Middle School Sunday Series

How Not To Be a Loser

This Sunday morning you will learn how to identify your prejudices and how to alleviate them. To put off prejudices is an on-going battle. In our ever growing multicultural world, you will need this skill for the rest of your life. I read on the news ticker this morning that the minority population in the US surpassed the 100 million mark. I wonder what will happen when the minority population outnumbers the majority. Well, you will be ahead of the game. You have prejudices that are not identified as prejudice. You will learn what prejudice is, how to put it out of your life, and then reflect on what God would have you target as action steps for your spiritual journey. I trust you can join us by looking at the life of one bible character named Hamaan, who is someone that you don't want to be like. See ya' Sunday!

Pastor D

High School Sunday Series

How to Develop Healthy Relationships

This week you will focus on compatibility questions in relationships. This can be a point of confusion. So come and discover how to use the compatibility appraisal to improve your relationships. Mrs. Feusse will return to teach. I trust you can make it and learn how to build quality relationships with friends.

Wisdom from Proverbs

This morning I reflect on what I read yesterday. Proverbs 16:1-3 says,

"To human beings belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue. People may think all their ways are pure, but motives are weighed by the Lord. Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."

I can think that I control my life, but God has a say in what I think and do. He can guide me. If only I would recognize how he can help me, then I can receive his guidance.

When ministering with people or to people, you can get discouraged. You can try to clarify what their motive was by asking questions rather than accusing. But you must rely and trust on God. He weighs people's motives. You can only accept what someone says, then measure what they say by what they do. When integrity is breached, then you can note the pattern and re-clarify a person's motives. So don't get discouraged in ministry. Take courage and clarify motives.

God will help you. He will guide you. He outlines how to make your plans succeed. Commit it to the Lord because you've come to know him, trust him, and rely on Him in situation where you have discovered that He is trustworthy and full of integrity. God provides help and guidance. Watch him prove to you that he can help. Put your confidence in Him today. It's what I'm learning to do more and more. Join me.

Pastor D

High School Sunday Morning Series

How to Develop Healthy Relationships
You were challenged to consider how to assess where you may be in relationships with someone of the opposite sex. Relationships can be complicated. But with God's truth as your guide you can alleviate some of the pain and the strain. But you both have to commit to God's way. So capture the levels of building a relationship with someone. You can build great relationships. You can.

The tool we offer is one where you consider five key concepts: know, trust, rely, commit, and touch. Ideally, each builds on one another. You can only progress as you get to know someone. With each situation you observe actions, attitudes, and clarify thoughts. You use discernment, you assess where this person is. You must know them well before testing how much you can trust and rely on them. Again, this is only a tool. Process it yourself. You have some options: discard it, implement it, integrate part of it into your life, modify it, or just think more about it. It's up to you to decide how you build relationships. This tool could help.

You need more ways to make this tool your own. So I suggest you evaluate relationships you see on TV, at the movies, or on DVD. Much like you did today. Evlautate what you watch. Use your brain. Think. Think about where you are at and consider where the other person is at. Engage life with some tool for relationship building. Use or lose this tool. It's one way to build godly relationships. It's up to you.

One student outlines "10 reasons why you really do have a choice about your life." God challenges you, "

If you decide that it's a bad thing to worship GOD, then choose a god you'd rather serve--and do it today. Choose one of the gods your ancestors worshiped from the country beyond The River, or one of the gods of the Amorites, on whose land you're now living. As for me and my family, we'll worship GOD." (Joshua 24:15 The Message)

You can choose God's way. So live it!

Pastor D

Middle School Sunday Morning Series

Mother's Day 2007

You got the chance to honor your mom by creating a mother's day card. You also heard how I called my mom a terrible name in anger. I learned from my mistake by taking the punishment and by adjusting my life to stop displacing my anger in harmful word(s). The Bible says to honor your parents (Ephesians 6:2.). You can develop a better relationship with your mom by honoring her.

You can honor your mom by sharing love in a real way. Using the Five Love Languages from Gary Chapman and made popular by Gary Smalley, you can enjoy a better relationship through Chapeman's five love languages: #1 Physical Touch, #2 Words of Affirmation, #3 Quality Time, #4 Gifts, & #5 Acts of Service. One of these langauges is your mom's primary love language. Discover it and act upon it to honor her. You can share real love to her in a new way.

For example, if your mom likes hugs, cuddling, or pecks on the cheek, then you give mom a hug "just because." If your mom uses words of affirmation, then affirm her with kind words of gratitude--say thank you more. If your mom needs to spend time with you, then make time for her--set a starting time limit of five minutes a day (yes, use the timer, but tell her why you're using it so that you can learn to increase time with her not as a device to tell you when it's over). Your mom may need time with you. Designate it as a date and keep it. If your mom likes gifts, then give something up to sell and buy her something or make something by hand and give it to her. If your mom likes doing things for people, then do things for her. Target doing one thing for her. Start with just one thing! Then add two. And so forth.

You can show appreciation to your mom in these various ways and more. Stop and think how you can show love to your mom and to develop a better relationship with her today. Make it more than just one day a year. Strive to work on your relationship with your mom an everyday occurence. You will get better at it as you work on it with God's help. Here's to mom! I love you mom!

Pastor D

Leeland lyrics "Beautiful Lord"

When Temptation Wins
I came across this song by Leeland which helps you when you succumb to temptation. The Bible says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins (I John 1:9)." When you sin, you can receive God's forgiveness. So don't despair and give up following Jesus. Immediately ask God to forgive you. He will forgive.

I'm so glad God forgives, but He also desires that I do not keep sinning. In I John 1:8-2:2, the Disciple John tells followers of Jesus about sin and forgiveness.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us. My little children, I write these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He is the propitiation concerning our sins, and not concerning ours only, but also concerning the sins of all the world.

Jesus made payment for your sins. He is our advocate before God the Father. He intercedes for you and I when we sin. And the great news is that He has provided the payment of sins for the whole world if each person would just accept Jesus as Savior of their life. Wow! Jesus takes care of your sins, of my sins.

He wants you and I to not sin. You can live with less sin in your life by trusting in Jesus and by obeying His ways. So don't despair or give up. Rather repair and live it up for Jesus!

Pastor D

Wisdom from Proverbs

From time to time I have seasons of temptations. As the Bible states, "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to us all (I Cor. 10:13). " Temptations will come. Some may be less intense than others. Few are fiercely intense. Whatever the richter scale, temptations shake your life and challenge your commitment to Jesus. Temptations abound. So how do you overcome them?

God's truth tells us that God provides the way out so that you can endure it (I Cor. 10:13). In fact God will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear! He provides the way out. It now depends on you to take the way of escape. You can overcome temptation. God has provided the way. Just choose the way out.

In Proverbs 11 today, I see the words righteousness throughout the chapter. Righteousness is right living. God's Word defines right living. In this chapter God wants you to live rightly. For example in verses 19-22,

"Truly the righteous attain life, but those who sow righteousness reap a sure reward. The Lord detests those whose harets are pervers, but he delights in those whose ways are blameless. Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will go free."

Living right according to God's standards bring life abundantly. You can be sure that if you seek evil, then you will gain evil (see verse 27).

So when I face more intense temptation now, I can overcome them by applying what I know God provides. I will choose the way of escape and thus bear up under temptation. I can handle it only with God's help. God wants me to be free of bondage, to be unshackled from temptations bonds and embrace life with boundless energy. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. You have the strength to endure temptation. Choose the way out.

Pastor D

Wisdom from Proverbs

In Proverbs chapter 9 wisdom and folly call out to the simple ones in the world. Both appeal to the simpletons in the same way, but the results are vastly different. One finds life. The other gets death. I re-engage when I read the Message Version which addresses the characters of this chapter as Lady Wisdom and Madame Whore. You need to get discernment and go to dinner with the right lady.

This illustration targets young men but in this present day young ladies need to take heed. It is Gentleman Widsom versus Jerk Gigilo who try to woo you. Or at least that's my attempt at a comparable corrolary. I wonder what you could come up with.

Most of all, ask God for discernment. Seek wisdom. She will give you a deep, satisfying life all of your days. You can dine with Lady Wisdom or Gentleman Wisdom. Share a meal with them and live life to its fullest.

Pastor D

High School Sunday Morning Series

How to Build Healthy Relationships

This week you are going to pause and to assess how relationships remain healthy. You will view various film clips and use your best judgment to discern where the person is on the Relationship Attachment Model. When you are in a relationship, it is hard to discover where you are and where you are going. So Mrs. Feusse wants you to digest and to decide how to assess your relationships. Come ready to discuss and to question how you determine healthy relationships based on the model presented. I can't wait to discover where you are at.

Pastor D

Middle School Sunday Morning Series

Mother's Day

This Sunday we will take a one-week break and highlight mom's. Everyone alive has a birth mom. You will get to honor you mom in a unique manner on Sunday morning. Come ready to honor your mom.

You can be a good daughter or son. You can grow in maturity. This week I will share my own adolescent mistakes. You will benefit from hearing about my teenage regrets and about my past and present relationship with my mom.

You will get practical help to honor your mother better. Come to stop and make a card for your mom. Who says you can’t take time out to take some paper, crayons, markers, and paste and creatively say thanks to your mom.

Pastor D

Sunday Evening Discipleship

I came across by Charles Swindoll that helps illustrate the point that we are in a spiritual battle. We need to march forward for our King. He has made us his princes and princesses. Just like C.S. Lewis' story the Chronicles of Narnia. You need to armor up and join the battle for God's truth. You need to think the truth. You need to live the truth with love. You need to speak the truth in love.

Before the breakup of the Soviet Union, Christians were routinely persecuted for their faith by the Communist regime. We have many inspiring stories of courageous Christians behind the Iron Curtain who were willing to die for their faith during this difficult period in world history.
One such story involves a house church in a city in the former Soviet Union. The small group of believers who gathered there were afraid to carry Bibles, so they memorized large sections of the New Testament and recited Scripture to each other.
Each week they would arrive at the house at different times, to avoid arousing the suspicions of KGB informers. On one particular Sunday the church members were all safely inside the building, with the windows closed and doors locked. They began the service by softly singing a hymn and praying.
Suddenly, the door burst open and two soldiers armed with automatic weapons walked in. One shouted, “All right, everybody up against the wall. If you wish to renounce your faith in Jesus Christ, you can leave now and no harm will come to you.”
Two or three church members left, then another.
“This is your last chance!” the other soldier warned. “Either turn your back on this Jesus of yours or stay and suffer the consequences!”
Another member left. Two more covered their faces in shame and slipped out into the night. No one else moved. Parents with small children trembling beside them looked down reassuringly. They fully expected to be gunned down on the spot—or, at the very least, imprisoned.
After a few moments of silence, the soldiers closed the door and looked back at the church members left standing against the wall. One of them said, “Keep your hands up—but this time in praise to our Lord Jesus Christ, brothers and sisters. We, too, are Christians. We were sent to another house church several weeks ago to arrest a group of believers. But instead, we were converted.”The other soldier added, “We are sorry to have frightened those who left, but we have learned that unless people are willing to die for their faith, they cannot be fully trusted.”

So live for God's kingdom.

High School Sunday Morning

How to Develop Health Relationships (part two)





"You need this tool to help you." So said the lady at Lowe's.

Often I am reluctant to payout more money just for a tool to help. I can either pay 'em now, or pay'em later (after struggling and stressing, and swearing--oh yeah, not swearing). You can use the relationship model tool to help you begin to develop relationships. If you are already in a relationship or even with your friends you can use the tool to nurture bonds, not to shackle yourself in bonds. I feel that you need this tool to help you. I hope you come and learn how to use it.

You will begin to learn how to engage your head. This is the part where you get to know someone. The two areas to explore in your relationships are family background and childhood experiences as well as attitudes and actions of the conscience. How you were shaped in your family unit affects relationships. How you developed your conscience affects relationships. How you have matured (or not) impacts relationships. So come and learn how to develop great friendships and to nurture deep relationships. Invite a friend to come.


Pastor D

Wisdom from Proverbs

"Though it cost all you have, get understanding (Proverbs 4:7)."

I wonder how willing I am to give up everything to get wisdom. I want to understand what God has for me. No matter what season of life you are in--middle school, high school, college, or post-college--you want to know about the future. The Wise One here in this chapter exhorts me to get wisdom.

Pursue wisdom.

Chase after her.

I enjoy the personification of wisdom here in this chapter. The pursuit of a wife is my frame of reference now. As an elementary student this would not speak to me. Girls were yucky. But as I matured, girls were a wonderment. As I moved through the teens and into my early twenties, I did not have relationships figured out. Still God help me understand things--about how relationships grow, how it sometimes hurt you, how it brings great exhilaration, how it can separate, and how it may grow stronger. Then I began pursuing my wife-to-be. As Melissa tells it (she tells it best), I pursued her with unconventional methods. I got to know her through letters and then we began going out to get to each other more testing our trust, reliance, and commitment. I resolved to do whatever it took to "get me this woman." I wanted Melissa for my wife. I would have given up anything for her. I would have spent whatever it cost to win her heart.

Now I see how I need to pursue wisdom. I can hear God say, "Daron, Get wisdom--pursue it like you pursued Melissa." I get it. I wonder if you get it. Pursue widsom. Chase after understanding. For the benefits are:

"Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you (Proverbs 4:6)."

You need to pursue wisdom, to get understanding so you can live for God and not just handle life but really live life to the fullest in God. You can enjoy life. Enjoy life with God.

Pastor D

WEEZER LYRICS - Island In The Sun

WEEZER LYRICS - Island In The Sun

I was listening to Pandora the online internet radio station and this song played. I googled the lyrics and I was thinking about the concept of living on an island with just one person. How idyllic! I wonder if these guys truly believe that escaping to a remote island would offer a great relationship experience. The lyrics that caught my attention of this fantasy island experience were:

"We'll run away together, We'll spend some time forever, We'll never feel bad anymore"

Relationships are difficult--in my own opinion--more difficult without God in your life. You can fantasize that you'll never feel bad anymore on this earth. But during your life, you will experience pain--sometimes feel it intensely. Yes, you will feel bad. However, that's not the end, or the only thing to try to avoid. In my own life I have experienced bad, awful feelings then been enraptured with great, passionate feelings. Yes, I feel bad sometimes. But to fantasize about repelling all bad feelings sets you up for frustration and eventual cynicism. Every relationship becomes only another heartbreak to endure. Rather than settle and shelter yourself from the coming pain, you can embrace the pain when and if it comes.

God created us to feel the full spectrum of our emotions. Mad-glad; Sad-Happy; Afraid-Confident; etc. We need pain to give perspective and enjoyment to happiness. In fact the Bible shares how one can be sad and mad about life's circumstances yet express joy in God. Check out Psalm 144. Verse 15 says,
"Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!" Your hope can be in God even when the pain of challenging relationships occurs. You can trust in God! So don't wish for a fantasy island where you'll never feel bad anymore but engage in a real relationship with God and with others where you'll never feel alone anymore--no matter if your emotions are up or down. You can rely on God. I wonder what you think. Maybe I don't get Weezer's lyrics. Let me know what you think.

Pastor D

High School Sunday Morning

How to develop great relationships

I was listening to radiou on 88.7 and this song by April Sixth called "Dear Angel" was playing. I post the lyrics for you because relationships can feel so hurtful and alienating. You feel all alone and hopeless. Instead, God is near. No matter how many times people fail you, God will not! He promises to be with you, to never leave you nor forsake you. He is the best friend you'll always have. Nurture that friendship so that you can avoid feelings expressed in this song. I wonder where you can download it. I tried itunes but came up empty.

Dear angel of mine,

Where do I start to express how I feel?

Well, my love's gone blind.

Now all that I feel is what I hear.

Your words rip and tear, and

through my heart so weak and pure.

Now I find myself wanting to die…

CHORUS

I bleed for the second time tonight

holding the love that's in my mind.

If only my love could be with you.

If only this pain, this pain died too.

So I break you away, away, away from me.

As I sit here alone

thinking about everything that you said.

You know since I'm alone.

Well, maybe after all, I was better off dead.

Cause without you my life's gone down...

What do I do, when I find myself wanting to die?

This song shares how you could feel like dying. But think before you do. Consider the markers for relationships that you are learning on Sunday mornings--know, trust, rely, commit, touch. Where is this person? Could you use the relationship tool to mark where he or she is at? Come learn how to cultivate great relationships with God's help.

Pastor D

Wisdom from Proverbs

This is my favorite chapter. This morning as I read and spent time in silence before God. I asked God to speak to me. As the day ends I've had God remind me of the first verses in this chapter.

"My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and humankind (Proverbs 3:1-4)."

For all the things in this world I would want--money, fame, power--God offers long life, peace, prosperity, favor and a good name before God and people. I choose God's offer. Although I forget that his offer is guaranteed. What the world offers is not guaranteed and fleeting. My part in this good life is to obey God's truth, to love others and to be faithful to God and my family. The world's way to take the good life is to lie, cheat, steal, and do whatever it takes to take it for myself. I choose God's way. I want to honor God with my life. He will provide and take care of me.

I can count on Him! You can count on Him too. Just believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you can be saved-you and your household (Acts 16:31). Read the story of how one man found God at the darkest time of his life, even when God's people were in jail. Paul and Silas are in jail and even the jailer got to know God better in spite of their circumstances. You can know God better too. I wonder if you could tell about how you counted on God, how did God take care of you. He takes care of me everyday.

Pastor D

Sunday Evening Discipleship

Bread Series--conclusion this Sunday Night 6:30-7:45pm

The final discipleship session for the school year focuses on God's forever Kingdom. God's people in the Old Testament waited and waited for a Messiah--a Deliverer. They thought when this Messiah comes he would arrive in a big, spectacular way. They thought His coming would instantly, perhaps violently, radically change the world for them. They thought their enemies would be struck down, their lives would become prosperous, and their faith would be embraced by all. They were wrong, God's kingdom didn't and doesn't work that way.

Jesus explained that God's kingdom is like leaven. Leaven is a small, simple ingredient that works itself in and through the dough--transforming the dough and giving rise to the dough for bread to be baked for eating. God's kingdom is like leaven--it's truth works itself in and through you, transforming you and giving rise to a person living out the truth in real life. You can see your role--your place to live out God's radical and revolutionary ways in your own world. Your unique place is one that you can see work slowly and mightily through you. It is a lifetime transformation that God desires. You can pick up new pieces along the journey. You can make a radical impact these final weeks of school. God can do His kingdom work through you. You are his princes and princesses in battle for Him. Go and make a difference for Him!

Join us this Sunday night for a challenge and praise time to ignite your life for living for God this coming week. May it fuel your soul and impact others for Christ!

Tips for Small Groups:

• Praying Together--some students will be uncomfortable praying out loud. Let them know that everyone feels self-conscious when praying out loud for many times. Some people don't get over it. But students can work at it with you. Share how you learned to pray out loud with others or how you still feel challenged about praying out loud with others. Remind them that each one is simply talking to God who is the perfect Father and just wants them to share with Him what's on their minds as we have directed them this evening.
• Prayer Help--Try using a fill in the blank sentence; e.g. I want to thank You, God for _____; or I want You God to help me with _______. You may want them to write out their prayer and then read it back to God. Encourage students to try. This may be the only time they get coaching on how to pray and you get the chance to help one student become a great prayer warrior for the rest of his or her life.

Pastor D

Sunday Mornings Middle School

This Sunday morning at 9:30 you will be looking at some biblical characters. I am going to select two losers...biblical characters that you don't want to be like. Often I can select the men and women of the Bible who did great things or said awesome things. But as I review the wisdom literature of the Bible, you can learn from your mistakes. I do. In fact, you may learn some things to avoid in your own life.

As I skimmed through the Bible, I saw many losers. So I chose two--Saul & Haman. Saul is a great example of what can go wrong when you decide to know more than God. God had blessed Saul's life in tremendous ways yet he decided to disobey. So the challenge for you is to choose to obey. The rewards are worth the risk.

So come join us. You will discover how to not be a loser. You'll be glad you came to learn that lesson.

I want to say thanks to my friends Doug Fields and Kurt Johnston for lettime me use their material for our students. They have such great resources.

Pastor D

Sunday Morning High School

We will proceed with the second-part of our five-part series this Sunday regarding how to develop healthy relationships. Mrs. Feusse had a tough Sunday afternoon. Her daughter Katie broke her leg in a championship game in Cincinnati. I have not got an update but I'm sure there is some recovery time needed.

This week we will unpack a little more about how healthy relationships work. I wonder if you have any movie clips or songs that could depict or describe how relationships are perceived in student life. I have a distant perspective. But you could provide some more insight to help us on Sunday morning. Please offer your suggestions here by posting a comment and adding links to the content you discover online. Thanks.

Pastor D

Wisdom from Proverbs

I have neglected posting my thoughts from God's Word. As this new month begins, I have a couple of thoughts. I concur with the words of Agur in Proverbs 30; " I am weary, God, but I can prevail. Surely I am only a brute, not a man; I do not have human understanding. I have not learned wisdom, nor have I attained to the knowledge of the Holy One (verses 1b-3)." I am weary. This school year has been challenging. But I will prevail. There are many things that I do not know. I am comfortable with admitting what I don't know. The hardest part is moving on from setbacks. I praise God for accepting me as I am. I can do a lot of things well. But I can only do one thing at a time. So this is where I ask God for wisdom. I need His insight. I can beat myself up so easily--telling myself that I have to do more. But God is transforming me. I can go to him for refuge from myself and my high expectations and desire for perfection. Later in verse five Agur says, "Every word of God is flawless, he is a shield to those who take refuge in him." I need refuge. God provides that for me. I praise God that I can be weary but not despairing. He will protect. He will provide. He will take care of me even when I don't understand what's going on.

Today's reading from chapter two, verses 1-5 help me move forward. Rather than pausing to flog myself, I can cry out to God for help. See verses 3 and 5b; "indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding...you will find the knowledge of God." Coupled with knowledge from God is respect for God. Do I truly respect God? I wonder sometimes. He is the Ruler of this Universe. He knows what's going to happen the rest of this day and tonight and tomorrow. So why do I fret about things so much. I can choose to trust rather than worry. I can choose to put my faith in God rather than shut my faith down. I can choose to rely on God rather than merely relying on myself. I can receive knowledge and wisdom. "For the Lord gives wisdom (Proverbs 2:6a)." God will give me wisdom for each day. I will not despar. I will trust. May God encourage you to trust God rather than worry. He can take care of you.

Pastor D