Middle School Connect 9:30am

Middle School gets a play day!

What about guitar hero II? I wonder if anyone could bring guitar hero I. I'll bring the donuts and a few breakfast drinks. First come. First served.

Soccer may be our theme this weekend hour. I hope you can come.

pastor D

High School New Series

Starting Sunday, April 29 How NOT to marry a jerk/jerkette

Certified Instructor Mrs. Wendy Feusse will facilitate our discussions regarding relationships. Students often become relationship casualties. This five week series will target how students can learn to manuever through dating relationships before marriage while lessening the risks of injury during the process. The series will be an open class allowing for new students to attend every week. Each session will "stand on its own." We will explore these sessions Sunday mornings starting April 2 through May 27.

Watch this news story and interview by Meredith Viera of young women's view of the term "hooking up." Please read what I posted earlier. More to follow.

Pastor D

Sunday Morning Connect 11am

High School Lesson

Your world seeks guidance for life. When tragedy strikes, you want answers. You want guidance. The free video from bluefishtv.com of the VA Tech Prayer Vigil shows how students want direction in the midst of life's challenges. Yet the culture around you offers many avenues for guidance. One is dreams. In the movie trailer for premonition you can see how your dreams could shape or re-shape the future or any outcome. Where do you get your guidance for your life?

You read a daily reading from a real horoscope. You said it was untrue, a sham, a fun thing to do but you wouldn't follow its insights. You even described it as foolish. But many students look for guidance in life, but seek it in the wrong place where you create more problems. You watched a satirical look at someone who seeks wisdom from a horoscope mini-scroll. Someone has to buy them! Then you created mottos or bumper-sticker summaries of the following Bible verses: Exodus 15:13; Psalm 23; Psalm 25, 5,9; Psalm 31:3; Psalm 32:8-10; Isaiah 48:17. You can get guidance from the Bible! But are you?

I wonder if many times God can't guide you because you are either too busy following something else, preoccupied, or filling your time and mind with way too many things that drown out His voice. I trust you will take the challenge to spend at least five minutes each day listening to God and reading His Word in the Bible. You can do it! I am striving to fulfill my commitment. Today is not over. Make time to hear God's voice. I'd love to hear how God is speaking to you. Please share.

Pastor D

Sunday Morning Lesson

Middle School Connect

You were challenged that the world sometimes seeks guidance in foolish ways. It's like letting a stranger guide your life. You shared how most kids make their own decisions but factor in the great influence of what their friends or culture says. A few of you were willing to do what a stranger suggested to make that point. One student did cartwheels, another did the worm, another played a song on the keyboard synthesizer. You observed how crazy it is to trust your future to a horoscope. You may even have friends who don't have much better guidance in their lives. But you do. Or at least I hope you know that the Bible gives guidance.

You can find genuine guidance in your life from the Bible! You fashioned mini-scrolls for your use this week. I wonder how it's going for you. Is the Bible your source for guidance? Are you letting God lead your life? My prayer is that God helps you to live your life for Him!

Pastor D

Shame on me

I have not posted since Friday. I intend to post at least once a day. But my own life got very busy over the weekend. Still, no excuse for posting how my journey with God is going. As I reflect on this past weekend, I am not satisfied with the time focusing on hearing God's voice. God is the One I follow. Yet I often find myself occupied with my own needs and wants. I leave God out. So I will spend five minutes each day in silence pondering God's truth for my life and then seeking to obey His promptings.

So should you!

In Psalm 119 I recall a verse that says in effect that you need to meditate on God's truth regularly; even at night!

"In the night, Lord, I remember your name, that I may keep you law.
This has been my practice. I obey our precepts (Psalm 119:55-56)."

I wonder if you would take the challenge to stop your busy life and hear God's voice. You will need to direct your thoughts by reading a chapter of the Bible, like Proverbs. Then ask God to speak to you from His words in the Bible. Next, be silent and listen. As in all interactions with people, He may have something to say or not. He is a real person--sometimes people have nothing to say at a particular moment. However, if you make it your regular practice, He will speak. So like the young person Samuel say in prayer, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening ( I Samuel 3:10)." Then sit in silence for five minutes jotting down any promptings you receive. I hope you could let me know what God is saying to you. I'd like to pray for you about His promptings. You'll hear from me tomorrow (or maybe sooner).

Pastor D

Pandora Internet Radio - Find New Music, Listen to Free Web Radio

Pandora Internet Radio - Find New Music, Listen to Free Web Radio

Check out this cool free radio website. Browse. Scan. Add to your Favorites. Or never return. I like the features of this website. Tell me what you think.

Pastor D

Where do we get our guidance

This Sunday morning I will show the prayer vigil slideshow from Virginia Tech, (courtesy of BlueFishTV.com). The verses used are from Psalm 19:14. The book of psalms is filled with heart-shpaed passion of a God-follower who seeks to know more about God. In the wake of the tragedy, many students and families are looking for hope. Some may be looking for guidance. That's what you will gain from coming to church this Sunday. You will know how to get guidance for your life, even when life is "walking in the shadow of death, you can fear no evil (Psalm 23:5)." So come join us and discover God's guidance for your life.

Pastor D

Sunday Morning Lesson

Where to find genuine guidance in life

This Sunday morning I've decided to target where to find genuine guidance in life. If you've seen the trailer to Premonition, you can see how our culture views guidance of a supernatural nature. How do you know if what you discover in life is really true. A lot of people look for guidance in life , but seeking it in the wrong place is likely to do nothing but create problems. Many people run to all kinds of things, even weird things, to get guidance for their life. But they ignore God. If you've ever wondered how God guides His followers, then you need to be here on Sunday morning. You'll discover where anyone can God guidance from God.

Biblical Communication

Be quick to listen, slow to speak

I am changing how I interact with people. Often I take my time responding to what others ask. I ponder what to say. In fact, I may even give a one-word reply. Then continue contemplating my response. The challenge is that the other person continues on with the conversation. Either they did not wait for my reply, or they were processing what they wanted to say while not listening to what I was saying anyway. Whatever the case, I am so thankful for God's truth. James 1:19 is so clear. I memorized it first in the King James Version of the Bible. But I discover that if I read it in another version, then I can revisit God's truth in a fresh way.

"Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with
your ears, follow up with your tongue (James 1:19 The Message)."

I am re-learning how to communicate with others. God's Word gives me guidance. His truth directs my life. I want to follow Him everyday.

Do you?

Then live the truth that you already know. Implement the things that you've learned from the Bible. Act upon it. God will help you.

"However, when He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all
truth. (John 16:13)."

As a Christian you can get guidance for your life from the Bible for the Holy Spirit who indwells you will help you like a Friend. You can follow God everyday. It is time to do so.

Pastor D

How to Share Your Faith Using the Massacre at Virginia Tech - Dare 2 Share Ministries, International

How to Share Your Faith Using the Massacre at Virginia Tech - Dare 2 Share Ministries, International

Here's one way to bring up God when you hear others talk about the shootings. I wonder if any of your friends are talking about this? Please let me know by leaving your comments.

Pastor D

gregstier.org » The Virginia Tech Massacre

gregstier.org » The Virginia Tech Massacre

Here's another perspective from Greg Stier who ministers in Colorado near Columbine regarding the tragedy at VTech. He challenges you to shine for Jesus. So let's shine for Jesus and share His truth in an effective way to lead others to the hope Jesus provides.

Pastor D

CreativePastors Blog & Podcast: The Tragedy in Virginia

CreativePastors Blog & Podcast: The Tragedy in Virginia

I really appreciate Pastor Ed's remarks regarding the tragedy in Virginia. Please read his comments. Not only does he provide perspective but also comfort and direction, to begin processing how this fits within the biblical worldview. I add my comments below...

God's Word says that the heart is deceitful above all else, who can know it (Jeremiah 17:9). Humankind's heart is unredeemed and fraught with sinful acts for "there is none righteous, no not one (Romans 3:10)." Jesus even says that out of the heart comes murder (Matthew 15:19). Without Christ in your life, anyone can commit similar acts in anger "for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires (James 1:20)." So we must not trust in man, but put our trust in God.

Evil things will happen in this world and God can still be trusted. Consider how God asked Jonah to go to Ninevah where the Ninevite armies were known for skinning their captives alive and hanging the skins for display. Terrible atrocities happened in the past, they happen today. And they will happen in the future. Yet God rules over all. He is not taken aback by humankind's ways. He knows that left to ourselves we choose ungodly and wicked ways (Romans 1:28-29). Yet there is hope! With Christ in your life, you can still trust God. He will always be there to comfort and to bring you assurance when things go terribly wrong in this life. He will always be there for you. He cares. And He provides guidance to carry on in spite of tragic circumstances (cf. James 1:2-4)

"2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because
you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

So persevere. Trust in God!

Pastor D

Sunday Morning Lessons

I find it challenging to address the needs of both high school and middle school students. This coming Sunday is the last installment regarding habits or addictions students use to cover-up the emptiness in their lives. I wanted to address this by highlighting how busy students are--too busy to hear God's voice. So i challenged them to s-l-o-w d-o-w-n. Next I targeted snap-judgments--students need to take a long and honest look at his or her life before putting down others. This week I am torn what to target--either where to find genuine guidance in life or putting God first is the missing detail in many stuents' lives. So I will ask God for help in targeting one or the other. I pray to discern His guidance by tomorrow.

I will need some help with either option. I wonder if you could comment if you are available this week to help out. Thanks.

Pastor D

Sunday Morning Lesson

High School 11:00Am

The main focus for high school students was to take a long and honest look at yourself before you put down others. One of the big hurdles for non-Christians is your hypocrisy. Students pointed out how non-Christians describe your actions as Christians as judgemental and full of hypocrisy. A lot of people have critical views of others while you never see your own problems. I played a humorous parable in a film clip called Food Fight. It was shot in two days and $60 was spent on food. They spit out much of the food they used. But it was all to make the point that Jesus was trying to make to his disciples--you can be critical of others but blind to your own shortcomings.

In fact the non-Christian world often uses this passage to improperly imply that Christians are violating your own standards if you weigh in on the actions and behaviors of others. You have to make time to think what your response will be. I wanted students to wrestle with this challenge. Mike Eddington distributed situations to discuss in smaller groups. I asked it it would be wrong to "judge" the actions or behavior of the person described on it; e.g. a christian who gets drunk at a party, a parent who abandons his or her family to have an affair, a person who drugs and rapes a girl at a party, etc. Students responded along a whole spectrum of choices from hard-core judgment to calls for mercy, understanding, and sympathy.

At the close I wanted to challenge students to consider their own hearts and desires when it comes to being critical of others and when it comes to your own weaknesses. God's truth challenges us to judge rightly. You must begin with yourself first and then others. Putdowns are commonplace. You can make a difference with the Bible as your guide. My prayer is that you will have an experience to share God's truth in a real way. I wonder if you'd like to share what God is doing in your life.

Pastor D

Sunday Morning Lessons

April 15 Dealing with hypocrisy

Middle School 9:30 AM

The main theme for middle school students was to think before you judge. When you can't see clearly you tend to make a mess of things. Students tried discerning what the difference was in some pictures shown on the screen. The boys and girls tied at six points each. So for the tie-breaker, I blindfolded students to see who could draw the most accurate smiley face. The girls barely won. It is so easy to be critical of others but not see your own mess-ups in the same area. Matthew 7:1-5 challenges everyone to be wary of a critical spirit because it has a way of boomeranging. You need to see clearly your own faults before you point out the faults of others.

Pastor D

Student Discipleship Structure

This three-week experiment targeting small groups for all students will begin Sunday, April 22. The groups will be open to new students at any time. We will meet at Northwest Chapel at 6:30pm until 7:45pm. At then end of this experiment, we will evaluate the program and consider if this is how we want small groups at all in Northwest Chapel Student Ministries.

Each small group has anywhere from 4-10 students in the group with an adult discipleship facilitator and co-facilitator (if available). We will group students according to the following criteria:

1. Grade: Middle school will meet separate from High School.
2. Middle School: If enough facilitators are available, we will gather sixth graders in one group from the seventh & eighth graders.
3. High School: If enough faciliators are available, we will gather upperclassmen in one group and underclassmen in another group.

I understand that these groupings may not be an easy transition. Egos, insecurities, poor communication skills, and personality conflicts abound to plague our efforts to connect students into the beginnings of meaningful relationships. So I discerned these objective groupings for this three-week experiment.

To facilitate relationships I propose small groups (2-4 students per adult). It will be my job to monitor this RUTHLESSLY because students and maybe some facilitators will not want to gather into two new groups when the group grows to 8 students. When one group reaches 8 students, then we will spawn a new group with another adult facilitator. If we can have a co-facilitators who will be ready to start a new group, the students and the adult facilitator can already have some relational connection.

I will add to this blog what I think about what you as a faciliator should eventually know, do, and become during this experimental session. Thanks.

Pastor D

New Discipleship Format

For the Bread Series the basic small group structure will be one where we have a large group time of singing and teaching followed by small groups according to grade levels (middle school & high school).

Basic outline for Sunday evening discipleship:

1. Gather all students together (Middle School & High School) for welcome & worship
2. Teaching Time in large group (Opening activity, set-up, teaching & response)
3. Small Group Time (dig in & making it real)
4. Spend time in prayer for the students. Ask for and record prayer requests to keep track of over the course of this 3-week session.

Return to my blog to discover more helpful items and tips for small group time and this discipleship segment.

Contact me to send you via e-mail the series outline, it's about 12 pages total in Word-format.

Thanks.

Pastor D

Sunday Evening Discipleship

Schedule

April 22, Bread Series #1
April 29, Bread Series #2
May 6, Bread Series #3
May 13, No Discipleship Mother’s Day
May 20 AWANA Jamboree Service Project
May 29 Memorial Day

Walk in the Word with Dr. James MacDonald: Igniting Passion in the People of God through the Proclamation of Truth.

Walk in the Word with Dr. James MacDonald: Igniting Passion in the People of God through the Proclamation of Truth.

Here's a website to scan and to mine for your own spiritual growth. I am also going through the book of Proverbs. Check out a different perspective than mine. Pursue truth!
Pastor d

Easter Reflections

I am recovering from a busy weekend. I am thankful for new insights in ministry. Kurt Johnston from Saddleback posts a review of the weekend services that I 'd like to emulate. I discover that taking a weekly assessment would provide feedback and direction for what God is prompting in me and where God is moving in student ministries. So here's the first attempt: the scale goes from below average-average-above average.

Attendance: Below Average
Lesson Topic: Celebrate Resurrection!
Fun Factor: Above Average
Volunteer Involvement: Above Average
Music: Above Average
Lesson Quality: Above average
Length of Lesson: 5:00
Student Response: Above Average

I'll post more specifics and music links for the songs we used for celebrating Jesus' resurrection from the dead.

Pastor d