in. What are you doing this weekend? One of my favorite parts of the weekend is being able to do some things that I want to do. This might sound like something you expect a youth pastor to say, but I also look forward to going to church. I really like to worship through music (I know I can’t sing, but I still like it – I hope God does some transposing and other stuff to make it sound good) and I am encouraged by others in church that also believe in God.
So, what are you doing this weekend? (If you are not going to church I encourage you to maybe rethink your plans and you might just be blessed)
This Wednesday Reality Check will NOT be meeting at the teen center. We will meet at the normal time, 6:45, but we will meet at Community Bible Fellowship instead of the teen center. We are meeting at a different location because we will be writing Christmas Cards to prisoners. I want to make it clear that we will not be telling the prisoners who we are – we will stay anonymous. We will be having snacks so come ready to bless others this Christmas while enjoying a delicious cookie or two or . . .
Community Bible Fellowship – 2853 NE Curry Lane
OR
Community Bible Fellowship – The corner of Curry Lane & Isabel Road
This Thursday is the begining of the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC). Brian, myself, and many others from Barber County will be travelling to Kansas City to attend. We will leave on Thursday and will return on Sunday. Around 20,000 Catholics will be attending (dosen’t that sound awesome!?!). It should be something like ATF only bigger and for Catholics. I’m just asking for all of your prayers for this conference. Please pray for safe travels and for those attending. Please pray that the youth will grow closer to God from this experience. I hope that all of us attending will have our spiritual lives strengthened and that we will love God more than ever.
Reality Check traveled to The Extreme Youth Center in Alva, OK to attend the Seventh Day Slumber Concert. The video is a little dark but it still shows that we took a moshing group to the concert. I just want to say “thanks” to Jeff. When everyone was moshing around he said, “I will take care of this.”
