Read a great book over the summer called “Do Hard Things” by Alex and Brett Harris. They are teenagers.

In the book, they point out that the term teenager is a fairly new term and the idea that teens should be in a loafing stage in life is also a fairly new concept. They point out that Clara Barton was teaching school in her teens and others who did similar.

Their book is excellent and I may start a small group reading and discussion group based upon it. (Let me know if you are interested).

It challenges youth to start doing things productive even in their teen years. Don’t wait for tomorrow and when you are no longer a teen, you are the church of today.

There are certainly many things to think about in the book. If you get a change I encourage and urge you to read it.

Feel free to post your thoughts of the book and/or it’s concepts.

Also, check out: http://www.therebelution.com for more info on the Harris’ and their efforts.

Clique lesson thoughts

Wikipedia definition: A clique is an exclusive group of people who share interests, views, purposes, patterns of behavior, or ethnicity. Membership in a clique is often, but not necessarily, exclusive, and qualifications for membership may be social or essential to the nature of the clique.

Our response based on the book of James, chapter 2 is to not be actively in cliques. But we should show love to all.

What does this mean for us as students? How do we balance this with having a regular group of friends?

It is okay to have a group of friends. It is not okay to exclude others from talking to you, eating lunch with you, hanging with you, etc. (unless they are creeps or serial killers). When situations arise, we need to show love to all, loving our neighbor as yourself. This may mean sitting with people we don’t usually associate with on occasion for lunch or after school. This may mean saying hi to that unpopular kid.

What else does it mean? Well, here’s the tough part. It means that we need to honestly call the grade level cliques just that. “But, Pastor B, they are not cliques. It’s just an unwritten rule of honor…”

Hmm, let’s reflect back to the above definition:

“A clique is an exclusive group of people who share interests, views, purposes, patterns of behavior, or ethnicity.” Grade levels share just that – those in that grade level and no other grade level.

“Membership in a clique is often… exclusive, and qualifications for membership may be social or essential to the nature of the clique.” Grade levels are exclusive in that they feature those only in that grade.

“But, Pastor B, it’s just the way things are.”

You are correct. It is the way things are. It’s the way things were back when I was in school (When my brother was a junior, I watched him and his friend get booted out of the senior section by half the seniors at a pep rally).

Yet, it does not have to be that way for you and your friends. Here’s what I mean:

When I was a freshman, I befriended several seniors, we hung out, etc. I even helped some start the Bible Club in our school.

I don’t remember my sophomore year much.

My Junior year, I hung out with those who were seniors and the freshman and sophomores, especially those in the Bible club. (I actually didn’t hang out with many from my own grade and really felt a part of the senior class that year – and was accepted by them as well).

My senior year, again I didn’t really associate with my class, but with those who were juniors and sophomore.

There are a few others I know who share these “grade-level” cliques.

Is it tough? Maybe.

Are we called to do tough things? Yes, at times.

Some food for thought here.

Comments? Questions?

HAGERSTOWN, Maryland – Thirteen members of Paramount Baptist Church went on a mission trip to in Ocean City, Maryland from July 11-18, 2007 through Central Atlantic Leisure Ministries (CALM).

During the week, the youth and leaders spent their days teaching children at “Surf and Sands Club” Bible Schools, giving out water to the lifeguards and carnival workers, assisting the Ocean City Baptist Church with their weekly ministries, and assisting at a Christian Coffeehouse. These youth and leaders learned what being a missionary meant through sharing the love of Jesus with others and telling them the Gospel.

Youth from Paramount Baptist Church participating on the mission trip were Christian Colliflower, Joshua Colliflower, Kirstie Coombs, Abigail Hayes, Matthew Hayes, Madison Lewis, Tony Owuor, Zachary Webb, and Nathan Weirich. Larry Colliflower, Minday Colliflower, Hilary Cooper, and William Cooper went as chaperones.

While in Ocean City, the youth and leaders were able to help run “Surf and Sands Clubs” at Assateague, Castaways, Frontiertown, Ft.Whaley campgrounds in the mornings. In the afternoons, they gave out water to the lifeguards and carnival workers while sharing the gospel and inviting them to various services and Bible studies at Ocean City Baptist Church. They were able to assist with various ministries throughout the week including Sunday morning worship at two campsites, Wednesday night Bible study, and a Parents Night out. The youth were also able to assist at a Christian Coffeehouse that the church runs for the international students working in and around Ocean City.

“Our ministry in Ocean City was a work for the Lord that I will never forget,” said Christian Colliflower. “Though at times we were tired from only getting 5-6 hours of sleep, the looks on the kids’ faces energized us like nothing else. Our youth group was sent for a reason: to tell anyone and everyone about the wonderful works of our God,” he concluded.

During the “Surf and Sands Clubs” at least three boys accepted Christ as their Savior.

“It is my joy to serve the many visitors and residents of Ocean City, Maryland. Also to provide mission opportunities for youth and adults from all over the eastern United States since 1979” said Lynn Davis who runs CALM. “We believe that God has given us one of the best and most exciting mission opportunities any believer could ask for. We love working with youth teams as they help us reach thousands of families every summer in Ocean City,” Lynn concluded.

The mission trip was with the Central Atlantic Leisure Ministries in conjunction with the Ocean City Baptist Church, Baptist Convention of Maryland and Delaware, and the North American Mission Board (part of the Southern Baptist Convention).

The youth would like to thank all who donated money at their carwash which was held at Autozone in the north end of Hagerstown on July 4 as well as those who donated money through their church. It was the love through monetary donations that allowed the youth to go and share the love of Jesus at Ocean City.

Starting on Monday, June 22, we will have VBS from 6:15-9pm. Our overall theme is Australia. We will be on a rock and reef tour of Australia. We’ll learn alittle about Australia, about some musicians from there (like the Newsboys) and about our Christian life (looking at Peter’s example).

We’ll have games, snacks, missions info, and a Bible Study. Come be a part of the fun as we learn about God and more. (Oh, and yes, we will get to sample Vegemite!)

Bonus trivia question (not for a prize): Most albums of the Newsboys are produced by Steve Taylor (who was a great Christian Artist in the 80s). Other than producer, what is his connection to the Newsboys?

With only 3 clues (and the fact that her dad has been to Australia) Stef was the winner of the contest to guess what treat we’ll have the first night of VBS. She gets a Rebecca St. James CD.

The answer: VEGEMITE!

We got through the first 3 clues:
1- you’ve never had this
(ok, I went out on a limb, the odds are slim that you’ve had Vegemite as it is not sold in the US)

2- favorite of one of the Newsboys
(the drummer lists it as one of his favorite foods – http://www.freewebs.com/furlerfied/bandmates.htm)

3- Not sold in the US
(except a world food store, which I don’t now where there is one)

Clues we didn’t get to:
4- Mybe some Men at Word from a land down under could help
(ok, that would be the dead give-away…”I said, “Do you speak-a my language?”
/ He just smiled and gave me a vegemite sandwich”)

5- Made by Kraft
(yes, though not sold in the US, Kraft foods makes it – clearly labeled as Kraft too)

I hope everyone had fun looking for the answer.

Next contest: high attendance Wed of VBS week to get Pastor B to have pink hair.

VBS will be from 6:15-9:00pm on June 22-26. It will be here before we know it.

This year’s VBS theme is “Boomarang Express.” For us youth, we’ll be going on a “Rock and Reef Tour” of Australia. We’ll learn about various Christian Artists from Australia. We’ll learn about God and how to walk with Him daily.

So, here are the contests:

We have 2 Christian CD’s to give away throughout the week (Newsboys and Rebecca St. James – both from Australia). Details will be given during VBS week for these.

Secondly, on Monday night we’ll set an attendance record to meet/beat on Wednesday. If we do, Pastor B will have PINK hair for the rest of the week. Bonus: Please be inviting your non-Christian friends Wednesday night. If one gets saved, Pastor B will have PINK hair on Sunday too!

Last contest: Most likely on Monday of VBS week, you will be given a special treat from Australia. During this coming week, I’ll have a couple clues to what that treat is. The first person to guess it will win a prize (might be one of the CD’s). We’ll start the contest officially on Monday, June 15 to ensure that most of the youth know about it. Here’s the rules though: First, You cannot ask any adult (including Skip, Hil, or I) for the answer or for helps with any of the clues. Second, You may only make ONE guess per day (that means you can only guess 7 times before Mon, June 22). Good luck!

[Guesses can be emailed to me, texted to me, called in to me, facebooked to me, tweeted to me, etc.]

Just a reminder that we will be having a Car Wash to raise donations for our Missions trip this summer.

The Car Wash will be on Sat, June 20. Meet at 8 so we can start washing about 8:30. We’ll try to wrap up between 1:30-2pm.

The Car Wash will be at the Autozone in the north end (Rt. 11 and Longmeadow Rd).

There is no cost to this event, but we will be collecting donations. Please spread the word. Also, if you have a parent or friend who want to help, bring them.

Don’t forget, I do need permission slips turned in by Wednesday, June 17 – especially to get a headcount for lunch.

One great praise in preparing for this…one gentleman from our church will be providing our lunch that day…and giving on top of that a matching donation to the youth group missions trip! Praise God!

Ok, just a coupld quick questions. Feel free to answer them here or Wed night at youth group.

What brings you back to Wed Night Youth Group and events? Please be honest and specific. I don’t care if it’s just to play b-ball, the color of the walls, or to text your friends at other youth groups. What brings you back to Wed Night Youth Group and events?

Also, if you could change something about Wed Night Youth Group, what would you change? Again, please be honest. I don’t care if it’s the games, color of the paint, me, the other youth, just be honest. If you could change something about Wed Night Youth Group, what would you change?

post your answers in the comments to be anonymous.

On Wed, May 13, I mentioned to the youth group about Pascal’s Wager. You can check it out in detail here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pascal%27s_wager

Basically, it states the following:

1. If we are saved and God does exist, then we go to heaven (good outcome)

2. If we are saved and God does not exist, then we just die (neutral outcome)

3. If we not saved and God does not exist, then we just die (neutral outcome)

4. If we not saved and God does exist, then we go to hell when we die (negative outcome)

SO…based on that…

If you are not saved, you will have either a neutral or negative outcome at death (hell).
If you are saved, you will either have a neutral or positive outcome at death (heaven).
Which is better?

We just had an incredible STORM event on Saturday, May 9.

First, a special thank you to all those who came out to help. Thanks to the 4 drivers who came, the 4 who came to counsel, and others involved.

We started with 8 of our regular youth, headed out in vans/cars to get various friends and invite them to come to the fun. We ended up with 16 youth!

After an icebreaker and welcome, we got into the challenges – Battle of the Sexes. The girls were winning from the start, as they brought more girls than guys.
The contests included being fed food by others, passing marshmallows down a row, jello eating contest, candy eating contest, and even a toothpick-and-cheeseball tower contest.
The guys came on strong and quickly closed the gap in the scores. The contest literally came down to the last challenge. The youth didn’t know, but if the guys won the tower building, we would have had to go to a tie-breaker contest – it was that close!
The girls did win after all, but it was a tight competition and all had a blast.

After the Battle, John Powley spoke to the group about the Bible, sin, and our need of salvation. He also spoke about how Jesus knocks at the door to our heart and asks to come it just as the youth knocked at other’s doors tonight and asked them to join the fun. He gave a clear invitation and led the youth in how to pray to receive salvation. Though none went out to be counseled, we did have at least one indicate that they prayed that prayer for either assurance or for salvation. (That is awesome. We know that she has that now settled with God and is saved!)
John challenged the youth to see what they need to change in their life to let others see that they are Christians.

Overall, a great night. Lots of fun, girls won, at least one assurance of salvation!