Choices

"We do choose how we will live, courageously or in cowardice, honorably or dishonorably, with purpose or adrift. We decide what is important and what is trivial in life, we decide what makes us significant and is either what we do or what we refuse to do, we decide - we choose, as we decide and choose, so are our lives formed, we make our choices and then our choices make us, our choices produce acts which produce character and character eventually becomes permanent."

Joseph Epstein

Team 180

Team 180 had their first youth service this past sunday morining and let me tell you it was awesome and the presence of God was very powerful in the service. I want to take this time to say i'm very proud of the group, and the fire that is in them for God, they did a oustanding job with the service. I can't wait for next month's service, because its only going to get better!!!

Rain of Blessings

I came across a very powerful scripture the other day, one i've never read before in the bible and don't recall hearing a preacher preach on it. "IF THERE IS NO WORSHIP IN YOUR LIFE, THERE WILL BE NO RAIN," ZECHARIAH 14:17. In other words, No Worship-No Rain. Alot of times we go to church but we forget why we worship God, i grow concern sometimes they we may lose our true spirit of worship and take God for granted.

When we worship, we are submitting our intellect and our future to God. If you are in a dry season, then began to worship. Do you need it to rain in your bank account, worship, rain into your spirit, worship, rain in your family, worship. In Zechariah we find one of the most empowering principles of the Bible, the key to ending a personal dry spell and releasing a downpour of heaven's blessings, by worshiping God.

So how you get out of the desert, through worship. Where there is worship, rain will come. Every time you raise your hands and praise, drops are forming in the clouds. The more you send up, the thicker the clouds. Sooner or later there will be a cloudburst. So when you get in a dry spell, praise your way through and you will see the rain!

"You don't have to be like the world to have an impact on the world. You don't have to be like the crowd to change the crowd. You don't have to lower yourself down to their level to lift them up to your level. Holiness doesn't seek to be odd. Holiness seeks to be like God."

Max Lucado

Laughter Is Good Medicine

Ancient Greeks believed humor was essential to the healing process. Studies now show that it's no joke-laughter is strong medicine. Just look at the many wonderful things a good belly laugh can do for your body:

-Muscles tighten, then relax, toning them gently and reliving tension.
-You breathe faster, taking in more oxygen, riding the body of bad air.
-Your heart rate, pulse and blood pressure increase, improving circulation.
-Experts now believe it increases your immune system in fighting off disease.
-The brain is stimulated, releasing chemicals called endorphins, the body's natural painkillers.

Powerful Video

Pastor Greg had this video in his blog and wanted to share with others also. This is a very powerful video, be looking for team 180 to do this skit on a youth service sunday.

NEVER GIVE UP ON SOMEBODY OR SOMEBODIES

Its been a while since i last posted in my blog. I have found that its hard to find something to write or post something on a daily basis in a blog. I was thinking today at work and you know ever since i began youth ministry work 5yrs ago, the one thing i always told myself was to never give up on somebody, somebodies, or a group of students and i've stuck true to that promise to this day and never backed down from it. I will never and i mean never give up on a youth or a youth group. I will always fight to the very end to rescue them. Was there times i could have given up, oh absoultely, but i didnt no matter how mad i got, how angry the group or the student made me, when i was disappointed in them, or when we disagreed on something. I could read a list of names of students and youth groups i didnt give up on and how great God has blessed their life, i actually saw alot of students this year at camp that ive been praying for to come home to jesus and get things right with God and they did that at the alter. What am i trying to say, no matter if they dont pay attention cause believe me sometimes they wont, if all they want to do is talk and goof off, they will from time to time, if they want to run from the truth and try to hide, believe me they will run their pretty little chicken legs off at times, you stand right there beside them thru it all, thru the good times and the bad with arms wide open ready to take them back and with a shoulder for them to cry on. Don't let anybody, any church, or anything tell you otherwise or try to convince you your wasting your time, they will never get it, they will never understand. Today i pray you never give up on somebody, somebodies, or a youth group cause you never know when they may turn into a TEAM 180.

youth generation

I've recently started reading a new book entitled, "BATTLE CRY FOR A GENERATION, THE FIGHT TO SAVE AMERICA'S YOUTH," BY RON LUCE. There was a part of the book that really stuck hard with my heart, the percentage of Bible-based believers has steadily decreased since the Builder generation. There have been 4 generation to date including the one we live in now. The table was published in the book:
Builders (born 1927-1945): 65% Bible-based believers
Boomers (born 1946-1964): 35% Bible-based believers
Busters (born 1965-1983): 16% Bible-based believers
Bridgers/Millennials/Why (born 1984-present): 4% Bible-based believers
These stats shocked me when i first was reading it and it still does. The percentage of bible-based believers is steadily decreasing, we see the way our world is now, imagine what it will be like if we don't reach out to our youth generation and help them in their christian journey. Ron Luce also wrote in the book and has this powerful statement to say, "WHATEVER DIRECTION THIS NEW GENERATION TAKES, SO IT WILL TAKE THE NATION." I believe the time is now, a holy urgency burns in my soul to capture the heart of this generation NOW while teens are still open to the life-changing message of the Gospel of Christ. This is what keeps me awake at night, today is our moment of greatest opportunity. We must capture their hearts while they are young. We have a short window of 5 to 7 years before most of them will be into their 20s and set the pace for American culture. Our nation is truly at a crossroad. What we do in the next 5 years could affect the next 50 to 100 years of American history. This is our moment, our defining moment to help set this youth generation on fire for God.

camp

Well i've made it back from camp and all i've got to say is WOW!!! God did amazing work in youth camp 07. Many kids lives were changed by God, i'm really excited to see a fire and passion build in my youth group's lives after camp. There full of ideas and things they want to do at church. We spoke with Pastor Greg about different things we would like to do, tune in sunday morining to find out what Team 180 is planning, thats right Team 180. Camp was a huge blessing for me also, it gave me a chance to recharge my batteries and relight my fire that was still burning but not as bright as it once was. I had a great time at camp, got bite by tons of chiggers, broke a few things here and there, but most importantly heard from God. I recall one night in service as i was working the sound booth i was raising my hands in worship and i heard the voice of God saying to me, "its okay child daddy is here," and i could see my heavenly father pick me up by the hands that were raised and put me in his lap and craddle me. It broke me down inside. There was a powerful move in the services with fire falling down on our youth generation. Camp was a wonderful success with God showing up, showing out, and showing his glory.