Archive for February, 2010

Yep, that’s what I was asking at the Steak n Shake on South Blvd on Friday night. We took a group of teens to the Pineville Ice House and we stopped by the Steak n Shake for a quick milkshake. I took a bunch of pictures of the teens eating and put my camera back in my camera bag. This bag contains three cameras, several rechargable batteries for the video camera and some memory cards.

So at the end of dinner we all went up front. I set my camera bag on the counter right beside the register and helped get all the teens checked out. I paid the remainder of the bill and we left for the Ice House. OH NO! When we got to the ice house (5 minutes away), I realized I left the camera bag at the Steak n Shake on the counter beside the manager. One of the adults hopped into the van and took off.

Too late, evidently. 15 minutes since i walked out the door, the camera bag had been stolen. I even went back, walked all around the outside, in the trash cans, talked to the manager, and employees and even asked several of the people eating. The best I could get from the manager was a group came up and paid right after we left and they could have taken it. They were the only group to have paid and left since we were there.

At first I was angry, thinking, whoever took this KNEW that we were a church group. They saw me take the pictures of the youth, and they probably saw me put the bag down and leave it. Then I felt guilty because it was honestly my fault for leaving the bag. Had I been more responsible, I would have remembered and taken the bag. Then I felt anxious. That bag held about $350.00 worth of camera equipment in it and now it’s GONE, G – O – N – E, GONE!

As I gave my devotion, it was on Jesus having expensive perfume rubbed on his feet and the “price” that it was worth. The disciples argued that it was a complete waste. As I started to explain to the youth that our relationships are so very valuable, especially our relationship with Christ, it started to dawn on me that maybe there is a message in there for this situation.

Am I bummed that our cameras are gone? YES Did I learn to hold on to things better? YES Do I regret going on this event and taking the teens? NO Although it cost more than I had expected, and it seems like we lost out in the long run, friendships were forged, relationships were built, and the Word of God was heard by over 20 teens. If I had to lose my cameras for that to happen again, would I do it? YES, In a heartbeat.

Gary

This weekend was a big one for the Ice Age series. We started off on Friday night by taking the youth group to Pineville’s Ice House to go ice skating and play a little broom ball. It was a great time and everyone really enjoyed themselves. We had a short devo on pr”ice” and the value of our relationship with Christ. We talked about His annointing in bethany and the woman that used the very expensive perfume on His feet. Was a great trip except our camera bag went missing from Steak n Shake.

The lesson tonight circled around Matthew 25:14-30 which is the parable of the talents. Tonight’s word for the ice age was serv”ice”. Throughout Christ’s ministry here on earth, we see Him focus on serving others. We even know that the scripture says that he came, not to be served, but to serve. We took a look at what it means to serve, and why deeds must go along with our faith. We also took a look at 1 Cor. 3:12-15 and James 2:20-25 to see the ever lasting effect that our service now has on our eternity with Him.

One of the biggest questions I asked the youth tonight was “What good is a fruit tree if it bears no fruit?” I wanted them to really get to thinking is just believing enough? Is being “Saved” enough? What does Jesus expect of us while we are here, and what does that mean for our eternal responsibilities. We examined the idea of “serve-us” versus “service”. Many people come to church and want a good sermon, to sing the songs they really like, to chat with their friends, and have a “complete” service, but that means that they are following the “serve-us” mentality. We are comissioned to go and make disciples. We can’t do that in our own back yard if we don’t start becoming part of the body and serving right where we are first.

We ended up with a challenge to really look for a place to serve within the church and do not settle for once in a blue moon helping clean up. I charged them with coming up with their own ministry, or area to serve if they cannot find a current one.

Next week – Sacrif”ice”
Gary

We are starting our new series this week on the Ice Age that was Christ’s Ministry. Now understand that by Ice Age, I’m actually playing off of the word ICE. Each week of this series, we will look at one word that was a key partof Christ’s ministry here on earth, and each word ends in the Word ICE.

This week, we took a look at the very start of jesus’s ministry, right after His baptism, when the Holy Spirit came and filled Him. The word this week is Cho”ice”. You see, right after this, He was led into the desert by the Spirit and was tempted by the Devil.

We find from this encounter that Jesus has three big choices to make. The first comes from Luke 4:3 where the devil tells Jesus to turn a rock into bread. Jesus’s choice is to not rely on himself only. Jesus says that man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from God. This points us right back to the manna delivered to the Israelites in the desert in Deutoronomy.

The next two choices for the next two temptations are to choose not to take the easy way out, and choose not to believe only when we see. The Devil has a way of preverting the truth, to tempt us to look outside of Gods live and provision.

It all starts with a choice, just as Jesus’s ministry did. This week we encouraged all the teens to examine their choices and start their own ICE AGE!

Gary
Family Pastor

Hello Parents!

     You will be happy to know that we are adding new security policies and procedures to our children’s areas on Sunday morning.  Your child’s safety is one of our top priorities and as we get ready to move into a new facility we want all families to feel safe and comfortable leaving their children with us. 

     Starting February 7th, each worker in children’s ministry will wear a name badge lanyard indicating who they are and which area they work in.  This should help you to identify who to ask for assistance and to help know who is investing in your child’s spiritual growth.

     In addition to the name badges, we are also starting a new check in policy.  In each of the three areas, there will be a new nametag sticker.  This sticker allows you to put your name, your child’s name, allergies, or any other important information that we need to know.  The sticker goes on the back of your child and the rest stays with you.  Your stub will match a number on the sticker.  You must present your stub in order to get your child.

     We really appreciate your help as we continually stive to improve your child’s safety and the overall experience.  if you have any questiones, please do not hesitate to ask!

Gary